Forgiveness

As Believers, in order for us to function effectively in Yah's Kingdom, it is essential - required even, that we understand and live out lifestyle of forgiveness.  This very thing is what has brought us into the Kingdom and i believe it is also what "keeps us there".  It is core of Who Yah is and what His plan is for us in relation to Him and each other.  It is the core to Biblical love, which covers a multitude of sins.  It will keep us in line with His will and position us to be true ambassadors for Him.  If we can't 'get this', the feasts, the commandments, and even our profession of faith is fruitless. I have been talking with a dear sister out of state on this topic and have been sharing the things Yah has taught me in this. These are things that we (Ben and Pamela) believe and choose to live. What I am about to share is my laymen's terms -from one heart to another - as Yah has taught me consistently over the last 30 years of my walk with him. These are core things of our faith, that I want to make sure my children understand and practice well. There is a law of forgiveness, it is built into Yah's design and crucial for us to GET if we are to walk in the fullness of His Way. This coupled with love and obedience are the core principals that set us apart.  We should be master lovers, forgivers, and "cooperators" (obedience) with Yah. Test this sweet family.  If anything needs clarity, please ask.  If anyone has trouble walking this out, please ask (publicly or privately).

 There are many misconceptions and lies around forgiving that we might need to chip away.  Lets start there:

1. I can’t forgive.   - This is not true.  Forgiveness is a choice.  If you are coherent enough to make any choice – you are able to forgive.
2. What they did was too vicious, wicked or deep to forgive.  – This is not true.  The transgression may be absolutely heinous but Yah has designed forgiveness as the ultimate act of love.  Forgiveness does not release them from judgement, but it does release the FORGIVER/victim from it in a way.  We are judged on the matter of the heart as well as our actions.  The act of forgiving disconnects us from the incident.  Before we forgive, we are “married” to the tragedy.  We have burned it onto out brain through thought connected to heightened emotions and that bad situation has branded us.  We have taken it into our identity.  Into who we are.  This is highly destructive!   Our emotions (the heart is deceptively wicked) trick us into thinking that doing this protects us, but the opposite takes place.  It kills us like drips of slow poison!!  Forgiveness is Yah’s precious design to create the door fromvictimization/pain/anger/powerlessness/fear/vengefulness/trauma loops/sickness/pride (all things bad and destructive) to allow us to enter into embracing ourselves honestly/ others/ trust/love/Yah/ freedom (all things good in Yah!)!   This is required of the transgressor as well to process whatever it is who brought him to His place of transgression. 
3. They do not deserve forgiveness.  Yah is just – justice will be done according to each of our hearts! No matter who we are – victim or transgressor.  If our hearts are hardened (and they are when we do not forgive) We face the same judgement as the one who did the awful thing.  We do not want to join them in the place by hardening our own hearts – because then we will be judged for that!
4. I missed my chance to forgive them, because they are dead or gone.  Not True.  Forgiveness is something we do internally.  It is ideal to be communicated to transgressor because forgiveness has the power to save everyone it touches.  However, forgiveness is really between us and Yah above all.  It is complete surrender of the incident and trusting Yah that His justice will be sufficient.  We disconnect ourselves from ‘it’.  We have no claim to it and more.  We give up that control as a result – we are set free.
5. Forgiving them won’t change anything.  This is not true.  It changes the most important thing.  Our internal wellness.  I agree that it may not change consequences or results of the damage (for instance a rape victim that might contract a disease or baby – for instance- those things are still there.)  However, it does change our hearts and our ability to live life there after in a healthy way!  This no small thing! I also agree that it may not change THEM.  But again – that is not for us to do.  We are way out of line if that is our focus. Yah has given us dominion over ourselves on internal matters - Not others.  That person is accountable to Yah himself – the same as us.  Forgiveness allows us to release the heart of vengeance that requires anything from that person to complete your healing. (Note:  It is true and wise however to remove ourselves (and family) from a toxic or dangerous situation.  These are two different topics.) 
6. If I forgive them, it is like I am saying what happened was OK.  This is not true.  If you forgive them – you are deciding not to torture yourself over it anymore!  Holding unforgiveness damages the victim the most!  When we refuse to forgive, negative emotions cement themselves into our being and cause us further heart break in life.  We carry this incident with us consciously or unconsciously.  Our unforgiveness traps us and yokes us to that painful situation and that person. The transgression should have its own identity separate from us.  That transgression should not be embedded into who we are, but that is what we do when we refuse to forgive.  If we refuse to let it go,  it eventually becomes apart whowe are and how we operate. Then we essentially become a part of the problem.  But it we can separate ourselves from it and "rise above it" by keeping the Spiritual Law of Forgiveness - something supernatural happens.  It does not condone it - in fact it allows light to shin into the situation!
7. They need to do something first, before I forgive them.  This is also untrue.  Yah has built in the ability for us to be set free from any transgression – ours or someone elses through our act of surrender TO HIM.  This is not conditional upon anyone else’s actions or heart conditions.  Forgiveness is between you and Yah.  No one can stop that process but you.  This thought is one that demands control over another.  We need to realize that this spirit transferred over to us during the transgression and we accepted it (consciously or unconsciously).  When we do that, we actually welcome that same spirit into us that drove the other person to do what they did to us.  Ironic right?!  But true.  We fell into satan’s trap (so to speak).  We took the bait –now we are hooked into the controlling spirit of ‘conditional love’ and unforgiveness too and the enemy is reeling us into himself and his ways out or the safety of the living waters of Yah. However, it is at that time that we need to choose whether we are mere animals being lead to the frying pan to be cooked on the alter of a false god OR if we are children of the living El, who will employ the tools ALREADY given to us to break the line! 

The TRUTH and power of forgiveness.

1. Forgiveness is a choice.  It really is that simple.  We choose it (or not)!  We decide to release a transgression or not.
2. Forgiveness transforms people from the inside out. It changes our hearts and minds.  It positions us to walk/live in love, mercy, grace, kindness and wisdom.  It equips and empowers us to avoid future situations and deal with the ones that arise in honor and power – without regret.   It sharpens our discernment and strengthens our resolve.   It allows us to see others more compassionately. It suites us up in the armor of Yah.  Which causes offence to slip right off our surface like eggs on Teflon – it never gets a chance to stick!!
3. Forgiveness breaks chains that bind us to trauma.    Where there is light – there can not be darkness.  Where there is forgiveness, there can not be offence or any of its trappings.  Where there is love, there can not hate.  Where there is peace their can not be anger. Where there is faith their can not be doubt.
4. Forgiveness heals.  Because love is activated and the ties to wickedness are broken – the mind and body respond positively!  Instead of producing and reinforcing negative stress chemicals, new thoughts and chemicals are produced, which also result in positive feelings and so the cycle goes in the right direction now.  Instead of break down,  repair and restoration happens in the mind, in the physical body, in the emotions and in the spirit. This extends into our relationships and changed our whole life.

 Recognizing unforgiveness:

1. Unforgiveness destroys people from the inside out.  Our negative thoughts can be conscious or unconscious.  This really important to understand.  Negative thoughts and feelings can turn us into “bad people”.  Basically we choose, consciously or unconsciously, to believe a lie and then that lie festers and grows and branches out to feed a myriad of other lies.  The fruits of this are offense, bitterness, anger/violence, fear/anxiety, controlling/ obsessive/impatient behaviors, instability, dysfunctional relationships, sickness/disease, addictions of every kind and it is also the core to depression and insanity.  These things can be a challenge to over come.  However, Yah has given us the ability to take domination over this!  

2. Unforgiveness is often the default.  It is our flesh’s response to pain. If one is not in the habit of choosing and practicing forgiveness than the human nature is to automatically inclined for offence which leads to unforgiveness, which leads to hardened hearts (a.k.a. bitterness).
3. Unforgiveness is bondage.  The cycle of unforgiveness is a snare.  The more we thrash around in it (by indulging it or repeating it) the tighter it gets and the more entangled in it we become.
4. Identify Unforgiveness.  Our thoughts, words and feelings give us away. Are you thinking, speaking and feeling negatively toward a person?  Does the mention, or sight or association of that person bring about a negative thought or feeling?  You may notice that you are antsy, anxious, vengeful thoughts or impatience with others.  You may notice your hands sweat, you get a knot in your stomach, a head (or body) aches surfaces, or you may get tired or your heart may start racing, you teeth clench, etc..  You may suspect the involvement, guilt or integrity of others who interact with that person.  The list goes on – these are sure signs that there is unforgiveness present.  If any one of these things, or a combination of them or similar things surface at the thought, sight or mention of person – you are carrying unforgiveness. 

5. Projecting doom.  Have you ever found yourself projecting doom in relation to another?  You can run scenarios in your head about how awful something is going be regarding them.  You just “know” what will happen – and its not going to be good.  You predict the worse – and you may even be right.  This is a sure sign of unforgiveness in you – even if you are right.  This is evidence that you have run this unforgiveness record in your brain several times – you have it memorized. It has become apart of you – you know it like the back of your hand.  This reality also shows itself when you find yourself arranging your choices and actions in a way that avoids a person or instigate a person (depending your personality)around the projection of impending doom. This is a result of fear of coping, which can also be symptom of unforgiveness.

Practical Application and Understanding:

1. Here is the physical mechanics or spiritual truth:   This physical and spirit connection is a recent discovering for me as Yah has led me to understand a little more about how He has created our bodies.  Now we are going to touch on the understanding and application of mind of matter in Yah’s design. This applies to both conscious and unconscious thoughts/feelings. This is  dealing with the thoughts, feelings  and experiences we encounter or generate that need to be processed by our brain.  Our brains have to decide what to do with them and where to put them.  Our brain is constantly organizing information. 

We can basically break down our brain into three major parts.  For simplicity, I am going to call them thinking, feeling and being.  They all work together to process and store our environment’s information.  When we encounter a thought or experience – this thought or experience generates a chemical (or series of chemicals) in our body, that in turn creates heightened emotions and feelings.  These heightened emotions and feelings generate more thoughts in that direction, which create more (stress or healing) hormones/chemicals, which create more feelings and then this process loops and loops and loops.  This looping creates synapses in our brain.  (A synopsis is a when two or more neurons connect to each another to form a larger bond in the form of a molecules, these molecules cling together manifesting into a judgement, association, or memory.  These judgements, associations and memories create our understanding of our environment, life and the world.  This forms the lense of which we see.  This creates our belief system which ultimately shapes our actions.)  The more synapses are reinforced the stronger they get in conviction.  The stronger it gets the bigger influence it has on our entire perception of our existence.  Does this make sense?  If we are on a negative feed loop – those will be our results.  If we are on a positive, holy, righteous, godly loop those will be our results.  It is how Yah designed these glorious machines we live in!  That is why He has given us so many guidelines and precautions of how to maintain it in good health through His Torah.  That is why Y’shua ‘s sacrifice and teachings are so very crucial to our salvation!  Does this make sense? Forgiveness sets us free to be in Yah’s Creative will – plugged into his creative spirit, if you will.  We are free to design our lives for the better within His framework of truth.  We do this while embracing, producing and basking in true  love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and grace in our lives. This is His Way! He requires that we CHOOSE LIFE.  (He has placed before us blessings and curses – right?!)

2.  To Forgive:  We make a choice to honestly and whole heartedly forgive someone/something.  What does that look like? 

• We lay down that thing/person and disassociate ourselves from it.  We no longer own that painful event – we give it Yah and step away from it.  It has not hold on us. 
• IN doing so – we let go of all the crutches, all the excuses, all the jusfications connected to it.  All the behaviors, feelings and thought patterns that have been associated to it in the past, get surrendered with it. 
• We give up the right to hold it over them or to make them suffer/pay for what they did. 
• We surrender our negative thoughts and feelings. 
• We surrender trying to control the matter or influence others in regards to it.
• We disconnect and disassociate with it.  You owe it nothing and it owes you nothing.
• You have surrendered it to Yah to handle and you trust Him fully in it. 
• You do not need to check in on Yah’s progress or see if he needs your help in the matter.  It is surrendered – you are surrendered – permanently, no backsies. 

That is forgiveness. 

If that is not complete and your conditions or definition leaves a few of those things to remain, it is not honestsurrender/forgiveness.  There is still an element of deceit remaining in you in the form of self preservation, control or self defense that you will not trust to Yah.  In this case, I would go back to prayer and offer those idols up that were hidden under your robes, “just in case you need them” later.  Yah is no fool- you are not hiding anything from him – you are just deceiving yourself or others when you do that.  This is a perversion. True forgiveness requires honesty and transparency between you and The Father.  Deceit will lead to a hardened heart. 

How do you know when forgiveness is complete?  You will know that you have arrived at true and complete forgiveness when the thought, sight, feelings of that person or event can arise and you are not emotionally or physically effected by it, and when thoughts of compassion for that person arise.  When you think and feel disconnected from the negative aspects of that person or event and it is replaced with love. This CAN in an instant – but if it doesn’t this is evidence of limited surrender on the “forgiver’s” part.  In other words the “forgiver” is holding something back and is not entering into the process with full trust in Yah and for justice.  This is a result of a hardened heart on the “forgiver’s” part.  I would encourage being deliberate to pressing into the process until the forgiveness is complete.  If not – you will be bound to unforgiveness and it sill still control you and be toxic to your health and your other relationships.

3. Learn to forgive – before it is deserved. When an offense occurs – it is wise to choose forgiveness even before it is requested, or suggested.  It may never be “asked for”.  The person who assaulted you may never repent or believe he did anything wrong. He might even justify what was done and brag about it!  That has nothing to do with your choice to forgive him.  Forgiveness is not based on someone deserving it or requesting it. It is based on your willingness to release it and disconnect yourself from it!  It is a spiritual mind matter.  The world would teach you differently.  The world would say that forgiveness come when someone deserves it.  It would say you make ‘m grovel for it.  You make sure you see that they have changed before you even think about forgiving something.  That – is a lie.  That is no Yah’s design. Yah forgives us to give us first, which gives us the opportunity to change!  (Whether we take that or not – is all on us.  But the forgiveness give us that choice.) Y’shua offered forgiveness in the MIDST of being beaten.  Y’shua did not postpone healing after people “proved it to him”.  No-  he healed them or prophesied over them, declared them forgiven and said – go forth and sin no more.  They were forgiven first.  We see this pattern again and again in Scripture – THIS is Yah’s way.  His way is higher than mans.

4.  Identify triggers and false thought patterns.  After we go through the honest process of full forgiveness and surrender to Yah and you trust  His justice and do not need to employ your own.  Sometimes, long term or especially traumatic instances – unforgiveness can rear its ugly head again.  (Mat 12:43-45) We can nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand again and expresses itself by an outburst of some sort.  So after we have “cleaned house”   we are careful to guard our hearts from anything that would feed that old pattern of unforgiveness.  We are keen to audit our thoughts, feelings and physical responses  (remember these our signs that give our true spiritual condition away).  We rebuke anything in us that is inconsistent with forgiveness, love and freedom.  We pray to Yah for strength courage and faithfulness.  We replace the lies that are trying to sneak in, with the affirming promises of Yah.

5.  Establish new thought patterns, feelings and experiences.    You will have many opportunities to practice forgiveness,  I can assure you!  We are tested on all of Yah’s Kingdom skills! Choose forgiveness as a rule. Align yourself into a lifestyle of forgiveness.   It is required of us as believers. This my friends, is  a salvation issue!!!   This is very closely married to a lifestyle of gratitude.  If we are gracious (grateful) about all that which Yah has blessed us with, as a POSTURE, a way of being and we practice forgiveness as lifestyle.  Then things that used to set us off, don’t anymore, because we do not need to define ourselves by those things anymore. We use a different measuring stick. We will experience the abundance of kingdom living to its fullest and be used in ways we never imagined.  We will be like ice breakers for the Kingdom of Yah; strong, dependable, consistent and powerful in Him.  The world will suggest that walking in forgiveness is a sign of weakness…but you will find out and others will eventually also see – that is a sign of supernatural strength!

 I pray that we could all embrace a lifestyle of love, forgiveness and obedience (cooperation/surrender).  If we do, our individual lives and collective lives as families that make up a community will glorify Yah and transcend our wildest dreams!

Biblical Overcomer - Salt of the Earth

 Being a Biblical Overcomer of adversity by standing in faith is a HUGE thing for us to "get" as Believers and children of YHVH.   It's not just a "good idea", it is expected of us!  This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart, as it should be to all His people!  Have you come to an understanding of this facet of our walk?   If we are derailed or paralyzed by the circumstances in our lives, how can we be effective ambassadors for HIM?   If things don't go the way we think they ought to  - this is an opportunity for the Fruits of the Spirit to show them selves victorious in the situation when we yield to HIM in our process of managing these HARD situations.  Isn't this what the Bible teaches us from Genesis to Revelation?  Our best example in the flesh of course being Yeshua.  However, great props do out to "regular men and women" who have also proven themselves to be overcomers. This depth of commitment and character and trust is something I believe the Father is calling each of us to embrace and really live out.  There are so many facets to being overcomers!

1. We are first called to overcome ourselves (our own sin nature, habits, and belief systems).  This is by far the hardest- if we are truly honest with ourselves!   We are always there!  We can't get way from ourselves!  Although many fall into the trap of deceiving themselves as an attempt to try.

2. Then we are to learn not to be deceived by all these facets of OTHERS. (Romans 12:21)  (Every person in our lives comes with their own "built in" sin natures that they need to overcome and we need to love and walk graciously with them in the process.  Not allowing any of it "rub off" on us, and seeing it for it is, while at the same time - loving them anyway - in thier process.  (and vice versa!)  We also must resist the desire to find acceptance and comfort in walking with other believers before we seek the comfort in Yah.

3. When adversity or even tragic circumstances arise - these only reveal who we truly are underneath our social graces and attempts to live "Biblical" lives.  It is where the rubber meets the road, it reveals where we really are in our relationship and in surrender to Him.  Yet, too often we use circumstances as excuses as to why we responded wrongly, succumb to fear, act divisively or find ourselves making pour choices.  Instead we are to lean into HIM, in worship and pray, and say and do only as the Father instructs us in the matter - being wholly dependent and submitted to HIM and HIS will in the matter.  We do this by giving up all our fleshly "rights" and desires and doing as we're told with thankful hearts and in full trust - come what may.

4.  If that is not enough to keep us busy,  in the midst of all of this, we have to learn the difference between Yah's guidance and adversaries deception.    We need to recognize the difference between Yah's voice and the counterfeiter because our own father tests us and trains us.  The adversary also is very skilled at finding our weak spots and tries to disable us in our Kingdom walk, work and identity.  We learn how to do this - well....the hard way in most cases.  HOWEVER if we LEARN from our mistakes and we take head to the difference - and focus, exercise and strengthen our trust/faith in Yah and strive not be deceived.... then we become over comers.  Consistent and always on guard.  Ready now - not only to defend against attacks that come toward us - but also to help defend our families and community by applying wisdom and service, by sharp discerning and courage to do what is necessary, by standing in the gap, being peacemakers and being a living example.

I believe the "overcomers" are the true Elders of the church.  Not just those who have been doing this longer, or who have gray heads or who have the building - so to speak...but rather those who have shown a solid pattern of guarding and walking in Yah's Way in adversity and in calm. Those whos are hearts are that of servants, who always surrender themselves, and want to be peacemakers and restorers, those whose lives also unambiguously spill over the fruits of the spirit.  Yes - they have room to be "human" too - but these traits supersede their flesh as a rule.  These are overcomers and these are the elders whom Yah rises up among His people.  May all know the difference and may all Believers live their lives they may be evident that they are a Nation of Priests who rightly reveal Yah's name/character.

Too often, I hear of trials of the flesh that are NOT overcome righteously and humbly in The Body; squabbles between brothers, squabbles within families, poor self discipline, fear of man, fear of the adversary  (fear of anything except the one true Elohim!) are present instead. Doctrinal disputes without contrite hearts are argued, political disputes and personal preferences that people insist are "Yah's preferences" even cause more destruction in The Body, the list goes on.   People try to govern others before they have effectively governed themselves in Yah's ways and the results are tragic. Too often I hear excuses and justifications, accusations of others and self righteous reasoning and lack of responsibility of ones OWN faults in a matter.  Too often I see conditional commitment and pride prevailing in conflict.    We may say we 'forgive', but if we honestly do, this profession is one that starts a chain reaction of change and comes from a contrite and selfless place or peace making and resolution put in action.  So often people say one thing but do not follow through with the "doing" which proves the truth of the confession.

So the question must be asked:   What do you do?  What do you see in others who say they are His??? Too often I see self preservation instead of selfless surrender.  (Romans 12)  Do we realize that just because we may have left behind so many 'traditions of man' that were in our "churches", still the "religious spirit" can reside in a man to build his own religion with misplaced authority? Things get off track by just adding a little interpretation here and little expression there to better glorify the vision that they say The Father has given them.  It is so subtle even to him who is doing it - it goes unnoticed and it is done in layers.  Even the faithful who want to please Yah can stray off the path one step at a time unknowingly from their good intentions.

Family, we have been given the keys to The Kingdom.  Are we showing ourselves as good and faithful servants and examples??!  Are we not guardians and protectors of His ways???  How can we be that if we are not doing them ourselves?  Wouldn't that make us hypocrites?    MAY IT NOT BE SO!!  We have been given everything we could ever need and MORE to BE overcomers of things of the world.  Can we not see it??  We have the ability to walk intimately with the HIGHEST of counselors, and He has given us every weapon more powerful than any adversary's, yet when we do these things, we are proving that we are not IN HIM and we are choosing to stray.  When we are doing these things, we have stepped off the path my friends!  How much more harshly will we be judged, than those who were ignorant and have never been trained or tasted his goodness?  (Romans 3)

We have been given salvation (Yeshua) and all the gifts of the Spirit to equips us.  We have been given the Torah to also light our path.  Yah has a better plan for His people if only we remain faithful  as overcomers until the end. Only seeking HIS rewards.  Only seeking His appointments.  Only seeking HIS will.  Auditing ourselves weekly, daily and hourly - lest we find ourselves veering off the path.

May we all be convicted, encouraged, and equipped to develop and exercise the faith and trust muscles that it takes to be the overcomers that we are called to be.  May we be examples of this in our families and communities, so that others may also yearn and learn to be guided by the light of truth as well!  For by their fruits they shall know them!  (Matt 7)

Shabbat Shalom!

In Him,



Here is a study snippet Who is the Overcomer?  that sites verses in Scripture about overcoming.   I pray that it might spark your study and prayer in this direction, even though it only scratches the surface of the many facets and ways that we must overcome!

Here are a few positive verses about overcoming in Yah's name:

When Yah ordered scouts to survey the land (in Numbers 13) which they were about to be given.  Some men gave bad reports of fear unwilling to go and unable to stand in faith, but it was Caleb who was faithful and saw what Yah's plan was and was willing to carry it out in faith  regardless of the circumstances and without fear.
³⁰ Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

2 Peter 2:19

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

2 Peter 2:20

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 2:14

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

Revelation 2:7

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Revelation 2:11

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

Revelation 2:17

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

Revelation 3:5

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.