MAKE IT PLAIN

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 30, 2013

MAKE IT PLAIN

 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakkuk 2:2

Is God showing you the path to take for your life?  Is he revealing the course?  Has God given you a vision?  Certainly, God speaks and makes plain his vision to those who seek Him.  But what do you do with the vision once it comes?  If you're not careful it will be as a fleeting dream, and like your image in a mirror, you may walk away and forget what sort of thing it was. God tells us to write the vision and make it plain upon tables or tablets.  For God wants to bring good news into your future and mine. Good news, so good, it will cause the runner to run.  When God's dreams and visions are fulfilled in our life, we will take out our tablets and show one and all the good news God had prepared for us all along.  He shall run that readeth it!

Today, let us make it plain!

WISDOM'S BANK

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 27, 2013

WISDOM'S BANK

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

When a child is broke, he has no problem asking his loving parents for provision.  In the same way, our Heavenly Father wants us to come to Him when we are broke of wisdom.  God knows that wisdom will provide the direction and the resources for everything that His children need.  But they must ask...believing that they will receive.  And God will be liberal with His wisdom.  Not just a little but more than enough.  And he doesn't scold when He hands out His wisdom or inquire how we ran out or could be so foolish. No! God is willing and waiting to meet His children's needs.

Today, let us ask for our wisdom needs to be met, and watch God provide.

THE THREE FOLD CORD OF INTEGRITY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 25, 2013

THE THREE-FOLD CORD OF INTEGRITY

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

I have had friends that have stuck with me through the greatest storms.  Believe me, I couldn't have made it without their blessing and encouragement.  But in the harshest onslaught of the enemy, when I couldn't tell friend from foe, it was the three-fold cord of the Spirit, the Son, and the Father which  held me together--gave me the quality of unshakeability, also known as integrity.

 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:27-29).

As you seek first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness, you will go through many trials and tribulations.  For it is the nature of God to put his children through a process of testing; just as a precious stone must be tried in the fire, so, too, must the saints of God. Job said, "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).Yes, with Christ at your core, they will see Him in the fire of your affliction.

Today, we can go forth with power because we have the integrity to do so!

HERE ARE THE TREASURES, HID

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 22, 2013

HERE ARE THE TREASURES, HID

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I Colosians 2:1-3
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ.  God has placed these treasures in the person of the Son, that in Him we shall find all sufficiency for all our needs. 


 

WISDOM SHALL LEAD

IN THE BEGNNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 19, 2013

WISDOM SHALL LEAD

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Proverbs 8:12-21

Let Wisdom lead you on the path of life.  As we surrender all to Christ Jesus' authority and control, only God knows the blessings which await us.  Yes, every day will be a walk of faith, sacrifice and surrender, but we will see fruitfullness as we journey, and we will have the joy this world will never know.

Today, let wisdom lead!

EMBRACING THE TENDERHEART

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 12, 2013

EMBRACING THE TENDERHEART

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews 11:32-38

The blessed life of faith is truly a gift from God, given to the new man/woman who decides to live with love and tenderness of heart.  The world does not fit this man and this woman of God.  For this man and this woman of God has a life from above--heavenly--moved by the Spirit.

Today, let us embrace the tenderhearted life of Love and faith in Christ Jesus.
 

LOVING AND TENDERHEARTED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 11, 2013

LOVING AND TENDERHEARTED

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
  But ye have not so learned Christ;
  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
  Neither give place to the devil.
 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:17-32

God wants a new people, not walking after the former vanity of their mind.  He wants us to be pure, and clean, and holy--loving one another and loving the Spirit of God.  Therefore, we must rid ourselves of clamour and evil speaking andhard-heartedness and be kind and tenderhearted.  Yes, our hearts must move with compassion and flow with love and sensitivity.  We must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God but in all ways aim to please Him.  In the past, we may have tried to keep our hearts controlled and nonresponsive to those around us.  Why would anyone want to pass on feelings--to be past feelings?  Indeed, we are sometimes fearful of where a moving heart will take us:  But this is learning Christ, this is the life with God and this is loving the Holy Spirit.

Today, let us put on the new man who is loving and tenderhearted-- and let us allow our hearts to move with the Spirit!

THE BUNDLE OF LIFE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 10, 2013

THE BUNDLE OF LIFE

 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. Samuel 25:29

God is in charge of our lives and keeps all of his treasures bound in the bundle of life.  We are His and we can be sure that as we stay connected with Him, He will reward us with good.  Yes, God has good in store for those whose soul is bound in the bundle of life.

Today, Blessings, Grace, Love, Peace!!!

AS THE HART PANTETH

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 9, 2013

AS THE HART PANTETH

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psalm 42:1

KEEP YOUR DISCERNMENT

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 8, 2013

KEEP YOUR DISCERNMENT

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Psalm 50:8

How do you keep your discernment?  When you see something evil, call it evil.  And when you see something good, call it good.  We are living in a generation described in Isaiah 5:2:  "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"  The end shall come and leave you ashamed.  We are called to be watchmen in the earth.

Today, let us keep our discernment!

LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH THIS!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 7, 2013

LET NOTHING  BE DONE THROUGH THIS!

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Phillipians 2:3

We have no wisdom, or beauty, or knowledge outside of Christ.  He alone is our righteousness and our reason for being.  Without Him we are nothing.  So we certainly must not operate in strife or vainglory.  For we know that the man of pride must always strive because he wants to be first, and praised, and promoted.  But the child of God rests in the peace of Christ Jesus, with full assurance that our victories have already been accomplished.  We carry the cross of Christ within us, and we are dead to the glory of the world. The world's praises are superficial and temporal.  But the praises of Heaven are eternal.

Child of God, let no man deceive you.  To be vain is folly.
Today, Let us humble ourselves and remark and take note of the wonderful accomplishments of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Let us lift each other up, edifying the whole body.

THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 5, 2013

THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Can you see God in His sanctuary?  Do you feel God in His house?  Can you behold His beauty?  When we attend church service we desire to behold God in a more powerful and present way than when we are out in the mix of society.  The church is to be a place where God is honored, felt and proclaimed.  The worldy spirit must be put in subjection so that the LORD may be glorified.  Our homes, too.  We must make sure that our homes are kept in such a way that the presence of the Lord is evident, a place where Peace is reigning. Pastors and leaders must walk in godly authority, pulling down strongholds and everything that would exalt itself above the knowledge of God.

Today, behold Him!!

LOVELY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 4, 2013

LOVELY

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phillipians 4:8

 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 2 Samuel 1:23

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Song of Solomon 5:16

Lovely...the world fights us so that we cannot focus on the lovely, but that is precisely what God want us to focus on.  Yes, it takes faith.  It takes extraordinary faith because we must believe that our Good Shepherd is handling all the circumstances that are mounted against our peace.  We must rest in the power and peace of Christ Jesus, "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Our thoughts must be from above and not earthly or carnal.  We must see the unseen and believe in that which is supernatural.  We must have faith and only believe that God is working all things together for our good...and that is truly lovely!

Today, lovely!

THE PERFECTION OF BEAUTY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 7, 2013

THE PERFECTION OF BEAUTY

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Psalm 50:2

Christ is the perfection of beauty.  Yes, as we clothe ourselves in Him we take part in this beauty.  That is why when we are persecuted, our face will, our whole being will,
 shine like the sun in the midst of the congregation.  The church is beautiful because the perfection of beauty is in us.  We are not of this world, and the death and corruption of the world has no place in us.  Our Lord has saved us and made us gloriously beautiful.

Today, let us focus on Jesus as the bride makes herself ready.

BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, JULY 2, 2013

BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION
  Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Psalm48:2

The Church of God is beautiful  and should be exalted, elevated and made known.  Like a city on a hill, all rejoice as they see it afar off, and approach it, to enter in.  Zion is the dwelling place of the Most High.
Zion is the dwelling place of all the servants of God and the dwelling place for all of the shepherds of God-- and all of His sheep.

Today, Beautiful!!!