When asked, “What book has most influenced your life?” most folks say the Bible. Yet fewer than 14% of us read it every day. How come? Our most common excuses are: (1) I’ve not time: Really? Many of the books in your Bible can be read in ten to forty five minutes, some in less than twenty minutes. By taking a chapter a day you can complete the book of Proverbs in a month and the Epistle of James in five days. (2) I don’t know where to begin. If starting in Genesis and working your way through seems overwhelming break it into bite-sized pieces. Pick a Gospel and read the life of Christ. Just get started! (3) It’s not exciting. Do you like romance? Read the book of Ruth. Looking for adventure? Try Judges or Acts. enjoy poetry? Explore Song of Solomon. From history to how-to, it’s all in Scripture. (4) Isn’t going to church every week good enough? Billy Graham says, “The Bible is the road map for life, and while your pastor can highlight the best route to take, you learn how to navigate life’s twists and turns for yourself.” (5) It makes me uncomfortable. When you don’t know what God’s Word actually says, it’s easy to equate it with negative experiences and hypocrisy you’ve observed, then throw out the baby with the bath water. No question, the Bible makes you face hard truths. It “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb 4:12 NIV). It gives you a check-up from the neck up. But you’ll discover who you are, what you’re called to do, and become empowered to do it!

Rev. Susie Owens after thoughts:

I too, deal with taking time out of my busy day to read my Bible. It isn’t something I like to admit but it is true. God is so kind, full of grace and abounding in mercy. It is so refreshing and freeing to know that God loves us where we are. All we have to do is dust off our Bible and pick up as if we’d never stopped. A new beginning is just a turn of the page away.

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WORD FOR YOU TODAY devotional books are available (quarterly) from Shekinah Fellowship Church. For more information, please call 405-799-8888.

Learning to confess the Word over your life is one of the most important things you will ever learn.  There are great benefits in practicing this, for you and your family.  It causes the Word to go to work for you.  Not only that but the angles are able to work on your behalf also.  As you are reading God’s Word look for scriptures that will build your faith and confidence concerning matters in your life.  Scriptures can mean different things in the light of certain needs.  Once you become aware of this you will begin to see all kinds of scriptures to confess over your life and the lives of your family members.

For example, I found this just the other day as I was reading one morning:  Psalm 89:22   The enemy shall not exact from him or do him violence or outwit him, nor shall the wicked afflict and humble him.

Out loud I said, “The enemy shall not exact from me or do me violence or outwit me, nor shall the wicked afflict and humble me.”

If you have a child that is facing a difficulty in their life,speak this over them by putting their name in.  “The enemy shall not exact from Suzie or do her violence or outwit her, nor shall the wicked afflict and humble Suzie.”

Make Psalm 91 personal to you by putting I, me and my in the appropriate places.  Especially in verses 14-16 where God speaks, put the words you and your in there.

In John 14: 30 Jesus is telling His deciples that Satan has no claim on Him.  I love to confess this from the Amp. verson.  “Satan has no claim on me.  He has nothing in common with me; there is nothing in me that belongs to him, and he has no power over me.”

Become one with God’s Word and watch your faith and confidence in Him take off.

“I will give you words and wisdom.” Lk 21:15 NIV  January 6, 2010
Taken From The Word For You Today – Comments by Rev. Susie Owens

Hebrews Chapter 11 is often referred to as “the gallery of faith.” Two groups are mentioned. Group one “escaped…the sword” (v.34). Group two “were put to death with the sword” (v.37). Now we’d all like to be in group one, but the Bible says both groups “gained [God's] approval through their faith.” The Message paraphrases this Scripture: “These people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance” (Heb 11:13 TM). Their faith kept them focused!
Sometimes faith is an instrument of change, other times it’s a means of survival; it’s what gives you the tenacity to trust God when His will seems  to clash with yours. Often your faith is perfected more when things don’t change than when they do. You don’t need faith for what you can see or have already attained; you need it when life makes no sense, when you can’t explain why the baby dies, or the job falls through, or the marriage isn’t working, or the wicked prosper, or the good die, or the righteous suffer, or the kind receive no comfort. We think there’s only one good outcome – the one we want. No, we must trust whatever comes our way. and even when we can’t, we must trust Him, knowing He “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NLT). Did you get that? Everything!

My afterthoughts: In Rom: 10:17  So faith cometh by hearing and by hearing the word of God…We all have faith the same measurement of faith. Some times people exorcise it more than others. Just like in the natural some exorcise more than others and it makes a notable difference. In order for something to be effective we have to utilize it and operate in it to be effectual. When we sit in a chair I am pretty sure not many inspect the chair before sitting down we just plop down. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we exorcised our spiritual faith the same way. Just operate in it without thinking! We can train ourselves to do this, but it starts with the word. Without instruction how can we build our faith and strengthen it. Some hear the word but fail to use it and operate in it. Or they negate their faith by speaking doubt and unbelief over something they by faith just ask God to do! What comes out of our mouth is life or death, the Bible say’s choose life. So what we hear, read and do is very important in how we will be able to have the life of victory. Jesus died for us that we can have life more abundantly and victory in our life. We must depend on Him and the faith given to us. Faith can move mountains and change impossible situations and ignite the world with miracles. Everything is moved by faith, love and prayer , or prayer, love or faith…how ever and what order you put those in it takes all three to accomplish what God intends in His Kingdom. Without Love we have nothing, without Prayer our request can’t be made known. And without Faith they can’t be bound together to be put in motion. When we lace our request with God’s power and believe with all our hearts. There is no obstacle or situation that can’t be turned to accomplish His will being done. This is a NEW YEAR and we will embrace it by Faith that it will be an awesome year in the Lord and in the natural. I speak and claim this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

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WORD FOR YOU TODAY devotional books are available (quarterly) from Shekinah Fellowship Church. For more information, please call 405-799-8888.

He is thinking of you all the time.  He is closer to you than your next heart beat and He knows your thoughts before you think them.  You can talk to Him any time, any where because you take Him with you everywhere you go.  He’s living right inside and is waiting for you to talk to Him.  Communication with our Savior should be continual.

Psalm 89:16-17 says:  In Your name they rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.  For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted and we walk with uplifted faces!

His strength and His favor to us is the reason we rejoice.  He has given us everything He has, let’s give Him back everything we are.

That’s the big deal.

Some of the greatest people in the Bible considered themselves unqualified. Moses told God he wasn’t a good speaker. Gideon told God he didn’t have the right family background. Jeremiah told God he felt as helpless as a child. Paul described himself as the chief of sinners and the least of the apostles. Everyone, including Samuel the prophet, thought David wasn’t qualified to become king. But God thought differently!
We decided to retell the story about a newly hired traveling salesman who sent his first sales report to the head office, because its truth is timeless. When the report reached them they were stunned. The new salesman wrote,”I seen this outfit which ain’t never bot nuthin from us and I sole them a lotta goods. Now I’m going to Chicawgo.” Before the sales manager could fire him, along came a second report. “I come here to Chicawgo and sole them over a millyun.” Fearful if he fired the salesman and concerned if he didn’t, the sales manager dumped the problem into the lap of the company president. The following morning the sales department was amazed to see a memo from the president posted on the bulletin board beside the saleman’s two letters. It said, “We ben spending two much time tryin to spel and not enuf tryin to sel. Let’s watch those sails. I want everybody should read these two letters from Gooch, who is on the rode doin a grate job for us, and you should go out and do like he dun.” Degrees and titles are fine things, but armed with intuition and initiative, plus God’s help you are qualified!

My afterthoughts: God see’s us so completely different from who we think we are and where we are going. He see’s us through loving eyes and heart. If back in the early Bible days everyone waited until THEY felt they were qualified. Nothing that needed to fulfill there calling and Bible prophesy would have ever gotten done. And same with us…if we waited until everything was perfect or we had enough training we wouldn’t be able to do what we are to do and are doing. Take having children, they don’t come with a manual. It is inside us our nurturing, loving ability to meet their needs and raise our children. Yes, mistakes are made and it is on the job training. Days of old in the Bible were the same. But Jesus came and fulfilled His qualified position so that our inheritance of birth qualified could be fulfilled. As long as we have a willing obedient heart and do as we are led. We through God’s grace strength and what Jesus did for us at Calvary. We are qualified! There is always going to be judgmental critical people who think we aren’t in every aspect of our lives. I once read in a poetry book. If you could see yourself but for a moment as I see you, you would never see yourself in the same way. That sounds simple but very deep and profound. If we could see ourselves through God’s eyes but for a moment, we would love ourselves and have a new confidence birthed immediately. He has given us everything in His Word to live by, even the mistakes and sin’s of others that went before us as guide lines. And look at what they accomplished for His kingdom! And He forgives us of our sins and He has put in us the ability to overcome and be achievers through His mighty name. The name above all names our Savior lives in us, through us, and for us…who can fail in life when we walk with Him and follow after His footsteps as marking our way of life and the direction. Love the Lord with all your heart and follow after Him seeking Him first in all things…letting Him guide you through every trial and victory to be used for His glory and testimony and witness just like the early Bible relatives did for us…the ultimate qualifications for anything may be written down as the world see’s them in degree’s and other ways of proof. But the only one who is qualified to qualify us IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST who lives in our hearts and knows all that is within and all we can accomplish through Him. Which is, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” That says it all. Be all that He intends for you to be and the world will be a better place and you will leave a road map for others to follow Him through your walk also… Have a blessed and awesome day in newness of life lived for Him!

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THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY devotional books are available  (quarterly)
from Shekinah Fellowship Church.
For more information, please call 405-799-8888.

Are you complaining because someone has disappointed you? Are you keeping score when it comes to gift giving, initiating phone calls, or picking up the tab? Are you upset because you feel like you give more than you get? Jesus experienced all these things – and more. His closest friends let Him down. Those He called and counted on, often proved to be unreliable and immature. They learned slowly, and usually the hard way. One doubted Him, one denied Him, and one even betrayed Him. Yet He forgave them and loved them anyway. “Having loved his own…he loved them unto the end”  (Jn 13:1). Jesus loved His friends not because they were worthy of His love, but because His love made them worthy. Love does that!
In Knowing God, J.I. Packer writes, “There is tremendous relief in knowing that God’s love for me is based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst in me. No discovery can disillusion Him in the way I’m often so disillusioned about myself, or quench His determination to bless me. There is great cause for humility in the thought that He sees all the twisted things about me that others don’t see. Indeed, He sees more corruption in me than I see in myself. Yet He wants to be my friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given His son to die for me in order for me to realize this purpose.” So before you react in anger, remember God’s grace. Use His Son as your role model and ask yourself, ”How would Jesus handle this?”

My afterthoughts: We know what Jesus did for us and continue’s to do as we add offenses to our daily lives. He is still mediating for us from the throne to the Father. He did it then and continues to do so. But as the lesson teaches, wouldn’t it be best to ask ourselves what WOULD  Jesus do? Not just to wear that on a shirt or arm band for the world to see.  But to actually live it for others to witness and continue to be His witness and testimony for others. Not only does it keep us constantly aware of who we are in Him…but allows others to see the Jesus that died not only for us but for them. Of course we are human and flesh and blood but we have Christ DNA in us and are of Him. We are powerful and can change the order of our life. Through believing in and on Him. Staying in His Word and continually learning the right way.  And by living out what He represented on the cross and very much alive and in us today! It isn’t easy. His life wasn’t either. He not only was representing His Father but the entire world population that was to come. Which of course we are right in the middle of, but He never lost His faithfulness and stayed focused on what was at hand and to come. Most of us would be hard pressed in reality if we would give up our life for a loved one little less a stranger. He died for the one’s to come and how humbling to know that He trust us with His loved ones to continue His work. God has faith and belief in us also…His work depends on us to carry out His plan. How awesome is that love and to know that we can do it. He continue’s to bless us and provision has been made. His grace and quick forgiveness abounds. Praise His Holy name that we belong to Him. And you can to just by asking Him into your heart. You will walk in newness of life everlasting and eternally bound with Jesus. Your life will be forever changed and a love you never thought you were or are capable of will spring forth. You will help others to know Him and will also give them eternal life without personally dying for them. Your life and others will be far richer in every area of your life and you will lead others out of where you were and to where He is waiting.

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THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY devotional books are available  (quarterly)
from Shekinah Fellowship Church.
For more information, please call 405-799-8888.

Here are three final thoughts on complaining:
(1) Don’t make a complaint, make a request. However legitimate your gripe, you’ll be heard as complaining, greatly reducing the likelihood of a good outcome. Whatever the cause, you’re more likely to get what you ask for graciously, than you are to cure what you’re complaining about.  Asking , “Would you be willing to do this (a preferred specific behavior) rather than (the old behavior)?” Is respectful, clear, avoids argument over past issues that can’t be changed, and always brings a better result.
(2) All right, you’ve said it, now let God work. Changing people is God’s job, so back off, be patient and give Him a chance. “But doesn’t somebody need to supervise them to be sure they change?” Unless they’re behind bars and you’re their prison guard, the answer is no! Get out of God’s way and let Him do what you can’t. He has ways means you never dreamed of. When He’s allowed to take over the job it gets done right!
(3) What should you do while waiting for God to work? Well, you could sit around ruminating, resenting and rehashing the past. Or you could take lessons from Joseph! He’d every reason to complain about his family’s treatment and to take revenge when the tables turned in his favor. Instead he conscientiously and skillfully did what he had to do, watching for the strategic moments every problem offers, when he could align himself to become part of the solution. He did, his family was reunited, and God promoted him to even greater blessing. Learn from him!

My afterthoughts: Asking is the better way. How much more considerate is it to ask anyway. People love to be respected as people and important to who and what they are doing. You hear people say, “you never do anything I ask you to do, maybe they would do everything you ask.     People thrive under good leadership. They have a more willingness to do up and above what is expected of them.
Second part of lesson on supervision to make it our job to monitor their every move. NOT! First of all it keeps us from doing what we are supposed to be doing. And second it takes away the trust that you have put in God to change them and help them have victory and develop a relationship of their own. Here is also what you can do. Pray over them faithfully that they have ears to hear, blinders and scales come off their eyes and that waterers and laborers get in their path. That is more in the spiritual sense as a rule. But it does apply in the work place for more peace and harmony of everyone working together for the same gain. Spiritually and in the world their can be harmony if we all look to God first, His Word and then to act on it and live it.
And Joseph is a great example of how this all works. His life was so difficult and unfair. But he found favor with God because of his attitude and God opened doors that no man could shut in his behalf. He stayed in the right attitude and in the right order of things and worked hard to prove himself. In doing so he proved God’s love for others and restoration was made possible through his faithfulness…he never abused the situation but made the best of each trial and had complete victory… What a witness and how pleasing he was to God. Win Win!

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The Word For You Today devotional books are available (quarterly)
from Shekinah Fellowship Church.
For more information, please call 405-799-8888.