Rainbow Promise - Genesis 9:12-15 (NKJV)

And GOD said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between ME and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:  I set MY rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between ME and the earth.  It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember MY covenant which is between ME and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

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Family,

Did you know that the rainbow is an actual covenant from GOD!!!  It is HIS visible covenant that reminds us that HE promised HE will never destroy the flesh with water again! The definition of perpetual is: ageless; continuing forever or indefinitely!   In fact, it is the Living Water that now makes us whole perpetually!  The next time you see a rainbow . . . thank GOD for keeping HIS promise!

Tailor Made - Genesis 1:27

So God created man in HIS own image; in the image of GOD HE created him; male and female HE created them.

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Each of us have been tailor made . . . by GOD!  HE put in us what HE wanted each of us to have and HE excluded that which HE did not want us to have.  It should be really hard to look at yourself as anything less than Tailor Made By GOD!  Genesis 2:7 says, And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Not only were we Tailor Made By GOD, but we also breath the breath of Life By GOD!

Remember, You are more than you can ever imagine and everything GOD made you to be!  So lift your heart and worship HIM!

Only ONE Can - Luke 3:15-16

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the CHRIST or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  HE will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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Think about all the wonderful things we can do for each other! It seems like the sky is the limit!  Well . . .  it is!  For man, the sky is as far as we can take ourselves and others (everyone doesn't get to go to the moon!), but there is One . . . HE is the Only One who can take us beyond our own limits!  John the Baptist could take us to the river and baptize in the water; but the ONE greater than him is able to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.  The only way we can receive the Holy Spirit into our lives, is through the only ONE who could pay the price for our sins!

Mouth of Righteousness - Proverbs 8:7-9

For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;  Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.  They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

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Family,

It is worth reading Proverbs 8.  It speaks of wisdom.  Only Godly wisdom comes out of the mouth of righteousness.  JESUS had a mouth of righteousness, and every word from HIM was full of Godly wisdom and truth.

The Road Less Traveled - Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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When we think about this in reference to our faith . . . wide gates and broad roads will lead to destruction.  The world tells us (Christians) that we should broaden our minds!  Open our minds to accept others’ gods.  A wise man told me once, “In life, when you come to two roads and you have to make a decision on which one to take, just look down to see which is the road less traveled”  First he explained that the Word of GOD says very few will choose the small gate and narrow road that leads to life.  Then he said, “Don't always look for the easy way out . . . because it may be harder at the end”

It Is All Good - Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to HIS purpose.

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Family,

This is one of the scripture passages that gets misused quite often.  In fact we usually hear people say, “The Bible says all things work for the good!” and the rest of the passage is not mentioned.  In the NIV translation it reads, “And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose.”  Again, when we encourage someone with this, we have to include the contextual meaning.  We must ensure that the person receives that all things GOD works is for the good of those who Love HIM and have been called according to HIS purpose. 

Broken But Delivered - Psalm 34:18-19 (NKJV)

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

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Family,

Have you been broken-hearted?  Have you ever experienced a contrite (feeling of pain and sorrow) spirit?  If you can answer “no” to either of these questions . . . keep living . . . there will be a day for both.  Just remember in your time of brokenness or a weary spirit that the LORD is near to you and HE will save you.  There is no deeper pain than the suffering of doing right, but the LORD will deliver you from them all.  The prayers of the righteous avails much!

Love Driven - Genesis 29:18-20 (NIV)

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, "I'll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."  Laban said, "It's better that I give her to you than to some other man.  Stay here with me."  So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his lover for her.

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Jacob was so in love with Rachel that he committed seven years of work in order to have her as his wife.  I'd like to say that I would do the same thing for my lovely wife, however, I can't say it would seem like days!  Don’t get me wrong . . . it would be worth it . . . but it would still feel like seven years.  And if that wasn't enough, Laban (Rachel's father) tricked Jacob and gave him the older daughter instead.   Jacob had to work another seven years to get the one he truly loved . . . and he actually did it!!!!

JESUS is so in love with HIS church, that HE committed HIS life to her.  HIS Eternal Life!  And eventhough we, the church, don't keep our word to HIM all the time. . . JESUS still did it.    Jacob was driven by love to get his wife and JESUS was driven by LOVE to give HIS life.  Who do you love that much!

Peace of Mind - Isaiah 26:3-4

YOU will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

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     Have you ever struggled with a mistake you made and it was difficult to come clean (tell the truth)!  Most of the time we try to correct a mistake with a lie, instead of just coming clean and telling the truth.  I have seen folks who finally come clean after several years of babysitting a lie . . . make the comment “I feel at peace!”  It’s as if a huge weight was lifted off their chest.  When our minds become steadfast on trusting the LORD, we no longer fear the outcome of the mistake, but rejoice in the result of repentance.  Instead of giving someone a piece of your mind, stay focused on the LORD and keep your peace of mind!

Have You Decided? - Matthew 16:24-25

Then JESUS said to HIS disciples, “If anyone desires to come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow ME.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it.

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If we desire to follow JESUS, we must understand that there is a cross to bear!  This is much deeper than having your “Jesus Piece” around your neck!  This is the truth about having “JESUS Peace in your heart”.  Because when we decide to follow JESUS we must carry our cross.  HIS Word says take up your cross . . . not bling it around your neck!  This means when we want to do what the world says is safe and comfortable, we must remember the cross that we picked up!  Our cross is to remind us that sometimes we will be crucified on our jobs, in our homes . . . and yes . . . sometimes by the church!  But JESUS is telling us that if we lose our lives for HIS sake, we are more than conquers in HIS eyes. 

Have You Decided To Follow JESUS!  Have You Picked Up Your Cross! 

Foreign Land - John 17:14-16 (NKJV)

I have given them YOUR Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that YOU should take them out of the world, but that YOU should keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

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     Most members of the Armed Forces have had their feet on foreign land!  You can learn the language of a foreign land and eat the food, but you still will not be of that land.  You can even change your citizenship and still not be of that land.  As JESUS was praying for HIS apostles, HE identified that they would be in a foreign land as Christians.  They were in the world, but not of the world.  And just as a member of the Armed Forces step on foreign land, some will accept and many won’t!  But as Christians, we belong to a better world . . . a kingdom!  I love how JESUS said, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” As I always say . . . it’s not what would JESUS do, but what did JESUS do . . . because HE did it all!  JESUS placed HIS feet on foreign land when HE came down from heaven to dwell among us.  HE knew how Christians would feel in a foreign land, and HE prayed for our protection!  So just as JESUS refuse to conform to this world, we must also be encouraged not to conform!

Be Transformed!

Prayer of Blessings - Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

 For this reason I kneel before the FATHER,  from whom HIS whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of HIS glorious riches HE may strengthen you with power through HIS Spirit in your inner being, so that CHRIST may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of CHRIST, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the  fullness of GOD

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Family,

As we start this new year in the one true gospel, I pray this prayer of blessing for all.  Whenever you feel weary, know that GOD will strengthen you through HIS Spirit. May CHRIST dwell in your heart, and your GODLY faith continue to grow.  Continue to study HIS Word and pray for all the saints.  If you ever want to know how much JESUS loves you . . . HE has already demonstrated it by the gesture of “This Much!” when HE stretched HIS arms wide, then hung HIS head and died!  You may not be able to completely understand why HE did it, but rejoice in the full measure of HIS Grace!

Who's Judging - Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your FATHER is merciful.  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

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     Who are we to judge!  Romans 14:13 says “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stubmlingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (KJV).  A lot of people hold on to these scriptures of not being judged.  So they will do whatever they want, and as soon as someone tells them they are doing wrong, their response is “You can’t judge me!”  I’m sure many of us have heard that . . . and some of us have used it.  If your brother or sister in CHRIST see you living in sin, and they come along side to encourage you to stop . . . Who’s Judging . . . they are simply holding you accountable (Especially if they are using The Word to encourage you)!  You know what you are doing is wrong, so don’t feel judged . . . feel the desire to repent!  We should not judge each other into condemnation, but hold each other accountable into repentance!  James 5:20 says, “remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins”. (NIV)

New Year Reconcilliation - 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from GOD, who reconciled us to HIMSELF through CHRIST and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

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Family,

     It is the beginning of a new year!  Many did not make it into the year of 2011, so let us be grateful that GOD has brought us this far!  Of course, this is the time when new year resolutions are made.  Commitments to do better, lose weight, study harder, go to church more, etc.  It is great to make a firm resolution to do something.  In fact, let your very first resolution be a new reconciliation!  Be reconciled with GOD!  If it has been a while since you spent devotional time with the LORD, restore the relationship!  If you have not spent time with the LORD, start a new year resolution to begin a relationship with HIM.  If you do not know the LORD, give yourself to HIM this year . . . this day, so that you can become a new creation and enter into a new relationship with GOD!  Where ever you are in your walk with the LORD, let this be a New Year Reconciliation!