I believe strongly in the Grace of God.
I believe it is the Gospel.
I believe the whole Bible is true, and because I believe that I believe the Old Testament, in as far as it's laws and regulations written upon stone relate to our lives, is passed away.
I believe Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant - the New Covenant written upon our hearts by the Spirit of God.
I believe nothing can separate me from His love.
I believe it so strongly that I have even seen others upset by this stance on what appears to me to be basic Christianity when properly understood.
Jesus saves. He saves completely.
Whoever comes to Him will not be cast out.
I have been told, “You speak so much of grace and love, yet the Bible contains two covenants. Is there not a balance in God?”, as though the covenants were equal and the condemnation of the first could equal the mercy of the second.
The answer is yes, there is balance in God for a “..just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1) , but the balance to grace is not law!
The balance of God is given to us in the scriptures. “For the law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1: 17).
The Grace and Truth that Jesus brought is the balance of, and in, God!
A just balance requires an equal weight. On a balancing scale only 7 pounds is equal to 7 pounds; 6 just won’t do! So neither is the letter (the law) that kills equal to the Spirit (grace) that gives Life!
The bible tells us that God is One and that He is Word (John 1:1) and Spirit (John 4:24) , and herein lies the just weight; for only GOD equals GOD and only the Word (GOD) that is truth is equal to the Spirit (GOD) of Grace!
The prophet Zechariah prophesied of the truth of Gods grace to come in the New Covenant by the word of the Lord; “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn”. (Zechariah 12:10) , and Jesus prayed in the garden the night before His crucifixion, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
When was the Spirit of this Grace, spoken and brought by the Word of Truth, poured? Was it not purchased at Calvary and shed upon the church at Pentecost?
Demonstrating that the partakers of the New Covenant are the “inhabitants of Jerusalem” who are the recipients of this grace, as well as displaying that Earthly is not equal to Heavenly (nor Old to New), the writer of Hebrews says, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,” (the Old Covenant – the law) “And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto mount Sion,” (the New Covenant – Grace and Truth!) “and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things” (mercy) “than that of Abel” (vengeance). (Hebrews 12: 18-24)
Of this same Spirit of Grace the writer of Hebrews says, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29) , warning that to trust in anything but the sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus, to seek to balance God with anything but God, is to count the grace by which we are purchased an unholy thing!
Can the sacrifice of bulls and goats equal the sacrifice of the Son of God? NO!
Is seeking to be justified by the works of the law equal to being justified freely by His grace (Romans 3:24), No!
Is Hagar (the bondwoman) equal to Sarah (the freewoman) (Galatians 4:21-31) NO!
Is the servant equal to the son? NO!
Are not they who are led by the Spirit the sons of God? (Romans 8:14) YES!
As only GOD Equals GOD, so only does Word balance Spirit, and is Grace balanced only by Truth. Let us trust only in the just weight of the living God that is found only in the love of Christ Jesus. For God is Love. (1John 4:8)
His love washes us completely from all sin. His mercy leads our lives. He dwells in us, and wherever He abides is Holy.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Welcome Starr and TechCard!
A big Grace Harbor welcome to you both! I know that Lyn, Harpazo, and myself are glad to see neighbors moving in! Make yourselves at home! Amidst the thoughtful posts by Lyn, and the encouragement by Harpazo, (not to mention the ocassional word by yours truly :) ) I'm sure you will enjoy it here!
While we await a post from TechCard allow me to say "well done" to the below post by Starr.
He is God! There is no other!
While we await a post from TechCard allow me to say "well done" to the below post by Starr.
He is God! There is no other!
Friday, May 27, 2005
What is Lord?
Something odd is happening with blogspots posting - it is stamped as though posted by Gabriel, but this post is actually by "Starr".
He is Elohim, Creator,
the Omnipotent Who rules.
He's the Sovereign King of glory
& earth is His footstool.
He's the Alpha & Omega,
the beginnig & the end.
He sends forth lightning that later
checks back in with Him.
He speaks worlds into existence
& spin tehm out in space.
He gives orders to the morning
& shows the dawn its place.
He prophesies the future
then orders it fulfilled.
He bears fruit from a landscape
that man has never tilled.
He feeds the beast of the field
from the palm of His hand.
He watches while they bear their young
then teaches them to stand.
He gives the seas their boundaries
& hides His creatures deep.
He teaches eagles how to fly
& nest upon the steep.
He makes the clouds His chariot
& rides on wings of wind.
He champions the victim
& brings proud me to end.
He is Immanuel, God with us,
come to earth through Christ.
He is the kinsman Redeemer,
who paid the slave man's price.
He is King of Kings & Lord of Lords,
worthy is the Lamb!
He holds the keys to life eternal
where the dead in Christ now stand.
He's enthroned between the cherubims
& great is His reward.
The devil's His defeated foe,
the weapon His swift Sword.
The story has a moral,
so I'll hasten lest you tire.
Whoever you perceived He is,
Aim a little higher.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
What a busy month!
Wow! The month of May is almost gone and it turned into a busy one!
I am blessed to minister and play in a local Louisville Christian band called ONE ACCORD ( http://www.geocities.com/oneaccordky/ ) and we had a great time his past Saturday!
Most of the songs we play are songs the Lord has given me to write, and I am honored to play music with folks who have confidence in those songs, and play them well. There are 5 people in the band, 6 including our sound man, and all love the Lord. Three of us attend the same church, the others attend various churches.
This past Saturday evening we ministered at the church I attend for the first time in probably 10 years. From the platform it looked like a mostly full house with an audience of some folks we go to church with, but a whole lot of visitor's too! The Lord blessed! It is our desire that ONE ACCORD not just play songs about Jesus, but minister the Gospel of Jesus! I believe that is what we do, and this past Saturday was another night of just that! As people stood and worshipped God, clapped along with us, and came forward for prayer, I truly felt the presence of the Lord! What a geat time sharing God's Grace in Christ!
We normally end the evening with a song by Don Francisco called He's Alive. It is a song that always has the crowd on it's feet lifting their hands to the Lord. We have recorded two CD's of original music, but have not recorded this song because someone else wrote it and we are unsure of how the copyright laws, and obtaining permission, work. A friend likes the way we do this song so well that she found Don Francisco's website and passed it to me so that I could email him and ask directly for permission. I thought that was very nice of her to do, and must say that Don Francisco has a very impressive site! It is full of ministry and music. I haven't yet read all the articles, but there is one called "If we Confess Our Sins...." that, if I may be so bold as to say it, reads like something I would've written! Check out his website at http://www.rockymountainministries.org/
As for He's Alive, I haven't yet sent the email, but I shall. Who can tell? We may actually get a positive response!
It's been a good month here in the Harbor! My little girl turned 10 years old last week! She is beautiful! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and mercy's scent is on the breeze!
What? You don't feel it? How do you get to that wonderful place called Grace Harbor? You can't get there by car, or plane. It is a place to be born into.
Grace Harbor is where Jesus is just by inviting Him.....
In you.
I am blessed to minister and play in a local Louisville Christian band called ONE ACCORD ( http://www.geocities.com/oneaccordky/ ) and we had a great time his past Saturday!
Most of the songs we play are songs the Lord has given me to write, and I am honored to play music with folks who have confidence in those songs, and play them well. There are 5 people in the band, 6 including our sound man, and all love the Lord. Three of us attend the same church, the others attend various churches.
This past Saturday evening we ministered at the church I attend for the first time in probably 10 years. From the platform it looked like a mostly full house with an audience of some folks we go to church with, but a whole lot of visitor's too! The Lord blessed! It is our desire that ONE ACCORD not just play songs about Jesus, but minister the Gospel of Jesus! I believe that is what we do, and this past Saturday was another night of just that! As people stood and worshipped God, clapped along with us, and came forward for prayer, I truly felt the presence of the Lord! What a geat time sharing God's Grace in Christ!
We normally end the evening with a song by Don Francisco called He's Alive. It is a song that always has the crowd on it's feet lifting their hands to the Lord. We have recorded two CD's of original music, but have not recorded this song because someone else wrote it and we are unsure of how the copyright laws, and obtaining permission, work. A friend likes the way we do this song so well that she found Don Francisco's website and passed it to me so that I could email him and ask directly for permission. I thought that was very nice of her to do, and must say that Don Francisco has a very impressive site! It is full of ministry and music. I haven't yet read all the articles, but there is one called "If we Confess Our Sins...." that, if I may be so bold as to say it, reads like something I would've written! Check out his website at http://www.rockymountainministries.org/
As for He's Alive, I haven't yet sent the email, but I shall. Who can tell? We may actually get a positive response!
It's been a good month here in the Harbor! My little girl turned 10 years old last week! She is beautiful! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and mercy's scent is on the breeze!
What? You don't feel it? How do you get to that wonderful place called Grace Harbor? You can't get there by car, or plane. It is a place to be born into.
Grace Harbor is where Jesus is just by inviting Him.....
In you.
Monday, May 02, 2005
It Goes Too Quick
Something odd is happening with blogspots posting - it is stamped as though posted by Gabriel, but this post is actually by "Lyn".
There is a commercial on television that goes something like this:
A baby is born and he's given a red blanket with, I don't know, some kind of design on it. And then we see certain times of his life highlighted including playing with his friends, practicing the drums, going off to college, sitting with his girlfriend, then, holding their baby daughter and always that blanket is there. Then we see him pulling his daughter, appr. 6 yrs old, in a wagon with that red blanket wrapped around her. I really don't remember what company the commercial is for, I only know that a 30 sec. commercial pretty much sums up how fast your life passes.
Our oldest daughter (we have 2) had a birthday today, May 2, and she is now 29 yrs. old. Where did that time go? I hardly remember a lot of things. I do remember certain parts of her life, such as that commercial would show, but I couldn't hold on long enough to keep the memory alive. She grew up too fast! I wish sometime to call back the years and enjoy each moment even greater than the first time, but as is the plan of God, this is how it has to be.
I'm thankful she is a beautiful Christian lady with a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful children, who are my heart, along with our other 2. I'm thankful that she grew up healthy and happy and I'm thankful she's my daughter.
How is it possible to be so happy and so sad at the same time?
There is a commercial on television that goes something like this:
A baby is born and he's given a red blanket with, I don't know, some kind of design on it. And then we see certain times of his life highlighted including playing with his friends, practicing the drums, going off to college, sitting with his girlfriend, then, holding their baby daughter and always that blanket is there. Then we see him pulling his daughter, appr. 6 yrs old, in a wagon with that red blanket wrapped around her. I really don't remember what company the commercial is for, I only know that a 30 sec. commercial pretty much sums up how fast your life passes.
Our oldest daughter (we have 2) had a birthday today, May 2, and she is now 29 yrs. old. Where did that time go? I hardly remember a lot of things. I do remember certain parts of her life, such as that commercial would show, but I couldn't hold on long enough to keep the memory alive. She grew up too fast! I wish sometime to call back the years and enjoy each moment even greater than the first time, but as is the plan of God, this is how it has to be.
I'm thankful she is a beautiful Christian lady with a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful children, who are my heart, along with our other 2. I'm thankful that she grew up healthy and happy and I'm thankful she's my daughter.
How is it possible to be so happy and so sad at the same time?
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Call it what it is
Something odd is happening with blogspots posting - it is stamped as though posted by Gabriel, but this post is actually by "Lyn".
The recent newstory about the "runaway bride" from Georgia has given me some interesting thoughts. If you're not familiar with the story, follow the link.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154983,00.html
My thoughts were that people just don't call things as they are anymore. The news reporters were saying "she told a tale". "She made up a story". Well, what she did was lied. She put her family and fiance through hell and she lied about a kidnapping. And there will be no penalty for her behavior.
Why do we have to make things sound so "pretty"?
"Extra-marital affair" is - Adultery!
"Living together" is - Fornication! (which by the way, I couldn't find that word in the dictionary)
"Partners" usually is speaking of - Homosexuality!
"Overeating" to beyond full is - Gluttony!
"They gave me too much change, it's their fault" is - Cheating"!
"I want this - I want that- is - Coveting!
"Our four and no more" is - Selfishness!
"Making up a story" is - Lying!
And I'll go one further.
"Nothing can separate us from His love" BUT us. - Not believing what the apostle Paul wrote and what Jesus has done!
The recent newstory about the "runaway bride" from Georgia has given me some interesting thoughts. If you're not familiar with the story, follow the link.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,154983,00.html
My thoughts were that people just don't call things as they are anymore. The news reporters were saying "she told a tale". "She made up a story". Well, what she did was lied. She put her family and fiance through hell and she lied about a kidnapping. And there will be no penalty for her behavior.
Why do we have to make things sound so "pretty"?
"Extra-marital affair" is - Adultery!
"Living together" is - Fornication! (which by the way, I couldn't find that word in the dictionary)
"Partners" usually is speaking of - Homosexuality!
"Overeating" to beyond full is - Gluttony!
"They gave me too much change, it's their fault" is - Cheating"!
"I want this - I want that- is - Coveting!
"Our four and no more" is - Selfishness!
"Making up a story" is - Lying!
And I'll go one further.
"Nothing can separate us from His love" BUT us. - Not believing what the apostle Paul wrote and what Jesus has done!
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