Shalom,

Today's "Grace Inspirations" devotional by Jospeh Prince is EXACTLY what we need to be meditating on in order to saty in strong faith for what GOD is about to do next!

GOD WANTS YOU CROSS-CONSCIOUS

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, said that he determined to know nothing among them except “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” In other words, Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, had his mind full of Jesus and His finished work.

Beloved, God wants your mind full of the cross of Jesus. He wants you cross-conscious.

But what does it mean to be cross-conscious?

To be cross-conscious is to see Jesus, who loves you so much that He willingly died for you on the cross. To be cross-conscious is to look to Jesus, who offered His own body to be punished, so that your body can be free from all punishment.

To be cross-conscious is to fix your eyes on Jesus, who has provided for your deliverance and victory at the cross. At the cross, all your enemies were vanquished. All your diseases were destroyed. Your poverty was removed at the cross. Your sins were wiped out at the cross.

When the Israelites tasted bitterness in the waters of Marah, God showed Moses a tree, which he cast into the waters, making them sweet (see Exodus 15:23–26). The tree represents the cross, which turned the bitter waters sweet. Today, Calvary’s tree has turned your bitter situations sweet. Because of the cross, you can expect to see the bitter situations in your life made sweet!

When the Israelites were bitten by serpents in the wilderness, God told Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole. The pole represents the cross and bronze speaks of judgment. Those who beheld the serpent on the pole lived because they saw their problem—the deadly serpent—nailed and put to death on the cross (see Numbers 21:6–9).

Today, you too will not die but live when you see all your sins judged at the cross, and with them, all your sicknesses, diseases, pains, failures and defeats! At the cross, all that is deadly in your life has been removed!

AMEN! COUNT on it! COUNT on HIM! Here are Hillsong Kids with "Made In Your Image":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Psalm 30:1-4:

1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me. 3 O Lord, You have brought my life up from Sheol (the place of the dead); You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit (the grave). 4 Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

No matter what we may be facinf at this present time, OUR God IS GOD! He is working HIS plan to bless us beyond measure as WE stay focused on Who HE IS and who WE are - IN HIM! The enemy may THINK that he has us in a bind, BUT, Psalm 60:12:

Through our God we shall do valiantly. It is HE Who shall tread down our enemies. AMPC

And then this:

With God’s help we will fight like heroes and He will trample down our every foe! TPT

Amen! Now, in keeping with the current theme that we have been seeing in our daily Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, here are verses 10-12:

10 Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! 11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, 12 To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Never forget that the louder the enemy boasts, the closer YOU are to your VICTORY! ABSOLUTE VICTORY! he cannot stop it! Your Covenant with God promises it! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Echoes (Til We See The Other Side)":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

I hope, if you are following along with us in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, that you have been as blessed as we have been to see how very timely and appropriate these verses have been to the times that we are dealing with right now! The evil operating in the world is SO obvious and the promises of God so REAL and POWERFUL! Look at Psalm 29 for today!

A Psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness or in holy array. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon many (great) waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion (Mount Hermon) like a young, wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord splits and flashes forth forked lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness tremble; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the hinds bring forth their young, and His voice strips bare the forests, while in His temple everyone is saying, Glory! 10 The Lord sat as King over the deluge; the Lord [still] sits as King [and] forever! 11 The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. 

I SHOULD have underlined this entire Psalm, but the last two verses really emphasize the attitude that our GOD has for US and all that concerns us! And we say WOE to all who would TOUCH God's anointed! HE will ALWAYS protect HIS PEOPLE! COUNT ON IT! Count on HIM! Here is Hillsong with "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Psalm 28:6-9 is our exhortation for today!

6 Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications. 7 The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. 8 The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed. 9 Save Your people and bless Your heritage; nourish and shepherd them and carry them forever.

Our God IS GOD! The ONE and ONLY! Seek HIM! Find HIM! Believe HIM! Allow HIM to lead, guide and direct you moment by moment, and day by day! HE will never fail you! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" devotional! 

BY JESUS’ STRIPES YOU ARE HEALED

Isaiah 53:5 …The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

You know, one of the biggest outcries against Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion Of The Christ, was that it was too violent, especially the part where Jesus was scourged.

Let me tell you this: It was not violent enough! The Bible says that at the cross, Jesus’ visage was marred beyond that of any man (see Isaiah 52:14). In the movie, even after all the beatings, the actor James Caviezel, who played Jesus, still looked quite handsome.

But the reality is that when Jesus hung on the cross, He had “no form or comeliness…there is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). He was beaten to a pulp until His face looked like jelly hanging out!

In the movie, when they scourged Him, only a small portion of His bones was exposed, so it was still quite tidy. But the messianic psalms say, “The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long” (Psalm 129:3), and “I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me” (Psalm 22:17). All His bones were exposed!

My friend, He was thinking of you when the soldiers tied Him to the scourging post. As they raised their whips, He said, “Let it all come on Me!”

But what came on Him was not just the whip stripping the flesh off His bare back, but your sicknesses and diseases. Each time He was whipped, every form of sickness and disease, including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, bird flu and dengue fever, came upon Him. “The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

Today, healing is your right because Jesus has paid the price for your healing. So if the devil says, “You cannot be healed,” just declare, “Jesus has paid for my healing. Disease has no right to be in my body. I am healed in Jesus’ name!”

Every curse of sickness that was supposed to fall on you fell on Jesus instead. He bore every one of those stripes, so that you can walk in divine health all the days of your life. The price has been paid so that you can rise up and get out of your bed of affliction!

AMEN! I hope that YOU are spending more time now with the Holy Spirit so that HE can lead, guide and direct you in every area of your life! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)".

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional.

Look Again and Consecrate

If God so clothes the grass of the field…, will He not much more clothe you…? —Matthew 6:30

A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field…” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.

“Look at the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.

“Consider the lilies of the field…” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

THAT is the most important question to ask ourselves every day! When our FELLOWSHIP with HIM is our top priority, we will copme to know Him so well that doubt, fear and unbelief will not have a whiff of a chance to grab ahold of us! Be STRONG in HIM! Here are Hillsong Kids with "My Best Friend":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I simply want to share David's prayers and declarations from Psalm 25:1-5!

A Psalm] of David.

1 Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life. 2 O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long.

Make verses 4-5 YOUR prayer and declaration of faith and watch your understanding of the WAYS of God grow powerfully! HE desires that we KNOW HIM! He is simply waiting for YOU to desire that, too! Here is Hillsong with "I Desire Jesus":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Psalm 24 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan!

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it.

2 For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the currents and the rivers.

3 Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation [description] of those who seek Him [who inquire of and for Him and of necessity require Him], who seek Your face, [O God of] Jacob. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in.

8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; yes, lift them up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in.

10 Who is [He then] this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah [pause, and think of that]!

Meditate on THIS today and you will find your self encouraged, inspired, stirred up, expectant for what GOD is about to do in, for and through YOU! AMEN! here are Hillsong Kids with a song that I really like for these times in which we find ourselves when EVIL is rampant, BUT GOD is ALL GOOD, ALL the TIME! AMEN! "When The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

I think that it is pretty safe to say that MOST people are familiar with Psalm 23! We have heard it and prayed it in many different situations and circumstances! Many times it has been quoted by those who know NOTHING about the nature, character and LOVE of our MOST HIGH GOD! Here it is, for today, from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in The Passion Translation!

The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23 David’s poetic praise to God
1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough.
2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
3 That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.
4 Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear.  I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;  you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows.
6 So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!

And now from the Amplified Bible!

1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. 6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

AMEN! Stay SAFE, PROTECTED and PROVIDED for in the secret place of fellowship with the One, True God! HE will NEVER let you down! Here is Hillsong UNITED with another older song called "One Way":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Grace Inspirations" devotional that you can find on his website! this is SO good and encouraging!

LET YOUR HEART BE ESTABLISHED BY GRACE

Hebrews 13:9 …it is good that the heart be established by grace…

God does not want your heart full of worries and fears, tossed and turned by every challenge that comes your way. He wants your heart at rest and established by His grace toward you.

But when you think that the breakthroughs to your challenges depend on your ability to obey God, then your heart will not be at rest. It will be full of worries and anxieties. Why? Because you can never obey God perfectly.

But when you depend on God’s grace, that is, His undeserved, unmerited favor, the opposite happens—your heart becomes established. When you know that the only thing that qualifies you to receive God’s blessings is faith in the finished work of Christ, your heart becomes established. Then, you will walk without the fear of your troubles swallowing you up. You will walk with full assurance that His blessings will be manifested in your life.

My friend, God wants your heart established, knowing that His righteousness, healing, protection and provision are yours—all paid for by Jesus’ finished work at the cross. God’s blessings are sure in your life because they are not dependent on your ability to keep His laws, but Jesus’ perfect obedience.

You see, under the old covenant, you receive God’s blessings only if you keep all His laws (see Deuteronomy 28:1–2). If you sin and fail to keep even one law, you will be disqualified from receiving His blessings. But today, under the new covenant, your sins no longer disqualify you because God Himself has said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

So let your heart be established by God’s grace. Because of His grace, you have full access to His blessings. You no longer have to worry about whether you are good enough. You can stand firm on the promises made in His Word and enjoy His blessings today because Jesus has paid the price. Your part is only to believe and receive!

This is SO freeing! This IS the attitude that our heavenly Father desires SO MUCH for us to have! Relying on the Father takes all care, worry and fear completely out of the picture! HE will NEVER fail us! Here is Hillsong with "Father of Creation":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Again today the Psalm from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is SPOT ON! Psalm 21:

Psalm 21   To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 The king [David] shall joy in Your strength, O Lord; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah [pause, and think of that]! 3 For You send blessings of good things to meet him; You set a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of You, and You gave it to him—long life forever and evermore. 5 His glory is great because of Your aid; splendor and majesty You bestow upon him. 6 For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence. 7 For the king trusts, relies on, and is confident in the Lord, and through the mercy and steadfast love of the Most High he will never be moved.

8 Your hand shall find all Your enemies; Your right hand shall find all those who hate You. 9 You will make them as if in a blazing oven in the time of Your anger; the Lord will swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire will utterly consume them. 10 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, and their sons from among the children of men. 11 For they planned evil against You; they conceived a mischievous plot which they are not able to perform. 12 For You will make them turn their backs; You will aim Your bow [of divine justice] at their faces.

13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power

THIS is such an accurate picture of what has happened in this nation with an extremely fraudulent and treasonous election, with foreign interference! GOD is watching and HE IS NOT PLEASED! HE will reveal all of the corruption at every level and HE will restore HIS rightful choice for President of HIS America! Watch and see and remember always that HE has the most beautiful, wonderful and powerful NAME that has ever been given! Here is Hillsong with THAT song!

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

The Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today is spot on again! Psalm 20 says this:

Psalm 20  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high [and defend you]; 2 Send you help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen you from Zion; 3 Remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah [pause, and think of that]! 4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. 5 We will [shout in] triumph at your salvation and victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. 7 Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are bowed down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright. 9 O Lord, give victory; let the King answer us when we call.

It may not APPEAR as though God has answered the prayers of His people at the moment, but HE HAS NOT CHANGED! He still HATES evil and will NOT tolerate it! HE still LOVES His own people and ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS! BUT, He does so IN HIS PERFECT TIME! God is busy working His great work on our behalf and for His purposes! Never give up your stand on God's Word and never give in to the enemy's tricks, schemes, traps and strategies! God HATES the MURDER of the unborn and He will not tolerate it  or those who perpetuate it. Make sure that YOU are ALWAYS on GOD's side, for HIS SIDE is ALWAYS RIGHT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Echoes (Til We See The Other Side)":

Shalom  in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I want to share from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "from Faith To Faith " devotional:

From Messes to Miracles

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:7

We have what we say. As believers, we know that's a vital biblical truth. We can see it in Mark 11:23, Matthew 21:21, James 3:2 and many other verses. Yet we often let it slip.

We allow ourselves to begin talking like the world instead of talking the Word. And eventually we get what we've been asking for—a big mess.

If that's happened to you, remember, whatever you have in your life is a product of what you've been saying. In order to change what you have, you must change what's coming out of your mouth. To head your life in a different direction—from death to life, sickness to health, failure to success—you must take charge of your words.

That's a lot easier said than done. But that's the key: It must be said in order to be done!

How do you start?

First, realize that it can't be done just in the natural. This is a spiritual law, so it must be handled with spiritual power.

James 3:7-8 says the tongue can't be tamed with the same power with which man tames animals. It takes God's wisdom from above. God's Word is His wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). He also said His words are spirit and life. That means it takes God's words to tame our tongues.

Second, repent before God for ever allowing your tongue to be used by anyone except the Holy Spirit. Then give Jesus your tongue. Be determined to speak His words of love, faith, joy, peace and grace. Words of faith stop the fiery darts of hell.

The third thing to do is what Jesus said in Mark 4:24: Take heed, or listen, to what you hear. Listen to yourself! Think, Do I want what I just said to come to pass? If the answer is no, then stop and correct yourself right then. Replace those negative words with praise (Ephesians 5:4).

If you've gotten sloppy about what you say, change your course today by changing your words. Ask God to help you set a watch over your mouth (Psalms 141:3). Put the power that's in your tongue to work for you instead of against you. Stop using it to make messes, and start using it to make miracles. There is a miracle in your mouth!

AMEN! We can start with believing that we ARE who HE says we are in the Word! here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am". Remember that God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17)!

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I am going to share with you ALL of Psalm 18 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! I have been sharing with you how very apporpriate and timely these daily readings have been, but today's Psalm is especially timely! With all of the evil and demonic things that have happened in our nation this year at the hands of evil people under the direction of demonic influences, true believers KNOW our GOD and KNOW that HE is about to rock our world with HIS power and glory and the enemies are about to be exposed and dealt with! As only GOD can do! Here is history taking place! HIS STORY!:

Psalm 18

To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

1 I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength.

2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.

3 I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The cords or bands of death surrounded me, and the streams of ungodliness and the torrents of ruin terrified me.

5 The cords of Sheol (the place of the dead) surrounded me; the snares of death confronted and came upon me.

6 In my distress [when seemingly closed in] I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His [very] ears.

7 Then the earth quaked and rocked, the foundations also of the mountains trembled; they moved and were shaken because He was indignant and angry.

8 There went up smoke from His nostrils; and lightning out of His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub [a storm] and flew [swiftly]; yes, He sped on with the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His secret hiding place; as His pavilion (His canopy) round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 Out of the brightness before Him there broke forth through His thick clouds hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord also thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, amid hailstones and coals of fire.

14 And He sent out His arrows and scattered them; and He flashed forth lightnings and put them to rout.

15 Then the beds of the sea appeared and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He reached from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy and from those who hated and abhorred me, for they were too strong for me.

18 They confronted and came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay and support.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; He was delivering me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness (my conscious integrity and sincerity with Him); according to the cleanness of my hands has He recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all His ordinances were before me, and I put not away His statutes from me.

23 I was upright before Him and blameless with Him, ever [on guard] to keep myself free from my sin and guilt.

24 Therefore has the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness (my uprightness and right standing with Him), according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the kind and merciful You will show Yourself kind and merciful, with an upright man You will show Yourself upright,

26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure, and with the perverse You will show Yourself contrary.

27 For You deliver an afflicted and humble people but will bring down those with haughty looks.

28 For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.

29 For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God,

32 The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect?

33 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great.

36 You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip.

37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I smote them so that they were not able to rise; they fell wounded under my feet.

39 For You have girded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me and caused to bow down those who rose up against me.

40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.

41 They cried [for help], but there was none to deliver—even unto the Lord, but He answered them not.

42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the dirt and mire of the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people; You made me the head of the nations; a people I had not known served me.

44 As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me; foreigners submitted themselves cringingly and yielded feigned obedience to me.

45 Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their caves or strongholds.

46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted,

47 The God Who avenges me and subdues peoples under me,

48 Who delivers me from my enemies; yes, You lift me up above those who rise up against me; You deliver me from the man of violence.

49 Therefore will I give thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverances and triumphs gives He to His king; and He shows mercy and steadfast love to His anointed, to David and his offspring forever.

HALLELUJAH! NEVER forget that OUR GOD REIGNS!!! Here is Hillsong with "God He Reigns"!

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Again our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is completely timely and appropriate for THIS day! Psalm 17:

A Prayer of David.

1 Hear the right (my righteous cause), O Lord; listen to my shrill, piercing cry! Give ear to my prayer, that comes from unfeigned and guileless lips. 2 Let my sentence of vindication come from You! May Your eyes behold the things that are just and upright. 3 You have proved my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and find nothing [no evil purpose in me]; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer). 5 My steps have held closely to Your paths [to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before]; my feet have not slipped. 6 I have called upon You, O God, for You will hear me; incline Your ear to me and hear my speech. 7 Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them.

8 Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 From the wicked who despoil and oppress me, my deadly adversaries who surround me. 10 They are enclosed in their own prosperity and have shut up their hearts to pity; with their mouths they make exorbitant claims and proudly and arrogantly speak. 11 They track us down in each step we take; now they surround us; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground, 12 Like a lion greedy and eager to tear his prey, and as a young lion lurking in hidden places. 13 Arise, O Lord! Confront and forestall them, cast them down! Deliver my life from the wicked by Your sword, 14 From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of this world [these poor moths of the night] whose portion in life is idle and vain. Their bellies are filled with Your hidden treasure [what You have stored up]; their children are satiated, and they leave the rest [of their] wealth to their babes.

15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

The first verses are our prayer and confidence in the LORD our GOD! Verses 8-14 describe completely the scenario that God's people are dealing with from the enemy and the people who allow themselves to be used for evil by him! Then verse 15 is our declaration of faith that the GOD Who has promised to protect and provide for HIS people WILL come through for us with signs, wonders and miraculous interventions to stil the enemy and make him pay! HALLELUJAH! OUR GOD REIGNS and though He is rarely EARLY, HE IS NEVER LATE! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "What The World Will Never Take":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" by Rick Renner is an excelent lesson for us all to know!

WHAT KIND OF VESSEL ARE YOU?

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth….— 2 Timothy 2:20

There are many different roles in God’s Kingdom, and each role is significant and important. The devil often tells people that their role is not important because it is less visible than the role of others. Let me address that misconception by first telling you about an experience I had many years ago in an antique store that specialized in ancient relics.

When I looked at the shelves of the antique store, I was amazed at the many antiquities that appeared to have been sitting there for decades and were covered with a thick film of dust. An archeologist’s treasure trove, this shop was also a housekeeper’s nightmare because it hadn’t been cleaned in years! I sneezed as I accidentally breathed in dust while rubbing my hand across the front of a beautiful vase I had taken from a high shelf.

From where I was standing, it appeared to me that the higher shelves were loaded with interesting historical items, such as vases of marble, jasper, and alabaster. I grabbed a stepladder and stretched upward on my toes so I could peer deeper into the cache of relics on that top shelf — and there I discovered genuine Roman antiquities made of silver and gold. Astonishment is the only word I know to describe the intense emotion that rushed through me as I reached out to take hold of those precious artifacts.

The lower shelves were also filled with memories from the ancient world, but these were primarily items made from stone and clay. I saw pottery from the Iron Age, oil lamps from the Byzantine period that had been dug from the soil of Israel, and authentic pottery from the ancient city of Corinth that was still completely intact.

As I stood back and looked at the floor all around me, I could see that I was surrounded by less expensive ancient items that were primarily made from wood, such an ancient harness used for oxen, feeding troughs, and Egyptian baskets of woven ancient reeds from the Nile River. The thought hit me strongly that whether these different objects were made of superior or relatively inferior material, they had all successfully endured the test of time and survived thousands of years.

I pondered all these objects for a moment, wondering:

· Who had owned these objects?

· How had they been originally used?

· Who were the wealthy people who owned the gold and silver objects?

· How had the precious items been originally displayed in the palaces of the rich?

When I picked up the items made of wood and clay, I could still see stains that remained from ancient times. I wondered:

· Who had used these wooden and clay utensils?

· Had they been a part of a kitchen?

· Were they originally used in some type of workroom?

· Were some of these ancient items once used in someone’s barn?

Before me were vessels of gold, silver, stone, wood, and clay, all of which had survived the test of time and now sat in that shop as a reminder of a people from the ancient past. The rich, the poor, the upper class, the lower class, the educated, the uneducated, old and young — all the various classes of society were represented in the array of utensils and articles before me that day.

When I saw this amazing mixture of gold, silver, wood, and earthen vessels, my thoughts went to Paul’s words to Timothy, where he told the younger minister, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some to honor, and some to dishonor” (2 Timothy 2:20).

I want you to notice that Paul began this verse by writing about “a great house.” At this point, Paul reached into the secular world and borrowed an example to make his point. In his mind, he recalled the magnificent homes that belonged to the rich upper class. When he wrote about a “great” house, he used the word megale. The word megale depicts something very large. The word “house” is oikos, the regular word for a house. But when the words oikos megale are used together, it no longer refers to just a regular residence or house like any citizen would live in. Now it paints the picture of a very large house.

Remnants of large, elegant residences from Paul’s day are still evident today in cities like Rome, Athens, Pompeii, and ancient Ephesus. Such homes belonged to the wealthy upper class and were both splendid and grandiose. Paul used the illustration of these impressive houses to depict the majesty of God’s house, which is the grandest and greatest of them all.

Paul went on to say that just as in the large homes of the wealthy, in God’s house, “…There are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth….”

The word “vessels” is the Greek word skeuos. It refers to a vessel, container, or utensil. In ancient times, there was a wide array of skeuos, and each had a specific and designated purpose. The word skeuos could be used to depict utensils, agricultural instruments, baggage, equipment of various sorts, vases used in worship, kitchen items, and elegant articles of gold and silver put on public display.

Vessels made from “wood and earth” were usually functional items used for everyday household chores. The wooden items were also used as containers for water, flour, oil, or wine. Vessels fashioned from “gold and silver” were evidently intended for exhibition and therefore displayed in visible places in the homes of the rich. Gold and silver objects were meant to be seen and appreciated rather than serve a practical function.

There is no doubt that Paul was describing real gold and silver vessels, because he used the word chrusos, the Greek word for gold, and the word arguros, the Greek word for silver. The Greek word for “wood” is zulina, which describes any vessel made of wood. The word “earth” is the Greek word ostrakinos, which refers to pottery. (For a deeper study of the word ostrakinos, see the February 13 Gem in Sparkling Gems 1.) What a variety of vessels we see in this verse!

With this example, Paul teaches us that all kinds of vessels and people are needed in God’s house. Imagine how dysfunctional a house would be if all the vessels in it were made of gold, silver, precious stones, or highly priced porcelain. You couldn’t function in such a house! In fact, you would probably be afraid to even move about in a house where everything was made of precious materials. For a house to function normally, it needs regular pots and pans. The utensils in the kitchen may not receive the same adulation as the more elegant objects displayed in the living room showcase, but kitchen utensils are indispensable for the proper functioning of a household. Just try cooking bacon and eggs in porcelain vases or with utensils made of gold and silver, and you’ll be quickly reminded how important regular ol’ pots and pans are!

By using such imagery, Paul let us know that all kinds of vessels — people with different functions and roles — are needed in God’s house. Although they are different from each other, each is important and special. Each serves a specific purpose. Just as was true with the vessels of the fabulous ancient homes, in God’s house there must be many different kinds of people with different positions, functions, and purposes. In fact, His house is filled to overflowing with human vessels whose various gifts and talents are essential to the effective functioning of God’s house. Some people have visible positions; other people have less visible positions. But each person is vital to the operations of God’s house.

As you ponder your own role in God’s house, it is important for you to remember that some people’s roles are more visible, while others have a less visible part to play. Yet everyone’s role is vital and of great consequence. If those working behind the scenes didn’t do their part, those with more visible roles wouldn’t be able to do their parts.

Human beings tend to glamorize people who perform on the stage, but entertainers wouldn’t seem so glamorous if they had no makeup artists to prepare them. They wouldn’t shine so brightly if there were no lighting specialists to light up the stage. Their voices would be unheard if there were no sound technicians. The makeup artists, lighting specialists, and sound technicians are unseen, but I guarantee you that their absence would be noticed if they didn’t do their jobs! They are all vital for the show to go on!

So don’t let the devil badger you into thinking your role is not important because it is less visible than others. Your part is very important in God’s house!

There are many different roles in God’s Kingdom, and each role is significant and important. Maybe your role is visible, or maybe yours is behind the scenes. Regardless of the role you have right now, consider it an honor that God would use you in His house! I encourage you to say yes to the role God has given you at this time. Throw open your arms, embrace it, and hold it close. Take deep into your heart the place of service to which God has assigned you for this season. Master that position — fulfilling its responsibilities with an excellent attitude — and then watch Him move you to higher levels of responsibility according to His will and His purposes for your life!

I LOVE that God has given US the choice to become vessels of gold! We have been going through Mario Murillo's book "Vessels of Fire and Glory" in our Adult Bible Study at The Spoken Word Church and it has beenn a very great blessing! I CHOOSE to BECOME a vessel of GOLD to be used as a conduit of HIS FIRE and GLORY! That brings GLORY to HIS NAME and people into the KINGDOM! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "See The Light":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

I really like today's devotional from Jerry Savelle!

YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!

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

Have you ever felt as if you’re just not good enough to come to God? It’s not an uncommon feeling among believers. But the truth is, those thoughts and feelings are actually lies from the devil. His aim is to get you so down on yourself that you are unable to experience God’s best for your life.

As long as you believe the lie that you are not good enough, you will always doubt that God loves you, that He loves you and wants to bless you. Doubt will rob you of all the good things God has for you.

But the Bible tells us that because of God’s love for us, we can come boldly to His throne of grace, where we will find plenty of His mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. God does not have one child who isn’t good enough to receive His mercy and grace. All of His children are good enough. All are equally loved and unconditionally accepted by their heavenly Father.

So, make the decision today that you will no longer believe the devil’s lie that you are not good enough. Don’t let him rob you of your confidence and boldness before God. And don’t let him rob you of God’s best for your life.

Confession: Thank You, Father, that because of the blood of Jesus I am good enough to come boldly before Your throne of grace. Right now, I receive your mercy and grace, which is more than sufficient for all I need.

This is SO good! God reveals in His Word how very valuable each one of us is to HIM! Never doubt your value! God measured it with the LIFE of His SON! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Psalm 14 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today is another EXCELLENT and so very TIMELY lesson! Verses 1-4:

To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.

1 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. 2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, dealt wisely, and sought after God, inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him [of vital necessity]. 3 They are all gone aside, they have all together become filthy; there is none that does good or right, no, not one. 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread and who do not call on the Lord?

Then OUR results in verses 5-6!

5 There they shall be in great fear [literally—dreading a dread], for God is with the generation of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those upright and in right standing with Him). 6 You [evildoers] would put to shame and confound the plans of the poor and patient, but the Lord is his safe refuge.

HALLELUJAH! EXPECT His great intervention is these current circumstances! After all, when 'they' mock, humilate, abuse, misuse and threaten YOU, they are ultimately doing so to the GOD Whom YOU belong to! HE is your very own FATHER! Begin to thank, praise and worship HIM for being your LOVING, PROTECTING and VINDICATING FATHER! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "God Is Able":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

We have been goiong through Mark Brazee's "365 Days of Healing" devotional in Morning Prayer at The Spoken Word Church this year. I want to share today's because it is so vital!

Discern the Lord’s Body 

The major reason many sick people stay sick is that they don’t know whether or not God wants them healed. They don’t understand why Jesus’ body was broken. They are “...not discerning [not fully understanding or duly appreciating] the Lord’s body."

Many people don’t realize Jesus’ body was broken for their physical health as much as His blood was shed for the forgiveness of their sins. Therefore, they don’t know it’s God’s will to heal them.

I’ve heard people say, “Oh, yes, I believe that God can heal today. But sometimes He does, and sometimes He doesn’t. We can never know  who will receive their healing and who won’t.” Yet that isn’t faith. Faith begins where the will of God is known.

Discern the Lord’s body rightly; understand that it was broken for you. Feed your spirit with the truth that by Jesus’ stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) Keep meditating on that truth until you know that you know God wants you healed. Then you can be sure when you ask God for your healing that you’re truly praying the prayer of faith.

Jesus’ body was broken for my physical health as surely as His blood was shed for my sins. I believe I receive healing in my body now.

For he that eats and drinks [communion] unworthily, eat and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:29, 30

AMEN! My favorite line here is "Faith begins where the will of God is known"! THIS is TRUTH! Romans 10:17 tells us this:

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Get into the Word of God to find out what belongs to you as a born again child of God! His WORD is His WILL! Meditate on that until it becomes SO real to you that doubty is driven out! Now speak that over yourself and LIVE in the reality of His promises! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Psalm 12 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan is continuing to be completely applicable to the current happenings in the United States! 

To the Chief Musician; set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David. 1 Help, Lord! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men. 2 To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak. 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting, 4 Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own [to command at our will]—who is lord and master over us? 5 Now will I arise, says the Lord, because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy; I will set him in safety and in the salvation for which he pants. 6 The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over. 7 You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever. 8 The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men.

AMEN! Recognize the times in which you are living and respond appropriately, by the WORD of the Living God! HE is ALWAYS RIGHT! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

  Shalom,

I LOVE today's devotional by our partner, Jerry Savelle!

YOU DON’T GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 AMP)

Have you ever heard someone say, “He got just what he deserved”? When people say this, they’re usually referring to the negative consequences that someone is suffering due to their own destructive actions or wrong choices.

While religion portrays God as an angry dictator, ready to punish those who disobey, nothing could be farther from the truth. God is our loving heavenly Father, who gave the life of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can experience the love and grace He so desires to give us.

One definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” God’s grace is something you didn’t earn; it is a gift from your heavenly Father. Any time you see the word grace in your Bible, you can interchange it with the word favor.

Simply put, God’s grace, His unmerited favor, is the manifestation of God giving you something you do not deserve.

HALLELUJAH! Because JESUS took what He did NOT deserve, OUR judgement for sin, WE get to have what WE do not deserve, HIS eternal LIFE! It is ALL ABOUT JESUS and the great LOVE He has for us! When we meditate on that enough, we will not allow a day to go by where we do not thank HIM for our eternal SALVATION and all that HE has provided for us in our new and BETTER Covenant! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Salvation Is Here":

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has been SO accurate for the times! Today we read THIS in Psalm 10:1-9:

2 The wicked in pride and arrogance hotly pursue and persecute the poor; let them be taken in the schemes which they have devised. 3 For the wicked man boasts (sings the praises) of his own heart’s desire, and the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord. 4 The wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God [so He never punishes]. 5 His ways are grievous [or persist] at all times; Your judgments [Lord] are far above and on high out of his sight [so he never thinks about them]; as for all his foes, he sniffs and sneers at them. 6 He thinks in his heart, I shall not be moved; for throughout all generations I shall not come to want or be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity). 8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he slays the innocent; he watches stealthily for the poor (the helpless and unfortunate). 9 He lurks in secret places like a lion in his thicket; he lies in wait that he may seize the poor (the helpless and the unfortunate); he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.

The enemy has been working his deception and devouring those who allow themselves to be devoured! BUT, our GOD has other plans for him and those who willingly follow him! Verses 12-18:

12 Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble [patient and crushed]. 13 Why does the wicked [man] condemn (spurn and renounce) God? Why has he thought in his heart, You will not call to account? 14 You have seen it; yes, You note trouble and grief (vexation) to requite it with Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked man; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness until You find no more. 16 The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish out of His land. 17 O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear, 18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.

AMEN! AND this from Matthew 10:31-32:

31 Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Therefore, everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me [out of a state of oneness with Me], I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven and confess [that I am abiding in] him.

Our GOD is watching over us! HE is ion the process of destroying the plans and plots of the enemy on our behalf! What THEY meant for evil, our GOD will turn for OUR benefit! BELIEVE that you ARE who HE says you are! HIS! Psalm 55:22 says it all!

22 Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

AMEN! TRUST HIM! He ALWAYS has YOU on His mind! Here is Hillsong with "Here's To The One":

VERSE 1

Here’s to the One who made the morning bright

Here’s to the One who taught the stars to shine

Here’s to the One who graced the dead of night

Pulled me from the dark set my heart alight

VERSE 2

Here’s to the One who made my heart to sing

Opened up my eyes washed away my sin

Here’s to the One who gave His life for mine

Broke all my chains and set me free alright

CHORUS

To the Way

To the Truth

To the life I live in the light You give

Jesus here’s to Your Name over everything

VERSE 3

Here’s to all the things that Your love has done

Here’s to the way You wiped away my past

Here’s to the future and the things to come

Here’s to my Saviour’s everlasting love

BRIDGE

Here’s to Your kindness

Here’s to Your goodness

Here’s to Your freedom

Here’s to the day I see You Jesus

Here’s to Your glory

Here’s to Your greatness

Here’s to Your kingdom

Here’s to the Name of Jesus

TAG

Here’s to our Saviour

Here’s to the Name of Jesus

Shalom in Him!

 Shalom,

Today I simply have the WORD to share! PRAISE ad WORSHIP HIM for WHo He is, for what He has already done and for what HE is ABOUOT TO DO NEXT! HALLELUJAH! Psalm 9!

To the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David.

1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds!

2 I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

3 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You.

4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging righteously.

5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

6 The enemy have been cut off and have vanished in everlasting ruins, You have plucked up and overthrown their cities; the very memory of them has perished and vanished.

7 But the Lord shall remain and continue forever; He has prepared and established His throne for judgment.

8 And He will judge the world in righteousness (rightness and equity); He will minister justice to the peoples in uprightness.

9 The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation).

10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity].

11 Sing praises to the Lord, Who dwells in Zion! Declare among the peoples His doings!

12 For He Who avenges the blood [of His people shed unjustly] remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted (the poor and the humble).

13 Have mercy upon me and be gracious to me, O Lord; consider how I am afflicted by those who hate me, You Who lift me up from the gates of death,

14 That I may show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your praises! In the gates of the Daughter of Zion I will rejoice in Your salvation and Your saving help.

15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot caught.

16 The Lord has made Himself known; He executes judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion [meditation]. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

17 The wicked shall be turned back [headlong into premature death] into Sheol (the place of the departed spirits of the wicked), even all the nations that forget or are forgetful of God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the expectation and hope of the meek and the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before You.

20 Put them in fear [make them realize their frail nature], O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

AMEN and AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "This Is Our God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share a blogpost from Mario Murillo's Ministry! THIS is EXCELLENT for today! 

I SET MY FACE LIKE FLINT

In the dictionary the term "flint" is defined as something that is hard, or unyielding. Merriam-Webster dictionary also refers to it as "a material used for producing a spark."

As you wait to see the goodness of God unfold, as your eyes are uncertain as to what is happening, and your mind is not sure how to take it all in, SET YOUR FACE LIKE FLINT!!!

You will not succumb to lies of the enemy or taunts of the unbelieving, or confusion from friends and family. You will not believe the deceiving messages of the media. No matter WHAT unfolds - YOU WILL STAND ON AND SET YOUR EYES ON GOD.

Your heart and mind and face is SET on God, His Word, His Promises, His heart, His best intentions, His goodness, His love, His faithfulness.

So as the world shakes and crumbles, let the world see your joy and your resolve that "My God reigns! My God is here! My God is intervening! My God is tearing down mountains and uprooting deep roots! My God loves you! My God is bringing breakthrough and I AM ON GOD'S SIDE!"

Isaiah 50:6 "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!"

- MMM Team

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! Here are Hillsong Kids with the PERFECT song! "As The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!