Enjoy Your Meal

When we become believers, we are invited to join God at His table. As a part of God’s family, He provides for us and keeps us safe. We see this repeatedly in scriptures. David first spoke of this in the Psalms.

Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Can you imaging the table God would set for His family? That would be some kind of a meal! And do you think He would let our enemies disturb the meal? I don’t think so. It just so happens that meal that lasts forever is our Messiah.

John 6:48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 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.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

If we will follow our Master, Yeshua (Jesus), then we have the opportunity to dine with our Father in heaven in the presence of our enemies. No one can take our place at the table from us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. We call out to You today Father to send Your kingdom to this earth in our lives. Please send it today. Help us to get past those things that keep us from You. Forgive us when we get it wrong. Send us today Your healing, deliverance, and overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Taking Heart

Today as I was watering my garden I thought of the many things coming up in my life, and I think I have a good life. It made me think of all of the happenings in all of the body of believers. I know there have been times I have felt overwhelmed in the past. For those reading this, if that is your situation today, or you know someone that is in this situation that could use and encouraging word, this scripture might help.

Psalms 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Psalms 113:7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

From these two scriptures we see that God wants to raise us up. He is waiting for us to call upon His name. Today, call out to God, either for your own situation or for that person you know, and ask God to show Himself strong.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We need Your kingdom in our lives. We need You for You alone are God and our Help. Forgive us when we say and do those things we should not. We ask that You send Your healing deliverance, and abundant prosperity. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Days Of The Weak

Yesterday when we were at fellowship we had several discussions about the various holidays that are depicted in scripture. Interestingly enough they are different that what are traditionally celebrated here in the US. As we had this discussion it became apparent to me that we need to be vigilant to learn what God is saying to us in scripture. As I thought about the days of the week, it seemed to me that we need to find a way to be close to God most days.

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.

Here always means at all times, every day. This because we always need Him. We are weak, but He is our strength, every day.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are God. You alone are our King. Please send us Your kingdom today. Please forgive us when we fall. We need You. Send Your healing, deliverance, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Suddenly Blessed

When talking with believers I often find two groups to be very apparent. Not that there are not more, but these tow show up frequently. There is the group that has every thing in life planned – family, finances, dinner – everything, including when it is okay for God to show up. Then there is another large group that struggles to get by day to day. Some of them are really bad off, but many are just struggling. In fact these people see life as something they wake up to wrestle until they fall asleep at night, wondering how long will it last. Interestingly enough I have been in both groups. But there is something that I have learned over the last couple years. We do not have to live in any of these spaces.

Let me try to explain how this can be different. Try to put everything out of your mind. Now imagine that there is a God who actually smiles. Why is He smiling. Because He is Your Father. He just wants to spend times with you as one of His kids because, unlike earthly fathers, He is a perfect Father. He wants to help you, hold you, lift you up when you are cast down, and surprise you with good things when you least expect it. How should we respond? If we believe this is who our God is, then we can respond by taking time everyday to pray and get close to Him. We can think as the day goes by, “What are You doing with this, Dad?” When we take time to do this, we see Him for who He is, the loving Father that takes care of everything.

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Our Father loves us more than we can imagine. If we just will spend time with Him, we will be suddenly blessed and we will have opportunity to suddenly bless others.

Prayer
Father, we exalt you. We need Your kingdom. We thank You for those moments when You reach out and suddenly bless us. Please forgive us when we doubt You and when we falter. Please raise us up. Help us to be people that can suddenly bless others and not have to focus so much on our needing to be blessed. We don’t want to be always consumed by what we need. We want to have the abundance to bless others as You direct us. Please send us Your healing, Your deliverance, and Your overwhelming overflowing provision today. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Decision Time

All mankind is faced with decisions every day. Where do we work, where do we live, what do we eat, and so on. The list goes on. Sometimes these decision are for far more important things. Things like whose side am I on, whom do I serve, and is there a God. Even those these all in part questions, the answers we apply impact us now, and in some cases forever, or at least until we make a different decision. The way we know and the way those around us know what decision we made is not just by the words that we speak but also by our actions. How we respond in specific situations makes all the difference. The worst thing is to be torn in deciding.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

The prophet Joel warned of this situation. He does not want us to be stuck when it comes to serving God. It is better to decide.

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

When John received the Revelation He was told to ward us against being neither hot nor cold. Again, this speaks to making no decision, to serving on not serving. What we do shows our decisions.

I am not suggesting that we must be perfect. I am saying that we have to commit to striving to serve God and be doing what we can to be like Him. He will make up the rest. But we must decide.

Prayer
Father we exalt You. Please send Your kingdom today in our lives. Forgive us when we don’t live like we belong there. Guide us. Send Your healing, deliverance, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Every Moment Of Every Day

When we think about how wonderful our God is, and all that He provides for us every day, we can be overwhelmed with gratitude. He rules the heavens and the earth, and He does it in a majestic way. He watches over us and our families. He keeps our enemies at bay. He creates a path for us to walk. When I think of these things, I become so thankful. It makes me want to pray and praise. But in these moments what can we pray if we just cannot find the words. May I suggest turning to the scriptures and reading them out loud or even singing them as your own to God. Here is one that I found this morning.

Psalms 97:1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

May God bless you today as you pray and sing.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. Thank You. Thank You for all You are and all You do for us and all Your children. We love You. Forgive us when we fall. Help us back up. Send us Your kingdom today. Send us Your healing, deliverance, and abundant provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Air Power

Growing up my dad was in the Air Force Reserves after leaving the regular Air Force. I think that was the reason we watched all of the old movies about World War II with James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart, and many others. There was one point that was made repeatedly and my dad would sometimes mention. The one that had air superiority, that “ruled the sky”, would always win. As I began to write today I realized that applies in spiritual warfare as well. Our enemy is in the air.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

So our enemy is the prince of the power of the air. If we can rule the air, then we win. Scriptures say that our God is even higher and rules the sky. He rids on it and through it.

Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.

Deuteronomy 33:26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
27 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.

Our God rules the air. And when we call out to God, when we humble ourselves and pray, when we sing His praises, we ride with Him. With God, we can rule the air and defeat the prince of power of the air.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. Come in the clouds and rule over the earth. Bring Your kingdom amongst us. Help us for we are Your children Father and we need Your help. Forgive us when we do not follow You. Come now in power and heal and deliver Your people. Come in power and send us Your overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Stay To The End

We as believers are given a great gift. It is the gift of life from God, both now and forever. We can use this gift wisely, or not. For most of us, we will use it wisely sometimes and sometimes we will not use it wisely. We will stumble and fall. While we do not want to fall, falling is not nearly as important as getting back up. We have that ability if we will call out to God. We just need the intent.

Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 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.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

We are all on a journey towards the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. We all need help in trying to get there – help from God mostly, and also help from our fellow believers. Most of all we can help ourselves with the intent to stay to the end, calling out to God when we fall short.

Prayer
Father, we praise Your Holy Name. You alone are worthy of our praise. We need Your kingdom in our lives and in the lives of our families. We see so many people in need Father. They need Your kingdom to be here. Please forgive us when we fall short of the mark of the high calling. Please lift us up and get us back on the track. I ask today Father that You send deliverance, healing, and overwheling provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Living Proof

Many times when we face challenges in life and we want to know what we should do. We may get input from others. Ultimately we have to decide, and frequently we want proof. This also happens in life with regard to our faith. The unbelievers often ask for proof when we speak of our God. There is an answer to this in scripture.

Psalms 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.
13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.
17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

We see in this scripture that God wants to move in a positive way in our life. He does this to show us as a token, a sign, “living proof” to the unbelievers that He alone is God.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You alone are worthy to be praised. Please send Your kingdom into our lives today Father. Please forgive us our trespasses. Please send Your healing, deliverance, and abundant provision in a mighty way so that all men might know that You alone are God. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Looking From The Inside

In our world we are taught not to show emotion. We are expected to always be in control, to keep our “chin up”, and to “tough it out.” Even if we are able to pull that off most of the time, there always comes times when we simply cannot do it any more. In those moments it is good to know that we have a forgiving God that loves us and is on our side.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

God will reach out to us and wants us to draw near to Him. It is His desire to help us make it, to pick us up when we fall, and to get us on His path. We must only humble ourselves unto Him.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Today we can be comforted by our Abba, our Father, if we will but call out to Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. We are in desperate need of Your presence in our life at all times. We need Your kingdom here on the earth. We need to know that You will hear us and help us. Please forgive us our wrongs. Help us to live the life you have laid in front of us and to follow Your ways. Please send us Your healing, Your deliverance, and Your overwhelming provision. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.