Shalom, 

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we have Psalm 65 and here are a few of my favorite verses this time around! We start out with this describing this Psalm and I LOVE it!

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A song.

David would sing this! I hope that are learning to or have learned to sing your own praises to the King of all kings! He is SO worthy, and singing causes us to connect with Him on a more personal level! Stir up that JOY that was placed inside of you by the Spirit of God at your New Birth! Begin with verse 1!

1 To You belongs silence (the submissive wonder of reverence which bursts forth into praise) and praise is due and fitting to You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed.

TRUE reverence of the Lord WILLL cause you to burst forth in praise! Try it! Then verses 4-8  show us how that looks!

4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. 5 By fearful and glorious things [that terrify the wicked but make the godly sing praises] do You answer us in righteousness (rightness and justice), O God of our salvation, You Who are the confidence and hope of all the ends of the earth and of those far off on the seas; 6 Who by [Your] might have founded the mountains, being girded with power, 7 Who still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples, 8 So that those who dwell in earth’s farthest parts are afraid of [nature’s] signs of Your presence. You make the places where morning and evening have birth to shout for joy.

Did you notice that "fearful and glorious things accomplished by GOD and celebrated by US cause the enjemy to be TERRIFIED, but US to sing praise! HALLELUJAH! Then verses 9-13 show how our GOD responds to the praises of HIS people! 

9 You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide them with grain when You have so prepared the earth. 10 You water the field’s furrows abundantly, You settle the ridges of it; You make the soil soft with showers, blessing the sprouting of its vegetation. 11 You crown the year with Your bounty and goodness, and the tracks of Your [chariot wheels] drip with fatness. 12 The [luxuriant] pastures in the uncultivated country drip [with moisture], and the hills gird themselves with joy. 13 The meadows are clothed with flocks, the valleys also are covered with grain; they shout for joy and sing together.

Our PRASIES give God access to our lives to pour more BLESSINGS, that bring more PRAISES! What a wonderful and glorious cycle! Let's continually cultivate THAT! God is GLORIFIED! WE are BLESSED! And the world will KNOW WHO HE IS! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Crown The Year":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the "Daily Grace" devotional from Joseph Prince's website.

Only Good Gifts

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

As a father, it always pains me to see my children unwell. My firstborn daughter, Jessica, is all grown up now, but I remember how it broke my heart to see her bawling when she was suffering from viral fever as a baby.

I remember cradling her in my arms and praying over her as I paced around her room the whole night. I sponged her feverish body over and over again. As long as she was sick, I could not rest.

I hated the fever that was causing my baby to convulse in pain. I would have done anything to alleviate her discomfort. If I could have taken her fever in my own body so she would not have to go through the pain, I would have gladly done so.

What I feel when my children are unwell is only a microcosmic reflection of what our heavenly Father feels for us when we are unwell. He wants us brimming with health and life. He hates sicknesses and diseases because of what they do to us.

But the difference is this: He was able to take our sicknesses, and He put them on Jesus’ own body as He hung on the cross, so that we would not have to suffer them. The Bible tells us: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17).

Why did our Lord Jesus do that? Because He loves us so much. He could not rest until He had secured our salvation, our health, and our wholeness. Finally, when He had borne every sin, every disease, and every infirmity upon His own body, He cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and rested.

The Bible shows us this clearly: God is a good God. He is our loving heavenly Father. That is why I cannot understand why there are those who teach that God sometimes uses sickness to teach us a lesson or that we need to “pray hard” for His healing.

Can you imagine any earthly father inflicting suffering on his own child? Must you be persuaded to alleviate your child’s pain?

There are even some people who claim that it is sometimes God’s will for us to be sick. But when their own children fall sick, they do everything within their power to ensure their children recover. If it were really God’s will for us to be sick, seeking recovery would be deliberately trying to get out of God’s will!

My friend, reject anything that even remotely suggests that God uses sickness and suffering to teach us something. Our Father is full of grace and mercy and wants us to be healthy, provided for, and protected from every evil occurrence, sickness, and disease!

AMEN! Our God is GOOD! And ONLY GOOD! Here is Hillsong with "Good Grace":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom, 

Today I really like Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest"!

Could This Be True Of Me?

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself. — Acts 20:24

It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment. You will be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad; you will no longer be able to work for Him on the commonsense basis.

What do I really count dear? If I have not been gripped by Jesus Christ, I will count service dear, time given to God dear, my life dear unto myself. Paul says he counted his life dear only in order that he might fulfil the ministry he had received; he refused to use his energy for any other thing. Acts 20:24 states Paul’s almost sublime annoyance at being asked to consider himself; he was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Practical work may be a competitor against abandonment to God, because practical work is based on this argument – “Remember how useful you are here,” or – “Think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude does not put Jesus Christ as the Guide as to where we should go, but our judgment as to where we are of most use. Never consider whether you are of use; but ever consider that you are not your own but His.

This is SO good! We are NOT our own! We were bought with a very HIGH price! The BLOOD of JESUS! We owe it to HIM, and to ourselves, to commit to BE all that HE has designed, called, anointed and appointed each one of us to be! BE the LIGHT in YOUR world! Here is Hillsong with "In Christ Alone":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Today I have to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again! Today's is vital for raising Godly children!

Well Of Life

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life . . . . — Proverbs 10:11

Immediately after the birth of our son and daughter, I took those little ones into my hands and said, “Lord, I thank You for this child. Because I know the Bible, I realize it is my responsibility to train up this child in the way it should go, and when it is old, it will not depart from it.

“I realize Your Word says to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and I’m going to do that. I know that children are taught in two ways: By precept and by example. So I’m going to live right in front of this child. I will set the right example. Then, too, I know that you can have what you say, so I say over this child that it will grow up strong physically, without sickness and without disease; it will be alert mentally; and stalwart spiritually.”

Our children grew up without sickness and disease. I never prayed a prayer that they would be saved. I never prayed a prayer that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. But both were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit at an early age.

Children are a product of words!

Confession: According to the New Testament, in Christ I am righteous. Therefore, my mouth is a well of life. I speak words of life concerning others as well as myself!

Here are Hillsong Kids with "As The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle's devotional!

HE IS ABLE

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord” (Matthew 9:27-28 NKVJ).

People often wonder if it is God’s will to heal. The only source of truth we have on this or any other matter is the Word of God. Throughout the gospels we see time and time again that everywhere Jesus went in His earthly ministry, He healed and delivered people. Clearly, it is God’s will to heal all who come to Him.

One thing we need to understand about healing is this: just because healing is God’s will doesn’t mean it comes to us automatically. Notice in the story from Matthew 9 that when the blind men came to Jesus, He turned the responsibility for their healing over to them. When He asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”, He was in essence getting them to draw upon their faith.

We know “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). On numerous occasions when Jesus healed someone He was quoted as saying, “Your faith has made you whole.” Our faith is a substance, an essential ingredient for miracles.

There is no doubt that it was God’s will that the two blind men be healed. But in order for them to experience the miracle they desired, they had to take the responsibility for the manifestation of the miracle by exercising their faith.

Jesus is asking the same thing of you and me in this day and hour. If we are going to see the extraordinary become the norm in our lives, then we must be responsible for exercising our faith, expecting God’s Word to come to pass in our lives. After all, the Word says He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).

Confession: Lord Jesus, I believe you are able to work miracles in my life today just as you did for others in your earthly ministry. I draw upon the power of faith that is within me, and I declare victory in my situation because you are able!

AMEN! The GLORIOUS Good News is that our God is BOTH ABLE and WILLING to do GOOD for us! Here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is POWERFUL! 

By Thy Words

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt
be condemned. — MATTHEW 12:37

Jesus Himself made the above statement.

Words are much more important than many people realize.

Do you remember Job — and his three so-called “friends” who came to comfort him? Job’s cry to those who came as comforters and stayed as tormentors was, “How long will ye vex my soul, AND BREAK ME IN PIECES WITH WORDS?” (Job 19:2).

Words make us or break us.

Words heal us or make us sick.

According to the teaching of the Bible, words destroy us, or words make us full of life, happiness, and health.

Words that we spoke yesterday make life what it is today.

That agrees with what Jesus said in Mark 11:23, “. . . he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.”

Those things which you say are words. In fact, you could read that last phrase like this: “He shall have the WORDS that he speaks.”

Confession: By my words I shall be justified. I know that I shall have whatsoever I say. I shall have the words that I speak. Therefore, I speak words full of life, happiness, and health. I speak words that make, rather than break!

SPEAK THE WORD of GOD! ALWAYS! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this "From Faith To Faith" by Gloria Copeland!

He Will Lead You

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Walking in the spirit. That's the key to overcoming the flesh. If you follow the prompting of the Spirit of God within you, you won't be dominated by the pressure your flesh tries to put on you.

As you listen to the written Word and the Holy Spirit telling you what to do, you'll constantly be making little adjustments in your life according to what He says. And those little adjustments will keep darkness from overtaking you.

You see, God knows just what you need. He can look ahead in your life and see the traps and pressures the devil is laying for you. So follow the Holy Spirit's leading and He will maneuver you safely around them to victory.

AMEN! TRUST Holy Spirit within you to DO exactly what He is here for! You will find yourself walking in more Wisdom, power and anointing than you ever have before! HE is waiting on YOU! Here is Hillsong with "Upper Room":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I was really encouraged by this devotional from Joseph Prince's website. 

Set Apart for Life and Health

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

Some people are thrown off by the word holy when we talk about the holy Communion. To them, it feels antiquated and maybe even irrelevant. But did you know that to be “holy” simply means to be “set apart for God” and to be uncommon?

This speaks of the special nature of the Communion. Every time you partake of the holy Communion, you are allowing the Lord to set you apart from the world, and allowing Him to have a private time of intimacy and communion with you! Look at what God did for the children of Israel when the plagues came upon the land of Egypt. He declared:

“And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land. I will make a difference between My people and your people.” —Exodus 8:22–23

In the same way, when you have divine insights on the power and significance of the holy Communion, the Lord Himself sets you apart and makes a difference between you and the people of the world. That means you are not like the people of the world.

That means it may be common for the people of the world to catch the “common flu,” or common for people in a particular age demographic to experience certain symptoms or to develop certain conditions. But you don’t have to accept any “common” ailments because God has set you apart to be uncommon.

In a world that is decaying and dying of illness, He has paid the price for you to be uncommonly healthy, whole, and healed. While the rest of the world can weaken with age, the Bible declares that “as your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25), and that even as you advance in age, you can return to the days of your youth (Job 33:25).

I pray that over you right now: as your days increase, may your strength and your health also increase, and may the Lord return the days of your youth to you, and cause your flesh to be young like a child’s. Amen!

AMEN! Partaking of the Communion elements according to the Word of God is a declaration of all that JESUS has done for us! Spirit, soul and body! Do it in remembrance of this! Here is Hillsong with "Remembrance":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Jerry Savelle's website devotional!

GRACE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DON’T DESERVE

For by grace you have been saved [[blessed, healed, delivered, made whole]] through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV, brackets added).

The biblical definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” It is something you didn’t earn; it is the gift of God. So when you see the word grace in your Bible, you can accurately interchange it with the word favor.

God’s grace, His unmerited favor, is simply God giving you something you don’t deserve. The Bible says, “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5 NKJV). Simply put:

Grace makes a way for God to bless you in life—regardless of your merits.

Grace will give you what you did not earn.

Grace will qualify you for what you do not qualify for.

Grace will give you what you do not deserve.

Have you ever wondered why some believers are more blessed than others? Is it because of their spiritual performance, the hours spent reading the Word, praying, and fasting? No! They are blessed because they actually believe God has justified them. And they’ve received His grace, knowing that grace will give them what they don’t deserve.

Confession: Through faith in Jesus Christ, I have been saved by the grace of God. I did not earn this grace. It is a precious gift that has given me what I don’t deserve: God’s favor, blessing, health, and wholeness—spirit, soul, and body.

AMEN! I hope that this has helped YOU understand God's great GRACE more! NOW I hope that you will choose to receive and to walk in what JESUS has already provided for you! Here is Hillsong with "Grace To Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today SOMEONE needs to hear and BELIEVE this from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! 

Psalm 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. 4 By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

Psalm 56:9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living.

WHAT can MAN do to us when GOD is on our side? NOTHING! I really love this quote: "SInce GOD is FOR me, it doesn't do ANYONE, ANY GOOD to be against me! It WILL NOT WORK! HALLELUJAH! We can count on Him! Here are Hillsong Kids with "I Give You My Hallelujah":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share again today from Oswald Chambers' devotional, "My Utmost For His Highest":

The Delight Of Sacrifice

I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. — 2 Corinthians 12:15

When the Spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is. We have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life out for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only – that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” When a man says he must develop a holy life alone with God, he is of no more use to his fellow men: he puts himself on a pedestal, away from the common run of men. Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve. Paul said he knew how to be a “door-mat” without resenting it, because the mainspring of his life was devotion to Jesus. We are apt to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which emancipate us spiritually. That was not Paul’s motive: “I could wish my self were accursed from Christ for my brethren” – wild, extravagant – is it? When a man is in love it is not an exaggeration to talk in that way, and Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.

If we TRULY love JESUS, then we will LOVE what HE LOVES! Above all else! Let's show our LOVE for HIM by sharing His LOVE with others! Let's "seek and save" the lost. His most prized possession is PEOPLE! Be the LIGHT in your world and let's WIN SOME! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek Volume 2".

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. — Ephesians 4:29

Some of the “dirtiest talk” I’ve ever heard used to happen almost every week at the end of our living room couch as I was growing up. About once a week, a certain member of our church would drop by to visit with my parents. She was the church gossip, and she always came loaded with the “latest scoop” on people’s personal matters that were absolutely none of her business to know or to discuss. Although my parents loved her, I can still see my dad rolling his eyes when he realized it was her ringing the doorbell of our house. She’d plop down on the end of the couch and within seconds, the verbal garbage would begin to flow about everyone and everything — absolutely no one’s personal business was off-limits! If a person attended our church, then like it or not, that person was a potential victim of this woman’s tongue.

This woman’s fairly regular visits to our house represented some of the ugliest moments of socializing I’ve ever witnessed in my life. Outright cursing would have been totally inappropriate for any believer, much less for a leading church member. Yet what this woman did in our living room almost every week was as distasteful to God as cursing — if not more so.

Talking badly about others behind their backs, such as the outpouring of gossip that proceeded from this woman’s mouth, is a type of nasty conversation too often tolerated in the Church. The apostle Paul called this kind of talk “corrupt communication” — and he strictly forbade it when he said to let no talk of this type proceed out of our mouths!

In the Greek text, the word “corrupt” is the sapros, a word that depicts something that is putrid or rotten. The word “putrid” describes meat that has gone so bad that it emits a foul smell. The decomposing meat reeks of a noxious and rancid smell that nearly makes a person sick to his stomach. The word “rotten” describes fruit that is spoiled, decayed, and sickening to the taste. It can also be described as putrid. Either way, whether meat or fruit, if something is putrid, it is disgusting to taste or smell. So when the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to use the word sapros to describe “corrupt communication,” he was describing communication that is really nasty.

The word “communication” is the Greek word logos, which simply means words. But when it is used in conjunction with the word “corrupt,” the Greek phrase describes words or forms of communication that are putrid or disgusting to the recipient. As far as God is concerned, this type of communication reeks. And those who consume this type of talk find it to be so putrid that it sickens them, just as spoiled meat would do. And just as a rotten apple must be removed from a bucket of apples or it will eventually spread and ruin the entire batch of good apples, this is how ruinous “corrupt communication” can be to those who listen to it, as far as God is concerned. Everything about corrupt communication has a putrefying effect on others.

Paul says instead of spreading corrupt communication to others, we must learn to speak that which is “edifying” to hearers (see Ephesians 4:29). The word “edifying” is the Greek word oikodomeo and, as used here, means to build others up. These words never result in tearing someone down, but rather cause others to be left in an improved state after we are done talking to or about them.

Have you ever known a person who always had something good to say about someone else? Doesn’t that person leave a sweet taste in your mouth? You feel good about the time you spend with such a positive, sweet-speaking individual. In fact, you feel challenged to rise higher and be better every time you leave that person’s presence! What a difference that experience is from an encounter with a person who tears others down and leaves a bitter taste people’s mouths!

The Holy Spirit is urging us to become a wellspring of good words when we talk to and about others. Rather than have the putrefying effect that a gossiper has on his or her listeners, we must determine that our words build others up and leave them in a much-improved state of being! That is the Holy Spirit’s message in Ephesians 4:29.

The woman I told you about earlier was someone who never missed church and served faithfully, but she had never learned to control her tongue. Had she really understood the stench her words were releasing into the atmosphere and into the ears of her listeners, I’m sure she would have asked the Holy Spirit to help her change.

I believe that today the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about your tongue and your words. Ask yourself this: Does God commend me for leaving others in better shape because of my words, or is He saying that I need to get a grip on my tongue and stop talking in a way that puts others down and harms their reputations? Only you know the answer to these questions!

Why don’t you make the determined decision that from this day forward, when you leave a room or a conversation, you leave it with the sweet fragrance of Jesus lingering behind you? Let people remember you for the kind words you left behind. You can be known as one who leaves a sweet taste in people’s mouth every time you leave a conversation or walk out of a room!

I LOVE this! Our WORDS are powerful, so we MUST make them be HIS WORDS that PRODUCE GOOD THINGS! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today is my Birthday, so I am going to share two of my very favorite Scripture portions with you! The first is Philippians 3:10:

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection

THIS is my goal throughout my time on this earth! The more that I KNOW HIM, the more that I will TRUST HIM, LOVE HIM, OBEY HIM and REPRESENT HIM! I hope YOU will choose this, too! The second of my favorites is John 10:10:

10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

GOD'S will for us is ALWAYS measured in ABUNDANCE! There is NO lack in HIM! I hope that YOU  will mediate on this {Joshua 1:8 AMPC} until it becomes SO REAL to you! THEN you will be truly blessed! Now here is Hillsong with one of my favorite worship songs! "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I was really inspired by Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest".  I want to share it with you!

Have You Ever Been Carried Away For Him?

She hath wrought a good work on Me. — Mark 14:6

If human love does not carry a man beyond himself, it is not love. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it.

Have I ever been carried away to do something for God not because it was my duty, nor because it was useful, nor because there was anything in it at all beyond the fact that I love Him? Have I ever realized that I can bring to God things which are of value to Him, or am I mooning round the magnitude of His Redemption whilst there are any number of things I might be doing? Not Divine, colossal things which could be recorded as marvellous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that I am abandoned to Him? Have I ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced?

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him the abandoned tokens of how genuinely we do love Him. Abandon to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses the eye on our own whiteness; we are greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, fearful lest we offend Him. Perfect love casts out all that when once we are abandoned to God. We have to get rid of this notion – “Am I of any use?” and make up our minds that we are not, and we may be near the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time.

I have been asking myslef if I am doing what I do out of a sense of duty, or because I am SO grateful, thankful and appreciative of WHO HE IS that I can't help but do what brings joy to HIM! AND Glory to His Name! Check yourself and make sure that you pour yourself into your intimate fellowship with Him so that YOU can discern what really brings joy to Him and makes His heart glad! There is no greater joy than that! Here is Hillsong with "For Your Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!

The Initiative Against Dreaming

Arise, let us go hence. — John 14:31

Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. After Our Lord had said those wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected that He would tell them to go away and meditate over them all; but Our Lord never allowed “mooning” When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it. God’s initiative is always in the nature of a stab against this kind of dreaming, the stab that bids us “neither sit nor stand but go.”

If we are quietly waiting before God and He has said – “Come ye yourselves apart,” then that is meditation before God in order to get at the line He wants; but always beware of giving over to mere dreaming when once God has spoken. Leave Him to be the source of all your dreams and joys and delights, and go out and obey what He has said. If you are in love, you do not sit down and dream about the one you love all the time, you go and do something for him; and that is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Dreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.

There is a time to "dream"! To seek guidance and direction from Holy Spirit for what HE will have us to do next! THEN it is time to GET GOING! Be a DOER of the Word that we are hearing! THIS is action that HE can work with ! Let's be DOERS! ALWAYS in obedience to Holy Spirit's leading and direction. When we do, we will NOT fail! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "GO!":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 50 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Look at verses 1-6:

1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people: 5 Gather together to Me My saints [those who have found grace in My sight], those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice), for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

THIS IS OUR GOD! Never doubt the magnitude of GLORY, POWER, WISDOM and STRENGTH! Rely on HIM to be true to HIS WORD in every situation and you will begin to enjoy the BLESSINGS of our NEW and BETTER COVENANT! And then YOU can be a DOER of verse 23!

23 He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God.

Here, to help you with that, is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is SO needful! 

The Initiative Against Despair

Rise, let us be going. — Matthew 26:46

The disciples went to sleep when they should have kept awake, and when they realized what they had done it produced despair. The sense of the irreparable is apt to make us despair, and we say – “It is all up now, it is no use trying any more.” If we imagine that this kind of despair is exceptional, we are mistaken, it is a very ordinary human experience. Whenever we realize that we have not done that which we had a magnificent opportunity of doing, then we are apt to sink into despair, and Jesus Christ comes and says – “Sleep on now, that opportunity is lost for ever, you cannot alter it, but arise and go to the next thing.” Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ, and go out into the irresistible future with Him.

There are experiences like this in each of our lives. We are in despair, the despair that comes from actualities, and we cannot lift ourselves out of it. The disciples in this instance had done a downright unforgivable thing; they had gone to sleep instead of watching with Jesus, but He came with a spiritual initiative against their despair and said – “Arise and do the next thing.” If we are inspired of God, what is the next thing? To trust Him absolutely and to pray on the ground of His Redemption.

Never let the sense of failure corrupt your new action.

We ALL miss it at one time or another. It is important that we NEVER allow the enemy to gain ground just because we made a mistake! THAT is what 1 John 1:9 is all about! 

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

TRUST His Word and receive your forgiveness! Now get up and get going! NOTHING can EVER separate you from HIS LOVE! NOTHING! Here is Hillsong with "The Passion":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Andrew Womack's daily devotional!

The Chosen Ones

Mark 1:16, 'Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.'

Jesus never chose an apostle from among the religious system. Every one of his twelve disciples were men that He chose from the secular world. It wasn't because God didn't have faith in those who were religious. It's just that most of those who were part of the religious system didn't have any faith in God.

One of the most common mistakes religious people make is to put faith in themselves. They think God will use them because of their great holiness or special abilities.

Paul said, 'But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are' (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).

People who recognize their own inabilities are of necessity more dependent on God. That is the way God wants it. The Lord is constantly searching for someone who recognizes they are nothing so He can do something through them (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Instead of thinking of your responsibilities, just respond to His ability.

AMEN! All the good in us comes from God! When we acknowledge that, and look to HIM, HIS WORD and HIS PRESENCE in us, THEN we will see more clearly, hear more clearly and be better able to respond to HIS directions and instructions! Here is Hillsong with "Search My Heart":

Shalom  in Him!

Shalom,

This devotional from The Spoken Word Church website is very simple, yet profoundly important!

Acknowledge Your Limitations

Don't play God. Know your weaknesses. Admit your mistakes to God. Confess your sins, your selfish decisions which displease God. Then forget them. Utilize the strength of others. Humility is accepting things you do not deserve. It is recognizing personal limitations and resting in the power of God to compensate.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

No human being is a 'superman'! BUT, every born again believer has all the power they need right inside of them! Holy Spirit Himself lives IN us and HE supplies all that we will ever need to be successful and victorious in this life! Call on Him! Believe Him! Trust Him! He is ALWAYS working IN us and FOR us! Here is Hillsong with "Behold (Then Sings My Soul)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Jerry Savelle's devotional!

ALWAYS TRIUMPH

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV).

The key word in the scripture above is always. Knowing that we always triumph in Christ gets rid of the false philosophy, “win a few—lose a few.”

Just because it is God’s will that we always triumph doesn’t ensure we will never be attacked or have adversity.

I’ve heard people say, “Well, I haven’t always triumphed.” That’s not God’s fault. His Word says He always causes us to triumph—and God is always right. In God’s mind, victory belongs to you. No matter what kind of persecution, adversity, or attack you may be under, God’s planned result is triumph.

Of course, you can choose to give up before victory comes; you can get weary of doing well before victory comes; you can even get discouraged and quit before victory comes. But I am totally convinced that God already has your victory planned out for you.

I’ve learned that what I do during an attack will determine whether or not I triumph. I made up my mind years ago that I’m not going to accept failure. I’m not saying I’ve never had an opportunity to fail or I’ve never had a setback. I’ve had plenty of these situations, but it’s never over until God has the opportunity to turn things around and lead me into triumph.

I don’t know what you may be going through today, but I do know this: If you won’t give up God will always lead you in triumph.

Confession: I believe God will turn every adversity into victory. I believe God has a victory plan for every negative circumstance I face. I always expect victory because God has promised I can always triumph in Christ.

AMEN! God's promises are ALWAYS for our benefit and blessing! Learn to trust HIM and HIS WORD in every situation and you will begin to see victory on every front! Here is Hillsong with a victory song that puts the devil on the run!  "Not Today":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

On this Valentine's Day I think it is very appropriate to share what Kenneth E. Hagin had to teach on Love in His "Faith Food" devotional!

Love Atmosphere

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. . . . If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. — 1 JOHN 4:7-8, 12

Husbands and wives need to let the love of God dominate them — and not just natural human love — because natural love is so shallow.

Christians have an advantage over other people. Not only can they love their spouse with natural affection, but they can add to it divine love which never seeks its own, but always seeks the other’s welfare.

In all the years of our marriage, my wife and I have walked in love. I never consider myself or what I want; I consider what Oretha wants. I never want to be self-seeking; I always want to put her first. And Oretha reciprocates. We always try to outdo one another in love. And how blessed it is! Praise God! Our home is like Heaven on earth.

A troubled person who had visited us once said, “When I visit in your home, it’s like heaven. You can feel a presence there the minute you go into the house.”

We create atmospheres in our homes.

Confession: I will walk in divine love toward those I love. I will let the unselfish love of God pour through me to them, creating an atmosphere of love!

AMEN! Create the Godly atmosphere of LOVE in YOUR homes! You will be so glad you did! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "This is Real Love":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share the devotional from The Spoken Word Church website because it is SO vital!

Listen

It is an art, a science and an incredible tool for growing. Productive listening is vital to success. It demands discipline and effort. Listen. Take the time. Listen to God, His Word, His ministers. Listen to those around you who are hurting. Listen to your own conscience. It is a key to real success.

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:" {Proverbs 1:5}

"Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." {Proverbs 17:28}

Listening to Holy Spirit as you pray and commune with Him in YOUR secret place is vital in learning to KNOW His voice and to be able to receive His instruction, correction, leading and guidance! The most important conversations that you can ever have is with HIM! No one loves you more! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Holy Spirit Rain Down":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share this from our partner, Rick Renner, from his "Sparkling Gems Volume 2".

Presenting Every Man Perfect In Christ

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.— Colossians 1:28

After reading a book on the subject of church leadership and the need for every organization to have a “purpose statement,” I realized that the purpose statement for our church and ministry was too long for anyone to remember it, and it was certainly too long to be able to repeat it to someone else. So I started praying for a short, concise way to state the purpose of our ministry.

After a lot of prayer, my heart kept going back to the simple statement the apostle Paul made in Colossians 1:28, a verse that has been the theme of our ministry since its earliest inception and remains the purpose of our ministry after decades of service. However, I had never thought of a way to present it to people as a purpose statement until I was challenged by that book. Colossians 1:28 speaks of Christ’s glorious presence in each of us and of our need to declare truth in various ways to others with the ultimate goal of presenting every person perfect in Christ. It says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

I can emphatically say that our ministry has always been, is, and will always be a preaching, warning, and teaching ministry — just as Paul described in Colossians 1:28. And like Paul, we have an audience of “every man.” The word “every” is the Greek word panta, an all-encompassing word that embraces all people with no exceptions. To the lost, we preach. To those who are saved, we warn and teach. But Paul said the ultimate goal is to present every man perfect in Christ. “Perfect” sounds very hard to attain, if not almost unreachable, so what was Paul really referring to when he spoke of presenting people “perfect” in Christ?

The word “perfect” in this verse is the Greek word telios. Paul used this word only five times in the New Testament — each time to describe full-grown adults (see 1 Corinthians 2:6; 14:20; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:15; and Colossians 1:28). It describes how, as a person develops, he or she transitions from being youthful and immature to an individual who is full-grown and mature.

In addition, Paul used telios twice (see Romans 12:2; Colossians 4:12) to denote spiritually mature individuals who are living in accordance with the will of God. For this reason, the more recent translation of The Amplified Bible states, “…that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ….” Thus, we see the word “perfect” that Paul referred to in Colossians 1:28 as one who is spiritually mature and endeavoring to live out his or her life in accordance to God’s perfect will.

In the context of discerning our ministry purpose, this verse gives very clear direction. It tells us that we are not called just to win masses to Christ and then leave them behind as spiritual infants. Rather, our God-given task is to help people walk out of immaturity while leading them onward into spiritual maturity. Bringing people up to this level of maturity is an undertaking so huge that Paul acknowledged it could only be done with the power of God. He said, “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:29).

The word “labour” in Colossians 1:29 is the Greek word kopos, which describes the most physically and mentally exhausting type of labor. By using this word, Paul reminded us of the extremely hard work that is required to help a person attain spiritual maturity. According to this, Paul worked very hard to bring people from spiritual infancy into spiritual adulthood. In fact, the next word he chose, the word “striving,” drives this point home. It comes from the Greek word agonidzo, from which we get the word agony.

The use of these two words “labour” (kopos) and “striving” (agonidzo) tells us that the task of helping individuals move from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood requires focus, effort, and hard work — and that it can often be as agonizing as raising a natural child to become a level-headed adult. And we’re not just spiritually raising one person, but many people at one time. This would be humanly impossible if it were not for “his working,” which, as Paul said, works in us mightily.

The word “working” here is the Greek word energeo, which, of course, is where we get the word for energy. Furthermore, the word “mightily” is the word dunamis, which Paul used to describe Christ’s divine ability that resides in each true believer. So Paul was acknowledging that it is only possible to present every man “perfect” in Christ because of His divine, supernatural energy that works mightily in us. We are insufficient in ourselves for such a task. We can only accomplish it because of the infusion of Christ’s mighty dunamis power that works in us. Hence, the task of helping someone grow from spiritual infancy into spiritual adulthood is a supernatural feat that can only be accomplished in cooperation with Christ’s mighty power that works in us and through us.

If you feel that you have failed to stick it out to the end with the individuals you’ve been called to help mature, take heart! Yield to the Holy Spirit’s presence in your heart, for you are only up to the task if the Holy Spirit’s power is working in you and through you. And should you be looking for a purpose statement for your church, your ministry, or your personal walk with God, consider Colossians 1:28: “…that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus….”

As believers, this should always be our purpose. We must not only win people to Jesus but also disciple them to maturity so they can live the balance of their lives as fully grown spiritual adults who live to do the will of God.

AMEN! Our Scripture foundation for The Spoken Word Church is Ephesians 4:15: Speaking the Truth in Love.

Our purpose statement is: Teaching and training believers to be bright lights in the world and to the world!

BE the LIGHT in YOUR world by growing up in all things unto HIM! {Ephesians 4:15 AMPC: Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).}

Here is Hillsong with "Behold":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

We read THIS from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional at Morning Prayer today and I want to share it with you!

Maturing Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love . . . . — GALATIANS 5:22

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit . . . . — JOHN 15:5

Love is the fruit of the recreated human spirit, produced because of the life of Christ within.

Picture a fruit tree. Where does the fruit grow? Fruit grows on the branches. Jesus used the illustration of the tree. Who are the branches? We are.

How does natural fruit grow on the branch? It receives nourishment from the trunk — the vine — of the tree. Life from the trunk flows out into the branches. It’s the same in the spiritual realm. God is life. God is love. His life and love flow out to the believers — the branches.

Fruit grows. It doesn’t come fully mature. The Bible says, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected . . .” (1 John 2:5). The word “perfected” means matured. John was talking about maturing in the fruit of love. (I don’t think any of us have completely matured in it yet, but some of us are making progress.)

Confession: The fruit of the spirit is love. Christ is the vine. I am the branch. I abide in Christ, and Christ abides in me. Therefore, I bring forth fruit. As I keep God’s Word, I mature in the fruit of love. I am making progress.

As a born again believer, YOU have the fruit of the Spirit working IN YOU! Never doubt that! Remind yourself daily! Here, to help you with that, is Hillsong with "Fruit of The Spirit":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

 Today I want to share again from Jerry Savelle's website devotional! THIS is SO good!

FROM TRIAL TO TESTIMONY

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (James 1:2-3 NKJV).

Did you know two people can go through exactly the same circumstance and see the situation completely differently? A victory-minded person will see every trial as an opportunity to apply the Word of God and create a testimony of victory. A defeat-minded person will see a trial as yet another problem to struggle through in life.

Winners never see tests and trials; all they see are opportunities. Others who are looking on may think they are going through hard times, but winners don’t see it that way.

God’s will is that every trial is turned into an opportunity to bring increase to you in some way. He wants you to come out of every trial with the advantage. It is never God’s will that the devil succeeds against you.

The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). When you are walking in love with God—following His plan and purpose for your life—you can face every negative situation with complete confidence. You know God will turn the tables as you exercise your faith in His Word.

The Bible says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32 NKJV).

It is always God’s will that you turn each trial you face into a testimony of victory. When you accept the fact that God plans for you to benefit and increase in every negative situation, you can face your trials with joy. You can walk through anything with joy, knowing that the outcome will be a testimony to the goodness of God.

Confession: I walk by faith, confident that God works out every trial and situation for my good. I walk in complete and total victory, knowing I am called according to God’s purpose.

My favorite TRUTH found here? THIS:

Winners never see tests and trials; all they see are opportunities.

AMEN! It is ALL in our persepctive! When we line up what we believe with the Word of God, then we are believing TRUTH, and TRUTH will ALWAYS prevail! Set your heart to KNOW HIM MORE every day and you will find yourself seeing the victory in every situation! Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom, 

Today I want to share from Psalm 40:1-6 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan!

1 I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. 3 And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. 4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

AMEN! We who have received JESUS as Lord and Saviour, being born again and being made brand new in HIM, should be shouting this wonmderful news everywhere we go! "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which YOU have done, and Your thoughts toward us, no one can compare with YOU!" Sing it! Shout it! And "Tell The World" with Hillsong!

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspiration" devotional on his website! 

Come As You Are to Jesus

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. Psalm 30:11

My friend, you are favored and accepted by God today because of His unmerited favor. Even if your life is a mess, He can take your mess and make it into something beautiful. Come to Him just as you are.

Years ago, one of my church members suddenly stopped coming to church for a long time. I met up with him to find out how he was doing and to see if everything was alright. He was very honest with me and told me that he was going through a lot of problems in his marriage and that he was now addicted to alcohol. Then, he said this: "Let me get my life right, then I will come back to church.”

I smiled and asked him, “Do you clean yourself before you take a bath?” I could tell from his expression that he was taken aback by my question, so I told him, “Come as you are to the Lord. He is the bath. He will cleanse you. He will get your life in order for you and He will cause every addiction to lose its hold on you. You don’t have to use your own efforts to clean yourself before you take a bath!”

I am glad to share that this precious brother soon returned to church and Jesus turned his life around. Today, he is happily married, blessed with a beautiful family, and is one of my trusted, key leaders. That is what the Lord does when you come to Him as you are and allow Him to love you into wholeness. He will make all things beautiful in your life.

There are many people today who are like this brother. They want to get their lives together by themselves before they come to Jesus. They are under the impression that they need to make themselves holy before they can step into God’s holy presence. They feel like they are being hypocrites if they don't sort out their lives first before coming to church.

Nothing could be further from the truth. You will never be able to make yourself holy enough to qualify for God’s blessings. You are made holy, righteous, and clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is His righteous standing that qualifies you—nothing more and nothing less.

So stop trying to clean yourself before you go to the Lord. Come to Jesus with all your mess, all your addictions, all your weaknesses, and all your failures. God loves you just as you are.

However, He also loves you too much to let you stay the same. My friend, when you come to Jesus, He becomes your “bath.” He will wash you clean, whiter than snow! Jump into the bath today and allow Jesus to make you perfect, righteous, and holy in God’s eyes!

HALLELUJAH! AMEN! THIS is SO valuable and vital to share with every born again beleiver, especially those newly born again! When we get this down inside and REALLY trust and believe it, we will become powerhouses of faith, able to minister the TRUTH to anyone! Get ready! Your life is about to change! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Indescribable":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share one of my very favorite portions of Scripture and my life's goal! Philippians 3:8-14:

8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. 12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. 13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

This is from the Classic Amplified Bible. I have used this Bible for many years and it IS the Bible that I meditate from! I hope that YOU will spend some time in this verse until it comes alive for YOU! With this comes the direction from Holy Spirit for walking this out in YOUR LIFE! He is SO faithful! Trust Him! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Every Breath", which is also one ov my very favorite Worship songs! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Jerry Savelle's website devotional!

THE COMMITMENT

Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

 Notice at the end of that verse it says “them that walk uprightly.” God will withhold nothing from them that walk uprightly. I believe withholding nothing is God’s best. But there is a requirement to that. God requires that we walk uprightly.

Having God’s best sounds great. We all want to experience His best in our lives. But why isn’t the Body of Christ experiencing it? I believe the primary reason most of the Body of Christ is not experiencing God’s best in their lives is because it requires a serious commitment. It requires diligence and unwavering determination. To have God’s best you must be willing to give Him your best. And, that is where so many of God’s people fall short. We all want to have God’s best, but we are not willing to give Him our best. Most Christians are not willing to make that kind of commitment. You have to constantly ask yourself: How desperate am I for God’s best in my life?

I have found that desperate people will do desperate things. They will do whatever it takes to change their situation. If you are truly desperate to have God’s best in your life then you will be willing to do whatever the Word requires of you. It is not going to happen automatically. You have to strive for it.

That’s what happened to me 46 years ago, I got desperate for change. I got tired of just existing. I got tired of just barely getting by. I got tired of living from paycheck to paycheck. I got tired of the devil stealing everything that I had worked hard for. I was tired of feeling frustrated all the time. Are you at that place? Are you tired of just surviving? Are you ready to experience God’s best for your life? Then say right now, “As for me, I choose to have God’s best in my life.” When you truly understand this, then you will begin to realize that having God’s best is a chosen and determined outcome.

Make a decision today and everyday, to put God’s Word first and to walk uprightly before Him! Remember when you do, He promises that no good thing will be withheld from us!

AMEN! How much do YOU want God's very best for your life and family? It will show in how much attention you give to the Word and to prayer and praise and worship! Dig IN! Dig DEEP! Everything you will ever need or want is found IN HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we begann with Psalm 36. Thes verses show us how GREAT our GOD is and how BLESSED we are to have HIS LOVE!

5 Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, extend to the skies, and Your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, Your judgments are like the great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast. 7 How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8 They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. 10 O continue Your loving-kindness to those who know You, Your righteousness (salvation) to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride overtake me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the workers of iniquity fall and lie prostrate; they are thrust down and shall not be able to rise.

Verse 12 shows that things ARE not and WILL not be so great for those who refuse what GOD is freely giving! Make it your determined purpose this day to ALWAYS spend time in GOD'S presence through prayer, praise and worship, study and meditaion of His Word and intimate fellowship with HIM! THAT is the 'Secret Place' where we find answers and HIS guidance and direction! There IS no greater place to be! Time there affects FOR GOOD every area of our lives! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Secret Place":

Shalom in Him!