This is War - Paul Washer

This is convicting and encouraging. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness...

Sin and Conviction

"You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."

No, this is true. I have not yet resisted to bloodshed, and I am indeed still striving against sin. I thought that if sin crept in, that I was doomed. I would punish myself, hide myself from God, and sit feeling condemned for days or weeks at a time.

Sin creeps in and tries to find a home within us. Temptation nudges the desire that lies dormant, seeking to awaken the lusts that have yet to be fully purged.

"But you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'My son, do not depsise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourages every son whom He receives.' If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. By this reason I know that I am a son (daughter) and not illegitimate. I feel the weight of my sin. I see it as a loathsome thing. I hate it. It sickens me.

This should be encouraging! We are sons and daughters! While we should never treat sin lightly, we should rejoice in the fact that He has not left us when we feel convicted of our sins. TURN FROM YOUR SINS, REPENT, TURN BACK TO GOD.

Will we hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit calling out our sins? Will we humble ourselves enough to repent quickly? Will we endure the chastening that is sure to follow?

I found myself in sin about a month ago. It started out as a small nudge. At first I just ignored it and turned to God every time it would come to mind. Then the small nudge became a shove. The shove opened up the flood gates of my desire. My desire surfaced in my mind and I gave thought to a sinful act. I actually entertained the idea on more than one occasion. At the end of a very long week, going from a small nudge to a shove that lead to a sinful thought, I found myself hiding from God. I came down with a sickness that lasted another week. I slept for 4 days, almost continuously. When I woke up, all I could feel was the weight of my sin along with the weight of whatever sickness I had come down with. I was miserable, but I knew what I had to do.

I knew that I had sinned in my heart. The Holy Spirit was convicting me. Instead of acting in a repentant manner I opted for the "go and hide from God" thing which brought with it a horrible feeling of condemnation.

During my sickness, which I saw as chastisement from God for my sin, I forced myself to my knees. I prayed and opened up my bible to Hebrews 12. Within moments the condemnation I felt lifted and I was in a state of repentance.

"Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Will we allow our sins, the conviction of them, and the repentance that should come quickly, to train us thereby yielding the fruit of righteousness? Will we hide from God? We do this because of pride, but it is a humble spirit that is quickly moved to repentance. Will we sit and wallow in our self-centered despair when sin rears its ugly head and we fall? Or will we stand firm and feel encouraged, knowing that the Holy Spirit is indeed at work within us because we are feeling convicted? Will we be encouraged knowing that even though we may feel the chastisement of God it is only because He loves us and is dealing with us as sons? Will we be encouraged knowing that He is purifying us and chastising us for our profit so that we may become partakers of HIS holiness?

"Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed!"


*disclaimer: We should be finding ourselves with less and less sin in our lives as we keep following the path of righteousness. We will sin, but those sins should be few and far between and little in comparison to the sins we once had in our lives. God is doing a work in us and we need to yield to that work. We need to humble ourselves before him and be quick to repent.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window…Noisy little league baseball practice at the diamond across the street...my least favorite noise. 

I am thinking…about Tim's job and that he might get laid off soon. Trying not to think about this...

I am thankful for…My family (as in husband and children). No matter what situation we are in, we are always together, always loving each other, always supporting each other. 

From the Learning Rooms … Finishing up our math and going through all the history books we just got for FREE! Feeling blessed in this area. 

From the kitchen…I am going to try this recipe that I found for a Greek Chickpea soup. Making bread today and washing the old Atlas canning jars I found at the thrift store. 

I am wearing…grey exercise pants and black tank.  

I am creating…a clean office! I've got my boxes upon boxes emptied, and now I just have to get rid of some old books to make room for the new ones. 

I am going…to Texas in three weeks! WOOHOO! I'm so excited to be going with such great ladies and really looking forward to a week away to just be Monica, not wife or mother. It will be refreshing and fun. I'm worried about money though...as usual. Wondering if I should really go because I'm unsure about Tim's employment. 

I am currently reading…Hidden Prophecies in the Song of Moses and still reading The Screwtape Letters. READ THIS BOOK! It's so good. 

I am hoping…that I can remain motivated in MANY areas of my life.

I am hearing…construction on the water tower by our house and men swearing at each other in Spanish, as well as kids screaming at baseball practice. Time for some music. 

On my mind…So much. Am I dying to self? Really? 

Noticing that…Life is consuming.

Around the house…Books to be put in their places. The coffee table is full of new learning books. 

One of my favorite things…Coffee with girlfriends. I need a coffee date. 

A few plans for the rest of the week...Starting summer school. Finishing Screwtape. Organizing the rest of the office and cleaning out bathroom cupboards. Putting away winter clothes. Hanging curtains in the boys room. Making a menu for Tim and prepping foods for when I am gone. 

A picture thought to share...

Father's Day

I love this pic! My husband is so funny and just awesome. I am so glad he liked the shofar we got him and the new bath robe. I'd say he's looking like an Israelite! He would have looked more like it if he still had the full beard. 

Creamy Walnut Sauce

I LOVE this sauce! Every now and again I want a thick creamy pasta sauce and this is a very healthy and delicious recipe.

Add the following ingredients to blender and blend together until smooth.

Serve with pasta and toss.

Great with Chicken as well.

2/3 c. walnut

2 cloves garlic

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 c. chicken stock

2 T. Parsley

1 t. lemon juice

2 t. walnut oil 

If it is a little too thick, just add more stock. 

Delicious! And the benefits of walnuts are amazing.

My Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window… It's raining on the freshly mowed lawn and there are no diners at the bird feeders this morning.

I am thinking…about my dreams...how much money CAN one make in a year...and could we possibly move out of the states?

I am thankful for… My husband who works his butt off so we can have the things we have.

From the Learning Rooms … Still enjoying the first bit of summer, and Monday we start our summer schooling. Math, writing, and reading and studying a book called Material World (this is our social studies as well as a guide for prayer for different people groups throughout the world)

From the kitchen…A mess...last night we celebrated Gavin's 8th birthday and we didn't even do the dishes...I've got a lot of apples I need to use up, so maybe some apple crisp or crockpot applesauce.

I am wearing…a black and white long skirt as a dress and a black cardigan. My basic hangin' around the house clothes :) Barefoot as usual.

I am creating…I am painting chairs and redoing their seat covers. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

I am going…to my volunteer job at the pregnancy center today.

I am currently reading…C.S.Lewis- The Screwtape Letters

I am hoping…That my son Isaac is safe on his first missions trip in a few weeks.

I am hearing…cars driving by, clock ticking, and the sound of silent children still sleeping...aaaahhhhhh...

On my mind…So much. Will we make enough money this year? Will I be able to get re-organized- back to the way things were before I got sick this past year? Will I be able to order my day better than I have been?

Noticing that…I have organization on my mind...

Around the house…things need to be organized :) Liking my new pillows and curtains in the living room. I needed something to spruce up the old futon that replaced my broken couch...it's a little better...still not great. But at least I can close the curtains at night and have a little privacy.

One of my favorite things…Sabbath day. Resting and reading and writing and discovering the insights God has for me. This Sabbath we are having family and friends over for cake and ice cream, but I still hope it is relaxing. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Well, the week is nearly over, thankfully. Next week- Dentist, organizing the house, cleaning out the "office", washing windows, and re-organizing the chore list and schedule. 

How Long is Forever?

Forever, always, everlasting, eternal...These are the words that I see when I read scripture referring to Yahweh's commandments and His ordinances, which used to confuse me when I believed that the law was done away with. However, I emptied my cup that was full of other people's doctrine and I then started delving into scripture and praying that God would reveal the truth to me. I had received the love of truth and God made good on His promises to give to those that asked. My eyes were opened and for the first time I saw the truth. I see the veil being lifted all over the world and things, that at one time caused confusion, are now beginning to make sense. I only hope that I can show some of that truth with this blog and that people take the time to seek the truth out for themselves. Not in another man's teachings, but in the Word of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments ALWAYS. ~Deuteronomy 11:1

Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is Yahweh, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy FOR A THOUSAND GENERATIONS with those who love Him and keep His commandments. ~Deuteronomy 7:9

Regarding the Feasts of God-

You shall eat neither parched bread no parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever thrioughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Firstfruits) ~ Leviticus 23:14

You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute FOREVER in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. (Tabernacles) ~Leviticus 23:41

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear me and ALWAYS keep all of My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children FOREVER.~ Deuteronomy 5:29

Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children FOREVER, when you do what is good and right in the sight of Yahweh your Elohim.~Deuteronomy 12:28

The secret things belong to Yahweh our Elohim, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children FOREVER, that we may do all the words of this law. ~ Deuteronomy 29:29

It is an interesting fact, that the LAST verses in the LAST book of the Old Testament, before the blank page that separates the Old from the New, are this:

Malachi 4:4-6~

REMEMBER THE LAW OF MOSES, my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for ALL ISRAEL, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

This is right before the "new" covenant starts, in which the "law" has supposedly been done away with. Why would the last words of God's spokesman, Malachi, be "REMEMBER the law of Moses", if it was just going to be done away with on the very next page?

The new covenant is spoken about prophetically in Jeremiah 31:33- "But this is the covenant that I will make with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL after those days, says the Lord: I will put MY LAW in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people."

Ezekiel also points to this new covenant in 36:27- "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them"

So, God promises to give us His Spirit, and that Spirit will guide us into walking in His statutes and doing His commandments.

The Old Testament ends with God telling his people to REMEMBER HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Then Yahshua comes and does away with the law...NO!

"Do NOT think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, one jot or one tittle will by NO MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW UNTIL ALL IS FULFILLED." Matthew 5:17-18

Have heaven and earth passed away? NO! Then ALL is not yet fulfilled, and the law remains.

If the word of God is true, and the word says the commandments are everlasting, and Yahshua says that the law has NOT been destroyed, and that it will remain until ALL is fulfilled, WHY do we insist upon saying it was done away with?

More from Yahshua: "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?" ~Matthew 15:3

Yahshua quoting Isaiah: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" ~Matthew 15:8-9

Yahshua again answering a question about how to have eternal life: "Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. BUT if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." ~Matthew 19:17

And finally in Revelation, which is prophecy that has yet to come: "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Yahshua the Messiah."~Revelation 12:17

And again in Revelation 14:12~ "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahshua."

In the end the dragon is going to make war with the people that keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Yahshua. If you have one without the other, he is not concerned with you.

This is yet to come! The commandments are eternal! God is pleased with those that keep them. So much so that He calls them saints in the end.

The Covenant terms for Israel have never changed. That's what God's word says. He says they are everlasting, forever, always, throughout all our generations. The prophesy about the new covenant says that the terms remain the same...you want to be my people? Walk in my ways. In the end times, those that keep the commandments are called saints.

Could the word be wrong? Is it not truth? Are we walking in truth?

He seeks those that worship in spirit and in truth and truth is an absolute. God is a God of absolutes. When everything else in this world relies on feelings, emotions, and subjective experiences, we can trust that the word is absolute. God is absolute. Love is absolute. Truth is absolute.

Thank you, Father for your absolute wisdom and your unfailing love. Have mercy where mercy is due, and give grace as well. Love us like you did ancient Israel, who were stiff-necked and stubborn, yet you did not destroy them. Teach us your ways and lead us into life everlasting. Open our eyes that we may see, and give us ears to hear. Teach us to love the way You intended us to; Love for our fellow humans and Love for You. Father, you are the same yesterday, today and forever. I thank you that you are the one constant I can always rely on. Thank you for your Spirit that will guide us into your ways and teach us all that we need to know. Keep us in your loving, forgiving, arms during trying times, and teach us to not forget you when times are easy. Father, may we bless you in our actions, words,and thoughts. May we be ever mindful of how we are blessing you, instead of always wanting to be blessed. Keep us humble enough to admit our sins when we first commit them, and humble enough to always return to you quickly, never lingering in condemnation. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that I may not slip. Thank you, Father.

Prayer Request

For those that read this, even though you may not know me or my family, please keep my grandmother in your prayers today. She had a massive heart attack earlier today and is most likely going to pass soon. I have many emotions over this as we have been estranged since my grandfather died a few years ago. My grandmother has gone to church her whole life, but treats people like they are nothing to her. I fear for her salvation and have a lot of grief and feelings of regret for never speaking to her about this. I am not trying to dishonor my grandmother, just asking for prayer in the right areas I guess. Please pray for my parents and brother as they were much closer to her than I ever was.

Thank you for your prayers and may God bless you.

Monica

The Way of the Righteous

The other night I began reading and my eyes were opened to so many things that I've never really seen before. The following is what I saw. I am going through Psalm 15-Psalm 19 but will not write out every Psalm, just the points that were highlighted during my study and my own comments will follow in red. This study was important to me because so often I hear people say "the Lord will fight for me" and I wonder why they think that, why I have thought that, even though I have refused to walk in God's ways and it is obvious to me that others are still walking in their own ways. These Psalms make it clear that it is not your wishy-washy, lukewarm "Christian" that God delivers, but those that walk upright and walk in HIS righteous ways that he delivers. We read the Psalms all the time, pray them, sing them, speak them over our friends and family, and we ignore all the ones about how perfect God's law is and the benefits of walking in it. Do we believe the word of God or not? If the word says the law is holy, perfect and just then why do we have such a difficult time embracing it?

Psalm 10:7~ For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

Psalm 15~
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

(Those who follow God's commandments, Torah, will dwell in His tabernacle)

Psalm 16~

2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You"

7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forever more.

Either my goodness is nothing without God, or I can't even do good without God, either way, I need God to guide me in His ways, because it is His ways that are good, not my own.

God gives us counsel and He is the one who instructs our hearts, His ways are to be always before us. When He gave us His instructions (Torah) He said that in them was life, and without them was death. He will show us the path of life and it is not outside of His commandments.

Psalm 17~

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord, attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer that is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. 3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

David is asking God to hear his JUST cause and to listen to his prayer, but David has purposed that he should not sin with his mouth. (This is huge for me, because my mouth is a missile launcher at times) He is asking God to intervene on his behalf, but David is without sin. He is walking upright. He trusts that because He is walking in God's righteous ways that God will stand firm on His promises that there are blessings for doing His commandments and it is indeed the path of life.

4 Concerning the works of men, BY the WORD of YOUR lips, I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Uphold my steps in YOUR paths, that my footsteps may not slip.

Again, David is being obedient to the Word of God and doing the works that God has commanded. By doing those works, he has kept himself from the path of destruction. (Torah is life, without it is death) He is asking God to keep him His path.

15 As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

WOW! Nothing else will satisfy David than to awake in God's likeness. David sees God's face in righteousness! I love this. We can see God while we walk in His righteous ways. We come to know Him more fully, more completely when we study His ways. The Torah has opened my eyes to God's character more than anything ever has. I see His mercy and grace and love in the very thing that people say was done away with! How sad that we think this way. Yahshua came and showed us how to fully WALK out those ways and He upheld the Torah in everything He did. The character of God was displayed right before our eyes, yet we deny Yahshua's very words..."Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law". Don't even think it...

Psalm 18~

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

19b- 24 He delivered me because he delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have KEPT THE WAYS OF THE LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity, Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

David's cry was heard BECAUSE God delighted in him. Why did God delight in David? Because David kept the ways of God. David kept himself from his own sinful ways, which we all have, but by following Torah we are lead away from our sins. God answered him according to his (David's) righteousness. We can't depart from God's ways and expect Him to even hear us. "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination." --Psalm 28:9

Psalm 19~

7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

Praise God! The law is perfect and it converts the soul...the very thing that is missing in today's "churchianity". Everyone is making a decision for salvation but souls are not being converted. People still follow after their own lusts, their own ways, in some instances their sins are occuring just as much as they were before their supposed conversion. But here we see that the law converts the soul. It makes sense then that modern Christians are in the state they're in because they teach and are taught that the law was done away with. The commandments are pure! By them we are warned; we know the boundary lines. If we keep them, we will be justly rewarded for it! NOT CONDEMNED BECAUSE WE ARE LEGALISTIC!

God will fight for us, but why should he fight for us if we reject the way of righteousness? If we don't know what is righteous and holy, then how are we supposed to be holy just as He is holy? We say we are no longer sinners but yet we have NO idea what sin even is according to the word of God. Sin is not what Obama says..."doing something that doesn't line up with my own values" which is what most people would define sin as. Sin is the transgression of the law, of God's commandments. 1 John 3:4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." Lawlessness-without the law. Who's law? God's law.

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

If we truly love God, then why do we reject what He created for our own good? If we reject it, will He reject us?

"Many will say to me in that day 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" ~Matthew 7:22-23

Chickpea Salad

My lovely husband took me out to lunch the other day at my favorite restaurant in town, The Plaza Cafe. I love this place because most of their food is organic, non-GMO, and just fresh and delicious. I ordered a new dish, which is not my style (I like to stick with what I know). I am glad I did though, because my chicken guacamole wrap was yummy. I ordered it with a side of chickpea salad and that was the best part of the whole meal. One of my favorite things to do, culinary wise, is to eat out and then recreate the meal at home. I am so glad I tried to recreate this salad. SO GOOD! The recipe is sort of a taste-as-you-go recipe, so nothing is really measured out. Taste and see!

2 cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

half of a English cucumber -chopped

a few handfuls of julienned carrots

half of a large red onion -diced

3 0r 4 small celery sticks -chopped

Drizzle olive oil two or three times around the bowl.

Do the same with either red or white wine vinegar. I used red, but pretty sure the Plaza used white. Either one is good.

Salt conservatively.

Pepper liberally.

A few tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro.

Two cap-fulls of lime juice.

1 tablespoon of pure cane sugar or honey.

Toss together and let sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

*variations...

Next time I would leave the cucumber out (which is something I added that was not in the original recipe) because the flavor seems to over power the entire dish the second day. It is good if you aren't planning on having left overs though.

I will definitely add red peppers the next time I make this. More celery and maybe add some fresh sweet corn.

I would use cumin in this if there were no cucumbers. Especially with the addition of corn and peppers.

Instead of wine vinegar you could use balsamic and add a squeeze of Dijon mustard, leave out the cilantro. That would be yummy.

Cooking is all about discovering what you like, what works and what doesn't. Be creative and make mistakes. It's fun.

You Shall Know the Truth

http://www.jcstudies.com/articleDetail.cfm?articleId=10

I just finished reading the article above and found it to be a great introduction to Hebraic discipline. For those that are curious about our Hebraic roots as Messianic believers (believers in Yahshua/Jesus the Messiah) this is a good article to sort of spark an even deeper curiosity.

We in the western world have a Greek mindset. The Hebrew mindset is completely different. Everything focuses around God while in Hellenistic ways, everything sort of centers around self.

The author states "In Jesus’ world, the pursuit of truth was not the highest good so much as the doing of it." I loved this line and it made me think of Revelation 19:7-8

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

and 22:12-14

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

We will be rewarded for our good works and our righteous deeds, but, like everything, God is concerned with the heart. Are you doing those deeds because you want favor in his sight? Because you think it will save you? Are you doing good works because you feel you are legally bound to do them? Or are your righteous deeds and good works done out of the admiration and love you have for a God who would send His only son to die for you?

Belief is nothing. Your faith without works is dead. Our quest for the truth is nothing if when we find that truth we are not motivated to action. As a good friend recently said, and this is my paraphrase: I can say I drive a Chevy, I can really believe it. But if I drive a Ford, no matter how much I believe I drive a Chevy, I still drive a Ford.

Isn't that the truth? I can say I'm a believer, but where are my works that prove what I believe?

My beliefs are reinforced by my actions and my actions are reinforced by my beliefs. If you have either one without the other, you need to do a heart check.

I'm gonna go check mine out right now...feeling humbled by my own words.