THE 1st of NOVEMBER
IF WE DIED WITH CHRIST, WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER
- Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. - Romans 6:8-9
When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and became born-again, we died to sin. In the decision to follow Jesus and become more like Him, sin lost its ownership over us. We still must fight against temptation, but we fight from a better position, because we are in Christ and the Holy Spirit is always there for us.
Jesus died in our place, paying for our sins, and He prepared the way for us to live with Him too. It is not only that we are dead to sin, but we can also live with Jesus, being sure of His grace while here on earth and that we will have a glorious eternal life with Him in heaven. Death lost its dominion over Jesus, as He was raised from the dead, receiving the eternal glorified body. We can encourage ourselves with these verses when life is hard, knowing that we will never die, and only relocate to be with our Lord where He went to prepare a place for us, to be with Him forever!
Suggested prayer: Thank You Father God for sending Your Son to die for my sins. Because of His sacrifice, I can be dead to sin also and alive in Christ. Lord, please help me never forget that in You I am dead to sin and I can overcome all temptation with Your help. Because death lost its dominion over You, my Lord, I can live forever too. Lord please help me live right for You and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came for me to have. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 2nd of NOVEMBER
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CAN LIVE RIGHT FOR GOD
- I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. - Romans 6:19
Spiritual things cannot be comprehended with the human mind. Christians of Paul’s time and still today, are all in a growing process. During our Christian lives, we continue to mature spiritually.
Before we came to Christ, we obeyed sin and presented our bodies as slaves to impurity and moral lawlessness. No matter how many times we tried to stop the cycle of sin in our own strength, it was not possible until we became born-again. Even if in our own strength we became more moral and stopped committing certain sins, we could not stop all the cravings and lusts of our carnal nature for long. We did not even know that some of our habits were sinful, until we were renewed by the Holy Spirit as we studied the Bible and He opened our spiritual eyes.
Our minds began to be renewed and learned what was sin and what we had to renounce. The more we think in godly terms, as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, instead of the lusts of our carnal nature, the more we lose interest in sin. By doing so, we start to obey God’s righteousness instead of sin. This way of life leads us to holiness, which means to be set apart for God’s purpose. Whenever we desire to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, we lose interest in anything else, and we truly live for Jesus. The mature Christian does not choose to live in sin and when they happen to sin, they sincerely repent and ask God for forgiveness.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Father God for saving me and for Your amazing love and grace. Please forgive all the sins from my past and help me to use the abilities and talents You have given me for Your glory. Please help renounce all sin, live righteously and mature spiritually so that I will never go back under the ownership of sin. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 3rd of NOVEMBER
THE FRUIT OF OUR LIVES DEPENDS ON WHOM WE OBEY
- For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. - Romans 6:20-21
What the apostle Paul has said in the above verses, is a valid general principle in anyone’s life, before becoming a Christian and submitting to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. For anyone subjected to the carnal nature, it is not enough to have the desire to do good, because evil is their first choice, and doing good requires effort and determination. The meaning of the original Greek text says, “when I would do good,” which means that “to do good” is not a permanent desire of the carnal nature, instead the drive to sin is inherent. After becoming born-again, we are holy in our spirits or “inward man,” where we have “the mind of Christ,” but until we renew our physical minds through God’s Word, we continue to be subject to the lusts of the flesh.
In the “inward man” we love God’s commands, and we totally want to obey His will. But the flesh is still weak and fights against the lordship of the Holy Spirit. If we try to do good based just on our own strength, we often fail. But when we understand as Paul did, that through Jesus Christ we are delivered from the law of sin and that we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us choose right, we can do more and more good. The truth is that “there is... no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord for delivering me from the law of sin and from the power of evil. By loving You more and focusing on the truth of Your Word, desiring to allow it to renew my mind and change me, I can sin less. Thank You Holy Spirit for the guidance, strength, and joy that I find in Your presence, which help me control my desires. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ that has made me free from the law of sin and death. Glory and honor to Your Holy Name, forever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 4th of NOVEMBER
BECOMING a SLAVE OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE TRUE FREEDOM
- But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:22-23
The quality of life for a slave depends by who the slave owner is. When we were slaves to sin, even if we tried to be good, we could not, for having a fallen nature and a devil tricking us into sinning or at least into having wrong motives behind even our good works. Satan does not let people leave him easily and he tries to get even born-again Christians to rebel against the Lord and go back to their old sinful life.
But to be slaves to God is totally different! God does not force us to be His and do good. He helps us when we need help, but He respects our free will and we choose to serve Him or not. That is why, in Jesus we are truly free! While we were living in sin, we could not choose to stop sinning and we were truly slaves to sin. But since being born-again we can obey God’s will and we reap the fruit of holiness, which leads to eternal life. God knows everything about us and our weaknesses and He works with us according to what is in our hearts, how sincere we are, how much we love and desire to obey Him. The Lord knows that we will fall into sin, but His desire is for us to choose Him and not sin. To sin one time is one thing, but to continue in that sin can only lead to eventual separation from the Lord. To continue in any sin, means that we love sin more than God.
Because the wages of sin is death, whoever ends their life here on earth as a sinner, at Judgment day will reap eternal damnation in the lake of fire, which is the second death, separated from God forever (Revelation 20:14). But all who live for Jesus, have nothing to be afraid of! Leaving this body means to be in the presence of our Lord! The most perfect, beautiful, peaceful and joyful place is awaiting for us for all eternity!
Suggested prayer: Thank you Lord for the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ my Lord! Thank You for setting me free from sin and for being Your child. Please help me to make the right choices and live holy, so that I will be Yours forever. Please fill me with all the peace and joy of faith and help me have great hope and confidence in Your promises. Glory and honor to Your holy Name Lord Jesus, now and forever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 5th of NOVEMBER
WE BELONG TO JESUS TO BEAR FRUIT FOR GOD
- Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. - Romans 7:4
Once we became Christians, we received all that Jesus won for us on the cross. Jesus fulfilled the law and as Christians we now live under His grace. No one can continue to try to obey the law, which means to be saved by works and follow Jesus and be saved by His grace too. Jesus died on the cross, as the perfect sacrifice for our sins and through the death of His physical body we are dead to the law also. This is true for all believers, Jews and Gentiles. We belong to Jesus now, so we need to realize that we cannot belong to two “husbands” at the same time.
The apostle Paul writes about the fact that the Mosaic law was the first “husband” for the believing Jews, and they relied on it for their salvation. Since all of us, Jews and Gentiles, came to Jesus, He became our Lord and “husband.” Now as we have been born-again through Christ, we belong to and live for Him. Until we received Jesus in our hearts, we could not bear any fruit for God. The new life that we have in Jesus produces fruit for the Lord, by obeying His will. We do not do the good works to earn our salvation, as we would have done under the law; but we do them because we are freed from the bondage of sin and our hearts are changed.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, You prepared the best salvation plan for us. Thank You for delivering me from the power of sin and for giving me a new life in Your Son. Dear Jesus, You are my Lord and my desire is to please You in all things. Thank You that in Your amazing love, You gave Your life so that I may live. Please help me to bear fruit for You in holiness and my good works to be done with the right motives, as a result of my new life in Christ. Thank You Lord for all the care and provision I have in You, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 6th of NOVEMBER
AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, TO LIVE A NEW LIFE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
- For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. - Romans 7:5-6
When we were living our lives led by our carnal nature, we were trapped by sin. The sinful nature had its lusts and passions awakened by that which the law calls sin. The fruit of the way we used our abilities and talents, as we followed the direction of our sinful nature, was death. No matter how hard we tried to escape doing things the wrong way, we could not in our own strength. The continuous desire to sin led man to death and separation from God. The law could not set anyone free from their sinful passions.
But since we died through Christ to sin, that was holding us captive, we are free from the law and its penalty. Now we can choose to serve God and obey His will and not be under the commandments of the law. We do not have to bring sacrifices for our sins, because the blood of Jesus cleansed all the sins of mankind. Because we have been born-again through the Holy Spirit, we desire to do God’s will. As we continue to grow in knowing God, the Holy Spirit teaches us what we should do and leads us into all His truth.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord for the amazing grace You offered us through Your New Covenant. Because You offered Yourself as the perfect sacrificial lamb, You fulfilled the law and made the way for us. Now I can be saved by obeying You out of love and I am free of the terror of not being able to fulfill all the commandments of the law. You know what is in my heart. Please help me to have a totally surrendered and sincere heart, to receive Your grace and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord Jesus for the gift of salvation and for the righteousness that I can have only in You, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 7th of NOVEMBER
FLESH VERSUS HOLY SPIRIT
- I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. - Romans 7:21-23
What the apostle Paul has said in the above verses, is a valid general principle in anyone’s life, before learning to live led by the Holy Spirit. For the depraved carnal nature, is not enough to have the desire to do good, because evil is its first choice, while doing good requires effort and determination. The meaning of the original Greek text says “when I would do good,” which means that “doing good” is not a permanent desire of our sinful carnal nature, instead the presence of evil is permanent. After becoming born-again, we are holy in our spirits or “inward man,” where we have “the mind of Christ,” but until we renew our physical minds through God’s Word we continue to be subject to the lusts of the flesh.
In the “inward man” we love God’s commands and we totally want to obey His will. But the flesh is still weak and fights against the lordship of the Holy Spirit. If we try to do good based just on our own strength, we often fail. But when we understand as Paul did, that through Jesus Christ we are delivered from the law of sin and that we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us to choose right, we can do more and more good. The truth is that “there is... no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit,” as we read in Romans 8:1.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Jesus for delivering me from the law of sin and from the power of evil. By loving You more and focusing on the truth of Your Word, desiring to allow it to renew my mind and change me, the less I sin. Thank You Holy Spirit for the guidance You offer me step by step. You are my strength and my joy and the more I enter into Your presence, the better I can control the appetites and desires of my body and the more Your fruit of self control is manifesting in me. Thank You Lord for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ that has made me free from the law of sin and death. Glory and honor to Your holy Name, for ever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit..
THE 8th of NOVEMBER
WHEN THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE WE SHOULD HAVE NO FEAR
- “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; you have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?" - Isaiah 51:12-13
God’s people had prayed for the Lord to manifest His power and He had replied by reminding them of His grace. In the first verse of chapter 40, the Lord had asked His ministers to comfort His people, but because the people were still distressed, God decided to comfort them Himself. How much our Lord cares for us, His children. Whenever people disobey God after He tells them to help us, He finds another way to help us, even if He has to do it Himself. That is the heart of Father God for us.
It is easy to have strong faith when things go well, but it is another story when things go wrong. The Lord is telling us not to fear anyone but Him. Every human being, no matter their title or social position, is as perishable as the grass is. Power is illusive and can last only as long as God allows it. The Lord created all the universe and there is no power above His. We should never fear not even the most powerful army, as long as we obey God’s will, because He takes care of us around the clock. He holds us in the palm of His hand and has the best plan for us.
Suggested prayer: Glory and honor to Your Holy Name, dear Lord for the constant care and protection You offer me. Please help me to never leave You and to always know that no one or no thing could ever pull me out of Your hand as long as I want to be Yours. You love and protect me all the time and all I need to do in hard times is to know that because You live in my heart, I am never alone and You always prepare a way out from any bad situation. Thank You so very much for choosing me to be Your child and for the victory I can always have in You. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 9th of NOVEMBER
PEACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FOLLOW OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD
- “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” - Isaiah 48:18
What the Lord was saying to His people in the Old Testament, is true for us too. God does not ask us to obey His commandments because He is a harsh Lord, but because by obeying them, we can receive His blessings. Every commandment has a reason behind it, and all together are designed so that we can live in unity, one with another and have happier lives. Here as in Deuteronomy 5:33, we learn that by obeying God’s commandments, we can be blessed, have peace, happiness and prosper.
Can you imagine how amazing it must be to have so much peace that it will flow like a river which never goes dry? A river is powerful, the flow of its water removes everything from its path! The peace that God gives us, washes away the “debris” of life and everything that would rob us of our peace and joy. The more we obey God, the more we enjoy His peace and the less we sin.
The waves of the sea have even more power than a river. Usually waves are a symbol of rebellious power, but here they stand for the strength of a submissive and not of a rebellious will. The waves are never ending and uncountable, and so is the righteousness we receive from Jesus when we are truly His.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, Your plan is so perfect! Your commandments are meant to bless me, as they teach me how to live right and have a happy life. You love me so much and You want me to enjoy my life with You. Thank You from the bottom of my heart for Your peace and righteousness. Please help me to obey You in all I do, so that Your peace can flood my heart and Your righteousness cover me. Glory and honor to Your Holy Name forever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
The 10th of NOVEMBER
TRUE HAPPINESS COMES ONLY FROM THE LORD
- Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? - Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
When God told Solomon that he would give him anything that he asked for, the new king asked for wisdom to be able to rule the big nation of Israel. God made him the wisest man on earth and gave him also the power and fortune that he did not ask for. The book of Ecclesiastes reflects Solomon’s wisdom and his lifetime experiences, proving that even the wisest man can make mistakes and wrong decisions. We all need the wisdom that comes from above and God gladly gives it to all who ask for it.
For the present life, in this body, it seems that the above verses are the ultimate truth. Some people work much more than they should, without allowing themselves to enjoy the fruit of their labor, as they try to gather more and more for their heirs. We should be balanced in everything we do, including how much we work and what we do with our income. When we have a true, loving relationship with Jesus, He has the first place in our lives and all we do is unto Him. We follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in earning our living, we give and share with others, and we truly enjoy our food, thanking God and glorifying Him for everything. True, lasting joy and peace are in God’s presence and only come from Him.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Father God for all the tasty foods You blessed me with. While Your peace and joy are in my heart, as I am in right-standing with You, all I eat tastes even more delicious. Please help me to have the right balance between work and relaxation, saving and giving, earning, and spending and do everything in obedience to You. I want to be Yours forever and please You with everything I am and do. Thank You Lord Jesus for making my salvation possible and for being my Lord and best friend ever! Glory and honor to Your Holy Name, forever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 11th OF NOVEMBER
THE PRICE OF NOT FEARING GOD
- But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. - Ecclesiastes 8:13
Perpetual sin is dangerous. People who continue to choose wrong, being satisfied when they hurt someone, in order for themselves to prosper, will end up hardening their hearts in their wickedness. A hardened heart constantly ignores the warnings of the Holy Spirit and cancels the chances of repentance. The end of such a person is not a good one.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Recognizing our dependency on God is the wisest thing we can do. The fear of God is not terror. We need to honor the Lord and have a healthy fear to not sin against Him. The Lord wants a perfect love relationship with us and He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide and help us walk on the “narrow path” towards heaven. Our true value is given by our relationship with God. If we are not right with God when we leave this earth, no matter how rich or powerful we are while living on this earth, all this will do us no good and we will reap what we have sown.
Suggested prayer: Father God, please help me to value the eternal things more than what I might have here on earth. Please help me to hate evil and love all that pleases You. I cannot make it without Your help, so please give me Your wisdom and help me make the right decisions by following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Thank You with all my heart for all You did and continue to do for me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 12th OF NOVEMBER
TRUE HAPPINESS
- When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it. - Ecclesiastes 8:16 -17
Even if Solomon started to rule over Israel by receiving God’s wisdom, he was not satisfied; he wanted to learn more, so he spent a lot of time trying to learn and know wisdom. He noticed how hard some people work and how hard it is for some to truly accomplish anything. All that God did in the universe, will never be fully understood by us, no matter how hard we try.
Our physical brains are limited and this is true even for the most brilliant mind. No one can know it all. Over three thousand years later, scientists still cannot figure it all out and they all agree that the more we learn, the more we realize how little we know. Does this mean that it is useless to study and learn? Certainly not. But if we ask the Holy Spirit to give us all the wisdom we need and to help us live to please God, we will be amazed how much we may learn. Because God wants us to prosper and enjoy life, we can live happy lives, by loving and obeying Him in all we do.
Suggested prayer: Father God, I am so blessed to be Your child and to enjoy Your presence. Please help me walk with You every day and to always follow Your ways. Please show me Your plan for my life and help me learn all I need to know to be able to fulfill it. Lord please give me Your godly wisdom so that I may see all things from the right perspective, understand everything better, be able to learn what I need to know and apply it. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 13th OF NOVEMBER
THE AUTHORITY IN JESUS’ NAME
- “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” - Luke 10:19
Most translations used the word “power” instead of “authority” for the Greek word “exousia.” But this means much more than power, it means “the power to act, the authority,” according to “Strong's Concordance.” Through Jesus, we have the power to act in His Name against all the power of the enemy. Hallelujah! This means that we have authority against every sickness, attack and lie that the enemy comes against us with!
The devil has no real power against a born-again Christian, as a matter of fact, he only has as much power as we allow him, when we believe his lies as being the truth. That is why we should know what God’s Word says on every subject, so that we can recognize the enemy’s trick, not believing the lie and fight against it with the truth.
In Jesus' Name, we have authority in the spiritual world. It is up to us to know this truth and act upon all that we have in Jesus, to fight against every sickness, depression, offense and all evil without giving up until we win or are made whole again.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Jesus for being my Lord. In Your holy Name, I have the authority, the power to act against every single sickness and attack of the devil and nothing can truly harm me. Thank You Father for exalting Jesus and giving Him the Name above all names, including over__ (state the sickness or whatever you fight against). In Jesus' Name, spirit of sickness (or whatever you fight against) you must go and I will fight against you until I posses the victory that Jesus already won for me. Glory and honor to Your holy Name dear Lord, for ever and ever.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 14th OF NOVEMBER
THE SOONER WE RETURN TO THE LORD, THE BETTER
- Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” - Ecclesiastes 12:1
Someone may say that it is better for them to enjoy their life while young and they will come to God in their later years. But these are just lies of the enemy, to think that life with Jesus is not a happy life and to get one to postpone their salvation moment until there is no other chance to do it. None of us can be sure when we will leave this earth. It is time to seriously check our spiritual condition and make all the changes or adjustments needed to be done, so that we would be truly right-standing with God.
Being right with God is the best place to be and we need to never forget that we are not our own, we belong to God. He created us and His Son died in our place to redeem us. If we choose the so called “pleasures of this life,” instead of obeying God, the price is very high and the longer we wait to decide to repent and follow Jesus, the less chances we have to be willing to do it. As Solomon wrote, getting older is not fun and the physical pleasures will become no pleasures at all. If we choose to follow the lusts of our flesh, instead of living right for God, we will be empty handed at the end and eternally damned.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, please search my heart and show me what I need to remove or change. Please forgive me for all the years that I believed the lies of the enemy and tried to follow the desires of my carnal nature. Thank You Lord that since I totally surrendered to You, I found true happiness. I want so much to please You Father God, please help me to do it. The peace, joy and strength that come from You are real, long lasting and have no bad side effects. Thank You Lord God for adopting me into Your heavenly family. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 15th OF NOVEMBER
THE OBEDIENCE AND FEAR OF THE LORD ARE THE CONCLUSION OF ALL KNOWLEDGE
- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Even for the wisest man ever, life was not easy or perfect. When Solomon was writing the Ecclesiastes book, he was disappointed and worn out by what was going on in his life. His conclusion about all he knew and learned over the years about having the key to a blessed life is: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” For King Solomon had everything he wanted, knew more than most people of his time, had the highest position in his nation, and so much power, that it was easy to reach the point where he had experienced all this world can offer. Life viewed from just the human point of view may seem hopeless. True life is the one only lived for God’s glory.
God created us to be His now and for ever. But because He gave us the freedom to choose, it is up to us to live right for Him and not fear Judgment day. God is omniscient, He knows everything about us, even better than we do. He loves us with the most perfect and unconditional love until the end and wants what is best for us. But God is also just. If we reject Him now, He will not force us to be with Him in heaven, when we leave this earth.
Suggested prayer: Thank You dear Lord with all my heart, for choosing me to be Your child! Please help me to know You more and walk on Your path. In Your presence I find the most perfect joy and happiness and by having the holy fear of You, I do not have to fear anything and anyone, because You protect and take care of me. Father God please help me keep Your commandments and live to please You, so that I will glorify You with all that I have and do. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 16th OF NOVEMBER
WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD AT ALL TIMES
- I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. - Psalms 34:1-2
King David understood how important it is to live right for God and to choose to always bless the Lord for all He does for us. We may learn valuable lessons from David’s psalms. He did not have an easy, safe life, but he chose to count his blessings and never forget who God is and how much He did for him. It is easy to bless the Lord and have a thankful heart when things go well, but it is a completely different story when things go wrong or we are in pain or need.
By learning to praise God even for the little things, it will be easier to continue to do so when we have more than enough and we will better handle the hard times too. David knew how to find something good in every bad situation and that helped him to have the right attitude no matter what. Whenever we choose to boast in the Lord and not in our own strength and abilities, we remain humble and give God the glory He deserves. Wit is more enjoyable to be around meek, humble people than prideful, arrogant ones.
Suggested prayer: You deserve all the praises and glory dear Lord! I am so looking forward to the time when I will praise You non-sop in heaven. Whenever I am thinking about how amazing it will be there, my heart becomes full of joy and whatever I am going through seems less important. The more I praise You, the better my attitude is, the better I behave and the less prideful I am. Please help me to always give You all the glory and never boast in myself, but keep a humble heart so that I may be a pleasant presence for those around me. You deserve all the glory, praises and honor dear Lord. Thank You so much for all You did and continue to do for me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 17th OF NOVEMBER
IN THE LORD WE CAN BE FREE OF ANY FEAR
- Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. - Psalms 34:3-4
Praying and worshiping God are the best ways to defeat worry and fear. When we praise God, we remind ourselves that He is almighty, merciful and loving. True worship that comes from a sincere, humble heart, touches God’s heart and brings deliverance, healing, strength and victory. No matter how low we may feel, how bad we may hurt or how hopeless our situation may look at some point, if we do not lose faith and we choose to continue to praise God, give Him our sorrows, concerns, fears and cares, leave them at Jesus’ feet, we win and grow in the spirit.
If we ask the Lord to give us His solution to our problem He will do it. He might speak to us as we read the Bible, through advice from someone else or a thought that once we realize it is the solution we were asking for, brings us deep peace. If the matter is very important we may need to continue to pray or even fast to make sure that the advice comes from God and then follow through on it. For more on this matter you may read the article “Hearing God’s voice.”
Suggested prayer: Glory and honor to Your holy Name, Lord God. You did all it takes for me to live in victory and not in defeat, to be courageous and not fearful, to be strong and not weak, being able to fulfill Your plan for my life. Thank You Jesus for the peace I have in You and for delivering me from all my fears. Only in the strength that I have in You, I can do all things. I am safe because You are in my heart. I am more than victorious in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 18th OF NOVEMBER
WE CAN REJOICE IN ANY SITUATION IF WE CHOOSE TO LOOK AT THE LORD
- They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. - Psalms 34:5
Let’s take a moment to think about what happens when we enter into God’s presence. Whenever we choose to focus on the Lord instead on focusing on what we are going through and start to praise our Lord for His love, tender mercy and loving kindness we may step into God’s presence. The more we praise the Lord and thank Him for what He did for us in the past, our countenances change and we become radiant, as our hearts are lightened by the joy of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence is His glory and lights up the faces of those who were unhappy in their distress, but chose to seek God.
Our Lord is always here for us and we should never be ashamed to boldly confess our faith in Him. God did not let down those who fled together with David to Abimelech, as they chose to trust Him and that is true for us too. Sometimes God chooses a different way to help us than what we have in mind, but however He does it, it will be the best way for us, in the long term.
Suggested prayer: Thank You my Lord for always being on my side and helping me out, whenever I put my trust in You. Please help me to see Your hand at work, even when You choose to help me in another way than what I have in mind and continue to praise You, knowing that what You do is always best for me. Please help me to always choose to praise You and enter in Your presence, no matter what I have to go through. Lord please help me to shine for you, so that people will see You in me and desire to be Yours too. The happiest place is in Your presence, dear Lord. Thank You for all Your mercy and grace. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 19th OF NOVEMBER
THE LORD HEARS OUR CRY AND SAVES US FROM TROUBLE
- This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. - Psalms 34:6-7
God answers sincere prayers of faith, and when it is needed, He sends His angels to fight for us against the powers of darkness. The angels of the Lord are ministering spirits that the Lord sends to protect and help those who have the holy fear of Him, who wholeheartedly honor and worship Him. We are never alone, glory to God!
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord God for all the protection and help You provide for me when I cry out to You. Thank You and for all the evil You spared me of, that I do not even know about. Thank You for assigning Your angels to fight for me against the power of the devil and his demons. Thank You Jesus for Your blood that covers and protects me. Lord, please help me keep my heart pure and be quick to repent when I sin and trust You to deliver me from every hard situation I have to go through. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 20th OF NOVEMBER
WE ARE THE MOST BLESSED WHEN WE TRUST GOD
- Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! - Psalms 34:8
The message of these verses is similar with the one of Proverbs 4:23, which says: “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Living to please God is the key for a good, blessed, happy and long life. The words we speak are the result of what we have previously thought about and kept in our minds, that led to emotions which we stored in our hearts. By paying serious attention to what we think about, we can stop the evil thoughts before they turn into emotions that later will be revealed in our speech and behavior.
The use of deceitful or idle words is also dangerous, as they affect our integrity and cause people to stop paying attention to what we say, as they cannot tell if we are serious or not anymore. We spare ourselves much pain and suffering if we choose to stay away from evil and do good, seek peace even if we have to pursue it or if sometimes, we have to let go of things that we might consider important. We cannot have a happy and blessed life if we are tormented, argue often, criticize everything and everyone or we think we know it all. God created us for love, peace, and joy. Our bodies function the best when these emotions are predominant. That is why it is so important to keep our peace, even if we need to put effort into it.
Suggested prayer: Lord God, please help me delight in the life I have in You. Only by living to please You, may I live a long life and enjoy happiness, peace, and prosperity. Please help me guard my lips, by stopping evil thoughts before they stir up negative emotions in my heart and cause me to speak evil or deceitful words. Help me to change the way I react when things are not going my way, so that I may maintain my peace. Thank You so much Lord Jesus for giving me Your peace and please help me keep it in my heart, as the priceless treasure it is. Glory and honor to Your Holy Name, forever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 21st OF NOVEMBER
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF THE HOLY FEAR OF THE LORD
- Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. - Psalms 34:9-10
The fear of the Lord is crucial in our walk with Christ. “His saints” are all of us, the sincere believers, that are set apart for God, following His leadership and not the lusts of our carnal nature. Jesus is the only one who lived as a human and never sinned. None of us is perfect, but because of Jesus’ blood that cleanses us of sin when we repent and ask forgiveness, we receive His righteousness and can be holy.
God takes care of His children. The Lord already created everything we would ever need, but to enter into possession of what we pray for, we have to have faith that the Lord provides for us. This is not about being lazy or not working for our daily bread, it is about living to please God, trusting Him, following His leadership and having more than enough as the Lord blesses what we have. Those who trust in themselves, and believe that they are self sufficient, will be in need, and no matter how much they have it is still never enough for them. But those who ask God to bless their work, are honest and give glory to the Lord for all they have, will never be in lack and will always have more than enough.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord for always blessing me to have more than enough. I am so blessed to be Your child! I can never thank You enough for all Your love, mercy and care. It is so comforting to know that You are always with me and for me. Whatever comes my way is not more than what You already equipped me to handle. As long as I am sincere and seek You with all my heart, You open the gates of heaven, pouring Your blessings over my life. Thank You so very much. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 22nd OF NOVEMBER
OUR HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON WHAT WE BELIEVE, THINK, SAY AND DO
- Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. - Psalms 34:12-14
The message of this verses is similar with the one of Proverbs 4:23, which says: “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Living to please God is the key for a good, blessed, happy and long life. The words we speak are the result of what we already thought about and kept in our minds, that led to emotions which we stored in our hearts. By paying serious attention to what we think about, we can stop the evil thoughts before they would turn into emotions that later will be revealed in our speech.
The use of deceitful or idle words is also dangerous, as it affects our integrity and cause people to stop paying attention to what we say, as they cannot tell if we are serious or not anymore. We spare ourselves of much pain and suffering if we choose to stay away from evil and do good, seek peace even if we have to pursue it or if we have to sometimes let go of things that we might consider important. We cannot have a happy and blessed life if we are tormented, argue often or seek to always have things our own way. God created us for love, peace and joy. Our bodies function the best when these emotions are predominant. That is why it is so important to keep our peace, even if we need to put effort into it.
Suggested prayer: Lord God please help me to always seek to delight in the life I have in You. Only by living to please You, may I have a long life and enjoy happiness, peace and prosperity. Please help me to guard my lips, by stopping the evil thoughts before they would stir up negative emotions in my heart and cause me to speak evil or deceitful words. Help me to always stay away from evil and change the way I react when things are not going as I want them to go, so that I may maintain my peace. Thank You so much Lord Jesus for giving me Your peace and please help me keep it in my heart, as the priceless treasure it is. Glory and honor to Your holy Name, for ever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 23rd OF NOVEMBER
GOD HEARS OUR CRIES AND INTERVenES FOR US
- The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry... The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 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. - Psalms 34:15,17-19
God knows everything about us. He always knows what we think, feel, do and all that happens to us. He sees and hears us around the clock. There is nothing hidden from our Lord, He knows it all. As God’s children, we are covered with Jesus’ righteousness and are never alone in trouble or when we cry out. The Lord is always here for us and delivers us out of all our troubles, not just some, but of all of them.
God loves us much more than we can ever love ourselves and He always does what is best for us in the long run. Sometimes we think we know better than the Lord, but He always proves us wrong. He cares when we suffer and His Holy Spirit, who lives in us, is always ready to comfort us, when we call upon Him. When we are broken and feel like our world is falling apart, the Lord is there to save us from despair. God never said that once we are His we will never suffer again. Instead, we read in many places in God’s Word that whenever we are in trouble, He is right there to deliver us. Sometimes we must go through a longer hard season, than other times, but we need to keep our faith in God, because our victory is close, as our Lord will intervene at the right moment to deliver us. He is never early or late, but always right on time!
Suggested prayer: Thank You Father God for always watching over me and hearing my cries. I am always on Your mind, and You truly care what is going on in my life. Whenever I called on Your Name, You were there to deliver and show me the way out. Thank You Lord for the comfort of the Holy Spirit whenever I cried out to You. No matter how broken my heart was, You helped me heal and made me whole again. Thank You Lord for all Your care and for delivering me from every trouble. I love You Lord, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 24TH OF NOVEMBER
GOD FIGHTS FOR US WHEN WE FULLY TRUST IN HIM
- And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” - Exodus 14:13-14
Our Lord performs miracles for us too, if we obey and stay still when He tells us to. We cannot even imagine how many times God fought for us, and we did not even know what danger we were in. The Lord will continue to protect us and fight our battles until He takes us home. When we do not trust Him and do not stand still, being firm and confident in His help, we may lose the battle and even get hurt. God never forces us to obey Him, but He sure delights in us when we do.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord for fighting for me so many times! You always delivered me when I could not see any way out. There is nothing impossible for You and I can trust You no matter what I am going through. Please help me to be still and confident in Your victory, when You tell me to do so and to always be sure that Your plan is the best for me, even if I cannot understand it at the time. Thank You so much Father God for never leaving or forsaking me. Glory and honor to Your holy name, for all eternity, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 25th OF NOVEMBER
GOD REWARDS CORRECTNESS AND JUSTICE
- "You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it." - Deuteronomy 1:17
God loves us all equally and we are all His creation. He does not have favorites when it comes to justice. The Lord is justice Himself and His judgments are perfect. He requires the same from us. We see true justice done, less and less as the iniquity of men increases on earth, but we, as God’s children, are not to conform to this world but to God’s Word.
We might find ourselves under pressure to judge something in a wrong way, but we must fear God more than anyone or anything else and do what is right. When we are not sure what is right, God knows. If we come in prayer, and even fasting if needed, He will reveal to us what is right and what we should do.
Suggested prayer: Thank You so much Lord that You always judge right and in Your loving kindness, You are always ready to show me what is right and what is wrong. Please help me keep a clear mind and not take sides in any situation, but always judge rightly and make the right decisions. Thank You so much for all Your protection and that even when people do me wrong, You turn it for my good in the long term. Hallelujah, glory to Your holy Name, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 26th OF NOVEMBER
THE HEALING AND BLESSING OF THE LORD ARE FOR THOSE WHO SINCERELY HONOR AND RESPECT HIM
- But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. - Malachi 4:2
To fear God’s Name, means to have an awe-filled reverence for His Name. When we do that, we want to honor and please the Lord by doing what is right for Him and not sin. Since Jesus, the “Sun of Righteousness” became our Lord and Savior, His righteousness became our covering too. The Lord is full of love and once our sins are forgiven, we can also receive healing in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus on the cross, bore in His body all our sicknesses, pains and sorrows and “in His stripes we are healed,” as we read in Isaiah 53:4-5. The joy and strength that we receive with God’s healing is surely making us feel like leaping for joy like calves when are released from the stable. If these were promised under the Old Covenant, how much more can we now have, since in Jesus we have a far better covenant, as we are under grace and no longer under the law.
Suggested prayer: Thank You with all my heart dear Lord for Your righteousness and healing. There is no sickness that You cannot heal and in You I am made whole again. Thank You for the joy and strength that I have in You and for all Your love and care that You show me every day. Glory and honor to Your Holy Name, forever and ever, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 27th OF NOVEMBER
HYPOCRISY AND VULGARITY IS VERY EXPENSIVE
- He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. - Proverbs 17:20
We cannot expect to be blessed and have a good life when we have a crooked mind and a deceitful heart. It may seem that there are people who are exactly like that and they have a great life, lacking nothing, but it is not true. They lack peace, true joy and are always insecure, no matter how great their lives seem to be. God’s Word is the truth as God cannot lie!
We need to be aware that not only perverse talk is dangerous, but idle talk is dangerous also. This can cost us dearly. What we hear our own voices say out loud, we believe the most and when we speak things that are contradictory, our minds do not know what to think and we start to doubt our own words. It is possible then when we try to speak healing in Jesus’ Name over our bodies, we will not believe our own words anymore, and be unable to receive our healing. It is certainly worth it to take care with our words and be faithful to our Lord in everything we say and do.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, Your Word is the truth and all You ever spoke and will speak is pure truth. Please help me watch every word I say and have a pure faithful heart towards You, all the time. Please help me to never use bad words and stay away from the people who do that. Please help me to love and value only what You do, no matter what people may say about me. Thank You so very much. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 28th OF NOVEMBER
GOD NEVER LEAVES OR FORSAKES US
- “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6
This was true for the Jewish people and it is true for us too. We are to choose to be strong in our faith in God that He is there for us, when things go wrong and the enemy tries to make us believe that the Lord abandoned us and does not love us anymore. The Lord our God is not only going with us, He lives in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit. He is only a breath away. All it takes is to call on His Name and He is right there to help and deliver us.
Our Lord knows it all before it even happens, He knows the end from the beginning and nothing is a surprise for Him. When His still small voice warns us, in our spirit, we need to listen and obey. Everything that God says is according to His Word and is for our good. He has the best strategies for all our problems and in Him we find all the strength and courage we need to do what we have to do. There is no one and nothing above God and while we are His, whom or what should we fear? Nothing and no one, but Him!
Suggested prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father for You are always with me. You never leave me alone in the good or bad times. There is so much comfort and security in knowing that You dwell in my heart and all I have to do is to call on Your Name and trust in You to help me out. I love to be in Your presence, so please help me to take more time to communicate with You, to praise and worship You for who You are and do for me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 29th OF NOVEMBER
IT IS WORTH IT TO PUT GREAT EFFORT INTO NOT SINNING
- You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. - Hebrews 12:4
In the first verse of the same chapter, sin was mentioned as the hindrance that we have to put aside, but here it is the major opponent that we have to subdue, even it has a high cost. It is not that God did not equip us with all we need to fight against sin, but it looks like sometimes we consider that we cannot do otherwise than sin. If we realize that it is worth it to fight against sin, even if it costs us our earthly lives, in order to gain the eternal life in God’s presence, we can tear apart sin’s strongholds from our minds and be free from its power.
In the second part of Romans 6:11 we read that we should “...reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are to know and realize that once we decided to follow Jesus, we died with Christ, being dead to sin and raised up with Him, being alive unto righteousness. By renewing our minds through God’s Word and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we may choose to not obey our carnal nature anymore, by following its lusts, but to hate sin and live right for our Lord.
Suggested prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for teaching me how to deny myself, and then pick up my cross, admitting that I have to die to self every day to be able to follow You. Only by doing so I can live right for You and it is sure worth it. I love and appreciate You so very much, dear Lord. Please help me to not get distracted by the false glamour of this world, but to fight against sin and seek Your face every day. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.
THE 30th OF NOVEMBER
WITH THE LORD WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
- "Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” - Numbers 14:9
Having the right perspective on things and the right heart changes everything. From the previous chapter we learn that God told Moses to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, into the land of Canaan, which the Lord was giving to the children of Israel. After the spies returned, ten of them, whose hearts were not fully the Lord’s, gave a bad report, as they saw only the strength of Canaanites and caused the whole nation to fear to do what God told them to do and rebel against Moses and Aaron.
Only Joshua and Caleb, who truly loved the Lord and trusted His promises, saw the Canaanites’ weaknesses and believed that God would truly help the Jews conquer the promised land. The Canaanites had reached their peak in their iniquities ways and God was to give them into the hand of His people. But their punishment was delayed for forty years, because of the Jews doubt and rebellious hearts. Each of us have certain territory to conquer, in order to make God’s promises come to pass in our lives. We can truly receive what God promised us in His Word or by what He specifically told us, directly or through other Christians, if we do not doubt and act on it. Their unwillingness to conquer the land, caused the nation of Israel to wander in the desert for forty years, one year for each of the 40 days that the spies investigated the Canaan land. Disobedience can have a very high price!
Suggested prayer: Thank You heavenly Father for all the great promises from Your Word and for those You gave me personally. Thank You for all that are already fulfilled and also for those which will come to pass, because You always keep Your word. There is nothing I should fear, because You are with me and You love me unconditionally. Lord, please help me to trust You in all things and never doubt Your love and willingness to bless and help me. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Copyright 2019 Carmen Pușcaș. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.