I'm a Liar....Ok, Was

Disclaimer: This could be offensive, it's not meant to be, it's truthful. Read on if you are game.

I have made a discovery. I am a liar. No, I don't write bad checks, steal or cheat on my taxes. I feel guilty for not putting my shopping cart away in the supermarket parking lot. I am not an obvious liar. Well, at least it wasn't very obvious to me.

Isn't it funny how we don't realize things about ourselves until we are much older and have fought a few bloody rounds in the boxing match of life? Funny, well maybe not, comical, yes. I think some things only come with age, unless of course you are extraordinary. I am not extraordinary, I just pretend to be. I could play extraordinary on TV, but I am not extraordinary. I am just me. It sometimes takes some serious hard knocks for me to learn.

Somehow, long ago, I got it in my head that acting OK meant you are OK. I also thought acting nice made you nice. Being quiet and not telling people how you really feel made you polite and a "lady". Taking others verbal jabs and digs made you brave, a martyr and honorable. The list goes on and on and on......You could probably add a few of your own erroneous "self narratives".

I think society is rather supportive of this self narrative. Don't you? Here is a quiz: What are you "supposed" to say when you are at church or your fellowship and someone asks, "how are you?". You are "supposed" to say, "I am fine, thank you. How are you?" and then expect the very same response, whether you are OK or not. I used to be quite good at this. I am not so good at this anymore. That is making me so uncomfortable, you have no idea, but perhaps it's meant to.

It's so automatic. I mean it turns on before you know it does. After a while you begin to realize you are rather resentful towards certain people. (Not you, come on, you're great! ;) )You have a hard time being in the same room with them. The problem at this point is that you are so detached from yourself you don't even know why you are so uncomfortable around them. You have ceased to exist. You are just a piece of dutiful furniture at that point jumping when told to jump and ignoring what is wrong deep inside. You are angry and you don't even know it. You are walking in unforgiveness and you are not even aware of it. The resentment has been building and now you are just numb inside.

The problem with these self narratives is that they are big, fat, ugly LIES! The worst part about it, beside lying to Abba, is that you have betrayed yourself. I have BETRAYED myself!!  Not to mention you have betrayed the person or persons you are lying to. Did I say "lying", yes that is what I said. If you tell them the truth they may run the other way. Yes, they may leave you. But, I have started to ask myself, are these the relationships I really want to have? Is there any possibility of having an close friendship with a person like that? They are comfortable with the "pretend you", the one that does what they expect, because that is who they think you are. But you are not that person are you? That person will never have the opportunity to grow past their issues and neither will you if you are not truthful. You will never have a close relationship and it's not their fault, it's yours. They may grow, they may not, but you could provide them that opportunity if you'd just tell the truth. It is worth the risk? Yes, I believe it is.

The Word says that "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) What does that mean? I think it is fairly multi-dimensional like most everything in YHWH's Word. It has many applications. His Truth is endless and I could really go down a rabbit trail right now, but I won't. For this purpose, the writing of this blog, I think it means to be genuine and authentic. Face who you are. Know the truth about who you are and ask Father to change that about you if it doesn't line up with His Word and cooperate with Him when He brings about circumstances in your life to accomplish that. Ouch....I know.

I have had some serious circumstances brought into my life. Physical issues, depression, along with a special needs adopted child that hurts others, almost daily, for 6 years, to deal with his pain are just a few of them. Everyone has "stuff" and that's just mine...... currently. These challenges are provoking me to become increasingly more honest with myself and with others. This is painful. I won't lie (LOL). Some people have and will walk away as a result. It can be a bit much to deal with some days, I get that. I guess, at this point, I'd rather have that then live another day not being real with the people in my life. I guess I'd prefer to have warriors come alongside me then pretend for people's benefit that I am OK everyday just to keep them as friends.

So maybe you are not like me. You are honest. Good for you! There is no guessing what you think or feel. You pretty much tell it like it is.........but maybe you don't see the skid marks you left on the person you just ran over? It happens. But, I think there is a remedy. Just humor me here. I think the Word provides it.

Ephesians 4:15
^"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

So, maturity is being truthful, but doing it in a loving way. If we, as a body of believers, desire to be mature and function in what He has called us to do, then we need to get real with one another, but do it lovingly. How amazing would that be and how much more could we be one and a powerful force to be reckoned with then? I believe it's possible and it will happen, one day. Watch out when it does!

I am learning, every day. If this is what my 40s have shown me I am going to be seriously blown away by the 50s! I am so grateful that He hasn't given up me. I am so grateful for Him.

Many blessings and love to you in Messiah.

Dear Mr. King.......

2 Cor. 5:16-19 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Dear Mr. King,

It was April 29th, 1992 and I sat on my couch holding my 1 week old son witnessing the world seemingly come to an end. At 22 years old, that is what it looked like to me. LIVE, on the news, filmed from a news helicopter, I saw men, pull a man, Reginald Oliver Denny, out of his truck and purpose to beat him to death, gleefully dancing about and tossing bricks at his head until all you could see was a crumpled heap of what barely resembled a human being face down on the asphalt in the middle of the street. Other footage caught people walking into stores looting everything from televisions to baby diapers to gallons of milk to furniture. That night, as I lay in bed, I could hear gunshots, yelling and fighting in the distance. We didn't live in the best of areas at the time, so whether it was related to the Riots, I don't know. I wasn't going to go outside and find out. My husband, his mind heavy with the financial responsibility of a supporting wife and newborn, had ventured to work amidst the chaos. From his employer's building that night he called me to let me know he was OK, but that he was watching multiple buildings burn from where he was standing. I hoped he'd make it home and that nothing would happen to him. That night, the possibility of something happening to him was a very real and sobering concern for me. I gazed upon the moon lit face of my newborn son, as he peacefully slept next to me, unaware of the kind of world he had just come into. I wondered about his future in this twisted world. 

Mr. King, I know you know this but I will go over it once again for those that don't know or might have forgotten.....

All this was happening because of an injustice. A man by the name of Rodney King was beaten severely by Los Angeles County police officers. 4 of the policemen charged in the beating were acquitted. This was the response. The city was paying for what had happened. 53 people died. 2,000 people were injured. Estimates of the material losses varied between about $800 million and $1 billion. Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying 1,100 buildings, with fire calls coming once every minute at some points. An entire city of people were held hostage for a week by the violence and much longer from the fear of more violence.

A couple of weeks later, when it was all over, in true "Los Angelino" style, we all went back to our lives and tried not to look back. I don't even remember discussing it much with family or friends. It's like something embarrassing we didn't want to discuss. Uncle Fred got drunk and busted up the place so lets not discuss it. I guess I am different. I do want to discuss it. That event really changed me. I think of it often. It lingers in my mind. It impacted me greatly because of my son having just come into the world. I look back on that event and I suppose it was the first time I realized how really awful human beings can be to one another and how really "justified" we can feel inflicting pain on one another in response to an injustice or even a perceived one. Mr. Denny just happened to turn onto the wrong street. He was just a hard working truck driver trying to make a living. I had been through some "bad stuff" before, but I guess I was a little late to the party coming out of my naivete. Before that event I really believed most people, at heart, were good. Never have I thought Mr. King deserved to be beaten like he was, but never did I think what happened as a result ever made anything better for him or anyone else. He is known for saying on the third day of the L.A. Riots, "People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?" That would be nice Mr. King.

People have tried to cite all sorts of reasons for the Riots, besides the beating, such as the high unemployment rate at that time, the heat wave we were having that spring or the poverty the city was experiencing. I think it happened because of human nature, because all man kind is fallen and operates in a fallen nature. I guess, from my point of view, almost 20 years later now, I understand that at our core we are all capable of great evil. I don't think most people would agree with me. That might be because most people have really never suffered. I am sorry, it's just true. Most Americans don't have a concept of suffering. I don't think you really see "who" people really are or what they are made of until they are "pressed". Most people in America are "nice" because they have it pretty good and always have. What I mean by that is this; you can be wonderful, generous and kind until life gets really, really difficult and then what is revealed at that time, well, that's YOU, who you really are. What is revealed is sometimes really admirable, but most of the time, it is not. It's downright disturbing.

Mr. King....

I don't live in California anymore. I left long ago to raise my children somewhere else. Partly because of the economic state of things there and partly because we wanted a slower, more traditional upbringing for our kids and to live somewhere they would be safe or just safer. Now, though, it doesn't seem like you can really hide from it anywhere. In my community, small as it is, we have problems. Among believers there are many problems. There is no rock to hide under. No perfect place to retreat to. No "perfect" group of people to go join. Where ever there are people there is evil. Why is that? Why can't we all get along Mr. King?

Mr. King, we can't get along because the ruler of this world, at this time, is not Elohim. This world is in chaos because we were supposed to manage this place for our Abba and we turned it over to the prince of air, the adversary, the enemy or whatever you want to call him, in the garden. Now, he is the big cheese. He calls the shots. When we did that, took his advice and ate that forbidden fruit, we died spiritually. Now we are enslaved to our "fallen nature", our flesh. We made him king. Now his rules apply. We gave him control. We are still doing that today. Every time we take justice into our own hands. Every time we "get even." "Quid pro quo"....... do you realize who the author of that is? Do you realize he is the author of the Riots and every evil known in human history and that mankind is simply an all too willing "tool" in his hands. That really reduces our imagined importance in the scheme of things when you really think about it. We are selfish and self centered like he is. In making him king we have bought his lie that we can worship the god of self and we do. His end is coming but boys and girls it is going to get pretty hot in the kitchen before the meal is complete if you get my drift.

So how now do we live? That is the question. If you have truly surrendered your life to Yahovah, our Creator, you don't live. He lives through you. You die......to your agenda, your plans, your "quid pro quo" or need to get even, your desires, your comfort, your feelings, your need to be right, your desire to be defended and your right to be offended.....all of it. If you haven't surrendered your life to Him and you are still living for YOU then you are lost. Time is growing short and there is no time to beat around the bush. I am deadly serious. Get found....by Him. Get out of the driver's seat or you will crash.

In this "movement" we have been blessed to stumble upon some important truths. That is all well and good. Are we "living them" or do we just know them? Are we loving Him with all our heart, mind and soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves? Or are we so puffed up in knowledge that we indulge in vain, divisive arguments and put out an unpleasant odor to the world rather then a sweat fragrance to the lost? Are we everything but loving? When the world looks at us do they want what we have or do we repel them with our back biting and fighting amongst ourselves?

I am looking around lately and I see a world that is lost. I see a world that needs to know a story. A true story of a Creator that loved it so much that He sent what was most precious to Him to die so that mankind could once again have relationship with Him. I see people that claim to represent Him fight and squabble amongst themselves and I think that disturbs me more that the day I saw Mr. Denny almost die on LIVE TV. Do you know why? Because a lot more people are going to die forever as a result of the body of believers inability to get it together and accurately represent our Creator to a lost and dying world. It won't be because we don't have a great children's ministry. It won't be because our chairs are not comfortable. It won't be because the carpet doesn't match the paint. It will be because we are fraudulently representing the good news and Him in our ignorant quarrels!

Dear Mr. King,

You asked a really good question almost 20 years ago. I don't have a simple answer. All I can say, about believers, is yes, we should ALL get along. We should have the ability and maturity to agree to disagree at times but still love and respect one another. We are supposed to be one. We are supposed to be "ministers of reconciliation." We have failed you Mr. King and a lot of others over the years. I am truly sorry. But, I think there are a lot of us that are still trying. We are trying to be better and represent our Savior in a way that He deserves. As for the world, I don't know what to say about that. He is going to fix that soon. I just want to thank you for asking the question. The world might have believed your question to be a lame one, but I think it was profound. We should all be asking ourselves the same question.


More than a Conqueror

Truth or Tradition?

Different....Audio Version

A Trip to the Airport

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13


I took a little trip to pick up some friends from the airport the other day. It was a nice drive there. I just got back from a camping trip with my husband and three of my four children. It was nice to have a little solitary time on the way there and even nicer to visit with my friends on the way home after I picked them up. It had been a challenging couple of days, well really a challenging couple of months, and a little break from it all was something I really needed. Driving does that for me sometimes. It gets my mind off of my troubles and concerns and it is a good time for me to pray as well. I couldn't articulate what to say to the Father, so I just prayed in the spirit and praised Him, knowing that although my emotions have overwhelmed me as of late He understands. Romans 8: 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.


I arrived at the airport and quickly made contact with my friends. It took us a while but we finally navigated ourselves out of the maze at the airport and got on the highway toward our hometown. During our journey we noticed at some point that just about every highway overpass had a number of firemen parked, with their trucks and gear on, setting up American flags to drape over the side of the overpasses. It was then that my friends remarked, both a former fireman and firewoman, that it was very likely that one of their own was killed in the line of duty and this gesture was a way to recognise and give honor to him or her in a coming funeral procession. It really touched my heart to see this and I thought and then remarked that the loyalty, honor and respect they had towards one another was really quite wonderful. Under my sunglasses I felt tears warm my eyes and threaten to fall onto my cheeks. The gesture touched a tender, raw, healing place in my heart. My friend remarked that they had such loyalty because their very lives depended on the other. They learned to depend on one another, bear one another's burdens and even lay down their lives for one another. They didn't wait until one of them was lost to go to bat for one another. Honoring, respecting and protecting one another.....it's what they do. It is pretty incredible when you really think about it. It is really scriptural when you really think about it.

John 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Our Messiah asked us to treat one another the same way. Unfortunately this is more the exception than the rule. I sometimes think that we really don't understand what it is to really love one another. Believers are going to have conflicts and we are not always going to agree on everything, but we are all part of the same body if we call Yahshua Messiah. As brothers and sisters in Him we should be loving one another, not causing harm or tolerating harm of one another. Yet it is all too evident that we fall short. Believers hurt each other in ways no different than that of the world.


How do we know we are loving our brother? This set of scriptures tell us what love is and what it isn't. If we'd review it daily, believers, all of us, do you think this world would be a different place? Do you think we'd be more effective in living our lives in a way people would want to emulate? I think so. Maybe I am an idealist and naive, OK I know I am, but I really believe in my heart that demonstrating love in your actions is the best way to represent a loving Elohim and open the ears and hearts of many in the world. Love done His way works. It can't be said enough.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


 Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 

 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We could learn a lot from firemen and firewomen. It is a thankless job. People go on with their lives and don't often realize the incredible sacrifice these brave men and women make for complete strangers, daily. How often do we thank these folks? How often do we pray for their safety? They never ask for anything, they just do their jobs anyway, protecting others and one another. Love, real love for others is a really brave and courageous act.

Sometimes.........
Sometimes your love won't be returned. Sometimes love will have to be tough, so sometimes it won't be recognised for what it is. Sometimes you will get burned and injured. Sometimes in the worst possible ways. Still, it didn't stop our Messiah from loving us and making the ultimate sacrifice and as painful as it might become for us it shouldn't stop us from loving just like He did not just sometimes, but all the time.

Father, I pray that you will give us all the strength to love at all times and look out for one another continuously. Please help us to love how you love because Yours is the only kind that endures. Amen

Out of Order

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

I was really thinking about the last year in a half and how much has changed in my life and in the life of my family members. We are beginning to understand things we never did before and I think what we understand the very most is that we have a lot to learn and have barely scratched the surface! I am humbled and grateful to be on this journey. It is really exciting! Seeking Him, His ways, His presence and His Moedim is a pleasure and an incredible honor. Scripture has come alive to us. We have been made more alive in Him and this chaotic dying world is growing more and more insignificant. We haven't arrived and we are not perfect, but looking back, just one year ago, I can see His hand on my family and myself and my heart swells with joy and thankfulness. Life is certainly not without challenges, trials and at times difficulty but all in all I feel very blessed and grateful.

One of the biggest changes we have experienced is that more "order" has come into our home. Order, the order of YHVH, is important if you are going to have peace and blessing in life. I never realized how much until I started to "reap" the blessings of seeking to keep His order. I am not talking about cleanliness or organization. Cleanliness and organization are wonderful things and certainly virtues and things to be sought after, but that is not what I am referring to. What I am speaking about is spiritual order. I am referring to my Father's Word, His commandments and His appointed times and the peace and blessings that come as a result of seeking to keep them with your whole heart.

Psalm 20:7 Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Opinions are a dime a dozen and for most of my "christian" walk that is what I spent all my proverbial dimes on. For years I listened to every popular teacher and or preacher you can imagine and read innumerable christian best sellers and christian "self help" books. All promised a better way to reach God, improve your marriage, parent your children, get healthy, invest your time and money and be happy. All were the well meaning opinions and beliefs of others and not necessarily always rooted in the Word of Elohim. I attended countless Bible studies and many retreats. I think I pretty much looked under every rock I could find for the next "big thing" with substantial promises attached to it and came up fairly empty at every turn. I placed great expectation on a lot of people and things to give me all the right answers, and they, rightly so, came crashing down around me. The answers were not found in them. They were never there to begin with. They are only found in His Word, because He is His Word.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Matthew 5: 17-20 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Have heaven and earth passed away or disappeared? Am I missing something?

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Commands, what commands could He be speaking of?

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Obey?


John 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

The Father's commands? Did Jesus obey the Torah? Why would He do that if He sought to "get rid" of it?

1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

Is obedience equated to knowing Him?

1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

Is love for Him really obeying His commandments?

2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Beginning of what?


One of the biggest fallacies, amoung others, that I allowed myself to be indoctrinated with was that I didn't need to be obedient, I just needed to believe and be expectant .  The Law was dead, nailed to the cross, done away with, gone. Forget about the instructions, especially the ones at the front of the Book, those were not for me.......well, maybe some of the ten commandments, but not all of them. Faith was reduced to a mental assent and a mere concept as opposed to the action it was intended to be. That "philosophy" never lined up with the Word of God especially when fully examined and that really perplexed me. I challenge you to fully examine what you have learned in light of the Word, the entire Word, if you never have. Not seeing the truth, or not wanting to see the truth, does not make the truth any less true. Others telling you that the truth is a lie, still does not make the truth any less true. Truth is true, period.

James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

So, slowly but surely, all our false pillars we had errected and leaned on came crashing down. I am so glad! What an incredible blessing in disguise that was! It was only then that we began to really seek Him, His Word, His Wisdom and His Understanding. We began to put away all that His Word would not legitimize and substantiate and seek to live by and understand the instructions that were already present, proven and given long ago. We stopped taking scripture out of context to justify a doctrine and started to let scripture stand on it's own, because it absolutely does! We began the process of looking at difficult scripture, that at times seemed contradictory to other scripture, in it's original language, applying cultural understandings and the Hebrew idioms that were well known at that time in history when the specific scripture was written. When we did that, guess what, it wasn't hard to understand anymore! We have begun the process of applying the Father's order in how we approach Him, love Him and love each other and others in our daily lives. That Order is called the Torah. The Torah is YHVH's instructions for life, not death. The word Torah has been mistakeningly called Law. Law is not an appropriate translation of the word Torah. Torah means "instructions". The Torah, the Word of Elohim is the Way, the Truth and the Life! Yahshua is the Torah, come in the flesh of a man! The Torah, The Word of YHVH was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai.  We are not to follow the commands of men such as the doctrine of the Talmud or the Mishna, (man's doctrine, called the Oral Torah) or the doctrine of  the newest christian book, trend, teacher or speaker (more man made doctrine) either! (See Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, Isaiah 29:13 and Colossians 2:22, no really, READ IT!!!) Sometimes there is good information, but we have to ask ourselves if it lines up with His Word and examine it very carefully and if it doesn't completely line up with the Word of YHVH we must dismiss it. It only takes a little leaven to corrupt the whole.

John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

So I know what you are thinking, because I thought it too. Are you saying we are under law? Are you saying we are saved by works? So are you going to stone me if I develop a rebellious attitute? What you need to understand is that there are three possibilities when you see the word "law" in the New Testament. There is the Torah which is mistakenly referred to as "law". There is the "Law of Sin and Death" which is the penalty of disobeying the Torah. Lastly, there is the Oral Torah, which is the Rabbinical writings. If you say that we are not under the law and you mean that we are not under the law of sin and death, then you are correct if you have received Yahshua as Lord and Savior and walk by the spirit and not in the flesh. We have all trangressed the law and are deseving of death, the penalty of breaking the Torah. However, Yahshua paid the penalty for you, in the event that you have recieved Him, call Him Lord and Savior and repented or turned from your sin. If you say that we are not under the law and you mean that we are not under the Oral Torah and doctrines and traditions of men then you are also correct. But, if you say that we are not to obey YHVH's instructions, His Torah, then you are incorrect. Now, many of the 613 commands in the Torah cannot apply to us today. We do not have a sacrificial system (i.e.Yahshua was our Passover Lamb), a theocracy, a temple or Cohen priests. Not every one is male or female. Please also keep in mind that Yahshua raised the bar and added 1050 additional commands in the New Testament, expounding on what was already said. Those do apply. Are we saved by keeping any of them? NO!! The only thing that saves us is belief in Him and that has never changed.

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Saying that you believe, however, and not seeking to obedient to His Word is emptiness. It is very much like learning to ride a bike by watching it on Youtube and never actually getting on a bike or really even owning one. The practical "walking out" of the action is essential to actually learning how to do it! Scripture that asserted differently, that we still bear responsibility to keep His Torah, His Instructions, are conveniently overlooked in an attempt to support a theology lacking a sufficient foundation in christian culture. A house without a good foundation is an unstable structure. Order is necessary. If a cell had no cell wall, you haven't a cell. Everything falls apart without order. To say "anything goes" is to invite complete chaos. Our crumbling society is evidence of such a flawed belief system. I am seeking to learn how to keep His order. I am finding a great deal of joy and freedom in that pursuit, quite contrary to what I have always been taught.


Don't take my word for it, take His. Check out 100% of what I have written, if it doesn't line up with His Word, all of His Word, disregard it.

Many blessings to you!

Landing

Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.


I have traveled by air a fair bit in my life. I have had some real interesting experiences on airplanes. I have met some fascinating characters, sometimes really friendly people and sometimes not. It is a strange thing to be confined in such a small place, way up in the air,  with hundreds of strangers for hours on end. Sometimes our conversations have gone to the most interesting places. I have met a lot of fellow believers on airplanes and we have discussed our faith and the various times we have seen God's hand move in our lives. Those were some of the most pleasant flights I have ever had. Some of those folks were from places I have never been, like Sweden for example. I once met a former pinup model, now in her 50's, full of regrets, her perspective on life now dramatically changed now in her golden years. A doctor, now practicing natural medicine after seeing breakthroughs in natural chelation therapy and facing complete rejection by the medical community as a result. The list of interesting people I have met could go on and on. Universally, however, our conversations were always full of meaning and discussion that revolved around the important things in life. Something about flying with strangers can cause you to be fairly candid with people, surprisingly.

I was thinking a lot about this this morning. About take off, flying and landing airplanes. I was thinking about the take off seeming rather simple to the passenger, uncomplicated and routine most of the time. Sometimes flying can bring about turbulence, bumps and thumps here and there. But landing, well that is a whole other story. Landing feels like it is quite an undertaking. I perceive it as probably the most risky part of the business of flying. It might be routine to the pilot, but to the passenger many thoughts and concerns enter your mind when touching down. To me, as a passenger, it is the hardest part of a flight. Sometimes it can feel pretty rough.

I remember a trip I took from Atlanta, GA to Houston, TX. On the way to Houston I was on a regular Boeing 747. Nice big plane! However, returning to Atlanta we were on a very small plane. I can't for the life of me remember what kind of plane it was, but it was SMALL and the weather was BAD. That flight made me nauseous. We were up, we were down, we were shaking, everything was shifting and creaking. What a landing! We all applauded when the pilot landed the plane like our favorite team had won the Superbowl or something! What an adventure that was! One I hope to never repeat.

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Life kind of reminds me of flying. When you are taking off it can be a little scary, but you can handle it. When you are in the air most of the time the flight is pretty smooth. However, when you are landing, coming down, that can be pretty overwhelming, if we let it be.

We all have times of "landing". Being brought down for a season. A period of time we are to spend in the valley. We are not sure how it is all going to turn out, we just know that we are going down for a bit. It can feel like an eternity and like time is frozen as we wait on our "landing". It is really tempting to think about what could happen in that process or what you could have done to prevent it or should have done. The mountain tops of life are really much more enjoyable places to be, but the valleys are the necessary places we must visit from time to time. The valleys are places where we learn to rely on Him, find out where our weaknesses are and where we grow and mature.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

I wish that I could say that I have fully relied on Him with every "landing" in the valleys that I have experienced. I have at times "rested" in Him when I have seen it coming, but it seems to be a knee jerk reaction to brace for impact. The reptilian section of our brain automatically starts to kick in sending us to a state of fight or flight, when our spirit man is telling us to remain calm and rest in Our Father's arms. It is a battle between the flesh and the spirit. The outcome largely dependent on who wins the battle. Resting can be hard work. Seeing the forest through the trees a struggle. The big picture of what God is doing tends to elude us.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

All of these landings, I think, are just preparation for the work that is ahead of us. Small potatoes, if you will. Although, I know, believe me, it doesn't "feel" like it. I think it is important to learn to distinguish between reality and what we feel. What we feel is often of the flesh, especially concerning fear. As believers we are told to not live by our flesh, but by the Spirit. How do we do that?

Psalm 27:1  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?

We learn to trust our "Pilot". He knows what He is doing. It isn't up to us. He does see the runway, the big picture if you will and He has a plan. He is the one in control. He is the one on the throne. We choose to believe that He will get us safely on the ground and He will even meet us there and be with us in our valley never leaving us nor forsaking us. We release our grip on the idea that we have any control what so ever. We remain in the safety of His Torah and in His presence. It is so simple, but we overcomplicate it so much. We just...let.....go.

Many blessings to you!