MY MANNA

My Manna
"...the
surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in 
accordance with the working of the strength of His might." Ephesians 
1:19.

In Ephesians 1:19-21, Paul gives us a peek at the dynamic source of our authority in Christ. 

He
explains that the authority at our disposal flows from the reservoir of
power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at the 
Father's right hand. 

That power source is so dynamic that-
 Paul used four different Greek words in verse 19 to describe it: 

- Power (dunameos), 
- Working (energeian), 
- Strength (kratous), and 
- Might (ischuos) . 

Behind the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ lies the mightiest work of power recorded in the Word of God. 
And
the same power which raised Christ from the dead and defeated Satan is 
the power available to us to overcome the works of Satan in our daily 
lives.

Paul opens our eyes to the expansive scope of Christ's 
authority which is "far above all rule and authority and power and 
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also 
in the one to come." Ephesians 1:21. 

Think about the most powerful and influential political or military leaders in the world. 
Think about the most feared terrorists, crime kingpins and drug barons. 
Think about Satan and all the power of darkness marshaled under his command. 

Jesus'
authority is not only above all these human and spiritual authorities 
past, present and future, but He is far above them. 

We share the
same position because we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, 
which enable us to live in freedom and victory over demonic intrusion 
and influence.

Don't be deceived!
You are not under Satan's power or subject to his authority.

My Manna

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16. 

Nature provides us with an illustration-
- that closely parallels the insidious tactics employed by our adversary. 

According to scientists-
Artic polar bears feed almost entirely on seals. 

To enjoy such a meal, they sometimes resort to a cunning bit of trickery. 

If the hole through which the seal gets his food is near the edge of the ice-
- the polar bear will take a deep breath and swim under water to its exact location. 

Remaining below the surface-
- he will then make a tiny scratching sound, imitating a fish. 

When the charmed seal hears this, he dives in for a quick supper-
- only to find himself suddenly entrapped in the huge, hungry embrace of his predator.

God has sent us forth as sheep among the wolves. 

There are so many theories disguising themselves as godly. 

We're hungry for that meal.
But we must be wise enough to make sure it's not a trap! 

Keep reading and studying the Word of God! 

Pray and ask Him to reveal His truth.

The enemy loves to tempt us with a 'treat&# 39; so he can devour us! 

Don't take anyone's word but God's!

My Manna
Perhaps we should make a list of the "lost words of Christianity. " 

It seems like some things are not talked about as much today. 

"Worldliness&q uot;, for instance, is a forgotten word, erased from usage by an overemphasis and sometimes misapplication of Christian liberty. 

Sin and some of the classic words for it have been dropped from the vocabulary. 

Adultery is an "affair" or a "fling, " for example. 

Seldom do we hear the word "repent. "

Repentance implies the need for change. 

Something is not right; actually, something is wrong. 

The tendency today is to teach how God can meet man's need-
- and not so much about how man needs to change. 

The concept that God would judge is foreign to the minds of some people-
- yet is essential to His nature as a God of justice and righteousness.

To the people of Israel, God sent Hosea, a man who became a living parable of repentance and return. 

His story is shocking: 

He was married to a prostitute whom the Lord commanded to love as the Lord loved the Israelites. Hosea 3:1. 

The reality of Hosea's marriage teaches us the reality of God's love for His wayward people, for us. 

We are told, "'Come, and let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to 
pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up 
our  wounds' " 6:1.

That is not what people may want to hear!
But it is what we need to hear!!

God will work in our lives-
- sometimes in forceful and unpleasant ways. 

His goal is not to destroy-
- but to bring us back to Him.

Examine your life and think about areas in which God wants you to change. 

Repentance is not just something of the past. 
It needs to be a part of our present!

My Manna
Robes of righteousness
"The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty... Your throne has been established from the beginning." Psalm 93:1-2.

Ultimate authority rests with God who sits upon His throne. 
Years ago congregations frequently sang a chorus that goes like this: 
God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own;
Though trials may press us
And burdens distress us
He never will leave us alone.

The story is told of a little boy who, when introduced to this chorus for the first time in his Sunday school, came home and told his mother: 

"We learned a new song in Sunday school today."

Asked his mother, "what was it?"

"God is still on the phone," said the little lad.

Well that wasn't exactly what he had been taught.
But the thought contained in those words was equally true. 

Though God reigns from a majestic throne, 

He is accessible to us at all times of day and night. 

The lines of communication that lead from us to Him are never blocked and never "down."

When a man or woman, boy or girl says, "God be merciful to me a sinner," the message goes straight through to the throne.

And they receive His personal reply:
"You are forgiven, redeemed, and set free from your sin."

The throne of God is not only a throne of righteousness but a throne of grace! 

Righteousness says: 
"Stay back until you are good enough to approach."

Grace says: 
"I will put on you the robes of righteousness that are provided for you by Christ - now you are good enough."

My Manna
"Now there was no smith found throughout all the
land of Israel...So it came to pass in the day of battle, that
there was 
neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were
with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there
found." 1 Samuel. 13:19-22. 

This interesting passage speaks of a time when Israel had no blacksmiths
to make weapons and was without any armament to defend themselves. 

Theenemy had succeeded to disarm Israel by removing their weapons, and those who
forged them! 

He's attempting the same tactic today.

A blacksmith is someone who works with raw material and fire, and who
knows how to form and shape liquid metal into powerful weapons. 

Anyone whoworks skillfully and accurately with the word of God is a spiritual "blacksmith&qu ot;. 

The enemy, who is constantly attacking the word of God, the sword of the
Spirit, also seeks to silence or remove the spiritual blacksmiths of this world. 

If he can get rid of them-
- the battle is over.

We need to pray for God’s blacksmiths because the enemy is after them. 

Together with the fire of the Holy Spirit they forge the raw material of His word
into powerful weapons which shape and mold God's people into His image and
equip them for spiritual warfare and fruitfulness. 

But we are all called to be strong in the word, and to take it up as our primary weapon. 

Every spiritual
blacksmith, himself started out as raw material which was shaped and formed by the
fire of God to fight in this battle with Satan.

As the battle rages-
- pray for the protection of God's "blacksmiths&q uot;, 
- even as you submit to His process of shaping you into one, yourself.

My Manna
 "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."   1 Corinthians 1:9.

God wants us to regularly spend time with Him-
- talking about our issues and seeking His guidance. 
 
Even though we are offered this remarkable privilege-
- we are reluctant to make that commitment 
- or to carve out any meaningful time with Him. 
 
We treat this offer with complete nonchalance. 
Does that even make sense? 
Think about it this way. 
 
Suppose there is a voicemail on your phone when you get home from work today. 
It's a call from the Prime Minister' s House.
 
It says:
"The Prime Minister would like to spend some one-on-one time with you this week. Just 1 hour to get to know you a little better and to see what the Prime Minister can do for you." 
 
Your first thought would be, "This must be a joke. Who is messing with me?" 
 
But what if you found out the call was real?
And the Prime Minister really did want to spend time with you? 
My guess is you'd be excited and feel pretty special! 

But do you know that any Prime Minister or any President of your country-
- is small in importance and power when compared to God? 
 
Think about how quickly you'd jump to go spend time with the Prime Minister. 

Then think about the awesome privilege-
-that the God of the universe continually gives us to spend one-on-one time with Him!

MY Manna
The Trinity
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion 
of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The Trinity is the most unique aspect of Christian truth.

There is one God who eternally exists in Three Persons-
- Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, 
- a doctrine that is easy to state, 
- yet impossible to understand. 

After all, if God were small enough to be understood-
He wouldn't be big enough to be worshipped.

Perhaps the simplest explanation for the Trinity comes from Charles Colson, who described the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as-

God Above, 
God Beside, 
God Within. 

We have a Father-
God above us. 

We have a Saviour-
God beside us. 

We have the Holy Spirit-
God within us. 

That's a humble explanation for the Trinity.
But it's not inaccurate.

God's grace is conveyed to us through the Trinity. 

We are triply blessed in every way, as reflected in the Apostolic Benediction of 2 Corinthians 13. 

Anytime
we see a passage in the Bible mentioning all three members of the 
Trinity, it is invariably a passage of blessing and grace.Revelation 
1:4-6. 

We are healthier people when we understand and enjoy- God above us, God beside us, and God within us.

The Trinity-
- answers the deepest needs of the human heart, 
- offering a depth of spirituality unknown in any other religion.

My Manna
 "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord 
come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and 
will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man 
have praise of God." 1 Corinthians 4:5. 

There was a man who had four sons.

He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly-
So he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. 
 
He sent-
- his first son in the winter, 
-his second in the spring, 
-his third in summer and 
-his youngest in the fall. 
 
When they had all gone and come back-
- he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no - it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that 
smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

After
hearing all his son's responses, the wise father replied, "Sons, you 
are all right because you have each seen only one season in the tree's 
life. But you cannot judge a tree, or a person, or anything else by only
one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the 
seasons have come to pass".

Each of us has judged someone or something prematurely.
And we have also probably experienced the pain of being judged that way. 
 
We need to look closely enough and long enough to see the big picture before we rule things out. 
 
God does that for us all the time!

My Manna
 
Telemachus was a fourth-century Christian and monk.

He lived in a remote village.
He spent most of his time tending his garden and praying to God.
 
One day, God told him to go to Rome. 
The monk responded obediently and set out on foot.

Weeks later, he arrived at the city's gates to witness a great festival taking place. 
He followed the crowd through the streets toward the Colosseum. 
 
Inside, he saw the gladiators stand before the emperor and say:
"We who are about to die salute you."
 
Telemachus realized they were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowd, so he cried out, "In the name of Christ, stop!"
 
As the games began-
Telemachus pushed through the crowds, climbed over the wall, and dropped to the arena floor screaming over and over, "In the name of Christ, stop!"

The crowd thought this was part of the show, so they began laughing. 
When they realized it wasn't, their laughter turned to angry shouts.
 
Suddenly, one of the gladiators plunged his sword into the body of Telemachus. 
He fell to the sand and his last words were, "In the name of Christ, stop!" 
 
Then, a hush fell over the Colosseum!

And one man in the upper rows stood up and walked out. 
Soon, others began to follow and in silence everyone left the Colosseum.
 
On that day in 391 BC-
- the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum was fought. 
 
It was all because one tiny voice-
- that could hardly be heard above the uproar spoke the truth in God's name.
 
Won't you be that small voice-
- in the commotion of our culture today? 
 
Pray that others might be sensitive-
- to hear the message of truth spoken by you in God's name.

My Manna
"Your heavenly Father knows." Matthew. 6:32.

A visitor at a school for the deaf and dumb-
- was writing questions on the blackboard for the children.
 
By and by he wrote this sentence:
"Why has God made me to hear and speak, and made you deaf and dumb?"

The awful sentence fell upon the little ones like a fierce blow in the face.

They sat palsied before that dreadful "Why?"

And then a little girl arose.

Her lip was trembling.
Her eyes were swimming with tears.

Straight to the board she walked.

Picking up the crayon-
- she wrote with firm hand these precious words:
 
"Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight!"
 
What a reply!
 
It reaches up and lays hold of an eternal truth upon which the maturest believer as well as the youngest child of God may alike securely rest--the truth that God is your Father.

Do you really and fully believe that?
 
When you do, then your dove of faith will no longer wander in weary unrest.

But will settle down forever in its eternal resting place of peace:
 
Your Father!

Are you "all ear?"

Bible translators who work with languages that are not yet put into writing often struggle to find the right word or phrase to convey the correct meaning of a portion of Scripture.

One worker hunted long to find a way to translate the word "obedience&quo t; into the tribal language he was recording but had no success.

One day, the translator was going for a walk.
He whistled for his dog to come with him.
The dog immediately ran to its owner.

An old tribal man who saw what happened said to the missionary, "Your dog is all ear."

The missionary immediately knew he had the exact phrase to express obedience.

Are you "all ear" when it comes to obeying God?

Jesus ran an "obedience school" for His disciples.

He wanted them to learn to trust Him absolutely in every area of life.

Peter hadn't been a disciple very long.
He was weary from a night of unsuccessful fishing, and he felt he knew far more about fishing than Jesus did.

But Jesus told him, "Go back out there on the water and try again."
Peter revealed his reluctance as he replied, "OK, Master, if you say so."

When the boats almost sank from the weight of the fish-
Peter realized how sinful his attitude had been.
He fell on his knees and said, "Lord, don't have anything more to do with this sinful man!" Luke 5:8.

It's pretty irritating when your dog doesn't come the first or second time you call, isn't it?

And you might say that it's downright infuriating when the dog just totally ignores you and keeps on doing its own thing when you call!

If a person willfully disobeys God, that is one thing.
If he or she delays or reluctantly obeys God, that is another.

But do you see how both attitudes show lack of faith?

Delayed obedience is disobedience!

As long as you are reluctant to obey and you hold off doing something that God has told you to do-
- no matter what your intentions are, you are disobeying the Lord.

And if you do finally get around to obeying-
- the blessing will never be as great as if you had obeyed the moment the Lord showed you what you should do.

Is God revealing anything to you these days that you ought to be doing but are delaying to do because of your lack of faith?

Is there any area of your life where you are willfully disobeying Him?

Determine that you will no longer delay.
Take the first step today to be obedient to God.

My Manna

"For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." Hebrews 4:2-3.

I run into anemic Christians everyday.

They have a form of religion but fail to mix their belief with faith and obedience.

The apostle Paul described them when he said-
- "these people have a form of godliness but deny its power."
2 Timothy 3:5.

What are the telltale signs of anemic faith?

When you no longer pray about decisions-
- you have anemic faith.

When you fail to speak to others about their relationship with God-
- you have anemic faith.

When you're unwilling to spend time with God everyday-
- your faith has become anemic.

You no longer have a living faith!

God spoke to John, the apostle, through a vision and told him about some Christians who were part of the church in Laodicea:

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. " Revelation 3:14-18.

These are strong words from our Lord!

We are all susceptible to growing cold and anemic in our faith.

Ask God to revive your heart and to restore the fire of your faith-
-so that you will experience a vibrant and active faith that impacts the kingdom of darkness.

My Manna

"Sovereign
Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For 
my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight 
of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to 
your people Israel." Luke 2:25-32.     

Just as Simeon was lingering and waiting for the first appearance of the Messiah more than two thousand years ago-
- we too linger and wait for the second coming of Jesus today.

The Lord whom we exalt at Christmas-
- is not just a baby in a manger or a character in a child’s storybook. 

He is far more!

The first time He came- 
He was veiled in the form of a child. 

The next time He comes, which will be soon, 
He will come as the Risen Messiah and Savior of the world. 
And it will be made known to the entire world who He truly is.

The first time He came-
- a star marked His arrival. 

The next time He comes-
- the clouds will roll up like a scroll, 
- the stars will fall out of the sky, 
- and He Himself will light the heavens.

The first time He came-
- wise men and shepherds brought Him gifts. 

The second time He comes-
He will bring rewards for His own.

The first time He came-
- there was no room for Him at the inn. 

The next time He comes-
- the whole world will not be able to contain His glory. 

The first time He came-
- only a few were there to welcome Him into the world. 

The next time He comes-
- every eye shall see Him, 
- every knee shall bow before Him, 
- and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The first time He came as a baby.
But soon He will come as Sovereign King and Lord. 

Are you ready for Him to come again?

Pray that God would prepare your heart and mind for His second coming. 
Ask
the Lord to bring to mind those in your life who need to know Him 
personally as Lord and Saviour, and make an effort to share Christ with 
them today.

My Manna

"It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." Or as a paraphrase puts it, "It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don't follow through on." Ecclesiastes 5:5.

Rajan was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.

Looking up toward heaven, he said, "Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up tequila."

Miraculously, a parking place appeared. 
Rajan looked up again and said, "Never mind­, I found one." 

We've all heard about fox-hole promises-
- promises that are made to God when we are caught in a difficult situation or
- when our back is against the wall. 

And as soon as the problem passes-
- the promise we made to God in our hour of desperate need is quickly forgotten. 

Unfortunately we are living in a day where the word of far too many people doesn't mean a thing either to God or others. 

Commitments are made and forgotten. 
Promises are made and readily broken. 

The ability to keep one's word, promises, and commitments are a mark of character.

Character counts!
"Dear God, please help me to become a person of noble character who always keeps his/her commitments and promises to you and to everyone else. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen."

My Manna

"One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14.

A very Happy and Christ centered New Year to all of you! 

Obviously, the past is behind us. 

We can't undo it even if we wanted to-
- but we can start the New Year with hope and purpose!

Minnie Haskins said:
"And I said to the one who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the Unknown.' 

And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'"

I couldn't think of a better way to start the New Year and, with God's help, "Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. 

Call up a forgotten friend. 
Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. 

Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. 
You'll look ten years younger. 

Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you.' 
Say it again. 
They are the sweetest words in the world."

As each year rapidly passes I'm becoming more aware of the fact that life is short for all of us. 

So be sure to make 2014 an investment in eternal values knowing that, in the words of the poet, we have "Only one life 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

"Dear God, thank you for another New Year in which to serve you. Please help me to invest it wisely in eternal values so that when I stand before you face to face, I will hear your welcome words: 
'Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.' 
Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, Amen."

My Manna

What causes some people to fail -
-and others to achieve their goals?

Perhaps, as some hypothesize, family background, education, and ability are the main ingredients.

But why, then, do we hear of victories from those with difficult backgrounds, disabilities, or little training?

Surely, something else determines whether we accomplish our objectives.

Contrary to society' s definition-- which usually involves fame, fortune, or power-
- true success means becoming the people God wants us to be,
- and reaching the goals He has set for our lives.

Hebrews 12:1 offers His perspective on this:
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Here, we see the keys to success!

First-
Find encouragement from the lives of other believers who have seen Christ's faithfulness and followed His direction.

Next-
Forsake anything that holds us back from obeying God.

Then-
Follow Him, even through difficult or discouraging times.

This passage answers our original question:
- relying on Jesus for guidance and strength is what enables us to succeed.

God has a wonderful plan for blessing and fulfillment in your life.
And part of His plan is that you live with purpose and perseverance. 

The Father's guidance will become clearer-
- as you read His Word, 
- pray for direction, and 
- seek godly counsel!

My Manna

Nowhere does the Bible suggest that-
- we should be content with unsatisfactory conditions. 

But because of our personal relationship with Christ we can be content in them.

As different situations arise and we learn our lessons one after another, we will also find it possible to be content in every situation.

Contentment is one of those concepts that is-
- easier to define than to experience. 

This is probably because the tendency is to seek contentment in possessions rather than in the Person!

We assume that contentment comes from having things.

But it is possible to have deep contentment without things.

So often we think contentment would be ours-
- if we were promoted to the next higher position or 
- if we were able to buy that object we think we need so much or 
- if we could be accepted in a certain circle of friends.

But as we advance in these areas-
- we discover that contentment is elusive,
- because we are seeking it in the wrong places and in the wrong way.

Contentment does not depend on what we have.
It depends on who we are. 

It is a spiritual attainment-
- not something that results from purchasing power. 

Contentment is-
- a state of heart rather than 
- a statement of account.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 
1 Timothy. 6:6.

My Manna

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6.

There was a woman once who developed a very serious throat problem! 

And as a result-
- her doctor prescribed medication and no talking for six months! 

She thought this would be almost impossible with a husband and six children.
But she obeyed the doctor's orders.

For the next six months, when she needed the attention of her children, she blew a whistle...her instructions became written memos...and questions and answers were written down on pads of paper she had placed around the house.

After six months, the doctor finally allowed her to talk again.   

Interestingly enough-
- her first comments were very revealing. 

She said her children had become calmer and quieter, and as a result she said, "I don't think I'll ever shout again like I used to."

When asked about the notes, she replied, "You' d be surprised how many hastily written notes I crumpled up and threw in the trash before I gave them to anyone to read. Seeing my own harsh words that I would've spoken had an effect on me that I don't think I'll ever forget."

Many things come out of our mouths before we realize it-
- gossip, praise, slander, lying, and so on. 

The Scripture says:
"No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness...My brothers this should not be." James 3:8-10.

Make a conscious effort to think about what you say. 

Determine-
- to listen before speaking, 
- to evaluate the words you use, 
- and ensure your speech doesn't hurt others. Titus 2:6-8.

Pray that God will help you think about what you say today-
- so that only good things come out of your mouth.

My Manna
A recent business trend has been that of writing a mission statement-
- a concise paragraph stating in a memorable way the purpose of a business or an organization. 

Added to it might be some objectives and an explanation of how those objectives will be accomplished. 

Churches also use written mission statements as a way of focusing their
efforts. 
The difference is that a church should draw all these things from the Bible.

Acts 14:21-23-
-  could provide the framework for a church's mission statement. 

Luke's report on the ministry of Paul and Barnabas highlights-
- three crucial aspects of their work. 

They were:

1. Evangelizing. 
"They . . . won a large number of disciples." (v. 21).

2. Edifying.  
". . . strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith." (v. 22).

3. Establishing.
"Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,committed them to the Lord." (v. 23).

What they did then-
- we must do now. 

These three objectives must be central to every church's mission. 

We need to be-
- reaching people for Jesus, 
- discipling them and 
- helping the local church develop. 

There are other things to consider.
But without a doubt these are core commitments for the church.

If your church is writing a mission statement, or already has one-
- are these three items incorporated in it? 

And are you involved in seeing these objectives accomplished?

Evaluate what you are doing. 

If
you and your church are not seeking to accomplish these objectives, 
commit today to making the changes needed so that you are on God's 
mission.

My Manna

In the church I attended as a young person-
- we had a name for the sound of Bible pages turning. 

So many people had the same Bible that the collective rustling sound was called "the Scofield shuffle." 

Instead of the text-
- the pastor could have announced the page number!
   
Appearances can be deceiving. 
Not everyone who has a Bible reads it or obeys it. 

Still, people using their Bibles in church can indicate-
- the spiritual quality of a congregation. 

If the people do not see the need for bringing their Bibles or have no desire to do so, it undoubtedly is a weak church.

Many churches have a class called "Berean." 
Some even choose that name for their church. 

It is an often-used name-
- because of the spiritual quality of the believers in Berea.  

"They
received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures 
every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11. 

Today we might say, "They carried and used their Bibles!" 

But there was more to it than that. 
They looked carefully at the Word, following the messages of Paul and verifying what he preached. 

And they did this daily. 

To be spiritually strong-
- we must read, learn and live the Word. 

To be a strong church-
- the same is necessary. 

Use your Bible!

Ask God to help you keep up the practice of reading His Word daily. 

Pray also that as you read you will learn-
- and that you will put into practice what you learn.

Become a Berean!

My Manna

Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. 

Doubt is can't believe.
Unbelief is won't believe. 

Doubt is honesty.
Unbelief is obstinacy. 

Doubt is looking for light.
Unbelief is content with darkness.

God is tough on unbelief.
- but gentle on doubt. 

We can see this difference in God's response-
- to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. 

Let's look at those ​events.
Read Luke 1:1-20, 26-38.

Zechariah and Mary both appear to respond the same way to Gabriel's announcements-
- but Zechariah's response is called "unbelief" (1:20) while Mary's response is not. 

Zechariah is given both a sign and a punishment (unable to speak)-
- while Mary is given an explanation and words of encouragement.

The key to this difference can be found in God's Word. 

Zechariah was a priest.
He knew his Old Testament ​events thoroughly​.
​B​ut he never applied them to himself. 

Had he considered the ​life of Abraham and Sarah-
- he would have seen a direct parallel between Sarah and Elizabeth. 

Like Sarah, Elizabeth was barren. 
Like Sarah, Elizabeth was beyond the age of child bearing. 

But God gave Sarah a son. 
To question God's ability to give Zechariah a son through his aged wife, Elizabeth, was an act of unbelief.

Mary, on the other hand, was facing a situation that had no precedent. 
No where in Scripture had a virgin given birth to a child. 

Still, her question was not "if" but "how." 
It was not unbelief but puzzlement. 

And Gabriel's response was to assure her, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37.

When God's Word says it, there's no room for "if," but God understands when we wonder "how." 

God-
- rebukes unbelief but 
- reassures the doubter.

Are you ​​​​​​struggling with unbelief? 
The solution is to engage God's Word daily. 

Don't simply read the Bible, however; apply it to your life. 
The God who is revealed in Genesis through Revelation is the same God who relates to you today. 
As He dealt with His people in the past-- He will deal with you today.

If you're struggling with doubt; if you're wondering "how," then trust in God's character. 

Even if He doesn't give you an answer-
- you can be confident that nothing is beyond His ability. 

You can be sure that His plans for you are for good and not for evil. Jeremiah 29:11

My Manna​
​

​"​Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children​."​​​Ephesians 5:1.

People should think less about what they ought to do-
- and more about what they ought to be. 

If only their being were good, their works would shine forth brightly. 

The ground upon which good character rests is the very same ground-
- from which man's work derives its value, namely, a mind wholly turned to God.

Are you more ​​caught up in your status? 
or in your stature? 

Do you want people to see all your acts of service and commend you? 
or do you consider God knowing what you do to be enough? 

Are you more focused on success than on sacrifice?

When we each meet God face to face one day-
- all the success and accolades, and even good deeds, will mean little.

It will be our relationship with Christ and our measure of character that will count. 

Which are you more concerned with today?

What you do?
Or who you are becoming?

My Manna​

I’ll never forget my last visit with a dear member of my congregation named Helen. 

She was a tiny woman when healthy, but old age and disease had ravaged her body. 

There was no question that Helen was soon to die. 
And there was no point for me to pretend as if that weren’t true. 

So I asked her straightaway: 
“Helen, it’s obvious that you don’t have too much time left in this body. How are you feeling about dying?”

“Pastor,” she said with a weak but confident voice:
“I’ve lived a good, long life. 
I’ve been blessed far beyond what I could have hoped. 
You’re right, my body is giving out. 
I don’t have much longer to live. 
But I want you to know that I am ready. 
I’m not afraid. 
I’m eager to see my Lord. I hope I get to soon.”

Talk about staring death in the face! 

What gave Helen such unusual bluntness and boldness-
- when it came to her own imminent death? 

Her faith in God. 
Her confidence that her life was really just beginning. 
Her assurance that her soul was safe in the hands of a gracious, loving God.

And so it is for Christians on ​​​​Ash Wednesday​!​

We can face death. 
We can admit our own mortality.
We can talk openly about the limits of this life. 

Why? 
Because we know that-
- through Christ we have entered into life eternal​,​
- the fullness of life that will not end when our bodies give out.

The emotional result of Ash Wednesday observance isn’t depression or gloom, but gratitude and new energy for living. 

When we realize how desperately we need God-
- and how God is faithful far beyond our desperation, 
- we can’t help but offering our lives to him in fresh gratitude. 

And when we recognize that life doesn’t go on forever-
- then we find new passion to delight in the gifts of each and every day, and to take none of them for granted.

How grateful I am for the grace of God that allows us to stare death in the face so we can live with greater passion and delight! 

And how thankful I am for a day that allows me to think about death so I can cherish life even more!

My Manna​

The Bible teaches that God is love.

In the language of mathematics, that means God = love. 
In the language of teenagers, it means that God is, like, totally all about love. 
In a philosophical sense, God is so wrapped up in love that He is one with love itself.

Unlike a lovesick admirer-
God does not simply profess His love in words. 

God proves His love in action. 

The Bible says​:​
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

No matter what sin you have committed, no matter how dirty, shameful or terrible it may be, God loves you. 
You may be at the very gate of hell itself, but God loves you with an everlasting love.

The fact that God is love does not mean-
- that everything is sweet, beautiful and happy and that God’s love could not possibly allow punishment for sin. 

God’s holiness demands that all sin be punished-
- but God’s love provided a plan of redemption and salvation for sinful people. 

God’s love provided the cross of Jesus Christ by which we can have forgiveness and cleansing.

In speaking of love-
1 Corinthians 13 challenges people to do everything out of love, specifically the kind of love that God has shown through Jesus. 

Love is the motive​!​

That means loving friends, enemies, neighbours, co-workers, spouses, children, parents, and even strangers with the merciful and selfless love that comes from God.

What a great challenge! 

But while Valentine’s Day focuses, for the most part, on romantic love-
- people can be sure that there’s so much more to that dreaded four-letter word. 

There’s a lifetime of days to ​​​​​​connect to God, the Source of love-
- who teaches us, by example, to love with patience, faith, generosity, wisdom, and grace.

My Manna

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8.

It is true that everybody has times when things go wrong. 
These times can either make us or break us. 

The following steps will help us to benefit and grow through these times.

First, attitude. 

If we respond to our difficulties positively, determined with God's help to overcome them, we will. 
If we react negatively with a defeated attitude, we will be defeated.

Attitude is much more important than aptitude.
Despite the overwhelming evidence which supports the importance of the right mental attitude-- our entire educational system from kindergarten through graduate school virtually ignores this vital factor in our life. 

Ninety percent of our education is directed at acquiring facts with only 10 percent of our education aimed at our feelings—or attitudes.

Second, awareness. 

To grow through our problems it is also critical that we face them realistically.

A doctor friend of mine tells about a family where the mother broke her arm. 

The husband and son had to force her to the doctor and hold her while the doctor put her badly broken arm in plaster.

"There's nothing wrong with my arm, Doctor. It's perfectly all right," she insisted.

"I see," said the doctor setting the badly broken arm. Several weeks later the woman returned to have the cast removed and the arm was healed.

"There," said the woman, "look at that. I told you there was nothing wrong with my arm!"

This woman was of a certain religious conviction which led her to believe that there was never anything wrong with her. 
Fortunately, her family was a little more realistic. 

We also need to be realistic about our problems if we are going to resolve them.

Third, acceptance. 

Furthermore, whatever happens to us needs to be accepted. 
It's no use saying, "If only…."

Several years ago a close relative suffered a massive stroke and was left partially paralyzed. 

Doctors felt that the stroke could have been avoided so it was extremely tempting to say, "If only we would have known."

However, it's useless to say, ​​"If only.​..​" 
The family couldn't go back and do things differently. 

We all had to accept the reality of what had happened, pick up the pieces, and go on.

In your thinking remind yourself that you are living with a challenge—not a problem.

That's something we all need to do when things go wrong and we are facing difficult times. 
We may not be what we think we are, but what we think, we are—or will become. 

"Dear God, when things go wrong in my life please help me to have a constructive attitude, be aware and accept what has happened as an opportunity for both personal and spiritual growth and therein become a stronger, healthier person as a result. Gratefully in Jesus's name, Amen."

​(to be continued)​