Shalom,

I have always tried to keep this exhortation, from Terri Savelle Foy, foremost in my thinking as I set my schedule for the day:

"Don't prioritize your schedule; you must schedule your priorities."--Terri Savelle Foy

It's very important to our continued success that we make God's priorities our own! Don't make your own schedule and then decide what's most important. Instead, list the things you would like to accomplish. Now get into YOUR secret place with your list and find out what God's plan for you is! Write down THAT schedule and you will not fail! Amen! Look at today's Devotional from our Spoken Word Church website!

Focus on Priorities

Let's pray this prayer together: Father, I set myself in agreement that the will of God shall be done today. In my government. In my local church. On my job. Within my home and family.

You see my written list of things to do. You know the people I am meeting today. Remove those who do not belong on my schedule. I speak to the north, the south, east and west and call forth from the shadows of my life those you have intended to be linked with me.

Father, your priorities are mine. Your will shall be done. I am led by your peace, filled with your joy and controlled by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

NOW you can go about your day in confidence that you walk in the favor and anointing of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Expect results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Search My Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 John 5 contains some of the most powerful Truths in the entire Word of God! Verse 1 tells us this:

1 Everyone who believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring).

If YOU believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, AND you call Him your Lord (Romans 10:9-10), then YOU are a member of the family of God, an heir of God and an equal heir with Jesus of all that the Father has, including His great love (Romans 8:17)! Remember, He loves YOU just as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:23)! HALLELUJAH! That should get you shouting for joy! Verses 11-12 clarify this even more:

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.

This "life" is the Greek word "zoe" , which means: the absolute fullness of life that belongs to God, life as God has within Himself. Another HALLELUJAH moment! As if that isn't completely and absolutely wonderful and beyond anything that we deserve, we also have THIS promise in verses 14-15:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

Not only are we born again, members of the family of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus, BUT, we now have the simple and powerful "formula" for answered prayer! Simply find out the will of God, which is found in the Word of God, and then ASK for it! IF it's in line with His Word, which IS His will, then He hears! His hearing is the only prerequisite for answered prayer! Dig into the Word! You will be SO glad you did! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Calvary Covers It All":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

If you have ever felt as though there was no one you could count on, I have some extraordinarily good news for you today! Look at Psalm 119:89-90:

89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [stands firm as the heavens]. 90 Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast.

As a born again believer in Jesus Christ, there will NEVER be a time when you are all alone! He has given us His Spirit Who will live inside of us and never leave (John 14:16), and His Word, which is eternal! The word "forever" in verse 89 is the Hebrew word "`owlam", which means: eternity; time out of mind; forever; perpetual; always; continuous; indefinite or unending future. Now look at verse 96:

96 I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

We no longer have to rely on mere human ability, strength or wisdom! We have all of the resources of Heaven available to us, but we MUST know how to appropriate them! Let's look at a few more verses from Psalm 119:

97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. AMP

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. AMP

130 The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple. AMP

144 Your righteous testimonies are everlasting and Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die]. AMP

160 The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. AMP

165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble. AMP

The only way for us to walk in the provision and benefits of the Word of God is to meditate on it until it becomes real in us! Look at Joshua 1:8:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

"Meditate" is the Hebrew word "hagah", which means: to murmur; to ponder; to muse; to imagine; to speak. This involves speaking the Word to ourselves or to like-minded believers so that we can continue to think about it and to get a clear picture of the Word inside of us. When the Word becomes real to us, that is when we will be able to speak and it will happen, to act on it and see great results (John 15:7). AMEN! I encourage you to pick up the pace on your study of God's Word so that you can continue in a state of readiness for whatever He instructs you to do. THEREIN lies the key to your prosperity, in every area of life! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Where We Belong":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

One of the most exciting verses for a born again believer MUST be 1 John 3:1!

1 See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

We are NOT simply "followers" of Jesus, but WE are members of the family of God! WE are heirs of God and joint (equal) heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17)! Jesus also said THIS about US in John 17:23:

23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. AMP

Train yourself to become increasingly "God-inside minded" so that  you are aware ALWAYS that the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible lives in YOU, by His Spirit, when Jesus is your Lord and Savior! And, as if what we've already looked at isn't wonderful enough, look at THIS from 1 John 3:2-3:

2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. 3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

There is SO MUCH more in store for us in the next life, BUT, let's take full advantage of all that He has given to us to enjoy (John 10:10 AMP) now, in THIS life! Realize that the last part of verse 1 above is also just as true! The world will NOT recognize us or understand anything about who we are "in Him". Don't look to the world for your confirmation, look to the WORD! AMEN! What the world will see when we choose to walk in the fullness of this, is JESUS! and HE will draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32)! THAT is why we're here! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "No Other Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 118:1-9 has a very important message for us!

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 2 Let Israel now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron [the priesthood] now say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. 4 Let those now who reverently and worshipfully fear the Lord say that His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. 5 Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side and takes my part, He is among those who help me; therefore shall I see my desire established upon those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Verses 8-9 tell us that it is better to trust in the LORD than in ANY mere man! The word "better" here is the Hebrew word "towb", which we have seen translated "good" or "goodness"  many times! It means: good, excellent, agreeable, pleasant (to the highest nature), excellent, rich, valuable in estimation, appropriate, becoming, happy, prosperous, benefit, welfare. It does us GOOD to be a DOER of Psalm 118! Verses 2-4 are exhorting Israel, the priesthood and all those who fear the LORD to SAY something about the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We are to say that His mercy (checed: loving-kindness) endures forever! Any time you see the word "let" in the Bible, it always involves CHOICE! YOUR choice, MY choice! CHOOSE wisely and YOU will walk in all the blessings of our new and better Covenant! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Scandal of Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 John 1:1-4 SHOULD be very exciting to every born again believer in Jesus!

1 [WE ARE writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands. 2 And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers]. 3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete]. AMP

This "Life" is the Greek word "zoe" which means the absolute fullness of life that belongs to God! The same Life that makes God to be God also lives IN us! HALLELUJAH!!! Verse 2 speaks of "eternal Life". Eternal is the Greek word "aionios", which means: perpetual; without beginning or end; that which always has been and always will be; never to cease; everlasting. Do you get the picture now of the wonderful treasure that WE have in these earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7)? Now I want you to look at verse 3 and see THIS: And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians]. WE are to be standouts in this world! WE have the right and the privilege to have (and enjoy!) intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! People SHOULD be able to look at any one of us and say this from Acts 4:13b:

13 ... and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. KJV

Learn to fellowship with Jesus on a consistent and intimate basis so that people will recognize that YOU have been with JESUS! There could be NO greater attribute to have, now, in THIS life! AMEN! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Young and Free with "Sinking Deep":

 Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

2 Peter 3:3 gives us this warning so that we will not be surprised at the actions of these people! Here it is from three translations:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, KJV

3 To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires AMP

3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, 4 they'll mock,  THE MESSAGE

"Scoffer" is the Greek word "empaiktes", which means: a derider; mocker. The dictionary definition of scoff is this: an expression of scorn, derision, or contempt. These scoffers are those who make fun of the Word of God and those who love it! Verses 5-7 tell us this:

5 For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, 6 Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

Have YOU heard this type of talk lately? I certainly have! But WE are to remember verses 8-9 so that we refuse to become discouraged and, instead, become more determined every day that the blood of NO person will be on OUR hands (Ezekiel 3:19)!

8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  [Psalms 90:4.] 9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. AMP

AMEN! Let's continue to buy up every opportunity to PREACH THE GOSPEL! This TRUTH is the ONLY way to the Heaven of the Bible! How can WE keep this message from anyone? We cannot! Let's GO! Here is Hillsong United  with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotion from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "Faith To Faith"  re-emphasizes something that I have been sharing with our Spoken Word Church family for quite some time now! 

But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit  with Him. - 1 Corinthians 6:17

I once heard about a great man of God who looked in the mirror every day when he put on his suit and said, "Suit, everywhere you go today, God goes in you." And you know, he's right. If you have united yourself to God by receiving Jesus as Lord, everywhere you go today...God goes too!

As believers, we need to start becoming more conscious of that. We need to train ourselves to be constantly aware of God inside of us, talking to us, teaching us, counseling us, empowering us, and enduing us with Himself.

We need to continually remind ourselves that we are one spirit with Him. That means that every time we face a problem, every time we face an evil spirit that tries to influence and hinder our lives, God is facing it too. When we meet those things, God meets them. And He's already overcome them!

Let me encourage you when you get dressed today to look in the mirror and say, "I am united to the Lord and I have become one spirit with Him. Body, everywhere you go today...God goes. God is in you. The power of God is in you. The wisdom of God is in you. The victory of God is in you."

Say that to yourself every day-- many times a day. Keep doing it until you begin to develop the habit of thinking that way. Cultivate a constant awareness of the reality of God living in you! 

Look up these confirming Scriptures to see that HE is most definitely living IN YOU, if you have received Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior! 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:27; and 1 John 4:4; just to name a few! Meditate on this TRUTH that GOD, by the Holy Spirit, lives IN YOU! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I know that there is a tremendous amount of evil going on in our world today. At times even born again spirit-filled believers have fallen into fear over what is happening. I want to encourage you all today that we have been given the promise that we DO have what it takes to overcome in every situation and live a life that brings glory to HIM! Look at 2 Peter 1:1-4:

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). 4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.

When Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf (John 17:11-17), He said that we are to be IN the world, in order to present HIM to them, but not OF the world, blending in and being unrecognizable as followers of Jesus! Make sure that YOU are staying filled with the Spirit and full of His Word so that when You open YOUR mouth, HE can fill it with LIFE to reach the lost and hurting! THEY are the only reason we are still here instead of in Heaven with Jesus, which Paul told us is a far better place to be (Philippians 1:23)! Peter goes on here to say this in verses 12-15:

12 So I intend always to remind you about these things, although indeed you know them and are firm in the truth that [you] now [hold]. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle (tent, body), to stir you up by way of remembrance, 14 Since I know that the laying aside of this body of mine will come speedily, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that [even] after my departure (decease) you may be able at all times to call these things to mind.

AMEN! THESE are the things to keep foremost in our minds and hearts, especially when we hear of evil in the world! Remind yourself that where sin abounds, grace MUCH MORE abounds (Romans 5:20)! There is ALWAYS more that be with us than those that be with the enemy! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Is Able":

"God Is Able"

[Verse 1]
God is able
He will never fail
He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek
Greater than all we ask
He has done great things

[Chorus]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

[Verse 2]
God is with us
God is on our side
He will make a way
Far above all we know
Far above all we hope
He has done great things

[Chorus]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

[Bridge]
God is with us
He will go before
He will never leave us
He will never leave us
God is for us
He has open arms
He will never fail us
He will never fail us

[Chorus (x2)]
Lifted up
He defeated the grave
Raised to life
Our God is able
In His name
We overcome
For the Lord
Our God is able

For the Lord
Our God is able
For the Lord
Our God is able

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Psalm 113:1-9:

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever 3 From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised! 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens! 5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth! 7 [The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap and the dung hill, 8 That He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people. 9 He makes the barren woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

The word for "praise" here is the Hebrew word "halal", which we have looked at many times here and means: to boast, to rave, to be clamorously foolish about, to act like a mad man over! In other words, WE are to go all out in our bragging on and drawing attention to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Remember, this is the God of our new and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6)! He alone is worthy of this kind of response and attention! If YOU are one who easily shouts and cheers for your favorite team or for some other natural, earthly person, place, thing or event, then YOU should be more abundantly so towards OUR GOD! AMEN! But, don't think for a second that this leaves out those who are normally more quiet and reserved! It does NOT say that we are to do this in keeping with our individual likes and personalities! There is NO reserved way to be "clamorously foolish" or to rave about or to act like a mad man! This is NOT a continuous happening, but it IS a command! As with every command that the Word of God gives us, this is to get us, and keep us, in position to receive God's richest and best, NOW, in THIS life! OUR God IS God, and OUR God is GOOD! He desires the very best for us, but He cannot make the choice for us! Are YOU ready to walk in a greater measure of the Blessing of God than you have ever experienced before? Then get your "halal" on! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Today I want to look at a portion of Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin:

"For with the heart man believeth... (Rom. 10:10); "...And shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe... (Mark 11:23). 
Faith - real faith, Bible faith, scriptural faith - is of the heart, not the head. 

What does it mean to believe with the heart? What is the heart of man? Well, it's not the physical organ that pumps blood through your body and keeps you alive. You couldn't believe with your physical heart any more than you could believe with your physical hand, eye, ear, nose, or foot! 

Consider how we use the term heart today. When we talk about the heart of a tree, we mean the center, the very core of the tree. When we talk about the heart of a subject, we mean the most important part of that subject, the very center of it, the main part around which the rest revolves. 

So what exactly IS the heart of a person? The heart is the very center of our being! Remember, we are triune beings, just like God (1 Thessalonians 5:23)! We ARE spirit beings. We HAVE souls (mind, emotions and will). We LIVE in physical bodies while here on earth (earth suits!). The heart CANNOT be only the spirit, because the perfect spirit would not be able to doubt! If we CAN doubt in our heart, then there MUST be another component to the heart! There is! The heart of a believer is made up of our recreated spirit, which is now in the image of God and made PERFECT, and our souls, that are NOT perfect, but must be perfected (renewed) daily by meditating on the Word of God (Romans 12:2). When our minds are renewed, the soul and spirit agree and doubt is not allowed to have a voice! THAT is when we receive whatever we need from God! AMEN! Let's find out what the Word of God has to say about each and every situation and circumstance we face. Let's meditate on that promise until it becomes so real to us that there is no room for doubts. NOW we can ask it faith, nothing wavering, and KNOW that receive the promise (1 John 5:14-15)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "The Greatness of Our God":

Verse 1:
Give me eyes to see
More of who You are
May what I behold,
still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.

Verse 2:
Give me grace to see
Beyond this moment here.
To believe that there
Is nothing left to fear.

That You alone are high above it all.
For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS 2x
No sky contains,
No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.

Brigde: 2x
And there is nothing
That can ever separate us.
There is nothing that can ever
separate us from Your love.
No life, no death, of this I am convinced.
You my God, are greater still.

2x:
And no words can say, or song convey,
all You are the greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
to all You are,
the greatness of our God.

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 111 is our Psalm for today in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. As I do word studies, I love to read the same passages from different translations to get a bigger picture of what this Word is saying! Here is Psalm 111 from the Amplified Bible:

1 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) I will praise and give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart in the council of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all those who have delight in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and full of loving compassion. 5 He has given food and provision to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever and imprint it [on His mind]. 6 He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations [of Canaan]. 7 The works of His hands are [absolute] truth and justice [faithful and right]; and all His decrees and precepts are sure (fixed, established, and trustworthy). 8 They stand fast and are established forever and ever and are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear. 10 The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.

 AMEN!  OUR God IS God! Make it a commitment to learn something new about Him and His Word every day! The more you get to know the God of the Bible, the better equipped you will be to stand against the attacks of the enemy and the world on what you believe! I want to share a song from Hillsong today that is inspired by Psalm 111 from the Message Bible! Here is that translation first:

111 Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got — Wherever good

 people gather, and in the congregation.  2 God's works are so great, worth

A lifetime of study — endless enjoyment!  3 Splendor and beauty mark his craft;

His generosity never gives out.  4 His miracles are his memorial — This God of Grace,

 this God of Love.  5 He gave food to those who fear him,He remembered to keep

his ancient promise.  6 He proved to his people that he could do what he said:

Hand them the nations on a platter — a gift! 7 He manufactures truth and justice;

All his products are guaranteed to last —  8 Never out-of-date, never obsolete,

 rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: 9 He paid the ransom

for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He's so personal and holy,

worthy of our respect. 10 The good life begins in the fear of God — Do that and

 you'll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!  THE Message Bible

Here is Hillsong Live with "Greater Than All":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 110:1 prophetically speaks of what God the Father will/did say to God the Son when He ascended to Heaven after defeating satan. 

1 The Lord (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool.

Jesus rose from the dead having defeated death, hell and the grave, FOR US! He did this so that we don't have to! He did this so that WE could have HIS authority to operate in the earth! WE are those new creatures spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:17! WE, all born again believers, carry the Spirit of the Living God within us. God the Father told God the Son to take His rightful seat at His Father's right hand, the place of power and authority. Remember that Jesus said THIS about Himself in Matthew 28:18:

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. AMP

He then went on to instruct THE CHURCH in verses 19-20:

19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). AMP

WE have quite a job to do during our short time here on earth! Let's make the most of it and buy up every opportunity to share the Good News and to DO the great works that Jesus did (John 14:12)! The purpose of all of this is so that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), which is HIS desire! AMEN! THEN, when our (the Church) limited time and work on the earth is done, HE will execute verses 5-6 over those who rejected HIM:

5 The Lord at Your right hand will shatter kings in the day of His indignation. 6 He will execute judgment [in overwhelming punishment] upon the nations; He will fill the valleys with the dead bodies, He will crush the [chief] heads over lands many and far extended. 7 He will drink of the brook by the way; therefore will He lift up His head [triumphantly].

Take confident assurance in the Truth of God's Word (John 17:17) and BE the Light in YOUR world (Matthew 5:14)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Children of the Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love the Word of God, and appreciate ministers who teach the Word! I fully realize that I have no original thoughts! The Spirit of God gives me insight into the Word of God so that I can share it with others! When I see a teaching that really blesses me, I HAVE to share it! That is what I will be doing on the blog today! A pastor friend on facebook shared a very simple and very clear message on faith that I think would be of benefit to the many people that I have encountered who view faith as such a mysterious and hard to understand concept! Here it is, along with the name of the minister who first shared it! I pray that it blesses YOU as much as it does me! 

Barry Bennett

Fully Persuaded

Being fully persuaded that what God had promised, He was also able to perform. (Rom. 4:21)

What does it mean to be ‘fully persuaded?’ If one can be fully persuaded it would imply that it is possible to be partially persuaded as well. Being fully persuaded would be an alternate definition to faith: faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

It would seem that one who is partially persuaded acknowledges the truth and has a good understanding of truth, but is not committed to living according to truth. The partially persuaded live in two worlds; the world of self effort, fear and doubt, and the world of faith. Rather than growing in faith, they tend to see faith as an emergency frequency that may or may not get the desired results. Just to be safe, the partially persuaded trust in themselves as much as possible.

Abraham wasn’t always fully persuaded. He attempted to fulfill God’s promise through his own efforts. After that obvious failure Abraham grew to be fully persuaded in the promise of God. He grew strong in faith.

Until we realize that God is our complete source and His Word is our provision for every need, we won’t be fully persuaded. As Paul said: “I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20) This is what it means to be fully persuaded.

David gives us a great picture of the fully persuaded man or woman of God.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord, And in His law (Word) he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps. 1:1-3)

AMEN! Be willing to pay the price to become fully persuaded! YOUR faith is too precious to settle for anything less! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "Faith":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

This from Jerry Savelle for today is something we have spoken of often at The Spoken Word Church, and something that we can never hear enough of! 

Casting Your Care

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV)

The word cast means to “throw off.” It is a decisive and deliberate action. Casting the care of your problems on the Lord (and not taking it back) isn’t always an easy thing to do. However, if you fail to cast your care on God as the Word instructs, you will hinder Him in exalting you above your circumstances or problems.

The Bible says the evil one seeks those he may devour, meaning those who allow him to do so. One of the ways you can allow the devil access to your life is by taking on the care of your situation to the point that you are consumed by it. Casting your care upon the Lord activates the power of God to work in and through your situation; it allows Him to bring miracles and victory.

God isn’t asking you to pretend your problems don’t exist; He just doesn’t want you to take on the care of them. To take on care means to constantly talk about the problem, think about the problem, and worry about the problem to the point that it appears there is no way out of the problem. God is a loving Father who is ready to help you in your time of need. Make the decision to cast your care upon the Lord today, knowing that He will exalt you at exactly the right time.

Confession: Father, I come boldly to Your throne of grace today and I cast every care that I have been carrying onto You. I humble myself now, trusting that You care enough about me to work everything out.

Realize that asking someone else to pray FOR you about the cares and worries will accomplish nothing but frustration! No one can cast these cares from you but YOU! WHEN you do, THEN the Spirit of God, Who lives in every believer, will show you the next step to total deliverance and victory in every area! AMEN! Never forget that the God of the Bible has said THIS about you who are "in Christ"! Romans 8:37-39:

37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMP

AMEN! Go out in that victory that HE has gained for you and tell the world all about HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Let's look at Psalm 107:1:

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

This Psalm goes on to show the pattern of behavior of God's people Israel! He would bless them, then they would rebel against Him and take themselves out of His protection, provision and safety! They would cry out to Him in trouble and He would deliver them again! Look at these verses:

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. 7 He led them forth by the straight and right way, that they might go to a city where they could establish their homes. 8 Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! AMP

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them.  [Psalms 68:6; Acts 12:7; 16:26.] 15 Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! AMP

19 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivers them out of their distresses. 20 He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction.  [2 Kings 20:4,5; Matthew 8:8.] 21 Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! AMP

28 Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. 29 He hushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.  [Psalms 89:9; Matthew 8:26.] 30 Then the men are glad because of the calm, and He brings them to their desired haven. 31 Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men! AMP

He is STILL the SAME ever loving, never failing, never forsaking God of the Covenant! Hebrews 13:8:

8 Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). AMP

You can count on Him! You can trust Him! HE is waiting on YOU! Look at Psalm 107:43:

43 Whoso is wise [if there be any truly wise] will observe and heed these things; and they will diligently consider the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord.

Be wise! Never forget His unlimited, unconditional, boundless LOVE for you! NOW, go hard after HIM and YOUR life will never be the same! AMEN! Here is Hillsong  with "Running":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Mark 11:23 tells us how the God kind of faith operates! 

23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. AMP

Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today addresses this very thing!

"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak" (2 Cor. 4:13). 

Paul wrote, "We HAVING the same spirit of faith...." He didn't say, trying to have, or praying for, or hoping for; he said, having! Having what? The same spirit of faith. And what kind of faith is that? The kind that (1) believes, and (2) therefore speaks. 

Isn't that the same kind of faith Jesus is talking about in Mark 11:23? The kind that: 
(1) believes in the heart 
(2) says with the mouth 
(3) then it comes to pass? 

Yes! That's the same spirit of faith! And Second Corinthians 4:13 says that we have it! 

Confession: I have the same spirit of faith. I believe and therefore I speak. I have a measure of the God-kind of faith. I have a measure of the kind of faith that created the worlds in the beginning. I have a measure of mountain-moving faith. 

So how will YOU put that God kind of faith to work in YOUR life? Faith requires a target! Make sure that you are writing down your dreams and goals, needs and desires. Now find out what the Word of God has to say about each of these. Meditate on it until it becomes real to you. Speak it out of your mouth and let the God kind of faith that is in do what it is meant to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Up In Arms":

Shalom in Him!