Shalom,

When King Saul sinned against God by doing his own will rather than be obedient to the Word of God, Samuel said this to him in 1 Sam 13:14:

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you. AMP

Many people have thought that David must have been a perfect man because he was "a man after His own heart", but that is not the case! What made David different than Saul is that David sought the Lord and, when he missed it, and he did, then he repented and turned again to go hard after God and His Word! Psalm 51 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today shows the heart of David toward God in repentance for his sin. Here are verses 1-17:

Psalm 51

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba.

1 HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice). 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. 17 My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Do you get a sense of the heart of David towards the Lord? Although he tried to hide his sin at first, when confronted by it, he repented, which simply means that he changed his thinking to agree with God. He cried out to God according to the covenant that he had with Him at that time. We know that we, who are born again believers in Jesus Christ, have a New Covenant, based on better promises than David had (Hebrews 8:6)! Where David had the Holy Spirit UPON him as a King, we  have the same Holy Spirit IN us as born again believers! While we should ALL have the same heart of repentance that David had, we should come to God according to OUR Covenant! 1 John 1:9 tells us how:

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

I especially like this in the Amplified Bible:

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

So, WHEN you sin by making a selfish decision to do something your own way instead of God's way, in thought, word or action, by either omission or commission, then confess that sin and receive your forgiveness from HIM! Get right back into fellowship with Him so that satan cannot steal another moment from you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 50:10-12 says this:

10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills or upon the mountains where thousands are. 11 I know and am acquainted with all the birds of the mountains, and the wild animals of the field are Mine and are with Me, in My mind. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are Mine.

Do you remember this from Haggai 2:8?

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. KJV

God does not NEED anything we give to Him! The reason that He has us give is for OUR benefit, not His! He knows that what we sow, we shall also reap! 2 Corinthians 9:6 says this:

6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. AMP

Luke 6:38 says this:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

God gives us the opportunity to be givers because HE is the ULTIMATE Giver! John 3:16:

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. AMP

We cannot out-give the God of the Bible, but we can try! What a blessing to be a giver and to follow His example! This allows HIM to get involved in our financial situation, and that's a GOOD thing! AMEN! Don't pass up any opportunity to be a giver. We all have SOMETHING that we can give to be a blessing! Here is Hillsong with "I Give You My Heart":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Titus 3:4-7 says this:

4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 [And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope.

Did you catch that HE saved us "not because of any works of righteousness that we had done"? So many people are still trying to make themselves good enough by doing good deeds when the Word of God so specifically says this in Isaiah 64:6:

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. NKJV

God did not, and still does not, need OUR help making us righteous in His sight! 2 Cortinhians 5:21 says this (KJV and Amplified):

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV

21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. AMP

GOD did this and it was GOOD in His sight to do so! Receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Savior is what is needed to be made righteous, having right-standing, with God! We can add nothing to HIS work and nothing we can ever do will undo it! It is time to stop striving to "be good" and simple spend time in His presence and in His Word so that we can begin to think like Him, then we will speak like Him and act like Him! THAT is the answer to sin! NOT trying to "be good" or to "do good works". Psalm 119:11:

11 Your  word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You. KJV

So, feed daily on His Word (Job 23:12) and stay filled with His Spirit! Then the evidence that you have been made righteous will begin to show forth! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "For Who Your Are":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have always loved this testimony from tomorrow's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin. (Yes, I read ahead!)

Charged To Keep

"For he [God] shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (Ps. 91:11). 

I once heard a pioneer Pentecostal missionary tell this experience: A neighboring tribe kidnapped a little girl from the tribe where he was a missionary. The people in her tribe knew that if they didn't recover her before nightfall, they would never see her again. 

So the missionary and a native interpreter made their way through the jungle to the kidnappers' village. They took trinkets and bargained with the chief for the child's return, but night overtook them. Because they couldn't travel at night in the jungle, they were forced to stay at the kidnappers' village. 

Sleeping on the floor of a thatched hut, they were awakened by the sound of drums. The interpreter said that the drums meant they were to be killed: The chief had decided to kill them and keep both the trinkets and the girl. Then they heard the hostile natives coming for them. 

The missionary and the interpreter knelt down, prayed, and committed themselves to God. Then the missionary said, "Let's not wait for them. Let's go out. I'll go first." 

He stepped outside with his eyes shut and waited for what seemed to be an eternity. One slash of their knives could cut off his head. But instead he heard moaning and groaning. He looked, and every native was on his face on the ground. 

"They are calling you 'god,'" the interpreter said. "They say that when you stepped outside, two giants in white stepped out with you, holding great swords in either hand." 

Confession: God has given His angels charge over me to protect me in all my ways. 

It is wise for us to remember what Jesus Himself said about angels! Look at Hebrews 1:14 in both the KJV and the Amplified Bible:

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
KJV

14 Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation? AMP

And then this from Matthew 18:10:

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. KJV

10 Beware that you do not despise or feel scornful toward or think little of one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always are in the presence of and look upon the face of My Father Who is in heaven. AMP

You and I need to meditate on this and other Scriptures referring to angles in order to properly understand their role in our lives, and so that we can take advantage of every resource that God our Father has provided for us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Age To Age":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

It would be too difficult to pick just one verse from today's Psalm 47, so I am posting the entire Psalm!

Psalm 47

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 O CLAP your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy! 2 For the Lord Most High excites terror, awe, and dread; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our inheritance for us, the glory and pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits upon His holy throne. 9 The princes and nobles of the peoples are gathered together, a [united] people for the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.

When a Psalm says "To the Chief Musician", you can be assured that it was a vital part of the Praise and Worship Service of their time! THIS is STILL very relevant for today! We are not to ignore what the evil one is up to here on earth, but we must know that ALL authority was given to Jesus and HE sent US out, in that authority, to control the atmosphere of our own areas so that the Gospel can be spread unhindered! KNOWING the authority that we have as born again believers in Jesus Christ, we should all be bold about being DOERS of this Psalm! What to do? CLAP, SHOUT, SING, PRAISE, DECLARE, DECREE, PROCLAIM! When WE declare and proclaim HIS Word, we give Him something to confirm with signs, wonders and miracles following (Mark 16:20)! AMEN! So DO IT! Here is Hillsong United  with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Two things really stand out to me in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Psalm 46:1-3:

1 GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas, 3 Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

This TRUTH (John 17:17) tells me that He is ALWAYS with me and for me, as He is a "very present help". It also says that He is "well-proved"! That means that there is nothing new to Him! He has seen it all and NOTHING is too difficult for Him to handle! When we are told to cast our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7), HE MEANS IT! He wants US to be carefree so that nothing interferes with our joy, which give us strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and our ability to preach the Good News so that all may hear! Nothing that is going on in our world today is a surprise to HIM! FEAR NOT! Be led by His Spirit and obedient to His Word! AMEN! This goes right along with the admonition we receive in 2 Timothy 4:1-4:

1 I CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: 2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

Buy up every opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)! He IS the ONLY Way to the Father and to the Heaven of the Bible! Soon and very soon Jesus will be appearing for His Church and then we will no longer be here to to do this! TODAY is the day of Salvation for so many (2 Corinthians 6:2)! Be a part of that! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "With You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 45:1 says this:

1 MY HEART overflows with a goodly theme; I address my psalm to a King. My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

The only way for our heart to overflow with good thoughts and words toward the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible is to get to KNOW Him! Paul said this in Philippians 3:10:

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] AMP

Even Paul, who had some of the deepest revelations of the Word, still said that he needed, and wanted, to KNOW HIM more! As we spend time in the Word on a daily basis, and time in prayer, praise and worship and fellowship with Him by His Spirit, we will come to know Him to the extent that we, too, can have our mouths overflow in praise to, and of, Him! There is no short cut! It will take diligence. But it will most definitely be time well spent! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Live To Know You More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 44:1 says this:

1 WE HAVE heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us [what] work You did in their days, in the days of old.

Have YOU  "heard with (your) ears" of the things that God has done in the past, "in the days of old"? We are to use the past as a sign and encouragement for the present and the future! David reminded himself of past victories over the bear and the lion as he was preparing to take down Goliath in the Name of the LORD! 1 Samuel 17:34-37:

34 And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it. 36 Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you! AMP

THAT is what the remembrances are for! To give us hope, courage and strength for the present and the future! Are you spending every day in expectant hope and eager anticipation for what God is going to do through you TODAY? Remember that Jesus is the SAME, yesterday, today, and FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8)! Remember, also, that Jesus said THIS about His Church! John 14:12:

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. AMP

So, don't settle for ONLY having yesterday's memories! Determine to make new ones today! Buy up every opportunity to share the Good News with everyone you come in contact with, in every way available (Colossians 4:5 AMP)! EXPECT Him to confirm that Word with signs, wonders and miracle so that HE gets the glory (Mark 16:20)! If HE is lifted up, He will continue to draw the people to Himself (John 12:32)! OUR work is the easy part! SHARE IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Tell The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Have you ever been tempted to be depressed? This psalmist did, too:

Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my [sad] countenance, and my God.

Realize that the enemy of your soul KNOWS you by the words that you speak and the things that you do! He CANNOT read your mind! He sends thoughts of defeat, rejection, hopelessness, fear, guilt, worry and any other negative thought that is contrary to God's Word that he can come up with because he is HOPING that you will receive some of them and fall into that state of mind! THAT is one of the ways, or devices, that he has to use his one and only weapon, the LIE! You and I must do what David did and encourage ourselves in the LORD! 1 Sam 30:6:

6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. AMP

Paul encouraged Timothy in these same things in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:

6 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God,  that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. AMP

How DO we stir up that gift? We spend time in His presence by spending time in His Word, time in prayer and time in Praise and Worship! The next time the enemy sends thoughts of defeat, immediately cast them off and speak what God's Word says about you! Put on your favorite Worship music and give praise and glory to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! He is worthy of our praises AND He is present in them (Psalm 22:3)! NOW you have the enemy on the run! He will go about looking for someone that he CAN defeat (1 Peter 5:8), but it will NOT be YOU! AMEN! Here, to help you with this, is Hillsong Live with "Closer":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I love this from today's Faith Food Devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin:

Born of God

August 12, 2013

"Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). 

People sometimes ask me, "How can I tell whether it is my own spirit or the Holy Spirit telling me to do something? It may just be me wanting to do it." 

When you say "me," what are you talking about? If it is the real you - the man on the inside that's a new creature, with the life and nature of God in him, indwelt by the Holy Spirit - then it is right. If you mean "me," and you're talking about the flesh, that's a different thing entirely. Learn to differentiate between the two. 

A Christian's inward man isn't the one who wants to do wrong. If the inward man wants to do wrong, that person has never been born again. 

First John 3:9 has bothered some Christians. They have made mistakes and failed, and they've thought, If I were born of God, according to the Bible I wouldn't sin. But this verse is talking about the inward man who doesn't sin.

I've done things that were wrong, but my inward man didn't do them. In fact, he didn't agree with me when I did them. He tried to get me not to do them. 

Physically, we are born of human parents, and we partake of their human nature. Spiritually, we are born of God, and we partake of His nature. And it is not God's nature to do wrong. Therefore, let your spirit dominate your flesh. 

Confession: I am born of God. My spirit has the life and nature of God, and its desires are right desires. 

We have to understand first of all that we are triune beings. We ARE spirits, we have souls and we live in human bodies while on the earth (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is the spirit of man that is born again, instantly, when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our physical bodies will be changed instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, when Jesus returns for the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Our souls, however, must be renewed on a daily basis to think like God! (Romans 12:2). Psalm 119:11 says that we hide the Word in our heart (spirit/soul combination) so that we don't sin. Our reborn spirit is created in the image of God and CANNOT sin, but our soul still has the nature of the flesh to deal with and MUST be renewed daily in order to avoid sin. It is an ongoing process and not one person, other than Jesus Himself, has ever fully succeeded! THAT is what 1 John 1:9 is for! ME! AND you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with a song about JESUS called "You Never Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really like this from today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!

Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha . . . saw him no more —2 Kings 2:11-12

It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and your leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, “I cannot continue without my ’Elijah.’ ” Yet God says you must continue.

Alone at Your “Jordan” (2 Kings 2:14). The Jordan River represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah.” You have been to the Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go— the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.

Alone at Your “Jericho” (2 Kings 2:15). Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” do great things. Yet when you come alone to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah,” you will receive a sign, as Elisha did, that God is with you.

Alone at Your “Bethel” (2 Kings 2:23). At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wits’ end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wits’ end and feel inclined to panic— don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out His truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah”— use his mantle and pray (see 2 Kings 2:13-14). Make a determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.

I see this as so pertinent to the Body of Christ today! There has been a lot of conversation about "what God is doing here" and "what God is doing there", when all the time God WANTS to do His will and work through YOU!  Born again, Spirit filled believers MUST become active DOERS of the Word of God in order to fulfill HIS calling on OUR lives! Jesus said this in John 14:12:

12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. AMP

Are YOU ready for the "greater things"? Then step out in faith and do the things that are recorded that Jesus DID! He went about teaching, preaching and healing! Go THOU and do likewise! AMEN! We have HIS power and authority within us in the Person of the Spirit of God! We lack nothing except the appropriate corresponding action! HE will confirm His Word! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Paul said this in 1 Timothy 4:8-9:

8 For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come. 9 This saying is reliable and worthy of complete acceptance by everybody.

I don't know about you,  but I have a family that LOVES to be physically fit! They eat well, sleep well, run, exercise, lift weights and this "some value" is remarkable in their physical bodies! They are lean, strong, healthy and look really good in what they wear! They have a great outlook on life and very happy attitudes! If this "some value" has such tremendous and easily recognized results, just imagine what kind of results we will get from "godliness" or, as the Amplified Bible says "spiritual training"! Make daily meditation in the Word of God your top priority, along with fellowship with Him in prayer and praise and worship! Begin to put the Word into practice in your life. THIS is "spiritual training"! The results will be seen in you and your light, which never goes out, will shine SO bright! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Light Will Shine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Amos 9:14-15 declares this promise from the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible:

14 And I will bring back the exiles of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be torn up out of their land which I gave them, says the Lord your God.

When HE began to bring the exiled Jewish people , who had been scattered all over the world, back into the land that HE had given to them, it was barren and desolate! Have YOU been to Israel lately? It is anything BUT barren! Produce from Israel is among the very best in the world! If you were ever tempted to question the TRUTH of the Bible, just look at Israel! Don't be moved by the propaganda of those who want to wipe Israel off the map! The land they have, and so much more, was ordained by God to be theirs! Woe to those nations who are usurping Israel's place in the world! HE will not long stand for it! Notice that verse 15 says that "they shall NO MORE be torn up out of THEIR land which I gave them, SAYS THE LORD YOUR GOD!" Whose side are YOU on in this issue? I would advise you to get yourself on GOD'S side! AMEN! Here are a few pictures to inspire you to make the TRUTH choice! 

Present day Jerusalem!

The coming New Jerusalem!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE the Word of God! It is TRUTH (John 17:17). It brings faith (Romans 10:17). It reveals His great promises (Hebrews 8:6). And it is highly profitable for every area of our lives (2 Timothy 3:16)! Do you want to know what part of the Word in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan inspired me the most? The SUBTITLE to Psalm 38! It says this:

A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance and make memorial.

David wrote a Psalm to bring to his remembrance, and to keep ever before his mind, what the Lord had said and done! We are told THIS in Joshua 1:8:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. AMP

Writing a psalm is a GREAT way to meditate the Word of God! You can either receive a supernatural psalm from the Spirit of God, or you can sing the Word to yourself in your own tune as a psalm to help remember the Word! Which ever way YOU choose to meditate, make sure that you are doing it every day and all day long! THIS will keep you in position to prosper and do well! Amen! Here is Hillsong Live with "To Be Like You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Three times in Psalm 37 we are told to "fret not". Verses 1, 7 and 8:

1 FRET NOT yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God). 7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing.

This is the Hebrew word "charah", which means: to glow or grow warm (in anger), to blaze up, to be furious, to kindle anger, to heat oneself in vexation, to get angry or be angry. With all of the evil things going on in the world at this time, we MUST remember this admonition from the Lord! Verse 8 warns us that to do this "tends only to evildoing." In all of these situations, the Word of God is telling us to do this from verses 3-6:

3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. 6 And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.

The promise to us for doing things God's way is that WE will have HIS protection, provision, safety, leading, guidance and direction! AMEN! What of the "evildoers", whether they be in government or any other realm of life? Read verses 2, 9 and 10! They WILL be cut off! Pray for them! They have a certain end that they are facing unless they repent (change their thinking to agree with the God of the Bible) and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior! Take heart when you see these things come to pass! Our redemption from this earthly life is coming soon and VERY soon! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "Man Of Sorrows":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share this from today's devotional on The Spoken Word Church website:

Target Your Seed Faith

Your offerings are seeds that you sow. Seed faith is sowing what you have been given to create something you have been promised. Elijah taught the seed faith principle to the widow of Zarephath. She believed it. She planted a portion of what she had back into the work of God. She expected her seed to be multiplied back to her. It happened.

Plant a seed today into the work of God. Wrap your faith around it, and remember that the seed that leaves your hand really never leaves your life. It goes into your future where it multiplies.

2 Corinthians 9:10 tells us that HE (God) provides seed for the sower!

10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. AMP

That means that He has called us to be sowers AND He provides the seed in the first place! Did you realize that EVERY good thing in your life ultimately came from the God of the Bible (James 1:17)? So make it a habit to sow into the lives of others every day! Sow time, energy, resources and prayer. Then name what it is that you need in return and declare it yours! Sow generously and you will receive generously! Remember this from Luke 6:38:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. KJV

Are you ready to become a consistent sower of good seed? There is no better time to start than right now! Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and to open your eyes to see the opportunities! If you still need some help, check out the giving page on The Spoken Word Church site through the link at the left! We welcome sowers into the work of the ministry and support ministry partners around the world! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong United with "Go":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 35:27 is a favorite verse!

27 Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.

It should greatly encourage you to know that the One, True God takes pleasure in YOUR prosperity! What IS prosperity? This is the Hebrew word "shalom" that is many times translated "peace"! It actually means so very much more! It means: completeness, soundness, welfare, safety, peace, health, contentment. Remember that Jesus DID say this in John 10:10:

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

He doesn't just want you to have enough, He wants you to have MORE than enough! He wants you to have a continuing overflow of His very best! Amen! 3 John 2 says this:

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

So renew your mind with the Word of God so that your soul (your mind emotions and will) will prosper, or do well, then every other area of your life will follow! So what shall we say to this? I will say "Be magnified Lord Jesus, because YOU take pleasure in my prosperity!" HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong Live with "God Who Saves":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today we read Psalm 34 in the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I really like verses 7-11:

7 The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers. 8 O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. 9 O fear the Lord, you His saints [revere and worship Him]! For there is no want to those who truly revere and worship Him with godly fear. 10 The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to revere and worshipfully fear the Lord.

Do you notice how many times we are encouraged to fear the Lord? This is the Hebrew word "yare`". The Amplified Bible has it right here because the Hebrew word means: reverence, standing in awe. The promises for those who will hold Him in reverent respect and awe are that they will be surrounded with HIS supernatural protection, provision and safety! There is NO safer place in all the earth than in the place of reverence for the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Do YOU fear the Lord? Spend time in His presence and you will KNOW the awe of Him! AMEN! Here is a great song for getting back into the fear and reverence of the Lord. It is "To Be Like You" by Hillsong Live:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 33:12 says this:

12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.

This is a very familiar verses of Scripture to most believers! Have YOU heard this before? I want to stir up your thinking concerning this verse today! Do you realize that many nations have a single ruler, or dictator, that runs the entire nation? Some still have monarchies, though many are in name only. The United States of America is the  most unique nation on the face of the earth, and the God of the Bible intended it to be so! We are NOT ruled by one person, or even by one group. Our nation is set up as a democratic Republic. We are, and were always meant to be, a nation OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people! No one segment of our government is supposed to take on too much power, but the power and authority of each of the three parts (Executive, legislative, and Judicial) is regulated by the others! With a government that is OF the people, we have much more God-given authority over what goes on than many of us have ever realized or put into practice! "Blessed is the NATION...,  the PEOPLE"! We are to refuse to be anxious or worried or afraid, but in every situation, we are to come to HIM in prayer to receive what is needed from the One, True God (Philippians 4:6-8)! When was the last time you actually just came before the Lord praying in the Spirit for the USA until the Spirit of God gave you peace? THAT is praying His perfect will into the earth, even though WE have no earthly idea what we have prayed! When ungodly men and women SEEM to have gained the ascendancy where our nation is concerned, it is HIGH TIME to take our proper place of authority and begin to change things by the words of our mouths! Are you ready for this? If not, GET READY! "To whom much is given MUCH is required" (Luke 12:48)! Ask HIM today what YOUR part is to be and let's be found DOING it when Jesus appears for the church! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Live with "You Never Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to simply share a song with you today. I have shared it before, but have recently listened to an interview by some members of Hillsong Untied who wrote and sing the song. They said that the response to this song has been phenomenal! From the time I first heard it, the Spirit of God has spoken clearly to me through it! If we are to be participators rather than just observers of this last great revival that is sweeping across the world right now in these last days before the appearing of Jesus for the Church, then we MUST learn to put our complete trust in Him and simply obey in faith! Let HIM speak to YOU through this song and then DO IT! AMEN! "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail" by Hillsong United:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Joel 2:28-32 in today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan says this:

28 And afterward I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 Even upon the menservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My Spirit. 30 And I will show signs and wonders in the heavens, and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32 And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Do you recognize these verses? When the disciples in the upper room were all filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they all began to speak in other tongues. Some spoke in tongues of Heaven and some spoke in tongues of men so that those witnessing this from other areas heard them in their own languages! In explaining what was occurring, Peter said this in Acts 2:16-21:

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. KJV

The Amplified Bible says "this is the beginning of that"! Although some would choose to believe that we know longer NEED the infilling of the Holy Spirit, GOD did not agree! HE said that we would need these precious gifts UNTIL "that which is perfect is come" (1 Corinthians 13:9-10)!  HE has not come again yet and though He has given us His Word, not one of us understands it perfectly, and we won't, until we see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12)! AMEN! So, until that time, we NEED to be filled with the Spirit of God! I invite you to check out The Spoken Word Church website through the link at the left to find out more! Here, to encourage you in this, is Hillsong Live with "Love Like Fire":

I am desperate for Your touch 
a glimpse of heaven 
for the glory of Your Son.
In a moment You can
turn a life around
forever to be found in You.

I am reaching out to find
theres nothing greater than
Your love that holds my life.
Your grace and mercy that 
have saved me by Your blood, 
and swept away my shame Oh Lord.

Chorus
Your love is like fire 
that burns for all to see.
My only desire 
to worship at Your feet.
So let this fire
consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper
pull me closer to where You are,
'cause all I want is more of You. 

and I'm surrender to Your love
forever humbled by the
message of the cross.
I stand abandoned in 
Your presence and Your embrace,
and I'll never be the same Oh God.

Chorus
Your love is like fire, 
that burns for all to see.
My only desire, 
to worship at Your feet.
So let this fire
consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper,
pull me closer to where You are,
'cause all I want is more of You.

When You call I will follow.
At the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.

I belong to You Lord

Your love is like fire, 
that burns for all to see.
My only desire, 
to worship at Your feet.

Your love is like fire, 
that burns for all to see.
My only desire, 
to worship at Your feet.

So let this fire
consume my life.
Let Your love take me deeper,
pull me closer to where You are,
'cause all I want is more of You.

When You call I will follow,
at the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.

Let Your love take me deeper,
pull me closer to where You are,
cause all I want is more of You

When You call I will follow,
at the cross I surrender all,
Jesus I belong to You.

Shalom in Him!