Shalom,

Philippians 4:6 is as much a command from God as any other one that we know about! 

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Being anxious, fearful, worried, agitated or stressed out about any situation in our lives is NOT God's plan for us! In fact, it IS sin (a selfish decision to act in a way that is contrary to God's Word). Remember, everything that the God of the Bible instructs or commands us to do is out of His incomparable and irresistible love for us, so that we can stay in position to receive all of His wonderful blessings! Verse 7 tells us the result of obeying verse 6!

7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

In order to walk in this great peace we will have to make a decision concerning every thought that come TO us! We must receive the thoughts that come from God and reject the thoughts that do not. If it is contrary to the Word of God, then reject that thought and replace it with one that does! I like this quote by Kenneth E. Hagin:

Thoughts may come and persist in staying, but thoughts that are not put into word or action die unborn.

AMEN! Refuse to speak a negative thought and never act on one! Actively replace those thoughts with what the Word of God has to say! Philippians 4:8 covers this very well!

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

When we do this, THEN we will operate in that wonderful peace of God that will attract the attention of all those without it! Here is Hillsong United with "Prince of Peace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Anyone who knows me well knows that Philippians 3 is one of my most favorite chapters in the entire Bible, especially verse 10 in the Amplified Bible. But there are a couple of other verses that really lay the groundwork for understanding verse 10! Look first of all at verse 1:

3 For the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

First of all, Paul is encouraging them to delight in the Lord, which has THIS as a promise from Psalm 37:4:

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

When we delight in Him, then He will put desires in our heart so that HE can fulfill them! What a wonderful promise! Paul then proceeds to explain the "bragging rights" he COULD have in the natural, but reveals his true heart in verses 7-9:

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. 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.

We should each have it as our own personal goal to get to the point where there is nothing in this life that will EVER become more important that our relationship and fellowship with HIM! When Paul compared all of his earthly accomplishments, things that people strive all of their lives for, to His fellowship with the Lord and truly KNOWING Jesus, He found that the very best things of the world were as rubbish in comparison! Remember that every good thing in your life came from God (James 1:17), but never let those good things take HIS rightful place! AMEN! Here again, to help you remember this, is Hillsong Kids with "My Number One":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

I really enjoy sharing little nuggets from my Bible Reading Plan and from various devotionals and notes that I meditate on each day. Sometimes, though, I find an entire devotional posting that is important to share all of. Today's devotional from Jerry Savelle's website is one of those.

Free to Enjoy Abundant Life

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they my have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

Jesus came to set you free from every form of physical, mental, or emotional bondage so that you can experience the enjoyable, rewarding, and satisfying life that has been prepared for you. It is not God’s will that you put up with anything that robs you of this full and blessed life. He is a good God, and He wants you to enjoy your life.

The Bible says, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJV). If you are in bondage to any detrimental habit or deadly emotion, Jesus wants to set you free from the power of that thing. He doesn’t want you to be crippled in your emotions, tormented in your mind, or sick in your body. He doesn’t want you bound by insecurity, fear, or sin. He wants you to be free to fulfill the assignment He has for you, and to live the abundant life that belongs to you.

So, how do you get free from bondage? Jesus said, “If you abide in My word … you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31 NKJV).

As you spend time reading and hearing the Word of God, He will show you the truths you need so that you can walk in your freedom. He will expose the hidden lies of the enemy that you have believed, and that have held you in bondage. He will speak to your heart, and His Word will set you free.

Confession: Jesus has set me free from every bondage and evil scheme of the enemy. I receive the life He has already provided for me: a full, blessed, and abundant life.

If there is one thing that we need to get very clear from the Word of God, and our Covenant with Him, it is that WE have a part to play! He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), MADE us to be heirs of God and joint (equal) heirs with Jesus Himself (Romans 8:17), declared that WE are MORE than conquerors through Him (Romans 8:37), has declared His desire that we be blessed (3 John 2), shared that His purpose in coming was so that WE may have abundant life (John 10:10 MP), and given us strength to overcome every situation (Philippians 4:13 AMP)! So, TRUST HIM! AMEN! Be a DOERS of all that you see in the Word of God to do and stand back and watch HIM operate on your behalf! HALLELUJAH! Here is an older song by Hillsong called  "Mighty To Save":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "From Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland contains another key for walking in the continual Blessing that the God of the Bible, the God of the Covenant, has provided for us:

...I beseech thee, show me thy glory.  Exodus 33:18

You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.

Now the word glory could literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their worth.

So what Moses was actually saying was, "Lord, I want to see the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest attributes." What did God say to him in response?

Exodus 34:6-7 tells us, "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."

Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy.

That means if you and I are to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) we must major in mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our behavior above all else.

Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.

This "mercy" that is spoken of here is the  Hebrew word "checed", which means: goodness, faithfulness, kindness, steadfast love, grace, devotion. Receiving His mercy and then giving His mercy out to others is one of the keys to spiritual growth and to getting your own needs met! Remember, Job's situation was dealt with after he prayed for his friends. HE received way more than he had before! THAT is God's mercy at work! AMEN! here is Hillsong with "Mercy, Mercy":

Shalom in him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food". 

A Father's Part

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof  (Matt. 6:31-34). 

Added to you! Not taken away! That proves that the Father cares for His own. Another translation reads, "Be not therefore anxious for the morrow." You see, God doesn't want His children to be anxious, or to worry. 

In today's passage, God is saying, "Have no worry, no fret, no anxiety. Because I am your Heavenly Father, I know you have need of these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." 

That's what God our Father is saying! If God is your Father, you may be assured that He will take a father's place and perform a father's part. You may be certain that if God is your Father, He loves you, and He will care for you. Praise God, I'm glad He's my Father! Is He yours? 

Confession: I do not worry about what I shall eat or drink, or what I shall wear. My Heavenly Father knows I have need of all these things. I have sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things are added unto me.

AMEN! We can have full and complete confidence that our God WILL DO what He says He will do WHEN we do OUR part! We are NOT responsible to make it happen. WE are responsible to obey the Word and HE is responsible for the outcome! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "In God We Trust":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

If we walk in the light, as He is in the light,…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. — 1 John 1:7
 To mistake conscious freedom from sin for deliverance from sin by the Atonement is a great error. No man knows what sin is until he is born again. Sin is what Jesus Christ faced on Calvary. The evidence that I am delivered from sin is that I know the real nature of sin in me. It takes the last reach of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that is, the impartation of His absolute perfection, to make a man know what sin is.
The Holy Spirit applies the Atonement to us in the unconscious realm as well as in the realm of which we are conscious, and it is only when we get a grasp of the unrivaled power of the Spirit in us that we understand the meaning of 1 John 1:7, “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” This does not refer to conscious sin only, but to the tremendously profound understanding of sin which only the Holy Ghost in me realizes.
If I walk in the light as God is in the light, not in the light of my conscience, but in the light of God — if I walk there, with nothing folded up, then there comes the amazing revelation — the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin so that God Almighty can see nothing to censure in me. In my consciousness it works with a keen poignant knowledge of what sin is. The love of God at work in me makes me hate with the hatred of the Holy Ghost all that is not in keeping with God’s holiness. To walk in the light means that everything that is of the darkness drives me closer into the centre of the light.

So many times well-meaning Christian parents have unintentionally given their children a sin-consciousness when they SHOULD be training them in being God-inside minded! For the born again believer, sin is no longer the problem! Yes, born again believers still sin, but that sin will never keep us from the Heaven of the Bible! Jesus paid the price for OUR sin by BECOMING sin, when He had none of His own! The sin that Jesus took upon Himself was MINE and YOURS! When He took that from us and  paid the price for sin that was required by the Law, He delivered us FOREVER from that penalty! We no longer have a sin nature! We are recreated in the image of God with HIS nature in us! That is speaking of the spirit man (we ARE spirits, we HAVE souls [mind, emotions and will], and we live in human bodies while on the earth). In our souls and bodies we still must contend with the nature of the flesh which can, and does, still sin. THIS sin will NOT separate us from God! When we understand this TRUTH, then it will become easier to stop sinning in those areas. Our "remedy" for known and unknown sins after the New Birth is found in 1 John 1:9:

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].

When we who have been born again confess the sin that we know we have committed, then His forgiveness goes into affect for that sin AND for any other sin we have committed in thought, word or action! THAT is how 1 John 1:7 works!

7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

AMEN! So, stop getting down on yourself for your weaknesses, short comings, missteps, falls and failures! Simply get yourself back up, go to 1 John 1:9, RECEIVE by faith what HE has already provided for you, and then get right back into fellowship with HIM! This is how we continue to grow up to where we stop sinning in all of these ways and begin to look more like JESUS! This is also how we keep our LIGHT shining bright that draws people to HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Children of the Light" to remind you just who YOU are, IN HIM! Refuse to let the enemy steal that from you ever again! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My message for today is very simple! Make it your determined purpose to remember the REAL message of Christmas every day, and to share that message at every possible opportunity! THAT is the very best BIRTHDAY present that any of us can give to our wonderful Lord and Saviour! AMEN! Here is one of my favorite newer Christmas songs again! Hillsong's "We Have A Saviour":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Merry Christmas Eve! I consider Proverbs 25:2 to be one of the most important verses for growing up in the things of God and in the Word of God! Here it is along with verse 3:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing. 3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.

"Glory" here is the Hebrew word "kabowd", which means: glory, honor, splendor, riches, abundance, dignity. We see here that it brings God glory to conceal, or hide, something in His Word. Who is it hidden from? The Truth of the Word (John 17:17) is hidden FROM the enemy and all those who serve him INSTEAD of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! They CANNOT know the Word! The secret things are hidden in God (Deuteronomy 29:29) and only revealed to those who know their God (1 Corinthians 2:14) and who will search it out (Joshua 1:8 AMP). Verse 3 tells us that the minds of the kings (us - Revelation 1:6 and 5:10) are also unsearchable! If you feel that the people around you don't really understand you, you are probably right! Unbelievers and unbelieving believers (those who do NOT follow on to know the Word) cannot understand the Word of God! The answer for ministering to the unbeliever is to share the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. THAT they CAN understand! For the believer who does not know the Word, pray the prayers of Paul in Ephesians 1 and 3 for them! The answer for YOU is to fellowship with like-minded believers so that you can continue to meditate on, obey and see the results of the Word in your life. Those results will be a witness and a testimony to the others that there is something in YOUR life that they WANT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Here With You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have been born again for 36 years. Over the course of those years I have encountered every type of believer that there is! Some are so very excited and thankful for the grace and mercy of God that they want to spend ALL of their time with other believers. Some are grateful for their eternal salvation, but desire to continue in their previous lifestyle, so they pull away from studying the Word of God at all. Most fall somewhere in between these two types. I have found that realizing this one Truth will help YOU to make the right quality decision about YOUR life! This Truth is this: EVERYTHING that the God of the Bible instructs us to do is for our GOOD! Every instruction flows from His tremendous love for us and His desire that we be blessed! Look at John 10:10 and 3 John 2:

John 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). AMP

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. KJV

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, we see another proof that study of God's Word, and obedience to it, will put us in position to be blessed beyond measure! Look at Proverbs 24:3-5:

3 Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong and is better than a strong man, and a man of knowledge increases and strengthens his power;

I encourage you to make the life-changing commitment, or re-commitment, for 2016 to put the Word of God first place in your life. Be willing to do whatever is necessary to arrange your schedule to allow for the time to do so! Some of you will need to get up earlier in the morning, which may involve going to sleep earlier the night before. Some of you may need to set aside things you do such as watching TV or listening to your favorite music in order to put first things first! I guarantee that when you put God first, everything else in your life will find its proper, AND most blessed place! Some things will just simply fall away from your life and interests, but don't be concerned with that right now. As YOU delight in HIM, He will give you desires, some of them new ones, so that He can fulfill them for you (Psalm 37:4)! Anything that simply falls away will cause you to realize that it wasn't THAT important to you in the first place. AND, you will find that everything you DO continue in will be so much more blessed, anointed, fulfilling and will give you many more opportunities to share the precious Gospel with those in your realm of influence! Let's do this, and make 2016 the very best and most blessed year of all of our lives so far! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Kids with "My Number One", so that you and I can operate in that childlike faith to DO THIS! Amen!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 23:17-19 is sound advice! I sincerely hope that all young born again believers will take this to heart and realize that the seeds you sow into your life today determine the harvest you have to look forward to later in life! BE the best YOU that the God of the Bible intends for you to be! What HE has called you to do and to be is completely within your capabilities - IN HIM! 

17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long. 18 For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off. 19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way [of the Lord].

It may SEEM as though those who do not follow Jesus and the Word of God are having more fun than you, but remember that everything your eyes can see and your ears can hear right now in this life are mere illusions, if they are contrary to the Word of God! HIS Word IS Truth (John 17:17) and HE is ALWAYS right! Don't allow yourself to get outside of God's Word and His will for your life! Nothing in this life is worth missing all the wonderful things that HE has planned for YOU (Jeremiah 11:29 AMP)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with another Christmas Song called "Born is The King":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share Jerry Savelle's devotional with you today because it addresses something vitally important, especially during the times in which we live!

Worry-Free Living

Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, … continue to make your wants known to God. (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

Did you know that it is impossible to worry, and at the same time to trust God? Worry is a form of unbelief; it causes us to doubt God’s love and His ability to come through for us when we need Him. There are those who will say that everyone worries to some extent, but this is not true. There are many people who live worry free, choosing instead to put their trust in God.

Truth be told, you were not designed to carry the worries and cares of life yourself. Living worry free is a decision. You can choose to stop worrying and just enjoy God’s peace by establishing the following principles in your life:

1. Isolate the specific worry you are dealing with, and repent of any unbelief
2. Recall or discover what the Bible says about your situation or concern
3. Reject worry by meditating on God’s character and His promises
4. Choose to believe what the Bible says
5. Thank God for being faithful to His Word
6. Reject all temptation to again worry about your situation

When you apply these principles to every minor care or major concern, the Bible says, 

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).

Begin today to enjoy the worry-free living God has made available for you through Jesus.

Confession: I choose to put my trust in God. Instead of worrying, I will pray and give Him praise today. Thank You, Lord, for Your peace that guards my heart and mind.

Jerry says above that worry is a form of unbelief but it is also faith in the wrong thing! It comes from continually hearing and thinking about the problem instead of continually hearing and thinking about the Word (TRUTH). Make it your determined purpose to spend more time in this coming year KNOWING what the Word of God has to say about every subject and situation that you face. Reject the world's worry and concentrate on building your faith in the Truth of God's Word (John 17:17)! You can become a giant of faith and leave the worrying behind! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with one of my favorite Christmas songs, "What Child Is This":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Galatians 5 we read this today in verse 4:

4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).

Paul was speaking to the congregation in Galatia. Some had come to the people telling them that simply being born again was not enough and that they had to also obey the Law. The entire purpose of the Law was to show us that we cannot possibly obey it perfectly, which IS the standard that is necessary! There is only one person Who has ever completely and perfectly obeyed the Law, and His Name is Jesus! BECAUSE He so perfectly fulfilled the Law, He could, being without His own sin, stand in OUR place! HE took the penalty for our sins (separation from God) when He BECAME sin with OUR sin! When He said "It is finished" He was referring to the final payment for OUR sin, IF we accept and receive HIM, and the fulfillment of that Covenant, so that all who would receive Him would be participators in a new and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6). This Salvation is a free Gift from God that costs us nothing but the receiving of it! WE ARE FREE!!! But heed this warning from verse 13:

13 For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.

We are still to obey the Word of God, but out of love instead of fear! We HAVE Heaven as our home when we leave this earth by the Grace of God! We walk OUT the new life in us by the power of Holy Spirit Who lives IN us and is waiting to continually fill us with Himself! By HIS presence and power we CAN be DOERS of the Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Energy":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE this from Jerry Savelle's devotional for today:

Boldness Before God

Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).

Being constantly aware of your position of righteousness in Christ will not only give you boldness before God, it will also make your fellowship with your heavenly Father more intimate. God desires that you come before Him with the same boldness and confidence you would show before a best friend. When you know God sees and relates to you based on your righteousness in Christ, you will have no sense of inferiority in His presence.

Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 NKJV). 

Clearly, God doesn’t want servants; He wants friends. God didn’t create mankind so that He could have people grovel at His feet with their faces in the dirt. No! He wanted someone He could walk and talk with in the cool of the day (see Genesis 3:8).

Through the sacrificial death of Jesus, the intimate relationship the first man and woman enjoyed with God (before sin entered) is now available to every believer. So, come boldly to the Father today, secure in your righteousness in Christ, and talk to Him as you would a close friend.

Confession: Father, I come boldly before You today, knowing that You see me righteous and clean because of Jesus. As I share my heart and thoughts with You, I believe You will also share your heart and thoughts with me.

One of the greatest blessings we have as born again, Spirit-filled believers is that we CAN have intimate fellowship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! HE desires to commune with US, and He desires to do so continually! How much time do YOU make each day to speak to Him and to listen to Him? This is a most priceless privilege and the key to our success in every area and to fulfilling the ministry that HE has called us to! Make it your determined purpose to fellowship more with Him in 2016 than you ever have before, and start TODAY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "What A Saviour":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We know that Proverbs is the Wisdom book, containing many nuggets of Truth that we can put into practice immediately, while continuing to meditate on these Truths so that Holy Spirit can continue to open up the Word, and this Wisdom, to us. Here are a few of the very important Wisdom verses we find in today's reading of Proverbs 19:

8 He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.
16 He who keeps the commandment [of the Lord] keeps his own life, but he who despises His ways shall die.
20 Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come.
21 Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.
23 The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied; he cannot be visited with [actual] evil.

In verse 8, "gains" (gets KJV) is the Hebrew word "qanah", which means: to acquire, to create, to buy, to possess, to obtain. This tells us that there MUST be an effort put forth to get the Wisdom OUT of the Word! Simply reading is NOT enough (Joshua 1:8 AMP). Once we "get" that Wisdom, then we must "keep" is! That is the Hebrew word "shamar", which means: to guard, to protect, to observe, to retain, to treasure up, to celebrate. Contained in those meanings are some of the ways to do so! By observing the wisdom, for the purpose of DOING it (see Joshua 1:8 AMP again!), it will become a part of you! It will become easier and easier to be a DOER of that Word. If you treasure this Truth as precious and valuable to you, your life, your family, your church and your ministry, then you will become unwilling to be without it! Those believers who have lost their hunger and thirst for the Word of God and the things of God are those who have stopped being doers of that Word. HE is ALWAYS confirming HIS Word with signs, wonders and miracles! Another very important part of "keeping" the Wisdom of the Word is to CELEBRATE! If you rejoice with every illumination of the Word that you receive and with every confirmation of that Truth that the Lord your God performs, then you will be continually stirring up joy and anticipation for what is coming next! Dare to dream. Dare to expect. Dare to DIVE into this wonderful Word of God and DARE to live that supernatural life that HE created, and re-created, you to live. AMEN! Here is Hillsong with that wonderful song of commitment called "Oceans":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" for today covers another very important aspect of our Covenant with Almighty God!

DARE TO TAKE YOUR PLACE

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared...which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs.  Titus 3:4, 6-7

A covenant of grace. That's what you and I have with Almighty God. If you could truly grasp the significance of that, you'd never be the same again. What exactly is a covenant of grace? It's a relationship of favor that gives you access to someone else's power. 

An illustration of a covenant of grace is the covenant the old Sicilian "family" members have with the "godfather" of the "family." In that group, a weak person might come in and ask the Don for a favor. The Don would say, "I will grant this favor and I will ask a favor of you, and when that time comes, I will collect it." Once that was said, the weak person would become excited. Suddenly he knew he would no longer have this problem because anyone who tried to rough him up would now have to face the godfather, the one with all the power. 

Suddenly, that little guy's attitude would change. He would leave the presence of the head of the family in the full assurance that he didn't have a thing to worry about. He was no longer small and powerless in his own mind. He had gained favor (grace) with the powerful. He'd walk out thinking, Everything is handled. All I have to do now is whatever the Don asks me to do—and the Don knows I don't have anything, so whatever he asks me to do, he'll provide the wherewithal to do it. 

That's grace. God's willingness to enter in to blood covenant with you and give you everything He has in exchange for everything you have. He took your sin to give you His righteousness. He took your sickness to give you His health. He took your poverty in order to meet all your needs according to His riches in glory. Whenever He asks you to do something, He provides everything you need to carry it out. The great Jehovah, God of heaven and earth, is your Father God. 

Can you understand that? If you're under the blood of Jesus, you've been made a covenant child of the most powerful being in the universe. Dare to take your place in the family!

AMEN! So many born again believers find themselves feeling alone during times of testing and trial, when they are actually NEVER alone with Holy Spirit living IN them! We MUST meditate more on our Covenant with God through the blood of Jesus so that we can not only reject the thoughts and cares of the enemy, but we can help free others from his harassment, too! God is your very own FATHER, if JESUS is your Lord and Savior! He IS a GREAT BIG GOD! The devil trembles at the very sound of Hid voice, AND of YOURS, when you speak His Word! So let's DO IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Galatians today we find where Paul tells how he came to be so knowledgeable of the Lord when he had been a Pharisee during the entire ministry of Jesus on the earth. Galatians 1:11-12:

11 For I want you to know, believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept]. 12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul goes on to say that after his miraculous conversion, beginning with that road to Damascus experience, he did NOT study with the other disciples of Jesus. Instead, he went by himself into Arabia and it was THERE that the Lord Jesus Himself taught Paul, by the Holy Spirit within him! THEN, he went up and spoke with the other disciples. You can read all of this in verses 13-18. When you see this, you will understand how very important it is for US to make the same determined purpose that Paul made (Philippians 3:10 AMP) to get to know Jesus more and more! Paul already knew Jesus better than any other person, but he was NOT satisfied with that! He had a unquenchable desire to know Him MORE and MORE! Let's stir up that desire within ourselves and, as we get to know HIM more, we will automatically know the power of God that HE intends for US to walk in during these last days before Jesus catches His church away to be with Him forever!  AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "For Who You Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Rather than share my own thoughts today, I believe it is very important to encourage YOU to continually meditate on the Word of God, so that the Spirit of God within you (as a born again believer) can make that Word come alive and be real to you. Only when we 'see' the Word for ourselves will we be able to actually walk in it. Tomorrow's "Faith Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin (yes, I DO read ahead sometimes!) gives an excellent opportunity to look at the Word for yourself and then meditate on it! 

For Further Meditation

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell" (Col. 1:19).

The Word of God plainly teaches that our Redeemer is divine. These divine offices are ascribed to Him:

Creator (Col. 1:16)
Mediator (1 Tim. 2:4-5)
Head of the Church (Col. 1:16-24)
Savior (2 Peter 3:2)
Judge (2 Tim. 4:1)
Preserver (Heb. 1:1-3)
Life-Giver (John 10:28)
Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36)
Resurrection and Life (John 11:25).

Divine character is ascribed to Christ. Ordinary men are sinners by nature, but Christ Jesus is not an ordinary man. He is:

Holy by Birth (Luke 1:35)
Righteous (Isa. 53:11)
Faithful (Isa. 11:5)
Truth (John 14:6)
Just (John 5:30)
Guileless (1 Peter 2:22)
Sinless (2 Cor. 5:21)
Spotless (1 Peter 1:19)
Innocent (Matt. 27:4)
Harmless (Heb. 7:26)
Obedient to God (Heb. 5:8-10)
Obedient to Earthly Parents (Luke 2:51)
Zealous (John 2:17)
Meek (Matt. 11:29)
Lowly in Heart (Matt. 11:29)
Merciful (Heb. 2:17)
Patient (Isa. 53:7)
Long-Suffering (1 Tim. 1:16)
Compassionate (Matt. 15:32)
Benevolent (Acts 10:38)
Loving (John 15:13)
Self-Denying (2 Cor. 8:9)
Humble (Phil. 2:5-11)
Resigned (Luke 22:42)
Forgiving (Luke 23:34)

Confession: Jesus Christ is worthy. Thank God for this Worthy One. Thank God for this Divine One. Thank God that One who is the Creator would come to earth from glory to be the Mediator, the Head of the Church, the Savior, the Judge, the Preserver, the Life-Giver, the Lord and Savior. And thank God, this Worthy One is my Lord. 

Let's all spend time meditating on WHO Jesus REALLY is, and Who He is to us this Christmas season! When you and I realize that WE are HIS body, and represent HIM to those that don't yet know Him, then we will see a change, not only in our own personal lives, but in the impact that we will have on the lives of others! After all, THEY are why we are still here walking out our calling rather than walking streets of gold in Heaven, which is a FAR better place! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

I want to share today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin with you! 

From Everlasting

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). 

This remarkable prophetic utterance about One who would be born of the family of Judah to be a Ruler in Israel states that His goings forth were from of old, from everlasting. He has traveled up and down through eternity, and He has left His footprints on the ages! 

Too frequently people simply look at the physical side of Jesus' birth and talk about His being born as a little babe, when actually He preexisted with the Father from the beginning! The Person we now know as Jesus Christ is one of the three Divine Persons of the Deity. As God, He had no beginning. 

Confession: The goings forth of Christ, my Lord, were from of old, from everlasting. As God, He had no beginning. Yet He came forth to this world to redeem me from the dominion of Satan. I can trust this Eternal One with my life. 

Remind yourself of this powerful Truth as you celebrate this Christmas season with family and friends! God the Son left Heaven to come into this earth in the most vulnerable of positions, as a newborn baby! God the Son willingly became the Son of God, being born of a human woman, making Him also the Son of Man! He was the perfect, and ONLY possible bridge between the God of the Bible and His creation! He paid the price for OUR sin, having none of His own. BECAUSE  He did this, WE can be born again by the Spirit of God to become a new creation that never existed before (2 Corinthians 5:17)! Take every opportunity to share this great Good News with everyone you can while there is still time to do so! Tell them "We Have A Savior", which is also the name of this Christmas song by Hillsong!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Proverbs 14 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Look at verses 26-27:

26 In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge. 27 Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

We have looked at the fear of the Lord before, so we know that this refers to the reverence, respect and awe that we are to have for WHO He is! When we have THAT attitude toward the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, there is no person or circumstance that can keep us from succeeding at whatever we lay our hands to in obedience to HIS plan for our lives! THAT should give you great confidence! No other person can affect your life unless you allow them to! Going right along with this is verse 6 that says this:

6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.

Stay in that place of always being in awe of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Learn to recognize and appreciate each person of the Godhead and they will become more real and identifiable to you. When you do that, THEN you will see the Word of God becoming more "logical" as the understanding comes. You will begin to deal more wisely and to have more success at whatever you do! WISDOM! You NEED it, so go get it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I found this from today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers very interesting!

That they may be one, even as We are one. — John 17:22

Personality is that peculiar, incalculable thing that is meant when we speak of ourselves as distinct from everyone else. Our personality is always too big for us to grasp. An island in the sea may be but the top of a great mountain. Personality is like an island; we know nothing about the great depths underneath, consequently we cannot estimate ourselves. We begin by thinking that we can, but we come to realize that there is only one Being Who understands us, and that is our Creator.

Personality is the characteristic of the spiritual man as individuality is the characteristic of the natural man. Our Lord can never be defined in terms of individuality and independence, but only in terms of personality, “I and My Father are one.” Personality merges, and you only reach your real identity when you are merged with another person. When love, or the Spirit of God strikes a man, he is transformed, he no longer insists upon his separate individuality. Our Lord never spoke in terms of individuality, of a man’s “elbows” or his isolated position, but in terms of personality — “that they may be one, even as We are one.” If you give up your right to yourself to God, the real true nature of your personality answers to God straight away. Jesus Christ emancipates the personality, and the individuality is transfigured; the transfiguring element is love, personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the outpouring of one personality in fellowship with another personality.

When I have thought about MY personality, I have mostly looked at only the negative aspect, my shortcomings! From this I have a clearer understanding that our actual personality is who GOD made us to be, and that can only come to the forefront in our lives when we surrender to Him! Spending time in fellowship with Jesus, meditating on the Word of God, staying filled with His Spirit, and putting the Word into practice will bring out the very BEST that God put into us for that purpose in the first place! So, when people say they are trying to "find themselves", what they really need is to find JESUS so that they can become the new creation that we read about in 2 Corinthians 5:17! I encourage you to get to know Jesus more, so that you can find the REAL you, and others can, too! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Back To Life":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Does it sometimes seem to you that those who come out against the Word of God, and against those who stand on the Word of God, are often loud, contentious, negative, sarcastic and have a tendency to try to belittle those with whim they differ? I want to show you from the Word of God today that you are NOT imagining this, nor are you simply being too "sensitive" and easily offended because you notice this. We'll be looking at the WISDOM found in several verses of Proverbs 12. 

1 Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating.
5 The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are
honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous.
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them and the innocent ones [thus endangered].
10 A [consistently] righteous man regards the life of his beast, but even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
13 The wicked is [dangerously] snared by the transgression of his lips, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall come out of trouble.
16 A fool’s wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult.
18 There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing

I want to encourage you that if the Word that you speak and the stand that you make ON the Word causes others to hurl insults at you, then you are probably doing something RIGHT! Don't ever lose heart in thinking, speaking and doing what is RIGHT in the eyes of the LORD! YOU will receive YOUR harvest, some in this life and some in the next, for your obedience to God, His Word and His Spirit, and NOT by pleasing, pacifying, placating or giving in to the threats of the wicked. Sometimes those "wicked" will be unbelievers, but there will also be times when born again believers who do NOT know the Word of God will come against you! Simply walk away from them, praying that the eyes of their understanding will be opened to see the truth. AMEN! That keeps you in God's protection by walking in love and allows the God of the Bible to work on them - from the inside out! Here is Hillsong with "Inside Out":

Shalom in Him!