Shalom,

Our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has been perfectly timed for TODAY! I think is is so supernaturally amazing how every single day the Word of God continues to come alive to me! Today we read Psalm 119. I challenge you to find the Word or a reference to it in every verse! Then we went into Philippians 4. There are SO many powerful TRUTHS in this book and this chapter! Look at verse 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

We are being instructed veru powerfully here to REJOICE! That means to stir up the JOY that Holy Spirit placed inside of you at the New Birth! Now let's get busy putting THAT into practice! Now look at verses 6-7:

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. 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.

The condition and the promise! There are so many people that we know who are NOT YET serving the LORD! Let's make a commitment together that any time we see a child in trouble we WILL intervene! Also, lets continue to be available to help those who don't yet know the Word of God.  Now THAT is something that JESUS might do! Here is Hillsong with "Resurrender"!:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers because the message is so important for us to realize!

“And Every Virtue We Possess”

All my fresh springs shall be in Thee. — Psalm 87:7 (PBV)*

Our Lord never patches up our natural virtues, He remakes the whole man on the inside. “Put on the new man” — see that your natural human life puts on the garb that is in keeping with the new life. The life God plants in us develops its own virtues, not the virtues of Adam but of Jesus Christ. Watch how God will wither up your confidence in natural virtues after sanctification, and in any power you have, until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through a drying-up experience!

The sign that God is at work in us is that He corrupts confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but remnants of what God created man to be. We will cling to the natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us into contact with the life of Jesus Christ which can never be described in terms of the natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people in the service of God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them, depending on what they have by the accident of heredity. God does not build up our natural virtues and transfigure them, because our natural virtues can never come anywhere near what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every bit of our bodily life into harmony with the new life which God has put in us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus.

“And every virtue we possess is His alone.”

When we received Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God recreated our dead human spirits into the image of God, making us these new creations that had never existed before, but are who we now are! With Holy Spirit living IN us, we have everything we need to operate as JESUS sis in His earthly ministry. Religion tells us to ACT a certain way. The New Testament tells us to operate as the new creatures we are! With GOD inside! This is not an act, but a new way of LIFE! Dare to believe that YOU are exactly who GOD says you are! Here is Hillsong with THAT song! "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Philippians 2 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and these verses really stood out as vital for these days in which we live. Verses 9-16:

9 Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. 14 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], 15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, 16 Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no purpose.

Read, study and meditate on these verses and you will soon find that Holy Spirit is teaching you, line upon line, what this all means for YOUR life and how YOU can put it all into practice! WHEN you do, you will see more clearly, hear more clearly and understand more clearly HIS will and plan and purpose for you and your life. Here is Hillsong UNITED with "On Repeat":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am sharing again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional as he continues to teach on our Father God!

The Father’s Love

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. — JOHN 14:21-23

Two things are emphasized in today’s text:

1. Jesus said,“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them . . .” Keep in mind what Jesus’ commandments are. He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you . . .” (John 13:34). There’s no reason for you to worry about any other commandments. Walking in love sums up the whole business, because the Word of God says, “. . . love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). (If you keep Jesus’ commandments, you will have fulfilled the rest of the commandments.)

2. “. . . Shall be loved of my Father . . . .” If you walk in love, you are walking in God’s realm, because God is love. God’s very nature, because He is love, compels Him to care for us, protect us, and shield us!

Confession: I have Jesus’ commandments, and I keep them. I love others as God has loved me. I walk in love toward my brethren. I show my love for Jesus by keeping His love commandment. I am loved of the Father!

AMEN! No one loves us more than our Father God! Here is Hillsong with "The Father's Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. This month has had some of my very favorite messages!

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 knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye 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. — MATTHEW 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! Our FATHER GOD is the very BEST Father we could ever hope to have! Have confidence that He IS exactly Who the Word of God says that He is! And He desires to be that for YOU! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Pride of a Father":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this from our partner, Rick Renner, from his book "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2":

YOUR SPIRITUAL DIET!

Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. — Matthew 13:52

Are leftovers a part of your after-Christmas holiday tradition? After you read today’s Sparkling Gem, you may never look at leftovers the same way again!

When I was young, we always enjoyed a smorgasbord of leftovers each year after Christmas — which included turkey sandwiches smeared with lots of mayonnaise, warmed-up meatloaf spread with ketchup, and mashed potatoes covered with melted butter. Of course, we also had an array of leftover biscuits, cake, pie, and other desserts to choose from that hadn’t been consumed on Christmas Day.

The truth is, we had all kinds of leftovers the day after Christmas — and we sometimes had them for days after Christmas! But we eventually got tired of eating the same old thing, and it became time to clean out the refrigerator and start eating something fresh and new.

Oh, how my mother prepared for Christmas Day! When I was young, I didn’t appreciate all the food she prepared each year for Christmas; I simply consumed it. But now that our own family has grown so large — and I see what it takes to feed a small multitude — I have such gratitude for all the cooking my mother did for us when we were younger. And I’m so thankful to Denise and our daughters-in-law for the luscious meals they prepare for our Christmas celebrations. Even my son Paul jumps into the fray, smoking a lamb that is given to us by a church member each year at Christmas.

It takes time and effort to feed people — and to feed them food prepared from both old recipes and new recipes makes eating more interesting. Most everyone appreciates eating food prepared from old, tried-and-true recipes as well as trying foods that are new.

This makes me think of Matthew 13:52, where Jesus said, “…Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

Notice that in this verse, a scribe — or a teacher — is pictured as “bringing forth of out of his treasure things new and old.” The word “new” is from the Greek word kaina, and it refers to something absolutely new and previously untried. The word “old” is palaia, and it refers to that which is old and has existed for a long time. Although this verse is talking about teachers bringing forth new revelation versus old revelation, I like the example of leftovers and new recipes to further make this point.

There are some teachings, like good leftovers, that are always tasty and enjoyable — and a common staple around the dinner table. But there also comes a time when you want to eat something new. The good news is that the Kingdom of Heaven is full of wonderful established teaching — and it is also overabounding with new, fabulous teaching that you’ve never heard or tried before. A good teacher — like a good food-preparer — will bring out new and old recipes for a family to enjoy! Good “leftovers” are always enjoyable, but your spiritual taste buds will eventually cry out to eat something new!

I know from personal experience that as we give our attention to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit adds new insights to the old ones and causes our understanding of God and His Word to be marvelously expanded. I relate well to the scribe described in Matthew 13:52. Many of the Greek word studies you read in this book are old to me; yet so many of them are brand new. Often I think that I have unearthed every gem that can possibly be found in a particular verse of the New Testament. But then I study that same verse again, and the Holy Spirit wonderfully opens my eyes and illuminates my mind to show me truths that I previously didn’t see!

So let’s keep our minds and eyes open for the Holy Spirit to provide not only great leftovers, but also new teachings that we haven’t learned yet. Let us remain hungry for new teachings and new revelation from the Word of God that we’ve never attained to before. The old, familiar truths of Scripture are always healthy and good, but there is a cry in the spirit of man to know more, to attain more, and to taste new levels of the Lord’s goodness. So let’s enjoy the leftovers, but let’s also press forward to attain new truths in the spiritual feast the Lord has waiting for us. We must never forget Psalm 34:8, which says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good…”!

I LOVE this from the last paragraph above: So let’s enjoy the leftovers, but let’s also press forward to attain new truths in the spiritual feast the Lord has waiting for us.  As we prepare to begin again on January 1 to go through the Bible with our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, let's keep this foremost in our hearts and minds, to remember the Word that we have heard and learned, and to greatly anticipate learning something new every day about the WORD of GOD! AMEN! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "All This Future":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

MERRY CHRISTmas! Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devootional for this day!

Love Sent His Son To Save

. . . For that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.

For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn the world;
but that the world through him
might be saved.
— MATTHEW 1:20,21; JOHN 3:16,17

WISE men and women still seek HIM! Every day! May this next year find you drawing closer to JESUS than you have ever been before! Here is Hillsong Worship with another favorite song of mine called "Every Breath":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin! 

His Glory

And the Word became flesh. And pitched his tent among us, And we gazed upon his glory, — A glory . . . Full of favour and truth. — JOHN 1:14 (Rotherham)

I love Rotherham’s translation of John 1:14 — it is so beautiful.

We’ve tended to think of Christ’s coming to the earth as a man only in terms of His self-denial in leaving glory, or else in terms of His suffering on this earth. But I believe it was a joy to Christ, who so loved man and so desired man’s fellowship, to “pitch His tent” among us so that He might give to alienated man — who had never known his Creator— a true conception of His Heavenly Father.

It was good tidings of great joy which the angel proclaimed to the shepherds — and to all people everywhere. Man, separated from God for four thousand years, could now gaze upon God’s glory, could now see God, could now know God as He is, and could now be reunited with Him!

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. — LUKE 2:10-11

The Word has become flesh!

Confession: Like the multitude of the heavenly host, I, too, am praising God. Praise God for sending GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY! Praise God for sending a SAVIOR! Praise God for CHRIST THE LORD! Praise God for allowing us to gaze upon HIS GLORY!

AMEN! "We are no longer lost for He has come down for us!" Here is THAT song, "We Have A Saviour" by Hillsong 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we are reminded of another very vital TRUTH! Ephesians 8-10:

8 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; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] 10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Everything good in or about us is GOD! Our only obligation and 'claim to fame' is that we BELIEVED and RECEIVED! JESUS gets all of the PRAISE, HONOR and GLORY for doing what only HE could do! Ans WE reap the benefits! Our God is GOOD! ALL the time! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "God Is Good":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we are beginning again in Ephesians 1 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Let's look at verses 1-6:

1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set-apart ones) at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: 2 May grace (God’s unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony, unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! 4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

These verses are ALL about what JESUS has done for US! Read them, meditate on them, hear from Holy Spirit how to obey them in your life and then DO them! The result will ALWAYS be BLESSING! Here is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share the devotional from Joseph Prince for today!

The Secret to Godliness

. . . add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:5–9

Have you been told you have to exhibit more Christian character, more self-control, more godliness, and more brotherly kindness? Like a thousand times, perhaps? I certainly was as a young believer. My friend, I totally agree that all these qualities are good and necessary, but the question is, how do we develop them? How should we preachers help believers to exhibit more Christian character?

When asked for the solution, most people would say, “Discipline! We need to focus more on the Ten Commandments and develop discipline, and then self-control, godliness, and brotherly kindness will come.” While all that sounds very good (to the flesh), that is not what the Word of God says in today’s scripture. Read it again, focusing especially on the last sentence.

It is clear that if a Christian lacks the qualities mentioned in today’s scripture, it is not because he lacks discipline, but because he “has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins”—the main clause of the new covenant. He has forgotten that the blood of Jesus has purchased for him the forgiveness of all his sins.

Beloved, if you remind yourself daily that you have been cleansed from all your sins, not only will it produce a genuine love for the Lord, but you will also exhibit more and more Christ-like qualities. Your heart will overflow with faith, self-control, godliness, perseverance, brotherly kindness, and love.

Let me share with you a wonderful praise report from a precious couple who experienced this very truth in their marriage and family. Andy (the husband) had discovered the gospel of grace through one of my books. Prior to this, he was a believer who loved the Lord, his family, and the church he attended. But Andy always experienced a struggle within himself where he would go through cycles of feeling up and down.

His wife, Danielle, who supported him through these cycles, described it this way: “One month he’d be fine. The next two weeks, not so much. Life was like a roller-coaster ride. . . these ups and downs became so regular that I could almost tell when things were going good and when they were going to swing downward again.” Needless to say, this negatively affected those closest to him—his wife and daughters.

However, as Andy began to learn about God’s grace, he came to see how he could rest in Jesus’ finished work. He explained the changes this brought: “The revelation that I’ve been forgiven through Christ and made righteous in Him made me Son-conscious instead of sin-conscious.

Now, when the accuser of the brethren tries to accuse me, the Spirit of truth convicts me of Jesus’ finished work! I still feel down at times of course, but I don’t sink to those depths as before and I’m not down as long as I used to be. I can’t explain it, but I’m so much more joyful now, and I’m just in love with Jesus all over again!”

You might like to hear how Danielle eloquently sums up how the revelation of Jesus’ forgiveness and grace has radically changed her husband:

I saw major changes in him! He’s become much calmer in handling frustrating situations. We’ve always had a good marriage, but now he treats me with so much more love and care and our marriage is even better! He also treats our girls better, showing much more patience with them. He spends much more time with them now and I can also see him really enjoying the time he spends with them.

The secret behind every godly man and woman is their belief in the truth that they have been forgiven. Their godliness stems from a revelation of their forgiveness. They are believers who believe and honor God’s Word. When God says that He is merciful and that He has forgiven all their sins, they take Him at His Word.

All day long, they are forgiveness-conscious. Even when they say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, or have a wrong thought, they continue to be forgiveness-conscious. They see the blood of Jesus continually washing them. They see God in His mercy and grace. And because of their forgiveness-consciousness, they experience victory over sin.

I encourage you to meditate on the forgiveness and righteousness you have in Christ. This is the key to enjoying your relationship with God and experiencing His love manifesting in and through you! Beloved, the more you are anchored in Jesus’ grace and finished work, the more you will reign in life through Him!

AMEN! Be a DOER of God's Word and you will put yourself in ther best position to be BLESSED! Here is Hillsong with "Blessed":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The devotional for today on The Spoken Word Church website is SO very important! 

Interview Your Children

Your child is worth knowing. Really knowing. Talk. Exchange. Observe. Carefully collect any piece of information that paints a portrait of this heritage of the Lord Jesus. Communicate with the intent to learn, not condemn. Give your child what they cannot find anywhere else, a non-judgemental conversation. They will keep coming back.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." {Psalms 127:3-5}

Here are Hillsong Kids with "We Came To Meet With You":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!

Shalom,

Today I want to look at the devotional we have been reading all year during Morning Prayer! Kenneth E, Hagin's "Faith Food":

Incarnation

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. — JOHN 1:1, 14

Webster defines Incarnation as “The union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ.”

Incarnation was the only solution to the human problem — the only hope for mankind to be reunited with God. Any religion that denies the Incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth is false!

This Eternal Being, called Emmanuel — God with us, or Jesus the Christ —is here called the Word. The Word existed in the beginning. The Word was with God — with God in fellowship, in purpose, working with Him. God made the worlds through the Word (Hebrews 1:2; John 1:3).

And this Eternal Being was God! He possessed the same nature. He existed in the same form and on an equality with God (Philippians 2:6).

And this Being became flesh! The Word became a man and dwelt among us. He became human — as much a man as if He’d never been anything else, yet He did not cease to be what He had been. The Word made His home among us, and we beheld the glory of God (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).

Confession: Jesus came and dwelled in flesh so that I might be eternally reunited with the Father. Jesus became like me, so that I could become like Him. I will walk in the reality of what the Incarnation made possible for me. I am reunited with my Father!

HALLELUJAH! Dig into the TRUTH of God's Word! Declare, decree and proclaim everything that the Word of God says belongs to YOU, as a born again believer! Now get yourself ready for more! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Deeper Waters":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this from our partner, Jerry Savelle! Such TRUTH!

SEEK ME

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me…” Jeremiah 29:12-13

Do you know how difficult it is to seek God with all your heart when you’re in captivity and being stolen from?

Human nature is not to seek God when you are being stolen from. It wants to pout, have a pity party, and get mad at God. But God is saying, “If you want My thoughts for you to come to pass, then while you’re in captivity, while you’re being stolen from, while you’re living beneath your covenant rights, call on Me. Seek Me. Find Me. Search for Me with all your heart.”

I studied this out from original Hebrew and the indication here is searching is with an intensity beyond the norm. The worst thing you can do when Satan is stealing from you is less praying, less giving, less fellowshipping with God. And isn’t that what usually happens? Satan steals from you, and the first thing you want to do is quit going to church, quit giving, and quit praying. But, God says when you’re in captivity, that’s when you turn the intensity up. That’s when you turn the volume up on your seeking Him.

Why? Because God says, “Don’t get out of My presence. Because if you get out of My presence, you’ve fallen into the adversary’s trap. He won’t have to pay it back. He keeps what he stole from you. But if in the midst of that captivity, keep seeking Me, and I will restore you.” Hallelujah.

So let me just encourage you and challenge you today. Whatever has been stolen from you, you can get it back – and then some. Don’t get offended at God. It will delay your restoration. Release all offenses and start seeking God with your whole heart. Your due season, your miracle and your breakthrough will come.

Confession: “I will stay in God’s presence. I will seek Him with everything within me!”

AMEN! The  most important place for us to be is inthe center of God's will. We only find that will through His WORD and through intimate fellowship with Him by His Spirit Who lives IN us! Make a determined purpose to spend more time in His presence this next year than any time before and your 2023 will be your very best year so far! Here is Hillsong with "Song For His Presence":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional. I have been so blessed by going through these again that we first went through so many years ago! And the TRUTH is still and always the same! 

Humility

Who [Christ Jesus], being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. — PHILIPPIANS 2:6-8

Christ has always existed in the form of God. But He emptied Himself
and took the form of a bond servant, being made in the likeness of men.

This suggests a distinct operation of God totally different from natural
generation: A miracle. First, God took Christ from the Godhead in
Heaven — and then He placed Christ in the womb of a virgin to be
united with flesh in a unique conception.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. — HEBREWS 10:5

God prepared a body — a special body — for this Being called the Son of God. In the Incarnation, Christ became a man!

Confession: Thank You, Jesus, for emptying Yourself and being made in the likeness of men. It was our only hope. Thank You for humbling Yourself and becoming obedient unto death; yes, even the death of the cross. And thank You, Father, for highly exalting Him, and for giving to Him the Name which is above every name. At that Name my knee does bow, and my tongue does confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-10).

AMEN! Here to properly praise the LORD JESUS, Who is MORE than enough for our every need and desire, are Hillsong Kids with "When The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share THIS from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations":

Come Boldly to the Table

“With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Some years ago, doctors discovered a huge cancerous tumor in my uncle’s throat. After a more detailed scan, a pathologist told him the cancer was aggressively spreading all over his neck and behind his tongue.

In that moment my uncle said he gave up hope he would live. But before his surgery to try to remove the tumor, his daughters approached him and said, “Let’s have Communion together, Dad. Let’s pray and believe God.”

He shared that as they partook of the Communion, he felt hope rising in his heart for the first time, and he partook, believing that Jesus was his healer and believing that the body of Jesus would make a difference in his body right there in the hospital ward.

After the doctors removed the tumor, amazingly the biopsy showed absolutely no trace of cancer in the tumor even though multiple scans before the surgery had confirmed it was cancerous and of an aggressive nature. Somehow the Lord had caused the cancer to supernaturally disappear, and I believe it happened when my uncle and his family partook of the Communion.

In the same way, if your doctors have given you a negative prognosis, do not fear or despair. Don’t live as though you don’t have a Savior. We may not know how our healing can take place, but let’s have faith in the finished work of Jesus. He has paid the price for you to be well and made it easy for you to receive not just His love and forgiveness, but His healing power as well.

I pray that you are now excited to receive the benefits of the holy Communion freely. I want to invite you to the Lord’s Table. The table has been prepared, not by human hands that can falter and fail, but by the perfect One whose hands were nailed to the cross for you. He invites you to come to partake of His body broken for you and His blood shed for you. Come boldly to the table and partake by faith and receive your healing.

AMEN! Let's become consistent DOERS of the WORD of the LIVING GOD! Here is Hillsong with "At The Cross":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Approved Unto God

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15

If you cannot express yourself on any subject, struggle until you can. If you do not, someone will be the poorer all the days of his life. Struggle to re-express some truth of God to yourself, and God will use that expression to someone else. Go through the winepress of God where the grapes are crushed. You must struggle to get expression experimentally, then there will come a time when that expression will become the very wine of strengthening to someone else; but if you say lazily — “I am not going to struggle to express this thing for myself, I will borrow what I say,” the expression will not only be of no use to you, but of no use to anyone. Try to re-state to yourself what you feel implicitly to be God’s truth, and you give God a chance to pass it on to someone else through you.

Always make a practice of provoking your own mind to think out what it accepts easily. Our position is not ours until we make it ours by suffering. The author who benefits you most is not the one who tells you something you did not know before, but the one who gives expression to the truth that has been struggling for utterance in you.

AMEN! May every decision that you make concerning the Word of God, be powerful and productive! Here are Hillsong Kids with "My Hallelujah!":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Proverbs 15 in our Spoken Word Bible reading Plan. I love how there is such an obvious contrast in the Proverbs between the godly person and attiude, and the ungodly! Look at verses 30-33:

30 The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones. 31 The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise. 32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding. 33 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

I choose the way of WISDOM! How about you? Here are Hillsong Kids with "Made In Your Image":

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

Today we read Proverbs 14 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. The word "fool" is found many times in this chapter. I would encourage you to read this chapter and carefully note the number of times that the writer mentions the fool! Now look at this note that was found in the Amplified Bible! 

Proverbs 14:3 The word “fool” in the Old Testament seldom, if ever, is used to describe the feebleminded, imbecile, idiot, or moron. Rather, it always has within it the meaning of a rebel, especially against God and the laws of order, decency, and justice. Notice in Proverbs how many such characteristics of rebelliousness are listed against the fool, and see God’s attitude toward them.

I would encourage you to notice what the Word of God, especially this Proverb, has to say about the fool! And then refuse to BE one! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "So Will I":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

Today I want to share from our Spoken Word Church website devotional. We have been reading in Proverbs in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, which is a book filled with Wisdom for living! This below is a vital piece os Wisdom for eahc of us to remember!

Abandon Abusive Friendships

There are four kinds of people in your life. Those who add, subtract, divide and multiply.

Those who do not increase you, inevitably will decrease you. It is the responsibility of others to discern your worth.

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul." Proverbs 22:24-25

Be WISE about who you allow to speak into your life! Also, be WISE about how YOU speak into the lives of those you come in contact with! God's Word and God's Ways are ALWAYS the best way to go! Here is Hillsong with "Deeper Water":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another great lesson representing God and His Word accurately! 

Individuality

If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself. — Matthew 16:24

Individuality is the husk of the personal life. Individuality is all elbows, it separates and isolates. It is the characteristic of the child and rightly so; but if we mistake individuality for the personal life, we will remain isolated. The shell of individuality is God’s created natural covering for the protection of the personal life; but individuality must go in order that the personal life may come out and be brought into fellowship with God. Individuality counterfeits personality as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself; individuality debases human nature for itself.

The characteristics of individuality are independence and self-assertiveness. It is the continual assertion of individuality that hinders our spiritual life more than anything else. If you say — “I cannot believe,” it is because individuality never can believe. Personality cannot help believing. Watch yourself when the Spirit of God is at work. He pushes you to the margins of your individuality, and you have either to say — “I shan’t,” or to surrender, to break the husk of individuality and let the personal life emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (cf. Matthew 5:23-24). The thing in you that will not be reconciled to your brother is your individuality. God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself He cannot. “Let him deny himself” — deny his independent right to himself, then the real life has a chance to grow.

AMEN! Dare to BELIEVE the WORD of the Living GOD and put His Word of primary importance in your life! Here is Hillsong with: "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" deovtional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another powerful TRUTH!

Short Of The Glory

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. — ROMANS 3:23

Man did the unthinkable! Given dominion over all the works of God’s hand, Adam was originally the god of this world. But Adam knowingly committed high treason against God by selling out to Satan the dominion which God had originally given him. Adam’s treason was done on such a legal basis that God could not annul the contract He had made with Adam, and which Adam had passed on to Satan. Hence, Satan, not Adam, became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). And thus began Satan’s destructive reign.

So spiritual death — which is separation from God — came to man. When God came down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with Adam, God called, “Adam, where art thou?” And Adam said, “I hid myself.” He was separated from God!

Another aspect of spiritual death — having Satan’s nature — also came to man. The devil became man’s spiritual father. Notice Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil . . .” (John 8:44). Man is spiritually a child of the devil. He partakes of his father’s nature. This explains why man cannot be saved by conduct. Man cannot stand in the Presence of God as he is, having the nature of his father, the devil, in him. If man is ever saved, he must be saved by someone paying the penalty for his sins, and someone giving him a new nature.

Confession: Thank You, Father, for my new nature. Thank You, Father, that You have made provision for me to be a “partaker of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations". 

“No Condemnation” Comes First

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

The story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1–12 demonstrates something very important. What enables someone to have the power to overcome sin? The threat of the law obviously didn’t stop the woman from committing adultery. But receiving Jesus’ acceptance—knowing that even though she deserved to be stoned to death, He did not condemn her—that gave her the power to “go and sin no more.”

Notice that Jesus saved the woman righteously. He didn’t say, “Don’t stone her. Show mercy to her.” What He said was, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” And on their own accord, the Pharisees and religious mob all left. Notice also that Jesus did not ask the woman, “Why did you sin?” No, what He asked was, “Has no one condemned you?”

It seems as if Jesus was more preoccupied with the condemnation of the sin than the sin itself. He made sure that she walked away not feeling the condemnation and shame. Let’s not reverse God’s order. When God says something comes first, it must come first. God says “no condemnation” comes first, and then you can “go and sin no more.”

Christian religion has it in reverse. We say, “Go and sin no more first, then we won’t condemn you.” What we need to understand is that when there is no condemnation, people are empowered to live victorious lives, lives that glorify Jesus. Grace produces an effortless empowerment through the revelation of no condemnation. It is unmerited and completely undeserved. But we can receive it—this gift of no condemnation—because Jesus paid for it at the cross.

Truth be told, none of us could have cast the first stone. We have all sinned and fallen short. In Christ, we are all on equal ground. If a brother or sister gets tangled in sin, our place is not to judge them, but to restore them by pointing them to the forgiveness and gift of no condemnation that are found in Jesus.

The only person who is without sin and who could have exercised judicial punishment on the woman was Jesus, and He did not. Jesus was in the flesh to represent what was in God’s heart. It wasn’t judgment. His heart is unveiled in His grace and His forgiveness. I like to say it this way when describing what happened as the Pharisees waited to stone the woman: The Pharisees would if they could, but they could not. Jesus could if He would, but He would not. That’s our Jesus!

Amen! Here is Hillsong with "At The Cross":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers leaves no doubt about what it takes to be saved!

The Impartial Power Of God

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. — Hebrews 10:14

We trample the blood of the Son of God under foot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation of the forgiveness of God and of the unfathomable depth of His forgetting, is the Death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the Atonement which He has worked out for us. “Christ Jesus…is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” When we realize that Christ is made all this to us, the boundless joy of God begins; wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is at work.

It does not matter who or what we are, there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at another door than the one which Jesus has opened. “I don’t want to come that way, it is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” “There is none other Name…” The apparent heartlessness of God is the expression of His real heart, there is boundless entrance in His way. “We have forgiveness through His blood.” Identification with the death of Jesus Christ means identification with Him to the death of everything that never was in Him.

God is justified in saving bad men only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The Atonement is a propitiation whereby God through the death of Jesus makes an unholy man holy.

AMEN! We can NEVER, EVER work our way into Heaven! JESUS made the WAY! JESUS IS the WAY! Believe and receive JESUS as YOUR personal Lord and Saviour today and KNOW that you are saved and have Heaven as your future home! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are reading in Proverbs right now in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Proverbs is all about the Wisdom of the Lord! Today, in Proverbs 8 I am loving verses 32-26:

32 Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it. 34 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. 36 But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.

Notice that when we CHOOSE not to follow the Wisdom of the Lord, we "wrong and injure ourselves"! Let's stop doing anything that hinders us from getting to know HIM better so that we can walk in the Wisdom that HE has for us! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense - Sometimes By Step":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Bow In The Cloud

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. — Genesis 9:13

It is the will of God that human beings should get into moral relationship with Him, and His covenants are for this purpose. “Why does not God save me?” He has saved me, but I have not entered into relationship with Him. “Why does not God do this and that?” He has done it, the point is — Will I step into covenant relationship? All the great blessings of God are finished and complete, but they are not mine until I enter into relationship with Him on the basis of His covenant.

Waiting for God is incarnate unbelief, it means that I have no faith in Him; I wait for Him to do something in me that I may trust in that. God will not do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man has to go out of himself in his covenant with God as God goes out of Himself in His covenant with man. It is a question of faith in God — the rarest thing; we have faith only in our feelings. I do not believe God unless He will give me something in my hand whereby I may know I have it, then I say — “Now I believe.” There is no faith there. “Look unto Me, and be ye saved.”

When I have really transacted business with God on His covenant and have let go entirely, there is no sense of merit, no human ingredient in it at all, but a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and the whole thing is transfigured with peace and joy.

This is SO good! When we REALLY realize and understand that God has already done HIS PART, then we are in position to walk in our new and better Covenant that was sealed in the BLOOD of JESUS! It is OURS for the RECEIVING! Have YOU received JESUS as Lord and Saviour yet? If so, then you already have beenprovided with everything that you will ever need to succeed in this life and to walk in freedom, protection, provision and safety! Dig into the WORD of GOD and find out what all is IN your CEVENANT! If you have never received JESUS as Lord and Saviour, then what in the world are you waiting for? Pray this prayer from your believing heart:

Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.

NOW you are a child of GOD and a joint heir with JESUS! All that YOU have belongs to GOD and all that HE has belongs to you! Dig into the Word of God and rejoice every day for the wonderful LIFE that HE has given to you! Here is Hillsong with "All This Future":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional! This is SO good!

He’s The Way Out

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore. . . . I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him . . . . — PSALM 91:14-15

God didn’t say you weren’t going to have trouble. In fact, He rather infers that you will have trouble because you’re a Christian! The world will persecute you, talk about you, speak evil of you. An enemy is arrayed against you. The god of this world puts pressure on you at
every turn (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Some people think it’s God who is putting pressure on them, but it isn’t. Jesus contrasted His works and the works of the devil like this: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). God is not a thief. That which steals, kills, and destroys is the devil — not God.

God says in His Word, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). The word “afflictions” here means tests and trials. And that’s what your troubles are. But the Lord has promised to deliver you out of how many of them: half? No! Out of them all! The Lord didn’t just promise to be with you in trouble and then stop there. He’s there to deliver you out of that trouble. And He’s more than enough!

Confession: I have set my love upon God; therefore, no matter what the test or trial, I know that El Shaddai is with me to deliver me. And He’s more than enough!

AMEN! He is ABLE and He is WILLING! That is all that we need to know! Here are Hillsong Kids  with "As The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

PLANTING THOUGHTS

Have you ever known someone who appeared to have the “perfect” life and seemed to be happy? And then one day, you discover that they’re getting a divorce and that they had been having an affair for several years? You wonder, “How did that happen?”

It all began in the mind . . . as a thought.

Everything in your life begins as a thought. A single thought that you dwell on and allow to drop into your spirit could change your entire destiny. Thoughts that are dwelled on and meditated upon, eventually lead to actions.

You don’t just wake up one day and discover that your life has fallen apart, or you don’t love your spouse anymore. Those feelings began as thoughts planted into your mind and you allowed them to take root and grow up and become your actions.

I remember the testimony of a couple whose marriage was restored after going through a very heart-breaking divorce. They were both born again, serving God and preparing for the ministry. The wife shared that during this time, on several occasions, a gentleman at her work place would often make the comment to her, “If you were my wife . . .” She had no intentions of leaving her husband, having an affair or any thoughts of being married to anyone else.

The more this man made this same comment, “If you were my wife . . .,” that thought was then planted into her mind. She began wondering, “What if I were married to someone else?” She imagined herself with another man and how life would be different. Eventually, those thoughts took root in her mind because she entertained them constantly; and as a result, she had an affair and left her husband.

By the grace of God, eventually her eyes were opened to Satan’s deception and miraculously, God restored her marriage and they are now doing great. But it all began as a thought planted into her mind that took root.

Negative and positive thoughts will come across your mind on a daily basis. You can’t prevent negative thoughts from coming. But you can prevent them from lodging in your mind and taking root. Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”(NLT) The only way to “fix your thoughts” on these things, is to stay in God’s Word!

Confession: I will bring every negative thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Freedom":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I was going to share from Proverbs 4 today, which is very powerful for every believer to know and walk in, but I am sharing today's "My Utmost For His Highest" devotional by Oswald Chambers instead because THIS is vital for reaching others! 

Not By Might Nor By Power

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. — 1 Corinthians 2:4

If in preaching the Gospel you substitute your clear knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the Gospel, you hinder people getting to Reality. You have to see that while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, you yourself are rooted and grounded in faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your exposition, but as you give your exposition see that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in souls.

When once you are rooted in Reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, any thing that happens is likely to upset that faith; but nothing can ever upset God or the almighty Reality of Redemption; base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God. When once you get into personal contact with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God puts His disapproval on human experience when we begin to adhere to the conception that sanctification is merely an experience, and forget that sanctification itself has to be sanctified (see John 17:19). I have deliberately to give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.

NEVER rely on your own cleverness to get the TRUTH to people. Allow Holy Spirit, Who IS the Spirit of Truth, reach them as only HE can! Here is an older song by Darlene Zschech and Hillsong called  "Let The Peace of God Reign":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always LOVED today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin! 

More Than Enough

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies . . . . — JOSHUA 10:13

We see El Shaddai with Israel in Canaan’s land. (And incidentally, Canaan is not a type of Heaven. It couldn’t be. In Heaven there won’t be battles to fight, cities to take, or enemies or giants to overcome — they’re here in this world. No, Canaan is a type of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and our rights and privileges in Christ Jesus.) When Israel ran into difficulty in Canaan, Joshua, their leader, spoke to the Lord. And God stopped the whole universe because a man of God prayed! God can do that — He’s the God who is more than enough!

All through the Old Testament, we see El Shaddai moving in the lives of men and women, prophets, priests, and kings. But He’s not just the God of yesterday; He’s the God of now! He didn’t identify Himself as “the God who was more than enough,” or “the God who will be more than enough.” Too often we relegate everything back to the past, saying, “Oh, it was wonderful back when God did such things,” or to the future, saying, “When we all get to Heaven, everything will be wonderful.” No, things will be different here and now if you will trust in this God who is more than enough!

Confession: I believe God. I trust in God now. He is more than enough today! He is more than enough to overcome any situation I could face. He is MORE THAN ENOUGH for me.

HALLELUJAH! HE is OUR "EL SHADDAI" each and every time we need Him to be! BELIEVE and RECEIVE everything that HE has provided for you today! And give HIM all of the PRAISE, THANKSGIVING and WORSHIP for He alone has done GREAT THINGS and continues to do more! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today we find a powerful key for success in every area of our lives! Proverbs 2:1-10:

1 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. 6 For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, 8 That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in every area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path. 10 For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.

Be diligent to be a DOER of these instructions and you are guaranteed to have success beyond what you experienced before! HE is FAITHFUL to HIS WORD to perform it in our lives when WE are FAITHFULL to DO it! Here is Hillsong with "That's The Power":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan has us beginning again in the Book of Proverbs. SUCH WISDOM is found here! I hope that YOU will take a fresh look at the great Wisdom hidden in these verses! Here are verses 1-8 for your edification! 

1 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 That people may know skillful and godly Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, 3 Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity, 4 That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth— 5 The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]— 6 That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles. 7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother.

Before Solomon became disallusioned enough to write Ecclesiastes, he knew WISDOM from GOD HIMSELF! Continue seeking WISDOM yourself and you will never be disappointed! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

The Absoluteness Of Jesus Christ

He shall glorify Me. — John 16:14

The pietistic movements of to-day have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them; there is nothing about them that needs the Death of Jesus Christ, all that is required is a pious atmosphere, and prayer and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous, it did not cost the passion of God, it is not dyed in the blood of the Lamb, not stamped with the hall-mark of the Holy Ghost. It has not that mark on it which makes men say, as they look with awe and wonder – “That is the work of God Almighty.” That and nothing else is what the New Testament talks about.

The type of Christian experience in the New Testament is that of personal passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other type of Christian experience, so called, is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration, no being born again into the Kingdom in which Christ lives, but only the idea that He is our Pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is Saviour long before He is Pattern. To-day He is being despatched as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere Example. He is that, but He is infinitely more; He is salvation itself. He is the Gospel of God.

Jesus said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come,…He shall glorify Me.” When I commit myself to the revelation made in the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit Who begins to interpret to me what Jesus did and does in me subjectively all that Jesus Christ did for me objectively.

THIS is such a powerful TRUTH that seperates dead religion from a LIVING FAITH! Make sure that YOU are not simply following religion, but that you have a RELATIONSHIP with the One, True GOD through the BLOOD of JESUS the CHRIST! Here is Hillsong with "The Passion":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

I really like the message in The Spoken Word Church website devotional for today!

Be Faithful in the Little Things

Little hinges swing big doors. Acorns produce oak trees. Little things really do matter. Develop a passion for details.

Just do the basics. Keep a budget, balance your checkbook, pay your bills on time, plant your seeds in the work of God, expect to see miracles every day of your life.

"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." {Matthew 25:23}

This simple message is a huge key to walking in the fullness of the BLESSING of God in THIS life! Don't rush throught your days skipping over these essentials! The little things that make all the difference inthe world! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Every Little Thing":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Praising the Lord is one of the most powerful thing that you can do to defeat the enemy and bring all of his works to nothing in your life! PRAISE is one of the highest forms of prayer and has been shown under the Old Covenant to destroy enemiy armies! So here to make it easier for you to do is Psalm 148 from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! 

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light!
4 Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.
6 He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away [He fixed their bounds which cannot be passed over].
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps!
8 You lightning, hail, fog, and frost, you stormy wind fulfilling His orders!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers and judges of the earth!
12 Both young men and maidens, old men and children!
13 Let them praise and exalt the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme! His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven!
14 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them power, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], a song of praise for all His godly ones, for the people of Israel, who are near to Him. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

HALELLUJAH! And here to help you further is Hillsong with "O Praise the Name (Anastasis)":

Shalom in Him!