Shalom,

I have been out of town on a much needed mini vacation! I will be back at it beginning tomorrow! For today, here is one of my very favorite songs by Brooke Ligertwood called "Fear Of God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another of my favorites! 

Raised Together

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power, which he wrought in Christ, WHEN HE WHO RAISED HIM from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, AND YOU hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:1).

If you were to open your Bibles to Ephesians 2:1, a King James Version would look something like this: "AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." When a word is italicized in the KJV, that means the word is not in the original manuscripts; the translators have added it. So the original reads, "And you who were dead in trespasses and sins."

I wanted you to see that the verb which controls Ephesians 2:1 is back in Ephesians 1:20! (Paul didn't write in chapter and verse; men divided Paul's writings later for easy reference.) Our text today makes it clearer for you. Notice the capitalized words: "WHEN HE, GOD, RAISED HIM, Christ, from the dead. AND raised YOU…who were dead in trespasses and sins."

The same verb that expresses the reviving of Christ also expresses the reviving of Christ's people! So the mighty act of God which raised Christ from the dead also raised His Body!

Confession: The same mighty Power that raised Jesus from the dead also raised me!

AMEN! Here is Brooke Ligertwood and Brandon Lake with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in HIm!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" deovtional by Oswald Chambers is an eye opener! 

Holiness v. Hardness Towards God

And He…wondered that there was no intercessor. — Isaiah 59:16

The reason many of us leave off praying and become hard towards God is because we have only a sentimental interest in prayer. It sounds right to say that we pray; we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial, that our minds are quieted and our souls uplifted when we pray; but Isaiah implies that God is amazed at such thoughts of prayer.

Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God — “I don’t see how You are going to do it.” This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God’s throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people.

Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship to God, or are we hard and dogmatic?

“But there is no one interceding properly” — then be that one yourself, be the one who worships God and who lives in holy relationship to Him. Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that taxes every power; but a work which has no snare. Preaching the gospel has a snare; intercessory prayer has none.

Let's BE who GOD made us to be! Let's be about our FATHER'S business! Here is Brandon Lake with "Tear Off The Roof":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" is a favorite of mine! 

Our Lord’s Surprise Visits

Be ye therefore ready also. — Luke 12:40

The great need for the Christian worker is to be ready to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience is. The battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn. That is the one great need, not the facing our belief, or our creed, the question whether we are of any use, but to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. It is not service that matters, but intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This will give our life the attitude of child-wonder which He wants it to have. If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious (that is, using religion as a higher kind of culture) and be spiritually real.

If you are looking off unto Jesus, avoiding the call of the religious age you live in, and setting your heart on what He wants, on thinking on His line, you will be called unpractical and dreamy; but when He appears in the burden and the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.

AMEN! WE belong to JESUS! HE paid the higest prcie for OUR Redemption! Let's make HIM our #1 priority, EVERY DAY! THEN our lives will align with HIS will and we will walk in BLESSING and VICTORY every day! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "A Thousand Hallelujahs", which WE can give and which is far less than HE deserves!!! BUT, we have ALL of ETERNITY to do it right! HALLELUJAH! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional by Joseph Prince is excellent!

What God Sees When He Looks at You

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

One of our key ministry partners, Ron, shared how he had a dear friend named Tyler, who was from a good Christian family, was great at sports, and was living the “American Dream.” After college, however, Tyler started hanging out with the wrong crowd and developed a severe drug and drinking problem, which in turn led to a series of devastating mistakes.

Within a twenty-four-month period, Tyler lost everything he held dear in his life. Ashamed and miserable, Tyler dropped out of church and almost gave up on life, God, and grace. But God, in His grace, was still reaching out to Tyler (through Ron), as Ron related in this story:

One night, while jogging at a park and listening to a message by Pastor Prince, I felt God prompting me to send Tyler a text message. I felt that God wanted me to ask Tyler, “What does God see when He looks at you?” So while running, I texted him exactly those words. After a long time, I received his text reply:

Tyler: “Are you serious?” Ron: “Yes.”

Tyler: “Well . . . I’m sure it’s not good.” Ron: “Jesus.”

Tyler: “What do you mean?”

Ron: “I mean, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus!” Thirty minutes later, I got this message:

Tyler: “Thanks, man, you don’t know how badly I needed to hear that!”

Would it bless your heart to know that this is the very message God wants you to receive today? If you are like Tyler, then you believe God’s love for you depends on your actions.

You honestly believe God is ashamed of you because of your mistakes and failures. Well, you may have either not heard or have forgotten that the payment for your sins has already been made in full upon the body of Jesus at the cross.

Therefore, when God looks at you today, He doesn’t judge, esteem, and measure you according to your imperfections. He sees you in the Beloved—He sees you in Christ, and He sees the blood that has been shed for you by His dear Son.

When God looks at you today, He sees Jesus. Because of this, His thoughts toward you are thoughts of loving-kindness, forgiveness, blessings, and favor.

Jesus paid an immensely heavy price on the cross so that you can live life completely accepted and unconditionally loved by God. Knowing and believing this will make all the difference in how you live your life—no matter what is staring you in the face.

AMEN! I hope that YOU will consider and remember THIS for your own life! Here is Brandon Lake with "God Is Not Against Me":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from "Faith Food" a devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Whom Resist

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith . . . . — 1 PETER 5:8-9

In 1942, I had a battle with symptoms in my body. I prayed, appropriated the promises of God, and stood my ground. But at times it looked like I wasn’t going to make it.

One such night I had a dream. I dreamed another man and I were on some kind of a parade ground. It was like a football field. There were stands on either side. As we walked along talking, suddenly the man looked back and yelled, “Look!” and he started running. I turned and saw that two ferocious lions were almost upon me. I ran about two steps. Then I hollered to the other man, “You’ll never make it! You can’t outrun them!” I stopped still, turned around, and faced them. I was trembling. My flesh was covered with goose pimples. But I said, “I stand against you. I refuse to budge in the Name of Jesus Christ.” The lions stopped, came right up to me, sniffed around my feet, and just trotted off. I awoke, and First Peter 5:8 came to my mind. I knew my physical battle was won. I received healing immediately. I had almost run, but I stood my ground. I had used my authority.

Confession: I resist the devil steadfast in the faith. I stand my ground. I use my authority. And the devil runs from me as if in terror.

AMEN! NEVER forget to remember that the ENEMY is your REAL ENEMY! He is out only to steal, kill or destroy every part of your life! GIVE HIM NO PLACE! Here is Hillsong with "Not Today":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share another message from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional! 

Be Strong

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. — EPHESIANS 6:10-11

What would you think if you saw a traffic policeman in front of a car, trying to hold it back? You’d think, He can’t do that. He’s no match for that car!

Some people read Ephesians 6:10 and think that the Lord is telling them to be strong in themselves. And they’re trying to be strong. They’ll say, “Oh, pray for me that I’ll hold out faithful to the end!” But God didn’t say a word about our being strong in ourselves or in the power of our might.

That traffic policeman steps right out in front of those cars and holds up his hand, because he knows they’re going to stop for him. He doesn’t have to exert any strength himself; he’s strong in the authority that’s been given to him.

That is what the Lord is telling us. He’s saying, “Be strong in the Lord. Be strong in the authority of His might. Just step out there in front of that oncoming devil. Hold up your hand in the Name of Jesus, and say, ‘Thus far, and no further! Stop right now!’”

Confession: I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I am invested with authority from the Lord Jesus Christ. When I hold up my hand in the Name of Jesus and say, “Thus far, and no further,” the devil stops in his tracks!

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Turnaround":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have a few verses that really ministered to me from today's readings in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan!

Psalm 86:4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

WE are BLESSED, HAPPY, FORTUNATE and TO BE ENVIED as children of the MOST HIGH GOD! Remind yourself of this DAILY so that the enemy will NOT be able to knock YOU off your game! Praise, thanksgiving and worship are our POWER WEAPONS! Verses 10-12 shows our rewards for walking this path! 

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in You [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving]!

Then verses 1-2 in Romans 12 are also very powerful!

1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

AMEN! HALLELUJAH! For the BLESSED, ANOINTED and POWERFUL Life we now have! 

And before you finish, make sure to read about the attitude to avoid in Numbers 11-12! 

AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake again with "Gratitude":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share from Andrew Womack's daily devotional!

More Than Just Sowing And Reaping

LUKE 6:38, '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.'

This verse reveals one of God's cardinal laws that will work in the spiritual realm, as well as the physical world. Just as we 'give' seed into the ground to receive back multiple seeds, so it is with everything we give. Whether it's money, possessions, an emotion such as love or hate, prayers, or our time, we will reap a harvest of whatever we give. We reap exactly what we sow and proportional to the same measure that we give (Galations 6:7-8).

'He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully' (2 Corinthians 9:6). This law works on positive or negative things that we sow.

Although this is an unchangeable law of God, it can be overcome by a greater law in much the same way that we can escape the law of gravity by using the greater laws of thrust and lift. The negative things we have given don't have to come back to us if we apply the greater law of forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Likewise, the good things we have sown can be voided if we don't continue in well doing (Galatians 6:9).

God is our source, but God uses people. If we pray for finances, God is not going to make counterfeit currency and put it into your wallet. He will use people to get the money to you. So, it is not always as simple as praying for money and receiving it the next minute. We need to believe the Lord hears and answers our prayers, and then pray for the people He's going to use to deliver the answer. This could mean any number of people such as our employer and the people who buy our goods. Ultimately God is your source, trust Him.

AMEN! Here are Brandon Lake and Brooke Ligertwood with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's devotional on The Spoken Word Church website is SO very important!

Celebrate Those Who Love Your Goals

Recognize those people that the God of the Bible sends into your life to inspire and energize you. Acknowledge helpful insights gladly, and resist the temptation to become defensive and belligerent. Find ways to reward those who have made your goals and dreams come true.

"He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." {Proverbs 13:20}

GOD Himself has brought certain people into our lives for HIS plans and purposes, and some of them are simnply sent to BE a BLESSING! And YOU have been sent into the lives of some for that very same purpose! GIVE GOD the praise, thanksgiving and worship for ever GOOD THING in your life, especially for the PEOPLE He has brought! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Bless God":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share this great message from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "From Faith To Faith" devotional! 

Healing Always Comes

And these signs shall follow them that believe...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

I used to get upset over people I'd lay hands on who wouldn't get well. I was praying one day and seeking God about it when He spoke to my spirit and said, Healing always comes.

I remember I said, "What do You mean, Healing always comes? Not everyone gets healed."

I didn't say they all received it, He answered. Then He spoke very sternly to me. I do My part. And I said they would recover!

Those words hit me like a ton of bricks. He said they would recover. He never lies. So if He said they would recover, then that means healing always comes. It's not God who's holding back. It's the receivers who aren't receiving.

Since then, I've never had any trouble laying hands on people and believing for them to be healed. Whether they walk away well or not, I just keep standing in faith for them. In fact, I know if that fellow who went away still sick ever lines his faith up with God and me—I don't care if it's five years from now—he'll be healed.

If you've laid hands on someone who didn't receive his healing, don't cut off the flow of God's power by withdrawing your faith. Stand fast. Keep believing that healing always comes and somewhere down the line that poor sick fellow may just decide to stand up and agree with you!

AMEN! Remind yourself of this TRUTH! HEALING always comes because HEALING was already PAID FOR us in JESUS on the CROSS! There is NOTHING more to be done except to BELIEVE and RECEIVE! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am sharing again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional.

Wisdom And Revelation

I Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers. — EPHESIANS 1:16

Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-21 are Spirit-given prayers which apply to the Church everywhere. The turning point in my life came when I prayed them a thousand times or more for myself. I would kneel, open my Bible, and say, “Father, I’m praying these prayers for myself. Because they are Spirit-given prayers, this has to be Your will for me, just as it was Your will for the Church at Ephesus.” Then I would continue to pray by reading from these passages, except wherever Paul said, “you,” I would substitute “me,” as follows:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto “me” the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of “my” understanding being enlightened; that “I” may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places . . . .

After about six months, the first thing I was praying about started to happen: The revelation of God’s Word began to come to me!

Confession: (Pray the prayer in Ephesians chapter one for yourself.)

AMEN! These are powerful prayers that I pray for all of my friends, family and loved ones! I hope that you will, too! Here is Brandon Lake with "Kids":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 79:9-13 could be speaking of our generation!

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name! Deliver us, forgive us, and purge away our sins for Your name’s sake. 10 Why should the Gentile nations say, Where is their God? Let vengeance for the blood of Your servants which is poured out be known among the nations in our sight [not delaying until some future generation]. 11 Let the groaning and sighing of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power and Your arm spare those who are appointed to die! 12 And return into the bosom of our neighbors sevenfold the taunts with which they have taunted and scoffed at You, O Lord! 13 Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth and publish Your praise from generation to generation.

YES! Let's PUBLISH HIS PRAISE! Now and FOREVER! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Praise Him":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Oswald Chambers' deovtional, "My Utmost For His Highest".

The Way Of Abraham In Faith

He went out, not knowing whither he went. — Hebrews 11:8

In the Old Testament, personal relationship with God showed itself in separation, and this is symbolized in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and from his kith and kin. To-day the separation is more of a mental and moral separation from the way that those who are dearest to us look at things, that is, if they have not a personal relationship with God. Jesus Christ emphasized this (see Luke 14:26).

Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading. It is a life of faith, not of intellect and reason, but a life of knowing Who makes us “go.” The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success.

The final stage in the life of faith is attainment of character. There are many passing transfigurations of character; when we pray we feel the blessing of God enwrapping us and for the time being we are changed, then we get back to the ordinary days and ways and the glory vanishes. The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting. It is not a question of sanctification; but of something infinitely further on than sanctification, of faith that has been tried and proved and has stood the test. Abraham is not a type of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith, a tried faith built on a real God. “Abraham believed God.”

AMEN! Make it your goal to one day hear of yourself: "They believed and trusted in the God of the Bible"! AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Miracle Child":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Joseph Prince's "Daily Grace Inspirations" devotional:

We Don’t Have All the Answers

“I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.” Hosea 2:15 NLT

Maybe you are going through a difficult valley. Maybe you are disappointed with God because you have lost a loved one or because you have been battling that medical condition year after year.

I want to encourage you not to ask, “Why?” Asking why will only lead you on a downward spiral into depression. Don’t ask, “Why did this happen to me?” Don’t ask, “Why is my child not healed even though I have trusted You for years?” or “Why is my loved one going through one tragedy after another?”

The fact is, in this fallen world, we don’t have all the answers. One day, we will receive our new bodies, where the corruptible will put on incorruption, and the mortal will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53). But until then, I recognize that sometimes bad things happen and I don’t know why.

But what I do know is this: God is a good God. He loves us, and He is never behind any pain we go through. Our faith in Him is not based on our experiences; it is based on the unchanging, eternal Word of God, which cannot lie.

Even when things didn’t go the way you wanted them to, don’t remain in your disappointment. The devil wants you to get angry with God and to give up on His promises. But keep believing that God is for you and not against you.

Even if the enemy has destroyed something in your life, and even if years have been lost as you waited for the manifestation of your healing, or the days of your youth have been stolen from you, keep believing that God can restore to you what you have lost (Joel 2:25, Job 33:25).

My friend, “let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Keep on looking to the Lord for your breakthrough. And if you find that you are too tired to believe anymore, I pray that this promise will carry you through:

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. —Isaiah 40:31

AMEN! HEAR the WORD of GOD! KNOW the WORD of GOD! BELIEVE the WORD of GOD! SPEAK the WORD of GOD! SEE the WORD of GOD be manifefsted in YOUR LIFE! HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with one of my new favorite songs! "Count 'Em":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really LOVE today's "From Faith To Faith" devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland!

Train Your Senses

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

You're spiritually "grown up" or mature when, through practice, you have trained your senses to discern between good and evil. You've practiced walking in the spirit and renewing your mind by the Word of God until even your flesh habitually goes God's way instead of the world's way.

Stop and think for a moment. Aren't there some things your old flesh used to pressure you to do before you made Jesus Lord of your life that you don't even want to do anymore?

There are for me. For example, I used to smoke tobacco, and I felt sorry for all those Christians who couldn't. But you know what? Now that I'm a believer, I have no desire for tobacco anymore. It is not even part of my thoughts, much less my lifestyle.

That's the kind of thing that happens as you feed and renew your mind on the Word of God. It doesn't necessarily happen quickly or easily. Your flesh may fight and buck for a while because it's been trained to go the way of the world so long. But if you stick with the Word and keep growing, your flesh can develop the habit of righteousness just like it developed the habit of unrighteousness.

Don't starve your spirit by trying to get by on just a little spiritual milk now and then. Develop the habit of feeding on the solid food of the Word every day and find out what real maturity is all about.

AMEN! develop a hunger and thirst for the Word of God! It is your SPIRIT FOOD! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional for today is another powerful faith lesson! 

Step 1: Say It

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. . . . And he [Jesus] said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. — MARK 5:28,29,34

The Lord Jesus Christ gave me a sermon during a vision in 1953. He told me to get pencil and paper and to write down 1, 2, 3, 4. Then He said, “If anyone, everywhere, will take these four steps, or put these four principles into operation, they will always receive whatever they want from Me, or from God the Father.”

The steps Jesus gave me are simple. They are (1) Say it; (2) Do it; (3) Receive it; and (4) Tell it. Jesus used the healing of the woman with the issue of blood to illustrate these four steps.

Step 1: Say it. What was the woman’s first step toward being healed? “For she SAID . . . .” Jesus told me, “Positive or negative, according to what the individual says, that shall he receive. This woman could have made a negative statement instead of a positive one. She could have said, ‘There’s no use. I’ve suffered so long. All the best doctors have given up on my case. I might as well go ahead and die.’ And that would have been what she received. But she made a positive statement — and it came to pass.”

What this woman said was her faith speaking.

Confession: I have what I say. I speak positively — and I receive accordingly. What I say is my faith speaking. And what I say makes me whole.

AMEN! We HAVE what WE SAY! So ONLY SAY what you want to have! Make YOUR words line up with GOD'S WORD and you will have GOD'S results! HALLELUJAH! Here is Brandon Lake with "More":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Through all of today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, there is one verse that says it all for me! Romans 1:16:

16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

The GOSPEL is GOD's POWER working IN us for our SALVATION, and then THROUGH us for the SALVATION of those who hear of HIM through US! That IS why we are still here on the earth! GOD LOVES and DESIRES that ALL be SAVED! 1 Timothy 2:4:

Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

Let's be joyfully about our Father's business and bring great JOY to HIS heart! Here is Brandon Lake with  "Praise You Anywhere":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I relly like Mark 16, which we read in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today, for a few reasons! One of them is seen here in verses 1-8:

1 And when the Sabbath was past [that is, after the sun had set], Mary Magdalene, and Mary [the mother] of James, and Salome purchased sweet-smelling spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body].
2 And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb; [by then] the sun had risen.
3 And they said to one another, Who will roll back the stone for us out of [the groove across the floor at] the door of the tomb?
4 And when they looked up, they [distinctly] saw that the stone was already rolled back, for it was very large.
5 And going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting [there] on the right [side], clothed in a [long, stately, sweeping] robe of white, and they were utterly amazed and struck with terror.
6 And he said to them, Do not be amazed and terrified; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
7 But be going; tell the disciples and Peter, He goes before you into Galilee; you will see Him there, [just] as He told you.
8 Then they went out [and] fled from the tomb, for trembling and bewilderment and consternation had seized them. And they said nothing about it to anyone, for they were held by alarm and fear.

Notice the reaction of the women who went after the Sabbath to anoint the body of Jesus when they saw the angel! The stone was rolled away, Jesus was not there, and the angel told them the TRUTH, but they did not believe out of fear! Then we see this in verses 9-14:

9 Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had driven out seven demons.
10 She went and reported it to those who had been with Him, as they grieved and wept.
11 And when they heard that He was alive and that she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
12 After this, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking [along the way] into the country.
13 And they returned [to Jerusalem] and told the others, but they did not believe them either.
14 Afterward He appeared to the Eleven [apostles themselves] as they reclined at table; and He reproved and reproached them for their unbelief (their lack of faith) and their hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at Him attentively after He had risen [from death].

Mary believed when she saw JESUS! Then she reported to the rest and they did not believe her or the two who had met Jesus on the road! They did not believe until they SAW HIM! So my question is, why is Thomas always singled out as 'Doubting Thomas' when none of them believed until they SAW? I think he deserves and apology when we all see him one day! Then my favorite verses are 19-20:

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied [it]. Amen (so be it).

JESUS will do the same for us when WE share the Word! HE will confirm what WE speak! AMEN! Here is Brandon Lake with "Count 'Em" (and you CAN'T)! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share again from Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional.

A Psalm

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . . . — COLOSSIANS 3:16

Here is the psalm the Holy Spirit gave me on the subject of words.

Words seem so insignificant and small
that men oft times take no note of them at all.

But words spoken in faith, create realities . . .
So rise up and speak, like the Creator of the universe,
Who, in faith, said, LET THERE BE — and THERE WAS.

Words — you speak them all the time,
filled with negativism and defeat,
Those words create defeat, and make you
unsuccessful, unhealthy, and unwise.

But Words given by God, inspired by His Spirit,
called by men, the Holy Writ,

These words heard with the ear of faith,
And spoken out of a heart filled with faith,
Will create in your life, and your family’s too,
Success and victory; health and healing;
Circumstances and darkness and troubles too,
will run away from you.

Filled with His Word, inspired by His Spirit,
Make your tongue do its duty.
See to it that you speak only truth . . .
His Word is truth.

Speak words of faith and love; words that are true,
And no longer will spiritual realities unto you,
seem unreal and far away.

But all of the blessings of life;
spiritual, material, physical, and financial too,
Will come to make their abode with you.

AMEN! Let's BELIEVE and RECEIVE all that JESUS has ALREADY provided for us! Here is Brooke Ligertwood with "Honey In The Rock":

Shalom in Him!