Shalom,

Psalm 139:1-3:

¹ O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. ² You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off. ³ You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.

Do you know what the most exciting thing is about these verses? He KNOWS us completely and yet LOVES us TOTALLY and  FOREVER! Look at Jeremiah 31:3:

3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. KJV

Yes, He was speaking to Israel, but WE, those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior have been grafted in (Roman 11:19-20)! We ARE one with HIM and with Israel! Now look at John 3:16-17:

16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. AMP

Don't ever be afraid to come boldly into His presence! He already knows all about you, so be honest with Him and receive everything you need to walk victoriously, here, in this life! AMEN! Here is an old song by Lamb called "You Are There" with lyrics following

IF I ASCEND TO THE HEAVENS, YOU ARE THERE,

TAKE THE WINGS OF THE DAWN,

TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.

IF I MADE MY BEDS IN THE UNDERWORLD,

YOU ARE THERE, HEY YOU ARE THERE,

IF I SAID TO THE DARKNESS, COME COVER ME,

THEN THE NIGHT WOULD BECOME LIGHT,

ALL AROUND ME.

FOR THE NIGHT IS THE SAME AS THE DAY,

WHEN YOU ARE THERE.

YOU ARE THERE WHEN MY ENEMIES RISE,

AND I RUN IN DESPAIR,

YOUR RIGHT HAND TAKES HOLD OF ME,

YOU ARE THERE,

I CANNOT ESCAPE FOR YOUR HAND'S UPON ME,

I REST MY SOUL IN YOUR CARE.

LORD I KNOW THAT YOU SEE ME WHEREVER I GO,

AND I KNOW THAT YOU HEAR EVERY WORD THAT I BREATH,

YOU KNOW WHEN I RISE,

AND YOU KNOW WHERE I LAY,

YOU ARE THERE, HEY YOU ARE THERE



YOU KNOW WHERE I WALK,

AND YOU KNOW HOW I TALK,

YOU SEARCH EVERY MOTIVE,

THAT STIRS IN MY HEART.

YOU'RE IN FRONT AND BEHIND ME O LORD,

YOU ARE THERE.

YOU ARE THERE WHEN MY ENEMIES RISE,

AND I RUN IN DESPAIR,

YOUR RIGHT HAND TAKES HOLD OF ME,

YOU ARE THERE,

I CANNOT ESCAPE FOR YOUR HAND'S UPON ME,

I REST MY SOUL IN YOUR CARE.

CHORUS 1:

YOU SEE WHERE I RUN AND YOU SEE WHERE I HIDE,

YOU SEE IN THE DEEPEST DARK OF THE NIGHT,

YOU WON'T LET ME GO, YOU'RE THERE BY MY SIDE FOREVER,

YOU ALWAYS WERE THERE WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST,

YOUR LOVE AND YOUR GRACE ARE FAITHFULLY CLOSE,

I KNOW I CAN PUT MY TRUST IN YOUR HANDS FOREVER.

CHORUS 2:

YOU, YOU ARE THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS THE DARKEST NIGHT,

YOU ARE THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR,

YOU, YOU ARE THE FRIEND THAT'S CLOSER THAN A BROTHER,

YOU LEAD ME ON TO LIFE ETERNAL.

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share some of our devotional from The Spoken Word Church website:

Keep a Journal of Miracles

God instructed Israel to pile stones to remind their children of the greatness of God. Look for miracles every day. Unexpected, unplanned introductions to people. Information that suddenly emerges. An invitation that opens great doors of opportunities.Document these experiences daily. Your written journal is your private reservoir of memories that feed your faith.

Do you remember that BEFORE David took down Goliath, in the Name of the Most High God (1 Samuel 17:45), he REHEARSED past victories over the bear and the lion (1 Samuel 17:34-37)? Remembering is a key component of growing in faith! Meditating on the Word of God involves remembering what we have read and heard! Record you prayer requests and then record the answers, remembering to THANK Him for them! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Up In Arms":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today because it is so powerful and so clear!

Covenant Blessing

May 18, 2013

"And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill" (Ex. 23:25-26). 

As long as Israel walked in the covenant, there was no sickness among them. There is no record of a premature death as long as they kept the covenant. No babies, no young people, no middle-aged people died. With sickness taken away from the midst of them, they lived their whole lives out without disease, and then they just fell asleep in death.

When it was time for them to go, they would lay hands on their children, pronounce blessings upon them, gather their feet up into bed, give up the ghost, and go home.

What does that have to do with us? God is the same God now that He was then! The Bible says that He does not change. God was against sin in the Old Testament (Old Covenant), and God is against sin in the New Testament (New Covenant). God was against sickness in the Old Testament and God is against sickness in the New Testament.

God made provision for healing in the Old Testament and God has made provision for healing in the New Testament! 

Confession: I love and serve the Lord my God as a New Covenant believer. Jesus has taken sickness away from the midst of me. If He tarries His coming, the number of my days I will fulfill. 

Remember that we have a BETTER Covenant that is based on BETTER promises (Hebrews 8:6)! That mean that we should have even more confidence in the Word concerning health and healing than ever! They looked forward to what God would do. We look back to what He has already done! "It is finished. It is done. He is risen. I have won!" I love this Truth AND this song! Here is is, by Sarah Hart Pearsons:

IT IS FINISHED

Grace says, "You are loved"

In response I say, "Thank You, thank You Lord"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

Grace says, "You are healed"

In response I say, "Thank You, I receive"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

I believe because You said it

But I trust because I  know You

It is finished, it is done

You have risen, I have won

It is finished, it is done

Now I'm singing hallelujah

Grace says, "You're redeemed"

In response I say, "Thank you I believe"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

Grace says, "You are cleansed"

In response I say, "Thank you, I forgive"

This is sweet salvation, this is sweet salvation

grace says, "You are loved"

Grace says, "You are healed"

Graces says, "You're redeemed"

Grace says, "You are clean"

It is finished, it is done

Jesus said it, the work is done

It is finished, it is done

Now I'm singing hallelujah, hallelujah

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 136 is very interesting when you do a word study! Look at verse 1:

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. KJV

Do you know that "he is" and "endures" are not actually in there at all? The translators thought that it would make things clearer if they wrote it that way. This is what it ACTUALLY says:

1 O give thanks to Jehovah, for good, for His mercy forever.

Even Young's Literal Tranlsation adds a word in brackets to try to make things clearer:

1 Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age [is] His kindness. YLT

I LOVE this Psalm, just the way we have always known it! I do believe that He is ONLY Good AND that His mercy and loving-kindness are forever. BUT, if we look at it literally, the command is so much more about OUR response to His goodness! What I believe this verse is meant to say to us is this:

"Give thanks to the LORD (Jehovah - the Covenant Name of God), FOR His Goodness and FOR His wonderful mercy FOREVER!" 

There should never be a moment when we stop being thankful and giving thanks for WHO He is and for all that He has done! Recognizing that should give us complete encouragement that the God Who has done so much for us already will not stop NOW! I love the new song by Hillsong United called "Oceans" where there is a line that says "You've never failed me and You won't start now"!  No, I am NOT trying to rewrite Scripture! I AM trying to enhance our understanding of it so that we can continue to walk in the fullness of all that the Word of God contains and promises! AMEN! Let's listen again to "Oceans" again. It is POWERFUL!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 135:1-3:

¹ Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, O you servants of the Lord!² You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,³ Praise the Lord! For the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for He is gracious and lovely!

This Psalm was written during the time of the Old Covenant, when the people of Israel were looking longingly forward to the coming of Messiah! They were praising the Lord for all the wonderful things He had done! Do you not think that we, with our new and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6), who can look BACK to the Messiah Who has already come, should be praising Him even more? SO MUCH more? Not only do we have a better Covenant, BUT, we no longer have to GO to the House of the Lord to praise Him! We ARE the house of the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:16)! HALLELUJAH! Do you take daily advantage of this priceless privilege? We are told to go boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), and we don't have to go any farther than where we are RIGHT NOW! GLORY TO GOD! Thank YOU, Jesus! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! So let's praise Him for it! AMEN! Here are two songs, one old and one newer, by Hillsong. The first is "God Is In The House" (that's US!) and the second is "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I don't necessarily agree with everything I find in the different devotional books that I use. I Do enjoy sharing the things that really minister to me. Devotionals can say the same Word in a new and different way that makes it fun to study! That being said, I really like the first part of today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

. . . that you may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18

Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body (see 2 Corinthians 4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to whatever occasion may come your way.

You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). 

We ARE the only Jesus that some people will ever see, in this life, unless they receive Him as Lord and personal Savior. Make sure that YOU are presenting HIM in a way that correctly reveals Who He is! Philippians 2:12-13, quoted above, says this:

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. NKJV

"Salvation" here is the Greek word "soterian", which means: rescue, deliverance, health, salvation, preservation, safety. These are all part of our New and better Covenant (Hebrews 8:6) with the God of the Bible, sealed with the Blood of Jesus, and we have to find out how to appropriate these promises! KNOW what belongs to you as a born again child of the Living God, and then put it to work in your life! The lost need to see Jesus in us, so let's show Him off! Our #1 priority in this life is to preach the Gospel to every creature! We've got a LOT to do, so let's get to it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 133:1 is very familiar to  most of us!

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

I found something very interesting in my study today! We are told that it is a very good thing for brethren, which in our case, would be born again believers, to dwell together in unity. The idea of dwelling together means that we sit down together as a unit! What is the unit that we have in common? The Body of Christ! Look at 1 Corinthians 12:12-27a:

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ESV

Do you see that we are not SUPPOSED to be alike? The ONLY think that we MUST be the same on is our SOURCE! Look at Ephesians 4:3-7:

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. KJV

We MUST allow each other the space to look, think, speak and act differently, as long as we keep the ONE thing in common and that is the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible and the Gospel of Salvation through no other Name than the Name of Jesus (Acts 4:12)! I really like Ephesians 4:7 from the Amplified Bible:

7 Yet grace (God's unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and bounteous] gift. AMP

Individually MEANS in different ways, for we each have a different calling to get the job of the Ministry of Reconciliation accomplished in our world! The UNITY is JESUS! The GOSPEL is SIMPLE! The TIME is NOW! The LOST are WAITING! AMEN! Here is Hillsong  with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read this today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. 2 Cor 5:17-21:

2 Cor 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV

This passage tells us what happened to us on the inside when we received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior! We did NOT just have our sin forgiven, but we were totally remade into the image of God by the Holy Spirit Who now indwells our innermost being! This goes right along with Rick Renner's Sparkling Gems From The Greek devotional for today where he shares about combining an Easter Service and egg dying with a teaching on Baptism! Here is a portion:

At the same time we were debating this question, I was preparing to preach a message about water baptism. To prepare for my message, I pulled out my Greek New Testament, opened it to Matthew 28:19, and began to look at the Greek word for "baptism." I honestly thought, What new revelation could I possibly learn about the word "baptism" after studying it for so many years? But I'll open all my books and give it a shot to see if there's anything about this word I've never seen before.

Wow! Was I ever shocked at what I discovered that day! After all those years of studying, I saw something I had never seen before about baptidzo, the Greek word for "baptism." I saw that this word baptidzo originally meant to dip and to dye. For instance, in very early cases, baptidzo described the process of dipping a cloth or garment into a vat of color to dye it; leaving it there long enough for the material to soak up the new color; and then pulling that garment out of the dye with a permanently changed outward appearance. When I saw this, I just about leaped out of my chair with excitement!

In Second Corinthians 5:17, Paul wrote, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." A person who comes to Jesus Christ can be likened to an old garment that needs to be dipped into a vat of dye so its color can be changed. However, the person isn't dipped into a vat of colored dye, but into the precious blood of the Lamb! This person is so totally transformed by Jesus' blood that he becomes a new creature. His countenance is so changed that he even looks different. You could say that this new believer has been "dipped and dyed"!

What a new light this shed on baptism! Paul wrote, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Water baptism is a symbolic proclamation of the fact that believers have been buried with Christ and raised with Him. When a believer is placed in the baptismal waters, it symbolizes being immersed in one condition and coming out looking brand new. In other words, it is a picture of what happened to that person when he got saved! This outward symbol represents the fact that he has been dipped in the blood of the Lamb, and now his entire life has been newly colored and transformed to be like Jesus!

When I saw this meaning in the word baptidzo, I told my pastoral staff, "This year we're going to let the children dye Easter eggs. Then we're going to use this as a teaching tool to show them what happens when a person is born again!" I instructed the teachers to tell the children that each egg represented a person who has been saved and dipped in the blood of Jesus Christ - newly colored, transformed, and changed forever.

The time came for the children to dye and decorate those eggs. As they dipped those eggs, they imagined that they were baptizing people who were newly saved. It turned out to be quite a hallelujah time! Each Easter egg became a declaration to those children that several thousand new people would soon be saved and water baptized! 

HALLALUJAH! When we receive Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we are not just a new color, like these eggs, but we are a completely new creation in our spirit man! Recreated in the image of God and having God the Holy Spirit living IN us! We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! Make this your meditation for today and seek the Lord for how He wants YOU to present this vital Truth to the people YOU know! Amen! Here is Hillsong with "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 says this:

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. KJV

The Amplified Bible says this:

⁶ For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). ⁷ However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. AMP

I REALLY appreciate these verses more then ever from the Amplified Bible! The "treasure" that we possess is the Greek word "thesauros". This means: a deposit, wealth, the place in which goods and precious things are collected and laid up; a receptacle in which valuables are kept; storehouse; repository; a place of safekeeping. HE has chosen to place His presence in our frail vessels of clay while we're on this earth so that HE can show HIMSELF strong on our behalf! Meditate on just WHO it is that lives in you and the Light of His presence will become more real to you than ever before! All of this brings great glory to HIM because it is VERY evident that it's NOT our own inherent power at work, but HIS! AMEN! When we realize this we will also more greatly appreciate verses 17-18:

¹⁷ For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], ¹⁸ Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. AMP

Afflictions last just a moment in the timetable of Heaven, but the glory of our eternity with Him should lift our thinking above the thoughts of this world and  cause us to look into the realm of the Spirit where all of those "invisible to OUR eyes" promises are being kept aside FOR us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Light Will SHine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to encourage you today with this Scripture from several versions! Hebrews 13:8:

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. KJV

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

8 Jesus is Messiah, yesterday and today the same, and forever. An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest 

8 Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.  CJB

"Same" is the Greek word "autos". It means just what it says: the same!! Thayer's Greek Lexicon also adds: self! That means that Jesus is STILL and FOREVER Who He was! He was/is 100% God and 100% man and it is still and always will be His will for US to have life, in abundance, to the full, til it overflows (John 10:10 AMP)! HE has not changed and His will for US has not changed! His character and His will do not change with the times, the weather, people, governments, situations, circumstances, wars, disasters, tragedies, and on and on! When YOU are faced with seemingly impossible situations, remember that HE is still the God of the impossible (Luke 1:37)! AMEN! So go for His plan and purpose for your life and your family with all that is within you, knowing that HE will be there every step of the way, confirming His Word with signs, wonders and miracles! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with a song all about Jesus! "A Million Suns":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I quoted 2 Corinthians 2:11 on Wednesday's blog. I want to share something more on that verse today by looking at both verses 10 and 11:

¹⁰ If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah), ¹¹ To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. AMP

This is in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today and is a very important aspect of a successful life of faith! I saw a statement the other day that you may have seen: "To forgive someone is to set a prisoner free: YOU!" That statement is so very true! When we choose to forgive, we are acting in God's kind of love! THAT love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8) and causes our faith to work (Galatians 5:6)! When we refuse to forgive, our faith will NOT work effectively and we will not reap the mercy that we ourselves require when the time comes! Remember, we can only reap what we have already sown (Galatians 6:7)! SO, forgive! This forgiveness will stop the enemy from stealing all that we are believing God for! If he cannot get us out of love, he cannot stop anything good from coming into our lives! We DO know his devices, schemes, lies and tricks! AMEN! Follow love and you will never fail! Here is Hillsong Live with "Love Knows No End":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 128:1-2 is a promise from the Word of God that will hold true for you IF you fear, revere, and worship the LORD!

¹ Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. ² For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. AMP

Remember that as a born again believer in Jesus as Lord and personal Savior, we have the ability to walk free from sin by hiding His Word in our heart to avoid sin (Psalm 119:11) and by confessing he sin when we do miss it according to 1 John 1:9:

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

The price needed to be paid for every sin, past, present and future, was paid once for all (for all people for all time)(Hebrews 10:10). The unbeliever must receive Jesus as Lord and the believer must confess sin according to 1 John 1:9 in order to be in compliance with this promise! There will never be a time when we are completely without sin on this earth because we have the nature of the flesh to deal with, but we can walk completely free from the effects of sin by confessing and getting right back into fellowship with HIM! Not that we have established that, you can take confidence that no matter what is happening around you, YOU will be the blessed on according to Psalm 128:1-2! AMEN! Refuse fear over what is taking place on the earth and in this nation! YOU are a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20 AMP) and subject to the laws of YOUR land! AMEN! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Home is Heaven":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this from "Pursuit Of His Presence" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland for today:

There is no truth in him [the devil]. – John 8:44

You might as well face it. As long as you are on this earth, the devil is going to talk to you. He has a right to test your faith by bringing you circumstances and lies to see if you’ll receive them. But when he does, refuse them. Cast down those fearful imaginations and every thought that is contrary to the promise of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Say, “The Lord is on my side. I will not fear!” Then open your mouth and speak the Word of God. Use it to contradict the devil’s lies.

The Word of God tells us not to be ignorant of the tricks, schemes and "devices" of the enemy in 2 Corinthians 2:11. Here are both the KJV and AMP versions:

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. KJV

11 To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions. AMP

How do you stay wise where the enemy is concerned? You stay daily in the Word of God and filled with the Spirit of God! As you do, you will learn that the enemy has only ONE weapon. That weapon is the lie! Remember, He IS a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44)! The only thing you need is to recognize the lie from the Truth! God's Word IS Truth (John 17:17), so know the Word and you will ALWAYS know the Truth from the lie! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him

Shalom,

Psalm 126 is one of the Psalms of Ascents. These are Psalms that were believed to be sung by  people on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts. 

¹ When the Lord brought back the captives [who returned] to Zion, we were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal]. ² Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them. ³ The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad! ⁴ Turn to freedom our captivity and restore our fortunes, O Lord, as the streams in the South (the Negeb) [are restored by the torrents]. ⁵ They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing. ⁶ He who goes forth bearing seed and weeping [at needing his precious supply of grain for sowing] shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

This Psalm is especially appropriate today, on the eve of Jerusalem Day in Israel! This day, which begins this evening in Israel, celebrates the taking back of Jerusalem in 1967! Israel was restored as a nation in 1948, but not allowed control of Jerusalem. God Himself appointed Jerusalem as the eternal capital city of Israel! You KNOW that God did this when you see almost universal opposition to it! Even the USA, after promising to do so, has yet to move our Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem! Can you imagine the unmitigated gall of any foreign nation dictating to another sovereign nation where their capital can be? But in THIS, they are coming against the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Join with me in celebrating Jerusalem Day tomorrow with the people of Israel! Be on God's side of THIS issue! AMEN! Here are a few Scripture references that reveal how the God of the Bible views Jerusalem!


1 Kings 11:36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. KJV

2 Chron 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. KJV

2 Chron 6:5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. KJV

Ps 147:2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. KJV

Joel 3:16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. KJV

And here a few pictures in honor of tomorrow's celebration!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like the last half of the selection for today in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers!

Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go . . . and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”

I have been hearing from, and sharing the Word with, so many people that have had any number of people telling them the changes that they need to make in order to line up with God's Word! What we should REALLY be doing for them is praying for them first, then share the Word of God that Holy Spirit says to share, and then let HIM make it clear to them! Remember, every believer has the same "Unction" or "Anointing" living IN them (1 John 2:20)! He IS the Spirit of Almighty God, God the Holy Spirit! These believers need us to be praying for them to have seeing eyes and hearing ears, and then to hear and obey the Holy Spirit as HE teaches them the Word and shows them individually what they each must do to get back on track! AMEN! Preach the Word, in season and out of season, when it's convenient and when its not, BUT allow the Holy Spirit to do the TEACHING! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "I Surrender", because surrendering to HIM and HIS Word and HIS Spirit is what all believers must do daily! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I know that I have shared this before, but it is so very good that I am sharing it again! We read 1 Corinthians 13 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. The very BEST translation of 1 Corinthian 13:4-8 is found in Rick Renner's Sparkling Gems From The Greek! Here it is:

The following is an expanded interpretive translation of 

First Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed;

Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be;

Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess;

Love doesn’t go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others;

Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner;

Love is not rude and discourteous–it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others;

Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage;

Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response;

Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes;

Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth;

Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure;

Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation;

Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others;

Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up;

Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”


We see above that Love never fails, but there is another Scripture that shows the extreme importance of walking in Love! Galatians 5:6 says this:

6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. AMP

So, walking in this God kind of Love causes our faith to work, in fact, our faith will NOT work without doing so! AND, walking in the God kind of Love keeps us from failing in life because Love NEVER fails! AMEN! We all make mistakes from time to time, but if we concentrate on NOT missing it where Love is concerned, then we will NOT fail! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Love Is War":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin says this:

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isa. 1:19). 

If you are willing and obedient, it is God's will that you have the best. (Of course, you can't walk in disobedience and enjoy the good things of God.) 

God is not a miser or a tightwad. And He didn't put everything here in this world for the devil and his crowd to enjoy. 

Some people have the idea that if you're a Christian, you should never have anything, financially or materially. They believe that you should go through life poor and beaten down. 

But Jesus said, "If ye then, being evil and natural, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt. 7:11). 

Oh, God wants to give us good gifts! He wants us to have the best! He wants us to prosper and have the good things of this life! But we must cooperate with Him. 

How do we cooperate with God in order to walk in the fullness of all that He has blessed us with? By spending time in daily fellowship with Him, by meditating His Word day and night so that we can see, know and understand all that He has for us and then follow the direction of the Holy Spirit as He leads us day by day according to all the fullness of the Word of God! Instantly obey what you see in the Word of God and the still small voice of the Spirit of God Who lives inside of every believer! Do you understand what John 10:10 actually says?

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

This "life" is the Greek word "zoe" that refers to the Life that God has within Himself! Jesus came and died and rose again to ransom us back from the clutches of the enemy AND to place us in His Kingdom! He also provided for that same Life that is in Him to be IN us! HALLELUJAH! Have and enjoy the Life that was purchased for you! Share that Life with whoseover will receive HIM Amen!  Here is Hillsong with "Endless Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 122 is a very important Psalm to know the God of the Bible's heart concerning the city of Jerusalem!

¹ I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!

² Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!—

³ Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together—

⁴ To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed and as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

⁵ For there the thrones of judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!

⁷ May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!

⁸ For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!

⁹ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good.

I am leaving the verses standing alone for emphasis today! Verse 3 says that Jerusalem is as a city that is compacted together. "Compacted" is the Hebrew word "chabar", which means: to unite, to join, to bind together, to be joined, to be coupled. This city, which is the God-given capital of God's nation of Israel, is indeed compacted together! In the Old City sections, everything is very close together and crowded. In the new part of the city there is construction going on. When we visited Israel we learned from our guide that the outer boundaries of the city have already been set! Now they begin to build from the outside in! The new construction will NOT expand the city further, but will be "compacted" into the set borders! I like this! God alone controls the borders! It will NOT be divided! There are many people groups and nations that are calling for Israel to divide the city again and give half of it to the enemies of Israel! THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN! As we say many times, it is MOST important to always be on GOD'S side of any situation! Now YOU know what God's side is in this! Pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! Verse 6 promises this:

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. KJV

AMEN! Here is Paul Wilbur with a very old song called "Shalom Jerusalem":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Joshua 15-16 we see the boundaries for the nation of Israel as they were drawn up by the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! How do THOSE boundaries look compared with the ones that have been forced on the nation of Israel today? SOMEONE, or many "SOMEONES" have a LOT of explaining to do! AMEN! Here is a comparison with photos:

The Israel that the twelve tribes
 won for themselves

This is GOD'S Israel!

Two views of present day Israel!
THIS is the world's view!
Who do YOU think is right?

Do you remember when Moses asked the Israelites, in Exodus 32:26, who was on the LORD's side? Who's side are YOU on? God is ALWAYS on OUR side! It's time to go all in for God and make certain to always be on HIS side in every situation and every matter! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Hosanna":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

1 Corinthians 9:1-2 says this:

1 Am I not an apostle (a special messenger)? Am I not free (unrestrained and exempt from any obligation)? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you [yourselves] not [the product and proof of] my workmanship in the Lord? ² Even if I am not considered an apostle (a special messenger) by others, at least I am one to you; for you are the seal (the certificate, the living evidence) of my apostleship in the Lord [confirming and authenticating it]. AMP

Paul was defending his calling a an apostle here because SOME did not receive him as such! One reason some may have felt that way is because Paul, as Saul, HAD persecuted the church up until his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Others may have felt this way because they "assumed" that it was up to them to fill the spot that Judas left. Notice this in Acts 1:23-26:

23 And they accordingly proposed (nominated) two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, You, Lord, Who know all hearts (their thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, purposes, and endeavors), indicate to us which one of these two You have chosen 25 To take the place in this ministry and receive the position of an apostle, from which Judas fell away and went astray to go to his own place. 26 And they drew lots [between the two], and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to and counted with the eleven apostles (special messengers). AMP

Notice that THEY nominated these two men! Then THEY asked the Lord to show them which one of the two that THEY had picked should be the one! After they asked it does NOT say that they spent time in fasting and prayer in order to clearly hear HIS will! They were not YET filled with the Spirit, so they could not even do that! What DID they do? They "cast lots"! That's also known as "drawing straws"! Does that sound Spirit-led to you? I can't say for certain, but these are my thoughts! If you notice, Matthias, the one "chosen" by lots, is not mentioned again in the New Testament! So, what is MY point in sharing all of this? Even though Paul was NOT recognized by many to actually BE an apostle appointed by Jesus, He did the WORK of an apostle! He did what God had called him to do! So many times in ministry people are more concerned with a title rather than the actual calling! Refuse that type of thinking! If GOD wants you called something, HE will see to it! If not, just DO what you were called, set apart and anointed and equipped to do! There are no rewards for names, only for obedience! The obedient usher who prays for the church and shares the Gospel will have the same reward as the obedient apostle who does what THEY are called to do! AMEN! Be all that God has called YOU to be, and pray for everyone else! Here is a new song from Hillsong United called "Up In Arms". BE the one who is sold out to HIM and HIS will!

Shalom in Him!