Tuesday, December 31, 2013

WE ARE FLOURISHING LIKE THE PALM TREE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 31. 2013

WE ARE FLOURISHING LIKE THE PALM TREE

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:12-15

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT: A NEW COVENANT!

IN THE BEGINNING…THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, 2014
THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT:  A NEW COVENANT!  
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward part,s and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:31,32,33).
In the New Covenant there is a new law. Galatians 6:2 calls this law the "Law of Christ": "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."  In James 1:25 this new law is called the "law of liberty":  "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." 
   God said that this new law would not be written on tablets of stone, but would be in our inward parts, controlling, governing, preventing, warning, teaching, advising, preparing and convicting.  This new law is the law of the Holy Spirit placed inside the believer, causing the believer to have the  wisdom of God:  In Job 38:36 we see that God is the one who “hath put wisdom in the inward parts.”  

The law of the Holy Spirit brings not only holy wisdom but a holy conscience:  In Romans 2:15 we see that the believer has a law in their hearts-- their conscience bearing witness with thoughts actively accusing or excusing  behavior.  Moreover, the governing law of the Holy Spirit causes us to have godly emotions—our hearts are moved with compassion when there is a need:  I John 3:17 says, "But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"  However, the most important impact that the law of the Spirit has upon our inward parts is its quickening power which quickens us to abundant life, quickens us in the Word, and quickens us to service in and through  Christ Jesus.
  Today, let us thank God for the New Covenant, which brought the NEW LAW, which has brought and is quickening newness of life!

Monday, December 30, 2013

IN COMMAND

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

IN COMMAND

 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.   And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:12-14

Sunday, December 29, 2013

THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL


IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD                                                                                              DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013                                                         THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. John 7:30

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, John 10:39                                  

After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. Mark 14:11                                                

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:11                                                                                                              

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.  But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. John 2:23.24,25                    

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Psalm 24:6-10

  LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
  I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
  Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm3

WE HAVE A MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT, FOREVER

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 29, 2013
WE HAVE A MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT, FOREVER
 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:22

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 2 Corinthians 3:4-12

Saturday, December 28, 2013

GOD HAS PERFECTED PRAISE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 28, 2013

GOD HAS PERFECTED PRAISE


And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.                                                   And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Matthew 21:14,15,16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I am amazed by the perfected beauty that streams from my two-year old.  If he falls or hurts himself in anyway, he runs to me and says, "Pray for me Mommy.  Pray to Jesus for me."  He loves to praise dance and will easily shout "Hallelujah!"  One day, while we were visiting the University of Pennsylvania's campus, my son saw a statue of a preacher and seemed to quickly identify that this was a man of God.  He asked me, "Jesus?"  It was George Whitefield, a preacher of the Great Awakening.  How amazed I was that this little one, not even two at the time, could identify a man of God. Perhaps it was the book in the preacher's hand and his pose--pointing to the heavens.                                                                                                        
I would have loved to have been in the temple when Jesus was there (as recorded in Mathew 21) to behold those little babes crying out "Hosanna to the Son of David."  But I know for sure that God's cherished children are still crying out praises to the LORD.  Truly, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God has perfected praise!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

THINKING ABOUT A BABY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD                                                                                               DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 25, 2013                                                           THINKING ABOUT A BABY                                                                                                                  

  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:14-18
                                                                                                                                                                 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:32                                                  

                                                                                                     

Friday, December 20, 2013

BE FAIR

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013

BE FAIR

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
  Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. Esther 2:6.7

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. Song of Solomon 1:5,6

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  Song of Solomon 2:10 

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:13

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

THE GOD WE SERVE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013

THE GOD WE SERVE

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. I Chronicles 29:11,12

Friday, December 13, 2013

IN THE BOND OF PEACE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013

IN THE BOND OF PEACE

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. Song of Solomon 2:7

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalm 37:11


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

GOD, THY REFUGE

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

GOD, THY REFUGE

There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. Deuteronomy 33:26-29

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91

Monday, December 9, 2013

IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER

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

IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 13:23

 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. Song of Solomon 2:6


Sunday, December 8, 2013

A RANSOM FOR MANY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTION FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013

A RANSOM FOR MANY

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:27,28

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. I Timothy 2:5,6 

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. Esther 10:3

That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.Psalm 60:5

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. Psalm 31:16

 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. Psalm 119:94

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? Song of Solomon 3:6







Friday, December 6, 2013

HAVING LOVE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

HAVING LOVE

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be
grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 2 Corinthians 2:4

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death I John 3:14

 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Matthew 5:46

 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. Song of Solomon 8:5


Thursday, December 5, 2013

HEALTH

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

HEALTH

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.  And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them. Jeremiah 30:17-20

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Psalm 67:1,2

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:7,8

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 1:2

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Isaiah 58:8

And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. Acts 27:33-36


Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. Song of Solomon 2:5

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84:1,2





Wednesday, December 4, 2013

POWER: IN THE RAINDROP AND IN THE WORD

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

POWER: IN THE RAINDROP AND IN THE WORD

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10,11

It is so easy to forget that raindrops have power.  They have the power to produce; in fact they never fall in vain.  They're not just a substance that gets wiped off of our windshields by our wipers.  No, they are the genesis of the manufacturing cycle.  They water the earth and cause it to bring forth and bud.  This provides seed to the sower and bread to the eater. What power!

In like fashion, the word of God has great power.  It has the power to wash and cleanse. A husband is told in the Scriptures to wash his wife with the word.  The power in the word of God will cause beauty, holiness, grace to blossom:

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Like manna from heaven, I thank God for his daily supply of the word which truly washes and cleanses, heals, delivers, enlivens, and forever blesses his Church.  What power!


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

PEACE, EATING AND REJOICING

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013

PEACE, EATING AND REJOICING

  And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:
 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.
  And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.
 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
 And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 27:2-7

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremish 15:16

I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Song of Solomon 5:1









Monday, December 2, 2013

PURITY

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

PURITY

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colosians 4:5,6

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. I Thessalonians 4:7-12

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. Song of Solomon 5:10








Sunday, December 1, 2013

THE LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013

THE LIGHT OF HIS COUNTENANCE

 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Psalm 4:6

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
Psalm 89:15

His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. Song of Solomon 5:15

 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:26