His Grace is Enough

While performing at Body & Soul's Corner Cafe this month I was really blessed to hear other musicians with different styles. However, we all share one thing. A love for our Heavenly Father and His Son Yeshua! That is one of the reasons why we will practice, travel and perform free of charge at venues like this. There really is a battle going on. One for the hearts and minds of people who need to hear the true Gospel and respond to God's one time offer.

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth." Psalm 110:3

Sing it, speak it, dance it. There are so many ways to praise and magnify what Yah has done through His Son. Now is not the time to be complacent but to get involved. God does not need anything from us really. However He does appreciate heartfelt worship and the extension of His grace by telling others what He has done for us in Christ. That now through Yeshua's finished work we can be called the righteousness of God!

"God's righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah- for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people," Romans 3:22

Notice there is no distinction between those who believe. Pious acts, ritual and ceremony make no difference even though many still feel the need to "make themselves" righteous before God. If that were the case or even possible, what was Yeshua's sacrifice for?

"Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you." Galatians 5:2

Many want to rely on themselves instead of Yeshua. This is a big mistake because we end up in a cycle of dead works to prove our worthiness to Yah. Salvation through faith in Yeshua is a free gift and a loving example of God's grace. What we could not be justified from by the Law of Moses, we are now freed from by Jesus obedient life and atonement.

"And by him, (Jesus), all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39

This means that tithing doesn't do it. Reciting pre-written prayers doesn't do it. Belonging to a church doesn't do it either. Legalistic believers like to fall back on James' "Faith without works is dead". However, this is not talking about our salvation but how faith should manifest itself. Relying on works for a right standing with Yah is to set aside what the Messiah has already accomplished for us.

PRAYER: Father I thank you for anointing Yeshua to complete what I could not do for myself. He is the only mediator between You and man so let me rest in that and rely on Your grace, not my own works. In Yeshua's faith, Amen.

Snowbound

Winter snowstorms are here! Blizzards and being snowed in are part of the season. Still it reminds us that we are not in control of everything. All that we can do is prepare as best we can for the upcoming storms.

This does not mean that we can not stop to appreciate and enjoy snow's beauty and unique exhilaration. During the last snowstorm, we went snowshoeing. Visibility was not very good but the scenery was spectacular. The next day, the sun came out, the skies were clear and blue so we went cross country skiing. I saw a red headed woodpecker and a flock of mourning doves. Other birds were riding the draft high above the tree line. All of this natural beauty, free for the enjoying! The sunshine on my face and the spray of powder lifted my spirits which can tend to drag during the winter months. Each season God has made is beautiful and we should rejoice and thank Him for them all. Rather than hide from the weather, maybe we can take the time to go out and enjoy it.

Job 38.22-23 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?”

Sing Out!

I've truly been blessed! I've recently been asked to perform for a new concert series featuring praise and worship music. Body and Soul Christian Bookstore started holding free concerts for the community on their Corner Cafe stage. I am so pleased that these opportunities are opening up not only for me but for others with a love for God and His Son, Jesus. How about you? Can you sing or play an instrument? If you have this gift, you can use it to bless your surrounding community and those living in it. Here is what the Bible says is the result of publicly praising and worshiping the One True God:

"He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in Yahweh." (Psalm 40:3)

God can and will give you a new song to sing to praise Him. When we do this, people will see and hear of what He has done and step back in awe. Then the scripture says they will put their trust in Yah. What could possibly be better than that? See Yeshua, (Jesus), said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. God does so much for us each day. Is it possible to articulate His praise with a new song? Sure it is! Sometimes we have to just trust and go out on a limb. We can over think....I don't have the voice, musical skills, equipment, etc. The list goes on and on. Once we look to Yah to supply what we need to bless His name, we will find that there is no shortfall! If nothing else, we should go forward because as King David said:

"I will sing to Yahweh, for He has been good to me." (Psalm 13:6)

If you have tasted and seen that our Heavenly Father is good, you too have something to sing about and much to share with others. God has blessed us with His unfailing love, life, good food, clothing and a home. We also have people to love in the Body of Christ. So my heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast: I will sing and make music!

PRAYER: Gracious Yah, You are so good to me! Help me to share what is in my heart with songs of praise. Be glorified! In Yeshua's way, Amen.