CHRIST LIVING IN ME

CHRIST LIVING IN ME Romans 8:9-15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+8:9-15Dear Father, who indwells me,Show me that I do not really live in the flesh, since your Spiritreally dwells in me, else I would not belong to you. So with Christliving in me, my spirit is alive because of righteousness, eventhough my body is dead (doomed for decay!) because of sin.May the same Spirit which dwelled in Jesus continue to dwell in meand give life to my mortal body. Enable me by the Spirit to put todeath the deeds of the sinful body, and thus find life. Help mecast off the spirit of slavery, and be a true son of yours.Thank you that I can call you "Abba, Father," as a fearlesstestimony of my sonship. Thank you, God, for condescending to be myFather and for making me an heir of your glory.It is in the name of Jesus and by his authority that I have suchboldness to come to you, asking these things according to his will.Amen.

Keep the Faith!

Keep the Faith!Dr. Creflo A. Dollar Evidence is defined as "something that indicates" or "an outward sign." In a court of law, the evidence you present to a judge can mean the difference between prison and freedom, or in some cases, life and death. In the kingdom of God, the evidence you present to your heavenly Father will determine whether or not you receive from Him the things you desire. When it comes to proving to God that you are ready to receive all that He has predestined for you, faith is the most compelling evidence you can present to Him. The term faith is sometimes used as if it means "belief" or "hope." But faith is really much more than either of these words suggest. According to Hebrews 11:1, "...faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." In other words, faith is knowing that the things you hope for are available to you, even when you don't see any outward signs that they exist. Believers often sincerely "hope" that God will help them-- they even pray for hours-- but nothing happens without faith. If you don't understand faith, you won't know how to operate in God's system.Imagine that you need money to pay your car note. You've tried several options, but they've all failed. Now you're desperate and you need God to "work a miracle" on your behalf. What are your options? You could cry, feel sorry for yourself and say, "I'm a good person. Why doesn't God just help me?" If you take this approach, God will see you crying and sympathize with you, but His Word says,"Without faith it is impossible to please him..." (Hebrews 11:6), so your emotional expression is unlikely to change anything. To get God to act on your behalf, you could choose to pray a traditional "religious" prayer: "Lord, You work in mysterious ways. Please stop by my house, God. Please! Please, Father. Please don't pass me by...." This is the way many people pray, but this type of prayer doesn't express faith. It has the form of a prayer, but it lacks the power to produce results. James 1:6 (AMP) says that we must ask in faith without wavering or doubting. As a Believer, you have the right to receive answers to every one of your prayers. But the key to getting answers is faith. Whenever you pray or call upon God to help you, you must present evidence of your faith. For example, if you want God to show you how to get your car note paid, you have to petition Him correctly: "Father, your Word says that You will supply all of my needs according to Your riches in heaven. I ask you, Father, to show me how to pay my car note. I surrender this problem to you, and I know that it is already resolved. I thank You, Father, for answering my prayer." A faith-filled prayer that is firmly rooted in God's Word will get answers! Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so build your faith by spending time reading and studying the Word. God's Word (His book of promises) is the evidence you must present to receive the answers you need. His Word is your confession. It is the thing you say to Him in prayer, thereby increasing your faith. Pick up your Bible and find scriptures to match the things you're petitioning God for. Using His Word assures your response. When you know what the Word says about the things you are entitled to receive, you can pray for those things and receive the answers you need. You never have to beg, plead or bargain with God to have Him answer your prayers. He is moved by your faith in His Word. Show God your faith, and He will show you His love by pouring out His blessings in your life and fulfilling all of the promises He made in His Word.

The Books of Poetry

The Books of PoetryJob 13-14
Friday: Isaiah 34-39Saturday: Matthew 17-19Sunday: Romans 13-14
Job 13
1
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2
What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7
Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9
Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11
Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12
Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16
He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20
Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21
Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23
How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
Job 14
1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
2
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3
And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6
Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11
As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18
And surely the mountains falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19
The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22
But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

VERSE:

VERSE: There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless thecounsel of the LORD, that shall stand. -- Proverbs 19:21 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Proverbs+19:21&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: "What are your plans for today?" If you are like me, youprayerfully try to plan your day. You make appointments with peoplein the future so you can address their needs, hear their concerns,or discuss issues and projects. But, we need to always live humbly,recognizing that none of our plans will be of value unless thoseplans come from the Father!PRAYER: Holy God and righteous Father, please bless me as I seek todiscern your will in my decisions today. I recognize that eachbreath that I take is a gift and that each success is because ofyour grace. Please use me to your glory and help me find your pathfor my life. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Faith That Goes the Distance

Faith That Goes the DistancePastor Ken Polk "The just shall live by faith" Romans 1:17God, throughout the scriptures spoke through anointed men to convey the message, that those whom have been justified must live by faith. It is paramount that we become strong in faith, because we are living in days which will test the very fabric of our belief system.In Hebrews 11:6 we find written these words, "But without faith it is impossible to please him." If you conduct an extensive word study on the word "please" you'll discover to please someone you'll have to be in agreement with them. So let's paraphrase that verse. But without faith it is impossible to line your life up in agreement with God. Therefore, in order to tap into the rich resources God has for every believer, your life must be in agreement with His. The success of your Christian walk and relationship with God is predicated by the level of your faith. Moreover, faith is the foundation of your Christian experience.The word "faith" is properly defined by the Greek word pistis. Pistis is defined as firm persuasion, or to persuade, a conviction based upon hearing. It implies knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in divine truths, and revelations of the Word of God. The scripture proclaim "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17. The problem is most people take the word "hearing" literality. However, it's not speaking of hearing with your physical ears, but hearing within your spirit being.The only way the word is going to produce faith in the life of a believer; the word must become a living rehema within the soul of man, thus producing a life changing experience. Simply, the engrafted word becomes alive and real in the heart of the hearer, and he or she will begin to act according to the Word of God applying biblical principles to their daily life. This transformation of life will also change the quality of their life. The level of your faith is contingent upon the amount of the living word engrafted within your inner man.So how does one faith grow? I quoted earlier from Romans 10:17, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Looking at the seed principle mostly everything is the product of a seed. Man, animals, plants and even fruit has its origin from a seed. Jesus said "the sower sows the word." Mark 4:14. In Luke 8:11 Jesus told us that, "the seed is the Word of God." When a pastor or teacher ministers the word, he or she is sowing seed. The seed of the word is trying to penetrate the soul of man. Once the (word) breaches the soul it will either give birth to a living word (rhema), or it will be aborted.According to Luke 8:12-14 Jesus said, "that being an indifferent hearer, the cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and being not rooted in Christ" would cause the seed of the word to become aborted. However, if the seed of the word is birthed within the soul a living word (rhema) is born. This living word will influence the spirit of man prompting a visible outward illustration of Christ and the faith walk. The just shall live by his faith.The Bible speaks of various levels of faith ranging from a measure to the God kind of faith. The stronger you are in faith will determine how victorious you will be in your spiritual life. Is your faith strong enough to go the distance?

VERSE:

VERSE: They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee,and were not confounded. -- Psalm 22:5 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+22:5&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: This Psalm of despair, referred to by Jesus from the Cross, isalso a Psalm of hope and faith. The history of God's faithfulnesswith his people Israel is an ongoing reminder that we can trust himto deliver us. While in our human reckoning of time God's answermay be slow in coming, his track record in history reminds us thathe will answer, deliver, and bless his people in his time. In ourworst of nightmares, we can be reminded that God is faithful and isattentive to our cries of despair, lament, grief, agony, and fear.PRAYER: I ask, dear Father, that you bless your people everywhere whofind themselves in difficult situations. Empower them with yourSpirit and bless them with a change for the better in their diresituation. Please hear the cries of your people and act swiftly fortheir protection, preservation, and vindication. In Jesus' name Ipray. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the winddriveth away. -- Psalm 1:4 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+1:4&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: No matter the temporary apparent benefits of wicked schemes andevil power, all these efforts end at the grave. They are sweptaway, leaving the wicked with nothing to show for their efforts andno Savior to plead their case as they stand before therighteousness and justice of the one true and holy God.PRAYER: Dear Father, please help me resist the temptation to idolize orexalt those who succeed through evil devices, schemes, methods orplans. Help my heart seek your Kingdom and righteousness. In Jesus'name I pray. Amen.

INNER CONFLICT

INNER CONFLICT Romans 7:1-20 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+7:1-20Dear Father,I have died to the world (and to the idea that I can be justifiedby keeping a set of rules) through the body of Christ that I mightbelong to Christ.He was raised from the dead that I might belong to him and bearfruit in his name. Help me to bear fruit for you in the way I live.Let me serve you in the new life of the Spirit.Give me strength to resist suggestions to do evil. For even thoughI want to do good, opportunities to do evil lie close at hand.Don't let my inner rebellion convince me to do the opposite of whatyou command.In the name of Jesus resolve the conflicts of my life and give mea clear course to walk as I follow him. Amen.

The Books of History

The Books of HistoryJudges 7-11 Wednesday: Psalms 18-20Thursday: Job 13-14Friday: Isaiah 34-39 Judges 71Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.2And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 4And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 6And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

VERSE:

VERSE: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for mystrength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will Irather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may restupon me. -- 2 Corinthians 12:9 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2+Corinthians+12:9&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: While other preachers in Paul's day were parading around theircredentials, Paul refused to get into a bragging contest to provehe was the most impressive of Jesus' disciples. Even though he hadthe religious education and Jewish pedigree to silence his rivals,he preferred to acknowledge the areas of his weakness where God hadtriumphed over his own limitations. Let's be careful today aboutexamining and determining the ministry-worth of someone based onhis or her resume. Instead, let's look for people in whom God'sgrace has triumphed.PRAYER: Almighty and loving Father, thank you for sustaining andenabling me to serve you in ways I would never have dreamed ofdoing. Please help me serve you faithfully as I depend upon yourgrace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

THE RIGHTEOUS REIGN OF GRACE

THE RIGHTEOUS REIGN OF GRACE Romans 5:18-24 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+5:18-24Dear Father, bestower of eternal life,How amazing that, even though one man's disobedience leads tocondemnation, the obedience of Jesus acquits us, makes us righteousand leads to life!Thank you that, whereas law increased the trespass, your graceabounded all the more! Sin reigned in death, but your grace reignedthrough righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christour Lord.Thank you, Father in heaven. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Inthe name of Jesus, our Savior and Justifier, I offer this thanksand praise for your wonderful grace. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall besaved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we werereconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, beingreconciled, we shall be saved by his life. -- Romans 5:9-10 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+5:9-10&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: Jesus did more than die for our sins; he lives as resurrectedLord. So if God would empty heaven of his Son, let him die on thecross, and then raise him from the dead to save us, just think whatGod has in store for us now that he has saved us! When it comes toJesus' saving power and God's amazing grace, we haven't seenanything, yet!PRAYER: Holy LORD, I look forward to the day that I get to see you andexperience your grace in all of its glory. Inspire courage in metoday, so that I can confidently face the challenges in my path andlive faithfully before you and before others. Father, I do believethat the best of what Jesus wants to do in me lies ahead, so use meto your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ACQUITTED

ACQUITTED Romans 5:12-17 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+5:12-17Dear Father, creator of good and righter of wrongs,You created a good and wonderful environment for mankind. But forour first mother and father it was not enough. Sin came into theworld through them, and death through sin, and so death spread toall, because all sinned.Your free gift was not like the trespass. It was greater! If manydied through one man's trespass, how much more will your graceabound! How much more will that free gift abound for the masses ofmankind in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ!Thank you that in him we receive all the more abundantly from yourgrace! How grateful we are for receiving the free gift ofrighteousness to reign in our lives!Thank you, Father in heaven. In the name of Jesus, our Savior andJustifier, I offer this thanks and praise for your wonderful grace.Amen.

One more day to remember….

One more day to remember….In America history there are so many daysto remember, So many days American memory will neversurrender, from racial prejudice to civil divide, to those who fought for equality, who died long before they could see it come
to be,
In America history there are so many daysto remember,so many days American memory will neversurrender,From the death of a young President who's integration of our country,was something he would never live to see,To the greatest generation who fought to keep the whole World free,From a young Preacher whose words made allof us see our country's Inhumanity, To over 50,000 young American soldiers whose sacrifice for so long was denied,By the same politicians who sent them off to die.We remember the good with the bad.We remember the happy with the sad.In America history there are so many days to remember,so let this day take its place,as American leadership take on a bold new face,and forever keep in mind,this day will forever mark the first of his kind.So let this day take its place among thoseto remember, I have no doubt it's a day American memorywill never surrender!
Richard Melvin © 2009

All Things New

All Things Newby Dr. David C. Cooper One of the greatest needs in our lives is the need for restoration. To restore means, "to bring something back into existence or effect again; to bring back to a former or original condition; to put back in a former place or position; to reinstate; to return." We talk about restoring relationships, renovating antique furniture, reinstating a political leader and returning something that was stolen or lost. These all demonstrate the idea of restoration. The essential meaning of salvation is restoration. To be saved means that we have experienced the miraculous restoring power of God to make all things new in our lives spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and relationally.From Genesis to Revelation, we see the God of restoration. We hear God's message to the nation of Judah: "I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City" (Isa 1:26).The Psalmist prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me" (Ps 51:12). God promises, "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" (Jer 30:17a). Paul the Apostle declares, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are new" (2 Cor 5:17).When the Apostle John received the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos concerning the restoration of all things and the beauty of the new heaven and the new earth, he says, "And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new'" (Rev 21:5). As you surrender your failures, problems and challenges to your Heavenly Father in faithful prayer, He will make all things new for you.

VERSE:

VERSE: For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truthendureth to all generations. -- Psalm 100:5 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+100:5&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: I usually "speed read" through the "begats" (you know, throughthe genealogies in the Bible). But, let's take time today to goback and read Matthew 1:1-17 and be reminded that God's love,mercy, and faithfulness not only continued through all of thosegenerations, but also blessed and nurtured each of thosegenerations. As he has done in the past, God will do so even morein the days ahead as we await the glorious return of his Son andour Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.PRAYER: In a world of change and undependability, thank you, dearFather, for being sure, steadfast, and faithful. In a time wheneveryone seems to want something from me or out of me, thank you,dear Father, for repeatedly and consistently blessing me. Thank youfor being more enduring than the mountains and more glorious thanthe most beautiful sunrise. In the name of Jesus, your Son and myglory. Amen.

CREDITED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

CREDITED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS Romans 4:1-5 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+4:1-5Dear Father, friend of Abraham,Thank you for the wonderful relationship you established withAbraham. Through him you have blessed the world. Through thatrelationship you have blessed me. Thank you, Lord, that through ityou will bring even more blessings, now and for ever.Thank you that Abraham's relationship to you was not something heearned; it came because "Abraham believed God, and it was creditedto him as righteousness."To one who works, wages are not a gift but payment due. We thankyou that our relationship is not that of a hired hand. We do notwork for wages. We work for you out of a faith and a love that youfired in our hearts. We trust you as the one who justifies theungodly and who credits our faith as righteousness.In the name of Jesus. Amen.

I'm A New Creature!

I'm A New Creature!Bishop Donald Hilliard Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)We are to thank God for the blood of the Lamb. Some of you don't want to be like your mothers. Your mother was a nut. Your mother was mean. You don't want to be like your father. Your father's a player. He had five babies with five different women in the same year. You don't want that spirit. For God sakes, stop admiring crap, admiring garbage. And you attach that same thing because you keep lifting up the wrong example. Somebody lift up what's right. Somebody lift up what's clean. Somebody lift up what's holy, even if that's not our family experience.If any man, woman, boy, or girl be in Christ. When are we going to believe that? This is our manual now. The Acts of the apostles says we have an inheritance amongst what? Them that are sanctified. Meaning that I don't need to glorify my biological lineage because there's a lot of garbage in that lineage that I don't want to own, and I don't want it to follow me and I don't want it to follow my children. I would rather lean on my new bloodline. If any man, woman, boy, or girl be in Christ... If I have a witness, please praise God right now. You are a new creature!Let us pray - Father, I thank you that although I might have been born in mess and don't have to remain in it. I thank you for the blood of Jesus that was shed for me. I thank you that I am a new creature. I have been given a second chance, a chance to set the record straight and undo the wrongs that were perpetrated by those that came before me. I thank you for a new lease on life and I will glorify you always. Amen!

VERSE:

VERSE: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts withpraise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. -- Psalm 100:4 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+100:4&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: This is a psalm about entering into God's presence withthanksgiving and praise. For God's New Covenant people, his Templeis the church (1 Cor. 3:16) and our own bodies (1 Cor. 6:19). Let'svalue and celebrate with joy our church family. Let's also glorifyGod with our bodies! Let's give thanks and praise God's name inpublic, in private, and in community.PRAYER: Father, I enter into the most holy place and approach youbecause of the sacrifice of Jesus. I am thrilled to know youlisten. I am overjoyed to know you welcome me. I am glad to be withyou and to let you know how much I appreciate all that you havedone for me. Thank you for meeting me in this place of prayer untilI can come home to you and meet you face to face. In Jesus' name.Amen.

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH Romans 3:27-31 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+3:27-31Dear Father, just and justifier,All praise is due you, Father. Our boasting is totally excluded.Our justification is not by our works, but through our faith inyou. So we are convinced by Paul that a person is justified byfaith and not by works of the law.You are God not only of the Jews but of all other nations also.You are the one God, the only God, the God of all peopleeverywhere.On the basis of whether people put their trust in you instead ofthemselves you justify people from every nation and race. What awonderful God! Thank you for putting faith in my heart andaccepting me.In the name of Jesus we ask all this and lay claim to the gracewhich you have so generously extended. Amen.

The New Edition

The New EditionAqualyn Toi Jones When was the last time you purchased or received something new? Maybe it was a cell phone, a car, or an outfit. It could've been a new pair of shoes, a job, or even a relationship. There's just something about the newness of things. You value it more. You take better care of it. You can't wait to tell others about it. However, that eagerness doesn't last. Simply think of all the old things you have acquired over the years. Soon, just like all the old "new things", the newer "new things" becomes a little boring. We settle down into the humdrum of business as usual. Now, it's just a cell phone, a car, or a pair of shoes. Our affection for it fades as we start to focus on the next new thing.We can upgrade our phones, trade-in our relationships and change jobs when we're bored. We can just get the new edition. Unfortunately, this same mentality spills over into our lives with Christ. Have you ever heard someone say?"Before I was saved." or"When I was still in sin."If you're like me, you've said it yourself.As Christians, we like to think of our lives in two categories: Before-Christ and After-Christ.If you and I were to finish the sentences above, I'm sure we could fill a book. One of the best things about being a Christian is the new life we have in Christ. It trumps the old life every time. Sometimes and somewhere along the way, we are tempted to exchange the new life in Christ for the old way of living. Life starts to happen again. It rains on your parade more than once. Things that you thought you wouldn't experience as a Christian seem to resurface after Christ!How do you handle it when the old life threatens to choke the newness out of life in Christ? And what does this new life really mean anyway?I love Merriam-Webster's definition of the word new. It means having recently come into existence. Is it possible that we never truly existed before coming to Christ? When you accept Christ in your life, you come into an existence that you never knew about.You never really understood the measure of His sacrifice. You never had a Father like God. You didn't think it was possible for someone to know everything about you, and still love you. And yet, He does. You thought you were free, but liberation has taken on a totally different meaning. Life is not the same. I want to challenge you (and myself) to remember that there is no new edition of the new life in Christ. There is nothing better. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." This scripture doesn't simply say that anyone in Christ could or will be a new creation. It guarantees that he is. You and I are new in Him. The life we now live has greater understanding and subsequently, greater responsibility. We should never settle for anything routine in our relationship with God.Every single day is new. Every single old thing is just that old. It's useless and ineffective. After all, it's called the old life for a reason and this edition is just fine.

The Books of History

The Books of HistoryJoshua 21-24
Wednesday: Psalms 12-14Thursday: Job 9-10Friday: Isaiah 23-28
Joshua 21
1
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
3
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
4
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6
And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7
The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
9
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.
10
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
11
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
12
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
14
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
19
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
22
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
28
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29
Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
33
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
35
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
39
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
41
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
43
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 22
1
Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2
And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
3
Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
6
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
7
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
8
And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
10
And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
11
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
12
And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
13
And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
14
And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
15
And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
16
Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
17
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
18
But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
19
Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
20
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
21
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
22
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
23
That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
24
And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
25
For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
27
But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
28
Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
29
God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
30
And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
31
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
32
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
33
And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
34
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
Joshua 23
1
And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
2
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
3
And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
4
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
5
And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
6
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8
But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9
For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12
Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
14
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
15
Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
16
When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
Joshua 24
1
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
3
And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
4
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
5
I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
6
And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
7
And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
9
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
10
But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
11
And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
12
And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
13
And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
14
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17
For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
18
And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
19
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
21
And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
22
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
23
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
24
And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
26
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
27
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
28
So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
29
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
30
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33
And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

Time to Refresh

Time to RefreshCory Bradley Semantics, semantics, semantics.Did you know words can shape our reality and frame our very world? If so, then maybe you'll agree with me that (in this New Year), NEW may not be so NEW anymore! I strongly believe that this year, new may actually be something old. Something original.After all the New Year hoopla fades away, I wonder if perhaps our focus this year should not be as much on looking for something new to occur in our lives, but rather to rediscover what we already possess in God.To rediscover what He has already given "in" us before the foundations of the world.This year, I began with this idea in mind:It's time to REFRESH.Isaiah 46:9-10 says,"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done."This passage of scripture popped an interesting metaphor into my head. On every internet browser, there is a REFRESH button. Usually, you need to hit this button if the page's content needs to be updated or if the page is in freeze mode or somehow stuck.Sometimes you even need to hit the REFRESH button when the page has not fully downloaded all of its contents.You may even need to hit the REFRESH button when we lose the connection with the invisible communication signals in the atmosphere. See where I'm going with this?This new year, when your life's hardware seems to freeze or if the page you believe you should be on is not fully loaded with all of the icons you think you need, it may not be time to look for something new.All that you need is already in you.It maybe time for you to just hit the refresh button.Try it today

NONE RIGHTEOUS

NONE RIGHTEOUS Romans 2:25-3:20 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+2:25-3:20Dear Father, holy God,Allow me to bear the marks of your covenant in my heart and mymind. May I be a spiritual descendant of Abraham. Let my praise benot from men but from you!Help me understand that all human beings are under the power ofsin, as it is written, "None is righteous, no not one!"I ask forgiveness for all my sins by reason of your perfectexpiation put forth in Christ Jesus. Clothe me with hisrighteousness, not my own. Having nothing to claim for myself, Iput my trust in him.In the name of Jesus, the all-sufficient sacrifice for sin and myholy intercessor, I pray. Amen.

God Is Doing A New Thing

God Is Doing A New ThingDr. Creflo A. Dollar It is a new day and God wants to do something new in your life! If you are a Believer, you have a right to receive the manifestation of every word God has spoken over your life. As you lay hold of it by faith, it will come to pass. It is easy to become discouraged when you don’t see things happening quickly enough, but as you seek His face through praise, prayer and worship, He will begin to reveal more of who He is to you. The more you know about Him, the more confident you will become in His ability to do exactly what He said He would do. You may have been going through some troubling circumstance or struggling with a certain situation for some time now. But the good news is that your days of strugg ling are over! If you want to experience the power of God in your life, it is critical that you find out what God promises in His Word. He doesn’t want you to stay in your current situation; He wants to take you to new levels of glory every day! All it takes is your unwavering belief in what He says in His Word. Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?” God is a God of new beginnings. That’s right! He is multifaceted and always wants to show you an aspect of Himself that you have never seen before. In addition, He wants to do some new things in your life. He wants you to see and experience abundance like you’ve never before experienced it. Expectation is key to receiving the new things God desires to do in your life. Whether it is healing, deliverance, financial breakthrough or restoration of a relationship, God will come through for you if you expect Him to. He is a loving Father Who wants to bless you. As you expect to see the goodness of God manifest in your life, you must lay hold of it by faith. Nothing in the Kingdom of God works without it. Habakkuk 2:4 says, “…but the just shall live by his faith.” In addition, you must be sure that you are walking in love—first toward God, and second toward others. These two commandments are the keys to activating your faith and confidence in God. Finally, your words—specifically the Word of God that you confess—will connect you to a new reality of living, one that is characterized by God’s glory overtaking you. If you’re not saying anything, you’re not creating anything! You have to use your God-given authority in order to begin experiencing something new. Your “new thing” may be debt freedom or buying a new home. Whatever it is, find scriptures on those areas and begin meditating on them. Get them in your heart until they become so real to you that you can’t see things any other way than through God’s eyes. Having the blueprint of a new reality and way of life in your heart and mind through consistent meditation will fuel your faith. Then when you speak the Word with boldness, it will come to pass. But first, your heart must be established in the truths that are contained in it. I want you to begin thinking differently about your life. It’s time to get rid of the old attitudes, habits and lifestyle that you have been living and holding onto and usher in the new! By standing on God’s Word, walking in faith and love and using your authority, you can literally change your reality. God is ready to reveal His glory to you in a new way; the question is, are you ready to receive it?

Few Do

Few DoSteven Furtick This New Year, stop doing what everybody else is doing.Stop doing what you've always done. Most human beings deeply desire to be used by God in unique and extraordinary ways.Most human beings talk about these desires.And every New Year, most make resolutions about how they'll change their lives in order to see these desires fulfilled. But few do.Trust God with a unique and extraordinary faith this year.Do the things that few do.As Numbers 13 records: 12 spies took inventory of the Promised Land.All of them desired to go in.Only 2 were willing to fight for it.Only 2.See what I'm saying?Many desire...Few do.In 2009, I want you to be one of the few who do.

NO PARTIALITY

NO PARTIALITY Romans 2:8-11 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+2:8-11Dear Father, holy and righteous judge,I know that you will render to every man according to his works.To those who are factious and obey wickedness instead of the truth,there will be wrath and fury.You have foretold tribulation and distress for every human beingwho does evil, to the Jew first and also the non-Jew, but glory andhonor and peace for every one who does good, to the Jew first andalso to the non-Jew. For you show no partiality.Help me do what is good, but not out of my own resources, for mygoodness is unacceptable to you. Help me do what is good by livingin and for Christ, whose goodness you will accept.By your grace alone am I saved, as I entrust my soul to you. Thankyou that you will impute Christ's righteousness to me on thisbasis.In the name of Jesus I ask for your acceptance through my faith.Amen.

Awake and Asleep

Awake and AsleepJon Acuff I read an article in last month's Men's Journal about some coal miners that died in a tragic accident. While trapped miles under the earth, with their oxygen running out and death coming quickly, the men decided to write some notes to the people they loved. One note said:"It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."That is a gift...if you are dying.That was a kindness, a man letting his family know that he did not suffer. I was overwhelmed by the selflessness of that action. With only a few short breaths left, that man did not focus on the pain he was in, but instead used his last energy to do everything he could to ease the pain of the people he loved.But if you are alive...if you still have years ahead of you, if you are still above ground, breathing and living, that note is note a gift.It is a curse.It is a note that I wrote to describe my own life for many, many years."It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."Things weren't horrible, I just went to sleep. I stopped caring about anyone but me. I stopped giving and focused on taking. I let go of risk and settled into a nice, safe, comfortable life."It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep."I am tired of living that way.Tired of writing that note.Tired of being those words.I don't know if you're like me and it's easy for you to fall asleep. Easy to focus on the wrong things. Easy to miss the love and the life and the joy God keeps whispering in the corners of your day.Well, this year, I've got two words for you: Wake up.Wake up.Wake up.Wake up.That is my prayer for 2009. That I would not sleep. That I would not live a life that is really not all that alive. That I would remember Revelation 16:15, "blessed is he who stays awake."What kind of note will you write this year?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek your direction and Guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those Who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we Have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed Our values. We have exploited the poor and called it The lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it Welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it Choice. We have shot abortionists and called it Justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our Children and called it building self esteem.. We have abused power and called it Politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions And c alled it ambition . We have polluted the air with profanity and Pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values Of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts Today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!

The Books of Poetry

The Books of PoetryJob 7-8 Friday: Isaiah 18-22Saturday: Matthew 8-10Sunday: Romans 7-8Job 71 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. 7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? 13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints; 14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity. 17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. Job 81 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? 4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. 7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. 8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? 11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? 12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. 13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: 14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. 15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. 16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. 17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. 18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. 19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. 20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: 21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. 22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

GOD'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

Romans 1:32 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+1:32

Dear Father, righteous judge,

Who could argue against your righteous judgment? Who would claimthat those who refuse to see truth should not be left in theirblindness? Though they know that those who pervert truth deserve todie, they not only continue to practice perversion, they alsoglorify it!

Holy God, your judgment is just! Have mercy on these derelictpeople to chasten them with judgments that will bring them torepentance. And dear Father, save all of your people, your holyremnant, from the flood of filth and enmity toward you thatsurrounds us every day!

Thank you, God, that your judgment is just, but thank you alsothat your mercy is available to all.

Thank you for your remedy for sin and death! Only you, God, coulddo this! It is in the name of Jesus and by his authority that wehave such boldness to come to you, asking these things according tohis will. Amen.

Reset Your Presets

Reset Your PresetsShaun King Here's what I know. Even though we're just a few days in to 2009, many of you reading this have already started to lose hope that this year will mean anything different or better for you than any other year. I think I know why and God is willing and able to give you a swift kick in the behind to help you understand what I'm about to say.Because your buttons, your knobs, your controls, your habits, your ways, your strategies are all PRESET to maintain the same old stuff in your life, when you start to think about doing things differently you never quite get to the level of actually doing things differently because you keep falling back into deeply entrenched strongholds.Don't get me wrong - set goals, make resolutions, write out your vision and make it plain, but you're not lacking in the dreams and goals department. You have enough business plans and imaginative ministry ideas for ten people. What you need to do if you are really doggone serious about making this year the best year of the rest of your life is RESET YOUR PRESETS!I know. I know. A few of you have everything in your life together and all you need on your path to perfection is a few minor adjustments. You can stop reading here because the rest of what I'm about to say is not for you.What most of us need if we are going to walk in to the plans God has for us is not a little tinkering, we need to push the reset button and change the entire way we do business.Is the computer you're reading this from slow?If not, we've all had a slow computer at one time or another.Too many files have built up on the hard drive.Too much junk is clogging up the speed and effectiveness of the processors.You may even have spam or a few viruses on there. You could tinker with it all night long, but guess what?It's painful, but sometimes the ONLY thing you can do to save a slow computer is to completely reset the entire thing to its original factory settings. Some memories may be lost, but when the computer is back running again, you're always glad you made the tough decision to reset it.Will you allow the Lord to reset YOU in this New Year? Give the God of Revelation 21:5 that said, "Behold, I make all things new" the authority to not just make minor adjustments, but to turn your life upside down for Him!That's when real change will begin to happen. God Bless You!

GOD'S HONOR

GOD'S HONOR Romans 1:18-23 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+1:18-23Dear Father, to whom all honor and glory is due,How sorry I am that men do not honor you as their God and King! Itis to their loss and to their hurt, but it insults you! Theywickedly suppress the truth. Through creation, you have shown themplainly what can be known about you, so they are without excuse.Although they know of you, the true God, they do not honor you asGod or give thanks to you as God. Their thinking is futile andtheir senseless minds are darkened. Claiming to be wise, theybecome fools and exchange your glory, the glory of the immortalGod, for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals orreptiles.How awful is your judgment! Because they exchange the truth aboutyou for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than you,the Creator, the holy God, who is blessed for ever, you give themup to the lusts of their impure hearts, to dishonor their bodiesamong themselves.May I never be so foolish as to trade your glory for my own. Inthe name of our Lord Jesus Christ, creator and sustainer of theuniverse. Amen.

VERSE:

VERSE: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created inrighteousness and true holiness. -- Ephesians 4:24 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Ephesians+4:24&translation=kjvTHOUGHT: One of the biggest decisions we face at the beginning of the dayis what we will wear. Well, no matter what we choose in the way ofclothing, let's make sure we choose to put on the new person Godre-made us to be when we became Christians. Those are the onlyclothes that will fit us eternally!PRAYER: Dear Father, may people see the character and likeness of Jesusin me today and every day. Lord Jesus, in your name I ask that youplease guide my decisions and help me know how you would have meact in the situations that I am going to face today. Amen.

The Gospels Early History

The Gospels Early HistoryMatthew 5-7 Sunday: Romans 5-6Monday: Genesis 12-15Tuesday: Joshua 16-20Matthew 51 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 61 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 71 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mutual Sharing

MUTUAL SHARING Romans 1:8-15 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Romans+1:8-15Dear Father,Thank you in Jesus Christ for every devoted Christian whose faithis proclaimed abroad. I thank you that they are a strength to me.Help me be a strength to them. May our mutual sharing of faith be arich spiritual blessing from you.Help all of us to realize that we are under obligation to explainour faith to the learned and unlearned, the cultured and thebackward, the wise and the foolish, everyone!Fill us to overflowing with an eagerness to proclaim the Good Newsabout Jesus everywhere!In his holy name I pray. Amen.

Time For A Change

Time For A ChangeJane Johnson Struck If you're anything like me, you probably feel overwhelmed by all the changes you'd like to see in your life especially around the New Year, when change is the "thing" to do. I already know what I need to improve--my fitness level, availability to friends, amount of quality time with God. But sometimes, the more I resolve to change, the more I feel as though I've failed when my "to do" list of goals ends up a crumpled piece of paper in a dark corner of my desk--and in my mind.That's why, this year, I decided to take the opposite approach to make some positive changes in my mental, spiritual, and physical health. No fifty-two-weeks-a-year-or-bust self-improvement plan for me!When my husband had to undergo biopsies for cancer, I was anxious. But once he completed radiation treatments and life went on, I really fell into the worry trap. I found myself worrying inordinately about our future, about doctors' visits, even about my own health and the health of our kids. I knew I had to change.I remembered some advice I'd given my daughter Sarah when she was in grade school. Every year when her school held "Fire Safety Week," Sarah would lie awake at night worrying about our house catching on fire. "Mom, I can't sleep," she'd moan. "I'm worried about a fire, and I can't get it out of my mind.""Sarah," I'd tell her, "pretend your mind's a television set, and switch the channel."Years later, it was time to taste my own medicine. Each time I found worries swallowing up my thought life, I forced myself to change the channel. I'd intentionally focus on blotting out my preoccupation with the "what ifs."This year, take to heart a favorite Scripture of mine.Psalm 94:19 (TLB): "Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer."I am determined to "take captive" every negative thought "to make it obedient to Christ" this new year! (2 Cor. 10:5)

A Fresh Start

A Fresh StartRobin Ware In preparting for the upcoming new year, I'd like to encourage you (if you haven't done so already) to get out a pad and pen and measure your accomplishments against the assignments God gave you for 2008. Take a moment to reflect and state why you weren't as successful as you would have liked to be in 2008.To truly pursue a fresh start in God this year, you may need to take back control of your life beginning with the external forces you have allowed within your personal space. Identify your time wasters - any activities or persons - that don't add to your life but subtracts the life out of you. With a renewed mind, practice these steps to achieve a fresh start in 2009:1. Write the vision and make it plain (Habakkuk 2:2)It's important to have goals (the vision) but it's more important to understand WHY (make it plain) you have the goals you do. Sometimes goals aren't obtainable because we have them for the wrong reasons.Pray and ask God to give you clarity in this area. Are you wasting time pursing goals and dreams that aren't yours but just look attractive to you because they have brought wealth and success to others? Or even worse, are you feeling like your gifts and talents aren't worthy? Like the men in Mathew 25 that God gave the same number of talents...are you burying yours? 2. What gets measured is what gets done.Select an accountability partner and provide a written update to them on the success of your goals. If your budget allows, hire a business coach to help you get focused and stay balanced. Coaches are like personal trainers in the exercise world. They will give you an honest assessment of yourself and devise a plan that will be as successful as you make it.3. Be consistent.Schedule time in your day to accomplish your DAILY tasks. Although I am what you call a daily to-do list person, I admit that I have days that I have to speak my confession of faith to my flesh:I am not a procrastinator!I (will) complete my assignments on time!As you begin to seek God more in 2009, you will see that the enemy will try to trump your plans, so you have to be ready. Ready with a counter attack

A Fresh Start

A Fresh StartRobin Ware In preparting for the upcoming new year, I'd like to encourage you (if you haven't done so already) to get out a pad and pen and measure your accomplishments against the assignments God gave you for 2008. Take a moment to reflect and state why you weren't as successful as you would have liked to be in 2008.To truly pursue a fresh start in God this year, you may need to take back control of your life beginning with the external forces you have allowed within your personal space. Identify your time wasters - any activities or persons - that don't add to your life but subtracts the life out of you. With a renewed mind, practice these steps to achieve a fresh start in 2009:1. Write the vision and make it plain (Habakkuk 2:2)It's important to have goals (the vision) but it's more important to understand WHY (make it plain) you have the goals you do. Sometimes goals aren't obtainable because we have them for the wrong reasons.Pray and ask God to give you clarity in this area. Are you wasting time pursing goals and dreams that aren't yours but just look attractive to you because they have brought wealth and success to others? Or even worse, are you feeling like your gifts and talents aren't worthy? Like the men in Mathew 25 that God gave the same number of talents...are you burying yours? 2. What gets measured is what gets done.Select an accountability partner and provide a written update to them on the success of your goals. If your budget allows, hire a business coach to help you get focused and stay balanced. Coaches are like personal trainers in the exercise world. They will give you an honest assessment of yourself and devise a plan that will be as successful as you make it.3. Be consistent.Schedule time in your day to accomplish your DAILY tasks. Although I am what you call a daily to-do list person, I admit that I have days that I have to speak my confession of faith to my flesh:I am not a procrastinator!I (will) complete my assignments on time!As you begin to seek God more in 2009, you will see that the enemy will try to trump your plans, so you have to be ready. Ready with a counter attack

I Am Resolved

I Am ResolvedAlan Riley There's an old gospel song that I've always liked to sing around the New Year called "I Am Resolved." Since polls tell us that a large number of us will carry on the tradition of making New Year's Resolutions today, the words of this old song make a couple of great suggestions for worthy resolutions for you and me: I am resolved no longer to lingerCharmed by the world's delightThings that are higherThings that are noblerThese have allured my sightIt is so easy for us to get distracted by the "world's delight" and fail to make progress in our walk with and relationship with the Lord. In this new year of 2009, I am resolved to set my sights on things that are higher and nobler.I am resolved to go to the SaviorLeaving my sin and strifeHe is the true oneHe is the just oneHe hath the words of lifeAs the time drew nearer for Jesus to give up His life, the going got tough for Jesus and those who followed Him. The Pharisees sought to trick Him into "blasphemy" and put Him to death. People were all in for the free food for 5,000 or getting healed from all manner of sicknesses and diseases, but now He began to talk about taking up your cross and following Him. The Bible tells us that many who had followed Him followed Him no more. Jesus turned to the disciples and said, "Will you leave also?" Simon Peter quickly replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of life!" In 2009, I am resolved to follow Jesus no matter what my circumstances.I am resolved to enter the kingdomLeaving the paths of sinFriends may oppose meFoes may beset meStill will I enter inToday, just as it was 2,000 years ago, Jesus has many fair weather friends. If you don't believe it, just see how church attendance drops the next time it comes a big rainstorm on Sunday. Around the world there are believers who risk their lives by coming to worship, and in the West, we are deterred by a few drops of water. This coming year, I am resolved to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, no matter who or what may oppose me.I am resolved and who will go with me?Come friends without delayTaught by the BibleLed by the SpiritWe'll walk the heavenly wayI am resolved in 2009 to share the Good News of Jesus with people that He places me in contact with. I want to be passionate about bringing people with me to heaven.Striving to keep these resolutions will reap eternal benefits!