Manna in the Morning

Manna in the Morning

05-29-12

Holy Ground

Joshua 5:13-15, When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?”  “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”  Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?”  The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

There are great similarities between the instructions God gives His servants in the Old and New Testaments.  God told Moses to remove his sandals because he was on holy ground, just as he here tells Joshua the same thing.  In the New Testament we understand that whenever we come before the Lord God in prayer we are indeed on Holy Ground.  In truth, when we approach God in prayer we are before the very throne of the omnipotent God who has invited us into His presence and is anxious to hear our prayer.  When we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father, we are to bow before Him in reverence.  It sometimes seems that we are so familiar with our God that we have a spirit of equality, almost irreverence when we enter into prayer.  We are at his throne at His invitation and this should not be taken lightly.

When Joshua recognized the Commander of the Lord’s army, he bowed his face to the ground in reverence and asked what the Lord God would have him to do.  The reply was for Joshua to remove his sandals, recognize and remember he was in the Holiest place before his God.  In the New Testament, The Church of which we are a part today is to do what God has commanded us to do, because we recognize His authority in laying the work in front of each of us.  All of us may not be called to do the same thing, be we are all called with the same intensity and given the same empowerment to do what God has given us as a responsibility.  Joshua was successful because he recognized God’s authority over him, and we will be successful when we do what God has called us to do individually and as members of His family.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, being told what to do, give us courage to do what we are told, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-25-12

Memorial Day

“I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.  Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.  I can see that the end is worth more than all the means…”  John Adams, Second president of the United States of America.”

Joshua 4:6-7, “In the future, when your children ask you what these stones mean, tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones (from the middle of the river) are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

This weekend we will set aside time to remember and honor the men and women who have given their lives so we may live free.  We also want to create a memorial in our hearts in addition to the Memorial Day Ceremonies held all over the United States.  When Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land God had promised them, the Ark of the Covenant went before them, and as the feet of the priests touched the river’s edge, the water parted allowing the whole nation to pass over.  While the Ark was still in the middle of the river, Joshua commanded representatives of the twelve tribes to carry stones up out of the river to build a memorial before the river returned to its normal flow.  This pile of stones reminded the Israelites of God’s leading in their nation’s history.

Centuries before, when Noah came down off the ark and set foot once again on dry land, God established a rainbow in the sky to remind him, and us, that every promise God made in His Word will be kept.  This month we will see Memorial Day ceremonies in cemeteries dedicated to the fallen veterans of all the wars fought by the U S, and will see great edifices such as the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument, perhaps the statue honoring the battle of Iwo Jima, or the battlefield at Gettysburg, but the greatest memorial of all, reminding us of the greatest battle and the greatest warrior, will always be the empty tomb.  When Jesus defeated Satan, death, and hell, He did not fall a hero in the battle, he rose from the grave triumphant and it is his victory we celebrate in our hearts, building a great memorial to our matchless Redeemer.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the brave men that have given their lives over the years to preserve our freedom.  We ask you to comfort their families and pray you will continue to preserve the freedoms of this great nation.  Thank you for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, and may we never forget His perfect sacrifice for us, in His precious name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-24-12

Injustice

Habakkuk 1:3-5, “Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me.  Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates.  This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.”

Wherever we look we seem to see or encounter injustice, back in our playground days we might have yelled, “No fair” but today it doesn’t seem fair for some things to come into our lives.  Why do I have to get sick and miss a very important event?  Why didn’t I get that scholarship or government grant? Or why did I have to get cancer at my age?  We also seem to sometimes argue with God over the lack of justice in oppression in some countries or the violence that seems to follow some people or political movements everywhere they go.  Why is there stress, fighting, shooting, robberies and verbal, emotional, political or interpersonal conflicts occurring everywhere?  Why can’t God set things straight and punish those who deserve it and reward those who deserve it?  People are still upset about the Casey Anthony jury verdict and are ready to protest, even violently if the ‘right’ decision isn’t reached in the Trayvon Martin case.  It would appear we have internalized justice and now the authorities have to conform to our decision or we become very unhappy.  We are also somewhat unhappy when God’s justice isn’t instantaneous in condemning those that sin and commit grievous crimes.

No system of justice is perfect except our Heavenly Father’s and His judgment seat is prepared for all who do not accept His offered salvation during their earthly lifetime.  Our earthly court decisions are based upon earthly law with the resulting punishment carried out in an earthly fashion, this is why God told Habakkuk that earthly justice is often perverted.  As believers, saved by the grace of our God, we will not face our God as a judge, but rather as a Savior and shepherd welcoming His sheep into the green pastures of Heaven upon our release from our earthly lives.  His punishment upon sinners comes at a perfect time, cannot be avoided or perverted, and from which there is no appeal.  The Father has given all judgment over to the Son who will someday sit upon the great white throne of final judgment.  Lord God in Heaven, we trust you in all things, knowing you have prepared a place for each of us who have chosen you, accept our praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-23-12

Persuaded

Ruth 1:16, “Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and not follow you.  For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

During a time of extreme famine, Naomi and her husband Elimelech moved from Bethlehem in Judah to the land of Moab, one of the tribes that were enemies of the Israelites, having descended from Lot and given to idol worship.  It is evident from the text they did not lose their love for Jehovah God and worshipped Him with their two sons who both married Moabite women.  The three men died, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem where she could count on some of her relatives to care for her in her destitution.  She told the widows of her two sons to return to their families and forget that interlude in their lives.  While the one daughter in law did that, Ruth, who obviously had learned of Jehovah God from Naomi and her family vowed to stay with Naomi and fully accept the customs, worship and whatever came to Naomi, staying with her and providing for her in her old age. As God provided, Ruth became the great grandmother of David, Israel’s great King.

We remember Ruth for her leaving a pagan nation, believing the promises of Jehovah, then through God’s providence finding a husband and becoming a forbearer of David, Israel’s great King and through him our Savior, Jesus who will someday assume David’s Throne.  we need to recognize Ruth’s finding a new life as an example of the new birth by which we have entered the Family of God.  We also need to look at and follow her commitment spoken to Naomi, but expressing a commitment we should also make.  Ruth accepted the family responsibility to care for the elderly parent, she fully adhered to the Levitical laws and customs that governed their daily life, worship and sacrifice, and willingly accepted whatever part God would have her play in His plan for her and her family.  As she acted in humility, we need to humbly accept whatever part our God and Father has for us to accomplish during our life span on this earth.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are eager to act as you direct us today for your greater glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-22-12

Hallelujah

Psalm 112:1-2, “Happy is the man who fears the Lord, taking great delight in His commandments. His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”

Look at the faces of people you meet as you walk the shopping mall or see in the aisle at the grocery story.  It seems like the majority of them do not have a smile on their face, and look like the muscles of their face couldn’t form a smile if they wanted to, continuing along looking somber and without any joy in their heart or life.  Even in church, many people look stern wearing a black suit implying it’s a sin to smile.  God’s Word tells us that we will be happy and show it when we fear our God.  Keeping our Heavenly Father’s precepts brings delight into the life of the one, one who loves his Heavenly Father.  Doing His will and keeping His commandments is not only what we want to do, it gives us joy just to walk in the path He has set before us.  It will put a reverence in our hearts along with a desire to worship Him in spirit and truth, recognizing His awesome power.

Those of us who are parents and grandparents know the deep love we have for our family desiring for them to succeed and prosper.  The greatest gift we can give them is to be a strong example of an individual who loves and fears the Lord God.  Not only will they see an example and follow it, the heritage we leave behind will be an encouragement for them to also hold our great God in awesome reverence and joy in the salvation he has provided.

Because of our joy in our Lord, we should always have a smile on our face, our future is secure in Christ Jesus, our present is joyful in His love and our past is forgotten and our sins forgiven by Jesus’ work at Calvary. Heavenly Father, thank you for the joy we have in Your salvation.  May we hold this joy in our heart, express it in our actions and appearance and share it with those we meet this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-21-12

Holy Living

1 Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”

When you watch any kind of competition you see the participants stretching, loosening their muscles, reviewing in their mind the plan for the game or activity and preparing themselves physically, mentally and in any other way that will allow them to compete at the peak of their abilities.  Why is it then that as Born-again Believers, children of the Heavenly King, we do not prepare ourselves each and every day for the rigors and stresses of living for our Savior every minute of the day?  Do we condition ourselves mentally for the ability to recognize and thwart the attempts of Satan to blunt our witness of salvation, to tell someone the Biblical stand on an issue or to comfort and give them solace if they are wounded by the words of men or a tragedy that has come into their lives?  If we were in a spelling bee we would be reading a dictionary every spare minute, if we’re in a baseball game in the on deck circle, we would be reviewing everything we know about the pitcher, yet when we know we will face the most wicked force there is, we meet him in battle with little or no preparation.

Scripture commands us to be obedient to the voice of our Heavenly Father who called us into salvation, not to be squeezed and contorted by desires and thoughts of our human nature.  We are only to be conformed to the image of Jesus, our Redeemer and take on His attributes of love, compassion and the desire to do all we can in His power to bring others into His plan of salvation.  We are fully infused by God the Holy Spirit, we serve our Redeemer who shares His holy righteousness with us and we are children of God the Father, the Most Holy God.  Because He is holy, His Spirit within us is Holy, we are to be holy and carry His presence where ever we go.  Our Most Holy Heavenly Father, May we be sharp and effective for You this day as we serve You alone, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

05-17-12

No Fear

Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”

I always smile when I see a little child walking along hand in hand with his or her mom or dad.  They are secure and know it, protected from any and all threats or fears, confidently walking along because their daddy is holding their hand.  This is the way we should face life, no matter what faces us, the challenges or temptations, the joys or sorrows cannot harm us because our Heavenly Father is holding our hand in His righteous hand.  Paul the Apostle understood this and told us to be confident in the peace of God that is beyond our understanding.

Wars are won primarily by the army with the greatest amount of ammunition and the greatest conviction that they are in the right.  With our omnipotent God as our Commander in Chief, in our battle against the forces of evil, they will fall and we will be triumphant.  Our battle plan is to bring the message of salvation and light into the darkest parts of this earth, following our Savior who carries the Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God; we simply follow His footsteps and will live in triumphant victory.  As we follow our God, we need not fear because we are in His presence, we do not lose heart because He is our strength, we cannot be touched because He has provided our armor and will give us help in our time of need.  Because he holds our hand we draw confidence directly from Him, striding confidently into battle against the evil one, fully assured of victory.

The key is our keeping our hand firmly in His grasp, not trying to do anything in our own strength nor trusting in our own abilities but recognizing without Him we are easy prey for the enemy.  Heavenly Father, keep this picture of you holding our hand uppermost in our minds this day we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-16-12

Blessed

Ephesians 1:3-6, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.”

As we consider these verses, the first word, blessed tells us that we should bless our Father in Heaven for His bountiful blessings He has showered upon us, the next time the word is used, its meaning is shaded toward the concept that we are greatly blessed by God’s bounty, for which we should always praise, thank and bless our great God and Father, a eulogy of praise for the blessings we have received.  God has showered His favor upon us in every way imaginable, from our salvation to our promised habitation in the heavenly places.  In the Old Testament, Scripture reads, “It is God’s will that all men should come to repentence,” in the New Testament we read that all men are to become more like the image of Christ.  There is only one thing that stands in the way, the free will of each individual to accept the offer or decline it.  Many people do not fully understand that when they ignore or decline the opportunity to accept the offer of salvation in Jesus, they are consciously choosing to spend eternity in the torments of the place prepared for the devil and his evil angels.

When we have an opportunity to share God’s plan with another, we are the most critical link in the chain that has brought that individual face to face with the call of the Holy Spirit to accept God’s salvation. Because we may be the last person to share the message with them, we should pray earnestly and hard, pleading for God the Holy Spirit to empower us and convict the heart unto salvation.  Guide us in every way for Your glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-15-12

Better than Riches

Psalm 119:14, “I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.”

Our well-being as a nation is based upon the relative health of our economy, the amount of money being spent on houses, cars, and personal items.  Retirement plans and other savings all make up segments of our nation’s wealth as certainly as income, IRA’s and possessions like boats, cars, houses and a healthy bank account make up an individual’s personal wealth.  There is no sin in living comfortably or in a healthy bank account, God blesses men and women with personal wealth so that they can continue to support missions, their local churches and other God-honoring organizations but a person’s heart attitude and focus should be the same as the Psalmist who rejoices in God’s Word, in His laws for Godly living and for grateful worship more than the weight of one’s wallet.

This may have been easy for David who was King but he had known poverty, his army had to eat the stale bread from the table in the Tabernacle to ease their hunger, and he had known thirst while in battle, but looked to the living water of God’s provision and grace.  When given a choice between great wealth or great wisdom, Solomon, David’s son and successor chose wisdom from Jehovah God and was rewarded with both.  Our desire should be for the rich, filling table of God’s truth set before us every time we open the pages of God’s Word.  For wisdom in living each day, for guidance in decisions great and small and for direction in our daily bath to lead us to someone with whom we can share a passage of God’s Holy Word are all reasons for us to seek a message from our Heavenly Father through the gift of His Living Word as we start the day.

Gracious Father in Heaven, may we live this day in a way that elevates Your Word above riches and fellowship with You above the admiration of men, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-14-12

Mothers

Genesis 3:20, “Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.”

Eve, being the first mother was the first individual to impart human life to another through the birth of her children.  Scripture does not mention how many children Adam and Eve had, but the number was great, far more than the three sons mentioned in Genesis. There had to be girls in their family, and because they were the first human family, in order for life to continue, the boys married their sisters.  We look upon this as sin, but the gene pool was pure and original therefore there was no shame nor punishment in this beginning of humanity.  Generations later, because of rampant sin on the earth God determined it wise to start again with Noah’s four sons and their wives; therefore Noah’s wife could be called the original mother of those who are alive today.

Scripture mentions many women who gave birth to Biblical Heroes of Faith who are revered, as are the mothers of many well-known teachers of God’s Word who are alive today.  On Mother’s day our thoughts go back to our own mothers and the part they played in our formative years, attitudes and outlook on life.  One of my earliest recollections of my own mother is when my younger brother was an infant, Mom, Dad, the baby and me were all in the car returning from my grandparent’s farm when my mother began to sing to us boys.  She often sang to us and I remember her singing a line from an old hymn; “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”  That unshakeable faith that was part of my upbringing from my parents is with me today.  I personally know Jesus, the one to whom I have committed my life for the now and for eternity.

Scripture teaches us to honor our parents, and recognize the family as God’s instituted basic building block for human society even though there are many influences in this world today that are deliberately trying to destroy the family as instituted by God to pave the way for ungodly influences to take its place, destroying what we hold so dear in our own lives.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, bless our families today, make us the influences we are Biblically commanded to be and guide us this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

05-11-12

Freedom

Proverbs 14:12, “12 “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

When men and women are left to their own desires and actions, they will soon degenerate into chaos, anarchy, lust and murder in order to fulfill the whims of their own life with utter disregard for others.  Even today, we have groups demonstrating in various cities for the Government to give them, without cost, a place to live, food to eat, and allowing them to live in total disregard for society’s laws of decency and common civility among all the citizens.  Our political leaders listen to the loud threats of minority groups who promote homosexuality, atheism and complete ‘freedom’ from God’s precepts, commandments and laws for righteous living.  Others will simply ignore God’s principles and do what they think is right, living their lives in accordance with their inner compass that is not aligned with God’s immutable laws.  Even if an individual lived a perfectly moral life, never broken any of man’s statutes he still would fall far short of God’s demands and face an eternity in the place prepared for Satan and his evil angels.

Every one of man’s attempts to reach God’s throne since the Tower of Babel have not availed, only brought confusion into their lives, mankind has sacrificed their own children, the finest of their crops, become monks and nuns, lived lives of austerity and service to others, but God still asks for every person to bow at the feet of Jesus asking for forgiveness and accepting His perfect sacrifice.

God the Holy spirit is a moderating influence upon sin in the world today, working through the Church and its witness across the earth.  The influence of the Church and every Christian is involved every day in the spiritual warfare that keeps our enemy from gaining even more influence in the hearts of men.  When the time comes and Almighty God removes the church from this world, we, who have been the willing men and women through whom God has worked will no longer be here and satanic forces will multiply and have greater influence upon men and nations bringing famine, anarchy, plagues and other calamities upon this earth.  Those who will call upon the Name of Jesus for salvation will be saved, but will be martyred in great numbers.  Pray to our Loving Heavenly Father that many will come to Him before the opportunity is past.  Lord Jesus, we pray You will give us opportunities to win others today, before it is too late.

Manna in the Morning

05-10-12

Reconciled

Colossians 1:22-23, “But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him—if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.”

In order for any sinner to be reconciled to our perfect, sinless Lord God the price for our sin must be fully paid, not covered, removed from view or set aside, it must be paid.  As much as we may love God, even adore Him, the price must be paid.  Jesus, God’s beloved Son, willingly sacrificed His perfect, sinless life as the payment for our sin thereby allowing us to be fully reconciled or brought into a loving relationship with God.  It is the sacrifice that paid our debt, His name that allows us free access to the Father in prayer, His love that guides us through the presence of God the Holy Spirit in every facet of our lives.

Our ability to be used of our God is possible only because of that reconciliation, or restoration to full fellowship.  This is why it is so important for a Believer to ask God for forgiveness on a regular basis because of our human tendencies to fall away and sin, transgressing the statutes and expectations of our Heavenly Father for our lives.  Every person born anew into the Family of God has been given gifts to use for the Father’s Glory.  Therefore it is important for us to be involved in Bible study and prayer to keep our relationship fresh and vibrant, keeping our message, both spoken and lived out, fresh, clear and pure to the original message spoken by the Apostles in the days and weeks immediately following the ascension of Jesus.  As we proclaim this saving message, we are the latest in the long line of men and women from apostolic times until now, when the message can be heard in every part of the world by the testimony of men, radio or TV broadcasts and other electronic methods.  While there may be some local dialects that have no translated scriptures, there is no person that cannot hear God’s call if he or she desires.  Heavenly Father, we pray in Jesus name for Your blessing on the proclamation of Your Word this day.

Manna in the Morning

05-09-12

The Good Work

Philippians 1:3-6, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Every time I sit down to write MITM, I think of you, the readers.  I praise God for the regular requests that come in with names to be added to the distribution lists, and the emails mentioning how a special day’s offering has met a definite need in someone’s heart and life.  Some of you subscribers have been on for years, and others have joined just recently.  God has used these messages to win others to Christ, to encourage those who have lost spouses and other loved ones and the effect MITM has had on areas in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, something I never dreamed would happen when I started writing about 17 years ago.  I feel like each one of you has been my partner and prayer supporter from day one.  I am indeed certain that God who began this work will continue to use it until He comes to call us all to enjoy His presence in the Heavenly Places.

As many of you know, Manna in the Morning is also available in book form, with a collection o 366 daily devotionals for those who do not have a computer or who like to read a book instead of a computer screen.  These books make an excellent gift for a graduate at any level to encourage them to establish and maintain a daily time in God’s Word and prayer.  It also is an appropriate gift form Mom’s for Mother’s Day or for any occasion.  If you would like to have one of these daily books, write to Vance Lackore, P. O. Box 41523, St. Petersburg, FL 33743-1523, enclosing $20.00 for a same day return mail of the Book.  As we continue this join6t ministry, let’s pray for continued blessings for all MITM readers, and the salvation of those who do not yet know the joy of salvation in Jesus.  Lord, use is today in Jesus’ name and for your greater glory

Manna in the Morning

05-08-12 The Ground is Cursed

Genesis 3:17-19, “The ground is cursed because of you.  All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.  It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat.”

In the middle of our back yard is a large tree that shades our house and protects it from the morning sun as it casts its shadow over the back patio and house.  For this we are grateful, it provides a view of the sunrise, yet protects from the Florida sun.  Along with this benefit, however there is a price to pay.  At one point it sheds leaves to be swept up, tons of them, then it switches to pollen that must be swept and placed in receptacles to keep more trees from sprouting, then comes the blossoms that must be swept as well finally there are the tiny red seeds and the hardened husks that make it impossible to walk out on the patio without shoes.  It seems like the seasons are defined by what has to be swept up under this tree that provides such welcome shade.

In His talk with Adam, God told him that the ground would be cursed and bear, thistles, weeds, thorns, and, I’m convinced the tree in my back yard.  Adam and his descendents were promised the food they were to eat would come from the ground, but the tilling and reaping would come by the sweat of man’s brow just as the shade comes at the cost of the sweeping of the back patio.  Today we have forgotten that our civilization was built and still is sustained by the grain, fruit and produce grown on the myriad of farms and food plots across our land.  We have become an industrialized nation, but our food still comes from the soil; even the meat comes from animals that eat hay, grass and feed that comes from the soil.  It is the scarcity of farm land and men and women willing to work the soil that will ultimately bring famine to this world.  Adam’s sin caused the curse on the land, and even more tragic, caused men and women to be born into a sinful world.

God promised a Perfect Sacrifice to remove that sin debt, lift the curse on the land and people of our planet bringing relief from sin’s penalty just like my tree casts its welcome shade over the house.  That perfect sacrifice has come, bringing redemption through the Sacrifice on Calvary, giving us joy and the promise of His soon return to carry us away to forever be with Him in a place He has prepared for us.  Heavenly Father, we await Your commands for this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-07-12

Feed My Sheep

John 21:17, Jesus asked Peter the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”  “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.

Peter was so distressed at Jesus’ repeated question I can imagine his tone being a bit sharp as he responded for the third time.  Everything about this post-resurrection encounter was reminiscent of the first time Jesus called Peter.  Peter was in a boat fishing on the Sea of Galilee, had spent the night working and when daylight arrived there were no fish anywhere.  Jesus asks the fishermen to put their nets down into the water, they then caught so many fish they could not get them all into the boat.  This time however, Jesus has prepared a fire, roasted some fish for them to eat for breakfast and invited them to come ashore and eat with Him.  After the breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter and repeated the question for the last time.

Peter was so emotionally spent, he could hardly function after the Resurrection of His Lord so acting without thinking he went fishing along with a few of the remaining disciples.  Jesus restated His call to Peter by asking if, after the three years together, Peter still loved him.  When Peter answered in the affirmative, Jesus told him to feed the lambs, the very young in Christ; to be the teacher of the followers and finally to be a shepherd of all the Believers until his death by a means he would not choose for himself, but would willingly accept because of his love for his Savior.

Just as Peter left his boat and followed Jesus the first time, He left his boat, fishing and fed the Believers the Words of Jesus, even though it meant he would be martyred.  He gave them the Living Water, He prepared the Living Word and the Bread of Life for those who would listen, learn then follow Christ Jesus.  Peter continued to learn himself, to be taught of God, to accept all Believers equally – Jew or Gentile and to preach and teach without reservation wherever the Lord sent him, living a fruitful life for his Redeemer.

            Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we will feed Your flock this day, going out to those that do not know You, sharing the Bread of Life as You direct and for Your great glory.  We thank you in Jesus’ name for the privilege to serving You today

Manna in the Morning

05-04-12

Listen

Revelation  2:7, “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”

Last time we considered the messages to the first three Churches which represent three of the time periods within the overall time the Church is active on this earth.  Period number four is seen in a letter to Thyatira; the time in history known as the Dark Ages, when the Roman Catholic Church perverted its doctrine, became very wealthy and conducted the Inquisition.  This was followed by the Church at Sardis the time of the Reformation when the Bible was printed in the language of the people, when Martin Luther restated and taught the truth of Scripture, “The just shall live by faith,” sparking a resurgence of faith in the people and trust in Christ for salvation.  The sixth Church or era within the age of the Church is Philadelphia, the Church of the Open Door.  This is the time when Christian Missionaries began to travel to China, Africa and parts of the world never before evangelized.  Hundreds of men and women devoted their lives to missionary activity, giving up worldly attachments and quest for material things to carry the message of Salvation through Jesus across every continent on the globe, with the exclusion of Antarctica.

Today we are in the time of the lukewarm or tepid church, Laodicea, the seventh and final period of time when the church is active upon the earth.  Men and women sacrifice to idols of personal convenience, spend great amounts of money on things that are purely earthly, have a continually shrinking concern for the salvation of others, even combining the worship of our great omnipotent, Creator God with worship filled with satanic influence, accepting as normal that which God has called an abomination and so polluted the earth, their lives and all creation with defiance of God’s precepts that His judgment must fall upon this world.

Jesus gave us signs alerting us to the calling away of the Church, we are seeing increasing seismic activity, storms and climactic aberrations, anarchy and riots in cities in the US and many other countries, scores of localized war and armed conflicts, threats of nuclear weapons and Iran promising the destruction of the Nation of Israel.  May every reader know the peace of Jesus Christ in his or her life, telling of his love to others in anticipation of the heavenly call and echoing the apostle John, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”  Rev 22:20

Manna in the Morning

05-03-12

The Seven Lampstands

Revelation 1:19-20, “Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. 20 The secret of the seven stars you saw in My right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

In answer to a request of one of the MITM readers, I am going to go through the 7 periods of Church History I mentioned yesterday, in all probability; this will take the rest of this week.  In the Book of Acts we read a bit of the early history of the church following Pentecost, the gift of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit into the lives of all who believe in Salvation through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Promised One of Genesis 3:15.  In Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, seven churches are named.  Each of the churches was, at the time of John’s writing, a thriving Church proclaiming the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but each having its failings.  The first mentioned is the church at Ephesus, representing the apostolic churches, those that were established while there were still some of the 12 apostles of Jesus still living.  Churches that were proclaiming the gospel, true to the precepts laid out by the Lord Himself, and pleasing in the eyes of the Savior.  At the end of this period their original fervor has fallen away and they are in need of repenting and recovering their first love.

The second Church at Smyrna is the period of time of the suffering Church, the time when believers were under great persecution from the emperor of Rome and his government officials and soldiers who committed great atrocities upon Christians, producing many martyrs.  The third church, representing the third period of time in Church History is Pergamum, the church that was comfortable in the world, where the lines of behavior were blurred, with the Church becoming very worldly in its outlook.  It is in this period of time that the Christian Religion became the Official State Religion of Rome.

In each of these we see a downward progression in the churches, from Apostolic fervor, to comfort in being the Official church, no longer suffering persecution.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep us from feeling comfortable in this world, keep our eyes fixed on our heavenly home.  This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-02-12

Stand Fast

2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, “God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.

In this second letter to the church at Thessaloniki, the Apostle Paul expressed this gratitude to the Lord God for the reception of the gospel of Salvation through faith when Paul taught and preached the gospel message there.  It is always in the chosen plan of God when individuals are born anew into the Family of God.  Because the Church here was among the first of the new churches springing up all over Asia Minor, the purity of the gospel message was being tainted by false teachers.  Men who tried to confuse the believers by concentrating on the promise of Jesus return, claiming to have special knowledge of the false messiahs being announced and proclaimed.  Paul’s advice was good for them and for us as we see the time of Jesus calling the church out of the world to meet Him in the heavens.   Only Jehovah God the Father knows the day and time.  Instead we are to concentrate on the precepts and original teachings of Jesus and His words as recorded in the Gospel record.  This word translated as tradition is a bit off the mark, it means original precepts of Scripture concerning salvation by faith in Jesus’ death burial and resurrection.  This is what Paul wrote to them in his letters, the message he and the other disciples were teaching.  The Thessalonians were to stand firm on God’s Word, just as you and I need to as well.

Today, speculation runs wild concerning the false messiah; will it be this year, or 100 years down history’s hallway?  We do not need to place our feet on shaky, indeterminate ground, we stand fast on the record of Scripture, knowing that in His time, after all have had an opportunity to accept Christ,  we will be taken up to our heavenly reward.  Heavenly Father, keep us standing firmly on your Word, anchored to the faith of those who have gone before us and anticipating the day we will see You, accept our praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-01-21

God’s Instruction Book

Joshua 1:8-9, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua faced a substantial problem.  Moses was gone, Joshua had been appointed his successor, and the Israelites were as fractious as ever.  They still had to cross the Jordan River to claim the land God had long ago promised to Abraham’s descendents.  Already they were arguing about who was to fight the wars once they crossed the river, those whose tribal allotments were on the east side of the river didn’t want to cross and fight for the land on the West side, God had already spoken and they knew the daily Manna would stop once they crossed over, leaving them to the crops they could raise and food that came from Canaan.  Fighting lay ahead, not one city had been conquered, not one battle had been fought in this land, they were moving in on faith in God’s promise to clear away their enemies as they advanced.  Joshua knew it was his duty to keep the twelve tribes unified and conquer the land God had given them.

As Joshua considered these things, God spoke to him bringing encouragement, outlining the path to success lay with reading God’s provided Word and unfailing trust in Him.  Joshua had his Book of Instruction, the writings of Moses called by the same name today, The Torah, given with God’s solemn instruction to meditate over it each and every day.  Only by obeying God’s Word could Joshua expect success in his responsibilities.

By strict adherence to God’s Word, we too can expect the leading and blessing of our Heavenly Father upon our daily activities.  A Christian man or woman can expect success in direct proportion to their meditation, prayer and reading of God’s Word each and every day.

Our Heavenly Father, give us the desire for your Word that motivated Joshua, David and so many other Bible heroes that did great things for You.  Guide us this day as we seek to follow your will, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-30-12

Promises

Psalm 89:29-34, “I will preserve an heir for him; his throne will be as endless as the days of heaven.  But if his descendants forsake my instructions and fail to obey my regulations, if they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating.  But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him.  No, I will not break my covenant.”

Whether David was riding the crest of popularity or in the trough of despair, he never forgot God’s promise to him that one of his descendents would rule the world from Jerusalem, from his throne from some unspecified beginning until the end of earthly time.  When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the town of David’s birth and family, under the praise of angels, and the prophecies of old were fulfilled that day and further in Jesus’ life people began to wonder if indeed, Jesus would be the one to deliver the Israelites from Roman slavery and lead them into prosperity.  God’s plan was not to establish Jesus’ Kingdom at that time.  When He assumes the throne, the Israelite people, the earth and all that exists thereon must be pure in order for Jesus to live among them.

Before that great day, there had to be the time of the Church to evangelize the world, taking the message to every nook and cranny on every continent until every person has had the opportunity to hear the message of Redemption.  The Church universal has to go through seven distinct, identifiable periods of time, and we are, according to God’s own description, coming to the end of the seventh period and the time for Jesus to call the Church out to be with Him, dealing once more with the Israelites in a time of great purification preparing the way for Jesus’ promised Kingdom.  God has promised in His Word to fulfill each and every promise to the last detail, just as he did in Jesus’ birth and sacrifice on Calvary.

Every child of the Heavenly Father has as important a part in God’s plan as David did.  We are created and equipped with gifts that prepare us for a specific moment when we have an opportunity to share our faith with someone who may not listen to anyone else or who will not have another opportunity.  Because we are uniquely created, we must be equally willing to follow the path God has laid before us so we will be ready when that opportunity arises.  Our Lord God in Heaven, use us today in any manner you choose for your greater glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-27-12

Purity

2 Corinthians 1:12-13, “The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace. Now we are writing you nothing other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely.”

When the apostle Paul entered into the city of Athens in Greece, he found the men of the city willing to debate with him in the public square, but their minds were filled with the concepts of their local gods of myth and animism.  There was no way Paul could describe who Jesus the Savior was in the eternal God’s plan until he told them he passed an altar in their own city marked to ‘An  unknown’ god, one they may have missed in their anxious desire to placate all the gods of their intellective universe.   The population of Corinth was essentially the same, having difficulty grasping the concept of an omnipotent God who sent His son to redeem the world.  Paul wrote in this letter that he was satisfied that his testimony in words and personal activity had shown the love, compassion and desire to see the Greeks saved as well as all others.

Many times we who love the Lord may teach and witness of His saving grace, but then let our personal life styles and actions give people the exact opposite message.  We may engage in activities, use language and deliberately put ourselves in situations and places that our Savior cannot honor nor approve and our words of witness have lost their effect as surely as a flat tire cannot function because it has lost the strength and pressure of the air within.  Our words and witness do not have the power of God the Holy Spirit.  The language we use will reflect the lyrics of music we listen to and the language and images we see in the movies we watch.

Paul is just one of the examples we have in God’s Word of men and women who were willing to be used of God, paying the price of full devotion to Him.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, give us the courage to make you the Leader of our Life and to live our lives as Jesus would, so His message can be seen in us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-26-12

The Deluge

Genesis 7:4-5, “Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off the face of the earth every living thing I have made.” And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him.”

After God shut the door of the Ark with Noah, His family and all the animals safely inside, there was seven days before the deluge began.  After the fountains of the deep were opened and the rain fell, the ark didn’t move for quite a while, then when the water reached the floatation point, the vessel was floating on the surface of the water, a new experience for Noah and his family and each of the animals.  God let the waters rise until they were at least twenty feet above the top of every mountain.  Just like we would wipe the dust from the top of a table, God wiped the surface of the earth clean of every oxygen needing, air breathing, animal, reptile, bird or insect on the face of the earth.  After Noah felt the ark ground itself on Mount Ararat he sent out a raven, a bird that lives on carrion and other dead flesh.  Because of the enormous amount of carrion on the earth, the raven did not return to the ark for food or rest.  Later God sent out a dove, a bird that will not feast on dead meat and it came back with some leaves in its beak, then did not return.

Noah and his family herded the animals off the ark, disembarking with his entire family to offer up a sacrifice for the safety God had provided.  God instituted some changes in daily life and worship, putting an instinctive fear of man in all animals, and give meat to men to eat in addition to plants and fruit, instituted the requirement that if one man wantonly took the life of another he would be killed, thus instituting capital punishment for mankind in addition to the instructions for preparing and offering sacrifices.

We learn from every event written in God’s word, and the lesson from this erasing the earth clean is that sin can pile up to a point where God must wipe it clean.  Scripture clearly states that as it was in the time of Noah, so shall it be when Jesus calls us up to once again wipe the earth of sin and its stench in His nostrils.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the salvation provided for us in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-25-12

Priests

Malachi 2:7, “For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.”

In the Old Testament priests were revered and were expected to be examples of one who is dedicated to Jehovah god, whose actions were expected to be without reproach and whose words were to be taken as instruction from the Lord God.  Priests wore distinctive clothing; their robes were white to remind the people of the purity of their Lord God.  By the time Jesus visited this earth, only the Scribes and Pharisees who were Priests were mainly the ones in the public view.    After Jesus, our Great High Priest gave Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice; the Aaronic priesthood was no longer needed, since there was no need of a sacrifice.  Each believer in Jesus could come to their Heavenly Father themselves without an intermediary giving us free access to the throne of our God.  We are also a royal priesthood, (1 Peter 2:9) having been lifted out of darkness into the marvelous light of God’s glory.

Because we have been called into a royal priesthood, we are given the responsibility as well as the privilege of praying for others, interceding before the throne of God for God’s blessing, purifying and calling them to Himself.  When we pray for forgiveness for our own sin, God hears and forgives, when we intercede for others, God hears and when we uphold others before Him, He answers in His own timing and for His greater glory.  We may not dress in a distinctive, ‘priestly’ way, but the way we face each challenge, our attitudes and actions especially our language will often identify us as Christians and people will pay particular attention to our manner of life and look to us for words of Godly advice and spiritual knowledge.  Our witness to others is often in our way of living in addition to our statements of faith.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, make every waking moment of this day a time of witness to your glory we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-24-12

The Lord Our Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:5-6, “The days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—”when I will raise up a righteous Branch of David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is what He will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.”

This passage is God’s message through Jeremiah who prophesied to the remnant of Judah left around Jerusalem when the seventy years of Nebuchadnezzar’s captivity was complete; he spoke to give the remnant of the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a hope and plan for their future as a people, chosen and blessed of God.  All Israelites knew of the promise that Jehovah God had made to King David, telling Him that one of his descendents would rule all Israel from Jerusalem in righteousness and perfect justice.  This coming King is the Promised One of Genesis and came to fulfillment in the birth of Jesus, but His glorious coming to earth as King will take place as described in Revelation 19.

Jesus came as the human son of Mary to provide the Perfect Sacrifice for the sin of the world by His death on Calvary.  His first advent was to provide a means of salvation for all mankind.  By being born anew into the family of God we are purified, forgiven and sanctified, being seen by the Father as perfectly righteous because we are wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus.  By His righteousness we are made perfect, pure and worthy to enter into the presence of our Awesome God.  When the time is right, there will come a seven-year period of purification of the entire earth, removing the curse of sin that has blighted and scarred all creation caused by the sin of every being since Adam.  When that purification process is complete and earth is as pure and pristine as Eden, Jesus, God the Son, will come to this earth in triumph, destroying all His enemies with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and reign benevolently for a thousand years completing God’s eternal plan.

            God the Son was, is, and always will be our righteousness, we are nothing without Him but pure and beyond any earthly value when wrapped in His righteousness, pleasing in the sight of God the Father.  Today and every day live in the glory of His righteousness and do all things pleasing in His eyes.  We praise you, our Father in the name of Jesus our Righteousness

Manna in the Morning

04-23-12

What if?

Ezekiel 18:21-22,, “Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.

Suppose every person in the world turned from their sinful ways, accepted Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and began to live a life dedicated to Him, all those that understood the meaning of sin, and rebellion and rejection of God’s plan of salvation began to live a Christ-honoring life?  That would be the very first time the population of the earth was united in worshipping their Creator since before Eve accepted Satan’s invitation to taste the forbidden fruit.  How long would it be before the lusts and desires of the flesh would be  used by Satan to cause just one person to turn away from Godliness and began to live a life of sin and selfishness?  Yesterday many of God’s Children were in Church, worshipping and praising God, men and women turned to Him in repentence and pled for salvation.  How long was it until your mind strayed into ungodly territory or you neglected to do that what was right in God’s eyes?  As much as we love God, as much as we desire to follow His precepts and statutes, there is a human nature within us that is lured away into sin causing us to fall on our knees and ask God to cleanse and purify us.

Our Heavenly Father is quick to forgive and reconcile us to Himself upon our confession and repentence of our sin.  There is no probationary period; no waiting to see if we really mean it, just forgiving the repentant soul and putting the sin debt as far as the east is from the west.  We too should be quick to confess, repent and ask forgiveness from our Heavenly Father so that our relationship with Him remains unbroken, allowing us to experience the joy of salvation.  We long for Heaven and the joys that await us, we will be in the presence of our God for all eternity.  We are already in His presence through the indwelling God the Holy Spirit within every believer and His presence will not depart from our lives.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, make us fully conscious of Your presence within us and ever mindful of His guidance and love.  It is in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-20-12

The Eagle’s Fate

Ezekiel 17:9-10, You are to say: This is what the Lord God says: Will it flourish?  Will He not tear out its roots and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels?  All its fresh leaves will wither!  Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots.  Even though it is planted, will it flourish?  Won’t it completely wither when the east wind strikes it?  It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.”

One of the parables Jehovah God gave to the prophet Ezekiel in a series concerning future events is a parable of two eagles.  One eagle dropped or planted a seed that grew into a great kingdom that was fruitful and glorified God while later a second eagle dropped a seed that grew and flourished, until its roots turned and followed a path not set before it by God.  This past week the USA celebrated “Patriot’s Day,” a day set aside to remember the initial battles that began the long, arduous ordeal the original Colonies endured to establish the United States of America.  The US was founded upon and recognized as a Nation whose founding fathers relied upon Biblical Principles enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  Strict prohibitions were put in place to keep the newly-established Federal Government from interfering with the religious principles of the many churches and denominations that existed while at the same time encouraging Biblical Christian principles and precepts be followed by the governing bodies and leaders.  For over a century the Government followed the intent of the founders, but succumbed to the slow, insidious infestation of humanism and its determination to remove all Godly influences from Government at all levels, claiming the Constitution and other documents forbid the influence of our great God in governmental decisions and statutes.

Today it seems as if our leaders have turned their back on Biblical principles, degraded Godly precepts and gone against the convictions of a citizenry that overwhelmingly believe in those Biblical precepts.  In this pivotal election year the United States must choose to either flourish and bear fruit or to continue its path and let its leaves dry up and roots shrivel, losing all Godly protection and influence not because God changed, but because the USA was lured away from His place of blessing.

Our Lord God, we acknowledge the sins of our Nation, ask for your forgiveness and pray for restoration of your grace and mercy upon our Nation and people, In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-19-12

Now is the Time

Acts 2:39-40, For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

After Pentecost, when God the Holy Spirit descended and infused those who were followers of Jesus, those who believed He was the Promised One sent from God, Peter directed this message to all the Jews and Gentiles present in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  Peter encouraged those present to repent of their sins, asking God to forgive them and believe in the perfect sacrifice on Calvary for their salvation and further, to call upon Him immediately, while the opportunity still existed.  There will come a time when God will close this door of salvation.  During Noah’s time when the previously unknown rain God promised began to fall, many of Noah’s neighbors and those to whom he had preached for over 100 years finally realized Noah was proclaiming God’s Word, they rushed to the ark for safety and found that God had closed the door and no man could open it.

We live in a time that began with this gift of God at Pentecost and will close with the calling the Church up to meet our Savior in the air.  Those that have rejected Christ during this time may well find the door of opportunity closed.  Men and women have, and will always be saved by faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus, but God has presented this opportunity in different ways at different times since the first animal sacrifice in Eden.  We, as followers of Jesus, need to make the urgency of salvation known to those with whom we come in contact, those we have been praying for and those with whom we share the plan of salvation that comes from God’s own Word.  Scripture teaches us that unless God shortened the time after the Rapture, the number of earth’s inhabitants would be severely reduced.  The theme, “Now is the accepted time of salvation” is repeated several times in God’s Word, giving a warning to all those who neglect any opportunity to accept God’s salvation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the open door of salvation and ask for the opportunity to share this opportunity with someone this day, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-18-12

True Light

1 John 1:5-8, “Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Whenever the Scriptures talk of God’s appearance, it is a description of light.  When God’s great glory was manifest between the Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant, it was a ball of light energy.  When Moses was up on Mount Sinai, there was great light described as fire and lightning when he met with God.  Heaven is filled with. and lit by, the Glory of our Great God and the brilliance is so surrounding there are no shadows, no place where God’s presence is not seen and felt.  God is pure radiance without dimness or shadows.

On earth, we’re dependent upon the physical sun that gives light and heat, but there are shadows from clouds, trees or buildings between us and our light source, when God is our light source and we are in fellowship with Him, His radiance infuses us and radiates out from us in our attitudes and relationships with others as we carry His light to the world. Our light however, is shadowed by our neglecting to read His Word, to neglect to follow the path laid out for us or by allowing sin to put us in a shadow of our own making.

We need to be sure we are walking in the path chosen for us, close to our God of Light, let nothing or no one interrupt our fellowship and let His light be magnified in our service to Him.  Then not only will we have fellowship with Him, but also with all those who allow His light to radiate from them.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, shine upon us this day in all your radiant glory giving us the opportunity to focus that light on others for your greater glory.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-17-12

Heart Scars

Ezekiel 21:6, “But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heart right before their eyes.”

A few years ago, I underwent heart surgery that included among other things, repairing the mitral valve inside my heart.  On one of my check-up visits, the surgeon showed me a picture of the repaired valve and when I saw the inside of my heart, I had to turn away.  Today I am fully recovered, but my heart still has a scar where the surgeon made an incision, not visible, but still very real.

Teaching as I do in a High School among teenagers, I occasionally see a girl going around weeping and sniffling while being comforted by other girls who are sympathizing and declaring how they feel the pain of her broken heart.  The boys tend to keep their feelings to themselves, unless, however, they are the grieved ones and are then feeling like there will never be a love like the one they just lost ever again.  Both are grieving over a broken heart that will heal at the first smile from another boy or girl and their life will go on again.

We who know the Lord God as our Heavenly Father should remember the grief, sorrow and broken heart we felt when we recognized our sin and the unmeasureable pain and suffering our Savior endured to heal our lives from the sin curse and recognizing he died of a broken heart, even before the spear was thrust into His chest.  His heart truly was broken for our redemption, our heart was broken because of our sin, but Jesus rose again and we live now in the joy of His resurrection.  Our hearts will always bear the scars of sin but throb with new life where His gentle hand soothed us and gave us eternal life where those scars will be seen as a memorial to His great love.
We all carry scars, some emotional, some physical, some invisible but real and some that we allow to debilitate our lives.  Allow God the Holy Spirit to turn those scars from red, angry welts to pain free, yet still visible memories that remind us of the grace and peace of our Savior and reminders of His provision and forgiveness to be used to His glory.  Heavenly Father, we thank you for the scars of our redemption both now and eternally.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-16-12

The Ark of Safety

Ezekiel 14:15-16, “If I allow dangerous animals to pass through the land and depopulate it so that it becomes desolate, with no one passing through it for fear of the animals, even if these three men were in it, as I live” (Daniel, Noah, Job)—the declaration of the Lord God—”they could not deliver their sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

Over the last six months, a number of news items have come to me regarding unprovoked attacks upon humans by wild animals ranging from Grizzly bears, mountain lions to bobcats.  Even reptiles like alligators and snakes have been mentioned in addition to sharks and other fish.  It seems like the animal population of the earth has lost its fear of mankind instilled in the animals when Noah released them from the Ark in Genesis 9.  Coyotes that used to be seen in the western US now roam freely across the North American Continent and other animals are also adapting to the suburban housing environment with increasing confrontations between animals and man.

In this verse in Ezekiel and in Revelation 6:7 many will be killed by ‘the wild animals of the earth.”  The early warnings about Jesus’ return spoken of by our Lord in Matthew 24 and in Ezekiel and other prophetic scriptures include, in addition to this one, earthquakes, wars, famines, persecutions of the followers of Jesus and other natural phenomena such as we have never seen in the history of mankind.  It is not profitable to name dates and times, but all these things and more disasters are occurring.  The Midwest, the area of the United States vast wheat and corn fields have been torn and ravaged by tornadoes for two years, and while folks are digging out from these last storms, two more storm systems are on the way.  It is profitable, however, for us to both understand Jesus’ warnings, be alert to the strife, hunger and persecution in the world and share the Gospel message with others so they will not find themselves on the outside with the door of the Ark of Safety closed by God and no man or woman can enter.  The sin quotient of the world is so high that God cannot allow it to continue to desecrate His creation, making it imperative we share His message of Redemption.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, grant us time to witness and win more souls before the door is shut, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-13-12

Submission

Romans 14:7-8, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

In the obituaries printed in our local paper, there are frequent death notices that contain the phrase ‘No known survivors,’ while this may be true on an earthly level, we sincerely pray these folks do have the comfort of belonging to the Family of our Heavenly Father and will receive a joyous welcome when they arrive in Heaven.  When we belong to that forever family, whether we have earthly relationships or not, we are not alone, we always have the comforting presence of our counselor, God the Holy Spirit who is much closer than any earthly relative.

Many people who call themselves Christians and who can tell you the day and place they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, have never acknowledged that He now should be Lord of their life as well.  Each of us needs to understand that when we are born anew into the
Family of God, we then have to obey the precepts and commandments of our Heavenly Father just as we obeyed our earthly parents when we were young and under their roof and direction.  We are God’s children, whether we labor on a foreign field of service far from our home, have a teaching or vocational ministry or are a faithful church member we are to be doing our Heavenly Father’s work as long as we live.  When the time comes, and Scripture tells us it will, that we leave this earth for Heaven, even the very act of our earthly departure will be a work of witness for our God and bring glory to Him.  As the Apostle Paul stated, whether we live or die, whether we are here or in Heaven, our presence is a testament to the saving grace and love of our great God.

As we arise each day, and as we place our head on the pillow each night, we should thank our Father in Heaven for the great privilege he has given us to serve Him with our lives.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we willingly submit ourselves to You for whatever plan You have in store for us that will bring glory to You, we thank and praise You in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-12-12

Jesus, Our Focus

Hebrews 12:2, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Scripture is full of encouragement and exhortations to live the Christian Life, to act and be all that our Lord would have us to be.  This passage was written to men and women in the First Century who had knowledge of the Old Testament, but did not yet have the writings of the Apostles or of Paul.  While the author is unknown, he has some good suggestions for a person whose sincere desire is to live a life pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  First we are to keep our eyes focused upon Jesus.  No one who has mowed a yard, plowed a field or even driven a car keeps his or her vision immediately in front of the vehicle, we look to the end of the yard or to a spot yards ahead of the car and our path is much straighter than if we are looking at the close-by territory right under the wheels, we need to fix our eyes on a point that will allow us to plot a straight course.  It is the same in our Christian Walk; we need to keep our faces turned toward Jesus; not to ignore things that happen around us, but to be able to overcome those obstacles, continuing on our path toward His presence.

Jesus is the one who set our redemption plan in motion, He is the one referred to as the “Promised One,’ the ultimate, perfect sacrifice to come, Jesus is the embodiment of the plan as He walked the earth, and He is the completion, the one that made the plan perfect for our salvation, the one who gave His life to pay the price and cried in triumph, “It is finished.”  He bought us out of slavery to Satan.  When you are timid and fearful, remember you are empowered by His omnipotence, when you are ridiculed for carrying His name, and remember His torture for your salvation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we want to keep our eyes upon Jesus and the home He has prepared for us in the heavenly places, give us the courage equal to anything we will encounter this day, in Jesus’ matchless name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-11-12

Praise the Lord

1 Chronicles 16:36, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, be praised from everlasting to everlasting.”  Then all the people said, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

At Pearl Harbor, a Chaplain aboard the USS New Orleans, a heavy Cruiser, was credited with coining the phrase, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”  During the attack, a gunner’s mate was manning an anti-aircraft gun, while the Chaplain was passing by, encouraging the men, the gunner was struck dead from a bullet coming from a passing enemy plane.  Overcome with love for his country and the men to whom he ministered, he jumped into the gunner’s seat and began firing, shouting all the while, “Praise the Lord and Pass the ammunition.”  Later, when his deed was made public, a patriotic song was written and sung to encourage the Nation during the war effort, one sentence is, “Shouting; Praise the Lord we’re on a mighty mission! All aboard, we’re not a – goin’ fishin; Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition and we’ll all stay free!”

Israel had much to praise God for in their history; God had led them out of Egypt, blessed them, and protected them from annihilation, even when they grieved God’s heart by their evil deeds and idolatry.  At their clamoring and begging, God gave them a King, Saul was a man who stood head and shoulders above other men, but looking regal and acting like one upon occasion was not what God wanted.  He wanted a man who would lead the Israelites in ways that glorified their God and make them an example of what a Godly nation was like.  It is in this that Saul failed by disregarding God’s commands to him through Samuel, doing what he wanted instead of God’s will.   When David was anointed King, only his family knew, when he was crowned King first of Judah, then of all Israel, the people rejoiced and sang, praising the Lord.

In our lives, we need to praise our God for what He has done, make him Lord over our lives, and continue to fight in the mighty mission in which we are engaged, for the salvation of others and the defeat of our arch enemy, the devil.  Our Nation rallied in support in 1941, Ancient Israel rallied under David and we must unite our efforts today to push back the tide of suppression of our freedom to worship freely.  Our Heavenly Father, encourage us today, we praise You for the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God and the other armaments you have given us for our battles.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-10-12

To God be the Glory

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This verse is a perfect description of a life lived in human strength, striving to reach God’s standards and falling far short.  One example of this was a comic strip that has stuck in my memory for years.  In the strip “Tumbleweeds, one of the characters is Limpid Lizard, an Indian boy who is trying to win the hand of Little Pigeon, the chief’s only daughter.  Limpid Lizard has lofty ambitions, great optimism, enthusiasm in every attempt to gain recognition, but everything falls far short of its intended goal.  What sticks in my memory is LL’s attempt to shoot a deer to feed the hungry tribe back at camp, He carefully aims, draws back his bow and lets the arrow fly, it travels about 20 feet, sticks in the ground with quivering ‘tink’ while the deer dances off into the woods.  No glory or success, the tribe goes hungry and Little Pigeon won’t even come out of her teepee to greet him when he returns.

In addition to the stark reality that every one of us has committed transgressions against God’s laws, committed evil deeds and exhibited sinful attitudes, even the dreams of doing good things, the goal of attaining Heaven by some miracle floats just out of reach of all our mighty efforts to please God.  Our attempts are as ineffective as Limpid Lizard’s arrow in its pathetic little flight.  Without the power of the indwelling God the Holy Spirit we can dream, attempt, and anticipate success but all our efforts are as barren as LL’s fruitless deer hunt.

To please our Heavenly Father, we must do all things in the strength of God the Holy Spirit within us, not for our personal glorification or honor, but to honor and glorify our Savior and Him alone.  Anything done in our own strength fails to give Him glory, and to glorify Him should be the prime purpose in our lives.

Gracious Heavenly Father, may we live this day to Your glory we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-09-12

He Called My Name

John 20:15-18, “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”  Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”—which means “Teacher.”  ”Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

The followers of Jesus were so devastated at the death of the one they knew was The Promised One, born of a virgin and who would lead the Israelites out of bondage once more that when he died on the cross, scorned by many in the full view of the people, their minds did not register His promise to rise again.  Mary was so despondent she did not recognize Jesus’ voice until He spoke her name.  At hearing the sound of her name, Mary recognized her Redeemer and ran to carry out Jesus’ requests.  She did not delay or ask Jesus for some private time that no one could disturb, she hastened to carry out His will.

There are times in our lives when we long to hear the quiet voice of God the Holy Spirit but it is masked and hidden in the clamor and busyness of our days.  Once we have accepted God’s wondrous gift of salvation we have a one-on-one relationship with Him and nothing or no one can disrupt that unless we actively or passively encourage the interruption.  Our lives have become so filled with other things, we hear only the clamor of calling voices without taking time for our spiritual times of fellowship with our great God.  Mary’s message was that she had seen and talked to the Lord, our message should be, we too have met Jesus face to face and He accompanies us in everything we do.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we stop right now to listen to your voice.  It is our fervent prayer you will guide every step we take this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-06-12

Good Friday

Jesus took so much physical abuse for us; torture, beatings, the crown of thorns, whippings, carrying the heavy crossbeam of the cross and finally nailed to that cruel the cross.  Yet none or all of the prolonged agony could pay the price for sin in the lives of those Jesus came to save from hell and spiritual death.  It took His death and resurrection to provide our Redemption from sin’s penalty.

As Jesus suffered on the cross, after several hours he cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Or “Why have you left me alone?”  When Jesus had the sin weight of every person who has or who will ever live on this earth placed upon His shoulders, God the Father could not look upon the sin, and the Son felt the weight alone.  It was for this express purpose and exact moment He left Heaven’s glory to walk upon the earth He had created.  The perfect, sinless, Holy God could not look upon sin and turned His eyes from the Son, who had to pay the price as promised.  Agony filled both Heaven and Earth as this weight fell upon The Son, and the Father felt the pain in equal measure.  This is the true cost of our Redemption from the chains of hell.

As the time came for Jesus to give up His hold on this earthly life He said “It is finished!”   This was not a cry of relief because the torment, pain, torture, ridicule and more agony than any mere mortal could stand was now over, it was a triumphant cry that shook the hills of Judea, the clouds of the sky and reached the halls of Heaven!  Satan, the Great Dragon was defeated, the Promised One had crushed his head, and yes, His heel was bruised.  But death and resurrection won the victory and all Heaven rejoiced, even though all earth was in sorrow and pain, Jesus, my Savior, returned to Heaven, our Salvation was secure, and in mere hours He would rise from the grave in triumph.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name, humble and grateful for the precious gift of Redemption that came at such a cost.  We bow before you in thanksgiving and praise.

Manna in the Morning

04-05-12

Jesus Washed their Feet

John 13:12-14, “When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

As Jesus reclined at the table with His disciples, He gave them a lesson no Christian should ever forget.  He, their Lord and Master, their supreme authority and controller as well as their teacher and friend had just performed the duty of the lowest menial slave in the household, washing the dirty, dusty feet of men who walked the common paths of the village with the refuse and discards of the population.  Peter initially resisted until Jesus very plainly told Him this was part of being a disciple and could not be refused.

In the context of Jesus’ impending arrest, trial and death, He was teaching His disciples the Godly quality of true humbleness.  Remember, there was a battle going on within the disciple band regarding who would rank number one and two when Jesus ascended to His Kingship, requiring this lesson in humbleness because if He, their Lord, their Rabbi or teacher, God the Son could wash their feet, they ought to be willing to follow His example of humbleness in love rather than vying for the choice appointments in the coming kingdom.

There are those in the Church that seek places of prominence and prestige, looking to enhance their themselves rather than taking the position of a humble servant always eager to promote the glory and honor of the one we are to serve.  If our Savior would wash the feet of His disciples, there is no reason we should attempt to seek positions of authority over others, except as God gives us opportunities of greater service.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, may our attitude be that of a servant, humble and eager to see your name glorified, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-04-12

Peace

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”

In the days before Jesus’ arrest, He spent many hours teaching and informing His disciples of what was to come, how God the Father would give all of them wisdom in order to get through the next few days when it would become so grim and dark.  One of God’s greatest gifts is the peace that floods our hearts.  I can think of at least three ways God’s peace affects us.  First, we are at peace with God, our sins have been forgiven and there is no hindrance or block between our souls and our Heavenly Father.  Second, we have been filled with the peace of God.  The bumper sticker we sometimes see, Know Jesus – know peace.  No Jesus, no peace are four simple words that proclaim a very profound message, it is Jesus, the Prince of Peace in whom our souls rest and are content.  Third; we can have a calm spirit, a quiet heart and a tranquil, composed, confident manner of life in the midst of turmoil and trial, When we know Jesus, we are at peace, without Him, we have a chaotic existence.

This message was specifically for the twelve who were about to lose their Shepherd, who couldn’t understand the importance of His sacrifice, the reason for which He came to this earth.  We need that important lesson today fully as much as those twelve men in Judea.  We are living in an age when the world seems poised on the brink of disaster, where scores of skirmishes occur across the world daily, where anti-Christian groups and people attack our Bible, our manner of life and our brothers and sisters in many parts of the world that are in danger of losing their lives for their proclamation of the Gospel message.

This coming Lord’s Day is a triumphant statement of our belief in the Resurrection and the New Life we have in Christ Jesus.  Our Heavenly Father, make us fully aware of the peace that overshadows our lives, that peace that comes directly from Your throne, giving us the calm assurance of Your triumphant victory of death and hell In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-03-12

The Last Passover

Luke 22:19-210, “And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.”

As Jesus celebrated the last Passover Feast on this earth with His disciples, He knew they would never again partake of a Passover Meal with the significance of this one.  The ceremony referred the participant back to the time Moses had all the Israelites celebrate this dinner in preparation for their release from the bondage they had endured in Egypt and would no longer endure a period of such total subjugation again, they would leave Egypt never to return, even though some of the people would long for Egypt’s leeks and relative stability because they were willing to endure slavery for false security.  When they put blood over their doorposts, it was a sign that the death angel would pass over their houses and firstborn sons, Egypt would expel them because of the weeping and wailing when every one of their first born sons was found dead, regardless of age or social stature.

Jesus knew this time He would be the perfect sacrifice, that those who believed God’s promise would be forever free of the curse and chains of sin just as the ancient Israelites believed in faith that they would walk from Egypt as free people, never to return. The disciples did not have the complete revelation of the Scriptures as we do, and did not understand Jesus’ meaning when He said, His body would be given for them and His blood would be shed as the perfect sacrifice promised by God so long ago.  The old Levitical Law was no longer binding upon men and women, the purpose and intent of those laws would shortly be fully fulfilled in the death of Jesus.  The perfect plan of God, who is unlimited perfection in all His attributes, would have His perfect justice fulfilled by the perfect sacrifice of a perfect Savior, whose life was given in His perfect love and perfect mercy for a sinful, ungrateful, demanding human race.

Our Father in Heaven, accept our offering of thanks from our hearts for Your offering of sacrifice on our behalf.  We are undeserving and sinful, yet seen by You as perfectly righteous in Jesus, our Savior.  Keep the awareness of the enormous magnitude of the cost of our salvation uppermost in our minds this day as we live our lives for Your glory.  Thank You Lord Jesus, for freeing us from sin’s terrible, eternal grip.

Manna in the Morning

04-02-12

Questions Continued

John 3:16-18, “”For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”

Now that you know the opening questions and the verses to let a person read and perhaps given the individual your personal testimony of what you were once and now are, here are some closing questions to use.

1.  Are you a sinner?  If necessary read Romans 3:23 again and define sin – any thought or action that takes away from God’s glory or displeases Him.
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?  (Make Him the Leader of your Life.)
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and heart?  At this point don’t say anything more, silently pray for God the Holy Spirit to convict the heart.  Be sensitive to the struggle going on, be encouraging but remember – God does the convicting, give the person time to say yes! (In selling something, the one who speaks first wins.  This is a little different but gives the individual time to think.)

Then lead the man or woman in praying something like this, Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You.  I need and want forgiveness for all my sins.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.  Father, I give You my life to do with as You wish.  I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart.  This I ask in Jesus’ name.

Remember we can add nothing to the Scriptural plan for salvation and we must subtract nothing from that plan.  If we do our part and win others we are multiplying the Body of Christ and we do not wish to divide fellow Believers by stressing a denominational point of view, keep strictly to God’s Word.  Just as Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, Peter and John preached in Jerusalem, Paul preached in Asia, we are privileged to carry this message to those we meet daily.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the awesome privilege of being used of you in sharing the message of salvation to a dying world.  Give us opportunity and the courage to utilize these opportunities for Your greater glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-30-12

Hosanna

Luke 19:39-40, “Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”

As Jesus rode on the colt of a donkey when the festival crowds were cheering and honoring Him, some of the Pharisees went to Jesus and asked Him why He didn’t command His followers to be quiet.  Jesus told them if the people ceased their cheering, the very stones would cry out in His honor.  In Joel chapter 1 the prophecy is given that immediately before Jesus returns to reign over the universe, the desperation and hunger will be so bad on the earth the animals will cry out to God for food.  Even inanimate objects like stones emit electromagnetic waves that are lost in the symphony of the universe, bringing praise to the ear of the Creator.

In this week preceding Easter, it is an opportunity for all Believers in Jesus our Redeemer to share the account of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to those we meet and have opportunity to share a few simple questions.  Over the next few days we will go over these steps in order to give all of us a working, non-combative outline that ends with an invitation from the individual to continue.

Today, Step One, These next questions will give us an opportunity to see in which hearts God has been working.    In listening to the first four questions, do not argue or attempt to debate, just listen to what the person says, nod your head or say, I understand your answer, but do not get into any dialog just yet.  You are simply finding out what they believe and how to best proceed.

Question One; Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?  Two:  To you, who is Jesus?  Three: Do you believe there is a heaven and a hell?  Four: If you died right now, where would you go?  If heaven, why?  Five:  If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?  If the individual says yes, your opportunity is opened by their invitation, if the answer is no, God hasn’t finished preparing this heart.  Monday we’ll progress to step two.

Our Heavenly Father, we desire to share Your message with others, lead us to the people who are prepared to hear Your message of hope and redemption.  This we ask in Jesus’ saving name.

Manna in the Morning

03-29-12

Incomprehension

Luke 18:31-34, “Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and He will be mocked, insulted, spit on; and after they flog Him, they will kill Him, and He will rise on the third day.” They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

In the last days before the tumultuous week that led to the cross and resurrection, Jesus spent hours instructing and preparing the twelve disciples for what was about to happen. He told them plainly that everything written in the prophets about His sacrificial death was about to happen in order for every prophecy to be fulfilled.  He would be flogged, scorned, insulted, even spit upon until He died a criminal’s death; He also told them He would rise from the dead on the third day.  He was very specific and plain in order to, as much as possible, allay their fears and give them hope in what would become their darkest hour.  The disciples, however, for some reason refused to believe all that was going to happen.  Their focus was on the ugly, violent things Jesus said would come to Him, maybe they thought if they pushed these words from their mind they would not happen – but they did.  They had missed the peace and reliance on the word, “He will rise on the third day.”

Today we are focusing on the predictions of our Lord, the wars, earthquakes and violence that will precede our going to be with Him.  Let His words of comfort calm your spirit and encourage your soul.  He is gone, only for a time, to prepare a place for us to dwell for all eternity in His presence.  Just as the disciples saw Jesus after the third day, we will see him at the appointed time when he calls us with a shout.  That day is not far off; we can and will spread His calming joyous words of salvation, reconciliation and the promise of eternity in His presence.

Heavenly Father, don’t let us miss the splendor of your promise to come for us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-28-12

Anointed

Mark 14:8-9, “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial. I assure you: Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

In the days preceding Jesus’ arrest and trial, He was invited to a dinner in the house of a man named Simon who once was a leper.  It is probable Simon was healed of this disease by Jesus during His ministry.  This was a group of men, not all of whom were dedicated followers of Jesus, and the Biblical record does not indicate whether any of the twelve were present.  One of the group, who is called a disciple or student of Jesus, became indignant and wanted to know why this gift was not sold and the proceeds used to feed the poor.  This sounds a bit like Judas who was the treasurer of the 12 and may have helped himself to those funds.  The emphasis in Jesus’ answer was not on the gift however, it was on the giver.

This unidentified woman, who undoubtedly strongly believed in Jesus as The Promised One, had broken a costly vial of perfume and poured it out on Jesus’ feet, anointing Him, Jesus said, for his death and burial to take place in just days.  Jesus was her Savior, and she devoted all she had to him.

Jesus made her an example for each one of us, stating her act would be recorded and mentioned wherever the gospel message was proclaimed.  She gave, not according to her disposable income, but all she had in an act of worship.  Her example should motivate us to give of ourselves in service, in God’s manner of keeping accounts it is not money, good deeds or fine gifts, it is the redeemed heart and the rescued soul that we place before Him for service however he chooses to use us, to give Him back the day when we awake to sunshine or rain, to thank Him for the opportunities to have served Him when we close our eyes in sleep, trusting Him to answer our heartfelt prayer and meet our every need.

Our Lord God, we give all that we have and are, back to you with gratitude in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-27-12

Convicted

Malachi 2:17, You have wearied the Lord with your words.  Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?”  When you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

There are many people who say our God is a God of perfect love and therefore He could never condemn any person to hell; or they have the opinion that Jesus died for all sinners removing the need for anyone to come to Him in humbleness asking for His forgiveness and mercy.  It may be that we have fostered these ideas in our teaching over the years by emphasizing the love of God so strongly and letting go of the idea put forth with such clarity in Jonathan Edward’s sermon ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’ or by teaching little children ‘God is Love’ for their first Bible verse.  There is no doubt our Heavenly Father is a God of love, He is the source of all love and He deals with us in love, but He is not the Heavenly Father of anyone who has not come to Jesus for forgiveness and redemption.  In order to be truly redeemed, an individual has to be aware of his slavery.  Every one of us has to admit we would be shackled in chains of sin if it were not for our acceptance of the redemption through Jesus by our acceptance of His free gift.

If the average unsaved person has any concept at all of Jesus death he or she thinks it was for all the world’s population, therefore they have no need to ask for His mercy and salvation, or they think there are those who are bound for heaven, those who are bound for hell and a great host of people in between who are not really ‘sinners’ but not really ‘Born again Christians’ either.  They assume God will not condemn that middle group, instead, giving them another opportunity for salvation. Neither of these myths has any truth in them but unfortunately in many churches, Pastors will either deliberately or unwittingly strengthen these false beliefs by preaching sweet, non-convicting words.

Our Heavenly Father, we praise You for our Redemption and ask You to keep our Scriptural beliefs accurate and true, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-26-12

The time is Now

Ezekiel 12:22-23 “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel, which goes:  The days keep passing by, and every vision fails?–The days draw near, as well as the fulfillment of every vision.”

Over the past few years, a great deal of preaching, Bible teaching, evangelism and books written about God’s Word have centered around and emphasized the coming Rapture or taking up of Believers as the next event on God’s agenda for this earth and its inhabitants.  This is absolutely true, and this doctrine has been taught since the Lord Jesus ascended after His resurrection and said to those who observed that they should labor to save many “Until I Come.”  Because this promise was made over two-thousand years ago, people have grown to say what ancient Israel said, “Every vision of the future never materializes.”

God has put an end to that speculation by specifically saying the time is drawing ever nearer, until those who scoff and delay their acceptance of Jesus as the Forgiver of their sins, find it will be too late, the opportunity has passed.  As we read our newspapers and watch TV broadcasts we see the beginning pangs foretold by Jesus; earthquakes, wars, tsunamis, storms, increased heating from the sun leading us to understand the Biblical warnings.  We hear now of a world-wide food shortage with famine racing across the poorest countries of the world, and plagues sweeping across these same countries.  There is a rise in the number of false religions and belief systems attempting to take the place of God’s Word, and Islamists preaching hatred and death to Christians and Jews, with Jihadist anarchy on the rise across many parts of the world.

There are souls to be saved, spiritual battles to be won, challenges to overcome and with God’s help we will triumph over our adversaries.  Should we be called up in the great crowd we will rejoice, should we enter Heaven through the completion of our physical journey we will hear our Savior say, “Well done.”  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, while we await your call to join the saints above, we will labor and seek to win those to whom you direct us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-23-12

Tepid

Revelation 3:14-16, “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.”

Tepid, the word itself sounds distasteful, some synonyms for tepid are, half-hearted, lackadaisical, indifferent and unenthusiastic.  Do any of these words describe your Christian attitudes and actions?  Do you care very little for those who are dying without even hearing of salvation in Jesus?  In every country in this world, including the most well-educated and prosperous, there will be people dying this day who have never heard the gospel message, most of them at their own choice and decision.  Are you lackadaisical in your church attendance?  You’re a regular attendee unless something else comes up; Worship services are important but not top priority in the life of many Christians. But Scripture encourages the gathering of believers to worship, praise and learn of God’s Word together.

Our Creator, the One who formed us in the womb, miraculously breathed life into us and designed us for His purposes has made us to crave worship of our Creator and God, how then do we ignore His call, why do we turn aside from worshipping Him with all our heart and praise Him by thanking Him for all that He has showered upon us.

Perhaps it is the Church itself that is keeping us from growing in our faith.  Many churches today are older and have developed a drab appearance, smell of mildew, deteriorating carpets and problems in the ventilation system.  A visitor, or even long time members will not want to return to a building that smells old and uninviting.  Many services have the same order and pattern of a quarter-century ago and use the same hymn books and organist; at best this gets to be uninteresting and uninviting.  Our new birth has given us eternal life, with an eternal outlook and eternal message.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep us from becoming indifferent, may we, our gatherings and buildings promote the vigorous, exciting message of Eternal Life, we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-22-12

A Resurrection Attitude

Philippians 3:10, “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

The Apostle Paul was a fervent, aggressive witness of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the power of His Resurrection.  It is by the resurrection that Jesus triumphed over sin, death and hell, dealing the devil a fatal blow, a death sentence of an eternity in the Lake of Fire that will torment him and his angels, as well as every unredeemed soul that has lived upon the earth, sinners who will be conscious and remember their rejection of the offered salvation.

All born again believers should live their lives in an attitude of resurrection.  Jesus was placed in the tomb, His human body lifeless, its heart pierced with the point of a spear and the life-blood drained from it.  Three days later the tomb was opened by the angels, not to allow Jesus to walk out, but so that men and women could walk in and see the empty tomb.  Jesus was no longer subject to earth’s limiting physical laws thus allowing Him unrestricted movement.  The same type of celestial body will be ours when we reach Heaven and see Him.  While we are on this earth, we must live in an attitude of resurrection, assured that while we may leave this earth and the body we inhabited for so long, we will not die, but simply change from breathing this earthly air, to living in the atmosphere of heaven. With an attitude of resurrection we will testify to the world of the resurrection of our Savior by allowing our sphere of activity be earthly or heavenly as our Savior directs and leaving this earth means joining family and loved ones at Jesus’ side.  We may not understand all the parameters, but our joy is in Christ, our salvation is in the power of the resurrection and our future is at Jesus’ side in the Heavenly places.

Our Heavenly Father, give us the ability and strength to live in the resurrection frame of mind today and every day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-21-12

Fallow Ground

Hosea 10:12, “Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your fallow ground.  It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.”

Many old time farmers thought it was good to let land lay fallow or untilled for an entire year in order for it to refresh, replenish the minerals and necessary elements to grow a good crop the following year.  In fact the Bible says it is good, every few years to allow the land to replenish itself.  Many Christians like to take what is called a Sabbatical, that is a year off every seven years or so to replenish their resources, to study, meditate and reinvigorate themselves to continue teaching or preaching God’s Word, not to grow stale but to become fresh and new in their insights and applications.

Land that is left untilled or fallow for too long however, is likely to become covered with thistles, brambles and weeds that make it unfit to plant and bear fruit.  As believers, we often decide to ‘retire’ from active teaching and being productive, instead growing more unfit to bear fruit year after year like land that has been left untouched for many years.  Orchards that have become overgrown, flowerbeds no longer brighten one’s outlook; fields do not produce grain and corn because of inattention and disuse.

            Our society stresses, and has set an age for retirement, deeming elder individuals as no longer productive and working jobs that younger more ‘up-to-date men and women could have instead,.  Scripture tells us to listen to the elders, to revere their wisdom and experience and to keep them involved in the day-to-day concourse of conversation.  Land that is productive and bearing crops must be set apart and distinctive from the surrounding forest or wood plots by hedgerows, fences or walls.  This is to keep the productive plants safe from pests and predators, to be distinctive in appearance and purpose.  Each of us who love our Lord will keep ourselves distinctly different in manner of speech, actions and dedication to Christ Jesus from those around us.  Part of our witness should be living a distinctively Christ Centered Life.  Let us stir up our hearts, sow righteousness and reap the reward being prepared for us in Heaven.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, stir us to service, regardless of our age or position in life.  Our Goal is to serve you with a whole heart, in Jesus’ name we lift our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

03-20-12

Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 2:12-15, And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both. So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?”

Solomon was given a choice between wisdom and wealth and Scripture records that when he chose wisdom, God granted him both.  We should not expect to be rewarded for asking for Wisdom; He has already given us His Word which is the beginning of wisdom.  In this passage Solomon gives us insight into his thinking when he declares wisdom is walking in the light and folly or foolishness is bumbling and stumbling in the dark.  If only the unsaved of this world could understand that when they are born anew into the kingdom of God they see things clearly because of the light that illumines their own eyes in this world of darkness.  As beautiful as today was in its glorious sunshine, it is dingy and dark in the hearts of the unbelieving soul who cannot use the light of God’s presence to guide their way.

The Book of Proverbs reads, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”  There can be knowledge and great intelligence, but without the fear of the Lord, there cannot be true wisdom, the wisdom that comes from recognizing our Lord God as the Creator and Sustainer of all that is and without His sustaining power, all things would disintegrate into nothingness.  It is the light of God the Holy Spirit illuminating our study and our foundation in God’s Word that helps us put together the wisdom needed to understand the workings of nations, political forces and the temporal leaders of the world as we overlay these human activities on the prophetic precepts God has given us.  Every person on earth will someday die and at that point the truly wise man will walk with his creator as Adam did in the garden and the foolish man who rejected the wisdom of God will forever regret his foolishness.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to follow your pathways, to understand your great plan and to speak to the right people this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-19-12

Confidence

Psalm 27:3, “Though an army deploy against me, my heart is not afraid; though war break out against me, still I am confident.”

David knew what it meant to win battles.  In his youth he fought and killed predators like the lions and bears, he fought Goliath the giant and won even though his was outweighed, outmatched in size, strength and experience he was triumphant.  He won battles against small bands of marauders as well as large armies in pitched campaigns.  He won because the hand of the Lord God was upon him and his trust and confidence was in the Lord God not in armies, armor or men, even though he had his mighty men of valor at his side.  His confidence and full abiding trust was in the promise that God would give him the throne for which he had been anointed so long ago.  David’s enemies were real, but David also lost his battles against the wiles and traps of the evil one who continued to battle David in spiritual warfare all his life.

The Apostle Paul faced daily danger as he proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Rome to Galatia, opposed by militant Jews, Roman tyrants, men with no spiritual knowledge and against his spiritual foe, the same evil one that David faced yet his confidence also was in the power of the omnipotent God, just as David.

Our battles today are not physical in most areas, although the persecution and battles of Believers is fierce in some parts of the world.  Many Christians live not knowing if the next sunrise will bring their earthly death and heavenly promotion.  Yet all of us live in confidence as fully as David, Paul or any of the Bible’s heroes, whether we know their names or not.  We know without doubt that the forces arrayed against us are powerless against our omnipotent God because of Jesus’ resurrection in victory over death, sin and Satan.  They know they are defeated, we know they are defeated so let’s live our lives in victory instead of turmoil.

Our Gracious heavenly Father, give us the confidence to live in the victory provided by the resurrection of our Redeemer Jesus, the victory over our enemies as you did for David, Paul and countless others and the courage to face every day in the power of your name, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-16-12

Exaltation and the Sword

Psalm 149:6, “Let the exaltation of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands,”

Can a person exalt God and be engaged in warfare?  Is this a verse telling us it’s alright to carry a gun to church (Assuming you have permit to carry a gun)?  Is this a verse for the Christian who is a police officer on active duty and engaged in an active firefight?  You can get some justification for any of these concepts but I doubt David had them in mind.  Remember, David was a warrior who fought in many battles including against the giant Goliath, but he isn’t talking here about the weapons we associate with military warfare or self defense, these are covered elsewhere.

Clearly we are to exalt our Great God and Heavenly Father in every way possible.  We are to praise Him for His goodness and faithfulness, we are to give Him glory by doing His will and work while we are on this earth, and we are to exalt Him above any and everything on this earth, including the angels of Heaven.  He is our God, our Monarch, Our sustainer and our Savior, we desire nothing more sincerely than to exalt Him above all else.

The two edged sword to be held in the hand of those who exalt our Lord God is His Word.  The Book of Hebrews refers to the Scriptures as “Living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword.” it is capable of dividing even the very soul of a person under conviction.  This two edged sword is what Jesus will use when He returns to this earth to establish His promised 1,000 year reign, and is the weapon that proceeds from His mouth to destroy all enemies.

If we are to be effective in our spiritual warfare while on this earth, being secure in our relationship with our God, we are to use the Word of God as our defense against the devil just as Jesus did when He was tempted in the wilderness, turning aside every attempt of Satan to destroy His mission and effectiveness.  This wonderful weapon is also our best offensive weapon against the devil, using it we can win souls into the family of God, defeating every wile or trick Satan has to keep them enslaved.  God’s Word is the standard by which we live, act among others and conduct ourselves in a sin-cursed world.  Gracious Heavenly Father we praise and exalt You and ask for wisdom as we use Your Word in our daily battles.

Manna in the Morning

03-15-12

Simple yet Powerful

Matthew 6:7-8, “When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.  Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”

Many people do not like to pray aloud.  They seem to stammer and hesitate; knowing people are listening in on a private conversation between the Heavenly Father and His child on the earth.  It is important to be able to lead in prayer in a meeting or to publicly express your concerns before the Heavenly Father, knowing others will listen and follow your thoughts and agree with you.  The unity of a group of people uniting their hearts and spirits in prayer is powerful and brings great blessings to all who participate.

There is also a need for a time of private prayer and every Christian should have no more hesitancy in speaking to our great God than we would have speaking to our human father.  Our God has encouraged us to come to Him by giving us suggestions and invitations repeatedly in His Word, helping us to understand prayer is the very foundation upon which we build our relationship with Him.  Many people, when they pray start to explain things as if God were somehow unaware of all that is going on in a person’s life.  He is the one who has all knowledge of the forces and events in everyone’s lives and who will give guidance based on His heavenly point of view.  Our problem is that we are looking at events from an earthly dimension and need to develop a trust in God’s view and wisdom.  Our Heavenly Father knows the needs in our lives, the motives we are afraid to admit even to ourselves and our selfish desires for the outcome.  It is far better to ask for His strength, patience and wisdom than to try and manipulate events in our own strength and abilities.

Because He is God and beyond limit, God is aware of our needs before we are able to formulate the thoughts in our mind or put those needs into words.  We should strive to be so in tune with our Father in Heaven, that we trust Him to meet the need before we ever recognize it.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, put your desires in our hearts, give us the trust to let you fully direct our life’s path and give us the joy that comes from this relationship.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-14-12

Manna

Exodus 16:31-32, The house of Israel named the substance manna. It resembled coriander seed, was white, and tasted like wafers made with honey.  Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Two quarts of it are to be preserved throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

As Moses began to organize the nearly one million people who had fled Egypt across the Red Sea, seen God’s provision of protection from the pursuit of the Egyptian army, people began to ask him what are we going to eat on this journey.  The small amount of provisions each person had carried out of Egypt had run out and hunger had set in.  Moses turned to God and asked Him the same question, how shall I feed this multitude?  As God’s appointed leader, Moses took the responsibility upon himself and needed to quickly supply not only food but water.  God provided the manna and Israel ate the daily provision for the next forty years.  Each family was to gather a daily supply of this strange food every morning except the day before the Sabbath when they should gather a two-day supply.  None was to be horded, because what was not eaten would spoil and ruin all the rest, there was only one daily supply, none could be gathered during the day.

Each of us must ask our God for the daily supply of spiritual food we need for the day before us, we can’t hoard enough for two days or a week, and God’s blessings are truly new every morning and in an inexhaustible supply.  God supplied the water in a different manner, but their daily needs were met by God’s hand and in plenteous supply, while none was to be wasted or hoarded.  If God has given you a talent or ability, use it to His greater glory.  If you go to him daily, he will pour His blessings upon you daily.  Use the gifts of His grace for others and the favor of God will rest upon you, waste them and you will find yourself in need.  Learn to depend upon His most bountiful supply.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we lift our cup to you for our daily supply of your unfailing grace.  We are grateful for your love and provision, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-13-12

Focus

Hebrews 12:2, “Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”  Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.”

In both of these verses, we can put in the word Focus, “Focusing on Jesus,” and “Focusing on what is above,” shedding a little light on the way we should be living while on earth.  In bowling you should focus on one spot, in golf, focus on the ball, in baseball, keep your eyes on the ball.  We hear so much about attitude, desire to compete and win, avoiding the defense and scoring, but everything depends upon where you’re focusing when action begins.  Don’t be thinking about a double bacon cheeseburger when you’re on the tee, or dream of a juicy steak while preparing a business presentation, keep your focus.

As those in the family of God, we need to focus when we pray, not allowing extraneous thoughts to disrupt our concentration, not letting our mind wander because we are not focused on what we’re doing.  One suggestion is to focus on the great throne of God with a kneeling rail in front where we bow our heads and kneel before the Heavenly Father, focus on His words, ‘Come unto me,’ and ‘ask and you will receive.’  Visualize that Heavenly scene and your requests will not be selfish nor will they be trivial, we’ll want to present those things that will only bring greater glory to our Savior and King.  Focus on Him and His omnipotent majesty.  The Apostle Paul, who certainly knew how to pray, tells us to focus on the permanent things above, not the earthly things that are simply transitory, to bring the names of people we know and love before Him for salvation, to see His mighty works displayed for His glory.

Focus on the face of Jesus, He who will welcome you into Heaven with the words, “Well done, you did what I asked you to do.”  Make prayer a time of focus, not ritual, of seeing the Savior with spiritual eyes, of hearing the Father’s voice resound in our spiritual ears.

Our great Heavenly Father, we want to humble ourselves before you and pour out our hearts, listening to your caring, comforting words as we kneel before you.  We pray this in the name of Jesus our Savior who taught us to pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-12-12

The Cross

Galatians 6:14, “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The cross has a prominent place in the life and spiritual conversion of an individual who calls him or herself a Christian.  It is upon the Cross of Calvary that Jesus, God the Son, gave up His life as the Perfect Sacrifice to pay the price for the sins of all men and women.  While this was a once-for-all event, a Sacrifice of His perfect life to redeem any and all who will consciously call upon Him in repentence claiming that sacrifice as his own, each person must call upon Him in acknowledgement of his or her personal life of sins committed and accept the gift of salvation, being born anew into the Family of God.  This gift of salvation cannot be earned nor can it be purchased, it must be accepted by faith.

Paul the Apostle is telling the Galatian Church he has been born anew by the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary’s Cross and he cannot boast or take credit neither for anything he has accomplished in his life, nor for the certainty of Heaven with his Lord except through the power of Christ in his life.  To Paul, he was from the moment of his salvation dead to the allurements of this world, the wealth or fame he might have had; all is done for Christ Jesus who Paul considers his master and sovereign.  All Believers who carries the name Christian should consider themselves equally as dead to all this world offers and devote all their efforts to serving Jesus, their Lord and Savior, being able to say, “Since Jesus is the forgiver of my sins; I will make Him the leader of my life.”

Because of His sacrifice for us, our sacrifices pale into nothing but expressions of gratitude and a desire to serve Him with our lives.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, take our lives we pray in Jesus’ name and use us in the measure of our gratitude for our redemption.  This is our heartfelt prayer.

Manna in the Morning

03-09-12

What is God doing Today?

Luke 7:21-23, “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.  So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

The disciples of John the Baptist had come to Jesus and said John, who was in prison and probably forgotten by the general public, sent them to ask if Jesus truly was the promised One who was sent of God.  Jesus told the inquirers to return to John, and report what they had witnessed of Jesus ministry.  The same question is asked today by those who wonder if God still shows his power, or if the time of his working on earth is over.  It is important to remember our God is omnipotent and works the same today as he did thousands of years ago.  Uncounted millions have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and although they were once blind have had their spiritual eyes opened and now see the truth of the Bible and have turned to follow Jesus.  God has healed the lame and raised the sick to new life and strength for his own glory.  Even those who were deep in the pit of sin have been healed of their deadly sin, fully as horrible as leprosy and enjoy full, abundant life in the Family of God.  There are reports from every nation of those that follow our Savior, even in countries where it means imprisonment or torture.  Even in the United States, in a State University, students have been expelled from the school for their participation in worship and open witnessing to other students, yet our level of persecution rarely rises above harassment and does not compare to the persecution during the time of Christ or today in many other countries.

God’s Word is being preached and taught in more areas, to more people, with greater results than ever before, and our own involvement should be as fully committed as it ever has been.  Each one of us is the only person who will be able to effectively share the message of Christ with someone this day, let’s pray we will be equal to the task.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the ability, strength, courage and opportunity to share with someone today, touch their hearts through us in Jesus’ name.

Ex 22:2  2  If a thief is caught in the act of breaking in, and he is beaten to death, no one is guilty of bloodshed. (from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Manna in the Morning

03-08-12

Faith in the Flood

Genesis 8:21-22, “When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, (Of Noah’s sacrifice of praise) He said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, even though man’s inclination is evil from his youth. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.  As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”  After Noah and his ark settled on the dry land and Noah’s sacrifice of faith was offered, God promised He would never wipe out the population of the earth again by a flood.

Just prior to the flood, Noah and his family were found to be the only righteous people among the entire earth’s population, laboring on this monstrous barge for 120 years, ignoring the taunts, jibes and derision of the others as they sawed and hammered.  As Noah carefully explained God’s wrath was just because of their sin and disregard for God’s own commands, they ignored the message, taunted the messenger, until the first drop of water from the sky landed upon their faces.  All of a sudden they became believers and rushed to the door of the ark only to find it closed and sealed by the mighty hand of God.  Too late for saving faith!

Many inhabitants of our earth today will ignore God’s messengers, ignore His commands, and speak of the forgiveness of a loving God while continuing to practice their sin in defiance of God’s promise of judgment to come.  God’s plan calls for a soon coming time when the door of salvation will be closed, the Church removed from the earth and no chance for salvation – men and women have long ignored, ridiculed and preached a message of a passive God who will give any sincere person entry into Heaven’s gates.   For these false prophets, judgment day has arrived, to the throngs the cry is, “No room” but for the faithful, Heaven’s joy awaits.  For Noah, faith was fulfilled, for his sons and their wives, faith was triumphant, for their lost friends, faith was non-existent; for God’s own children, faith is someday going to be sight.   Heavenly father, give us eyes of faith we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-07-12

He is Here

Habakkuk 2:19-20, “Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive!  Can it teach?  Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.  But the Lord is in His holy temple; let everyone on earth be silent in His presence

Across the civilized world today, men and women act and think like idolatry does not exist, that people do not sit worshipping inanimate objects, that gold and silver figurines are mere decorations, not objects of worship.  Across this world in every culture and people group, there are those, who regardless of religious tendencies or worship are thanking God daily while carrying a ‘lucky’ charm in their pocket, a rabbit’s foot, a four-leaf clover or an amulet that has been picked up at a little store promising “Good luck to the wearer.”  Not idol worship you say, but it is an example of depending upon an inanimate, lifeless object, emotionally if not spiritually.  Others collect money, they love the feel of a heavy roll of money in their pocket, or the clinking of gold pieces through their fingers; maybe it is their frequent Sunday cruises on their yachts or the feel of their racing tires squealing beneath them.  If they get pleasure from these objects and fondle them hungrily, placing them above our God then that is idolatry.  Some seekers after truth will listen for the tiniest drop of wisdom from spiritists and mediums, those who seek wisdom from darkness rather than the light of God’s Word, and whose presence is forbidden to the followers of our Jehovah God.

The Lord God is in His temple and all the earth’s inhabitants should be silent and listen to His quiet whispers.  God has taken up residence in the hearts and minds of those who have accepted Jesus as their heaven-sent Redeemer.  His Temple is the heart of the redeemed.  His presence can be felt in the coming storm, seen in the extravagant beauty of the sunset, His promises are written in the rising of the sun and His provision seen in the dew that falls upon the sprouting grain and flowers.  His power is seen in the crashing waves and blustery winds and His love is felt in the heart of all who believe in Him.  Our Great God is everywhere present in all His fullness but recognized only by those who are part of His family.  Heavenly Father, we yearn to feel your closeness and recognize your loveliness, in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-06-12

Just a Touch

Matthew 8:2-3, ‘Right away a man with a serious skin disease came up and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Reaching out His hand He touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his disease was healed.’

After Jesus taught in Capernaum he came down from the mountains and met a man with leprosy, considered by the people of the time as a highly contagious disease and rarely would an uncontaminated person touch a leper.  This man had undoubtedly gone years without a touch from any human being, even his family was forbidden to have contact with him.  Yet when this wretched, lonely man cried out to Jesus, the Savior stopped and reaching out in love and response to the man’s real needs, grasped the man, giving him the person to person contact for which he had yearned for many years.

There is no better description of what happens in the life of a sinner when he or she accepts Christ Jesus as Redeemer.  Every person who ever placed foot on this earth feels the intense need to connect in some way with God.  Across the centuries and across the earth, men and women have sought God’s peace in false saviors, doctrines, prophets, belief systems, religion and so-called sacred books.  When these seeking people reach out to Jesus, He instantly gives them, not only a touch, but a healing from sin’s curse and an eternal relationship with God our Heavenly Father.

There were many other lepers in and around Capernaum, Galilee and Judea but this one man sought out Jesus, expecting to hear a word, a command or some action on his part to heal this illness that leads to death.  Others saw Jesus pass by and did not recognize Him as God the Son, many watched Him pass and did not cry out because they had come to accept their worthless, spiritual condition.

If you have not yet accepted the healing touch from Jesus, call on Him so you can know His forgiveness this day.  If you do know Him as Savior, do not ignore this opportunity to enjoy His touch on your life and guidance in your daily activities.

Our Heavenly Father we praise and thank You for the touch of Your hand when we need it most.  Hold us by the hand we pray in Jesus’ saving name, as we walk through this day.

Manna in the Morning

02-24-12

Adding and Subtracting

Revelation 22:18, “I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.  And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.”

Many years ago I heard this equation:  Adding anything to or subtracting anything from God’s simple manner of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ; adding or subtracting anything from His written Word; multiplying the way of salvation by including any other means or name to the salvation message or dividing the body of the church universal by false or misleading doctrine, putting other books written without the power of God the Holy Spirit are all ways to guarantee your place in the Lake of Fire upon leaving this earth.

Through the centuries since Jesus rose from the dead, people began to develop their own version, including the addition of baptism, a so-called ‘second work of grace’ and other requirements in addition to the completed work of salvation by Jesus, the promised Perfect Sacrifice.  Others have added their own man-inspired books to be considered co-equal with the divinely inspired Word of God; branches or breakaway belief systems like Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism and others.  God’s Word stands alone as the standard of our faith and the guide of our behavior.

Multiplying the ways of salvation is an abomination before the Lord; Statements such as ‘If an individual is really sincere, God will take that into consideration,’ or the popular cop-out ‘Who am I to know the mind of Our Great God, He is a God of infinite love or other mealy mouthed stretching of the plain words of Scripture, Acts 4:12, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”   Finally God has said He despises “Prov 6:19, One who stirs up trouble among brothers,” speaking of brothers and sisters in the Family of God.  When an individual deliberately tries to divide a church or to subvert its leadership he is acting in a manner that harms the cause of Christ and the testimony of the Church is hindered.  Our heavenly Father, keep us from adding to salvation, subtracting from Your word, teaching inaccurately and sowing discord in Your church, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

MANNA IN THE MORNING IS GOING ON VACATION, and will not be published again until after March 5^th.  Pray for a relaxing, refreshing time for us.  Vance

Manna in the Morning

02-23-12

An Invitation

Revelation 3:20, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.”

This final book in our Bible was written to 7 existing churches in Asia Minor, giving them warnings and commendations for things they had done well in God’s service.  As we get to the end of this book, The Apostle John who wrote the book writes this passage.  This is Jesus speaking through John to the believers in this first century church of Christ followers.  If we consider this as an invitation to the final church, The Church of Laodicea, we are hearing a call from our Savior to the lukewarm believers, those who are redeemed, but not truly following Jesus as the Leader of their Lives.  Jesus knocks on their heart’s door from the outside; He is not enjoying the fellowship of their company.  He is asking for entry into their churches, homes and selves so that He may have fellowship with them and to sit down over dinner and talk with them about the everyday events in their lives, how they may be more effective witnesses, how their lives could be a stronger, more passionate living example of what a true believer has to share with those on the outside looking in.

In many of today’s churches, many people are comfortable attending church for an hour or so as sort of a pep-talk about their lives and witness to the evil world that surrounds them.  People worship idols today by spending time and money on sports teams, more money, and personal recreation while storing up earthly, personal, material pleasures.  All the things that must be left behind when the time comes for us to leave this world  Instead we should be concentrating on storing up, by faith, those things that are eternal and will be waiting for us when we finally end up on Heaven’s bountiful shores.

Our time on this earth is so short, eternity is timeless, our obedience to our Lord and King is so rich and rewarding, and our future is secure in Jesus.  Our great King is coming, and we will greet Him with joy and exuberance.  Lord Jesus, our Redeemer, fill us with your presence this day we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-22-12

Requirements

Micah 6:8. “He has told you men what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Many men and women who are young in the faith look for established, respected, Godly men and women to give them advice in living their lives in a manner that pleases God our Heavenly Father and to tell them what God requires of them.  By looking at this passage in the Old Testament and an amplifying verse in 1Timothy, we get an insight into what our Heavenly Father requires of us.  First, we are be honest and forthright in our dealings with others,  not in a way that treats ourselves better than they, if there is any advantage, it goes to the other party.  Next we are to love faithfulness; both faithfulness to our Heavenly Father and faithful to His principles in our dealing with others.  To have full and complete faith in the promises of God and to be sure we keep our vows to others and fulfill all promises we have made to them.  Third, we are to be humble before God and Man, recognizing our full dependence upon Him and not to consider ourselves as any better in His eyes than any other individual.  None of us can judge others because we do not know the thoughts and intentions of their heart; therefore we can’t judge their motives either.  When we begin to brag to God about what we have done or to others about our great works for God we forget that Jesus deserved the accolades of men, but willingly gave them up to be a servant of His own creations.

In 1 Timothy Scripture tells us, “If anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  Those of us who are heads of our households are under a scriptural admonition to provide for our families, to see that they have shelter, food, clothes and safety.  If we do not provide these basic necessities we are as bad or worse as the nonbeliever.  This may mean working in an undesirable position until an opportunity arrives in an area where we have training and expertise.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we pray we will always obey Your Word and its precepts in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-21-12

Perfect Punishment

Revelation 20:14-15, “Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

In the past few days we have considered God’s perfect salvation that will not be denied to anyone who calls upon Him in faith and in the name of Jesus; His perfect love that is an example for each of us, all genuine love on earth is a gift of God and patterned after the love of God who loved us when we were the most unlovable men and women on this earth; we considered His perfect justice that condemns anyone who rejects the offered salvation to the place prepared for Satan and his evil angels,.

God has also prepared and instituted His perfect punishment.  In Genesis we read the account of Adam and Eve’s sin, God promised the serpent that the coming Perfect Redeemer would crush Satan’s head and that the death and resurrection of that Promised One would conquer the grave, death and sin forever.  At the final judgment, known to us as the Great White Throne Judgment, every person who has ever lived upon the earth will stand before Jesus the perfect Judge who will condemn all those who have not accepted redemption through Jesus to eternal death in the Lake of Fire, the place prepared for the devil and his angels.  This is a place of eternal darkness, torment and agony, devoid of all reference or remembrance of God’s mercy and love and the unbeliever’s full conscious knowledge of his or her rejection of the salvation offered to them during their life on earth.  Never again will they hear the name of Jesus, nor have opportunity to turn to Him for redemption, in the place of complete evil suffering the agonies prepared for Satan.  As long as you and I enjoy Heaven, they will endure the Lake of Fire.  Once the earth has been purified of the results and effects of sin, Satan imprisoned and all traces of evil have been removed, Jesus will return to this earth to reign for 1,000 years as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are dedicated to Your service while we inhabit this earth and for all eternity will give You thanks for writing our name in Your Book of Life.

Manna in the Morning

02-20-12

Marked

Ezekiel 9:4, “Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem,” the Lord said to him, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations committed in it.”

The one to whom Ezekiel is referring to in this verse is a creation, probably an archangel who has taken the form of a man to do as God commands in this verse.  He is one of seven who are called out by Jehovah God for a specific task.  Six of these man-like creations carry war clubs or lethal weapons, while the seventh carries a pen and ink pot.  This creation is to go through Jerusalem from one side to the other, examining each and every soul seeking assurance they have accepted God’s provision of salvation as their own by faith.  This is similar to the marking of the doorposts and lintels of the dwelling places of the Israelites in Egypt before the angel of death swept through that pagan land.  In John’s Revelation, those that follow the false messiah are marked on their forehead or hand and all others killed.  Here the mark of our Savior is placed upon those that faithfully follow Him and are true to his Word, and the rest are slain.

After all the faithful have been marked, the six creatures are commanded to kill every other living soul in Jerusalem sparing none for their failure to follow Jesus our Redeemer.  Our Almighty God is a God of perfect love toward those who are receptive to that love, and His perfect justice demands the death penalty from those who refuse.  God’s perfect justice says, “The soul that sins shall surely die.”

As Christians we have a responsibility to remind those to whom we witness of the terrible fate that awaits those who reject the great love of our God and will be condemned to an eternity without hope, in torment, agony and regret for neglecting that salvation.  We must regain our fervor and passion, ignite our churches and proclaim as Jonathan Edwards preached the fate of “Sinners in the hands of an angry God,’ a sermon that sparked a great revival in our nation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, how we thank you for your love, and how we praise you for your protection over us from the attacks of the evil one.  Make us carriers of your Word in its fullness this and every day, in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-17-12

1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Paul the Apostle, being inspired by God the Holy Spirit closes this great chapter on love in a letter to a church that needed to understand God’s great love with these words.  He has given us words and sentences to let us more fully understand the love of God, expressed to us through Jesus the Savior, described for us through His Holy Word and felt by every day of our existence now and in eternity by those who are born anew and are part of God’s eternal family.  His word picture is of a person who is looking at his or her reflection in a mirror, an image that may be dim, distorted, or poorly lit because it is a mere reflection not the real likeness radiating the love of God that comes from a heart filled with God’s love.  The time will come when clouds, shadows, diffusion and hindrances to that light will be removed and the full light of God’s glory will shine upon us.  Words are poor descriptive of the shadowless light of God’s presence that lights from every angle, never casting a shadow.

When, as Paul writes, all else has passed away, there are three things that will remain in the life of the Believer in Jesus.  The first is our faith, that wondrous gift of God that allows us to take God at His word, trusting without seeing, accepting with no proof.  It is by this gift of faith we believe Jesus died and rose again for our redemption from sin’s clutches.  The next is hope, the confidence in God’s Word that without exception God will listen and answer our pleas.  It is not merely a wish, a desire, a plea for the right circumstances, but a certainty that God will do as He has said.

The third and greatest, the ultimate blessing God has provided to us and through us is His love.  A love that drove Him to Calvary to die for me, a love that lifted each of us from the pit of degradation and dreadful despair, love that overcomes all things that separate us, and a love that radiates in all its purity out of us to those with whom we share the good news of Salvation.  Our gracious God and Heavenly Father, may faith in your promises be the cornerstone on which we build our lives, may the hope of eternity in your presence energize us this and every day, and may the love of our Great God flow from us, convicting the hearts of all we meet causing them to desire to see Jesus, in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-16-12

You Provided

Nehemiah 9:26, “But they were disobedient and rebelled against You.  They flung Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who warned them to turn them back to You.  They committed terrible blasphemies.”

In every era or time since Adam, men of God such as prophets, priests, preachers, missionaries and those who proclaim their love of God through their lives, words and actions have been hated, maimed, tortured, whipped and killed.  This started when Cain killed Abel and continued through the ages down to our lifetimes.  We think of the 5 men in Ecuador, the Missionary Doctor in the Congo, the woman who had a Bible in North Korea and countless men and women under the Communist regimes of the Soviet Union and China.  These were men and women who accepted the call of Christ upon their lives and kept their witness until their entrance into Heaven.

Jesus said we should not be surprised that this happens, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18  Before the world was created, in the eternity long past, the Omni-sapient Jehovah God knew mankind would sin and require a Savior, God the Son recognized His taking on human life and form, living a sinless life as a man would be required to shed His blood and give his life to redeem His sinful creation.  Yet His love for us was so strong the plan proceeded and our salvation was assured.  Satan’s war was so fierce he caused Herod to behead John the Baptist who called Herod’s relationship with his then wife evil in the sight of God and called for Herod to repent and ask God for Forgiveness.  Repentence is based upon the confession of sin; this Herod was not willing to do, and used his step-daughter to call for John’s head.  Jesus also taught confession and repentence that brings about forgiveness by faith in Jesus the Savior.

Many people, who dislike or reject the message they receive, blame the messenger who is simply relaying the message.  When men and women see a man or woman living and expressing their faith such a manner that Jesus is glorified in them, this convicts the hearts of those who observe them and their reasoning somehow says if they can ignore the messenger or do away with the message by putting it out of their minds, the effect and result will somehow cease to exist.  Our Heavenly Father, help us today to bear the message of mankind’s need for salvation with no regard for the personal cost.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-15-12

Perfect Love

Isaiah 1:18, “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord.”Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool”

Jehovah God was anxious to discuss the sins of the people He has chosen as those through whom the Promised redeemer would be born, God enumerates their sin and shortcomings, Idolatry, worship observances of the new Moon and other idol related festivals, the odor of their sinful acts had risen up to God and He wanted to restate the penalty for sin and remind the Israelites of the proper procedure for removing that penalty.  God’s perfect justice (The soul that sins shall surely die.) will always be the standard when a Nation’s sin and revival is considered.

It is God’s desire that every soul be restored to fellowship with Him, and that none should die eternally, but instead, should live in full fellowship with Him.  Speaking in terms the people could understand, Isaiah proclaimed that even if an individual’s soul was stained as red as spilled blood it could become as white as the new snow, even if the hardened soul, whose life was a road map of sin and evil deeds, could, if he turned to the Savior have those guilt stains removed and his soul would then be cleansed as white as the purest wool.  In Isaiah’s time, just like today, depending on the sacrifice of animals or the killing of the sacrificial lamb could not remove that guilt and stain of sin without the pure faith of an individual in the Promised Perfect Sacrifice that
only God himself can provide.  Each time an animal was slain, the priest and the people looked in faith to the promise of Jehovah God that a perfect sacrifice would someday crush Satan’s head, but at the same time, Satan would bruise His heel.  This was accomplished at Calvary when Jesus gave the life blood lived in sinless perfection was consciously and willingly given to pay the penalty for the sin of those who had looked for this act for centuries since Adam.

At the same time this sacrifice paid the penalty for all who would follow and put their faith and trust in the blood of Jesus from that time until all Believers in Christ Jesus are taken up out of this world to spend eternity with He who gave His life so we can live eternally in His presence.  Heavenly Father, we are Your willing servants now and forever, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-14-12

Valentine’s Day

Song of Solomon 2:4, “He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.”

On Valentine’s Day, a day that is devoted to those who are in love, it is appropriate to look at the book in the Bible that lets us know physical love is a gift of God and intimacy is appropriate and joyful within the bonds of marriage.  Our current societal norm is to “have sex” as if this gift of God is nothing more than a physical act, how much better to consider the act of intimacy as the pledge of love with the one individual God has given you as your spouse for life.  This book shows the love Solomon had for one woman above all others, The Shumanite.  She, according to the scriptural text, was a vine keeper in her father’s vineyard, not one of the 200 royal princesses or 800 concubines Solomon kept in his harem, many to seal political pacts or other treaties between Israel and the surrounding nations.  The words he spoke to her truly reflect the love one man and one woman have for each other. The words that pass between them are those of a true, deep, exciting, romantic love with its base in physical and emotional intimacy.  In chapter 4 we read, “How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!”  Solomon calls her by the word translated ‘sister’, but the Hebrew word has no English counterpart, it is an endearment of woman like ‘my beautiful lady.’  Solomon also refers to her by the word spouse meaning one who is foremost in his heart and mind, one he would cherish and to whom he would be a lifetime intimate companion.

God is the author of love, He has made men and women to be sexually attracted to each other, The Bible lays down very specific laws concerning intimacy and marriage and these lines should neither be crossed nor blurred.  God brought love into being and planted that emotion in the hearts of men and women.  Husbands and wives should remember that the love which they share for one another is not just a product of their physical appetites and desire; we are able to love in a greater measure because the love of God is working in our lives.

On Valentine’s Day, let us commit once again to our great God, the author of love, that we will use this gift of love to cherish and esteem our spouses and if not married, the object of our affection and pure love.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask that Your love for all men and women be seen in us today, and may we love others with the special love only a person who knows Jesus Christ can offer, in His name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-13-12

The Way

Isaiah 30:2, Whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

The non-believers do not have the advantage of God the Holy Spirit within them so they cannot depend upon His guidance in making decisions.  We who have been born anew into the Family of God have the advantage of counsel from the timeless, eternal wisdom of God who can, out of His foreknowledge, advise us in choosing the right pathway.  In the time after Joshua led Israel until Saul was anointed as the first King, Israel was ruled by Judges and Scripture tells us, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”  The natural inclination of men and women is to rationalize their own decisions, finding an excuse or reason for their actions.  With societal approval, everyone looks for what will make them temporarily happy, doing what seems right to them, considering their human wants and desire instead of seeking God’s wisdom in what will bring greatest glory to Him.  By astutely discerning the prompting of God the Holy Spirit within us and paying careful attention to the Word of God we will always know the will of our Heavenly Father.

God has given us His Word with its guidance and precepts to show us what He desires for us to accomplish.  Instead of ruling, we are to be servants, instead of wealth we are to desire wisdom, instead of seeking fame and the plaudits of men, we are to seek His glory and magnify His name.  The man or woman who seeks God’s will in their life, who looks to God the Holy Spirit for their guidance, who actively seeks the path illuminated by Scripture and is following the path He has put before them will find His eternal home carefully prepared for Him by a loving God.

Conversely, the man or woman who seeks his own pleasure, walks a path of personal gratification, dedicates him or herself to the accumulation of wealth and worldly goods, refuses to humble themselves and accept God’s offer of salvation will find their end in the darkness of eternal damnation, apart from God or any mention of His name or light of His presence.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, it is our desire to keep our eyes fixed on You, to follow Your path for our lives and live for Your glory in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-10-12

Relax

John 14:1-3, “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

As Jesus’ ministry was coming to a close, the disciples began to sense Jesus’ intensity as the Scribes and Pharisees increased their opposition and plans were being laid for Jesus’ death.  As the feeling of impending changes surrounded the little band of disciples, in many ways they felt like you and I do because we sense that God is about to do a great work here on earth in a very short time.

Jesus’ compassion for His faithful followers led Him to quiet their forebodings and give them assurance of His eternal presence by speaking to their fears saying they were not to be troubled, afraid or upset but live in faith.  Just as they believed in the power and authority of Jehovah God, they were to have the same faith and trust in Him because the Heavenly Father was preparing heavenly dwelling places for each of them and He, God the Son was tasked to go to the cross, give His life, rise from the dead and ascend to the Father’s right hand to prepare for His follower’s entry into the promised Heavenly places. Jesus spoke of their past relationship, reminding them of their trust in Him by saying, “If this was not the truth, I would have told you differently, but I have to go so that you can follow.”

It has now been over two thousand years, Jesus, along with the disciples, countless other believers, many whom we knew on this earth and loved dearly are with Him and it will soon be time for us to join them in that glorious Heavenly existence.  We have His promise, we see the foretold events looming on the horizon and whether we rise up like Elijah or go through the portal of physical death, each of us will soon be in the Heavenly circle of praise and glory that surrounds our Savior.

Our glorious Heavenly Father, we echo the closing words of Scripture, “Yes. I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Manna in the Morning

02-09-12

The Family of God

Romans 14:1, “Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues.”

A few churches teach that they are the only assembly of believers that teaches and preaches the whole Word of God and therefore every other person, regardless of their belief and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ is not saved.  There are also those who preach and teach that anyone who is truly sincere about their faith, who attempt to do good things to overcome the bad and haven’t lived a life of grievous sin will enter heaven’s gate.  Jesus taught that he is the only way of salvation that no one, regardless of their sincerity, will be saved from the wrath to come unless their full faith and trust is in Him.  The whole Bible teaches that there is no salvation in any other person or name, it is through Jesus’ death, burial and Resurrection that we have been saved.  Scripture teaches us there is no other name or way on earth or in this entire universe through which anyone can be accepted into God’s Family or who will enjoy Heaven for all eternity.  In the message of this verse we are instructed to recognize and accept into our fellowship any person who believes in this core message of salvation, but it is not profitable or wise to argue about peripheral issues that do not affect the salvation message.

There are those; however who say they know Christ Jesus as Savior, but put the writings of a person on equal footing with the Word of God.  These congregations do not teach the true gospel if they use the writings of a man to “explain” what God has clearly stated in His inspired Word.  Others twist God’s Word to fit their particular emphasis. Once an individual has been born anew into the Family of God, there is no power that can remove him or her.  They may fall into sin, ignore the Bible, neglect the fellowship of a Church or other Christians and stand in need of restoration and reconciliation like the prodigal son, but they have not lost their salvation.  It is the responsibility of every Believer to encourage the weak or prodigal person and pray and counsel them back into full fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  Gracious heavenly Father, guide us and keep us in full communion with you, encouraging and strengthening weaker brothers and sisters.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-08-12

God and Government

Psalm 2:10-12, “So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with reverential awe, and rejoice with trembling. Pay homage to the Son, or He will be angry, and you will perish in your rebellion, for His anger may ignite at any moment.  All those who take refuge in Him are happy.”

Psalm 2 is prophetic in that it describes the time when Jesus, God the Son, will rule the world from David’s throne in Jerusalem.  Here is a portion of that Psalm that references the three divisions of our Constitutional Republic, Executive, Legislative and Judicial, encouraging them to use their authority wisely and within the limits given to earthly power by the omnipotent, divine power of our Almighty God.

First the word ‘king’ in the first sentence refers to the executive authority of all governments whether they be Democracies, dictatorships, monarchs, despots or evil men and women who rule out of fear and strict domination by force.  These authorities are to be wise and recognize the omnipotence of the God in the Heavens that has allowed by His permissible will for them to exercise any authority at all.  To administer justly, knowing and recognizing they will be held responsible for the decisions that have impoverished and demeaned those over which they have assumed arrogance and supremacy.  God, in His perfect justice, will hold them accountable.

The Judges upon the earth, from the lowest municipal Justice of the Peace to the Supreme Court of the Nation including the International Court that sits in the Netherlands and usurps more power to which they are not entitled in any Constitution.  Judges are not to pursue a personal objective but judge according to Almighty God’s precepts and moral codes given in His Holy Word.  True justice is based on God’s moral absolutes, not upon the last judge’s ruling that is flawed, but upon which aberrant decisions may be based.

Legislators as well as kings and judges are to be wise, learning of God, serving Him with reverential awe and recognizing they hold their positions by His allowance and no government official is entitled to anything more than an average citizen of his nation.  All Government officials at every level must recognize and pay reverent homage to the Great King of Kings and Lord of Lords, seek His wisdom in every decision and honor Him with every action, from the exercise of his or her office to the smallest private act, praying God will work His purposes through governmental actions that are Biblical and appropriate.  The alternative is to face His just and proper wrath and punishment.  Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, work your will through every earthly government agent for Your greater glory we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-07-12

Why

Psalm 2:1-2, “Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One.”

In the northern Indian mountainous area, one State with militant Muslim governing forces has declared that all Christians must move out.  In Indonesia, it is increasingly hard to live an openly Christian life without severe persecution.  Here in the United States there are enormous pressures to have joint worship services with Islam leaders in a program called
‘Chrislam’ and a few well known names have been linked to this idea.  Because of outside pressure from many fronts, the Chaplains in the U S Military are finding it hard to pray in Jesus’ name or to invite men and women to accept the Redeemer into their lives and hearts to forgive their sin and become the Leaders of their lives.  It appears that the Evangelical, soul-winning, male Christian is the only person people may persecute without reprisal and is fast being forced out of our society.  Jesus said this would occur and warned His disciples beforehand saying that if the world hated Him, it would in turn hate us because of the message we bring.  It is difficult to understand that it is the message being lived and spoken by the Believer that so convicts the unbeliever that they will go to extraordinary lengths in pushing aside the message of Jesus.  First, they have to admit they are sinners and the average non-believer feels there is nothing wrong with his or her life and to call them a sinner is a rebuke they will not accept.  Next, to inform them that all they do outside of the power of God the Holy Spirit is sin, that they are incapable of living a life pleasing in God’s eyes is an affront to their view of their own life.

Because the message of Christ is such a foreign concept to the average person, they rebel, often intensely, and take their rebellion out on the messenger instead of recognizing it is God bringing conviction in their heart.  In our witnessing endeavors, to minimize the message is to nullify it, to make it softer and milder in its conviction is to hinder the work of the Spirit in their lives.  Our gracious heavenly Father, help us to fully understand the depth and breadth of our redemption ourselves as we share it with others, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-06-12

I’m Coming part 2

Revelation 1:7-8, Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him.  This is certain. Amen.   “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

Last MITM discussed the calling away of the Church, clearing the way for God to once again use the Descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to share His plan and love with the world.  God will use 144,000 Israelite Evangelists to share His plan of salvation with the inhabitants of the earth.  This will be during the time of the false messiah, enforcing his false gospel with death to any and all those who turn from his false worship.  After the 7 prophecied years of purification are complete, the earth and its population are released from their prison of sin’s domination, the false Messiah and his followers are cast into the place prepared for the devil and his followers.  This will be the end of the 70^th week prophesied upon the Israelites.                    “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”  This is the return, the second coming of Jesus, the Promised One of Genesis 3:15, establishing His 1,000 year reign over the entire earth; a benevolent theocracy where He rules in perfect love, justice and equality.  Even during this millennium there will be natural born men and women who will, if and when given the opportunity, will make the same decision as Eve, being beguiled by the evil one. After the great battles are over, Satan has been defeated and is locked forever in the Lake of fire, Our Heavenly Father who created this earth, will decreate it and recreate a new heaven and a new earth, sinless, perfect in every respect, created as a habitation for all who trusted in our Triune God for salvation through the ages.

When Jesus appears, all the unbelievers on the earth will wail and mourn the fact they neglected the opportunity for salvation never opting to accept the offered gift.  Our great Heavenly Father, we thank you for your gift of salvation to us, and the opportunity to accept this wondrous gift.

Manna in the morning

02-03-21

I’m Coming

Revelation 1:7-8, Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him.  This is certain. Amen.   ”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.”

As Jesus left this earth, the angels said, “He will return, just as you have seen Him go into Heaven,” and here John the apostle who undoubtedly heard the angels, hears again in his vision years later the confirmation, “He’s coming with the clouds,” reviving the old memories and promises as he writes of the coming of the King..  Prior to Jesus’ return to this earth, however, there are some other events on God’s eternal timeline that must occur before the Lord Jesus sets foot on the earth once more, this time as the sovereign monarch of all that is.

When we examine God’s timeline given in Daniel, Ezekiel and other Scriptures we understand that we now are in a period of time when God does not proclaim His Word through the Israelite prophets and scribes, but through the Church.  While we are on this earth, the Church is the agency by which the multitudes of people hear the message of salvation and accept the invitation of God the Holy Spirit to be born anew into the Family of God.  Salvation through faith is available to any person on the face of the earth, whether Occidental or Oriental, whether black or white or any shade in between, man or woman, boy or girl, there is no excluded individual nor is there any favored people group.  We are only divided into two classes, those who are born anew and those that are headed for an eternity apart from God’s loving influence for all eternity.

One event that must take place before God will once more use the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as His primary messengers to the population of the earth is the taking up of the Church when its work is completed.  This event is seen in scripture in the sudden taking up of Enoch and Elijah when their mission was complete as well as Jesus’ ascension when His earthly ministry was completed.  When the time is right, all who are in the Family of God will meet Jesus in the clouds and join Him in Heaven while the next event to prepare the earth for Jesus’ return to earth is carried out.

Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, we await the call to join You in the heavenly places and will be your faithful servants until that occurs, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-01-12

Under the Earth

Philippians 2:10, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

The Apostle Paul says it here in Philippians, The Apostle John says it in Revelation 5, “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and then again a few verses later in the same Chapter, verse 13, “Blessing and honor and glory and dominion, to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!  The neighbor who has rejected the invitation of God the Holy Spirit will ultimately bow, but most likely too late.  The well-known speakers and the Pastors of the Churches who neglect the Gospel message and preach an ‘everybody goes to heaven’ message, will bow and recognize Jesus, but will be judged for their own decision to count on their good works.

Those who are in Heaven, the hosts of angels and the redeemed of the ages; those who are living on the earth who have committed their lives to Christ Jesus and live for Him, spreading the message of salvation wherever they go will shout hosanna and praise of Jesus falling to our knees in homage of our Redeemer, Jesus the Christ.  Those named as, “Under the earth” will also bow, not in submission but in subjection to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Those nefarious, satanic, inhabitants of the place of those who have departed this earth still in Satan’s grip and those angels who were, along with the devil, cast out of heaven at God’s command.  This term refers to every ungodly entity, every person who is not in the family of our Heavenly Father who will realize the terrible consequences of their refusal to accept Christ Jesus or their overt war against the forces of Heaven.

Our future includes the promise that we will honor, praise, extol and say hosanna bowing down before our King with every living thing on this earth, the uncountable angel hosts of heaven, the Seraphim, Cherubim and all believers will be in the physical presence of our Savior.  Lord God our Father, we await that day eagerly and will serve you on this earth until that day.  In Jesus’ powerful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-31-12

Dependency

1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

, In this passage Paul is writing to Timothy regarding the responsibilities of the members of the Church.  He is especially concerned about the men who are the heads of their own households and their responsibility before God regarding their families.  It is clear the man is to provide for his relatives; especially his own family and not depend upon others to provide their needs.

Today many families are receiving a monthly check from the government, and this takes away the incentive for men and women to work and provide for their own needs.  I fully understand that some of the people were then, and are now, unable to work or provide for their needs, and those needs should be met by the Church, not the government. All support for needy households, widows and children should be the responsibility of the Church who as any family, should care for and assist their own Church family if necessary.  This is a worthy function of the Church that has been taken over by the government in a move designed to make people dependent upon the government, therefore3 vote for the politicians who vote for the funds, destroying the dignity of the family in an attempt to supersede the head of the family, the Church, and private charities making Government the practical head of the household.

Every man, according to the Bible is to provide safety, a place to live, food and drink, clothes and education for the kids and a time for Bible study and prayer with the children so they can grow into a loving, nurturing family based upon God’s Word.  The amount of money in the wallet is not the important thing nor is the size of the house or the steak for the evening meal.  A simple, nourishing meal for the family is all that is needed, thanking God for His provision of all things and trusting in Him for His strength and ability to provide.  Our God is sufficient to the need and has vast resources that are available to all who believe and trust in Him.

Our gracious heavenly Father, we will put our trust in You and nothing else to provide for our every need, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-30-12

Unity

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, “For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. So the body is not one part but many.”

.Yesterday across the world people were meeting in Churches ranging from the great Cathedrals of Europe, the ornate colorful Eastern Orthodox buildings, African thatched roofed houses of Worship, the oriental styled styled Churches to the American rural spired Churches, storefront Churches, house Churches and those who meet in the open fields and quiet forest glades to avoid imprisonment and even death. What does our modest, suburban Church have in common with the ornate medieval stone edifice?  They all are places where the Children of God, our brothers and sisters in Christ raise their hearts and voices in worship, praise and petition before the Heavenly Father. It makes no difference to our Father in Heaven if we are Baptist or Episcopalian, Methodist or Presbyterian, or non-denominational, if you are born anew into the Family of God we are brothers and sisters in God’s Family.

There is no one Church who in itself has the only way of salvation, but the only way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ can be found in many different Church fellowships across the world, preaching and teaching the Word of God to others.  Instead of stressing our differences in peripheral doctrine and worship, we should concentrate on the Biblical message of Redemption through Jesus our Savior.  All denominations have distinctive differences that set them apart and in no way am I suggesting we put them aside, but if we are in agreement on the basic doctrine of Salvation by God’s Grace and faith in the Lord Jesus as the perfect Sacrifice, we can have fellowship here on earth because we surely will in Heaven.

            Fellowship with fellow Believers, keep true to your Churches distinctive, pray for those who do not know Christ, spread God’s Word wherever you go and serve the Lord God with

Manna in the Morning

01-27-12

The Wind

John 3:8, “The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus while they were talking at night at Nicodemus’ request.  In the millennia since the earth was created no one has ever been able to control the weather patterns or wind.  Many have tried in order to affect battles and win wars, to provide conditions for aircraft then worsen as the enemy attempts to counter our aircraft.  Jesus tells Nicodemus here that just like no one can change the wind; no one can blunt the effect or change the direction of God the Holy Spirit’s work on this earth.  As believers in Jesus, we can refuse to work as he wishes and lose blessings and gain regrets, but we also must understand that God’s plan will be made clear; others will step in and carry on where we have declined to go.  God’s plan is established and will be fulfilled on this earth even when the full force of our adversary is arrayed against our great God and Father who will be triumphant at the end of the battle, just as the Israelites were so long as Moses’ arms were held high.  Our God is omnipotent and will overcome, when we shirk from our responsibilities we will pay the price, others will gain the victory but we will lose the victor’s crown.  Scripture tells us that the wind and the waves of the sea are controlled by our Creator God and try as men do, they can control neither the wind nor the tide.

Storms follow the direction the wind pushes them; the weather cells follow strict paths across the continental land masses.  Even if we understand the concept of these forces, we do not understand enough to make the slightest variation in their paths.  As believers, we see the direction in which God’s Word and will are taking us, but we can do nothing except accepting the direction God has predetermined for our lives.  Instead of dwelling on the past and asking if it was a mistake to do this or that, ask God to use you where you are, provide the means for your livelihood and give you the ability to praise Him for His provision, grace and providential care.  Remember His ways are far above our ways.

Heavenly Father, we lay our requests before You, thank You for answers already received and we anticipate even greater blessings this and every day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-26-12

Prophets

Ezekiel 6:1-2, “the word of the Lord came to me:  “Son of man, urn your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.”

When people think of a prophet their mind conjures up the image of a man with a dirty complexion, an uncombed, unkempt beard, long hair that hasn’t seen a shampoo in weeks and dressed in a long, once-white flowing robe leaning on a staff, barefoot in the dirt of a barren desert crying, “Repent for judgment is here.”  This may be your description of one, “Crying in the wilderness;” but if you want to see a real Twenty-first Century prophet look in the mirror.  When Ezekiel spoke to the people of Israel, he spoke the words of God Almighty.  When Elijah cried out, he said, “Hear the Word of the Lord,” Daniel wrote the visions shown to him by Jehovah God, and when you quote scripture or tell an unsaved person the Biblical plan of salvation, you are giving them the ‘Word of the Lord’ that came to your remembrance, placed there by our Heavenly Father.  None of the prophetic scriptures had their origins in the minds of men, in fact many of them said, “The Word of the Lord came to me saying…”  Elijah did not author the prophetic words, Isaiah did not author the book attributed to him, Elijah spoke and Isaiah wrote as inspired by God the Holy Spirit, just as you and I are under the control of that same God the Holy Spirit as we witness and speak His word to others.

As we go about our daily activities we often meet people who have an open heart toward God’s Word or an interest in their spiritual future.  We do not have spiritual insight into their souls nor can we read their thoughts and spiritual needs.  This is the Work of God the Holy Spirit.  Our obligation is to be open to His leading and ready at any moment to share God’s plan for his or her salvation.  Just as the prophets of old spoke to needy hearts and desperate minds, we can be used today in reaching many others for the same purpose.  Our Heavenly Father, equip us today for your use in any way to win others into Your kingdom, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-25-12

The End

Matthew 24:11-14, “Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in the entire world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.”

Jesus did not speak these words to the Church; He directed them to the assembled Jews in Judea who were concerned about the future of their people, the Temple and their City of Jerusalem.  Jesus did not refer to the Church, but told them the Israelite people could expect many who would come as prophets, but carry a false message, they would be deceived by fine words and people who presented a good appearance, yet were deceivers in their hearts.  To this we might add those whose eyes have been blinded to the truth and in their ignorance deceive others.  Jesus went on to say that many Israelites would continue in their sin waiting for their idea of the Messiah or Promised One would someday appear; their love for their faith would grow cold until the fire went out and the embers lost their spark.

Jesus said further that the gospel would be spread to every nook and cranny in the inhabited earth, until every person would have the opportunity to know of the Promised Savior and His salvation.  This function has been carried out by the Church along with Para-church Missions organizations.  Jesus continued his discourse with the Jews telling them that the end of the delay will come and the Jews will again carry the responsibility of evangelizing the earth through the 144,000 men who will have an experience like the Apostle Paul in Damascus.

This time of the end, Jesus concluded, will be like the early birth pangs of an expectant mother that grow sharper in intensity and frequency until the time of purification is complete and Jesus returns to this earth for His promised Millennial Reign.   As we who love the Lord see these promised signs increase, we know the final culmination of the ages, the fulfillment of the Promise of a Perfect Sacrifice who is our Redeemer, the calling up of the Church is near.  Our gracious God and Father, we will share your message this day with enthusiasm wherever we go.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-24-12

Victory

Psalm 118:15-16, “There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand strikes with power! The Lord’s right hand is raised!  The Lord’s right hand strikes with power!”

In yesterday’s National Football Conference Championships, two teams were elated and two teams were deflated.  The Christians on two teams were rejoicing and the Christians on the other teams were accepting their disappointment, but never losing sight of the fact that their Heavenly Father loves and cares for them just as much as their Christian brothers on the winning teams.  God did not choose sides in these contests, God did not impose His will on two teams to lose, God only desired that those who love Him and played on their respective teams played their best, not for trophies, but for the glory of their Savior.  In everything we do, Scripture tells us to do our best to the greater glory of our Lord.  Every player on all the teams played their hardest, and gave their all for their team in a manner that would glorify their Savior.

We are in another battle, spiritual in nature that requires us to give all that we have on the battlefield, not holding back, but fully committed to serving our Savior and our Heavenly Father.  It is up to us to be the functioning arms that wield the Sword of the Spirit, to be the legs and feet that carry the gospel message wherever we go on this earth and to speak the words of truth and conviction as we testify to the goodness of our great God.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we like David raise our hands in victory through the power of God the Holy Spirit working within us this day.  This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-19-12

He was sleeping

Matthew 8:24-25, Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

During His time on this earth, Jesus was never less than God at any time, while at the same time He was never more than a man.  Our God lives in eternity, unbound by time or space, while those who live on earth are bound by the ticking clock and constantly aware of the time.  Jesus, the Creator, God the Son allowed himself to be bound by the constraints of time, He felt tired, His strength ebbed and when weary, He rested, even taking naps at appropriate times.  Jesus rested by the well in order to meet the woman of Samaria and through their conversation whole villages were saved.

While crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat, Jesus fell asleep on the back deck and slept so soundly a raging wind and rain storm did not awaken Him.  Perhaps Satan, seeking an opportunity to put an end to Jesus’ ministry and purpose on this earth sent this storm to take the lives of the Savior and His disciples.
As the storm worsened, the waves began to break over the sides of the boat and it began to founder.  The disciples, although seasoned sailors, were terrified and awakened Jesus fearing for their lives.  Jesus, tired as His human body was, had lost none of His omnipotence and command over all created things.  Speaking to the wind and waves, He commanded them to stop, the wind died, the waves flattened and the little ship was pulled up on the beach on the eastern edge of the sea.  Our God calms the storms of our lives, stills the effects of the worldly stresses and pain, assures us of our safe haven and gives us the peace that is beyond our ability to comprehend.

Our lives are regulated by the clock, we wake to an alarm clock, punch the time clock at work, stop for the noon whistle, work until the bell rings at the end of the day, and fall asleep only to start with the alarm the next day.  Our Lord gives us peace in the storm; He will quiet our nervous days and give us more than enough time to accomplish all he has set before us.  Heavenly Father give us a foretaste of the eternal calm that will someday be our portion at your side, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-18-12

Unbelievable Joy

Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.”

Careful study reveals God’s plans and future destiny of our earth.  After Jesus has ruled the earth from Jerusalem for one thousand years, God will de-create the universe then re-create a new earth and a new heaven.  All the old things will pass away; everything that has been tainted and defiled by sin will no longer exist.  Our world shows the effects of sin upon the earth’s surface; weeds, arid deserts, cold, inhospitable Polar Regions, weather systems that bring storms and destruction, even fatalities.  Hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes that bring death and destruction will cease.  All these things will be known no longer in the new creation; death and disease will no longer afflict men and women who will have eternity to spend with the Savior, pain that so debilitates people today will be unknown, separation and sorrow will not be found, tears of sorrow will no longer drop from eyes, but the tears of joy will still freely flow praising God for the gifts of His mercy upon those that are devoted to Him.

Neither the physical pain of a body wracked by tortured muscles nor the emotional pain of difficult relationships and stress will come upon men and women to make their lives miserable and unproductive. Created anew we will never know the heartache of sin and rejection, all the results of sin will be wiped away, never to be remembered again.

Instead we will be filled by the joy and contentment of being in the presence of our God and Savior, the knowledge that all negative emotions and physical senses have been overcome and only that which comes directly from our God will fill us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we anticipate with great joy consciously existing for all eternity in Your presence and the joy and gratitude that will fill our beings.  Accept our praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-17-21

Beauty of Holiness

1 Chronicles 16:29, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness;”

If you have traveled to the higher latitudes, especially to Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, perhaps into the far northern reaches of Canada or Alaska, you have witnessed the glorious moving artistry of the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights.  This spectacular display of the heavens is a natural phenomenon, unknown, except in very rare instances in the middle latitudes.  It is caused by the magnetic field of the earth reacting to the bombardment of energy released by solar flares and sunspots in the sun’s corona.  A part of the earth’s glorious response to the Creator’s touch.  In the lull before a thunderstorm reaches your vantage point, there is a different, yet equally beautiful artistry from the hand of God in the lightning bolts that flash from cloud to cloud or cloud to ground, creating another example of our Creator’s power and glory.  When Moses saw the burning bush and went before God upon the mountain, he saw a small example of the Shikinah Glory of God, an intense visible manifestation of energy seen as an intense, burning light.  Our God is spirit, and His presence is made known by this intense light of His glory.

Our worship should match the intensity of David when the Ark of the covenant was in a tent near Jerusalem or the fervor of the three apostles as they saw their Lord in His glory upon the mountain.  To know the intensity of His love, the magnetic aurora of the Heavens or the power of the bolt of lightning is to recognize the beauty of his Holiness, to worship the splendor of His presence and the awesome power of His love.  Our worship cannot be contained in singing, it cannot be described in words and rhyme, it can be felt in the depths of our soul and we can respond to His energy as the aurora of the heavens exhibits the glory of this speck of dust in a tiny corner of His creation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we recognize the beauty of your Holiness, the grandeur and majesty of the aura of Your presence and we fall on our faces like the prophets of old before you, accept our homage and adoration in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-17-21

Beauty of Holiness

1 Chronicles 16:29, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come before Him.  Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness;”

If you have traveled to the higher latitudes, especially to Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, perhaps into the far northern reaches of Canada or Alaska, you have witnessed the glorious moving artistry of the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights.  This spectacular display of the heavens is a natural phenomenon, unknown, except in very rare instances in the middle latitudes.  It is caused by the magnetic field of the earth reacting to the bombardment of energy released by solar flares and sunspots in the sun’s corona.  A part of the earth’s glorious response to the Creator’s touch.  In the lull before a thunderstorm reaches your vantage point, there is a different, yet equally beautiful artistry from the hand of God in the lightning bolts that flash from cloud to cloud or cloud to ground, creating another example of our Creator’s power and glory.  When Moses saw the burning bush and went before God upon the mountain, he saw a small example of the Shikinah Glory of God, an intense visible manifestation of energy seen as an intense, burning light.  Our God is spirit, and His presence is made known by this intense light of His glory.

Our worship should match the intensity of David when the Ark of the covenant was in a tent near Jerusalem or the fervor of the three apostles as they saw their Lord in His glory upon the mountain.  To know the intensity of His love, the magnetic aurora of the Heavens or the power of the bolt of lightning is to recognize the beauty of his Holiness, to worship the splendor of His presence and the awesome power of His love.  Our worship cannot be contained in singing, it cannot be described in words and rhyme, it can be felt in the depths of our soul and we can respond to His energy as the aurora of the heavens exhibits the glory of this speck of dust in a tiny corner of His creation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we recognize the beauty of your Holiness, the grandeur and majesty of the aura of Your presence and we fall on our faces like the prophets of old before you, accept our homage and adoration in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-16-12

Left Behind

Ezekiel 6:9-10, “Then your survivors will remember Me among the nations where they are taken captive, how I was crushed by their promiscuous hearts that turned away from Me and by their eyes that lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves because of the evil things they did, their abominations of every kind. And they will know that I am the Lord; I did not threaten to bring this disaster on them without a reason.”

While this passage has its primary meaning for the remnant of the Israelites during the time after the Church is taken up from the world, there is an equally serious meaning for every Christian.  First and foremost, there are but two classes of people, those who are lost and bound for eternal damnation and those who are saved by God’s grace and mercy who are bound for an eternity with Him.  Contrary to popular thinking, there is no broad, undecided group of people who will be able to choose after the Believers are taken up.  By their indecision they have chosen to reject salvation’s message.  God’s own words tell us he has warned, threatened and finally brings destruction upon those who have broken His law, rejected His salvation plea and ignored His promise of full, final and righteous judgment for sin.

In His great wisdom and mercy God gave us a simple outline of what is sinful in His eyes, beginning with our relationship with Him and His perfect Holiness.  The foundation of God’s law and justice is the Ten Commandments.  Knowing we are people who have free choices God knew we would sin, and provided the perfect sinless sacrifice for our redemption; Jesus, God the Son, God’s provision for the promised sacrifice given when Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, and fulfilled at Calvary when Jesus spoke the triumphant words, “It is finished!”  Having provided the definition of sin, the penalty of transgression, the promised redemption and the conviction within the heart of every human being, God is eager to redeem the souls of those who cry out to Him, while those who do not cry for forgiveness are still under the curse and condemnation of their sin now and forever.  God’s call today is, “In an acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, accept the plea of those who call upon you this day we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-13-12

Guilt

Psalm 103:12-14, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.”

One of the giants that taunt and goad us like Goliath taunted the Israelite Army is guilt.  Satan will use our remembering sin and failure in our Christian lives to try and tell us we are unworthy of serving our God, the devil will give us a feeling of panic and dread should someone from our distant past show up to remind us of our sin and failure.  Each Christian man or woman must realize the sins of the past have neither relevance nor hold on our current Christian life if we have confessed those sins before our Heavenly Father and begged forgiveness from Him, accepting Jesus’ death as vicariously taking the sin load and punishment upon Himself, leaving us as free to proclaim His mercy and grace to others as the Gadarene, after he met Jesus and was spiritually restored to full spiritual health, obeying Jesus’ command to go and proclaim God’s love to those who knew him before and after his restoration.

This release from the sins of the past requires the release of our inner feelings of remorse, self-recrimination and shame based not on our actions, but on the work of God in forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation to Himself.  Then we are relieved of the efforts of Satan to keep us from living in the joy of salvation and service of our Savior.  God fully recognizes that with our own power we are helpless before our adversary, and our only hope for joy depends upon our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  We’re like the dust that drifts in the wind after a car has passed by without the calming, settling influence of the rain of God’s mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation that floods our souls when we turn to Him.

God’s promise is sure, unchangeable and clear; when we confess our sins to Him, he is faithful, just and merciful in forgiving us and as far from our sinful state as the sun’s rising and setting.  God’s promises are sure!  God places conviction upon our hearts when needed, forgiveness upon repentance and victory upon reconciliation.  Hallelujah, Praise His Holy Name.

Manna in the Morning

01-11-12

Prayerlessness

Ephesians 6:18, “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Not only are we given the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God as our weapon when we are fighting against our adversary, we are told to use another spiritual armament in our battles.  We have been given intercessory prayer as a powerful weapon. In our spiritual warfare, we are to understand the battle takes place in the spiritual realms, Satan is the commander of the evil forces, and there are battles between the demons and fallen angels fighting against Michael, Gabriel and the angels of heaven for the control of the minds of men and women. We are foot soldiers in the spiritual battles, and the way we react to temptation has consequences far beyond what we can understand or imagine. Jesus Himself commanded us to pray for our effectiveness in our battles and to uphold others in prayer when they fight against the foes that are not of this world.  Therefore it is good for us to pray for each other, to uphold each other in intercessory prayer and to call upon our Christian brothers and sisters for their support when we are under attack, and, if we are not under attack, we aren’t much of a warrior. 1 Peter 4:7 is very specific, we are to be, “Clear-headed and disciplined for prayer.”  Scripture teaches us not to use vain repetitions and useless memorized prayers, yet we tend to repeat the same requests over and over, not having the faith to recognize that if our hearts are right with our God and we have no unconfessed sin in us, God has heard our prayer and we are to trust Him for the time and manner of the answer.  If God reminds you of a missionary or another believer, it is our responsibility to immediately ask our Heavenly Father to meet their immediate needs, as soon as the words are conceived in our minds, God has heard and answered.

It’s not that we don’t pray, we need to live our lives daily in the attitude of prayer, not conscious thought necessarily, but the lines of communication between our heart and God’s throne are open so that a thought or idea is immediately before the throne of God’s love and grace.  To do this we must fight and overcome the giant of apathy and lack of focus.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we desire to keep our spiritual focus sharp and without distraction as we present our petitions before you.  Guide and enable us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the morning

01-10-12

Giant Killer Number 1

Ephesians 6:17, “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word.”

In yesterday’s MITM we spoke of facing giants in our lives, several people mentioned giants that they are or have battled in their own lives, so let’s take a look at some of weapons our Heavenly Father has given us to fight the giants Satan, our great adversary, sends into our lives.

First and foremost is The Word of God, our Bible, that wonderful Book given to us as a great gift from our Father above.  Every word, phrase and sentence is literally breathed from God into the soul and mind of the human author so that he may communicate it to us through his own experiences and intellect.  This Holy Writing is valuable to us for establishing in our hearts the teaching of God the Holy Spirit who instructs us in God’s provisions for us in every way.  It then becomes our responsibility to teach others through the working out of God’s Word in our lives, and interactions with those who are seeking to know our Lord in a more meaningful way.  God’s Word is the standard by which we may measure our spiritual growth and maturity and for God to correct our own thinking and attitudes.  It is because we have known His correction in our lives that we may be able to correct others.  Every time the Believer opens his Bible, he is in a training session under God’s tutelage for the spiritual battles that occur on a daily basis.

Not only are we prepared to battle giants, we have successfully killed the giant of neglecting God’s Word.  The giant of neglecting God’s Word is common in the lives of Christians today, often being blamed on our hectic schedules and so many devices demanding our attention.  The Scriptures are the Sword of the Spirit, the very weapon Jesus will use to destroy His enemies when he returns to the earth to assume His rightful position as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Therefore for us to ignore its power by neglecting to read The Word daily is a giant we have to dispatch in order for us to be effective, both the training in righteousness and the daily exercise of spiritual warfare depends upon our being comfortable and familiar with God’s Word.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us a deep love for Your Word, skilled in its use as a weapon and a student of its truths in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

01-09-12

The Song of Deliverance

Psalm 13:5-6, “But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously.”

In the first part of this Psalm David is voicing some anxiety as he asks God how long it will be before the Lord steps in and rescues him from the enemies that surround him so he can look up and see bright stars in the sky and lay down for a restful, peaceful sleep.  He’s about to be swallowed up in his self-pity but then returns to his senses and begins to praise the Lord for all He has done in David’s life.

It is a wise person who does what David does in verse 6; he recounts how he has trusted God in the past, not only in His faithful love but in His deliverance of David from difficult places throughout his life.  When we look back over our own lives, we can recognize times when our Heavenly Father delivered us from difficulties and situations that seemed hopeless.  We may not have faced a giant like Goliath, but we have faced things that were, in our eyes, as difficult a problem as any giant.  We must learn, first of all, to trust in God’s faithfulness.  Everything that we encounter has come into our lives by God’s allowance it to teach us a spiritual lesson, draw us closer to Him, or as we read in God’s Word, to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.  Every difficulty is a spiritual lesson, every deliverance is a victory and every time we trust Him we reap a harvest of golden joy.

God has always been generous with us as His children.  The heavenly storehouses of His mercy and grace are overflowing with beneficent gifts from our Heavenly Father.  His forgiveness of our failure and sin is the model for our forgiveness of others, and Jesus is our example of a person anxious to bring glory to the Father in everything we do.    Our gracious heavenly Father, we ask you for the song of deliverance so we can express our love for you this day, In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-06-12

Living Water

John 4:13-14, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.”

It’s unfortunate, but not every person who hears God’s salvation plan fully understands it the first time we explain it to them.  Some think it means far less than it does, thinking they will still have to continue to work for their salvation or that there is one step further they have to take or somehow it isn’t the free gift they thought it would be.  There are others who think it means something else entirely.

When Jesus spoke of living water, He referred to the River of Life that flows in the New Earth directly from the throne of God, using it as an example of the eternal life that enters into the individual at the time of their being born anew into the Family of God.  Just as earthly life is not to be compared with the eternal life Jesus offered the Samaritan woman and to us when we came to Him, the pleasures and beauty of this earth pale in comparison to the beauty and joy of our coming Heavenly existence, life in Christ Jesus is to be desired above all else.  Our natural bodies require more water than we tend to drink to keep healthy and our bodily functions in good order; we must constantly be hydrating ourselves to maintain that healthy level.  Water is a cleansing agent to wash the waste products and contaminants from our body continuously, while the Living Water Jesus offers cleanses us from sin, washes our spiritual selves clean and continues to keep us pure in His eyes so long as we obey the voice of God the Holy Spirit within us.  Because we are instantly born into the family of God, there is no need to go back to the source continually nor is there any need to wait for a second event in our salvation process.  Just as the Samaritan woman accepted Jesus as the Promised One, we too can be born anew into the Family of God in an instant and forever!  Heavenly Father, fill us with the joy and sufficiency of knowing you in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-04-12

Romans 12:1, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

To fully understand what this verse is all about, we have to understand Chapter eleven ends with the words, “To God be the glory now and forever.  Amen.”  It sometimes is unfortunate that the chapter and verse breaks occur where they do.  This is one of those unfortunate times, since the ‘therefore’ refers to what has come before, and there really is no hard break between the two sentences.

Since we are to live in such a manner that our Great God receives all the glory, our lives must be presented as our spiritual sacrifice to our Heavenly Father who gave us eternal life as our eternal reward.  Just as Isaac was offered up by his father Abraham in faith, knowing his son was to be heir of the promise, Abraham did not hold back his son and at the last moment, God provided a ram, making Isaac a living sacrifice, keeping the line of the Promised One clear until Jesus, God the Son, gave His life as a sacrifice, yet He lives forever.  In the same manner, we are to live our lives to the glory of God, not for our earthly acclaim or man’s approval, but to follow the path laid out for us to bring all glory to the One who saves us.

Only that which is done in the power of our omnipotent God will be acceptable to Him, therefore we must live our lives in a manner that is sanctified, set apart and submitted fully to Him.  Many times we move through the day without thinking if our activities are acceptable in God’s eyes.  Just as Isaac was dedicated and prepared as a sacrifice, Jesus was a perfect, sinless and dedicated sacrifice; therefore we too are to live a life set apart for His service.  This is an act of worship as fully as our participation in the Worship service in the Sanctuary, a service unto the Lord equal to any other act of worship.

Our Gracious heavenly Father, our desire is to be acceptable for your service.  Guide us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-03-12

God’s Point of View

Isaiah 46:9-11, “I am God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.”

We hear so much about the changes that will occur in 2012 from changes in our government to changes in our climate to the end of the Mayan Calendar. None of these things are foretold in our Scriptures and none of them will affect the plan of our sovereign God for this earth that has been in effect since the Garden of Eden.  While at least ninety percent of the Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled, there is much left to be completed before our Heavenly Father is ready to de-create then re-create this earth.  While it possible from time to time to find out where we are on God’s timeline, we do not, and cannot accurately predict the end of God’s plan for us or this earth.

God says He can make a bird of prey move from one place to another to complete His plan and he can just as easily move a man or woman to suit His purposes from one place to another to accomplish His will.  God moved Naomi and Ruth from the land of Moab to the tiny hamlet of Bethlehem in order for Jesus, the Promised One to be born according to ancient prophecy.  As God has spoken in visions, dreams and, through His prophets, all are included for us to understand in our Scriptures, in order to understand God’s full control over all things.

While we may understand the purpose of God’s plan, the general order of events that have yet to occur, we may even recognize world events that could lead to further events, but we can be absolutely sure of one thing.  God will complete each and every thing he has purposed to do and fulfill every part of His plan regardless of Satan’s attempts to disrupt or thwart God’s announced plan.

Just as so many men in the past have been used of God to bring about His purpose, you and I must be ready and willing to do what God calls upon us to do, whether it is to speak to a person in a grocery line or to take the message of salvation to a far away country or people group.  Lord God, we’re willing!  Use us as You choose we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-02-12

What’s New?

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”

In the movie “The Patriot,” Benjamin Martin, the leading character played by Mel Gibson, is forced into the Revolutionary War and continues to fight on passion and obsession over the death of his young son, Martin is ready to leave the Continental Army when the emotional fire begins to die out, but over and over he is reminded, “Until then, stay the Course,” referring to the cause of the fledgling United Colonies in their fight for independence.  Benjamin, as all good heroes, does stay the course and the ultimate victory is won.  While this is a movie and many liberties have been taken, its basic historic facts are accurate, and the United States owes a debt of gratitude to those valiant men who fought 236 years ago in a crucial time in our history.

As we begin our walk into the year 2012, we need also to be reminded to stay the course and continue to follow the path God has laid out for us.  2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”  The freedom of the American colonies did not begin when the Declaration of Independence was signed; it took months and months of fighting and deprivation on the part of the Army to finally declare our freedom at the end of the contest.  Our freedom, our liberty in Christ begins when we accept his Declaration.  In contrast, the war against sin had been won, the enemy defeated long ago, but we are declared free only when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. This is when the trials and warfare begins in our Christian walk.  As Scripture tells us, God has given us everything we need to win the battles, to defeat the foe and enter Jesus’ presence in triumph; however, we need to pick up the weapons, aggressively attack the foe and trust our omnipotent God to empower us to the ultimate victory.

The United States has a proud history made possible by those early Patriots, and the Church has a long and glorious history from the time Jesus rose from the dead.  Our life’s battles will not be won if they are fought in our personal emotion and passion, but we cannot lose if we depend upon the strength and power of God the Holy Spirit who guides and directs us in the life path laid out before us.

Lord God our Heavenly Father, thank you for the liberty we enjoy in Jesus and with Your guidance and strength we will follow You triumphantly through 2012 in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-30-11

The Ultimate New Year

Isaiah 65:17-18, “For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.  Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating.”

As we anticipate 2012 entering this coming Sunday, we know there will be many changes, good and bad, that will occur before the year exits 8,760 hours later.  Each New Year brings a sense of excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead of us, considering how God will bless our lives and how we may be used by Him in proclaiming His Word in the way we act and think.

According to Isaiah’s prophecy and restated in other parts of Scripture then foreseen by John’s vision in the Book of the Revelation, our omnipotent God has promised that at the proper time in His timeline, He will create a new heaven and a new earth.  The earth will be a recreation of what we know today with one very distinct difference – there will be no sin to corrupt, degrade or taint the new creation.  The earth will retain its perfect, pristine condition for all eternity, never to be poisoned by sin because the great serpent, the devil will be imprisoned deep in the lake of fire where he will spend the everlasting torment, while we who have accepted God’s great gift of salvation will be enjoying the unending eternal existence in Heaven in the presence of our Redeemer in the shadowless light of the glory of our Heavenly Father.

There will never again be a New Year’s celebration on the earth because time will never exist again; we will be in a seamless eternal existence.  It is always mind boggling to consider a timeless existence, allowing our entire eternity to be lived in the fresh, exciting, always new, never stale existence in the place God has especially prepared for us who are in His family.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we long for the new heaven and new earth, but will live here in complete submission to Your will for our lives until that great day.  In Jesus’ name we praise you.

Manna in the Morning

12-29-11

Prosperity’s plan

Joshua  1:8, “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”

As we anticipate entering into the year 2012 we know there will be many changes; a Presidential election, new opportunities and challenges and many new individuals with whom we can share the gospel message.  Each one of us is anxious to make the best use of the coming year in our workplaces, attitudes, service to our Lord and to others and fulfilling our responsibilities as believers in our Lord and Savior in every respect.

Joshua faced a new responsibility, a new challenge, a people that were not totally convinced he should be their new leader, and enemies that were dedicated to Israel’s eradication.  In a vision God appeared to Joshua and gave him this promise.  It is a promise that is ours for this coming year.  If we take it to heart and follow it as Joshua did, we will experience the same success and prosperity that Israel did under Joshua’s leadership.

God gave Joshua a book of instruction, it was not the chief text for the art of warfare, it wasn’t a detailed battle plan to take Jericho without losing a single soldier, it was a plan to make Joshua and the people of Israel a success in their endeavor now that they had crossed the Jordan River and were in the land promised to them as Abraham’s descendents.  It is the same book of instruction we have in our possession and study carefully.  It is the solution to the problem of success and for prosperity in everything we do.  Unfortunately, we do not consider the Bible, the Word of God, as the key to our success because we do not always consider the Lord God as the Leader of our Life.  Once we firmly establish our Lord God as the only Leader of our Life, we then can take His Word as the guide book for our life, read and study the instructions it contains daily and carefully follow all of the commandments and edicts of our Leader, then we too will have the success and prosperity that Joshua experienced.  It will not always be the success or prosperity that the world recognizes, but it will be the kind that brings great Heavenly rewards that neither rust nor perish.

Our gracious heavenly Father, we desire to have you as the leader of our life and to study your Word every day of our lives, this is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-28-11

The New Year

Exodus 13:4-5, “Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving. When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you must carry out this ritual in this month.”

At various times in their history, the Israelites celebrated various days as the beginning of the new year.  The first month in their year is Abib, month in which they left Egypt, as they grew as a people, and when they were known as a nation, they remembered their past, their freedom from the slavery in which they were captive in Egypt and their freedom that came from Jehovah God.  They also remembered they were created as mankind, designated as a unique people by Jehovah God who sustained them in long dismal periods in their history.  These gifts of God were celebrated at every feast day throughout the year as well as this feast in the first month of the year.  The first month of the Israelite calendar was in the early spring, in what we now call March or April.

Today, New Years’ Day is celebrated at the winter equinox, indicating winter’s back has been broken and as the days increase in daylight hours, the temperature will soon moderate and the cycle has begun again.  As with Christmas, our new Year’s Celebration has many traditions from northern Europe and the pagan rites and celebrations originating there; now dominated by Football games and parades rather than any religious or spiritual connotations.

We, as Believers in the Savior, Jesus Christ can use this holiday as did the Israelites, by remembering our former slavery under the domination of our ancient adversary the devil, being redeemed by the blood of Jesus at Calvary and born anew into the family of God, an eternal conscious life in the presence of our God and Father.  As we enter this new year, leaving our past behind with its errors and failures, and looking forward to the joy of faithful service of our Heavenly Father.  Heavenly Father, we look to You and no other in the coming year, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-27-11

Resolutions

2 Corinthians 6:17-18, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.  I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Every year in these six days between Christmas and New Year’s Day we can hear folks talking about their New Year’s resolutions, and if you are going to resolve to do something, I guess it’s good to do it at the very start of a new year.  When our Creator God created the sun and moon and placed them in space, He placed them so the earth’s orbit revolved around the sun, from which we get our heat and light energy, sustaining life on our home planet.  God placed the moon in orbit around the sun so that the earth would have its gravitational pull to provide the tides that keep large bodies of water from becoming stagnate and to reflect the light of the sun to the earth during the dark hours our portion of the earth is facing away from the sun.  Every New Year, we start again on our path around the sun with the varying seasons, seed time and harvest as well as weather patterns and macro-climate effects.  In much the same way, when we are born anew into God’s eternal family, we are to put our lives into orbit around God’s Word and His desires for our lives.  We are to receive all our spiritual nourishment from God’s Word, partake of Jesus’ living water and gain all our energy for His work and keep our spiritual selves focused upon our Great Heavenly Father.  We are to let the light of His love radiate out of us to those we meet, to be alert for any opportunity to share His salvation message and to constantly recharged with the vibrancy that only comes from a close relationship with Him.

While we strive to make resolutions that are to improve our weight, behavior or interpersonal relationships, our first desire and goal for our lives should be to be to radiate God’s goodness and love out of our lives, to serve Him with all our hearts.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we reaffirm the resolve to serve You, and You only in this coming year.  Bless us in measure of our devotion to You we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Special Edition

12-23-21

I John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Merry Christmas, and I pray God’s blessings upon all of you and your families this Christmas Season, when we pause in our hectic, sometimes chaotic lives to remember the birth of our Redeemer.  I thank God for each of you who make up the MITM family.  MITM is now into its 17th year and could not continue without God’s help and inspiration.  Love in Christ, Vance

As I have been reading and studying this past year, I realized anew how much God loves each of us, not as a group, but individually.  While His perfect justice mandated the removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He still provided for the forgiveness of their sins through animal sacrifice.  Yet evil continues to fascinate, even dominate humanity, Cain killed Abel because he didn’t want to follow God’s rules of sacrifice and the story gets worse.  In the time of Noah, there was only one God-fearing family in the entire world, yet God loved mankind so much He saved Noah and his family in the Ark of Deliverance, accepted Noah’s sacrifice, giving humanity a new beginning.

By the time God called Abraham promising to make a blessed nation of his descendants and to redeem the world through his family, just as He had promised Adam and Eve centuries before, sin again ran rampant throughout the world.  When God decreed the destruction of the cesspool of Sodom and Gomorrah, no righteous man could be found in them.  God’s messengers led Lot and his family from the cities.  Men could not live in this world without God’s guidance, and since they had ignored God’s guidance for so long, God used Moses to make God’s commands clear and visible, but Israelite men and women broke the laws while the tablets were being given to Moses.  Through the family of Israel, God provided for a Savior to be born to redeem the world.  Today, men and women reject God’s commandments, willfully turn away from his loving face, human life has little value, and perversion of natural acts that God calls an abomination and doomed Sodom are commonly accepted in society today.

When Adam and Eve were created, God wanted their eternal fellowship just as badly as He wants ours today, so he persevered through the centuries to provide the platform from which we can reach Him.  He does not want an automaton to repeat parrot-like phrases back to him; He desires our praise and fellowship because we yearn to give it to Him freely.  We are not under the requirement of law but under the gentle obligation of gratitude, the passionate desire to love God because of His patient love for us.  When Jesus completed his mission to this earth, He cried out in victory, “It is finished!” and God the Father whispered a phrase heard through the ages until it reverberates in our hearts today, “Merry Christmas.”

Manna in the Morning

12-22-11

Gifts

Rom 12:6-8, “According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”

According to the Book of James, “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…”  What a wonderful verse for this season of Christmas.  How many times have you felt uplifted and delighted when the recipient of a gift exclaims, “It’s perfect!”  How much more is the Father’s gifts given to us as He uniquely crafted us in the womb, before we drew our first breath of air on this earth.  God has gifted each one of us with those skills and gifts that will best enable us to carry out His will for our lives while on this earth.  We, however must sincerely seek His will, and not be influenced by others in our choice of vocation or service for our Lord. These gifts are given to us as a result of God’s grace and we must develop them to the fullest.  It is also important not to request any specific gift, God has already determined which gift or gifts are best for you, and no returns or exchanges are necessary or advised.

The first gift mentioned is the gift of prophecy, this is a gift of accurately telling forth the predictions and warnings found in God’s Word, to prophecy means to give a warning by way of example, an accurate, Biblical based interpretation of those actions and judgments foretold in Scripture and to look at today’s activities, then drawing accurate conclusions.  Next is the gift of serving, those who serve in our assemblies, regardless of their seeming importance, are exercising their spiritual gift, Jesus said He came into this world not to be served, but to serve; the next gift mentioned is teaching, the gift of making God’s Word easily understandable to the individuals listening to the explanation of the Biblical passage in a way that is easily assimilated by the hearer and put into daily practice in their lives, this is not preaching in the sense of exhortation, teaching is the explanation, exhortation is the application to the hearer’s life and actions.  Others have the gift of giving, whether it be tangible earthly goods or money or the intangible gifts of encouragement, Biblical advice in so many different areas, and of course, gifts of financial value.  Others show a gift of leadership, of guidance and direction, whether of an organized ministry or church or the individuals who need a guide through this world’s paths of sorrow and difficulty.  Every believer is endowed with the gift of mercy; we show mercy to others in the measure God has shown mercy to us, cheerfully forgiving one another as a means of encouraging them in their daily life.

These are gifts we have received from our Heavenly Father and are to be used in growing in Christ by aiding others to grow in Him.  Our great God and Father, thank you for the gifts we have received as well as Your guidance in the faithful use of each gift, thank you in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-21-11

I See Him

Numbers 24:17, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

This prophecy, believe it or not, came from the mouth of Balaam, the mercenary prophet who was vocally warned by his donkey to speak only what God wanted him to say, even though Balak, King of Moab paid him well to curse Israel.  Not only does this verse foretell the star that announced the birth of Jesus, it is a prophecy that tells of Israel’s future triumph over the Arab nations.  It’s possible the memory of this prophesy endured among the scholars and historians, after the dispersion of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians, much of the oral and sparse written history of Israel was carried into the eastern kingdoms upon Jerusalem’s capture by Babylon  including Daniel’s service in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empires.  His active faith and sense of Israelite history would keep this account alive, especially since Daniel was well acquainted and educated with the Magi and advisors to the Kings from Nebuchadnezzar to Xerxes.

Matthew 2:1-2. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  When the time came for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem according to Micah, the star of Messiah was seen and recognized by those who studied astronomy and planetary science in the Eastern Kingdoms.  The study of stars and Eastern thought does not make this unique star of the Promised Redeemer an indication that Astrology is an accepted manner of foretelling the future; it is a reminder of the Scriptural admonition against Astrology.  The star was God’s proclamation the Messiah was to redeem Israel, the people-group into which he was born, but also for the redemption of the Gentiles.  Jesus reinforced His mission by talking with Nicodemus, when He declared the entire world could be saved.  The gifts brought to Jesus were in themselves indicative of his life’s mission; myrrh for His suffering, frankincense for His burial, and the gold for a King, also provision by God for the arduous journey to Egypt that was on the horizon, but unknown by Mary and Joseph.

The scepter still awaits the coming of Jesus when He will rule in wisdom and power from Jerusalem, the last of the promises to Israel to be fulfilled; Jesus will at last rule the entire world as promised by Balaam and others.  Lord Jesus, our gift to You this Christmas is a redeemed heart, a dedicated spirit, and a willingness to be used.  Use us this Christmas season, and every day of our lives in service of our King Jesus in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-19-11

Christmas Day

Genesis 1:14-16, “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years.  They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so.”

There are indications the birth of Jesus actually occurred in the springtime, but since the early years Christians have celebrated the Birth of our Savior around the time of the Winter Solstice which occurs between December 20^th and 21^st annually, incorporating Christmas into already existing pagan celebrations.  The solstice is the position in the earth’s orbit around the sun when the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun, resulting in minimum exposure to the sun and its solar energy.  The Summer Solstice occurs when the earth receives the maximum radiation and is the warmest and the days are longest.  This year, the night between December 20th and 21st is the longest night, thus the 21st is the shortest day of the year.  In Genesis, God said the heavenly bodies, including the sun and moon would be used to measure the years and seasons on the earth, never changing or faltering in their orbit until the perfect heaven and new earth is created.

Because the Roman Empire wanted to pacify their conquered people, they insisted the ‘new’ celebrations of Christianity be incorporated into the old celebrations of the pagans they conquered in Europe, not only the dates, but the traditional manner and symbols of the days.  While some of the current symbols we use have pagan roots, Christians can use these same symbols to exemplify Christian doctrine and values.  Let’s never lose sight of the fact we worship the Creator, but never the creation.  Those who say we should revere “Mother Earth” or the trees and creatures not only worship pagan deities, they demean our Creator God.  When we agree with them, we damage our testimony before the non-believers who may no longer understand and hold as truth the fact that God is the Creator.  Believers should never compromise their certainty of Creation.  When we look at a Christmas tree, we recognize the Trinity in the triangle shape of the tree, the cross and the shed blood of Jesus for our Redemption, rejecting the so-called environmental protectionists who worship the elements of God’s creation instead of the Creator.  Our Heavenly Father, we recognize you as the Creator of all that is and will never revere or recognize any God but you.  Guide us in this Christmas Week so our testimony of Christ as our Redeemer will be paramount in every facet of our lives, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-19-11

Joseph

Matthew 1:20-21, But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

I was reminded by my Granddaughter recently that our emphasis of the Biblical Christmas Account rightfully emphasizes the birth of the Savior, Jesus and of course, Mary, who gave birth to the infant, but give little attention to Joseph when she asked, “Which one of the men is Joseph?”  He was in the back with the shepherds, present but unnoticed.   In the Biblical record, Joseph is seen as a man of faith and trust; faith in God and the angel messenger and trust in Mary, believing her, marrying her and loving her for the rest of his life.  Without the lineage of both Mary and Joseph, the clear right to David’s Throne would not be as unambiguous as it is.

Scripture tells us Joseph was a righteous man, one who lived strictly according to the laws of God, leading a life of one anxious to please his God.  For him to marry a woman already pregnant would not give cover to Mary, but would also damage his own reputation among the people of the village who were as prone to gossip as people are today. His trust in Mary and faith in his God allowed him to share the angel’s vision as well as Mary’s.  This was accepted by some, explained away by other and flatly denied by the rest, even brought up 30 years later by the Scribes and Pharisees who contested Jesus life and message.

Just as Joseph learned to trust, we need to learn to trust in the Lord God to guide our paths as He has promised, not being led by the faulty decisions we may make on our own because we do not have the full picture.  Our understanding is cloudy while God’s paths are clear and unobstructed.  It is by faith we are born into the Family of God, and it is by faith we live a life pleasing to Him.  Faith leads to victory, contentment, a solid witness before others, and to an eternal life of joy in the presence of our God.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for the simple trust to live a life of deep faith, in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-16-11

Good Gifts

James 1:17, “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.  By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth.”

One of the more enjoyable things about Christmas time is looking at the lights that are displayed on homes, business and parks.  While I am sure Bethlehem was a dark shadowy place the night Jesus was born with an occasional candle dimly glowing from an occasional window, the sky exploded with the light of God’s glory when the angels announced Jesus’ birth, and our Heavenly Father who is pure light sent God the Son, who carried that pure light to show the difference between the light of Heaven’s glory and the dark, dim atmosphere of earth clouded and shrouded in sin.

God created light and saw that it was good.  Since the very first tick of time, light and dark have been in opposition, the sun to lighten our day, warm the earth and the moon, a cold reflection of the sun to give a dim sometimes non-existent light in the darkness.  Jesus said He is the Light of the world, a radiance that can be neither dimmed nor extinguished. Thus He lights our lives, our hearts and our souls from within, making us a radiant witness to His goodness.  God gave us light to proclaim the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, following Him, or denying Him, living in His life for eternity and existing in utter darkness and torment for the same length of time.

This Christmas Season, enjoy the lights and sounds of Christmas, recognizing the Light of the World entered our time zone to bring us salvation, sing for joy and may the brilliant light of the gospel radiate out of our lives to all who meet us this day and every day of our life.  He is the “Light shining in the Darkness,” the Light that casts no shadow but rather illuminates evenly and fully from every direction.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we remember The Light of the World with every little light we see this Christmas season.  Help us to live in the center of Your light as we ask for Your guidance for every footstep and illumination for our pathways, we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-15-11

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

These names written long before Jesus’ birth prophecy His life purpose and the mighty work He accomplished.  He is the Wonderful Counselor, as Jesus walked this earth He spoke with, healed and forgave the sins of many; He also counseled and renewed the mind of the man from Gadara who was completely mad, but after meeting our Savior became rational, dedicated, wishing to tell how his life changed wherever Jesus wanted.  Jesus sent the man to his home village, to those who knew him before his new birth and the horror under which he lived.  Jesus met Nicodemus one night, showed him the error of his thinking, training and the group he allowed to influence him.  When Jesus prepared to leave this world, He promised to send another counselor, one who would never leave us and would be our teacher, leader, guide and good shepherd after Jesus ascended to Heaven.  Jesus was truly 100% God while He walked this earth, while at the same time, 100% human, providing the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  In addition to being our Savior, He is the Eternal Father, whose righteousness envelopes us fully, making us sinless in the eyes of Almighty God who judges all mankind.

Our Redeemer, Jesus who was born in Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace.  He is the one who will soon come in power and glory to assume His rightful position as the King who will rule the world for one thousand years, sitting on the throne in Jerusalem where King David reigned so long ago.  His kingdom will be a kingdom of peace and the whole earth will live in submission to Him.  Right now, because of His death, burial and resurrection He has made it possible for all who call upon Him for salvation to live at peace with Jehovah God.  The calm, serene spirit of peace lives within the lives and hearts of all who claim God as their Heavenly Father.  Truly Jesus is the Prince of Peace and there is no one else that can claim that title.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we love you and praise ypu for the gift of redemption.  Give us the strength and desire to  serve you this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-14-11

The Promised One

Genesis 3:15, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.  He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

This is the first mention of the promise that came to fruition in Bethlehem when Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Savior – The Promised One.  Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned God provided the way of redemption.  Adam and Eve lost their innocence when they ate of the forbidden fruit, they learned evil as well as knowing good because of their sin therefore they now needed their bodies covered, and their sin covered as well by the blood of an animal sacrifice.  The sacrifice was offered in faith believing that God would indeed provide the Promised Redeemer, the Perfect Sacrifice that would not just cover the sin, but remove it.  Each sacrifice offered under the Old Testament plan was offered in faith in the promise of God to ultimately provide for the individual to be wrapped in the purity and righteousness of God the Son, The Perfect Sacrifice.

God called Abraham out of Ur, telling him that out of his descendents would come one who would be this Promised One; this assurance was repeated to Isaac and then Jacob, finally to the twelve tribes that made up the ancient Nation of Israel.  Every person in Israel knew the history of the sin, promise, and the choosing of Abraham’s descendents to ultimately have that promise fulfilled within their clan.  God provided a code of conduct, laws to regulate their society, their interrelationships, diet and manner of worship because he was preparing a unique people for a unique, one-time event to present the promised Redeemer to the world.

God continued to mold and shape the Israelite people, as time passed, the prophets began to fill out the prophecy, the Promised One would be born in the village of Bethlehem in the valley of Ephrata, and He would be of the line of the great King David and would be born of a virgin.  Finally in the perfect plan of God, the promise was fulfilled, the Promised One was born, Jesus – born of the virgin Mary, raised in the town of Nazareth, lived for a time in Egypt, adored by the wise ones from the east, revered and recognized by the shepherds and of the lineage and line of David who was in the ancestry of both his mother, Mary and her husband, Joseph.  At the time of His birth, death and when he returns to this earth, there is no other person in Heaven or earth that has a claim to the throne of David that is superior to His.  The time of His entry into Jerusalem in recognition of his position, was precisely foretold by the prophet Daniel.  We do not know the day or month of Jesus’ birth, but we do know He was born, lived, died and rose again to crush the head of Satan and to reign in the heart of every person who will accept His sacrifice for their salvation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we praise You this season for the joy of Your salvation that makes us anxious to be Your servant.  Guide us today and every day until You return for us, in Jesus’ sovereign name.

Manna in the Morning

12-13-11

King Jesus

Luke 1:32-33, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”

As Gabriel spoke to Mary about bearing Jesus, he said, “He will reign forever.”  I wonder if Mary held on to the words spoken by Gabriel throughout Jesus’ life and even whispered them without understanding as she saw his life’s breath falter and fail on Calvary?  Scripture tells us Mary remembered all these events surrounding Jesus’ birth and treasured them in her heart and pondered over them often during the years of Jesus life.  When the crowd cheered and shouted ‘hosanna’ on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem through the eastern gate, Mary must have thought this was the time when Gabriel’s words would come true and Jesus would assume the royal throne over all Judea, but as the crowd dispersed, going back to their daily routine, then just short days later took up a new cry, “Crucify Him!”

Centuries before, God gave Daniel an overview of the 490 year time-line of the Jewish Nation, and after 483 years of it were fulfilled it pleased Him to stop the clock when Jesus ascended into heaven, and hold Jewish history from completing the last 7 years while the Church is present here on the earth; God will allow the clock to resume when the Church is taken out of this earth into the Heavenlies.  Shortly thereafter, Jesus will return to this earth and take His rightful place on the throne of David from which He will rule the entire world for 1,000 years.  He is the only living person who has the right to that throne, both Biblically because God ordained it so, and legally because His earthly mother and Joseph were both descendents of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel then his son Judah who was promised the line of Kings would come from his family, then of the great King David, and Jesus was so registered in the Temple records as well as the Roman census.  When you and I are born anew as citizens of God’s Kingdom we should willingly put ourselves under Jesus’ benevolent reign, not waiting for his return to this earth.

            Lord God in Heaven, we are eager for the return of Jesus to this earth and will devote our lives to doing Your will until called to be with you.

Manna in the Morning

12-12-11

Christmas Tree

Jeremiah 10:3-4, “For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak.”

These verses have little, if anything, to do with the Christmas Trees believers put in their homes and decorate with themes that emphasize the birth of the Redeemer.  A fir tree was first used by a monk in the 7th century, who used its triangular shape to illustrate the Trinity, then it came to the United States in the late 1700’s with the Hessian Soldiers who wintered in the US but the Christmas tree did not enjoy wide acceptance here until after the War Between the States.

For an unsaved person, the worship of trees goes back at least as far as ancient Egypt where the Egyptians reverenced evergreens. The Druids in England used Mistletoe and Holly berries in their winter solstice ceremonies but the Christmas tree itself comes from Northern Europe. The Norse put an evergreen tree by their door to remind them spring was coming while the Germans used the tree in their solstice rites. Early Medieval Churches first pulled all these traditions together in a Christmas tree with glass ornaments in Germany.  Martin Luther started the lighted tree tradition with candles, today it is a traditional Christmas symbol with mixed messages and traditions.

To The Christian, the tree itself reminds us of Calvary and the Cross, the green boughs cause us to think of the eternal life we have in Christ Jesus and the Heaven He has prepared for us, the red lights and ornaments are all symbols of the shed blood of Jesus that washes away our sins, making us white and pure for God’s habitation. The star or angel at the top of the tree will keep us centered on the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus, His coming into this world with only one purpose, our Redemption. The gold and silver ornaments and garlands will keep us aware of heaven’s riches, earth’s poverty, and our  unlimited storehouse of God’s gifts of grace open to us at every moment.

The tree is our recognition of family traditions, God’s ever-new provision, and the proclamation of the Gospel we give to the world. The specific day upon which Jesus was born we do not know, but the recognition of His taking on human form to redeem us is a special day for every Christian. Many connect with long-ago Christmas memories through the smell of the evergreen tree and the rich colorful wrapped packages that remind us of the gifts given to the infant Jesus. Christmas is best celebrated in the heart with homage, adoration and praise to our Savior instead of in the lavish gifts and excesses that have now become commonplace.  The original gifts given to the Child who was born, remind us of heaven’s great gift to us, a gift beyond price or comparison. As we enjoy this special time, let your lives spread the love and joy of the Lord Jesus.

Lord God in Heaven, make us bold in our witness these next days, and show us the meaning of sacrificial love, Godly giving and Redemption’s promises in the lights and sounds of Christmas. In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-09-11

Happiness and Joy

2 Chronicles 7:10, “On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, rejoicing and with happy hearts for the goodness the Lord had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.” Luke 2:10, “But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.”

On the day the Temple was dedicated, King Solomon led an extravaganza of sacrifice, praise, worship and thanksgiving that will never be equaled on the face of this earth.  The Israelites were happy, that is gleeful, merry in their heart at the good thing in which they had just participated.  Their souls were happy, the glee lasted for a while and the merry feeling lasted until they had a slight misfortune or their food ran out, then they lost their glee and happiness.  The same unease will find its way into hearts this Christmas Season when men and women, boys and girls open all their presents and they are happy for a while, thanking people for what they have received, and happy that what they gave was accepted with gladness.  After the tissue and wrapping paper is picked up and put in the trash, they will look at their gifts and with the happiness will be a longing for something they anticipated, but did not find its way into their hands.  Yes, they are truly happy but with a lingering sense of incompletion.  Happiness is based upon earthly emotions and is both temporary and elusive.

When the angels proclaimed good news to all mankind they emphasized it would bring great joy.  The Savior had come to earth, taking the form of man, God’s greatest creation; the Creator had assumed the form of His own creation for one purpose only, to bring the joy of salvation into the believing hearts of those that accepted His message.  The everlasting joy of redemption is never ending and will be ours both on this earth and in the highest heavens.  Joy is ours in the happiest times of our lives, and the deep, never-ending joy of the Lord is ours in the saddest and most difficult times we will spend on this earth.

As we enjoy this Christmas Season, let the joy of our Lord be present in our hearts and manifested in our attitudes and the glow on our faces as we remember the birth of our Redeemer, the perfect Sacrifice that alone could pay the price for our sin.  Our loving Heavenly Father, with joy in our hearts we thank you for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem long ago.  May our spiritual ears hear the angel voices praise you with their proclamation of great joy, in Jesus’ wonderful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-07-11

Ambush

Psalms 64:2-5, “Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of evildoers, who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from concealed places at the innocent.  They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.  They encourage each other in an evil plan.”

Seventy years ago, the United States of America was attacked without warning by The Imperial Navy of Japan killing nearly 2,500 men and sinking most of the U S Navy’s Pacific Fleet moored at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, putting the United States at a severe disadvantage in the war that followed.  Our Nation memorializes the sunken warships in a solemn memorial located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  World War II veterans have been dying at a rate of 300,000 per year, and we need to thank them for their great service to our country.

We all watched the TV news broadcasts of the three airliners hitting the Pentagon and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center just ten years ago.  Americans understand and know full well the horror of a sneak attack – an ambush.  Before December 7th, 1941 and September 11th, 2001 we were living sheltered, contented, comfortable lives not expecting an attack from any source, most of us had never heard of Al Queda or Osama bin Laden but every one of us will long remember the lump that formed in our throats, and dropped heavily into our stomachs at the news of Pearl Harbor, the Twin Towers, or both.  There is no intellect more adept at setting up sneak attacks or ambushes than our spiritual archenemy, Satan, who has been fighting against our God Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Just when we feel comfortable in our Christian life, when we feel we are winning the battles, our adversary will set up an ambush, a temptation we cannot resist on our own, since it appeals to our fleshly appetites such as money, power, or licentiousness.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” is a truism we dare not ignore.  Just as we were attacked without warning seventy years ago, and again ten years ago, our nation has to be continually on guard lest other sneak attacks come upon us without warning.  Just as the United States rallied to defeat the Axis Powers, won victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, in our spiritual battles we need to continually be on guard against sneak attacks by our declared adversary.  Using God’s Word and prayer as our weapons, wearing the full protective armor given to us by God, we can survive every attack, no matter how it is presented, emerging triumphant to stand guiltless before our God.

Lord God our rock and shield; we ask for the spiritual discernment to recognize and avoid the wiles and traps of the devil.  Protect our nation and its leaders, keep us ever vigilant against those who would destroy our Nation and bless and protect our Military across the world, we ask this in Jesus’ powerful name.

Manna in the Morning

12-08-10

Gifts

Matthew 2:11, “Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

History tells of St. Nicholas being born to a wealthy, elderly couple in what is now Turkey in the year 280 AD.  When his parents died, he generously gave his wealth to the poor. Upon hearing a merchant had gone bankrupt and that creditors were planning on taking the merchant’s daughters into slavery as payment, Nicholas threw some money in the window at night to provide a dowry for the daughters to marry, thus saving them from a life of forced prostitution in payment of their father’s debts.  When the father discovered Nicholas had given the money, Nicholas made him promise not to tell as he wanted the glory to go to God, thus inspiring the tradition of secret gift-giving on the anniversary of Nicholas’ death which occurred in December. (One possible reason we celebrate Christmas in December.)

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” the story/poem we remember and quote, showing Santa as a jolly old man in a red suit was written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823 and quickly became a favorite.  While the original Nicholas of Myra gave his gifts to honor and glorify his Lord, the jolly elf of the poem was the one who supplied the gifts and kept the list of good and bad children.  The wise men gave their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the child, Jesus, in homage, adoration and praise and the only list kept in Heaven is the names of the redeemed listed in the Lamb’s Book of (Eternal) Life.

Today we give gifts because we feel obligated or in response to the overwhelming allure of the advertising of the retail stores and shops.  While our custom began with a man who wished all glory be given to his Lord, today we are giving because of a different motivation.  In many cases we have allowed our culture to dictate our values.  The best gift we can give to our family, friends and others is something that will direct them to God’s Word and the true Christmas account.  In this Christmas season, while people are at least recognizing the birth of Jesus the Savior, use Tracts, Gospels of John or other handouts to direct their attention to their need of a redeemer  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we ask You to give us many opportunities this month to share our testimony with others.  Give us boldness we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna the Morning

12-02-11

The Gift of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18, “Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Scripturally, reconciliation means ‘restoration to divine favor’ from being outside  the boundaries of God’s blessings and benevolent eye where He looks upon our actions with disfavor and by the confession of sin and asking for our Heavenly Father’s forgiveness, being forgiven by God’s love and perfect justice and restored to full fellowship with Him.  Reconciliation is a mutual exchange, where we exchange our sin for the perfect righteousness of Jesus because of His great love for us and the divine provision of the way of salvation.  In Old Testament times there was no exchange for the perfect righteousness of the Promised Redeemer because, while mankind had the promise of His coming, He had not yet come to this earth and made the exchange of His perfection for the sin debt of all who would call upon Him.

Because of our own salvation, being born anew into the Family of God, having our sin debt forgiven and our souls reconciled to Him, we now have to perform our part of this mutually agreed upon exchange.  We have been given the ministry or official position as an appointed servant of our God to witness, teach and live out the message of God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, the answer to the promise given in Genesis.  Many people who call themselves Christians have accepted God’s offer of reconciliation to Himself, but have never considered fulfilling their part of the agreement, that is of living a life dedicated to His glory.

We who know Christ Jesus as our redeemer are to live a witness so apparent to others, to be so transparent in the way we act and speak that the glory of our God that is within us shines out and our actions alone will convict others.  It is regrettable that there is so little difference in the lives of God’s children and the unsaved people of the world.  It is because of God’s perfect love we have been redeemed, it is because of His perfect justice we are saved from sin’s death penalty, and it is our responsibility to live a unique, God honoring life in attitude, actions and every word we speak, so that we, in every way, reflect our love for our great God.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we plead for the strength and courage to make this day count for you, in Jesus name.

Manna in the Morning

12-01-11

The Gift of Peace

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’”

Another of the wonderful gifts God has given us is the gift of peace.  Jesus, our Savior is the Prince of Peace, there will be no lasting peace on earth until Jesus descends to earth to sit on singular throne, ruling all mankind from David’s throne in Jerusalem as promised in Scripture.  There are at least three ways to know God’s peace in our lives and hearts, and none of these means the end of hostilities or the fact that we are not at war.  First, we are at peace with God.  There are no hostile feelings either way between our hearts and God our Creator.  Before we accepted Christ Jesus as our Redeemer, there was a wall called sin between us and without His sacrifice it is impossible to remove that barrier, allowing peace between our Heavenly Father and our sinful souls.

Our lives today are lived in the security of the peace of God.  No matter what comes into our lives, whether we face challenges or disappointments, persecution or disapproval our stand for Christ, we have the sure peace of God in our hearts.  People in Totalitarian Countries who are beaten or imprisoned for their faith are calm in their spirit, knowing the peace of God in their lives, a peace that is beyond any human ability to understand.  To the believer in Jesus Christ, there is no torment or terror in their lives, only the certainty of their eternal future in the peaceful shores of heaven awaiting them.

As children of our great Heavenly Father we are grateful for the peace from God, the feeling that floods our souls, calms our spirits, and fortifies our entire consciousness with His peace.  It is not just our duty to share this peace; it is our great opportunity to share it with others so they too can live in His tender care and protection against the enemy attacks that would cause us spiritual harm.  Our Heavenly Father, fill our lives and hearts with the peace of your presence this day we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-30-11

God’s Gifts

Romans 9:15-16, “For He (God) tells Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does not depend on human will or effort, but on God who shows mercy.”

One of God’s great gifts to us is mercy.  Mercy is much more than our not receiving what we deserve.  Every Believer in Jesus has absolutely nothing to offer to our God and we have much within our lives that needs to be forgiven, it is by the mercy of God that we have life itself and we are to live it to the glory of our God.  Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations, It is by the mercy of God that we are not consumed and His compassion will never fail.  Jeremiah goes on to write, the mercy of God is new every morning, and there is no end to the ever replenished supply.

It is when we were the least appealing in God’s eyes that His mercy reached out to us and drew us to Himself, sin has but one penalty, and we are guilty of the death penalty in God’s Court many times over, but His mercy prevents us from feeling His wrath and provides a way to Heaven’s joy.  Mercy provides reconciliation to the soul that has strayed from God, who has chosen this earth’s allurements over the promises of God, who have turned aside from His path for our lives and have, like the prodigal son who repented of his sin, returned to the presence of the Father, begged forgiveness and have been restored to full fellowship once more.  God’s mercy is shown in His compassion and intervention in the lives of those who are suffering adversity.  As Jesus ministered in Judea and Galilee, He often showed His mercy on those who lived in misery such as the blind beggar or the paralyzed man lying near the pool of healing.  He removed the cause of their miserable, painful life and restored them to fullness.

Because our Heavenly Father is merciful, we are to show mercy to those who need a comforting touch.  He may want to use our hands to comfort or our legs to bring relief to the ones who need to feel His mercy in order to hear the call of God the Holy Spirit and be born anew into the family of our God.  Our merciful Heavenly Father, thank you in Jesus name for the gift of mercy You have poured out so abundantly on our lives.  Make us willing to be merciful in your name.

Manna in the Morning

11-28-11

John the Baptist

John 1:6-8, “There was a man named John who was sent from God.  He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.”  In John 8:12, Jesus said “I am the light of the world.”

When, in the course of eternity, our God decided to create this universe the first thing he spoke into being was light to show the contrast with darkness which is simply the complete absence of light.  When light came into the world, it became the symbol of God and His goodness, we would not have to dwell in the darkness, but in the glorious created light that was an indication of the love our God had for His crowning creation, mankind.

When the time was right a child was born who under the normal sequence of events would be named for his father and be a Priest serving in the Temple, instead the child, born to aging parents under the lifetime Nazirite vow, was named John and became a voice heralding the coming of the anointed Promised One, Jesus, God the Son who is our Redeemer.  John made it clear he was not the one who could call himself ‘the Light of the World’ but he had the privilege to recognize and baptize Jesus who is the Light of the World.  John presented Jesus as the Perfect Sacrifice, promised long ago who is the sinless Lamb of God.  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentence, which required a recognition, admission and conviction of sin which men and women had committed and then came to be baptized in recognition of their need.  John prophesied of the light to come, introduced the light when He came, and instructed his disciples to follow Jesus who would bring light into their hearts and lives to illumine the spiritually dark world in which they lived.

Today, we live in an equally spiritually dark world and need to follow the leading of God the Holy Spirit in spreading the light of God’s Word and the promise of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary, simply because He has asked us to be faithful to Him.  Lord God, our Heavenly Father, we want to be found faithful this day, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-23-11

Fellowship

Leviticus 7:13, “He is to present as his offering cakes of leavened bread, with his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship.”

Thanksgiving in the United States traces its roots back to the original colonies that were thankful for God’s blessings for a harvest that would allow them to survive another coming winter.  Today it is seen as the beginning of the Christmas buying season, with storms opening early on Friday, or even open all day Thursday, as well as for the plethora of football games played at various times during the day.

Thanksgiving is also a day to spend with family.  The table laden with food, parents, children, grandchildren even great-grandchildren gathering together in the love and fellowship that only families can provide.  You may have memories of Thanksgiving Days that perhaps, started with a church Service to remind folks of all that God had done through the year for them as a community united in Christ, then to the largest house in the family for a dinner for which every group had provided a part, the closeness of all the family members laughing and sharing together over the events in the past year, as well as the eager anticipation of events in the months ahead.

Many individuals will give thanks on this day without family or friends, God has blessed them and it is a day to remember their blessings.  As a nation and families, we will miss those of our loved ones who are on military duty in theatres of combat and on ships at sea across the world as they defend our liberties and provide safety to us as a grateful nation.  May each of us thank God for each of them!

As we gather with family and friends, we must remember to be grateful for Christian friends, those with whom we can share our deepest needs and cares, for the support we know and feel without question.  We are grateful for our families, especially those who are able to enjoy multi-generational gatherings.  God has blessed families whose foundation is the Lord in ways only envied by those outside of Christ’s love.  We need to recognize the blessing of our Churches and Bible Classes where we study and share God’s Word and the way our great God is working in our lives.

Forgetting the sales, coupons, discounts and sales pitches this day we praise You, our Heavenly Father for the fellowship we have as family, friends and especially with our Savior who is a Friend that is closer than a brother, and in whose name we come to you in prayer.

Manna in the Morning

11-22-11

Gratitude

1 Timothy 4:3-4, “They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”

This passage in First Timothy is a warning against those who teach and preach a gospel message and behavior contrary to the Word of God.  While no specific group or organization is mentioned, the thrust of the passage is that if God’s Word calls something good, it is heresy to call it bad, and if the Scriptures teach against something, it is sin to call it acceptable.  We live in an age very much like the time of the Judges when “Every man did what was right in his own eyes,” disobeying God’s commandments, establishing false priests, willful disregard for God’s precepts leading to Israel’s servitude to other nations.  At least three times, God clarified the acceptable diet for humanity, the last time being when God told Peter not to call unclean what God Himself has declared clean.

The emphasis in this passage is not to try and build a theological base for one person’s pet idea, but to be grateful for all that God has given us in creation.  Animals do not have souls, and we are not killers and cannibals if we eat meat.  God specifically told Noah that animals were given a fear of humanity and were part of our acceptable diet after the flood.  As we approach Thanksgiving, consider all the good things God has given us.  We are redeemed by the sacrifice of God’s Promised One, we are reconciled to Him, and we have the rare privilege of serving Him.  He actually wants to use us, as imperfect as we are, as His ambassadors to the population of this world.

The word translated in this passage as gratitude and thanksgiving is the same, and it means not just expressing the words of thanks, but an attitude of active gratitude, expressed in specific language toward God as an act of worship when our heart bows gratefully before God’s Holy Throne and expresses the grateful attitude of our entire being through worship.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your abiding love, for your unending grace and your unfailing mercy.  Accept our thanksgiving in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the morning

11-21-11

Rescue Me

Psalm 119:169-170, “Let my cry reach You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.  Let my plea reach You; rescue me according to Your promise. “

Living as we do, on the Gulf of Mexico, hearing the Coast Guard helicopters fly overhead on regular patrols of the coast line, our newspapers routinely carry items regarding the rescue of individuals.  Recently a boat was overturned by an unexpected large wave that threw 4 people overboard.  Three were saved but by the time help arrived one man had drowned.  There was no one close by who could hear the cries for help from the drifting men.

Every Believer in Jesus Christ has felt abandoned, lost, mired down by events in their lives; losing a close family member, loss of a job, being unable to buy even the bare necessities of life and their cries for help go unheard in society, but God hears.  Others are overcome with guilt and sorrow over past sins and feel the suffocating waves of depression beginning to wash over them, if they cry out to the Lord God, their cries will be heard and He will rescue them.  Even Paul, the great missionary apostle cried out as recorded in Romans 7:24-25, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” and the answer is clear, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Across the sinful earth men and women languish in prison or house arrest for proclaiming Christ Jesus who are waiting for Him to rescue them, and He will at the appropriate time.

There may be someone reading these sentences or someone you know who is oppressed and overwhelmed in sin and are crying for salvation.  The answer is Jesus, whose sacrifice on Calvary is the method of rescue, His love is the hand reaches out to you in an invitation to clasp His hand and be lifted from the miserable mire of sin into the ark of safety, salvation in Jesus’ sacrifice and victory over sin and death.  It doesn’t matter if the waves of disappointment are lapping at your ankles or the crushing rip tide of despondency is threatening to pull you under, Jesus will hear, answer and rescue you from your plight.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, rescue those who call upon You today, and give each of us a fresh assurance of Your hand holding us in safety, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

11-17-11

A New Creation

2 Peter 3:13, “But based on His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.”

Much is said in the Scriptures of a new heaven and a new earth.  In Isaiah 65:17 God says, “For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.” In Isaiah 66:22, God says, “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me”—the Lord’s declaration—so will your offspring and your name endure.” And in Rev. 21:1, John reports, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer.”

Back in the Genesis account of God promising a Savior, He also cursed the ground.  Since that time the earth has steadily deteriorated through the effects of sin and natural effects that were not known before.  First the Tower of Babel, where humanity was separated, their language confounded and migration began across the face of the earth because of sin, then the separation of the continents and the great flood in Noah’s time.  Today, we live with the results of many centuries of deterioration and misuse.  The Sahara desert is growing in size, the vegetation of Sub-Saharan Africa is dying out on the edges of the desert, farmable land is losing topsoil like the US, in what we call the dustbowl era, and climate fluctuations occur influenced by solar flare activity, seismic action, weather patterns and storms as the earth and our solar system continue to deteriorate..

In Isaiah, God the Father promises a new creation in which only righteousness will exist and where all evidences of the past will be non-existent, including our sins and failures.  Satan will be chained to tempt humanity no more, and we who love our God will exist in joy and peace, enjoying the eternal presence with our God for which we were created.  God will, in His own time, de-create the universe He has created, and recreate a new universe unmarred and untouched by unrighteousness, lasting for all eternity.  Our great Heavenly Father, we praise You for the promises in which we have full confidence.  The joy of anticipating the fulfillment of Your promises fills our hearts as we live for you this day.  Accept our adoration in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-17-11

Inappropriate offerings

Leviticus 10:3, “I will show My holiness to those who are near Me, and I will reveal My glory before all the people.”

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu were ordained as priests, but did not follow the orders and procedures of God as they carried out their priestly duties.  One day they carried unsanctified firepans with fire and incense and went into worship.  God immediately struck them dead for their inappropriate and improper worship.  God has said when we worship before Him, or go to prayer before the Throne in an inappropriate manner or irreverence, we will not see His Holiness and glory, but more than that, our prayers will not find favor with Him because of our careless manner of approaching Him.  When men and women come before Him in reverence and awe, when our hearts are pure and we have no unconfessed sin in our lives we will know His Holiness and His glory in answering our prayers will be seen by many people.

There is an alarming tendency among men and women today, even those who know the Lord God as the author and finisher of their salvation to be much too casual in their approach to worship and sincere, dedicated, intercessory prayer.  We must never forget our God is awesome, holy and terrible in His power.  He will allow no sin in His presence, yet we presume to come to Him with unconfessed sin in our lives, expect His blessing and answer as if we somehow deserved it.  God answers out of His mercy and we must recognize we deserve nothing; all His gifts are ours by His love and grace.

Because of God’s love in reaching down and lifting us from the mire of sin, because of His willing sacrifice on Calvary, because of His glorious victory over Satan and the grave we are obligated by our love for Him to enter His presence in purity and fully enclosed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus with no unforgiven sin in our lives.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we love and hold you in awesome reverence.  Purify us and forgive our sin as we enter your presence we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-16-11

Fire

Acts 2:3-4, “And tongues, like flames of fire that were
divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the
Spirit gave them ability for speech.”

When Moses
turned aside to see the burning bush that was not consumed and turned to ashes,
he was in the presence of God.  When he went
up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments; there was a cloud with flashes
of light surrounding the entire mountain he was surrounded by God’s glory and
in His presence.  In both of these events,
the flashes of light were manifestations of the Shikinah Glory of our great
God, His glory indicates His presence, but that is not His appearance, it is
the great glory of our God.  Moses, after
being in the presence of the Glory of God, had to wear a covering over his face
because he shone after being in God’s presence.
When Jesus was on the Mountain with Moses and Elijah, He too was covered
in the Shikinah Glory of God, because He truly was fully God, while fully
man.  The disciples also had to wear
coverings over their faces because they were in the presence of God’s glory.

On the Day
of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus were gathered together, when a sound like
a mighty roaring wind was heard and suddenly what looked like flames of fire
appeared over the heads of the gathered men.
The Shikinah Glory of God, in its splendor and brilliant light signified
the presence of God in that place, filling each of the men there with the
indwelling God the Holy Spirit.  You and
I are filled with that same presence of God in our lives and just as the disciples
and Moses glowed with brilliance, our lives should give evidence that our
saving God, the One who empowers us, is present in our lives.  Our daily prayer should be that we as individuals
will be so transparent the glory of God that is within us will be seen by all
who look at us.  Not that they see us,
but instead they will see God who infuses every part of our lives.

Our
gracious, all-powerful God and Father, our prayer is that today people will not
see us, but God who dwells within us, that the Shikinah Glory of the Almighty
God will be manifested in the way we live.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-15-11

Truth

Psalm 25:10-11, “All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and
truth to those who keep His covenant and decrees. Because of Your name, Lord, forgive
my sin, for it is great.” John 14:6, Jesus told him, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus told
those that listened to Him while he walked in Galilee and Judea that He is Truth.  In Psalm 29, we are promised that all that
the Lord God does for we who are His children is faithful love and sharing of
the Truth.  Satan is called the father of
lies, and we know it was a lie from the darkest abyss of hell that caused Eve
to partake of the fruit of the forbidden tree.
It seems that today, in our dealings with others, whether the person
wants to sell you something, a politician who wants your vote or the Leaders of
our Government who hide things they would rather we didn’t know, Truth is “A
restatement of available information that sufficiently clouds the subject so we
can get you to agree with us without actually telling you a bald-faced lie.”  Scripture tells us not to be deceived by
these tricks of the devil, God will not be mocked nor will He ever lead or tell
us anything that does not bear the imprint of Jesus, who is Truth!  God’s promises, from Genesis to Revelation
are true and fulfilled in our life in Him, He has withheld nothing from us that
is good, and never given us anything that is detrimental to our faith in Him.

Contrary to
what some people would like to believe, salvation is not just a one-way
street.  When we come to Christ Jesus in
repentence and ask forgiveness, God is faithful to forgive and restore us in
Him.  When we accept our Heavenly Father’s
offer of salvation, we also are to give Him our life to use as He wishes.  We actually enter into an exchange with our Savior;
we take His righteous, perfect life as ours, and give Him our life to mold,
shape and use as He wishes.  We are His,
and He is ours.  Our gracious Heavenly
Father, we ask you for the strength to live for you this day in spirit and in
truth, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-14-11

God’s Eyes

1 Peter 3:12, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and
His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those
who do evil.”

Since God
is Spirit and does not have a physical body, how can He see what is going on in
this world and keep His eye of protection and correction upon us and how can
His ears be open to our requests?  Because
God is perfect and complete in every way, He is aware of the intentions of our mind,
the thoughts that precede our words and the requests that we hold up to him,
not in our spoken words, but in the quiet moments of our quiet study and prayer
time.  When we concentrate upon Him and
His will for us, our minds are open to the discernment of God the Holy Spirit
within us, when we utter words that are unwholesome or rude, criticism of
others or unkind words spoken in frustration or anger, it is not the words that
grieve his heart so much as the thoughts and intents buried deep within us that
we think go unnoticed.  Those around us
may not know, but God knows and convicts our hearts calling for our repentance
and asking for forgiveness.

Our creator
God knows what goes on in the life of every one of His creations.  Jesus said that not even the tiniest bird
could fall without the full knowledge of God, and as His crowning creation, He
has a special concern for each of His children who have been born anew into His
family.  We can be assured that nothing will
come into our lives that do not bring Him glory if we are walking in His
will.  Satan may bring obstacles, even
endeavor to take our lives to thwart the plan of our Heavenly father, but He
will protect and keep us until our work for him upon this earth is complete.

Our
all-powerful God not only knows the life of each of His children intimately, He
knows the thoughts and intents of the hearts of those who are set against Him
and His plan.  Those who are under the
control of Satan will find God’s only thought for them is that they turn to Him
and accept the offered salvation.
Anything that is not done in the strength and power of God is evil.  Our Heavenly Father, keep us we pray in the
center of your hand this day, we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-11-11

Veteran’s Day

            November 11th is known throughout
America as Veteran’s Day, a day when those who have served in the Armed Forces
of the United States are honored for their service.  The holiday was originally named Armistice
Day when WWI ended on November 11, 1911, and after WWII, it was renamed
Veteran’s Day to recognize those who served in that great conflict also.  This year we also recognize those who served
in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Haiti, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and many other
missions and conflicts across the world’s surface.  These men and women were imprisoned, wounded,
killed, and gave of themselves to keep the fire of freedom burning bright; each
who served our Country in uniform, regardless of the year, were willing to give
their lives to protect our Nation, our Constitution and our citizens..

The long lasting spiritual war in
which we are engaged has veterans who came through battles from Eden down
through the centuries until today.
Hebrews 11 gives us a list of heroes of faith, and to that list we add
the Missionary Apostles, such as Paul and Thomas, leaders like Barnabas and
John.  Other men such as Whitfield,
Tyndale, Luther, and more recently, the five martyrs in Ecuador, the murdered
hostages in Columbia, the 7 people imprisoned in Afghanistan, those who are
imprisoned and tortured in repressive regimes across the world and preachers
like John Wesley, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and the countless men who serve
across the nation in churches large and small. Some serve congregations who are
unable to pay their Pastors, these men work their paying jobs all week, still
find time to, visit, study, preach and teach.
Each of them, along with every other believer, is a veteran of God’s
mighty army.  No single individual is
successful in his own strength however, “No king is saved by the size of
his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.” Ps 33:16.  Our strength is in our Lord, our success is
in our reliance upon him, our victory is hidden in His, and our reward is to
hear His “Well done, faithful servant” as we enter Heaven’s portals.

We, as a nation, owe our precious
freedom to the men and women who gave of themselves, and we owe our rich
spiritual heritage to the great men who have gone before us.  May God bless you abundantly this day for
your willing service to our living Savior, and thank you with God’s great
blessings to each of you who served in the Military.

Manna in the Morning\

11-10-11

The Righteous

Proverbs 10:30-32, “The righteous will never be shaken, but
the wicked will not remain on the earth. The mouth of the righteous produces
wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.  The lips of the righteous know what is
appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.”

Recent
surveys show there is little difference between the person who claims to be a
believer in Christ Jesus and the person who declares he is an unbeliever.  The divorce rate is close to the same between
the two groups, choice of entertainment is the same, including R-rated movies blurring
the lines between Christians and nonbelievers.
Back in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s there was a cry in many churches for
Believers to live a “separated” life, avoiding or refusing to partake of many
of the things that enticed people into unsavory behavior.  Churches would take a stand against all
movies because of their glorification of promiscuous and sinful behavior, use
of vulgar or blasphemous language and the constant use of alcohol and
tobacco.  Then came g-rated which is
supposed to be ‘family friendly’ and believers accepted themes and language that
seemed to come straight from the councils of Satan and his angels.

There has
been an explosion among our youth in unclean, blasphemous language ranging from
gutter language to common misuse of God’s name in everyday conversation or expletives
that would have had kid’s mouths washed out with soap years ago.

This passage
contrasts the way of the righteous person who follows God’s precepts and
guidelines and the way of the wicked and perverse person.  The Christian who is wrapped in the righteousness
of Christ is steady, unwavering, fixed on the goal of heaven for all eternity,
when he or she speaks it is with wisdom and always appropriate and proper.  The wicked waver like the grass in the wind,
perverse in their words and will be ignored for using perverse or stubborn,
wicked and hurtful language.  God’s Word
commands us to keep from uttering unclean, vulgar or inappropriate language and
to speak only words that we would use in the presence of our Heavenly
Father.

Gracious
Father, help us to keep our minds, hearts and lips free of evil and to live in
accordance with Heavenly standards instead of accepting the perversity of the
world.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-09-11

Why?

Mark 15:33, When it was noon, darkness came over the whole
land until three in the afternoon.   And at three Jesus cried out with a loud
voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My
God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Why would
the Creator of all that is allow Himself to be cruelly nailed to a cross and
tortured so horribly by the creations who owed Him honor, glory and their allegiance?  One reason is because our Triune God promised
a perfect sacrifice to rid the earth of sin after the fall of Adam and Eve in
Eden.  We have no idea of the amount of
time they were in the paradise of Eden before they sinned, but once they did,
the paradise was closed to them and the curse of sin fell upon all mankind as
well as all the vegetation and animal life on the face of the earth.  God’s perfect justice demanded this curse
could only be removed by a perfect life given to atone for the sins of all
humanity.

A second reason was the sin weight
of every person was placed upon our Savior.
Since God the Father cannot look upon sin, He had to turn from the ugly
scene, bringing Jesus’ anguished cry.
When Moses put the crossed spars up in the Israelite camp, I wondered
why the serpent was placed upon the crossbar until I realized it foretold the
sin placed upon Jesus.  Now I can’t look
at a crucifix or picture of the crucified Lord without recognizing my sin is
what kept Him there until the full price was paid.

A third
reason was to fulfill the numerous prophecies in the Scriptures of the
suffering Savior; the nails, the piercing, the agony and the joy of triumph at
the end.  No prophet in the Old Testament
could know the joy we know as Children of the Heavenly Father, eternally indwelt
by God the Holy Spirit, knowing the death of God the Son was the answer to the
promise, the redemption of my soul, and the joy of His triumph will last
forever in my heart.

If you read
these words and do not know Jesus as Savior and Leader of your life here on
earth, seek out a church who preaches this message or contact me at the originating
email address and we will lead you to the foot of the cross, the symbol of
salvation.  Lord God our Heavenly Father,
give us courage to share this message this day under your direction we pray in
Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-08-11

Consistently Christ’s

Luke 17:20, “Being asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, “The
kingdom of God is not coming with something observable.”

As Jesus
was nearing the end of his earthly ministry, much of his teaching was in
parables.  On this occasion the Pharisees
asked about the coming Kingdom of God. and when Jesus responded, it seemed as
though there were more questions raised than answered.  Jesus’ answer was that pure observation,
evidence that could be seen with the eyes, was not the way to recognize God’s
kingdom, instead it was an inner kingdom of the heart and soul.  Every man or woman who knows Christ Jesus as
Savior is already a part of God’s kingdom and even more, a part of God’s
eternal family.  We enter into eternal
life the moment we are redeemed, there is nothing earthly that can change that
eternal promise, and whether by natural death or being caught up in the
rapture, when we leave this earth we are instantly in the very presence of
Jesus forevermore, just as we are already in God’s spiritual presence through
the habitation of God the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The full indwelling of God is not an elusive
special event to be sought after; He comes to infuse our lives in all His
fullness at the moment of our redemption and it is a matter of our being
yielded to Him because He is eternally present in our life in all His
fullness.  Our usefulness can be
inhibited by our pride, our willful, deliberate sin, by our disobedience to His
will for our life’s purpose or because of our indifference to His leading.

When sin enters our lives it is our
responsibility to recognize it, reject it and ask for the forgiveness God
offers so we can regain that full fellowship with him, and once again
effectively serve him.  We are to be consistently
Christ’s in a constantly evil world.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, give us the strength to follow You, to listen to Your
voice, and keep ourselves from sin so that we can enjoy the eternal kingdom
within us.  In Jesus’ wonderful name we
pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-07-11

Persecution

John 15:20, “Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is
not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.”

Yesterday
many churches recognized the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, but many
more ignored it.  A recent Barna poll
showed only around 20% of Pastors mention the persecuted Christians around the
world from their pulpits, because, they say, most Churchgoers do not want to
hear about it.  This is substantiated by
another poll showing that 74% of church attendees in the United States do not
want to hear about the persecuted church because they don’t believe it will
ever come to America.

Across the
world, on almost every continent persecution of Christians is on the rise.  China, North Korea and Cuba still have severe
restrictions on evangelical Churches and routinely imprison torture, even beat
to death or formally execute those who stand firm for the saving gospel of
Jesus Christ.  Russia discourages, if not
prohibits Evangelical Churches, allowing only the Orthodox Churches to continue
unmolested.  Iran, Iraq – especially in
areas where the US Military is spread thin, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
Morocco, Syria, Libya, Eritrea and many countries across Africa are under the
harsh control of Islam and Sharia Law that makes a belief in any faith system
other than Islam punishable by death.  Europe
is rapidly becoming Muslimized and many countries have pockets of Sharia Law
already, including England, Parts of North Europe and Scandinavia with large
sections of their cities under the control of militant Islamists.  Even in the United States there are cities
with large Muslim populations that hold their own trials and harsh punishments
that are impossible for the Police to control.
This is hardly new.  Stephen gave
his life in martyrdom shortly after Christ Jesus died, many of the original
disciples of Jesus were killed for their faith in Him, all through the annals
of history, Christians have had to suffer for their faith and after a few
hundred years of comparative quiet, the persecution of those who love our Lord
is increasing in scope and severity.

Jesus said
this would occur when He said that just as He was persecuted, dishonored and
put to death, those that follow Him will also be persecuted to death before He
returns to rule this world in peace and love.
While the Church is promised that we will not go through the worst of
this time, we can expect the cost of our commitment to Him to grow rapidly in
the future.  Our gracious Heavenly
Father, we ask for the strength to stand firm in our faith, and having done
all, continue standing tall for our loving Savior, in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-04-11

Grudges

Leviticus 19:18, “Do not take revenge or bear a grudge
against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the
Lord.”

Have you
ever been guilty of saying, :”I just don’t like that guy,” or tell others you
can’t enjoy being around a person, maybe mention negative things about a
Christian brother or sister, in order to let people know you feel slighted or
offended by them?  It is certainly one
thing to dislike something a person has done because they are not a Christian
and their actions or words indicate their lost condition.  Yet Jesus loved the sinner, while hating the
sin and sought to win them to Himself.
Because we follow the leading of God the Holy Spirit, we need to pray
for an opportunity to share our testimony with that individual and let God draw
him or her to Himself through our witness.

Then there
are times when we see an individual we know is a Believer in Jesus who acts in
such a manner in word or deed that we know he has not glorified the Heavenly
Father with his actions.  Then we have a
responsibility under Matthew 18 to go to that person with another Believer and
let the Lord show him the need to ask for forgiveness as well as from those he
has wronged and be restored to full fellowship in Christ Jesus.

A third
problem that may arise is when an individual feels slighted or misused by
another believer and instead of going to them and explaining how they feel, seeking
to resolve the issue before it grows and hardens their heart against their
brother or sister in Christ, the person magnifies the incident in his or her own
heart and holds a grudge, literally ‘cherishing the anger’ held in his or her
heart, letting it grow, feeding on the resentment and sense of self-righteousness
within the heart of the offended person.

God’s Word
is clear; we should preserve our testimony and pray for the offender, letting
God repay the offender according to His perfect justice which may include
forgiveness and restoration because of their repentence and plea for
forgiveness.  In any of these situations,
we want to treat others in the manner in which we would like to be treated should
we offend another.  Our gracious Heavenly
Father, give us the grace to forgive in the measure we would want to be
forgiven and the compassion for others to go to them in any event for
restoration, we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-03-11

The Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18, “For to those who are perishing the
message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God’s
power.”

Many events
have been suggested as the focal point of human existence on the earth; the
Industrial Revolution, the Birth of the United States of America, the day Neil
Armstrong stepped on the surface of the moon, the end of WWII, but to the
Christian there is only one day that can be considered as the most important
day in the existence of mankind on this planet.
That is the day the Roman soldiers in Jerusalem erected a cross with our
Savior nailed upon it!  The Day of the
Cross, Good Friday, the day Jesus, the Promised Perfect Sacrifice, gave up His
earthly life to pay the sin debt of every person who calls upon Him for
Salvation.

All these other days are important,
have great meaning but pale into the shadows under the brilliance of the
cross.  The manger in Bethlehem
introduced Jesus to this world, but it was the Cross that brought Redemption
for the world.  Without the cross we
would still be condemned by sin, we would not have peace with God, our lives
would have no meaning and the grave would be our final destination.

The
cross reminds us of God’s Perfect Sacrifice, Anyone whether they love our Lord
or not is reminded of Jesus when they see an empty cross because of the
resurrection.  Why do ungodly men want to
remove the cross from any place where it stands? Because they cannot escape the
reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection when they look upon it, it convicts
their hearts of their sin, unconfessed before God; they can smell the smoke and
hear the agony of the lost souls who neglected the cross while on earth. We
place the cross at the top of the spire on our churches as a beacon of hope and
forgiveness to those who will turn to Christ Jesus, it is a guiding light for
the Believer in Jesus, encouraging and reassuring us of our home in heaven and
the joy that awaits us there.  Heavenly
Father we bow our knees before the cross as we joyfully praise You for our
Redemption, in Jesus’ name we thank You

Manna in the Morning

11-03-11

Praise

Psalm 106:47, “Save us, Lord our God, and gather us from the
nations, so that we may give thanks to Your holy name and rejoice in Your
praise.”

Psalm 106
is a passage relating all that our Lord God has done for the Israelites, as
individuals, a wandering people and as a nation.  God freed them from Egyptian slavery, opened
the Red Sea for them, brought them to Sinai, forgave them when they offered sacrifices
to idols, led them through the desert wastelands, providing food and water, yet
they rebelled against Him.  He gave them
passage through the Jordan  River, tore
down the walls of Jericho, drove out the Canaanites so they could enter in, still
they grumbled and complained.  Over and
over again they turned from His Commands and went their own way, still God
forgave, purified and kept them.

Has God our
Heavenly Father done any less for you?
Hasn’t He forgiven us of our past sins and purified our heart so we can
be assured of joining Him in the Heavenly places?  Why them do we continue to live in an ungodly
society and barely show a difference in lifestyle or a sense of dedication to
Him?  According to His precepts, His
children are to separate themselves from the practices of an unclean, God abhorring
people by coming together in faithful worship, constant prayer for each other as
well as for those who have fallen aside in order to encourage them to return to
full fellowship with Him.  If an
Israelite fell in the wild desert of Paran, don’t you think his friends and
family would encourage, come alongside and help him to rejoin the caravan?  In the same way we are to encourage fellow
believers to make their testimony clear, believable and effective in reaching
others.  Our manner of life is to be a testimony
to God’s glory, our words are to be as pure as Jesus’ was, our commitment to
the message of salvation is fervent as that of God the Holy Spirit so that His
Word may be known throughout the earth.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we
are grateful for Your provided salvation, we praise You for the gift of
reconciliation when we falter and fail, and we honor You for Your boundless mercy
in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-01-11

The Mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16, “For: who has known the Lord’s mind, that
he may instruct Him?  But we have the
mind of Christ.”

Scripture
tells us we have been created in the image of our God, body, soul and
spirit.  When we are reborn into the
Family of God, God the Holy Spirit immediately inhabits our life, we are
completely infused by Him, our soul is no longer bound by sin, condemned to
hell by our own actions, but instead, because we know Christ Jesus as Redeemer,
we know we shall spend eternity with our Heavenly Father in the Heavenlies.  Our body has become the temple in which the
Holy Spirit has taken residence; we are, according to Romans 8:29 ‘being
conformed to the image of Christ.”  Our
minds – our intellect, however is a separate and unique part of us.

When God
created the animals, He did not give them a soul so they could enjoy eternal
life and He did not give them a mind where they could conceive concepts and
make rational decisions.  This is what
makes humanity different from the rest of the mammals in the orderly creation
of God.  We conceive rational thoughts and
process them in our minds and turn those concepts or ideas into actions and
words.  This how Satan, in the form of a serpent,
got Eve, and then Adam to consider the idea of having something that they
thought God had withheld from them, something more that would give them more knowledge
and understanding.  Their minds had been
deceived by Satan and they sinned, an action that could not be reversed, neither
could its curse be withdrawn, “The soul that sins shall surely die.”

Our minds
are the part of our human makeup that lead us astray and cause us to sin, in
our own mind we are more important than
we really are, we are proud of characteristics and skills that have come
from our Heavenly Father and without Him we are and have nothing of value.  We cannot advise God or tell Him how to
answer our prayers, but we can have the mind of Christ, we may think as Jesus
did, we can develop the Biblical way of processing information that will always
glorify Him.  Our Gracious Heavenly
Father, You have redeemed our soul, we have given You our bodies for service,
and we have Your Spirit within us.  We
pray for the mind of Christ, for the ability to shape concepts and actions for Your
glory and to give you praise.  We, who
have been created, return ourselves to You, the Creator for your everlasting Glory.

Manna in the Morning

10-31-11

Masquerade

Romans 13:14, “But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.”

Today is
Halloween, the eve of All Hallows or All Saints Day.  Druid and other pagan traditions say it’s a
day when spirits, ghosts and ghouls roam the earth looking for a human body to inhabit.  Observance of the day in all likelihood
originated with the Celts and came to America with the Irish immigrants who
carved turnips in Ireland, but found the North American pumpkins much larger, more
desirable and satisfying.  The original
observance called for people to dress up to avoid being recognized as human, therefore
avoiding being possessed by evil spirits.
Our current celebration tries to hide the pagan roots of the holiday and
make it more acceptable as a ‘fall festival’ or commercialized holiday, but the
practices are much the same.  As people
use their imagination to dress in costume, they tend to fulfill a flight of
their imagination or live out some private fantasy.  This year, many little children will dress as
superheroes like Spiderman or a Princess, and while it is a refreshing change
to have children dress as a Fireman, Police Officer, or a Soldier, adults
choose other, more lascivious or exhibitionist costumes that pander to sinful
desires.

The verb
used in this verse contains the idea of taking on the character of the clothing
in which a person is dressed, assuming the characteristics of the costume is a
useful trait for an actor, but God the Holy Spirit clearly indicates we are not
to take on the characteristics of anyone other than those of Jesus and since we
are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, we only need to be submissive to His
direction and not try to be something or someone we are not.  What God wants to see in us is following the
Scriptural commands to love the Lord with all we are and have, love one
another, bear one another’s burdens and carry out His passion to give every
person on earth the opportunity to accept Jesus’ gift of redemption.  For us as believers, every day should be All Saints
Day as we follow the directions our God has given us, his saints.

Lord God in
heaven, keep our thoughts pure, our desires simple, and our actions acceptable
in your sight, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-28-11

Psalm 4:7-8, “You have put more joy in my heart than they
have when their grain and new wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in
peace, for You alone, Lord, make me live in safety.

As I looked
at today’s paper, I read of four men who committed six armed robberies within
one hour here in the County where I live.
Across our nation, assaults, robberies and other violent crimes are
being featured in news casts and papers with increasing frequency.  Yet we, those who are in the Family of God,
can lie down and sleep in peace because we are protected by the hosts of heaven
and our trust is in our God for safety and security.  This does not mean we shouldn’t take prudent
measures for our own security, but it does mean that our Heavenly Father will give
us peace as we trust in Him.  Just as we
do not trust in riches, bigger safety deposit boxes or larger bank balances,
trusting instead in our treasures in Heaven, and are prudent with our
resources, careful to keep our focus upon Jesus, as He guides us in every way,
we take prudent measures for our safety and trust God for our security with the
same confidence as Daniel sleeping in the Lion’s den.

One of the greatest
gifts our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us is the gift of joy that comes to
us from the Throne of our Heavenly Father to our hearts living upon this
sorrowing earth.  The earthly treasures
may give us a measure of happiness but true joy comes to us from above and is
not dependent upon earthly circumstances.
While this gift is one of God’s blessings to us, one of our most
difficult decisions while on earth is trusting in that which we cannot see in
the middle of all that we can see, touch and with which we are so familiar.

While we
are on this earth, with the guidance and help of our Heavenly Father, we are to
make wise decisions, prudent preparations for the future, and careful
consideration of our safety and protection on an increasingly unsafe earth
while keeping our eyes upon the heavenly goal and the promises we have in God’s
Word that He is preparing a place for us in His presence for all eternity.  Our Heavenly Father, help us keep our
priorities straight and live in the joy of Your provided salvation that has no
bounds.  We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-27-11

Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who
is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though
the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though
its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil.”

Some of the
earth’s population live in an area subject to earthquakes and know the feeling
that comes when the earth trembles, walls crack, dishes and food fall from shelves
crashing to the floor.  There are those
who live where the threat is from vast underground caverns carved in the porous
rock by water that suddenly collapses pulling streets, houses, cars and utility
lines into the sinkhole, others live on the edge of the sea, and see the devastation
that follows a hurricane or tsunami that blows ashore with crashing waves that
recede carrying houses, cars and every vestige of civilization out to sea,
leaving the scoured earth behind.  In
everything that occurs from natural events, our God is there to comfort,
encourage and hold up those whose trust is in Him.

There are
other storms that may fall upon us, leaving physical and emotional scars that
will take longer to heal than rebuilding after storms or earthquakes.  In our daily lives, we may face financial
difficulty, families may be divided, a death may take away a loved one and
mainstay, severe illness may bring devastating effects into the life of a
Believer.  When these storms come upon
us, when it seems the earth quivers beneath our feet, when our earthly hope has
gone with the receding waves of grief, remember God’s eternal promise.  He is the one who comes alongside to comfort
our grieving soul, He is our safe haven of refuge, in the time of trouble He
will wrap His loving arms around us and His mercy, grace and sure comfort will
envelop us.

The
mountains we have chosen to protect us, the moat we have dug to surround our
lives, the castle we have depended upon will be buttressed and strengthened by
the One who created the Mountains, oceans and sky.  Our defender and protector is the omnipotent
Creator of all that is, our Father who has given us His Spirit is greater,
stronger, more permanent than any earthly device.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we remember the
rainbow and trust You through everything that enters our life.  In Jesus’ name we thank you.

Manna in the Morning

10-26-11

Ashamed

Luke 9:26, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the
Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the
Father and the holy angels.”

Yesterday we
recognized the concept that our witness to others of our own rebirth is, in a
very real way, a form of worship.  We
need to take every opportunity to declare the wonder of God’s provided salvation
for this sinful humanity, sometimes we even have to guide the conversation to a
point where we can easily raise the subject of eternal life.  Yet, there are millions of born-again
Believers who are, for some reason, afraid to give that testimony, whether out
of fear of ridicule by those with whom we’re talking or we’re ashamed to bring
up a subject where we will have to tell others they are under the curse of sin
and are in need of redemption.  To be
ashamed is somewhat like being disfigured and afraid to show our scars and
damaged visage to others.  The whole
truth is that when we were still sinners, to God and to those who knew him, our
faces were disfigured by the weight of sin and the scars of our rejection of
God’s offer of salvation, but we are healed, scars removed, joy instead of
misery shines from our faces and we’re beautiful in the eyes of our Heavenly
Father and all our Christian brothers and sisters.

We all need
to remember the next event on God’s timeline is the rapture, the calling up of
the Church just as Enoch, “Walked with God and was not, for God took him,” we
who love our Lord God will instantly be in His presence in the heavenly places,
never to be separated from Him again, what we now know in spirit with the
indwelling God the Holy Spirit will be sight when we see Him in the clouds.  If we are in the habit of ignoring
opportunities or somewhat hesitant to share our testimony, we will be regretful
at the awards ceremony when our Savior awards crowns to His servants for
service, soul-winning, and living victoriously here upon this earth, since we
will not receive these crowns to lay at Jesus’ feet in worship and gratitude
for what He has done.  The best way to
look at this is that God allows us to be used by Him, not that we allow Him to
work through us; to be hesitant is to neglect His will.  Heavenly Father, we come to You in Jesus’
name and ask You to use us today, we long to do Your will in Your power for
Your glory.

Manna in the Morning

10-25-11

Victory over Demons

Luke 9:42, “As the boy was still approaching, the demon
knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the
unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.”

A large
crowd of people surrounded Jesus waiting for Him to begin teaching or perhaps
perform a miracle so that they would have something to talk about.  A man appeared, pushing his way through the
crowd begging Jesus to heal his boy.  As
the boy was approaching Jesus the demon within him threw him to the ground
writhing and suffering violent convulsions.
Upon Jesus’ rebuke, the demon left the child and he was restored to full
health.  The disciples had attempted to
cast out the demon earlier, but were unsuccessful.  We must understand our fight is a spiritual conflict
and we are engaged in warfare against the demons, evil spirits and even the
devil himself as we proclaim the goodness of God and His provided
salvation.  Just as the disciples could
not cast out the demon, we often are unsuccessful in our spiritual battles
because our faith is lacking in power, our understanding of God’s Word is
incomplete and our submission to God the Holy Spirit is imperfect.

Just as our
physical strength depends upon our training, exercise, healthful diet and
regular application in competition, so our spiritual effectiveness depends upon
our learning God’s truths, regular attendance at worship and listening to
teachers and preachers, a regular diet of God’s Word as we study and apply the
truths to our own hearts and then our dependence upon God’s guidance and help
as we witness to others of our own new birth, overcoming the steadfast
opposition, false teaching and those who discount God’s Word and its
veracity.

Jesus also had
something to say to the crowd, telling them they were shallow and rebellious
against God’s directions and precepts.
Many today who claim to know Christ Jesus are seeking to find the most
exciting congregation, the most entertaining preacher or the biggest assembly
of attendees.  Instead we should look for
the place where souls are born anew, where Scripture is expounded and where men
and women learn to defeat our archenemy.
Gracious Heavenly Father, it is our desire to be victorious soldiers in
Your army as we engage in spiritual battle this day.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-24-11

Our sacrifice to our
God and Father

Hebrews 13:15-16, “Therefore, through Him let us continually
offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that
confess His name. Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased
with such sacrifices.”

As the author comes to the conclusion of this letter to Jewish Christians across the then-known world, he stresses to them that animal sacrifices are no longer effective in worship as they were before the coming of Jesus to this earth.  He did, however, remind them that
the spirit of sacrifice to our great God is still to be part of the Believer’s
thoughts.  He called for all of us who
know Christ Jesus as Savior to offer up a sweet smelling sacrifice of praise, to
let our voices, both audibly and within our own hearts express our thanksgiving
and praise to our God.  When we attend a
worship service we are to lift our voices with others in audible expressions of
praise.  If our voices are not of ‘choir
quality’ remember we are still to make a joyful noise before God.

The sound
of our lips giving witness to the great, eternal change within our lives, our
willingness to testify to others of our salvation, and to point them to God’s provision
of Salvation through Jesus Christ is a vocal sacrifice that is always pleasing to
our Heavenly Father.

We are also
reminded that a sacrifice that praises and glorifies our God is to do good.  We are to do those things that benefit
others, that have a beneficial outcome or are just the right thing to do in any
particular situation.  Many times we are reluctant
to do good things because we think others will get the impression we are trying
to work our own way to heaven, that they will cover our sin.  The critical difference is we do good things
out of gratitude and to bring glory to our Heavenly Father, not in an effort to
earn our way to heaven.

Our
sacrifice, as described here, is to glorify our Heavenly Father win all we say,
do or even think.  We are to allow Him to
guide our steps, determine our ways, always under the direction of God the Holy
Spirit indwelling the temple of our lives dedicated to His service.  Our Heavenly Father, We ask for the power and
dedication to do good things today in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-20-11

God’s Protection

Psalm 12:7-8, “You, Lord, will guard us; You will protect us
from this generation forever. The wicked wander everywhere, and what is
worthless is exalted by the human race.”

The human
race is astounding, men and women can forget the lessons taught within the span
of a very few years.  Adam and Eve
learned that God will call men and women to account for their sin when they
were expelled from the Garden of Eden and an angel with a flaming sword placed
to keep them from ever reentering the perfect place God had prepared for
them.  After a comparatively few years
God once again had to remind mankind of His perfect justice when He sent the
flood to destroy those who flagrantly sinned against Him, saving only Noah and
his family in the ark God directed Noah to build.  Again, the lesson was forgotten and humanity
decided they could reach the Heavenly places by their own efforts, making it
unnecessary to follow God’s commandments concerning sacrifices and sin’s
terrible cost, therefore God confounded their language and mankind began to spread
across the face of the earth.  In the
days of Abraham God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their gross immorality,
and by the time of the Judges, the vile practice was again staining the earth.

As we look
at our society and surroundings today, we see sin running rampant across the
face of the earth from countries who are Godless, dedicated to the
glorification of man and his achievements to nations that follow a false god
that promotes violence and great hatred against the Jews and the Nation Israel
as well as America, a once mighty Christian nation.  Men and women have forgotten what it means to
bow down and worship our Almighty God in reverence and fear, ignoring the
Gospel message and doing exactly what the Israelites did in their darkest
period when, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”    Those who place earthly pleasure above
Godly living, who accumulate riches and worldly goods, ignoring the admonition
to store up treasure in Heaven and enjoy the physical gratification of earthly
life rather than seeking the will of the Heavenly Father are doomed to
experience the wrath of God as did those who ignored His precepts in their
brief lifespan on this earth long ago.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, give us the desire to serve You only, obeying Your
precepts as we walk this earthly path.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-19-11

Who am I?

Mark 8:29, “But you,” He asked them again,
“who do you say that I am?” Peter answered Him, “You are the
Messiah!”

Often, as
He walked the dusty trails of Galilee and Judea the question was asked of
Jesus, “Who are You?”  The Pharisees
asked Him as did the general population, even His own disciples asked upon
occasion.  The Apostle Paul saw a vision
of heaven opened and Jesus standing there and asked, “Who are you Lord?”  When imposters tried to cast out demons in
the early Church, the demons responded, “We know Jesus and we know Paul, but who
are you?”  The evil spirits sent from the
devil and Satan himself know and recognize Jesus as God the Son, the Promised
Redeemer, today, men and women know deep in their hearts that Jesus is the
Redeemer but they refuse to admit it, they still ask, “Who is Jesus?”

Jesus
turned to His disciples one evening and pointedly asked them, “Who do you say
that I am?”  Peter answered for the
group, saying “You are the Anointed One!
In the mind of every person of Jewish descent during Jesus’ lifetime
would understand Peter’s answer as stating without hesitation or doubt, the
Anointed One was the long ago Promised Perfect Sacrifice that would save the
world’s population from the consequences of sin, the One who would come from Abraham’s
family.  The Messiah, God the Son,
Jesus.  The early believers called Him, “The
Christ.”  We know from our Scriptures
that He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is, He is the life-giver who
breathed the breath of life into Adam making him a living soul.  He is God, our Heavenly Father, because our acceptance
of His promised sacrifice birthed us into the Family of God.

When
someone asks us who Jesus is, we must be quick to say, My Redeemer, Counselor,
Forgiver of all my sin and the Leader of My life.  He is our comforter in sorrow, shares the burdens
of our heart for others, our closest friend, He is who He said He was in
Jerusalem, and is the same today!  Never
should we allow His name to be used as a curse word or vainly used by those who
are oblivious to their blasphemy, He is all this and more.

Heavenly
Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus and ask you to use us today as
witnesses to your great glory.  God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, one omnipotent God, accept our
love and thanksgiving.

Manna in the Morning

10-18-11

Humble Yourselves

1 Peter 5:5-7, “Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the
elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,
because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting
all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.”

This short
passage in the Apostle Peter’s Epistle mentions at least 4 or 5 times that the
primary attribute of an individual is to be humble, submitting to those who
have been given a place of spiritual leadership over us, acting, thinking and having
an attitude of humbleness here on earth trusting in the promise God our
Heavenly Father has given us to reward and recognize our labor at the
appropriate time and place in His great plan.
Many men and women are elevated to spiritual leadership in the local
church who do not possess the spiritual maturity for leadership and who first
have to recognize their submission to those God has placed in authority over His
Church.  Young men may have the maturity
but older people who have not had the experience of humbling themselves need to
learn we are all, each of us, to humble ourselves before God. Our model should
be our Lord Jesus Himself; “Who,” Mark says in his Gospel, “Did not come to be
served, but to serve and give Himself as a ransom for many.”  If Jesus, the Creator, came to serve mankind
in humility, then we are to be humble in our dealings with others so show the
attributes of our Redeemer to them.

The sin of pride, the antithesis of humility, is one of the
most tried and true tools of our adversary and is effective in turning the
hearts of men and women against the gospel message.  Pride is the sin that caused Adam and Eve to be
evicted from the garden and destroyed their innocence, cursing the earth and its
inhabitants since that day, it is the reason sin crept into the lives of many
of the Biblical characters, the sin that afflicts men and women today, causing
them to feel they are above sin and able to do as Israel did during the time of
the Judges, “When every man did what was right in his own eyes,”  ignoring the commandments and precepts of our
Heavenly Father.

Our
Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves at Your feet and ask to be used as Your
slave today, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-17-11

God will Provide

Genesis 22:9-11, “When they arrived at the place that God
had told him about; Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He
bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then
Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the Angel of
the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

The essence
of faith is in the words, ‘Jehovah-Jireh,’ the name of the mountain where
Abraham took Isaac in obedience of Jehovah’s command to sacrifice the child.  Abraham’s faith included the promise of
resurrection, of fullness in completion, of literally saying, “I will do as
Jehovah commands for He, Jehovah, will see to its completion.”  After waiting decades for the son God
promised to Abraham and Sarah to be born, when Isaac was still a young man, God
told Abraham to sacrifice that one and only son of God’s promise on the
mountain God would choose.  Not only did
this test Abraham’s faith, it was also a test of Isaac who could have bitterly
fought, contested, even run away to avoid the ordeal.  Isaac believed his father, because he trusted
Abraham and had great faith in his father’s relationship with Jehovah God.

When we
have the same level of faith as Abraham and Isaac, when we can look at whatever
is concerning us at any given time and say, “Jehovah-Jireh,” we will find it
easy to trust Him with all our difficulties.
Jehovah God is our Heavenly Father who loves us, redeemed us and who has
promised us these trials and difficulties will only bring us closer to the
image of Jesus, our Savior who is the express image of the Father.  This reminds me of the old Hymn, “Trust and
Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we trust You, will obey You
and because of our absolute faith in You, we will not worry nor fret, just
believe Your promises, in Jesus’ name we pray.
Jehovah-Jireh!

Manna in the Morning

10-14-11

Tentmakers

Acts 18:3, “Paul came to them, and being of the same
occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.”

Aquila and
Priscilla were a somewhat itinerant couple who moved from Rome eventually to Ephesus,
their method of earning a living was making and repairing tents.  In the days when Paul went on his missionary
journeys, many people moved from place to place, some to avoid persecution for their
stand as Christians, others to carry the message of salvation through Christ
Jesus to areas not yet evangelized.
Aquila and Priscilla were not ‘sent out’ by any church, they did not
have support from a group, just a married couple eager to share the message
that brought them to Christ.

Today, many
men and women leave their homes, parents, and relatives immigrating to a
foreign country where they establish a business or find work in order to pay
the expenses of their family, perhaps establishing a house church or other
method of sharing the Biblical message of salvation.  Because of the restrictions many countries place
on “Missionary activity,” their witness has to be careful and not attract undue
attention of the authorities which could cause them to be expelled from the
host country.

We are
firmly established in a country that is rapidly turning against Godly
principles, opponents to our deeply held Christian faith are rapidly succeeding
in removing the Bible from our country, any mention of God as creator and
sustainer of life, destroying the family unit, and promulgating a lifestyle
that is totally opposed to our biblical convictions.  In the truest sense of the word, we are to
consider ourselves as tent-makers, earning our way, witnessing, encouraging our
neighbors to accept Christ Jesus’ offered salvation.  With God the Holy Spirit as our guide,
conviction in our hearts to share the message, and a mindset to be a tent maker
in a hostile culture, we can do right here what men and women travel half-way
across the world to do.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, may we change our outlook, become uncomfortable with
our easy living, becoming tent-making pioneers for your glory.  Change us we pray in the name of Jesus, our
Redeemer.

Manna in the Morning

10-13-11

Blasphemy

Jude 8, “Nevertheless, these dreamers likewise defile their
flesh, despise authority, and blaspheme glorious beings.”

There are
many, even some who claim to be children of the Heavenly Father who, in the
very course of their lives, show their lack of understanding of basic faith or
who refuse to allow God the Holy Spirit to guide and control them.  These men and women are caught in the evil
imaginings of their own mind, then act out those imaginings either in private
or with a few others, defile themselves with evil and are like animals who when
washed clean, will run to the filth of which they have just been cleansed and
roll once again in the muck and mire of iniquity.  Despising and refusing to obey any authority,
they stand outside the fellowship of believers, mocking and ridiculing those
who wish to live clean and pure before the Father in Heaven.  Their lips drip with filthy words and
obscenities as they pour contempt upon the commandments given us in God’s Word
to live our lives in accordance with God’s precepts and to keep evil
communication from our mouths and tongues.
Living in such a manner is to blaspheme our Creator and will bring
lasting condemnation upon those who live in such depravity.

This is the
goal of the godless, evil people who influence our children by means of ever
increasingly violent video games, movies and video clips on the internet that “Civil
Libertarians” say is appropriate for anyone to see, and censorship is to be
avoided at all costs.  These are the “Professors”
in Universities who say that pornography is a valid learning experience, that
pedophilia is not evil, just a communicable disease, and who promote sexual promiscuity
destroying the family which for centuries has been the basic building block of
our God-fearing society.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, cast down the evil imaginings of man’s heart, give us
wisdom to reclaim the minds and hearts of our children and grandchildren and
give us victory over sin in every way.
This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-12-11

Sanctified

1 Corinthians 1:2-3, “To God’s church at Corinth, to those
who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in
every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—theirs and ours.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Church
at Corinth was full of factions and separated groups who found it hard, in some
cases, to worship together.  Paul’s
letter begins to clear up some of the misconceptions and stresses the need for
unity among all the people.  First, no
one segment of the congregation ‘owns’ the church, we often speak of ‘my’
church or ‘your’ church, but in reality it is not the property of any one
group, it is God’s Church.  Jesus, God
the Son spoke to Peter and said “I will build My Church” leaving no doubt as to
whose church we have the privilege of serving.
We have been sanctified or set apart for service, very much in the same
way as the ancient Levitical Priests were set apart for service in the
Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem.
To be set apart means we have certain responsibilities and requirements
to fulfill before we can serve our omnipotent God in His Church, which is made of
the hearts and souls of men and women redeemed from sin’s death by the blood of
Jesus, the Promised Perfect Sacrifice.
All who believe in Christ Jesus are equal in the eyes of God, saved
without regard to status or wealth; purified and infused by the presence of God
the Holy Spirit.  This is the Church and
we are the saints, all of us sinners saved by the grace of our Heavenly
Father.  Of all the Churches mentioned in
Scripture, none is primary; all are equal in standing before God.  All who call upon the Lord regardless of location
know Him in the same loving way.

The close fellowship we share in
Christ should be as sweet on this earth as it will be in Heaven where we will
dwell together for all the eons of eternity.
We are united by the same measure of grace – unlimited- and peace, that
wondrous calm knowledge that our Eternal God has all things under His control
and nothing will enter the sphere of our lives without His allowance and provision
of faith, peace and love to accompany it.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, build your Church through us and give us
the opportunity to serve you where we are at any time.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-11-11

Unclean Messenger

Exodus 4:24-26, “On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it
happened that the Lord confronted Moses and sought to put him to death.  So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s
foreskin, and threw it at Moses’ feet. Then she said, “You are a
bridegroom of blood to me!” So He let him alone. At that time she said,
“You are a bridegroom of blood,” referring to the circumcision.

Even though
Moses was raised within the royal family of Egypt, he was thoroughly familiar
with the commands Jehovah God had given Abraham as a sign of the covenant or
promise He had given to the descendents of Abraham, including circumcision,
Moses had not circumcised his own son, and yet was on the way to confront
Pharaoh, then lead the Israelites out of their severe bondage in Egypt.  Just as Moses failed to prepare himself by
following God’s commandments, not only for himself, but for his entire family,
it is apparent from the text that his wife, Zipporah disagreed with this
purification procedure.  When the
circumcision was complete, God once again put his hand of approval upon Moses
and his message of freedom.

Many times
we are humanly well prepared to accomplish the tasks our God has prepared for
us to accomplish but we are not fully prepared spiritually to take advantage of
them.  It is critically important to keep
ourselves spiritually and mentally alert for the distractions and allurements
of our adversary, the devil, who prowls, probes our armor and produces enticements
to gain our attention, divert our thoughts and make us ineffective for God’s intended
purpose, all because we were not careful to follow His leading in every way.

Just as
Moses had to be stopped from entering Egypt until he had followed all God’s
commandments, we must ask our Heavenly Father for the ability to focus our
thoughts and actions on His Word, the leading of God the Holy Spirit and the
single purpose of presenting the message He has entrusted to us.  Each day as we awaken, let us be men and
women with one single purpose, that we will, in all things, accomplish that for
which we have been chosen to complete
Our gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we ask you to enable us to
focus, fulfill and finish the work begun in us.  .

Manna in the Morning

10-10-11

Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the God of peace, who brought up
from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of
the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will,
working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory forever and ever. Amen.”

As the
anonymous author of the Book of Hebrews finishes his book, he writes this
benediction upon all who love the Lord as He works in their lives.  To follow our great God, the first thing we
need to remember is that we live in faith; we are currently on earth, which is
our temporary home and our peace comes from our Great God and Father who
brought Jesus from the dead as the Scriptures teach.  We are to live in the favor of His peace
regardless of the temporary, earthly woes that may accost us.  Jesus, who is our great Shepherd and leader who
guides us by the power of God the Holy Spirit as we walk this earth.

Jesus, the
Promised perfect Redeemer who has paid the cost of our sin, having died at
Calvary, assures us of the everlasting life we have in the presence of God,
whether here on earth with the Holy Spirit indwelling us or in Heaven in the
presence of our Savior.  Our Heavenly
Father has equipped us while we are here to do every good work expected of us;
to comfort those who are in need, to share God’s love with the lonely, lost
souls, to heal their hearts and to share the gift of salvation with those we
meet day by day both by our example and our words.

When we are
born anew into the Family of God, we are no longer subject to the whims and
desires of our human nature, and if we do those things, we are willfully disobeying
the will of the Father.  We often opt to
do that which gives us earthly pleasure to the exclusion of heavenly joy.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, may we never forget we are living in a temporary
home, using things that are finite and have no eternal value, while we live by
faith in the eternal life provided by Jesus our Redeemer.  In His name we ask for strength to live this
day to your eternal glory.

Thanks to each one of you for your
prayer over this past week.  I am rapidly
recovering and moving toward a full schedule once again.  Vance

Manna in the Morning

10-04-11

Luke 18:41, “Jesus asked him, “What do you want me
to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.”

This is not
only the question the blind beggar answered, wanting to receive his physical
sight, but the same response each person gives when called by God the Holy
Spirit.  We want to have our spiritual
eyes opened so we can see Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior.  We want to see Him high and lifted up, recognizing
Him as the ruler of the universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  We want to see clearly with our spiritual
eyes.  We also want to see the world
through Jesus’ eyes, to see a world of souls who need to hear the gospel
message, those who are intellectually imprisoned in countries where the Bible
cannot be openly preached, and where evangelism is forbidden.  We want to see the joy in a person’s eyes
when he or she accepts Christ, and fully understanding their sins are forgiven
and Heaven is their true home.  We want
to see them grow in discipleship and scriptural knowledge becoming stronger and
bolder in their spiritual walk. We want to see, as Jesus does, those who suffer
for righteousness sake, who are imprisoned, tortured, even martyred for
standing firm for the name of Jesus, we want to see them clearly so we can pray
for them, and come to their defense when and where God allows.  We want to see our family, relatives, and
friends come to Christ and become members of God’s family, we want to see our
children grow and mature in the faith, serving God with their lives and
abilities.

Most of all
we want to see heaven.  We want to see,
through the eyes of Jesus, the beautiful place He has prepared for us, where we
will spend eternity in His presence, the place where the brilliance of His
glory fills everything with its light, more brilliant than the sun, and where
we will worship and praise our Savior for eternity.  Lord Jesus, we want to see You and hear Your
voice, and we want to see the world through Your eyes, and show Your compassion
to everyone we meet, in Your matchless name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-03-11

Commissioned

Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came near and said to them,
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore,
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have
commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If it has
ever entered anyone’s mind as to our responsibility while we are here on this
earth, a careful reading of this passage will remove that doubt.  Jesus clearly declares what He expects His
disciples to do.  First, Jesus makes His
authority clear, God The Father has decreed that all authority is given over to
the Son, and while He has this authority now in the Heavenly places, He soon
will have all authority upon this earth and exercise it judiciously.  While Jesus is in Heaven He has granted to
each of us who are redeemed by His sacrifice, the authority to make disciples
of all people without regard to their nationality, ethnicity, social standing
or any other criteria.  All who come to
Him in faith, believing in His sacrifice and resurrection have the opportunity
to become His disciples.  Our duty does
not stop there; however, we are to assume the responsibility of teaching,
encouraging, and guiding the new believers in their quest to become effective disciples
of our Lord.  Each new believer should be
encouraged to follow the example given by Jesus, make a public confession of
their commitment to Christ Jesus and allegiance to The Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.

As critical
as soul-winning is, for without giving their life to Christ Jesus, an
individual would be lost forever, every one of us needs to have a desire to see
young converts grow in their faith, gain a knowledge of the Scriptures,
understand the commands of our Savior and be faithful in carrying them
out.  Just as we train our own children
in Biblical principles and guide them in their spiritual journey, we must be
equally as concerned with the spiritual training and growth of new believers,
(or older people who do not exhibit the evidences of spiritual growth) in our congregations
and fellowships

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, make us at least as interested in discipling others
as we are in winning them in the first place, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-30-11

The fear of the Lord

Proverbs 8:13-16, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate
arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. I possess good advice and
competence; I have understanding and strength. It is by me that kings reign and
rulers enact just law.”

Many Bible
teachers and writers today emphasize the compassion, love and forgiveness of
God and do not dwell on the fear of the Lord emphasized in Scripture.  Many references in addition to our chosen
reference stress the fear of the Lord in many ways.  One of the ways we fear the Lord is to hold
Him in awesome reverence and awe.  Our
God is a great and awesome God and has all power of every kind in every
manner.  He is an overwhelming God and we
fear Him.  Another way to fear God’s
judgment is to hate all evil.  Our
adversary the devil, the evil serpent is the essence of evil and he manifests
himself in many ways, when we are tempted in any way, it is well to remember
our God is a God of perfect justice and sin has consequences.

God hates
one who is arrogant and prideful, the individual who will laugh at God’s
commandments, thinking he or she is above those commands and will repent and
ask forgiveness sometime in the future.
The great problem is we do not know the future, not recognizing every
breath could be our last. God also hates evil conduct, all things done in the
life of a Believer is evil unless it is done in the Power of God the Holy
Spirit and not of our own human nature, such evil deeds as disobeying Godly
authority, engaging in activities that are not God-honoring and encouraging
others to disobey or dishonor God’s Word.
God has also promised in His Word that those who misuse His Holy name
will not be held guiltless.  Jesus
emphasized that our yes should be yes and our no simply no without often
ungodly adjectives.  Perverse and profane
speech is offensive in the ears of our Holy Lord God and will bring His justice
upon those that misuse His name.

God has
promised great understanding and strength of persuasive words to those who are
careful of the words they use.  Heavenly
Father, we ask in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer for wisdom and judgment in
our speech with others.

Manna in the Morning

09-29-11

Chosen of God

Jeremiah 1:4-5, “The word of the Lord came to me: I chose
you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

As Jeremiah
was meditating, the Lord God came to him speaking directly into Jeremiah’s
conscious mind saying, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb.”  As Jeremiah was called of God and set apart
for God’s service, each one of us who are in the Family of God have been set
apart for some unique and special ministry to others.  God, our creator then equipped us with the abilities,
characteristics and distinctive personality needed to reach some individual the
God will bring across our path to give us the opportunity to tell them of our
Lord God and His power to save.  We
should never say we are not equipped for witness opportunities or not educated
enough in God’s Word to be an effective soul winner.  God has put within us the power, eloquence
and courage of God the Holy Spirit who will put words in our mouths, knowledge in
our minds and fire in our hearts to see others won into the Family of God.

God has
chosen us to share our testimony with others, equipped us with the abilities He
desires, and then appointed us to be prophets to all people. We are appointed
or consecrated to do His will in proclaiming the Gospel message to others.  Our feet are led to provide opportunities for
us, the words will be pre-formed on our tongue and we are empowered by God the
Holy Spirit to share the joy of salvation regardless of where we are
located.  Our mission field begins the
moment we meet another individual who needs to hear the message.  Our duty is to share, God’s responsibility is
to convict the heart and draw men and women to Himself.  We need to follow the example of the Believers
in the Book of Acts, “Being told what to do, they did what they were told,”   simply
to do naturally what Jesus did, loving, caring, healing the wounded hearts for
His glory.  Our gracious Heavenly Father,
use us today in any way for your greater glory we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-28-11

Shamgar

Judges 3:31, “After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge.
He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an ox goad.”

As I
considered this account of Shamgar I realized how many times God has delivered
His people with something simple like a stick of wood.  As God called Moses to go before Pharaoh He
empowered Moses’ staff and the rod first turned into a snake then back to a
piece of dry wood, and it also budded and overnight grew leaves.  God used Shamgar’s ox goad, God used the
sticks of wood under Isaac to prove Abraham’s faith, and most importantly, God
used the crossbeam of wood to hold Jesus on the cross to redeem each of us from
our sins.  In every instance God used an
inanimate piece of dry wood to prove His power and deliver His people.

Shamgar was
one of the Judges that led the Israelites during the difficult times after the
death of Joshua and prior to the institution of a King to lead Israel.  Shamgar’s predecessor, Ehud had delivered the
Israelites from the clutches of Moab securing their freedom for a period of
time until they turned away from God’s precepts and fell under the domination
of the Philistines.  Empowered by God the
Holy Spirit, Shamgar used an ox goad, a stick about four feet long with an iron
hook on one end, and killed 600 Philistines with this primitive weapon.  No man could kill an enemy army with only a
stick unless the power and favor of God was upon him.  We know very little about Shamgar except he
must have been favored of God because of his own faithfulness and trust in the
Lord God.

The key to
success in our battle with the archenemy of our faith is to let our God work
through us in every way.  To follow His
direction, use the weapons He has placed in our hands, especially the Sword of
the Spirit – The Word of God.  The battle
is not ours to win; it is the omnipotent Lord’s battle working through us to
accomplish His will.  We may be as little
known as Shamgar, but be used as fully to great victories as he was.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are as ready
as Shamgar, use whatever weapon You wish through us to defeat Satan this and
every day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-27-11

Enoch

Hebrews 11:5-6, “By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he
did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away.
For prior to his transformation he was approved, having pleased God. Now
without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him
must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”

Enoch who
came from the line of Seth who was born to Adam and Eve after the death of Able
was, I’m sure, taught and nurtured in the knowledge of the Lord God by his father
Methuselah.  Enoch lived about 5
generations after Adam and as they talked of their patriarch Adam, and the
result of he and Eve leaving the Garden of Eden.  Enoch took these lessons to heart, loved the
Lord God Almighty and lived in a manner that greatly pleased God.  In the middle of a society that was losing
the deep spiritual knowledge of their forefathers, Enoch lived as a bright
torch radiating the light of a man living in the faith of God’s promises.  So strong was Enoch’s faith in God’s promise
of a Redeemer to come, and as a result of this faith and trust in Almighty God,
Enoch went out to pray one day and could not be found, because God did not
require Enoch to taste death but took him to heaven in a manner similar to what
we expect in the coming event we call the rapture or calling away of the
Church.

Without the
kind of faith exhibited in the life of Enoch, it is impossible to please God,
who desires us to live in faith; faith in His promises, faith in Jesus’ perfect
sinless life that was sacrificed at Calvary, faith in our Heavenly Father’s
promise to never forsake or leave us, faith in every word printed in His Holy
Word.  In addition, we must add that God
expects us to believe and accept by faith in God as the eternal one and the creator
of all that is.

All who
seek the Lord God will find Him, all who accept the sacrifice of Jesus will
live with Him eternally and enjoy His presence forever.  Heavenly Father, give us the confidence to
live in the center of Your will by faith.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-26-11

The Kingdom of God

Matthew
6:32-33, “For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them.  But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will
be provided for you.

It isn’t at all strange to hear
someone say when they are getting ready to go out for the evening, “I don’t
know what to wear!”  I understand this,
not knowing what others will be wearing is dangerous; will it be tee-shirts and
jeans or suit, vest and spats, short sleeve polo shirt, or long sleeved dress
shirt?   In any event, Jesus has just
finished a statement on the relative unimportance of clothing and finery,
stressing the need for our dependence upon our Heavenly Father who will not let
the sparrow go unclothed, nor will he let his children begging bread. Psalms
37:25, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous
abandoned or his children be begging bread.”
An inordinate amount of fussing over meals, clothes, or material
possessions is an indication of not fully trusting in the promises of our
Heavenly Father, who knows our every need.
Jesus said that eagerly seeking the things of this world is a mark that
identifies one as an unbeliever or pagan because that is where their heart is,
not on the Kingdom of God.

The primary goal in our life is not
to seek what the unbeliever seeks; we are to seek the righteousness of Jesus,
that standard of perfection that only he could reach in his earthly life and
ministry. Because he reached that mark, giving his life for us, we are able to
call upon his righteousness as our own, and before the throne of the Father, we
wrap ourselves in the righteousness of Jesus in order to be accepted into the
presence of God and make our petitions known to him.  Living a life that brings God’s approval will
bring blessings beyond measure.

Our Heavenly Father, make us able to
concentrate on the righteousness of Jesus, leaving the worries of this earth to
those who do not have You to trust.  In
Jesus’ name we pray

Manna in the Morning

09-23-11

Defilement

Matthew 15:8-9, “These people honor Me with their lips, but
their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the
commands of men.”

Jesus
directed these words to the religious leaders of the Jews, the Scribes,
Pharisees and Sadducees.  He also called
them blind leaders of the blind and full of dead man’s bones.  It is true the Pharisees were afraid Jesus
would destroy their carefully constructed little world that allowed them great
freedom in their control of the populace, so long as they remained passive and
were not likely to rebel against their Roman overlords.  The goal of the Jewish leaders was simply to
remain in control, to continue to take their profit from the lucrative businesses
surrounding the Temple and the worship services conducted there.  They were totally consumed by their
self-importance and egotism, ignoring the Word of God they were supposed to be teaching
by example, leadership and exhortation.  Their
words were empty as they falsely spoke words regarding God because their hearts
were far from the truth seen in the life and ministry of Jesus. Their worship
was filled with meaningless ritual and tradition, depending upon the thoughts
of old Rabbis and scholars instead of the Scriptures as inspired by God the
Holy Spirit.

Today many
churches are led by men and women who honor the past, preach an inadequate
gospel of love without the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus.  Building mega-assemblies centered on a
personality instead of worshipers centered upon God and His Word. Our God is a
God of great love and forgiveness, but the message must include the need for
repentence on the part of the one who comes to Him and the certainty that they
will meet God in judgment if they do not repent and come to Him in saving
faith.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we
ask that our message may be accurate, scriptural and loving seeking to share
our faith with others.  May the joy of
your salvation shine through us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-22-11

Baptism

1 Corinthians 15:29-31, “Otherwise what will they do who are
being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are
people baptized for them? Why are we in danger every hour?

When I
first read this I wondered just what the passage meant, but a little study and
prayer gave me an idea of what the apostle Paul was talking about.  In the preceding verses Paul is stressing the
importance of Believer’s Baptism, the practice of baptizing a born-again
believer in Jesus, immersing them after their new birth.  This is a public, open declaration of the
individual’s acceptance of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  This public affirmation of faith tells all
who observe that the person is now in the Family of God and will be held
accountable for any failure on his or her part to live as a believer
should.  Since a Christ follower is recognizing
the resurrection of Jesus by his or her baptism, it makes no sense for this
ordinance of the church to be practiced if Jesus’ resurrection did not
occur.  We are baptized to recognize the
part the resurrection plays in our Christian lives and to celebrate our
entrance into eternal life.

What this
verse doesn’t mean, is that you or I should be baptized for an individual who
has died without accepting Christ Jesus or following His command to be
baptized.  This belief is unsupported by
Scripture and is contrary to the teaching of the entire Word of God.

Because
baptism is a public announcement of one’s faith, in a city or country hostile to
the gospel message, such an action would put the believer in danger of their
lives.  In many places around our world,
men and women are arrested and killed for their faith on a regular basis.  In Communist countries Christians are
imprisoned where they often die because of the hostile treatment and beatings
from the guards, while in Islamic areas, both men and women will be hung or
beheaded for following Jesus.  In other
areas, ridicule or social isolation may be the fate of the persecuted one.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we will always unabashedly stand for our faith in our
Redeemer and publically proclaim Him as the sole means of Redemption from the
wages of sin.  In Jesus’ name we ask for
all the power of God the Holy Spirit to sustain us in every way.

Manna in the Morning

09-21-11

Where’s Your Lamp

Proverbs 21:4, “The lamp that guides the wicked—haughty eyes
and an arrogant heart—is sin.”

We read in
the Psalms that God’s Word is the lamp that guides our feet and the light that illumines
our way as we live our lives walking the paths the Lord God has laid out for
us.  When we follow the perfect light
that is the Word of God and our Savior Jesus; our paths are directed by our
Heavenly Father.  The Gospel of John
tells us that without the direction of our God, men and women seek darkness
rather than light.  This verse in Proverbs
is clear in declaring the wicked, all those that do not know the joy of salvation,
are guided, not by God the Holy Spirit but by their own willful selves, their
haughty eyes and arrogant hearts.  All
that they can do is seen in God’s eyes as sin.

Those who
depend upon themselves are living in their own conceit, thinking they are
somehow better than the rest of the world, like the Pharisee who prayed
publically in Jerusalem, thanking God he was not like other men, but somehow
better than they are.  Self-importance or
an inflated ego can be seen in the eyes of an individual, who somehow puts his
desires and actions just a bit above that of God and his eyes show his
self-deception and his heart is filled with arrogance, a heart that is filled
with selfish desires and an inflated ego.

It is these
characteristics that our adversary will use to keep our minds centered upon
ourselves, the idea we have something no one else has.  This is Satan’s first tool, telling Eve she
will have something only God has, a special gift that God did not give her,
that caused sin to enter the paradise that she and Adam inhabited.  They did get something, the knowledge of sin
that lay in their hearts unforgiven.
Satan continues, even today, to use this sin of pride as a lure fitted
with sharp barbed hooks, keeping men and women clutched in his bloody
fingers.

God’s Word
counsels us to think of ourselves humbly, accurately understanding that all we
are or can be is dependent upon the Work of God the Holy Spirit as He
illuminates God’s Word for us.  Heavenly
Father, we ask in Jesus’ name, for the wisdom to look to you for our worth,
work and spiritual well being.

Manna in the Morning

09-20-11

Bloom Where You’re
Planted

Mark 5:18-20, “As He was getting into the boat, the man who
had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. But He would not let
him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to
them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.” So
he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for
him, and they were all amazed.”

After Jesus
had quieted the storm allowing the boat with Jesus and His disciples to land on
the shores of the Gerasenes, Jesus went ashore and began to teach the people
who had assembled there.  A demon
possessed man came up to Jesus and began to interact with Him, the entire group
who were following saw the Gadarene  and
heard Jesus’ speak to the demons who had made this man’s life so difficult by
causing him to live in the tombs, tear his clothes, even breaking chains that
were used to try to subdue the possessed man.  Speaking directly to the demons, Jesus
commanded them to leave this man immediately.
As the demons left they pled with Jesus to keep from returning them to
the pit where demons were condemned to stay.
Jesus instead allowed them to enter into the bodies of pigs who were
foraging nearby.  The pigs ran wild, fell
from a cliff and were all killed. The residents of that place then begged Jesus
to leave their village, it was clear they did not want Jesus or His message in
their midst.

As Jesus was on the way to the
boat, the now clean, clothed, sane and forgiven man pled with Jesus asking to
accompany Him to share his account of restoration.  Jesus told the man to stay where he was and
tell his neighbors and family what wonderful things God had done in his
life.  His life would have been much
easier if the Gadarene could have gone with Jesus instead of staying among the
people who knew the wretched condition from which he had been rescued, but in
this difficult place, this newly rescued man would tell in all the surrounding
cities to all who would listen of Jesus’ love and compassion, raising him up to
a new life through His power.

Heavenly
Father, we ask for the courage and strength to be the witness of your saving
power and grace among those who know us best.
This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-19-11

Our Purpose in Life

Psalm 20:4-6, “May He give you what your heart desires and
fulfill your whole purpose. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the
banner in the name of our God.  May the Lord
fulfill all your requests.”

We often
hear people ask, “Why didn’t God answer my prayer allowing this to happen?”  When they are referring to the death of a
person they loved or an uncontrolled event such as the tornados or earthquakes
that have taken a devastating toll.  The answer
lies in two areas.  First, the Psalmist
says we should pray for our true heart desires, and our heart desires should
always be those things we know are the desires of our Heavenly Father, our
hearts should be so much in tune with His desires for this world and His
children that we would never pray for anything that would not further His will.  We need to be careful that our requests are
according to His will and purpose and that He will receive greater glory by the
answer.  We also may ask God for things
that would not allow us to fulfill His purpose for our own lives as we serve
him.  God has made us unique, giving us
the individual gifts and abilities we need to fulfill all that He has for us to
do upon this earth.  This is our whole
purpose for living.

When we
fulfill our express purpose, all heaven shouts for joy at the victories won and
the souls brought into the family of our Heavenly Father.  We must also remember that everything we do
for our Lord, any victories won, any defeats of our enemy must be done in the
power of our great God since we have no power within our own selves to do
anything of eternal value.  Therefore
with every victory, we lift the banner of our god high so all who see it will
see His victory banner of love rather than the puny little thread that may
flutter in the breeze when we act according to our own will and strength
without relying upon what God wants to pour into us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for
the privilege of being used of you to win victories over our enemy and to
accomplish the purpose for which you have given us life, In Jesus’ name we
pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-16-11

Witnesses

Heb 12:1, “Therefore since we also have such a large cloud
of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so
easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Someone, somewhere,
is always observing us to see if our actions and deportment back up the words
of our witness.  We declare to others
what has happened in our life, the transformation from a citizen of this earth
to a citizen of heaven, being born anew into our Heavenly Father’s family.  There are those who will be witnesses of our
Christian life, reporting to others the life we live, and there are also
witnesses against us who are anxious to use every misstep we make against us to
mar the effect of our testimony to God’s saving grace.  We run the race of our Christian life,
observed by the crowd in the stands, some cheering for our success and others
actually wishing we will fail, falling to the temptations arrayed against
us.

We must not
enter into this race with any extra freight nor carrying extra baggage,
encumbering ourselves with extraneous possessions, perhaps a hobby that takes
our time or the pursuit of some goal that is not sinful or even questionable in
the eyes of others, but extra weight keeping us from running the best, most
productive race for our God.  We must be
careful to avoid the snares, those things that start innocently but escalate
into situations where our testimony may be compromised or an unexpected complication
leads the Christian into sin.

The
effective Christian life is not a series of sprints, where we are effective in
our Christian life for a few days, then relax for a while, then once more run a
sprint, but it is a marathon where we depend upon God’s strength and guidance
for the long haul, always wary, ever vigilant, continually depending upon the
indwelling presence of God for the entire time we are upon this earth.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for the patience and power of God the Holy
Spirit to inhabit our lives from this moment until we enter Your presence.  Keep us pure we pray in Jesus’ Name.

Manna in the Morning

09-15-11

Prayer

Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me.”

There are a
few reasons given in God’s Word that may explain why some prayers do not seem
to be answered.  First, we must be
patient and wait for God’s own timing.
He knows the time and method in answering that brings the greatest glory
to Himself, possibly we are to be the conduit through which He moves.  Another reason is unbelief, the doubt in our
own heart that God will answer.  We need
to pray believing God can and will answer.
Unbelief was the reason Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum was hindered, Matt
13:58, “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  One man came to Jesus and said, “If you can,
heal my son.”  Jesus responded in Mark
9:13, “Everything is possible to the one who believes.” None of Jesus
healings or other miracles happened without faith on the part of the one healed
or someone who believed without reservation that Jesus could do as He
wished.  One passage that strikes me as
so significant is the man’s response when he said, “I believe, please take away
my unbelief.”  When we pray for another,
our prayer has an immediate effect upon our lives, those for whom we pray and
the one who sought us out to request the prayer.  In Romans 3:3, God spoke through Paul as he
wrote, “What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s
faithfulness?”  Nothing can cancel God’s
faithfulness, we fail Him, but he will never fail us.

Another
reason our prayer may not even be heard by our Heavenly Father is our holding
on to habitual sin.  God said if we know
what is good, yet we do not do it, that is sin.
To know of needs in the lives of others and neglect to pray for them is
to grieve the heart of our God and he cannot answer our prayer until we repent
and ask for forgiveness.  There are some
unbelievers who knowingly continue to do things that do not please our Heavenly
Father; by habitually doing these things, whatever they are, we limit our
effectiveness in serving our Lord.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the forgiveness that is ours when we
confess our sin and allow you to remove it from our lives.  Give us the faith to expect you to answer our
prayer in Your time and manner, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-14-11

God’s Heart

Acts 13:22, God raised up David as their king, of whom He
testified: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will
carry out all My will.’

David,
great-grandson of Ruth the Moabite, descendent of the Tribe of Judah, son of
Jesse, The great Warrior King of the United Kingdom of Israel, father of
Solomon the great wise King who under God’s allowance built the great Temple in
Jerusalem, the city where the ancient Priest and King Melchizadek received a
tithe from Abraham.  David the King
anointed when a young man, did not reign until he was thirty years old, then
died after ruling for 40 years.

David a man
of weapons and warfare who killed Goliath who stood nine feet tall, the first
time a projectile was recorded as a weapon, David killed many men in war,
engineered and conspired in the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband when she
became pregnant with David’s child.
David was also a great musician in performance and composing, writing
many of the Psalms as hymns and songs of worship to be sung in the Tabernacle;
David who also yearned for God’s Word, memorized it, sought to follow it and
was called, not by the people who knew him, but by his God, “A man after my
(God’s) own heart.”

David was a
sinner and was well aware of his sin, his prayer of repentance and request for
forgiveness restored him to full fellowship with his God.  When Bathsheba’s child died, David cried and
said he would give his own life for the child, but God did allow another child of
David and Bathsheba to become King upon David’s death.  In the life of David we see a man who loved
his God, who carried out His will, gave glory to Him for the achievements in
his own life and fell to his knees in submission to God’s punishment and
ultimate restoration.  Because he
recognized God must reign supreme in a believer’s life, because each of us must
fall in humble repentence before Him, and because He can reconcile us to full
spiritual health and strength to accomplish great things for Him, God will
acclaim us as “Men and women after His heart and purpose in this life.”  This, our Heavenly Father is our prayer this
day in Jesus’ name; make us live after your own heart.

Manna in the Morning

09-13-11

Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and protect you; the
Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord look with
favor on you and give you peace.”

This
blessing was given to Moses and Aaron while Israel was still in the Sinai
desert so the blessing could be passed on to the people.  All the people of Israel were to count on
these blessings from the Lord God who planned and provided leadership to allow
Israel to leave Egypt, their place of slavery for hundreds of years.  The Lord God promised to bless or to provide
for them in all the ways mentioned in direct relationship to Israel’s worship
and adoration of their God.  Just as we
want to draw people’s attention to the love and compassion God showers upon
them, we must glorify or bless Him by our worship, following His commands,
showing His compassion to others and by sharing His message of redemption to
all we meet.  God also promised to
protect Israel from their enemies, to go into battle with them, give them
victory and protect them from the slings and arrows of our greatest enemy.

God
promised to shine His favor upon those that called themselves His people.  Today, we who know Christ as our Savior are
the ones that live in the sunshine of God’s love, there may be showers, there
may be clouds of despair and sorrow, but God’s face is always turned toward us,
and His ears hear our prayers.  As God
looked upon Israel shortly after this meeting in the desert where this blessing
and promise was given, he saw that they had turned aside from his commandments,
they had loosened their morality, tried to find loopholes to avoid the laws and
precepts and God could not continue to favor them.  In this time in which we live, we as a
society, even within some churches, have turned aside from the commands of our
Savior. We allow the entertainment industry to pollute our minds, we allow our
defenseless children to be killed in utero, our elected government favors, even
encourage homosexuality and we sit idly by without objection.  God cannot look upon us with favor when we do
not make our personal convictions clear to those with whom we relate on a
regular basis.  Our Heavenly Father,
shine Your face upon us and give us Your peace deep within our hearts, in Jesus’
name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-12-11

Proclamation

Psalm 107:1-2, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His
faithful love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He
has redeemed them from the hand of the foe.”

Every
believer can echo these words since so many things have blessed us because of
our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness and love.
Because he loves us, He protects us from the attacks of the enemy; He
has provided us with spiritual armor to quench the attacks of the deceiver and has
given us the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God to use as our offensive
weapon in our spiritual battles.  Empowered
by the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are fully equipped to
carry on spiritual warfare.

Each one of
us who has felt the great weight of our sin lifted from our souls by our
redemption, the wondrous gift of God that is ours because of God’s great
love.  We are instructed to tell of that
redemption at every opportunity, wherever we are, no matter the place we find
ourselves or the audience we face.  We do
not have to make it a dramatic, showy event; we simply have to tell our lives
have been changed by the power of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the
power that has lifted us from the mire of sin’s pit to the solid rock of God’s
salvation.  We have been released from
the cold hand of Satan whose desire is to hold us imprisoned until our earthly death
and separate us from God for all eternity.

Because we
know redemption, we should be anxious to share it with all we meet, being
concerned for their souls with the compassion of our Savior, and in obedience
to His command.  Never let our enemy
silence us, never let fear quench our voice and never cease to praise God for His
goodness and then share His blessings with others.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for
opportunity to share our witness today, and for it to be effective for your
glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-09-11

Keeping god’s
Statutes

Psalm 119:5-7, “If only my ways were committed to keeping
Your statutes!  Then I would not be
ashamed when I think about all Your commands.  I will praise You with a sincere heart when I
learn Your righteous judgments.”

David spoke
words that are echoed in the heart of Believers across the world, if only my
attitudes and ways were fully committed to keeping the statutes of our Heavenly
Father.  We live in a sin-stained world;
temptation overwhelms us every time we turn on our TVs, commercials for food
that would make all of us imprisoned in bodies encased in corpulence, story
lines that are anti-family, glorifying sexual activity outside of marriage or
the simulation of murder, mayhem and crime hour after hour in movies and TV
programs.  The enticement of the latest,
most opulent car or enticements to buy earthly treasures far beyond our
means.  Our worldly senses are under bombardment
with sinful thoughts and a heart that is not fully focused on God’s will and
purpose in our lives.  When we are
surrounded by such thoughts constantly, we must be active in shutting out the
temptations of the devil and keep our minds constantly focused on God’s Word
and the promises it contains for those who live a life dedicated to our great
God’s glory.

When we remember
and repeat in our minds the commands of our God, Commands like: make disciples
of all men and women, love the Lord your God with all your heart, love one
another, study God’s Word to show yourselves approved before God we recognize
that our failure to obey these commands is sin in the eyes of God who convicts
our hearts and when we repent and ask for forgiveness He is quick to forgive,
then restore us to full fellowship with Himself.  God’s perfect love abounds and His perfect
justice prevails, resulting in full reconciliation with our heavenly Father.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we pray that we may keep Your Statutes
and learn your righteous judgments.

Manna in the Morning

09-08-11

Accepting His
Testimony

John 3:31-32, “The One who comes from above is above all.
The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One
who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard,
yet no one accepts His testimony.

John the
Baptist, who spoke these words began his ministry shortly before Jesus had
become very popular among the people of Judea.
He dressed like a prophet of old in camel hair, and ate only locusts and
wild honey.  He lived and preached in the
wilderness, a place of harsh wind, searing sun and mountainous hills and
valleys.  He was born under the Nazarite
vow, and that alone would have set him apart from the rest of the Jewish
society.  His message was one of
repentence and living under the precepts of God’s law, instead of following the
form with no resultant change in their manner of life and thought toward
God.  John the Baptist was the one
Scriptures foretold would come to prepare the way for the coming Promised One.

Just as Jesus,
whom John announced as the long awaited deliverer, John’s ministry was short
and resulted in his death as well.  When John
baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Heaven opened and the voice of God the
Father was heard booming across the barren, hot hillsides announcing Jesus was
God’s beloved Son, the long promised Redeemer while a dove descended from the
skies and alit upon Jesus indicating to all who saw and believed, that Jesus,
born of a Virgin, fully human while fully divine was filled with God the
Spirit.  John preached of repentence,
Jesus spoke of redemption, John called people to forsake their futile earthly ways;
Jesus called people to live for the glory of their great God who had done so
much for them over the centuries.

People did
not fully accept John’s testimony about Jesus, he was reviled and looked down
upon by the religious leaders and died because he preached purity to an immoral
King of immoral people.  Jesus went to
the cross to fulfill the Father’s promise of a perfect sacrifice and died so
that all mankind may become Holy by believing in Him.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, the people of Judea ridiculed John, called for Jesus’
crucifixion and today people ignore our testimony, look at us as men and women
who preach a gospel of salvation to simple for them to grasp and believe.  Encourage and fill us with the same desire to
see people saved as John and Jesus we pray in Jesus’ glorious name.

Manna in the Morning

09-07-11

Savior and Judge

John 12:47-48, “If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep
them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the
world.  The one who rejects Me and
doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge: the word I have spoken will
judge him on the last day.

As Jesus
walked the earth in His first coming to this earth that began in Bethlehem, He
came for the express purpose of saving the world, not to judge the people or to
condemn them.  He knew the time would
come when He would return to this earth to rule, and ultimately to judge them
for their unbelief and rejection.  As
Jesus taught and preached in the Temple, Synagogues or the open fields and
mountainsides, His message remained the same, “Ask God for forgiveness of sin
and accept Him as the promised Redeemer.
In his teaching he did not condemn the people, He encouraged them to
turn to the Redeemer, but Jesus did condemn the old system, the tradition and
the Scribes and Pharisees who perpetrated it.
Jesus was very open in saying that those who rejected Him and the
message He brought, would at the proper time in God’s plan face eternal separation
from Him in the place prepared for Satan and his demons.

In this
passage Jesus refers to the last days when He will be the judge, and at the
Great White Throne Judgment, there will be only one question asked of every
person, is your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life?”  Every person from the Garden of Eden up to
the end of time will have to answer for their rejection of The Promised Perfect
Sacrifice, Jesus who paid our sin debt on Calvary’s Cross.  Whether looking forward to the perfect
sacrifice through the offerings of animals in faith in God’s promises, or after
Calvary, did the individual believe in that sacrifice of Jesus by saving faith
in His death, burial and resurrection as taught in the Word of God.  Every individual will bow their knee before
our Redeemer, either in accepting His salvation or in acknowledgement of their
rejection.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, It is my prayer that all who
read these words will know the joy of salvation in Jesus, in whose name I pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-06-11

Matthew 12:48-50, But He replied to the one who told Him,
“Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His
hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in
heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”

Something
amazing happens when we are born anew into the Family of God.  There is a basic change in the way we look at
things, the priorities we set, the way we see others, and the true relationship
we have with the Sovereign God of the Universe.
In the Commandments given to Moses on the Mountain, we are all told to
honor our fathers and mothers; obedience of this commandment brings a reward.  We are told that those who do honor their
parents will live long and prosper in this earthly life.  That promise is made to us from the point of
view of human relationships, has never been amended or annulled but is
fulfilled and completed when we accept Christ Jesus as our Redeemer and
Lord.  We recognize we are now fully and primarily
committed to following our Great God first and forever.  We read news accounts of children who murder
their parents as teenagers and of grown men and women who tire of the
caretaking for aged parents and kill them for their earthly possessions.  These people have transgressed God’s law and
will be adjudicated the proper penalty on earth as well as at the court of
Heaven.

When we are born into the Family of
God our closest relatives are not our human family members unless they too are
part of God’s family, they are those who have turned to God the Son for
forgiveness and have undergone that spiritual rebirth into our Heavenly Father’s
family.  We then are fully committed
along with them, to a life dedicated to the Father’s will and purpose, to look
at the world as He does, and to care as deeply as He for the salvation and
healing of all we meet or contact through the rest of our lives.

Our gracious
Heavenly Father, how grateful we are to come into Your presence.  We are anxious to do Your will this and every
day.  Lead us we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-05-11

Labor Day

Matthew 11:28-29. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary
and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn
from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for
yourselves.

Many
Believers have memorized this verse in the KJV, where the wording is a bit
different, but with the same command, “Come unto me all ye who labor and
are heavy laden.” Today is Labor Day, a day known as the last vacation day
of summer.   It is a holiday established many years ago to
recognize the workers of America, their hard toil and physical labor. Today,
because the work force has been greatly relieved of the heavy physical labor
due to sophisticated, computer controlled production lines and other machinery,
hard physical labor is relatively uncommon among the American work force. Jesus
recognized the toil, weariness and burdened people of His time on earth who had
to depend almost totally upon human physical labor.

Our lives
may not be burdened with physical labor but we all carry great burdens; the
burden of unsaved loved ones, children and grandchildren for whom we pray
daily, our witness among co-workers, neighbors and others that are not born anew
into God’s Family. Our Heavenly Father knows these cares, Jesus has offered to
share these burdens with us, when we are yoked together with Him He will bear
the greatest part of the burden, encouraging us and giving us peace and rest in
Him. He knows our limitations and since He is the creator and sustainer of all
that is, He has infinite patience with us, is gentle and caring assuring us of
a calm spirit and rest in Him.

At the same
time He is carrying our load, he will teach us in a loving manner we are not to
try and go it alone, we cannot solve problems or, correct the faults of others,
by sharing our concerns with our Heavenly Father in prayer, then following the leading
of God the Holy Spirit within us, we will find rest and comfort in Him.

Our gracious Heavenly Father give
us a sense of calmness and assurance of your presence in our lives this day and
equip us for the duties that lay before us, this we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-02-11

Obedience is better
than forgiveness

1 Samuel 15:22. “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt
offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?  Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to
pay attention is better than the fat of rams.”

Some years ago I heard the phrase, “Pardon
is easier to receive than permission,” this certainly is not the message of
this verse in 1 Samuel.  The occasion for
this statement was when Samuel the Priest confronted Saul the King of Israel,
castigating the King for disobeying God’s specific direction to kill the Amalekites
and their livestock in the battle that had just ended.  Samuel reminded Saul of God’s command; Saul
argued that he had captured King Agag of the Amalekites along with many other
prisoners to show the power of God in giving him the victory.  The animals, Saul said, were to sacrifice as
an offering before the Lord God.  Like a
child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Saul said, “I have sinned, transgressing
The Lord’s command, forgive me and come worship with me.  Samuel first refused, then relented and
entered the camp with Saul, killed King Agag and informed Saul the Kingdom
would be torn from his hands and given to another, not of his family.

Recognizing
that we are to live a life pleasing to our Heavenly Father and knowing that
Jesus taught that our thought life is even more prone to sin than our actual
actions, we must be careful as we go through each and every day to let every
action, thought and even our attitude be pleasing to our Lord God, then when we
do sin, we must ask our Father in Heaven to forgive us and restore us to full
fellowship with Him.  If Saul had
controlled his army, set an example of obedience before the Lord, not only would
he have won the battle, but would have continued to find favor in God’s
eyes.

Disobeying
God often has severe consequences; the Book of Esther is an account of Haman
the Agagite who tried to get every Israelite in Persia killed.  If Saul had obeyed God and killed Agag and
his family for their wickedness and hatred of Israel, this attempted
extermination would not have taken place.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we ask you for the ability,
strength and desire to live in full obedience of your will for us today and
every day.

Manna in the Morning

09-01-11

The Cares of This
World

Mark 4:19, “But the worries of this age, the seduction of
wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it
becomes unfruitful.”

We are all
aware of God’s promise that His Word will never return to Him without bearing
fruit, yet in the parable of the seed sown on the path, stones, in the thorns,
and on the good ground, the Lord Jesus said that the cares and worries of this
earth can choke the Word sown and it will be stunted and sparse.  The thorns among which the seed falls can be
characterized as an insatiable appetite toward those things that are pleasing
to the senses or the imaginations of the mind.
Those that have little of this world’s goods may find their spiritual
lives choked by an indulgence of the body or the fantasies and dreams of the
distracted mind.  Among the thorns that
choke out the effectiveness of God’s Word in the life of a believer are the worries
and cares about things that may never come to pass, but concern some folks when
God has promised to take our worries from us and give us peace of mind and
heart over many things over which we may lose sleep.  When we have taken prudent steps in
preparation, done all that we can for prevention we must exercise our faith and
trust our Lord God.  The lure and seduction
of money is fostered, fed and furthered by the promise of easy riches through
the lottery, get rich schemes with promises and false reports of paid actors
claiming success; the amount of money gained is never sufficient to satisfy the
desire for more.  Other things always
attract us, a newer car, a bigger house, the next promotion will often choke
out our dependence upon our Heavenly Father and make us depend upon Him less
and more on our own efforts.

Instead of
worrying and craving more of this world’s goods we ought to be busier trimming
down the thorns and cultivating the good seed of God’s Word in our hearts.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father we ask for the
grace and trust to give you our cares, to cut down the thorns that grab and
hold us back so that our life can reflect your power and glory this day.  In Jesus’ name we lift our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

08-31-11

Idle Words

Matthew 12:36-37, “I tell you that on the day of judgment
people will have to account for every careless word they speak.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and
by your words you will be condemned.”

Very few
people will sit in a crowd of people and not say a word; most of us will strike
up a conversation with others, chat about the weather, regardless of the
season, the recent ball game, what’s going on in Washington DC and speak out of
the abundance of words that has built up in their informal vocabulary.  Also, each one of us has multiple
vocabularies, one we use in our work or business, one we use in more formal
occasions and our informal, less grammatically correct and often using words
seldom heard in the formal discourses.
This passage warns us we will be called to account for those careless,
off the cuff, impetuous words, words that do not lead to speaking of God’s
goodness, mercy and love.  Jesus Himself
warned us these careless, idle words and wasted conversations will be held
against us.  The intent of the verse is
that what we store up in our memories will be the storehouse out of which we
will draw these words.  The person who
loves God will store up and use words that God the Holy Spirit will use to
convict the heart of those who do not yet know our Savior.

The evil
man, the unsaved person, will only have a storehouse of evil words, no word,
even a simple yes or no, will carry any good message since it originates in a
heart and mind that does not know God.
These words, often laced with profanity or inappropriate language that
Jesus said would be condemned because of his unrighteous heart and
language.  Those who speak from a
righteous heart will, by their speech, show he is filled with the righteousness
of Jesus Himself, because his words come from a righteous well of words, while
the non-believer’s words come from the miry pit of unbelief.

As David
the Psalmist wrote, “let every word of my mouth… be acceptable in Your sight Lord,”
each one of us should be sure the words we store up are words that will glorify
Him.”  Our gracious Heavenly Father keep
our words pure and clean, our hearts alert for opportunity and our attitude
Christ like, in Jesus’ name we pray

Manna in the Morning

08-30-11

Strength in the Lord

Isaiah 40:31, “But those who trust in the Lord will renew
their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary; they will walk and not faint.”

There are
times when each one of us felt like the knot at the end of your rope was coming
unraveled.  For whatever reason,
depending upon your own strength and resiliency, you’re about to crash.  When we rely upon the gifts of our Heavenly
Father, we will be like the eagle that soars far above the earth.  The storm winds may blow but the eagle facing
into them, soars higher and higher facing into the winds and with the pinions
provided him by the Creator God, not only does he survive the storm, he often
soars above the turmoil.  In the same way
we must choose to use the gift of God the Holy Spirit within us that gives us
the lift and strength to rise above the storm besetting us, becoming victorious
over adversity.

Not only
will we sore like an eagle, we will be able to overcome all obstacles and run
the race our God has set before us. Not sprinting and burning our energy for a
100 yard dash, but with the carefully planned, steady pace of a marathon runner
who covers over 25 times the distance to a victory as the winner of the quick
dash.  Our lives are not to be lived in
dashes and spurts, hot and cold in alternating cycles.  God has placed us on earth to live for Him,
once we are born anew into His family; we are to be consistent, steady, always
ready to share a word with others and to continually grow in the knowledge and
grace of our Savior.  We are to walk with
measured stride, guided by the Holy Scriptures and always keeping our spiritual
eyes on Jesus our mentor and Redeemer.

Heavenly
Father, I ask in Jesus’ name that we might soar like eagles today.

Manna in the Morning

08-29-11

The Attitude of the
Wicked

Psalm 36:1-3, “An oracle within my heart concerning the
transgression of the wicked: There is no dread of God before his eyes, for in
his own eyes he flatters himself too much to discover and hate his sin.  The words of his mouth are malicious and
deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.”

As Our God
looks upon the hearts of men, He sees only sinners bound for eternal damnation
and sinners saved by grace and wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus.  As a result of living in a world that does
not recognize God’s sovereignty and Satan having put a disregard for God’s
power and judgment in their heart, there is no fear of God or dread of a
Christless eternity.  The thought of an
eternity in the place prepared for the devil and his angels is no deterrent to
those who do not know Christ.  The terrible
truth is they are condemned by their unbelief in salvation in Jesus; their need
for redemption has been dulled and removed from their minds by our adversary
who confounds the thinking of the unbelieving person.

Men and
women today are driven by their ego and overestimation of their self worth. Advertising,
even our society itself, gives the individual an inflated sense of his or her
value and potential in today’s world.  Ask
the average man or woman and they will express their opinion that they are
going to heaven if there is one, because of their good works or the fact they
have not committed any real bad sins and dependence on God’s love.

The use of
impure language, cursing and using God’s name in vain is common among all
people today, acceptance of casual sexual activity and widespread tolerance for
attitudes and activities that are directly opposed to God’s Commandments, while
ignoring His loving offer of salvation, is rampant.  Many places of worship teach a gospel that is
false, built upon a “Do the best you can, God understands” philosophy and
ignoring the fact God expects us to emulate the compassion and care of Jesus
while He walked this earth.  Our Gracious
Heavenly Father, our desire is to serve you this day, being conformed to the
image of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-26-11

Come!

Revelation 22:17-19, “Both the Spirit and the bride say,
“Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” And the one
who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a
gift. I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If
anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this
book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will
take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this
book.,

As John
concludes the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, he quotes God the Holy
Spirit speaking through the Church, the Bride of Christ in their final
invitation to the unbelievers, as they call “Come,” aware that this is the last
opportunity for men and women to accept Christ and drink of the Living Water,
the gift that was so precious to the Samaritan woman and started a revival that
swept through Samaria.  This last
invitation stresses the gift is without cost and readily available to all who
call upon God for salvation.

After the
last opportunity is made clear, a warning is given to those who read this Book,
declaring God’s judgment to all who add or detract from the doctrines, warnings
and descriptions of events prophesied in the Book.  The entire Scriptural record has been given
by God the Holy Spirit to men who carefully wrote exactly what was given to
them.  The Revelation is specifically
mentioned in that the dire consequences and plagues upon the population of the
world will be especially visited upon those who mischaracterize their
occurrence as God purifies the earth prior to the return of Jesus to earth where
He will reign for one thousand years.
This warning equally applies to every word in the sixty-six books
contained in our Bible.  God the Holy
Spirit has inspired His Word, and we are to accept it, not make changes in its
fundamental meaning.  This does not mean
we cannot study, parse sentences or ask God for illumination on a text, or to
come up with concepts or ideas, so long as it does not contradict the written
text.

Our
Heavenly Father, we thank You for this invitation, may we express Your invitation
to others as we live this day for you.
May we always be open to the Spirit’s leading we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-25-11

God’s Promise

Isaiah 59:21, “As for Me, this is My covenant with
them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit who is on you, and My words that I
have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of
your children, or from the mouth of your children’s children, from now on and
forever,” says the Lord.

The other
evening as the sun was going down, there were storms to the east of us and as the
storm clouds were rising high into the air, the setting sun shining on those
clouds produced one of the most brilliant rainbows I have seen in a long time,
as time went on there was a double rainbow reminding us of God’s promise never
to destroy the earth by a flood again to Noah.
Taking the rainbow as God’s assurance all His promises will be
fulfilled, we can be sure of His protection, even as the East Coast prepares
for the landfall of Hurricane Irene as she increases in strength and is aiming
at the Carolinas, moving up the coast from there, this on top of earthquakes
along the fault in Virginia and in Colorado.
God will continue to honor His promises.

God made a
covenant or conditional promise with those who teach the Gospel Message of
salvation through the sacrifice of our Redeemer Jesus throughout their lives as
led and empowered by God the Holy Spirit, we will see that message lived out vibrantly
in the lives of our children and grandchildren.
While we enjoy our grandchildren, they are a blessing unique to the
human race since angels do not know marriage or children and all children of
our Heavenly Father are individually born into His forever family.  No one is in God’s family because of the
faith of their parents; each individual must accept the gift of salvation and
embrace it as his or her own.  Our children
and grandchildren should hear of God’s provision from us to assure the proclamation
of the Gospel continues on in our families, the nation and throughout the
world.

Because we
fulfill our part of the agreement, God will fulfill His and we will see
generation after generation following the same pattern of proclaiming God’s
grace.  Our loving Heavenly Father, thank
you for your promises and the reminder that they will never fail.  In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-24-11

The way of the Wicked

Psalm 1:4-6, “The wicked are not like this; instead, they
are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not survive the
judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.  For the Lord watches over the way of the
righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.”

Much
attention is given to the righteous; in fact the first three verses of this
Psalm exalt the way of the righteous man and his position before the Lord.  Now we see the contrast between the one who
loves God and the one who doesn’t. Instead of bearing fruit in season, reaching
down into the earth for sustenance and the water, thriving and growing, the
wicked man is only chaff, worthless, not even enough material to burn in the
fire, so useless the wind that blows over the threshing floor will blow the
chaff away while the righteous man is profitable and valuable to his Lord.

Many
Christians think that many people just roll through their life, never accepting
Christ but never specifically rejecting Him, therefore their future is
something the believer has never considered.
Scripture is very clear; those who do not accept the salvation through
Jesus will be forever condemned to eternal torment and separation from
God.  God’s statement is clear and
concise, The soul that sins will surely die. (eternally)  A person must be born anew into the Family of
God to have his or her name inscribed in the Book of Life, and if it is not
found there, the judgment is quick and certain, the individual is sent to the
Lake of Fire.

Scripture
tells us the eyes of the Lord are in every place and He sees the actions and knows
not only our actions, but our intent.  The
important difference is that when we fail, we ask for forgiveness and God is
quick to restore us to full fellowship, wrapping us in the righteousness of
Jesus.  Those who have not accepted
Christ are on the road to the pit of hell, and it is our responsibility to
share the gospel message with everyone we can.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, guide our steps and attitudes this say we
ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-23-11

God’s Grace

Titus 2:11-13,”For the grace of God has appeared, with
salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts
and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while
we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God
and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Salvation
comes to all people by the grace of our great God.  Jesus, the Promised Sacrifice, was birthed in
Bethlehem, gave His life on Calvary’s cross and rose triumphant over sin, death
and all Satan’s wiles.  Jesus ministry in
those three and a half years in Galilee and Judea clearly defined His
instructions for our living in this sin filled world.  From our point of view, the world is rapidly
filling up with licentiousness, evil opportunities and godless influences and
when it reaches the full, Jesus will call us up to the Heavenlies where we will
be in His presence eternally.   In the few years Jesus taught and lived among
men, He lived a righteous life never sinning, giving a Godly example to all who
would follow in His steps, teaching and instructing those who would listen, how
to live righteously before the Heavenly Father.

We who are
alive today, have the advantage of reading in God’s own Word, the instructions
left for us who follow Him, and at the same time looking for His glorious
return to this earth, first to call us up to be with Him, then to return in
splendor and great glory as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule the
earth for one thousand years.  We live
our lives in expectation of that calling, using every opportunity to share our
faith and expectations with others, so they too can live in glorious
expectation.

We must always remember we are
saved by God’s grace, made righteous in His eyes by His grace, and it is by His
grace we will live eternally with Him in a place He has prepared for us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we praise You
for Your grace toward us, Your love that reached our heart and the promise of
eternity in Your presence.  Accept our
praise and grateful thanksgiving we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-22-11

All eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2, “Keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and
despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

I sometimes
think we have unnecessarily complicated our relationship with our Savior, and
what He expects of us.  We are to be His
disciples.  This is the positive side of
the word ‘discipline’ which we have also complicated.  The positive side of discipline includes both
being instructed and instructing others in the Biblical accounts and descriptions
of Jesus’ life on earth, seeing how He interacted with others, met their needs
and encouraged them to recognize Him as the long awaited Promised Perfect
Sacrifice.  Being a disciple is also
training, to train our attitudes, actions and words to be the examples of how
our Master would act and respond in any given situation.  The followers of Jesus in Antioch understood
this so well they were called Christians.
Acts 11:26, “The disciples were
first called Christians in Antioch.”  These
men and women followed every word and action until their life reminded all they
met of Jesus and they were recognized by their Christlike demeanor.   We
should ask ourselves daily if we are transparent enough for the love and
compassion of Jesus to shine through us so completely, when people look at us
they see Jesus, our Master and Teacher, instead of us.  This can be attained only by allowing God the
Holy Spirit full control over our entire being without reservation.

Biblical
discipleship also has a negative aspect involving correction, reproof and if
necessary punishment.  Paul’s letter to
the Corinthians says we must be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus, and our
Heavenly Father will use whatever is necessary to conform our attitudes after
we have been transformed by our spiritual birth into His family and the
transformation that accompanies that new birth.
If we are unwilling to accept the instruction and training necessary to
be a true disciple, we are not fulfilling God’s plan for our lives, since His
final command to us was to become disciples ourselves then encourage and train
others to be disciples of our Master and Lord.

Heavenly
Father, we truly want to be disciples of Jesus, convict us of everything in our
lives that would hinder that desire in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-19-11

Followers

Matthew
5:1-2, “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

As Jesus continued his earthly
ministry he went up on a mountain in Galilee to teach those that followed
him.  Going up the mountain was
significant in many ways.  Jesus always
used the natural magnification of his voice available, teaching from a boat
over water, or as in this case, in a natural amphitheatre on the
mountainside.  Many of the Old Testament
heroes had great experiences up in the mountains.  Moses met with God and not only received the
Ten Commandments, etched in stone by God’s own hand; he saw the back of the
glory of God.  Elijah called fire down
upon his sacrifice in the mountains, surrounded by the nation Israel, when the
false prophets could only wail and contort.
Others received their message in the mountains, and Jesus also used the
mountainside to proclaim the Word of God.

His followers were with him, and
Scripture tells us there were three distinct types of followers that can be
found today.  First, there were the
disciples, those that were personally invited by Jesus to learn of him,
understand his mission and be prepared to continue his work when he was taken
from them.  These were sincere men, but
often their eagerness to please Jesus led them to rash or ill-considered
actions.  These correspond to men and
women who rush off without careful consideration of what they are going to
accomplish, but have every intention of fully obeying their Master.

Next there was a large crowd of
those who listened to every word, who followed to learn all the more of this
person they truly accepted as their Messiah.
They followed for the privilege of hearing him speak, of applying his
words to their daily life, and telling others of his ability to heal and
forgive.  These are the faithful who populate our churches every week, who listen carefully to the messages proclaimed from the pulpits, and who invite and encourage others to attend with them.  These two groups received the
great blessings of following Jesus as he taught across Judea and Galilee.

Lastly there were those on the outer
fringe, who were following for the excitement, to see a miracle or be fed as Jesus
did twice.  To keep these people
following, miracles or healings had to be frequent or their interest would
wane, and they would look for other entertainment.  These are the men and women who are always
running off to hear the newest preacher in town, or to attend a mega-church
with entertainment instead of inspiration.
When the novelty of a celebrity preacher or teacher wears off, these
people move on to the next promise of something new, leaving the second group
to teach the young believers and support the missions and outreach programs,
while the first group goes on to full time service to Christ and additional
structured education.  May God help us to
avoid the outer group and pray for his direction in following the path he has
laid out for us individually.  Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we will be steadfast followers of your Word and your
way in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-18-11

Ahaz’s Stairway

Isaiah 38:7-8, “This is the sign to you from the Lord that
the Lord will do what He has promised: I am going to make the sun’s shadow that
goes down on Ahaz’s stairway return by 10 steps.” So the sun’s shadow went
back the 10 steps it had descended.”

Hezekiah called
for the Prophet Isaiah as he lay deathly ill in the palace and was told by the
prophet his life was about to end.
Hezekiah was a comparatively good King of Israel for most of his life and
was the son of Ahaz, one of the most evil Kings Israel endured, instituting
worship of Molech by sacrificing children to the idol in a great fire.  Ahaz also had a great staircase built that
functioned as a sundial, the shadow advancing and descending one step for each
half-hour of the day according to some astronomer/historians.  When Hezekiah cried out to the Lord God for
favor and an extension to his life, God answered and as a sign, he declared the
shadow on the stairwell – the sundial – would go back ten steps.

After
Hezekiah had recovered, he wrote a poem praising God for His love in restoring him,
shortly thereafter Hezekiah forgot his life was a direct blessing of God and
began to return to the idolatrous ways of his father.  After his death, he was succeeded by Manasseh
who reigned 55 years and reversed every godly change his father Hezekiah had
instituted ultimately leading to Israel’s captivity and its people dispersed
across the known world.  One thing to be
learned by every Christian is, because of His foreknowledge, it is best to
allow God’s plans for our life to proceed, and not plead for extended time as
did Hezekiah, who made several serious mistakes as King after his restoration
directly resulting in Israel’s total disappearance from the world’s list of
Kingdoms.

In our
prayer, as we go before the Heavenly Father, it is well to remember that some
of the most fruitful answers to our fervent prayers has been a gentle ‘no’
because our great God knows the future and the difficulties that would arise
because we are selfish and want God to do things our way.  It is good for us to remember Jesus’ prayer
in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not my will but Yours be done.”  Our Gracious Heavenly Father we ask that we
make walk in the path You have chosen, speak to the people whose heart You have
prepared, and work for Your greatest glory this day, this we ask in Jesus’
name.

Manna in the Morning

08-17-11

The Righteous Man

Psalm 5:12, “For You, Lord, bless the righteous one; You
surround him with favor like a shield.”

Since God
blesses and protects the righteous individuals, it is wise for us to consider
what righteousness is and what we must do to be considered righteous in God’s
eyes.  God’s blessings are great, He will
keep us safe in the midst of danger; this summer when so many tornados and
severe storms roared across the midsection of the United States, news stories
began to filter out of people miraculously saved from death by sudden, abrupt
changes in a storm’s path or many other variables that accompany weather patterns
and phenomena.  Some people credited luck
or their good fortune, but many people credited God for their survival and
called it a direct answer to their prayers for God’s mercy and grace.

God also,
according to His Word, will favor and shield the righteous man or woman,
Malachi states God will be pleased and favor those who worship Him in purity,
but can God favor an unrighteous man?
Obviously, the answer is no, therefore we need to find out how we can be
righteous in the eyes of God our Heavenly Father.  There is nothing we can do to merit the favor
of God in our human efforts.  God does
not consider works done in our fleshly nature as righteous acts, even if they
produce good results, there is no way to commit a righteous act outside of the
working of God the Holy Spirit through us and The Holy spirit cannot work in
and through us unless we are truly born anew into His family.  Once we have accepted Jesus’ perfect
sacrifice and payment for our sin we are forever wrapped in His righteousness
as completely as a newborn baby is totally wrapped in blankets to protect the
infant from the harsh real world he or she has just entered.

Because we
are fully covered with Jesus’ righteousness, and as long as we live in
accordance with God’s Word, we are blessed of God our Heavenly Father and His
favor, protection and blessing covers us like a shield, keeping us safe from
the attacks of our adversary.  Our
gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we ask you this day to shield us with
your favor.

Manna in the morning

08-16-11

Faith

Habakkuk 2:4, “Look, his ego is inflated; he is without
integrity.  But the righteous one will
live by his faith.”

When an
individual is so caught up with what he or she is doing in their own strength
and depending upon their own good works or ‘church work to get them to heaven,
they are depending upon themselves and in the eyes of God this attitude has no
merit or integrity.  It is faith in our Great
God that brings us righteousness, it is our total reliance on God’s promise to
transfer our sin debt to Jesus’ the perfect sacrifice promised long ago in
Eden, and His righteousness is transferred to us and we are no longer required
to pay the sin debt, we have the righteousness of Jesus, God the Son and are
now part of the family of God.  Through
the work of God the Holy Spirit we are justified in the sight of The
Father.  It is in this great faith we
live our lives.  The Israelites quaked in
fear at the thought of facing a giant like Goliath, David, acting in faith,
looked at Goliath and thought, “He’s so big I can’t possibly miss;” and, acting
in faith, he didn’t!  Delivering Israel
by God’s grace and to His great glory.

Faith
allows us to accept God’s gift of salvation with no earthly proof except our
reliance upon God’s Word.  It is by faith
we are saved, and by faith we accept.  Our
faith powers our spiritual works through the power of God the Holy Spirit.  If a person says he has faith, but the things
he does and says do not exhibit the relationship between his faith and the
power of God, then those works are dead and have no spiritual value whatsoever.          Faith
is a commitment that we become, in addition to being born anew into the family
of God, at the same time, a servant of our great God, a dedication to do His
will and work, in His strength, in the place of His choosing and at a time
determined by Him.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, give us the courage to live by
faith as David did, as we bear witness to our saving faith in Jesus, the
Promised One and as we anticipate by faith the call from Heaven to join you in
the place you have prepared.  Prepare us
in every way for the day we face, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-15-11

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will
be called sons of God.”

Many
believers have considered it wrong to go to war because of this verse.  Years ago it was quoted to me by a man who
registered as a conscientious objector during the last years of WWII.  Nearly all Bible translations use the word peacemaker, but the Greek Word has the primary meaning of ‘peaceable.’  How then can we relate this to God’s Word who
commanded the Israelites to go to war against the Canaanites, or David who was
a warrior, yet still was known as a “Man after God’s own heart?”  Can a person be peaceable, seeking non-violent
solutions yet believe in a just war, a war where the ultimate good will significantly
outweigh loss of life of one’s own countrymen?

When
political systems or Dictators of countries try to stamp out the people of our
Jehovah God and destroy Christianity and the Bible, then Christians must fight
for the right we have to read our Bible freely and live our life according to
the commandments found therein.  If we find
an intruder in our house, realizing in order to save our wives and families
from harm we must fight, asking our God for wisdom and help we need to
fight.  The true man or woman of God will
not look for a fight; will try to peaceably defuse situations, always knowing
that God is both our shield and defense, but always willing to defend our
faith.

If we are accosted for witnessing of our
message of salvation in Christ Jesus, told to cease upon threat of bodily harm
or imprisonment, then we need to stand firm for our God-ordained,
Constitutional right to continue our witnessing.  If our nation is engaged in a war against a
nation or belief system that promotes what is clearly ungodly, idolatrous
subservience demanding our submission to that system and worshipping a false
god other than our great Jehovah God, we are then justified in proclaiming God’s
faithfulness and care for us, using force if necessary.  Always and foremost we must remember our battle
against evil is spiritual and we have the Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God
as our resource.

Let us seek to be men and women of
peace, to show ourselves peaceable in nature and in conduct, but always relying
upon the power of our God should we be commanded to worship or bow before a
false deity.  The three Israelite boys
found God’s strength sufficient in the furnace; we will find it sufficient in
whatever comes our way for proclaiming our Savior.  Heavenly Father, make us peaceable yet firm
as we walk the path you have for us today, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-12-11

Almost

Acts 26:28, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going
to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

I
frequently walk on the beach for exercise, and one evening I heard a call for
help from 3 people attempting to drag a man out of the surf, and went out to
help get him to the beach.  He was
clearly exhausted, falling to the sand and breathing heavily.  I suggested calling 911 and getting
help.  Both the exhausted man and his
brother stressed no calls should be made and insisted the man would be alright
once he was able to breathe normally.  One
short phone call would have brought him aid, oxygen and medical help while he
recovered and he refused.

Agrippa had
been on the throne and was well aware of all that went on, including the
Priests and Pharisee’s accusations against Paul.  Paul explained to Agrippa all that God had
done in his life and the direct confrontation with Jesus’ appearance to him on
the road to Damascus.  After going
through all the Jesus accomplished while on earth including his unlawful trial,
crucifixion, burial and resurrection paying the sin debt for all humanity.  Paul then asked Agrippa if he was willing to
trust his eternal existence to Jesus and Agrippa’s reply was, “You’ve almost
persuaded me to become a Christian.”

When we
tell others of the salvation available in Jesus, God’s Promised One, we must
understand the one to whom we have witnessed is going to decide themselves
whether or not they will accept or reject and it is the working of God the Holy
Spirit in the heart and life of the unsaved individuals that convicts them.  It was not Paul’s fault Agrippa did not
believe that day, when we present the opportunity to become part of the Family
of God and people reject, it is not our fault; they have made their own choice
as emphatically as the guy on the beach.
Our responsibility is to present the opportunity; it is the ministry of
God the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to salvation.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you to empower and guide us through this day
in everything we do and say, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-11-11

Mercy

Matthew 9:27, As Jesus went on from there, two blind men
followed Him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Mercy has
been described as, “Giving aid and solace to the miserable.”  This definition is carried out in sports
where the “Mercy Rule” is called into play when for example, when one team is
so far ahead, there is slim if any chance of winning and various means are used
to end the game.  As Jesus was walking in
Judea two blind men called to Him for healing. Jesus, having pity on them gave
them their sight and the local people then brought a demon possessed man to Him
for healing.  In His compassion and
mercy, Jesus also healed him.  The Gospels
are full of the accounts of Jesus having compassion upon men and women, showing
mercy to them by healing the lame, raising the sick even raising the dead.  Jesus lived a life of mercy.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said the
merciful will be shown mercy, therefore showing the example of being merciful,
our God expects us to be people of mercy.

In addition
to always being ready to share our testimony of salvation, we are to be ready
to be men and women of mercy, helping others in their need.   This could be as simple as showing interest
and listening to their difficulties or treating them to a cup of coffee.  Aiding others is not always giving them money;
it can be giving of time or helping with yard work.  If we expect to be shown mercy by our Lord,
we must be willing to show mercy to others.
It is by God’s great mercy we have the opportunity to be saved, it is
His mercy that sent someone to share the saving message with us, it is mercy
pouring out of Jesus’ body as the spear went deep into His chest and it is the
crowning mercy of Jesus when he triumphantly proclaimed, “It is finished!”  Our salvation was assured.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for your mercy, grace and love, may we
show those characteristics to those we meet today, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-10-11

Separated unto God

Ezra 9:2-3,”The holy people has become mixed with the
surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this
unfaithfulness!” When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe,
pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.”

Ezra left
Babylon to journey to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Empire had been superseded
by the Persians.  After months on the
road back to Judea Ezra was met by a delegation of Jewish men and told of the
impurity of those who lived in Jerusalem and fraternization with the native inhabitants
of the land.  This was in direct
disobedience of God’s direction to keep themselves pure and undefiled by not
intermarrying with the Canaanites.  This grievous
sin distressed Ezra the Priest.  In 2 Corinthians
6:17-18 God the Holy Spirit authors a statement from our Heavenly Father
saying, “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do
not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you.  I will be a Father to you, and you will be
sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”

God has
never changed His command to His followers, those that are his children, we are
to be unique and not be lured away by the promises of false doctrine and
teaching.  There are many variations or
slight mis-teachings of the pure Gospel message being proclaimed in pulpits
today from those that imply everyone will enter heaven if they will only live a
‘good’ life or are sincere in their worship, or those that preach the great
love of God will overcome all sin and Jesus’ death will cleanse you whether you
accept Him or not.  Some teach that God
has made a determination of those that will enter heaven and those that will
not and we do not really have a choice, since God has predetermined our eternal
fate for us.  These ideas or any other variations
from the pure Biblical Gospel message is as abhorrent in God’s eyes as the
mixture of Temple worship with idolatry in ancient Israel or the impurity of a
life lived like an unbeliever.  Our
gracious Heavenly Father, may we proclaim Your Word in purity this day, in
Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-09-11

God’s Grace

Exodus 34:6-7, “Then the Lord passed in front of him and
proclaimed: Jehovah is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich
in faithful love and truth.”

Our great
God and Father is a compassionate God, one who is merciful, showing grace to
those who love and follow Him.  As Moses
went before Pharaoh, God graciously showed His power and protective love for
the Israelites, when He gave Moses the first tablets of stone up on Mount Sinai;
the Israelites were worshipping the golden calf in the valley.  In His grace and mercy, God forgave them,
gave them another copy of the Commandments and continued to bless them in the
same measure as they served Him.

God’s grace
was revealed to all people in the person and work of Jesus, God the Son who not
only was full of grace, but He was the grace of God embodied in the form of a
man.  In John 1:14, “The Word became
flesh and lived among us…. full of grace and truth.”  By His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus
restored the broken relationship between sinful man and God who is perfect in
His Holiness.  God the Holy Spirit supplies
God’s grace to us as spoken of in Ephesians 4:7, “Now grace was given to each
one of us according to the measure of the gift of the Promised One.”

We must
always remember it is by the grace of our God we are saved from the penalty of
our sins, and it is by His grace we are reconciled to Him when we fall away by
going after the pleasures of the fleshly body that is still ours on this side
of our heavenly transformation.  It is
also by the grace of God that we are given the privilege of serving our
Heavenly Father.  We who are of this
earth, who have a nature that is easily swayed to sin, who are saved by grace,
a redemption we can scarcely understand yet value so greatly, are allowed to
share God’s Word, the message of salvation and to be present when a soul
recognized their need and turns to Him.

How great
is the grace of our God!  Our gracious
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of grace, use us today to share that
gift in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-08-11

Truth

Proverbs 8:7-9, “For my mouth tells the truth, and
wickedness is detestable to my lips.  All
the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. All
of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge.”

This
segment of the Book of Proverbs is written as though wisdom is a person and is
speaking to those listening.  Every
Christian knows true wisdom comes from our Heavenly Father in Heaven, and when
wisdom is speaking here, it is truly our God speaking directly to us.  One of the great gifts God has given us is
His Word, and it brings wisdom to the one who reads and meditates upon it.  Wisdom will always speak the truth, every
word of Scripture; every one of the proverbs outlined in this book is true,
whether it is talking about avoiding evil, seeking God with a whole heart or
the need for those who love our Lord God to seek His guidance in our everyday
activities and planning.  God will never
issue a command or encourage the use of detestable or ungodly words or
activities or give His approval to an abomination or setting up a thought or
possession as worthy of worship.  All
evil is an abomination before the Lord God and is a foul, disgusting odor, the
exact opposite of the sweet smell of the prayers of the saints.

The wisdom
that comes from God is clearly understood by those who love Him; because the
true author of God’s Word is God the Holy Spirit who inspired every author to
write as God placed the concepts and ideas in his conscious mind and
heart.  We who desire knowledge of God’s
Word should read His Word, not books or articles about the Bible.  The same inspiration that came into the lives
of the human writers is active in the life of every believer in Jesus and is
anxious to bring the light of God’s countenance upon the Word that we may
clearly understand it.

God’s Word
is never deceiving, argumentative or perverse; it shows the clear precepts of
our Heavenly Father and is to be our only guide to faith and practice in our
daily lives.  Our Gracious Heavenly
Father, we thank You for Your written Word, and seek to know it better so that
we can know and serve You better.  We ask
you to illumine us in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-05-11

Basic 6

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore, leaving the elementary message (Basics) about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity”

The sixth and final precept we must
totally accept by faith as a Believer in Jesus Christ: The Promised Perfect
Sacrifice and His atonement for our sin on Calvary’s Cross assures us there is eternal
joy awaiting every Christian in a heavenly dwelling place prepared for us by
our Great God and Father.  As long as we
are enjoying the joy of Heaven, the lost, those that have not accepted Jesus
Christ’s Sacrifice for their sin and acknowledged Him as their Redeemer and
Lord will be consciously aware of their rejection in the torment of the Lake of
Fire, that place prepared for Satan and his angels.

There is currently in theological
schools and students, a concept that while those who turned aside from God’s
salvation plan will initially be sent to the Lake of Fire, there will come a
time when God will consider their torment and suffering enough and at that
point release them from their punishment and allow them to enter Heaven, simply
because He is a God of complete love.  If
this were true, then there would be no need for Jesus to go to the cross.  God’s love is a perfect love, He has prepared
a way for us to spend eternity with Him, simply by accepting the sacrifice for
sin promised in Eden, and His perfect justice will demand that a man or woman
who rejects that salvation will be eternally punished in the fiery lake.

Another heresy that is taught and
preached today is that so long as an individual is sincere, lives according to
a moral code of ethics, has faith in a believe system such as Buddhism or any other
system may enter Heaven because, “No man knows the heart and mind of God.”  Scripture is clear, every soul that has lived
upon the earth will be judged and if their name is not found written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life will be doomed eternally to torment, agony and constant
awareness of their loss, in the place prepared for Satan and his evil demons.

Heavenly Father, we praise and thank
you for your love that provided our salvation.
Give us courage to share that news wherever we go today and every day,
sharing because of your love living in our hearts, in Jesus’ name we thank you.

Manna in the Morning

08-04-11

Basics -5-

Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore, leaving the elementary
message about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the
foundation.”

The
next basic truth to consider is the truth that every soul that has or is living
on this earth will someday be united with a body and fall down in submission to
our Lord in judgment.  There will be a
resurrection of Old Testament Saints, the resurrection of those who have died
while waiting for Jesus to appear in the sky and take up His church in that
glorious event we call the Rapture, there will be a uniting of those killed in
the seven years of tribulation and purification of the earth and people for the
return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and finally the last
judgment when all souls face Jesus on the Great White Throne seen in the
closing chapters of Revelation.

No matter
when a person has lived and died, he or she will be called to account before
our Savior.  Those in the period of time
between Eden and Calvary were to sacrifice in faith looking forward to God’s
provision of the perfect sacrifice and we who live after Jesus’ death, burial
and resurrection are saved by faith in the accomplished work of Jesus who is
that perfect sacrifice.  Every person who
has acknowledged and accepted God’s provision has their name written in the
Lamb’s Book of Life will enjoy Heaven and those who reject God’s provision will
be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.
We who live in this present time will go before our Savior where we will
be given crowns for our faithful service and will feel sorrow and regret for
the opportunities we have missed or ignored.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for your provision of a Perfect
Sacrifice and calling us to salvation.
In Jesus’ name we ask that You give us the discernment and guidance as
we seek to use every opportunity to share our testimony for Your glory today.

Manna in the Morning

08-03-11

Basics 3 and 4

Hebrew 6:1 “Therefore, leaving the elementary message (Basics) about the Messiah, let us go
on to maturity.”

The third foundational precept is
the doctrine of baptisms, that is, of being baptized by a minister of Christ by
immersion in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
as the public acknowledgement of salvation and celebrate it at the Lord’s Table
and the understanding of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit. This Ordinance
of baptism is a foundation to be rightly laid, and daily remembered, but not
repeated.  The Ordinance of water baptism
is one of the two Ordinances given to the Church to be regularly observed.  This is to take place after an individual’s
salvation experience as an outward witness of the transformation that has taken
place in the individual’s life, that of being born anew into the family of our
Heavenly Father.  It is a witness to the
community and the world at large that the person is dead to the blandishments
of the world because old things are passed away, then raised to a new life in
Jesus Christ.  Baptism does not save
anyone, it is following a command of our Lord Jesus Himself, the importance of
the public testimony, that is the individual announcing to all his or her
family and anyone who hears of it makes him or her more aware of their
accountability before God, the Church and other believers.

The
Baptism of God the Holy Spirit takes place at the very instant of our
salvation, not at a later date or a second work in our hearts; we are born into
the Family of God just as Jesus was conceived in Mary by the power of the Holy
Spirit.  The power of the indwelling Holy
Spirit is ours from our first receiving Christ but we need to strive always to
be yielded to Him, allowing His power to flow through us in our witness and
daily life.

The fourth fundamental is the laying on of hands upon Ordination
to spiritual leadership or other solemn occasion.  This simple expression of being set apart
from the world, to be in a line of succession that is directly related by
physical contact reaching back to the Apostles themselves.  The unity of all believers is seen in this
act of physical contact, even in the clasping of hands with someone while
praying for their needs and spiritual counseling.  Our gracious Heavenly Father we ask you to
use the Ordinances and practices of the Church handed down from apostolic times
to strengthen our unity as brothers and sisters in our Lord, in Jesus’ name we
pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-02-11

Basic Beliefs – 2

Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore, leaving the elementary message (Basics) about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the
foundation.”

Our basic belief or conviction,
something we will hold firm regardless of opposition, is a firm faith towards
God.  This encompasses a steadfast belief
in the existence of a Creator God.  While
some believe God created all that is in six literal days, others may expand the
time period somewhat, but the incontrovertible truth is this, God created all
that is, including mankind as a separate and unique creation of God, not as an
addition to the Animal Kingdom, but with a body, soul and spirit harboring a desire
for a spiritual relationship with God, who is self-existent, having neither
beginning nor end and is all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present in all
His fullness, perfect in love, justice and mercy and the author and provider of
our salvation.

Our great Jehovah
God is a Triune God known to us in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
yet One in essence.  We know Him as our
Heavenly Father, God the Son is our Redeemer, who walked for a time on this
earth and God the Holy Spirit is our constant, indwelling companion.  God’s will, purpose and the mind of God is
revealed in His Holy Word, that wonderful Gift we can hold in our hands and is
used for our encouragement, edification and education of God’s eternal plan concerning
the Promised Perfect Sacrifice first seen in Genesis, and last seen on earth as
He ascended into Heaven, and who is soon coming again as our triumphant, King.

We must by
faith acknowledge and agree with these Biblical Truths.   Repentance and faith towards God, are
connected, and always go together; they are inseparable twins, the one cannot
live without the other. Both of these are foundational or basic principles,
which have been well established once for all time.  We who know Jesus as our Redeemer have
accepted God’s plan of Salvation by faith, and it is the faith that allows us
to understand things beyond our human comprehension.  Jesus is soon going to meet us in the air,
and we are to work diligently until that time arrives.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, give us the faith
to believe in the measure of our love for You.
May we walk with you this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-01-11

The Basics, Number 1

Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore, leaving the elementary message
about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation.”

Because the
Book of Hebrews is written to those of Israelite descent scattered around Asia
Minor, the author felt it appropriate to lay out the foundational truths of
salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  In this chapter, there are 6 Basic truths or
Foundational Principles of which we should remind ourselves.  First, there is the foundational need for
understanding the concept of repentence from dead works, works done in human strength
that can have no merit or standing in our relationship with our Heavenly
Father.  When we repent of our sins, we
are confessing to our Heavenly Father that we recognize anything that is done,
given, thought or attempted in our own strength prior to our being born anew is
without value, that God cannot even consider it as good since it occurred before
our accepting the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore
if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away,
and look, new things have come.” Our entire life before Christ is gone, and all
things, our attitudes, the way we look at problems, our outlook on life, even
our vocabulary and manner of speaking with others is changed; we have been
reborn, recreated in the image of our Great God and Father in Heaven. We have
gone from spiritual death to entering eternal life in Christ Jesus.  When we see indications we are slowly
shifting back to former habits and activities, and like Adam, reaching a point
where God has to come looking for us rather than our seeking Him eagerly it is necessary
to go to our Heavenly Father, asking forgiveness for our lack of spiritual ardor

Repentance,
genuine regret for actions that displease our Father in Heaven should be a
regular part of our daily prayer, but we will never need to repent again of
those things we have confessed and have been forgiven.  Once we are reborn, our sin debt has been
paid and we are a Child of our coming King.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for the robe of Jesus’
righteousness that is wrapped securely around us, once and forever, we are born
into Your family and gratefully carry Your name, all because of Jesus in whose
name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-29-11

Perverted Justice

Habakkuk 1:4, “This is why the law is ineffective and
justice never emerges.  For the wicked
restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.”

Just a few
short weeks ago, Casey Anthony was adjudicated not guilty in the death of her
two year old daughter, Caylee.  Opinion
writers and TV talking heads talked of miscarriage of justice and in general
acted like a Wild West vigilante mob, calling for her re-arrest and a new
trial.  The truth of the matter is, the
prosecution did not prove their case with circumstantial evidence and Casey had
to be whisked away at midnight to avoid the angry crowds.  Shortly thereafter James Bain was released
from prison after serving 35 years for a rape recent DNA evidence proved he did
not commit.  He was greeted by a few
family members, but no great news stories other than a mention in passing heralded
his release.  The State is providing a
multi-million dollar settlement and assisting in its administration to see that
Mr. Bain will be comfortably cared for without financial problems for the
remainder of his life.

Justice is never absolutely perfect,
but we are comforted in the fact that juries and judges usually get it
right.  Today, we are concerned by
illegal events occurring within our Department of Justice, and news outlets are
becoming polarized, some trying to cover the misdeeds, others wanting to
publicize them and demanding resignations of high officials if not prison
sentences for their mishandling the facts and so-called secret operations.  Men and women pervert justice in the eyes of
God, because they do not know the Lord God as their Heavenly Father and do not
look to Him for guidance in their daily carrying out of their duties.  Innocent men are imprisoned and guilty
individuals are freed.  BUT, everyone who
walks upon the earth will at sometime in the future bow down before our great
God as He dispenses His perfect justice.
Those that do not know God the Son as their Savior will be judged guilty
and sentenced to an eternity in the Lake of Fire, the place prepared for Satan
and his demons.  Those that do know Jesus,
God the Son as their Redeemer will enjoy Heaven forever.

We
who know and love Him will bow before Him at the heavenly awards assembly and
receive crowns and accolades for what we have allowed God to do through us and
will feel sorrow when we realize how much more we could have done in His
name.  Missed opportunities and failure
to keep our testimony pure will cause us sorrow knowing we failed as did Peter
in the High Priest’s courtyard.  Praise God
for His forgiveness and restoration.
Heavenly Father we are anxious to be used for your glory this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-28-11

Jonah’s Reaction.

Jonah 4:1-3, Jonah was greatly displeased and became
furious. He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said
while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the
first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to
become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster.
And now, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than
to live.”

Jonah seems
to be a man of conflict within his heart.
First, he is called by God to preach to Nineveh, then he books passage
on a boat to Tarshish in defiance of God’s call, sparks a revival among the
crew of the ship when they toss him overboard, spends a few days in the stomach
of a fish, is preserved by God, preaches to Nineveh and finally is angry with
God when the people to whom he preached turn to God in sackcloth and ashes
sparking a revival.  At least he was
honest and angry enough to tell God why he was so bitter.  (It helps us understand Jonah by knowing
Nineveh was the capitol city of Assyria, a fierce enemy of the Israelites.)

Jonah
recognized as we do, that God does not deal with us in anger.  We are His children, born anew into His
family, something Jonah and Nineveh could not know, our Heavenly Father deals with
us in love, patience, correction, and when necessary with stern rebuke, but
always with the mercy and compassion of a loving father.

When any
nation or individual rebels against God, decides to go his or her own way by
ignoring the godly advice of Scripture and becoming embroiled in sinful
activity including the company of ungodly friends, God will always find a
gentle compassionate way to return them to the fellowship of His family.  If they reject His gentle warnings, the
nation or individual can expect God’s stern hand upon them to correct them, and
just like a human father, punish them for their waywardness.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we pray we will never be like Jonah and allow
bitterness to fill our hearts, may we always desire to see others come to
salvation through the convicting of God the Holy Spirit and may we always
praise you for our redemption and constant watchcare over us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-27-11

Jehovah Rules

Jonah 1:14-17, “So they called out to the Lord:
“Please, Jehovah, don’t let us perish because of this man’s life, and
don’t charge us with innocent blood! For You, Jehovah, have done just as You
pleased.” Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea
stopped its raging. The men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a
sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.”

Jonah went aboard ship to avoid
going to Nineveh to preach the message of belief in Jehovah God, and the
Ninevites be delivered from their sinful ways and turn to Him.  Jonah, for some reason refused to disobey God’s
call to go to the heathen city and set out for Tarshish, while on the way to
that city, the vessel in which he had booked passage was overwhelmed by a great
storm and was in eminent danger of sinking.
The accusing finger was pointed at Jonah and he told the ship’s crew the
storm would cease if they threw him overboard and they complied.

Not only did these rough, seafaring
men understand the plan of Jehovah who was previously unknown to them, they
turned to Him, prayed that they not only would be saved from the storm, but be
delivered from the sin of murder for throwing Jonah overboard.  In his disobedience, God used Jonah to spark
a revival among the sailors that caused them to call upon God’s name for
deliverance, they immediately built a fire aboard the ship and offered a
sacrifice to God in repentence for their sin, praise for their safety and
deliverance from the storm.  Jonah, as we
all know, was swallowed by a great fish and had his own session of repentence
and deliverance then going on to preach at Nineveh.

Lessons to be learned; First, our
rebellion against God’s plan for our life can have serious consequences in the
lives of others.  Next, God can use any
event, even tragedy to turn men’s hearts toward Him.  Third, Previous knowledge of God is not
necessary for God the Holy Spirit to convict men and women of their sin and
drive them to repentence and salvation.
Finally, We must never question the plan God has put in our hearts,
causing us to serve Him in unusual or foreign ways for the salvation of souls
even when we least expect it.

Manna in the Morning

07-26-11

Working for God’s Glory

Philippians 2:12-14, “Work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will
and to act for His good purpose.

The Apostle
Paul, speaking under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, does not intimate
in this passage the idea that each of us should work for our salvation, that
somehow salvation can be achieved by the work or activity we do on this earth,
but rather to live out our faith in a manner that will accomplish all that our
Heavenly Father has for us to do.  As we
see the rapid approach of our Savior’s calling us up to the Heavenly places, each
of us desires to hear His voice saying, “Well done, you have been faithful in
all I called you to do.”  It is our
fervent prayer that we will finish strong; that we will leave nothing undone
that was within our ability to accomplish.

Our fear is
that we will allow our adversary to take advantage of a weak moment when we
allow our spiritual guard to slip and damage our testimony among those who look
to us for guidance, direction and edification.
We must keep our defenses up, allowing God to do the work through us,
instead of attempting to do things in our own strength and manner.  Just as a surgeon does not allow the
slightest quiver or misguided movement of a scalpel, keeping it always under
complete control, we must keep ourselves clean and pure, always sensitive to
the leading of God the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Through the enablement of our great God and Father, we will accomplish His will, speak to those whose heart He has opened, present the gospel in a way that is pleasing to Him and accepted by those to whom we speak, and when we follow His will, then we know our acts, words and attitudes will be fulfilling the purpose for which He has sent us out to do battle.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we willingly submit to Your will, to carry out Your
purposes and to be Your ambassador of Heaven to a sinful earth.  Use us this day we plead in Jesus’ name.

Manna
in the Morning

07-25-11

Keep
Testifying

Luke 8:38-39, ‘The man from whom the demons had
departed kept begging Jesus to be with Him. But He sent him away and said,
“Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.” And
off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.’

All
of us have listened to speakers who have returned from a foreign country and we
understand the need for the entire world, all men and women hearing of the love
and compassion of Christ Jesus, sharing the message of salvation to children and
adults in every corner of the world.
Some places are difficult because of political unrest and pressure, some
areas are under the domination of belief systems that are anti-Christian and where
carrying a Bible is equivalent to a death sentence and some nations are open to
sharing the Christian faith and message if the person is actively employed in a
non-religious occupation.

Jesus
sent out the disciples two by two twice on different occasions to visit the
villages and towns around Galilee and Judea, but there is one man in the New
Testament to whom Jesus gave a life-time commission to tell how Jesus had
changed his life to a specific people group.
After a lifetime of wandering around the tombs and grave yards, often
breaking chains and ropes that had bound him, cursing and screaming while
running naked through the cemeteries at night, this man met Jesus and was
changed immediately.  When the people he
had terrorized looked for him, they found him clothed, sitting with Jesus,
listening to him teach and in full control of his mind.   Jesus had healed the man completely.  When the time came for Jesus to leave the
area, the restored man begged to go with him to tell his account of restoration
and healing through  Jesus’ power.

Jesus then gave the man
an assignment, He told the man to go to his family, all those that formerly
knew him as a mad-man and the ones who had feared and tormented him so they
could hear and see all that Jesus had done for him.  God our Heavenly Father has called us,
re-birthed us and given us the commission to tell all those who we know and
love, how great His love is right in the place where we now are. The power of
our changed lives is an everlasting witness to His grace, and our testimony is
the single best way they will understand God’s transforming power.  This man went on to live his life with the
power of God the Holy Spirit within him, to share with all who knew him before
his meeting Jesus, glorifying God with his life in one of the most difficult
places, his own home town.  He did as the
Savior commanded for God’s glory and for his own growth in the grace and
knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Lord God, our
Heavenly Father, use us today in this same way in our assigned field of service
we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-22-11

Accountability

Jeremiah 17:9-11, “The heart is more deceitful than anything
else and desperately sick—who can understand it?   I, the
Lord, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according
to what his actions deserve.”

Every one
of us must be absolutely honest with ourselves and agree that our hearts are more
deceitful than we want to admit and can easily lead us astray.  Our heart is more than an organ that pumps
the blood through our body, it is the name given to the seat of our emotions
and feelings, feeding the mind with suggestions, causing us to consider sinful
activities.  Our hearts are emotional and
easily swayed, who can understand why a mature Christians can lose their focus
on serving Christ and allowing sin to creep in and destroy their witness,
influence and ministry.  Our hearts, like
all our human characteristics and nature cannot be trusted, this is the prime
reason why we need to be careful to allow neither temptation nor indifference to
corrupt our heart and mind.

In this
passage Our Lord God tells us very plainly what criteria He will use in judging
the effectiveness of an individual’s life and the basis for the decision
between eternal joy or endless damnation.
First, our God will examine what kind of thoughts we harbored in our
mind, what kind of input we allowed to enter, was it wholesome and God honoring
or was it essentially lurid, filled with portrayed or implied sinful
activities, did it glorify life or death and would it please our Heavenly
Father or contribute to the pleasures of the flesh?  Examine the seeds that you allowed into your
mind and the plants that took root.

Next God
says He will test our hearts, not with temptation to see how strong we are, but
to evaluate the depth of our convictions, the dedication to His glory and the
desires to fulfill His will in all things.
The final decision is when we fall on our faces before Him and our name
is written in the Book of Life because we have been reborn, or it is not
inscribed in the Book and we are judged guilty because we never accepted the
free gift of salvation.

Heavenly
Father, it is my prayer that all who read this will know beyond all doubt their
name is in the book of life.  May each of
us guard our hearts and minds, living to please You and bring You great glory,
in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-21-11

Our Journey

Proverbs 20:24, “A man’s steps are determined by the Lord, so
how can anyone understand his own way?”

The idea
that mankind is control of his own destiny and activities is offset by the
ideas of various eastern belief systems, saying men and women are driven by
their karma, their predetermined life course or karma, but Scripture is very
specific.  Men and women who know the
Lord God as their Heavenly Father have their steps ordered by their Lord
God.  King David recognized this when he
wrote under inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, that God’s Word is a lamp for
his feet and a light on his path.  God
gives us great latitude in our daily activities; we set our schedules, fill our
calendar with appointments and seem to be in charge of our daily schedules from
the ring of the alarm clock until we hit the pillow at night.  So long as we follow His precepts, function
in accordance with His leading in our lives and ask for divine guidance whenever
we are faced with decisions, we will be led by the light of God’s Word.  If we begin to allow sin in our lives, turn
away, even slightly, from the convictions God has placed in our hearts, He will
correct our paths using whatever means necessary to get our attention and
correct our pathway.

This does
not mean we are to be lacking in purpose or direction, we are to be living,
every moment to the glory of our God and honoring Him in every activity in
which we participate, simply by allowing Him to be the determining factor in
all that we do, being constantly aware of His presence in our lives.  As Solomon wrote in the Proverbs, “In every
thing you do, acknowledge God’s presence within you, be perceptive to His
leading and He will direct your every step.”
(VRL Paraphrase)

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, we plead for your guidance today in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-20-11

Praise God

Jeremiah 33:11, “Praise the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is
good; His faithful love endures forever.”

We
compliment people often, extol their virtues and occasionally mention their
shortcomings, but we do not consider this as praise.  We like to think we are praising the Lord God
Almighty when we compliment or extol His virtues, give thanks for the answers
to our prayer or exhibit and proclaim thankfulness for our redemption and His
sustaining power in our lives.  The root
meaning of praise is intense, almost painful worship, which is rarely
experienced by God’s children.   Think of the complete concentration of an
archer when he draws back the bow, preparing to impart intense energy to the
arrow, concentrating completely upon the center of the target, controlling the
perfect release in order to propel the arrow straight, forcefully and true to the
aiming point.  Now think of using that
same level of concentration toward God, intensely directing your love and
adoration like an arrow directly to the great throne of our Triune God in the
Heavenly places, release your words of praise and adoration with the same
intensity.  This is not normal prayer or
expression of praise in music; this is a personal, direct recognition of the
majestic grandeur of God.  Just as we
have learned to pray, to recognize God’s love and forgiveness, we need to learn
to praise.  Neither in concert with
others nor in ordinary prayer giving our requests to our Heavenly Father, but
to praise Him with our entire being, every fiber of our mind, soul and body
directly involved in our praising Him.

Truly our
LORD is worthy of our praise, His love is unending, without limit, eternal, and
has saved us from the  deep pit of
eternal damnation for the sin we have committed ultimately rejecting His great
salvation.  May we learn, like David, the
joy of praising the Lord, letting all that is within us praise His Holy Name.

Our great
God and Heavenly Father, we love you because you first loved us, we thank you
for our salvation that comes at such a great cost, and we direct our arrows of
praise to you as we enter Your presence in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-19-11

Heaven’s View

Ezekiel 1:28, “The appearance of the brilliant light all
around was like that of a rainbow (Lighting) in a cloud on a rainy day. This
was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown
and heard a voice speaking.”

What a
difference between the earthly, terrestrial view and the glorious heavenly view.  While we are on the earth’s surface we are
subject to shadows of clouds passing overhead, on some days no sunshine breaks
through and it is gloomy and dark.  If
one goes up in an airplane, you will leave the cloudy surface, climb through
the clouds that swirl around becoming lighter and lighter then breaking into
the sunlight, then finally when you get to the aircraft’s cruising altitude the
clouds are dwarfed, far below and you are comfortable, relaxed looking down
upon the earth and its shadows.

In the same
way, when we are surrounded by doubts, concerns, fears and worry, things are
gloomy and our hearts are depressed and fear sets in.  When we turn our face toward heaven,
concentrate upon the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our lives and the ever
present love of our Heavenly Father, we will pass through the earthly cares and
worries, the atmosphere of our heart and soul becomes lighter and we burst into
the glorious sunshine of our Father’s love and concern for us.  The cares and worries of earth are now being
seen from Heaven’s vantage point and there is nothing between our Heavenly
Father’s glory and our seeking soul.

This
glimpse of the Shikinah Glory of our God drove Ezekiel to fall face down upon
the ground in humble homage before the appearance of the glory of our great
God.  We need to always be mindful of the
greatness of our God.  We often
concentrate upon God’s love and compassion for all men and women, but we need
to recognize the perfect justice of God as Scripture states, “It is the soul
that sins that dies,” an eternal death in torment and separation from God.  We also must keep foremost in our minds the
grandeur and magnificence of God’s glory.
Moses saw the backside of the glory of God and his face shone for
days.

Our
wonderful Heavenly Father, we seek to live to Your everlasting glory, to do all
things to magnify Your name and to declare Your name among the nations.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-18-11

The Word of God

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and effective
and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul,
spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the
heart.”

Since
Biblical times, the art of weaponry has changed and advanced at an astounding
rate.  Now it is possible to shoot guns
around corners, change their trajectory in flight, and explode without hitting
anything at a predetermined distance.  A
far cry from the swords carried by King David or even the sword wielded by
Peter centuries later.  As far as
weaponry has advanced, nothing can match or even come close to the weapon God
our Heavenly Father has provided for us in His Word.  First, God’s Word is living and
effective.  It will speak to people we do
not ever have the opportunity to meet or engage in conversation.  Leaving a Gospel of John or gospel tract in
places where people will see and pick it up will allow God to speak to their
heart effectively.  God promises us in
Isaiah that His word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish the
mission he has sent The Word into the world to perform.  God has not taken up residence in this world,
but dwells in the heavenly places and uses His Word to do His will upon this
earth, including calling men and women to repentence.  God’s message is clearly presented in
Scripture, Jesus life, death, burial and resurrection is fully recorded to
provide redemption for all mankind.

Next, no
weapon has yet been devised that is effective in the spiritual battle except
God’s Word.  God the Holy Spirit is so
close to us, He knows the thoughts that enter our minds, the intents with which
we do things, and the motives that drive us, bringing conviction into our
hearts before we can even commit the physical outworking of an inappropriate
act.  We need to remember Jesus’ words,
telling us sin is in the concepts and thoughts of the heart and mind before the
act is ever committed.

God’s Word,
the Sword of the Spirit, is God’s way of isolating and dividing our eternal
soul from our mortal body to make us spiritually aware of His working in our
lives, as well as being our offensive weapon in the daily warfare in which
every one of God’s children are involved.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the wonderful gift of
your Word and we ask for the discipline to keep its words always before us, in
Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the
Morning

07-04-11

          On July 4, 1776 the American Colonies
declared their independence from King George and the British Empire.  The colonists were so confidant God was on
their side, so certain that truth, justice and freedom would prevail, they
signed the Declaration of Independence before the battle was joined, let alone
the end of the war.  It was a hard,
arduous fight, thousands of men gave their lives, people lost property and
fortunes before the war was finished.
The movie “The Patriot” accurately portrays the harsh,
unyielding manner in which England dominated their colonies.  The American Declaration of Independence was
a bold, untested step in the political climate of the world, every European Country
was under a Monarchy, and an Emperor ruled China and Japan, while the
Constitutional Republic was an unproven concept in Government.  God has had his hand upon this Nation because
it was founded upon Biblical Principles and our Founding Fathers looked to God
for guidance.  There was never any intention
by this nation’s founders, the early Presidents of the US, or Congress during
the first 200 years, of restricting the right of a child to pledge Allegiance
to the Flag under God, to hear God’s Word or not be allowed to pray in their
schools; in fact, Church Services were held in the Hall of Congress while the
first schools were Biblically based leading to Bible Colleges and
Seminaries.  These restrictions are among
the many court decisions and legislative actions dealing with our rights as
well as cloning, fetal tissue research, killing the unborn and other moral
issues now clouding our Country’s conscience.

The United States was founded upon the
truths of God’s Word, returning to these truths will enable the USA to lead the
world in active, Christian ministry.  As
believers, without regard to political affiliation, we need to pray for our
Government; for our President to lead in a God honoring way, for wisdom and
discernment in appointing a conservative Federal Judges to fill any existing
vacancy, for our Representatives and Senators as they enact legislation putting
aside petty, personal politics, and for our Courts, that they might decide
issues in a fair, honest, unbiased, Constitutional manner.

As we pray, God will fulfill his promise
in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their
land.”  On Independence Day 2011,
let’s recommit to pray for our Nation, asking God to give America a renewed
commitment in this Presidential Election Year, to Godly, Biblical
Principles.  Our Sovereign God and
Heavenly Father, we commit our Nation to you, asking for your guidance and divine
protection over our nation.  Keep us a
lighthouse of your Word in this troubled world, in Jesus’ name we pray.

This will be the last Manna in the
Morning until Monday July 18^th; I am taking some tome away from my
writing responsibilities and a short vacation.
See you then, thanks,  Vance

Manna in the Morning

07+01+11

Mighty Men

2 Sam 23:16-17, “So three of the warriors broke through the
Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They
brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out
to the Lord.  David said, “Lord, I
would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their
lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three
warriors.”

We are all well acquainted with King David’s military victories, starting with his boyhood
duel with Goliath, but often forget for almost all his life he was accompanied
by those he called his mighty men.  One
of them, named Eleazar was so fierce in battle, when it was over his hand
muscles were frozen around the hilt of his sword and he could not release it.
(2 Samuel 23) While David and his Army were under siege by the Philistines,
David said he yearned for a drink of water from the well at Bethlehem, three of
his mighty men broke through the enemy lines and brought the water back to
David, who was so struck by their devotion he poured the water out before the
Lord God as an offering of great value.  These
men looked to David as their rightful King and served him with all their strength
and held each other accountable before God for their actions.

Each of these men did heroic deeds individually, but when they were acting in force
together, their success was greatly multiplied.
Each of us are equipped and are effective as we live our lives touching
others and encouraging them to deepen their relationship with our Heavenly
Father, but we need the opportunity to gather together for Bible Study and
Prayer with others so we can develop a reliance on them to assist us when
needed and to uphold us in prayer as we carry our witness on a day to day
basis, often without another believer beside us.  Make sure you are regular in a Bible Study Class
regularly in addition to the Worship Services of your Church.  Develop your own Mighty Group of those that
work together in the place where our Father has placed us.  Heavenly Father, be our strength this day we
ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-30-11

God’s Wrath

John 3:36, “The one who believes in the Son has eternal
life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead,
the wrath of God remains on him.”

After Jesus’ evening meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean
countryside where His disciples were baptizing those who came to them and John
the Baptizer was also baptizing with a baptism of repentence for sin and his
followers were looking to John to introduce them to the Promised One.  He introduced Jesus as the One who came down
from Heaven and when He speaks, He speaks the Words of God and gives the gift
of God the Holy Spirit.  John the Baptist
said, in the hearing of all who were present, his followers, Jesus’ disciples
and those who were just curious or onlookers in the crowd, saying clearly that
those who rely upon or believe in Jesus, God the Son have eternal life but
those who do not accept, instead refusing to believe in Him, will continue to carry
the wrath of God.

Many Christians, probably the majority have never thoroughly understood the fact
that from the time a child knows the difference between the right thing to do
and the wrong, and understand that deliberately doing the wrong thing is sin,
they are under the control of Satan and when they accept Jesus as their
Promised Sacrifice for sin, they are released from their imprisonment to sin
and the devil to true freedom in Jesus.
There are only two types of people in the Father’s eyes, those that are reborn
into His family by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice and those who are still
imprisoned by Satan and will feel the wrath of God because of their rejection
of salvation.  There is no third group,
those who are yet to make a decision for good or evil, they simply have
rejected the offer of salvation that has been offered to them.  Scripture tells us that anyone who earnestly
seeks God will find Him and have that opportunity to accept His salvation.

The wrath of God is unbearable for mankind, soon the time will come when all of the
redeemed are caught up out of the earthly realm and God’s wrath for mankind’s
rejection will fall in its full fury upon the earth and its inhabitants.  Our Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled
with gratitude for the great salvation you have provided for us, and we ask in
Jesus’ name for the opportunity to leave a Gospel of John or gospel pamphlet
and a word of witness to someone today.

Manna in the Morning

06-29-11

Blessings

Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me.  Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.”

It seems as though every time we pick up the paper or read a news blog on the internet, Bible believing believers are taking a hit from one group or another.  This past week the State of New York Legislature approved single-sex marriage and Bible believing churches were taking heat for their Biblical stance. There is a movement in the more liberal denominations to try and pacify Islam by preaching only that which would make them comfortable, even reading from the Koran.  The Churches and
individual believers who fully follow the teachings of Jesus and believe every word of Scripture are going to be ridiculed and called many names for their Biblical position. Even the term ‘born-again’ is now being applied to certain conservative
political groups in addition to being mis-applied to believers from time to time.  Preaching and teaching the undiluted Word of God is still the most timely, current, up-to-date message that can be taught.

It does not matter what is said or what charges are leveled against us because persecution and disregard have always been the result of solid Biblical teaching.  Noah explained God’s plan to his neighbors, friends and others for 120 years before the rains came, then the people came knocking on the door that Noah couldn’t open.  Jeremiah spoke God’s message very bluntly and was rewarded by being placed in a mud pit up to his neck.  Jesus spoke the Words of salvation and obedience to God’s Word in love and without rancor then was ultimately crucified on the cross. If men and women ignored and ridiculed, even killed the prophets and patriarchs why do we feel abused when they verbally persecute us?  We have been promised a reward in Heaven where it counts, not on earth where it will go the way of all earthly things.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for the determination of Noah and the perseverance of the prophets as we proclaim your Word this day by our attitudes, actions and speech, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-28-11

Sheol

Luke 16:26, “Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed
between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you
cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.”

This parable is in some ways a good picture of
the difference in what happens when a Believer in Jesus leaves this earth, and
a non-believer dies.  The person who has
accepted Jesus as their Redeemer and the Forgiver of their sins is, according
to Scripture in the presence of our God in the Heavenly places, 2 Corinthians
5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.”  As
Paul wrote these words, he is saying that he can speak with confidence, knowing
that God Himself has said that when we leave this earth, our physical body will
be lifeless and left on earth, but our soul, our true self will immediately be
in the presence of Our Heavenly Father.
Just as we move from one house to another at a difference address,
perhaps a different postal code, we are alive, conscious and experiencing the
joys of heaven.  We can rejoice and be
glad in the fact that our brothers and sisters in Christ are now in the
presence of God, even while we sorrow because we no longer have their presence
on this earth.

The
individual who has not chosen to accept the offer of salvation will leave this
earth, be fully conscious and instead of finding themselves in the presence of
God, will be in a place where they are totally aware they are in a place completely,
eternally, separated from God and aware they chose not to accept His offer of
salvation, as Scripture says, “The soul that seeks Him will find Him,” Jeremiah
29:13.  Not only will the unbeliever be
in a place apart from God, he or she will have no more opportunities to accept
that salvation because it will no longer be offered to those that have no
awareness of God, only the everlasting torment of a person condemned by their
rejection.  Gracious Heavenly Father,
hear our prayer for those who do not know you, especially in our families.  In Jesus’ name we ask for increased
opportunities to share your Word with them, make their hearts receptive, and
grant us the joy of seeing them born into your family for your greater glory.

Manna in the Morning

06-27-11

Saved by the grace of
God

John 6:45-46, “It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father omes to Me— not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God. He has seen the Father.”

After feeding the multitude of people out on the mountain, Jesus continued to teach, referring to Isaiah 54:13, “Then all your children will be taught by the Lord.”  Jesus continued to emphasize that those who listened and learned from the Father will come to Him.  Up to this point, the people had been asking Jesus to continue to give them bread, and His response was that He, Jesus, was the living bread and that there is no entry to Heaven except through Him and only He has seen the Father.  This raises a couple of questions for us, first – if we have not seen the Father, how can we be taught by Him?  Scripture itself tells us the Word of God is profitable for us for reproof when needed, correction if we’re headed in the wrong direction and for instruction in
righteousness.  As we study God’s Word, we must ask God the Holy Spirit to shed light upon the passage we are reading, and to illumine our minds and hearts as fully as He divinely inspired the human authors to inscribe the words He gave them on the scrolls so we could have His guidance in our understanding.  Sincere prayer and meditation, thinking of the passage, its words and accompanying blessings, will allow our Heavenly Father to fill our hearts and minds with His message for us.

We have never seen God with our physical eyes, but in His wisdom and compassion, Jesus took on human form, and we have never seen Him either, yet with our spiritual eyes, we have seen, heard, even communicated one on one with our Heavenly Father
and we will recognize our Savior instantly when we reach the Heavenly Places.  Our Heavenly Father, we know we have been born anew into your Family and praise you for that great gift.  Walk with us just as you did with Adam and may we have the joy of your presence, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-24-11

Economics

Haggai 1:6, “The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with
a hole in it.”

It seems
like Haggai is describing our economic situation today, with high unemployment,
fuel prices, food costs, and the threat of a downward economic spiral.  This was the status of the ancient Israelites
when they came back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.  Their city was in ruins, the Temple, their
place of worship, was destroyed, there were few places to live in the whole
city and its walls had fallen providing little security.  These people had followed a dream of
returning to Judea after the Babylonian Captivity followed by the Persian Empire;
the promise of the return to David’s old capitol sounded like a wise and
prudent thing to do.  The people
immediately began to build dwelling places, plant crops, provide for family
needs and neglected their worship of the Lord God.  Haggai’s message was to immediately prepare a
place for worship and meet together in an organized manner to worship God, the
Creator and Sustainer of all things, remembering all He had done for their
people starting with Abraham.

Today we
are in much the same position with our economic concerns.  Many people are so concerned about what they
have to earn to provide the very best for their family, they forget about
taking time to worship on a regular basis.
When the Israelites recognized the truth of Haggai’s message, they began
regular worship, God blessed them abundantly and their economic status rapidly
improved.  If we will set aside time for
worship, prepare our hearts by asking God to forgive us for the sins of
neglecting Him and giving Him a low priority in our lives, our family life, including
the ability to pay for all the necessities will rapidly change.  Scripture teaches it is important for all
believers to gather in worship and praise with other believers, to encourage
one another and to be instructed, even rebuked if necessary by God’s Word, but
it is equally important that each one of us examine our own hearts, repair the
broken walls, giving our great God the proper respect and honor only He
deserves.  Our gracious Heavenly Father,
give us a desire to have a pure heart for worship, a tongue eager to witness of
your saving power and an eagerness to be open to your voice in all things.  This we ask in Jesus’ name, that You may be
glorified through us.

Manna in the Morning

06-23-11

Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14, “Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt
around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest.”

The Apostle
Paul, inspired by God the Holy Spirit is writing to the Church at Ephesus and
encouraging them in their spiritual battles, since their city was the site of a
great temple dedicated to the goddess Diana or Artemus, known variously as the
moon goddess, the goddess of hunting, and the patroness of young girls.  In the Scriptures we read of a great riot in Ephesus,
incited by the silversmiths who saw their craft and livelihood in danger if the
city turned to the Lord God.  In this
passage they are encouraged to put on the complete armor God has provided
including the breastplate of righteousness.
Not only are they to wrap themselves in the righteousness of Jesus their
Savior, but in order to avoid conflict with those who wished them harm they
were to be completely equitable or fair and just in character, to be innocent
of craftiness and holy, doing only those things that are pleasing to God.  This word also carries the connotation of
Christian justification, doing all things to the glory of God, not for
themselves or for earthly reward.  They were
simply to live their lives to the glory of their Redeemer, doing the right
thing in all instances.  Today we would
call this the flak jacket protecting us from the fiery shots of the wicked.

In our
daily activities, there are always opportunities to do the right thing, even
though it occasionally takes an extra minute or two.  Our culture is focused on the self, instead
of others, even permeating our entertainment and cartoons for kids.  Dudley Doright is seen as bumbling, interfering
person when all he wants to do is the good thing, and Boy Scouts are considered
somewhat silly because they are encouraged to do at least one good deed
daily.  If every Christian did something
out of the ordinary, a good deed daily in Jesus’ name, the world would give a
lot more attention to our message.  This is
the kind of righteousness on a daily, earthly basis that is our flak jacket
against the darts of the wicked and the ridicule of the unsaved who don’t
understand good deeds because they can only come from a Godly person.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, guide us to
someone to help them in your name this day we ask in Jesus’ name and for His
glory.

Manna in the Morning

06-21-11

Daniel and the Lions

Daniel 6:6-7, “So the administrators and satraps went
together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever.  All the administrators of the kingdom, the
prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should
establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who
petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’
den.”

Daniel, now
about eighty years old, had served the Kings of Babylon and Persians since he
was brought to Babylon as a teenage slave, and never defiled himself with
impurity and had been highly regarded by each Monarch for his integrity and
devotion to his God first, then those he faithfully served.  King Darius’ high regard for Daniel was envied
by all the Persian administrators who labored and schemed to displace him.  These plotters concocted an edict for Darius’
signature that would outlaw prayer or petition to anyone but the King
himself.  Daniel continued his daily
practice of opening the windows of his room, faced toward Jerusalem and prayed
to Jehovah God as usual.  The trap was sprung,
Daniel was taken to the King and Darius was forced to follow through,
condemning Daniel to the lion’s den.

Across the
world today, men and women are forbidden to pray or even mention God outside of
their churches in regular services.  In
the United States, Nativity Scenes, prayer at ball games, graduation exercises,
mention of God’s goodness in Valedictorian’s Speeches, are not allowed.  Daniel, as a government official would never
have allowed himself to be silenced and knuckle under to the concocted schemes
of unbelievers.  Today the organized
church and most believers are willing to live passively under these restrictions
that have no Constitutional or legislative authority behind them.  Every born again believer is a member of the
Family of God and should never allow any restriction in our communication between
our heart and our Heavenly Father.

Daniel
spent an uneventful night with the lions and continued to be the confident and
advisor to the King.  Each of us should
live in all confidence that no restriction or impediment will have any effect
on us, just as God closed the mouths of the hungry lions.  Father in Heaven, may we live this day in all
the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-22-11

Summer Solstice

Genesis 1:14, “Then God said, “Let there be lights in
the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as
signs for festivals and for days and years.”

One thing
that is important for every Believer to remember is that time is a created
thing, and God has made you to be master of creation, not the other way
around.  In the same way, we as creations
do not presume to give commands or even suggestions to our Creator and God will
always give you have enough time to accomplish all He has for you to do.  In Joshua’s wars against the Canaanites during
one battle, God held the sun in place and extended the day until the battle was
over and the Israelites had conquered the land.
As stewards of that with which God has entrusted us, we should be
careful to use our time wisely.

In the
creation the celestial orbits of every heavenly object is so carefully balanced
that the orbit of the earth around our sun is exact and at the summer solstice
which this year is on June 21 when the daylight hours are the longest and the
interval between sunset and sunrise the shortest.  Many of the Israelite holidays were
celebrated around the solstices and equinoxes and God’s balanced solar system
never varies.  If God can balance the
gravitational pull of an uncounted number of heavenly objects to keep
everything in perfect balance, there should be no doubt in our minds that we
can trust Him with the days of our lives, leaving us ample time to complete
every task we are called to complete.  Our
physical death will come only after we have completed all things our Heavenly
Father has determined for us to do.  It
is our responsibility to schedule our time wisely, allowing time for prayer,
Bible study, family, relaxation and other activities all under the watchful
guiding eye of God the Holy Spirit.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to schedule our time wisely in order
to accomplish what you have determined for us to do.  May we not spend time on those things not in
your plan for us, and give us great wisdom in presenting your saving message to
others at every opportunity.  These
things we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-230-11

God’s Plan

2 Kings 20:2-3, ‘Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall
and prayed to the Lord, “Please Lord, remember how I have walked before
You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what is good in Your sight.”
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.’

Hezekiah
was one of the Kings of Israel that walked in the paths God had laid out for
him, established regular worship in the Temple and obeyed His commands.  When he became sick, he called for Isaiah, God’s
prophet to come and pray for him.  On his
way to see the King, the Lord God told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah this sickness
would be fatal, that Hezekiah would not recover.  In his disappointment and anger, Hezekiah
prayed for his life to be extended because, he said, he had done only that
which was good in God’s eyes.  Then he
turned his face to the wall and wept in self-pity and disappointment.  God spoke again to Isaiah and said Hezekiah
would be granted fifteen more years of life before he would die.  During those fifteen years, Hezekiah fathered
a son Manasseh, who became an evil King in Israel and undid much of what his
father accomplished that was good in the eyes of God.  If Hezekiah had not pled with God for added
life he would not have committed two grievous errors that would plague Israel
for the rest of its existence, the birth and reign of Manasseh and showing the
Babylonians the golden vessels of worship in the temple that were later taken
to Babylon and used in idol worship.

In our
prayer life, we need to carefully balance our requests with the fact we know
our

Father in Heaven knows the future, and that for which we ask might have grievous
results in His plan for our lives and His glory.  It is best to freely share the requests we
have with our Father in Heaven, aware that He already knows the motive in our
pleading.  We must be sure we are willing
to submit to His will and purpose for our lives and ask that He answer in a
manner that would bring the greater glory to His name and achieve His purpose
on this earth.

Fifteen
years was s small portion of Hezekiah’ entire life, and Israel would have been
better off if Hezekiah had accepted God’s will in this instance.  Heavenly Father, we pray that all we say, do,
or ask of you would be for your greater glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-17-11

The tester and the Tested

Proverbs 17:3-4, “A crucible is for silver and a smelter for
gold, but the Lord is a tester of hearts.  A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a
liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.”

Just as the
three Israelite young men were determined not to defile themselves with eating
food that was not blessed and had been offered to idols, then later put into
the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to an idol erected by King Nebuchadnezzar
in his anger, their steadfast dedication to Jehovah God brought God’s favor
upon them, preserving their lives and testimony.  The Hebrew word used in Daniel as the furnace
is used here as the crucible that under extreme heat refines silver driving out
all impurities.  The smelter is a
refining pot, also heated to intense temperatures to refine and purify
gold.  In Romans 5:8 we are told our
Heavenly Father will use trials to conform us into the Image of God the Son,
using heat and pressure to accomplish this in our lives and witness to others.  Fiery furnaces and searing smelters are for
testing, but the ultimate test of any Believer’s life and attitudes is the
examination of the person’s heart and the attitude with which he or she accepts
the testing.

It is
interesting that the next verse speaks of the wicked person the exact opposite
of the successful Believer who welcomes the opportunity to become more like our
Savior and exhibit the attitudes of our Heavenly Father.  The wicked are not seen here as doing
anything such as bowing down to the idol the 3 men refused to worship, they are
seen as listening to malicious or perverted talk without considering the
implications of filling their minds with perversity.  The other example given is the liar, one who
exhibits the traits of Satan, the father of lies, who listens to those who
would destroy the work of Christ on this earth, the evangelistic work of the
Church.

Our
Heavenly Father, we ask that you give us the attitudes of our Savior so that we
may be successful warriors for you in every situation, give us the strength,
courage and ability to stand for your Word and Mission.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-16-11

An Eternal House

2 Samuel 7:15-16, “But My faithful love will never leave him as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way. Your house and kingdom
will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.”  David waited over twenty years after he was anointed King by the Prophet Samuel before he was finally crowned King over all the Israelites.  After he had defeated all those that were arrayed against him and Israel had a time of peace, David decided it was time to build a Temple for the Ark of the Covenant and a place for God’s glory to have a place of rest.  God answered through the prophet Nathan that David could collect the material for the Temple, but because he was a warrior and had killed many of his enemies, he could not build it.  His son, Solomon could build the sanctuary with what David had accumulated. God further promised David that His love and favor would never depart from the King until he died, but that in the course of time, a descendent of David would rule the world from Jerusalem, and then rule for all eternity from the heavenly throne.

Just as Saul was inflamed by a lust for power and led by satanic influences to hinder and attempt to thwart God’s plan and prophetic statements, we are often opposed in our desire to fulfill God’s plan in our lives by ungodly influences.  The promise made to David that God would lead him faithfully and love him forever is ours today.  Because of His promises to us, we are assured of His faithful love and restoration when we sin and ask for forgiveness.  God the Holy Spirit will never leave us from the moment of our salvation until we are in the presence of our Savior in the heavenly places.  God’s promises are sure and certain and worthy of our faithful trust. We will know His presence as surely as David did throughout his life, and we are to be as faithful in service as any Biblical hero.  Heavenly Father, make us fully aware of God the Holy Spirit within us, fully willing to do your will, and fully expect to see You in Heaven when the time is right in your eyes.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-15-11

His Eye

Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.”

Most of us remember Ethel Waters and her heartfelt singing of “His eye is on the sparrow,” based on Jesus’ words that not even a sparrow falls without God’s knowledge and. I’m sure, this verse.  It is so comforting to trust in Him, understanding He is aware of everything that comes
into our lives, big or small and nothing escapes His interest in the lives of His children.  Safety in the time of storm, houses and farms wiped out, sudden illnesses and surgery, loss of what we thought was secure, long lasting employment, all are seen by our loving Heavenly Father and His promise is to instruct and direct our steps as to what to do next and show us the way to go.   When unexpected things happen, even tragedy, we look for advice from others, we call on trusted friends or family which is good but we need to look to God’s Word since Scripture is the way to understand God’s personal plan for us.  The advice Job got from his friends and wife was questionable, but when he talked directly to God, He acted and the end of Job’s life was better than the beginning, as dire as the trials were, with God’s help, he overcame every difficulty.  When
Moses left Egypt, he was wanted for murder and never thought he would return to lead the Israelites to freedom.  When Thomas doubted the resurrection, met Jesus and was reconciled, he made it his life to share the message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection as far as India before he was killed for his faith.  We will seldom, if ever, will be called to such trials as Moses, Job or Thomas, but the way we live after crushing disappointments and the storms of life will speak to others with far greater impact than the words we speak when all is going well.  Remember God’s eye is on the sparrow, and we know His eye is on us today and every day.  Lord God in Heaven, guide us in everything we do and face today, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna
in the Morning

06-14-11

Flag
Day

Isaiah
30:17, “A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you
will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a
banner on a hill.”

Today June 14th is known across the
United States as Flag Day, commemorating the flying of the first flag of the
United States, hand-sewn by Betsy Ross, a seamstress in Philadelphia, PA.  It is a beautiful flag, one under which
millions of men and women have served their country willingly, and if required,
would do so again.  It is the flag that
drapes the caskets of brave warriors who have given their lives to preserve the
liberty for which the flag stands.  Today
take an opportunity to stop at a flag flying proudly in the wind and salute it
as the symbol of the freedom we enjoy in the United States of America.

There is another flag we should
revere this day as well, The Christian Flag, it too stands for freedom and
sacrifice.  The white body of the flag
stands for the white robe of righteousness the Redeemed will wear, that is the
righteousness of Jesus, God the Son.  In
the Book of The Revelation we read the host of redeemed that return to this
earth with Jesus when he establishes his reign upon the earth, will be robed in
the “White robes of Jesus’ righteousness.”
Thus it represents the purity of not only the believer in Christ Jesus,
but the message of salvation itself.  The
Blue is noted in the Bible as a color of honor and was used for regal
robes.  The field in the upper corner of
the flag is this regal, honorable blue upon which a red cross is placed.

The cross is the physical symbol of
the sacrifice of Jesus, who willingly gave up his life, not killed by the
Jewish Leaders or the Roman Government, but given as the Promised Perfect Sacrifice
to pay our sin debt.  The pledge to the
Christian Flag is simple, “I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the
Savior for whose Kingdom it stands.  One
Savior, crucified, risen and coming again with life and liberty for all who believe.”

Should oppression and persecution
come upon the Church in the US as it has in many other countries across the
earth, until each of us stands as solitary as a flag upon a staff at the top of
a hill, we will stand firmly and confident in God’s deliverance under the
banner of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and praise his glorious name.

Should the need arise to fight for
the freedom and rights guaranteed to us by the Founding Documents of this great
country, we will fight for the nation founded under God and proclaim the
liberty to proclaim the Salvation message and live in a Biblical manner that is
ours from our God and Father.

Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, we
come to you in Jesus’ name, pledging our allegiance to you and will stand firm
under your flag until you call us to the ultimate reward, eternity in your
presence.  Keep us in the center of your
will this day.

Manna in the Morning

06-12-11

Matthias

Acts 1:24-25, Then the disciples prayed, “You, Lord,
know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen to take the
place in this apostolic service that Judas left to go to his own place.”

After Judas
died, the money he was paid by the Priests to betray Jesus was used to purchase
a piece of land to bury him, from that time on it became known as the ‘Field of
blood.’  The remaining 11 disciples desired
to chose one close follower of Jesus just outside the circle of 12 to take
Judas’ place.  .After much discussion,
prayer and discussion, Matthias was chosen to take that 12^th
position, in order to keep the apostolic service for which the disciples were
not only responsible., but had been commissioned by Jesus to perform.

It is
important to remember that each one of us who have accepted Jesus as our
Redeemer and the Leader of our lives must acknowledge that along with the
forgiveness of our sins, we are commissioned as ambassadors to represent the
heavenly places and our Sovereign King upon this earth where we live, work and
have influence with others.  Many of us
when we introduce others to Christ do not mention the responsibility that now
falls upon us to share this good news of salvation with others.  This is a duty given to us by our Heavenly
Father along with His giving us various abilities and gifts to make this
obligation easier to perform.  He has
promised to put words in our mouths when we give an account of what has happened
in our lives, and a confidence that comes from God the Holy Spirit that lives
within us.  Not only are we to be quick
to tell others of this change in our lives, we must make all our words, actions
and attitudes give credibility to our testimony, living for His glory in
gratitude for what He has done for us.

Matthias
stepped in and accepted the responsibilities of a disciple turned apostle, and
we must be willing to follow God’s leading in our lives to make ourselves
better equipped to do His will.  Heavenly
Father, give us an awareness of the responsibilities we have been given by You
in this life, In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-10-11

Anxiety

Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but
a good word cheers it up.”

The Bible
has quite a bit to say about anxiety, and men and women have a lot of
anxiety.  We are anxious about many
things in our life, but most of them, upon examination, are not as big a
mountain as we make them in our minds.
There is a saying that if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing
to do is to stop digging; you’ll only make it deeper.  The same thing goes for anxiety, if we
concentrate upon it, we are building the mountain in our minds ever
higher.  If that which we are anxious about
or worrying over is something we can actually affect or solve, then it is good
to consider all possible solutions, if we can’t solve the dilemma, then being
anxious will only add to the mountain and make the difficulty appear greater.

David was
anxious about falling into the hands of Saul’s vengeful search party and cried
out to the Lord God for a calm spirit and an increased trust in His God to
protect and preserve Him, but knowing all along that should he be killed he
would be in the presence of God.  Jesus
taught us not to have worries about our physical or material needs because so
long as we are good stewards of what He has given us, we will be under the
watchful, protective care of our Heavenly Father.  When we are a child of the Heavenly King, we
can fully trust Him to meet our needs, real and magnified so we can bring glory
to Him out of our trust and reliance upon Him.

When
anxiety grips our hearts, God the Holy Spirit who is within us will loosen the grip;
provide the calm assurance that all these things are under the control of the
creator and sustainer of the universe.
Trusting God is easy to say and hard to do, worrying is easy to do, but
does not solve the problem, giving the worry over to our Heavenly Father is the
surest way to overcome the devil’s attacks upon our life, In full recognition
of His power and love for us, fully certain that you have been born anew into
His family and willing to give Him control will allow all of us to live in the
comfort of His peace.  Heavenly Father,
give each who read this the peace of knowing you as the forgiver of our sin and
the strong Leader of our life.  In Jesus’
name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-09-11

Hearing God’s Voice

Psalm 46:8-10, “Come, see the works of the Lord, who brings
devastation on the earth.  He makes wars
cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He
burns up the chariots.  ”Stop your
fighting—and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the
earth.”

We have
seen the devastation that has come upon the earth on every continent, Chilean volcanoes,
Japanese earthquakes and tsunamis, tornados raging across the heartland of the
United States and Massachusetts, now flooding along the
Ohio-Mississippi-Missouri river system.  Nonstop
rain in some parts of the earth while other parts are dry and crops
wither.  Just this week, 37 earthquakes
occurred across the earth at or above 4.7 on the Richter scale.  A vast part of the United States is having a
heat wave that is the worst in years.
God does allow these disasters so that men and women will turn their
hearts toward him and repent of their evil doing.

God turns
the heads of National leaders and He could convict their hearts of their warlike
intentions and the world would exist in serenity and peace.  The race for nuclear weapons is approaching
the point where men motivated by hatred and vindictiveness could wreak havoc
upon the earth, leaving parts of our planet’s surface radioactive, becoming
unfit for human habitation.  If we who
inhabit this earth do not heed God’s warnings, if we act like the men in
Revelation who recognize God as the creator, but refuse to repent and acknowledge
His sovereignty over us, even greater calamities are sure to fall upon this planet
that is our home.

Each of us
needs to strengthen our convictions, insisting our government not encourage or
support in any way the things God’s Word calls sin, an affront to His perfect
righteousness that will separate us as a nation from His love and
protection.  The ancient Israelites were
judged for sacrificing their children to an idol, while we routinely take the
life of thousands of unborn children every year.  Our leaders turn away from God’s Word,
support and encourage homosexual activity, forbid prayer in our schools and
oppose any mention of God as Creator or sovereign of all that is.  Is it a surprise then that all nature rebels
against the rejection of our great God in this Nation?  Our gracious Heavenly Father, use us to start
a return to Godly principles in this nation we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-08-11

The Increasing Wickedness
of Man

Genesis 6:1-4, When mankind began to multiply on the earth
and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man
were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the
Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they
are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”

After Cain
killed his brother, God put a mark on him protecting him from death by other
men on the earth.  In Adams life of over
900 years, he fathered many sons and daughters, but the line favored by God was
the line of Seth who was born after Abel’s death.  With Cain under a curse, Abel killed; Seth
took up the position as the oldest son and heir of Adam.  In spite of God’s closeness to Adam and Seth,
making His requirements of a sacrifice for sin and proper worship known,
humanity began to show its nature including a preference for sinful living over
righteousness.  The male descendents of
what we might call the Tribe of Seth began to look upon the daughters of all
the other progeny of Adam and chose whomever they wanted as wives forgetting or
ignoring the commands of God for proper worship and obedience.  Instead of a life span of nearly 1,000 years,
man’s life was shortened by God to 120 years, David, in Psalm 90, spoke of life
being as long as 80 years,  but across
the earth in the following centuries the average male lifespan in many cultures
was between 45-50 years until today when it is increasing to the 80 year mark
and beyond.

Neither
this passage nor any other in God’s Word tells us that angelic beings cohabited
with human women and produced a different race of people.  This is against the rules of creation when
God created animals, then Adam and Eve, each species of creation could only
reproduce with others of their own kind.
The thrust of this passage is that mankind is inherently evil, and if
left to their own desires, will spiral downward into the miry pit of sin.  Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, has lifted
us out of that pit and established us on the solid ground of the Gospel
message.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father,
we recognize the sinful natural nature of man and ask that You give us the
strength to subdue that nature for your glory and honor.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

06-07-11

A Trusted Friend

Proverbs 25:19, “Trusting an unreliable person in a time of
trouble is like a rotten tooth or a broken foot.”

Who can you
trust?  This question comes into our
minds when we need help of some kind. With whom can we leave the keys to our
house when we travel, who do we use as our contact when we have a situation to
face?  We place implicit trust in our
doctors, surgeons, attorneys, CPA’s, but more than anyone else we must trust
our Heavenly Father.  When we make these
other choices we need to pray about the individuals that we entrust with the
power over our health, money or to give us legal advice.

We often
read in our newspapers of individuals that have misused the trust placed in
them, even professional people who have had their licenses to practice as an
attorney or CPA revoked because of their making serious misjudgments in their
personal lives that have carried over into their professional
responsibilities.  The pain that results from
trusting an unreliable person is like trying to chew steak with a rotten tooth,
nothing seems to hurt more than a tooth that is about to break in two, exposing
the nerves to the outside environment, having no value or ability to assist you
in any way.  The same thing can be said
about a broken foot; you can’t stand or walk without crutches or a cane.

When we
choose our friends and close associates, we need to be sure that they share the
same Christian values and are members of the Family of God.  I know we are to reach out in friendship
evangelism, but for those closest to us, those upon whom we may relay in times
of difficulty, we need the people who think like we do, who are serving the
same master, who seek to have the characteristics of our Savior.  Our Lord God is the friend that “sticks
closer than a brother to us,” (Proverbs 18:24) one who knows our hurts and
deepest needs.  If everyone else deserts us,
if there is no one to whom we can turn, when we feel totally alone, this is
when our Savior wants to be close to us, to literally wrap His caring arms
around us, to comfort and ease the pain.
In Him, there is no need for crutches, canes, or relief for a toothache.  He is our everything.  Heavenly Father, we thank you in Jesus’ name for
your closeness and comfort.

Manna in the Morning

06-06-11

I can do it

Philippians 4:12-13, “I know both how to have a little, and
I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the
secret of being content—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in
need.  I am able to do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.”

Today, June
6^th, is the day upon which the Allied forces landed on the beaches
of Normandy signaling the soon to be realized end of WWII in the European Theater
of War. We are grateful to those who went through that invasion and live today
as well as those who have died on that day and since.  A grateful world should thank them because of
their dedication to duty, the preservation of liberty and the defeat of the
Axis powers who sought to change the world into a dark image, the lives of the
allied soldiers who hit the beach 67 years ago exemplify the attitude expressed
in this verse.  Many Believers in Christ Jesus
do not understand the magnitude of the evil forces we fight today as men and
women dedicated to serving Him with our lives.
Spiritual battles occur daily in our lives, in the angelic realms and
across all creation.  Scripture tells us
we don’t fight human enemies, the battles take place in the spiritual realm in
high places.  We, living our limited
lives here on earth, are the front line troops in that spiritual war.  The winning of others into the Family of God
through our witness, the simple desire to do the right thing at the right time
furthers the cause of our God, and when we fail and fall, we do not lose our
lives, we, by the grace of God our Father, are forgiven upon our request and
restored to full fellowship with Him, living to fight again.

Whether we
are blessed with this world’s treasures or not, live in comfort or not, we have
our spiritual armor to protect us and the weapons, God’s Holy Word and prayer
to overcome all enemy attacks, emerging triumphant when the battle is
over.  Just as the Allies won the War,
David beat Goliath, God will give us victory because we can win every battle
through the power of God the Holy Spirit that infuses every cell in our bodies,
making us invincible in the war against the devil and his evil plans.  Our Heavenly Father, we will fight the
adversary today in your strength and power, under your leadership and for your
great glory, in Jesus’ mighty name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-03-11

Matthew 7:28-29, “When Jesus had finished this sermon, the
crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one
who had authority, and not like one of their scribes.”

Every
Christian will be in a situation where he or she will teach a lesson to some
group.  If not, you are imitating a sponge,
always taking in, and never sharing what you have learned.  It doesn’t matter if you teach the two
year-olds or the seasoned saint at your church who has probably heard dozens of
teachers through the years.  I understand
if you are teaching for the first time, you will have butterflies in your
stomach, and it is always a good thing to be fully dependent upon our great God
to guide us in our preparation and in the words we choose in our presentations,
never depending on our own strength alone.
The time in which Jesus lived and taught was a time when the religious
authorities thought only they could teach the Scriptures because they could
understand what the text truly meant.

Not so
today, where men and women can be fully qualified to teach without a Seminary degree
or even having taken a Bible College class to give them guidance.  Any believer in Jesus should know enough
about God’s Word to explain it to others, to make the passages clear, to
emphasize what you have read in other passages that compliment the passage at
hand.  Remember, the best Bible
Commentary is the Bible itself.  In
studying for your own edification or to teach others, ask God the Holy Spirit
to guide your thoughts in preparation and presentation.  The Bible tells us when we share God’s Word
with others, God will put the words in your mind and on your tongue if you ask
Him and trust in His power to do as He promised.  One wonderful qualification we all have is
that we have a close relationship with the author who can guide us as we
present His Word to others.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the great gift of your Holy Word, and
the privilege of sharing it with others.
Work through our tongues and keyboards as we serve you today and every
day.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-02-11

The Message

Hebrews 2:2-3, “For if the message spoken through angels was
legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just
punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was
first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”

If the
message of God’s salvation plan was originally spoken by God in Genesis when He
promised to send a perfect sacrifice, spoken by God the Holy Spirit to the
inspired prophets, the messengers who brought God’s Word to the Old Testament
Saints, and then was spoken by Jesus, God the Son in the Gospel record, by the
messengers or writers of the rest of the New Testament by God the Holy Spirit,
how in the world can we ignore the messages given or turn back to Old Testament
worship?  The entire Bible as we have it
today was written by Almighty God Himself on the hearts of men who inscribed
that word on paper for us, protected the Scriptures through the centuries by
God for our spiritual enlightenment and growth.

I know that the predominate number
of readers of  ’Manna in the Morning’ are
members of the Family of God, know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of their
souls and the Leader of their lives, but some readers may not know Christ Jesus
as their Redeemer and need to be reminded of that glorious opportunity to be
born anew. While an individual is under the penalty of sin, God’s perfect love
provides a way of redemption through the death of the perfect Sacrifice. Jesus’
death upon the cross of Calvary allows sinful souls the opportunity for
salvation through His death, and accepting that sacrifice individually as the
payment for their sin.

If you are reading this commentary
and have never personally asked Jesus Christ to come into your life becoming
your Savior and guide, now is the opportunity. “Without being born
anew,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “You will not see Heaven.” You must
be born anew into the Family of God, and now is the time for you to ask Jesus
into your life. Just quietly pray a short prayer similar to this,
“Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you and I want forgiveness for all
my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. Father,
I give you my life to do with as you wish. I want Jesus to come into my life
and heart. This I ask in Jesus’ name.” If this devotional has touched your
heart, write me an email at the sending address so I may pray for you and send
you some further information, then find a Church that preaches this gospel to
help you grow in Christ. Father in Heaven; bless this message I ask in Jesus’
name.

Manna in the Morning

06-01-11

The Power of God

Nahum 1:3, “The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the
Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and
storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He rebukes the sea so that it
dries up, and He makes all the rivers run dry.”

One of the
wonderful things about our great God and Heavenly Father is that He is a God of
patience and slows to anger.  God hates sin;
it is completely against His precepts and character.  He cannot allow sin or sinners in His
presence, and all who come to Him must come in the name of Jesus.  There will be a time when all men and women who
have inhabited the earth will come face to face with God the Son, falling to
their knees and acknowledging Him as the mighty one, deserving of all honor,
worship and praise.  Those who have not
accept Jesus as their promised sacrifice will be condemned to the fiery lake
for all eternity.  Both in the Old
Testament where the prophets state that the soul that sins will surely die, and
in the New Testament, during the ministry of Jesus, He said that only He was
the door of salvation and in order to find salvation all humanity had to come
to the Father in the name of God the Son.

In the
power of our Almighty God, not only do men and women find salvation, the storms
that course across the land have no power, except that which our God provides
for them, the great cyclonic storms, the typhoons, hurricanes, tornados and all
other storms and events in nature get their power from the earth that God has
placed in the universe around us.  The clouds
that roll and move majestically above us are only dust particles under the feet
of our God.  In every part of the earth,
the rivers are utilized for commerce, irrigation and to supply cooking and drinking
water distributed through these great rivers according to the plan and
direction of our creator God, yet at His command they will dry up and vanish..

Our great
God is good, His plans are for our good, not our ill, and he is our strong
place of safety in the day of trouble.
Our loving Father, guide us this day, keep us safe in you, in Jesus’
name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-24-07

Remember

Psalm
118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Each day is a new beginning, a new
opportunity to use the gifts and talents that God has given to each Believer in
Jesus Christ.  As we go through this unique,
one-of-a-kind day, each one of us should pick out something specific to
remember as a gift from our Heavenly Father.
It might be a spectacular sunrise or sunset, a beautiful natural scene
or place, a meeting with someone or even a quiet thought shared by no one as
you sat and meditated before God.
Remember this Day.

Remember the people who populated
this day, your spouse and family, conversations with a parent, child,
grandchild or friend.  It may be a clerk
in a store to whom you gave a gospel of John or a gospel tract, it might be
someone who came to the house on a service call or the co-worker who helped you
at work, it might have been someone who needed help from you or perhaps one
with whom you had a disagreement.  These
are the people God will bring into your life today and it is your
responsibility to share the gospel message with them or leave something with
them that will allow them to read further into God’s plan for their life.  Remember the people of the day.

Remember the
Daystar, 2 Pet 1:19, “So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You
will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place,
until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”  Our Savior is the shining star that arises
and gives light, driving out the darkness in our lives.  This day may not be all beautiful and bright,
clouds may overwhelm us, the storms break around us and the cold wind batter
against our weak, feeble defenses; then remember the morning star, Jesus, that
rises, shines, and drives out all darkness in our hearts and lives.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give
us the opportunity to remember the gifts we have received from Your hand this
day and give thanks for them.  Help us
remember the people that populated this day; we pray that our chance meetings
will have a spiritual impact upon their lives, may meeting us be like meeting You.  Help us to always keep our Savior first in
our lives today, to share His compassion and concern for the lost and to
comfort the broken hearted and sorrowful.
We ask this in Jesus’ powerful name.

Manna in the Morning

05-24-11

By My Power

Zechariah 4:6, “Not by strength or by might, but by My
Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”

As men and
women, we judge most contests by the relative strength of the contestants, the
weight and strength of the offensive line in football or the relative speed of
the defensive players; the power and strength of the center in basketball,
allowing him to overpower the defense, the power of a hitter in baseball who
powers the ball over the head of the outfielder and into the stands for a home
run.  David was overmatched in his duel
with Goliath in every way, weight, reach, power, eagerness to kill and destroy,
but with the power of God driving his hand and aim, David’s stone flew straight
and true, hitting Goliath in an unprotected area, giving David the
victory.  Gideon and his 300 men went out
to fight a fully equipped and armed Philistine Army with horns, clay pots and a
torch to fight spears, swords and a disciplined army.  God gave Gideon the victory, the Philistines
fled, leaving their spears and swords behind, God thus providing the Israelite
Army with weapons.  Joshua won at
Jericho, Elijah won on the mountain all by the power of our glorious God.  When the situation seems hopeless, when the
storm thunders around us, when the situation is impossible, faith in our
all-powerful God will allow Him to give us the victory, all for His glory.  When we depend upon our strength or
abilities, our trust is in a puff of wind, when we rely upon the power of God,
the mighty breath of God the Holy Spirit works on our behalf, bringing the
triumphant defeat of our adversary.

As we step into the arena of spiritual warfare
this day, we need to recognize the fact that in ourselves we are weak,
ill-prepared and insufficient for the work that lies ahead of us.  When we have prayed in preparation, put on
the spiritual armor provided by our God, step into the battle with the sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God fully dependent upon His strength,
direction and empowerment we are certain to win the victory.

Lord God,
our Heavenly Father, we desire to live this day in your full control.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-23-11

Life Goes On

Revelation 22:11, “Let the unrighteous go on in
unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being made filthy; let the righteous go
on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.”

As John listened
carefully to the angel who had been instructing John on the Thinks he had seen
in the Holy City, the last words the angel spoke are given in verse 11.  These words come to us from an angel through
the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to John who carefully wrote them
out.  First of all, this does not mean we
should ignore sin, nor does it mean we should passively sit by and allow sin to
increase and never speak to the sinners about their need of redemption.  We are to continue our efforts to win others
to Christ, even understanding and quoting the last invitation given in God’s
Word in this same chapter.  As a
Christian we look at the world around us, the vile, the filthy, the
unrighteous, those that are antagonistic and actively fight against any proclamation
of God’s love and salvation; they will not listen, they will not learn, they
will not  accept our message, continuing
in their ungodly ways.  We are not to try
to reform them, change their behaviors for the good of society, we are to
present the gospel message and when they accept we will encourage, strengthen
and disciple them into mature Christians, but those that refuse have chosen a
different path, and we are to leave the invitation open.

In verse 12 the speaker is Jesus
when He says. “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to
repay each person according to what he has done.”  There is a sense of urgency in this verse,
letting us know that the time is growing short and we must work in our Heavenly
Father’s vineyard industriously before the night comes and the time for work is
over.  There is also a sense of
fulfillment and encouragement, in that there are those who are living holy and
righteous lives, our responsibility to them is to encourage them through Bible
study and pray to grow in their faith and eagerly accept the news of Jesus’
eminent return.  We will be rewarded for
our work done in Jesus’ name and those that reject have chosen a Christless conscious
eternity in the lake of fire.  Our Gracious
Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we thank you for the opportunities to work in
your fields that are ready for harvest.
Grant us the opportunity to share our message with others this day.

Manna in the Morning

05-20-11

God Will Provide

Genesis 22:12-14, “Then God said, “Do not lay a hand on
the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have
not withheld your only son from Me.”  Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its
horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a
burnt offering in place of his son.  And
Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.”

If only we
could learn the lesson Abraham learned, “God will provide.”  We tend to worry, fret and lose sleep over
many things, things that have to do with our earthly existence, not our
heavenly future.  Believing God will provide
our needs is the practical outpouring of the faith we have in our Great
God.  God told Abraham Isaac was the
promised heir; the one God supernaturally caused Sarah to conceive in their old
age.  Now, about 15 years later, God
instructs Abraham to sacrifice this same heir as an offering on Mount Moriah.  In his quivering, devastated heart, Abraham
was willing to give his son as an offering to his God in obedience.  Abraham believed God’s promise that Isaac
would be the one who would father a line of descendents that would be God’s
chosen people, and that belief overrode all other fears in his heart.  As Abraham sacrificed Isaac in his heart, God
kept him from the physical act and provided a sacrifice in the briars.

When we
have an overwhelming belief in God’s provision for our redemption, when we live
in faith, when we are as committed to following our Heavenly Father as Abraham
was, then we too will have the kind of faith Jesus spoke of when He said we
could move mountains.  The mountains we
face are often seen by us as insurmountable as Abraham’s decision, but God will
always provide a way when we are willing to accept His plan, His answer, and
seek His greater glory.  As Abraham
believed God and it was considered as righteousness in the eyes of God, so we
should believe God because we have been clothed in His righteousness.  Our Gracious God and Heavenly Father give us
the faith to trust you with everything that is a concern to us in our daily
lives.  This is our prayer in Jesus’
name.

Manna in the Morning

05-19-11

Offensive Figure

Ezek 8:3-4, “Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and
heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the
inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy
was located. I saw the glory of the God of Israel there, like the vision I had
seen in the plain.”

Ezekiel is
a book filled with visions and revelations given to the writer by God the Holy
Spirit to show him what was in store for the city of Jerusalem and the
Israelites as their future was laid bare.
God the Holy Spirit lifted Ezekiel, carrying the prophet up into the
Heavenly view of Jerusalem where he saw an offensive statue in the Temple
courts.  Ezekiel’s account doesn’t tell
us what the statue portrayed, but it is highly offensive to the Lord God and
provokes spiritual jealousy in God’s eyes.
In all probability, it was a statue of a heathen god, one that took away
worship from Jehovah God and was an example of what God’s Word has always
called spiritual adultery, since Israel was considered as the wife of Jehovah
God, and all her devotion and love was to go to Him and He is jealous of the
love and adoration given to any false god.

We who are
born anew into the Kingdom of God are indwelt by the presence of God the Holy
Spirit in our lives and being.  Just as
the Ark and the manifestation of the glory of God were present in the Holiest place
in the Temple, we are the Temple where God’s glory dwells.  It was the duty of the priests to see that
the Temple was not desecrated or profaned, in the same manner; we are to be
careful to keep our bodies, the dwelling place of God pure and undefiled.  Is there anything in our lives that takes
away the passion and love we have for our Redeemer?  Are we giving honor to a ‘secret sin’ that
has defiled our lives?  Do we ignore or
neglect our time with God’s Word and prayer so our lives are becoming less
productive for our Savior and becoming dim, radiating less of God’s warmth and
illumination upon others?  Spend a few
minutes right now to go before the Heavenly Father asking Him to cleanse,
purify and sanctify His dwelling place for His use.  Father in Heaven we confess we have allowed
thoughts and actions to take away from the glory due you, forgive us in Jesus’
name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-18-11

Spirit of Power

2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the
gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not
given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.  So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about
our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel,
relying on the power of God.”

It’s
interesting that the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy to keep the gifts God has
given him blazing brightly in his life.
When God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent fire from heaven upon the
cities, when Jehovah God spoke to Moses; He used a bush that was afire, burning
brightly yet did not burn out or consume the bush.  God also used tongues of fire to bring
attention to the marvelous gift of God the Holy Spirit who from that point on
came to infuse the lives of all who are born anew into the Family of God.  Timothy was reminded that the gifts that God
had given him were directly from God, that they were placed in his life by the
acceptance of Christ Jesus, the preparation and ordination of one whose
apostleship goes directly back to Jesus Himself.

Each of us
who has been born anew into fellowship with God has been given gifts that we
are to use in our service for our Heavenly Father and in our witnessing of His
power.  Because we have the presence of our
God within us we are not to act or even think that we are powerless in the
spiritual war we face with our adversary.
We should not fear our foe, we have the power of Almighty God within us,
powered by the love of God as we share the account of His love toward mankind,
and that we fully understand the arsenal with which God has equipped us.

Because we
have been so fully equipped, there is no reason for us to be fearful or weak in
the knees as we give our testimony to others.  Scripture tells us that when we testify before
others, our God Himself will even put the proper words in our mouths to convict
those with whom we speak, the secret is, keeping our selves only as a conduit
through whom the Lord God can reach others, relying on His power and strength,
being available but letting Him convict the heart.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we submit fully
to you for this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-17-11

The Sword of the Lord

Jeremiah 47:6-7, “Ah, sword of the Lord!  How long will you be restless?  Go back to your scabbard; be still; be silent!  How can it rest when the Lord has given it a
command?  He has assigned it against
Ashkelon and the shore of the sea.”

When Jesus,
God the Son returns to this earth to establish His kingdom, He destroys His
enemies with the Sword of His mouth that is the Word of God.  The Word of God that is given to us in Ephesians
6 as an offensive weapon is to be used along with prayer in the letter from
James. The Word came to us in the person of Jesus according to John 1:14.  It is important to remember the Scriptures we
hold in our hands and read regularly are one of God’s most wonderful gifts for
us.  In God’s Word we find encouragement,
direction, instruction and the key to living a life acceptable to our Heavenly
Father.  I wonder how many Bibles sit
restless on a table or book shelf waiting for someone to read it.  We should make every effort to start our day
with a passage of Scripture and a short prayer time.  God’s Word is restless in that God wants to
encourage and feed you for the day’s activity.
His word is restless when we engage others in conversation, we may even
talk about our relationship with our Heavenly Father and mention their need for
salvation but we need to be quoting God’s Word because it is the work of God
the Holy Spirit to convict a heart unto salvation, and the Bible is our best
reference to quote, reading and memorizing will keep the sword sharp in our
minds, always ready to bring others to Christ.

In our
daily battles with our adversary, he will attack us in every way at any time
through the lies and deception that are his chief weapons.  We have but one weapon with which to defeat
him and foil his attacks, the Sword of the Lord.  God’s provision for Gideon’s Army was the
swords of the Philistine army fleeing in panic.
God has provided the powerful weapon of His Word for our victory over
Satan and his demons.  Do not let your
Bible, God’s Word, rest comfortably in its scabbard; use it each and every
day.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, help
us to use Your Word every day, both in offence and defense.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-16-11

The Rapture

Revelation 22:20, He who testifies about these things says,
“Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

All of us
have heard of men who have studied the Bible carefully, calculated for hours
upon end and come up with one specific time or another regarding the time Jesus
returns for the church.  This event that
is called the Rapture in theological terminology, is the time Jesus meets those
that are living on earth and have accepted Him as their Redeemer and Lord, in
the air ushering us into the glories of the Heavenlies forever and ever.  In His Word our Heavenly Father has given us
an outline of how He plans to deal with earth’s sin problem and bring all His
children to Heaven to live with Him eternally.
While scholarly men may disagree on their interpretations, one fact remains.  Jesus has promised to return to this earth
just like He left, in the clouds.

One of the
more highly publicized dates for the rapture is this coming Saturday, May 21^st.  Even though it seems apparent to the majority
of Bible Scholars that this date is inaccurate and this individual has been
wrong twice before, the consideration brings up a very real problem in the
Church today.  Most Christians are not
ready to stand before Jesus Christ, The Promised One and face God’s perfect
righteousness as He asks what we did with the many opportunities with which we
have been presented, why we didn’t share the Gospel message with others and why
we lived our lives in a manner that did not reflect the glory and majesty of
God, and our attitudes, actions and words did not bring Him glory.

We must go
before our Heavenly Father in repentence, asking forgiveness for these times of
failure, plead for opportunities to share the Gospel with others and live in a
manner that will allow His purity and righteousness to shine through us.  We will not be judged as to whether we
deserve Heaven or Hell, because our acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice settled that
question long ago.  The awards we receive
for living a God-centered life will give us opportunity, not to brag or boast,
but to worship our great God by laying these awards at His feet in worship and
gratitude for what He has done in our lives.
Heavenly Father, use us mightily, keep us pure and transparent sending
us to those we can win into your Kingdom.
We ask these things in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-13-11

Worship

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us be concerned about one another
in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as
some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the
day drawing near.”

“Can you be
a Christian and not go to Church?” was the question a young man asked me
today.  I knew he professed to know
Christ as his Savior, and I also knew his family did not regularly attend nor
were they members of any church.  As I
prepared to answer, I considered the options, if I said ‘no’ he would doubt his
conversion experience and the Biblical teaching he had received, if I said ‘yes’
I would not want to be encouraging anyone not to attend church on a regular
basis.  As an answer, I quoted this verse
and began to talk about the deep experience church attendance is supposed to be
for a believer in Jesus Christ.  First,
we are encouraged in our Christian walk when we are in the company of other
believers from diverse backgrounds and Biblical understanding.  Second, we can consider our congregational
singing as a warm-up for joining the angelic choir in Heaven – yes, I know the
Bible says they speak not sing, but speaking and rejoicing in unison always
seems like singing in my spiritual ears.
We are to give vocal expression to our praise, thanksgiving and
adoration of our God, mutually for our own encouragement as well as encouraging
others.

If we have
a concern for other believers, wish to see them grow in their faith and become
increasingly vocal about their faith, gathering together in worship, praise and
instruction in God’s Word is the place to begin.  This young man’s limited experience was in a
highly liturgical, organized church with a hierarchy that, to him, seemed stiff
and unresponsive.  As we meet together for
our worship services this weekend, remember there are those who are somewhat
uncomfortable and need your personal encouragement and welcome.  Make this worship time meaningful and
precious in your own life.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, may we take time this weekend to worship with others
in a congregational setting for our encouragement, instruction, building up in
the faith and the enjoyment of praise, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-12-11

Light

Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city situated
on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Light has its
source in God.  His glory was made known
in the wilderness Tabernacle and Temple by light between the wings of the Cherubim
on the Ark of the covenant, Moses saw God’s glory as a burning bush, light emanating
from the bush, the first thing God created was light to distinguish the light
from the darkness that is simply the absence of light.  Our Creator gave us the sun, moon and stars
to bring light into our world.

When Jesus
began His ministry on the earth, He claimed He was the Light of the World, and
on the mountain His disciples saw Him in brilliant light, just as Moses saw the
glory of God on Mount Sinai.  This is the
light that comes into our lives when we are born anew into the Family of
God.  The light we are to nurture through
our Bible Study and prayer, so that our lives become so transparent to others
that the light of our Savior shines without distortion or dimming.  This makes us the light of the world.

We also are
salt and salt can lose its saltiness, but light can only be diminished by dimming
or cooling.  If we allow our spiritual
ardor to cool, to let the white hot love for our Savior cool and become a
lesser light, we not only need to keep the fire burning, we are to stay active
in our churches so that our collective light shines bright, clear and undisturbed,
drawing in many to experience the saving love and grace of our Savior.

Our Nation
was at one time, the shining light in the world, sending Missionaries in the
hundreds to all parts of the earth.  Men
and women gave their entire lives to our Lord’s service, many families serving
into the third and fourth generation; the commitment to sharing Christ was so
deeply ingrained in their hearts.  Today,
many of the nations will not allow people to enter on a missionary visa; the
incoming workers must have a work permit, a tourist visa, visiting friends or
another reason for entry.  This does not
excuse us from being a bright light for our Lord in the place where He has
placed us for today, among our families, friends and all around us.  Heavenly Father, our desire is to keep our
fires burning bright with your help, this we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-11-11

The Gospel

Ephesians 6:15, “Your feet sandaled with readiness for the
gospel of peace.”

By anyone’s
estimation, we are coming to the end of the Church Age and our Heavenly Father
will soon call the Church up to Heaven, leaving the earth under the domination
of a false belief system.  While each and
every one of us will be praising and thanking our Lord God for taking us up to
the Heavenly Places, we must be reminded of our responsibility to carry the
good news of Redemption in Jesus to every place our feet touch the ground.  This means that every morning when we pull on
our footwear whether sandals, shoes or boots, we need to be fully prepared to
share that gospel message with all those with whom we come in contact.  The very fact this scripture mentions our
feet indicates we are to be active in our daily witness, moving in places God
sends us, speaking and sharing the message without hesitation.

We are to
be prepared with a Gospel of John, a New Testament or a tract with a
presentation of God’s offer of Salvation, always ready to clearly outline God’s
plan verbally, having outlined it in your mind, and written out for easy
reference.  It is always a good idea, if
possible, to let the person with whom you are talking to read the passage
themselves, instead of reading it for them.

Sharing the
message that mankind can be absolutely sure of eternity in the presence of our
Heavenly Father is the chief reason we are here on this earth, not to keep it a
secret once we have been redeemed.  Once
we commit to sharing on a regular basis, we will find ourselves enjoying each
experience, anticipating the next opportunity and experiencing the joy of being
used of our God as He has promised.

Our
gracious Heavenly Father, give us the desire to win others, the foresight to be
prepared, an eager spirit and fruit for our labor, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-10-11

Stormy Weather

Psalm 107:28-30, “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet.  Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.”

While I served in the US Navy we went through a hurricane in the North Atlantic aboard an aircraft carrier. The huge ship twisted, yawed, ploughed hrough waves that were so high, solid green ter rolled down the flight deck. This passage describes the power and destructive orce in the waves driven by a storm. While Jesus slept in the boat, He and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee, a storm arose, the disciples who were seasoned fishermen and boatmen feared for their lives, quickly awakened Jesus asking Him if he cared that they were about to perish. With a single phrase, Jesus calmed the wind, caused the sea to immediately become calm and they were at their intended landing on the shores of the sea. This event in the lives of the disciples as they followed Jesus was described in this Psalm written almost 1,000 years earlier.   Some of you have gone through an emotional storm and felt the calming peace of God flood your heart and soul.  Others may be going through an emotional battle right now, things are difficult and you  do not know which way to turn or where to go for comfort and quiet. All of us have been in fierce storms in our lives, undergoing emotional and/or physical upheaval and stress leaving you as storm battered as the apanese when the tsunami destroyed everything in its path.   The winds of uncertainly have flailed your soul, the waves of doubt have started to overcome your heart; the flood waters of despair are rising and threatening your very faith in our sovereign God. When you call upon your Redeemer and Lord, He will calm the storm, restore your soul and soothe your heart ecause
He cares!  Jesus is The Prince of Peace; we are to live in the center of His peace, comforted and surrounded by His caring arms, in Him no harm can ome upon us. Our gracious, loving Heavenly Father, we seek to live in the center of your peace this day. In life’s storms, may we bask in the sunshine of your love, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-09-11

Mothers

Exodus 2:8-10, “Go.” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. So
the girl went and called the boy’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her,
“Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So
the woman took the boy and nursed him.  When the child grew older, she brought him to
Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses,
“Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Throughout
the centuries men and women have lived upon the earth, women have been called
to sacrifice much in their role as mothers who have brought children into this
world.  Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was
called upon by God to relinquish her child at about age three or four because
Moses had been called of God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and
was to be raised as a part of the Egyptian Royalty.  Samuel’s mother desired a child so greatly
she prayed in the place of worship in agonizing, fervent prayer, and then when
God answered her prayer, she gave her son Samuel to God when he was around age
four to spend his life in service to our God in the Tabernacle.  Samuel anointed both Saul and David to be King
over Israel and served God long years in faithful service because his mother
gave her only child to Him in dedicated service.  Many other women of Scripture gave their sons
to serve God, realizing it was the sacrifice they were called to make,
including Mary of Nazareth who bore the child Jesus, then lived to see Him
crucified for the sins of all mankind.

As our nation has recognized Mother’s
Day this past Sunday we are aware of the painful sacrifices women have made
over the centuries as their sons were killed in battle or severely wounded,
requiring lifetime care, sacrifices men can only admire and recognize.

Women
like Jochebed have lived in every corner of the globe, during every year since
Eve and have given birth to heroes and fallen soldiers as well as ordinary boys
and girls who have lived their lives in honor of their Savior and in allegiance
to their Great God.  May God bless those
mothers who dedicate their children to God’s service regardless of the
cost.  Heavenly Father may each of us do
what you have called us to do today and every day we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-06-11

Praise

Psalm 135:13-14, “Lord, Your name endures forever, Your
reputation, Lord, through all generations.  For the Lord will judge His people and have
compassion on His servants.”

Our God and
Heavenly Father is an eternal God, He is today as He has eternally been,
unlimited by time or season, unchangeable in any of His attributes for they are
perfect.  He is the creator of all that is;
nothing exists that did not come from Him, placed into being by the sound of
His voice.  He is in every sense,
eternally now, having neither past nor future tense since these are indications
of time, the measurement of our lives, the regulator of our seasons and earth’s
orbit around the sun, time is a created measurement, therefore cannot be used
to measure an infinitely immeasurable God.
God forever is!

His
reputation is without blemish, His dealing with His creation is forever fair
and just, all that has occurred in the universe that may be considered as
regressing or degrading to a lesser position or degeneration is the result of
sin, that which resulted from satanic influence upon our original ancestors,
Adam and Eve, causing God’s perfect justice to proclaim, “Sin brings forth
death.”  God is always, infinitely good
in intent and action and is the highest definition of ‘good.’

Our
Heavenly Father has chosen us who accept redemption from His hand through
Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice, just as He chose Abel over Cain, Noah over the
sinful population, Abraham over his brothers, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau
and their descendents over the rest of the world.  Jesus chose twelve disciples to carry on
after His ascension and He has chosen you so serve Him today and every day of
your life.  God has always had those that
love and serve Him, Elijah was told God had 7,000 men who had never bowed to
idols, and today His children serve, honor and praise Him for their Redemption
that has been offered to all mankind, the difference being we have accepted this
great gift.

God will
judge in perfect righteousness and we who are His servants will know His
eternal, perfect compassion.  Oh Lord
God, our Father, we ask for the outpouring of Your blessing upon us as we labor
for You today in the place You have chosen, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-05-11

The Spirit of
Prophecy

Revelation 19:10, “Then I fell at his feet to worship him,
but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your
brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony
about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

In the Book
of Revelation, John writes about the final destruction of all false worship, idolatry,
false teachers and those who take away the deity of Jesus or the worship and
glory due our Heavenly Father in the final, complete destruction of Babylon,
the accumulation of all false worship.
Following that, John attempts to bow before the angel who showed him
this destruction and was quickly stopped.
The angel told John he was a slave to Jesus fully as much as John was,
and worship is reserved for God and He alone.
The whole reason, the angel went on, is because the true testimony of
Jesus, the Promised One is the one and only spirit of prophecy.

Many of the
things seen in John’s visions recorded in Revelation are seen in the words of the
prophets in the Old Testament, written long before Jesus, the perfect sacrifice
promised in Genesis 15 as the Promised One.
Although the entire Bible was written by over 40 different men, they
were all inspired by God the Holy Spirit who breathed into each man the breath
of God’s Holy Word.  It is comparatively easy
to see the plan of God unfold, and with attention to the great detail given in
the Old Testament writings, an individual can trace the different ways God uses
to convey His message of salvation through the Promised One from Genesis to
Revelation.  Praise God for His perfect
plan and for the manner in which it will be completed when our Savior returns
to this earth in the very near future.
Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we will live by every word that proceeds
from You in our Scriptures with the help of God the Holy Spirit within us.

Manna in the Morning

05-04-11

The Shield of Faith

Psalm 7:10-13, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright
in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who executes justice every day.  If anyone does not repent, God will sharpen
His sword; He has strung His bow and made it ready. He has prepared His deadly
weapons; He tips His arrows with fire.”

The
Psalmist states the shield of the righteous man is literally in God who is our
first line of defense in every instance.
The Book of Ephesians states we are given the shield of faith that will
not only stop but put out the fire of the darts or arrows fired against us by
our adversary.  Our Great God provides our protection against Satan’s temptations as well as every concept, person or idea that could be fired against us from any angle at any time.  The second part of that promise is that God
will save the upright in heart, the one who lives according to God’s precepts
and commandments stated in His Word, one who asks God for safety and guidance
and can be assured God will provide everything he or she needs for their daily
victorious life.

According
to this passage, God is a righteous judge, a fact we already know, recognizing
His perfection in all His attributes leaves no room for error or whim, but I
never before noticed the phrase, “Who exercises justice every day.”  Putting together the fact that God is not
limited by time, therefore there is no past or future tense with Him, when an
individual breaks His commandments and sins, the judgment is issued and the
sinner condemned.  When someone
flagrantly disobeys God or attacks one of God’s Forever Family the judgment is
swift, certain and carried out.  The sinner,
God says, must repent or face the consequences of His wrath.  His weapon of judgment is ready, His fiery
arrows are lit, and the evil doer will be ultimately cast into the pit.  Our great God is our Heavenly Father, He is
our defender and avenger and we should not attempt to take revenge ourselves,
scripture tells us He will repay the evildoer.

Just as He judges
the unrighteous, he will also judge the righteous for our lack of reverence
toward Him or His Word unless we recognize our wrongdoing in His eyes and ask
for forgiveness.  Our punishment will not
be the fiery pit, but instead the lost joy of His approval upon our lives.  Heavenly Father, remind us of the need to ask
forgiveness when needed, we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-03-11

Murderers

Revelation 21:8, “But the cowards, unbelievers, vile,
murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share
will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second
death.”

Yesterday
the United States and the entire World learned of the death of Osama Bin Laden,
a Saudi Arabian who had become the single most hated and identifiable of the
radical Islamic Jihadists.  Bin Laden had
been hiding in a cave after setting into motion the plot that ended in the 2001
destruction of the World trade center causing the death of hundreds of innocent
civilians and galvanizing the United States into recognizing the militant
Jihadist enemies who are committed to the destruction of the entire United
States of America as a world power.
Every Jihadist considers the US as “The Great Shatan” and is dedicated
to its destruction.

For the
last five years or so, Bin Laden has been hiding in a compound in Pakistan,
close by a military training base and keeping a low profile in order to avoid
the solemn pledge President George W Bush made in 2001 to bring him to justice.  For the next seven and a half years,
President Bush relentlessly sought information and established a task force to
find and apprehend Ben Laden.  After his
election in 2008, President Obama allowed the continuation of that task force
and yesterday announced the killing of Osama Bin Laden during a raid on the
compound in which Bin Laden had been hiding.

The goal of
every radical Jihadist is the elimination of every Jew and Christian on the
earth and further the conquest of the world by Islam but the Bible speaks of
the triumph of the Lord God, our Heavenly Father over every ungodly belief
system and those that worship violence by covert attacks, as well as overt
actions such as the Trade Center destruction.
All inhabitants of the earth must understand our God will judge every
soul in perfect righteousness and justice and the soul that sins will surely
die.  Any person who has not accepted
Jesus’ righteousness as his or her own will bow before God in judgment and be
condemned to a dark eternity in the Lake of fire, the place prepared for Satan
and his angels.  Osama Bin Laden’s
wealth, violent killing and the ordering of thousands of innocent people to be
killed has now been judged by our Almighty Jehovah God and is now in a place of
eternal torment.

It is our
continuing responsibility to share God’s Word with others so that they may be
saved, and to pray for the increasing numbers of Muslims who are turning to Christ
Jesus for their Salvation.  O Lord, save
all those who look to you we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-02-11

God’s Gifts

Daniel 2:20-21, “May the name of God be praised forever and
ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes
kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have
understanding.”

As Daniel
became accustomed to life in Babylon, he fully realized how pagan the city and
kingdom was, making him rely more and more on the grace, love and guidance of
God for his own life.  God had provided
safety for him as well as the three other Israelites who were sent with him
from Jerusalem to Babylon and blessed them for their commitment to remain pure
before God.  After God revealed the
meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel rejoiced and praised God for the answer
and favor it brought to him.  When we
pray for wisdom and favor in sharing His Word with others, God often answers in
unusual and unexpected ways.  Many
Christians have been praying for the opportunity to open conversations with
others in a way that would direct their thoughts toward our Heavenly Father.

God can
change the storm paths or allow their unrestrained flow along predictable paths;
He can allow the rain to flood the river banks and levees, storms to level
thousands of homes and devastation across large areas to draw men and women’s
attention to His Word and their need for salvation and restoration.

We need to
realize God does not direct the storm in a vindictive way over some cities and
not others, nor does He punish a state because of citizen’s attitudes or
governmental legislation.  The weather
patterns that occur over a continent are natural patterns that vary according
to seasons, the high altitude jet stream, mountains, lakes and other geographic
features.  These features and their
placement are a result of the shifting of the earth’s surfaces because of
mankind’s sin that entered the world through Adam and Eve causing the continental
features..  The factors that directed
this past month’s terrible tornados and the hurricanes that will follow this
summer are a direct result of mankind’s past sin.  God can, and often does protect areas that
pray for His hand over them.  The natural
result of disasters is that mankind will somehow blame God as in the Book of
Revelation when they recognize God sent the disasters, yet instead of turning
to Him, they ‘shake their fists in His face.’

Our gracious
Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to share with others that you offer your
protection to all who ask, allow results to occur to Your greater glory, and
the destruction and havoc across the earth is a result of sin in the hearts of
men and women.  Protect us we pray in
Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-29-11

A Prophet

Ezekiel; 2:5, “Whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Ezekiel was called of God in a vision where he saw essentially the same vision of the heavenly scene as John the Apostle saw as recorded in Revelation.  During the vision, Ezekiel was told what to say to the Israelites, when to say it listening to God specific directions and warned that over the years, the Israelite people had often killed the prophets and ignored their message.  At least, God said, whether they listen or ignore, they will know that a prophet has spoken to them.

Today we have, as believers in Jesus, the same calling as Ezekiel.  We too have met the Savior, and when we were born anew into the family of God, we saw through our spiritual eyes and heard with our spiritual ears, the homage of the angels and felt the presence of our great God and Father in our hearts.  We have been given a message to be shared among those with whom we come in contact about the gift of salvation freely offered by God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  Whenever we share that message, there will be one of three responses, one, the response we would like to hear is that the individual will take advantage of the offered salvation and be born again into God’s family, second, the individual will promise to think about it, he goes on our prayer list, and we continue to pray that God will be able to touch his or her heart.  The third response is the individual who will refuse to turn to God and continue in his or her sinful ways, finding the truth when it is eternally too late.

When we talk with someone about their spiritual needs, we must be forthright, quote the Scriptures with authority, and be familiar with Biblical passages and a logical, ordered presentation so people will know that they have heard the message of God through the one who spoke to them.

Heavenly Father, may we take our responsibility as a forth-teller seriously and use every opportunity to the fullest, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-28-11

Provocation

Nehemiah 4:4-5, “Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover their guilt or let their sin be erased from Your sight, because they have provoked the builders.”

Each person who is born anew into the Family of God is a builder in this earthly life.  This does not mean we have to erect a building with bricks and mortar or actively join a crew to build a church on a spot in just a week or so, it means that we build an edifice of our own life, since we are the dwelling place of God the Holy Spirit as well as building together with others to build the church, the group of people who band together to strengthen and encourage one another, and to pray for each other in this difficult time when Christians are under duress and attack across the world.  In this passage Nehemiah was praying for God to encourage him and the others who had come to Jerusalem from Babylon to rebuild the walls of the city and the Temple for their worship.  Today we are ridiculed for believing in such a quaint idea as personal salvation, the existence of Heaven and hell, and the need to know Jesus Christ as one’s personal Savior.

Nehemiah asked God to turn the insults of their enemies back upon themselves, the calls for destruction and harm to be visited upon the heads of those who insulted God’s people who were working just as God had called them to do.  Nehemiah also called for their sin to be forever and always held to their account and the punishment for that sin everlasting because they had ridiculed the work of the Lord God.

When we are provoked and angered by the ridicule and ignorance of unbelievers, we are to pray for them, remaining faithful to our God whose arms of forgiveness and salvation are open to all who will call upon Him.  Our God and Father, give us a spirit of compassion for all we meet and strive to win them to you this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-27-11

Perversions

Jude 5-7, “Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: the Lord, having first of all saved a people out of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe; 6 and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, angels who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling. 7 In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them committed sexual immorality and practiced perversions, just as they did, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

Jude was probably another son of Mary and Joseph who had raised a family including sisters and brothers in addition to Mary’s virgin born Son, Jesus.  He is writing this letter to remind some of the churches of perversions in God’s commands and laws that have prevalent since the time Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden.  Jude mentions the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and two other cities God removed from the earth for their distortion and perversion of God’s command of purity and sexual activity strictly within the marriage bond.  This perversion has raised its ugly head in the time of the Judges, all through the time until today when sodomy is practiced flagrantly in our current society, demanding concessions from government and civil society alike.  God’s punishment is being held in store, but will fall on those who practice it and those that allow it to exist.

Other perversions of the pure Gospel message that are present in Seminaries, theologians and churches today is the idea that while there is a heaven, there is no hell or place of eternal torment.  The Word of God is clear stating those who have not accepted the salvation offered through Jesus death will be cast into a real, burning lake of fire.  A second perversion is that while those who do not accept Jesus’ sacrifice will be tormented for a time, but ultimately the love of God allows them to enter heaven.  Unfortunately God’s Perfect love is shown not only in Heaven, but in God’s perfect justice.  “The soul that sinneth shall surely die.”

Heavenly Father, I pray that your perfect love overwhelms each person who reads this today, reminding us of your perfect justice and the perfect message of your Holy Word, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-26-11

Rest Easy

Ps 4:3-4, “Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself; the Lord will hear when I call to Him. Be angry and do not sin; on your bed, reflect in your heart and be still.”

Watch TV any given night and you can see all the over the counter medicines for sleeplessness, cures for insomnia, or just help to relax people so they can easily fall asleep.  Sleeping is important to us, most men and women require around 7 hours of sleep each night, some more, others less.  Many times folks wake up after sleeping around three or four hours and have difficulty going back to sleep.  The Psalmist gives us a good remedy for sleeplessness, to be quiet and reflect on the Lord God and His goodness to us.  Spend time in deep, concentrated prayer during those night hours and your soul will be as refreshed as your physical self.     It is a great comfort to know that the Lord God, our Heavenly Father, has set us apart for Himself, and will protect us from the onslaughts of our enemy with the shield of faith.  Our reliance upon Him and the sure knowledge He is our protector will allow us to be quiet and reflect upon His provision and care for us in every way.

Our prayers ascend into the very presence of God with hardly a conscious thought from our mind., Scripture tells us the heart cry of a Child of God will be heard in a heartbeat and God is quick to answer our prayer regardless of the time of day or night, whether our heart is quiet and serene or if chaos reigns around us so we can barely put together a coherent thought.  How wonderful to know God hears and answers.  If there is a need for us to learn patience in waiting for an answer, He will see that time is given to us to contemplate and respond, if we need to learn a lesson, we will become more like our Savior, as God desires.  As we lay on our bed, let’s pray, giving Him the concerns of our hearts, praise Him for His goodness, and trust Him for His faithfulness in answering and release all anger from our heart so He can bless us with peaceful sleep.

Gracious Father, may our hearts always be centered and grounded in you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

(Manna in the Morning

04-25-11

On the Road

Luke 24:25-26, “He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?”

Sometime after the tomb was found to be open and Jesus had arisen, Cleopas and another man were walking away from Jerusalem; suddenly they found someone who was walking with them, struck up a conversation when He asked them what they were discussing so heatedly.  Cleopas, whose wife was related to Mary, Jesus earthly mother, was active as a follower of Jesus and knew much of what went on with the disciples, was talking with his friend when Jesus joined them and asked what was going on.  The men were kept from recognizing Jesus as He walked with them and soon began to explain to them the prophecies that had to be fulfilled.  He told them they were unable to understand and fully comprehend the prophecies, not that they hadn’t the ability, but were not yet trained and aware of the full intent of the scriptures.  As they walked and talked, evening came upon them and they implored Jesus to stay and eat the evening meal with them so they could listen to Him explain the scriptures.  When the meal had been prepared and placed before them, Jesus began to pray, their understanding was opened and they recognized the Savior, but he disappeared from their sight.

The reaction of the men was a lesson for all of us.  They recognized Him in prayer, when we pray we are in every spiritual sense in the presence of God.  We are not standing outside Heaven’s gates shouting in the hope He might here us within, we are in the very presence of the Almighty God, laying our petitions at His feet in faith believing.  Second, their ‘hearts burned within them,’ just as our hearts glow and rejoice when we understand a passage of scripture, when we fully understand the magnitude of the gift given to us in our new birth.  Third, the men immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what had occurred and of their conversation with the risen Savior.  In the same we, we need to be eager to share, and anxious to explain the salvation gift to those who do not know Him yet as their Redeemer, and spare no effort in sharing the message with them.  We must realize our time is getting shorter, realizing Jesus concern when He said the time is short, and the laborers are few.  Our Heavenly Father, guide us to fertile fields this day we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-22-11

Good Friday

Jesus took so much physical abuse for us, torture, beatings, the crown of thorns, whippings, carrying the heavy crossbeam of the cross and finally hung upon that cross.  Yet none or all of these things paid the price for sin in the lives of those Jesus came to save from hell and eternal, spiritual death.  It took His death, burial and resurrection to provide our Redemption from sin’s curse.

As Jesus suffered on the cross, after several hours he cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Or “Why have you left me alone?”  When Jesus had the sin-weight of every person, who has or who will ever live on this earth, placed upon His shoulders, God the Father could not look upon sin and the Son felt the weight alone.  It was for this express purpose and exact moment He left Heaven’s glory to walk upon the earth He had created.  The perfect, sinless, Holy God cannot look upon sin and turned His eyes from the Son, who paid the price as promised.  Agony coursed through both Heaven and Earth as this weight fell upon The Son, and the Father felt the pain in equal measure.  This is the true cost of our Redemption from the fires of hell.

As the time came for Jesus to give up His hold on this earthly life He said “It is finished!”   This was not a cry of relief because the torment, pain, torture, ridicule and more agony than any mere mortal could stand and now was over, it was a triumphant cry that shook the hills of Judea, the clouds of the sky and the halls of Heaven!  Satan, the Great Dragon was defeated!  The Promised One had crushed the Serpent’s head, and yes, the heel of the Promised One was bruised.  But death and resurrection were the victory and all Heaven rejoiced, even though all earth was in sorrow and pain, Jesus, my Redeemer, returned to Heaven, our Salvation was secure, and in mere hours He would rise from the grave in triumph just as He had promised.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name, humble and grateful for the precious gift of Redemption that came at such a cost.  We bow before you in thanksgiving and praise.

Manna in the Morning

04-21-11

To God be the Glory

Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

We hear so much these days about “The Religion of Peace” as if declaring a bloody, terrorist condoning belief system that beheads Christians and Jews, could be considered as bringers of Peace.  The only peace they seek is when their belief system is the only one on the surface of the earth.  Christianity worships the True God of Peace who councils His follower to, as much as possible, live at peace with one another and to share that peace with God with as many people as will listen.  Our great Jehovah God is the true peace-giver and it is by His power that Jesus, who died to pay the penalty for our sins, was buried in the tomb and rose triumphant by His own divine power to offer us eternal life through faith in His redemptive work.

Our Lord is the great Shepherd of His followers who know His voice and follow Him to safe pastures and cool refreshing water.  He is the protector and defender of the Church and will not allow us to be tempted to the point we cannot resist our adversary, the tempter.  In His blood we have redemption, protection, assurance of eternal life and the desire and opportunity to serve Him in our daily life.  He has equipped us with everything we need to be successful in our daily witness and to utilize our unique qualities to God’s glory.  As God continues to shape and mold us, it is to transform us into the likeness of Jesus, the Promised One. Romans 8:29

All that we endeavor to do, all that we may accomplish is not to be done in our strength or abilities, it is to be accomplished in the power and under the guidance of our Father in Heaven, and all glory and praise is to be His.  Heavenly Father, we stand ready to be Your vessel this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-20-11

Joy in Trials

James 1:2-4, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

James, who wrote this epistle, was neither a Disciple nor an Apostle; he is commonly recognized as the eldest of the sons of both Mary who bore Jesus and Joseph her husband.  His letter is full of individual wisdom and comments that are worthy of memorization.  As he opens his letter to scattered Jews across the known world, expecting the letter to make its way to many of them, he calls himself a slave of Jehovah God and of the Lord Jesus, the Promised One and encourages the Believers to consider trials and persecution as a source of joy because of its benefits.  First, to be trusted by God as worthy of proclaiming His name in the middle of persecution, and then to remind them that the testing of their faith will produce endurance just as weight training or athletic training will produce endurance in the athlete in their contests and help each individual produce while enduring more.  The King James Bible used the word patience, which in its original meaning includes putting up or enduring trial and woe in order to partake in some greater future reward.  In order for any preparation, training or practice to be effective it must be carried out to the fullest, producing some pain in order to gain future endurance or skill.  In this world we are to be living for the glory of our God and Master, expecting and enduring persecution and difficulties in order to anticipate the great reward that is promised to us for a life lived for Him.

As our society changes rapidly from a mindset that recognized God and His laws for human behavior to a liberal, atheistic society that recognizes God’s influence less and less, we are bound to find ourselves at odds with those around us, ridiculed, persecuted, and even in some parts of the world, imprisoned and tortured for our faith.  God, in His Word, reminds us of the great award that awaits us when we finish this difficult race and arrive in His presence having been faithful and true to His Word and commandments.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep our eyes upon the goal, not the ruts in the path we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-19-11

Patriot’s Day

Judges 3:20, “Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his room upstairs where it was cool. Ehud said, “I have a word from God for you,” and the king stood up from his throne.”

Yesterday was Patriot’s Day, a State holiday in some of the Northeastern States, since it is the anniversary of the Minutemen at Concord Bridge, the beginning of the Revolutionary War of the fledgling colonies against their oppressors, The British Monarchy and King George. Because the action of these Patriots, the United States came into being and has grown, protected freedom, fought for the concept of liberty at home and across the world for 235 years. We recognize our debt to these brave Patriots.

This Biblical account from the Book of Judges took place when Israel was in slavery to Moab, one of their ancient enemies God had told the Israelites to remove from the land He had given them.  As slaves to Moab, the Israelites had to pay tribute money annually to their conquerors and Ehud was designated to deliver the tribute money personally to Eglon, the King of Moab, who was a very obese man.  The people of Moab, in order to keep their slaves from rising against them, would allow no swords or knives in Israel, and not even a blacksmith to keep their plows sharp.  After delivering the tribute to Eglon, Ehud dismissed the bearers he had with him and after reaching the city gates, turned around and again went before Eglon stating he had a special message from God for the Moabite.  Since Ehud was alone, Eglon dismissed his servants and approached Ehud for the message.  Ehud then drew a sword he had crafted and hidden inside his right thigh and pierced Eglon in the stomach until the sword tip came out his back.  After locking the door, Ehud left by climbing down from the balcony, summoned the Israelites and they conquered the Moabite Army, arming themselves with the enemy army’s swords, winning back their independence and returning to full fellowship with Jehovah God through repentence and prayer.  Ehud is an example of a Biblical Patriot.

In our lives today, we are to live as Biblical patriots after the example of Ehud who followed God’s instructions for Israel’s return to following their God, and at the same time be the guardians of our freedoms and the protection of our Constitution as patriots within our country.  Our Heavenly Father, we, in Jesus’ name, pledge ourselves to you and will follow your Biblical precepts and protect them in this wonderful Country you have allowed to prosper in this sin filled ;world.

Manna in the Morning

04-18-11

Silence the Enemy

Psalm 8:1-2, “Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with Your majesty. Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants, to silence the enemy and the avenger.”

This past Sunday has been known for centuries as Palm Sunday, a day to remember the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate, riding in on the foal of a donkey.  Men and women as well as children cut palm branches from the trees, laid their coats on the streets, shouted Hosanna as they greeted Jesus’ entry into the city.  While many churches do not emphasize Palm Sunday any more, some may not even mention it.  It commemorates a real event in the life and ministry of Jesus and like many other events, is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and worthy of note.  In Psalm 8, the Psalmist, under the direct inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, wrote that out of the mouths of children would come strength, power and majesty.

Children always run to an event, if a fire truck goes down the street, kids (And some adults) will run after it to see what’s going on.  In this case these children recognized the majesty of the Promised One, even if many of the adults didn’t.  As they neared the Temple courtyard, the Pharisees and Priests heard the commotion and demanded Jesus stop the children’s worship of Him and crying out “Hosanna” at His appearing.  When adults and spiritual authorities will not give the due worship to Jesus, children will, and if no human voice is raised to His glory, Jesus said even the rocks and inanimate objects would cry out in worship.

Our great God’s name is magnificent today, He has provided for our redemption, His name is magnificent in the future when He reigns and rules the world, it is magnificent when He rode into Jerusalem, and never more magnificent that when He hung upon the cross because of my sin.  Our Glorious Heavenly Father, magnify your name in us today we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-15-11

Appearances

1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

After Samuel told Saul the Lord God had taken the Kingdom of Israel from his family, God sent Samuel to the City of Bethlehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse, Ruth and Boaz’ grandson.  After seven sons of Jesse had passed before Samuel, God rejected each of them, and a messenger was sent to the field where the sheep were grazing to bring back David, the youngest son of Jesse, when he passed before Samuel, God directed him to anoint the teenage boy.  It would be almost twenty years before David would be crowned King over Israel, but as Samuel anointed the young man the Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.” God protected him and led him in the wilderness journeys as Saul chased him with a great desire to kill him so the crown could stay in his family.

When Samuel looked at each of Jesse’s sons, the first was a tall, handsome man according to the Scripture, but God warned Samuel that man looks on the outward appearance in evaluating a person, their manner of speech, dress, physical appearance, all of which are misleading, while God looks at the heart.  God will look at all of us, knowing our motives, our intents and our true nature, all of which are hidden from other men and women.  We spend a lot of time choosing our clothes, keeping ourselves neat and well-groomed and clean, all of these things are important and pleasing making people more desirable company, in fact large industries are built on cosmetics, clothes, and exercise salons just to enhance our physical appearance.  God is not impressed with the outside of a person, in fact he called the Pharisees whitewashed coffins, because of the corruption in their hearts and intentions of their mind.

As God dwells within us, and knows all our thoughts before they even form in our mind, it is impossible for us to mask our intentions from him.  Fine clothes and a full wallet will not affect God’s opinion of us, he sees us as we truly are.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we cannot be pretentious before you.  May we admit to you who and what we are and willingly allow you to make us what you want us to be.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-14-11

Obeying the Gospel

Romans 10:16-17, “But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?  So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

This verse and another one in 2nd Thessalonians mention obeying the gospel message.  The root meaning of the word that is translated ‘obey’ is to “Hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority.”  To obey the gospel in one sense means to listen to the message of salvation with one’s physical ears, to hear and understand the invitation to be born anew into the Family of God with one’s spiritual ears, to then desire to accept this wonderful gift and act upon it, the essence of obey was then to respond to the message by accepting the gift of salvation.  The opposite is when the listener does not understand or fails to recognize the urgency of the invitation, therefore he declines, denying entry of God the Holy Spirit into his life in all God’s fullness and power.  This is the act Isaiah foretold when he asked the rhetorical question, “Lord, who has believed our message?”

There is another way we must obey the gospel message.  When we have been born anew into the Family of God, we must then obey the commands of our Father in Heaven when we are commanded to obey the ordinance of Believer’s Baptism by immersion which is to give public testimony to the event that has occurred in our life, to clearly state we have died to ourselves and our sinful desires and are raised as a new creation in Christ Jesus with His desire to give guidance in our lives.  Once we have given testimony that our lives have been changed by the new birth, we are to go to wherever our Savior can use us effectively and relay the message of salvation to others.  Out of joy and thanksgiving we will pray for the salvation of others and their growth in Christ Jesus and their needs and requests, since we are now to intercede or bring their requests before the throne of our God.

Obeying the invitation to ask God to come into our lives on the basis of His love, forgiveness and mercy, is to respond to the voice of God the Holy Spirit within us.  Lord God our Father, our desire is to obey you in every way, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-13-11

Sailing

Acts 27:4, “When we had put out to sea from there, we sailed along the northern coast of Cyprus because the winds were against us.”

            Paul was on his final sea voyage to Rome.  He had appealed a court decision to Caesar because he was a Roman Citizen, he was under Roman guard and was being transported to Rome.  Even the Roman Empire was subject to the will and moving of God.  Because they were in a sailing vessel, they were subject to the winds and after sailing into the wind, they put into port.  Each day was a new run to put into another port as often as possible in order not to sail at night.  If there was no favorable wind, there was little forward progress, if the wind was brisk and coming from the East they made good progress.  At the end of the day, however, there was no way to ‘save’ the wind for use again the next day, as I once read in a novel, “Boats don’t sail on yesterday’s wind.”

This same concept applies to our Christian lives and our ministries.  Many Believers reach their official retirement age and begin to withdraw from their working career and at the same time begin to limit their involvement in active ministry, depending instead upon what they accomplished in the past, withdrawing from active participation in much of the church programs, instead being content to be ministered to in their own lives.  Paul did not ‘go inactive’ while he was on the boat or after he arrived in Rome, instead, he continued his person-to-person evangelism, engaging every person with whom he came in contact, encouraging them to accept and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  In the same way, Christians do not retire; they may restructure their time or reevaluate their abilities, but never withdraw from actively serving our Heavenly Father.  Instead of bragging about how much they used to do, they need to preserve their strength to do all they can today in the Lord’s work, they do not depend upon yesterday’s wind, they take advantage of the strength and abilities God gives them for each new day.  Our gracious Heavenly father, we ask you for the strength for today and guidance in all we do in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-12-11

3-D

Titus 1:16, “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.”

            3-D seems to be getting bigger, much of what we watch on TV is HiDef, and it is so good it often looks almost like 3-D, movies and TV programs still need the polarizing glasses to give the impression of the dimensional effect, and the glasses give some people headaches because of the effect on their eyes.  Christians need to have a 3–D life; first, a Devotion to our Heavenly father, anxious to do His directive will in all we attempt, second, we want to be Dedicated to carrying the salvation message to all our Heavenly Father leads us with whom we can share the Salvation message, third we are to be Determined to live our lives in a manner that does not detract from our witness but rather makes us transparent to the love and compassion of our Savior will radiate from us to all we meet, giving God the Holy Spirit the freedom to convict their hearts of the need for Redemption in Christ Jesus.

There have always been those who claim to know Jesus as their Savior, often they will quote the day they accepted Him into their lives, but do not understand what it means to let the Heavenly Father be the leader of their lives, to live every moment of their lives eager to do the Father’s will, to make each moment count in their witness for Him.  To speak the words of salvation, but not backing them up with a life that is dedicated is to deny the Lord they profess to know.  These individuals are, in the words of Scripture, detestable in God’s eyes, they do not reflect His goodness.  Living a life for self, not Our Heavenly Father is disobedient to His Word and to the commands He has given throughout the time God has dealt with mankind, continued disobedience will lead to disappointment in our lives and worth.  The third “D” in those who profess by actively denial is disqualified.  Instead of hearing the commendation of Christ when they enter heaven, they will be disqualified because they did not run their race according to God’s plan.  While they may enter Heaven’s gates, they will receive no rewards, they will have no crowns to give to Jesus as a worthy offering.

Our Heavenly Father, may we be a devoted, dedicated and determined child of God.  This is our earnest prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-11-11

Fully Equipped

2 Timothy3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Timothy, a young pastor, was considered as the Apostle Paul’s ‘son in the faith’ because of the interest Paul had in the training and spiritual growth of the young man.  Paul encouraged Timothy to be undaunted by those who considered his youth as a negative factor because Timothy’s spiritual growth was greater than his age would reflect.  Paul gave his protégé advice that we would be wise to take to heart regardless of the number of years we have been in the Family of God or how much we think we know about the Scriptures.   We should always remember that every word in our Bible has been literally breathed into the minds of the authors, that God Himself has given them the words to write, utilizing their own personalities and personal experiences.  God’s Word is profitable in the ears of the students as teachers and preachers proclaim its sacred message.  No person will ever be equipped to be a spiritual leader without listening to and acquiring knowledge from teachers of God’s Word.  It is profitable to students to study God’s Word, this is far greater than reading the writings of great men, as spiritual as they may be, God’s Word is the sacred tree that bears fruit in a Believer’s life.  When we encounter spiritual ignorance, false teaching and professing Christians whose life does not back up their spoken testimony, use only Scripture to correct their errant behavior or to rebuke their continued disregard for the Biblical message and precepts.

God’s desire for each man or woman is clear, He wants us to be complete in Him, to recognize the need for Him to reach our hearts and minds and teach us from His Word, through our own study and careful attention to those who teach us from His word.  We need to be completely equipped for every ministry opportunity He provides for us.  Just as we make prudent preparation for events that may occur in our earthly lives, we need to be ready to present God’s opportunity of salvation whenever and wherever an opportunity may arise, we need to be prepared to offer Godly counsel those who come to us for advice and pray with those who need us to intercede for them before the throne of God.

Our great Heavenly Father, we ask you in Jesus’ name to make us effective counselors, interceders and leaders to those you send to us each day.

Manna in the Morning

04-08-11

Trust Me

Proverbs 27:1-2, “Don’t boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what a day might bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.”

            Jesus told a parable about the rich man who garnered a great harvest, even having to build new storage barns to receive it, then sat back and made great plans about his future that never happened.  A few years back men and women gathered great amounts of money, stored it in banks and investments for their retirement only to find that inflation, poor bank management and fraud had taken much of their money.  God’s Word says we shouldn’t listen to men with smooth lips and uncertain futures.  Even if we are planning a trip or family vacation we should always remember all things depend upon the will of our Sovereign God who may allow events like tornados, hurricanes or other disasters to take our accumulations of this earth, giving us the opportunity to trust Him for our needs and for the future.  It may be hard, but Heaven is worth the trust and faith in the Heavenly Father who knows our needs.

Another bit of Solomon’s advice is to never congratulate and praise yourself.  All of us have met someone who has become a “Legend in his or her own mind,” always reminding others how great he is or what wonderful things she has done for their own glory.  I am reminded of an old saying my parents kept on the wall of our home, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Whatever we do in our own strength or skills is done for an earthly reward, but what is done in the name and power of our Great God will have eternal rewards and effect.

God gives us a new day every time the sun comes up and the promises are great; the day is an opportunity to trust our Heavenly Father for all our needs and it is important to ask Him to guide and bless our planning and promises to others.  It is another day to introduce someone to the love and mercy of our Savior, another opportunity to bring glory to His name by doing a good work for someone else without reward, being sure He gets the glory and another day to praise Him for what He has done in our lives.  Our heavenly Father, we ask you in Jesus’ name to use us this day for Your glory and not our own.

Manna in the Morning

04-07-11

Walk in Wisdom

Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

            Every Believer is told in this passage to walk in wisdom, to exercise discernment as we walk among those who are outside of the family of our great God.  We are not to unnecessarily antagonize or insult them, saying and doing nothing that does not exhibit the love of our Redeemer and their need to recognize their sin and need for His forgiveness.  We are to make maximum use of the time we have with them, to follow the leading of God the Holy Spirit within us as we endeavor to help the unsaved person see the joy that comes in following our Savior.  We often spend our time in talking about insignificant things, fearing a negative response when we tell them of God’s goodness toward them, and His provision for salvation for every man and woman, but our responsibility is to win them for Christ.

Our speech should be calm, not given to argumentation or anger, but in quiet tones and a gracious spirit present the opportunity to them.  It is God that softens and convicts the heart, not any lurid, frightening picture of tormented souls in hell, because God’s love must draw others to Himself.  Our words are to be tasteful, pleasing to the lost, appealing, yet with a bit of the sharpness shown by Jesus as He presented the one and only way for salvation to all who followed Him.  Jesus’ sharpness and still carefully chosen words were used only with the religious leaders who sought to actively discredit Him in the eyes of others.  He was not filled with personal vindictiveness, but desired the conviction of their hearts and minds that were mislead and filled with the devil’s own lies.

Every Word we speak should pass our ‘taste test,’ is it tasteful and understandable by the unbeliever or is it so filled with Christianese the unsaved do not understand the point of our sentences, in addition, it must be fully Biblical, any quotations from the Bible must be accurate and on target with the conversation.  God, who knows each heart, will convict and put the longing in the hearts and minds of those with whom we speak, relieving us of any need for argumentation.   Our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus we ask for the opportunity to share your salvation with someone this day.

Manna in the Morning

04-06-11

Wise and Foolish

1 Corinthians 1:27, “God has chosen the world’s foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world’s weak things to shame the strong.”

            A small piece of space junk drifting dangerously close to the International Space Station led the National Space Agencyto warn of a potential need for evacuation early Tuesday — but the space agency has since sounded the all-clear.  The crew aboard the space station powered down much of the satellite’s programs and retreated into the escape module while they were in close proximity to the orbiting piece of space junk.  This is at least the second time this has happened in the last two years.  Exploded communication satellites and other space junk make it critical to monitor the surrounding area of our space assets. As careful as men and women are, and as careful to work within the known laws of science, they are completely at risk when they step out of the carefully drawn lines of human knowledge, God’s plans, his immutable laws of physics and the universe are still far beyond mankind’s ability to understand or modify.

God often uses the silliest of things like a six inch piece of space junk to confound or bring to zero the carefully orchestrated plans of mankind, a very expensive space station built piece by piece over the last ten years at an estimated total cost of several Billion dollars.  God’s ways are far above our ability to think or understand and our minds so small and puny, we cannot comprehend His love or His plan for our lives.

Let us be weak or simple things so that we do not get in the way of our great God working through us to touch the hearts of those who are so wise in this world’s eyes or so powerful they are reluctant to go to the Lord God for help in any way.  Heavenly Father, work in us and through us this day in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-05-11

Praise the Lord!

Ps 150:1-2, “Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness.”

            When our Heavenly Father answers one of our deepest, most heartfelt prayers, we praise Him publically, giving Him the glory for what He has done.  When God works wonderfully in the small prayers we offer up for what to many would seem inconsequential, personal requests, we still offer Him thanks, but do not always go public with the request and answer even if it means a great deal to us.  Our lives are to be lived in a continual state of praise.  We should praise Him together in our worship, sing His praises, fellowship together, study and enjoy His Word together, lift our voices in praise together in the entire world that is His, He made it, and it echoes back our songs of praise until it reaches the very throne in the Heavenly places where His glory manifests itself.  We will someday lift our voices together with the angels, the Elders that surround the throne, the creations that are unique and serve to shout Glory to God for all eternity, now we are but a small echo in the praise choruses, but someday part of the great multitudes of redeemed who will Praise His Holy Name.

W praise God for His mighty acts, for creation, for the glorious sculpture of the mountains and valleys, for the great canyons and gushing roaring rivers, for the bright stars in the midnight sky, for the great waves that crash against the sand of the shoreline echoing their chant to the power of our Heavenly Father and King.

We praise Him for His graciousness, for the simple prayer lifted to help us in finding a lost object, or to heal, comfort and restore a loved oneto health, to reach down and gently wrap His arms around us in a time of sorrow and weeping.  We praise Him for the gifts of His grace, for the abundant store of Heaven’s mercy poured out upon us like anointing oil, all because He loves us.  We who are sinners, who were mired in the muck of wickedness have been lifted by His redeeming power and love that flowed from Calvary into our very being.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, We praise You now and forever!  Halleluiah

Manna in the Morning

04-04-11

Burning Bibles

Jeremiah 36:31, “I will punish him, his descendants, and his officers for their wrongdoing. I will bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the disaster, which I warned them about but they did not listen.”

Recently Terry Jones, a Pastor from Florida, burned a Koran because of its teachings that promote hatred for Jews and Christians.  As a result of this publicized event, rabble-rousers in Afghanistan murdered around 20 people in various attacks.  Muslim clerics teach the impressionable young men that the Bible is a corrupted version of the True Book, the Koran, and that Christians and Jews who live by the precepts and statutes of the Bible are infidels and deserve to be killed.  The teachings of Islam declare that the true Koran is the “eternal Mother Book and kept in the presence of Allah, while the earthly copy is to be read only in Arabic and even an English translation is not to be used in Muslim worship or reading.  Literally hundreds of Bibles have been burned in Communist and Islamic countries without Christians or Jews killing anyone.

In the Jewish State of Judea, just before the Babylonian Captivity, God commanded the Prophet Jeremiah to write in a scroll some distasteful prophecies against Judea and King Jehoiakim.  When this scroll was read in Jehoiakim’s presence, after a few sentences were read, the King would cut off the offending words, burning them in a fire while his officers and religious leaders looked on.  After the scroll had been read and thrown into the fire, God redirected Jeremiah to dictate the message once again so the Godly Priest’s and Scribes would have a copy of God’s message to the people. God did not command Jeremiah to assemble an assassination squad and kill the King and those who did not reprimand him for his sacrilegious act.  God promised His vengeance and judgment upon Jehoiakim and his officials for their failure to respect His Word.

God has promised the world that His Word will always bear fruit in the hearts of men and women, and will not return to Him useless or without working His will in the lives of others.  Just as our God will bless His Word and its effect on others, He will take His vengeance on those who abuse, disregard, or destroy the Bible either physically or declare it deceitful and erroneous.  Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of Your Word, help us to use it this day in our battle against evil, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-01-11

Troubled Hearts

2 Corinthians 2:4, “For out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart I wrote to you with many tears—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.”

When the Apostle Paul heard of the errors in doctrine and stress those errors had caused in the Corinthian Church, he felt it better to write them than to visit and have another very painful visit for them and him.  He wrote this letter to vindicate his apostleship, to tell them of his concerns and to let them know as a mature Christian, his heart ached for them because they did not know the peace and joy of true reliance upon God, spiritual mentors and the Scriptures they had received.  Citizens of Corinth were extremely proud of their city, its intellectual prowess, much wealth and with an arrogant attitude.  There were many false teachers in Corinth, teaching many faulty, unbiblical doctrines that divided the Church into followers of this preacher and that teacher, to the detriment of the cause of Christ.

When we have the opportunity to lead someone to our Savior, we also have an obligation to accept the opportunity to lead and guide them in their spiritual growth.  Not only are we to be involved in the spiritual obstetrics in bringing others to new life, we are to be just as engaged in spiritual pediatrics by helping them grow in understanding their new faith and helping them fit into a Bible class as well as regular church attendance.  It is the workers responsibility to see the new convert meets the pastor and other church leaders as well as others in their general age group for fellowship and spiritual growth.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, guide us this day, make us willing to accept responsibility for others, to guide and assist in their spiritual growth.  In Jesus’ wonderful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-31-01

Ruth 1:22, “So Naomi came back from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.”

            During a time of famine in Israel, Elimelech, and his wife Naomi with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion left Bethlehem to move to the land of Moab in order to obtain food, probably during the time of the Judges in Israel.  Moab was an ancient enemy of the Israelites, having seduced the young men of Israel to marry the Moabite women during their trek into Canaan in direct violation of God’s laws given at Sinai.  Both Mahlon and Chilion married women from Moab during the ten years Naomi and her family lived in Moab.  When Elimelech died, closely followed by Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, since food was once again plenteous there.  Ruth had been introduced to Jehovah God by Mahlon and Naomi and vowed to return with Naomi to Israel.  They arrived with no land, money or food and immediately Ruth began to glean in the harvest fields to provide for Naomi and herself.  God providentially protected the two women and eventually Naomi was restored to her family lands and Ruth married a prosperous man named Boaz.  God worked in their lives, not only in answer to their prayers, but to provide a line for the great King David that continued on to Jesus of Bethlehem.

Why did God choose Ruth the Moabitess to be in the genealogy of Jesus?  Was it to show the world that salvation was for all mankind?  I don’t know the reason, but I do know a soul that chose to worship Jehovah God and none other, who chose to live a life that would bring honor to Him found His love for her true and the promise of eternal life fulfilled.  As we live this day, regardless if sorrow falls upon us like the loss of Naomi and Ruth’s husbands, God’s plans for us are good and we will someday understand His leading us in the paths He chose.  When Ruth held her little Great-grandson in her arms and smoothed his tousled hair, she did not know God planned to make David, Israel’s mighty King but His plan will always be fulfilled.

`           God’s plan for each of us is unique, filled with surprises and what we may call interruptions, but His path leads to Heaven and eternity in His presence.  Lord God our Heavenly Father, we submit to your plan for this day, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-30-11

Christ in Me

Colossians 1:27, “God wanted to make known to those among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Many people live their whole life with one goal, sometimes fulfilled, sometimes not, to visit Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  There is something special about walking in the same areas and seeing the same countryside that Jesus walked and saw during His earthly Ministry.  Even though hundreds, even thousands of years have passed, it is a valued experience to have.  I visited Jerusalem many years ago, and the difference in the intervening years is startling.  But the waves on the Sea of Galilee still rise mount up in a storm, the Jordan River still keeps flowing in its sinuous route to the Dead Sea, the floor of the Temple still rises above the valley and it is easy to worship in those hallowed hills.

It is even greater to experience Jesus walking with us as we go through our daily routines, meeting people and living a life of witness.  Our Great God and Father has given us the presence of  God the Holy Spirit within our lives and there are times when we read our Bible and through His quiet tutorage we more fully understand the passages, knowing the special blessing only He can give our inquiring minds.  When we look at a world so lost and giving their full attention to godless men and women who have “Celebrity” status, when what God calls sin is glorified in our entertainment industry and when revered speakers, even pastors, begin to modify the pure gospel message in ways that are contrary to God’s Word, we have The Spirit to keep us on the correct path.  When we see sinners, we look at them with compassion as if we were looking through Jesus’ eyes as He healed the sick and broken hearted, made the lame to walk and opened the eyes that were not only physically unseeing, but blind to the true message of Scripture.  We have the glorious privilege of walking in the paths laid out by our Heavenly Father for our lives.  Waling in Jerusalem is an earthly pleasure, having Christ Jesus in us is the promise of Heavenly Glory.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, guide us today, make us aware of your abiding presence in our lives and give us the gift of seeing others through the eyes of Jesus, in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-29-11

Salvation

Romans 1:16-18, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”

            The Apostle Paul spent his entire youthful life as a young man named Saul, steeping himself in the religion of the Jews, training, studying, memorizing and reading the Old Testament Scriptures always learning how to defend his faith against all false teachings.  After achieving the goal of membership in the most respected Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, Saul was recognized as a leader, one who could ably defend Judaism in any argument with anyone who challenged him.  Then he met Jesus.

On a dusty road to Damascus, Saul met the risen Jesus who asked him why he persecuted God the Son.  Being struck blind immediately, Saul went into the City learned of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, gave his life to serve his Lord and was immediately given his sight.  After studying the Scriptures for months from his new vantage point with newly opened spiritual eyes, Paul became the leading proponent, defender of the faith we know as Christianity, missionary to Asia Minor, Greece and Europe as far as Rome.  It is in this context, a Believer in Jesus Christ, Paul writes, “I am not ashamed of the message of Jesus, The Promised One.  Now a preacher of the gospel, a leader in the faith he once persecuted with a vengeance, Paul recognizes the true power of God to bring salvation into the heart of anyone who will believe in this message of saving faith.  Not only did Paul know the Jews and Gentiles were equal in God’s eyes, he recognized rejection and condemnation came first to the Jews who rejected Jesus as their Redeemer and by the same rejection every non-Jew would also suffer condemnation as the just penalty for their rejection.

The message of the Bible is eternally the same; the soul that rejects Jesus and does not have his or her name inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life will forever be in the place that has been prepared for Satan and his evil demons.  If you have never truly accepted Jesus as your Savior, pray this prayer right now.  “Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You and I need forgiveness for all my sins.  I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.  Father, I give you my life, I want God the Holy Spirit to come into my life and heart.  I ask this in Jesus’ saving name.”

Manna in the Morning

03-28-11

Obedience

Judges 2:7, “The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works He had done for Israel.”

            As the Israelites entered into Canaan they obeyed the Lord God and took possession of much of the land.  Some of the tribes did not completely rid the land of the Canaanite people and made agreements with them in direct violation of God’s command to them.  But as long as Joshua lived and the elders of Israel who had seen God’s miracle in opening a way across the Jordan River, recalling the memorial stones that were placed on the side of the river to forever remind them to tell their children of God’s provision and deliverance, they worshipped God alone and not the idols of Canaan.  When this elderly group of leaders passed from the scene, the Israelites forgot their former promises to their God and began to worship idols and intermarry with the non-Israelite people.  Much later in their national life, God reminded King Saul that to obey God is better than sacrificing bulls and lambs for their sinful behavior, and to follow God’s precepts is better than any atoning sacrifice or action could ever be.

Even today, after reading of the lessons God had to teach the Israelites, the one group of people He chose to favor throughout the entire Old Testament, Even seeing and recognizing the consequences of sin and disobedience, people will willfully ignore God’s precepts and do that which He has specifically forbidden, then wonder why their lives are not blessed by their Heavenly Father.  There is an attitude prevalent today that assumes God doesn’t care how much we sin, or what we do, so long as we ask for forgiveness and then continue to repeat the same process over and over.  It is wise to remember that while God forgives sin, there are often consequences to that sin that will continue on, sometimes long after God has reconciled us to Himself.

God’s promise of forgiveness is forever firm, when we come to Him in prayer, asking for His mercy and forgiveness, He will never turn us away, His love is ever present, but the scripture is clear; To obey our Heavenly Father’s precepts is far better than having to come to Him for forgiveness.  Life is much sweeter when we walk in full fellowship with Him.  Heavenly Father, we desire to walk this day in the sunshine of your love, guide us in Jesus’ name we pray

Manna in the Morning

03-25-11

Who Knows

1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man’s heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

            Both Paul Eicke of Germany who is three and Alex Marlarkey who is six have described what they saw after they were in accidents and were declared dead.  They both report seeing lights and speaking with people who told them they had to return to their parents.  There are many other accounts available to read as well.  Some of the accounts are undoubtedly visions and perhaps others are examples of a child who saw the gates of heaven, spoke with people and then returned.  Their accounts are in many ways similar, but they are but a small portion of what God has prepared for those who love Him.  We have no Biblical record of what Lazarus or other people who were resurrected by Jesus said after their return to the earth.

Scripture tells us that no human eye has seen, and no human ear has heard what God has prepared for us who love Him and are redeemed by His sacrifice.  Our only glimpse into our future home is given to us in the Book of the Revelation.  From that book we understand that first; there will be no sin in the new heaven and new earth that will be prepared for us.  Our habitation is not to be on this sin-scarred planet, it is in a place that has, and will, never know sin.  We read of the trees planted that give fruit in their season, and of wonders that the Apostle John could not put into words formed in a human mind, and our minds cannot grasp the magnitude of Heaven’s splendor if we were given more details.

Many people have documented their out-of-body experiences, some have arrived at Heaven’s gate, others tell of meeting others, but no one has returned to tell us anything other than it is a place to be greatly desired and people there are those known to love the Lord while on this earth.  Instead of running to buy and read their account, our time would be better spent in assuring ourselves we will indeed be there in God’s timing and in sharing the wonderful message of Redemption with those we love and know on this earth.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, our desire is to be with you in the Heavenlies and to enjoy your eternal presence.  Encourage us today and every day until we enter into the place you are preparing for us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-24-11

Labor Pains

Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.”

            In Matthew 24 Jesus said labor pains start slow and slowly gain in intensity and rapidity until the child is born and the birth is complete.  Earlier in this chapter, Paul writes, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, that all creation eagerly awaits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.  After Adam and Eve were created God walked with them daily and communed with them, guiding, shepherding them, advising and warning them of sin’s deadly effect on them and the entire world should they fall.  After the horrible sin of following Satan’s wiles instead of firmly following God’s commands, all the earth, mankind, animals, flowers and grasses felt the curse of sin.  Weeds immediately began to grow in fields that were idyllic before, animals began to show fear before men, Adam and Eve were evicted from the place where they had such fellowship with God in their innocence.  This loss was felt by mankind, but also by God.

After the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, The Promised One, mankind could know the blessings of the new birth, to be born anew as Jesus explained to Nicodemus.  When we accept Jesus into our lives, we once more can have the full communion with our loving God, His temple is our body, and we are fully and completely infused with the Presence of the living God in our lives and being.  We are Children of the Heavenly Father, God’s Word says that creation bore the labor pains until the resurrection and then Pentecost when the infant Church began to understand the fellowship of mankind and Heavenly Father after you and I have been born anew.  We are changed at our very core.

Why is it, then, that we are so easily seduced by our adversary and led astray just as Adam and Eve?  We do have the opportunity, not known before Jesus  to re-establish that relationship and close communion with our Heavenly Father by repenting of our waywardness and walking close by His side.  Heavenly Father, we love you and ask you to walk with us today, May every word and action have your approval we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-23-11

Courage

Joshua 1:7-8, “Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.”

            As Joshua was walking around the City of Jericho one night before the battle, he met a person and challenged him by asking whether he was for or against the Israelites.  The shadowy figure declared he was a messenger from the Lord God and had a message for Joshua, then spoke the words in our verses for today.  These are good words for every person to quote when we wake up in the morning and prepare for the day’s activities.  God’s Word for the day to us is to be courageous, to speak for our God and not to shrink before the battles that may confront us as we carry the message of our Lord to others through our attitudes and actions.  Our attitude toward our fellow workers is more of a witness than our words will ever be.  Our actions will tell our convictions far more convincingly than mere words can, and will be remembered long after our voices have been stilled.

We are to walk on the path our God illuminates for us using, the Psalmist said, His words to shine light on the very spot our foot should land upon as we walk.  Many men and women find themselves far off the path because of the allurements of our adversary and we need to ask for God’s forgiveness and strength to follow His directions to the fullest.  Many people consider success as having a healthy bank account, the biggest car on the block or maybe the most up-to-date toys available, but our Heavenly Father considers us as successful wherever we go when we are following His path.

Joshua was successful in battle and leadership, as we too will be successful when we accomplish what our God has set for us to do in this world and we enter Heaven to hear the words, Well done!”  Our gracious heavenly Father, we ask for you to especially near to us today and to speak in ways we can understand as we walk this day in your footsteps, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-22-11

Fear

Luke 12:4-5, “And I say to you, My friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the One to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear!”

Jesus was speaking to a large crowd of people when some pushing and shoving broke out among those who wanted to have a front row opportunity to see and hear Jesus.  Maybe they wanted to witness a miracle, a healing of a blind or lame man or another compassionate act by Jesus.  Instead, Jesus begins to speak of who or what to fear, first saying the Scribes and Pharisees were not the ones to fear, their opposition would come to little in their attempts to trip up Jesus who said, “Fear the One who can send you to the pit of Hell.”

Our concentration on the love of our Heavenly Father, the compassion of Jesus for the lost and the love we are to show to others in our daily activities has somewhat overcome our fear of Almighty God.  Because God is perfect in every way, it is impossible for Him to change.  His love is without limit, it is His perfect will that all men and women should have the opportunity to come to repentence and salvation, and it also is His desire to use us who love and want to serve Him assisting Him in bringing the word of His love to all we can.

God’s all-encompassing love is counter balanced by His perfect justice, God’s requirement that the penalty for sin must be paid, and His Word is very clear; the soul that sins will surely die an eternal death, total separation from God’s presence in the place of eternal torment, always conscious of the opportunities of salvation ignored or disregarded.  Anyone who spends eternity in the lake of fire is there, not because God’s willed it, but because the lost souls refused the proffered salvation when they had the opportunity while upon the earth.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the salvation that is ours, guide us through this day we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-21-11

Service

Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

            When Jesus entered this world, He was the one person that had the full legal and proper claim to the Throne of Israel once held by King David.  Then and now, no person of Israelite heritage has a right to the throne that could supersede Jesus’ legal claim, yet in his earthly life and ministry, he never proclaimed or asserted that right; in The Fathers plan, the timing was not yet right.  Jesus made it clear He came to serve others.  All who came to Him for healing or help were cured of their ailments or disease; no one was ever turned away.  When He was teaching upon the mountains He was aware of their hunger, taking a boy’s lunch Jesus fed the multitude of five thousand giving every person there all they needed and much to spare.  He helped them satisfy their physical hunger while He fed them spiritual food to satisfy their starved souls; He is the great servant.  Jesus showed His humble spirit when He washed the feet of the disciples, doing the work of a menial servant.  He taught them no one can be served by others unless he serves others first in meekness and humbleness.

Our society today would make us all feel like we are to be served, with no one to do the serving.  Workers do not see themselves as servants, they feel they are equal to those who are the executives, even in restaurants, the wait staff do not see themselves as servants, only those who bring the food from the kitchen to the table, expecting the full measure of their pay and tips for their work.  No longer does anyone have a servant’s attitude, rather it is an exchange of value – full payment for services rendered.

Jesus clearly stated in both Matthew and Mark that His time on earth was to be as a servant, even when he took our place on the cross and gave His earthly life in full and complete payment for our transgressions and sin.  If it were for this act of sacrifice alone, we should serve Him the rest of our earthly life in joy and gratitude.  Learning to serve in love makes us worthy to carry His selfless message to every person whose path crosses ours.  Almighty God, our Master and King, we will serve you this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-18-11

Memorial Stones

Joshua 4:20-22, Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan, and he said to the Israelites, “When your children ask their fathers in the future, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’  you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

After Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River, he told the people to build a memorial with the stones he had 12 men carry from the river bottom as they crossed on dry land.  This memorial was to recall to the minds of those who saw it, the remembrance of the miraculous crossing of the river on day land and how their Jehovah God had provided for them not only at the river, but as they began to make Canaan their land as promised to Abraham.  A visual reminder is always better than a written page tucked in the family Bible somewhere, which in itself, is a better remembrance and memorial than our own memory that tends to build upon the account with each telling.

Each one of us has memories of times when God protected us from grievous harm, restored us to full health and strength after an accident or surgery or allowed us to go through a terrible experience with no injury whatsoever.  We know beyond all doubt that we know Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and that He paid the price for our sin debt on Calvary, These events should be shared with others in our families, our children and grandchildren along with our vivid account of God’s protection and grace.  The fact we have been indwelt by God the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide and protect us is a precious gift of our loving Heavenly Father.

Whether you write a journal of these memories, tell them orally to the younger members of your family, share them with friends or keep them as a memorial stone in your life experience, keep the memory of God’s provision alive in your mind, and in those you love and rejoice in God’s goodness.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the certainty of our salvation, praise you for your involvement in our lives on earth and we anticipate with joy the future in the place where the manifestation of your glory dwells.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-17-11

Prepare

Mark 1:2-3, “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!”

God prepared the way for Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the land of promise, just as He had promised Abraham.  The prophets all prepared the way and clearly indicated when and where the Promised One would be born.  This too has happened just as prophesied.  God gave the prophets additional information which they have shared with the Israelites and the Church through the ages since they spoke and wrote as God inspired them, sharing much of God’s plan that is yet to come.  Joel prophesied that in the latter days God would pour out His spirit upon men and women.  Many of the prophets wrote of the plagues and punishments to be poured out on the earth in preparation for the Promised return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  When Jesus returns to the earth in power and majesty He will destroy all His enemies with the sword of His mouth which is the Word of God.  Because He comes in His holy majesty, the ravages and curse of sin must be removed from the earth and all who dwell in it because God cannot look upon or allow sin in His presence.

While you and I are present on the earth, we need to prepare the hearts of those we associate with, family, friends, and business acquaintances in order that they may have the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Redeemer and be born anew into the Family of God.  We are the messengers of salvation, the bearer of good news and the voices through which God the Holy Spirit will convict the souls we reach.  We will cry in what often seems to be wilderness, alone and from our point of reference, unheard.  God will take those words; amplify them in the unbelieving hearts to convict them.  If we don’t bear the message they will not hear.  If we do not speak of salvation they will not be saved.  If we fail to speak of Jesus, we will not be following God’s command.

Father in Heaven; give us loud voices today we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-16-11

Forgiven

Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, forgiving wrongdoing and rebellion. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished.”

            There is a line in a song the Gaither Vocal Band sings that expresses the position of the believer in Christ Jesus very aptly, “Greatly blessed, highly favored, imperfect but forgiven, child of God.”  How blessed we are to know the certainty our sins are forgiven and Heaven is our future home.  After Jehovah God had led the Israelites out of Egypt, across deserts, given them water and food, they arrived at the Jordan River separating them from Canaan, the land promised to their ancestor Abraham.  After sending 12 men into the land to spy it out, the people believed the ten that told them there was no way they could conquer the inhabitants of the land and ignored Caleb and Joshua who declared that if God had led them this far, they could count on His favor and guidance in leading them into Canaan.  Upon their refusal, God determined to wait the forty years until the unbelieving generation had died and bring the people once again into the land as He promised.

Moses summed up God’s position in this verse, God is very patient with we who are His children forgiving our sin and unbelief, His great love sent the way of redemption for us in Jesus, who paid the ultimate price for our sin, allowing us to count His blessings and enjoy Heaven’s blessings for all eternity.   However, just as a quarter has two sides, the other side of God’s perfection is His perfect justice that will not leave the guilty unpunished, the fatal, deadly price of sin must be paid.  We who know Jesus as Savior are greatly blessed by God the Holy Spirit who convicted our heart of our need of Christ, we are highly favored because of His mercy and love poured out upon us each and every day, fully forgiven of our sin and imperfections by the perfect sacrifice of the Father’s Promised One, and have been born anew into the Family of God.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we can only sing your praises with thanksgiving because of your great love, accept our gratitude this day and allow us to share your love with others to whom you will send us, in Jesus’ powerful name.

Manna in the Morning

03-15-11

God’s Blessings

Leviticus 26:3-6, “If you follow My statutes and faithfully observe My commands, I will give you rain at the right time, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest, and the grape harvest will continue until sowing time; you will have plenty of food to eat and live securely in your land. I will give peace to the land, and you will lie down with nothing to frighten you.”

            Almighty God gave this conditional statement to the Israelites when the laws under which they were to live and regulate their society were given.  Because we are in the time when God treats us according to His grace and we are saved by faith in the perfect sacrifice of the Promised One, we are not bound by these laws and restrictions.  But, God’s blessings and promises still are true if we follow the intent of the statutes as Jesus defined them during His life here on this dusty earth.

In order to receive the fruits of this blessing, we are to faithfully observe the commands of our Lord Jesus.  He left us with commands that are not nearly as grievous as the Old Testament restrictions.  Jesus taught us to love one another, to not exact retribution of others, but to forgive them in the same way as our Heavenly Father has forgiven our transgressions against Him.  We are to feed the hungry, care for the sick among us, not through Government planning, but through our churches as we glorify Christ Jesus.  We are to not only love others, we are to have a deep, abiding love for fellow believers, helping them in their times of need, to pray for them, to encourage them in their spiritual walk and to mentor and guide them by teaching what we have learned from the Holy Scriptures.  His last command to each of those who saw Him ascend into heaven is echoed through the centuries until we hear it echo in our spiritual ears, “Go into every part of the world and spread the gospel message,” baptizing those who come to Him, discipling them and filling them with the fervent desire to follow Jesus’ commands in their lives in a chain that reaches all the way back to the Mount of Olives and the words of the Savior as He disappeared into the clouds.

Our Heavenly Father, in gratitude for our new birth into Your family, we will follow the commands Jesus left us and await the fulfillment of your promise of the abundant rain of your grace upon us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-11-11

Holy Ground

Exodus 3:4-5, When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”  “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not come closer,” God said. “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

            When Moses saw a bush filled with fiery flames, yet was not consumed by fire, he went to take a close look at this strange sight.  As he approached the bush, Jehovah God called out to him and said to take of his sandals in reverence because Moses was standing in the presence of God and it was a holy, dedicated place.  God then told Moses what he had been chosen to do, how he should go about it and to immediately leave for Egypt to take the Israelites to freedom.

Any time we pray, we approach the throne of our Almighty Father in Heaven and we are standing on holy ground, every time we read God’s Word and we begin to understand the meaning of passages we are standing on holy ground, every time we witness to others, God the Holy Spirit is using our voice and putting the words of witness in our mouths and we are standing on holy ground.  In our current society, we have become hardened to emotional appeals to holiness, we read our Bibles and wish we had lived long in the past so we might know the presence of God, to be in the physical presence of  “The Promised One” and hear His voice.

Many Christians have never been taught to hold God in awesome reverence, to fear Him in the Biblical sense of the word, not to live in terror of His wrath, but in the recognition that our Heavenly Father is the Mighty Jehovah God, the creator and sustainer of all that exists and that we, His creation, must fear Him, our Creator.  When we were born anew into the Family of God, we were chosen to serve Him out of His love for us and our love to serve Him in reverence and for His greater glory.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we are humble in your presence, realizing we are on holy ground before you.  Give us a greater awareness of your power and majesty we pray in the name of Jesus our Savior.

Manna in the Morning

03-10-11

Learn to Fight

Judges 3:1-2, “These are the nations the Lord left in order to test Israel, since none of these Israelites had fought in any of the wars with Canaan.  This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.”

It seems like every time the Israelites started to obey one of God’s commands, they get half-way through and lose steam, neglecting to fully finish what they have started.  The Almighty God had taken them over the Jordan River, given them the city of Jericho and told them to fully conquer the land God had promised to their ancestor, Abraham.   Once they moved across the river and conquered the first few tribes and settlements, they stopped; allowing the Canaanites to retain possession of much of the land.  This direct disobedience would cause them great difficulty in the years to come.  A new generation of men arose who had never fought to protect their people from those who would conquer them.  God sent pagan tribes against Israel to teach the young men how to function as an army, obey their leaders and become aggressive in their protection of their families and nation, rather than passively give in to avoid provocation.

It seems today that many of the Churches are willing to adopt a passive attitude instead of standing firm against those who would curtail our religious liberties and fight against the teaching of Scriptural truths.  We must never forget we are on the front line of spiritual warfare; we are, in truth and fact, the army of our Lord today.  There is a battle going on for the hearts and minds of National leaders across the globe, many leaders are firmly determined to drive the church underground by confiscating their property, taking away their freedom to assemble or to protest humanist or atheistic decisions in our city halls and courtrooms.  Believers in Christ Jesus are under attack.  In Ephesians six, God has given us a complete armor from head to toe and equipped us with the Sword of the Lord, The Word of God, to use against those who rise up against Biblical Truth.  The mission of the church is to train disciples, raise them up to witness boldly, fight evil forcefully and proclaim salvation’s message faithfully.  Our Heavenly Father, give us courage, stamina and trust in order to conquer our enemy for your glory.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-09-11

The Grace of Grieving

2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.”

When we think of grieving, we first think of the sorrow and pain associated with the death on someone we hold dear.  Recently at a funeral, there was a sense of grieving for the loss of a loved one, accompanied by the grace of God’s comfort and the release of the deceased to the glories of Heaven.  The Bible says that when a child of God leaves this earthly life, he or she is immediately in the Heavenlies in the presence of God the Son. our Savior and King.  The earthly grieving is replaced by the grace of our loving Heavenly Father allowing us to relinquish our hold on the individuals into the caring arms of Jesus, who loved them, prepared a place for them and called them to Himself as well as the blessed comfort that is ours in a time of loss in our lives.  The grace of grieving is when our lives are enriched by time spent with them, as well as the sure knowledge they are in Heaven awaiting our arrival.

There is another way of looking at the grace of grieving when we come to the Savior as David did when his child lay dying in the palace.  David grieved mightily not only for the impending loss of his child, but the grief at the knowledge he had sinned against Almighty God.  His grief was genuine, deeply felt and made David fall on his face before God in repentance, sorrow and grief.  When we are confronted by the knowledge of sin, although forgiven, we are aware our actions have consequences, knowing the sorrow it has caused others and the fact that the God we love is grieved by our failure to follow his precepts.  This grieving brings our heart into full fellowship with God and allows us to repent, ask for forgiveness and be restored to full fellowship with our Heavenly Father.  The grace of grieving has led to the outpouring of the grace of forgiveness and all the blessed mercy of God falls upon our soul like refreshing rain on dry fields.  Praise God for the grace of grieving.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, when we consider our sin, we grieve and our hearts are broken.  Forgive us and restore us to the place where your mercy and grace fall upon us in sweet showers of blessing.  We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-08-11

Friends

Luke 23:12, “That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been hostile toward each other.”

It seems strange that a common dislike of a third person will somehow draw two people who dislike each other into a common bond.  It has been said, “Nothing unites a Nation like a war against other nations.  During WWII Josef Stalin became more than just an acquaintance to Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. The United States, England and the Soviet Union were united against the scourge of Europe, Adolph Hitler.  As soon as victory was secured against Germany, Stalin began his conquest of many of the Eastern European Countries to add to his Communist empire and quickly became the enemy of the Western nations during the Cold War.

Herod and Pilate were very careful to watch each other while they retained power in their own spheres of influence, fearful that the other would try to make inroads into their little fiefdoms and overcome them.  Suddenly finding their need to cooperate in order to remove Jesus because of His message of love and salvation that threatened them both, they became friends and assisted each other until Jesus was crucified.

It is imperative that we who are born anew into the Family of God show a united contempt and recognition of Satan’s influence upon mankind, his tempting men and women to sin ignoring the call of God the Holy Spirit that brings salvation to a repentant soul.  Instead Christians seem to seek out their differences, capitalize upon them and declare other denominations or fellowships as sinful and not as truly spiritual as we are.  While there are important distinctions between denominations, patterns of life, the type of songs and modes of worship, recognizing we should not compromise our own personal convictions, we must unite with those who have truly been born anew and are in the Family of God to unite against ungodly, unbiblical and unchristian activities, but unite against our great adversary, the Devil and defeat him through our combined efforts rather than stand idly by and see an assembly that preaches God’s Word attacked and perhaps destroyed.  We and our brothers and sisters in Christ must present an undivided front against Satan’s sly comments and clever attacks to divide God’s Children.

Heavenly Father, help me be compassionate to my Christian brothers and sisters, pray for those who are misled and mistaken and to hate Satan and his wiles passionately, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

03-07-11

Consequences

Genesis 4:6-7, Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? 7 If you do right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Adam was intelligent or God would not have asked him to name all the animals, he had good sense or he would not have known what to eat and what to avoid, God gifted Him with language or he could not have talked to Eve or to God when he walked with God in the cool of the evening.  Life was truly blissful in the Garden of Eden, the plants were watered every night from the earth, the animals lived together in peace and there were no weapons needed for any reason.  Then first Eve then Adam ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and immediately things changed.  Adam and Eve realized they were naked and exposed, they knew they had offended God and broken the one commandment He gave them.  No longer could they live in the garden, now they had to labor for their food, shelter and clothing.  God demanded sacrifice from them for their sin, and because of their actions in eating the forbidden fruit; they knew the difference from right and wrong.  Sin had entered the world and life was harsh.

God gave mankind another law, the sacrifice to show repentence to our God for sins committed.  Abel gave a sacrificial lamb from his flocks as an offering, but Cain gave a sacrifice of the vegetables he had planted and grown.  God rejected his sacrifice because there was no blood spilt in the sacrifice for sinful behavior.  In his anger, Cain did not retaliate against God for the rejection of Cain’s offering; he killed his brother whose offering had been accepted.  God’s question to Cain was, “Why are you so angry?  Because you knew what to do and refused to do it, your sin has consequences and your plea for forgiveness was denied.”  Because you were angered and killed Abel, you must spend your lifetime in frustration and labor because of sin’s curse.”

We all have done that what was wrong and displeased God and need forgiveness because of sins committed and we cannot master sin!  Only through the power of God the Holy Spirit can we overcome sin and defeat the devil.  Men and women still do not do this and instead live a life of frustration and isolation from fellowship with their God who yearns for them to come to Him for forgiveness and fellowship.  Lord God in Heaven, our desire is to have full and complete fellowship with you this day; we ask this in Jesus’ Redeeming name.

Manna in the Morning

03-04-11

Wages

Obadiah 15, “For the Day of the Lord is near, against all the nations. As you have done, so it will be done to you; what you deserve will return on your own head.”

            To every driver who speeds routinely, there comes a day when the radar traps you and you pay the fine, to each of us who have overstayed the time on the parking meter, eventually there comes the time when you’re greeted with that little slip of paper under the windshield wiper, to every one of us who ‘forgets’ to buckle up the seat belt, the time will come when we see the flashing lights in our rear view mirror.  The time will come when disregard of common sense and obedience to the law will bring the punishment we have earned.

God our Heavenly Father will someday bring all of us before His personal court where He is the righteous judge, the prosecuting attorney and the jury.  For the unbeliever, the case is simple; if your name is not inscribed in The Lamb’s Book of Life, an eternity awaits of torment, woe and burning in the Lake of Fire.  For the Believer there will be a time when our unforgiven sin is exposed, when God gently reminds us of the missed opportunities to share the wonder of salvation with others, when we are shaken by reminder we did not follow the guidance and leading of God the Holy Spirit and we missed the joy of being used of God.  This will also be a time of rejoicing as we are awarded the Crown of Righteousness, the soul-winners crown, the awards of a faithful life lived to the glory of our God and we are able to give Him greater glory by laying our awards at His feet since He is the one who so graciously allowed us to be used of Him.

We will then recognize the truth of the phrase, what we have done in His name will be recognized and what we neglected to do will be our true loss.  Those who are unbelievers will deserve the punishment, as devastating as it will be, because they rejected the offer of salvation during their life span on earth.  Judgment or reward, we will get what we deserve, as a crown on our head, or burning, tormenting coals of fire because of rejection.  Father in Heaven, may each who reads this be certain of their future in the Heavenly places and give You praise and thanks for the grace You showered upon us.

Manna in the Morning

03-03-11

Empowered

Zechariah 4:6, “So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.”

We often think if we were alive during the Old Testament times and loved God the way we do now, we would have been used in a far greater measure than we are being used today.  Our great God uses men and women today in the same measure as He used at any time in Biblical history, there is one great difference however.  In the days from the Garden of Eden until Pentecost God the Holy Spirit came upon men to empower them for a specific time and event.  The Holy Spirit came upon David as he entered the field of battle against Goliath armed with a sling and five stones, God the Holy Spirit entered into Samson in the pagan temple and empowered him to bring down the pillars that held it up killing thousands of the Philistines, God entered into Moses, Abraham, Elijah and other Bible heroes for specific empowerment and when the crisis was over he departed from them.

On the day of Pentecost, all the assembled Christians felt and heard a mighty rushing of breath, saw tongues of fire upon the heads of those present as God the Holy Spirit entered into them, empowering them to do mighty acts, including their words being understood in the native languages of those assembled together.  One vast difference was, God the Holy Spirit then permanently took up residence in the lives of the believer, never to depart as in Old Testament times.  Upon the very instant of our salvation, God infuses our lives completely in the person and power of God the Holy Spirit.  We are His temple, requiring us to live consecrated lives, we are the voice He uses in witness, therefore we are to be careful of every word that leaves our lips and He uses our physical selves to do those things that glorify the Father, requiring us to be faithful to Him in where we go, our activities and relationships with others.

This also requires us to be fully yielded to His presence in order to bring all glory to our Heavenly Father, because anything that originates within our own desires in any way is not useable by Him.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, our hearts are full of thanks for this precious gift, and we desire to be fully yielded to You in every way for Your greater Glory.  In Jesus’ name we lift our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

03-02-11

The End of Edom

Malachi 1:4, “Though Edom says: “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of Hosts says this: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called a wicked country and the people the Lord has cursed forever.”

Today the hatred between the descendents of Abraham’s sons, Ishmael and Isaac, is as bitter and insufferable as ever.  Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau always had a bitter spirit between them, and when Esau married a daughter of Ishmael; the two branches of Abraham’s family tree fought and attempted to kill each other over the centuries since Abraham died.  Esau swore to kill Jacob at the first opportunity, and their descendents still bear the same animosity today.  The descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the Israelites of the Old Testament and the Jews of today.  They claim the land God promised to Abraham as well as the promises that accompany them, including Jerusalem and the promise of the Deliverer to come, Jesus, our Savior.

The descendents of Abraham, Ishmael and Esau are called Edom in the Old Testament and have always been seeking an opportunity to remove all Israelites from the face of the earth.  From Esau, Amalek, Haman in the time of Esther, even Herod, who had thousands of Jewish male babies less than two years old killed, as recorded in the Gospels, was an Edomite.

650 years after the birth of Jesus the Messiah and Savior, Mohammed started the belief system known today as Islam and one of his first acts was to win over the Jews in Medina and when that failed, he had them all killed in a battle.  This all-consuming hatred of Islam for the descendents of Jacob, also known as Israel and for the Christians who have followed the Holy Scriptures and worship our great Jehovah God, drives Islam’s hatred today for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, and for America known as a Christian Nation that has sent Missionaries across the globe.

The Bible promises the return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will rule the world in peace for 1.000 years.  The Koran tells of a coming Islamic Mahdi or hidden one who will usher in 7 years of peace as he rules the world – also from Jerusalem.  When you see today’s newspaper or the TV you will see the latest battle in the Islamic-Israeli war.  Heavenly Father, protect those who know and love you against the attacks of Satan today and every day until the Promised One takes His rightful place as King of Kings, in His mighty name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-01-11

Acts 17:11-12, “The people here (Berea) were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed.”

Paul gives us an example of his challenges between members of churches in the area we call Greece.  When he arrived in Berea, the people were more open to the gospel message than the people were in Thessalonica where most people were more tied to the traditional methods of worship in the Synagogues.  It helps to read the letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church to see how he warned them against the undue influence of the Jews who had many of those who followed Christ Jesus arrested and started riots in the streets that were so violent Paul had to quickly leave the city.  These false teachers and others under the influence of the Jewish Priests were trying to eradicate the new message of Salvation through Jesus Christ, the same movement in which Paul had been active before he met the Lord on the road to Damascus.

In Thessalonica, the people were influenced by false teachers and did not depend upon the Holy Scriptures and letters from Paul, Peter and John that circulated through all the churches in Asia Minor.  They took the word of men and did not do their own Scriptural study.  In Berea, however, people were more open to examining the Scriptures themselves and examined, under the influence and guidance of God the Holy Spirit, what God had given to men to share in the Old Testament prophecies and the apostle’s writings.  Each of us who have come to know Christ Jesus are able to read God’s entire revelation to men and women ourselves, the same Holy Spirit that breathed the words into the minds of the writers is present in our lives and gives us understanding and guidance as we read and study, comparing the writing of the many Biblical writers.  It is a privilege for us to read and study under the tutelage of God and we do not need to depend upon the writings and thoughts of other, sometimes long dead, scholars.  Their works are invaluable for comparing what God has led us to understand, with their comments, but in prayer and openness, we too can understand the deep lessons God has placed in His Word.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, put within our hearts a desire to study, obey and live out the Word of God in our lives this day, In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-28-11

Exhortations

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always!  Pray constantly.  Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

            This is a short concise roadmap for those who want to know how to live the Christian life.  Note the exclamation point after the first statement, Does this mean I should rejoice when I hear what I consider is ‘bad’ news?  According to Scripture God will allow things to come into our lives that will put us under pressure and heat, resulting in our being conformed to the life and image of Jesus Christ.  We should always be careful to understand there are things that would bring glory to our great God, but even greater glory if we allow Him to direct our paths and more importantly, our attitude toward things.  If we are willing to rejoice and not ask why, we will be living in absolute trust in our Lord and know He is in full control of all things.  When we start to manipulate things or attempt to change our situation without praying, is when we begin to run into trouble.  Remember, God is our Lord and Master, we are literally His slaves as we walk this earthly soil.  He does know the future and will guide our decisions in the right way.

Second we are to pray constantly, not just praying over meals and when we get up and go to bed, but living our lives in a constant attitude of prayer, our first instinct in any situation should be to utter a quiet, fervent prayer for guidance or thanksgiving for the way He has directed us in some way, large or small.  Instead of being frustrated at missing a turn, thank God for keeping you in His planned way.  Always let your mind be receptive to the quiet voice of our God as He speaks to you.

Third, we are to give thanks in all things.  When we consider the tremendous debt we owe our Heavenly Father for what He has done for us, we will recognize only a part of the cost of our Redemption.  We tend to look at ourselves as the centerpiece of our salvation, instead of recognizing we are the recipient of all that God has done in, through and for us.  Heavenly Father, we praise you for your love to us, and willingly recognize you as our Master, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-25-11

Chasing the Wind

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, “There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and to enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand.  For who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him?  For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

            As I read through this whole section of Ecclesiastes, I was struck by the constant comparison of life lived “Chasing the Wind.”  Living in Florida, I know that instead of in the late fall, most of the leaves fall in the early spring.  One recent weekend I raked barrels of leaves, and looked again a week later and it seemed like the wind had just deposited the same amount on the lawn to mock me so I had to do it over.  I spent two days seemingly chasing the wind.  God has appointed each of us to do valued work for Him, He has  invested time, talents, abilities, desire and dedication into each of our lives along with His cleansing blood at Calvary; not so we could just be saved from sin’s curse and enjoy eternity in heaven, but so we would be productive members of His family, working in His harvest fields, producing that which is fit for His kingdom and when the appropriate time comes, to reward us so we can give Him glory in the heavenly places just as we did here on this earth.

Instead of looking at our salvation from our earthly perspective keeping ourselves as the central figure, the recipient of this great gift, we should look at it from Heaven’s vantage point. Our great Jehovah God has offered us salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of God the Son, Our Father has molded and shaped us, instructed us in righteousness, prepared us to share the message, put us in the place of His choosing and wants to use us to reach others.  We were created to serve Him; He does not exist to serve us by answering our prayers for good health and happy lives.  For who He is, for what He has done, let’s serve Him with all our heart.

Our great God and Father, we are fully yours this day because of Your love toward us; help us to keep You central in our lives we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-24-11

Stars

Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

            One of the themes that run through the Bible from start to finish is that those who know and love our great Jehovah God are to share that love and the message of salvation to those who are still ignorant of His love.  In the Old Testament, God worked in the world through the Israelite people by commanding them to remain pure in their own God-given laws and statutes.  They were not to participate in any of the idolatrous worship of those around them, nor to take part in their heathen feasts and festivals.  They were instead to show God’s love and salvation through their observances of His feasts and sacrifices, glorifying Him and allowing those who wished to proselyte and enter the Israelite faith to forsake their heathen gods and follow Jehovah as Rahab, Ruth and many others did.  By turning to Almighty God, they showed their wisdom in seeking Him.  They shine like beacons through some of the dark pages of Israelite History.  Wisdom is understanding what God wants in your life and following His path without chasing off on a tangent.  Wisdom is knowing God, following Him and seeking His direction with deliberate enthusiasm.  Those who do this will shine like the noonday sun on an unclouded day among those who do not make this their life’s ambition.

For those of us who live today when any individual can be saved by the grace of God as a result of going directly into His presence in repentence and plead for salvation, we are considered as stars that shine in unequalled brilliance forever and ever.  We are told elsewhere in Scripture that one of God’s blessings when we reach heaven will be to have many stars in our soul winner’s crown just by leading others to the opportunity of accepting God’s promised salvation.  Having the love of Christ for those outside of His salvation should impel us to share the good news of that salvation at every opportunity because we never know if this is their last opportunity to hear the message or our last opportunity to share it.

Our Heavenly Father, full of grace and truth, guide our every step this day we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-23-11

The last time

1 Peter 1:3-6, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

All through the history of mankind, God has dealt with men and women by revelation, appearing to selected men like Noah, Abraham and Moses, given us His Word to study and use for understanding His purposes and will for the inhabitants of this earth. At every attempt to make it clear what our Heavenly Father expects of us, we have failed to follow His directions.  Adam and Eve weren’t satisfied with the perfection of Eden, The people following Noah were soon back into sinful ways, ignoring God’s directives, even while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites were making an idol.  God’s commandments went from one in the garden, ten on Sinai, to hundreds of restrictions in Leviticus.  Even today, when we live under grace, men and women try to invent a way to circumvent God’s precepts and seek pleasures He has forbidden.

By our new birth into our Heavenly Father’s forever family, we are the recipients of His unending storehouse of grace and mercy, every day is a new adventure in our serving Him. His promises are certain, our heavenly home is waiting for us, the restrictions and ravages of time will be removed from our minds and bodies and we will worship Him freely for eternity.

God will soon open the doors of Heaven and call us to His side while He purifies and prepares this earth for His triumphant return, then to invite us into the perfect, sinless New Heaven and New Earth He is going to create for all His Children of all the ages.

Our gracious, loving Father in Heaven, give us patience while we are on this earth so that we can continue to proclaim your salvation message so long as we are here, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-22-11

George Washington Quotes

Many people have said the President Washington was a Deist, one who believes God created the world, and then distanced Himself and paying no attention to it.  This quote, however, explains the deep belief President Washington had in the saving blood of Jesus, our Redeemer.  These quotes are from the prayer journal he kept for years, the first for Sunday Morning, and the second for Sunday night.  We should read these excerpts today, on the anniversary of his birth, February 22, 1732, 279 years ago.

O most Glorious God in Jesus Christ presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of thy son Jesus my most merciful and loving Heavenly Father, pardon, I beseech thee, my sins, remove them from thy Christ, that when I come into thy temple, and compass thine ear, my prayers may come before thee as incense; and as thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my prayers, so give me grace to hear thee calling on me in thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of the soul in the day of the Lord Jesus. Grant that I may hear it with reverence, receive it with meekness, mingle it with faith, and that it may accomplish in me, Gracious God, the good work for which thou has sent it. Bless my family, kindred, friends and country, be our God & guide this day and for ever for his sake, who lay down in the Grave and arose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

But, O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption, mark not, I beseech thee, what I have done amiss; remember that I am but dust, and remit my transgressions, negligences & ignorances, and cover them all with the absolute obedience of thy dear Son, that those sacrifices which I have offered may be accepted by thee, in and for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for me; for his sake, ease me of the burden of my sins, and give me grace that by the call of the Gospel I may rise from the slumber of sin into the newness of life. Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy holy word; make me to know what is acceptable in thy sight, and therein to delight, open the eyes of my understanding, and help me thoroughly to examine myself concerning my knowledge, faith and repentance, increase my faith, and direct me to the true object Jesus Christ the way, the truth and the life.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we indeed have this same keen awareness of your love for us, and that same love we are to have for the salvation of others.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

02-21-11

God’s Magnificent Works

Psalm 92:4-5, “For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hands. How magnificent are Your works, Lord, how profound Your thoughts!”

            When we consider what God has done for us, we realize we are among the most blessed people on the earth as His children, those who are born anew into His family.  He has forgiven our sin.  Those we have committed in the past, the things we do today and every day because we are human and live in a sinful society and the sin we will commit in the future as we continue to live here on this earth until we leave here to join our Savior in the Heavenly places.  There is nothing in our past that commends us; nothing we could do is acceptable in His sight without our complete trust in His saving sacrifice for us.  Each and every day there is an inexhaustible supply of mercy and grace that is ours simply for the asking and our Heavenly Father will pour out His blessings upon us.  He will give us the opportunity to work beside Him as we speak to others we meet today in this place where He has positioned us, to carry His name to others who otherwise would never hear of His great salvation plan.  God has put us in a beautiful world, with sunny blue skies, the sun to pour out warmth and light for us, the lakes, rivers and seas to moderate our temperatures, and lovingly located us exactly the right distance from that source of life sustaining sun.  Our very life is a gift from His loving hands.

When we consider the wonderful gift of God’s Word, we recognize the immeasurable wealth of knowledge and guidance He has placed before us; rich in history of His patience and dealing with mankind, records of His mighty works of deliverance and redemption.  God’s Word is mighty in our spiritual battle and when we use its sacred words in witness we have our Heavenly Father’s promise it will not return to Him without bearing fruit.  Because of God’s great mercy and goodness we are able to hold the standard of absolute truth in our hand, using it as a mirror to point out what we call inadequacies and failures in our lives, but what God calls sin along with His promised reconciliation to Himself.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your wondrous gift to us, may we be quick to study Your Word and apply every word to our livers, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-17-11

Mighty God

Daniel 4:2-3, “I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders the Most High God has done for me. How great are His miracles, and how mighty His wonders!  His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.”

            After Nebuchadnezzar had seen how Almighty God had given the answer to his dream to Daniel and preserved the three men in the great fiery furnace from death, Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree to all his subjects throughout his empire declaring how wonderful God really is, we begin to see a change in his attitudes toward God that later result in the King believing in Jehovah God and worshipping Him.

Each of us could relate the mighty miracles of God in our own lives, beginning with our salvation, protection in times of danger, provision of strength and food, healing and restoration of physical health, all because we asked and many others were praying for us knowing God our Heavenly Father would answer.  As we read these words, remember the great things He has done, why not bow your head in a prayer of Thanksgiving.  Recognize His mighty wonders, the beauty and promise of a sunrise, the calming influence of a gentle rain, the cooling comfort of a soft breeze or just a satisfying drink of water trickling down our parched throat.  God has placed the moon and stars in place to brighten and cheer our night, to give us guidance through the polar star and the unchanging orbit of the sun controlled by His hand.

Our experience in being reborn spiritually into the Family of God is our entry into the Kingdom of God.  He is our Wonderful Heavenly Father and at the same time our great King, He is the Sovereign of the Universe and our Redeemer, God the Son, will someday soon return to this earth as the king of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Our God’s Kingdom is all encompassing, not as Nebuchadnezzar’s earthly limited kingdom, and lasts forever and ever, not like any earthly sovereign or king’s brief reign.  We have the same sovereign as Adam in Eden’s garden or Abraham as he traversed the wilderness, our sovereign is the one David and Solomon worshipped and considered as their Sovereign God.  He is eternally the same, never fails, never forgets us and never turns aside from our prayer.  Heavenly Lord God, we love you as our Father, revere you as our King and worship you as our one and only God.  Pour your blessings upon us this day we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-16-11

Living Water

Revelation 22:1-4, “Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city. On both sides of the river was the tree of life bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”

      As the Book of the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ ends, John describes the sights of the Heavenly Scene as shown to him by one of the angels that held the seven bowls of God’s wrath poured out on the earth to finish its purification.  We see through John’s eyes the source of the river of living water promised to the Samaritan Woman, foreseen in Psalm 1 where David saw the living water that encourages and strengthens the spiritual individual to bear fruit without ceasing.

This Heavenly torrent of living water flows out of the throne of God, from which our great God rules all that is.  In the Heavenly City this river of life flows down the middle of a broad avenue, and along the entire length of the river grow twelve types of trees each bearing its fruit in its appointed month for the well being of the Heavenly citizens.  The leaves of the trees are pure for the healing of the Gentiles, those that are not of the descendents of Abraham.  God has given us healing on this present earth, from the aloe to the extracts of tree bark and leaves for the healing of many diseases in our natural bodies.  Heaven will have neither pain nor sorrow, the healing will be the living manifestation of our healing of the disease of sin that has infected us in this present life.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will be there on the Throne, and we will have the opportunity to serve and worship our God in awe, gratitude and thanksgiving, looking upon Him, bearing His name in Heaven just as we do upon this earth.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the promise of what is to come.  There is nothing more we could ever want or need, other than to live eternally in Your presence.  Our eyes are fixed upon You and we will serve You this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-15-11

Food

John 4:31-34, “In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, “Rabbi, eat something.”  But He said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”  The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought Him something to eat?”  “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” Jesus told them.”

            The disciples returned to Jesus at the well after He had finished speaking with the Samaritan woman and offered Him food they had brought back from the village.  Jesus did not eat the physical food, saying only that he had nourishment and sustenance from a source of which they knew nothing.  They wondered among themselves if someone had seen Him at the well and brought food for the Savior.  Jesus answer is one that should convict and cause each one of us to reconsider our priorities for life.  In the life Jesus lived on this earth, there was just one priority, to do the will of the Father in Heaven.  This was of greater importance than food or water, this was the drive that replaced the human desires for rest, a place to lie down or even to have a roof over His head.  He lived His life, especially the 3 or so years of active ministry, knowing the end result, facing the cruel cross, having a deep love for people and the desire to give them an opportunity for salvation through faith, an undying driving force to do the will of the Father above all else.

Each of us should evaluate our life goals and purposes, how dedicated are we when the choice is between dinner and sharing the message with others;  are we shy about our dedication to Christ where that decision is somewhat unpopular;  Does an opportunity for witness to a searching soul rate higher on our priority list than the daily calendar of events and we might be thrown off schedule; are we willing to be late for a business appointment because of a divine appointment; are we sure we would recognize a divine appointment when we’re staring one in the face?

Are we like Peter, and when in the presence of non-believers ignore the burden Jesus Himself has placed on our hearts, or are we like Paul who declared he would do everything possible to present the Gospel to anyone with no regard for schedule, appearance or even a beating?  Our Heavenly Father, guide us as we evaluate our daily priorities, we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-14-11

Song of Solomon 2:4, “He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.”

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day devoted to those who are in love.  It is appropriate to look at the unique book in the Bible that lets us know physical love is a gift of God and intimacy is appropriate and joyful within the bonds of marriage.  Our nation’s societal norm is to “have sex,” lowering the gift of God to nothing more than a physical act, how much better to consider the act of physical intimacy as a pledge of love to the one individual God has given you.

Solomon had this Godly love for one woman above all others, The Shumanite.  The words he spoke truly reflect the love one man can have for one woman, and the reciprocal love she has for her lover.  The words that pass between them are those of a true, deep romantic love  rooted in physical and emotional intimacy.  Song of Solomon 4:10, “How delightful is your love, my beloved one, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!”  Solomon calls her by the word translated ‘sister’ in some texts, but the word has no English counterpart, it is an endearment of ‘woman’ like ‘my beautiful lady,’ but Solomon also refers to her by the word spouse meaning one who is foremost in his heart and mind, one he cherishes and to whom he would be a lifetime intimate companion, she is his wife.

God is the author of love, he has made us to be sexually attracted to another, The Bible lays down very specific laws concerning intimacy and marriage and these lines should not be crossed.  God brought love into being and planted that emotion in the hearts of men and women.  Husbands and wives should remember that the love which they share for one another is not just a product of their human emotions and kindness. We are able to love in a greater measure because the love of God is working in our lives: “This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His Son to be the substitute sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” 1 John 4:10-11.

On Valentine’s Day, let us commit once again to the author of love, our great God, that we will use this gift of love to cherish and esteem our spouses the objects of our affection and pure love.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask that Your love for all men and women be seen in us today, and may we love others with the special love only a person who knows Jesus Christ can offer, in His name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-11-11

The Song of the Lamb

Revelation 15:3-4, “They sang the song of God’s servant Moses, and the song of the Lamb:  Great and awe-inspiring are Your works, Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations.  Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name?  Because You alone are holy, because all the nations will come and worship before You, because Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

At the end of the time of the purification of the earth, close to the return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to set up His Theocratic rule over the earth, there will be a great time of bloodshed and loss of life as God in His perfect justice, mercy and love will judge all the inhabitants of the earth.  The people who had successfully gone through the time of the false messiah, refused to accept his mark and never fell down to worship his image will sing the song of Moses, who had received the tablets of God’s Commandments and led the Israelites successfully to Canaan, and the song of the Lamb who is the Promised Sacrifice, the Savior and King.

The songs that are sung are songs of praise and reverential awe of our Great God and all His wonderful works.  Our God is perfect in holiness, surrounded by Cherubim, Seraphim and hosts of Angels who sing His praises and glorify His atoning Work.  Every inhabitant of the earth will bow their knees and along with the redeemed of all ages since the Garden of Eden worship our Redeemer King.  His righteousness is perfect and will be exalted, this righteousness is signified by the white garments worn by the Redeemed and His salvation of all who placed their faith in Him will be recognized as will the eternal punishment for those who refused to accept His love and salvation, instead they have rejected the opportunity and God’s perfect justice condemns them to an eternity of torment, pain and absence from any reference or presence of God except the realization of the individual’s great loss in refusing His invitation.

Our Heavenly Father, greatly to be praised throughout the earth, we pray for the joy of knowing you even more deeply, to serve you joyfully and to anticipate with eagerness your coming Kingdom, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-10-11

Disaster

Jeremiah 4:20, “Disaster after disaster is reported, for the whole land is destroyed.  Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment.”

            It seems like the upper Midwest and New England sections of our country are having storm after storm this winter.  Airports closed, roads and streets unplowed, garbage and trash overflowing because the trucks and crews are busy removing snow in order to keep the cities functioning in a semi-normal fashion, disaster after disaster.  Once the snow melts we will begin to see flooding across the nation such as in Australia where entire towns are obliterated.  Last fall tornadoes roared across the same area as the storm systems moved rapidly across the fields and prairies.

The world’s financial strain is being felt in numerous nations, who have to borrow from the World Monetary Fund to avoid bankruptcy, the U S Is exceeding its legislative debt limit and a massive correction seems unavoidable.  Parliamentary governments are teetering and falling, while new coalitions are being formed, new Government Heads elected and the debts continue to rise.  The entire world system is reeling like a boxer that just got punched in the temple with a solid right hook.  All the worldly security we had a few years ago is now being swept away like tents before a violent wind.

This is the time for Believers in Jesus to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer, pleading for His sovereign will to be done, and for us to keep our spiritual eyes focused upon His promises to us and the treasures and joy that await us in the Heavenly Places.  If our treasure is in Him, in the place He prepared and the promise of a joyous eternity with Him, then these earthly disasters will be short-term in the view of eternity.  As the Book of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time to live and a time to die,” and since the earth is created, it will face extinction some day.  God promises to de-create the earth, and then recreate it as an eternally sinless abode.  Let’s shift our focus from the sinful earth to the sinless eternity we know awaits us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we focus on Your promises, not on the premises we occupy.  In Jesus’ name we pray

Manna in the Morning

02-09-11

Who are You Anyhow?

Isaiah 45:9, “Woe to the one who argues with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it: What are you making? Or does your work say: He has no hands?”

            Jeremiah used the example of the potter and the clay describing how the clay has no voice in how it will be used.  A clay pot can be used for any number of things from serving soup or stew to the collection of scraps after the meal, some uses are more tasteful or pleasant than others but the maker decides the use, not the pot.

Isaiah uses the example here to remind us that we, the products of the Creator’s hand, do not argue with the maker over what we shall or shall not do.  Yet, we occasionally hear someone say they argued with God, and upon occasion, we too might have been a little argumentative when we clearly know our Heavenly Father wants us to do some specific thing or speak to some specific person, regardless of how we personally feel about it.  God will never call upon us to speak or act without our knowing He gives us the strength, words and courage to accomplish the assigned task for His glory.

Perhaps the first thing to clarify is that God doesn’t need us in the sense that if we don’t act no one else will either, God allows us to be His chosen tool through whom He will work, He even told Esther that if she didn’t go before Xerxes, he would bring salvation to His people another way, but His choosing us allows us to get the great blessing of knowing  we are valuable to Him, and to share in the work He is doing in another’s heart, always be ready to act the moment you feel His urging in your heart.

We are indeed the work of His hands, formed to His specifications but He has also breathed the breath of life into us, the eternal, living breath of God the Holy Spirit, through whom we are empowered, we’re wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus, God the Son, our imperfections hidden and His light shining from us to the person with whom we are to share His message of salvation, comfort and joy.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, without You we are wretched and worthless, with you we have endless worth.  Make us proper tools for Your use we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-08-11

Disciple Me

Jeremiah 10:24, “Discipline me, Lord, but with justice—not in Your anger, or You will reduce me to nothing.”

            There are those who are active in accountability groups, they endeavor to hold each other accountable for their life, thoughts, and intents of their heart.  Holding someone accountable is to measure their life against the Biblical standards for living a life pleasing to God.  Accountability groups serve a valuable purpose in our lives; we measure our actions against God’s Word and know we will be held accountable for our transgressions in the same manner a traffic officer will hold us accountable for our running a red light or parking without payment.

Jeremiah knew he would be held accountable for his actions by the same God who formed him in the womb and called him to his ministry of prophesying gloom and doom on the people of Judea.  His brothers rejected him, the Priests disowned him, the people refused to heed his message even the King refused to listen.  But God would hold him accountable for the need to proclaim Judea’s desolation as He had revealed it to Jeremiah.  Even though he was imprisoned more than once, he remained steadfast in his message.        Jeremiah know being held accountable to God’s command would bring God’s perfect justice, and Jeremiah pleaded for God’s mercy so he would not be reduced to nothing, not even his office of prophet.

We too are held accountable by our Heavenly Father, pleading for His merciful justice, not judged in His anger.  We are not responsible for those who reject the message of redemption, we are only held responsible to share that message under the direction of God the Holy Spirit within us.  We’re not responsible for those who ignore the Scriptures; we’re responsible to make them aware of the precepts of our God.  Jeremiah was willing to lose the love and respect of his earthly brothers, the audience of the Judeans and accept the anger of the King before he would give up his faithfulness to the God who called him to service.  Jeremiah’s accountability wasn’t to any earthly entity, but to God and God alone.

Our gracious, loving Heavenly Father, we plead with you to hold us accountable for the calling placed upon our lives, the call to share the message of Biblical salvation to each person we meet, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-07-11

Coming soon

Revelation 3:22-4:1, “”Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”  After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

The ‘Revelation of Jesus Christ’ is the last book in our Bibles; both in time of occurrence, and closing out the time that mankind will inhabit this earth before the Creator God will de-create this earth and recreate a new Heaven and a new earth unmarred by sin.  As we look at the status of the world today our hearts are saddened because First, our nation is fast losing its place of preeminence in the political affairs of the nations, second because the sinful nature of all humanity is seen with  increasing volume all around us, and third because the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the influence of those churches that stand firm for the infallible accuracy of the Scriptures is waning rapidly, even in this Country that has for hundreds of years been sending missionaries across the world to proclaim the Good News of Salvation through Jesus our Redeemer.

In Chapters two and three of the Book, we can understand the seven stages through which the Church as a whole has progressed since it began at Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2.  From the Apostolic Church through the Church at Laodicea, the Church has changed in its attitudes until the final time when The Almighty God states it is so weak and worthless, having lost its fervor and dedication, that He will spew the Organized Church out of His mouth because it has lost its ability to please Him and to win others.

The next event on God’s Calendar is to remove all the born again believers in Jesus from the earth in the event often referred to as ‘The Rapture’ or the calling up of the Believers.  This is what happens in Chapter 4 verse 1.  Many books have been written attempting to identify the false Christ through the years but the Bible says only God the Father knows the time of his appearance, and we are to live to The Father’s glory until He calls us to Heaven.  How and when He calls matters little, so long as we devote our lives to His glory and do what we are called us to do.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, use us today is our prayer.  We want to win others for your greater glory, in Jesus name.

Manna in the Morning

02-04-11

Jael

Judges 4:21, “While he was sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She hammered the peg into his temple and drove it into the ground, and he died.”

During the time of the Judges, Israel was continually at war with the Canaanites because of Israels failure to completely remove the heathen nations from the land God had promised to the descendents of Abraham.  In a large pitched battle, the Israelites were under the command of their General Barak and God’s appointed Judge, Deborah.  During the fighting, God favored the Israelites and the Canaanites began to retreat, Sisera, their general did not want to lose a battle to a woman, so he ran on foot from the battle site.  Exhausted, he came to the tent of the nomad, Heber and saw Heber’s wife Jael sitting in the doorway.  He asked her for some milk and fell asleep.  As soon as he was asleep, Jael took a tent peg, and with a hammer drove it through his temple into the ground, killing him.  God gave the Israelites the battle, the Canaanites were defeated and their General, Sisera, was killed by a woman who loved Almighty God and was willing to do battle for Him.  Had Barak been less afraid and gone into battle without depending upon Deborah, he would be remembered as a great warrior, instead we know him as a man who was ineffective and the women won the battle.

Today, by and large, there are more women in the Churches and Mission fields teaching Bible classes for all ages, because there are fewer men willing to take those positions.  In his epistles, Paul often mentioned women who were instrumental in the starting of churches and teaching God’s Word.  Many women, from many walks of life are mentioned in the genealogy of our Savior, not because of who they married, but because of their great acts of faith and leadership, such as Ruth from the ungodly nation of Moab, and Rahab, a Canaanite who assisted the Israelites in their conquest of Jericho.  God rewards every individual for what that person has accomplished and not on the basis of their station in life.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for those women who were and are anxious to answer your call for service in the battle against our adversaries.  Bless them we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-03-11

Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope at your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

            The successful Christian life is explained in the preceding verses of Chapter 4, and here is a list of the things around which we have unity with all believers, there are many local churches, but only one Body of Believers, the true, all-encompassing Church known in Scripture as the Body of Christ.  In the Book of Revelation, when Jesus’ returns, we are called the Bride of Christ, The Promised One.  We may have fellowship with any brother or sister in any assembly of any name so long as they believe in the essential doctrines of Salvation.  While we may not be in union with some of the non-essentials, it is important to remember the Body of Christ is made up of those who believe in the Virgin Birth, the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as the only way of Salvation.

We are all of one faith, our faith in our Sovereign, Creator God and his plan for the redemption of those that come to Him through Jesus Christ.  We are all baptized into the Family of God, the Body of Christ by God the Holy Spirit at the instant of our salvation; He indwells each of us in all His fullness.  It is not that we need to be filled by the Spirit; we must be yielded to God the Holy Spirit who already infuses us in all His omnipresent fullness.  We know, revere, and worship one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our Great Triune God known to us as three persons, yet eternally one.

If we who name Jesus Christ as the Forgiver of our sins, knowing He has purified us, wrapping us in His righteousness, we are truly born again.  For the Believer in Jesus this is the beginning of an eternal relationship in which we must acknowledge him as the Leader of our Life, allowing Him to direct our paths, determine our attitudes and develop our love for each person we meet who is not yet born anew.  Our purpose in life must be to do the will of the Father, to share his compassion and desire to see all men come to Him in contrition.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, work mightily in us this day; make us your direct voice to those we meet we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

02-02-11

Blessed

Jeremiah 17:7-8, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green.  It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”

Many years after King David, the prophet Jeremiah wrote these words, reminding us of Psalm 1, indicating Jeremiah may have read a copy of David’s Psalm or even sung it in a worship service.  The message is clear and as appropriate for us today as it was for the people to whom Jeremiah brought God’s Word or when David wrote it during his life.  Every man or woman, regardless of age, who trusts in the Lord God for his strength and sustenance will continue to be flourishing with life, even in the middle of a dry time because his or her roots are drinking in the living water provided by our Heavenly Father.

Our confidence is in Him, not in the times or governments under which we live and certainly not in our own efforts and abilities.  Our own resources may dry up and blow away, our society may turn arid and sere, but the Word of our God will stand firm, and it is this wonderful Scripture that will keep us in any time of trouble.  David could say this, even though he lived in the wild places and caves for many years while eluding Saul and his hired assassins seeking to kill him.

Once we invite the Savior into our lives we are infused by God the Holy Spirit and nothing can remove His presence from us.  This is the abiding power that allows our Christian brothers and sisters across the world to sing in the prisons, pray for their captors and witness in word and deed to fellow prisoners even in the face of guards who beat, abuse, even kill those who trust in God alone.

Because of the deep roots of every believer, his or her foliage will always be visible with the signs of vigorous growth and vitality in our Lord.  When times of difficulty and sorrow come, and they surely will, we can rest in all confidence in the words of our Savior, “I will never leave you or forsake you, you’ll never be a spiritual orphan. (VRL phrasing)  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the enthusiasm we need for today, make our witness effective, our words wholesome and pleasant, and our fruit tasty and sweet, In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

02-01-11

The Time is Now

Esther 4:14, “If you keep silent at this time, liberation and deliverance will come to the descendents of Judah from another place, but you and your father’s house will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”

The Biblical account of Esther is well known because it is really the only book in the Bible that reads like a short story and has such a great ending.  Esther’s account shows that God has an interest in His people and even though Satan will attack over and over, Almighty God’s plans are unwavering.  In reality, the underlying plot of Esther’s dilemma began hundreds of years before when the first King of Israel, Saul, did not obey God’s direction for an impending battle and destruction of the Amalekites and did not kill the Amalekite King Agag and all his descendents.  The evil man who connived to kill all the descendents of Judah then living was Haman the Agagite a direct descendent of Agag.  The first lesson to be learned is, sin has unintended, unforeseen consequences.

Xerxes, the King of Persia, had become angry with his Queen, Vashti, because she disobeyed his command to dance in front of a group of drunken men, and then held what became the first beauty contest, to see who would become her successor as Queen.  A beautiful orphan girl named Esther being raised by her Uncle Mordecai was noticed by the organizers of the search and became the reigning queen.  The evil Haman wanted to kill Mordecai and all the descendents of Judah, later to be known as Jews, the people who gave us the Promised Messiah, and scheduled a day for every Jew in the kingdom to be killed and their property divided between Haman and the King.  Esther became aware of the plot to annihilate her people and after listening to Mordecai explain that perhaps God had brought her to her current position to save her people, agreed to host a dinner for her husband the King and Haman where she exposed his plot and saved her people.  Lesson two, God uses people in His plan.

Each one of our Heavenly Father’s children have been given an unique set of skills and attributes to equip us specifically to serve Him in a specific manner, to specific individuals, at a specific time where we will be the best possible person to lead them to salvation in Christ Jesus.  Lesson three, God wants to use you in his perfect plan.

Our Heavenly Father, may we not disappoint you this day as we seek to serve You in the specific manner for which You have equipped us.  Use us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-31-11

Speech

2 Timothy 2:15-16, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.”

            I have written before about our language usage and the effect it has on our testimony of redemption to those who hear us speak, each of us should be careful to let our language represent our Christian faith.  Inappropriate language is one way we indicate to those listening, believers or not, our heart attitude toward our Heavenly Father, our professions of faith in Jesus as Savior will lose credibility if our word choices and language are not edifying to our Lord.  Our easily mouthed statement “I took Jesus as my Lord and Savior,” is completely nullified if our words are inappropriate and show that we have not given our Heavenly Father full control over our tongues.  The lordship of the Savior in our lives is simply giving full control over our actions, our words and our attitudes into our Heavenly Father’s control.  There are many examples of impure language and improper words in our society’s vocabulary, common, even flagrantly used in TV shows, so called comedians, on the internet, among unbelieving men and women, novels and short stories, even in material for young very impressionable children.

We are to avoid using the name of our God in empty, meaningless speech, words that have a vile origin and are considered too vulgar for usage because they are offensive to our Heavenly Father and to those who wish to keep their minds pure before their Lord.  We are also to avoid irreverent speech, speech that may detract from the awesomeness of God or demean Him in any way and in the same way avoid words that do not add wholesome content to our vocabulary but are only foolish babbling.  If people were to fully apply this standard to their speech, our sentences would be shorter, more easily understood and would sound pleasing in the ears of our Heavenly Father and those who hear us speak.  It is important for us to remember our words spoken or thought outside of our prayers are just as easily heard by our ever-present, all-knowing God.

Our Heavenly Father, keep us constantly aware you know every thought, hear every word and see everything we allow our eyes to look upon.  Forgive us for everything we have done that is displeasing to you and damages our relationship with you and our fellow Christians.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-28-11

Stand Fast

1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong. Your every action must be done with love.”

            This past week we had tornado warnings in our area, and everyone who heard of the warning was alert, scanning the sky, listening for the trademark, “Railroad train noise” that would precede any tornado.  Thankfully only minor damage was done, one canopy at a filling station was knocked down, but thankfully, no injuries or deaths.  In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church he warned them to be alert; we too, are always to be alert to the possible attacks of the adversary seeking to discredit our testimony or to harm the Church, the Body of Christ.  Seemingly insignificant events can escalate into major dissention and divide brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is when we allow our defenses to weaken or are no longer vigilant that the attack will descend upon us in a whirlwind.  We are always to be on the alert for Satan’s attack.

We are also to stand firm in the faith; know what Scripture teaches, accept the Bible as God’s standard, keep our battle stance firmly planted in the Word of God for stability and security.  We are to be brave, strong, and immoveable, resolute in our faith.  In the spiritual war we are continually fighting, compromising Scriptural truth is to lose the battle.  In many parts of the world, standing firm is putting your earthly life on the line.  In the US, ridicule may come our way, but in many other nations prison, torture or even death may await.  David was brave when, as a teenager, he faced the giant Goliath, Daniel and his friends were brave and willing to face the consequences when they refused to eat the defiled meat on Nebuchadnezzar’s table.  Just as Daniel did, however, we are to take our stand in love and concern for others, not in a belligerent manner, but in a compassionate, considerate way. Always being sure not to blame or accuse others in our stand for righteousness and our Heavenly Father’s precepts.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the strength to stand firm on our Biblical principles and to radiate Your love to everyone we meet today.  We desire to fight the spiritual battles in your strength alone, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-27-11

Rejoice

Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

            When I was a kid, I thought Deacons always had to go around with black suits and a frown on their face, but when I understood this verse, I realized every Christian ought to exhibit an attitude and visage of joy.  When I fully understand what God has done for me through my new birth into the Family of God and the reconciliation with Him who cannot know sin, I am filled with joy and can’t help sharing it.  Truly the Lord is near because God the Holy Spirit infuses every part of me, body, soul and spirit.

God has taken away all anxiety from Believers and given us a spirit of calm assurance of His omnipotence, His desire is for us to give our concerns over to Him in faith believing He will work in such a way as to meet our needs, the needs of those for whom we pray and in doing so bring great glory to Himself.  If we live our lives with complete trust in His ability to guide us in straight paths, giving Him praise and thanksgiving for His mercy toward us, then our hearts will be filled with the peace only He can give.

We are given the opportunity to live in His grace, but the guarding of our heart and mind is a spiritual battle for which we need His power over all evil and to put our adversary under our feet in triumph over His wiles because of His victory over the devil, death and the grave.  God the Father sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus, God the Son who promised us the gift of the indwelling God the Holy Spirit who keeps us before the Father in His intercessions.

Rejoice in the Lord, for He has done great things for us.  Heavenly Father, guard our hearts and minds as we work in the place in which you have placed us today, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-26-11

Job 34:2-3, “Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.  Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?”

            Jesus told us that we should not issue vain vows or speak rash words, we are to let our yes be yes, and our no be no without embellishment or impure adverbial support.  He also told us that a man or woman that follows Him should not let any vile or inappropriate words pass from their mouths.  In Job, perhaps the oldest book in our Scriptures, the same admonition is given in a different metaphor.  We all have had the experience of tasting someone has prepared and found the taste so bad we could not eat another bite, or perhaps sitting down to the first dinner our daughter or someone has ever prepared, choked a bit, but consumed a full plate, just to keep the cook happy.  Our palate and taste buds will alert us to the slightest differences in taste, a primal reaction to keep us from eating tainted or improperly preserved (or prepared) food.  According to the words of Job 34, our ears and eyes should perform the same function, keeping us from taking in and retaining those polluted words and images. David, a man after God’s own heart said, “Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts within my heart be acceptable to you O Lord.”  As we choose movies and TV shows to watch, games to play or other stimuli, our ears are bombarded by language we would never allow in our own homes or come out of the mouths of our children, yet we are passive and don’t remove ourselves from the source or put up with suggestive situations and clothing in the name of entertainment.

God demanded the Israelites of the Old Testament to live a clearly different life than the surrounding heathen people groups, and He demands no less from His Children today.  We are to be unique, separate from the natural, sinful desires of the world, living in such a manner that men and women will see His life radiating out of us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, make us aware of our obligation to live in a manner pleasing you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-24-11

Filled

Titus 3:6-7, “This Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”

            Titus was a man for tough tasks. According to Paul, he was dependable, reliable, diligent and he had a great capacity for human affection. Possessing both strength and tact, Titus calmed a desperate situation on more than one occasion. He is a good model for Christians who are called to live out their witness in trying circumstances.  Paul is writing to Titus to be sure he is well and has been successful in correcting some doctrinal errors in the Church in Corinth.  Paul, after years of study, preaching and communion with God is reminding Titus that God the Holy Spirit is poured out on us as an abundant gift of God, just as He came upon the assembled disciples in Jerusalem, He came into the lives of both Paul and Titus, even though they were not in the assembly on the Feast of Pentecost.  You and I know the worth of that gift that was poured out on us at the instant of our salvation, the very presence of God in our lives in all His fullness and power.  How sad it is for some people to think they need to find a time and congregation where the power of God the Holy Spirit call fall upon them in all His fullness when that is already the case in the redeemed soul and any restrictions are because of our lack of submission to our God, our failure to ask God to forgive us and cleanse our hidden sin so that we are fit for His habitation, yielded totally to the control of our Heavenly Father in our lives.  We will never be like automatons, nor will be become robotic in nature, just as fully filled and used of our great God as anyone who wrote a portion of our Bible, and we are called by the same Spirit to live it out to God’s glory and the salvation of others.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of God the Holy Spirit infusing us in all His fullness.  In the name of Jesus we ask you to show us how we can take full advantage of this wondrous gift.

Manna in the Morning

01-23-11

Conformed

Proverbs 1:23, “If you turn to My discipline, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.”

            This is a promise from our Heavenly Father, reminding us that if we will accept his discipline or correction He will pour out His blessings upon us teaching us through God the Holy Spirit as we study His Word.  Many Christians today seem to think that once they are saved by accepting Christ Jesus as their Savior, they are no longer subject to the Heavenly Father’s discipline if they think they have sinned, they will ask for forgiveness moving on from there.  In reality, God calls us to account and in Romans 8:29, we see that God will conform us to the image of Jesus, that is If He needs to use pressures and heat on us, we will ultimately conform to His will and eventually rejoice in the discipline of the Father, as well as the way He uses us in furthering His plan.

As much as we read and study God’s Word there should be no doubt in our minds that He will indeed utilize us, but the more we exhibit the attributes of Jesus, the  more effective we will be in our efforts to win,  then disciple others.  Just as no one would cook a family dinner using dirty, contaminated utensils still caked with the morsels of yesterday’s dinner, we cannot expect a Holy God to use us if we hold impurities in our life, activities or thoughts that would keep us from being effective in the war against the evil forces of this present world.

As the disciples were sailing at night on the Sea of Galilee when they saw Jesus walking on the water close to their boat.  Jesus called Peter to walk to Him on the water.  So long as Peter’s eyes were on Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but when he turned his face away and saw the waves and felt the wind, his faith faltered and he began to sink.  There is a real difference in our ability to be used of God when we fully depend upon Him.  When we become too concerned about the challenges around us, our effectiveness is limited.

Our Heavenly Father, give us the ability to keep our spiritual eyes firmly fixed on you, and give us the courage to keep sin behind us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-21-11

Hidden Plan

Revelation 10:7, “But in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, when he will blow his trumpet, then God’s hidden plan will be completed, as He announced to His servants the prophets.”

            God’s plan has never changed; from the time God promised the coming of the Promised One until today and into the future, God’s plan has remained constant.  The scarlet thread of God’s salvation according to His mercy climaxed at the cross with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son, His burial and resurrection.  All mankind is saved by personal faith in that sacrifice from Adam until the last person is born anew into the Family of God before the de-creation of this earth and the recreation of the new earth that will forever be sinless.  While we do not yet know the full plan of God detailing the events that still lie in the future, we know the golden ribbon of God’s sovereignty portraying His all-knowing plan of the future; we can live in the comfort of His Word today knowing our heavenly Father has prepared us for whatever the future may hold.

Each of us who has accepted God’s offered salvation and has been born into His family have a plan for our lives that is uniquely fitted for the abilities and gifts God has given us.  Our lives are infused by God the Holy Spirit who is our comforter, our guide, our healer and our spiritual counselor.  Jesus said the comforter that would come after He ascended, would work in our lives just as He did when He walked on the dusty streets of Jerusalem.  He will never give us a responsibility or task to be completed that cannot be done with the gifts and abilities He has given us.  Our chief difficulty is in relinquishing full control of our lives, all that we are and all that we can be, into His hands to use as He wishes and not to fulfill our personal ideas of how to live our lives.  As we pray, study and trust His plan for us, our lives will become plain and the hidden plan of the future of this world will result in His perfect time.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we trust You and ask for the faith to fully give all that we are into Your gentle hands, we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-20-11

Serve the Lord

Romans 12:11-12, “Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”

In this passage, the Apostle Paul is giving a short discourse in Christian ethics, that is, how we should act toward our fellow men and women.  Diligence means that whatever you do in business or personal relationships, be eager to please others, not slow to show Christian love to others.  It is unfortunate that people today will judge others on the clothes they wear or their personal appearance.   Today’s society is so attuned to personal appearance, we see ads on TV that promise a more youthful looking body, a clearer skin, more attractive eyes, a sexy appearance or a toned flawless body, but as Believers in Christ Jesus we should be looking for eyes that see the truth in God’s Word, ears that hear the quiet whispers of His voice, the appearance of one that is eager to have communion with God and spend time in meditation upon His Word.  We should also be enthusiastic at the opportunity to give homage and praise to our Savior and our spirit should be eager to serve Him in any way at any time.  Service to our fellow Christians is an act of service to our Heavenly Father, and having a positive encouraging spirit instead of a negative discouraging attitude is to be our goal as we share our joy in the promise of Heaven to come.  Our confident expectation is in the sure knowledge and faith that God will fulfill all he has promised us.  When we encounter affliction on earth it is of short duration compared with the eternal expanse of time spent in Heavenly bliss.  Patience is the mark of a saint.

Each one of us should make it a goal to be persistent in prayer.  Pray for the salvation of those we love, pray for our witness to the people with whom we work to be effective, pray for our nation and its leaders to be led of God in their decisions, pray for missionaries serving in unfamiliar places, pray for the Believers in lands where to carry the name of Jesus is a punishable crime, pray for yourself that you will be a servant of the Most High God and do His bidding in all things.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, make us diligent in prayer we ask in Jesus name.

Manna in the Morning

01-19-11

Sculpted

Psalms 139:13-14, “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.”

Today it is common for people to remake their entire physical body.  Where it’s too big, they have liposuction, where it’s too small, they have it padded, when it’s too long or has a different bump, they have it shaved and shaped it until it’s what you want, if its wrinkled use Botox, if it isn’t get a skin peel to bring up a new layer.  We need to remind ourselves we are born just as God our Heavenly Father wants us to be.

Our personality is implanted by His design; our way of looking at the world is His intention and really, no amount of trying will ever change the Creator’s plan.  God has made each of us, His children, with the unique characteristics to make us exactly as He purposed to specifically fit into His plan for us to be used to win some specific person to Him.

When we are born into His family we are given gifts, abilities and talents to use the rest of our lives in His service.  God the Heavenly Father took great care in crafting the little baby that was born of Mary and grew into manhood to heal, teach and show God’s mercy across Judea and Galilee and He took no less time in crafting you and me to be exactly what He wanted in our innermost characteristics and outward design for His glory.

When we use the gifts He has given us and are at peace with the way we are created, we can be the most effective in doing the things God has for us to accomplish with our lives.  Our Heavenly Father is perfect in all that He is and does, and that perfection continues in all who are His children.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for making each of us a unique and special person.  Help us to use our God given abilities to Your glory in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-18-11

Revelation  22:18, “I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.  And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.”

In his new book “The Grand Design,” retired Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking appears to have further bolstered his reputation as a latter-day Charles Darwin, Hawking and co-author Leonard Mlodinow, a Caltech physicist, claim there was no need for a creator, as the law of gravity assures that the “universe can, and will, create itself from nothing.”  This is a direct contradiction of the words of God’s Holy Bible, and the admonition in this verse, although referring primarily to the Revelation of Jesus, is also applicable to the entire Word of God, Genesis through Revelation that gives us One Book written by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit and an inspired warning for those who rail against this Holy Book.

Stephen Hawking is anxious to claim the Universe is self-created and self- sustaining in order to prove there is no need for God, therefore He either does not exist, or is superfluous in the life of any human being.  What Dr. Hawking conveniently ignores is that no matter how far you go back in your thinking, there has to be an origin for all that is.  We know that origin to be God.  All of the partial bones, artist’s conceptions or reconstruction from nearly nothing can show us is that there was a creature, and it could be a result of a devolving form as easily as an evolving life form.

It actually takes more faith to believe in a patchwork frame of improbable concepts to believe in the concept of spontaneous life and the slow development process into today’s human form, AND to believe this is the highest possible form of humanity, as flawed as it is, than it takes to believe in Almighty God as Creator.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we accept the words of Scripture as divinely authored and ask you to bless us this day as we walk in your light, in Jesus’ name we pray.

.

Manna in the Morning

01-17-11

Salt

Colossians 4:6, “Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

Only God could create such a thing as salt, made from the chemical combination of sodium and chlorine two things that will poison the human body, but when together in an ionic compound they form a substance without which we would find it difficult to live.  Salt is used as a preservative, as a taste enhancer, dissolved in water is used medically to treat a host of serious, even life threatening emergencies.

As Christians we are told to be a bit salty, to bring a little taste into the world, to be a preservative, combating the effects of Satan’s temptations.  We who are the born anew children of our Heavenly Father are to effect everything around us, just like salt is used in kitchens around the earth.  Even our speech is to be carefully seasoned so that we do not offend anyone, that we will present the gospel message in an attractive way and correct error in spiritual understanding and Biblical teaching when we find it.  Salt can have a corrosive effect when applied improperly, just as our sharp words can offend people and either keep them from coming to salvation or making it difficult for weaker believers to grow and mature in the faith.

Too much salt has a corrosive effect on anything, the Dead Sea in Israel is the result of the Jordan River emptying fresh water into the lake, but with no outlet, the water only evaporates, leaving the salts and minerals behind poisoning the water, making it impossible for fish and nearly all other marine animals to exist in it.  Some Christians will, in an unkind or abrasive manner, confront others repeatedly without a kind word of God’s love, only the threat of His anger at sinners.  Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” clearly showed the punishment for the rejection of Jesus our Redeemer, but also included God’s promises of joy, peace and the ability to enjoy one’s life on this earth once we place our God in His rightful place in our hearts, He is the lover of our souls, the forgiver of our sin, the leader of our life, the promise of our eternity in His presence.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, let Your Word flow from our lips today seasoned with your love, and tasteful in the ears of those who hear, we ask in Jesus’ wonderful name.

Manna in the Morning

01-14-11

What God Hates

Proverbs 6:16-19, “Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”

As Christians, we are anxious to please our Heavenly Father; therefore, we should strenuously avoid doing things that displease Him.  If God’s Word gives us a list of things that are detestable to our God, we ought to take note avoiding them without fail.  Some of these things we find distasteful to us as well, such as arrogance.  An arrogant person gives the impression he or she is so much better than anyone else, they are perfect and we fall far short.  This is not the attitude of a member of God’s family – we are sinners saved by God’s grace and love.  Lying is the hallmark of our adversary; Scripture tells us he is the ‘father of lies.’

Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of all things is the one and only life-giver.  It is forbidden for mankind to murder another, God condemned this when Cain killed Able, and confirmed this to Noah, saying if one person murders another willfully, his own life shall be forfeited.  The only exceptions to this are soldiers serving their country and a head of the household protecting his property and family from another.  These exceptions are outlined in Scripture.  Another detestable action is when an individual schemes and plans to defraud or rob another of property and wealth, something we have seen over the last few years in our global financial systems.  A form of lying is a witness that gives false or misleading testimony about another, in essence robbing the victim of his reputation and standing in the community.  The last on this list is the individual who is constantly stirring up animosity and trouble between family members, friends and Christian brothers and sisters.  To incite divisions in churches, Bible Fellowships or attempting to place themselves in a position of greater leadership and influence by putting current leaders in an unfavorable light is sin in the eyes of our great God.

To each one of these we must apply the words of Jesus who said to hate is equal to murder, to lust is equal to sexual sin, to speak harshly and damage another’s reputation is equal to robbing the individual of material goods and financial gain.  Heavenly Father, keep us from these acts that are detestable to you and lead us in the way of truth and light, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

01-13-11

Reliance

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”

            One of the underlying themes of the entire Bible is belief or trust in the Scriptures, to have faith in God and believe with all your heart and soul that what He promises He will fulfill.  As we go through this life, we will find ourselves at a crossroads just like Abraham when he chose to take matters into his own hands instead of fully trusting God to give him the son promised so many years before.  In essence, what Abraham did was substitute his own human thinking and logic, failing to trust God and rely upon His plan.  Abraham’s promised son came 15 years later when only God could give Abraham and Sarah a son, and the results of Abrahams lapse of faith has caused anguish and pain to his descendents, both physical and spiritual from that time until today.  Every time we begin to trust our own instincts and understanding we forget God knows the future while we don’t and God’s plan will avoid all pitfalls, our plan will lead us into even more failures and sin,.  We cannot rely on our own abilities, no matter how long we have been a Christian.

Because we live in a time when the spiritual battles are getting more and more fierce and Satan knows he is facing the end of his freedom to tempt and delude men and women, it is critical for every Believer to think about God’s Word, it’s promises and rely upon the power of God the Holy Spirit within us to keep thoughts fixed upon our Redeemer, keeping our hearts open to the guidance and power of God the Holy Spirit and living every moment of our lives following the paths set out for us by our loving Heavenly Father.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you in Jesus’ name to keep us firmly upon Your paths, help us to have the courage, trust, and faith to fully follow the course You have laid out for us.  Give us the discipline to keep our spiritual armor and weapons sharp, clean and effective in this great spiritual war in which we are engaged. Thank you for your compassion and strength.

Manna in the Morning

01-12-11

Don’t You Understand?

Mark 8:18-21, Do you have eyes, and not see, and do you have ears, and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told Him.  ”When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets full of pieces of bread did you collect?” “Seven,” they said.  And He said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”

Jesus had been teaching the people, then abruptly got into the boat with the disciples and they started across to the other side of the Sea of Galilee when the disciples realized they had not taken bread or any supplies for their meal.  They were quietly discussing this among themselves, probably accusing one or another of the group for the oversight when Jesus asked them why they were worried about their meal.  After asking them if they remembered the meal He provided for five thousand men, they agreed there was ample food for all.  Jesus asked them if they could see and hear with physical eyes and ears. Yet they could not understand the spiritual lessons He tried to teach them.  If He could feed thousands with food left over, could He not supply them with their needs?

We have contacts, glasses as aids for our physical eyesight, hearing aids to assist our ears for hearing others, but the question for us is, “Are your spiritual eyes and ears open?”  When we read God’s Word, do we read, see and hear the words and perhaps miss the spiritual lesson there for us to learn.  We who know Jesus as Redeemer know He has promised to provide for our every need, yet we occasionally forget to ask God’s blessing upon our food and thank Him for the provision.  Regardless of how much money we make, how much food we throw away or how easy it is to buy anything we want, we are still paupers in God’s eyes and starving for the bread of God’s precious Word and thirsting for the sparkling, living water only He can provide.  Our Heavenly Father’s promises are clear, He will provide our spiritual sustenance as fully as He provided the Manna in the wilderness, and we, like some of those Israelites, are too lazy or contented with earthly food to make the effort to collect what God has provided for us.

Our Heavenly Father, give us the heart of David who cried out, “I will delight in Your statutes, I will not forget Your Word.”  May our hunger pangs be for the Bread of Life we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

1-11-11

Favor with God and Man

Luke 2:5 2, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.”

God the Son, second person of the Triune God, became God Incarnate when He took on flesh in the virgin born Jesus.  After Joseph took his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s purge of infant boys and returned to Nazareth, Scripture tells us the young Jesus grew in every way.  First, He grew in His human wisdom.  The One who created all that is, who is perfect in every way, had all knowledge of Heaven and earth, willingly took on flesh and learned the lessons all young boys and men must learn, Jesus our Savior has all wisdom of earth and Heaven.  Next, Jesus grew in maturity.  Not only in the physical growth of humanity, but also to grow in emotional and practical ability, to make mature, well-reasoned decisions, to evaluate every move, to know how the Scribes and Pharisees would respond to His ministry and how they would attack Him.  The Eternal God in the person of Jesus grew in and learned maturity as a man.

Jesus also grew in the ability to deal graciously with men and women; understanding what was needed to be friendly, winning those with whom He conversed and evading the traps and snares set for Him by the Jewish religious authorities.  All these attributes of wisdom, stature, favor with man prove to us that Jesus was never more than a man while at the same time, He was never more than God.  His relationship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit was complete, inseparable and showed complete unity.  Never at any time since the creation of the universe until the Birth in Bethlehem was there a perfect God who was also man.  Jesus is our Redeemer, the promised One of Genesis, at the same time He is the Savior of the world, and one day will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Sovereign ruler of all earth, ruling from Jerusalem.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask that you fill us with reverence and godly fear as we consider all that Jesus has done for us.

Manna in the Morning

01-10-11

Fear

Jeremiah 5:21-22, “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people. They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t hear.  Do you not fear Me?  This is the Lord’s declaration. Do you not tremble before Me?”

            This passage in Jeremiah is the prophet telling Israel God’s declaration for those who have failed to listen to His prophets and preachers, who listen to their exhortations and go about their same sinful, ungodly ways.  Jeremiah stresses that our great God is the one who controls the sea and its tidal movements, that He has set their bounds and it is by His power they are constrained.  Our God is in absolute control of the weather patterns that cross the continents and cause the waves to toss and writhe in the middle of the oceans, He controls the winds and rain, waters the crops or withholds the precious raindrops to make men and women turn their eyes toward Him.

It is the ultimate folly of mankind to think they can control or abate the power of those things that God alone restrains.  Instead of listening to the Voice of Almighty God spoken through the Pastors and teachers in our churches, men and women have developed the ability to listen to the messages and lessons, and then pick out what they want to hear and ignore the rest.  They look at the tides, watch the weather systems march across the TV screen and ignore the message their eyes see, ignoring the plain and simple fact that our God is in control and will aid or ignore the pleas of mankind because they do not fear God.  In the future the Bible says humanity will recognize and marvel at the fear of God, even call for the rocks and hills to fall on them to protect them from God’s wrath but will not repent and call upon Him for forgiveness and salvation.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed by His mercy and love, but still need to bow our knees before Him in reverence, honor and fear.  Psalm 118:4; Let those who fear the Lord say, “His faithful love endures forever.”  When we fear the Lord, recognize His mighty power and understand His majesty, we will be able to say with all assurance, His faithful love endures forever.  Heavenly Father, we fear and Honor you in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-07-11

Prayer

1 Kings 8:28, “Listen to Your servant’s prayer and his petition, Lord my God, so that You may hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant prays before You today.”

This verse is taken from King Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple he had built to honor and worship the Lord God Almighty.  After recognizing his monarchy was the result of God’s goodness, the answered promise God made to David, Solomon’s father, that ultimately will lead to our Lord Jesus ruling the earth from David’s throne in Jerusalem, Solomon lifted this prayer.  He called himself the servant of the Lord, even though every member of the Israelites was his servant; Solomon raised his petition to the Lord.  He asked God to watch over the temple night and day, pleading that God would hear and forgive in response to the prayers of His people, judging them righteously, forgiving their sin and rewarding their righteousness.

Each of us reading this today has concerns from the deepest recesses of our heart that we must bring to our Heavenly Father.  We have the great privilege of coming into the presence of the Father in the name and at the invitation of God the Son, knowing God the Holy Spirit will intercede for us as well.  Our responsibilities are to keep our hearts pure by not harboring unconfessed sin and trusting Him, having confidence in His willingness to pour out His mercy upon us.

Remember each prayer is an act of worship and communion between our anxious heart and the pure love of The Father.  We must join with the angels who say, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,” and honor Him, being willing to submit to His Sovereignty and accept the answer in His time and in His love.  Our love and delight in Him is not based upon His acting as we ask, our sin is so foul in His eyes we owe our eternal gratitude for His salvation and compassion for us as individuals and for all who trust Him.

Eternal Father, we lift our requests to you in answer to your invitation, trusting only in your love and mercy toward those for whom we pray.  Answer us we cry out to you and accept our praise and thanksgiving in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-06-11

Our influence

Daniel 4:27, “ Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right, and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

Today we witnessed the swearing in of Senators and Representatives for the 112^th Congress.  As the newly elected Senators were called to the well of the Senate Chamber in groups of four to take their oath of office, approximately half of them carried their Bibles in their left hands, raised their right hands and swore allegiance to the Constitution, closing with the words, “So help me God.”

Some people, both Christians and non-believers argue that our Christian faith has no place in the political arena.   Daniel, a devout follower of Almighty God, and one who loved God’s Word and applied it to his own life felt comfortable in giving some Godly advice to the King of Babylon, advising him to separate himself from his sins and injustices.  Later in his life, there is evidence that King Nebuchadnezzar became a follower of Almighty God, recognizing His sovereignty over the affairs of men.

For those who feel that Christians should not be involved at all in the Political process is to consciously allow a large part of our lives to occur without any Biblical input or Christian influence.  Moses gave guidelines for voters in Exodus when the tribes elected those who would have responsibility and the great missionary Apostle Paul spoke of his conversion and the influence Jesus had on his life when he spoke before King Agrippa and Festus at Caesar’s tribunal encouraging them to turn to the Savior.  We are to influence all segments of our lives for our Savior, not allowing such a large portion of our earthly existence to exist with little Christian influence.  One of the most graphic examples of God’s people influencing government action is Moses before Pharaoh.  God directed Moses to speak directly to the King of Egypt to have the Israelites released from their slavery and as Moses spoke God moved directly to cause Pharaoh to give Israel their freedom.  We can communicate with our elected representatives and exercise our right as citizens to vote for men and women who live their lives to the glory of our God.

Heavenly Father, give us the courage to defy those who would restrict our free expression of Biblical values and influence the men and women who make daily decisions that affect our lives.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-05-11

The King is Coming

Revelation 19:13-15, “He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. From His mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it He might strike the nations.”

            The leader of a loose conglomeration of churches and individuals who follow the teachings of a man named Harold Camping are proclaiming across America by preaching, teaching, billboards, internet sites and personal witness that the Rapture of the Church will occur on May 21^st, 2011.  Some of the followers of Camping, who has reached this decision by a complicated mathematic formula based on the date of Noah’s flood, have embarked on a RV tour of the US to give people the opportunity of salvation.  News articles are quick to point out, however, that Jesus said no person will know the day or the hour of Jesus’ return for the Church.  You and I should have the same fervor as Camping’s followers, however, because once Jesus returns and the Church is taken up from the earth, salvation will be much more difficult if not impossible, and immediately following that event, a seven year period of purification of the earth and its population will begin.  We are here to share that salvation message with enthusiasm every day of our lives on this earth.

Part of our responsibility is to let everyone know the time is coming, and no one knows just when it will occur, when Jesus will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and destroy all of His enemies.  In this passage when God the Son returns to the earth to rule and reign, He destroys his enemies with the Scriptures, the prophecies, the fulfillment, and the clear statement of what God demands of men and women, while judging their sin.  The triumphant King of Glory Scripture says, is the Word of God, that same Word that is eternal and took upon Himself carnal flesh, living upon the earth.  His garment is stained, not with the blood of His enemies, but with His own blood that was shed at Calvary as the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and He judges with perfect righteousness condemning all whose names are not in the Book of Life to the lake of fire for eternity.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of sharing the message of redemption by our words, actions and attitudes.  Walk with us today we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

01-04-11

Ps 119:92-94, “If Your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction.  I will never forget Your precepts, for You have given me life through them.  I am Yours; save me.”

Once we accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God, we will delight in the Scriptures and, as one writer put it, acquire ‘that great sense that we are living in the sphere of eternal security.’  Eternal security, without a doubt, for Christ died so that by repenting and trusting in Him, we could live eternally. That’s the message we have to share in this New Year, and the best news of all.

King David knew adversity and affliction.  He was anointed as the coming King of Israel by the Prophet Priest, Eli, and waited years until his coronation over all the tribes of Israel.  During those years of waiting, he was pursued by the reigning King Saul who sought to kill him.  Hunted by Saul and his army like a wild animal in the wilderness, sometimes by both Saul and the enemies of Israel for more years than he actually reigned, David put his trust in the Scriptures he could read and the promise of God to someday give him the Kingdom.

King David allowed distraction to cloud his thoughts of God‘s precepts and caused him to sin, yet because he knew the promises of God’s, His mandates or statutes, that repentence would bring forgiveness and restoration to full fellowship with His Heavenly Father.  Every man or woman that follows David’s example in reading and hiding God’s Word in his or her heart will understand the joy of God’s provided salvation and eternity in the presence of our Savior in a place He has prepared for us.

The very instant we accept Jesus as our Redeemer, we are born anew into the Family of God, and we become His children.  Not only has He saved us, He will empower us as we follow the leading of God the Holy Spirit within us.   Next, He will save us from the onslaughts and wiles of our adversary as he attempts to discredit our testimony among those to whom we witness.  He will never leave us nor forsake us but always be our strong shield and armor.  Heavenly Father, may we, as David, look to Your Word as a guide for our life in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-31-10

New Years Eve

Leviticus 23:23-25, The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of complete rest, commemoration and jubilation—a sacred assembly. You must not do any daily work, but you must present a fire offering to the Lord.”

This festival, also named the Feast of Trumpets was introduced with the blowing of trumpets, the halt of labor and sacrifices.  Later on, this Feast was used to mark the New Year, possibly to counteract the lascivious conduct of the Babylonians during their New Year’s celebrations.  It would seem that Western Civilization has more closely followed the Babylonian celebration rather than the worship of Almighty God the Israelites were to follow and observe.  A new Rasmussen Report poll shows that while most Americans are not planning to attend a party or go out to dinner on New Year’s Eve, a strong majority say they will say a prayer before midnight that day.  This percentage of our adult population, (66 percent) on New Year’s Eve is larger than the respective percentage of those who are going to drink (42 percent), attend a party (21 percent), or go out for dinner with friends or family (18 percent) to celebrate the new year, the survey found.  According to this survey, two-thirds of America will indeed pray and ask God’s blessing upon the year 2011.

As we pray with our families and friends with whom we welcome the New Year, some things for which we should go to our Heavenly Father are; first to thank Him for the blessings of the past year, the answers to prayer and the safety and protection He has provided us.  Next we should pray for the salvation of family members and cherished friends who do not yet know the joy of God’s provided salvation.  Third, we should exercise our priestly function of intercession for those that are in need of healing physically, emotionally or in any other manner and always pray for our nation and its leadership that God would influence their decisions as they lead our country.

Finally, pray for yourself, that the light of the world would shine from you to those around you, that your actions will always glorify our Heavenly Father, and pray for a great outpouring of God the Holy Spirit in revival across this world as men and women turn to Jesus.  O Lord God our Heavenly Father, guide, keep and use us this year in Jesus’ name,

Manna in the Morning

12-30-10

Keep on Working

Luke 19:13-14, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’  But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us!’

One of the questions many Christians may ask as we start this new year is, “Will this be the year Jesus calls His Church up into the Heavenlies and removes the restrictions that keep Satan’s demons from instituting the false belief system on this earth?”  As Jesus neared the end of His ministry on earth many of His listeners asked the same question, When would He institute His Kingdom?  He gave the answer in a parable, “Keep on Working.” Jesus then added additional information; as His followers kept doing what He commanded them to do their adversaries would vent their anger against Jesus’ followers and seek to destroy His kingdom.

Many men and women believe this exchange and parable indicate that the Church, those who love and follow the commands of Jesus, should not be excessively concerned with the time of the calling out, but to continue doing their Lord’s work until the very last instant.  When the Church, through which the devil is restrained, is removed, a false belief system comes to the fore and all the followers of that false system refuse to follow the commandments of our Great God and are doomed to judgment at the throne of Jesus.

For we who look to spend eternity with our Savior, the prospect of Jesus’ return is exciting for us, but when we consider those who do not yet know Jesus as their Redeemer, the prospect of their coming to know Him is greatly reduced, if not impossible, once this event we commonly call the rapture has taken place.  Because of this, the words of Jesus to keep working are especially important.  We all know men and women, perhaps even family members that are not in the family of God, and we must warn them of the events that will someday occur.  Instead of being lax about our witness, we want to become more active, more enthusiastic in proclaiming the gospel message.  Our gracious Heavenly Father we ask in Jesus’ name, for Your guidance and empowerment as we share Your message throughout this coming year.

Manna in the Morning

12-29-10

Psalms 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

In a few days we will consign 2010 to history, and open a new chapter in our lives called 2011.  2010 was a year of many new events in the lives of people, marriages, births, deaths, graduations, short-term mission trips, moving, perhaps downsizing houses, increased financial stress, some choose to take new jobs, new careers, bought new automobiles, did many things for the first time, and now all those things are behind us, we think of them in the past tense.  Our nation elected a new Congress, recognized additional, serious threats to our national security and fears of natural disasters, terrorism and criminal activity.  May 2010 rest in peace and as soon as our income taxes are filed, close the book on the year and move forward in joy to the New Year with its challenges, joys and sorrows.

If you are accustomed to staying up past midnight to welcome the New Year, as the clock ticks into the New Year, immediately ask our Heavenly Father to put a new song in your mouth, a song to praise God for His faithfulness in days past as well as praise for His promises to guide and protect us in the year before us.  As we enter into this year, it is good to praise God in anticipation of all He will do for us, we can count upon His leading, protection, teaching us His precepts and His mercies poured out upon us.  Pray that all of us will have opportunity to win many men and women to Jesus Christ through our consistent witness.

As we claim 2011 for our Lord God, let’s take every opportunity to let others see Jesus in our words, actions and attitudes opening their eyes to see His goodness and trust Him for their eternal life.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we trust You to lead us in 2011, give us the good things You have in store for us and lead us in the paths You would have us take, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-28-10

If God Wills

James 4:14-15, “You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

            In a few days we will cross the man-made divide from 2010 to 2011.  You still will go to bed on the night of 12/31/10, or at some point before daybreak, and wake up to 01/01/11.  I am not a fan of numerology, I just use numbers to solve math problems. but this is one year we must live for our great God from day 1.  We don’t know what will occur between nations, what kind of weather patterns will bring disaster, or the areas of the earth that will suffer seismic eruptions, but we know nothing will happen that takes our Heavenly Father by surprise.  He already sees this year complete in every detail, He is the eternal God who lives unfettered by constraints of time or any created thing.  We have no knowledge of what will occur we cannot assume anything.  All we can be sure of is this present moment; there is no assurance of any tomorrow or next week.  The world encourages people to make resolutions for the New Year, but Believers should trust their Father to guide and direct their plans, striving instead to live in faith.

In the plan of God, our lives of seventy or eighty years isn’t even the blink of an eyelash, it is important for us to remember that it is not the length of time we live, it is the way we live our lives in the time allotted to us by our Heavenly Father.  When we say we live a life of faith, we need to remember not only do we live a life of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, we live a life of faith and trust in our Heavenly Father who has promised to guide, protect and bless our efforts so long as we live to His glory, and not for our personal pleasure or gain.

Our Heavenly Father, we ask for opportunities to share Your redemption message in 2011 and for the wisdom to make the best use of them. Help us to live this year in faith, depending fully upon You; we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-27-10

The Day after Christmas

Matthew 2:1-4, “Wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.”

            This year Christmas fell on Saturday.  Today is Monday, Christmas is over, people will be mobbing the stores with refunds and returns on their minds, crowds will be testy, maybe surly, clerks will be frazzled, peace and goodwill will be lacking in the hearts of those intent only on their own goals and ambitions.  But – Christmas did last for two days this year.

I love Christmas, the emphasis is on the Savior, Carols sound in all the malls, on radio stations and people will listen to those who speak of Jesus and His life on this earth.  In addition to the gift of our Great God in fulfilling the promise of a Perfect Sacrifice, we have other long lasting gifts that help the Believer keep the emphasis on their relationship with the Heavenly Father throughout every day for the rest of their lives.  God has given us peace, not absence of hostility among men, but we are at peace with God, the wall of separation between our heart and our Heavenly Father is removed because of Jesus’ sacrifice, the peace of God now fills our heart and we share that peace with others, there is a true bond of peace between those who love The Father that should be evident to those outside His family.  God has given us His Word, the Scriptures have been preserved for us miraculously throughout the centuries and it is a precious gift to read and study God’s Word under the tutelage of God the Holy Spirit.  According to God’s Word, the greatest gift God could give us and the greatest we can give to others is the love of God.

The birth of Jesus greatly disturbed Herod and still disturbs the souls of men today.  Those who have shut God and His Word out of their life react violently to any mention of the Birth of God the Son, their reaction is ample evidence of the conviction within their hearts that they are fearful that God is, and will judge them for their violent rejection of Truth.  Our Heavenly Father, give us the opportunity to give the gift of Your love today we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-24-10

Why

John 12:27-28, “Now My soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save Me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”

Christmas is the time when we remember, thank and praise our great God for the coming of the Savior in the person of Jesus, God the Son.  We know well the reason for the birth, the willingness of Mary and Joseph, the visit of the Wise Men from the East and the prophecies fulfilled and the wonder of Jesus’ birth, but we, in this verse, understand the purpose from Heaven’s view.  While Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people, He spoke of His coming crucifixion and asked a rhetorical question, should He ask the Father to save Him from the death that would shortly come to pass?  Then the answer, “This is why I came to this earth,” followed by the prayer to the Father to glorify His name.  A voice came from Heaven; “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.”  God had been glorified in the coming of Jesus to this sin-cursed earth, glorified in the sinless life Jesus lived while here, glorified in His ministry and would greatly glorify God’s Holy Name in the death, burial and resurrection that was about to occur.

Those that were close by and listening to Jesus teach heard the booming, echoing sound from heaven and while there were those who thought it was thunder, others said it was the voice of an angel.  Jesus said the voice was not for Him, He had long times of communication with the Heavenly Father, it was for those standing there so that they would know he came from the Father and the Father would soon judge the world.  Again, Jesus spoke prophetically, He stated He would be lifted up and draw men and women to Himself, and while on the cross He was lifted up for all to see, but in days to come He is and will be lifted up to His rightful place as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Why did Jesus come? To give His earthly life as the Perfect Sacrifice.  Thank you dear Lord for your sacrifice for us.  Keep our minds and hearts turned toward you this season when we remember and praise your humble incarnation.

Manna in the Morning

12-23-10

The Word became Flesh

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us.  We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

            As John began to write his account of the birth and life of God the son, he was inspired to write, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John then begins to explain all the attributes and qualities of the Living Word as our Creator, Life-giver and Light.  In verse fourteen, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, John writes of the Word taking on flesh, or becoming man, living on the earth with men in the same manner as Jehovah manifested Himself in the Temple as a method of association with men and women and to commune with them.  Jesus, God the Son took human form and nature, tabernacled or established temporary residence with men and women in order to communicate His love and compassion by healing diseases and becoming the perfect example of life and companionship between the Creator and His unique, special creation made in God’s own image. (Genesis 1:27)

After John has introduced the miracle of Jesus coming to this earth, he begins to tell of his close relationship with Jesus who declared His mission and purpose in providing salvation to all mankind.  John clearly states he saw and recognized the glory of God, while walking with Jesus in Galilee and Judea and when John was present on the mountain when the glory of God was manifested, shining upon the disciples causing their faces to shine just as Moses’ face did when he descended from Mt. Sinai.  Jesus is the One and Only, the unique answer of our great God to the promise made in Old Testament times.  Just as Jesus said, He was the Light, He spoke of being the Truth.  Our minds can hardly grasp the reality that the infant in a feeding trough is the Word, the Creator and sustainer of the Universe, we cannot conceive the concept, He is perfect truth, we cannot understand fully the Gift of God’s Grace contained in that tiny bundle of flesh, wrapped in the cloths of a poor, laboring family and entering this sphere in a stable, not even a house.  Truly Jesus’ spoke truth when He declared He didn’t even have a roof over the place where He lays His head.  Our gracious, compassionate God and Father, Thank You for the gift that cannot be described by human minds.  May we show our love to you this Christmas Season, in Jesus’ matchless name we lift our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

12-22-10

Dedication

Luke 2:21-24, “When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS—the name given by the angel before He was conceived.  And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).”

            Joseph and Mary obviously had left Bethlehem and gone to Jerusalem in order to fulfill the law in every detail, having the young child presented in the Temple and dedicated to the service of Jehovah God, as every firstborn male in every family was dedicated.  Jesus, the first born of Mary because of God’s promise to send a perfect sacrifice was dedicated to the service of His Heavenly Father.  In the history of the Israelite people, every firstborn male was saved as the death plague came upon Egypt, forcing the Egyptians to free the Israelites from slavery.

As Joseph and Mary were in the temple, they met Simeon, a man who was righteous and devout, having lived a long life because God the Holy Spirit had promised him he would see the Promised One, God’s anointed answer to the promise of Genesis 3:15.  After praying over the infant, Simeon turned to Mary and spoke directly to her, telling her the child would be used to one day restore Israel to a place of prominence and that a sword would pierce her own soul.  Scripture is clear in describing Mary as one who would store all these things in her heart and meditate or ponder over them all the years of her life.  It is not hard to think she remembered Simeon’s words when the Roman soldier thrust the spear into the heart of Jesus after He had died upon the cross.

Just as Mary remembered all the angel and Simeon had told her throughout the entire earthly life and ministry of Jesus she considered and meditated upon all that occurred, we too, need to remember the babe in the manger grew to full manhood, showed His humanity and demonstrated His divinity.  He healed the sick, raised the dead and gave His own life so that we could be saved.  As we pass the manger scenes, remember our Redeemer lives! Our Heavenly Father, keep us focused on the promise fulfilled this and every Christmas Season.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-21-10

God’s Promise

Luke 1:30-33, “Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name JESUS. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Gabriel, the special angel messenger from Almighty God told Mary she had been chosen out of all the young women of the Israelite people to bear the Promised One promised in Genesis.  Much has been written about Mary, but we can be sure she was devout, loved God with all her heart, pure and had great faith in her God.  Gabriel told her of the boy she would conceive without being intimate with any man, and what God would do for the whole human race, especially the Jewish people through His life and ministry.  Many of these prophecies have been fulfilled already in Jesus’ earthly sojourn and there are others we can see upon the threshold of the future that will come to pass shortly in God’s own timing.  While many young men of the time carried this name, only He would be the one that would fulfill the promise to bring salvation from Jehovah God to the human race.  This promised Child would bear the name and be recognized as God’s beloved Son as well as the name by which He called Himself, Son of Man.  Never would He be more than a man, having a true human nature, while at the same time, never, ever be less than God the Son, fully Divine in every way.

There is one statement Gabriel made that is yet to be accomplished.  Jesus, God the Son must be the Sovereign of the earth, rule from Jerusalem as did David and all the world will acknowledge Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  His will be a benevolent reign, He will bring peace and the earth will be closer to Eden than the political climate of today.  At Christmas we all see Jesus as the babe in the manger, but He is truly the creator, sustainer and ruler of all that is, and will soon take His seat on the throne of David in Jerusalem.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we recognize the majesty and grandeur of Jesus, God the Son, when we look into the crèche and se the infant in the Manger.  In Jesus’ saving name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-20-10

The true Light

Genesis 1:16-18, “God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.

There are indications the Birth of Jesus actually occurred in the springtime, but since the early years, Christians have celebrated the Birth of our Savior around the Winter Solstice, incorporating Christmas into the already existing non-Christian celebrations.  The solstice is the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun when the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun, resulting in less exposure to the sun and its solar energy for heating, making it the Winter Solstice.  The Summer Solstice is when the earth receives the maximum radiation and is the warmest and the days are longest.  In Genesis, God said the heavenly bodies, including the sun would be used to measure the years and seasons on the earth, never changing or failing until the perfect new heaven and new earth is created.

Because the Roman Empire wanted to pacify their conquered people, they insisted the ‘new’ celebrations of Christianity be incorporated into the old celebrations of the pagans they conquered in Europe, not only the dates, but the traditional manner and symbols of the days.  While some of the current symbols we use have pagan roots, Christians can use these same symbols to exemplify Christian doctrine and values.  Let’s never lose sight of the fact we worship the Creator, but never the creation.  Those who say we should revere “Mother Earth” or the trees and creatures not only worship pagan deities, they demean our Creator God.  When we agree with them, we damage our testimony before the non-believers who may no longer understand and hold as truth the fact that God is the Creator.  Believers should never compromise their certainty of Creation.  When we look at a Christmas Tree, we recognize the Trinity, the Cross and the shed blood of Jesus for our Redemption, rejecting the so-called environmental protectionists who worship the elements of God’s creation instead of the Creator.  When we decorate our homes with lights we are remembering Jesus, the Light of the World, and the true source of our salvation.

Our Heavenly Father, we recognize You as the Creator of all that is and will never revere or recognize any other God.  Guide us in this Christmas Week so our testimony of Christ as our Redeemer will be paramount in our lives, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-17-10

Birth Announcement

Luke 2:4-7, “And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn.”

Along with John 3:16, these verses are among the most recognized verses in the entire Bible, recognized, even to the point of being able to quote them, but still most people do not fully understand the full importance of that birth.  The ancient prophets foretold the Promised One, the Anointed of the Father, would come from Nazareth and be ridiculed for that humble place.  Joseph and Mary made their home in Nazareth, their relatives were centered in that area of Galilee, and during the years before Jesus’ ministry he lived in Nazareth.  Yet because of a tax registration, the Roman government required all who were of King David’s lineage must register in Bethlehem, David’s ancient capitol, the site of the great Temple, and the center of worship for all the descendents of Judah, Levi and Benjamin in Judea.  A proper City for the birth of The One who alone had the right to ascend to the Throne of David.  While they were in the Capitol City, the time came for this young teenage girl to deliver her first born child, the Promised One of Genesis, the Deliverer so long awaited by the Jews.

A humble birth, in a stable, not even in a small house or a room in a caravan stop-over, born among the cattle and sheep, not among the teeming multitude of men and women in the town that night.  To this chosen girl who welcomed her child into the world knowing He was God’s special gift promised so long ago, she named Him Jesus (Meaning Jehovah is Salvation,) in accordance with the angel’s command and  laid Him in the clean sweet straw in a feeding trough.  The birth announcements were given by Heaven’s Host to the shepherds who cared for the Temple sheep that would become sacrifices, while Jesus was and is the Promised Perfect Sacrifice.

Today men and women still have no room for the Savior, even on the day chosen to remember His birth.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, our hearts are open and receptive to Your love toward us.  Keep us always in your will we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-16-10

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

            This verse is a favorite of many Believers in Christ Jesus across the world.  These names written long before Jesus’ birth reflect His life purpose and the mighty work He accomplished.  He is the Wonderful Counselor, as Jesus walked this earth He spoke with, healed and forgave the sins of many; He also counseled and renewed the mind of the man from Gadara who was completely mad, but after meeting our Savior became rational, dedicated, wishing to tell how his life changed wherever Jesus wanted.  Jesus sent the man to his home village, to those who knew him before his new birth and the horror under which he lived.  Jesus met Nicodemus one night, showed him the error of his thinking, training and the group he allowed to influence him.  When Jesus prepared to leave this world, he promised to send another counselor, one who would never leave us and would be our teacher, leader, guide and good shepherd after Jesus ascended to Heaven.  Jesus was truly 100% God while He walked this earth, while at the same time, 100% human, providing the perfect sacrifice for our sin.  While we know He is fully God, in addition to being our Savior, he is the Eternal Father, the one whose righteousness wraps us fully, making us sinless in the eyes of Almighty God who judges all mankind.

Our Redeemer, Jesus who was born in Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace.  He is the one who will soon come in power and glory to assume His rightful position as the One who will rule for one thousand years, sitting on the throne in Jerusalem where King David reigned so long ago.  His kingdom will be a kingdom of peace and the whole earth will live in submission to Him.  Right now, because of His death, burial and resurrection He has made it possible for all who call upon Him for salvation to live at peace with Almighty God.  The calm, serene spirit of peace lives within the lives and hearts of all who claim God as their Heavenly Father.  Truly Jesus is the Prince of Peace and there is no one else that can claim that title.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we love you and will serve you this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-15-10

God’s Word

Revelation 10:10-11, “Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. And I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

            One of the more popular candies among adolescents today is called “Sweet and Sour,” giving the taster the sensation of sweetness and a sour taste at the same time, and the Scriptures sometimes bear two messages depending upon the heart condition of the one who reads it.  The passages that tell of God’s offered salvation are clear and unambiguous, they clearly tell of the love of God and the joy that is promised to all who accept Jesus as their Redeemer, given to us because of His perfect unconditional love. The perfect love is also seen in God’s perfect justice that demands eternal separation from God for all those who do not accept that offer of salvation.  For every soul that accepts, there are souls who reject and face an eternity in the place prepared for Satan and his angels, reflecting God’s requirement that the soul that sins shall surely die.  That death is paid in full by Jesus earthly death at Calvary.  All men and women need to do is to call upon God thanking Him for His provision and accepting the gift personally.

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ may read a passage of Scripture and take great comfort in the fact that their loved one knew Christ and is enjoying heaven’s joys while another family reads of God’s love and so far as they are aware, their loved one never made that decision to accept Christ.  The sweet taste of God’s love and the bitterness of His perfect justice are seen in the eternal abode of the ones who died.  Many men and women are blessed of God because they live their lives in a manner that brings glory to their Heavenly Father through obeying His precepts and commandments, while others willfully disregard those same commandments and relinquish the blessing of God upon their lives.  In our Scripture passage, John knew the sweetness of God’s Word as he ate it, but the result of the purification upon the earth would upset his stomach at the sinful rebellion of men and women against the Loving Almighty God.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we praise You for the sweetness of Christmas and the gift of indescribable love You showed to all the earth.   May that sweet love radiate from us to everyone we meet this day in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-10-09

Our Days are Numbered

Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”

            We, who know the Savior, live in absolute certainty of our eternal home. We have God’s own assurance that to be absent from this body is to be present with our Lord in the Heavenly Places. Our eternity is set the moment we accept Christ Jesus and no power in heaven or earth can change it. Earlier in this Psalm, we are told, “Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years.” No longer can men and women live into the hundreds of years as the Patriarchs did in Genesis, nor do we normally live beyond one hundred years as did Joshua, Caleb and others. Today the oldest individual on the face of the earth is 114 year old Eugenie Blanchard of France.  The Biblical life span is given as a guideline, and there are many who exceed this by God’s grace. It is not the number of years we live, it is how we live those years that count in God’s eyes.  People who live a life style that is ungodly, filled with sinful activities, self-gratification and pleasure will leave this earth with no value attached to their living here while the person who endeavors by God’s grace to honor their Heavenly Father will leave a lasting legacy of spiritual value, even if their life span is far shorter than the norm.

We are not guaranteed more than this day, unforeseen events may cut short our earthly span of years, an accident may propel us into eternity before another sunset, therefore it is important to realize we need to fulfill God’s plan for us daily, because we have no assurance of tomorrow’s sunrise. We may have decades or scores of years to live before the end of our natural lifespan, however there is but one day that counts. It is today; the day the Lord has made for us to enjoy, labor for Him and count our blessings as members of His Family.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you in Jesus’ name for the honor and privilege to live today for You and may those that follow us find us faithful stewards of Your grace.  Use us we pray In Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-13-10

Snow

Ps 148:8, “Lightning and hail, snow and cloud, powerful wind that executes His command.”

            As we approach Christmas 2010, the nation’s weather is wintery to say the least.  The National weather map shows a storm in the Northeast, bringing precipitation, wind and cold weather as this arctic system starts its trek across the continent.  In the high plains across to the Great Lakes the mid and north states are digging out from under two feet of snow, the roof of the dome in Minneapolis has collapsed under the weight, forcing their scheduled football game to be moved back a day and be played in Detroit, where people are digging out from under blizzard conditions.  Precipitation in the form of rain is covering the eastern seaboard and cold temperatures stretch from Washington State to Florida, where freezing temp’s are expected, along with high winds.  Much of North America seems to be on the verge of a White Christmas, but people don’t like the winter conditions and inconvenience.  Christmas snow is supposed to fall in powdery flakes on a gentle breeze, and if it could be arranged, at temperatures around 70 degrees.

The Psalm from which this passage is taken says the entire earth, not just the human population but all God’s creation including the ocean depths and the strange life that dwells there, the lightning, hail, snow, clouds, wind, hills and mountains, trees and vegetation, all animals, everything including the weather, blizzards and gales sing their unique praise choruses to the glory of our God.  He is not only the creator and life giver to all that is, He is the sustaining force that powers the sun, established the unique patterns of wind and land forms that drive our weather patterns.

This great God, our Creator and sustainer, willingly came to the earth, according to Mark’s Gospel, “Not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  God the Son, our Savior willingly gave up all that Heaven has in its perfection, the angels bowing before Him, all the universe singing His praise, coming to this earth, born as the infant son of a virgin mother, grew in stature, in wisdom and love to become our Savior and King.  It is His momentous birth we celebrate on Christmas.  Just as we celebrate Easter each Lord’s Day in worship, celebrate the birth of Jesus daily as we thank Him for our Salvation, always remembering the tremendous cost He paid to redeem us.  Our Savior and Lord, accept our thanks and praise for your great gift to us, guide us this day as we seek to honor You.

Manna in the Morning

12-10-10

Born Anew

Galatians 3:23-26, “Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

            Men and women have been saved by faith in all the ages since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden.  While all individuals are saved by faith in the promises of God, the offer of salvation has had varying forms of presentation and in the Old Testament, while Gentiles could be brought into the family of God; it had to be through the framework of the Jewish people-group.  In the period between the promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob until the coming of God the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell the lives of all believers, a man or woman had to proselyte into the Jewish belief system.  This is why the false teaching arose in the early church that a person had to go through the same path to salvation in Christ Jesus. In a sense, the old system was a guardian of the purity of the message.  After Pentecost, however, at the instant of salvation God the Holy Spirit enters into the life of the Believer in Jesus in all His fullness, never to leave us, even when we attempt to quench His working in our lives.

When Jesus was speaking with the Pharisee, Nicodemus, he told this student of God’s word that he must be born again, that in order to become a child of the living God, he must be born of the Spirit into God’s forever family just as he had been born into his earthly family.  Once he was born anew into the family of God, he would then have the love, compassion, the love for the lost and great reverence for every word that proceeded from God to mankind through the chosen, inspired and dedicated men who wrote each word we have preserved for us today.   Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask in Jesus’ name that we will live in accordance with your precepts and commandments this day.

Manna in the Morning

12-09-10

Bells

Exodus 39:26, “Attach a bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of the High Priest’s robe. It is to be used for ministry, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Christmas songs and hymns have become a very real part of our Christmas celebrations.  The old carols are revered, and most men and women who gather in churches at Christmas time know the verses to the hymns.  “Oh Come all ye Faithful, Noel, and even, “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”  Newer additions such as “Mary Did You Know” have joined the list of Christmas hymns, and even popular songs have come to be seen as Christmas songs, even though they are totally secular in their origins.  Songs like “White Christmas”, “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” and even Frosty and Rudolph are now known only as Christmas icons.  Whether you live in Alaska, California or Florida, the winter songs are heard throughout the malls and stores.

Bells played a very important function in the Israelite’s worship of Almighty God in the Tabernacle.  The sacred garments worn by the Priests who entered the Holiest Place in front of the Ark of the Covenant were hemmed with bells made of gold around the entire garment.  They rang softly while the Priest performed his duties so the people assembled in worship would know their offerings were accepted by God.  If the bells suddenly stopped, the Priest would have been struck dead because either the priest or the people were not pure in heart before their God.

When Jesus returns to this earth to establish His Kingdom, Zechariah tells us bells will make up a part of worship and the adornment of the steeds of the returning Messiah and His army.  Bells may not have sounded in Bethlehem the night our Savior was born, they may not have tolled mournfully when He died at Calvary, but bells were part of Worship in the Old Testament and will play a part in Worship in the coming Millennial Kingdom.

Heavenly Father, we pray our worship will rise before you as sweet incense, that we will be pure and worthy to be used of you so that our words will be sweet sounding bells of adoration in the ears of those who hear us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

12-08-10

Gifts

Matthew 2:11, “Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

            History tells of St. Nicholas being born to a wealthy, elderly couple in what is now Turkey in the year 280 AD.  When his parents died, he generously gave his wealth to the poor. Upon hearing a merchant had gone bankrupt and that creditors were planning on taking the merchant’s daughters into slavery as payment, Nicholas threw some money in the window at night to provide a dowry for the daughters to marry, thus saving them from a life of forced prostitution in payment of their father’s debts.  When the father discovered Nicholas had given the money, Nicholas made him promise not to tell as he wanted the glory to go to God, thus inspiring the tradition of secret gift-giving on the anniversary of Nicholas’ death which occurred in December..

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” the story/poem we remember and quote, showing Santa as a jolly old man in in a red suit was written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823 and quickly became a favorite.  While the original Nicholas of Myra gave his gifts to honor and glorify his Lord, the jolly elf of the poem was the one who supplied the gifts and kept the list of good and bad children.  The wise men gave their gifts to the child, Jesus, in homage, adoration and praise and the only list kept in Heaven is the names of the redeemed listed in the Lamb’s Book of (Eternal) Life.

Today we give gifts because we feel obligated or in response to the overwhelming allure of the advertising of the stores and shops.  While our custom began with a man who wished all glory be given to his Lord, today we are giving because of a different motivation.  In many cases we have allowed our culture to dictate our values.  The best gift we can give to our family, friends and others is something that will direct them to God’s Word and the true Christmas account.  In this Christmas season, while people are at least recognizing the birth of Jesus the Savior, use Tracts, Gospels of John or other handouts to direct their attention to their need of a redeemer  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we ask You to give us many opportunities this Christmas to share our testimony with others.  Give us boldness we ask in Jesus’ name

in December.. 

         

Manna in the Morning

12-07-10

Ambushed

Psalms 64:2-5, “Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of evildoers, who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from concealed places at the innocent.  They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.  They encourage each other in an evil plan.”

            Sixty-nine years ago, the United States of America was cravenly attacked without warning by The Imperial Navy of Japan, killing nearly 2,500 men and sinking most of the U S Fleet moored at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, putting the US at a severe disadvantage in the ensuing war, the cry, “Remember Pearl Harbor” motivated and encouraged all Americans for the next 5 years

We all watched the TV news broadcasts of the airliners hitting the Pentagon and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center just nine years ago.  Americans know full well the horror of a sneak attack – an ambush.  Before December 7th, 1941 and September 11th, 2001 we were living sheltered, contented, comfortable lives not expecting an attack from any source, most of us had never heard of Al Queda or Osama bin Laden but every one of us will long remember the lump that formed in our throats while we witnessed that vile attack.  “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” is a truism we dare not ignore.  Just as we were attacked without warning nearly 70 years ago, and again nine years ago, our nation has to be continually on guard lest other sneak attacks come upon us without warning.

There is no intellect more adept at setting up sneak attacks or ambushes than our spiritual arch-enemy, Satan, whom the people of God have been fighting since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden.  Just when we feel comfortable in our Christian life, when we feel we are winning the battles, our adversary will set up an ambush, a temptation we cannot humanly resist since it appeals to our fleshly appetites such as money, power, or licentiousness.  The United States rallied to defeat the Axis Powers, won victories in Afghanistan and Iraq and in our spiritual battles we need to continually guard against sneak attacks by our declared enemy and overcome the temptation in the power of God the Holy Spirit.

Using God’s Word and prayer as our weapons and wearing the full protective armor given to us by our Heavenly Father, we can survive every attack, no matter how it is presented, emerging triumphant to stand guiltless before our God.

Lord God our rock and shield, protect our nation and its leaders, keeping us ever vigilant against those who would destroy us.  We ask You to bless and protect our Military across the world.  We pray for the spiritual discernment to recognize and avoid the wiles and traps of the devil and his minions, this we ask in Jesus’ powerful name.

Manna in the Morning

12-06-10

Christians

Acts 11:25-26, “Then Barnabus went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

            I know there are many people who call themselves Christians because they celebrate Christmas, aren’t Muslim, Buddhists or atheists, but have no real concept of what a Christian really is.  They are part of the large group of people who make up what we call Christendom.  They are not active in any Church, do not read the Bible, believe they live a moral, proper life, do not beat their kids or rob others for money; therefore they must be a Christian and deserve to go to Heaven when they die.  This was the attitude of the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders.

Then there were the true Christians.  If Paul and Barnabus taught the believers in Antioch for over a year, you can pretty well assume they knew what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, to recognize Him as their Promised Sacrifice, to understand their sinful condition, to realize the consequences of their sin and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  They were not simply church attendees or men and women who liked to be around good, moral people, they were willing to accept what was considered by the good people of Antioch as a slur or pejorative term, they were called Christ Followers or ‘Christians’ and did not deny their relationship with Him.

Today we have those who consider themselves Christians by default, and Christians who are Biblical believers in Jesus’ miraculous birth, ministry ending in His death, burial and resurrection.  Then there are men and women who believe in Jesus as their Savior but refuse to give up the control of their lives to Him, living without His guidance, missing out on much of the joy and blessings they could experience if they would deepen their relationship with Him.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we want to be Biblical Christians, fully experiencing your love, fellowship and joy in this joyous season.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

.

Manna in the Morning

12-03-10

Who

Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”

I think many of us have thought, If only I had been in Jerusalem when Jesus was born, I would have recognized Him from the accurate depictions given in the Prophets like Isaiah and Micah.  Sad to say, if we lived then we would have been much like the average person existing in Judah, poor, illiterate, believing only what the religious leaders told us to believe because we thought they were the ones who could open Heaven’s gates for us.  Isaiah’s prophecy is so clear we cannot understand how anyone could have missed his message.  God will show the Jews a sign, a virgin will conceive and call her child “Immanuel,” Matthew 1:23.  The name Immanuel means, ‘God with us,’ when the infant was conceived by the miracle of God the Holy Spirit, carried by Mary then birthed in Bethlehem He was the unique Jesus, He who saves, Immanuel, a birth of a person who was God in the flesh, never more than a man, but at the same time, never, ever less than God.  Jesus, our Redeemer, the Promised One of ancient times, God’s provision for our Redemption.

Two chapters later in Isaiah, the Prophet again names the Child that will be born, using descriptive terms that refer to His coming ministry upon the earth.  Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”  Jesus spoke of the coming Counselor when He promised to send ‘another’ counselor, one who would guide us into truth and knowledge; this is God the Holy Spirit within us this day.  Our Savior is the Mighty God, the creator, the one who planned, provided and put into place every event during His sojourn on earth to bring us salvation.  God the Holy Spirit indwells our lives; the Eternal Father is equally as close to us because we have been born anew into His family receiving His mercy, grace and bountiful blessings every moment of our earthly lives.  Jesus is our Peace, having put the Peace of God into our hearts for our earthly relationships and bringing peace with God the Father because of Jesus’ intercession.  Jesus is truly the “Who” of our Christmas!  Heavenly Father, In Jesus’ name we enter your presence to give you praise.

Manna in the Morning

12-02-10

Why

Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Ezekiel 18:4, “Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.”

            Why did God need to provide a perfect sacrifice for sin for all time?  This question is always one that people unfamiliar with the Bible seem to ask because they do not know the great love our God has for us. A study of Scripture reveals God’s attitude toward sin, in the Old Testament the message is the same as the Words of the Apostle Paul, speaking as inspired by God the Holy Spirit, any soul, regardless of age, sex or family position must be held accountable for the sinful actions committed while living upon the earth.  Fathers are not punished for the actions of their children and children are not punished by God for the actions of their parents.  How long Adam and Eve lived in Eden before they fell victim to Satan’s schemes is unknown, but the results of their sin is written in scripture and felt by every person who draws breath.  Anyone who sins gets the payment they have earned, just as a worker gets paid for the work he or she has accomplished.  There is no way to undo the effects of our sin, and no amount of good works or repayment in money or deeds will wipe away the sin curse.  God’s perfect justice demands a payment, His perfect mercy falls upon us simply because Jesus, the perfect, sinless life did not deserve or earn death, but He freely gave that perfect life as the required payment for our sin.  He died without guilt so we who live in guilt can someday die forgiven and clothed in the white, gleaming righteousness of Jesus.

Why did Jesus give up the glory of Heaven, why did He humble Himself to take the form of a creation when He was the Creator?  Simply because there was no other way!  God’s perfect love was born in a manger and died on a cross because the curse of sin because we have knowingly, deliberately sinned and fallen far short of God’s Standard.  Our loving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we thank you for your love and mercy upon we who have admitted our sin and taken as our own, the sacrifice of Jesus.  We will serve you and worship you forever in gratitude for the gift of salvation.

Manna in the Morning

12-1-10

Where

1 Samuel 16:4, Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

            Last issue we considered the ‘When’ of the birth of the Promised Redeemer.  The where is equally clear.  In the Book of Micah, God made the promise the Redeemer would be born in Bethlehem Ephrata in Judah.  There were two Bethlehems in the area incorporated in the Kingdom of David, one was in the North, and the other in the south in the valley of Ephrata, in order to remove all doubt, and the valley and the name of the village are named in the Prophecies.  Bethlehem was near to Jerusalem, the city David named as the Capitol of the Nation under his rule.  Prior to this the capitol was wherever the Ark was at rest.  Bethlehem was the village where Ruth and Naomi lived when they returned from Moab, and where Ruth married Boaz who became the great-grandparents of David.  Bethlehem or the City of Bread was aptly named for the birthplace of the one who is the Bread of Life to all who call upon His name. The Gospels record the events leading up to the birth of the child in the little town of Bethlehem instead of Nazareth, the place of Mary and Joseph’s home.

During the time before the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, God the Holy Spirit dwelt in the Holiest place in the Temple, and before that in the Tabernacle.  After Jesus ascended into heaven, on the Feast of Pentecost God the Holy Spirit came in a rushing mighty wind into the place where Jesus’ followers were gathered in Jerusalem, tongues of fire appeared over their heads as God the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence in their lives and hearts.  He is the Comforter promised by Jesus, and his dwelling place is wherever there is a follower of Jesus making us His habitation.

God the Father moved David’s heart to establish Jerusalem as his capitol but he never forgot Bethlehem his old hometown, even today it is known as the City of David.  God the Son, Jesus, chose to be homeless, having no place to call His own, yet fully supplied with all His every need, there is no city of Jesus, and He was even buried in a borrowed tomb.  God the Holy Spirit has chosen to make our lives His habitation until we are called to Heaven to worship before God’s throne.  Thank you Heavenly Father for the provision for Your presence in our lives.  We welcome You in every way.  In Jesus’ name we lift our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

11-30-10

When

Galatians 4:4, “But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

            Whenever a noteworthy event occurs, there are five questions to ask about the occasion, who, what, when why and where.  As this verse says, the birth of the Promised Redeemer came at precisely the perfect time to fulfill all the prophecies given by the prophets’ centuries before.  There could have been no other time that would have fulfilled every one of the multiple promises God gave to those who loved and served Him in the ancient writings so carefully preserved for us.

The promise was made in Eden, after Adam and Eve believed the satanic lie; the time was left open through all of Biblical history until after the subjection of Judah to Babylon, followed by Persia.  After the time of their captivity was complete, God moved in the heart of the Persian King to allow the Jews to return to their land.  God’s clock had started and began to run for around 450 years until Jesus, our Promised Redeemer came into this world in the form of a Jewish baby boy.  The time of the Gentile world empires was still in effect, Rome was the last of the four great empires, but the earth’s domination of any human entity cannot keep God’s plan from succeeding in the time and manner He chooses.

There is one part of God’s plan of which we will always have control.  Because God has allowed each of us to make the decision to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation, the actual time that the Promised Redeemer becomes our Savior will be when we invite Him into our lives as the Forgiver of our sin and the Leader of our lives, giving full control over to Him.  Statistics indicate the average person hears the Gospel message around eleven times before he or she makes that commitment to Christ.  This means that we who share that message must do a better, more prepared job in presenting the Good News of the Promised Redeemer who came to this earth at the specific time in God’s perfect plan.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, In Jesus’ name we ask for an opportunity today to share our testimony of salvation with someone who needs to experience the joy of salvation.

Manna in the Morning

11-29-10

Useful

Job 10:8, “Your hands shaped me and formed me.”

            Many individuals who come to Christ come thinking they have nothing to offer to their Savior in gratitude for their salvation.  It is important for each of us to remember we have been shaped, molded, formed into the exact person our Heavenly Father desires to use in some specific way.  We are not all called to the Pastorate or Mission Field, we are not all equipped to be teachers or musicians, but we are all called and equipped to give our own witness as to what happened when we met Jesus and give Him our life, we are all given the gift of intercessory prayer as we go before God on behalf of those who are in need of that which only God can give.

In the human genealogy of Jesus, Ruth a Moabitess is named as the great grandmother of King David, Jesus’ ancestor.  Ruth came to Israel from a pagan nation, one who had worshipped idols, understood the love of Jehovah God, giving up all she had to go to Bethlehem in Judah with her widowed mother-in-law, a homeless widow, depending upon the goodness of distant relatives of her mother-in-law for a place to stay, gathered the remnants of grain in the harvest fields that were left after the reapers were finished to provide their food.  God used this woman who turned to God for strength, food, a place to call home and who gave her a husband who took in a penniless widow, met her every need, then both Ruth and Boaz became a part of the line of the Savior, Jesus.

Moses was a wanderer in the desert after killing an Egyptian who was mistreating an Israelite slave; he met God in the middle of the wilderness when God appeared to him through a bush that was aflame, but not consumed by the fire.  He was slow of speech with an impediment, yet God used Him to speak to Pharaoh and seek the release of the Israelites to go to the land God had promised them nearly 500 years before.  In every case, the Biblical heroes were effective when they were submissive to the voice of God the Holy Spirit within them, did as He commanded, and allowed what they were and had to be used of their God.  We can do no less than to submit and allow Him to use us and the results will always be to His glory and for His Kingdom.  Remember God uses the weak to defeat the strong, and the believer in Christ to confound and confront the unbelieving intellect.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we submit to you for this day, asking You in Jesus’ name, to use us to Your glory.

Manna in the Morning

11-24-10

Thanksgiving Eve

2 Timothy 1:3, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my forefathers did.”

            On this Thanksgiving Eve, I thank God for the great privilege of writing MITM, just to encourage you to spend a part of your day in God’s Word.  Your notes of encouragement are precious to me, and I do remember you in prayer when you send a note with a question, prayer request or just to encourage and say hello.  The international readership of MITM has increased recently for which I praise God, and I ask all of you to pray for me as I continue to write these short devotional passages.  It truly is my honor to send these to each one of you.  I also want to thank my Heavenly Father for a Dad and Grandfather who loved, served and trusted their Heavenly Father, sometimes in difficult circumstances and passed that heritage on to me.

While tomorrow is a day set aside in the United States, Canada and other nations have other special days; please join all of us tomorrow in praising and thanking God for His wonder and for his goodness to each of us, His children.  Psalm 100 1 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth.  2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God.  He made us, and we are His —His people, the sheep of His pasture.  4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him and praise His name.  5 For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are blessed above all measure when we consider how You have touched our lives with wonderful friends to encourage and strengthen us, for people who have entrusted us with the precious privilege of praying specifically for their needs.  We thank You for Your love and the salvation that raised us up from spiritual death to eternal life, then gave us a specific ministry where we can work for Your kingdom out of the gratitude that fills our heart.  Thank you for the opportunity to witness, teach and serve you in many different areas of this earth, bringing glory to Your Great Name.  Thank You for the peace that floods our hearts and the trust we have in Your promise to answer our prayers in Your Time and way.  Thank you for families, close friends and the godly wisdom You give them through our words to them.  Thank You for the home You are preparing even now for us in your presence in the Heavenlies where we will give you praise without end.  O God thank you for Your peace within us we love and desire to serve You so long as You allow.  In Jesus’ matchless name we pray.

May God’s richest blessings rest upon you this Thanksgiving as we worship Him with a humble heart.

Manna in the Morning

11-23-10

Philippians 2:1-2, “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.

As we approach this Thanksgiving Day, we need to thank our God for the encouragement we have in Christ Jesus, the fellowship we have with God the Holy Spirit and the fellowship He brings us with other believers and for the affection or love God our Father has for us, showering us with His mercies that are in infinite supply.  First, ask yourself what encouragement do you get from reading the life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark and Luke?  The encouragement of a person who found the strength and closeness with the Heavenly Father to overcome all of Satan’s temptations that trouble us and torment our thoughts on a daily basis.  Because He triumphed, in His strength and presence in our lives through God the Holy Spirit we can overcome those arrows of fire the devil shoots at our human weaknesses.  Because He won the battle, we know every temptation can be overcome in the power of God the Holy Spirit.

We have been the recipient of the love of God even before our being born anew into His Family.  It is the love of God that drew us to Him in the first place, the unimaginable love of Jesus who would give His own life as the perfect sacrifice at Calvary, the love we now give to Him out of our hearts filled with gratitude for the great gift we have in His death, burial and resurrection.  This is the love that binds us to other Believers regardless of miles, language or cultural differences, the love that calls other men and women to Christ shining through us.

We are to be focused on one goal, living our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Peter didn’t think he was worthy to be crucified like Jesus, so he was nailed to the cross upside down, other saints through the years have considered themselves unworthy to be persecuted or killed for the gospel and we are reluctant to speak out when someone ridicules the saving message of Christ.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the encouragement, love and mercy we have in you.  May our goal be to be worthy to suffer for your name and to bring you great glory.

Manna in the Morning

11-22-10

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philippians 1:3, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you.”

Paul was appreciative and thanked God for his friends and prayer supporters in Philippi, if you don’t have a close association with some group or individual that prays for one another and loves us in the bond of Christ Jesus, you need to align ourselves with those who know your needs and faithfully pray for you.  It is important for you to find such a Bible study or prayer group since it is as important for your spiritual health, as good nourishment for your physical health.  Thank God for those with whom we share our deepest requests.

We need to pray daily for our families, praying for their health physically and spiritually.  We need to uphold them before our Heavenly Father for strength and boldness in their spiritual witness as well as their physical well-being.  Scripture stresses the importance of praying for our parents, children and grandchildren, all who share a family relationship with us.  Let them know they can depend upon you to drop everything in order to intercede for them before our Heavenly Father’s throne.  Regardless of the little stresses and strains that come into our relationships and there will be many, do not let this effect our promise to pray for them.  Thank you Heavenly Father for our families, those with whom we have that special bond of love.

Pray for the Church in areas of persecution and danger, our brothers and sisters in Christ around this world, many of whom are involved in quiet, effective witness and winning others to Christ, some are in prisons, others under government surveillance but all need our prayer.  We are born anew into the family of God and are now responsible to intercede before the throne for each of them, and thank God for their witness wherever they are.

Pray for your nation.  Daniel prayed for Israel, even accepted the responsibility for their sin as a nation.  Pray for a revival in an expectant manner and thank our God and Father for those who have chosen to serve Him in government or military service. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for those we love, who hold us accountable and who serve us in many different ways.  We thank You for each one with a grateful heart and pray Your blessing upon them in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-19-10

What if?

Deuteronomy 11:1-2, “Therefore, love the Lord your God and always keep His mandate and His statutes, ordinances, and commands. You must understand today that it is not your children who experienced or saw the discipline of the Lord your God.”

As we end this week, we need to remember the admonition God gave to Moses to deliver to His people, remembering we are the Children of the Heavenly Father in this time in which we live.  We are to always love the Lord our God and fear Him.  Not only are we to hold Him in awesome reverence, we are to remember He will hold each one of us accountable for how we followed His statutes, Commandments and plan for our lives.  Israel depended upon their past to show remind them how God had blessed and protected them, you and I need to look to our present to see how our God has abundantly blessed us.

We are under attack from our enemy, the devil and his evil angels, every day of our lives.  Our nation has turned from a nation that once revered God’s Holy name to a people whose leaders and courts have forbidden prayer, the mention of God’s name in our Public Schools and even allow children to opt out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance to our beautiful flag.  Our society and government bureaucrats are filled with those who wish to take our freedoms from us one step at a time through regulation until we walk together in chains to our next government appointed check-point.  We have become a nation where those who love and believe in God’s grace and mercy are commanded by government to pay for the sacrifice of unborn children to the god of pleasure, we are forced to accept silence from our pulpits and churches on matters of Biblical, moral values, forced to pay for the servitude of Christians to a Godless, immoral, Constitutional defying bureaucracy that suffocates the message of salvation through Jesus alone.  We bear the blame; we allowed this to happen over the last six decades by giving up our religious freedom inch by inch.  We cry, “We not forgotten 9-11-01,” but we have forgotten what it means to walk, talk, witness and proclaim Christ without fear to those around us.  Oh, Lord God, we are suffering because of our own inaction and inattentiveness.  Forgive us and deliver us we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-18-10

What You have seen

Deuteronomy 11:7, “Your own eyes have seen every great work the Lord has done.”

            As each of us reflect back upon what God has done in our lives, worked miracles in answered prayer, healed others as we interceded for them before His throne, led us when we didn’t know where to turn but greatest of all, He saved us from our sin, reached into the mire where we were living in ignorance of God’s provision for our salvation, lifted us up into the glorious position we now have as a child of the Heavenly Father.  We have seen His work and experienced His power.

With our eyes of faith, we have seen Joseph overcome the power of Satan and save his entire family from starvation, seen Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt, protecting them against enemies and provide food for them in the wilderness, We read David’s Psalms, faintly hearing with ears of faith, his harp and voice praising our great God.  We have in our spirit experienced the sorrow of Calvary and the elation of the empty tomb, we have felt the stones that pelted Stephen, followed Paul as he traveled to Rome to be God’s witness to Caesar’s household, felt John’s thrill as he saw Jesus revealed as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

In our own lives we have felt the comforting calmness of spirit when we confessed our sin and were reconciled with our Father in Heaven.  Our hearts have overflowed like a geyser with joy as we share the gospel message with others and see them turn to Jesus.  We have seen God do great things and now we must attest to His greatness daily as we live for Him.  As God gives us opportunity we must take the step of faith and share our witness with others, we need to feel the passion of Jesus’ concern for the lost, His compassion for the weak and helpless and his forgiveness that reached the adulteress at Samaria and the murderous thief on the cross.  In all of Biblical History there has never been one hero of faith who has been blessed more than you.  Jesus reached out to you personally and wrapped you in His righteousness to present you to the Father.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for reaching down to us and praise you for your mighty works in our lives.  In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-17-10

Of Prime Importance

Deuteronomy 6:4-7, “The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

            We all have often heard our Lord Jesus’ words in answer to the Pharisee’s question, but not very often do we realize He was referring to this verse in Deuteronomy when Moses reminded Israel of their first responsibility.  As God has dealt with men and women throughout the years since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He has had the same requirement of every person.  Put God first in your life.  Any person who declares Jesus as his or her Savior must keep Him permanently prominent in their lives.  Our Jehovah God will not be content in second place to any thing, person or idea; He is worthy of our first love, He has redeemed us from the pit of sin, He has paid the price for our sin, he is the Lamb of Revelation that is worthy of all praise. 

            Often people will tell you the day they accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior, but further discussion brings out the truth that although they know Him as Savior, they do not allow Him to be the leader of their lives. Unless Our Great God and Heavenly Father is the Leader of our lives, the one we depend upon for guidance in every situation, the one who, through God the Holy Spirit, controls our tongue, thought life and the attitudes we present to others, God cannot use us to maximum effect.  God will hold His Children accountable for the life they lead and the words they use.  If we use God’s name in meaningless ways, as an expletive or demean that blessed name to common usage, God will not hold us blameless.  As adults working with younger Christians, parents training their children or Grandparents being careful to be the example we need to be to those in our family, let us always remember to live so that those who fallow us will find us faithful to our Lord.

            Heavenly Father, our sincere prayer is that those who look to us will always find us faithful to Your Word, precepts and the leading of God the Holy Spirit; we pray this in Jesus’

Manna in the Morning

11/16/10

A Census

Numbers 1:44, “These are the men Moses and Aaron registered, with the assistance of the 12 leaders of Israel; each represented his ancestral house.”

            The census taken in this chapter is the census from which the Book takes its name.  Two years after the Israelites left Egypt there were, according to the census 603,550 men over twenty years old in Israel.  Assuming two-thirds of them were married, two kids per family and assorted unmarried young women and children, the number of Israelites would approach 1.25 million people wandering through the deserts and scrub lands.  No wonder they were worried about water and food, this called for increased dependence and faith in their great God.  Every male over twenty was considered as part of the army and had to be ready to defend Israel in the event of an attack by brigands or opposing armies.  God has given the men the responsibility and indicated this in Scripture, the responsibility of protecting their families and nation against their enemies, not being passive and easily defeated.  Because of their number, the blessings of God were upon them, they continued to grow, not shrink as they survived their wanderings before entering Canaan.  God prevented their clothes from wearing out, their shoes from falling apart and His great blessing was upon them.

Today, the number of Christians is increasing across the world; however, the percentage of the world population is decreasing because the world population is also increasing at such a rapid rate.  Our Heavenly Father is our protection and guide in our walk through a world that today is as indifferent to the salvation message as it ever has been, Satan’s minions are eager to attack our testimony and limit our effectiveness.  Our clothes and shoes will wear out, but God’s provision for our spiritual defense will never be worn or threadbare.  So long as our trust is in Him and our relationship is not hindered by personal sin and indifference, we will be as effective as anyone at any time in God’s dealing with the world through His chosen ones.  Heavenly Father, we give ourselves to You for Your effective use this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-15-10

Revelation 7:17, “Because the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

In the future, during the time after the Church has been taken up into the Heavenlies, and the earth is going the time of purification preparing for Jesus’ return to this earth, many of those left upon the earth will die for their faith.  Because persecution of those who love their Redeemer, Jesus will run rampant upon the earth, leading to martyrdom and death for those who follow Him.

The promise to those who have given their life for their faith is the same as we who serve the Lord today.  He will lead us to springs of living water.  Just as Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4, He is that living water and is free to all who call upon Him for salvation at any time.  The woman at the well in Samaria was an outcast in the village, she had no friends and the entire village knew of her sin, isolating her and treating her scornfully.  When Jesus offered her life abundant and free, she went to the village, told all who would listen that she had met the Messiah, the Savior of the world and the entire village returned to the well to hear Him.

We all have known sorrow, the loss of parents or children, the heart wrenching loss of a spouse or a debilitating injury.  Our Heavenly Father has promised that this earth that is filled with tears, a life here that is lived in regret or distress can look to the time when all sorrow is removed, all regret is taken away, we are never reminded of those times in our life when the tears flowed so freely, all tears are wiped away by our Heavenly Father.

We have read Psalm 23, and our minds have grasped the concept that our Savior is our good Shepherd, the One who will lead us to spiritual food and water.  When we are in the Heavenlies our good Shepherd will be the Lamb, the one who is our sacrifice, the Lamb is the central figure in the Throne Room of God, and He is our King of Kings, our Perfect Sacrifice, Our living Water and our Comforter. Heavenly Father, the more we understand what you have in store for us, the more we rejoice in the promise we shall be with You in the Heavens.  Give us opportunity to share our joy this day, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-12-10

God’s Provision

2 Peter 2:9-10, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.”

Every Christian should consider his or her future, and the probability of trials and difficulties entering their lives, things like debilitating sickness, financial difficulties, loss of job or other trial.  This verse comes in the Scriptural passage right after Peter has listed Biblical heroes God has led through their trials to triumph.  People like Noah and his family whom God saved to repopulate the earth when His righteous judgment demanded their destruction for their evil actions and blasphemies.  God even preserved Lot who was saved out of the moral cesspool of Sodom and Gomorrah when he saved the lives of Lot and his daughters, because Lot had remained righteous in the middle of the sinful activities of men who sinned and were declared an abomination in the eyes of a Holy God.  Because of his passive acceptance of their sin, and failure to speak against it, Lot lost his possessions, even his cattle and livestock.  Our ever-faithful Heavenly Father protected David in the wilderness when Saul and his armies sought to kill him, and not only did God preserve his life He made David the great King over all Israel and established Jerusalem as his Capitol.

Nothing can come upon us, no trial or persecution can enter our lives without God allowing it and using it to teach us to depend upon Him for everything.  Also, God has promised us that the wicked will feel the full, undiluted wrath of God at the final judgment.  Those who persecute the Church by preaching a false message muzzling the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation and those that kill or imprison God’s true witnesses, impeding the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in full measure will surely find their eternal existence in the lake of fire, free from any influence of God’s moderating mercy to be sure and certain.

Our Heavenly Father, we put our trust in you for our future.  Keep us faithful wherever we are and whatever comes into our lives we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-11-10

Veteran’s Day

2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

            A veteran is one who is experienced through long service or practice, having served for an extended period of time.  Today is traditionally recognized as Veteran’s Day, a day set apart to recognize those who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and to express a sincere thanks to those who have served in one of the military actions such as the current conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Grenada, Vietnam, Korea, WWII and WWI as well as the many unnamed skirmishes and actions in the last 100 years.  Our nation is losing WWII vets alone at the rate of approximately 300,000 each year.  When recognized in a gathering of people, most veterans are proud of their service to the United States, their Branch of Service and of the contribution they have made to the safety, security and freedom we enjoy in the United States of America. Every Veteran deserves our gratitude, respect and honor. The Bible reminds us that serving in the military is an honorable profession, ancient Israel honored and respected David, the Warrior King and Israel’s many other military heroes.  We who love our God are called to be good soldiers in the Lord’s Army as well.

Men and women in the military serve for a variety of reasons.  First, for our Country, preserving the integrity and freedom of the Constitutional Republic we call the United States of America; protecting our borders and interests across the world on land, sea and air.  Second, to assure the freedoms guaranteed in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution for themselves, their families and every citizen of the nation.  Third, for a sense of patriotism and loyalty to those who have gone before us as far back as the farmers and merchants who fired the gunshots that were heard around the world, and still echo in the halls of freedom.  Next, to assure all free people across the globe that the right to worship and revere our great God will never be restricted in any manner.  In the heart of every Vet, there is a burning fire of willing, fervent service to his or her country and in the heart of every believer in Jesus Christ there should be a fierce fire burning with great fervor and brilliance to share and win others to our Redeemer.

Our Great King and the Leader of our Lives, we thank You for those who have served our great country, even to their death.  We will gratefully serve You wherever you position us.  Our first allegiance is to You and those who reverence Your name.  We honor You in Jesus’ wonderful name.

Manna in the Morning

11-10-10

Emptiness

Job 26:7, “God stretches the northern skies over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.”

            In mathematics, an empty set is the unique set having no elements; its size is zero. Even though you say less than six and more than five there are an uncountable number of places on a number line.  Every equation in math will have at least one specific number in the answer.  An absolute vacuum is considered by some as a theoretical possibility, but impossible to achieve.  The only place where there is total emptiness is where the creation of Almighty God does not reach, and since God has created all that is, there is no place in our universe where ‘nothing’ exists.

All creation sings the praise of our Creator, the electromagnetic waves of every object point to an all powerful Creator who has placed humanity at the center of His creation.  The soul that knows Jesus, God the Son as Redeemer and Lord is full of the praise and honor of God the Father, filled with the presence of God the Holy Spirit and overflowing with the love of God that is shared with all with whom the Christian meets.

The individual who does not know salvation in Jesus is completely empty of true joy, the love of Almighty God as the Father of all who are born again and empty of hope and expectation based upon Jesus’ promise of life eternal and His presence with us in the heavenly places. It is, however, filled with sinful attitudes that spawn evil deeds and vile language; it is filled to the brim with hate and selfishness, overflowing with self-importance and false dreams of a blissful eternity.

Only where God is, is there abundance of joyful living, without Him in a person’s life, men and women live in the middle of a vast wasteland with no hope of ever reaching the end no matter how hard they try or how good they may think they are.  Material things turn to dust, money disappears, and life is a mad effort to find the end of the desert.  In Christ Jesus, we live now in the valley of God’s blessings and the promise of Heaven’s joys in our future.  Our wonderful Heavenly Father, we thank you for the joy that fills us when we live our lives in your perfect plan.

Manna in the Morning

11-09-10

Froth and Bubbles

Proverbs 25:20, “Singing songs to a troubled heart is like taking off clothing on a cold day, or like pouring vinegar on soda.”

            If you have ever poured vinegar on soda, (Not carbonated drinks) you know the end result is a great deal of bubbles, fizzing and activity, but nothing of substance.  It is the same way when we try to encourage someone with serious depression or sorrow.  When we try to get them involved in a time of singing, even praise choruses their deep melancholy will not subside.  Some pastors today are caught up in the current trend toward messages of positive encouragement, light hearted remarks, giving their congregants a sense of participation and upbeat music, a lot of activity, participation and movement, but very little Scriptural teaching in their messages, providing lots of frothy, bubbling activity but little substance.  When we meet to worship, we need to voice our praise and adoration for our Heavenly Father, pray and seek His listening ear when we pour out our concerns and fears to Him, then listen quietly for Him to speak to our heart in the same small voice Jeremiah heard in the wilderness after the fire and earthquake had passed by.  Our Father is anxious to meet with us, to encourage us and speak to our hearts just like He spoke to Adam in the garden.  One of the great gifts of believing in Christ Jesus for our redemption is the quiet time we spend in communion with our God and Father.

Each Christian needs someone with whom he can pour out their heart’s deep secrets, to seek encouragement for their difficult journey on this earth, to ask God to prepare hearts for our introduction to Jesus or to spend time with Him just as a child does with their father.   When our brothers and sisters have deep concerns or difficulties, it is time for us to give them comfort, to share their sorrow and to use the balm of God’s Word to ease their pain.  Using hydrogen peroxide on a wound produces the same bubbling effect, but it is a cleansing agent, removing the impurities around a wound, reminding us to use the cleansing power of Scripture in our counseling with others.

Gracious Heavenly Father, keep us from using platitudes instead of promises contained in Your word, may we use the cleansing power of Calvary to remove the sin and doubts in the lives of those who need to meet You as their Father, guide, and reconciler of their souls.  We eagerly wait in anticipation the opportunity to use Your Word to help others, in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-08-10

Mystery

Ephesians 1:9-10, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him for the administration of the days of fulfillment—to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him.”

            God our great Heavenly Father has given us the answer to the mystery of His perfect will that all men be saved from eternal torment through their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son on Calvary’s cross.  While God dealt with the entire world through the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Old Testament, in the period of time from Pentecost until today God has dealt with all the people of the world through the Church.  His manner of salvation through faith did not change although the messengers did.  God’s Word is clear in that the gospel message is to all people, Jewish or Gentile, without regard to ethnic background, economic freedom or slavery or social status.  While the Church is not present or even considered in the Old Testament, there are promises and hints that cannot be fulfilled without the presence of the Church after God the Holy Spirit came upon men at Pentecost.  That is the mystery, God bringing the Church into existence, unifying all people groups in the spreading of the salvation message.

Our part in God’s plan is to spread the Gospel message to every person on every continent, to teach, encourage and give them the same burden for others that Christ Jesus has imparted to us.  It is important to carefully preach and share the same message, point to the same Savior and send missionaries to every part of this earth as God gives us ability, opportunity and encouragement in that endeavor.  We are soon going to reach the day when the open doors of the church will be closed, when the call to repentence will no longer be the Church’s responsibility because we will be caught up into the Heavenly places to be with our Lord.  Then the mantle of preaching and teaching will fall upon the shoulders once more of the Jewish people for a short span of time until our King of Kings returns from heaven to reign upon the earth as the Prince of Peace.

Our Heavenly Father, give us a renewed passion for winning others before the open door of opportunity is shut, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-05-10

Gifts

1 Thessalonians1:3, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

            Every person born anew into the Family of God has been given individual gifts to use in the work of our God.  God has equipped each of His children for service in ways He has prepared for each individual.  We do them, acting in faith in our God, knowing he has gifted us for every specific opportunity.  God could, if he wished, speak from Heaven and the task would be completed, but He has given us the opportunity and privilege to do these good works in His name and for His glory.

Our good works are not for our own gratification, earning heaven’s joy or for our name to be acclaimed.  We are anxious to glorify the name of our Savior, to proclaim the great grandeur of our God and are done as an expression of His love, then through us, to those we willingly serve.  That which we do is from a heart of love and gratitude to Jesus, who came according to Mark’s Gospel,  ‘not be served, but to serve,’ and it is in His name we willingly serve others so they will know His love just as we do.

When Scripture says we will ‘endure to the end, ’ it is not speaking of our enduring to be saved, but overcoming whatever comes into our lives so that we may be more like our Redeemer and less like the person we were before we met him.  All our confidence is in His Word and in the promises He has given to those who love Him.  Our confidence is in our Lord, our Master, our Redeemer; Jesus.  The name whereby we are saved, the One whose perfect life was given for our salvation. Christ, the Promised One, the one whose path is seen throughout all Scripture.  Our Heavenly Father, how we thank You for the opportunity to bring glory to You in the life we live this day, in Jesus’ name we praise You!

Manna in the Morning

11-04-10

The Great Scroll

Revelation 6:1, “Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”

            The Apostle John is receiving a glimpse into things that would happen on earth and in Heaven long after his death.  Because he made this record, we who are living in this age, over two thousand years after John saw the Lord Jesus revealed in His splendor and experienced His glory, have the opportunity to read of what he saw.  After the great splendor of the Throne of Almighty God, the glory that surrounds that throne and the uncounted multitude of angels who are loyal to their Majestic Creator and humans saved by faith in Jesus raise their voices and praise their God, John saw the 24 elders lay their crowns before Jesus in worship.  In John’s vision, the glorified Jesus is described as The Lamb, who alone is worthy to receive the scroll of judgment from the hand of God sitting upon the throne.

In Chapter four of Revelation John was summoned to heaven by a voice that said ‘come,’ and now in Chapter 6 the voice of one of the four living creations surrounding the throne speaks one word, “Come” in a voice that echoed and reverberated across the heavenly expanse.  Immediately, upon the surface of the earth, John saw a rider on a white horse with a bow and a crown.  This rider was equipped with weapons of warfare against the inhabitants of the earth.  A bow with which he would hurl his fiery arrows against all who opposed him.  He was given a crown that is proven temporary when his reign is ended after seven years.

As John looked at the vision before him, he saw the remaining seals opened and the purification process of the earth began, scrubbing away the effects, stains and healing the scars of the curse placed upon the earth after sin entered in the Garden of Eden.

While we recognize and admit the sin in our lives has left stains and scars, they are washed away by the sacrifice of Calvary and our Heavenly raiment is the purity of Christ Jesus’ righteousness, but the surface of the earth was cursed on that ancient day and it must be removed before the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords when this imposter has been removed.

Heavenly Father, we long to see Your glory, keep us close to You this day and every day until we see enter into Your divine presence.

Manna in the Morning

11-03-10

The Future

Psalm 16:5, “Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future.”

            On the day after any election, the country is no longer focused on past accomplishments by incumbents and their challengers, and are looking to the future and what God has for each of His children and this country that was founded on Biblical precepts.  It is a good reminder that our God is sovereign and omni-sapient, knowing all things.  God is not caught by surprise, nor is His plan dependent upon any election of the works of men, He is absolute sovereign over all creation and that includes our governing bodies and executives who may have inflated egos or think a little more highly of themselves than they ought to.  It is by the allowable will of God that they have won, and their success is not their own doing.

The Old Testament is full of accounts of monarchs and leaders who thought they no longer needed to follow God’s principles and edicts. Kings like Saul, who disobeyed, Ahab who defied God and worshipped idols, Belshazzar, the Emperor of Babylon, who saw God’s finger writing his obituary on the wall of the banquet hall.  The emperors of Greece and Rome who sought to wipe out Christianity or bend the church to their will.  No man or woman, regardless of their place in history or the time in which they lived, can brag about their accomplishments or take any kind of authoritative position without recognizing God has allowed or aided them in that accomplishment.  There is no job too menial when God calls, nor is there any job too complex that you cannot accomplish all that needs to be done in the power or under the direction of God.

Let’s continue to pray for our country, our President, every leader as they assume their responsibilities and ask our Heavenly Father to give them wisdom, discernment and spiritual ears to hear His voice.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for guidance for our leaders, we pray for Your leading in our lives, and lead us to the one person You have chosen to use us in presenting them with the gospel message, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

11-2-10

Choose

Exodus 18:21-22, “But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”

Today is the day we choose our representatives in this Constitutional Republic.  No matter who you vote for, you are exercising your right to vote.  It is increasingly difficult to find people who will run for office since political ads are used to destroy the reputations and character of an opponent, not to promote the issues the individual candidate holds as a position.

At Jethro’s suggestion, Moses called for men from every tribe in Israel, men chosen to represent their families, friends and neighbors.  In this election the men elected were responsible for the conduct and well-being of those they represented.  God’s qualifications were that they love Him, obey His commands and be trustworthy.  Liars, cheats and those whose vote could be bought with money were not to be given a place of responsibility or leadership.  When we cast our votes today, remember no candidate is perfect, each has imperfections and so do we.  As Believers, our sin is covered by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.  Vote after praying for God’s guidance, examining all you can find about those who are running for office, evaluating their statements and then, under God’s direction, vote for your choice.

Our great God can change the courses of the rivers, direct the paths of hurricanes, and direct the hearts of men and women, saved or unsaved.  The greatest responsibility the Christian Citizen has to do today is pray for God’s will to be done, that which would bring Him the greatest glory and then vote under His direction.

Heavenly Father, give us the calm assurance that You will be glorified this and every day in our lives.  We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

11-01-10

Witches

1 Samuel 28:15, “I’m in serious trouble,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn’t answer me anymore, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what I should do.”

            Yesterday was Halloween and wherever you looked in subdivisions or stores, all you saw was ghosts, goblins, skeletons, spooks or something that makes you think of graves, death, or satanic activity. Those who are unsaved have little knowledge of Jesus’ gift of life and make as much fuss over this celebration of death and the grave as they do of Christmas, decorating their houses, going to extremes to glorify death and whether they intend it or not, they aid in Satan’s desire to see all humanity die.

Saul, the first King of Israel, according to 1 Samuel, went to war against the Philistines and was filled with fear and trembling when he saw their army. He could get no comfort from any of Israel’s prophets for God had turned his face away from Saul because of his sin. Saul commanded his servants to find a medium to call up Samuel, who was long dead, from the grave to question him. This was in contempt of God’s command to have nothing to do with witches, witchcraft, mediums, the spirit world, or any attempt to seek guidance from any but God’s appointed prophets. This is a Biblical precept that has never changed! Samuel plainly told Saul he was going to die in the coming battle and because of Saul’s sin, his son Jonathan would never be king, and the nation would be devastated by the enemy.

God is the source of all life and He has given us the opportunity for eternal life through Jesus, our Savior.  It is not only against God’s Word, it is demeaning to all God has done in our lives to celebrate any observance that celebrates death and satanic activity.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the joy we have in life on this earth and the promise of eternity in your presence. We ask for a special opportunity today to show the difference between the devil’s death wish and life eternal in Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-29-10

Worship

Revelation 11:1, “When I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure God’s sanctuary and the altar, and count those who worship there.

            Many people have the idea their solitary worship is adequate to meet God’s requirements, others claim the great cathedral of God’s creation is more suited to their worship than the church where they could worship with their family, they are the guys who worship on the golf tee or somewhere else.  God is honored when we worship Him in the midst of creation, He is the creator and sustainer of all that is and one can truly worship our Heavenly Father in such a setting.   However, God’s Word reminds us we should not forget or ignore worshipping together with other Christians in the place of worship.  There are many reasons for families to worship together, it creates bonds that bind the generations together, as well as the joy of singing, praising, studying God’s Word together with others who will pray with and for you as brothers and sisters in the Lord Christ.

Our Father in Heaven, according to this verse, counts those who meet with others for worship.  He asked an angel to measure the sanctuary and count the number of worshippers, there is an interest in heaven in the number of worshippers who meet together and a relative number of those who love Him and those who still have to hear and accept the message of redemption.  True worship is more than singing, listening, even giving.  These are passive responses, it is the active participation of the mind and center of our being in the understanding and carrying out the plan of God on this earth.  True worship is joining our heart to the Lord God, serving Him with all our being, participating in the study and meditation upon God’s Word.

If our Heavenly Father finds it important enough to send an angel to count the worshippers, you and I should find it important enough to attend worship services, not because it has any effect upon our salvation, but simply to profit from the teaching of Scripture and the fellowship with other believers.  Our Heavenly Father, whether alone or in the sanctuary, we honor You and praise You with all our being.  Bless us this day we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-28-10

Government

Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.”

Next week, we will go to the polls to vote for 85% of our Congress.  Every seat in the House of Representatives and thirty Senatorial seats will be filled at the end of the night Tuesday with either a returnee or a new member of Congress.  Much attention has been paid to this election in the middle of our President’s first term.  In many ways it will reveal the way the nation as a whole views his effectiveness as President and their opinion of his program.  In prior elections around fifty percent of eligible voters who are regular Church attendees did not choose to cast a ballot.  Our Heavenly Father has told us to be salt and light to our fellow men and in order to fulfill this command we should take every opportunity to vote for those who represent us.  We would not go to court for legal action without an attorney to represent us, and it is equally if not more important to evaluate all candidates for office, then vote for the one we feel will best represent us.  The failure of Believers to enter into the political arena has left that segment of society without the saltiness of our faith and many of the men and women running for office are in spiritual darkness, and do not know the Light of the World.

As each of us prepares to vote, determine to know as much as possible for the individuals who are running for office.  Look up their bio’s and website, do they espouse the Biblical principles you hold dear?  If they have been in office and seek reelection, does their voting record and actions echo what you would have done?  Make each decision after praying about it, allow God the Holy Spirit to guide you, put their voting record, the principles upon which they stand and their public statements to the test of Scripture to see how it compares.

Our nation has seen some difficult times, the lack of Biblical principles has been apparent in governmental actions and every Christian must seek the Lord’s will in casting a vote to send good men and women to be salt and light in the darkness.  Our great Heavenly Father, guide our hearts and minds as we seek your will in this year’s election.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-27-10

Do-It-Yourself

Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Today there seems to be a mania for DIY projects, a leak in the kitchen sink? An electrical short in a lamp? A new patio, just go to the nearest building supply store, talk to someone with some knowledge, order the material, load the truck or trunk of the car, buy any tools needed and go home to do it yourself!  There are some pitfalls however; perhaps you ­do need an electrician, a plumber, a variance under the zoning codes or an experienced person to give you some guidance.  I have a personal corollary to Murphy’s Law, ‘It will take two extra trips to the store, a tool or some material I do not have before the job is complete.’  And, will cost more than originally budgeted.

One place where a do-it-yourselfer cannot even begin is in providing for our salvation and assurance of Heaven.  In Acts 4:12, the phrase ‘must be saved’ means that there is but one name, the name of Jesus that assures one of salvation, there is no other way recognized on earth or in Heaven.  All those heroes of faith in the Old Testament were saved by faith in the Promised Sacrifice of Genesis 3:15, it is said of Abraham, “He believed God (Had faith in God’s Promises) and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” four times in God’s Word.  All who lived after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are saved by faith looking back on that sacrifice and that act alone for salvation.  There are those who say, “How can you know the mind of God?” the answer is simple, read and take on faith the Word of God in its purest form.

Many people have built their own houses, others have built cars from the tires up and others built magnificent yachts and sailed them around the world without help, but no one has ever achieved a place in heaven by his own efforts, deeds or personal achievement, it is by faith in Jesus alone.  As hard as one may study and dig into the scriptures, it is important to gather together with other believers to encourage and edify each other in worship and study of God’s Word.  When we are born anew, we are born into the Family of our Heavenly Father.  Lord God, our Father, keep us from trying to go it alone, may we get encouragement and help from those we know who have accepted Jesus, God the son as Redeemer.  It is in His name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-26-10

The Veil

Exodus 34:34-35, “But whenever Moses went before the Lord to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. After he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, and the Israelites would see that Moses’ face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again until he went to speak with the Lord.”

Moses wore a white veil when speaking to the Israelites after being in the presence of God.  His face shone with such intensity the onlookers had to avert their eyes because of the glow.  To the Israelites, it meant their leader, chosen of God, had been in the presence of the Almighty God and what he told them had come from God without distortion.  His face shone with a radiance whose only source could be their great God.  On the Mountain, when the three disciples left the place where they had seen Jesus enveloped in the great brilliance of His heavenly glory, they had to wear a veil to shield their faces when they returned to their fellow disciples.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of America’s early authors wrote a short story entitled “The Black Veil” concerning a Puritan Pastor who entered his church one Sunday with a thin black cloth from his forehead down to his upper lip, stretching from ear to ear.  The veil allowed the pastor to see through it, but no one could see his eyes to gauge his temperament or mood.  To those who spoke to him, the veil appeared to signify the propensity of all people to carry hidden sin in their hearts, hidden from everyone to whom they spoke.  Pastor Hooper wore it to preach, conduct a funeral where it seemed somewhat appropriate, when he joined a young man and his bride in marriage where his veil cast a pall over the entire wedding, even while talking to his fiancée who then told him she could not marry him so long as he continued to wear the veil.

We as believers in Christ Jesus do not need to wear a black veil, since our sin cannot be hidden from the eyes of our all-knowing God who is aware of our sin while the intent is still in our mind and heart, we do not need to wear a white veil because we are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit and the love of our Savior is meant to be seen by those we meet.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you to shine through us to all we encounter this day, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-25-10

Majesty

Psalm 148:13, “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted.  His majesty covers heaven and earth.”

            When we read through the Word of God, there are some portions that are very descriptive of the majesty of our God; the scenes of His throne in the Heavenlies are enough to thrill your heart and make you yearn even more deeply for Heaven.  Passages like Isaiah 6 where in Isaiah’s vision, he sees the train of God’s Glory fill the temple courtyards or the Passage in Ezekiel 4 where a glimpse into the Throne Room of God is enough to take your breath away.  The splendor of God’s presence, the Shikinah glory of God that has no comparison, the hosts of Heaven speaking of His eternality and splendor, His all powerful presence, the absolute grandeur of His Creation, even now, in spite of the ravages of sin upon this cursed world.

In Revelation where the Throne again is seen, the presence of The Eternal One, the Father’s Presence, the Son in His rightful place, and God the Spirit in His eternal power.  Our God is beyond description, more beautiful, awesome and majestic than any human words can describe.

This is Our Heavenly Father, the one who has re-birthed us into His own Family, to a place of favor and sitting in His presence with gifts no angel could dream of receiving.  Redemption through the perfect sacrifice of God the Son places us among the Redeemed, the chosen of God, we who have accepted the offer of salvation in order to serve and honor Him with our earthly lives.

God the Holy Spirit infuses every one of the children of God, coming into their lives at the instant of their salvation.  As we yield to Him in our daily lives, we are guided in the paths God would have us take, inspired as we share the message of salvation with others, all that we do is used by our great God to bring glory to Him and to exalt and praise Him through everything we do or say.  Ps 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.”  Our Great Heavenly Father, we praise you for your goodness to us, and your many gifts given to us.  Make us worthy servants we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-22-10

Why Doubt

Luke 24:38-39, “Why are you troubled?” He asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”

It is hard to imagine what thoughts are going through the minds of the disciples in that room.  Their Lord had been crucified three days ago, Peter had told the rest of the disciples the Lord had risen, but they were not completely convinced, then these two men had just returned from Emmaus and reported they had seen Jesus confusing their minds and spirits.  Suddenly Jesus appeared in the middle of their group, no door opening, no slow materializing, in the blink of an eye Jesus was there and speaking to them, “Why are you worried?” Didn’t they remember Jesus had told them He would return in three days, “Why did you doubt me, didn’t you believe me?”  Not only had Jesus told them He would come from the grave in three days, now He was here with them and they had seen Him, they believed.

Today it is difficult to understand why people find it difficult to believe in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  We have the Biblical accounts, the historians of the time noted that Jesus of Nazareth was reported to have returned from the grave and every Believer has the witness of God the Holy Spirit within them to assure every man or woman of His resurrection and all His other promises as well, the promise to return to greet us as we enter Heaven’s gates, the promise of the place He has prepared for us, and the assurance of eternal life in His presence.  Why is it then, that we are hesitant to believe that our Heavenly Father will protect us from the fiery attacks of our arch-enemy or will give us the strength to complete every task he gives us?  When the opportunities for witness come our way, He will give us the words to say to make the most of the opportunity and will reward us for our faithfulness.  Heavenly Father, we will live this day in faith, resting upon your promises to us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-21-10

Bearing Fruit

Colossians 1:5-6, “You have already heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognized God’s grace in the truth.

In my back yard I have five banana trees that so far this year have produced four stalks of bananas. These trees came from our former house where they thrived for 20 years until we moved two years ago, and those trees were raised from shoots that came from my daughter and son-in-law’s house.  When the shoots were transplanted, they did not complain about their location, produced fruit in each location, depended upon God for the sunshine, rain and nutrients and followed the ways of their fore-bearers in producing stalks of bananas.  Their heritage was clear, but each transplanted shoot was responsible for his own growth and production.

It is much the same for the Christian who may find him or herself in a different location than what may be their comfort zone, yet they are to bear fruit in the place where God has placed them, provided the necessary encouragement, teaching from God’s Word and empowerment from God the Holy Spirit.  Every Believer in Jesus should be willing to be transplanted if God is in it, to be prepared at any time to share the confident expectation placed within our hearts by our Heavenly Father, to be always prepared to take our place in the chain that will carry the Gospel message to every part of the globe.  In the first years after Jesus’ ministry on earth, the message went to every part of the known earth, not always accepted, but the opportunity to accept Christ has always been presented.

Every person who has accepted God’s gift of salvation needs to always be prepared to share their faith with others, to know how to take maximum advantage of the slightest opportunity and how to approach others without offending them.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the ability to take maximum advantage of every opportunity, blessing our efforts with success, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-20-10

Ezekiel 5:5, “This is what the Lord God says: I have set this Jerusalem in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. But she has rebelled against My ordinances with more wickedness than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that surround her. For her people have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in My statutes.”

Jerusalem was set in the middle of the heathen nations to be an example of a righteous Kingdom to those around her and to proclaim the mercy and goodness of God.  As the inhabitants of Jerusalem became more settled and comfortable, they soon forgot their responsibilities and the warnings from God,  becoming idolatrous, choosing to live like the heathens around them instead of following God’s commands.  Through Ezekiel, God reminds them of their sin of willfully turning away from His statutes and commandments.  Later in this chapter, God tells Ezekiel to remind the inhabitants of Jerusalem they will be totally unclean before Him and will suffer deprivation and hardship.

As we approach this year’s elections and realize the spiritual battles being fought over the direction of America, we need to be aware that this country, founded on Biblical values, is a clear example in the past of how a once Christian nation has fallen just as old Jerusalem.  We allow our children to be sacrificed to the god of self-indulgence, we approve and foster the acceptance of the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, that which our God calls an abomination before Him, we have dismissed the importance of marriage, that institution upon which God has based our society and now are being lead by our national leaders to accommodate and show deference to a belief system that is of the devil and anti-Christian in every way.  As Christians we must use the power of our vote to stop the liberal, anti-Christian influences in our governmental system.  Even though we personally keep God’s commandments and precepts, we will suffer as did the faithful residents of Jerusalem when judgment came, therefore we need to be wise stewards of the blessing of God upon us in this nation and elect those that best represent our own Biblical values.

Gracious Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom we need to honor you with the votes we cast, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-19-10

The Fear of Man

Proverbs 29:25, ”The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.”     Psalm 56:4, “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?

            As I sit down to write this, Monday Night Football is about to begin.  I can only dread what could happen to me if I suddenly found myself up against one of those massive 300 pound linemen.  I am afraid to think of what could happen to me, even a 200 pound High School lineman could do me in!  As a young boy, David was not afraid of a giant ten feet tall who had shoulders like a huge beam of wood and carried a sword that weighed almost as much as David himself.  Without wearing armor, David looked like a small puppy facing up to Goliath. Yet David met his nemesis in the name and power of the Lord God Almighty.  When our trust is in God, our power is sufficient in the might of God the Holy Spirit that enables us.  When we are doing what God asks of us, using the Word of God as our weapon, using the shield of faith in the place where God has placed us, we are invincible as we battle our adversary.

There are two sides to the fear of man; of course there is the fear of what mankind can inflict upon us.  Persecution, even torture and death may come to the Believer in Christ Jesus if he or she is in a country that is hostile to the gospel message, but even these things cannot compare with the joy and reward that awaits the victorious Christian.  Man can only inflict earthly, physical, temporary setbacks but God provides eternal rewards and satisfaction in a job well done in His name.

The second aspect of the ‘fear of man’ is the fear that dwells within the heart and mind of the weak brother or sister that goes into spiritual combat with a double mind, saying they believe in the protecting power of their Heavenly Father, but relying solely on their own human endeavors and strength to defeat a spiritual enemy.

Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, guide us with Your love, protect us by Your Word and empower us through God the Holy Spirit as we walk with You this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-17-10

Freed from the Curse

1 Corinthians 15:49, “And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man.”

            We who live on the earth today are made of earthly material just as our original forefather Adam.  After God made the animals and cattle, He saw that the sixth day of creation was good and then in a special creative act, He created Adam.  Humanity is not an animal, we may share many characteristics of the mammals, but mankind is a special creation with a soul and the ability to understand and accept God’s offer of Redemption.  Adam was made of earthly material and so are we.  Adam was cursed by his sin and so are we.  The very dust used to form us by God is cursed because of the entrance of sin into this world.  Cursed and in need of redemption, mankind obeyed the laws established by God, believed in God’s promise of salvation by faith and looked to the restoration of mankind with their Creator.

Jesus, God the Son, left Heaven’s glory to be born into Adam’s sin cursed line with one purpose in mind, to be the promised perfect sacrifice by living a sinless life in the earthly body borne and birthed by Mary.  After His death and spending three days in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead in His own power and now gives life eternal to all who accept His sacrifice.  We are now are born anew into the Family of God, no longer bound by this earth’s curse, now bearing the sinless image of our risen Savior.  The time will soon come for all of us to follow Jesus’ footsteps and leave this earth and its sin soiled surface and enjoy heaven, untouched by the curse of sin and shame, to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father for eternity, bearing the image of perfect righteousness, God’s great gift to us.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for the wonderful gifts you have bestowed upon us and we thank you for the spirit of heaven already within us.  Keep us close to you this day we ask in Jesus’ precious name.

Manna in the Morning

10-15-10

The Trinity

2 Corinthians 13:13, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”  Deuteronomy 6:4, “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One.”

            During the days of antiquity, most of ancient peoples were polytheistic, that is, they worshipped many Gods.  Idols of deities of the rivers, woods, sun or fire were common, and the early tribes were sure to worship anything they thought would help them.  As God had emphasized to Abraham much earlier, our great God is one, and Moses restated this in Deuteronomy, stressing the fact that Jehovah God is one God, a careful study of the Old Testament will reveal many instances of all three persons of the Trinity.  God the Holy Spirit came upon men, empowering them for God’s service and there are Theophanies, appearances of God the Son on the earth in visible form.

When we study the entire Bible we begin to see how the Father, Son and Spirit work together in perfect unity, each fully supporting the others.  The Father gives all authority to the Son and bears witness to Him, as does Jesus to Himself (John 8:18). Yet the Son claims nothing for Himself; He gives all glory to the Father who has sent Him (John 12:49-50). The key to our finite minds understanding the mystery of the infinite Trinity is to observe how each of the persons of the Triune family gives themselves to one another in selfless love. The Father serves the Son; the Son serves the Father; Father and Son defer to the Holy Spirit, who in turn, serves and defers to the Father and Son in a oneness that is eternally dynamic and inexhaustible. The mutual love and unity of the Triune God and is seen in their genuine cooperation in saving the lost (John 14).  This occurs when its members acknowledge the divine plan for salvation originating in the Father, expressed by the Son, and energized by the Holy Spirit.

As those who are redeemed, we must be careful not to ‘rank’ or establish a hierarchy when we consider the Triune God, there is no subservience between the persons, all are equal and all are fully God.  Jesus, God the Son was always fully God while He walked this earth, yet was fully man in order to fully conquer sin and death. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come before you in the righteousness of Jesus to thank you for the salvation you have provided for us.  We will serve you fully this day.

Manna in the Morning

10-14-10

Prayer

Genesis 17:19, “But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.”

It seems strange that Abraham and Sarah had to wait until they were 100 and 90 years old respectively, to have a child, waiting for God’s promise to them to be fulfilled.  God’s timing is perfect, and when He waits, it is so that the answer will be seen in a way that cannot possibly have another fulfillment other than by direct intervention by our miracle-working God.  Isaac and Rebekah waited years until their twins, Jacob and Esau were born, proving once again that God had a purpose for their birth and it could happen only in the way God had promised.  Samuel, the last judge of Israel was born only after his mother prayed and prayed to The Lord, and when he was born he was returned to serve in the temple at 4 or 5 years old.  Samson’s mother was barren until God answered her prayer with her son born under the Nazarite vow, as was Samuel.  John the Baptist was born to parents that were aged, having no children, once again under the Nazarite vow.  In John’s ministry he prepared the way for the anointing and ministry of Jesus to be the perfect promised sacrifice of Genesis 3:15.

When we review the answers to prayer in our lives, we see that God answered, not only in the perfect way, but in His perfect timing for the maximum effect and for His greater glory.  It also teaches us patience, trust, faith in Him and the opportunity to understand His heart and desire to give us the best.  Our Heavenly Father is not a Genie that obeys our commands; He is our Father and does what is right for us.   We want answers immediately, He chooses the best time.  We want it our way, He knows the best way, We ask Him to work, He may work through us so we get the blessing too.  His way is the best way, our way is best, when subjected to His will and purpose.  Thank you our Heavenly Father for the unexpected blessings we receive when we wait for your time and manner of answering our requests.  We praise you in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-13-10

Jacob and Esau

Genesis 28:13, “The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on.”

As God breathed inspiration into the writers of the Scriptures, He emphasized over and over that He, Jehovah, was the true God who alone was worshipped by Abraham Isaac and Jacob whose family multiplied into the Israelite people.  As Jacob was returning to Canaan, he built an altar at Bethel and thanked God who had just given him the promise that he and his family would carry the blessing first given to Abraham, then to Jacob’s father Isaac, the blessing that the promised redeemer who would crush Satan’s head would come through them.  Great emphasis is given to God’s choice of Isaac as the son of the promise over Ishmael who was s son born out of fleshly desire and impatience, and Jacob who was the twin born second, not first and who was a schemer and always tried to give himself an ‘edge’ over others.  Because our God is all-knowing, seeing the future as clearly as the past, He foresaw the emergence of Mohammad and his false belief system far in the future based upon the line of Abraham, Ishmael and Esau.

As we look at the world today, we see that the Israelites do not have the land they were promised, but Satan’s head has been crushed, and he is doomed to an eternity in the lake of fire.  The line of Ishmael and Esau has a future that will come to an abrupt end when Jesus, the King of Kings returns to rule the entire world from Jerusalem fulfilling all prophecy.  We are in the period of time when the Church is given the responsibility of spreading the gospel message of salvation throughout the world until our mission is complete and Satan’s false belief system will have seven years of rule before the glorious rule of Jesus, the King of Kings.

We live in a very exciting time in God’s plan established so long ago. May we do our best under God’s direction to further the message of God’s Word, His offer of salvation and the exciting future to which we look forward in great anticipation.  Lord God, our Heavenly Father, guide us this day as we expect to find opportunities to bring glory to You.

Manna in the Morning

10-12-10

The Promised Redeemer

Hebrews 10:12-13, “But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.

When we consider the time our Savior, Jesus, spent on this earth we have to remember he lived a completely human life, while remaining God the Son, eternally the second person of the Trinity.  He was a man who lived a perfect life, never sinned, never did anything that was against the Law as given to the Jews through Moses, never failed to keep any of the Levitical laws given to prepare the Jews for their great gift to the world, The Promised Redeemer.  He was completely innocent of any wrongdoing in thought, deed or attitude.  Because of his purity and innocence, He did not have to die, As God the Son, He could have ascended into Heaven at any point in His life, yet He chose to allow a hateful, scheming world as personified in both social and governmental rulers to put Him to a cruel, agonizing death for the direct benefit of those who accept His offered exchange; accept His death on our behalf so we can receive eternal life through Him.

It is also important to realize that we have this massive, incomparable gift without any restrictions of any kind.  The only thing God desires from us is our willingness to share the opportunity for this gift to as many others as possible.  What we want to give to our Heavenly Father is our gratitude and praise and to glorify His name.  If we were saved from our sins just to spend eternity in heaven with our Savior, we would immediately be taken from the earth.  Instead, we are here for a purpose, to serve Him, to testify to His saving grace, to share the opportunity for salvation with others, both at home and across the world.  In the first chapter of Acts, we are to be witness to His love and grace at home, in the places where it is easy and carries no danger, in the hard places where others will persecute and even endanger our lives, and summing it up, wherever we find ourselves at any time for any reason.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift beyond price, our redemption.  We ask you for the opportunity to express our thanks today by the sharing of this gift with others, and to live to your glory.  We pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-07-10

Alive in Christ

Romans 6:8-11, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

            As those who have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as the payment for our sin, and have been born anew into the Family of God, we are blessed with eternal life.  No longer are we under the penalty of death, we can live with all assurance in the promise of our Heavenly Father that we shall never die.  Our earthly body may fail us someday, we may take in then exhale our last breath of this earth’s atmosphere, but our next breath will be the rarified air of our heavenly home.  Our body will be at rest here and return to the dust from which it was formed, but our soul will inhabit a glorified body, heavenly perfect and without ache, pain, infirmity disease or deterioration.  While there will be sorrow on earth in the hearts of those we have left behind, there will be joy in heaven with our family members and friends that have preceded us.  One of the glories of Heaven will be the reunion with parents, children, and dear ones who have gone ahead of us in time and await us for the instant of eternity until we join them.

In the time between Jesus’ death at Calvary and His resurrection, He proved his deity by not following the normal pattern of those whose earthly life was ended, but came forth from the grave by His own power, conquering both the sting of death and the stain of sin.  He is the first of millions who have followed in His footsteps both on earth and also through the experience of falling asleep on earth and awakening in the place Jesus promised to prepare for them.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the reality of eternal life planted firmly in our hearts.  We will live this day in the certainty of your presence.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

10-06-10

Peace

2 Thessalonians 3:16-17, “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.”

Reading in the New Testament, we can glean quite a bit about the Apostle Paul, once known as the Pharisee Saul.  He persecuted the early Christians with a zeal unmatched by anyone, he had a personal conversation with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and he endured many hardships, trials, beatings, imprisonment, a serious eye disease yet was so filled with the peace of God that in this passage he was able to pray that our Redeemer, The Prince of Peace Himself could give the struggling believers peace in every way.

We can have the peace of God flood our souls, even our very lives, with peace in the middle of the most difficult trials.  Men and women who have been beaten to death in China or Africa can feel the peace within them, those burned out of their churches and homes in India can know the peace of God in their homelessness, yet come to understand the peace with their former villagers who have helped them, invited them back into the village and helped them rebuild.  As those who bear the name of the Prince of Peace, we can live a life at peace in any place at any time.         We share the peace of God with others and know that we live at peace with God.  No more can sin come between our hearts and God, we are forgiven and the Father now sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself.  Knowing we are at peace with our Heavenly Father frees us to serve Him in a way we never understood before, and the satisfaction of serving Him is glorious.  And, in addition, we know we will share all eternity with Him in the Heavenly places where He has prepared a place for us to reside in His presence.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for Your peace within us and for each opportunity to share that peace with others, guide us today we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-05-10

God’s Decree

Ezra 6:22, “They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel.”

In many ways the Church in the United States is in a situation just like the Israelites who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in order to establish worship in the Temple.  After a strong beginning, opposition arose and turned the Monarchy of Persia against the faithful servants of the Lord God.  As the dispute rose through the courts, first one side then the other was successful until the Court of the King forbade the restoration of the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem.  Ultimately King Darius had the entire case researched, decided that the King that preceded him had ordered the supplies, money and permission to rebuild the Temple and portions of the city of Jerusalem.  While local opposition continued, under Ezra and Nehemiah, the temple was rebuilt, the daily sacrifice, looking forward in faith to the Promised One, was restored under the protection of Darius.  When the walls were complete and the gates hung in place, God’s clock began for the countdown until the birth and ministry of Jesus, the Messiah.

Today those who worship the Lord God have been suffering under increasing restrictions upon our right to freely practice our faith, including giving out Bibles, opposing same sex marriages and birth control through abortion.  We are facing increasingly fierce opposition from not only those who do not believe in personal salvation through Jesus, our Redeemer, but from the false, Satan-led belief system of Jihadist Islam.  Just as the Israelites prayed and continued to do that which God had called them to do, we today should continue to do what our Lord God calls us to do without regard to laws and edicts that contradict our Bible, and God will again change the attitude of the government, making us joyful and praise our Heavenly Father for His intervention on our behalf.  Heavenly Father, we pray for continued freedom to worship and serve You and for a change in attitude on the part of the courts and legislation that would restrict us.  Now and forever, all praise, honor and glory is due You, we pray these things in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

10-4-10

Yes and Amen

2 Corinthians 1:20-22, “For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore the “Amen” is also through Him for God’s glory through us. Now the One who confirms us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.”

There are so many promises for us in God’s Word, it is almost impossible to list them all.  In Genesis God promises to send the Perfect Sacrifice, the Promised One, He promises never to destroy all living things upon the earth by a flood, He promised Moses and the Israelites He would deliver them from Egypt, and if they obeyed His commands, He would lead them into the land he promised Abraham, and the list goes on.  There are some negative promises as well, “The soul that sins will die, those that forsake Him and do not obey His Word will be punished for all eternity, while those who put their faith in God’s provision will enjoy Heaven for ever.

In the New Testament, God’s plan calls for all men, regardless of ethnic background to be saved by faith in Jesus The Redeemer.  We who believe are promised the presence of God the Holy Spirit in our lives from the instant of our salvation, an eternity in Heaven in the presence of our Lord and Savior, His guidance and protection in our lives and the opportunity to go to Him in prayer without restriction at any time.  We are born anew into the family of the Heavenly Father.  God’s plans are unchangeable, His plan for redemption is always the same, His plan does call for different ways to communicate the eternal message, and at this time it is you and I that are privileged to be His messengers.

God’s promises are always fulfilled, and are eternally settled in Heaven. They are, in Biblical terms, “Amen,” meaning there is no doubt on earth or in Heaven that they will be fulfilled as Scripture has promised.  Therefore we should pray expectantly, asking for God’s perfect will be done to His eternal glory, and then expect to recognize the answer when it comes.  Our Heavenly Father, we pray in Jesus’ name, asking for your perfect will to be done on this earth and all that results will bring You eternal glory.

Manna in the Morning

10-01-10

The Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.  How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

We are accustomed to hearing from many sources; pulpits, radio, TV and books that salvation is so easy, all one has to do is ask Jesus to enter your life and that’s all.  That’s true!  There is no additional requirement, nothing of human origin that can be done; salvation is all about a loving God reaching down to sinful man.  Yet Jesus said the gate to heaven was narrow and the way was difficult.  The word used for the gate is an entryway that is indeed narrow, but in addition, there are many obstacles in the way, making the gate hard to find and actually enter, designed that way in Jerusalem to keep invaders out by making entry difficult.

These obstacles are not of God, they are placed in the way of those seeking Christ Jesus by our adversary, the devil.  He will use every trick and obstacle imaginable from planting doubt in the accuracy and truth of the Bible message, the subtle whisper that we have to ‘do’ something to be eligible for salvation or the insidious falsehood that we have to somehow clean ourselves up in order to be a person Jesus will accept.  Other impediments may include Christians who do not live a consistent testimony or who, even though they are saved, seem to have little interest in sharing the message with others.  Those who are seeking Christ may not be able to understand the subtle differences between some appealing false doctrines and the truth of the Scriptural message, especially when proclaimed by popular, well known speakers.

It is imperative that every believer in Jesus Christ to be able to share the message of salvation through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection clearly and without hesitation when the opportunity presents itself, being careful to follow the Biblical pattern carefully in order to avoid error.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, make us effective, accurate, eager witnesses to your glory and grace in bringing salvation to all people.  As we go through this day, may we anticipate the opportunity to share in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-30-10

Living on Purpose

2 Timothy 1:9, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

Every one of us should live our lives on purpose; deliberate, methodical, planned and dedicated to serving our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our Lord God has called us to live for Him as surely as Moses, Elijah or Ezra.  Every one of us has an individual place in God’s eternal plan.  We are given talents, spiritual gifts and abilities because God wished to prepare us for the one place we could be best used of Him.  Some have been called to be used on places far from their original home and family, others have been called to stay in their home town, working, witnessing and perhaps teaching a Sunday School Class of boys or girls because they were the only one who could reach one of those kids for Christ, still others have a high profile presence, perhaps even nation-wide or world-wide, declaring their allegiance to their Redeemer and living the life that backs up that claim.  Every Believer in Christ Jesus should begin each day with one purpose in mind, to glorify their Savior and to be completely under the leadership of God the Holy Spirit within their lives.

There are others who do not know the Savior and do not care to let their lives shine for Him, and yet even they can be used of God to His glory.  In Exodus 9:16, God speaks to Pharaoh through Moses and says, “However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth.”  Pharaoh was allowed of God to continue in his life and position and, even though unwillingly, would be an example of how even the mighty will bow down and do God’s will and will act in such a manner that God’s name will be revered throughout the earth.

It is our choice to be used as was Pharaoh, unwilling and with no reward or to be eager to do everything in the name of our God and for His greater Glory, just to hear Him say, Well done my faithful one.”  Gracious Father, we will serve you today on purpose, just to glorify you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-29-10

Daniel 2:20-22, “May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.  He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.  He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. “

Daniel and his three friends had asked permission from their guard in Babylon to eat according to the dietary commands of Almighty God, in order that they would not defile themselves in God’s eyes by eating meat that had been offered to idols, as was served at the King’s table.  God honored their request and they became the wisest, healthiest, and were among the most trusted advisors to King Nebuchadnezzar.  When all the King’s advisors and seers that had been in his service for years could not meet the demand of Nebuchadnezzar to tell him his dream and what it meant, they would all be killed.  Daniel went before the King and asked for time to consider and pray about the matter.  This was given to Daniel and he received the answer from God to relay to Nebuchadnezzar.  In praise and thanks to God Daniel praised His name, recognized and praised God, giving Him the glory for answering his prayer.

Daniel, in his hymn of praise, recounts it is God who has established the stars and heavenly bodies to mark the times and seasons, and as easily as our Creator did that, He can allow, establish and remove governments and leaders or allow them to retain their power, whether they recognize Him or not.  God is not only the life giver, He is the one who gives wisdom and understanding to men and who will reveal His plans for the future to those who seek Him and study His Word.

God created light, Jesus said He was the light of the world and Daniel recognized that God the Father is the source of all light.  Darkness is the absence of light, and even there, our all-knowing God is always waiting to guide us through the times when we feel we have lost our way.

Our Great God and Heavenly Father, keep us on the path where you can illumine our steps and guide us as we seek to serve you.  Make us students of Your Word we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-28-10

God Speaks

Hebrews 1:1-2, “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.  In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.”

God’s Word is a wonderfully inspired and written Book.  Written by over 40 different men over nearly 2,000 years, it has the continuity of a well written book with one continuing theme and other sub-themes interwoven through the text, because in truth, it was written by each person as they were inspired by God the Holy Spirit.  Each author wrote in his own vernacular, unique to his own place in society from David the King to Amos, a migrant fig picker.  God used each individual specifically because of his unique abilities and availability for God to use.

The history outlined is accurate, the prophecy 95% complete with little more to come, the beautiful scarlet line of sacrifice and redemption flows from the Garden of Eden to Calvary’s Cross.  The perfect sacrificed promised to Adam was conceived in the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, born of the line of David, and brought into this world through the virgin birth in Bethlehem.  Not one of the many prophecies went unfilled, not one promise unbroken in the perfect sinless sacrifice of Jesus whose death, burial and resurrection is the joy of our salvation.

Interwoven in this line is the golden line of prophetic utterances that will be complete when Jesus returns to this earth to rule the world from David’s throne in Jerusalem, then to the great throne in the Heavenly places where we will be by his side.  This is difficult for us who are not subject to any King upon this earth to understand, but we freely accept the Sovereignty of Jesus in our lives now and forever.

The third interwoven plan of our God is the line of eternal life for all who trust in the Salvation plan of our great God.  Looking in faith from Eden to Heaven, all who looked forward to the promised sacrifice by offering the blood of animals in faith, then those who now look back in faith at the sacrifice are assured of their eternity in a place prepared for all those who look to Jesus.   Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the perfect plan for our salvation, for the perfect future in store for us and for the precious gift of your written Word to guide, instruct, and protect us from the attacks of the evil one.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-27-10

Fulfillment

Luke 1:1-3, “Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.  It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, so that you may know the certainty of the things of which you have been instructed.”

Luke, the only Gentile who wrote in the New Testament, was a physician, one who carefully evaluated a situation before he offered a solution.  He wrote this letter to Theophilus, another Gentile who had become a believer in Jesus the Redeemer.  It appears Theophilus had requested and been given much teaching in Christianity, as well as the Old Testament writings upon which they were based.  Luke’s Gospel is a good example of the information about the birth and life of Jesus, carefully organized and set down in a logical sequence of presentation.  He begins with the miraculous conception of John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus, whose ministry prepared the local people for the ministry of the Savior, and whose baptism of repentence made the people understand they were sinners in need of a Savior whom John then presented to them at Jesus’ baptism.

In his very first sentence, Luke describes the things that were fulfilled, prophecies that came to pass in the birth and life of Jesus, not as events that occurred or the people Jesus met, but the fulfillment of God’s promise to the world that was given in the Garden of Eden, in Luke’s words, Just as they came to me from those who were there and saw each event and made a record of it.  All Scripture fits this category.  The Word of God is inspired, having been breathed into the minds of men who wrote as they were moved, there is no error or misstatement in the original texts and languages, any misunderstandings we may have is our fault in not carefully comparing Scripture with Scripture in order to understand what is being told us for our benefit.

It is wise for every believer in Jesus, to study and compare Biblical passages and not accept anything from human origin without careful examination.  No Bible teacher deliberately misleads others, trying to be as accurate as possible with God’s Holy Word.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, guide our thoughts and understanding as we read and study your Word today and every day.  This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-24-10

Return

Joel 2:12-13, “12 Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God.  For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.”

How many times have we heard these words proclaimed in Pulpits across America? The time is growing short!  Teachers, Preachers, others who study the Word of God have pled with unbelievers across the world on TV, radio, personal witness, Sunday sermons, earnestly beseeching men and women, even with tears in their eyes to come to Christ while there is yet time.  This cry has gone out since the apostles watched their Master slowly ascend into Heaven disappearing from their eyes with the angelic promise, “You will see Him return in the same way He has gone away.”

These cries we have heard are not given to scare people into irrational acts, they are cries from truly concerned men and women who see the day approaching when The Heavenly Father will call His children from this earth in preparation for the great waves of purification and riddance of sin before the sinless God the Son returns to once more set foot upon this soil.  A careful study of the history and prophesied future of world events makes us understand the time is growing close for God’s plan to enter the next phase.

Yet God has given an invitation to all who would turn to Him.  He has promised that those who will believe in His promised Salvation with all their heart and soul will find God gracious and compassionate, giving the penitent one grace, mercy and peace in Him.  Whether God calls you to stand in judgment in the next year, decade, or century, the time for repentence and turning to Him is right now, in the present moment the opportunity exists for anyone who does not know the certainty of salvation to come to Him.  Others may have fallen away from full fellowship with the Heavenly Father, ignoring His pleas to return to Him, now is the time for you too, to return in reconciliation to Him.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you to search our hearts for anything that may come between us, to purify us and make our service redound to our glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-23-10

Discernment

Philippians 1:9-11, “I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Paul is writing to the Christians at Philippi telling them he was praying for them in specific ways.  This is a reminder that when we pray, we should be very specific in our prayers as well.  He prayed that their love, patterned on that of Jesus, would keep on growing.  Jesus’ love for us has no finite limit; His love keeps on growing toward us and in us every day we are on this earth until it reaches its full potential when we reach the Heavenly places. We need to, just as they, grow in knowledge and discernment.  To learn and experience more of the love of Jesus is possible only as we seek earnestly to know Him better and to be like Him.  While we know about Him, it is important to know Him intimately, to understand His love for unsaved people, to recognize those that are hurting, despondent and emotionally weary in order to reach them in Jesus’ name and love.  We are to be discerning, perceptive of those things that are buried in the lives of others.  To be able to sense, understand or recognize those hidden wounds that are so personal people will allow them to grow, just like a splinter under our skin will hurt, become inflamed and fester until it is brought out into the open and removed.  Pray that God will give you an opportunity to do this with others for their spiritual growth as well as your own.

Paul prayed for those he knew to be pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness, doing all things to the glory of our Savior and praise to our great Triune God.  As we pray for each other, pray for God’s glory to be seen in their work as they minister in His name, in small, often unnoticed ways, and our every action will bring praise to His name, and His alone.  Our Great God and Father, put the love that sent Jesus to the cross in our hearts today and everyday as we seek to show your greatness to others.  This we plead of you in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-22-10

Autumnal Equinox

Genesis 1:14, “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years.”

One thing that is important for every Believer to remember is that time is a created thing, and God has made you to be master of creation, not the other way around.  In the same we, we as creations do not presume to give commands, or even suggestions to our Creator and God will always see that you have enough time to accomplish all He has for you to do.  In Joshua’s wars against the Canaanites, God extended the day until the battle was over and the Israelites had conquered the land.  As stewards of that with which God has entrusted us, we should be careful to use our time wisely.

In the creation the celestial orbits of every heavenly object is so carefully balanced that the orbit of the earth around our sun is exact and at the autumnal equinox which this year is early on September 22, the days between sunrise and sunset is exactly equal to the time between sunset and sunrise.  Many of the Israelite holidays were celebrated around the equinoxes and God’s balanced solar system never varies.  If God can balance the gravitational pull of an uncounted number of heavenly objects to keep everything in order and functioning perfectly, there should be no doubt in our minds that we can trust Him with the days of our lives, leaving us ample time to complete every task we are called to complete.  Our death will come only after we have completed all things, never leaving a date in His calendar book for us, although we may leave many days in our calendar book that were in our schedule, but not in His.  Israel’s King Hezekiah pled with God to extend his life beyond that which God had allotted to him, and those years were filled with mistakes and errors that it would have been better if his life had ended as originally determined.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us wisdom to choose our activities wisely in order to accomplish what you have determined for us to do.  May we not spend time on those things not in your plan for us, and give us great wisdom in presenting your plans to others at every opportunity.  These things we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

12-21-10

I know where You Live

Revelation 2:13, “I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.”

Ever since the Church was first established in Jerusalem, the saints of God have been persecuted and ridiculed.  Some have died for their faith every year since then, some buried in unmarked graves, others with little notice from the world and mourned only by their fellow members of the Body of Christ.  Men and women have often, through the millennia, cried out to God, sometimes even saying, God, you just don’t understand what I’m going through!”  It is important to remember Jesus Himself was persecuted, hounded down and killed by the Jewish religious leaders and until we die for proclaiming His name, we have little to complain about.  Men and women, even children have given their lives for bearing the name ‘Christian’, even in the last months.  We must never forget we are on the front lines of a spiritual war that rages with ferocious intensity in the high places, battles over the control of the minds of world leaders, battles on the earth’s surface between the minions of our adversary and the saints of our Almighty God.  We face these battles in our daily lives because Satan knows he has lost this spiritual war, therefore his time is growing short and he is determined to keep as many human souls as possible from hearing the gospel message and turning their hearts toward Jesus as their Savior.

Praise our loving God for the weapons He has given us in His Holy Word, the sharp two edged sword, In Peter’s epistle he says God has armed us with the power of prayer, this is one of the greatest weapons we have, and when used with God’s Word will cause Satan’s power to be ineffective.  Our third weapon is faith, faith in the promises of our Heavenly Father and His willingness to work through us relieving us of the stress and strain of doing things in our own strength which is a fruitless endeavor.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we are so grateful You know where we live, and the difficulties that beset us.  We trust you to use us as we proclaim Your Word this day; in Jesus’ name we offer our prayer.

Manna in the Morning

09-20-10

Home

Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”

Death has, in some ways become a cause for celebration in some societies.  The Jihadists celebrate the suicide of any person who will die, blowing himself up with non-Muslims in a suicide.  We give honors and awards to victorious members of the Military who have defeated the Nation’s enemies in battle.  None of these can compare, however, to our Heavenly Father’s celebration at the homecoming of one of His precious children.  The word that is translated here as ‘valuable’ is one that means valuable, bright and clear, costly, excellent, good reputation and honorable.  If such a valued child of God receives a warm well done when he or she arrives in Heaven after a long God-honoring life on earth, we should not lose sight of that history of living for Christ.

When one of these stalwarts of faith is taken home, we are grateful for their presence here, and will miss them deeply, relying upon our Heavenly Father to give us the peace and comfort so deeply needed.  Those who are left behind are certainly sorrowful for the loss of such a one, but grateful for the comfort and joy of our own redemption that comes from the Heavenly Father.  It is comforting to know that our Heavenly Father knows the number of our days, nothing takes Him by surprise and His ways and timing are always perfect and our trust in Him will allow us to fulfill our part of his plans without question or hesitation.

How blessed it is to leave our lives in the hands of One who knows all things from the beginning keeping us in the center of His will and care.  Father in Heaven, comfort our hearts with the thought that nothing comes upon us without Your knowledge and will bring the strength, comfort and faith necessary to ease our sorrowing hearts.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-17-10

Constitution Day

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,(sic) promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. … Done…the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.” –George Washington and the delegates

Today, September 17^th is Constitution Day, commemorating its signing by George Washington and the assembled delegates.  Perhaps if it were known a little more widely and mentioned in the news broadcasts, more people would read and understand our Constitution.  In the Declaration of Independence, where the American Colonies listed the reasons for declaring independence, references to “Their Creator” and “Nature’s God” r3evealing the founder’s recognition and dependence upon God.  While there are no Scriptural references in either document, there are many reasons to believe the founders were, for the most part, men who had a reverential knowledge of our Heavenly Father.

In 2 Samuel 23:3-4 we read “He who rules in  justice, who rules in the fear of God, is like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”  This verse is a beautiful, descriptive verse describing the government that ‘establishes justice.  Indeed, as the first Constitutional Republic, our nation was like the morning light as the sun rises.  Instead of oppression we live in the cloudless light of liberty and freedom.  Our Constitution says we are to establish domestic tranquility, or peace, upon the people.  In Numbers 6:26 we have God’s own promise that when we seek God, we will find that the Lord looks with favor upon us and gives us His peace.  It is my prayer that the peace of God will reign within the hearts of every person who comes to Christ Jesus for salvation.

Within the heart and soul of every man or woman there is a desire to be free from oppression and tyranny, to secure the blessings of liberty.  Isaiah 61:1 declares that those who come to Christ Jesus have the opportunity “to proclaim liberty to the captives,” in a spiritual sense, freedom from the penalty of sin.  In our Constitution we have liberty from an oppressive Government.  These phrases and references in the Preamble of the Constitution are not there by accident, they are there to show that the only way anyone can have these blessings is to live in a country governed in freedom from tyranny and for those individuals to have a personal relationship with their Redeemer, Jesus.  Our Heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus, thanking you for freedom, domestic tranquility, perfect justice and the perfect peace that you have implanted in our hearts.  May our lives bring great glory to you as we walk through this day.

Manna in the Morning

09-16-10

Hallelujah

Psalm 112:1-2, “Happy is the man who fears the Lord, taking great delight in His commandments. His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”

Look at the faces of people you meet as you walk the shopping mall or see in the aisle at the grocery story.  It seems like the majority of them do not have a smile on their face, and if they are not actually smiling, they look somber and without joy in their heart.  Even in church, many people look stern and wear a black suit looking like it’s a sin to smile.  God’s Word tells us that we will be happy and show it when we fear our God.  When keeping our Heavenly Father’s c9ommandments bring delight into our lives.  For one who loves his Heavenly Father, doing His will and keeping His commandments is not only what we want to do, it gives us joy just to walk in the path He has set before us.  It will put a reverence in our hearts a desire to worship Him in spirit and truth and recognize His awesome power.

Those of us who are parents and grandparents know the deep love we have for our family and we want them to succeed and prosper.  The greatest gift we can give them is to be a strong example of an individual who loves and fears the Lord God.  Not only will they see an example and follow it, the heritage we leave them will be an encouragement for them to hold our great God in awesome reverence and fear.

Because of our joy in our Lord, we should always have a smile on our face, our future is secure in Christ Jesus, our present is joyful in His love and our past is forgotten and sins forgiven by Jesus’ work at Calvary. Heavenly Father, thank you for the joy we have in You.  May we share the joy in our heart with those we meet this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-14-10

Honor and Respect

Romans 13:7, “Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.”

As men and women who love our Lord Jesus, we are reminded of what we owe to others.  We recognize that we pay taxes because we are the recipients of many Government services such as municipal services, national defense, infrastructure construction, etc.  Each of us knows if we drive on a toll road, we will be caught and possibly fined if we do not pay the toll.  While we may think taxes are high, we do have to recognize the necessity of us paying a fair share of the total load.  This is not to say every tax is just, appropriate, or even deserved by the taxing authority.

God also expects us to give respect to those who deserve our respect.  Those who have been in the military know the salute is a sign of respect for a senior officer, one who has more experience or a greater knowledge of the job we are to perform.  Respect can be earned, demanded by qualification or given even if we know it is undeserved.  Every person who is a member of the Family of God needs to respect God’s Word.  Not only is it a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father, the Bible contains the message of God’s goodness to His children, the message of salvation and a history of how God has cared for those who love Him.  Disrespect for God’s Word is akin to disrespect to God our Father.  We are to respect those in spiritual authority over us; the under-shepherd of the congregation where we worship, the duly constituted elders and those who teach us.  We are to respect the properly elected leaders of our Nation, those we entrust to lead us.  We are to respect the laws of our land so long as they do not call for us to act in a manner contrary to our Father’s commandments.

We are to give honor to our God in every situation that He allows to come into our lives.  He will always use everything in our lives to strengthen and teach us of His grace and love.  We are to Honor our Savior, He who gave his life as our Redeemer, and to whom we owe all glory and honor and we are to honor God the Holy Spirit, our constant companion and guide.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask that our lives will bring you honor and glory this day.  In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-13-10

Fellowship

2 Corinthians 6:14-16, “For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? For we are the sanctuary of the living God.”

Believers know that when we are born anew into the Family of God we are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit.  Our lives become His dwelling place as He infuses every part of our bodies, our minds and spirits.  We should, from that point on be fully aware of the fact that our bodies are to be considered sacred and fully dedicated to our Most Holy God, and we must not let any impure thing, thought or attitude destroy that relationship.  There can be no interaction within the dedicated sanctuary between righteousness and unrighteousness, in no way should the Christian allow the darkness of sin diminish the light of the gospel message within us.  We must always remember the community in which we live, both believers and non-believers, look at us, evaluating our testimony.

When material possessions or money have taken first place in our hearts, When other things, ideas, thoughts or attitudes crowd out the voice of God the Holy Spirit within us, our minds have replaced God with idols and the sanctuary has been defiled.  Should we find ourselves in this position, we must ask God for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration to full fellowship with Him.  We must keep our bodies pure, not becoming addicted or always craving something of this world, putting God in a lesser position than he demands.  We may be careful to control our physical appetites but fail to curb our minds by allowing inappropriate thoughts to enter in to our consciousness.

Because we serve a God who hates sin, that should be our attitude.  Scripture says over a dozen times we are to fear our God, Revelation 14:7 reads, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.”  Calvary’s cross proves His love and our love toward Him is to be seen in our willingness to obey His commands asking forgiveness when we sin..  God will judge the pollution of His sanctuary.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, forgive us for entertaining sin in our lives, keep us pure as we serve you this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-10-10

Answered Prayer

Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

In the teaching Jesus gave to the people while they were sitting in rows around Him on the Mountain, Jesus gives us some practical advice for living.  First, we are to keep asking Him in prayer for things we know will bring glory to our Savior.  We should never tire in asking God to change people’s hearts and lives, to pray for the salvation of a friend, for comfort and healing in people’s hearts, always praying for God’s greater glory in the answer.  God may allow the delay because it causes our faith to increase, our compassion to become more fervent and our patience to grow.

In our lives, if there is a perplexing problem or something we cannot understand, we are to look into God’s Word, always calling upon God the Holy Spirit to guide us, and keep up the search until we are confident we have discovered the entire answer.  There are some things that have been debated and studied for centuries, we are not to expect that we will have the answer that will clear up the confusion in the minds of everyone, but you and I will feel confident that God has given us an insight into His Word for the problem at hand.  If I find that I don’t remember where I put down the keys to the car or my glasses, a quick prayer is in order for the wisdom and guidance to solve the smallest annoyance as well as the deepest, most puzzling problem that has us bewildered.  Keep on looking.

Jesus wants us to keep on knocking on the doors of hearts that have not yet accepted Jesus’ provision of salvation.  He is infinitely patient in waiting for men and women to allow Him into their lives, and we should have the patience to keep asking them for the opportunity to present the message of salvation.  Eventually the opportunity will occur; the person will hear the message and, we pray, accept Christ as their Redeemer.

Lord God our Heavenly Father, may we keep asking, knocking searching and doing Your will and work in every situation.  It is in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-09-10

Find us Faithful

Isaiah 1:2, Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.”

As Isaiah opens his book, writing under the direction of God the Holy Spirit, he gives a warning.  All of heaven and earth and every inhabitant of them are to pay close attention to the Word of the Lord.  When God speaks, as the Creator of all that is, all creation must stop and listen.  As John opened the Book of the Revelation of Jesus as the King of Kings and benevolent Monarch of all the earth, he gives a blessing from God for all who will read and study the book, and here Isaiah states God Himself demands that all pay attention and listen attentively.

Almighty God is stating the clear fact He has brought the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob later called Israel according to the promise made to their forbearers into the land promised to Abraham.  They were the inheritors of the pledge that the Promised Redeemer would come from their number as well as the land promised to Abraham, enjoying the favor of God if they would continue to follow Him and His chosen leaders.  God then, 400 years later, sent Moses to bring Israel out of Egypt, ending their time of slavery in that land, gave them the Commandments by which to honor Him in their lives as a Nation and individuals.  He brought them through the wilderness, opened the Jordan to give them access into the Land, but the Israelites soon turned away from the commandments of God and fell into idolatry.  After all God had done for them, they rebelled against Him.

Many Godly men and women have seen their following generations turn aside from the mentoring and Biblical training of their youth for many reasons.  Some of them have lived the formative years of their children without imparting the spiritual wisdom or the emphasis on Biblical living, while others have seen their descendents follow their own path.  Every individual is responsible for his own life lived before God and his or her witness for the Savior.

Our Heavenly father, we pray you will give us wisdom and guidance as we live this day.  We pray we will leave a clear example of faithful service to You when you call us to spend eternity in your presence.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-08-10

Salvation

Hebrews 2:3-4, “How will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.”

I know that the predominate number of readers of ‘Manna in the Morning’ are members of the Family of God, and know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of their souls and the Leader of their lives, but some may not know Christ Jesus as their Redeemer and need to be reminded of that glorious opportunity to be born anew.  Unless an individual recognizes his or her sin and failure to keep the standards set by our Great God, recognizing their sin and need of a Savior, he or she is living a life of confusion, deception and sin.  God’s perfect justice is seen in both the Old and New Testament as God proclaims, “The soul that sins will surely die.”  While an individual is under the penalty of sin, God’s perfect love provides a way of redemption through the death of the perfect Sacrifice.  Jesus’ death upon the cross of Calvary allowing sinful souls the opportunity for salvation through his death, and accepting that sacrifice individually as the payment for their sin.

If you are reading this commentary and have never personally asked Jesus Christ to come into your life and be your Savior and guide, now is the opportunity.  “Without being born anew,” Jesus told Nicodemus, “You will not see Heaven.”  You must be born anew into the Family of God, and now is the time for you to ask Jesus into your life. Just quietly pray a short prayer similar to this, “Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you and I want forgiveness for all my sins.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.  Father, I give you my life to do with as you wish. I want Jesus to come into my life and heart.  This I ask in Jesus’ name.”  If this devotional has touched your heart, write me an email at the sending address so I can pray for you and send you some further information then find a Church that preaches this gospel to help you grow in Christ.  Father in Heaven; bless this message I ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-07-10

Getting What You Deserve

Esther 3:5, “When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage.”

Haman was a descendent of King Agag, whom King Saul failed to execute at God’s command because he was so evil and persecuted the Israelites unmercifully.  God had commanded Saul through Samuel the Priest to kill Agag and all his family, but Saul disobeyed.  Centuries later, Haman becomes a person of influence in Persia under King Ahasuerus.  Mordecai refused to grant Haman the honor Haman felt he deserved because as a devout Israelite, Mordecai would bow in obeisance only to that which represented his Almighty God.  Not only did Haman scheme to have Mordecai killed, he wanted his entire people group, the Israelites wiped out of existence.  Haman and his tribal relatives were descendents of the union between Esau and a daughter of Ishmael, known in Scripture as Edomites.  His particular tribe was the Amalekites, a group of people God had cursed for their idolatry and desires to destroy the line of the Promised Redeemer of Genesis 3:15.  Because our God is faithful, righteous men such as Mordecai are rewarded for their faithfulness and those who have rejected God’s Promised Redeemer are forever bound for eternal life in Christ if they turn to Him for salvation.

Esther, like Mordecai, was an Israelite and would fall under the edict of the King, declaring that all Israelites could be killed and their property confiscated on an established date.  Esther called the King to a dinner with Haman, where she revealed the underhanded dealing of Haman in getting the edict signed.  After the dinner, Haman was hung on a gallows he had prepared for Mordecai; the edict was modified because Esther did as God had instructed her.

Today, we who are in the Family of the Heavenly Father, called by the name of God the Son, are engaged in a battle no less important than the battle of Mordecai and Esther against a soldier in the army of Satan who is our adversary today.  We are to be as dedicated and open to the voice of God as Mordecai was while we live each day.  Not only are we to be faithful examples of His purity and love, we are to fight the spiritual battles on earth as fiercely as the angels fight in the heavenly places, and as faithfully as the heroes of faith throughout the centuries.  Lord God, keep us mindful of your power and grace in the battles we face today, we pray this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-06-10

Laborers

Matthew 11:28-29.  ”Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

Many Believers have memorized this verse in the KJV, where the wording is a bit different, but with the same intent, “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden.”  Today is Labor Day, a day known as the last vacation day of summer since school used to start traditionally on the Tuesday after Labor Day.  It is a holiday established many years ago to recognize the workers of America, their hard toil and physical labor.  Today, because the work force has been greatly relieved of the heavy physical labor due to sophisticated, computer controlled production lines and other machinery, hard physical labor is relatively uncommon among the American work force.  Jesus recognized the toil, weariness and burdened people of His time on earth who had to use simple machines that depended greatly upon human physical labor.

Our lives may not be burdened with physical labor but we all carry great burdens; the burden of unsaved loved ones, children and grandchildren for whom we pray daily, our witness among co-workers, neighbors and others that are not born anew into God’s Family.  Our Heavenly Father knows these cares, Jesus has offered to share these burdens with us, when we are yoked together with Him He will bear the greatest part of the burden, encouraging us and giving us peace and rest in Him.  He knows our limitations and since He is the creator and sustainer of all that is, He has infinite patience with us, is gentle and caring assuring us of a calm spirit and rest in Him.

At the same time He is pulling our load, he will teach us in a loving manner we are not to try and go it alone, solve all the problems by ourselves or direct others, correcting their faults.  By prayer and listening to the voice of God the Holy Spirit within us, we will find rest and comfort in Him.  Heavenly Father give us a sense of calmness and assurance of your presence in our lives this day and equip us for the duties that lay before us, this we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

09-03-10

Seed and Fruit

1 Corinthians 15:42-44, “So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.”

When we start a garden or plant a tree, we plant the seed.  When we plant acorns, we expect to receive oaks, if we plant tomato seeds, we expect tomatoes.  When we who are Believers in Christ Jesus die, our humanity is the seed that brings forth eternal life.  Our human life is corruptible, that is, we sin and stand in need of God’s forgiveness in Jesus.  When our souls leave this earth, we are in Heaven and have an incorruptible, sinless body with which to glorify our God and Father, praising Him with the heavenly beings.  While we are on this earth, we are weak and frail, needing to always rely upon our Heavenly Father’s power, strength and protection from our adversary.  Our power while on this earth is not our own, we are filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  Our natural, human, earthly body is the seed; our fruit is the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace and patience.  When we leave this earth we will continue with Heavenly joy, we will praise God and we will live at peace with our God and Savior in a place he has prepared, and will praise and thank Him for ever.

While we are on this earth with our roots in the soil, we need to pull into our lives the living water of the Lord Jesus and to receive nourishment from the Living Word of God, bearing the fruit of souls won into God’s Kingdom, nurturing and teaching them in the fear of the Lord.  When we reach the promised heavenly presence of our Savior, we can enjoy His presence for ever, join with the angels in their chorus of praise and worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.

Our Heavenly Father, we live in awe of your glory, praise you for our salvation and anticipate the glory before us, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the morning

09-02-10

Confession

1 John 1:9-10, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

As with many verses we committed to memory in days and years past, many Christians have memorized verse 9, but did not include verse 10 that tells us some of us have called God a liar by refusing to confess sin and ask God to forgive us.  To know we have broken God’s law, then to deny it makes us a liar.  To continue without confessing it and asking God to forgive us is to put God in the position of adjudicating us as sinners deserving death, therefore our prayers cannot be answered.  God cannot allow sin in His presence, therefore we have made God the Holy Spirit, who inhabits our life, to keep on convicting us of sin until we repent.

Our Heavenly Father walked and talked with Adam in the garden, enjoying sweet fellowship with them until sin broke their bonds of companionship.  From that time on men and women have needed to confess their sins to restore that fellowship and reconcile with God.  We do not ask Priests to grant us forgiveness, that is the prerogative of God alone, no one can intercede with God on your behalf for the forgiveness of sin, that must be dealt with between the sinner and his or her Heavenly Father, He and He alone can forgive sin and reconcile us to Himself.

God’s perfect love gave us a way of salvation through Jesus the Promised One, His perfect justice makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven because of Jesus’ sacrifice and His perfect peace descends upon our hearts allowing us full access to His throne to intercede for others needs and cares.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, may we be quick to recognize our sin, eager to confess and stay in fellowship with you and eager to do your work on this earth.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

09-01-10

Speaking the Truth

Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.”

`Recently, while working with a group of young men and women, we discussed the concept of ‘truth.’  The class decided that truth was all important, but that to be more like Christ, we need to present the truth in an envelope of love.  One example that came into the conversation was the current TV advertisement of Abe Lincoln telling his wife the dress did indeed make her look a ‘tiny bit large.’  There are times when the truth must be delivered plain, unvarnished, blunt and confrontational, while other times truth must be delivered with understanding, compassion and well chosen words.

Jesus did not spare the feelings of the Scribes and Pharisees, since He knew their hearts were not open to His Words, therefore He needed to break down their defenses and confront their biased opinions.  When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, His demeanor was different, in one on one discussion, the Savior was no less truthful, but used a different approach to catch Nicodemus’ heart.

Every day we meet people who do not know our Lord, it is our responsibility to reach beyond the defenses they have established, whether it is bitterness, a desire to continue in sin, a mind that is ignorant of God’s plan of redemption or just unwilling to think of the consequences of a life apart from Christ.  We have all met people who admit to believing the Biblical record; acknowledge freely that they are sinners and deserving of eternal damnation yet unwilling to give their life to the saving grace of Jesus’ payment for their transgressions.  Our hearts are grieved when they reject Christ Jesus, and His heart is wounded as well.  It is our responsibility to pray for them, ask God to show us the key to their mind and heart, and love them into the kingdom, always remembering we are to have the mind of Christ.

Our Heavenly Father, may we always speak the truth in love, whether it be blunt or compassionate.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-31-10

God’s Provision

Judges 7:22, “When Gideon’s men blew their 300 trumpets, the Lord set the swords of each man in the army against each other.”

When the Lord came to Gideon, he was hidden in a cave, threshing enough wheat to feed his family, hiding from the Midianites.  God called Gideon by his name which means “Mighty Warrior,” and told Gideon to raise up an army against the Midianites.  There was only one problem; Israel had no swords with which to fight an enemy.  Through God’s leading, Gideon raised an army limited by God to 300 men.  Under God’s direction, Gideon armed them with a clay pot, a trumpet and a flaming torch.  The 300 men surrounded the Midian army, 100 men with Gideon in the center, closest to the enemy.  In the middle of the night when the enemy was asleep and the sentinels weary, the Israelites blew their trumpets, smashed the earthen pots, raised the torches high and shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon.”  The Midianites were startled, groggy from sleep and began killing each other, the survivors running into the hills leaving their supplies, including their swords, behind for the Israelite army.  All the Israelite men joined the band of 300, chasing them into the surrounding hills killing and destroying the entire Midian Army freeing Israel from slavery, restoring their places of worship and renewed submission to Jehovah God who brought them out of Egypt.

As we fight against the army of the evil one in our daily life, God has just as miraculously provided us with the armament we need by giving us the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God; the same sword that we see coming from Jesus’ mouth in His victory over sin when He sets up His kingdom upon earth for 1,000 years.  Our faithful God the Father has also given us the powerful weapon of prayer, against which nothing can stand in defiance and opposition to His will and purpose.  If we seem to have no power against temptation, no victory over sin in our lives and the life we live does not bring glory to our Savior and King, we have nothing to blame but our own failure to pray, fully expecting Him to answer.  God has assured us His Word, when used against our adversary, will never return without bearing fruit and winning the battle against evil.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we expect to be an active part of every answer to prayer this day.  Give us the same calm assurance of victory Gideon’s Army had when they blew the trumpets and shouted for victory, knowing You would bring it to pass.

Manna in the Morning

08-30-10

Daniel 6:26-27, “I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel: For He is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end.  He rescues and delivers; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, for He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Daniel was about eighty years old when he was sent to the lion’s den by Darius the Persian King.  Because he was tricked into placing Daniel in the lion’s den, the king spent a restless night.  At sunrise he quickly went to the den and called out to Daniel, who had undoubtedly spent a more restful night than King Darius.  After seeing how Almighty God had protected Daniel the pagan monarch issued a decree that all his subjects must live in “Fear before the God of Daniel.”  Can you imagine the hue and cry across the land today if the Head of State of any nation issued an executive order of such magnitude?  Darius then listed the attributes of our God, describing Him as the One who will always be the same, can never be touched by evil or sin, the One who will have everlasting dominion over all creation continuing to care for, rescue and eternally save those who call upon Him and will allow His glory to be seen in heaven and on earth.

Our children and young believers have been taught over the years that the Heavenly Father is a God of love and compassion.  There is no doubt that our loving God will care for His children but the non-believer will face the undiluted wrath of Jehovah God, the perfect, righteous judge of every sinner.  Just as God is perfect in His love for mankind, having provided a perfect sacrifice for all sinners of all time if they will call upon Him for salvation, He is a God who is absolutely just in His decree that the wages of sin is death, an eternal, unending, torment in the lake of fire, in total absence of the mercy of God because of rejection of the redemption so freely offered.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your great love for us, your care for us in every way.  Help us to fully understand Your righteous judgment and live in the full recognition of Your awesome power, in Jesus’ name we pray.

  Manna in the Morning

08-27-10

The Swamped Boat

Mark 4:37-38, A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.  But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

Early yesterday morning, a 48 foot boat was spotted moving directly into the Florida shore of the Gulf of Mexico at idle speed.  It never stopped and because of the high waves, wind and the idling motor, the boat is now mired deep in the sand and will require tug boats and more help to get it afloat again.  The boat had no passengers, no clues as to who was on it, where they came from or where they were headed.  Investigations are now underway to determine why the boat was unmanned and apparently deliberately beached.

Jesus was very familiar with boats, He used one for a platform to teach large crowds and often used them to travel back and forth across the Sea of Galilee.  On this occasion He was tired and lay down in the stern of the boat and fell asleep.  A storm arose with high winds and waves so large the boat began to take on water and was in danger of sinking.  The disciples who were with Jesus wakened Him because they feared for their lives and wondered why He could sleep so peacefully.  Jesus spoke to the wind and waves and they immediately ceased and the boat was transported to the spot on the eastern shore of the sea where they wished to land.  Our Savior is always concerned with our well-being and safety and will answer our prayer just as He did the disciples.  We may face different challenges than a boat on the Sea of Galilee, but relying upon Him will always bring us safely to our ultimate destination, Heaven.  Do not be like the boat that was undirected, headed for destruction and without someone to guide it through the surf to a quiet, safe mooring.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you in Jesus’ name to guide our life today on the path of Your choosing and with total reliance upon You for a safe journey,

Manna in the Morning

08-26-10

Pure Silver

Psalm 12:6, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.”

When God speaks, His words are pure, they are absolute truth, by any standard, and they are to be believed exactly as written in the original languages.  It is very difficult to translate any language, because there is no word- for- word substitution, so much depends upon the culture, other words used as modifiers in the sentence and even the Biblical inclinations of the translators.  This is why it is so important for one who wishes to study the Scriptures to study the text in a translation rather than a paraphrase more than once before reading the words of a commentary.  Most paraphrases contain more of the commenter’s intent than a translation.  We are to regard the Scriptures as pure like silver refined over a flame hotter than normal, in a furnace formed of earth to keep the temperature hot.  The silver must be molten, the dross taken off the surface of the silver until it gives back a perfect reflection.  Study the Word of our God over and over, under the brilliant illumination of God the Holy Spirit until your mind comprehends the very essence of God’s Holy Word.  Our minds and understanding must be shaped by God’s Word, not letting our pre-conceived ideas and concepts shaping our understanding of what we are reading.  We must always realize we are reading the Sacred Word of God and give it due reverence and respect.

In John 17, as Jesus prayed for those who would follow Him in the centuries to follow, Jesus said, “Sanctify (That is purify or dedicate them as a sacrifice,) them by the truth, Your Word is truth.”  Jesus also told His followers, “I am the Truth.”  God’s Word that we hold in our hands is for our education, edification and sanctification in the life we live on this earth.  Our assurance is that our eternal lives will be lived in the place where our God dwells and manifests His glory.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your Word and its effect on our lives.  May we understand its verity and use those truths to guide our lives until we are in your presence.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-25-10

A Word to the Wise

Proverbs 25:11-12, “A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray. A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.”

If you are like most of us, you were in a conversation or a group of people just chatting, and the perfect statement to make came to you – about an hour too late.  This, however, is not the kind of response spoken at the right time this verse implies.  The golden apple on a silver tray, a word spoken at an appropriate time that is worth a treasure is the word you give to an unsaved individual that awakens a desire within him or her to hear more about their need of a Savior. It is critically important for all Believers to know how to respond to the request to know more.  A friend of mine was leaving a coffee shop when he stopped to ask an older man why he had a compass on the table in front of him.  His friend, across the table, said, “He’s lost, and doesn’t know the way home,” in a jesting manner.  My friend gave each of them a gospel of John, told them it truly pointed the way to a home in heaven.  God gave an open door, and he took advantage of it.  We often pass up opportunities that could mean eternal life or death to the person with which we’re conversing.  To share Christ is to give the other person a treasure that is out of this world, and you are the bearer of the good news.

Many times we hear a word or see an action from another believer that does not convey an appropriate witness to the glory of our Heavenly Father.  Using a quiet, non-offensive manner to correct the person who will receive it because it is not done in a combative way is like giving them a golden ring.  Our words can be the two-edged sword of God’s Word delivered in a bold, rebuke when called for, or can be a ring of gold when we approach someone in love and concern.  Knowing when and how to speak to someone is God given wisdom that only comes to us through God the Holy Spirit within us.  Our Heavenly Father, give us great wisdom in when, how and where to use the sword of the Spirit or the golden gift of the Spirit to another.  Make us wise in our witness and correction we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-24-10

Why Worry

Matthew 6:33-34, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I think all of us know someone who suffers from anxiety attacks of some form or another with varying degrees of severity.  Our culture is geared to the economic condition of the country and our families, workers are worried about the value of their retirement funds, the rate of return on their investments, the health of their IRA and whether they will have to work into their retirement years.  Most people focus on the things of this earth, their successes and failures, the net worth, the size of their house and the make and model of their cars  Money, houses, cars and all other earthly possessions are purely temporary and subject to decay, or destruction.

Jesus told us to concentrate on heavenly incorruptible things instead of earthly things that are fated for destruction.  When a person is fixated upon the things of this world, he or she is always apprehensive or worried about things losing their value or even total loss.  When we are more concerned about the future, our time in the very presence of God and the awards we will be given for our faithful following of His commands and the souls we have encouraged and helped to accept our savior, we begin to understand the vast difference with living on this earth with heavenly goals, instead of being tied to this sphere of dirt with the transitory, impermanent value of earthly, personal achievement.  Heaven’s awards are based upon our encouragement and teaching of permanent celestial values while earthly goals are mere dusty pebbles when viewed against the backdrop of eternity.

Our eternal God lives in the eternal present.  Time as we understand it is a created thing over which God has given us dominion.  While we walk these paths, work mightily to advance God’s kingdom, and when it’s time to meet Him, He will commend us for our faithful service.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the foresight to live in the light of tomorrow’s Heaven instead of today’s earthen twilight we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-23-10

Government

John 19:10-11 “So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?”  “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

Tomorrow Florida will go to the polls in the Primary election giving us some indication of how our Nation will go in November.  God has given us several passages in Scripture regarding government and our responsibilities as Christian Citizens.  First, we understand that no matter the government or the chief executive, God is able to direct the direction of the government, whether the President or Head of Government is a believer in Jesus as Savior or not, as easily as He can direct the course of a river.   According to God’s Word we are to obey the legitimate demands of Government so long as they do not step outside Biblical bounds.  As believers we are not obligated to obey those directives that would cause us to disobey Biblical precepts or commands.

Pilate tried to usurp the authority of Scripture when he took upon himself the prerogative to autocratically condemn Jesus to death, merely upon his own power.  God will not look favorably upon a Head of Government that demands and exerts power that is rightfully God’s.  Jesus reminded Pilate that the power he held was not his but was given to him by God’s allowance.  When governments promote that which is good and proper at the same time suppressing evil, then that government is blessed.  However, the opposite is also true.  When a government promotes actions that are ungodly and evil, suppressing the good, than the government is in defiance against God and He will hold that government accountable for the evil it has promoted.

As Believers in Jesus Christ, we must be careful how we vote and support appropriate candidates.  If we are passive and compliant not demanding Godliness of our elected officials, we too are guilty.  The Constitutional Republic of the United States cannot and will not survive if we do not elect those who will listen to the voice of God within their hearts.  Heavenly Father, give us true discernment as we consider all candidates in this election we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-20-10

Increase and decrease

John 3:29-30, “So this joy of mine is complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John the Baptist’s mother and Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother were cousins, When Mary visited Elizabeth during the sixth month, Elizabeth exclaimed her child had moved in her womb when Mary entered the room pregnant with Jesus.  There was always a bond between John and Jesus, in this passage John, who had been preaching and teaching the coming Savior, exclaimed upon Jesus coming to him at the Jordan River to be baptized, that he, John, should instead be baptized by Jesus.  John recognized his own need of a Redeemer and the privilege given to him to be present when Jesus began his active ministry upon the earth.  At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father spoke from heaven, expressing His approval of the Ministry of God the Son while God the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, alighted upon Jesus, signifying His anointing for the ministry that lay before Him.  From that moment, John realized that he, his unique ministry, everything he did must decrease in order for Jesus to increase; there must be no competitive spirit between them.  . In God’s plan he had to be secondary to the Ministry of Jesus that would end in Jesus’ death upon Calvary, fulfilling the promise first uttered in Eden centuries before.

As we continue our ministries on earth, whether it be one-on-one evangelism, teaching or whatever God has called us to do, just as John recognized the need to allow his popularity and effectiveness be subjected to Jesus, we must allow our Savior and Lord to increasingly take over our lives and thoughts in order for Him to receive greater glory.  We must never forget it is in His strength and for His name’s sake that we labor on this earth.  Anything done in our own strength merits no heavenly reward, what we do in His name and for His glory will please our Heavenly Father and He will reward us when the time is right.  Not our will but His, not for our glory but His, not for reward now or later, but purely out of love and gratitude for the great gift of salvation that is ours in Jesus and the promise to dwell with Him for all eternity.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, help us keep our priorities straight and realize without you we are nothing, but in your power we can move mountains.  In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-19-10

Be A Sanctuary

1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Don’t you know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone ruins God’s sanctuary, God will ruin him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.”

It is important for every believer to recognize they are indwelt by the presence of God the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the great God Jehovah, our omnipotent Heavenly Father.  At the very instant of our salvation, being born anew into the Family of God, our physical body became the dwelling place of our God.  If Christians really understood this concept, their treatment of their physical body would change.  Men and women would no longer indulge in physical habits and practices that damage their body and promote poor health.  Just as we care for the Sanctuary where we worship on the Lord’s Day, keeping it clean and in good repair and appearance, just as the Priests kept careful watch over the Tabernacle and later the Temple, to keep it in good order because these places of worship were dedicated and sanctified unto our God, in the same manner, as the place where God’s presence dwells, our bodies should be sanctified and spiritually purified.  This means we should keep free from unclean habits, things that affect our health in a negative way, and keep our minds pure before our great God.

In the Old Testament, when the Ark of the Covenant, which was a place where the Shikinah Glory of God manifested His presence, was in a defiled location, God’s wrath fell upon that unclean place.  Our God will not allow filth of any kind in His presence, yet many Christians go to places that dishonor our God, indulge in habits that are distasteful to Him and do not consider the presence of God within their lives and minds.  Today, many people do not live in a godly fear of Our Heavenly Father, they do not recognize He is perfect in His Holiness, not willing to allow sin to come into His presence, yet they pray and wonder why their prayers do not seem to be answered, forgetting God has said, that keeping sin in our hearts will cause our prayers to go unheard.

Our Heavenly Father who is perfect in all Your ways, purify our hearts, minds and bodies so we may not offend You in any way.  Help us recognize You for who You are we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-18-10

The Wind blows

John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” .

Nearly everyone who lives on the North American Continent knows that Atlantic Hurricanes are giant low pressure systems that form out over warm ocean waters, some as far away as Africa, some as close as the Gulf of Mexico and increase in intensity and wind speed until some make landfall causing great damage and often loss of life while others drift away into colder waters and slowly fall apart.  Low pressure systems have winds that revolve counter-clockwise but still no one knows why they grow so strong, or why the winds act as they do.  Scientists can predict general patterns, but the storms choose their own path and landfall according to the general scientific principles but all under the control of our Creator God.  The rush of the wind can be heard, its refreshing breath across our skin can be felt, but the air cannot be seen or bottled, it is energy in motion.

Souls under the sound of the Gospel react in an equally unpredictable manner, some will respond quickly to the message and accept Jesus as their Redeemer immediately, others may carefully meditate over what they have heard, the kernel of faith slowly growing in their lives until they too come to Christ, but others will be swayed by the variable currents of unbelief and doubt, slowly swirling into the cold waters of rejection where the message will be quenched and bear no fruit.

It is not the duty of the Believer to decide which person will accept the offered salvation nay more than you or I can decide which storm will continue to develop and which will not, we must approach every opportunity with the same expectation of winning someone to Christ, to see them born anew into the family of our Heavenly Father, no matter how long it takes, every person that shares the message with a nonbeliever will share in the joy of seeing him come to the Lord Jesus, our joy is in the opportunity to share, not in the successful completion.  No person who ever shares the salvation message with anyone, regardless of outcome, should ever go home disappointed.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us opportunity today to win another to Christ and share Heavens glory, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning.

 08-17-10

True Enlightenment

Ephesians 1:18-19, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”

Each of us has spiritual eyes, eyes that see, comprehend and focus on spiritual truths and are directed and strengthened by God the Holy Spirit within us.  Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus so that their eyes would be enlightened, that God would shine his light upon the Scriptures so all may comprehend them with the aim of their enjoying the marvelous truths of God’s revelation with all who are in his family.  God wants us to understand what we can expect in all confidence, understanding what it means to be called of God, to be invited into the Family of God, to share the joy of sins forgiven and to enter into eternal life through the work of Jesus at Calvary.  It is his desire that we would enjoy the glorious, heavenly riches of grace that are ours even while we are living here on earth in anticipation of His call to “come up” to Heaven to live with our Savior and Lord.

It is God’s desire for us to understand his great power and strength.  Over and over the Scriptures tell us there is nothing too hard for God, that He can turn the course of the rivers and the minds of rulers, whether they love Him or not.  He has the power to lift us from the slimy cellar of sin to the glories of Heaven, from the pit of despair to the high and lofty place where He shows us all that he has done and will do for us in this life,   The working of His unlimited strength is seen in the defeat of Satan, observed in the resurrection and completed when we join Him in the awesome expanses of Heaven where we will spend all eternity in His presence.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank You for the light You shine upon our minds when we meditate on Your word.  We praise you for the certainty of eternity with You, and we marvel at Your power.  These things are beyond our ability to fully understand, but we trust You in their completeness.  Guide us today we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-16-10

Giving Offense

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 “Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

In this verse Paul is giving advice to the Christians at Corinth about how to win others of different backgrounds to Christ Jesus.  The residents of Corinth were much like our cities today, a very broad mix of people from all backgrounds, ethnicity and religious habits.  His advice is to live a life that would not offend the people who traced their linage back to Jacob, Isaac and Abraham, nor to the worshippers of various pagan deities with their superstitions and ungodly practices, and in ways that would not offend the believers who had given their lives to Christ Jesus, recognizing Him as their Redeemer and Lord.

No one is likely to be won into the Family of God by argumentative, bitter confrontation.  I am reminded of an old adage, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”  People are won to Christ by not offending them in ways that are insulting to them, then asking them to listen as you tell them of God’s love.  There are many ways to let God do the convicting in their hearts and souls, to expose their need and explain the consequences of rejection without making them angry with you. We meet people who think they are in God’s family because they were born into a loving family, attend a church where the emphasis is not on the saving power of Christ or who are satisfied and happy with their current condition.  After meeting and talking to people, ask them if they intend to enjoy Heaven, and if they do not give evidences of being a true believer, ask them the question, “If you are wrong, would you like to know about it?”  God will lead us to the hearts that He has ploughed for us to sow the seed.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, use us in this day to spread the word of salvation wherever you lead, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-13-10

Laughter

Luke 8:53, “They started laughing at Him, because they knew she was dead.”

Laughter is an unusual sound.  It can indicate joy and uncontrolled exuberance, it can be as innocent as an infant responding to the voice of his or her parents, it can cover nervousness, laughter can even convey ridicule and scorn, depending upon the tone and volume.  Sara laughed in disbelief when she was told she was going to bear a son at the age of ninety.  Their astonishment and joy was evident in the name they gave their son, ‘Isaac,’ meaning ‘to laugh.’  Goliath laughed in derision at the entire Israelite army when they refused to fight him in a duel, laughed with delight when he saw a young teenage boy step on the field of battle against him, but the laughter died in his throat as the stone from David’s sling sunk into his skull.  As Jesus lived on this earth, many times those who didn’t understand Him or His deity laughed at His words only to be confounded.   When the official of the synagogue came to Jesus to plead with Him to heal his daughter, messengers came to him from his house saying the child had died.  Before Jesus could reach the house with the official, mourners had gathered to weep and wail over the untimely death of the girl.  When Jesus told the mourners to go home because the child was alive and sleeping, they laughed and derided Him because they knew the girl had died.  Jesus took the parents, went in to the girl with them, took her hand and told her to arise.  She got up at once and ate.  The love of Jesus with the faith of the parents brought the girl to life.

In our Christian lives, there are many times when we are convinced there is no way to successfully avoid disaster of one sort or another.  Our faith in our Savior, our belief in His promises will allow miracles in our lives just as significant as the raising of this little child.  When all human help fails, when it is certain that there is no positive outcome, when we are as disbelieving as Sarah, that is when only our great God can and will act for those who have faith in Him.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for an extra measure of faith this day.  Give us the guidance we need we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-12-10

Bread of Life

Matthew 4:1-4, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  But He answered, “It is written: ‘Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, He immediately went from there to the desert where the devil tempted Him with every sin that you or I will ever be tempted to commit.  Everything in the physical, emotional or spiritual realm where we are tempted constantly while we are on this earth was laid before Jesus.  He already knew what the end of His earthly life would mean, the redemption that He would make available to all men.  Esau was out hunting for a day and was so hungry he sold his birthright to Jacob, you and I may fast for a day or two and feel the pangs of hunger calling for food, but Jesus’ human body withstood the lack of water and sustenance for over a month.  His human body was weak; He felt the effects of malnutrition and did not yield, regardless of the temptation laid before Him.  Satan knew the hunger that wracked His body, and suggested Jesus use His divinity to turn the stones to bread to satisfy His hunger, but Jesus answered with Scripture, man does not live by bread only, he also needs the Word of God on a daily basis.  Satan knew the fate that awaited our Savior and offered Him the kingdoms of the world and all their inhabitants if Jesus would only bow down and worship Satan just once for a brief instance.  Again Jesus answered from God’s Word, declaring that worship or adoration of anything other than God Himself, was against God’s established law.

Today, Satan has not changed his tactics, the idea of getting something special, or a deal not available to anyone else is the devil’s allurement, he promised Adam and Eve greater knowledge, he promised others prestige.  His promises however, carry a much greater cost than mankind can imagine.  Adam’s sinned caused every one of his descendents death instead of life, requiring a perfect Redeemer.  When we succumb to the evil one’s promises of gratification, personal glory or even great power, the exchange will be the cost of one’s soul, eternal Death and separation from anything good.  Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we ask for strength to withstand the devil’s trickery this day.

Manna in the Morning

08-11-10

God’s Plans

Psalm 33:11-12, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord—“

One of the alternate titles for our God’s Word is the counsel of God, the prudent advice of God for our lives; Scripture is also the way our Heavenly Father shares His purpose for our lives with us, helping us to understand how we fit into His purposes and intents for us on this earth.  The plan of Almighty God has been established, settled and unchanged since before creation was put in place.  Nothing is a surprise to our God, He does not react to events, every attempt by the forces of darkness is turned aside, and the devil never makes headway against the purpose and plan of our Heavenly Father.  The blessings of our Lord last for generations, reaching into the hearts of men who love him.  By His Word and counsel, our heart is blessed by Him and the heart to heart communication we enjoy with God the Holy Spirit within us is another precious gift.

Any Nation in history who followed the guidance of God in their national life was the recipient of God’s grace and mercy.  In the brief times the Israelites followed God’s direction and laws, they lived in freedom and under the blessing of God, but when they fell into idolatry and sin, the Lord allowed them to fall into subjection to other nations.  The book of Judges is a narrative of six of these cycles of prospering, falling away into sin, turning to God in repentence and prayer then restoration to full fellowship once again.

The United States of America was founded upon Biblical principles by men who knew the Bible and desired to see a nation that would not be a theocracy but follow Biblical admonitions.  Through the last 100 or so years, this nation as slowly but certainly drawn away from Godly precepts, allowing the practice of abortion to become commonplace and accepted by many, as well as the acceptance of sodomy, the sin God calls an abomination.  Slowly this nation has done away with Biblical influence, prayer in public, and restricted the free exercise of our religious expression, barely allowing our freedom to worship our Heavenly Father as we desire.

Our gracious Heavenly Father make us salty and a brilliant light in this Nation that we might return to our origins.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-10-10

The Revelation of Jesus

Revelation 1:1-3, “The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, who testified to God’s word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw. Blessed is the one who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near!”

We are blessed every time we read our Bible, but this book is the only book in Scripture for which God promises a blessing just for reading it, and an even greater blessing for studying it. The entire book reveals Jesus, The Promised One, as the Righteous Judge and coming King from the Line of David; the One who has fulfilled all prophecy and warns all who study this Book that its fulfillment is drawing very near.  The entire book is John’s vision of the risen Christ Jesus reminding us in the beginning sentence that we are truly slaves of our Lord and Savior.  Our society does not understand the true meaning of a slave; the true meaning has been modified and demonized because of the relatively small portion of our Nation’s history that allowed human slavery.  While am not, nor ever have condoned or accepted slavery in a societal sense, I do understand and accept the fact that spiritually, every believer in Jesus is to accept Him as their Lord in every sense, recognizing Him as our slave-master as John himself did.  We are His to command and disobedience is sin, for which we shall be held accountable unless we repent and ask forgiveness.

John declares the vision was accompanied by an angel dispatched from the Heavenly places to assure John, and us, that the vision was from God, the angel being the signet ring, showing the authenticity of the vision and its contents. We are given to understand that once the warning signs begin to be recognized, the events will progress in rapid succession.  We are already seeing geological events, world political changes involving nations, even events within the world wide-church that tell us change is eminent.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us spiritual eyes that see as you see this world, give us an ability to understand Your Word as it is intended and bless our efforts to proclaim Your warnings, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-09-10

Imitation

Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.”

Nearly every person on this earth can look at their image and see physical characteristics that remind them of their parents, Each of us carry our father’s family name, at least until the girls get married, and we often respond to situations and challenges n exactly the same manner as our parents did in our formative years.  It is interesting to watch a young boy try to imitate their father in various ways, I remember as a young boy walking with my dad in some deep snow and trying to put my feet directly into his footsteps, many kids follow their parent’s footsteps in emotional and spiritual ways.  We often want to grow up just like our parents and as we grow older, we see times when we responded ‘just like dad or mom did.  We tend to imitate their language, interests and habits.

This is a natural, human tendency, but when are are born anew into the family of God, instead of reading God’s Word and patterning our responses after His as we read His Word, we often revert back to our old tendencies.  When we come to Christ for salvation, there should be a change in our habits and language.  No longer do we want to use the coarse, rude language of the non-believer, our vocabulary needs to be restructured to reflect our heavenly heritage and our actions and habits need to be purified from the old nature to imitate our Heavenly Father and His language of love, purity and cleanliness.

Just as we have inherited characteristics and learned from our natural parents, we can learn from our Heavenly Father.  He has given us His Word to guide our thinking, to teach us to live for His glory and share His love with others.  We have God the Holy Spirit infusing every part of our life just as fully as the inherited genes from our earthly parents, and we must depend upon Him for guidance in difficult situations, for the responses to others.  The glory of our Heavenly Father should radiate from our hearts and faces, showing our relationship with Him and making our lives shine in the middle of a world that is dark with sin.  Heavenly Father, let your radiant likeness shine from us today we plead in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-06-10

The Fear of the Lord

Deuteronomy 5:29, “If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commands, so that they and their children will prosper forever.”

The Scriptures tell us in Proverbs, here in Deuteronomy and in other places it is the responsibility of parents to instill in their children a ‘Fear of the Lord.’  While this does not mean a frightening terror at the thought of the Almighty God, it does mean that we should instill in our children and grandchildren that the meaning of this phrase includes, among other things, a worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect of our God and Father.  Our pastors and teachers concentrate on the love of our Heavenly Father, and some people don’t make the connection that while God’s perfect love is great and without limit, His perfect justice requires us to call upon Him for forgiveness of our sin and restoration to full fellowship with Him.  Our first responsibility as a Believer is to submit to His will for our lives in a worshipful manner.  Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are to submit to Him in all things.

Next we are to hold Our great God in reverential awe, that is, we recognize Him as the creator and sustainer of the entire universe, that all that is, exists at His creative and sustaining power.   Our Heavenly Father is perfect and without limit in all His attributes, He lives in eternity and is not limited with the things that bind us to this earth; time, limitations or finite ability.  We must hold our God in the Highest respect.  We do not use God’s name in cursing, careless talk or general conversation unless we speak of His attributes in a reverent manner.  The texting abbreviation ‘OMG’ is only an abbreviation for ‘Oh my God’ which we would not use verbally, therefore should not bandy about in a careless manner, taking away glory from our God.  God the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our lives and being making our bodies a temple indwelt by the Omnipotent God, and our voices are subject to Him.

As Moses spoke this reminder to the Israelites, he woefully recognized they would turn away from God.  He implored them to teach these principles to their children and grandchildren so they would know the true grandeur of God’s glory and not do or say anything that would lessen the glorious effect upon those who truly worship the Heavenly Father.  Our matchless Father in Heaven, may we exhibit the joy of the fear of the Lord in our lives today.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

08-05-10

I Will Not Be Bound

1 Corinthians 6:12, “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.”

All believers are to live to the glory of their Savior.  The Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Corinth that had difficulty with those who were part of the church that did not live in a God-honoring way.  Because we who are in the Family of God are freed from the burdens of all the laws except the original Ten Commandments handed down from God on Mount Sinai.  We are not bound by the ceremonial law, the laws of animal sacrifice or the dietary laws given in Leviticus and Deuteronomy but we are bound by our Savior to abstain from all activities that would harm our testimony and therefore, brings disrepute on the Savior we are to honor with our lives.   While we are not guilty of breaking any law, we are to be extremely careful not to commit any activity that is not helpful to the cause of Christ on this earth.

Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit writes that it is wrong to be under the control of any substance or practice that detracts from the control of God the Spirit over our lives.  People today can find themselves under the control of chemical substances, destructive practices, habit forming substances, unwise activities and inappropriate actions.  All of these activities will harm our testimony because if we cannot give glory to our God with all we do, then we are failing in our responsibility to Him.

We do not live to satisfy our own earthly desires we do not exist for our personal pleasure and our lives are not to be lived to attract credit for ourselves, any reward, credit or glory that comes to us is all we will receive; there will be no heavenly reward for self-serving activity.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep us humble and anxious to give all glory for all we do to You working through us.  Our desire is to live to the standard set by Jesus as he lived on this earth. We ask in Jesus’ name that you will use us as you will for your greater glory.

Manna in the Morning

08-04-10

I Will Show You

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things you do not know.”

By and large Americans are an educated people.  They know how to research on any subject, most of them are very familiar with Google, can find any little city or hamlet on MapQuest, have found little known facts in a World Almanac, but spend little time in Biblical research and are woefully ignorant of a concordance or other Bible reference book.  In this passage the Author of the Scriptures, our great God, offers to show us great Biblical truths and to shine the light of Divine illumination through God the Holy Spirit for those who intently study His word.  This is our invitation to sit at the foot of the Heavenly Throne letting God teach us the truths of Scripture, laying before us the plans He has in store for the world and all its residents for our edification and encouragement as we share His message with those we meet every day in our interaction with people.

All Believers are anxious to know more about what plans our Heavenly Father has for us, our future and for this earthly, sin laden sphere we call home.  There is a sense of urgency today that runs through the Church as people sense an approaching urgency in winning others because God is about to act.  A careful study of Daniel’s vision of the time of Gentile domination and his prophecy of God’s purification of the earth and the Israelites, in order to receive Jesus, the Promised One, as the coming King of Kings whom God the Father promised David would come from his descendents.  We do not know if Jesus will call us to heaven before we see another sunrise or if Believers will hear His call in the centuries to come.  Only the Father knows the point in time when this event will occur.  Our responsibility is to remain steadfast in Bible study, prayer and active witness to His saving grace.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep us from becoming spiritually lazy.  Your Word tells us to keep busy doing as you command until you call us to Your presence.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

08-03-10

Our Lord

Psalm 8:1, “Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!  You have covered the heavens with Your majesty.”

This Psalm starts and ends with the same refrain on the magnificence of the name of our Lord God.  This is first of all, a reminder that He is our Lord, that is our Master and we are to be His servants, even slaves, in doing what he has determined for us.  To claim Jesus, God the Son as our Savior yet refusing to acknowledge Him as your Master is to show our poor understanding of our God and Father.  At the name of our Lord, the angels bow, the hosts of heaven acknowledge His glory and dominion, because of His name the stars shine in their brilliance and the storms shout His greatness as they move across the earth.  All creation is the work of his hands, the animals, the heavenly bodies in their carefully designed orbits, the seas and dry land all come from His fingers.  After creating Adam, God gave him the responsibility of naming each of them with descriptive, fitting names, allowing mankind to work as directed by the Heavenly Father.

In many ways the modern individual has lost the meaning of a Majestic Monarch.  We have nations whose monarchs are figureheads without any governing power, serving as a ceremonial King or Queen, there are Presidents who are elected then take to themselves the trappings of monarchial prerogatives and there are dictators who unreasonably demand the obedience and obeisance of the citizens of the Country they lead making it difficult for anyone to understand true benevolent majesty our Heavenly Father exhibits as he deals with His Heavenly Kingdom.

All of us who have been born anew into the Family of our awesome, majestic Heavenly Father owe him our allegiance, loyalty and submission as we do His bidding on this earth.  Our great God and Heavenly Father, accept our praise and recognition of your awesome majesty as we represent you in this world this day, we ask in Jesus’ Holy name.

Manna in the Morning

08-02-10

The Capstone

            Zechariah 4:7, “God will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!”

When a mason lays out the walls for a brick or stone building, whether it is a humble home, an estate or a mansion the first corner stone must be aligned with precision.  The line of the face must face exactly across the building lot, to the far corner, parallel to the street or line established by the architect of the building.  It must lie completely horizontal so that the wall that follows it’s pattern and position will be structurally sound, neither slanting in nor out, and to give the correct appearance of the wall facing the person who would approach it.  The end of the stone must be a perfect ninety degree angle from the face so the side wall will be exactly square, coming off the foundation.   Not only must it be parallel to the horizon, its corner must perfectly aligned vertically so the walls will be true and reach directly up from the center of the earth toward Heaven and the Throne of the Almighty God our Father.  Each course must follow the pattern and angle of the corner stone until the four walls have been complete and the proportions, angles and perfect vertical or plumb line established with the first stone is precisely aligned.  The last stone at the top of the corner is the capstone, the final stone of perfect alignment.

As we build our Christian lives, each of us must build upon the Foundation laid by Christ Jesus, He is the cornerstone from which our entire life is oriented and established.  He is to be the Capstone, the final, perfect stone in the edifice, and when it is laid, we are to understand, know and proclaim the Jesus has done the work in our lives, and we measure up to His standards and commandments.  The Body of Christ, the Church, is made up of many stones, each laid with precision in its place, thereby fulfilling the plan God has established for our lives as a living stone, saved by His grace and laboring for His glory.   When we, who are the building blocks, allow the bonds that attach us to others in the church erode, we shift and move just as a stone when the mortar is chipped out around it adding strain and stress to the surrounding stones in the structure.  This lessens the ability of the wall to carry its full load and if left untreated, will erode even further taking away the glory that is due the capstone.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we recognize we have built our lives on the sure foundation of Jesus our Lord, and are mortared together with the bonds of Your love.  May we live today to your glory, praying for other Believers and doing what you have called us to do for the Glory of our risen Lord, in whose name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-30-10

King of Kings

1 Timothy  6:14-16, “I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which The Father will bring about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen.”

As Paul wrote to Timothy he gives this glorious, ringing description of Jesus, God the Son, who was never more than a man while at the same time never less than God!  After Jesus died and was buried, He rose again in triumph over sin by His own power.  He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Almighty God’s throne waiting until the time appointed by the Father when He will return in triumph to this earth to reign and rule as the Sovereign, a benevolent King for one thousand years.  Our God is the only eternal, self-existent one with no beginning and no end.  He lives in the splendor of His own Holiness; a light so pure man cannot be in the presence of our God unless he is wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus our Savior.

We need to concentrate on the holiness of God, to develop a reverence before Him, to practice thinking of his exaltation and seek to hear His voice in our spiritual ears, then realizing that Jesus is fully God, all the attributes of the Triune God are His and He deserves our full adoration and praise.  He is our Savior, our guide, the light of our lives and the Redeemer of our souls.  It is only by His mercy we have been given the gift of eternal life to share in the glories of heaven with our God.  Every person that has been born anew must deepen his or her realization of how great He is and how great His love to reach down into the pit we once inhabited and draw us to Himself.  We now gladly accept the title of ‘Slave of Jesus the Promised One,’ and will do His will every moment of our lives.  Our Gracious, merciful Father in Heaven, fill us with an understanding of your greatness we plead in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-29-10

Son of Man

Mark 8:31, “Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.”

Of the many titles and descriptive names given to Jesus as He walked the earth, none is more descriptive of His position than Son of Man; it clearly signifies His deity as well as His humanity.  Born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus was subject to the human experiences of hunger, weariness, thirst, temptation of any and every kind and successfully overcame each trial.  Jesus knew the mind of mankind, clearly kept in focus the reason and purpose of His incarnation.  Just as man brought sin into the world, a man would have to be the perfect sacrifice to remove that curse.  During the time Jesus walked on the earth, this title was not used of anyone, it was used in Ezekiel when he was continually reminded of his humanity, but trusted with God’s Holy Word in revealing God’s plan for the Israelites.  Jesus used the title to remind His followers He was truly one like them and what He was about to endure was the punishment that really should have fallen upon them.

Jesus used the title Son of Man to refer to Himself as the one who exercised the exceptional authority delegated to Him by God the Father. “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10), He clarified this when He exercised this authority in a way that made some people criticize Him for acting with the authority of God: “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).  Jesus exercised His authority over creation when He calmed the storm and turned the water into wine.  He exercised His authority over Satan and his demons when He cast out demons, who not only recognized Him and did not question His authority over them.

We have to remember that Jesus was fully man, but fully God.  His deity is recognized all through the accounts of His ministry, but without His humanity, He could not be our redeemer.  Our Heavenly Father, we ask you in Jesus’ name to use us today in the power of God the Holy Spirit within us.

Manna in the Morning

07-28-10

Bright and Morning Star

Revelation 22:16, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you for the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star.”

Jesus is called ‘the Morning Star only in the Book of Revelation.  This is fitting since at His first advent, Jesus’ birth was heralded by the appearance of a brilliant star that brought the visitors from the East and announced the Birth of Jesus to not only the Magi, but to the Shepherds and all who were alert that night.

As the Creator, Jesus introduced the radiant, dazzling light into the void that became the earth, and placed each star in its place orbiting in the universe.  Out of nothing came the beautiful earth we inhabit today.  We must never lose our conviction that our God is the source and Creator of all that is.  While Jesus walked this earth, He said He was the Light of the World and told the Church of Thyatira they would receive the morning star for their faithfulness.

Centuries before, God promised David that his descendent would rule the world from David’s own throne in Jerusalem and establish David’s dynasty forever.  In God’s planning, Ruth returns from Moab with Naomi and marries Boaz, her kinsman redeemer according to Israelite custom to establish the line of King David their descendent and in that line was born Jesus, son of Mary who is the Redeemer of all who will accept the wonderful gift of salvation through His sacrifice.  Truly Jesus is the brilliant Star of the Morning, lighting the life of everyone who turns to Him.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, our hearts cry out to You in gratitude for Jesus, who is truly the Light of our Lives.

Manna in the Morning

07-27-10

The Holy One

Revelation 16:5-6, “I heard the angel of the waters say: You are righteous, who is and who was, the Holy One, for You have decided these things.  Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, You also gave them blood to drink; they deserve it!”

Yesterday we considered The Righteous One, our Savior, Jesus, God the Son.  Today we note that God the Father, our Jehovah God is called the Holy One.  This title is reserved for our Heavenly Father in Scripture.  In the glimpses of heaven we see in Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation the angels around the throne cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Holiness is absolute perfection in all moral, ethical and spiritual qualities, absolute separation from moral unrighteousness. Holiness is one quality that our Heavenly Father imparts to us through God the Holy Spirit who resides within us as believers in Christ Jesus. Only our God and Father is Holy in that sense.  In 1 Samuel, the prophet says, “There is none holy like the Lord.”  Holiness is expected of men and women we give of ourselves in service to Him; everything we do is an offering of worship unto Him and must be done in a spirit of holiness.  When we consider ourselves as set apart for God’s service we are responding back to Him in the same manner as He has saved us.

Because our God is perfection in Holiness, during the coming time after the Church worldwide is caught up to Heaven, earth must be purified of sin and the stain it has placed upon this earth and of the curse placed upon it as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in Eden.  As the time of that purification continues, those who neglected, ignored, neglected, refused to accept the sin offering sent by God Himself and crucified our Lord, then followed and worshipped a false god deserve all that comes upon them as a result of God’s perfect justice.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for your perfect love that drew us to you in the person of Jesus, God the Son.  May we live this day in His service and for the glory of His name.

Manna in the Morning

07-26-10

The Righteous One

Acts 22:14, “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of His voice.”

In the Old Testament, God referred to those who followed His precepts and believed the promise given in Genesis that the Promised One would someday come to this earth to pay for their sins as ‘righteous ones,’ those who lived righteously in the sight of God and followed His commandments.   In the New Testament, when Stephen was about to be stoned, he referred to Jesus as ‘The Righteous One, the one who is perfect in His holiness, without sin in His earthly life, and absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing.  Stephen went on to say the Pharisees and Scribes were truly guilty of murder in the death of Jesus.

Paul, who witnessed and approved of Stephen’s death, later when he told of his encounter with Christ, called Jesus by the same title, The Righteous One.  Later, in the Book of 1 John, this title of our Savior is used once more, 1 John 2:1, “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous One.”  Jesus the perfectly righteous one who lived His sinless life tested and tried with every temptation we have or will face, has emerged triumphant, and it is in His righteousness we can go before our Father in Heaven who looks upon us, not as sinful human beings who have willfully sinned, having succumbed to the devil’s temptations and committed sin, but because of our faith and trust in the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus, we are seen as perfect in righteousness because we are fully enclosed in Jesus own righteousness.  The miracle of Calvary is that our sin has been removed and is seen no more by our Father, because of Jesus, the perfectly Righteous One.

The Most High God’s perfect justice demands that all sinners be punished with eternal separation from God in a place prepared for Satan and his angels because they are adjudged guilty of the death of Jesus because of their rejection of His redeeming grace and forgiveness.  The contrast between our soul’s condition before and after our acceptance of Jesus’ offered salvation is eternally opposite, from guilt to innocent purity, from damnation to salvation, from eternal death to eternal life.  Praise you Jesus for Your Righteousness!

Manna in the Morning

07-23-10

Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30:15-16, “See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity.  For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the LORD your God may bless you.”

No where in Scripture can a verse be found that says the Church, the Body of Christ, will supplant Israel as God’s chosen people.  In this age in which we live, the Church is the carrier of the Salvation Message to the entire world.  Just as the promise was made to all of Adam’s descendents that there will be a perfect sacrifice, The Israelites were chosen to deliver that perfect sacrifice to the world and the church has been chosen to spread the message over the entire world without distinction between people groups, languages or place of residence.  Just as God set a path for the Israelites to follow after Moses’ death to give them life or death as a People, they failed to follow the ordinances of God and never succeeded in proclaiming God’s greatness throughout the entire known world, We must consider the task given to us, we understand Scripture has given us time to do all God commands of us, and that time is growing short.  The same option is set before us as Believers in Jesus Christ, to obey and prosper with eternal life in Heaven as our final destination, or to turn aside, disobeying God’s commandments to us as the Body of Christ.  Our society has ignored the sanctity of God’s gift of life, has accepted life styles God has declared an abomination before Him and chosen material comfort and fleshly pleasures rather than holy living under the commandments of our God and Father.

We know the failure of the Israelites cost them their freedom, independence and respect as a nation.  If we do not follow God’s precepts, we too will lose our influence and no longer be considered the light and salt to represent God’s plan in this age in which we live.  May God empower us to fulfill our duties in God’s eternal plan.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask in Jesus’ name for Your guidance, strength and wisdom in dealing with others this day in order to bring great glory to Your name.

Manna in the Morning

07-22-10

Salvation

Acts 8:34-35, “The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or another person?” So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture.”

Phillip was in the middle of a revival among the Christians in Samaria, when he was told by God the Holy Spirit to travel south and wait for God’s guidance for his next move.  As an obedient apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Phillip headed south and under the Spirit’s direction ran up to a chariot where an Ethiopian official was reading the Book of Isaiah and asked him if he could understand what he was reading, the Ethiopian answered, “I need someone to explain it to me.” He was reading from Isaiah 53:7-8.  Phillip took the opportunity to explain God’s plan for all men and women to be saved without regard to their nationality or ethnicity, and explained what was necessary for the man to accept Jesus as his Redeemer.  As they passed a pool of water, the man asked if Phillip would baptize him, and his statement of faith was simple, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”  Phillip baptized him and was immediately caught away by God to another place.

This example of Phillip obeying God and meeting a man ready for the gospel message is the way we should live our lives, always ready to share the gospel with anyone who is ready, follow God’s prompting and ask people if they understand how God has provided for them to be saved from the future torment of the unforgiven.  God has promised to direct our paths, and we should listen for his voice and obey the urgent command we hear with our spiritual ears.  If all of us were as sensitive as Phillip, there would be a glorious influx of millions of new believers, just because we were sensitive to their cry and God’s directing us each day.  Our Heavenly Father, give us an opportunity today to talk to at least one person about their eternity and Your gift of salvation.  Then give us a sense of anticipation to expect the opportunity and recognize it.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.

If you wish to receive an easy, non-confrontational way to explain God’s plan, email me and I will send it to you via your email address.  Or – If you wish a hard paper copy to put in your Bible or pocket, send $12.50 plus S/H for a total of $15 to MITM P.O.Box 41523, St Petersburg, FL 33743-1523 for the plan plus “Manna in the Morning” a Book of 365 Devotions retailing at $19.95 to use as a gift or encouragement to someone you would like to see develop a regular devotional time in their life.

Manna in the Morning

07-21-10

Rebirthed

Titus 3:5, “He saved us-not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

The more I consider the great gift of regeneration – being born anew – the more overwhelmed I am at its scope and magnitude. God has truly saved us from an eternity of torment, total absence of His light and bereft of any hope or mention of the name of God the Father or Jesus, God the Son. The only memory would be our ever-conscious reminder of our rejection of His merciful offer of salvation. Not only did God save us from this terrible eternity, He provided a place for our eternal habitation in His presence, remembering His compassion, love and grace.

As wonderful as the salvation from eternal damnation is, it is equaled by what our Great God does within us. We are regenerated, literally re-birthed into the family of God. We now have the nature of our Heavenly Father infused into our lives in the person of God the Holy Spirit. Fully born into His family, we are assured of our eternal life, and our passage from this earthly life to our heavenly life is instantaneous, immediately in God’s very presence instead of confined to this earth, we are freed from its cares, woes, temptations and even the atmosphere, we are children of the Heavenly King. Scripture continues to tell of that metamorphosis, using the word renewal. Just as an individual will buy a valued old house on a pleasant, tree lined street and renovate it, making it new inside and out, but still keeping the form and look of the old. God renovates us, removing everything that has been marred by sin and makes everything new, perfect and fit for our heavenly home.

All of this takes place with nothing of our own doing except opening our hearts and lives to Christ Jesus, our Savior. Because of this great gift we now desire to serve Him and live to His glory. Not only is He the Forgiver of our Sins, He is to be the Leader of our Lives because we need His guidance for all we do. Nothing is to great or too small for us to do in His name and for His glory. Our loving Heavenly Father, we offer ourselves to you this day in joy and gratitude for the great gift of our new life, in Jesus’ name we praise You.

Manna in the Morning

07-20-10

Footsteps

Psalm 77:19, “Your way went through the sea, and Your path through the great waters, but Your footprints were unseen.”

Frequently I take a walk on the beach in the evening and the footprints I leave in the sand are completely washed away without trace when I walk on the return trip to the car.  Either the surf’s ebb and flow will obliterate the tracks or if the wind is blowing the sand, the tracks will quickly disappear.  It is a good reminder that as we walk on this earth, our footprints will shortly be forgotten and eventually very little will be remembered about our lives.  I ’m sure you have seen the email or the picture that inspired it, of the two sets of footprints on the sand that merge into one, and Jesus saying, “That’s where I carried you.”  The verse in Psalm 77 tells us that God’s path leaves no footprints.  Our great God is Spirit and we must worship Him in a spirit of awesome reverence and fear.  While He is always with us to help and encourage us in the times of stress or difficulty it is from within, not from without.  God the Holy Spirit is ever present in our lives, giving us guidance and comfort.  Instead of carrying us, He fills us with His presence, gives us the strength and courage to continue on until we have reached the safety of His presence in the Heavenly places.

Instead of being overwhelmed by the waves of sorrow or despair, we are we are lifted up and carried safely to shores of God’s comfort and the sustenance of His presence.  Our God who sends the rain and thunder to water and provide for the earth, who orders the tides and allows the hurricanes to wend their way across the oceans in the orderly progression of weather systems will always have our welfare in His mind.  Our God and Heavenly Father allows events to happen, cares for and protects His children and is an ever present help in every way.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, instill in us the confidence and reliance we need to depend upon your provision in everything.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-19-10

Accountability

Psalm 98:7-9, “Let the sea and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it, resound. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world righteously and the peoples fairly.”

There is an alarming trend invading the churches that is contrary to Scripture and damaging to the cause of Christ in these last days before God calls us to account.  It is the concept that once an individual has accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior, they are not accountable for their actions any longer, because Jesus will forgive them for their sins and misdeeds routinely when they ask.  It is true that when a Christian repents or turns away from his or her sin and asks for forgiveness Our Heavenly Father can and will forgive us and restore us to full fellowship with Him.  It is also true that sin often carries consequences that follow the individual for years, even until they die in some cases.  God will not remove the consequences that follow the sin.  For example, one who causes division in the church and harms its effective ministry may see a Church hindered and perhaps never recover because of that sin.  The earthly effects continue even if our Heavenly Father forgives the penitent person.

There is a time when we will be judged, not for our salvation or eternal destination, but for our effectiveness in bringing the Gospel message to others.  We are held accountable for our witness among believers and non-believers alike.  We are held answerable to our Heavenly Father for actions that diminish His glory through what we do and we are judged by Jesus for the use of the talents and abilities He has given us, equipping us for personal witness and ministry.  Jesus will soon come to judge and purify the earth before the benevolent reign of God the Son, and every person on the earth will bow their knees before Him.  The non-believer will be cast into the Lake of Fire, and the believer will be given recognition of his or her effective witness and personal conduct and Godly living.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we willingly submit to your righteous authority and recognize our accountability to you.  Use us this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-16-10

Goal Oriented

Philippians 3:8, “My goal is to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”

In this passage, Paul indicates he has but one goal in his life, to know Jesus in the fullest possible manner even if it means that his life end in martyrdom for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our goals are varied, some wish to retire at age 55 or 60, saving and investing in order to provide for all the future needs without the daily work routine.  Others desire to continue to work as long as possible, to keep active or when possible, transfer to a life of ministry in volunteering or mission trips or some other way of devoting more time in serving their Master.  Others may want to travel the world, sampling other cultures and amassing pages of visas in their passport.

Every believer should have the stated goal of Paul, to be able to know God the Son to the fullest, and to experience the power of His resurrection coursing through their veins as they exhibit His attributes through their lives, to know the suffering of rejection and discouragement Jesus knew when His words were twisted and accusations made about Him because of the message He came to earth to convey.  In His short three years of ministry Jesus conquered every temptation you and I have and will face, was rejected by the spiritual leaders and the very people He came to redeem, felt compassion for the lame, blind, weak, crippled, sorrowing, and desperate people he met and healed, encouraged and bringing redemption.  His sorrow over Jerusalem because they refused to believe was equal or even more painful than the physical pain He would experience in His last hours ending in the agony of the cross.

Very few of us will be called to experience physical beating and pain as Jesus did, but each of us should sorrow with our brothers and sisters who have, and be willing to carry His name and message until the very moment our Heavenly Father calls us home.  If it should be in God’s great plan for us to give our life for his Name and Gospel, may we embrace that privilege with joy.

Our Heavenly Father, our days are Yours to command and ask that we be useful to you for as long as we are on this earth, in Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-15-10

The Promised One

Psalm 89:3-4, “The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn an oath to David My servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’”

God made His promise to Satan in Genesis 3:15 promising that Satan’s head would be crushed by the coming Perfect One who would be a perfect, sinless sacrifice to provide salvation to all men who would call upon Him.  This promise was made in the presence of Adam and Eve just at the time they were evicted from the Garden of Eden as a partial punishment for their sin.  This promise was proclaimed to all who followed Adam on the earth, and repeated to Abraham and Sarah when God called them out of the Chaldean Mountains.  God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations and peoples, and from his descendents the Promised Redeemer would come, the One promised centuries before.  Abraham and Sarah remained childless for years, until Abraham was 100 years old.   God moves in His perfect timing, when all human effort is without success and He and He alone can perform the Miracle.

Again after many centuries, God came to David the King and gave him the promise that his descendent would be the Promised one, the Great King over all the world, and rule from David’s capital city, Jerusalem.  God kept His promise and Satan’s head and power was crushed at Calvary.  The second half of this promise that David’s  descendent will rule the world will be fulfilled in God’s own timing when Jesus, the Promised One returns to this earth to rule for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.  Each of us who know Jesus as our personal Savior will witness that great reign sometime in the coming years because we will return to this earth with Him when He comes to set up this kingdom.

God has made a promise or covenant with us as well.  He has promised us the opportunity to be with Him in His glory and to spend all eternity with Him in a place He has already prepared.  Our wonderful Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your promises and for the confidence we have placed in you.  Accept our thanks and praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-14-10

Anticipation

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

When the alarm goes off or when you wake up, and the sun is up, it’s time to face the day. What is your first waking thought?  Is it the thought of dreading to go to work and face the cube, work all day, take a short break for lunch and at closing time be the first one to punch out and start thinking of tomorrow then 3 more days ‘till the weekend?  Maybe you wake up, stretch and think, how many days until my unemployment benefits run out, and head for the beach, or do you praise the Lord for one more day to serve Him and anticipate some opportunity to share the blessings you receive just by enjoying the world your Heavenly Father created for our enjoyment.  Most of us will fall somewhere on that scale between dread and exuberance, hopefully toward the more anticipatory end.

God gave you life, called you to be in His forever Family, equipped you with the skills and abilities He wanted you to have, gave you the personality and qualities He desired to prepare you for the work he has for you to do.  In order to fully fulfill His expectations for you as an individual, you should awaken eager to go through the day using your God-given gifts to God’s own glory.  Ready, filled with anticipation of the yet unknown ways your Heavenly Father will use you in the work He has prepared you to accomplish for Him.

When we pray, keep looking for God to respond, checking to see how we can be involved in the answer.  While praying for someone to come to Christ, ask God for a way for you to give them the opportunity to present the gospel message to them.  God is looking for people who are willing to be used, and we should be eager to be used.  If we were redeemed just to go to heaven when we leave this earth, we would already be there; we are saved to serve Him, Just as our Savior did, we are to seek the lost, present the message of salvation and have the attitudes of Jesus as He walked this earth.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for our salvation, Your equipping us for service, and for the eager anticipation to see how you will use us this specific day.  In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-13-10

Rescued

2 Timothy 4:18, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.”

A few months ago a man was reported drifting on a pool float over a mile at sea off the Pinellas County, FL beaches.  The Coast Guard sent a rescue boat to find the man drunk and asleep on the float, not even knowing he was so far offshore and miles from where he went in the water, carried by the tide and wind.  He was awakened and rescued before he knew he was lost and in danger.  The Coast Guard took him aboard their boat and returned him to safety.  No mention was made of his condition or if he was issued a citation for public drunkenness.

Many people we meet and with whom we converse every day are lost and unaware of their lost condition.  No one has ever confronted them, explaining their way of life condemns them in the eyes of our God in Heaven who is anxious to redeem them if they will only call upon Him.  They are drifting in the wind, asleep and insensitive to their lost condition in every sense as lost and helpless as the guy on the pool float.  I can understand the sudden realization of waking up alongside the rescue boat, out of sight of the beach where he set out on his little fragile bubble of air.  He had a sudden sensation of his perilous position and filled with gratitude to the boat and its crew that came to rescue him from certain peril as he recovered his senses and realized his lostness.

Our life should be as dedicated to saving lost souls as the CG is to rescuing those who are in danger on the sea.  We are the lifeboat that brings salvation to them through our words and compassion as we let the light of Jesus Christ shine from us to make the lost man or woman realize their position and peril, offering them the salvation that they now understand is so necessary for their eternal life.

The drifting sleeper could have refused to get into the lifeboat and returned to his float until he capsized and lost his life.  Unfortunately, some people will refuse to acknowledge their need of a Savior and continue on their path to eternal separation from God because of their rejection.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us an opportunity today to rescue some soul from their lost condition, this we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-12-10

Confidence

Job 8:13-16, “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.  His source of confidence is fragile; what he trusts in is a spider’s web. He leans on his web, but it doesn’t stand firm.  He grabs it, but it does not hold up.”

You know, I am sure, the creepy feeling when you walk outside and run into a strand from a spider web.  We brush it off, make sure no little arachnids are running around on our body and shudder at the thought of that web wrapped around our face or neck.  It has no strength, is flimsy, but gives us the shivers.  God’s Word says the confidence of an unbeliever is in things that have no more substance than a spider’s web.  Trusting to ‘luck,’ the hope their good deeds will be sufficient or just trying to avoid the issue of our eternal destiny is as substantial as one of those webs drifting in the morning breeze, one end anchored to a twig and the other floating free.

Proverbs 3:26 however, tells us, “The Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.”  The person whose trust is in the Creator God, the Sovereign of the universe, the Heavenly Father of all who call upon Him, can rest assured the confidence we place in Him and His promises will never be broken.  He never fails to keep us in peace and safe from our tempter’s snares and traps.  While the world desperately seeks something in which to put their trust and everything turns to cobwebs, the Godly will have the certainty of God’s Holy Word.  While the unbeliever tries not to think of his or her future, hoping that somehow or other they will end up alright, we have a confident expectation that what God has promised he will perform.  We have the assurance of eternity with Him and while this world will have its woe and difficulties, we will enjoy the serenity and joy of Heaven.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we accept your promise in faith that You will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are anchored firmly in You.  Give us your peace today, we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-09-10

Unacceptable Worship

Deuteronomy 17:1, “You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a defect or any serious flaw, for that is detestable to the Lord your God.”

Many years ago, the Hymn, “Give of your best to the Master” was often sung in churches.  The message was simple; God deserves our very best, and nothing less.  In the Old Testament the Israelites were strongly admonished to sacrifice only the finest, fittest animals, not to cull the flock and pick out the runts or less valued animals for sacrifice.  Whether you were prosperous or not, you were expected to give your best as sacrifice to the Almighty God that had provided for your needs.  The Scriptures are full of examples of men and women who gave their best efforts and sometimes their lives as an offering of worship before God.  The entire Book of Malachi is written explaining why the Israelites had robbed God by their insincere worship and offerings of lame animals and those that could not be sold or used in breeding their flocks and herds.  This degradation in worship is partially why there was a 400 year period of silence before Jesus was born.

Today many congregations offer impure or degraded worship.  Churches that allow openly homosexual bishops, priests and pastors, men and women who preach from their pulpits that Jesus was not the divine Son of God, messages that state or imply that everyone who tries their best will be welcomed in Heaven and those who preach a message of no substance or Biblical truth.

Many congregants give lip service to their church, do not give of their time, never help in any ministry, attend one hour a week and think the Church needs them and is there for their convenience.  God is not pleased with insincere worship or worship from an individual that gives less than his or her best.  As God blesses you, thank Him and give Him the glory for what you have done in His name.  Heavenly Father, may we worship you in praise and prayer every day in our heart attitudes.  We honor and adore you with our whole being and give us the desire to spend more time in prayer and study of Your Word.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-08-10

Don’t be a Hermit

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.”

Every super hero has his sidekick, The Lone Ranger had Tonto, Batman had Robin, The Green Hornet had Kato, even The Apostle Paul had Luke and others traveling with him.  After Jesus returned to Heaven following the resurrection and ascension, the disciples met in groups in various places, even outside.  The Scriptures do not tell us of any person working alone except for Elijah who thought he was alone and became terribly despondent and depressed, fleeing from King Ahab far into the desert where God visited him telling him there were still seven thousand men in Israel that had not bowed down to idols and worshipped only Jehovah God.

Yet today there are many men and women who love Christ Jesus, yet do not take advantage of the opportunities to worship, fellowship and praise God in the company of others.  No believer in Jesus should neglect worshiping with others, (Hebrews 10:25) because we all need the enthusiasm, accountability before God and the encouragement from other Believers.  When we are members of a strong group of Believers, we will look to them for strength in resisting temptations, those attacks of the devil that attempt to weaken our testimony and the effect we have on others for God’s glory.

We are all indwelt by God the Holy Spirit who is our constant companion but the encouragement we receive from our fellow Christians is a resource we need as we share the victories won and battles we face.  Just as there is a warmth that is shared by companionship, a flaming log removed from a fire will soon lose its flame and cool without the heat provided by other logs or sticks in the fire in just the same way a Christian begins to lose enthusiasm and vibrancy when he or she is not exposed to the teaching of God’s Word and the fellowship of others.  It is also our responsibility as a Christian brother or sister to provide that encouraging fire to those with whom we study and worship.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, keep us bright and vibrant this week, encouraging other believers and sharing with those we meet that do not have a relationship with you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

07-07-10

In the Abyss

Revelation 20:1-3, “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent that is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it.”

As God’s great plan unfolds, after the Church is called up to heaven, the seven years of purification, trial and tribulation, during which the false messiah reigns under Satan, persecuting the followers of Jehovah God.  When this seven year period is over the time is right for Jesus, God the son to take His rightful place on the great King David’s throne to reign for one thousand years as prophesied.

During this time Satan is i8mprisoned in the great abyss or bottomless pit, the prison into which Satan and his angels are confined by an angel out of Heaven just as God commanded.  During the benevolent reign of Jesus, men and women will populate the earth, will live their mortal lives without the temptation of the devil, enjoying the reign of Jesus, the prince of Peace as everyone on the earth will be subject to him.  Even in the midst of this peaceful scene, there will be those who are unsatisfied and restless and who will follow the wiles and temptations of the great serpent when he is released from the abyss for a short period of time before being condemned to the Lake of Fire, a place prepared specifically for him for all eternity.  The depths of the sinful heart of humanity are revealed once again as men and women choose to follow Satan in a great rebellion at the end of the thousand years.  After the rebellion and war are over, Satan is condemned to an eternal hell along with all the men and women who rejected Jesus when they had the opportunity to accept Him, and our Great God and Heavenly Father will create a new Heaven and a new earth, untouched and untouchable by sin for our eternal abode.

Our God and Father, our hearts quiver with the anticipation of what you will do for your children.  We are confident in the defeat of our enemies and the great reward prepared for us in your presence.  We praise you in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-06-10

Free Indeed

John 8:36, “Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”

Just two days ago we celebrated the anniversary of the United States obtaining its freedom through our efforts to throw off the yoke of British tyranny.  At the end of this long fight, we no longer were subjects of a King; we were citizens in a nation that recognized our free status.  As Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus in His long war against sin’s slavery and gladly accepted Him as our Heavenly Father and King, with all the rights, privileges and freedom that then enter into our lives.  We have been released from the harsh chains and punishment of the master of sinners, the devil, and have been set upon holy ground.  After our rebirth into the Family of God, we live and move in complete freedom and will forever, by our redemption through Jesus’ sacrifice live our lives here on earth as well as in the promised eternity in heaven walking on Holy Ground.  Whatever your feet touch has been sanctified by the presence of our Holy God within us.

We have not been made free by our struggles against our nature nor are we free by the love of God that overlooks our sin.  We are freed from the penalty because His perfect justice will not allow double payment for sin, and the penalty was fully paid upon the cross.    God’s perfect justice demands payment, the payment for sin is death, God’s love provides the payment, our sin is fully paid by Jesus’ death and we are fully covered, by His perfect life, God’s justice is satisfied, His love is made perfect in us and we are saved.

Never again will we be in danger of the lake of fire, we are forever out of reach of Satan’s chains.    Our relationship is secure and we need only to ask God’s forgiveness to keep our fellowship and relationship clean and pure.  Our lives are now dedicated to our Heavenly Father, and all we do is for His glory.  Our past is forgiven, our present is lived to His glory and our future is secure in Him.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, out of love we will do all that You ask of us this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

07-02-10

Independence Day

On July 4, 1776 the American Colonies declared their independence from King George and the British Empire.  The American Colonists were so confidant God was on their side and justice and freedom would prevail, they signed the Declaration before a battle was joined, let alone the end of the war.  It was a hard and arduous fight, thousands of men gave their lives, people lost their property and fortunes before the war was finished.  The movie “The Patriot” accurately portrays the harsh, unyielding manner in which England dominated the colonies.  The American Declaration of Independence was a bold, untested step in the political climate of the world, every European Country was under a Monarchy, an Emperor ruled China and Japan, and a Constitutional Republic was a radically new concept in Government.  God had his hand upon this Nation because it was founded upon Biblical Principles and the Founding Fathers looked to God for guidance.  There was never any intention by this nation’s founders, the Presidents of the US, or Congress during the first 175 years, of restricting the right of a child to pledge Allegiance to the Flag under God, to hear God’s Word or not be allowed to pray in their schools; in fact, Church Services were held in the Hall of Congress.  These restrictions are among the many court decisions and legislative actions dealing with these rights as well as cloning, fetal tissue research, killing the unborn and other life issues, now clouding our Country’s existence.

The United States was founded upon the truths of God’s Word, and it is the return to those truths that will enable the USA to lead the world once again in missionary activity and active ministry.  Jesus said in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  As believers, without regard to political affiliation, we need to pray for our Government, for our President to lead in a God honoring way and for wisdom and discernment in appointing a conservative Supreme Court Justice to fill the existing vacancy.  For our Representatives and Senators as they enact legislation forgetting petty, personal politics, and legislating for the good of our Country.  Our  Federal Judiciary as they decide issues in a fair, honest, unbiased, Constitutional manner.  As we pray, God will fulfill his promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  On Independence Day 2009 let’s recommit to pray for our Nation, asking God to send a revival upon our people and give America a renewed commitment to Godly, Biblical Principles.  God Bless America!

Manna in the Morning

07-01-10

Living Water

John 4:9-10, “How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.”

The Samaritans were considered as second class citizens by the Jews who would walk miles out of their way to avoid going through Samaria.  These were the descendents of the Israelites left behind when the Assyrians dispersed the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom and the Canaanites who moved in.  They were not considered worthy of being called Israelites, and forbidden to worship in the Temple in Jerusalem; the Jews would not interact with them under most circumstances.

This woman, as Jesus’ questions proved, was not married but now living with the 5^th man she called her husband.  When Jesus asked her for water, He knew her past and yet wanted to give her the opportunity for salvation and become the catalyst for a spiritual reawakening in her city and Samaria.  Jesus chose this woman to announce He was the Messiah, the promised One that was to redeem the world.  This announcement shows that salvation is for Jews and non-Jews alike, there is no distinction in the eyes of God, the promise of a perfect sacrificial lamb to be born was given in the time of Adam, long before Abraham.

As Jesus’ continued to talk to the woman, she realized He was indeed the long awaited Promised Redeemer and she went back to the village and told all who would listen, that she had met the Savior, inviting them to come to hear Him just like she did.  This caught the attention of the entire village and upon their invitation, Jesus spent two days opening the Scriptures to them.  The lessons we should learn are simply to declare who Jesus is, to be prepared to open the Scriptures at any time and to expect God the Holy Spirit to do the convicting in the hearts of those to whom we speak.  Heavenly Father, give us the opportunity today to bring the message of salvation to someone we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-30-10

A new Name

Revelation 2:17, “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Moses was known as the man who talked to God face to face, Abraham was called the friend of God and David was a man after God’s own heart.  These names give us an indication of the relationship each of them had with their God.  None of these men were perfect, Moses had a temper that he allowed to get out of control, and Abraham took matters into his own hands when his wife Sarah did not conceive with the promised son, losing his patience and endeavoring to help God out.  His descendents have paid the penalty for Abraham’s sin, and today are suffering at the hands of the descendents of that mistake.  David fell into sin by following his physical desires, but after the punishment David and Bathsheba had a son that became Israel’s great King Solomon and David was promised by God his descendent would rule the world from Jerusalem at the appointed time.  While these men were not perfect, they loved God, asked forgiveness and their lives were greatly used by their Heavenly Father.

In Revelation, each believer is promised a new name written on a white stone, and known only to our Heavenly Father and to the one who receives it.  When we are born into the Family of God, we are given a name by our Father, one we will know and recognize at the proper time.  Just as your family has names used by many generations, pet names, names based on an event but regardless of the reason, your name was chosen by your parents and given to you alone.  Our Heavenly Father has given each one of His Children a specific heavenly name, one we will carry for eternity and one we will, even now, protect and live to His glory.  Father in Heaven, we will cherish that Heavenly Name, and live now to bring you honor through our lives.

Manna in the Morning

06-29-10

Seeking God

2 Chronicles 26:5, “Uzziah sought God throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear of God. During the time that he sought the Lord, God gave him success.”

Uzziah became King of Judah when he was sixteen years old and the Scriptures say he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord like his father did.  He was a young man who had a good example to follow and one who had a sound, Biblical education from his tutor Zechariah, a prophet of the Lord God Jehovah.

I am sure Zechariah told Uzziah of the glory and power of God, the importance of obeying the scriptures that they had in their Temple and of the necessity of living in the “Fear of the Lord.”   In his entire reign, Uzziah lived in accordance with the Word of God and the teaching of Zechariah until the prophet died.  At that point Uzziah made his own decisions without the guidance of the prophet or the Scriptures and began to make unwise decisions and to usurp the office of the Priests.  God punished Uzziah, and his later years as King were not as fruitful and productive as in the years when he feared the Lord and recognized his own accountability before God, if not to his realm.

Many Christians today do not recognize their need to be accountable to Almighty God.  They will consider themselves as saved, bound for Heaven, and their life here on earth does not matter. If salvation was the only reason Jesus went to the cross, then upon our redemption we would be taken out of this world.  We are to remain here and be salt and light to a world that is in desperate need of light to shine on their darkness, and salt to awaken them to a taste of heaven that can be theirs if they will only accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  As believers we need to remember our great God is to be the leader of our lives as well as the Savior of our souls.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, keep us in the center of Your will today, and we truly want you to be the Leader of our Lives, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-28-10

Accountability

2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.”

I have known some people who profess to be Christians who consider salvation to be little more than ‘fire insurance’ to keep them out of the flames of hell.  They do not consider the Biblical injunction that we are servants of our Lord God and that all we do is to be done for His glory.  To live our life in “The fear of the Lord” means more than to live in awe of His glory and majesty.  We must call Him our Lord, which clearly means Master.  If Jesus is our Master and we are His disciples, then we must live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and will bring great glory to His name and being.

Because we are to live in a manner pleasing to our Master, and because we willingly choose to serve Him, we are to recognize our responsibility to be held accountable to Him.  We will all be brought before Him to give an account of what we did with the abilities, talents and knowledge He has given us.  We will not be judged by Jesus regarding our salvation or eternal abode, that was settled when we were born anew into God’s Family, we will be judged by what we have done while living on this earth.

We have been promised a Soul-winner’s Crown, and in Daniel 12, we will receive stars in our crown for the people we have introduced to our Redeemer.  I can only imagine our chagrin and regret when we see the number of people to whom we could have spoken regarding our Savior, but neglected to open our mouths.  We have been given opportunities to teach others, to live a life filled with compassion for the lost as Jesus did or to respond as Jesus did when we had opportunity to speak out for our God, but failed to do so.

When we are before Jesus at that great assembly of believers in Heaven, and we have minimal crowns or accolades to lay at Jesus’ feet in worship, tears will flow from our eyes at the opportunities that once lost, could never be regained.  Scripture tells us there will be children of God at that great assembly that will have nothing to lay at Jesus’ feet in worship, those souls will be saved, but their useless works done in their own strength will be burned and they will worship empty handed.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we stand before you ready to do your will, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-25-10

Philippians 1:21-24, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

I think all of us have the same attitude as the Missionary Apostle Paul in that, for us to live is to live to the glory of our Redeemer Jesus the Christ, and if we die to this earth it is our gain as we enjoy the eternal life in Heaven that our Heavenly Father has promised to every one of His children.  As long as you and I continue in this body on earth, we will be occupied in gainful labor for our God.  There is no hint of retirement in the Scriptures; we can be valiant prayer warriors interceding for missionaries, pastors, teachers, ministers and fellow believers in their witness and service.  Many people in their later years are devoted teachers and faithful in their service to God in their local churches and other ministries.  No Christian should choose to ‘drop out’ of active church membership, attendance or ministry unless health issues keep them from an active life.

Our society promotes the concept that once an individual leaves their full time employment and begins to take their retirement benefits, their life should be one long vacation.  That’s great, so long as active Christian service is enjoyed along with the vacation.  In some states in the US, non-productive citizens can be euthanized, because they no longer are producers, only users.  No Christian is ever non-productive; we will always be a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the desire of every Christian to be in heaven when called by our Heavenly Father, but so long as we draw a breath of this earth’s atmosphere, we will continue to serve Him as He directs.  You are unique in your gifts and abilities and exactly fitted to the unique place where God has placed you to serve for His greater glory.

Our God and Heavenly Father, it is in the righteousness of Jesus we enter into Your presence and ask that you use us today in a manner that brings glory to Your name.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer.

Manna in the Morning

06-24-10

A New You

Proverbs 2:10, “For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart.”

“Knowledge and action are twins, each glorifying the other.” — Shekel HaKodesh, Ancient Rabbi

Proverbs 2 contains the phrase, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding,” telling us that all wisdom, that is the ability to use knowledge to maximum use, is from the Lord and valuable for us in our daily Christian life.  When we are born anew into the Family of God, our Heavenly Father will fill our minds with Godly wisdom through the work of God the Holy Spirit.  As James writes in his epistle, when Godly faith and wisdom enter our lives, the actions we take and the effect of our lives on others will prove the change in our thinking and attitudes.  Knowledge of God’s Word through our personal Bible study and attention to those who faithfully teach will transform our lives; the change in our outward activity will mirror the change in our thinking that is the result of our new nature and the attitudes that direct our behavior.

When we were born anew into the Family of our Heavenly Father, ‘All things became new;’ our mind, our desire to live for Him, our attitude toward others in that we now think of them first instead of our own pleasure or satisfaction, we consider the lost condition of our friends and those with whom we work, we have a compassion for the poor and needy, and our heart aches for those who will die without knowing our Savior every day.  Because we want to be more like our Savior, we now have the mind of a servant, one who is anxious to serve others instead of having them serve us.  Our joy is in serving our God, our friends, other Christians and those who still need to know Him.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask that you give us the opportunity today to serve someone else in the Name of Jesus, our Redeemer.

Manna in the Morning

06-22-10

Our God Exists

Daniel 3:17, “If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king.  But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Daniel along with his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had been taken from their homes in Jerusalem to Babylon to serve King Nebuchadnezzar, probably in their early teens.  They had determined not to defile themselves by eating the food the King with which the King had them fed, because they wanted to fulfill God’s law for the descendents of Jacob.  They knew they served the Lord Jehovah who would defend them against the evil plans and schemes of Satan.  When Daniel described the great statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and the king had one built in his likeness, demanding everyone bow down and worship the idol, these three Israelites refused to worship any idol or allow anything or any person to have preeminence in their lives above their God, they were immediately arrested and the fiery oven prepared to kill them.  When given an opportunity to recant their decision, these verses were their reply.

On my recent trip to India, I met men and women who had been severely beaten for their Christian faith and because they had stood up against the violent idolaters and representatives of false belief systems.  While I am sure most, if not all of you, would stand against demands to worship false gods, are we as steadfast in our desire to keep our personal faith pure and live according to our convictions?

Why do so many Christians fall into the traps of pornographic impurity, begin to allow chemical substances to distort their minds and attitudes, allow scenes of multiple murders and immorality to inundate their living rooms on a nightly basis or neglect the daily times of prayer and the weekly worship times with others?  Could it be that we ignore the daily need of reading and meditating upon a passage from God’s Word and a prayer time when we exercise our God given opportunity for priestly, intercessory prayer on behalf of others and for our own witness for the day facing us?  Let’s take the time to prepare our spiritual defenses and desires for sharing the gospel message with others.  Heavenly Father, guide us today in our desire to live in a manner pleasing to you.  Stretch our time available as we prepare for the day in Your Word and prayer instead of the latest weather and traffic information.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Thank you for remembering me in your prayers over the last weeks as I taught in India.  I had a wonderful time of ministry and saw God work in many ways.  Vance

Manna in the Morning

06-04-10

Wash your Hands

Manna in the Morning will not be published for the next two weeks while I am in India.  Please pray for our team, asking God to bless our efforts, inspire the teachers with appropriate lessons, and the Medical Camps and informational meetings to meet real needs.  Manna in the Morning will resume on Monday June 21, if plans do not change.  Thanks, Vance.

James 4:7-8, “Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!”

At this point our Nation is in desperate need of God’s grace and mercy.  We are embroiled in a war against a false belief system that is spawned of the devil, the beautiful shores of the Gulf of Mexico are being despoiled by crude oil, fraud and illegal activities are besmirching our Federal Government, our national leaders are withdrawing support from democracies across the world including Israel – the only democracy in the entire Mid-Eastern region and a violent attack against the precepts of God’s Holy Word is underway across the 50 states.  The answer does not lie in political activity, although dedicated Christians should be involved in the political arena, it does not lie in legislation but in a national return to God as the source of our redemption and restoration.  Each of us must resist the devil in our lives, our own public testimony and a desire to see dedicated Believers in Jesus Christ in the halls of government.  Then, when our Nation returns to Godly principles and follows the precepts of God’s Word as in the beginning of the United States, God will again place His hand of blessing upon us.  Just as the oil spill continues to pour out filth washing up on our shores, the filth of ungodly activity is touching every facet of our society.

May each of us keep our lives clean and uncontaminated, ask our Heavenly Father to purify our hearts and mind and live a life of single purpose – the glory of our Great God and Father.  Heavenly Father, set our affection and desire on Heavenly things, not on things of this earth.  Purify and revive our land we plead in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-03-10

Wisdom from Above

James 3:17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.”

In the Book of Proverbs Solomon writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and here in James The Holy Spirit inspires James to write that the pure wisdom comes from above, from our Heavenly Father.  Pure wisdom is that which we get from reading the Scriptures, in fact God has given us a Book of advice about gaining wisdom that glorifies Him.  The wisdom from God is peace-loving, anxious to live a life at peace with others, not apt to incite bad feelings with neighbors and others, living a peaceful life and having a reputation for being patient with others.  Both of these attributes model the life of Jesus when he was walking the dusty paths of Galilee and Judea.  He was patient with those who came to Him, did not incite a disturbance; He even talked to the Pharisees in patient tones, defusing their arguments with carefully chosen questions and statements.  His example does not give the impression of a meek and mild person, but one who has confidence in His position and does not try to inflate His reputation by boasting and bravado.  He did, however, righteously clear the anointed place of Worship from those who profaned the Temple Court to gain undue profit from the pilgrims who came to sacrifice in the Temple.  As our mentor and role model, Jesus gives us the example of compassion and mercy, understanding the pain and anguish of those who are hurting either physically or emotionally, and He gave His life to bring redemption to untold millions of men and women through the ages.

As we follow the example of Jesus, we must live without hypocrisy, letting our actions be exactly as our talk and treating each individual as Jesus would if He were here today, because He truly walks in our shoes and uses our hands to do His good works.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask only that you use us today as you wish and that the glory be Yours. In Jesus name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

06-02-10

Faith and works

James 2:26, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

The debate over faith and works has been going on for centuries.  James makes it very plain that our faith is proved by our works.  We have been born anew into the family of God, and by faith in God’s promises.  Our desire to do those things that will honor and glorify our God is our thankful offering back to our Heavenly Father.  People who say they are depending upon their good works to outweigh their evil deeds are lacking in Biblical knowledge and do not understand God’s working in this world.  Our human nature is earthly, not Godly, and cannot perform anything that is good in God’s eyes.  The only thing we can do that is a good work is that which we do in the name of our God and give the glory to Him for the results.  All else is merely a good deed and has no heavenly value even though it may result in an earthy quality activity.  The person, who accepts Christ by faith, is indwelt by God the Holy spirit and all that he or she accomplishes is through the power of God working in their lives.  Once our spirit leaves our body, the body is declared dead, and one whose faith has become dormant is of little value because he is not fully prepared to follow God’s leading.  Our desire is to be fully alive, prepared and eager to do all that our Father asks of us.  Our good works, done in the name and power of our God, is the fruit that proves our faith.

There are those who accept Christ, then their ardor cools and they rely upon their salvation to escape the torment of hell, but do not think it is important for them to live a life that glorifies their God nor to witness to others by word or living a dedicated life.  Our joy is to win others; the rewards we receive for our labor will be laid at the feet of Jesus as part of our worship of our Redeemer.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask in Jesus’ name for the opportunity to serve you today for Your glory,

Manna in the Morning
June 1, 2010
Temptations
James 1:13-15, “No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”
All of us have heard people say that God sent temptation into their path or something similar. God does not tempt us with evil desires or acts. His purity does not allow even an impure thought to enter His presence; we are never tempted by our Heavenly Father. He may allow us to be tested in situations that require our choice to do that which God would have us do, allowing us to overcome the temptation and become more like our Savior. It is our Heavenly Father’s desire that we be conformed to the image of Christ.
All temptation is based upon our human nature, that part of us that is tempted by personal gratification or pride. Preying upon Eve’s pride in thinking she would be equal to her creator in knowledge or some other attribute, Satan prodded her ego into thinking she was gaining knowledge, not death. We are all anxious to acquire something that other individuals do not have or to satisfy our physical or other desires. Purely personal gratification rarely if ever coincides with Godly actions. When we desire to satisfy our earthly urges we are not considering heavenly future
Satan attacks us by zeroing in on our thoughts, knowing that our thoughts are precursors to our actions. Scripture says that that the thoughts of an individual’s mind show the real person as shown by his or her attitudes and actions. Once the idea has taken root in our minds, all of us dwell upon that thought as it continues to grow in appeal and fascination.
Our gracious Heavenly Father, we pray that every thought we entertain in our minds will be acceptable to you as you plan our path of useful service. Guide us today in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

06-01-10

Memorial Day

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.  Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.  I can see that the end is worth more than all the means…”  John Adams, Second president of the United States of America.

Josh 4:7, “Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones (from the middle of the river) are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

On this day set aside to remember and honor the men and women who have given their lives so we may live free, we want to create a memorial in our hearts in addition to the Memorial Day Ceremonies held all over the United States.  When Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land God had promised them, the Ark of the Covenant went before them, and as the feet of the priests touched the river’s edge, the water parted allowing the whole nation to pass over.  While the Ark was still in the middle of the river, Joshua commanded representatives of the twelve tribes to carry stones up out of the river to build a memorial before the river returned to its normal flow.  This pile of stones reminded the Israelites of God’s leading in their nation’s history.

When Noah came down off the ark and set foot once again on dry land, God established a rainbow in the sky to remind him, and us, that every promise God made in his Word would be kept.  No promise of God will ever go unfulfilled.  Today we will see Memorial Day ceremonies in cemeteries dedicated to fallen veterans of all the wars fought by the U S, and will see great edifices such as the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument, perhaps the statue honoring the battle of Iwo Jima, or the battlefield at Gettysburg, but the greatest memorial of all, reminding us of the greatest battle and the greatest warrior, will always be the empty tomb.  When Jesus defeated Satan, death, and hell he did not fall a hero in the battle, he rose from the grave triumphant and it is his victory we celebrate in our hearts, building a great memorial to our great Redeemer.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the brave men that have given their lives over the last 230 years to preserve our freedom.  We ask you to comfort their families and pray you will continue to preserve our freedoms in this great nation.  Thank you for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, and may we never forget his perfect sacrifice for us and it is in his precious name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-28-10

Don’t Feed the Lion

1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.”

We must always remember we are soldiers in the middle of a great war, the spiritual war between the forces of our God who has already won the war, and the forces of evil commanded by Satan himself, who flails like the fatally wounded serpent he is trying to keep as many souls as he can from accepting Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Just as a lion prowls the veldt looking for the weak among the animals to attack and spoil, the devil will attack us when we are at a low point in our lives, when we have not spent time in prayer, have not read our Bibles or are allowing temptation to enter our minds and consciousness.  This is a war of ambushes, sneak attacks and insatiable raids upon unwary Christians who do not recognize the attacks upon their testimony and effectiveness for their master.

The Christian who will successfully resist the devil in this war is the one who will stand firm in the strength and power of their Heavenly Father, relying upon His omnipotence instead of their feeble efforts, being faithful in their recognizing and avoiding the devil’s traps.  Whether we are ridiculed by those who do not understand the power of God, persecuted for keeping the faith in the midst of trial or harassment by other belief systems, or just pressured by others, you and I have not been tempted or undergone any trials as severe as those who have gone before us in the unbroken line of victorious Christian warriors, beginning with Jesus Himself who persevered unto the death that redeemed our souls.  Today, in this world, people are tortured, beaten, even killed for their belief in Jesus and the Word of God.  May we be as steadfast in our daily battle.

Heavenly Father, give us an awareness of the battle raging around us, a firm conviction to never give in to Satan’s lures, and to encourage our brothers and sisters to resist the forces of evil and according to Your promise, they will flee before us.  In Jesus’ powerful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-27-10

Christian attitudes.

1 Peter 4:7-98, “Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

There is a problem with looking at Scripture and thinking the Rapture or taking up of all believers is right on the door step.  Peter recognized this as he wrote to the Christians in this letter.  The eminent rapture is not an excuse for us to consider our job as completed and there is nothing else to do, it’s not for us to think that since the end of the Church Age is close, the church no longer has relevance or stature.  It is extremely important for us to realize our time is running short, and all the people whom we want to see be born anew into the Family of God will no longer have that opportunity.  We are, according to Peter, to think clearly, understand God’s plan, witness to as many people as possible and introduce them to Christ.  We are to be disciplined, following the lead of our master, Jesus, the leader of our lives, following his example of seeking out the lost, teaching the Believers, being a comfort to those who need solace and healing those who are hurting.

We need to be praying for each other, for those who lead us, for the suffering brothers and sisters across this world.  In order to fulfill our responsibility to pray we need to know the concerns and what our Christian brothers and sisters face, so we must join in small groups and classes where we can share our prayer needs.

The most critical of all is that we continue to love one another.  There are Christian brothers and sisters that do not see the future exactly as we, with the Rapture and following reign of Christ in a different sequence of time, others may differ on the mode of baptism and still others on minor doctrinal points, but if they have accepted Christ Jesus, they are our brothers and sisters and we need to love them like the close members in our churches, if we lose our love, we lose the greatest identifier we have with our Savior.  Remember, we have all been saved by the love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.  Gracious Father, we are eager for your calling us home, but we are anxious to be working until that moment.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-26-10

Lovin’ Life

1 Peter 3:10-12, “For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and he must turn away from evil and do good.  He must seek peace and pursue it, because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request.”

I doubt there is anyone who does not want to love his or her life and see good days.  In this passage we read God the Holy Spirit inspiring Peter to write the formula for a life pleasing to our Heavenly Father and to those with whom we interrelate each and every day.  The first is to keep our tongues from forming evil.  We have become so accustomed to coarse language through the movies and TV dialog, we accept words into our homes and minds that are not wholesome nor are they edifying or building up those younger in the faith than we are.  Words that just a short time ago were considered ‘gutter talk’ are now heard in common conversation,  words that refer to practices that God condemns and hates are used by Christians in their everyday conversations without a thought of their impurity, and lips that lie and are deceitful by being only partially true by leaving the wrong impression are common.  God’s plea for all believers is to shun evil actions, attitudes and talk and turn to the pure, wholesome words that build up others.

All of us, who are called by the name of our Savior, are to remember God’s eyes are always open toward us and His ears will always hear every word that escapes our lips.  We need to firmly plant Godly precepts in our hearts, recognizing our omnipresent God hears and sees all that happens in the life of His Children.  God’s ears are always open to our requests and we need to recognize they are open to every word we utter.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, forgive us for using language that is not pure and wholesome.  Make us examples of a man or woman that fully wants to glorify our God in every word that we speak.  It is in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-25-10

The Cornerstone

1 Peter 2:4-5, “Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

We have come to Christ Jesus who is the Chief Cornerstone of the church, and was indeed rejected by mankind and is building His Church with those who come to Him in repentence and contrition.  While some may consider Jesus as the rejected one, in this verse we can make sense of it if we consider each person who comes to Christ as rejected by men, because they neither understand our commitment to Him nor our desire to see others born anew into the family of our Heavenly Father.  Every one of us is valuable to Him, equipped for His service just as we are, unique and especially made for His use.  We’ve been chosen for His service, and our response should be to willingly commit ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice as an act of worship and devotion.  Just as Isaac had to willingly comply with Abraham’s faithfulness before God, we are to fully sacrifice ourselves to His greater glory.

On the surface, it seems like a contradiction, we have chosen Him at the same time He has chosen us.  Our Heavenly Father has chosen us as one He wants to use in mighty ways, not only to win others to Himself, but to disciple, train and encourage them to live lives that glorify their Savior.  We, on the other hand, choose to be available for His use, to be pure and sanctified so we are useable, and to sacrificially consider our lives as His to command.

God’s desire is to make us a holy priesthood, His representative to the Lost, to intercede on the behalf of others and to sacrifice our time and effort for His glory.  It is a wonderful privilege to be chosen by our Lord God for His service and then to willingly chose to be used by Him.  Our Heavenly Father, use us in any way you choose, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-24-10

Resident Aliens

1 Peter 1:1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To the temporary residents of the Dispersion in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for the sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.  May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Peter is writing this letter to the Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor where those who were displaced by Rome’s persecutions and others who had moved from Judea to avoid the anger of the Priests and Scribes in Jerusalem.  He address them with a name that means transitory residents away temporarily from their homeland.  Every Christian is living away from the place of our citizenship that is the place Jesus has prepared for us for all eternity.  While we are on this earth, not planning to spend our eternity here, we are resident aliens, ambassadors waiting the opportunity to go home, but acting as His emissaries while we are here.

Each of us has come to Christ for salvation according to the plan and purpose of our Heavenly Father, who in His foreknowledge knew we would accept His offer of redemption and has chosen us to present this same message to others through our testimony on this earth.  God the Holy Spirit has shaped, molded and prepared us for God’s service and sanctified us to obey Him in our daily activities in order to further His kingdom and because of our acceptance of God’s provided salvation, we are made pure as a sacrifice, ready to use our earthly life for His glory.  Because of our close fellowship with our Heavenly Father, we are recipients of His grace, blessings we do not deserve, but that we receive because He loves us and desires to pour out His grace upon us without limit.

The peace of God calms our fears, allows us to trust Him while the walls shake around us, the peace in the midst of turmoil makes our heart an island of calm assurance while the turmoil of this life swirls around us. When our hearts are at peace with God, nothing else matters, our relationship is pure, sweet and our thoughts are of Him.  This then is how we can be at peace in this troubled world.  Our Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for your peace in this world today.  May we always remember we are Citizens of Heaven, and on a temporary stay here to share your message, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-21-10

Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

I have heard people ask why they should devote their lives to pleasing the Lord God, they say they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, but their life is theirs to live, and they wish to have great pleasure in that.  Our Nation has been existing in a manner that does not please our God.  We sacrifice our unborn babies to the god of personal pleasure, the country has taken personal pleasure in defying God’s plan for men and women and has glorified and issued statutes that permit and condone pedophilia and other sexual deviations, as a people we have allowed the Cross of Christ to be defiled, debased with Jesus’ sacrifice denied and derided.  All of these things are not new, God’s people have endured persecution and ridicule since the Roman Empire.  Our Nation was founded upon Biblical principles and the worth of man and Christians have allowed the great freedoms we once knew to be eroded and limited, even to the point of threatening Pastors and teachers who preach and teach the unwelcome full absolute truth of the Bible message.

Instead of depending upon elections, politicians and p0romises that may or may not be kept, We must put our trust in our Heavenly Father and pray down His truth upon our Nation and for God the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of our leaders, break the stubbornness of men who think themselves above the rest and for men and women to come to know our Savior from every part of the United States.  Pray that as a Nation we return t5o God’s way and our enemies can be won to you.

Our Heavenly Father, guide us throughout this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-20-10

Wonderful Things

Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”

Much of the time when we think of God’s law, especially the Ten Commandments we think of them as having negative results if we don’t obey them.  While this is true, there are many positive things that will result when we do obey God’s laws and commands.  The first of the commandments is clear, we are to have no other Gods, idols or place anything in our hearts above our Heavenly Father.  The positive reward for keeping this commandment is very clear, God will show, “Faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.”   Not only will God bless us for our faithful worship of our God, He will show His faithful and steadfast love to our descendents for thousands of generations because of our love and faithful teaching of the importance of loving God alone to our children and children’s children.  What a heritage to leave for our descendents, teaching them to love our Heavenly Father above all else and to bring His blessings to those that follow us for generations.

The Decalogue also provides for an opportunity for children to live a long life in addition to the blessings that follow their parent’s Godly example.  The law states that those who care for their parents will live a long and fruitful life, as a reward for those who show their love to their Heavenly Father by their love to their earthly fathers and mothers.  God the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to write this passage, encouraging us to find wonderful blessings in not only the laws and statutes, but every part of God’s Word.  Every prophecy contains a promise, every passage brings us encouragement, and every proclamation brings its own blessing, both immediate and future.

We need to always remember the failure to obey God’s commands is sin and will have serious consequences, but the faithful obedience will bring great blessings, as God opens the windows of Heaven and pours out His blessings upon us.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for all the promises we find in your Word, our desire is to obey your commands and walk according to Your will.  Guide us in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-19-10

Completion

Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

The day we accepted Jesus as our Redeemer and Lord, a work began in our hearts and lives.  We grew in faith, Bible knowledge, prayer and in sharing our testimony with others.  This work is never static, it is ongoing in every respect.  We continue to learn, to study and pray for others in need of salvation and with financial or health concerns.  We learn how to open conversations with unsaved people, how to disarm their questions, even how to get them to ask us to tell them of faith in Jesus as Savior.  Our relationship with God grows too.  We are born into the family of the Heavenly Father, we learn how to discern His will, how the events in our lives occur for a purpose and once we learn to trust Him, how to live in faith even when we cannot see the outcome, since our Heavenly Father knows the future.  Our dependency upon God the Holy Spirit grows; we depend upon His quiet assurances that we are taking the right steps.

It is vital for the Believer to regularly attend Worship Services, group Bible studies, learning the lessons taught in Scripture and the steps to growth in our discipleship of Jesus.  In addition we must learn to share our faith, to know when a needy heart will be open to the truth, and to know where we are in God’s eternal plan so we are not surprised by world events.  Our Heavenly Father will use every event that comes into our lives to mold us into the image of Christ so we can glorify Him.  Every day we spend on this earth is a day of training, preparation, shaping and molding for our eternity in Heaven in the presence of our God and Father.  He will not stop working in us, and we will not stop working for Him.

Our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name we ask for forgiveness for our sin, give us opportunity for service today and keep preparing us for eternity in your presence.

Manna in the Morning

05-18-10

Discipline

1 Corinthians 9:26-27, “Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

In this passage we see the need for, and the advantage of spiritual discipline.  Paul determined to run a disciplined race just as a marathon runner will not burn him or herself out in the first few miles, but run a carefully planned pace that is carefully thought out or timed in order to keep a reserve of strength to sprint as necessary in the closing stretch.  Instead of shadowboxing, throwing punches against air, the boxer puts his full energy, skill and force into the real fight.  In our Christian life we have to be disciplined to be steady, not hot one day and cold the next, wasting our energy and effort telling other Believers how we will serve Christ if we get an opportunity, but instead seeking out and creating opportunities to share our testimony of redemption with those who need to come to the Savior.

To be disciplined does not mean punishment, instead it is to more closely follow the pattern of life we see in the one whom we follow as a disciple.  Occasionally the disciple has to be reminded by the master what is expected of him or her, not with harsh punishment, but with love and gentle, firm correction.  As disciples of Jesus, we are not just followers.  Jesus had many followers while on this earth, men and women who walked just outside the sphere of intimate influence of the disciples, believing in Him, listening to the words of the Savior, but not receiving the training and intense teaching of the twelve who were His disciples.

Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, writes that after his life of ministry and dedication, he still had to carefully follow the pattern of his Master’s life, lest he fall into sin and lose his testimony.  We will not lose our salvation if we fail to follow God’s plan for our life, but we will be disappointed at the Heavenly Awards Ceremony when we will not receive a crown of faithful service.  Imagine our regret at failing to finish our life strong in the service of our Lord, and the loss of opportunity to give those awards to Jesus as an offering of praise. Heavenly Father, our desire is to finish strong to Your glory and in the name of Jesus.

Manna in the Morning

05-17-10

Premature

1 Corinthians 15:8-10, “Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me.  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by God’s grace I am what I am.”

The very best way to understand the writings of Paul, the great missionary Apostle, is to think of him not becoming an apostle too late to be in the original twelve, therefore missing that designation, but rather to be born prematurely, ‘out of due time,’ as other translations render this phrase.  Paul considered himself in the same category as the 144,000 who will be called of God in a supernatural way after the church is taken out of the world.  He was called by a vision on the road to Damascus where he saw the Lord Jesus in His glory at the right hand of the throne of God the Father who spoke directly to him and commissioned him to be an apostle to Jew and Gentile alike, with a special calling to go to the Gentile nations and establish congregations of those who accepted the Sacrifice of Jesus and desired to follow Him.  He knew that because of his original persecution of the Jewish followers of Jesus that he would never be effective as one called to the Jews, who never really accepted Paul as an established apostle.

In his last phrase used in verse ten, Paul writes, I am what I am by God’s grace.  This is the heart attitude that should fill and motivate each and every Believer.  We are what and who we are by God’s grace, made unique, different from others, and are to imitate only our Savior’s attitudes and actions.  To strive to be a teacher or preacher like Charles Spurgeon or Billy Sunday is to attempt to be someone without the individual characteristics and abilities with which God has endowed you.  He has made us all different in order to qualify us to share the gospel message with someone whom no one else could reach.  Your distinctive personality and mannerisms will be fully useful as you act under our Heavenly Father’s direction.  We should never wish to be like anyone else, never envy another’s qualities, never try to force ourselves into another’s mold, but to be exactly as God molded us and refined us for service to His greater glory.  Our Father, we are who we are by Your grace and ask You to use us in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-14-10

Accountability

Revelation 20:13, “Then the sea gave up its dead, Death and Hades gave up their dead; all were judged according to their works.” 1 Corinthians 3:14, “If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.”

Every Christian is accountable to God for the gifts and talents He has given us regarding how we use them, what we did on earth in His name, and what we wasted.  We are accountable to the leaders in our Churches and accountable to every other Christian to maintain a consistent testimony for Christ.  There is a growing tide of individuals young and old who feel that if they have accepted Jesus as their Savior they are bound for Heaven and they are not accountable to anyone else for any actions or behavior they may exhibit.  We all know and understand the absolute truth that if a person does not accept the salvation offered by God Himself, they will never enter Heaven, but will be in conscious torment for all eternity.  There is no other opportunity once a person leaves this earthly life.  At The Great Judgment, Jesus will judge a person only on what he has done with the opportunity of salvation.

For the Believer, there will be a time when all that we have done will be judged according to God’s standard; what has been done in His name and for His glory will be rewarded, that which we have done in our own strength or for which we take the glory will be burned up like dry straw.   At this judgment for believers we will not be condemned but lose the opportunity for the awards given for faithful service.  Awards like the soul-winners crown, the crown of righteousness that will be given us so that we may honor our Savior by laying them at His feet to thank Him for the opportunities He has given us.  As Christians we will be held accountable for everything we do while on this earth.  We do not live for ourselves alone; we are accountable to every other believer and ultimately accountable to our Heavenly Father.  Our Gracious God and Father, we stand before You, saved by the blood of Jesus and ask that You show us Your ways for our lives, in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-13-10

Showers of Blessing

Ps 143:5-6, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done; I reflect on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; I am like parched land before You.”

When we have a few minutes to just day dream or reflect on things, on what do your thoughts center?  Is your favorite relaxation watching TV or movies?  Maybe your thoughts run to your latest vacation and the enjoyment of time off, or maybe you think of all the things to do at home, bushes to be trimmed, weeding in the yard, painting or repairing.  In this Psalm, David reminds us we need to remember the works of our Heavenly Father in our lives in days past, prayers answered, God’s working in the trials of our friends perhaps the deliverance from sickness.  All of us need to occasionally take our minds back to the day we were born anew into the Family of God, the time when we entered into eternal life.

When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone or the last time you gave a copy of God’s Word to another?  There are other memorable occasions that our Heavenly Father gives us, allowing us to present salvation to another and reflecting upon the last time you won someone to Christ.  A good indication of our spiritual temperature is how long it has been since we have actually led someone to faith in our Redeemer.  Many Christians who love the Lord, who attend church regularly and live a consistent witness have not led anyone to Christ in their entire Christian life.  God has given each of us the responsibility to be His ambassador to the unsaved, unreached, uncaring people of the world.  God showers His blessings upon those who love Him, and one of the greatest blessings is the privilege of winning others to Christ therefore we should seek to share our testimony as often as possible with those who need Him as we recall what great things God has done in our lives.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunities you provide for us to share the message of salvation.  Give us the blessings of sharing, and in the quiet moments the joy of remembering Your working in our lives.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-12-10

Great is thy Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:22-24, “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.”

Jeremiah has just finished a long lament over the capture, destruction and abandonment of Jerusalem, once the Capitol of Judah and a city of wealth, activity and the place where Kings David and Solomon reigned for years.  The beautiful Temple has been destroyed, the walls torn down and the gates removed allowing the brigands, evildoers and animals free access.  No longer a fortress nor a haven, only rubble and desolation, yet within the heart of the prophet hope wells up and Jeremiah, who prophesied seventy years of desolation to Judah, sees the end of the wretchedness and despondency in the pages of God’s Word to him.  God is Faithful to His own and will not allow them to suffer needlessly. By God’s great mercy and endless love, God will restore Jerusalem to a position of security and worship for its residents.

God’s abundant storehouse of mercy cannot be used up, His love cannot be expended, and His compassion for His children is without limit.  Just as Jeremiah trusted God’s mercy, Ezra and Nehemiah worked tirelessly to rebuild the City, its walls and restore the Temple to encompass worship within its walls once more.  Out of Jeremiah’s lament and sorrow, his prayer for his people came the glory of God upon the Ark in the Temple in the City of Jerusalem once more.  Regardless of the sorrow, the seeming unending grief of loss and pain, the Joy of the Lord will come once more flooding the hearts of those who love Him.  If Jeremiah could trust in the unseen return of his people to his city and rejoice in God’s mercy, then we can rejoice in the Lord’s mercies, even while in the shadows.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask you for the Joy of the Lord to flood our hearts today and every day as we trust you, even in the desolation and ruin of sorrow and pain.  Our trust is in You, Oh Lord, and we plead for your guidance this day in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

05-11-10

In the Dust

Psalm 119:25-26, “My life is down in the dust; give me life through Your word.  I told You about my life, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes. “

Every one of us has had a day when we could say our life was in the pits, or as David put it, in the dust.  We feel walked on, shuffled and swept along by a broom that indiscriminately shoves us in all directions and finally into the dustbin.  In these verses we are given the way to lift ourselves out of the dust and into the bright sunshine and sparkling clean air of the mountains.  Our first step is to tell our Heavenly Father about our woes and calamities, and instead of having a big pity-party to carefully talk to God and explain honestly how we feel about things and the bitterness that sometimes invades our hearts.  No matter what the problems are, The Father will listen and hear our plea.  We need to be reminded occasionally that God hears our prayers and is ready to supply what is needed.

After we have given our difficulties to Him, God will provide a way of deliverance from the concerns we are carrying.  He will guide us, encourage us, and hold us close to Himself while refreshing us and building us up with His Word, things that the writers of the Scriptures learned when they poured out their hearts before God.  Elijah learned that God will always have those that are true to His Word and encourage us with their friendship, David wrote of the rock and fortress of his God and how we are held in His hand, Noah learned how to provide safety in a time of trouble, Joseph learned patience and the earthly life of Jesus shows us the power of communion with our Heavenly Father.

By depending upon the words of Scripture and meditating before our God, we can know the closeness Adam knew in the garden before sin entered into his hearts.  It is through His Word the Lord God guides our thoughts and gives us the peace that is beyond understanding.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, accept our prayer offered in Jesus’ name and lift us out of the dust of daily activity.

Manna in the Morning

05-10-10

Rejoice

Nehemiah 8:10, “Do not grieve, because your strength comes from rejoicing in the Lord.”

When we near the end of the week, we begin to hear TGIF as people in the workforce look ahead to the weekend and time off.  It was within the lifetime of many people that the work week included Saturday and the 40 hour week was unknown.  Now, with Saturday to do whatever people want, and Sunday for other activities, comparatively few spend the time to worship, praise the Lord God, and listen to Bible exposition.  Time for God and His Word has been pushed into a convenient place to be an extra in their lives, not a priority.  The average individual is satisfied if he or she spends a full hour in Church on Sunday.

Today is Monday and the slogan could be GGIM, or Good Grief it’s Monday!  People go into work hating every minute of the commute in, are slow in getting started and may not reach full productivity until noon.  Nehemiah and Ezra called all Israel into a convocation in the Temple, had the Priests read the Word of God to the, explain it and encouraged the people to rejoice in hearing the Scriptures explained to them so they would be able to incorporate them into their daily lives.  If we were to approach the work week with an attitude of joy because we would make our daily labor profitable for God, we would not be so anxious to see it end.  Our Heavenly Father has enabled us, allowed us to develop the skills that make us valuable to our employers and given us the opportunities to serve Him while we work at our daily employment.  Because our abilities come from him and our joy is to do His will, we are to give the best effort we have in order to glorify Him in our work.

As Believers in Jesus Christ our lives must glorify Him in every way including the jobs we have and the attitudes we have about them.  Because our abilities and strengths come from rejoicing in our Great God and Heavenly Father, let’s take every opportunity to worship and praise Him.  Father in Heaven, give us an attitude of rejoicing this and every day as we fulfill our responsibility to do all things for your glory.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-07-10

Transformation

Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

A few years ago, there were toys introduced to the market called Transformers.  These robotic figures could, with a little rearranging and folding of the various parts be ‘transformed’ into a vehicle like a car or aircraft, the transformation was the outward appearance of various pieces of the same figure, nothing added or taken away.  This is not what is meant by this verse; rather it is the metamorphosing of a caterpillar that is completely changed from a grubby worm to a fragile butterfly.  Something new has been added and what was once ugly has now become beautiful.  This is the meaning of Romans 2:2

Once every human being was conformed, held in the earthly grip of sin, groveling and scurrying around in the muck and filth of this earth, but just as the butterfly emerges from the cocoon, we have been completely immersed and surrounded by God the Holy Spirit, freed from the restrictions that have kept us in bondage, and now are free to soar to new heights of service, adoration and worship of our Redeemer and Lord.  Our perspective has changed, our abilities have been increased, our value to our Heavenly Father is beyond computation and our desire to do His will is paramount in our hearts.  Our spiritual senses are free to discern what God’s will is for our lives as we are sensitive to the leading of God the Holy Spirit, our desire to do God’s perfect will, even if it is not the same as our will, will make us pleasing in His sight and that will be pleasing and profitable in our lives.

When we have given ourselves over to our Heavenly Father, not holding back any part, we will have a release that is far greater than the release of the freedom of the butterfly over the ground hugging worm that has been metamorphosed.  Our Heavenly Father, we have been born anew into Your family, freed from the grip of sin and now see things from Your perspective.  Give us the courage and conviction to keep our attitudes and actions subject to You.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

05-06-10

Not Ashamed

Hebrews 11:16, “But they now aspire to a better land—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Right in the middle of this Honor Roll of faithful saints is this phrase, “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.”  What in the world would make God ashamed of us?  Jesus said that the person who denied Him in front of others, betraying his faithfulness to the Heavenly Father, would cause Jesus to fail to acknowledge that same person before the Father.  Therefore we must be extremely careful to keep our testimony before others pure and bright so our Savior does not have to be ashamed of us.  Cain brought an unacceptable sacrifice before God, knowing what God demanded of Him, he failed to follow God’s outline for a pure sacrifice.  God reprimanded Cain and refused to accept his sacrifice in the same way He will not accept our worship from an impure or disobedient heart.  If we fail to come to our Father in repentance and ask for forgiveness, we will not see His hand of blessing in our lives nor will He answer our prayer because of our unfaithfulness to Him, instead we must stand approved before God as fit to teach His Word and declare His goodness to others as we confess our sins and seek to glorify Him.

Every one of us who knows and serves our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ wants to hear the words, “Well done my faithful servant,” when we are ushered into eternity, we desire to be faithful men and women of faith throughout our lives here on earth.  The opposite is to be faithless, not exhibiting our faith in His leadership, going our own way by not trusting in His promises.  When we reach Heaven, there will be no awards for us to give to Jesus as an act of Worship, and we will regret our wayward walk here on the earth.  As we walk daily in the path laid before us, let’s walk in faith so those who look to us as mentors or role models will find us filled with faith.  Heavenly Father, we will walk by faith this day, keeping our eyes upon You, trusting Your faithfulness toward us.  We ask forgiveness in Jesus’ name for our past lack of faith and look to Your words of commendation when we arrive at the place You have prepared for us.

Manna in the Morning

05-05-10

Contaminated

Jeremiah 16:18, “I will first repay them double for their guilt and sin because they have polluted My land. They have filled My inheritance with the lifelessness of their detestable and abhorrent idols.”

It is interesting that the oil well that is spewing contamination into the Gulf of Mexico occurred just after the National Day of Prayer was all but ignored in the press and White House, after Rev. Franklin Graham was disinvited to participate in a prayer observance at the Pentagon.  Muslim objections were raised because Rev. Graham called the Islamic faith evil after their adherents’ blew up the World Trade Center Twin Towers.  Since Abraham anointed Isaac as his heir to the promise God had made concerning the birth of the Promised One in Genesis, and did not designate Ishmael, because he was not born under the terms of the promise, Islam has through the centuries been opposed to and dedicated to the annihilation of the Jewish People and Christians.  Our National Government has gone far overboard in pacifying the Muslims, has given them favor, appointed them to high offices in the Executive branch of government and in general, given them a pass in spite of their direct involvement in violent terrorist acts against the United States of America.

Jeremiah was talking of the Kingdom of Judah and how they had allowed their land to be polluted with detestable and abhorrent worship.  The determined effort to minimize the family, God’s basic building block of society, seems to be the goal of much of the legislation passed in Congress; some of the bills give extra protection to practitioners of pedophiles and others who prey on children and young women.  Other legislation, Federal Court decisions and official acts promote the sin of homosexuality, named an abomination by God in His Word and Bible Believing Christians are faced with law suits and discrimination for simply applying the Word of God to the practice of sin.  When any nation takes their eyes off God’s Word and begins to glorify personal gratification over God, that nation is following a path Scripture says is lifeless and detestable in God’s eyes.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, open the eyes of those who lead our nation, turn their eyes from the pursuit of worldly pleasures and money, and may they look instead toward Your Word for salvation and the healing of our land that once followed Your path.  May we continue to pray for a return to Your leading, we ask this in Jesus’ saving name.

Manna in the Morning

05-04-10

Feed My Sheep

John 21:17, Jesus asked Peter the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”  “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.

Peter was so distressed at Jesus’ repeated question; I can imagine his tone being a bit sharp as he responded for the third time.  Everything about this post-resurrection encounter was reminiscent of the first time Jesus called Peter.  Peter was in a boat fishing on the Sea of Galilee, had spent the night working and when daylight arrived there were no fish anywhere.  Jesus asks the fishermen to put their nets down into the water, they then caught so many fish they could not get them all into the boat.  This time however, Jesus has prepared a fire, roasted some fish for them to eat for breakfast and invited them to come ashore and eat with Him.

Peter had been so emotionally spent, he could hardly take any more after the Resurrection of His Lord, he went fishing along with a few of the remaining disciples.  Jesus restated His call to Peter by asking if, after the three years together, Peter still loved him.  When Peter answered in the affirmative, Jesus told him to feed the lambs, the very young in Christ; to be the teacher of the followers and finally to be a shepherd of all the Believers until his death by a means he would not choose for himself but would willingly accept because of his love for the Savior.

Just as Peter left his boat and followed Jesus the first time, He left his boat, fishing and fed the Believers the Words of Jesus, even though it meant he would be martyred.  He gave them the Living Water, He prepared the Living Word and the Bread of Life for those who would listen, learn then follow Christ Jesus.  Peter continued to learn, to be taught of God, to accept all Believers equally – Jew or Gentile and to preach and teach without reservation wherever the Lord sent him, living a fruitful life for his Redeemer.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we will feed Your flock this day, going and giving the Bread of Life as you direct.  We thank you in Jesus’ name for the opportunity to bring You the glory.

Manna in the Morning

05-03-10

Victory

Exodus 17:15-16, Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.  He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

So long as Moses held his hands in the air, Joshua and the Israelite Army were successful against the Amalekites, but when his arms became weary and started to fall, the Amalekites dominated.  Aaron and Hur stepped beside Moses, found a large stone for Moses to sit upon, and held up his hands and arms until darkness fell, giving Israel the victory.  Later God told Moses that the Amalekites would be forgotten on earth, and these descendents of Esau would be unknown on the earth.

As Israel celebrated their victory, Moses built an altar for the sacrifice and named it, “The Lord is my Banner,” or we could say, The Lord is the Flag under which I will fight for victory over all enemies.  As we go into battle today on the spiritual battlefield, we are sure of the victory if we fight under God’s banner, the victory flag of our Heavenly Father.  In our daily life, we are all on the front line, and we need someone to keep us in their prayers so we will be victorious.  One of the greatest ministries we have as Christian brothers and sisters is to intercede on behalf of others in prayer for their daily struggles.  Our friends and other Christians will commit to lifting us up in prayer just as Hur and Aaron lifted Moses’ hands.  Each of us needs to align ourselves with other believers in prayer groups and partnerships to agree to hold each other up in prayer.

With others holding us up, fighting under the banner of our Heavenly Father, we will be as victorious as Israel under Moses.  Moses knew Joshua was busy fighting the battles, therefore he instructed Aaron to write the account of their activities in a journal so Joshua would be aware of the support of those upholding him, it appears this is the first recorded instance of a prayer journal.

Frequently in the annals of Israelite history, mention is made of Esau’s descendents who will one day be unknown on the earth.  When we consider the Arabs are the descendents of Esau and Ishmael, this may give us an indication of God’s plan for the people group that has fought against his people for the thousands of years since Abraham.  We are, I think, about to see this prophecy fulfilled in our world history.

Heavenly Father, we lift up those who will be active today in sharing the message of salvation, and we ask you to bless the prayer needs on the hearts of every person who reads this Manna, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-30-10

Greater Love

Psalm 51:1, “Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.”

Part of every prayer we utter should be recognition of our sin and a plea for forgiveness and restoration.  It is only by God’s great grace that salvation is offered to us.  When we look into our own lives, we find we have violated God’s commandments if we listen to Jesus’ words that tell us how God looks upon our sin.  Jesus said that the thoughts we harbor deep within our mind and being are the true expression of our relationship with Him.  The Book of Proverbs is clear in stating that a man is truly represented by his covert thoughts.  Because the attitudes of our mind and the deep thoughts of our heart reveal our human nature and the sin common to man, pride, lust, envy and other ungodly attitudes, we need to ask God’s forgiveness every time we go into His presence and He has promised to forgive us in His perfect love and justice, because our penalty has been paid.

God’s compassion goes far beyond the reach of ours, He knows the pain of every instance in our lives, He knows the deepest sorrow, gravest loss, utmost disappointment, greatest devastation as well as the highest elation, best surprise, closest friendship that we can ever endure, and enfolds us in His comforting arms.  Our love for Him is like a puff of air when compared with His infinite love.  The more He pours out on us, the more there is left in store for our tomorrows.

We become so comfortable in our faith and security in our Christian walk we lose sight of the fact that every sin, even those we might consider as ‘minor infractions,’ are rebellious acts against our Heavenly Father who desires to have us live a life in full conformity with His will.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, forgive us in Jesus’ name, for our rebellion in sinning against you.  We consciously choose to follow your will and purpose in our life this day for your greater glory.

Manna in the Morning

04-29-10

Majesty

Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

            The fear of the load is more than just awesome reverence, it includes a very healthy respect of God, He called down fire and brimstone from heaven upon sin that is an abomination before Him, He caused the earth to open and swallow those who are rebellious and can withhold the rain from a land that blasphemes Him by worshiping idols.  It includes a reverence that reminds individuals of His majesty, allows His Children to experience the glory of His presence in prayer and meditation.  The fear of the Lord includes a worshipful submission to His will, to acknowledge His sovereignty in all things, to give Him praise for who He is and to submit to the plan He has for our well-being and to obey His precepts and commandments without hesitation or question, respecting His personage and presence in all His fullness everywhere in all His creation.  The beginning of all knowledge is to come to Him in reverential fear and ask for the wisdom to understand all that He is and to open the secrets of His creation to us.  To know the Creator is to be better able to understand the creation.

To put aside the fear of God, to have no respect for His Word, to despise wisdom and ignore instruction is to be seen in God’s eyes as a fool.  Twice in God’s Word we read that the fool claims there is no God.  To have no fear of our Almighty God is to make light of God’s power and majesty, to belittle His power and is dangerous for any believer to fall into that trap of our adversary.  God will call Believers to account for their attitude if they do not hold our God in awesome revference and fear Him.  Our God is a God of perfect love but He is also a God of Perfect Justice and to take away from the majesty of our God is sin.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us a renewed sense of your awesome power and majesty.  May we be your representative on this earth of the illimitable Sovereign of all that is.  We ask this in Jesus’ powerful name.

Manna in the Morning

04-28-10

Our Calling

Hebrews 3:1-2, “Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession; He was faithful to the One who appointed Him.”

The writer of Hebrews calls those who are reading his holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling.  When we are born anew into the family of God our Heavenly Father, we are spiritual brothers and sisters to all who have accept Him and have the close family relationship that cannot be broken sharing in the Divine nature and attributes of our Lord.  Jesus is our Lord,  Master and Redeemer, the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives.  Jesus is the one who was sent as an apostle or emissary from Heaven to this earth, and is our High Priest.  Just as the High Priest went in to present the sacrifice on the Altar and enter into the presence of God in the Holiest Place in the Temple, Jesus came to this earth to present the perfect sacrifice and entered into the presence of the Most Holy God with that sacrifice completed for us so that our sin is forgiven and Heaven is now our home.  The phrase ‘High priest of our confession could be written our profession, we are not seen by the perfect eyes of God as sinners, but he sees us wrapped completely in the perfect righteousness of Jesus’ perfect life.  He is the High Priest of our acknowledgment that the cornerstone of our life is His conquering death and Hell.

Jesus is faithful to the will of the Father, He did what was asked of Him, He went where He was sent and completed the task set before Him.  In the same way, we are to be faithful to the One who has called us by reading God’s Word and spending time in prayer, fully faithful where He sends us, even when it’s to a place or to people we would rather avoid, sharing His message when we are rejected, realizing it is not us who has been rejected, but the message that we bring, and doing the work He has called us to do in the face of Satan himself if God so directs us.  May we do what we’re told when and where we’re told to do it.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, in Jesus name we give ourselves to You with renewed fervor for this day

Manna in the Morning

04-27-10

Hebrews 1:1-3, “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.  In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His powerful word.”

Even 2000 years after the writer of Hebrews used the term ‘long ago,’ we believe God spoke to all mankind through the prophets.  It is as important today as it was 2,000 years ago to read and meditate over the Scriptures to learn God’s lessons for us.  During the time Jesus walked upon the earth, not only did He refer to the prophets, validating their message, His life fulfilled many of the prophecies they contained to prove conclusively He is God the Son, living on this earth then dying and rising again to fulfill the Father’s promise.  Jesus, the Living Word spoke to mankind and gave His validation of the Old Testament writings, allowing us to understand, however feebly, what is in the Mind of God.  Jesus is now seated at the Father’s right hand, the full and complete Sovereign of the Universe.  He has made the universe that we see in all its splendor, He sustains it by His Word, the known and unknown universe is His footstool, and the inhabitants soon will sing the song of the ages, Halleluiah to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Our universe, this tiny spot in all creation where Jesus came and gave His life for all sinners, once knew the splendor of His being, the awesome reverence of His person and the radiance of His Glory, when He inhabited this globe as part of His perfect plan.  We too are upheld by His powerful Word, and as Believers in His Word, have the presence of God in every living cell in our body, we are His workmanship, created to bring great glory to Him and to shout His praises wherever we are.

Our loving Heavenly Father, we give You all that we are, use us to Your Glory and let the world know we serve You and You alone, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

4-26-10

Who is Jesus

Luke 9:18, While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

When Jesus asked this question, the disciples were quick to answer saying the people were declaring he was a prophet like Elijah, some said He was the John the Baptist who had been beheaded by Herod, others said He was the Messiah, and others thought Jesus was a good man, a great teacher, one who was sent by God.  When Jesus specifically asked the disciples who they thought He was, Peter answered, “The Messiah sent from God.”  The disciples who spent months with Jesus, saw his miracles and healings, heard Him pray and observed His every action honestly  thought Jesus was, indeed, the Savior, sent from the Father, to fulfill the prophecies they all had heard and understood from their childhood.

As important as that recognition was, today if you ask the average man or woman on the street you will get many answers, and if you ask those who believe they are saved and on the path to heaven, you will, again, receive multiple answers.  Some will say he is the Messiah, the Savior King promised to the Jews; others will say He is their Redeemer; they believed that Jesus is God the Son, who was crucified, buried and rose again to save them from the punishment required by their sins.  There will be those who say He was a good man, maybe even a great prophet, but they will deny His deity.  Many devout Jews think Jesus was a great Rabbi, a wonderful teacher, but do not believe He is the Promised One of Genesis 3:15.  Other sincere people believe He is the great warrior who will someday defeat all evil, allowing mankind to live in a state of utopia, but they do not accept His righteousness that will bring them salvation from the result of sin.

To you, the question is simple; in your heart and life who is Jesus?  Is He the Forgiver of your sins and the Leader of your Life?  Is He your guide and protector and the Creator of all that is?  To give intellectual acknowledgement of His perfect righteousness and God’s promised Savior is not enough; there must be a sincere heartfelt desire to make Him your Savior today.  Lord God, our Heavenly Father, may all that read this today come to a full knowledge of who You truly are.  We ask this in His wonderful name.

Manna in the Morning

04-23-10

I have been zealous

1 Kings 19:11-14, “At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah had just won a great victory for the Lord on Mt. Carmel; killed 450 false prophets of Baal and in answer to his prayer, rain came to Israel after a prolonged drought.  Instead of continuing on in his ministry in Israel, a threat from the wicked Jezebel sent Elijah running for the wilderness.  When the Lord God asked Elijah what he was doing there, twice Elijah answers with a report of what he felt he had accomplished and a lament over the lack of response by the Israelites.  Many people fall into the same attitude as Elijah, they recount all they have done and bemoan the lack of response.  It is important to remember it isn’t our effort that wins battles; it is our Heavenly Father working through us because we are fully dependent upon the work of God the Holy Spirit in our lives. The sooner we recognize there is no lasting value in our efforts but success is always the result of being available for God the Holy Spirit to use in our daily activities.

Once Elijah listened to the quiet voice of God, he received three distinct messages from God to deliver for Israel’s future, he also learned that he was not alone; God had 7,000 men in Israel that had never defiled themselves by idol worship.  We are never orphaned by God, we will always have those who have remained steadfast and true to Jehovah God for our mutual encouragement in worship and serving Him.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we freely admit we can do all things in your strength but nothing of eternal value if we work in our own strength and abilities.  We are Yours to use in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-22-10

Don’t Worry about Him

John 21:22, “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.”

Peter and John seemed to have a rivalry going, ending when Peter was crucified, according to tradition, upside down because he stated he was not worthy to be crucified as was his Savior and John was exiled for years on the isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation.   In one of their last meetings with Jesus on the shore of Lake Galilee, Jesus fully restored Peter to a position of leadership among the early believers by asking three times if he loved Jesus.  Peter affirmed his love for the Lord three times Jesus then told him that he would be forcibly tied and carried to his death at the end of his earthly life.  Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John, and Jesus responded as recorded in this verse, not that John would live until Jesus returned, but if that were to occur, that meant nothing to Peter.  Each of them will live and die according to the perfect plan of God.  There are many times when we wonder why God has chosen us to be blessed abundantly when others are so needful of help, and we are perplexed because of the trials we endure while others have been kept from the same afflictions.

It is important for us to realize that God has redeemed us not in a group or class, but individually and each person has a specific life to live as our Heavenly Father determines in His own time and way for His greater glory.  We are not to be concerned about how He deals in the life of another and envy his or her apparent blessing above our own; instead we are to seek our God’s face in prayer in order to live a life acceptable to Him no matter the outcome.  Remaining faithful to His leading, working diligently and sharing the message of salvation consistently and frequently.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we will be your obedient servant this day in Jesus’ name.

The Perfect Graduation Gift

to encourage the graduate to continue daily Bible Reading and Prayer Time.  order today from Sundogger’s Store for prompt delivery.  Fit’s the bill for Mother’s Day also.

Manna in the Morning

04-21-10

What God Owes You

Romans 11:34-35, “For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been His counselor? Or who has ever first given to Him, and has to be repaid?”

Many of us put ourselves in the awkward position of reminding God of all that we have done as Elijah did on Mount Carmel, and whether we intend to or not, we act as if God owes us something.  Elijah reminded God of his victories over the 450 prophets of Baal, his triumph over Satan’s emissaries, and then in his depression when he was in the wilderness, he cried out for God to kill him.  He did not stop to think that all his accomplishments were not achieved in his own strength and abilities, but because God was working in and through him.  God didn’t owe Elijah a thing.

We can’t take credit for anything good, because we can accomplish nothing of lasting value unless God does it using the talents and gifts He has given us to use in serving Him.  We do tend to give God a lot of advice, telling Him exactly how to answer our prayers as if we know the future and all that will transpire.  It is far better for us to leave the planning and advising in the capable hands of our Heavenly Father, remaining alert for His direction in our daily activities.

Remembering all we have, are or do is the result of God working through us should keep us aware that God owes us exactly what He owed Elijah.  When Elijah stopped complaining and listened to the quiet voice of God, he was given further responsibilities that were equally as important in the eyes of God as were the previous accomplishments.  We need to remember while we may not know what the future holds for us, we can rest assured that it will never keep us from accomplishing all that our Heavenly Father has given us, and when we have finished our life we can be certain we will hear our Savior’s “Well done,” when we reach the place He has prepared for us in Heaven’s glories..

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are Your servants because you bought our freedom from sin with your victory over Satan and Hell, we thank you with our lives in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-20-10

Choices

1 Kings 18:21, “Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Jehovah is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.”

When Joshua spoke to the Israelites after his time as their leader was over, he spoke very bluntly to the entire nation, “Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  There was no hesitancy in Joshua; he was fully committed to follow the leading of his God in every way, committing his entire family and descendents to follow in the same path.  Now, centuries later, after the period of the Judges in Israel, and the reign of Saul, David, Solomon and many kings in the Northern Kingdom, Israel was once more faced with a choice.  They were either going to follow their wicked King Ahab and worship false gods suffering famine and hardship, or they could choose to follow their Lord God and do away with idols, false gods and evil kings.  When Elijah gave them their choice on Mt Carmel, they listened carefully but made no commitment.

Many Christians today look to God for their salvation, totally relying on the sacrifice of Jesus for their salvation, but do not commit to follow His leadership in their daily lives.  They accept God’s power to save them from the fires of hell, but they reserve the right to make all the decisions in their future planning for their lives, and for the day to day decisions we all make, deciding on the spur of the moment to engage in activities or thoughts that are displeasing to Him and for self-gratification and personal pleasure.

The title ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ is used in the New Testament between 65 and 70 times, depending upon the translation or paraphrase used.  Since ‘Lord’ means, ‘master, supreme authority’ and is used in over 65 verses in our Bible, it is appropriate, even commanded that we allow God the Holy Spirit to guide our every footstep.  When we give our Heavenly Father the honor and homage He deserves, when we understand His majesty and accept Him not only as our Saving God and Father but also as the Leader of our Lives, we then live in complete contentment and peace.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, give us the ability to submit our total beings to you we pray in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-19-10

This Old House

2 Corinthians 5:1-2, “For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And, in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven.”

Paul expressed in this passage the feelings of many Christians, the yearning for a new body and relief from pain and difficulties living in tired, worn-out bodies.  One person expressed today how tired he was of living with the constant pain of needing a knee replacement, and having to wait until the first replacement had healed enough to proceed.  He expressed his desire to receive his heavenly body with no aches and pains.

No doubt the Apostle Paul felt the aches and pains of his beatings, imprisonment and harsh treatment and when he thought of Heaven, he longed for the new body he would have when His Heavenly Father called him up.  In these verses Paul calls the earthly body a tent, a temporary dwelling place in the wilderness while he finished his work for his Savior here on earth.  He knew his heavenly dwelling would be far better, yet he was willing to stay on earth until that which God ordained for him to do was complete.  Paul knew to be with his Lord was a much more desirable abode, he knew his work was not yet completed on earth and he knew in his future an instant of transformation was coming.

We may not understand the changes in our world, the resurgent attacks against Christianity, the bitter rejection of some people or the aches and pains to be endured for the sake of the Gospel message, but we do understand the need to win others to Christ Jesus, the need to live a life that brings glory to Him and an attitude of compassion for those who do not know salvation’s joy.  While we live in a tent now, a new home in Heaven is soon to be ours, while we are rejected here, we will have a joyous welcome there, while we ache now, there is no pain or sorrow in Heaven, while we are disappointed in the lack of interest in others, we are eager to see our Savior.

Heavenly Father, we live our lives here in anticipation of your blessing, either here or in Heaven and will work without complaint until You call us to our ultimate home.  Accept our praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

04-16-10

Faith, Hope, Love

1 Corinthians 13:13, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.”

The Bible says faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the noun, and the corresponding verb is believe.  It is no coincidence that we who love our Lord are called Believers; we are people of abiding faith.  Based upon His promise, we believe we will enjoy the glory of heaven some day, to bask in the brilliant light of God’s glory, to see our Savior walking and talking with saints of all ages. We can expect to see Jesus in the skies sometime soon, to fulfill the promise He made when He ascended from the Mount of Olives over 2,000 years ago. Should our lives end while we are still here on earth, we believe we will immediately be in His presence and we know we will reign with Him on earth during the promised millennial reign.

When we look at love, we understand that it is the love of God that energizes each and every Believer to love you in return, and it is Your love radiating out of us that wins others to be born anew into your family. When we hope, we tend to think of our contemporary definition of hope, more of a wish, a desire, a probability not backed by any solid expectation. The word that is used in Scripture can be better translated as ‘confident expectation.’  Based upon God’s Word and the promises therein, every Believer can expect, in all confidence that God will do as he says He will in every situation, at any time, all for His greater glory. Our hope is in Christ Jesus, When we have been born anew into the Family of God our counselor and guide is God the Holy Spirit.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we understand that without pure, unquestioning faith it is impossible to please you and we thank you for the confidence we have placed in you, the absolute certainty that you will do as you say without doubt or question. Guide us this day in Jesus’ name as we radiate Your love to those we meet.

Manna in the Morning

04-15-10

Moving Mountains

Mark 11:22-24, “Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.  I assure you: If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore, I tell you, all the things you pray and ask for—believe that you have received them, and you will have them.”

How often have we faced a mountain in our lives, mountains we look at knowing there is no way upon this earth we can move it, be it finances, discouragement, the salvation of a loved one, a choice between two paths or anything we face too great for our own power?  It is comforting to know that when we turn that mountain over to our Heavenly Father, He will relieve us of our burden.  We should not be like the traveler in Pilgrim’s Progress who labored, struggling under a heavy backpack of worries and cares, finally arriving at the foot of the cross where he lays down the weighty burden, looks to His Heavenly Father in relief, thanking Him for the respite, then after a time of rest and comfort, picks up the load and struggles on.  We are sometimes in that same position, praying for relief from our Heavenly Father, and then spending a sleepless night worrying about what we just put in the Father’s hands.  When we pray, we should visualize the answer with our spiritual eyes, always expecting God to answer in the way that brings Him the greater glory.

Our attitude should be the same as Caleb who entered the land of Canaan at age eighty with Joshua, asked for the first mountain he saw and with God’s help conquered the Canaanites who inhabited the area, made it his own, and lived there with all the power, strength and natural force of a forty year old.  When we give God our burdens, His answer often includes the strength for us to solve them in His power and with His guidance assured of the victory that He provides.  The secret is turning full control over to Him and letting Him work through us and in us.

Heavenly Father, we hold up those who face mountains today, may we trust you to conquer them, bring victory in our lives and great glory to yourself.  In Jesus’ powerful name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-14-10

 Who gets the Money?

Luke 12:19-20, “Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

Through out the world today, the American work ethic and pursuit of the American Dream are considered as the source of our great wealth and success.  Immigrants from every nation are anxious to step upon America’s shores and acquire wealth and property for themselves.  This obsession with material gain is also one of the reasons America is disliked by many across the world, as well as by some in the United States who think we have become arrogant.  The rich man in Luke 12 is one who trusted in his wealth and social status to make his life comfortable and envied, but with no thought for the life to come, he was without answer when God asked him who would get those things that seemed so important to him.    Each of us will be required to answer before God for our soul’s condition.  Of all nations on earth, the United States has been most blessed of God, and yet we as a nation, are now putting the gain of worldly possessions before any thought of spiritual values.

This Continent was raw and undeveloped in its infancy, the early settlers had to labor hard and long to produce enough food for their families with a little bit extra to sell or barter for needed goods.  It took dedication and hard work to become the great, industrialized nation we are, but in that rise to wealth, we as a nation, lost the dependence we once had upon God and his benevolent treatment toward us.  God may not audibly speak to men and women today telling them to evaluate their priorities, but the path to success is often littered with broken marriages, shattered families, bitterness between onetime partners, and bodies ravaged by heart attacks and strokes.  The price of ignoring God is beyond payment, when one is in a cardiac ward, attached to tubes and IV’s, just to keep life in a tired worn-out body who completes the mergers or collects the fees on the next contract?

Lord, our tomorrow is so bright with Your promises, we don’t need to drive ourselves to amass more worldly goods, give us grace to enjoy our families and friends while we can, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-13-10

Filled

Acts 4:31-32a, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.  All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

This was some prayer meeting!  Peter and John got out of prison, were instructed by the Jewish Religious Leaders not to preach or teach in Jesus’ name, and when released they went directly to the Temple’s open courts and began to speak freely of the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus and the salvation available to all who believe in him.  Later as they were praying God the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples and infused them causing them to go out and speak and teach in Jesus’ name with great boldness.

I wonder how many men and women prayed and studied God’s Word since Last Sunday, and of those that did, how many were filled with a fire to share their salvation faith with the same boldness and fervor as the disciples?  As we consider all that Jesus has done in our lives, how we have been lifted from the filthy mire of sin’s dark pit and how He willingly bore the sin-weight of our transgressions at Calvary causing the one and only time in all eternity when there was separation between God the Father and God the Son, thus releasing us from sin’s grip on our soul, the joy and release should drive us to share this with every person we meet, giving them the opportunity to know the joy of salvation in Jesus Christ.

All the believers were one in their belief; there was no discussion about doctrine or wording of hymns or creeds, no dispute over the mode of baptism or quarrel over Church governance.  They united over the essential belief that Jesus had lived among them, had healed the lame and blind, cast out demons and raised the dead, then by his own power left an empty tomb and would walk among them for forty days before visibly ascending into heaven.

Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, give us the joy, enthusiasm and desire to share Your message as did the early disciples.  We want to enjoy the same fellowship and rejoice with those who are born again into your family.  In Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

04-12-10

On the Offensive

Ephesians 6:17-18, “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.  With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”

Ephesians Six contains Paul’s description of the armor given to the Believer in Christ Jesus to protect him or her in spiritual battle.  In addition to the defensive ‘body armor’ given, we are given two offensive weapons.  First is the Word of God, Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan at every turn while He was being tempted in the wilderness, knowing our adversary the devil cannot gain a victory over God’s Word. This is a valid reason for all who live to serve Him to memorize God’s Word and keep it uppermost in their hearts and minds. When Jesus returns to the earth to reign in Jerusalem for His one-thousand year reign, “From His mouth came a sharp sword, so that with it He might strike the nations, Rev. 19:15.  That Sword is identified as the Word of God.  We have the awesome privilege of using the same weapon to defeat our enemies as does our Savior.  Be an expert in the use of God’s Word in your spiritual warfare.

The other spiritual armament we have is prayer. In our spiritual warfare, we are to understand the battle takes place in the spiritual realms, Satan is the commander of the evil forces, and there are battles between the demons and fallen angels against Michael, Gabriel and the angels of heaven and the battle rages within the minds of men and women.  We are foot soldiers in the spiritual battles, and the way we react to temptation has consequences far beyond what we can understand or imagine.  Therefore, it is good for us to pray for each other, uphold each other in intercessory prayer and to call upon our Christian brothers and sisters for their support when we are under attack, and, if we are not under attack, we aren’t being much of a warrior.

Heavenly Father, give us the courage and stamina to stand firm in our faith in You and to repel all the attacks of our adversary with the armor and weapons with which You have equipped us.  This we ask in Jesus wonderful name.

Manna in the Morning

04-09-10

Perversion

Jude 24-25, “Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now, and forever. Amen.

The Book of Jude is best known for this benediction or blessing for those that read or hear it to end a service.  Those of us who read this verse are commended over to our Heavenly father to protect us from the darts and other weapons of our adversary.  God will, indeed, erect a hedge of protection around us to keep the forces of evil at bay.  The picture is of a nomad who when stopping for the night will collect the branches of the thorn trees and erect a fence around the encampment, keeping the lions and other marauders out of the enclosure while the caravan’s animals are inside under the watchful eyes of the shepherds and herdsmen.  When we ask God to erect a hedge of protection, we are using a Biblical term for protection.  Because of God’s protection and intervention we are kept from stumbling and give us the opportunity to stand in the presence of God’s glory.

Because of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary, we are considered by the Father to be blameless, forgiven and then seen as completely enclosed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus.  All this is so we can share with the hosts of Heaven in giving Him glory and honor, recognizing His majesty as king of Kings and His power and authority over all things.             When we join the Heavenly scene, we will no longer be bound to this earth and will for all eternity be able to praise and honor our Savior.

It is my prayer that these blessings be yours, that this weekend you will worship and praise your Savior, that you have no doubt you are completely covered by the righteousness of Jesus and are in Him, seen as blameless before the Father.  May you have the protection of our God in all you do and rely upon Him to stop all the attacks of Satan as he prowls the earth like a scavenger looking for prey.  Our Gracious heavenly Father, we trust in Your all sufficiency in giving us all we need.  In Jesus’ name we pray

Manna in the Morning

04-08-10

Authority

Job 34:13-15, “Who gave Him authority over the earth?  Who put Him in charge of the entire world?  If He put His mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave, every living thing would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.”

Job is asking a rhetorical question here, no one ever gave God the authority He has over all that is, He always had all authority, even before He created anything.  Not only is Almighty God the Creator He is the sustainer of all that is, if God withdrew his oversight over all creation and failed to keep all things by His power, everything would simply cease to exist, time would never have existed and all would be eternal just as before the creation.  There would be no living thing, animal or vegetable on the earth, mankind would not have a soul or spirit because we are a special creation when God our Father breathed life into each of us.

A time is coming however after Jesus reigns over the earth for one thousand years, when sin will have no power over earth and God will end time as we understand it.  Instead of this sinful earth, God will de-create it, causing it to revert to its first shapeless, formless mass and recreate it pure, untainted by sin and re-create Heaven as well, giving us an eternity in a perfect place never touched by sin, sorrow, nor darkness, nothing but the purity of our Savior and His righteousness.  In that eternal state we will have perfect fellowship, worship and understand fully the presence of our great God.

There is no other God, all other belief systems are founded on the words and work of a mortal man, no other Savior has visited the earth to redeem us from our sin, no other philosophy will stand the test of scrutiny, no other Book is inspired by God, written over centuries by scores of different authors with the one defined theme of God’s love and provision for all those who will come to Him.

Our great and gracious Heavenly Father, there is no other God at can redeem us, we put our full faith and trust in You.  It is in Jesus’ name we come before you.

Manna in the Morning

04-07-10

Earthquakes

Mark 13:8, “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”

This evening as I prayed about the subject of tomorrow’s MITM, I saw a news flash of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia, since the devastation in Haiti in Mid-January, there have been major earthquakes in Chili, the Cayman Islands, two in California and tonight in Indonesia.  So far today, there have been s 1,775 seismic disturbances recorded, most of which were undetectable by people on the earth’s surface, by looking at the USGS map, the vast majority of these are where the tectonic plates meet and grind against each other.  In His last discourse with His followers recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus warned those who would follow to be aware of the time just before Jesus’ calling the Church out of the earth concluding this period of time on God’s established timetable.

Other signs of this impending event are an increased hostility against those who have put their full faith in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer along with increasing attempts to silence the preachers and teachers of God’s Word.  Great political strife in the world, with approximately forty-one wars and by some counts almost two-hundred conflicts and armed combat between militias, armed rebels and insurgents.   In Jesus’ words, “This is the beginning of birth pangs,” telling us that God’s plan is rapidly moving and we are to be prepared for a major event on His timetable.  Many Christians suffer from a spiritual disease called, ‘Rapture Fever,’ where they seem to discontinue their efforts at evangelism, actively attempting to win others, when the exact opposite should be our desire, to win as many people to Christ as possible in the time remaining.  There are others who discount the signs and warnings, teaching that there is no impending rapture, and God will continue to work as He is now.  A third event mentioned by Jesus in this discourse is famine.  A look at East Africa, Haiti, Cuba and many other parts of the world, even in the industrialized, so called wealthier countries all have their areas where famine is a real concern.

It is not for us to question God’s plan, to second guess His plans or to argue over what He should do, or when.  It is our responsibility to use every opportunity presented to us to tell someone of the love and compassion of Jesus, to encourage them to accept His sacrifice for them and live their live for Him.  Lord God, we ask for you to put within us a burning desire to win others to you, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

Majesty

04-06-10

Isaiah 6:1-3, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.”

All Christians need a refresher course in the majesty and splendor of our God.  We have forgotten the accounts of the splendor and luxury in which Emperors and Kings lived in the past, or the wealth, earthly splendor and surroundings of sensual pleasure in which some dictators and tyrants live, even today.  Some of the ancient kings of Babylon or Persia lived in an environment that is unimaginable to us today.  Our Heavenly Father exists in Heaven, a glorious place where we shall someday join Him, but not in endless pleasure or unfathomed luxury.  Isaiah gives us a glimpse into Heaven and the throne room of our great God, God in Himself provides all the splendor since He is perfect in every way.  Isaiah describes an indescribable scene in words he knew and used under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit to give shape to this great vista.  God’s throne is above every other throne, He reigns supreme, He has given Jesus, God the Son the titles, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but the throne of our Great God and Father is above all, every creation from the loftiest star to the tiniest grain of sand on the shore honors and praises Him.  The aura of His Glory fills the Heavenly Temple and the brilliance of that Glory permits no shadow, no dimness or shadow can exist in the presence of our God’s Glory.  He is perfect light.  His attendants are Seraphs; each one created for the purpose of singing Holy, Holy, Holy is our God declaring the magnitude of His personage.

While His Glory is visible in the heavenly places, it is not seen by us on earth although it fills the entire creation, every cloudless night allows us to see the expanse of His creation, every sunrise is a reminder of His resurrection, every scenic view or beautiful photograph reminds us to thank Him for the beauty of His creation even with the scars of sin.  The new Heaven and New earth unmarred by sin will be a foretaste of His matchless Glory.  Our Heavenly Father, let us see your glory with spiritual eyes this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

I am the Resurrection

04-05-10

John 11:25, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.”

In John Chapter 11 Jesus has arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, His friend from Bethany.  Lazarus’ sister Martha felt that Jesus delayed His trip from Galilee to Bethany too long and would have been able to prevent Lazarus’ death if He had hurried to get there before he died.  Jesus speaks to her clearly declaring He is the only life-giver, it is important for us to make this a clear conviction of our personal life, God, and God alone, is the life giver and life taker, and when men and women interfere in this process, they will stand accountable before God.  Jesus states, “I am the resurrection.”  Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, God the Son.  He came from the grave triumphant, having defeated sin, Satan, and death.  Lazarus was raised by Jesus’ power, but he, being human, died at another time, according to the Scripture that says all man must die and face judgment.  Jesus rose in His own power and will never again feel the grip of death.

When you and I accept the redemption in Jesus, we will never taste death.  We may put off this corrupt, tired earthly body, but immediately find ourselves in Jesus’ presence in a glorified body, without the constraints and pains of earth.  If you go through a surgical procedure, you awaken on earth with the scars of the experience, the accompanying pain and weaknesses, but you are alive upon the earth, if we are alive in Christ Jesus, we will someday have the new glorified body, be in the Heavenly Places in the presence of our great and glorious God and will be wrapped fully in the righteousness of Jesus our Savior.  This is the message we are privileged to carry to those who we meet and who will listen.

As those who trust in Jesus for our Salvation, we face a future in His eternal presence, in a body freed from the aches and pains of earthly existence and never see the darkness of sin again, because we have died to sin in Christ’s death and are raised in His resurrection to eternal life.  The message of the resurrection for we who know Him is that we share in His victory only because of His love and grace.  Our Gracious Heavenly Father, give us the ability to experience the freedom we have in our Savior, Jesus and to submit our will to His eternally, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

Good Friday

04-02-10

Jesus took so much physical abuse for us, torture, beatings, the crown of thorns, whippings, carrying the heavy crossbeam of the cross and finally hung upon the cross.  Yet none or all of these things could pay the price for sin in the lives of those Jesus came to save from hell and spiritual death.  It took His death and resurrection to provide our Redemption from sin’s penalty.

As Jesus suffered on the cross, after several hours he cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Or “Why have you left me alone?”  When Jesus had the weight of the sin of every person who has or who will ever live on this earth placed upon His shoulders, God the Father could not look upon the sin, and the Son felt the weight alone.  It was for this express purpose and exact moment He left Heaven’s glory to walk upon the earth He had created.  The perfect, sinless, Holy God could not look upon sin and turned His eyes from the Son, who had to pay the price as promised.  Agony in both Heaven and Earth as this weight fell upon The Son, and the Father felt the pain in equal measure.  This is the true cost of our Redemption from the chains of hell.

As the time came for Jesus to give up His hold on this earthly life He said “It is finished!”   This was not a cry of relief because the torment, pain, torture, ridicule and more agony than any mere mortal could stand and now is over, it was a triumphant cry that shook the hills of Judea, the clouds of the sky and the halls of Heaven!  Satan, the Great Dragon was defeated, the Promised One had crushed his head, and yes, His heel was bruised.  But death and resurrection were the victory and all Heaven rejoiced, even though all earth was in sorrow and pain, Jesus, my Savior, returned to Heaven, our Salvation was secure, and in mere hours He would rise from the grave in triumph.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name, humble and grateful for the precious gift of Redemption that came at such a cost.  We bow before you in thanksgiving and praise.

Manna in the Morning

The Last Passover

04-01-10

Luke 22:19-210, “And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.”

As Jesus celebrated the last Passover Feast on this earth with His disciples, He knew they would never again partake of a Passover Meal with the meaning of this one.  The ceremony referred back to the time Moses had all the Israelites celebrate this dinner in preparation for their release from the slavery they had endured in Egypt and would no longer endure a period of total subjugation again, they would leave Egypt never to return, even though some of the people would wish for Egypt because they were willing to endure slavery for stability.  When they put blood over their doorposts, it was a sign that the death angel would pass over their houses and firstborn sons, Egypt would expel them because of the weeping and wailing when their first born sons were found dead.

Jesus knew this time He would be the perfect sacrifice, that those who believed God’s promise would be forever free of the curse and chains of sin just as the ancient Israelites believed in faith that they would walk from Egypt as free people, never to return. The disciples did not have the complete revelation of the Scriptures as we do, and did not understand Jesus’ meaning when He said, His body would be given for them and His blood would be shed as the perfect sacrifice promised by God.  The old Law was no longer binding upon men and women, the purpose and intent of the law was shortly to be fully fulfilled in the death of Jesus.  The perfect plan of God, who is unlimited perfection in all His attributes, would have His perfect justice fulfilled by the perfect sacrifice of a perfect Savior, whose life was given in His perfect love and mercy for a sinful, ungrateful, demanding human race.

Our Father in Heaven, accept our offering of thanks from our hearts for your offering of sacrifice on our behalf.  We are undeserving and sinful, yet seen by You as perfectly righteous in Jesus, our Savior.  Keep the awareness of the enormous magnitude of the cost of our salvation uppermost in our minds this day as we live our lives for Your glory.  Thank You Lord Jesus, for freeing us from sin’s terrible grip.

Manna in the Morning

The Conclusion

03-31-10

John 3:16-18, “”For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”

Now that you know the opening questions and the verses to let a person read and perhaps given the individual your personal testimony of what you were once and now are, here are some closing questions to use.

1.  Are you a sinner?  If necessary read Romans 3:23 again and define sin – any thought or action that takes away from God’s glory or displeases Him.
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?  (Make Him the Leader of your Life.)
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and heart?  At this point don’t say anything more, silently pray for God the Holy Spirit to convict the heart.  Be sensitive to the struggle going on, be encouraging but remember – God does the convicting, give the person time to say yes! ( In selling something, the one who speaks first wins.  This is a little different but give the individual time to think.)

Then lead the man or woman in praying something like this, Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You.  I need and want forgiveness for all my sins.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.  Father, I give You my life to do with as You wish.  I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart.  This I ask in Jesus’ name.

Remember we can add nothing to the Scriptural plan for salvation and we must subtract nothing from that plan.  If we do our part and win others we are multiplying the Body of Christ and we do not wish to divide fellow Believers by stressing a denominational point of view, keep strictly to God’s Word.  Just as Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, Peter and John preached in Jerusalem, Paul preached in Asia, we are privileged to carry this message to those we meet daily.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the awesome privilege of being used of you in sharing the message of salvation to a dying world.  Give us opportunity and the courage to utilize that opportunity for your greater glory, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

The Only Way

03-30-10

As we finished Step One yesterday, I suggested you ask the five questions, listening only, not arguing or debating the answers because the answers show you the true spiritual condition of the individual.  If the person says yes, they would like to know if what they believe were not true, we move to Step Two.

Opening your Bible, Turn to the following verses, letting God the Holy Spirit work through having the person read the Scriptures you have pointed out.  1. Read Romans 3:23, “All have sinned.”  No one can argue with this.  2. Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.”  Wages mean we have earned death by our own actions.  3. John 3:3, “You must be born again.”  Ask the question, “Why did Jesus come to die?”  A – To pay my sin penalty and yours.  4., John 14:6 “I am the way.” – The only way!  5. Romans 10:9-11, If you confess with your mouth…you will be saved.”  6.  2 Corinthians 5:15, “Those that live should no longer live for themselves.” A Biblical emphasis of the Lordship of Jesus, Let Him be the leader of your life. 7.  Revelation 3:20, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”

Be sure you have a New Testament with you, perhaps with markers to hold each spot, keeping confusion and uncertainty to a minimum.  This is where you present God’s plan of salvation, the importance of Jesus willingness to be our perfect sacrifice.  At this point the person may say something like, “I didn’t know we were going to do all this’” or something similar.  You may say something like this, “You said you wanted to know if you were wrong, didn’t you, do you want me to stop now?  Most of the time, he or she will say no, and ask a question about something you have covered.  Here is where you compare the Word of God to the answers you heard earlier.  Tomorrow we will finish the conversation.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we pray we will use this simple outline to share your salvation message with others.  Guide us in our daily walk with you, we ask in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

Sharing Jesus

03-29-10

Luke 19:39-40, “Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”

As Jesus rode on the colt of a donkey when the festival crowds were cheering and honoring Jesus, some of the Pharisees went to Jesus and asked Him why He didn’t command His followers to be quiet.  Jesus told them if the people ceased their cheering, the very stones would cry out in His honor.  In Joel chapter 1 the prophecy is given that immediately before Jesus returns to reign over the universe, the desperation and hunger will be so bad on the earth the animals will cry out to God for food.  Even inanimate objects like stones emit electromagnetic waves that are lost in the cacophony of the universe, but bring praise to the ear of the Creator.

In this week preceding Easter, it is an opportunity for all Believers in Jesus our Redeemer to share the account of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to those we meet and have opportunity to share a few simple questions.  Over the next 3 days we will go over these steps in order to give all of us a working, non-combative outline that ends with an invitation from the individual to continue.

Today, Step One, These next questions will give us an opportunity to see which hearts in which God has been working.    In listening to the first four questions, do not argue or attempt to debate, just listen to what the person says, nod your head or say, I understand your answer, but do not get into any dialog yet.  You are just finding out what they believe and how to best proceed.

Question One; Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?  Two:  To you, who is Jesus?  Three: Do you believe there is a heaven and a hell?  Four: If you died right now, where would you go?  If heaven, why?  Five:  If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?  If the individual says yes, your opportunity is opened by their invitation, if the answer is no, God hasn’t finished preparing this heart.  Tomorrow we’ll progress to step two.

Our Heavenly Father, we desire to share Your message with others, lead us to the people who are prepared to hear Your message of hope and redemption.  This we ask in Jesus’ saving name.

Manna in the Morning

03-26-10

The Triumphal Entry

Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!  See, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah was, in all probability, born in Babylon just as the Israelites were returning to Judea and Jerusalem at the end of the Babylonian captivity, when Darius the Mede allowed the exiles to return.  He was probably both a Priest and a Prophet, and spoke of many visions and prophecies of the coming of the Promised One, their Messiah.  His writings are dated around 500 BC, and this passage tells of the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy of Messiah the Prince coming to Jerusalem.  We need to remember the prophecies regarding the Promised One often will have two segments of fulfillment, one during the life of Jesus and the second when He returns again to rule the world from David’s Throne in Jerusalem.  Much of Zechariah’s ministry took place in Jerusalem as he was part of the group of exiles who returned under Nehemiah’s leadership.

In exhorting the people of Jerusalem, he encourages both the surrounding area and Jerusalem to rejoice because of the coming King.  The prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 21 beginning in verse one when Jesus entered into the city on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  Jesus rode the colt upon which no one had ever ridden, through the streets of Jerusalem, with the crowds cheering, laying palm branches in the street in front of Him, shouting, “Hosanna,  Hosanna,” a term of praise derived from the Hebrew word for save that could be translated “Praise the Savior”, but has no direct English translation.  After Jesus arrived at the outer courts of the Temple, He once again cleansed the area of the merchants declaring, “My house will be called a House of Prayer.”

As we remember this entry into Jerusalem to cheers and adulation, we should join our voices with the redeemed from that entry down through the centuries until today, praising God for our Redemption, giving all glory to Jesus, The Promised perfect Sacrifice who now has brought peace and comfort to our souls and quieted our hearts.  Heavenly Savior, we shout Hosanna to Your name, glorifying and thanking You for our Salvation.

Manna in the Morning

Teachers

03-25-10

Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, “Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.  The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.”

The Bible is full of references to teachers and teaching, Solomon, who was a great king of Israel, wealthy beyond our ability to imagine, powerful, and had great wisdom, called himself Teacher.  It is a title to be respected and if applied to us, makes us not only feel honored to bear, but to try hard to be worthy of that title.  It is not easy to teach, one must learn before teaching a subject, learn while teaching it, and be willing to be taught by both those who know more than the teacher, but from those who know far less.

Every parent is a teacher, who else teaches their children the rudiments of language, encourages by precept and example?  To teach the infants and very young is a skill best taught by the parents, rather than a non-family member.  Parents bear the first and ultimate responsibility to teach their children Biblical truths.  A child will learn precepts such as honesty, trustworthiness, reverence for the Scriptures, the act of worship, and the awesome reverence of our great God, first and best from their parents.  Indeed, parents are the first teachers and who continue this teaching throughout their child’s lifetime.  It is a rare privilege to teach young children Bible accounts and help them gain a knowledge of God’s Word in Bible School and other children’s programs, but it is better utilized as reinforcement of lessons learned at home, than the discovery of Bible knowledge never mentioned in the home.

Our culture has changed in the last decades from a parent-driven and controlled educational system to a government controlled system and parents have been lured into the concept that others will do better at teaching than they.  This has carried over to let others in the church be responsible for the spiritual education of their children.  Teachers make a difference.  They have the opportunity to lead their students into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they help guide their actions and words to honor our God and Savior, they may turn a wayward, rebellious child to the road of righteousness.  Teachers change the world.  May God make us all teachers.

of our children, grandchildren, young elementary students, growing teens, and of those adults who come to Christ and need to be taught the Biblical lessons to strengthen their lives.  If we don’t teach them, who will?

Our Heavenly Father, give us a glimpse of how you can use us to teach your precepts this day, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

Declaration

03-24-10

Mark 16:15-16, Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

After Jesus life was restored, he met with his eleven disciples and rebuked them for their failing faith and for their lack of spiritual perception because they had not believed His words when he promised to return to them after His death.  Their spiritual perception was clouded and they were unable to see beyond the next minute, most of them had at least at one point after the crucifixion thought the same as Thomas who voiced the words, “Unless I see the nail prints, I cannot believe.”  After Jesus talked to them, reassured them His plan for the future depended upon their ministry, He gave them a commission that should ring in our ears as firmly and urgently as it did in theirs.

We are to go to the entire creation and tell others about the saving grace of God and the opportunity available to all men and women.  This is to be taken to heart by every person who accepts Christ, now that we are saved; we need to share this with others.  The physical corner of the universe you are to be concerned about is the one where you are located.  God does call people to minister and proclaim His message in places far away, He can and will call each of us to short term trips where we can be effective and useful to Him, but He will never tell us to be faithful somewhere else, and neglect the place where we will find ourselves when we wake up tomorrow.  Each one of us should make it a priority to awaken every morning and anticipate our Lord working in our hearts that day, actively seeking opportunity to declare His goodness among those we meet, spreading the message, planting seeds, remaining alert for any indication of interest, but leaving the conviction of hearts to God the Holy Spirit who prompts us to speak.

Our great God and Heavenly Father, we are ready to serve You this day, in whatever manner You choose in any place you call us to serve.  We remain ready for your guidance in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning

Satan’s Synagogue

03-23-10

Revelation 2:9, “I know your tribulation and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

Smyrna is known as the suffering church, it followed after the period of the Apostolic Church and was a time of great suffering for those who loved and followed the Lord Jesus Christ.  There was a group of people who began to rise up and claim they were the legitimate heirs of Abraham through Ishmael and Esau who married Ishmael’s daughter.  Because they felt Jacob’s descendents were not legitimate, they waged war against all Israelites and Christians.  These were known within the church of Smyrna as ‘The synagogue of Satan,” and this could be a reference to the beginning of the Muslim belief system that started around this time in Church History.

Any individual who takes a clear stand for his or her Savior and the clear, pure teaching of the Word of God will be subject to persecution on this earth. Whether it is in the business world, the world of education or science, holding to the teaching of God’s Word is sure to bring criticism from those who will not believe in ethical behavior, a Creator God or to accept absolute truths expressed in the Bible and to admit their own sinful behavior condemns them eternally.

Many belief systems come to the fore for a brief time then fade away because there is no substance or truth in them, but God’s Word shall stand forever in the heavens.  From its beginnings back in the 600’s Islam has grown and expanded across the world with its cruel and bloody vendetta against the believers in our Great God, Jehovah.  Satan’s head was crushed at Calvary, his final throes of ultimate defeat will soon end when he is thrown into the abyss for 1,000 years, and the bloody false religious system he spawned in Satan’s synagogue will crumble, fall and no descendent of Esau will remain upon the earth as God’s own prophets have foretold.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we praise you for the victory won at the cross when our redemption price was paid, and for the promise that you will come again and receive us into the Heavenly realms.  Accept our praise in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Faithful Parenting

03-22-10

1 Chronicles 29:19, “Give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commandments, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.”

After King David had defeated all the enemies of Israel, moved to, and firmly established Jerusalem as the Capitol City, he spent his time in accumulating much of the materials to build a permanent Temple for the Lord God after many years of Israelite worship in the Tabernacle or tent used for worship.  David was not to build the Temple because of his wars and violent life in years past, having shed the life’s blood of many men.  Solomon, David’s son, was allowed by God to build the Temple, but David amassed the materials before he died.

God gave Solomon a choice between great wisdom and great wealth and chose wisdom, and God gifted him with wealth also.  Solomon assumed the throne with wealth, wisdom and a people who were willing to do all they could to erect a magnificent edifice for the worship of Almighty God, even though Solomon was inexperienced and untested in governmental administration.  As Solomon took over the administration of the Kingdom, David prayed for him in a prayer that may well be a model for parents as they see their children grow and assume their own life’s patterns.  David asked for his son to have a whole heart dedicated to carrying out all of God’s Commandments, and follow God’s leading in all his life’s plans.

As parents, we have a lifetime commitment to pray for our children, encouraging them to obey all the commandments of God, to live their lives in accordance with His precepts and to ask for His guidance in every decision they make.  Even though God had gifted Solomon mightily, David continued to pray for him, having learned that ignoring parental responsibilities caused him great heartache and dysfunction in his family before Solomon came to the throne.  Our children are a gift from the Heavenly Father and we must never consider our parental duties as complete.  The responsibility to provide a solid role model as a person dedicated to living for our Lord extends to every generation that we live to see in our family.  It is a daunting task to put all else second to our primary obligation, that is to let all who come behind us find us faithful.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we ask for the wisdom and strength to do and be a positive example to those who follow in our family, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the Morning

03-19-10

Meditation

Psalm 1:2, “His delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.  Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.”

Today’s church as allowed the practice of meditation, or reflection and contemplation to be associated mainly with the far Eastern belief systems such as Zen or Hinduism and is a lost art for many Christians, but the practice needs to be cultivated and emphasized once more.  Meditation or meditating is found mainly in the Old Testament. The Hebrew words behind this concept mean “to murmur or ‘a murmuring.’  This concept is reflected in Psalm 1:2, where the “blessed man” meditates on God’s law day and night.  In order for our lives to be blessed of God and bear fruit as the blessed child of God in Psalm 1, we must have our spiritual lives fed amply by the Word of God and watered by our quiet consideration of it as we wait quietly before the Lord who is waiting to speak to us in the quiet small voice heard by Jeremiah.  When reading God’s Word, the time spent thinking about what we have read without letting our minds wander, making it part of our storehouse of knowledge about our great God  is of great value in our spiritual growth.  The Greek word translated as meditate occurs only twice in the New Testament. The emphasis is for us to think carefully, calmly and deliberately before we respond calmly instead of in irritation or anger when others challenge us.  Every teacher must be as certain of the words we share with others as a lawyer preparing a case to be presented before the judge.

Time can be found for meditation when we are driving, waiting for an appointment or relaxing instead of the ever present TV with its distractions and clamor.  Scripture tells us as a person thinks within himself, so he is; therefore we need to be careful what occupies our minds in the quiet times and in our daydreams.

Gracious Heavenly Father, teach us to meditate upon Your Word at all times, so Yxxour praise will always fill our speech, this we ask in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer.

Manna in the Morning,

03-08-10

Unanswered Prayer

Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

There are a few reasons given in God’s Word that may explain why some prayers do not seem to be answered.  First, we must be patient and wait for God’s own timing.  He knows the time and method in answering that brings the greatest glory to Himself, possibly we are to be the conduit through which He moves.  Another reason is unbelief, the doubt in our own heart that God will answer.  We need to pray believing God can and will answer.  Unbelief was the reason Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum was hindered, Matt 13:58, “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  One man came to Jesus and said, “If you can, heal my son.”  Jesus responded in Mark 9:13, “Everything is possible to the one who believes.” None of Jesus healings or other miracles happened without faith on the part of the one healed or someone who believed without reservation that Jesus could do as He wished.  One passage that strikes me as so significant is the man’s response when he said, “I believe, please take away my unbelief.”  When we pray for another, our prayer has an immediate effect upon our lives, those for whom we pray and the one who sought us out to request the prayer.  In Romans 3:3, God spoke through Paul as he wrote, “What then? If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?”  Nothing can cancel God’s faithfulness, we fail Him, but he will never fail us.

Another reason our prayer may not even be heard by our Heavenly Father is holding on to habitual sin.  God said if we know what is good, yet we do not do it, that is sin.  To know of needs in the lives of others and neglect to pray for them is to grieve the heart of our God and he cannot answer our prayer until we repent and ask for forgiveness.  There are some unbelievers who knowingly continue to do things that do not please our Heavenly Father; by habitually doing these things, whatever they are, we limit our effectiveness in serving our Lord.

Our gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the forgiveness that is ours when we confess our sin and allow you to remove it from our lives.  Give us the faith to expect you to answer our prayer in Your time and manner, in Jesus’ name we pray.

Manna in the MorningAlways Praying

03-17-10

Luke 18:1, “Jesus then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged.”

One of the responses I received from yesterday’s MITM was along the lines of, “Since God knows what I think and do, why should I pray?”  First, Jesus told us to pray in order that we not become discouraged in a virulently sinful world.  Our worship must not be confined to a church service on Sunday Morning, our praise should not be limited to participating in a praise song or hymn in that worship service.  Worship occurs whenever we recognize the worthship or worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion.  This should happen in our prayer time when we simply tell God, praising Him for who He is; the Creator, sustainer of all creation, the one who saves His people from the penalty of sin, who provides all good things for us, a major portion of our prayer should be in adoration or worship of our great God.

Our true worship is to recognize our own unworthiness of the least of His love and attention to our needs.  Our confession of how unworthy we are, how desperately we need His forgiveness and how repentant we are for our sin, while God knows our state and sorrow for sin, it is for our own understanding and gratefulness we recount our thanksgiving for our position in Christ Jesus.  We know it is only proper to say ‘I’m sorry’ when we offend another, why do we forget to tell our Heavenly Father how repentant we are.  This, too, is for our own recognition of our redemption, and not to remind God of His promises.

True prayer will always contain our thanksgiving for the great gifts our Heavenly Father has given us.  Salvation, God’s Word, guidance, true joy and the ability to fully trust are gifts beyond price, thanks for those He has brought into our life for encouragement, instruction or support in difficult situations, interceding on our behalf before the Father for strength, wisdom and fighting our adversary with us, protecting us from the devil’s arrows of fear and doubt.

Last and least, for God to bless me, because as we intercede for others, His blessings fall on us as well.  Gracious Heavenly Father, abundantly bless, protect and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, filling them with the joy of Your salvation and making their paths smooth this day.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Manna in the Morning, How to Pray

03-16-10

Matthew 6:7-8, “When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.  Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”

Many people do not like to pray aloud.  They seem to stammer and hesitate; knowing people are listening in on a private conversation between The Heavenly Father and His child on the earth.  It is important to be able to lead in prayer in a meeting or to publicly express your concerns before the Heavenly Father, knowing others will listen and follow your thoughts and agree with you.  The unity of a group of people uniting their hearts and spirits in prayer is powerful and brings great blessings to all who participate.

There is also a need for a time of private prayer and every Christian should have no more hesitancy in speaking to our great God than we would have speaking to our earthly human father.  Our God has encouraged us to come to Him by giving us suggestions and invitations repeatedly in His Word, helping us to understand prayer is the very foundation upon which we build our relationship with Him.  Many people, when they pray start to explain things as if God were somehow unaware of all that is going on in a person’s life.  He is the one who has all knowledge of the forces and events in everyone’s lives and who will give guidance based on His heavenly point of view.  Our problem is that we are looking at events from an earthly dimension and need to develop a trust in God’s view and wisdom.  Our Heavenly Father knows the needs in our lives, the motives we are afraid to admit even to ourselves and our selfish desires for the outcome.  It is far better to ask for His strength, patience and wisdom than to try and manipulate events in our own strength and abilities.

Because He is God and beyond limit, God is aware of our needs before we are able to formulate the thoughts in our mind or put those needs into words.  We should strive to be so in tune with our Father in Heaven, that we trust Him to meet the need before we ever know it.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, put your desires in our hearts, give us the trust to let you fully direct our life’s path and give us the joy that comes from this relationship.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Having a Right Spirsit

03-15-10

Psalm 51:10, “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51 is David’s great prayer for repentance after his grievous sin.  Each Christian should take David’s prayer for his or her own and be sure we ask our Heavenly Father for forgiveness more than in the few moments before we partake of the Lord’s Supper.  Our daily prayer should be to cleanse us from the sin of the day and give us a pure clean heart.  Then it is appropriate to ask God to renew our spirit and soul to reflect our relationship with Him.

First we need to ask God for a spirit of love for God’s people and God’s Word.  We need to feed daily on God’s Word and meditate upon it.  It is in the pages of Scripture we find the messages from our Heavenly Father that will be amplified as we meditate and think upon those passages that resonate within us.  Then we need to accept our position and responsibility as priests as we intercede for others.  When we ask others to pray for us, we are going to them requesting their priestly prayer on our behalf, and when others come to us it is a request that we intercede for them.  It is so easy to say we will pray, but we need to keep our promise remembering others have struggles well beyond that which they share, and we are the messenger of our Heavenly Father to give His comfort, love and compassion.

We are to have a heart for our witness and pure living.  Just as the Old Testament Priest had to purify himself in body, soul and spirit before he could enter the Holiest Place, we need to keep our lives pure, not allowing Satan to tempt us or bring into our lives anything that would harm our relationship with our Father in Heaven.  Our purity of action and thought can only be maintained by a purity of attitude, keeping our minds fixed upon God and His wonderful gifts to us.  If we live in purity of mind and action, people will be much more inclined to listen to the words of personal witness when we share the love and salvation available through the shed blood and resurrection of Jesus our Lord.

Our gracious Heavenly Father who desires to pour out Your blessings upon us, accept our plea for forgiveness of sins committed and create in us an attitude of holy living for Your greater glory, we ask this in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Doing the Right Thing

03-12-10

Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

The non-believer does not have the advantage of God the Holy Spirit within him so he cannot depend upon His guidance in making decisions.  We who have been born anew into the kingdom of God have the advantage of counsel from the timeless, eternal wisdom of God who can, out of His foreknowledge, advise us in choosing the right pathway.  In the time after Joshua led Israel until Saul was anointed as the first King, Israel was ruled by Judges and scripture tells us, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”  The natural inclination of men and women is to rationalize their own decisions, finding an excuse or reason for their actions.  With societal approval, everyone looks for what will make them temporarily happy, doing what seems right to them, considering their human wants and desire instead of seeking God’s wisdom in what will bring greatest glory to Him.

God has given us His Word with its guidance and precepts to show us what He desires of us.  Instead of ruling, we are to be servants, instead of wealth we are to desire wisdom, instead of seeking fame and the plaudits of men, we are to seek His glory and magnify His name.  The man or woman who seeks God’s will in their life, who looks to God the Holy Spirit for their guidance, who actively seeks the path illuminated by Scripture and is following the path he has put before them will find His eternal home carefully prepared for Him by a loving Heavenly Father.

Conversely, the man or woman who seeks his own pleasure, walks a path of personal gratification, dedicates himself to the accumulation of wealth and worldly goods, refuses to humble himself to accept God’s offer of salvation will find his end in the darkness of eternal damnation, apart from God and any mention of His name.  Our gracious Heavenly Father, it is our desire to keep our eyes fixed on you, to follow your path for our lives and live for your glory in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Stand Firm!

03-11-10

Philippians 4:1, “So then, in this way, my dearly loved brothers, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.”

Occasionally we read of an individual who has faithfully ‘stood firm’ in the heat of battle, saving the lives of many of his compatriots.  Audie Murphy, one of the most highly decorated individuals to ever wear the uniform of the United States Army stood firm during WWII and saved the lives of his fellow soldiers.  The Marines stood firm across the Pacific at many little islands like Iwo Jima and defeated the hosts of the Japanese Army arrayed against them.  The U S Navy stood firm and rebounded from the devastating Pearl Harbor attack and carried the battle all the way to the enemy mainland.  The military forces of today are standing firm in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the Mideast, protecting our freedoms and values despite the onslaught of suicidal terrorists.

Christians, men and women who dearly love our Lord, stand firm in countries across the globe against the persecution, murder and torture of Communist and Islamic forces, continuing to proclaim Christ Jesus and salvation available only through Him.  Those who have gone before us have been martyred for their witness, for daring to print Bibles, by giving their lives in Africa, North and South America, on continents and tiny islands as God’s chosen messengers.  Jesus stood firm against satanic influences and forces at His trial, whipping and crucifixion.

In our daily lives today, we must agree with Paul’s letter to the new church at Philippi and stand firm against the attacks that come against us, both direct frontal attacks as our Soldiers face and ambushes or sneak attacks that bombard us when we least expect them.  When we continue to pray for one another, for our Pastors, teachers, students, family members our hearts are united as one as we intercede before God’s throne on behalf of those we love and care for.

Our loving Heavenly Father, we pause to pray for those we love and ask you to strengthen and keep them today, give us the ability to draw upon your strength and wisdom to defeat our adversary today.  Abundantly bless each who reads this missive today in Jesus’ name I pray.

Manna in the Morning, Empowerment

03-10-10

1 Samuel 14:6, Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

Although Saul was an evil king and did not do as God commanded, his son Jonathan was a man who loved God, desired to serve Him and was a good friend to David, who had already been anointed by Samuel to be the next King in Israel.  Jonathan was so frustrated with the Philistine Army’s depredation of the Israelites; he chose to be one who would take action against the enemies of God’s people.  He took his personal armor bearer and crept close to the enemy camp to see if God would work through them.  The Philistines had been so domineering they confiscated all the swords in Israel, except for King Saul and Jonathan.  Jonathan was putting one-half of the Israelite armament in jeopardy with his actions, but God blessed and empowered him, causing the Philistines to beat a hasty withdrawal, leaving their weapons and goods behind them, thus supplying the Israelites with much needed arms.

Each of us, as individual Christians have our spiritual armament, we are equipped with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God and are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that emboldened Jonathan to go right into the enemy camp where God could use him.  As we go into our work sites and other locations, let’s all agree to be as bold as Jonathan, entering into conversation and interchange with those we meet and, as God gives us wisdom, bring the message of God’s love to their attention.

God brought about a great victory because of one young man’s bravery in the face of great danger, and if we desire to see a spiritual awakening in our nation, it is up to us to fight the battle, to engage the enemy in God’s power and to win the victory.  Our omnipotent Heavenly Father, give us holy boldness, inspire our words and give us the attitude of Jonathan as we engage others today.  This is our prayer in Jesus’ name.

Manna in the Morning, Proof

03-09-10

Luke 7:21-23, “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.  So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

The disciples of John the Baptist had come to Jesus and said John, who was in prison and probably forgotten by the general public, sent them to ask if Jesus truly was the promised One who was sent of God.  Jesus told the inquirers to return to John, and report what they had witnessed of Jesus minist

Manna in the Morning

11-29-11

Gifts

Esther 9:22, “That was the month when their sorrow was turned into rejoicing and their mourning into a holiday. They were to be days of feasting, rejoicing, and of sending gifts to one another and the poor.”

Even though God is not mentioned in Esther and it takes place in Persia, there are many events in the book that show God’s love and care for the Israelite people after God chose Abraham, Isaac and then Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, from whose descendents the Promised One would be born.  This month of feasting was to commemorate the delivery of the Israelites from the death sentence Haman had influenced Xerxes to sign.  Through Mordecai, Esther and other devout Israelites, the death sentence was countermanded and the Israelites could defend themselves and their property from the followers of Haman who was hung from a scaffold he had built to hang Mordecai.  The deliverance had come through the powerful hand of Almighty God.

As we enter into the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of our Savior, we should make this a time of remembrance and rejoicing, remembering the terrible sentence of eternal death from which we have been delivered by the mighty working of our powerful and loving God.  When we were most helpless, He reached down and lifted us out of our miry pit to set our feet on heaven’s road.  Our regrets are turned to rejoicing and our sin replaced with the pure righteousness of Jesus.

This is why have set aside the time for gift giving, entertaining, gifts we give to those close to us and to share the message of this great gift far and wide for the glory of our all-powerful God.   During the coming days, focus on the gift of gifts, celebrate the eternal life within and share the joy with all you meet.  Our Heavenly Father, because of your deliverance we will worship in giving, praising and rejoicing in Jesus, in whose name we pray.