OUR PRAYER AND PRAISE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

OUR PRAYER AND PRAISE

  Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
  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.
 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. I CHRONICLES 29:10-13

LORD, IS THIS THE TIME?

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

LORD, IS THIS THE TIME?

  So when the apostles came together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you're going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
  Jesus told them, "You don't need to know about times or periods that the Father has determined by his own authority.
  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ACTS 1:6-8

 When the apostles met together with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time give the Kingdom back to Israel?"
  Jesus said to them, "The times and occasions are set by my Father's own authority, and it is not for you to know when they will be.
 But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ACTS 1:6-8

  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ACTS1:6-8

Now those who had gathered together began to ask Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
  He answered them, "It is not for you to know what times or periods the Father has fixed by his own authority.
  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ACTS1:6-8

PRINCE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

 PRINCE

  Oh that you were like a brother to me who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.
 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother— she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
  His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
  I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
  Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.
  Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.
  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
  Others: We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
  She: I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace.
  Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
  My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
 He: O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it.
  She: Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. SONG OF SOLOMON 8

THE PRINCESS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 29, 2014

THE PRINCESS
  You are a princess, and your feet are graceful in their sandals. Your thighs are works of art, each one a jewel;
  your navel is a wine glass filled to overflowing. Your body is full and slender like a bundle of wheat bound together by lilies.
 Your breasts are like twins of a deer.
Your neck is like ivory, and your eyes sparkle like the pools of Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is beautiful like Mount Lebanon above the city of Damascus.
 Your head is held high like Mount Carmel; your hair is so lovely it holds a king prisoner.
  You are beautiful, so very desirable!
You are tall and slender like a palm tree, and your breasts are full.
 I will climb that tree and cling to its branches. I will discover that your breasts are clusters of grapes, and that your breath is the aroma of apples.
  Kissing you is more delicious than drinking the finest wine. How wonderful and tasty!
My darling, I am yours, and you desire me.
Let's stroll through the fields and sleep in the villages.
 At dawn let's slip out and see if grapevines and fruit trees are covered with blossoms. When we are there, I will give you my love.
  Perfume from the magic flower fills the air, my darling. Right at our doorstep I have stored up for you all kinds of tasty fruits. SONG OF SOLOMON 7(CEV)

KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS: THE SON OF THE HIGHEST

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS:  THE SON OF THE HIGHEST

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. LUKE 1:31-33

 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 

 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. REVELATION 19:11-16

LET THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

LET THE LORD BE MAGNIFIED

  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. PSALM 35:27-28

I AM BLACK

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014

I AM BLACK

 The Song of Songs, which is for Solomon.
 May you kiss me passionately with your lips, for your love is better than wine.
 As fragrance, your perfumes are delightful; your name is poured out perfume; therefore young women love you.
 Draw me after you, let us run! May the king bring me into his chambers! Let us be joyful and let us rejoice in you; let us extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you!
 I am black but beautiful, O maidens of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
 Do not gaze at me because I am black, because the sun has stared at me. The sons of my mother were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own "vineyard" I did not keep.
 Tell me, you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your flock, where do your sheep lie down at the noon? For why should I be like one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
 If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds.
 To a mare among the chariots of Pharaoh, I compare you, my beloved.
 Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
We will make ornaments of gold for you with studs of silver.
While the king was on his couch, my nard gave its fragrance.
 My beloved is to me a pouch of myrrh, he spends the night between my breasts.
 My beloved is to me a cluster of blossoms of henna in the vineyards of En Gedi.
 Look! You are beautiful, my beloved. Look! You are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
  Look! You are beautiful, my beloved, truly pleasant. Truly our couch is verdant;
the beams of our house are cedar; our rafter is cypress. SONG OF SONGS 1

ISRAEL SHALL KNOW ME

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

ISRAEL SHALL KNOW ME

 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when 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 when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. HEBREWS 8

ISRAEL TURNING TO THE LORD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

ISRAEL TURNING TO THE LORD

 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. HOSEA 14

 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
  But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
  And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.  JOEL 2

NEWNESS OF LIFE: FAITH, FRUIT, HOLY GHOST BAPTISM AND FIRE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

NEWNESS OF LIFE: FAITH, FRUIT, HOLY GHOST BAPTISM AND FIRE

 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. MATTHEW 3:11-12

 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. HEBREWS 11:6

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. ROMANS 7:4

THE BODY OF CHRIST: NEWNESS OF LIFE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

THE BODY OF CHRIST: NEWNESS OF LIFE

 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. ROMANS 7:4-6

  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:
 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:6-18

OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH, AND OF HIS BONES

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH, AND OF HIS BONES

 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
  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.
  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. EPHESIANS 5:22-32

A BODY FOR YOU

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014

 A BODY FOR YOU

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but A BODY  hast thou prepared me:
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the BODY of Jesus Christ once for all. HEBREWS 10:4-10

  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my BODY, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. I CORINTHIANS 11:23-24

  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. JOHN 6:51

  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my BODY. MATTHEW 26:26

  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my BODY. MARK 14:22

 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 

 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 

 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 

 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 

 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 

 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 

 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my BODY, she did it for my burial. 

 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. MATTHEW 26:6-13

  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. 

  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. 

  And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 

  And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 

  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 

  And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 

  For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 

  She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my BODY to the burying. 

  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. MARK 4-19

HOW SHE MAY PLEASE HER HUSBAND

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 8, 2014

HOW SHE MAY PLEASE HER HUSBAND

 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I CORINTHIANS 7:34

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 

 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 

 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 

 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. 

  His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. 

 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. 

  The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 

 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. 

 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. 

 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 

 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 

 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. 

 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 

 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 

 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. 

 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. SOLOMON 2

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. DANIEL 5:25-31

SENT TO BE A WITNESS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTION FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014

SENT TO BE A WITNESS
  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. JOHN 1: 6-16

ALL THAT EVER CAME BEFORE ARE THIEVES AND ROBBERS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

ALL THAT EVER CAME BEFORE ARE THIEVES AND ROBBERS

 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. JOHN 10:8-14

ZION HAVE I LOVED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014

ZION HAVE I LOVED

  The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
  And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
  Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
  But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
  Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
MALACHI 1

 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
  Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
  And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ROMANS 9:13-33

SPIRIT- FILLED, SPIRIT- FLOWING

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014

SPIRIT- FILLED, SPIRIT- FLOWING

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. MATTHEW 26:6-13

TRUSTING IN JESUS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2014

TRUSTING IN JESUS

 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
  But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
  But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
  I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
  Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
  Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
  They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
  They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
  Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
  Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
  My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.
  All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. PSALM 22

OVERSHADOW US

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014

OVERSHADOW US

  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. LUKE 1:35

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. MATTHEW 17:5

 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. LUKE 9:33,34

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. ZECHARIAH 4:6 

THE SONS OF GOD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014

THE SONS OF GOD
  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. GALATIANS 4:4-7

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ROMANS 8:19

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. I JOHN 3:9

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ROMANS 8:29,30

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

ELOHIM: I HAVE SAID YE ARE GODS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014

ELOHIM:  I HAVE SAID YE ARE GODS

 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
 PSALM 82:6

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 

 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; JOHN 10:34,35

TIME TO GROW UP

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

TIME TO GROW UP

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. EPHESIANS 4;11-15

THIS ROCK IS REAL!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014

THIS ROCK IS REAL!

 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. Deuteronomy 32;18

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Incline Thine ear unto me, deliver me speedily; be Thou to me a rock of refuge, even a fortress of defence, to save me. Psalm31:2  

 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3 

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:33 

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 

And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. I CORINTHIANS 10;1-4

THE LORD OUR MAKER

IN THE BEGINNNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 27, 2014

THE LORD OUR MAKER

 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. PSALM 95;1-11

HE RENEWED MY YOUTH LIKE THE EAGLE'S

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014

HE RENEWED MY YOUTH LIKE THE EAGLE'S

 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. PSALM 103;2-5KJV

 For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name. 

 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for thee. 

Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases. 

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion. 

Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be renewed like the eagle's. PSALM 103;1-5

LOVE NEVER FAILS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

LOVE NEVER FAILS

 Love is always patient; love is always kind; love is never envious or arrogant with pride. Nor is she conceited,
  and she is never rude; she never thinks just of herself or ever gets annoyed. She never is resentful;
 is never glad with sin; she's always glad to side with truth, and pleased that truth will win.
 She bears up under everything; believes the best in all; there is no limit to her hope, and never will she fall.
  Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete.
  But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.
  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways.
 Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
  Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. I CORINTHIANS 13;4-13

  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
  nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in union with the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. ROMANS 8;38-39

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. JUDE1;20,21

But you, my friends, keep on building yourselves up on your most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
 and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life. JUDE1;20.21

LIVING FOUNTAINS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

LIVING FOUNTAINS

 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. REVELATION 7;17

WILL YOU REIGN WITH ME

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY,  OCTOBER 20, 2014

WILL YOU REIGN WITH ME

  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
  Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. I TIMOTHY CHAPTER 5,17-25

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. REVELATION,CHAPTER 1, 3-6



 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. REVELATION CHAPTER 7, 9-17

They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth." REVELATION CHAPTER 5, 9-10

 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people to be his very own and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I PETER CHAPTER 2, 9 ISV

IT'S A GIFT!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014

IT’S A GIFT!

Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says, 'The stone that you the builders despised turned out to be the most important of all.' 

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us. ACTS 4;11,12 GOOD NEWS BIBLE

Salvation in JESUS CHRIST is the best gift of all!  The blood of Jesus washes and cleanses us from all sin, so that we can have communion with God.  What a blessing to be in the Lord, rapped in his eternal love and righteousness, saved from hell and the wrath of God and divinely protected against the wiles of the wicked one.  Salvation in Jesus Christ allows us to enter into the blessed Kingdom of God where we can bear fruit for our Father’s glory.  This salvation delivers us out of the world-- with all of its strife and confusion-- and gives us PEACE with God.  I am so grateful for this salvation; so, with our life… we will praise the LORD!

Today, if you have not yet asked Christ Jesus into your heart to be your personal savior, today is the perfect day!

ABIDING FOREVER IN THE WILL OF GOD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

ABIDING FOREVER IN THE WILL OF GOD

 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
 I JOHN 2:17

  So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. JUDGES 5:31


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

REPENTING: LOVING NOT THE WORLD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

REPENTING:  LOVING NOT THE WORLD

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. I JOHN 2:15-17

THE PERFECT DESIGN

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

THE PERFECT DESIGN

 All this, said David, the design for all these things, has been made dear to me in writing by the hand of the Lord.
 And David said to his son Solomon, Be strong and of a good heart and do your work; have no fear and do not be troubled, for the Lord God, my God, is with you; he will not give you up, and his face will not be turned away from you, till all the work necessary for the house of the Lord is complete.
  And see, there are the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the work of the house of God; and every trained and expert workman will be ready to do for you whatever is needed; and the captains and the people will be under your orders in everything. I CHRONICLES 2819-21 BBE

 Having made clear to us the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands
 The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say,
 In whom we have a heritage, being marked out from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs;
So that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ:
 In whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope,
 Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory. EPHESIANS 19-14 BBE

THE SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

THE SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL


 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.PSALM 80:1-3

IN THE HOUSE OF DAVID

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

IN THE HOUSE OF DAVID


 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. LUKE 1:68-75

THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE!

 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. JOHN 8:32

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. JOHN 16:13-15

HOLINESS BECOMETH THINE HOUSE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

HOLINESS BECOMETH THINE HOUSE

  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
  Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever. PSALM 93:1-5

THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

THOU EXCELLEST THEM ALL


 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. PROVERBS 31:29-31KJ

 "There are many good women, but you are the best!"
 Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised. Show her respect-- praise her in public for what she has done. PROVERBS 31:29-31ERV

WISDOM: "THOU ART MY SISTER."

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

WISDOM: "THOU ART MY SISTER."

 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: PROVERBS 7:4

  Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 

  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 

  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. 

  Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 

  For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 

  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. 

  The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 

  I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 

  When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 

  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 

  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 

  When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 

 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 

 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed  Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 

  Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 

  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 

 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 

  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 

  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. PROVERBS 8:6-36

A STUDY IN METICULOUSNESS: SETTING IN ORDER ערך

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014

A STUDY IN METICULOUSNESS :  SETTING IN ORDER(ערך  ‛ârak)

 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
I  Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. ISAIAH 44:1-9

  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 

  Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 

  Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 

  He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually. 

  And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. 

  And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. 

  And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 

  Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 

  And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute. 

LEVITICUS 24:1-9

THE TIME OF REFORMATION

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

THE TIME OF REFORMATION

  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

HEBREWS 9:8-17

Hebrews 9:10:

(ASV)  being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. 

(BBE)  Because they are only rules of the flesh, of meats and drinks and washings, which have their place till the time comes when things will be put right. 

(CEV)  These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better. 

(DRB)  And divers washings and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction. 

(ERV)  These gifts and sacrifices are only about food and drink and special washings. They are only rules about the body. God gave them for his people to follow until the time of his new way. 

(ESV)  but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. 

(GNB)  since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order. 

(GW)  These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things. 

(ISV)  since they deal only with food, drink, and various washings, which are required for the body until the time when things would be set right. 

(JUB)  but in foods and drinks and different washings and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of correction. 

(KJV)  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 

(KJV+)  Which stood onlyG3440 inG1909 meatsG1033 andG2532 drinks,G4188 andG2532 diversG1313 washings,G909 andG2532 carnalG4561 ordinances,G1345 imposedG1945 on them untilG3360 the timeG2540 of reformation.G1357 

(LEB)  concerning instead only food and drink and different washings, regulations of outward things imposed until the time of setting things right. 

(LITV)  but only on foods and drinks, and various washings, and fleshly ordinances, until the time of setting things right has been imposed. 

(MKJV)  which stood only in meats and drinks, and different kinds of washings and fleshly ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 

(YLT)  only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances--till the time of reformation imposed upon them . 

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US!

Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?
It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered."
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.
I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,  and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! ROMANS 8:35-39 CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 8:35-39

GOD HEALS OUR WOUND

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

GOD HEALS OUR WOUND

Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. ISAIAH 30:26

 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. ISAIAH 60:20

  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. REVELATIONS 21:4,5

CLEAVING TO GOOD

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 26.2014

CLEAVING TO GOOD

 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  ROMANS 12:9 KJV

 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. ROMANS 12:9 GOOD NEWS

 Let love be without deceit. Be haters of what is evil; keep your minds fixed on what is good.ROMANS 12:9 BASIC ENGLISH

CORRUPT

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

CORRUPT

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. EPHESIAN 4:22-25 KJV

You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. 

Let the Spirit change your way of thinking 

and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy EPHESIANS 4:22-24.CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION 

For you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 

 And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Therefore putting away lying, let each man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. EPHESIAN 4:22-25

 that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, 

 be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 

 and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth. 

 Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members of one another. EPHESIAN 4:22-25 LEXHAM ENGLISH BIBLE

TWO SEPARATE PATHS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

TWO SEPARATE PATHS

 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. PROVERBS 4:18, 19 KJV

  But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
 The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble. PROVERBS 4:18,19 JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY

  The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 

 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over. PROVERBS 4:18,19 GOOD NEWS

WHEN THE SUN IS TURNED INTO DARKNESS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 25, 2014

WHEN THE SUN IS TURNED INTO DARKNESS

  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. JOEL 2:28-2:32

 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. I SAMUEL 25:34

  And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. I SAMUEL 25:36

LET NOT YOUR HANDS BE SLACK

IN THE BEGINNING.,..THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 21, 2014

LET NOT YOUR HANDS BE SLACK

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. PROVERBS 10:4

 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. ZEPHANIAH 3:14-17

HOW BEAUTIFUL!

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 20, 2014

HOW BEAUTIFUL!

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! ISAIAH 52:7

GIVE HIM NO REST

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 19, 2014

 GIVE HIM NO REST

Don't give him any rest until he rebuilds Jerusalem and makes it a place that everyone on earth will praise.

ISAIAH 62:7

And give him no silence till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. ISAIAH 62:7 DRB

  I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the LORD, do not give yourselves any rest,
 and do not give him any rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it an object of praise throughout the earth. ISAIAH 62:6,7 GOD'S WORD VERSION

"Upon your walls, Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; all day and all night they won't remain silent. You who make mention of the LORD, take no rest, 

 and give him no rest until he prepares, establishes and makes Jerusalem a song of praise throughout the earth. ISAIAH 62:6,7 ISV

A NEW COVENANT OF LOVE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

A NEW COVENANT

  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. HEBREWS 8:13 KING JAMES VERSION

By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear. HEBREWS 8:13 GOOD NEW BIBLE

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
  And they shall not each man teach his neighbor, and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest.
  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."
  In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the first one old. Now that which decays and becomes old is ready to vanish away. HEBREWS 8:10-13 MODERN KING JAMES VERSION

 In that he saith, A new covenant he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.HEBREWS 8:13 AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION

Heb 8:13  When he says, A new agreement, he has made the first agreement old. But anything which is getting old and past use will not be seen much longer. HEBREWS 8:13 BIBLE IN BASIC ENGLISH

ZION, COMFORTS AND SHALL BE COMFORTED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

ZION, COMFORTS AND SHALL BE COMFORTED

 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
 For Jehovah shall comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah. Joy and gladness shall be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. ISAIAH 51:2,3 MODERN KING JAMES VERSION

  Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. For when he was only one person I called him, but I made him fruitful and made him many.
 For the LORD will have compassion on Zion, have compassion on all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her deserts like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving, and the sound of singing. Sorrow and sighing will flee away. ISAIAH 51:2,3 ISV

  Abraham is your father, so look at him. Look at Sarah, who gave birth to you. Abraham was alone when I called him. Then I blessed him, and he began a great family with many descendants."
  In the same way, the LORD will bless Zion. He will feel sorry for her and her people, and he will do something great for her. He will turn the desert into a garden. It will be like the Garden of Eden. The land was empty, but it will become like the LORD'S garden. People there will be very happy. They will sing victory songs to thank God for what he did. ISAIAH 51:2.3 EASY TO READ

  Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
  For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
  As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ISAIAH 66:10-13

"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;
 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance."
 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
ISAIAH 66:10-13

TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 18, 2014

TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED

Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.
Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
I CHRONICLES 16:22-31

  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 

  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 

  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. 

  He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 

  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 

 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 

  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: 

  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: 

  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. 

  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 

  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; 

  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. PSALM 105:4-15

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. SONG OF SOLOMON 2:6

HIS LOVE IS BETTER THAN WINE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 17, 2014

HIS LOVE IS BETTER THAN WINE

  Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. SONG OF SOLOMON 1:2,3

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! 

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. 

 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: 

A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.  Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. SONG OF SOLOMON 4:10-16