Shalom,

Today I want to share "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince! 

DIVINELY ARRANGED, BEAUTIFULLY TIMED

Ecclesiastes 3:11  He has made everything beautiful in its time…

Nothing happens to you by accident when you have God in your life. Even a “chance” meeting with someone is part of His plan to set in motion His blessings in your life.

Such was the divinely arranged meeting of the Shunammite woman and Prophet Elisha. It led to the prophet pronouncing over her the blessing of a miracle child even though she was barren and her husband was old. (2 Kings 4:8–17) A few years later, it was this friendship with the man of God, which saw her through a crisis when her son fell seriously ill and died—Elisha raised her son back to life. (2 Kings 4:18–37)

When God is the one orchestrating the events in your life, neither lack nor danger nor destruction can affect you. When famine hit the land, the Shunammite woman’s family did not suffer because through Elisha, God had told them to leave the land. They went to the land of the Philistines and dwelt there throughout the seven years of famine. (2 Kings 8:1–2)

God can place you at the right place at the right time, even through your daily decision-making. The Shunammite woman returned to Shunem after the famine had ended. She then decided to appeal to the king of Israel for help to regain her house and land, which had been illegally acquired by others during her absence. This decision brought her before the king on the same day that Elisha’s servant Gehazi was in audience with the king.

The king wanted to hear all about the miracles performed by Elisha. This gave the Shunammite woman the opportunity to share firsthand with the king how Elisha had raised her son from the dead. The thrilled king then ordered the restoration of her house and land, including all the proceeds of the field from the day that she had left until then. (2 Kings 8:3–6) The Lord had timed and set up everything beautifully for her!

Beloved, God can also make all things beautiful in its time for you. As you involve Him in your daily life and trust His love for you, you too will see Him lead and place you at the right place at the right time to enjoy His blessings.

AMEN! We can TRUST Him to "lead us out with joy" and "lead us forth with and in peace"(Isaiah 55:12)!  HE affects every area of our lives, for GOOD! Here is Hillsong with  an older song called "This Is How We Overcome"!



Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share "Faith Food' by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Short of the Glory

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). 

Man did the unthinkable! Given dominion over all the works of God's hand, Adam was originally the god of this world. But Adam knowingly committed high treason against God by selling out to Satan the dominion which God had originally given him. 

Adam's treason was done on such a legal basis that God could not annul the contract He had made with Adam, and which Adam had passed on to Satan. Hence, Satan, not Adam, became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). And thus began Satan's destructive reign. 

So spiritual death—which is separation from God—came to man. When God came down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with Adam, God called, "Adam, where art thou?" And Adam said, "I hid myself." He was separated from God! 

Another aspect of spiritual death—having Satan's nature—also came to man. The devil became man's spiritual father. 

Notice Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Ye are of your father the devil..." (John 8:44). Man is spiritually a child of the devil. He partakes of his father's nature. This explains why man cannot be saved by conduct. 

Man cannot stand in the presence of God as he is, having the nature of his father, the devil, in him. If man is ever saved, he must be saved by someone paying the penalty for his sins, and someone giving him a new nature. 

Confession: Thank You, Father, for my new nature. Thank You, Father, that You have made provision for me to be a "partaker of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). 

This is SO good! When we realize that EVERYTHING that God does for us He does because He loves us with His everlasting LOVE! I am so blessed to walk with Holy Spirit living IN me! YOU can, too! ASK! Here is Hillsong with a Christmas song called "We Have A Savior":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

One of my favorite verses in all of the Proverbs is Proverbs 9:10, from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today!

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.

We know that JESUS said that the first and most important commandment is to love the Lord our God with our whole being! THIS is where the "reverent and worshipful 'fear of the Lord'" comes from! We honor Him, thank Him and praise Him for all that He has already done for us! WHEN we do this, bringing glory to HIS Name, then we are in a great position to see more clearly, hear more clearly and make wise, informed choices! And the promise that HE has given us for doing so? Verse 11:

11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

The key to truly walking in the Truth of the Word like this is to be actively pursuing JESUS on a daily basis! When Paul declared that his 'determined purpose' was to KNOW JESUS more progressively every day, THIS is what he was speaking of! Put JESUS first in your life - TOP PRIORITY! Then begin to reverence  Him and be in awe of His presence - IN YOU! Then, when you begin to see the manifestations of this in your life, remember that by operating in THIS Wisdom, you release the blessings of God into your life, those blessings which cause you to be wise, and blessed, anointed and have beautiful days and a long, healthy life! What more could we ask for? SO: REJOICE! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Long Life

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore...With long life will I satisfy him..." (Psalm 91:14,16). 

"But, Brother Hagin," someone said, "I knew a minister who was a wonderful man of God, and he died at age 42." 

That doesn't mean I have to die young. I don't know what that minister believed - but I know what I believe. And I know that the God who is more than enough said, "I will satisfy him with long life." 

Someone else will say, "That just means we're going to live forever in Heaven." No, even sinners are going to live forever. They're going to live in one place, and we're going to live in another. That scripture is referring to our enjoying long life here upon this earth. 

A reading of Proverbs reveals that the Word of God says that doing certain things will lengthen your life, but doing certain other things will shorten your life. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells children to honor their parents, "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Peter quoted the Psalms assuring us that these promises belong to us (1 Peter 3:10; Psalm 34:12). 

Confession:

Because I have set my love upon God, El Shaddai will satisfy me with long life. Unless the Lord Jesus Christ returns before I die, I will live out my years in service to God. I will live and work together with God in carrying out His will upon the earth. 

AMEN! There is a LOT to do to reach every person in our own realms of influence with the wonderful, powerful GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST! Let's be about our Father's business with boldness, confidence and joy because we KNOW and RECOGNIZE that our God IS GOD! Amen! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Brighter":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I want to share Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "Faith To Faith" devotional! 

Your Children Released From Captivity

Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they [your children] shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. Jeremiah 31:16-17

Jesus has redeemed us from the curse. Many of us have been well taught about that redemption where sin, sickness and poverty in our own lives are concerned. But we often fail to realize that redemption has power over the destruction the devil tries to bring on our children's lives as well.

Deuteronomy 28 states the curse of the law in verses 16-68. Notice what that curse says about children. "Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand" (verse 32).

"Thou shall beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity" (verse 41).

Many Christian parents are still suffering needlessly under that curse. Their children are being taken captive by drugs, alcohol and perversions. But it doesn't have to be that way! Since Jesus broke the curse of the law, these parents have the authority in the Name of Jesus to order Satan out of their children's lives.

Don't let the devil run roughshod over your children! When you see the first warning signs of rebellion in them, confess the promises of God over them and refuse to give the devil any room to operate.

Remember, the children don't understand the unseen forces that are coming against them. So it's your responsibility to stand against those forces on their behalf. Exercise that responsibility. Then take every opportunity to minister love to them.

God knows how to deliver your children. Do your part and trust Him to do His. He will bring them back from the land of the enemy!

AMEN! The promise of God to His children is that their households will be saved! God promised this in Acts 15:31! Hold fast to that promise KNOWING that God has this! You can trust Him! Here is Hillsong with "Desert Song":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I noticed something new again from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Proverbs 6 that I had never noticed specifically before! I like to do my study reading from the Amplified Bible. Verses 16-19 say this:

16 These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.

I am looking particularly at verse 17 in the list of the things that the Lord hates! The phrase "a proud look" is the Hebrew word "ruwm", which means, in most cases, to raise or to lift. One of the definitions is: to be proud or arrogant, haughtiness. The new thing I see is that haughtiness is NOT always thinking of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but also can be thinking too little of others! If we are constantly finding fault with others, especially other born again believers, then we would fall into that category! When God sees US as precious and valuable in HIS sight because of what JESUS has done in and through us, then He sees others in that same way! When we notice the faults, failures and shortcomings of others, then we are putting ourselves in a position to fail, because it is only LOVE that never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8) Recognizing shortcomings with the attitude that you desire for them to do better so that they can walk in the BLESSING of GOD is a good thing, IF it causes us to pray for their eyes to be open! Otherwise it is simply pride in one if pride's very worst forms! AND, that attitude WILL steal, kill and destroy in our lives the things that God has planned for good! SO, we learn and we grow and then we do better! And THEN we will notice something else in the Word of God that needs our attention in our own lives! ALWAYS growing is the key! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Love On The Line":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I am loving Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional!

He Answers

"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore.... He shall call upon me, and I will answer him..." (Psalm 91:14-15). 

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you...ask, and ye 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! 

AMEN! Then, for one more piece of tremendously good news, here is 1 John 5:14-15:

14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.

So, if we simply get JESUS to HEAR us, then we have what we desired! He listens ONLY to His Word! We must approach Him on the basis of the authority of the Word of God! When we do, then we will begin to see HIS results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

After over 30 years following our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, I have been learning more this year through than any other year! I can hardly wait for 2018 to see how much better next year will be! God's Word is TRUTH (John 17:17) and it is LIMITLESS! There is SO much to learn! As far as we have come, there is SO much farther that we can go into the things of God! HALLELUJAH!  Reading in Proverbs 4 today I see new illumination of almost every verse! Look at verses 1-2:

Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters]. 2 For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.

Solomon, who sought Wisdom when he was young, only to turn from wisdom when he was older, is speaking here from great experience. You see, there are really only two ways to learn. We learn either through experience, which is by making our own mistakes, or through wisdom, which is learning from the mistakes of others! I MUCH prefer wisdom! Experience can hurt! Solomon is remembering, and sharing, WISDOM with us, his own experience. Verses  3-6:

3 When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba], 4 He taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live. 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.

Solomon goes on to say this gem that is a vital TRUTH that we all should hold to heart! Verse 7:

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).

THE most important decision we can make in order to have wisdom operating in our lives is this: GET WISDOM! You may be thinking 'who doesn't know that?', but unless we make a purposeful decision to really DO something, we will NOT follow through! Cares, worries, distractions (from both good and bad situations), interests, people, jobs, things, will all pile up until we forget that we really DO desire Wisdom! Meditating on these next verses, where Solomon gives us the benefits of operating in Wisdom, should help us to keep focus! Verses 8-10:

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. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

In verses 20-23 Solomon re-emphasizes these things!

20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

I LOVE how Solomon, again operating from a place of Wisdom, says this in verses 25-27:

25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you. 26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. 27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.

IF Solomon had done these things when all of those foreign women began to catch his eye, he would never have had to experience the things he writes about in Ecclesiastes! He allowed his gaze to wander and his attention become distracted to the point where the one who had received riches and honor, along WITH Godly Wisdom, because he had only asked for Wisdom, turned aside from that Wisdom and eventually got to the point where his foreign, pagan wives influenced him to worship their foreign 'gods'! He forsook the One, True God Whom he had so desired to please! Do we REALLY think that the same thing can't happen to us today if we neglect this Wisdom? While we DO have Holy Spirit living IN us, He can do NOTHING in us unless we ask Him to! God has given us all a free will, and He will NOT force anything upon us! So, make up your own mind today to pursue after God with everything you've got inside! You will NEVER regret that timely decision! Here is Hillsong with "With Everything":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The blog today will not be in my own words, but some that I just recently saw from Charles Spurgeon! If you are a born again believer in the Lord JESUS, then you ARE the church, and the Bride of Christ! These beautiful words, directly from the Word of  God Himself, describe YOU! 

"Thou art all fair, my love." — Song of Solomon 4:7

The Lord's admiration of His Church is very wonderful, and His description of her beauty is very glowing. She is not merely fair, but "all fair." He views her in Himself, washed in His sin-atoning blood and clothed in His meritorious righteousness, and He considers her to be full of comeliness and beauty. No wonder that such is the case, since it is but His own perfect excellency that He admires; for the holiness, glory, and perfection of His Church are His own glorious garments on the back of His own well-beloved spouse. She is not simply pure, or well-proportioned; she is positively lovely and fair! She has actual merit! Her deformities of sin are removed; but more, she has through her Lord obtained a meritorious righteousness by which an actual beauty is conferred upon her. Believers have a positive righteousness given to them when they become "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). Nor is the Church barely lovely, she is superlatively so. Her Lord styles her "Thou fairest among women." She has a real worth and excellence which cannot be rivalled by all the nobility and royalty of the world. If Jesus could exchange His elect bride for all the queens and empresses of earth, or even for the angels in heaven, He would not, for He puts her first and foremost—"fairest among women." Like the moon she far outshines the stars. Nor is this an opinion which He is ashamed of, for He invites all men to hear it. He sets a "behold" before it, a special note of exclamation, inviting and arresting attention. "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair" (Song of Solomon 4:1). His opinion He publishes abroad even now, and one day from the throne of His glory He will avow the truth of it before the assembled universe. "Come, ye blessed of my Father" (Matthew 25:34), will be His solemn affirmation of the loveliness of His elect.

We may not always FEEL like this is who we are, but God does not, and He cannot, lie! This IS who we REALLY are! When we are free of the nature of the flesh and the effects of a world operating under the curse, THEN we will see, hear and KNOW more clearly! The Good News is that we don't have to wait until we see HIM face to face to BEGIN to understand the things of God! Hosea (Hosea 6:3) says that we know WHEN we follow on to know the LORD! I hope that YOU are doing so on a daily basis! 

Now if you have never received JESUS as your own LORD and personal Savior, then you have no possibility of knowing, for the Word of God that brings the knowledge of the LORD can only be understood by those with a reborn spirit! Nor are you a member of God's family. You are His creation, but NOT His child! The REALLY great Good News is that you CAN be! Just believe that, as a sinner, you need a Savior! Believe that JESUS came to this earth, died the death on the cross for YOU! Was raised from the dead VICTORIOUS over sin, satan and death! Now Accept Him as your Savior, receive Him as your Lord, and dive into His Word to learn even more of Who He is, and who YOU are - IN HIM! AMEN! Here is the prayer that we use to pray with those who desire to be born again! 

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, as a child of the Living God, the beautiful description of His bride refers to YOU, also! This IS who you are! This IS how HE sees YOU! Never forget this, and refuse to let anyone steal this TRUTH from you! Some people, even believers who are ignorant of the TRUTHS of God's Word, may try to talk you out of what is YOURS as a child of God! Love them, pray for them, but do NOT listen to them! Continually remind yourself that this is how GOD sees you! Encourage yourself in the LORD by reminding yourself of these words and you should never have a truly 'down day' again! Soon, and very soon, we are going to see our KING JESUS face to face! Let's occupy our proper places until then, getting to know HIM more each and every day! What a BLESSED life He has given us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Saviour King":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

When Paul declared that it was his "determined purpose" to know the Lord JESUS more (Philippians 3:10 AMP), he wasn't simply stating a desire! He was calling on the promise from the Word of God found in Proverbs 2! Look at verses 1-5:

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 Making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God.

The LORD our GOD deeply desires that we KNOW Him! He desires that we be able to properly discern HIS heart and instructions from the lies, tricks, schemes and strategies of the enemy! The Word of God is the ONLY way to do so! Now look at verses 6-8:

6 For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, 8 That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

There is NOTHING that can actually harm us or keep the blessings of God from coming to us if/when we DO what is required for God to be able to do His part! AMEN! Let's never quit seeking HIM with all that is within us! Here is Hillsong with "I Surrender":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

In this time in which we live there are many very outlandish ideas and actions that are being put forth to people as normal and right. Men wanting to become women and women wanting to become men! And this is only a sample of the outlandish and completely ungodly things that are happening all over the earth today! I have at times felt so sorry for those who are so muddled in their thinking and wonder how in the world they came to this way of thinking, speaking and acting. Then I read Proverbs 1 today and it is right there! Verse 7:

7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

Fools despise the Wisdom found in the Word of the Living God! God's Word is Truth (John 17:17), but they do not want the Truth! The Truth is so readily available to them! If you don't think so, look at verses 20-23:

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; 21 She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge? 23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you.

When the Lord our God tells us in His Word that Wisdom is crying aloud, that tells me that everyone can hear the Wisdom, but SOME choose to ignore it! The end result of these unwise decisions is found in verses 29-32:

29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, 30 Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. 32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them.

The good news is that they still have every opportunity to repent, which simply means to change THEIR thinking to agree with GOD and HIS thinking! IF they do, then they will have the same promise that we who are following on to know the Lord  have right now! Verse 33:

33 But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.

Don't ever envy those who deny the Lord and His Word and SEEM to be doing well. The Word is TRUTH and the eventual results of going against God and His Word are CERTAIN! The rewards for doing things Gods way are also CERTAIN! And eternal! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong with "Crowns":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

It's always a sad time for me when we end our reading through the Psalms in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I am SO glad, however, that we go through them twice in a year! I am also glad that we get to finish each time through with Psalm 150!

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!

3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

"Praise" in every verse in this Psalm is the Hebrew word "halal", which means: to be clear, to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to 'stultify' (cause to appear foolish or absurd), to act like a madman, with a sense of shouting and jubilation! Now the praise and worship services at the church that you attend may not include these things, but they SHOULD! THIS is BIBLE! If your church is not open to the all out boasting on the Lord our God that this Psalm calls for, then perhaps you should look for a different church! The Spoken Word Church IS such a church, or I would not be attending there! We teach the uncompromising Word of the Living God, and we put it into practice! Our services are examples of DOING the Word so that the congregation can truly become DOERS! The Word of God says, in the book of James, that to not act on the Word we hear is to deceive our own selves! Don't allow any form of deception in your life! Go after the Lord with everything within you, holding nothing back, and you will find yourself walking in the fullness of the knowledge of His Word! Let's GO FOR IT! Amen! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another very vital message for born again believers to really get inside!

The Bounty Of The Destitute

Being justified freely by His grace… — Romans 3:24

The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God; we must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there Our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves; we have to enter into His Kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are rich, possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is made effectual in us by the Holy Spirit; He imparts to us the 

quickening life of Jesus, which puts “the beyond” within, and immediately the beyond has come within, it rises up to “the above,” and we are lifted into the domain where Jesus lives (John 3:5).

I LOVE this! The very best definition of humility is accepting something you don't deserve! JESUS did not deserve the cross, but He humbled Himself to take up that cross so that you and I can take up the Salvation that He so willingly provided! Now WE humble ourselves under His mighty hand to receive ALL that He has provided for us! Will YOU humble yourself to receive so great salvation? There is NO other way to have Heaven as your home when you leave this earth, and no other way to have a relationship with the Creator of all that is! If you have never done so, please pray this prayer now, receiving JESUS as Lord and personal Savior and become a forever member of the family of Almighty God!

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.

AMEN! Now you qualify to KNOW Him, as Paul mentioned in Philippians 3:10! Let's GO! Here is Hillsong UNITED with that song!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

THIS, from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland's "Faith To Faith" devotional is EXCELLENT!

Occupy Till Jesus Comes

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17

The Bible teaches that as believers, you and I are to occupy until Jesus comes. Occupy is a military term meaning to hold possession, or control, of conquered troops and territory. If we're to do that effectively, most of us are going to have to change our attitudes. We're going to have to recognize that Jesus has already won the victory.

That's right. Satan is already defeated. He was whipped at Calvary. We're not on the defensive—he is!

What's more, Jesus has given you His very own armor and sword to use to keep that defeated devil in line. You may be a 90-pound weakling on your own, but if you'll put on God's armor, the devil will never know it. He'll run from you just like you were Jesus.

Think about it. What would you do if you were the devil and you came face to face with some fellow wearing God's armor and God's helmet with God's weapons in each hand? As long as that fellow only spoke God's words, you would think that must be God inside there!

Don't neglect any of the armor you've been given. Wear it all. Keep the devil on the defensive—and occupy till Jesus comes!

AMEN! We CANNOT walk in the victory that JESUS purchased for us unless and until we find out just who we are - IN HIM! Once we get that image of who we are inside of us, we will never be defeated again! We WILL face tests, trials, challenges and situations, but we WILL come out victoriously on the TOP of the situation if we will do this! What is stopping YOU from walking in the fullness of your Covenant with Him? Let it go and get going! The PRIZE is well worth the price! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Always Will":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's readings in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan includes Psalm 147. This another wonderful Psalm to use in personal praise and worship to our great GOD! Bringing to remembrance WHO He is and WHAT He has done is a perfect way to prepare our hearts to hear and obey, and to receive ALL that He has for us! 

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate. 2 The Lord is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering together the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]. 4 He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless. 6 The Lord lifts up the humble and downtrodden; He casts the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!— 8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens that for which they cry. 10 He delights not in the strength of the horse, nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders; He fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends forth His commandment to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. 16 He gives [to the earth] snow like [a blanket of] wool; He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes. 17 He casts forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His word, and melts [ice and snow]; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt so with any [other] nation; they have not known (understood, appreciated, given heed to, and cherished) His ordinances. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

AMEN and AMEN! After declaring this Psalm, continue in your own words to remember all that He has done personally for you, and then worship Him in spirit, by Holy Spirit within you, and in TRUTH by the Word of God! Here, also, is Hillsong Worship with "What A Beautiful Name" to add to your personal worship of Who He is! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" for today gives us in a condensed form just what our inheritance as New Covenant believers includes!

A Great Plan

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13). 

Part of the inheritance that Colossians 1:12-14 tells us we should be giving thanks to the Father for is "...redemption through his blood..." (verse 14). 

What are we redeemed from? From the curse of the law. And what is the curse of the law? The only way to find out, is to go to the law and see what it says the curse is. 

The term "the law," as found in the New Testament, refers to the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. Reading there, we find that the curse, or punishment, for breaking God's law is threefold: 

1. Spiritual death (Genesis 2:17) 

2. Poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) 

3. Sickness (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) 

Galatians 3:13 tells us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, and Colossians 1:12-14 tells us to thank God for our redemption! We are to thank the Father for this great plan of redemption which He planned and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate! 

Confession: Thank You, Father, for Your great plan of redemption which You planned and sent the Lord Jesus Christ to consummate! Thank You because I am redeemed from death! Thank You because I am redeemed from poverty! Thank You because I am redeemed from sickness! Thank You, Father! 

AMEN! So many more people would welcome the New Birth if the Good News of the Gospel was presented accurately! The moment that we believe in our heart that JESUS died in OUR place and accept and receive Him as our personal Lord and Savior, we become a new creation. We are then members of God's family, with all of the authority, rights and privileges that this position provides! Everything that JESUS bore away FOR us no longer belongs TO us, but has been deposited in hell where it belongs. Refuse to accept something that does not belong to you! Submit yourself to God and His powerful , Life-giving Word and resist the devil and his lies and he will flee from you as though in terror, taking his lies with him! BUT, WE must do both the submitting and the resisting! Find out just what belongs to you as a child of the Living God and refuse to settle for anything less. Our Father expects this of us! He is waiting on us! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Grace To Grace":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Psalm 145 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today is SO timely! As we spent yesterday being aware of all that God has blessed us with so that we can be THANKFUL, here is another list of wonderful things our GOD has done for us! 

Psalm 145

[A Psalm] of praise. Of David.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever [with grateful, affectionate praise]. 2 Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; and His greatness is [so vast and deep as to be] unsearchable. 4 One generation shall laud Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate. 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your tremendous and terrible acts, and I will declare Your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth [like a fountain] the fame of Your great and abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of Your rightness and justice. 8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. 9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created]. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your loving ones shall bless You [affectionately and gratefully shall Your saints confess and praise You]! 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men God’s mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 14 The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait for You [looking, watching, and expecting] and You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor. 17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently andworshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them. 20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him, but all the wicked will He destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy name forever and ever.

And then we read THIS in Jeremiah 29:11-13:

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

AMEN! Continue to remember all of His great benefits and blessings to you, and then continue to look forward to ALL that HE has promised to do! HE IS GOOD FOR IT! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "You Crown The Year":

Shalom in Him!