Shalom,

This should be a great encouragement yo you today! Proverbs 22:4:

4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

The original Hebrew of "reward" here refers to consequences! I LIKE that! We KNOW that there are not so good "consequences" for NOT doing things God's way! I LIKE the GOOD "consequences" that come from DOING things HIS way! Reward is a GREAT word here! Remember that true humility is accepting something you don't deserve (the grace of God) and thanking HIM for it! The fear of the Lord is exactly what the Amplified Bible says (above)! Reverence and worship of the Lord for Who He IS! AMEN! And just what ARE those "rewards" or "consequences"? Riches (wealth), honor (splendor, glory, abundance), and life (sustenance)!  Let's line ourselves up with Proverbs 22:4! We can ALL use THOSE rewards! AMEN! Now, for more confirmation, let's look at Proverbs 22:17-19:

17 Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. 19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.

AMEN! HE makes His Word known to us so that we CAN obey the Word and line ourselves up for those very GOOD "consequences"! Let's celebrate with another great Christmas song! Here is Hillsong with "Joy To The World":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me. — John 12:32

Very few of us have any understanding of the reason why Jesus Christ died. If sympathy is all that human beings need, then the Cross of Christ is a farce, there was no need for it. What the world needs is not "a little bit of love," but a surgical operation.

AMEN! IN fact, Jesus Himself said this to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. John 3:3 and 6-7::

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

We KNOW that there is salvation in no other but JESUS! Look at Acts 4:12:

12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus IS the ONLY WAY to the Father! John 14:6:

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Do YOU see that "being good"  will NEVER be good enough? Jesus paid the price for sin, once and for all! One time, for all people, for all time! BUT, only those who freely receive what HE has freely given will ever be born again! Make sure that YOU are not "muddling up" the simple and powerful Gospel message by adding to or subtracting from the Word of God! If GOD said it, and He did (look above again), then it is most definitely TRUTH and we would be wise to instantly obey what HE is telling us to do! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship again with "We Have A Saviour":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I LOVE this from The Spoken Word Church website devotion for today!

Learn Something New About Someone You Love

Knowledge increases confidence. The more knowledgeable you become about someone, the more capable you become at anticipating their needs. Develop a personal portfolio of their particular preferences, such as favorite cars, food, colors, songs, books and secret ambitions. 

Our Heavenly Father created uniqueness to be discovered, appreciated and celebrated. Greatness will unfold with each discovery.

"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:" (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

We KNOW that this is true when it comes to our personal relationships, but how many actually put this into practice where the God of the Bible is concerned? Most of you know by now that one of my very favorite Scriptures is Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible:

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 

How DO we come to know HIM progressively? We do this in exactly the same way we do with any other person we have ever come to know better! We spend the time it takes to ask, listen and remember! I would encourage each of you to get a notebook/journal and write down your thoughts as you spend time in His presence. Ask Him questions you would ask of anyone else you would "interview". HE is so excited when WE are aware of His presence (IN US), and converse with Him as though we could see Him right there! Remember as you do this that HE, of all people in your life, REALLY loves you unconditionally! Look at John 16:12-15:

12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 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]. 14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 15 Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

Take the time! Not one person in your life is worth knowing MORE than JESUS! AMEN! Here is another Hillsong Christmas song called "Emmanuel":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is a confession we make at The Spoken Word Church: "Anything good, give GOD the credit (thanksgiving and praise). Anything bad, DON'T BLAME GOD!" This goes along with today's Bible reading in Proverbs 19:3:

3 The foolishness of man subverts his way [ruins his affairs]; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord. 

Isn't that foolish? People make selfish decisions to do things their own way, instead of God's way (sin!). Then, when they reap the results of their very own choices, they blame God! The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible gets blamed for many things that He had nothing to do with! Look at James 1:17:

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

If something GOOD happens in your life, whether you know Him or not, GOD is the source! He only gives good and perfect gifts! If something happens to us that is not good, then it is NOT God! It will either be an all out attack by the devil because you are doing something right, or it will be the harvest of bad choices and decisions! You WILL know which it is if you continue in fellowship with God! Now look at Proverbs 19:8 to see how to do well and ALWAYS receive good and perfect gifts!

8 He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.

AMEN! WE make choices every day! Make YOURS be the right choices that are in line with God's Word, which IS His will! THEN, the harvest we reap will be ALL GOOD! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong  called "O Come Let Us Adore Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Yesterday we looked at what the TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ is. Today I want to share this from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. Remember that his way of speaking may take a little getting used to, but the message is well worth the extra effort!

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him. — 1 Corinthians 2:14

The Gospel of God creates a sense of need of the Gospel. Paul says – "If our gospel be hid, it is hid" – to those who are blackguards? No, "to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." The majority of people have their morality well within their own grasp, they have no sense of need of the Gospel. It is God Who creates the need of which no human being is conscious until God manifests Himself. Jesus said – "Ask, and it shall be given you," but God cannot give until a man asks. It is not that He withholds, but that that is the way He has constituted things on the basis of Redemption. By means of our asking, God gets processes into work whereby He creates the thing that is not in existence until we do ask. The inner reality of Redemption is that it creates all the time. As the Redemption creates the life of God in us, so it creates the things belonging to that life. Nothing can satisfy the need but that which created the need. This is the meaning of Redemption – it creates and it satisfies.

"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." We preach our own experiences and people are interested, but no sense of need is awakened by it. If once Jesus Christ is lifted up, the Spirit of God will create a conscious need of Him. Behind the preaching of the Gospel is the creative Redemption of God at work in the souls of men. It is never personal testimony that saves men. "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."

Many times when Jesus healed people in the Bible who came to Him for healing, He said "Your faith has made you whole". Jesus paid the price for the salvation of every person, BUT, they can only RECEIVE this salvation by asking! (Romans 10:9-10) God's part is done except for confirming His Word that WE speak (Mark 16:20)! Find out what God has ALREADY done for you and begin to receive by ASKING! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song that I like called "O Holy Night" performed by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We begin today going through Galatians again in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Paul is speaking very sternly when he says this in verses 6-12:

6 I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. 7 Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary toand different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! 9 As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! 10 Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah). 11 For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. 12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

Paul was addressing the fact that many of the born again Jewish believers were requiring the born again gentile believers to follow certain Jewish customs as "part" of Salvation. THIS was completely against the TRUE and simple Gospel of Salvation through no other means than by the Blood of Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 says this:

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.

THAT is the TRUTH! It is very enlightening to study the Feasts of Israel, but it does NOT bring Salvation any more than going to church, being baptized or taking communion. I can sit in a garage, but that will NEVER make me a car! The simple Truth is that there is NOTHING of us or our works involved in eternal Salvation! It is ALL God and He has freely given to "whosoever will" receive! There are believers, and even pastors and ministries, that refer to it as "greasy grace" because it is so simple and easy to receive! Ironic, isn't it, that so many who freely received for themselves want to add to it and make it more difficult for others to receive? Do NOT allow the negative comments of those who do this to discourage you from presenting the beautiful, glorious, powerful, miraculous, undeserved but so freely and lovingly given, GOOD NEWS to the lost! HE desires that NONE should perish, so let's TELL THEM! AMEN! Here is one of my favorite Christmas songs again. "We Have A Saviour" by Hillsong:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 16:3 says this:

3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Many born again people that I know are reluctant to roll their works, plans and pursuits over on the Lord because they are concerned that He may change them! My question for them is, WHY would you ever want to pursue something that God wasn't in? Notice that by allowing God to line up OUR plans with HIS, He promises success! Isn't that the ultimate goal for any plan or pursuit? Do YOU desire to succeed at what you do? Then make sure that YOU are rolling all of your plans over on Him and allow HIM to direct your steps to sure and certain success! AMEN! Now notice this other promise from the Lord fond in verse 7:

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Now THIS is another really great reason to make sure that we are lining our will up with HIS! AMEN! THAT is the secret to how Jesus could walk through a crowd of angry people who were determined to kill Him, and not be touched at all! Protection, provision and safety are promises that the God of the Bible does NOT take lightly! You can count on it! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with a new Christmas song called "Noel":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

There are two things from today's Bible Reading in Proverbs 15 that I want to share with you. The first is found in verse 14:

14 The mind of him who has understanding seeks knowledge and inquires after and craves it, but the mouth of the [self-confident] fool feeds on folly.

Do you see that if you already HAVE a certain amount of understanding of the Word of God, you WILL be seeking and desiring even more? In fact, this verse says that you will CRAVE it! If you ever find yourself NOT craving more of the Word, then realize that you are in danger of losing even what you THINK you have of the knowledge of the Word (Luke 8:18 AMP). I like to call that a "working knowledge". The Word will only "work" for you if you truly believe it and have increased your faith by meditating on it. So, let's get to work! There is much unlimited learning yet to be done! AMEN! 

The other point I want to speak of today is found in Proverbs 14:30:

30 The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones.

We are supposed to stir up our joy every day! The verse above tells us why! WE are to be presenting HIM to the world! NOT our problems and cares and worries and concerns! EVERY person has those! But what do YOU have that is different, and can make all the difference? Be always rejoicing and ever ready to give an answer as to why! AMEN! People are waiting to see the Jesus in YOU! SHOW HIM OFF! Amen! Here is another Christmas song by Hillsong called "Emmanuel":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to look at Proverbs 14:6:

6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.

"Scoffer" here is the Hebrew word "luwts", which means: to talk arrogantly, to mock, to deride. Another definition is "to make mouths at". We KNOW what "making faces at" means. Someone who is scoffing, scorning or mocking is doing the same thing with their words! I know that YOU can see how immature and ignorant THAT is! Don't try to teach an unbeliever the Word of God except for the simple Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. They are UNABLE to understand it until they become born again and have the Spirit of God as their Teacher (1 Corinthians 2:14)! YOU, however, are well able to learn to understand the Word! It is "easy" (see above) when we maintain a teachable attitude! What is a teachable attitude? It is an attitude of mind that realizes that no matter how much we know, there is ALWAYS so much more to learn about the Word of God! How exciting is THAT? Not a dull moment to be found when we immerse ourselves in the Word! HALLELUJAH! So, don't BE a scoffer, try to teach a scoffer, or even spend very much time with one! Just keep pressing into the presence of God yourself and you will cause those around you, believers and unbelievers, to realize that there IS something more than they have been experiencing. They just might come to YOU for the Answer! His Name is JESUS! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong called "Our King Has Come":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is some TRUTH for you! Proverbs 12:13-14:

13 Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

"Despises" is the Hebrew word "buwz", which means: to disrespect; to hold in contempt; to hold as insignificant. The Word of God in the verses above says that THIS person brings destruction upon themselves! It is past time for everyone to stop blaming God for what is clearly the result of the choices of those with a free will to choose! Choose THIS day Whom YOU will serve! AMEN! AS for me and MY house, WE will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15)! The result of serving the LORD is that we will be "rewarded", which is the Hebrew word "shalam", which means: to be in a covenant of peace; to be complete, to make safe; to restore, to make whole; to make compensation. Keep up the good work, if THIS is who YOU are! God WILL come through! He hasn't failed yet, and He never will! AMEN! Here, with another Christmas song, is Hillsong. The song is "What Child is This":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Here is a great message to keep in mind for the Christmas season! From "Faith To Faith" by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13-14

Christmas is a very important time of year. It's a time of year when the whole world is hearing the message of the birth of Jesus. It's a time when people are tenderhearted...the perfect time to plant seeds of love in the lives of those you meet.

Sometimes those seeds may just take the form of a kind word in the middle of rush-hour shopping. Other times, you may get the opportunity to pray and minister to someone. But whatever the situation, keep a sharp eye out for even the smallest chance to assist people. I've had some outstanding experiences giving a few dollars to someone in need. As they are taking the money, I tell them, "This money is from the Lord Jesus Christ. I serve Him. He is the One who instructed me to help you."

It's amazing how many people are ready to hear what you have to say when you say it in love. They're starved for someone to really care. Be that someone this Christmas season. Spread the Word about the peace that's available in Jesus. Tell about His goodwill toward men. Who knows how many of those small seeds may one day take root and bring one more precious person into the glorious kingdom of God?

Every where you turn these days you can find someone who is hurting, suffering devastating loss or simply searching for something better! Be the one who points them to Jesus! The ANSWER! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong called "Angels We Have Heard on High":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am remembering my mother's birthday and the birthday of a very good friend from high school who was the first person to ever tell me about being born again! I was 15 years old and had never heard that before! How many people do you know who may have never heard that either? OUR responsibility as born again believers is to make sure that WE are sharing the Good News with everyone within our own realm of influence! If my friend had not shared that with me I wonder when I would have heard? Here is the Scripture she shared with me from John 3:3:

3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. AMP

Now look at Romans 6:23:

23 For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. AMP

So, now that we see that we MUST be born again, the question is how DO you go about doing so? Look at 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

AMEN! Believe, first of all, that you ARE a sinner and you NEED a Saviour! Good News! We HAVE One and His Name is JESUS (Yeshua)! HALLELUJAH! If you have NEVER been born again, I invite you to pray this prayer with me now BELIEVING! 

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.

I shared with you above that I FIRST heard the Gospel when I was 15. Later, when I was 25, I heard about Jesus and being born again for a second time. That scene from high school came back to me so vividly! Don't neglect to share the Gospel! Someone's  eternity depends on it! AMEN! Today I am going to share again my favorite Christmas song from Hillsong called "We Have A Saviour". Make sure everyone YOU know has the opportunity to know this, too!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands…. (Psalm 8:3-6 AMP)

God did not create man for death! Death, sin, sickness, hatred, revenge, and all such tragedies reflect conditions on earth that had no place in the original plan of the Creator. Man was created instead for joy, happiness, and peace! 

Man was designed for eternal fellowship with God. He was created in God's very image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). He was created for joy, happiness, and peace. And he was created to give God pleasure (Revelation 4:11). 

God gave man a place in His creation second only to Himself, with dominion as far reaching as the universe itself (Psalm 8:3-6; Genesis 1:26-28). Adam was the master of himself, of creation, and of Satan. Adam did not have to yield to sin - he had a choice. 

Confession: I will do what I was designed to do; I will fellowship with God. I will give Him pleasure. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). So I will walk in faith. I will not be dominated by sin, sickness, fear, and doubt, or anything else that is of the devil. I choose to walk with God. 

Know this: God was NOT surprised by Adam's sin! God created mankind with the ability to choose, KNOWING that at some point, someone would sin and fall. That's why, BEFORE God created Adam, He already had the plan in place to ransom us back from the control of the enemy! By giving us a free will, our choice to love Him would be genuine! No robots here! AND, God's plan for our salvation gave us the right and the privilege to now have God Himself, in the person of His Spirit, IN us! We are truly a new creation that is far better than the original! AMEN! So, stop nursing a consciousness of sin and begin to be fully aware of who you are IN HIM! THAT is His good intention for us! Our desire and tendency to make selfish decisions that displease God (sin) will grow less and less as we get to know Him more and more! Let's start NOW! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong called "Our King Has Come":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

If you have checked out our Spoken Word Church website (link on the left), then you know that our foundation Scripture is Ephesians 4:15.

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: KJV

John 17:17 tells us this, with Jesus speaking!

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. NKJV

When we say that our Church is centered on speaking the Truth, we mean that we will speak the Word of God in every situation! That is great news for the members of The Spoken Word Church! Why? Look at Proverbs 9 (from the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan) to see! Let's look at verses 9-11:

9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning. 10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. 11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

Teaching the Word of God to teachable people results in their being able to operate in the Wisdom of God, thereby walking in the abundant provision that the Word promises: long life, health, wellness, strength, favor, prosperity and success in whatever they do and wherever they go! Would YOU like to have that opportunity? Then get yourself to The Spoken Word Church, or one like us in YOUR area! Get committed to hearing AND doing the Word, growing in knowledge and understanding, growing in faithfulness, giving of your time, energy and resources for the benefit of others, and YOU will see YOUR life changed and your dreams and desires begin to be fulfilled! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong called "Rejoice":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Proverbs 8 is  ALL about WISDOM! How wonderful and precious, it is and how to get it for ourselves! Look at verses 10-11:

10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

"Skillful and godly Wisdom"  gives us the ability to use the Word of God to effect change in our lives! Look at these verses 12 and 18-21:: 

12 I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion

18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God). 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver. 20 I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.

I especially like that those who choose to love the Lord are PROMISED that they will inherit TRUE riches and have filled treasuries! THAT means every need met and enough over to continue to be a BLESSING! So what should we do? Look at verses 32-35:

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

Want favor from the LORD? Obey what you know to do and keep drawing closer to him in every situation! Remember, NOTHING takes God by surprise! He KNOWS the best course of action for each of us. Find out YOURS today! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with another Christmas song called "It's Christmas Time Again":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I don't usually share from the same source consecutively, but this is just too important to pass up! 

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

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

Waiting for God is incarnate unbelief, it means that I have no faith in Him; I wait for Him to do something in me that I may trust in that. God will not do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man has to go out of himself in his covenant with God as God goes out of Himself in His covenant with man. It is a question of faith in God – the rarest thing; we have faith only in our feelings. I do not believe God unless He will give me something in my hand whereby I may know I have it, then I say – "Now I believe." There is no faith there. "Look unto Me, and be ye saved." (Isaiah 45:22)

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

Once we have entered into relationship with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible, THEN we must maintain a constant fellowship with Him in order to walk in the fullness of all that our Covenant with Him involves! HE has nothing left to do except to confirm HIS Word when WE speak it (Mark 16:20)! Stop waiting on God to do something! Find out what belongs to YOU as part of your Covenant with HIM through the Blood of Jesus! Now begin, and CONTINUE, to speak that promise (His Word) into your life. When you do this, you are finally giving HIM something He can work with! Now praise Him for the answer BEFORE you see it, which shows forth your confidence that God does not lie (Numbers 23:19)! HALLELUJAH! As a born again believer, you are, of all people, MOST BLESSED! Now let's spread THAT Good News around! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong called "Unto Us":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

This, from today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, is very important to read, evaluate and adjust our lives as necessary! 

Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. — Genesis 41:40

I have to account to God for the way in which I rule my body under His domination. Paul said he did not "frustrate the grace of God" – make it of no effect. The grace of God is absolute, the salvation of Jesus is perfect, it is done for ever. I am not being saved, I am saved; salvation is as eternal as God’s throne; the thing for me to do is to work out what God works in. "Work out your own salvation," I am responsible for doing it. It means that I have to manifest in this body the life of the Lord Jesus, not mystically, but really and emphatically. "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." Every saint can have his body under absolute control for God. God has made us to have government over all the temple of the Holy Spirit, over imaginations and affections. We are responsible for these, and we must never give way to inordinate affections. Most of us are much sterner with others than we are in regard to ourselves; we make excuses for things in ourselves whilst we condemn in others things to which we are not naturally inclined.

"I beseech you," says Paul, "present your bodies a living sacrifice." The point to decide is this – 'Do I agree with my Lord and Master that my body shall be His temple?’ If so, then for me the whole of the law for the body is summed up in this revelation, that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

AMEN! We ARE the Temple because the Spirit of the Living God lives IN us (1 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Corinthians 6:19)! But, HE does not make the choices in this temple, WE do! He will NOT override our choices, but will continually remind us of the Word of God, and our instructions for walking in the Blessing of God that are in it! LISTEN, HEAR, and then DO what the Spirit of God is leading you to do! He will NOT lead you in any way other than the way to be blessed! AMEN! Here is another Christmas song, this one from Hillsong Young and Free. This is a new take on "Noel":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share with you today from two of the daily devotionals that I use. They both have very important encouragement for being successful in standing on the Word of God for all of the issues of life! The first is from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food and deals with answered prayer:

"Because he have set his love upon me, therefore.... He shall call upon me, and I will answer him..." (Ps. 91:14-15). 
"Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not" (Jer. 33:3). 
"And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Matt. 21:22). 
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them" (Mark 11:24). 
"And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you...ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:23-24). 

These are by no means all of the scriptures on the subject of prayer. But these scriptures alone are enough to set our hearts on fire. They're enough to start us praying. Why? Because El Shaddai said to us, "I will answer." The Almighty God - the One who is more than enough - has promised to answer those who set their love on Him! 

Confession: I have set my love upon Almighty God; therefore, He answers me. I call upon Him, and He answers me. I ask, and He gives me. I seek, and He causes me to find. I knock, and He opens it to me. What things soever I desire, when I pray, I believe that I receive them, and God causes me to have them. Whatever I ask in Jesus' Name, Almighty God gives me. My joy is full!

We can also add THIS from John 15:7  and 1 John 5:14-15 to these verses on prayer:

7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. AMP

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. KJV

Now that we have established, beyond doubt, that God hears and answers prayer that is in line with His Word, we can prepare ourselves to have and maintain a "right mental attitude"! From Jerry Savelle's devotional:

No one can make you have a positive attitude, you are the only one who can make that decision. Remember that God’s Word is the foundation of a right mental attitude. Study these principles and allow them to become strong on the inside of you.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT).

1. A right mental attitude is more than wishful thinking. It is actually facing each day with a positive expectancy based on God’s Word.

2. A right mental attitude is having a proper understanding of the problems you face, their source, and knowing how to approach them with God’s Word. You need to know your enemy and how he operates. You need to know his weaknesses. I’ll tell you two of them:

(a) He cannot stand it when you praise Jesus
(b) He cannot stand the Word of God

He has no refuge from them. He has to flee from them. He cannot tolerate either.

3. A right mental attitude enables you to possess peace, calmness, self-control and the determination to win no matter how difficult your situation may seem.

4. A right mental attitude demands that you drive out all negatives from your consciousness and focus on God’s Word.

Confession: I choose to have a good attitude and expect the best today knowing that God is good and He is for me.

NOW you are well equipped to OWN your day! MAKE it a great one! Here is another Christmas song from Hillsong Worship called "Peace Has Come":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We're going through Proverbs in our Spoken Word Bible Plan reading right now. The word "proverb" is the Hebrew word "mashal", which means: a pithy maxim. Pithy means: concise, brief, condensed, to the point, crisp; and maxim means: a general truth or fundamental principle. So the book of Proverbs is filled with condensed points of fundamental truth! Here is a portion of today's reading from Proverbs 4:5-9:

5 Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

Notice that this is NOT speaking of getting an academic education! It is speaking of WISDOM, which comes from God alone, through knowledge and understanding of His Word! THAT is why people in the time of the early church marveled at the everyday fishermen who could speak so knowledgeably about God and His Word! YOU can be such a person IF you make study and meditation in the Word your top priority! Memorizing will not do it! It is only through meditation, with the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, that we can learn to know and understand how to DO the Word! Look at 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

When we SEE it, then we can DO it! When we DO it, we will receive the promised results! What is keeping YOU from daily and diligent study AND meditation of the Word? Nothing is more important to your spiritual growth! When Martha complained to Jesus that Mary wasn't helping her serve food, Jesus said THIS to her in Luke 10:42:

42 There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her. AMP

WE are all busy everyday with many things, but only ONE is NEEDFUL! I hope that YOU will choose that "good portion" for yourself! AMEN! Here is another Hillsong Christmas song called "The Reason Why":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's Faith Food by Kenneth E. Hagin is another very important Truth to get inside of you if you REALLY desire to grow and mature in the things of God! 

More Than Enough

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies..." (Josh. 10:13). 

We see El Shaddai with Israel in Canaan's land. (And incidentally, Canaan is not a type of Heaven. It couldn't be. In Heaven there won't be battles to fight, cities to take, or enemies or giants to overcome - they're here in this world. No, Canaan is a type of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and our rights and privileges in Christ Jesus.) 

When Israel ran into difficulty in Canaan, Joshua, their leader, spoke to the Lord. And God stopped the whole universe because a man of God prayed! God can do that - He's the God who is more than enough! 

All through the Old Testament, we see El Shaddai moving in the lives of men and women, prophets, priests, and kings. But He's not just the God of yesterday; He's the God of now! He didn't identify Himself as "the God who was more than enough," or "the God who will be more than enough." 

Too often we relegate everything back to the past, saying, "Oh, it was wonderful back when God did such things," or to the future, saying, "When we all get to Heaven, everything will be wonderful." No, things will be different here and now if you will trust in this God who is more than enough! 

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

AMEN! Do you remember this from Hebrews 13:8?

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

HE never changes and He IS! Forever! If YOU have been in the habit of relegating everything to the past or the future, meditate on THIS from Exodus 3:14:

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. KJV

He IS! And He IS all that the Word of God says about Him! Your faith in Him will grow as you continue to meditate on the Word concerning Him! THIS is a lifetime commitment because we will never get to the end of finding out more about Him! So, what's stopping you? GO! Here is Hillsong Worship with another great Christmas song called "Born Is The King":

Shalom in Him!