Shalom,

Psalm 24:1 says this:

 1 THE EARTH is the Lord's, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it.

Everything and everyone belongs to the HIM! Jesus defeated satan to buy mankind back and gave the choice to every person to decide whether they want HIM, and His free gift, or not! When we DO choose Him, we become one with Him, a child of the most High God, and co-equal heirs to everything that belongs to Jesus! Are YOU in yet? If not, why not? John 3:16-18:

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. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation — he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] AMP

Do YOU believe (cling to, trust in and rely on Him)? The rest is very simple! Romans 10:9-10:

9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. AMP

That is the HOW! Here is the promise:

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. 
13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life. AMP

Is there ANY reason you can't receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour right now? Pray this prayer, believing in your 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 belong to Him and have His Word and His Spirit and His authority over all the works of the enemy! Want to be able to step right into this glorious life? Get involved with a good local church that teaches the Word of God uncompromisingly so that YOU can be taught and trained to be a bright light in the world and to the world! In our area? Come visit us! Check out The Spoken Word Church website through the link on the left for details and contact us for more. Not from this area? Let us know so we can help you find a church like ours near you! Be blessed in this new LIFE! Here, to encourage you, is Hillsong United with "One Way":

Shalom in Him!

WEDNESDAY'S  POST

Shalom,

I was blessed by this today from our Spoken Word Church website devotional!

You are a child of God. You carry His authority on earth. Satan is subject to you. He must yield to the knowledgeable believer.

Declare aloud now, "Satan, take your hand off my home, my family, my health, my finances, in Jesus' Name."

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18)

If you are a born again believe in Jesus Christ, then this is true of you, BUT, you have to TAKE that authority and EXERCISE it! Jesus said this in Matthew 28:18-19 AFTER He rose from the dead and BEFORE He ascended into Heaven:

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, AMP

I also like this from the Complete Jewish Bible:

18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Ruach HaKodesh, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.” CJB

OUR  job is to "immerse" people in the reality of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He desires that none should perish, but that all should walk in the fullness of Life that His death, burial and resurrection paid for! AMEN! Then the Word of God tells us this about Jesus in Hebrews 10:12-13:

12 Whereas this One [Christ], after He had offered a single sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 Then to wait until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet. AMP

He is waiting, ever interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25), until His enemies are put under HIS feet! We have a part to play in this by using our God-given authority over all the works of the enemy to see that people are set free and delivered! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

I really like this from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us . . . sanctification . . . —1 Corinthians 1:30

The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly ... (at the New Birth!)

The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is “Christ in you . . .” (Colossians 1:27). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification— imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?

That is the real question! Am I willing? The answer, for me, is YES! Are YOU? Here, to encourage you in YOUR decision, is Hillsong Live with "Christ Is Enough":

Shalom in Him! 

Shalom,

I want to share this from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food for today!

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come ... He will show you things to come.  -  John 16:13

A minister friend of mine had three serious automobile accidents in less than ten years. People were killed in these accidents. His wife was almost killed, and the minister himself was seriously injured. Both he and his wife were healed by the hand of God. When he heard me teaching along these lines of listening to your spirit, the inward witness, he said, "Brother Hagin, every one of those accidents could have been avoided if I had listened to that inward intuition."

Yet people will argue, "I just don't know why those accidents happened to a good Christian. He's a preacher."

Well, he had to learn to listen to his spirit just like you have to learn to listen to yours. People want to blame God and say that God did these things. But as this preacher told me, "If I had listened to the inward intuition I had that something was about to happen, I would have waited and prayed. Instead, I said, 'I'm busy. I don't have time to pray.' "

Many times, if we had waited on God when we had that inward witness, God would have shown us things, and we could have avoided problems. But let's not moan and groan about our past failures. Let's take advantage of our present opportunities, and make sure that we follow our inward witness in the future. 

AMEN! There is really no short cut for being led by the Spirit of God! Remember that Jesus said of Him in John 16:13:

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

AMP

HE is Omniscient (all-knowing)! He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and He knows everything you will ever face! Spend time in His presence so that you, too, can be forewarned and prepared at all times! Here is "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail" by Hillsong United:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I saw something in a fresh way in our Worship Service at The Spoken Word Church! Pastor Bill Novak is teaching a series on the Family and began in Genesis! Here are some of the verses that stood out to me!

Gen 1:26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.  [Ps 104:30; Heb 1:2; 11:3.] 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. AMP

Gen 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being. AMP

Gen 2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. 22 And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man. 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. AMP

Notice that God made man (mankind) in His image! He made THEM! God is both male and female! Adam, at his creation was also both male and female! NOT male and male or female and female! THAT is why a man leaving his father and mother and the two becoming one is the picture of marriage! Don't ever be tricked into operating by emotion instead of by the Word of God! AMEN! If God said it, then it is Truth, I don't care WHO disagrees about it! Don't fall into the "politically correct" mind set! Speak the Truth, in love, but speak! Some are crying out for Truth and just waiting for the right laborer! Here is Hillsong with a new song called "Glorious Ruins:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus is responding to a question the Pharisees posed to Him, always trying to trip Him up in the Word! They had NO understanding that He WAS/IS the Living Word of God! They asked Him about divorce. His response:

4 He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

THIS is God's view of marriage and divorce! HE created the marriage union and HE set it's parameters! HE said that marriage is the union of one man and one woman! Any other "union" is NOT Biblical marriage! People have a God-given free will to make whatever choices they desire for their own lives! However, if they want the blessings promised in the Bible, they must choose the Bible Way! If people want to go to the Heaven of the Bible, there is only ONE WAY to get there! His Name is Jesus (John 14:6)! AMEN! This is not racist, hate speech, discrimination or any of the other popular political phrases used by those who want others to sanction their choices that are contrary to the Bible and the God OF the Bible! It IS what it IS, and it IS TRUTH! PLEASE choose TRUTH for YOUR life and family! You will NEVER regret it! Here is an older song from Hillsong called "One Way":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Matthew 18:19-20:

19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.

The Prayer of Agreement is one of the most powerful ways to pray! In order to do so, you have to be in complete accord with the person you have "agreeing" with you! The prayer of agreement is only as strong as the faith of the weakest of those agreeing! SO, we must each spend more time getting to KNOW Him, through His Word, so that we can agree on what and how to pray! Remember the last part in verse 20 above! HE is not just in each of us, He is also AMONG us as we stand together! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Never Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE this from Psalm 17:15:

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

How do we find ourselves thinking of Him the moment we wake up? By communing with Him as we fall asleep! If you go to sleep hearing the Word of God in some form (Bible recorded, teaching, praise and worship music), then you WILL wake up with HIM on your mind! AMEN! Any time, and all the time, is the RIGHT time to fellowship with Him. Through the Spirit and through the Word! Be prepared now! Spending time in His presence like this will change your very countenance, then people will begin to ask you about the Hope that is within you! Then you will be able to tell them JESUS!!! Here is Hillsong Live with "Closer":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Matthew 16:13-15 sets up one of the most powerful statements ever given to the Church! 

13 Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 14 And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am?

Jesus was giving them the opportunity to speak TRUTH! I LOVE Peter! You can call him anything you want, but I call him "Peter the Bold"! He was the only one, besides Jesus, who ever walked on water! Why? Because he DARED to believe and to step out in faith! Sure, he fell, BUT, for a time he DID IT! So here we have "Peter the Bold" speaking up with the answer! Verse 16:

16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Did Peter say this because he was so very smart? NO! He was able to say this because God revealed it to him! ANY of the disciples could have been the one! Jesus gave this in reply:

17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

Jesus told Peter that he was blessed because God revealed His Word through him! Then Jesus went on to call Peter a rock! He was strong and bold! Then Jesus said that on the gigantic, boulder-like rock of the revealed knowledge of God, He would build His Church! NOT on Peter! Jesus also says that the very gates of hell cannot overcome the church AND cannot hold out against it, when the Church knows, and uses, the Word of God! Jesus went on to say this in verse 19:

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus said "I will give" here because He had not yet defeated the enemy for us! Once He did, He said this in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

OUR job? KNOW the Word, and then speak the Word into every situation! Preach the Good News and allow HIM to confirm that Word! Let's DO IT, bold ones! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Health Food by Kenneth E. Hagin, a daily devotional on health and healing!

As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.   (Romans 4:17)

Faith calls those things that be not as though they were. After teaching on the subject of faith for the past sixty-five years, I have learned that there is nothing quite so hard for Christians as calling those things that be not as though they were.  Many honest, sincere, good people think they would be lying if they did this, so they fail to do it. But I want you to consider for a moment that the Bible tells us that God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). And God calls those things that be not as though they were! 

I've had people say to me, "That's all right for God to do that." Well, if it's all right for God to do it, it's all right for you to do it! The children of God should act like God (Ephesians 5:1). And God calls those things that be not as though they were, because He is a faith God. We are faith children of a faith God. We should act like God. 

Romans 4:17 says that God made Abraham a father of many nations. You see, Abraham had to call those things that be not as though they were. And God tells us to follow in the footsteps of Abraham (see Romans 4:12). Because God calls those things that be not as though they were and because He tells us to do it, then it's impossible for it to be wrong in the least degree. 

Confession:

I call those things that be not as though they were. In the face of sickness, I call my body healed. I call my body well. I say that I am able to do things I couldn't do before! Praise God!

Search to find out what the Word of God has to say about every need that you have, not just healing! Then apply these principles to those needs and stand in faith! God will most definitely confirm HIS WORD with signs and wonders! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I REALLY like this from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's Faith To Faith devotional:

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. – Luke 6:22-23

Do you want to know how to depress the devil? Just follow the instructions in that last verse. When persecution comes, when friends or family criticize you because you lay hands on the sick and believe in healing, and when coworkers call you a fanatic because you love Jesus and aren't afraid to say so, rejoice! Shout hallelujah and leap for joy!

I tell you that will discourage the devil to no end. He's expecting that persecution to hurt you. He's expecting it to damage your faith, to wipe you out, and to leave you in dismay.                                                                                                                              

                       It's time to go on the offensive where the devil is concerned! He has one weapon, the lie, and many "devices" or tricks or schemes that he uses to try to get you to believe it! Don't fall for it! God's Word is TRUTH and there are NO contradictions! When you are faced with persecution, tests and trials, throw a party with great joy, KNOWING that the promises of God are YOURS! Amen! Here is Hillsong Live with "Always Will": 

VERSE
Where I go
You will go
You never leave me
When I'm lost
There's always hope

In every high
In every low
You're standing next to me
In the fire
There's always hope

PRE-CHORUS
I will lift my eyes
Let my heart cry out
You're alive
Alive

With an anthem we raise
Up our voice proclaim
You're alive
Alive

CHORUS
Your love keeps chasing me
And it always will
It always will
Your grace keeps changing me
And it always will
It always will

You gave Your life away
Once and for all
Once and for all
Forever You will reign
And You always will
You always will

VERSE
In my joy
In my pain
You're right beside me
In Your arms
There's always hope

When I fall
You are there
Your mercy will catch me
All my hope
In Christ alone

Shalom in  Him!

Shalom,

When Jesus was speaking in parables to the people in Matthew 13, He said this to them in verse 9:

9 He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing.

A choice and additional action is required in order to understand, (perceive, comprehend) the Truth that is hidden in these parables! With the things of God, there is ALWAYS a choice that must be made! Nothing promised in the Word of God comes automatically! The Sovereign God set it up this way! Why? Because He CHOSE to! He did NOT want robots, or He would have made them! He desires that we CHOOSE to receive what He has already provided for us! When Jesus was asked why He spoke in parables, this was His answer. Verses 11-15:

11 And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. 14 In them indeed is the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive. 15 For this nation's heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them.

Only born again believers in Jesus Christ, who have the Spirit of God living in them, are able to understand the Word of God! We are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! Look at verses 16-17:

16 But blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men [men who were upright and in right standing with God] yearned to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

It has been given to US to be able to know the Word of God! To understand it, speak it, stand in faith on it, and receive the promises in it! BUT, this is ONLY our POTENTIAL! The choice is up to US! AMEN! Choose wisely! Here is Hillsong with an older song called "More To See":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 12:6:

6 The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

The word "pure" here is the Hebrew word "tahor", which means: clean, pure and denotes the absence of any impurity, filthiness, defilement or imperfection! THIS is God's Word! John 17:17 tells us that the Word is TRUTH! It doesn't just contain truth, but is Itself TRUTH! Remember that Jesus IS the Word (John 1:1)! He IS the Way, the TRUTH and the Life (John 14:6)! When you spend time in the Word of God, you get to know JESUS (Philippians 3:10 AMP)! It truly matters to your own personal life how you view the Word of God! Right thinking is: God's Word is True, it has no contradictions. If I find what SEEMS like a contradiction, I have simply found an area that I am ignorant in! The cure: KNOWLEDGE! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United  with "Break Free":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

If you were ever tempted to go your own way and contrary to the Word of God, you MUST read Ecclesiastes! This book is the result of Solomon, the one who asked for wisdom and God gave him abundant wisdom AND riches and honor and favor, turning away from the ways and wisdom of God and towards the ways of his foreign wives, who were MANY! The very best statement  in all of the book is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13:

13 All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.

Solomon returned to the wisdom of God in his old age as he observed the terrible results of going the world's way! You and I can learn tremendously from Solomon's experience! THAT is called wisdom! Amen! Keep the Word of God as your daily focus and avoid ALL of the discouraging results found in Ecclesiastes! Here to encourage you in this is Hillsong United with "Above All":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Anyone who knows me well, or has read this blog for some time, knows that my favorite (for my life) Scripture is Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible! So when I saw this today in Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest", I HAD to share it!

. . . that I may know Him . . . —Philippians 3:10

A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father even in the most menial task. “Jesus, knowing . . . that He had come from God and was going to God, . . . took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet . . .” (John 13:3-5).

The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is “that I may know Him . . .” Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.

The most important TRUTH we must learn from the Word of God is: Who is Jesus! When we really get to know HIM, then we are in the right position to know who WE are IN HIM! AMEN! So set YOUR heart to learn something more about Him every day, and at that same time you will learn a little more about who YOU are! If you haven't already, highlight or circle all of the "in Him", "in Christ", etc verses that you come across and realize that it is speaking of who YOU are and what YOU can have and what YOU can do! THAT will bring a boldness to your life that will chase fear right out of here! Here is Hillsong United with "Heartbeats":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I have been singing praise songs all day! Then I read the Psalm for today, Psalm 9, and see these verses: 1, 2, 11, 14

 1 I WILL praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! 2 I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! 11 Sing praises to the Lord, Who dwells in Zion! Declare among the peoples His doings! 14 That I may show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your praises! In the gates of the Daughter of Zion I will rejoice in Your salvation and Your saving help.

I love it when I get confirmation that I am in the flow! So, today I am going to share a new song from Hillsong Young And Free, their new youth praise team! It's called "Alive" and it will make you feel alive! Enjoy!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Do you realize that there is no time in the Heaven? The spiritual realm is timeless! That is why the Word of God tells us this in 2 Peter 3:8:

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. KJV

Time was created by God for us in this life! He controls the times! He declares certain "set times" (Psalm 102:13). Only God the Father knows the time of the appearing of Jesus for the church (Matthew 13:32)! He has set a "due season" for every good thing in our lives! Galatians 6:9 from both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.KJV

9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. AMP

Are YOU prepared to continue to wait on the Lord in patient trust that HIS time is ALWAYS the right time? The only way you can do this is to stay full of the Word and filled with the Spirit! Amen! Praise Him for the answers and at the perfect time, you will see them! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Never Fail":

Shalom  in  Him!

Shalom,

I am going to share something that really ministered to me from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! It isn't even an actual verse, but the sub-title to Psalm 7! 

An Ode of David, [probably] in a wild, irregular, enthusiastic strain, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

I hope by now that you have realized that God is not the least bit concerned that we can be TOO wild in our joy and rejoicing in Praise and Worship! Heaven is UNRESTRAINED when it comes to worshiping the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Check out the Book of Revelation! SO, let's get a head start right here and right now! Worship Him unreservedly with your whole heart and see how praise changes YOU! AMEN! Here is "Always Will" from Hillsong Live:

Always Will

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We are so very blessed to be alive at such a time as this! God has ALWAYS provided for His people when they loved Him with their whole hearts and obeyed His Word! His Covenants are GOOD, but our New Covenant, based on better promises is the BEST so far! Look at Psalm 6:5:

5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol (the place of the dead) who will give You thanks?

When the Old Testament believers left this life, their spirit and soul did NOT go to Heaven! The Bible says that they went to Sheol (the place of the dead). Unbelievers went to hell and believers went to "paradise" (Luke 16:22-26)! It was not until the Church age, after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that believers began to go directly to Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8)! Hallelujah! The moment a believer in Jesus leaves this earth, they are immediately in the presence of the LORD! This is a glorious promise to look forward to, but not TOO soon! We have a job to do here and people that need us to do it! AMEN! Let's be about our Father's business without fear! Here is Hillsong Live with "Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I hope that YOU are enjoying this most beautiful day! I am led today to not share a teaching in particular, but to encourage you with a song! This is from the new "Glorious Ruins" CD from Hillsong Live. The song is the title song and the lyrics are here:

VERSE
When the mountains fall
And the tempest roars You are with me
When creation folds
Still my soul will soar on Your mercy

PRE-CHORUS
I'll walk through the fire
With my head lifted high
And my spirit revived in Your story
And I'll look to the cross
As my failure is lost
In the light of Your glorious grace

CHORUS
Let the ruins come to life
In the beauty of Your Name
Rising up from the ashes
God forever You reign

And my soul will find refuge
In the shadow of Your wings
I will love You forever
And forever I'll sing

VERSE
When the world caves in
Still my hope will cling to Your promise
Where my courage ends
Let my heart find strength in Your presence

Some people, when they mention the cross, are stuck in mental image of the suffering of our Lord during the crucifixion without following that through to the glorious Resurrection! The cross, in all of the suffering, would be meaningless to us with out the Resurrection! It would mean that God's plan had failed and the devil had won. But he DID NOT!!! He never understood the plan of God and actually thought that he had defeated Jesus, UNTIL!!! THEN Jesus grabbed the keys of death and hell and ALL AUTHORITY! Now the only power the devil has is the power to deceive! Whenever you face difficulty as a born again child of the Living God, remember this! Use this song as a point of contact that no matter what happens HE is always with you and out of the ruins of our former life and all of our mistakes, HE has made something glorious! HALLELUJAH! Here is the song:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE today's Devotion from Jerry Savelle's website! It is so good that I am sharing the entire thing here:

The Decision to Win

The Spirit of God said to me one time: “Son, if you are not willing to make a decision to win, then you are not going to win.”

Success begins with a decision to succeed.

The decision to succeed will produce an unwavering commitment to do what it takes to discover the spiritual laws relevant to your challenge (get wisdom), and to diligently apply them through to complete victory.

Nothing just happens or changes by itself. The Word of God shows how to make things happen.

God wants you to be successful even more than you want to be successful, but if you do not believe and act according to His Word, there is nothing He can do about it! However, when you do your part, He will always do His part.

Confession: I decide to win today. I make an unwavering commitment to do what it takes to get wisdom and apply it until victory is achieved.

So many times people like to fall back on the "God is Sovereign" excuse for why things don't work out! As though the God of the Bible, who cares about every aspect of our lives and loves us so very much that He even gave His own Son to die for us, suddenly decides NOT to confirm His Word this time! NOT SO! Yes, He IS Sovereign! And the Sovereign God CHOSE to give us His Word to stand on for every test, trial, situation and circumstance, and then promised to confirm His Word WHEN we stand on it (1 John 5:14-15)! SO, check out just what you are basing your prayer request on! Find what the Word says about your particular situation, and then refuse to be turned from your expectation of the promised result! YOU are destined, by God, to WIN, every time! But it must be HIS way! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Who Saves" (lyrics follow)  from the new Glorious Ruins album:

VERSE
The light of the world
Shining in love
Taking the fall upon Your shoulders
You shattered the dark
As You rose to life again

You search all the earth
For those who are lost
And leaving the rescued for the fallen
You're leading us home
As we call upon Your Name

CHORUS
You're the God who saves
You're the hope of all
Reaching out Your hand
As Your people call

VERSE
Our Saviour has come
Let Your will be done
Your kingdom on earth as in the heavens
Our freedom is found
Lord in no other name

You are the Way
The Truth and the Life
Your mercy has overcome our failings
The battle is won
Jesus in love You reign

BRIDGE
Here in Your light ever brighter
We lift Your Name higher and higher

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have shared 2 Chronicles 7:14 many times in the face of what has been happening in this nation and around the world! There are born again believers in every nation of the world! This promise is to ALL of His people who will obey this instruction! 

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV

Continue to pray, in the Spirit and in line with the Word of God, and YOU can count on the promises of this verse being fulfilled in your life! It may take on a different look that what WE would think, but it WILL result in protection, provision and safety for you! AMEN! Look at the declarations made in today's Psalm from the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan:

Psalm 3:1 LORD, HOW they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.  2 Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!  5 I lay down and slept; I wakened again, for the Lord sustains me.  6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.  7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Continue to be a DOER of God's Word and expect God's results! Here is a picture honoring our Independence Day! Thank YOU, Father, for the United States of America and may her enemies, both foreign and domestic, come face to face with the Truth, and turn from their evil plans! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am really loving the Psalms again this time around! They are so appropriate that it seems like they were written TODAY! Look at Psalm 2:1-3:

 1 WHY DO the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme? 2 The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say, 3 Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder and cast Their cords [of control] from us.

Does that not sound like it was ripped from the current headlines? I am SO relieved at God's response to this! Verses 4-6:

    4  He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].  5 He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying,  6 Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King [firmly] on My holy hill of Zion.

Our response? Verses 10-11:

   10 Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling [lest you displease Him].

Bottom line? LOVE the Lord your God! Love what He loves and hate what He hates! Here is Hillsong United with "One Way":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom, 

Psalm 1 is great advice and very appropriate for our times! Look at verses 1-2:

1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

I LOVE the Amplified Bible for this because it adds "nor stands [submissive and inactive] ". We are NOT to turn a blind eye to the evil and corruption that is going on in the world, and especially in our own nation! We are NOT to be moved by it, but we ARE to be aware! We are to love what and who God loves and hate what HE hates! He HATES sin! Why? Because it steals, kills and destroys the lives of those caught up in it! Don't be silent and refuse to comply with evil! Remember what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

So let's be aware, be heard, obey God's Word, preach the Gospel and EXPECT good things! Look at verse 3:

3And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

That's us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "The Stand":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

As we celebrate the birth of our nation this week, I hope that you remind yourself that ALL freedoms and rights come from the God of the Bible! The MOST important freedom that we have is the freedom to CHOOSE! Deuteronomy 30:19-20 shows us the choice that God has given us!

19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live 20 And may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. AMP

Do you remember when Joshua said this in Joshua 24:15?

... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. AMP

He prefaced that declaration with a command to "choose YOU this day whom YOU will serve."

Will YOU choose Life? 1 John 5:11-12 tells us this:

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

If YOU have received Jesus as YOUR Lord and personal Savior, then you already have this Life living in you! This is "Zoe", Life as God has within Himself! This LIFE brings the only REAL freedom! Look at John 8:36 and John 8:31-32:

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. KJV

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. KJV

Continue in the Word of God and live in the only REAL freedom that there is! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Freedom Is Here":

Shalom in Him!