I'm not sure who wrote this, but it is too good and very timely . . .
Sinners who come before YAH’s throne either receive grace (justification) or suffer the judgment of the law. This simply means that the sinner must know how to legally appeal his case before the throne (the bar of justice in the divine court). Since we are all sinners worthy of judgment, that is what we will receive unless we know the lawful way to obtain grace. Grace means acquittal or forgiveness in spite of the crimes (sins) we have committed.
When the charges are read to us in YAH’s court, how will we plead our case? Many Christians will tell the Judge, “Your Honor, there is no law against those sins; don’t you recall that you repealed those laws at the Cross? ‘Where no law is, there is no transgression’ (Rom. 4:15). You cannot judge me, because all laws were repealed, thus all things are now lawful.”
The Judge may answer you like this: “I told you that I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). I told Paul that I did not make void the law through faith (Rom. 3:31). I told John that sin is still the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). I have always told you that I would judge sin. Did you really think you could continue in sin that grace may abound (Rom. 6:1)? Never did I make sin lawful. I only changed the forms by which men may obtain grace when they sin. Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity (lawlessness).”
To obtain grace, a sinner must answer in a way such as this: “Your Honor, I admit that I am a sinner, that I am guilty as charged of violating your law. I repent of my lawless attitude, thinking I could sin with immunity. I confess that you are just in all your ways and may justly sentence me to death (Rom. 6:23). However, YAHUSHA already paid the full penalty for my sins, and I have accepted His provision. The law is thus fully satisfied, for my debt has been paid.”
The Judge will answer: “Let the record show that this man’s sins have already been paid for in full. Therefore, this court extends grace to him and releases him. He is no longer under the law, but under grace. Go and sin no more.”
If a criminal shows no remorse or repentance for his sins and thinks that he somehow has a license to sin with immunity, YAH will not extend grace to him. He is attempting to obtain grace in an unlawful manner—by putting away the law. The Bible calls this “lawlessness” (Greek anomia). YAH does not acquit the guilty by repealing His law; He acquits by upholding the law and paying its full penalty Himself. Never was the law upheld and respected more than when YAHUSHA died on the Cross to pay the full penalty that it had prescribed for our sins.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Sunday, May 8, 2016
If You Only Knew
by Kelly Dirkes
Dear Woman in Target-
I've heard it before, you know. That I "spoil that baby". You were convinced that she'd never learn to be "independent". I smiled at you, kissed her head, and continued my shopping.
If you only knew what I know.
If you only knew how she spent the first ten months of her life utterly alone inside a sterile metal crib, with nothing to comfort her other than sucking her fingers.
If you only knew what her face looked like the moment her orphanage caregiver handed her to me to cradle for the very first time--fleeting moments of serenity commingled with sheer terror. No one had ever held her that way before, and she had no idea what she was supposed to do.
If you only knew that she would lay in her crib after waking and never cry--because up until now, no one would respond.
If you only knew that anxiety was a standard part of her day, along with banging her head on her crib rails and rocking herself for sensory input and comfort.
If you only knew that that baby in the carrier is heartbreakingly "independent" --and how we will spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years trying to override the part of her brain that screams "trauma" and "not safe".
If you only knew what I know.
If you only knew that that baby now whimpers when she's put down instead of when she is picked up.
If you only knew that that baby "sings" at the top of her lungs in the mornings and after her nap, because she knows that her chatter will bring someone to lift her out of her crib and change her diaper.
If you only knew that that baby rocks to sleep in her Mama's or her Papa's arms instead of rocking herself.
If you only knew that that baby made everyone cry the day she reached out for comfort, totally unprompted.
If you only knew what I know.
"Spoiling that baby" is the most important job I will ever have, and it is a privilege. I will carry her for a little while longer--or as long as she'll let me--because she is learning that she is safe. That she belongs. That she is loved.
If you only knew...
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
QUESTION:
by Terri Ann
If following Torah is so great, why then are so many of us unchanged or only somewhat changed? I submit that we are still missing some important understandings.
We can read all the books we want on surgical medicine but it doesn't make us capable of being surgeons. Knowledge has to be applied to be truly life altering.
If Yeshua was right, then shouldn't we be walking on water, healing people, turning water into wine, etc...?
John 14:12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones
John 14:12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones
"Greater ones?" Most of us can't heal ourselves, much less someone else! Our personal lives and relationships are often a mess, and we spend most of our time pointing the finger at the faults of others than we do just focusing on resolving our own baggage; and honestly some of us have enough baggage to fill LaGuardia airport! Or even worse, thinking we are somehow knowledgeable enough to be teaching and lecturing others on Torah, which there sure seems to be a lot of and some who do so are down right arrogant in the process. I mean, if we are really so well versed then we surely should be fulfilling John 14:12, right?!
So, I've just been thinking, and even dreaming a little to be honest, of how beautifully fantastic things would be if each one of us were to get truly serious about applying the teachings of Torah to our own lives; and I'm not talking about just eating clean and keeping the Sabbath. I'm talking about what it would be like to focus on our own change and growth to the point of that effort becoming truly life altering. To truly love each other in such a way that we approached one another with real love, grace and mercy; accepting that others are also in the process of changing; encouraging rather than offering judgment, apathy and intolerance. I sometimes wonder how much time we waste focusing on the faults of others rather than fixing ourselves. I suspect it's quite a lot. That's time we should be using to become more like what our Creator intended us to be. And rather than being defensive when someone points out an area we need to work on, why not start asking those we love and trust to tell us what we might be missing and where we need to improve, because isn't the point to die to our flesh? Isn't the point to draw as close to Adonai as we possibly can?!!! So why wait for someone else to come tell us? Why are we not seeking out those areas we need to change with urgency? And when we haven't taken the time to really look at ourselves and someone else has the courage and loves us enough to be honest, we should hugging them and thanking them for the help, not defensively lashing out.
I just believe things should be, and could be, so very different than what we've collectively allowed things to become. I also believe we owe Elohim a true, heartfelt effort both individually and collectively. He deserves nothing less!
So, with that said, I hope and pray that each and every one of us becomes able to do those works, and even "greater ones!" I pray our hearts are so full of love for others we hold them in even higher regard than we do ourselves. I pray we get so serious about seeking out and accomplishing the changes we need to make that when we look in the mirror all we see is His light shining back at us! And I pray that when we each stand before the judgement seat that a host of angels rejoices as we are told, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I am indeed hopeful for each of us!!!
Friday, January 1, 2016
The Reward
A personal experience story by David Peters
The following incident occurred while I was filming a documentary about the power of unconditional love.
“Mommy, Mommy, we're done with our chores now can we..."
This was the beginning of a remarkable 60 minutes. A teary-eyed, "how am I going to focus my camera?" growth experience.
I mean it was pretty cool that they even had chores. I don't see that enough where I live.
But this was Brazil and this family was like no family I have ever met. Sixteen children in the process of being adopted by parents fighting tooth and nail to keep them.
Most were the sons and daughters of prostitutes and drug addicts, some with aids, all of them victims of things unspeakable. Yet, these children were happy, joyous even, brimming with affection and peace.
And so when they asked for permission it wasn't to play games, watch TV or ride bikes, they were asking their mommy for permission to worship!
Stunned, I ask their mom if that's really what they said.
“Oh yes” she said, “It's their reward. It's what they enjoy doing.”
“Oh yes” she said, “It's their reward. It's what they enjoy doing.”
I turned to my cameraman, “Johnny, you finish the interview. I'm going with them!"
They paid little attention to my intrusion. Crawling up a ladder into a tiny cubby hole the three girls, 10, 8 and 4 lost themselves in gratitude and adoration of their beloved hero - Jesus.
They were in love with Him. He was their Papa. They raised their heads and hands and talked to their Daddy.
I tried not to sob out loud and struggled to focus my camera through the blurry tears. I have never witnessed anything so sincere and beautiful. My legs eventually turned numb cramped in that tiny space but I didn't want to move. I didn't want it to end.
When a stranger puts a camera in front of an abused and broken child you normally see fear and distrust. Not here.
I asked the parents "How could this be?"
They responded "God erases their memory." That's the only answer I could possibly believe.
This beautiful couple, themselves the recipients of massive amounts of grace and forgiveness, instilled in these children not just a belief, but a deep and intimate love for Jesus. These children delighted themselves in Him and spending time with Him was the reward they cherished.
I came to this house as a curious filmmaker, but I left as a grateful student, instructed by three little girls in the power of God's healing love.
Postscript: I too fell in love with Jesus during my stay in Brazil. It was there that I realized how wide, how long, how high and how deep the love that Christ has for us really is. For all of us. No exceptions.
I saw gangsters, drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes respond to that love and become transformed by it.
The Bible says “We love him because He first loved us." I witnessed that, I filmed that, I know it’s true. It’s an outrageous love and it’s free and it comes without judgement.
No wonder worship was the orphans reward. They found a love that brought them life.
I saw gangsters, drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes respond to that love and become transformed by it.
The Bible says “We love him because He first loved us." I witnessed that, I filmed that, I know it’s true. It’s an outrageous love and it’s free and it comes without judgement.
No wonder worship was the orphans reward. They found a love that brought them life.
Do you have a story of unconditional love? We want to hear it! Share your story here:http://buff.ly/1PUYITa
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