Shalom,

Psalm 135 is ALL about praising the Lord! The command at the beginning of the Psalm is to "praise" the Lord, the Hebrew word, "halal", which by now we should remember means to boast about, to shine, to glory and to be clamorously foolish over! Then the Psalm ends with the command to "bless" the Lord, the Hebrew word, "barak", which means to kneel before, to adore. Praise Him before people because He is worthy of ALL praise and then worship Him in face to face fellowship because you love Him with your whole heart. You and I cannot be in a better position than that to be blessed by God in order to BE a blessing to others!

If you have already read 2 Corinthians 8, read it again with proportionate or percentage giving in mind! The churches in Macedonia had sacrificially given to meet the needs of those IN need. I especially like verse 12:

¹²For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

Don't be concerned with the AMOUNT of your giving. God is NOT! Remember the story about the widow who gave all that she had in the same offering that others gave out of their abundance? Jesus was impressed with the proportion that she gave and the heart that was revealed, and He was NOT impressed with the great amounts given by those who had much. God is not impressed with numbers, He is impressed with generous hearts that operate with right motives and give so that blessings may come to someone, fully trusting in HIM to meet their own needs! Remember, you cannot out-give God! He is and always has been a GIVER!

What we have been reading in the last few chapters in Judges can be summed up in Judges 21:25:

²⁵In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

There was no "king" because there was no GOD being served! God Almighty HIMSELF was supposed to be the only King that Israel ever would need. Because they couldn't maintain a vital fellowship with Him, they needed to look to man for their help. God was always faithful to provide a deliverer when the people called out to Him in genuine repentance. The Bible reveals that they will AGAIN look to man for the answer when they sign the treaty with the antichrist, but God WILL deliver them AGAIN, and for good, as Jesus Himself begins to rule and reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years! I believe, without doubt, that that time is approaching at a very rapid pace. Be ready! Out "time to fly" is soon and very soon! AMEN! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 134 is only 3 verses long, but they are a powerful 3 verses!

¹BEHOLD, BLESS (affectionately and gratefully praise) the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the Lord.²Lift up your hands in holiness and to the sanctuary and bless the Lord [affectionately and gratefully praise Him]!³The Lord bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth.

The instructions to praise the Lord are always, first of all, because He IS worthy of ALL praise and honor and glory! But the reason He tells you and me to praise Him is that praise brings us into close fellowship with Him. It gets our soul (mind, emotions and will) centered on Him and puts us in position to be blessed! Notice what the results of OUR praising Him are in verse 3:

³The Lord bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth.

HE will turn around and bless us all over again! What a great God we love and serve! Also, notice that there were those who stood by night to praise the Lord! Anytime and all the time, it is GOOD to praise Him! Someone around the world is praising Him every minute of every day! Just jump in and join the party! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 133:1 says:

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

The dictionary definition of behold is to observe! I think the psalmist wants us to pay attention here! He wants us to see and recognize that it is very important for "brethren", the Hebrew word, "`ach" which means: brother, brother of the same parents, or (my favorite!) brothers of the same father (make that God the Father!), to dwell together, live together, in unity. A better translation comes from the Complete Jewish Bible. It says this:

Ps 133:1

Oh, how good, how pleasant it is

for brothers to live together in harmony.

Harmony means: a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts! What a great picture of the Body of Christ! We all have different gifts, talents, personalities and callings, but we ALL have the same Father and the same commission - to go into all the world and preach the Good News - the Gospel! We will never all agree on everything UNTIL we see Him face to face! Until then, let's appreciate the good things, pray for the differences we see and glorify the One, True, most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! We'll never go wrong doing that! AMEN!

2 Corinthians 6:1 starts with: "Laboring together (as God's fellow workers) with Him". The idea is carrying on here! We are all parts of the same Body! Then we are warned in verses 14-18 NOT to try to have unity with unbelievers. It's NOT possible!

¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?¹⁵What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?¹⁶What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.¹⁷So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,¹⁸And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

There's that word harmony again! Each specific part, doing their specific job, makes a wonderful harmony! But unbelievers are NOT a part of our family! They have a desperate need to BECOME a part of the family! Let them know HOW and you will cause the family to grow, God's #1 desire!

In Judges 15-17 we see the sad result of trying to join together in unity with unbelievers! It ultimately cost Samson his life on Earth! He DID accomplish the will of God in the end, but he suffered things he wouldn't have had to suffer. Learn from the mistakes of others (WISDOM!) and you will save yourself much sadness in this life!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We're going to look at a few different ideas in 2 Corinthians 5 today. This chapter begins by talking about our earthly bodies and our future Heavenly bodies. I especially like the Message Bible for the first 5 verses:

^1-5For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

This earthly body is just like a suit of clothes! You could say it is our "Earth suit"! You need a space suit to live in space and an Earth suit in order to live here on Earth. When this life is done, we won't need these bodies anymore, but will have resurrection bodies, just like Jesus now has! Remember that His resurrection body could walk through walls and be where He wanted to be quickly. Ours will, too! Verses 8-9 say this:

⁸[Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.⁹Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.

I really love these verses! A believer in Jesus of Nazareth has the promise here that at the moment our body dies, our spirit and soul are immediately in the presence of the Lord! We go immediately from here to Heaven! Thank You, Lord Jesus! AMEN! Then we see this in verses 17-18:

¹⁷Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!¹⁸But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].

As believers, we are ALL called into the full time ministry! Not all will operate in the pulpit, but ALL have been called into the Ministry of Reconciliation. This is our mission:

¹⁹It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).²⁰So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. ²¹For 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].

We need to be letting people know that God isn't holding anything against anyone! He has already provided the way of escape! The only sin that is not covered by the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth, is the sin of rejecting Him! Is there any reason YOU can't receive Jesus right now as your Lord and personal Saviour? If you believe in your heart that Jesus died for YOUR sins, that He rose from the dead and you want Him to become your Lord and personal Saviour, then pray this prayer from 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 ARE a child of God and need to get into the Word of God and get to really KNOW Him!

In Judges 13-14 we read about Samson. His parents received explicit instructions on how to raise him so that he would be in position to serve the Lord and fulfill God's plan for his life. Samson was used mightily of the Lord against the Philistines. We'll see in the next days what caused Samson to lose his focus! In the meantime, don't lose yours! Stay in the Word and in His presence daily so that you can keep HIM first place in your life! That's where He belongs - ALWAYS! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 131:3 says:

³O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.

THAT is definitely MY prayer for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! Don't be too surprised if we see Israel, who is standing strong against all pressure from the world right now, eventually give in to the demands. They desperately want peace and the Bible says that there WILL come a time when they sign a treaty of "peace" with a real snake who will be revealed as the antichrist. That is because it will never be natural weapons that ultimately delivers Israel from her enemies, but the mighty HAND OF ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF! AMEN!

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 explains to us why unbelievers do not understand the Word of God and what is REALLY happening in the world today!

³But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing and obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying and veiled [only] to those who are lost.⁴For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

The minds of unbelievers are blinded to the Truth of the Gospel. The ONLY Word that unbelievers can understand is that they are sinners who need a Savior. WHEN they call on the Name of the Lord to be saved, THEN they have the Spirit of Almighty God living in them to teach them the Word of God, which MUST be spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14:

¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Once they are born again, then THIS is in 2 Corinthians 4:6 is true of them, too:

⁶For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

In Judges 11:30-31 we see one example of the stupidity of making rash vows to God.

³⁰And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,³¹Then whatever or whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it or him up as a burnt offering.

Whether or not Jephthah actually sacrificed his daughter, it still remains that God never asked this of him, he rashly opened his mouth to say something that he thought would impress God to move on his behalf. God will fulfill His promises to and through any and all who will believe Him and trust in Him! Don't make vows you cannot keep! Just simply find out what God WANTS to do and trust Him to DO IT! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The verse I want to mention today is 2 Corinthians 3:13:

¹³Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].

When Moses had been with the Lord his face would shine with the glory of the Lord. Do you remember the story of Jesus when He was with Moses and Elijah on the mountain "And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light."? That is what happened to Moses when he was in the presence of the Lord. I always thought that Moses covered his face because the people couldn't stand looking at the glory. What he actually was doing was hiding his face so that they couldn't tell when the glory faded! They were moved too much by natural things that affected their senses. That's why they always promised to obey God, but would always turn away when the respected leader died. It shouldn't be that way for us! As born again believers, we have the Spirit of God living IN so that we can ALWAYS be aware of His presence! Look at verses 14-18:

¹⁴In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away. ¹⁵Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts. ¹⁶But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).¹⁸And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

WE can be changed into His image more and more every day as we continue to be aware of His presence and spend time in intimate fellowship with Him. It's a choice, but one that should be a "no-brainer" for a born again child of the One True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Make the right one today! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have decided that it is too difficult to keep up with the blog when I'm away from home. I will share something each day and then pick up the Bible Reading Plan when I get home.

My favorite verse for today is found in 2 Corinthians 2:11b:

for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.

It should be encouraging for you to know that YOU can know what the enemy

planned to do and when he plans to do it! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct you in all of the affairs of your life, fully expecting to walk in victory! In Jesus' Name - AMEN!!!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 128:1 says this:

¹BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.

"Blessed, happy, fortunate and to be envied" are those who revere and worship Him! AMEN! The world looks into your life and wants what you have! Make sure that you buy up every opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth! AMEN!

2 Corinthians 1:20 says:

²⁰For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.

Realize that when God put a promise in the Word, He meant it to be active and present in the lives of everyone of His people. Remember that He is no "respecter" of persons, meaning He doesn't have special considerations for SOME people over others, except in the case of believers over unbelievers! So find the promises that cover YOUR specific situation and meditate on it until YOU can say AMEN (so be it) to it in your life! God has already promised, all that's left is for us to get in position to be able to believe it! AMEN!

The next few days I will be out of town and doing the blog on the go, so I'll be keeping it brief and get back to a full blog by the weekend. In the meantime, let the Holy Spirit lead you in YOUR meditation of the Word and I'm sure He'll tell you what I would have! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 127:1 says:

¹EXCEPT THE Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

This verse is telling us that if we don't have trust and confidence in the God of the Bible to "build", the Hebrew word, "banah", which means: to build or rebuild, to establish, repair and restore our house, then our efforts are futile and fruitless! It also says that unless the Lord is the One to "keep" us, the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: guard, observe, protect, to preserve us, then our efforts will be wasted! He IS the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! let's find out how to do things HIS way, don't you think His way just MAY be better?! AMEN!

In 1 Corinthians 16 Paul is instructing the people in various things the way a pastor would instruct a congregation. My favorite verse in this chapter is verse 9:

⁹For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.

Take advantage of every opportunity you have to share the Good News of the Gospel as a Minster of Reconciliation, knowing that the enemy WILL most certainly try to stop you. Take a look at Paul's tests and trials through out the Book of Acts if you don't believe me. But the key is that the Lord WILL deliver you out of them ALL when you operate according to His Word! AMEN!

We continue to see through the Old Testament, especially after the deaths of Moses, Joshua and Caleb, that the people would serve God for a time, then fall into idolatry and reap the results. See Judges 3:7-8a:

⁷And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord and forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.⁸So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,

But the good news is found in verse 9a:

⁹But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel to deliver them,

The same thing is available to us! If we find ourselves out of fellowship with Him, then go to 1 John 1:9 and receive your forgiveness so you can return to fellowship with Him! If He was faithful to deliver them when they called, how much more will He deliver those that are members of His very own family when we call? AMEN! Don't wait an extra moment! Stay always in vital and close personal fellowship with Him and you won't miss a bit of all the wonderful things He has planned for your life! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The Spoken Word Bible Reading plan for today is Psalm 126, 1 Corinthians 15 and Judges 1-2. I know there are many things we could talk about in Psalm 126, but today we're just looking at verse 3:

³The Lord has done great things for us! We are glad!

The previous verse said that the nations were talking about all of the wonderful things that the Lord our God had done in Israel. This verse has the people acknowledging that the Lord had truly done great things for them and they were "glad", the Hebrew word, "sameach", which means: joyful, merry, glad, showing joy, rejoicing. My thoughts on this are that the Lord is continually doing great and mighty things among the church of Jesus of Nazareth, yet we don't often hear of these things. More people tend to talk about the problems than about the great and glorious answers that we receive! As people of the Word, we should learn to EXPECT the results that the Word of God promises, but we should never TAKE FOR GRANTED just how very great these promises are! Make a list DAILY of the blessings you have received in just that one day and you will be amazed at how much even YOU have taken for granted! THANK HIM! PRAISE HIM! For He truly continues to do GREAT THINGS! AMEN!

I want to look at two different things in 1 Corinthians 15 today. The first is found in verse 10:

¹⁰But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.

We need, with Paul, to realize what a great work He has accomplished in our lives and how He is able to work through us and use us just like Jesus said! But then, just like Paul, we need to realize that it is HIS ability that we work with! Read Philippians 1:6.

⁶And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Remember AND expect! AMEN!

Then, in 1 Corinthians:51-52:

⁵¹Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed)⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

"Behold, He comes"! Soon and very soon! Be ready!

In Judges 1-2 we find the root cause for all of the problems that the nation of Israel and the Jewish people have always had. In Judges 2:1-3 the Lord Himself tells us:

¹NOW THE Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And He said, I brought you up from Egypt and have brought you to the land which I swore to give to your fathers, and I said, I will never break My covenant with you;²And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; but you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?³So now I say, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

Look back at Judges 1 and verses 21, 25, 27-33 and we see the specific instances. But the good news is that God has ALWAYS delivered them when they turned to Him and woe unto any nation that came against them. WAKE UP MR. PRESIDENT! God will NOT be mocked by anyone! Make sure you continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem and be among the blessed! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 125:1 says:

¹THOSE WHO trust in, lean on, and confidently hope in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands fast forever.

I like that! As long as I "trust", the Hebrew word, "batach", which means: to trust, to be bold in confidence, to be sure and secure in, the Lord, then I WILL BE like Mount Zion! Mount Zion CANNOT be "moved" or "removed"! That is the Hebrew word, "mowt", which means: to slip, shake, fall, be carried away, to totter, be overthrown or greatly shaken. I WILL stand in strength, as long as I keep my trust and confidence in the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Just remember that it is a CHOICE, and there are definite results for NOT doing things God's way, and they aren't good results! Then at the end of the Psalm, we are told to pray for PEACE for Israel! AMEN!

1 Corinthians 14:1a we are told to be eager in our pursuit of the Love walk that we read about yesterday!

¹EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest];

Then Paul goes on to talk about all of the Spiritual Gifts and their proper use in a service! I especially want to look at the verses that address speaking in tongues. Paul really clears up all of the false teaching on tongues in this chapter! Remember that he is talking about how to conduct ourselves in a public service, but he still tells of the great blessing that speaking in tongues is to the individual prayer life! I will list the verses or parts thereof that refer to the advantages to speaking in other tongues:

²For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

⁴He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself,

⁵Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues,

¹³Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret and explain what he says. (In a public service!)

¹⁴For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays,

¹⁵Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.

¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless and render thanks with [your] spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider or he who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown] tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?¹⁷To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified [it does him no good](Again, in a public service!).

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together;

²¹It is written in the Law, By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord²²Thus [unknown] tongues are meant for a [supernatural] sign, not for believers but for unbelievers.

And THEN Paul tackles THIS question that people had asked him:

³⁴The women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says³⁵But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church.³⁶What! Did the word of the Lord originate with you, or has it reached only you?

Paul says: "WHAT"? or to add a modern day paraphrase: "What kind of dumb thinking is that? Did the Word of God originate with YOU? Or are YOU the only enlightened ones?" Paul was very aware that many women had, over all of the years of history, been used of God in powerful and supernatural ways to accomplish His will on the Earth! The first person to EVER preach the Gospel was Mary, sent by Jesus to "go tell my brethren" (Matthew 28:10). Deborah was a Judge! Many of the names of minsters of the Gospel in the New Testament are actually women! Galatians 3:28 says:

²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Remember that or you just may make a fool out of yourself!

In Joshua 23-24 we come to the end of the book and the end of Joshua's life on Earth. he reminds the people AGAIN of all that the Lord has done for them. He urges them to ALWAYS trust in the Lord and serve Him alone. He warns them of the consequences of NOT serving the Lord with their whole hearts. If they would have remembered and heeded the warnings of Moses and Joshua, the nation may never have been carried away in exile and eventually dispersed over the whole Earth! BUT, the promise of God to the nation of Israel, was that eventually HE would bring them ALL back to the land! It began in 1948 and continues this very day! Never again will they be dispersed! Hallelujah! Pray for the people, pray for the land. AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 124:1-3 says:

1IF IT had not been the Lord Who was on our side--now may Israel say--²If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side when men rose up against us,³Then they would have quickly swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us;

We could ALL say that if the Lord hadn't been on our side, we would not be where we are today! He is ALWAYS on our side! He is ALWAYS for us! Remember that if God is FOR us, it doesn't do anyone, any good to be against us! Is He FOR us? YES! See Romans 8:31:

³¹What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

So that is settled! We KNOW that God is FOR us! We KNOW that God is on our side! Now the question is: Are we on God's side? If we are on God's side, then we choose to obey the Word, put Him first place in our lives, change our thinking to agree with Him and submit our will to His! That's what Jesus did, so we are in GREAT company!

1 Corinthians 13 is the LOVE chapter! I want to share here

an expanded interpretive translation

of verses 4-8 that I borrowed from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems":

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That is the best version of these verses that I have ever read! Now remember that walking in this kind of love will cause us to NEVER fail! Let's do it!

In Joshua 21-22 we see that the tribe of Levi was specifically provided for according to God's commandment to Moses. The land had been divided between the tribes and they were all possessing the land. Joshua 22:5 is the key directive that all of the children of Israel were given.

⁵But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you: to love the Lord your God and to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and to cling to and unite with Him and to serve Him with all your heart and soul [your very life].

IF they had continued to obey this commandment, not one bad thing would have happened to them! But, as we continue in the Old Testament, we will see that it didn't take them long to forget the Lord their God and fall deeply into sin and idolatry. But they ALWAYS found their way back to God and He ALWAYS delivered them! He is definitely watching over them now, and even though the Word says that no nation will stand with Israel in the end, God Himself will never forsake them! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem and you will certainly be on God's side! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 123:1 says:

¹UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven.

That needs to be our choice, too! We need to keep our eyes fixed in faith on the ONE Who IS the answer! The One Who gave Himself so that we could live and HAVE life! The ONE Who is seated at the right hand of God the Father! Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2)

The word "mercy" in verses 2 & 3 is the Hebrew word, "chanan", which means: to be gracious, to show favor. I KNOW that I am God's favorite! You are, too, but do YOU know it? We must mediate on the Word of God in order know and recognize the promises of God!

In 1 Corinthians 12 we see Paul instructing the new believers on how to operate in the gifts of the Spirit. Verse 7 tells us that the gifts are given for our "profit", the Greek word, "sumphero", which means: to be better for, to contribute, to be good for. If God says we need something, we are being pretty prideful to refuse the gifts He has for us! Get into the Word and find out exactly what God has said belongs to us, then go after it!

Joshua 19-20 continues with the distribution of the land to the tribes. Check out maps on Israel in Bible times and Israel now, and you will see that Israel is STILL not possessing all of the land. There are those you would like to stop Israel from being blessed at all costs by demanding that they give up more land. They are pretty chopped up already and look nothing like the original map looks. I pray that Israel will ALWAYS remember that God is on their side! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After just returning from my trip to Israel and Jerusalem, I can say, with the psalmist:

I WAS glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!²Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!--

Psalm 122 is very appropriate, don't you think? Especially appropriate are verses 6-7:

⁶Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!⁷May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!

Make sure you keep your self on God's side and pray daily for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! AMEN!

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says this:

¹Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

The word "followers" here is the Greek word, "mimetes", which means: an imitator. It's where we get the word "mimic". The Amplified Bible says it very well:

¹PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).

We are to do the same things that Paul does, WHEN he does the same thing Jesus did or would do! Did Paul do EVERYTHING the way Jesus did? NO! He was human! Your Pastor can say the same thing Paul said here! I can say the same thing! Follow me AS I follow Christ! When I do what Jesus did, that is a good example for you to follow! When I do something contrary to the Word of God, DON'T DO IT! Pretty simple idea, but it takes great diligence! No person is ever going to get away with the excuse that they did what someone else told them to do! We all, as born-again believers, have the Word of God and the Spirit of God to teach us and lead us and guide us into all Truth, so that we can obey that Truth! There is no shortcut for getting into the Word of God so that you can obey the Word of God! And no greater results than being a DOER of that Word! AMEN!

Joshua continues to try to get the tribes of Israel to go and possess the land that god has given them. I hope that present day Israel gives nothing back that God has brought back into their hands! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 121:4 is especially meaningful to me, having just returned from a life-changing trip to Israel!

⁴Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The promise is that the God who "keeps" Israel, is the same God who "keeps" me! That word is the Hebrew word, "shamar", which means: to have charge of, to guard, to keep watch, to protect, to preserve, to save life! And we can sleep peacefully at night, knowing that He neither sleeps nor even slumbers (gets drowsy)! In fact, look at verse 8 and rejoice!

⁸The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Thank You, Lord!

1 Corinthians 10 tells us that the children of Israel are to be examples to us. Sometimes they are examples of how to properly follow, obey, fear and revere the Lord. Other times, they are examples of absolutely what NOT to do! Our key verse for today is verse 13:

¹³For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

The Amplified Bible makes this very clear! We all fall into temptation, tests and trials. There is always a way out AND a way back into fellowship with Him! Then verses 14-15:

¹⁴Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).¹⁵I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men. Think over and make up your minds [for yourselves] about what I say. [I appeal to your reason and your discernment in these matters.]

Then remember 1 John 1:9 when you do miss it and get right back into fellowship with Him again! AMEN!

In Joshua 15-16 we see more of the Biblical boundaries for the nation of Israel by tribe. If the people of the world would be people of the WORD, then no nation would have a problem with Israel! Who do they think they are, telling the nation of Israel that they must give up this or that? One day they will ALL see and know the Truth! For their sakes, I hope they come to know soon! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 120 sounds like a real downer, but we can learn a lot from it. All of the things that the psalmist was going through can be dealt with the same way. Remembering verse 1, and actually DOING it, is the answer to every situation!

¹IN MY distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.

What does the Word say? What has God done in the past? Do what worked before unless He leads you in a different way. Remind yourself of past victories and refuse to believe ANYTHING contrary to the Word. That being said, the Word of God also says that those who serve the Lord WILL face trials and tests, BUT...

¹¹Persecutions, sufferings--such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.¹²Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

1 Corinthians 9 is the answer to all of those who question whether or not Pastors and other ministers of the Gospel should be paid for studying, praying, teaching and preaching. Look especially at verses 7-9:

⁷[Consider this:] What soldier at any time serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of the fruit of it? Who tends a flock and does not partake of the milk of the flock?⁸Do I say this only on human authority and as a man reasons? Does not the Law endorse the same principle?⁹For in the Law of Moses it is written, You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn. Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?

and verse 11:

¹¹If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

and verses 13-14:

¹³Do you not know that those men who are employed in the services of the temple get their food from the temple? And that those who tend the altar share with the altar [in the offerings brought]?¹⁴[On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Make sure you are taking good care of your Pastor and those who teach you the Word of God! Galatians 6:6 says this:

⁶Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].

AMEN!!!

Joshua 13-14 tells again of the way the land was to be divided for the nation of Israel by tribes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of the so-called experts who come out against the nation of Israel today would actually look at what land GOD says is theirs! Not only should they NOT give up any more land, they don't even possess all that God ordained for them to have! One day they WILL! Jesus Himself will see to it! AMEN!

I also like that the giants of faith among the Israelites, Joshua and Caleb, are 100 years old and 85 years old and have still been fighting! YOU are NOT too old to accomplish what God has called you to do! Let's stay busy with the things of God, right up until the Rapture of the Church! He will renew your strength and vitality as you continue to "wait" on Him! Isaiah 40:31:

³¹But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Remember that waiting on Him is an active word! Be about pleasing the Lord every day and EVERY day will be a GREAT DAY! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!