Court of Law

Illustration time! (Long, but I believe it’s worth it!)

Let’s say that you are charged with a crime. Let’s say that crime is not honoring the Sabbath as commanded by God (there are other examples… but let’s use this for the illustration).

The complaint against you reads:
CHARGE: DISHONORING THE SABBATH
PUNISHMENT POTENTIAL: UP TO, AND INCLUDING, DEATH (Ex 31:14-15, Num 15:22-29, 35, Num 22:30-32)

You’re arrested and booked. Your trial date arrives and both sides are ready for trial.

Your defense attorney intends to argue that, although you knew about this law, you didn’t believe it applied to you, or if it did apply to you, the times have changed and you could honor it as you saw fit.

The prosecution will argue that the law defining how the Sabbath is to be observed is very clear, and that you broke the law by not following these elements.

Those elements are:
1) Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy (Ex 20:8, 31:12-14, 16, Lev 23:3, Deut 5:12). Holy is “kadash” which translates to “set apart” – different than the other days.

2) Not doing any work (Ex 20:10, Lev 23:3, Deut 5:14).

3) Not causing others to work (Ex 20:10, Deut 5:14).

In this court, as in all courts, there must be sufficient evidence to convict you. One witness is not sufficient, there must be two or more witnesses which support the evidence for any given side (Deut 19:15, 2 Cor 13:1).

The prosecution calls their first witness, the Father. He testifies that He gave the law to His people, both native-born and foreigners (Num 15:29-30). He testifies that He gave it to be a blessing to those who obey it (Deut 11:27, 28:1-12) and a curse for those who disobey it (Deut 11:28, 28:15-68). He testifies that the Sabbath law was specifically a sign of the covenant between Him and His people, and that it was meant to last forever (Ex 31:13).

The defense cross-examines the Father, and asks Him if He changed. The Father testifies that He does not change (Num 23:19, Mal 3:6).

The prosecution calls their second witness, David. He testifies that the law is firm (Psalm 19:9), that the law is perfect (Psalm 19:7), that keeping them brings great reward (Psalm 19:11), that keeping the law brings blessing (Psalm 119:1-2), that the law is to be fully obeyed (Psalm 119:4), that there is rejoicing in keeping the law (Psalm 119:14), that the Father rebukes those who do not keep the law (Psalm 119:21), that disregarding the law is selfish (Psalm 119:36), that the law is good (Psalm 119:39), that he believes the law is forever (Psalm 119:44), that the law brings freedom (Psalm 119:45), that the law brings comfort (Psalm 119:52), that those who disobey the law are wicked (Psalm 119:53), that God formed him with the ability to learn and follow the law (Psalm 119:73), the law is trustworthy (Psalm 119:86), that without obedience to the law, there is death (Psalm 119:92), that the law is to be kept for his entire life (Psalm 119:112), that God rejects those who disobey the law (Psalm 119:118), that he is grieved because those he loves do not obey the law (Psalm 119:136), that life comes by obedience to the law (Psalm 119:154), and finally, he testifies that the law brings peace (Psalm 119:165).

The defense cross-examines David, and asks him why he speaks so positively of the law if it is such a burden. David testifies that it’s not a burden because he desires to obey it with all his heart, and that it can be kept (Deut 30:11-14, Philippians 4:3).

The prosecution calls their third witness, Jesus the Messiah. He testifies that he told everyone that he didn’t come to abolish the law, but to show people that it could be kept (Matt 5:17). He testifies that he told everyone that not even the smallest part of the law would be done away with until heaven and earth passed away (Matt 5:18). He testifies that anyone who disregards even the smallest command from the law, and/or teaches others to do so, will be made least in status within the coming Kingdom (Matt 5:19). He testifies that he also kept the law after his resurrection, by remaining clean until he ascended to the Father, so that he could perform his duties as high priest in the Heavenly Temple (John 20:17).

The defense cross-examines Jesus the Messiah, and asks him if the law hadn’t changed, why he came telling people that they only needed to love God and love their neighbor. Jesus testifies that he never said they “only” needed to do these things, but rather, that he was saying all the laws given by the Father hung on either loving God or loving our neighbors (Matt 22:36-40). He testifies that in obeying the “lesser” laws, we fulfill the greater two laws by default, because they’re all about either loving God or loving our neighbor.

The defense then asks Jesus the Messiah why he came teaching something new. Jesus testifies that he didn’t. Everything he taught was the same as what his Father commanded (John 7:16), including loving God (Deut 6:5) and loving our neighbor (Lev 19:18).

The defense then asks Jesus the Messiah if only the Jewish people had to follow the law. Jesus testifies that the law is for both those native-born and foreigners (Num 15:29-30) and that those who believe he is the Messiah are all considered the children of Abraham (Gal 3:29). He testifies that anyone who is Abraham’s descendant should be doing what Abraham did (John 8:39).

The prosecution calls their fourth witness, John. He testifies that breaking the law is called sin (1 John 3:4). He testifies that the way we love our neighbor is by first loving God, and the way we do that is by obeying His law (1 John 5:2-3), and that obeying His law is not a burden (1 John 5:3). He testifies that if a person is truly “of God,” they will not continue to sin intentionally (1 John 5:18). He testifies that the test of whether or not we truly know God is if we keep His law (1 John 2:3), and that if we claim to know Him but don’t keep His law, then we are liars and do not have the truth in us (1 John 2:4). He testifies that we can test this ourselves by seeing if we walk as Jesus the Messiah walked (1 John 2:5-6).

The defense cross-examines John and asks him how he came to the conclusion that breaking the law is called sin. John testifies that sin entered the world when Adam (and Eve) disobeyed the command not to consume the fruit in the Garden (Gen 2:16-17, Romans 5:12, 1 Cor 15:21).

The defense then asks John how he came to the conclusion that obedience to the law equals love. John testifies that Jesus the Messiah told them that this was the case (John 14:15, 21), and that since Jesus the Messiah also didn’t teach anything except what the Father first taught (John 7:16), that this must be true, since the Father doesn’t change (Num 23:19, Mal 3:6).

The defense then asks John why he doesn’t believe the law is a burden. John testifies that the Father made it possible to keep (Deut 30:11-14), that we can do anything through the power of the Father (Philippians 4:3) and that Jesus the Messiah sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers, for the express purpose of helping them to realize when they’re sinning, so that they can change course, and return to walking according to the law (Ezek 36:27, John 16:8, 13).

The prosecution then calls their fifth witness, James, the brother of Jesus the Messiah. He testifies that the law is freedom for those who obey it, because it brings blessing (James 1:25). He testifies that simply reading the scriptures is not enough, one must actually do what they say (James 1:23).

The defense cross-examines James, and asks if simply believing that Jesus is the Messiah is enough. James testifies that faith is not simply an act of believing, that it requires action. That belief without proof may as well be dead. If we claim to have faith, others should be able to see that (James 2:14-26).

The prosecution rests, and the defense calls their first witness, YOU. You testify that you own a Bible, and that you read it. That when you have had questions about something you’ve read and are confused, you ask your pastor. You testify that in the past, you were concerned that no one was teaching that we should be keeping the Sabbath in this day and age, so that you asked your pastor why this was the case. You testify that he told you that it’s not needed today, because the law was abolished at the cross, and that now we rest in Jesus. You testify that he also told you that by keeping these Old Testament laws, we are denying the sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah, and that it’s very dangerous, and that you shouldn’t even entertain the idea. You testify that he is an educated man, and he went to seminary school. You didn’t, so he must be right. You testify that this is why you’re being (falsely, in your opinion) charged with not honoring the Sabbath, because your pastor told you that you don’t have to do so. You testify that all you did was work your regular job on the seventh day of the week and then go out to eat at a restaurant with your family afterward. You testify that you don’t see what the big deal is. You testify that even prayed over your meal before eating it. You testify that you love God.

The prosecution cross-examines you and asks you if you’ve ever had a speeding ticket. You testify that you once received a ticket for going 45 in a 35, but that you didn’t believe you should have been charged with that crime either, because your friend told you they raised the speed limit in that area to 45.

The prosecution asks you if you took a look at the law in that area and if it was actually 45. You testify that your friend actually was incorrect, and after looking at the law, it was 35 in that area, so you were charged appropriately, and that you paid the fine, which was the punishment under the traffic law.

The prosecution asks you if, after looking at the laws concerning the Sabbath, as recorded in scripture, you did not carry out any of those elements. You testify that you didn’t break anything because of Colossians 2:16, that you can’t be judged for keeping Sabbath the way you want to keep it.

The defense calls their second witness, Paul. Paul testifies that when he was writing his letter to the Colossians, he was writing it to the believers living in Colossae (Col 1:2). That he was warning them to stay true to the scriptures they already knew, and not to throw those to the wayside in favor of traditions set by men that were not based in scripture (Col 2:8). That these people were living righteously, not dead in sin any longer (Col 2:13) and that he was telling them not to let those around them convince them that they were doing bad things by keeping the Sabbaths, feasts, and eating clean according to scripture (Col 2:16). He testifies that it’s hard to understand that perspective because we don’t have a record of the original letter he received FROM the Colossians, so it’s important to understand the context these believers in Colossae were living in before trying to read his response to them.

The defense asks Paul if he taught contrary to the law. Paul testifies that he was actually accused of doing just that, but that there was no truth in these reports, because he did keep the law, and taught others to do the same (Acts 21:20-24). Paul testifies that to prove he actually did keep the law, he took a Nazarite vow (Acts 21:26) which declared one set apart to God, as per the law (Numbers 6:1-21). Paul then testifies that he even explicitly told people that he didn’t advocate for getting rid of the law, but told them to uphold it (Rom 3:31). He testifies that he doesn’t understand how people have arrived at the conclusion he taught anyone against the law, especially because he went out of his way to abide by it, returning to celebrate the feasts that were required in the law (Acts 18:21, 20:16, 1 Cor 5:8, 16:8).

The prosecution calls a rebuttal witness, Peter. Peter testifies that he also told people to remember the law of God (2 Peter 3:2). Peter testifies that he knows Paul well, and that Paul is really knowledgeable concerning the law of God, because he studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Peter testifies that as a result, some of Paul’s teachings can be hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16). Peter testifies that because Paul can be hard to understand, some people make errors in their interpretation of Paul’s words, which causes them to be lawless (disobeying the law of God) (2 Peter 3:17).

The prosecution and defense rest their cases.

The jury deliberates, and then returns with their verdict of GUILTY. Your punishment will be left to the judge.

The attorneys query the jurors after the verdict. They ask what made them return a verdict of guilty. The jurors respond that all of the prosecution’s witnesses provided incontrovertible evidence that the law was eternal, a good thing, a sign of the covenant of the Father’s people, that God doesn’t change, that Jesus didn’t teach against the law. They say that the defendant (you) appeared to rely on someone else’s interpretation of the law, rather than the plain reading of it, despite previously feeling as though something was inconsistent. They state that the defendant appeared to see that she should be keeping the Sabbath as commanded, but decided ultimately that it wasn’t important to do so. They state that her basis for not keeping it (Col 2:16) was ultimately refuted by the author of that letter himself – Paul. Paul testified that this wasn’t the intent of the letter, but actually the opposite. Paul further testified that he fully supported the keeping of the law.

One day, we will be put on trial before the Great Judge. We all have sinned (Rom 3:23), the metric for our punishment will be according to the law. Numbers 15:22-29 tells us that there is a sacrifice for UNINTENTIONAL sin. Meaning, we did it, and didn’t mean to do it (before we knew better, or because we didn’t realize we were sinning). Numbers 22:30-32 tells us that for INTENTIONAL sin, the punishment is being cut off from the Kingdom, or even death. Hebrews 10:26-31 tells us that if we keep sinning after realizing it’s sin, there no longer remains a sacrifice for us, but a fearful expectation of judgment (from the Great Judge), that anyone rejecting the law dies if two or three witnesses can confirm they rejected it. It tells us that those who do so trample on the blood shed as a sacrifice for our breaking of the law. Please reconsider your position on this matter, as it has eternal consequences. <3

Heart Disease

The leading cause of death for men and women worldwide is heart disease.

And you may or may not know that what happens in the spiritual, manifests in the physical.

So, it may or may not shock you to hear me tell you that the leading cause of spiritual death is also... heart disease.

Proverbs 4:23 says,

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Proverbs 27:19 says,

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart."

Everything we do or say is a DIRECT result of the state of our heart. Is our heart healthy and giving life to others? Are our words doing this? Our actions? Or is our heart diseased, and spewing negative talk and treating others miserably?

In Psalms 51:10, David implores God to create a NEW heart within him, one that is pure:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

What does that new heart look like? The following verses tell us.

It accepts instruction/commands:

"The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Proverbs 10:8

It guards the Father's commands:

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity." Proverbs 3:1-2

It seeks after the Father, so that it won't stray from the Father's commands:

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." Psalm 119:10

It praises the Father and learns His commands:

"I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws." Psalm 119:7

It serves Him entirely, walks in obedience, and keeps His commands:

"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." Joshua 22:5

Paul tells the Romans that the Father placed His Holy Spirit in the hearts of the believers,

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:5

Ezekiel 36:26-27 reiterates this idea of the Father giving us a NEW heart with a NEW spirit:

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

What does that new spirit in that new heart cause us to do, based on the passage above? Causes us to walk in His statutes and observe His ordinances (walk and observe His law).

This is how we know that we CAN do these things, because the Holy Spirit is the empowerment for us to be able to do them, based on the passage above.

Further, we see in Philippians 4:13, that through this Spirit that God has given us, we are strengthened to be able to do ALL things:

"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."

If all means all, this means we are also strengthened enough, by His Spirit, to walk in His commands.

In closing, the leading cause of death, in both the physical and the spiritual is heart disease. The Father requires us to submit to Him, so that He can circumcise our hearts. This leads to us walking in His Spirit, and therefore walking in His commands. All of these things together lead to... life.

"The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!" Deuteronomy 30:6

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 says it best:

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Allow Him to cure your heart disease. Choose life that you may live, you and your descendants. <3

Two-Way Street

You know, I always see posts about how much God loves US, and everything He does for US. Which is fine, He does do SO MUCH for us, He HAS done so much for us. We should celebrate it, absolutely.

But, why is our relationship with Him a one-way street? Imagine your marriage relationship. If you were to show affection to your spouse, and they never reciprocated, or rarely reciprocated... wouldn't that be a terrible relationship? You'd probably become depressed and lonely, right? You may even think about divorce.

So, how do we show God we love Him? We can't come up with an arbitrary answer here. Think of that book - "The 5 Love Languages" - it talks about how every person has their own "love language" - how they feel loved. There is quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service and physical touch. You may find that you feel loved through more than one of those outlets, or simply one over the others. In any case, if your love language is words of affirmation, and your spouse doesn't typically provide you with those words of affirmation, you may find yourself feeling unloved.

So, let's then forego the arbitrary answer we *think* may be right and look to God's Word to let HIM tell us how He feels loved.

1 John 5:3 tells us pretty explicitly,

"To love God means that we obey his commandments. Obeying his commandments isn’t difficult."

Even Jesus tells us how we show our love for Him in John 14:15,

"If you love me, you will obey my commandments."

Many will say that our worship is an act of love, and I would agree with you. John 4:23-24 tells us that God is looking for those who worship Him properly,

"Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him. God is a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

We must worship Him in spirit AND in truth.

The word for "spirit" there is G4151 pneuma, which means by mental disposition. So, we must worship God by having our minds set on Him, maybe it's better to say our intent set on Him. We must intend on worshipping Him. But there's an important word after the word "spirit" - AND. We must worship God in Spirit AND in truth. Not one, not the other. BOTH.

The word for "truth" there is G225 aletheia, which means - well, truth. So we must worship God according to intent and according to FACTS. Where do we get the facts about God? His Word. His Word tells us the truth about Him. So, we are told that God's love language is obedience to His commandments. I would challenge us today to make sure we are in a TWO-way relationship with the Father, and not such a relationship where we reap all the benefit, but He is left in the dust. <3

Adultery

If I decided to have an affair and commit adultery, and my husband found out, we would likely need to go to counseling to heal some of those wounds. It would take a long time, but let's say that he forgave me. He gave up the anger and bitterness so that our relationship could be made whole.

Now, I would (hopefully) not turn around a year later and do the exact same thing I had received forgiveness for, correct?

Our Father, through His Son Jesus, has done the exact same thing. We sinned against Him, by breaking His law, because sin is transgression of the law.

"Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law." 1 John 3:4

The Bible tells us that we committed adultery against Him, among other things. He then sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice to pay the debt that existed as a result of our sins. The debt is gone. It is forgiven. Do we then turn around and continue to sin by breaking His law, since our debt has been paid?

I'll let you answer that yourself, but I would hope you would answer with a resounding NO. Paul in Romans even tells us that we are to choose to be a slave to obedience not a slave to sin:

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification." Romans 6:15-19

Remember that 1 John 3:4 from above tells us that sin is defined as transgression (breaking) of the law.

1 John is estimated to have been written around 85 AD. After the cross. Sin was still being defined as transgression of the law at this point.

This begs the question - well - transgression of what law? Some will say Jesus' "law of love" which comes from Matthew 22 (bolded words are references directly from the Old Testament):

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

There are two things to note here - the first is that Jesus' last point says that on those two commandments depend the whole law and the Prophets. This means that all the Law and Prophets culminate in those two works. Be obedient in the little things of the law and you will be obedient in the big things (Luke 16:10).

The second thing to note is this - Jesus said those two were the greatest of the commandments. He never, at any point, says these are the only two commandments. He says they are greater than the others, which implies there are others that are lesser, or least, in His eyes. In fact, in Matthew 5, he lays out that whoever teaches against even the least of the commandments will be found least in the Kingdom. He even goes so far as to tell us that none are abolished so long as Heaven and Earth remain:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Paul tells us the law is not nullified in Romans 3:

"Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law."

So let's go back to what Law? Sin is transgression of what Law? Jesus is telling us right here that there are more commandments that exist rather than the two He has just mentioned (which by the way are taken directly from Leviticus 19 - this is why they are IN ALL CAPS in the New Testament, showing that it is a direct reference from the Old Testament).

If those two commandments didn't pass away from the Old Testament law, it can be safely assumed that the others didn't either. The Law that John is speaking of is the Old Testament law. The Law from the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

I'm just going to leave this passage from Hebrews here (bolded words are direct quotes from the OT):

"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

It says the Lord will judge his people. That means that the believers out there will be judged. According to what standard?

"For all who have sinned without the Law (non-believers) will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law (believers) will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." Romans 2:12-13

We will be judged according to God's standard - His Law. Now is the time to practice walking it out, friends.

If I Were the Enemy...

I just want to posit a theory on Proverbs 22:6.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

If this is true, then the opposite would likely be true as well - training up a child in the way he should NOT go. Then even when he is old, he will not depart from it. I bet the enemy knows this scripture. If I were the enemy, I would know the Bible in and out, so I could twist and distort it as much as possible.

And you know that he knows that if he wants to fully deceive God's children, he's got to get them when they're young.

Because when I was young, I was taught that all I had to do was pray the sinner's prayer and that "once I was saved" I was "always saved."

The Cross plus nothing.

It sounds wonderful and hopeful and fantastic, and you rely on those preachers and teachers because "they went to seminary" and you didn't, so you trust them and their knowledge.

But then, if you're like me, you open up your Bible and start to read it more because "that's what I should be doing" and then you start to say, "Hey, wait a second... I thought..." and then you dig around some more, and there's another passage and another passage and suddenly, you're thinking.... "Nahhhh, it's all in my head. My pastor's right."

What I'm getting at is this: if God promises that if we train our kids in the way they should go - HIS WAY - they won't depart from it as adults. The alternative to that is true as well. If they're raised (like you and I were) with inconsistent doctrine and fallacies that are explained by having to twist the scriptures into poetry and excuses that don't even come from scripture (like that pesky Sabbath business - what are we? JEWS? Come on. That all ended at the Cross!), then when they're older, they won't depart from it either.

Open your hearts. Open your minds. Open your eyes. TEST EVERYTHING. ♥

Golf and Fertility Goddesses

So, last night I was watching David Feherty's interview with Phil Mickelson.

(This is a golf thing, but if you don't know who they are or just don't care about golf, keep reading, because it's not really about golf).

And at one point Feherty asks Phil if he believes in the powers of the fertility goddess in Hawaii. To which Phil responds something to the effect of, "Oh, you don't know the story, do you?"

And then Phil goes on to explain how he and his wife, Amy, struggled with infertility, and shortly before going on fertility medication for their first child, they traveled to Hawaii. While there, someone told them to "ask the fertility goddess to help them get pregnant." So, they go to this statue of this fertility goddess, rub it, and then they get pregnant with their first child without medication.

And for their second child, they did the same thing. Were told they'd need medication, and instead rubbed this Hawaiian fertility goddess statue.

Now, while Phil is telling this whole story, he and Feherty are laughing it off, and ultimately Phil caps the story by saying something like, "So yeah, we believe in the Hawaiian fertility goddess."

And you know, a few years ago I would've laughed it off too.

"Hahaha, silly fertility goddess... hahaha..."

Except, scripture tells us that these gods and goddesses that are not of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob actually DO have power, and that people have worshipped them (knowingly or unknowingly) throughout history.

"The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs [Asherah is the fertility goddess of the Canaanites]." Judges 3:7

We are told that the god of this world (Satan) will perform miracles and wonders that will deceive many, because they have been blinded to the spiritual war that is occurring all around us.

"Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

There is a spiritual battle occurring all around us. And just because we can't see it happening directly, does not negate that it IS happening.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:10-13

Finally, you may be saying, what's the big deal? Why does it matter if they rubbed a fertility statue and got pregnant?

It matters because we are told to have NO other gods before YHWH (Yahweh, our God). In fact, this is repeated multiple times throughout the scriptures.

"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3

"You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves." Exodus 20:23

"-- for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God--" Exodus 34:14

"You shall have no other gods before Me." Deuteronomy 5:7

"You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you..." Deuteronomy 6:14

"...with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them." 2 Kings 17:35

"Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god." Psalm 81:9

"I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images." Isaiah 42:8

"Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known..." Jeremiah 7:9

So, now you may be saying, "Well, rubbing a statue and hoping you get pregnant doesn't mean I am worshipping another god instead of our God."

And you know, a few years ago, I would've argued that exact same thing. The problem with that line of thought is that when we put our faith (even half-heartedly) into ANYTHING or ANYONE besides our God, we ARE directing our worship and putting our faith into something ELSE besides our God.

Even joking about it is serious stuff, y'all. God considers it adultery, and it's exactly why He exiled the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel. In fact, the Northern Kingdom was SO awful about putting their faith into the gods of the world, that the Father divorced them. That bad.

"During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the Lord." Jeremiah 3:6-10

I share these thoughts with you all because I want us all (myself included) to be more careful with our words and our actions. To make sure we are pure and set apart for the Father.

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Does Truth Change?

Let's try this from another angle, literally. I created this schematic:

The original church (taught by the apostles who walked with Jesus) knew Jesus' ministry far better than anyone else. They learned directly from Him. And Jesus taught according to the Father's will. Therefore, the apostles knew without a doubt what the Father's will was.

So, the original church and the Truth existed in the same plane of time. They were one and the same. The Truth never changes, so it is represented by a flat line that remains unchanged in direction.

Let's say that the church (over time) deviated just one single degree from the Truth that was relayed to the apostles. That one degree separated them from the Truth, even if only a measly degree. Over time, the separation becomes more noticeable. Maybe this results in many denominations... did you know there were an estimated 43,000 Christian denominations as of 2012?? In the year 1900, there were "only" 1,600. Still a far cry from the ONE denomination that existed at Christ's ministry.

So, then you and I were born somewhere after this seemingly minute deviation occurred, and we're used to the deviation because it existed before we were even born. To us, it's truth. But it's not really, because it has deviated from the Truth that Christ taught 2 millennia ago. And then you have the church today, 1984 years after Christ taught. And that single measly degree has suddenly become a vast separation from the Truth that never changed.

For the church today to remain dogmatic that it KNOWS the Truth... you have to ask yourself - how did one denomination turn into 43,000?

The Big Ten

If we believe the Ten Commandments are still in effect today, but deny the same about the other laws found within the Old Testament, we have a fundamental issue to deal with - why would "the law be fulfilled with Christ" but still leave the Ten Commandments intact if fulfillment meant abolition?

If Christ's "law of love" (the "love God, love your neighbor" law) is our argument against the Old Testament law, then what do we do with the Ten Commandments? Nullify them? By the way - the law of love is found explicitly in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18... yet another part of the Old Testament law that Jesus testified as still standing.

At this point, we'd say, "of course not!" - okay, well then we need to provide a scripturally-backed support that shows that when God supposedly abolished the OT law, He excluded the Ten Commandments and they remain in effect today. Do we see the fundamental error in this manner of thought?

Let's say we can't find scripture that abolishes the OT law, yet keeps the Ten Commandments. Then by logic, we would need to conclude that the Ten Commandments no longer remain in effect. And my guess is that we could all agree that God does not condone adultery or covetousness... see the dilemma here, folks?

Food for thought - our federal, state and local laws exist to protect us. The law restrains to protect. It's why we have laws against fraud, laws against murder, laws against speeding, laws to wear a seatbelt. God did the very same thing! He gave us the law to protect us - from disease, from exhaustion, from heartache, from the effects that sin can have in our lives! We as Christians can agree that sin brings strife. God gave us the law to keep us from sinning, so that we would be free of strife.

David tells us in Psalm 119 that the law is good and perfect and holy. So is the One who gave it to us, and it is through this law that we can truly see just how good and perfect and holy He truly is.

Abomination of Desolation

The prophets speak of an "abomination of desolation" that will be set up in the Temple in a future time. If you are a student of Biblical prophecy, you are aware that many prophecies have dual fulfillment. Today, that usually translates to a prophecy being partially fulfilled in the past, and then completely fulfilled in the future. When Daniel the prophet speaks of the abomination that causes desolation in Daniel 9:27, 11:31 and 12:11, almost every single Bible scholar agrees that this abomination was PARTIALLY fulfilled in the days of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, where he erected a statue of Zeus in the temple and then sacrificed a pig on the altar (which was unclean according to God's law given to the Israelites).

So my question to you today - are our bodies today not God's temple?

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19-20

If you agree that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit... don't you think that God would consider it a similar "abomination that causes desolation" if we consume the exact same unclean meat that Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed?

We were purchased at the cost of the blood of our Savior. Is giving up the things He calls unclean really too much of a sacrifice for us? Food for thought.

What is Holiness?

Do we really understand what holiness entails? What does it actually mean "to be holy?" The Hebrew word for holy is "kodesh" - it means in its most basic sense - set apart. The holy things, the holy people, are set apart from the unholy things and people. This is why we see so much emphasis on God separating light from dark, wheat from tares, sheep from goats, wool from linen, the Sabbath from the other days. He places emphasis on the practice of literally setting things apart from other things so that His people learn how to differentiate the holy from the unholy.

There is so much emphasis today on emotion and feeling. Here's how the holiness of our Creator feels: so pure and bright that your eyes can't look upon His face, so incredibly pure that if you entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple, you would be struck dead by the purity and power of His presence, so powerful that when in His Son's presence, you cannot stand and are moved to fall at His feet.

So my question is - what about our lives points us to becoming more like that second paragraph? God tells us in Leviticus 11:44:

"For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy..."

and Peter reminds us again in 1 Peter 1:14-16: 

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.""

From God's perspective (because His is all that matters), are the things we're doing, eating, refraining from, making us more holy? Or are they just giving us instant gratification? For instance, God tells us that pork is a "detestable meat" in both Isaiah 66:17 and Deuteronomy 14:3-8:

"Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens, Following one in the center, Who eat swine's flesh, detestable things and mice, Will come to an end altogether," declares the LORD." Isaiah 66:17

"You shall not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat. Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these among those which chew the cud, or among those that divide the hoof in two: the camel and the rabbit and the shaphan, for though they chew the cud, they do not divide the hoof; they are unclean for you. The pig, because it divides the hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you. You shall not eat any of their flesh nor touch their carcasses." Deuteronomy 14:3-8

...and that consuming it will make us unclean. Being unclean takes us further from holiness. Not closer to it. Every single thing we do, every. single. thing. matters. It either draws us closer to our Creator's holy presence, or it takes us away from His holy presence. Every choice we make matters. Every word we say matters. Every thing we eat matters. Every activity we do matters. Every refrain from activity matters.

This is my call to the church body - let's stop pretending that God is interested in our happiness. He's interested in our holiness. Can happiness still exist - absolutely. But He's not going to look upon us in the End and measure our joy. He's going to pass us under His iron rod and separate us based on our dedication to Him.

The Importance of Repentance

Back in the OT days, sacrifices for sin were brought to the temple, and the person bringing the sacrifice would repent from whatever sin they had committed, so that their sacrifice wasn't made in vain.

If Jesus was our perfect sin sacrifice, why would our actions after His sacrifice be any different than those back then?

If anything, shouldn't our actions be MORE repentant, since His cost was so great?

There's a reason Jesus said to the adulterous woman,

"...Go and sin no more." John 8:11

Because repentance after the sacrifice brings forgiveness.

"... and that REPENTANCE FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Luke 24:47

If we accept the covering of His sacrifice, but then continue sinning, we have made His sacrifice in vain.

"FOR IF WE GO ON SINNING willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:26-29

Mythbusting!

MYTH: The Law alone saves you.
TRUTH:

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20

MYTH: If the Law alone doesn't save you, you don't have to keep it.
TRUTH:

"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." Romans 2:13

Why the contradiction? Because faith without works is a dead/nonexistent faith:

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."James 2:14-26

It is also the fruit of salvation:

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments."
1 John 5:2

MYTH: The Law was only given to the Jewish people.
TRUTH: The Law was given to both the native-born, the foreigner, and the sojourner at the base of Mt. Sinai. God even explicitly gave commands for those parties to ALL keep these statutes forever, throughout their generations. You can see this repeated throughout Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

MYTH: The church replaces Israel.
TRUTH: The church is grafted IN to Israel, therefore becoming a PART of Israel:

"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree." Romans 11:7-24

MYTH: I'd know if I was being misled by not following the Law.
TRUTH: Scripture says otherwise. It even prophesies that His Law will be forgotten by His people:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." Hosea 4:6

Israel was more than just the Jewish people (the Jews were of the tribe of Judah - there were 11 other tribes that were NOT Jewish), and we can see here that Israel was dispersed among the nations:

"Israel is swallowed up; They are now among the nations Like a vessel in which no one delights." Hosea 8:8

But God will gather us back:

"“In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance." Jeremiah 3:18

And my favorite passage, which shows Ephraim (representative of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the non-Jewish tribes) uniting us with our Jewish brother Judah:

"“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness—Israel, when it went to find its rest.” The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. “Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. “Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria; The planters will plant And will enjoy them. “For there will be a day when watchmen On the hills of Ephraim call out, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.’” For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel.’ “Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here. “With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” For the LORD has ransomed Jacob And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life will be like a watered garden,And they will never languish again. “Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. “I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD. Thus says the LORD, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.” Thus says the LORD, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD, “And they will return from the land of the enemy. “There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD, “And your children will return to their own territory. “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God. ‘For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’ “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD. “Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities. “How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth— A woman will encompass a man.” Jeremiah 31:1-22

Day 30 - #obediencechallenge - Welcome to the Whole Word

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

Today may be the last day of the challenge, but I hope it's not the last day of your obedience. I hope this past month has shown you many blessings, and that you have discovered that obedience isn't a yoke of bondage as many believe. One of my favorite Torah Portions is Ki Tavo - "when you come in" - and is directed at the Israelites as they were about to enter the Promised Land. We too are on our journey into the Promised Land, and we can learn much from this portion. Here is Ruach International's teaching on Ki Tavo. I hope it blesses you.

If you're thinking, "What do I do now that I am done with this challenge?" - 119 Ministries has an excellent capstone called "Welcome to the Whole Word." I encourage you to watch it and pray about your next steps. Shalom!

Day 29 - #obediencechallenge - Opening Your Mind

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

I was reading Luke 24, and came across this gem, straight from Jesus AFTER his resurrection. This is Jesus, preaching that one must REPENT (turn away) SO THAT they may have their sins forgiven.

A few things here. First, sin still exists. This means there's a law that defines sin.

Second, He is telling them that they don't just automatically have their sins forgiven because of the cross. They must also REPENT. This is contrary to some mainstream teachings within Christianity that teach that no matter what you're doing, you're forgiven. We can see that's not the case. Homosexuality, as an example? Still a sin. Still requires one to turn from it to receive forgiveness.

Third, this message of REPENTANCE FOR FORGIVENESS will be proclaimed in HIS name. A doctrine from the Father, preached through the Son. John 7:16 states that Jesus didn't come with a new doctrine, it was His Father's.

"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."
John 7:16

It never changed.

Lastly, I love the opening statement to this passage:

"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..."

These were His DISCIPLES! They knew the scriptures! But clearly there were things that they didn't understand. Yes, even these people who ministered with the living Son of God lacked understanding... Until they were given it. Do you think it's possible that we as the church may be too haughty in assuming that we DO have all the understanding? Food for thought.

“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Luke 24:45-47

Day 28 - #obediencechallenge - Grafted In

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

What does "grafted in" mean? Are we grafted in to the church or Israel? What does the olive tree mean? Is this replacement theology?

All of those questions can be answered in this great teaching from TorahFamily.org.

Day 27 - #obediencechallenge - Emor / "Say"

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

This week's Torah portion (Parsha) is Emor, which means "say." Here is a great study on it from Ruach International Ministries.

Day 26 - #obediencechallenge - The Holy Spirit

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

The Holy Spirit always confused me a little bit growing up in the church... like, how do I KNOW if it's the HOLY Spirit guiding me, or a "familiar" (unholy) spirit leading me astray? Thankfully, scripture tells us exactly how the Holy Spirit operates, and exactly where it will guide us.

Watch this short 4 minute video on the Holy Spirit.

P.S. Fun fact - you may see some people (not in this video) refer to the Holy Spirit as the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Hebrew). Ruach = Spirit, Ha'Kodesh = the Holy... so Ruach Ha'Kodesh translates to "the Holy Spirit."

Day 25 - #obediencechallenge - Flesh and Spirit

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

We all have our "fatal flaws." Mine are impatience and anger. Unfortunately, yesterday, they reared their ugly head yet again. I have really been working on being patient with my little kids, trying not to get annoyed when they ask the same question for the umpteenth time, in a span of five minutes. Or when I tell them, for the umpteenth time, to do or not do something, in a span of five minutes. And most of the time, I succeed. I can usually suppress the part of my flesh that WANTS to get impatient and angry, and instead respond out of the Spirit.

But yesterday, I failed. Miserably. It was all going well until their naptime. I hadn't been feeling well... my throat was on fire, and I was tired. So, at naptime, I laid down with my youngest daughter in our room for a nap. I had juuuuust got my throat to stop feeling like I needed to cough all the time, and had just nodded off, when I hear, "Mommy, I need to go potty."

My first reaction was to be annoyed that I had been woken up. However, I didn't act like it bothered me, took her potty and laid us both back down, and she actually fell back asleep. But I was wide awake.

After naps were over, things just kind of devolved from there. I decided I wanted to watch a show on TV, which never happens, and was interrupted countless times. My impatience got the best of me, and I just started yelling. And that only made things worse for their behavior (and mine, if I'm being honest). By the time my husband was done working in the yard, I told him I was done... I was at my wit's end. The night ended with me practically dragging my youngest son to an early bedtime because he wasn't listening, and I was fed up.

I took a bath, which was cold, and that just amped me up even more. And then I got to thinking about how Mothers' Day was this coming weekend... and how I was a terrible mom and didn't deserve the day at all. The whole bath, I just kept replaying how awful I had been with the kids, and how I was probably going to get a card talking about how wonderful I was, and that it was basically going to be a lie... because I suck as a mom.

I got out of the bath and went and apologized to both the kids for being so hateful, and snuggled with them for a little bit. As I laid down last night, I started thinking about the fruits of the Spirit, given in Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

None of my behavior in the latter part of yesterday was a fruit of the Spirit - I was the opposite of forbearing... I was impatient. I was the opposite of loving and gentle and self-controlling... I was angry and hateful.

In fact, I fit the description for the works of the flesh given in scripture in Galatians 5:19-21:

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."

Hatred? Discord? Jealousy? Fits of rage? Selfish ambition? Dissensions? Envy? Check. Check. Check. Check. Check.... Check.... Check. Heart check.

I was completely void of the Holy Spirit yesterday. It did not reside in my heart. I chose to instead act once in my flesh, denying the Spirit, and it snowballed into all those other awful rotten fruits of the flesh above. And the Enemy whispered in my ear, taking full advantage of that yesterday. Telling me that I don't deserve to be celebrated, because all my kids and husband are going to see is how terrible of a mom I am, and why would they want to honor THAT?? And that's so close to the truth, that I would almost believe it.

Except... my kids reminded me about forgiveness. My daughter asked me to sit with her for a few minutes, despite all the hatred I had exhibited to her not even an hour before. To her, it didn't matter. It was forgotten. She no longer remembers my hatefulness, she has accepted that I am trying to move in the right direction, and sees me for my potential. Man, how powerful is that?

"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."
Hebrews 8:12

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12

This walk isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about TRYING. It's about realizing when we're not walking in Spirit AND Truth, and repenting. Our Father is merciful and gracious, abounding in compassion and lovingkindness. He removes our transgressions from us. He sees us for our potential. We just need to believe it, and walk in that direction. <3

Day 24 - #obediencechallenge - Law and Grace

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

I've shared this video before, but it's always a great visual of how law and grace work in tandem with one another. It's only 3 minutes long. Take a look.

Day 23 - #obediencechallenge - Hard Choices

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

I've stated this repeatedly, but it's worth mentioning again. If you are a Christian and profess that Jesus is your Savior and God is your Heavenly Father, each and EVERY choice you make either leads you closer to Him or further away from Him (and therefore closer to the enemy). We often hear analogies of there being a "war for our soul" - and that can't be underscored enough. There are two entities fighting for your soul - YHWH your God and Satan your enemy.

This means that there is a spectrum. On one end is God, the other is Satan. Anywhere in the middle is lukewarmness. You have hundreds of choices each day that take you closer to God's end, or closer to Satan's end. Your free will enables you to choose. But you ARE choosing, make no mistake. Revelation 3:15-17 says:

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

If God gives us His Word which tells us explicitly how to live our lives, and sent His Son to show us how to perfectly WALK OUT that Word, why on earth would we ever believe that we are do to the exact opposite of the ONLY living example the Father sent for us to model?! Jesus ate clean, kept a 7th day Sabbath, kept the holy days His Father ordained, and instructed His discliples in the same manner. He even told us that His doctrine was NOT His own, it was His Father's... which was laid out in the OT explicitly. You either believe that every. single. word. in the Bible is true, or you believe God is a liar.

If that last part makes you angry, it should. It should make you angry that someone is questioning your faith. It should make you want to defend yourself. WITH SCRIPTURE. Are you sure that your beliefs are fireproof? Are you sure that every single thing you do, that your church says you "can" do, is backed by scripture? Today, make a list of everything you believe to be true and find 2-3 scriptures (from 2-3 different witnesses - not just Paul) that explicitly support your beliefs.

One of these days soon, our faith will be challenged more than we ever thought possible. Maybe we won't have our Bibles to search out the scriptures to stand on our beliefs. You should be able to easily give supporting scripture for ALL of your beliefs without pause. Romans 3:4 says:

"Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, And might prevail when you come into judgment."

Back to the choices we make... the shows we watch, the music we listen to, the things we say, the activities we participate in, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear... they all either glorify God, or they don't. They either bring us CLOSER to Him, or closer to His enemy, Satan. His Word assures us of this. Matthew 12:30 says:

"Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me."

So the question is - do you believe what He says is true? Are you truly working WITH God, or AGAINST Him? Before you answer that question, make sure your answer is supported by scripture. Much love to you all. <3

Day 22 - #obediencechallenge - Perspective

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

Have you ever seen those pictures where perspective makes all the difference? Up close, on a superficial level, something looks like one thing, but when you step away and look at the larger picture, it turns out to be something entirely different. Something deeper, with more meaning.

Let's look at some pictures. This one - it's just a picture of some screws.

If I showed you this first picture and said, "This is a picture of a man's face," you would tell me, "No... it's quite OBVIOUSLY a picture of screws." Because you're looking at it from your current experience, your current understanding of it, and also on a zoomed-in, narrowed, perspective.

But, let's say that I then show you this second picture.

NOW it's pretty obvious that this IS a picture of a man's face. You had only seen a portion of it, up close and narrowed in focus, but it was still a man's face the entire time you stared at it. No matter how long you stared at that first picture - without me showing you the second picture, you would never have understood what it ACTUALLY was, right?

I know you're trying to figure out where I am going with this... so here we go...

Let's take the Apostle Paul, and his letters in the New Testament of the Bible.

Hands down, if anyone asked you if the law of God was for us today, 99% of the time the answer would be, "No. It was done away with at the cross." If someone asked you for proof of that, I can almost guarantee the scriptures you would cite to support your stance would come from Paul's writings.

Do you know why I believe this? Because on the surface, and from our experience within the church today, we SEE it that way.

But what if I told you that all you're seeing is that first picture above?

Paul must be read in the context of the WHOLE of scripture (all of the Bible) because Paul was highly educated in the scriptures. And the scriptures at that time were ONLY the Old Testament. The book of James is believed to be the oldest book in the NT, and it was written around 50 AD... almost two decades after Jesus' death. So Paul (and his contemporaries that also wrote the other books of the NT) only had the OT as their scriptures. Paul was a student of Gamaliel, and part of his scholarly requirement was that he memorize the entire Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy, which was the law of God give to the Israelites). He knew it like the back of his hand. What if I told you that the trial held against Paul was because he was FALSELY accused of teaching against the law of God?

See Acts 21:20-24 (caps for emphasis):

"Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU TEACH THE JEWS WHO LIVE AMONG THE GENTILES TO TURN AWAY FROM THE LAW OF MOSES, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. THEN EVERYONE WILL KNOW THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THESE REPORTS ABOUT YOU, BUT THAT YOU YOURSELF ARE LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW."

Paul not only lived according to the law (AFTER THE CROSS), he also TAUGHT people to follow the law (AFTER THE CROSS). He was held on false accusations that he had told people to turn from the law.

Now, I know at this point, you're saying, "But what about this verse, and this verse, and this verse?" - I know, because I did the same thing. Post them below and I will happily explain them for you, so that you can research for yourself.

Because Paul was so well-read and educated, his writings were hard to understand. We know this, because Peter himself told us. See 2 Peter 3:16-17, speaking of Paul's letters, caps for emphasis:

"He [Paul] writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.HIS LETTERS CONTAIN SOME THINGS THAT ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND, WHICH IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE PEOPLE DISTORT, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, BE ON YOUR GUARD SO THAT YOU MAY NOT BE CARRIED AWAY BY THE ERROR OF THE LAWLESS and fall from your secure position."

We learn a few things from the passage above:

1. Paul writes some things that are hard to understand.

2. That if you are ignorant (this doesn't mean in a bad way, just that you aren't aware of it) and unstable (do not have a firm footing in scripture, as Paul did), things WILL be distorted.

3. Peter tells us that we must be careful (on guard) so that we don't fall into the ERROR of the LAWLESS <--this means that being without the law (lawLESS) was an ERROR.

4. Based on the above, we can understand that misinterpreting Paul's letters can lead us into thinking that Paul promotes lawlessness, but we see this is an error.

There is so much richness and goodness to get out of Paul, and once you see it from the larger, wide-angle, perspective, and in the context of the whole of scripture, it's actually quite easy to see that Paul fully SUPPORTS obedience to the law, before and after the cross.

I hope this (lengthy) explanation helps you to understand a little more about how important perspective is, and that it challenges you to ask questions about Paul. I am happy to discuss them with you, either below or in PM. <3

Day 21 - #obediencechallenge - Effective Prayer

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

One of the wonderful blessings of obedience to the Father's instructions for our lives is that we are able to partake in His authority for certain things, like healing, provision, protection, etc. As we begin to walk in obedience, we begin to see our prayers actually coming to fruition, something that seemed rare before. Or at least, that was the case with my journey. Why is that, though? Why aren't our prayers answered as often as we had hoped? I hope to answer that below, and provide you with some specific scriptures to give you both confidence in your prayers, and also something to verbalize as you pray for a situation.

I know many people pray for other people to be healed, and I believe that the following scriptures can be prayed over someone and claimed as promises.

I must first add a caveat... if you are not right before the Father, He may not answer your prayers. He still MAY, but He is under no obligation to do so, according to His Word. So repent (confess sin and TURN FROM IT) and get right with Him before approaching Him with your petitions, otherwise, don't be surprised if He doesn't answer. I know that sounds harsh, but I just want to be real with you. It's important.

Claim that you know He hears you based on the following verses:

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

James 5:16

"The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

Proverbs 15:29

Claim that you know He WILL answer them based on the following:

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

John 14:13-14

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

John 15:7

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 18:19

"And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

1 John 5:14

According to James 5:14-15, claim this:

"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven."

Claim the authority to cast out demons and heal as according to Matthew 10:8:

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Claim Psalm 118:17 over them:

"I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD."

Claim Isaiah 54:17 over them:

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord."

Day 20 - #obediencechallenge - One, Two, Ten, 613, or the Spirit?

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

This is a great article on all the "commandment confusion": One, Two, Ten, 613, or the Spirit?

How many commandments are there? How many are we obligated to observe? Please read through, and study out these scriptures on your own. <3

Day 19 - #obediencechallenge - Tzitzits

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

Do you remember those fancy WWJD bracelets?

Well, did you know that the Bible actually already had a form of this? The original "WWJD bracelet" were tzitzits (ZEET-ZEETS).

See Numbers 15:38-39:

"Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the Lord’s commands and obey them and not become unfaithful by following your own heart and your own eyes."

Pretty cool, huh?

Here's a short (4min) video discussing tzitzits:
And concerning whether women should wear them, or just men:
Tzitzits come in all types of colors and patterns. The only requirement is that they have some blue in them.

Want to make your own? Here's a video to show you how:

Day 18 - #obediencechallenge - Blue

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

We're in the home stretch!

Today, I'd like to ask those of you following along to take a leap of faith and courage and step out and acknowledge that you've become obedient in things you have not been obedient in previously. Tell us about how this way of life has changed your faith. Have you encountered any difficulties? Struggles? What are the positive changes you've noticed? Speak up! It can be a lonely walk without fellowship, and there are plenty of us around to support one another.

Here is a great short teaching (2 minutes) on the color blue and its relationship to reminding us to remain obedient to God's ways:

Day 17 - #obediencechallenge - Teaching the Kids

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us:

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

So, how do we do that on a practical level?

With older kids, engaging them in the things you are studying and asking them questions truly helps. For younger children, there are several resources available.

One of my new favorite resources, as I posted in yesterday's challenge, is the "Torah Explorers" guide from Hoshana Rabbah ministries. I get a lot out of it, even as an adult! The entire year's worth of guides, as well as study guides for adults, can be found here: Study Guides.

Messianic Torah Observant Israel has a wonderful ministry called YMTOI, which stands for Young Messianic Torah Observant Israel. Their page can be found here: YMTOI

Also, there is a brand new resource called K.I.D. (Kingdom Intelligence Agency), which provides your kids (called "Jr. Agents") the opportunity to go on top secret missions for the Father's Kingdom! Check them out here: K.I.D.

For video teachings for the younger kids, here are some sites with trusted teachings:

Torah Town

Torah Puppets

For Children by Children

For the older kids, these are great video resources:

Context for Kids

Let's Go!

May these be a blessing to you and your family!

Day 16 - #obediencechallenge - Acharei Mot/Kedoshim

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

Here is a great resource for this week's Torah Portion (Acharei Mot/Kedoshim). It is geared towards kids, but honestly I get a lot out of it as an adult!

Acharei Mot: Torah Explorers - Acharei Mot

Kedoshim: Torah Explorers - Kedoshim

Day 15 - #obediencechallenge - The Heart

If you want to know what this is all about, see my intro post at 30 Days to Better Faith.

I really want to touch on the heart today. Many of you may be reading these daily posts and (besides thinking I'm nuts) believe that as long as your heart is "in the right place," that it doesn't matter to God what you eat, what holidays you observe, or what other things you may do or don't do.

God is ALLLLL about the heart. He desires a "circumcision" of the heart most of all. What is that? Scripture tells us that a physical circumcision was a sign of the covenant between Israel and God. So, we can infer that circumcision of the heart (a spiritual circumcision) is also a sign of our covenant.

Deuteronomy 30:6 tells us:

"Moreover YHWH your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live."

If you read the surrounding verses, before and after, you will see the emphasis that the circumcised heart will also be one of obedience. Let's look at the entire passage with context. Read it all. I've CAPPED for emphasis:

"So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and YOU CALL THEM TO MIND IN ALL NATIONS where YHWH your God has banished you, AND YOU RETURN to YHWH your God AND OBEY HIM WITH ALL YOU HEART and soul, ACCORDING TO ALL I COMMAND YOU TODAY, YOU AND YOUR SONS, then YHWH your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where YHWH your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there YHWH your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.

YHWH your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Moreover YHWH your God will CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEART AND THE HEART OF YOUR DESCENDANTS, to love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. YHWH your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you. And you shall again OBEY YHWH, and OBSERVE ALL THE COMMANDMENTS which I command you today. Then YHWH your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for YHWH will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; IF YOU OBEY YHWH your God TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES which are written in this book of the law, IF YOU TURN TO YHWH your God WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL.

For this commandment which I command you today IS NOT TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But THE WORD IS VERY NEAR YOU, in your mouth and IN YOUR HEART, THAT YOU MAY OBSERVE IT.

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I COMMAND YOU TODAY TO LOVE YHWH your God, TO WALK IN HIS WAYS, to KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, HIS STATUTES AND HIS JUDGMENTS, THAT YOU MAY LIVE and multiply, and that YHWH your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

But IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY AND YOU WILL NOT OBEY, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I DECLARE TO YOU TODAY THAT YOU WILL SURELY PERISH. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.

So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving YHWH your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

So, we see that a circumcised heart is one that is obedient. One who desires to love God and obey Him.

We see that loving God IS defined as obeying Him, and that this obedience rises out of the state of your heart. If your heart is circumcised, you will feel the need to do what He asks of you. If you choose not to obey, you can see from the scriptures above, that that requires your heart to turn away.

We also see that this isn't some vague obedience, like waiting on God to tell us our calling in life and then obeying. While that is important, God is very specific here that He is speaking as to obedience to the commands Moses was giving to the Israelites. We've covered before that YOU and I are Israelites, grafted in through the blood shed by Jesus on the cross. That sacrifice granted us to be part of the covenant. That covenant requires circumcision of the heart as a sign, and circumcision of the heart requires obedience to God's commands. He tells us they are not too difficult for us and they are written on our hearts (by the Holy Spirit, which causes us to walk in them. See Ezekiel 36:27:

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

and Jeremiah 31:33:

"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

When we get proud and refuse to obey what is very clearly laid out in scripture, we are not allowing our hearts to be circumcised. We are what the scriptures refer to as being "stiff-necked," desiring our will, not His. I encourage you to please allow the Spirit to work on you and test these things to be true. As children of God, we no doubt want to make sure we are doing His will, and not our own. I pray that you seek His face earnestly on these matters. <3