Shalom,

In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan we are reading Matthew 6 again! Here is what JESUS had to say to those who were walking in fear and worry over the 'tomorrows' in their lives! Verses25-30:

25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the]span of his life? 28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

He is saying to STOP worry and fear! Why? Because God is GREATER than any situation or circumstance that we can every face! AMEN! Now look at verses 31-34:

31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? 32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

AMEN! WE are to seek HIM first over all other things that we do! THEN He will be able to bless us beyond measure! AMEN! Hedre is Hillsong with "What a Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today I have been really blessed again with the devotional on The Spoken Word Church website!

Move Toward Extraordinary People

Make a habit of pursuing greatness. Elisha received a double portion of God's power because he was willing to pay any price to stay in the presence of Elijah, the great prophet.

Joshua observed Moses. Ruth reached for Boaz. You will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue.

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

AMEN! Not one of us was meant to run our races completely alone! We ARE knit together in a local body of believers who are all sent out to reach THEIR WORLD! Let's NOT neglect the assembling of ourselves together, as SOME have! Let's obey God in THIS from  Hebrews 10:25:

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

AMEN! Now let's get at it! People are waiting on US to pick up our game! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Children of the Light":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin is another powerful one!

Led By The Spirit

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. — ROMANS 8:14

The sons of God can expect to be led by the Spirit of God.

Believers can expect to be led, or guided, by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, referring to the time when the Holy Spirit would come, said, “He will guide you.” So we don’t have to look to man for guidance — that’s unscriptural. All of God’s children have the Spirit of God within and can expect to be guided by Him.

In February 1959, Jesus appeared to me in an open vision. I heard His footsteps coming into my hospital room. He sat on a chair by my bed and talked to me for an hour and a half about the ministry of a prophet. One of the things He said was, “The prophet’s ministry is not set in the Church to guide members and tell them what to do. Under the Old Covenant, people would go to the prophet to seek advice, or direction, or guidance, because he had the Spirit of God and they didn’t. No one under the Old Covenant, except the king, the priest, and the prophet, had the Holy Spirit upon them. The people knew nothing about the Spirit’s leading. But under the New Covenant it does not say, ‘As many as are led by the prophets, they are the sons of God.’ It says, ‘As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.’”

Confession: I am a child of God. I can expect to be led by the Spirit of God. He is leading me now.

AMEN! Every born again believer is a new creation of God with Holy Spirit living IN us! We are to be led, moment by moment, and day by day, by the Spirit of the Living God! If someone gives you a 'word from the Lord' that doesn't confirm something that God has already put in your heart, then put it on a shelf and forget about it, unless and until Holy Spirit Himself speaks to YOU about it! AMEN! He is WELL ABLE to lead you when you count on HIM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Oceans - Where Feet May Fail":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is another excellenht lesson!

One of God’s Great “Don’ts”

Do not fret— it only causes harm. —Psalm 37:8

Fretting means getting ourselves “out of joint” mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say, “Do not fret,” but something very different to have such a nature that you find yourself unable to fret. It’s easy to say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7) until our own little world is turned upside down and we are forced to live in confusion and agony like so many other people. Is it possible to “rest in the Lord” then? If this “Do not” doesn’t work there, then it will not work anywhere. This “Do not” must work during our days of difficulty and uncertainty, as well as our peaceful days, or it will never work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work for anyone else. Resting in the Lord is not dependent on your external circumstances at all, but on your relationship with God Himself.

Worrying always results in sin. We tend to think that a little anxiety and worry are simply an indication of how wise we really are, yet it is actually a much better indication of just how wicked we are. Fretting rises from our determination to have our own way. Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.

Have you been propping up that foolish soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God to handle? Set all your opinions and speculations aside and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about whatever concerns you. All our fretting and worrying is caused by planning without God.

AMEN! Another of my favorite portions of Scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6:

5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

AMEN! Cast those cares on HIM! HE is well able to handle them! Here are Hillsong Kids with "As The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I want to share Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional again today! We are reading these at Morning Prayer again this year and this is simply powerful!

The Living Word

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. — 1 JOHN 5:7

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . . . — JOHN 1:1,14

How can I make Jesus Lord of my life?

Jesus is the Living Word. And God has given us the written Word to unveil the Living Word to us.

Give the Word of God — primarily the New Testament — first place in your life. By doing so, you are putting Jesus first!

Let the Word of God govern your life. Let this Word be the Lord of your life. Let the Word dominate you. By doing so, you are really allowing Jesus to lord it over you — because Jesus and His Word are One.

We are living in an age when we need to get serious about spiritual matters, and we need to learn what the Bible has to say about love, life, home, marriage, and children.

Let the Word of God be your guide in life. When you do, you are making Jesus the Lord of your life. Then His written Word becomes the Lord of your life.

Confession: Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of my life. I allow Your Word to dominate me. I allow Your Word to have dominion over me; therefore, YOU are lording it over me. You are dominating me. You are the Lord of my life!

Amen! When JESUS is truly the LORD of our lives, everything will fall right into place! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have really been enjoying Kenneth E. Hagin's "Faith Food" devotional this month so far! This is today's:

The Lord Christ

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. COLOSSIANS 3:23,24

When Jesus becomes your Lord, He will want to have something to say about the kind of books you read — about the amusements you enjoy — about the governing of your physical body.

If Jesus is your Lord, He will want to have something to say about your finances — how you make your money — and how you use your money.

If Jesus is your Lord, He will want to have something to say about your marriage — about your children — about your home. He will want to dictate to you regarding your vocation in life and where you live.

Yes, Jesus will want to enter every area of your life, if He’s your Lord. I want Him to be my Lord, don’t you? That’s what makes the Christian life blessed. The lordship of Jesus strips life of its weakness, frailty, and human guidance. It lifts life out of the realm of the natural and into the supernatural.

Confession: Lord Jesus, I want You to have Your way in every area of my life. I want You to have Your say-so in every area of my life — in the books I read, in the company I keep, in the amusements I enjoy, in my companions, in my marriage, in my home, in my finances, and in the way I spend my time.

AMEN! I desire for JESUS to be the LORD of my life! HIS ways are ALWAYS the BEST ways! Here is a song that I really love from Hillsong Kids called "As The World Shakes":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Power In The Name Of Jesus

Luke 10:17 - 'And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.'

It was the power in the name of Jesus plus the disciples' faith in that power that made the demons subject unto them. This can clearly be seen in Acts 19:13-17 where certain Jews called on the name of Jesus in an effort to cast demons out of a man. They used the name of Jesus, but it didn't work because they had not put faith in that name.

These Jews were itinerants who used incantations to effect deliverance for people who were demon possessed. The first-century historian, Josephus, wrote of an exorcism that he witnessed in the presence of Vespasian and many of his soldiers. The exorcist supposedly followed a ritual passed down from King Solomon to effect the deliverance. There is no doubt that men throughout all history have tried to resist demonic spirits, but as this example proves, only Jesus and those who have received His life are successful.

Those who relegate demonic spirits to the realm of superstition do not believe in the entire Word of God. The Gospels alone contain over 90 references to the devil or devils (demons). The Apostle Paul said when writing to these people in Ephesus, 'We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places' (Ephesians 6:12). The devil and demons do exist, but all believers in Jesus share in His total victory over them.

The name of Jesus is not magic. It does not work like a charm. As Peter said, 'His name, through faith in his name' (Acts 3:16) is what brings results.

AMEN! I have seen so many believers over the years who would simply tack 'In Jesus' Name' to the end of whatever they were praying as if adding that made everything work! The TRUTH is found in Acts 3:16 (above)! His Name, THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME, is what causes answers to prayer and changes to come! We can only build up our faith in His Name by spending time in His Word and finding out just what the Word says about the NAME! Take the time to find out just what YOU can do in HIS NAME and then get about YOUR FATHER's business! Here is Hillsong with "What A Beautiful Name":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I REALLY love today's "Faith Food" devotional by Kenneth E. Hagin!

Conductor Of Life

. . . God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life . . . . — 1 JOHN 5:11,12

Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. . . . And these signs shall follow them that believe . . .” (Mark 16:15,17). One of these signs Jesus said would follow believers — not the Early Church, not apostles, not pastors, not preachers, but believers — is, “. . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).

Why? Because the life of God is in believers!

Sometimes people are specially anointed to minister healing, but that isn’t what Mark 16 is talking about! Every born-again believer has the life of God, the nature of God, the God-kind of life, in him — and by the laying on of hands, that life can be imparted into the physical bodies of others!

That’s why you should lay hands on the sick. When you lay hands on them, that life of God in you is conducted through your hands to others. Often, you’ll be conscious of that life flowing right out of you into them. You’ve got the life of God in you! You’ve got the nature of God in you! God’s a healing God. Put God’s power to work! That’s how God works — through your own hands. God’s not here on earth in Person, but He is in you by His Spirit!

Confession: I am a believing one. I have the life of God in me. And God is a healing God. I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.

AMEN!!! That IS what our Father is EXPECTING us to do! When WE do OUR part, then HE can do what only HE can do! HALLELUJAH! Here is Hillsong Worship with "New Wine":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Colossians 2:8-10 is excellent Wisdom for every born again believer!

8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). 9 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. 10 And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that God has made Him (JESUS) to be our Wisdom! 

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].

JESUS IS Wisdom and when we pay attention to HIM and to HIS WORD, then the so-called wisdom of the world will simply fall away and give place to the TRUE Wisdom which comes only from God! Right now the world without JESUS is simply falling apart, but WE who are IN CHRIST JESUS will shine like the light of day with the GLORY of GOD as we heed and operate IN His Wisdom,, knwledge and understanding! The world is scared and looking for answers and WE have them! HIS NAME is JESUS! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Upper Room":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

The Spoken Word Church website has an excellent, short devotional for every day of the year! Today's says this:

Setting a specific prayer time is one of the great secrets in the lives of prayer champions. Build your daily agenda around your specific prayer time. Morning is usually the best time. Make it the priority of the day.

You will be amazed at the power of keeping a daily appointment with God.

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." (Psalms 5:3)

AMEN! If we do not make time spent with the Lord our immediate priority on waking up, we will be no better off than the people in the world without JESUS! Without HIS Wisdom to begin our day, we will be cheating ourselves out of the very best! Give yourself every advantage iin life that JESUS has provided for you! ACCESS to HIM and His infinite WISDOM! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Like Incense (Sometimes By Step)":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I have shared before that John is my favorite Gospel and Philippians and 1 John are my favorite Epistles. Today we have Philippians 4 in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and I am going to simply share a few of my favorite verses! Verse 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

I look at the command to re-joice as meaning to stir up the joy that is IN me as a fruit of the Spirit. I may not always FEEL the joy, but when I commit to stir it up, the joy just overflows! YOU should do so, too! Then verses 6-7 are vital for walking in God's great peace!

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

AMEN! God's peace will flow FROM us in ther midst of chaos and turmoil when we refuse to fret and CHOOSE to 'rejoice'! The WAY we do this is foundn in verse 8!

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

What we CHOOSE to think about, fixing our minds on, WILL BE what affects the outcome! When we choose the good and godly TRUTH of God's Word over the situations and circumstances of the world, then we WILL have peace, joy and a clear mind! Because verse 13 tells us that we CAN DO anything!

13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

AMEN! We do NOT have to do anything in this life in our own strength! WE HAVE HIS! And then, when we follow God's financial guidelines by tithing and giving, then we have verse 19 that we can count on! ALWAYS!

19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

This promise was given to those who were supporting the GOSPEL! GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE and this PROMISE is YOURS! AMEN! We will wrap this blog up today by remembering that we ARE who HE says that we are! And we'll do so with a little help from Hillsong Worship! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Philippians 3:7-11:

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. 8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Most people who know me also know that Philippians 3:10 is MY foundational Scripture! This IS MY "determined purpose"! We MUST make it our own "determined puspose" to KNOW HIM, and to KNOW HIM WELL! THEN we can be Confident of ALL that the Word of God applies to us! AMEN! Here are Hillsong Kids with

Hillsong as the world shakes with lyics:

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

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

Knowledge And Skill

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. — DANIEL 1:17

“. . . God gave them knowledge and skill. . . .”

God gave Daniel and the other three Hebrew children, knowledge and all skill.

Eternal life is the nature of God. You’ve got God’s nature in you. Know that! Believe that! Confess that! Then that nature will begin to dominate you!

Learn to walk in the light of life. Learn to put that life into practice in your being. Walking in the light of that life will enhance your entire personality, and will increase your intelligence.

Confession: I am a new creation. I am born again. I am a new creature. I have the life and nature of God in my spirit. That life is the light of men. I purpose to walk in the light of life. 

God’s life is in me. God’s knowledge is in me. God’s skill is in me. God’s ability is in me. God’s wisdom is in me. He is instructing me. He is leading me. I am a child of God. The Spirit of God in me is leading me. I’ll follow His leading. I’ll walk in the light of life.

When we REALLY believe that we ARE exactly who GOD says that we are, and that we CAN DO exactly what GOD says we can do, there will be no stopping the wonderful and powerful works that God desires to do to reach the unreached people around us with the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST that brings SALVATION to the lost! Are YOU ready to dig in to the WORD of the LIVING God until the TRUTH of who YOU ARE rises up so big that it chases all fear away? Let's get to it! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":

Shalom in  Him!

Shalom,

I think that you will be really blessed with today's "Sparkling Gems From The Greek - Volume 2" by Rick Renner!

The Permanent Indweller of Your Heart

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? — James 4:5

According to James 4:5, the Holy Spirit came into our hearts as a Permanent Indweller. It says, “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

The Greek word for “dwelleth” is katoikidzo, a compound of the words kata and oikos. The word kata carries the idea of settling down, and the word oikos is the word for a house. Taken together, the new word means to take up residency or to dwell in a house. This word carries the idea of residing permanently. In other words, this word would never describe a transient or one who came to live in a place only temporarily. This is the picture of a person who has settled into a home with no intention of ever leaving.

In other words, when the Holy Spirit came to live in you, it wasn’t for a short period of time. When He came, He came to stay. From the moment you made Jesus your Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit made your heart His permanent home. He has, so to speak, hung His own pictures on the walls, moved His furniture in, and settled down into a nice, big comfortable chair. He has no intention of ever moving out to leave your heart vacant while He finds somewhere else to live.

Think of that! The Holy Spirit doesn’t come only to visit occasionally. Your heart is His home. Meditate on this truth, and determine to live each moment of the day with a deep sense of awareness of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Welcome His fellowship; talk to Him; and yield to Him as He prays through you and gives you guidance and direction. A deeper realization of the Permanent Indweller who lives on the inside of you will help you stay on track and continually move forward in your walk in Christ!

When we REALLY realize that Holy Spirit is IN US TO STAY, then we will never allow fear, worry, guilt or comndemnation to have any place! HE is IN US to HELP us! COUNT ON IT! COPUNT ON HIM! He is waiting on us! Make it your determined purpose to spend more time being aware of HIS presence in you and communing with Him. Your life will never be the same! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Upper Room":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Ephesians 6:18-19 gives vital instructions for us today!

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). 19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),

Prayer is such a powerful and priceless privilege that God has given us! Prayer is simply communion with the One, True God! Prayer in intercession for others is great seed sown that will reap great rewards in our own lives. Job's healy, family and fortunes were restored, even more than before, when he prayed for his friends! Even though theyy had treated him unfairly. There is no better way to walk in the love that never fails than to pray for those who have hurt you! That frees YOU to move on in faith with God's plan for your life and enables GOD to get involved with them as only He can to bring them into fellowship with Himself! And then ALWAYS pray for the ministers of God as they go about our Father's business in the way that only they and God can direct! AMEN! Then Paul closes Ephesians with these verses:

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 24 Grace (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be).

AMEN! God is GOOD! ALL the TIME! And He brings GOOD things into our lives! COUNT ON IT! Here is Hillsong Worship with: "From Whom All Blessings Flow":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I am loveing Proverbs 22 today! Verse 4:

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

There are definite rewards for doing things GOD's way! Verse 6 holds another promise that I hold dear and in faith! 

6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Then some encouragement for those who have been the victims of this latest detestable and inexcusable conduct going on in this nation! Verse 8:

8 He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath [with which he smites others] will fail.

It will NOT keep going on and THEY will reap the just rewards of their conduct! Verses 17-19 are a promise!

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

And then a final warning to those who arre destroying landmarks and memorials! Verse 28:

28 Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.

Then we have more wonerful promises in Ephesians 5:1-2:

1 Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Remember two things as you choose how to respond to those who treat you badly!  

1. LOVE NEVER fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8)
2. VENGEANCE belongs to the LORD! He WILL repay! HE will! (Romans 12:17-19)

AMEN! And then Ephesians 5:11-16:

11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed and reproved by the light, it is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear there is light. 14 Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. 15 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

AMEN! ANd then, for good measure, let's be DOERS of 1 Chronicles 16:23-34:

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day His salvation. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples. 25 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He also is to be [reverently] feared above all so-called gods. 26 For all the gods of the people are [lifeless] idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 27 Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary. 28 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, 29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and in holy array. 30 Tremble and reverently fear before Him, all the earth’s peoples; the world also shall be established, so it cannot be moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigns! 32 Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge and govern the earth. 34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

AMEN and AMEN! Be DOERS of God's Word and recieve GOD's promised results! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Bright As The Sun":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

I really love today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.

The Ministry of the Inner Life

You are…a royal priesthood… —1 Peter 2:9

By what right have we become “a royal priesthood”? It is by the right of the atonement by the Cross of Christ that this has been accomplished. Are we prepared to purposely disregard ourselves and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual inner-searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simple life of a child of God. Until we get into this right and proper relationship with God, it is simply a case of our “hanging on by the skin of our teeth,” although we say, “What a wonderful victory I have!” Yet there is nothing at all in that which indicates the miracle of redemption. Launch out in reckless, unrestrained belief that the redemption is complete. Then don’t worry anymore about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ has said, in essence, “Pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints of God, and pray for all men.” Pray with the realization that you are perfect only in Christ Jesus, not on the basis of this argument: “Oh, Lord, I have done my best; please hear me now.”

How long is it going to take God to free us from the unhealthy habit of thinking only about ourselves? We must get to the point of being sick to death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God might tell us about ourselves. We cannot reach and understand the depths of our own meagerness. There is only one place where we are right with God, and that is in Christ Jesus. Once we are there, we have to pour out our lives for all we are worth in this ministry of the inner life.

What is being discussed here is the religious idea that we must look, sound and act like a "good Christian"! That means that we have to constantly be thinking about how others perceive our behavior. That is NOT how our Heavenly Father desires for us to act! HE desires that we really come to KNOW HIM! When we do, then we will REALLY come to know who WE ARE - IN HIM! THAT is what pleases the Father the most! Let's be like Paul again and make it our determined purpose to KNOW HIM (JESUS) more every day than we did the day before! In this way HIS ways will become our ways naturally, rather than a show that we put on for the benefit of those who are, and look for, religious actions! Instead, we will look like JESUS to the world! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No One But You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We read Ephesians 3 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan and it is just as exciting to me as the very first time that I read or heard this! 

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], 9 Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. 10 [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. 11 This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

GOD's plan was ALWAYS to have a people for Himself who would be ABLE to worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth! He desired for us to have a free will so that our choice for HIM would be REAL and not forced! He did NOT desire ROBOTS! Now we, those of us who have received JESUS as Lord and personal Saviour, choose to LOVE  JESUS because WE WANT TO and NOT because someone is forcing or programming us to! YOUR love for HIM is REAL, and that is JUST what HE wants! AMEN! He also REALLY wants US to know how much HE loves US! Look at verse 19:

19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 

AMEN! And then He further explains just how much HE wants to bless US! Verse 20-21:

20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

AMEN! SO, let's GIVE HIM the GLORY that HE alone deserves! Here is Hillsong Worship with "No One But You":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

Ephesians 2:5-7 show us what God has accomplished in us through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what HIS plan for us is for the ages to come!

5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). 6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

God DID all that He accomplished in and through US for THIS PURPOSE: that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

AMEN! God is about to show off to the world just what HE can and will do for those who dare top put our trust in HIM! HE is going to be demonstrating to EVERYONE what it means to be a GOD follower! Are YOU ready for this? If not - GET READY! I AM READY! SO READY! Let's GO! And here, appropriately, is Hillsong UNITED with "GO"!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,

We begin Ephesians today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. Remember that the Epistles are where every born again believer should spend most of our time because they are the letters written specifically to the Body of Christ, the Church! They reveal to us what God has done and is going to do in us, for us and through us! Look at verses 4-10:

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]— 6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, 8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), 9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, 10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth.

THIS is ALL God's very specific plan and purposes for us! One minister put it this way: The CHURCH of Jesus Christ is going to be showcased throughout all of eternity as God's perfect accomplishment! There was nothing like us before and there will be nothing like us after! We are UNIQUE, and uniquely anointed, appointed, gifted, called and placed all for HIS purpose and for HIS GLORY! Let's make sure that we are making GOD's priorities our own! There is no end to the great BLESSING that will operate in our lives, bringing GLORY to HIM, when we 'get with HIS program'! Find out what our Father has called YOU to do, and DO IT! Remember that we are, of ALL people who have ever lived, MOST BLESSED! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Come ALive":

Shalom in Him!