Home
Portal
Gallery
Register
Log inWho is online?
In total there are 21 users online :: 0 Registered, 0 Hidden and 21 Guests None
Most users ever online was 386 on Sun 25 Apr 2021, 2:56 pm
Latest topics
My Manna
2 posters
Page 14 of 28
Page 14 of 28 • 
1 ... 8 ... 13, 14, 15 ... 21 ... 28
Re: My Manna
Admin Sun 15 Jul 2018, 10:26 am
Now I understand
My Manna
Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.
I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals.
He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible.
On the back of the bookmark was a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern.
He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say-
"Look at that and tell me what it says."
As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say-
"I have no idea what it says. It doesn't seem to say anything."
Then he said, "Now, turn it over."
As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words "God is love.."
The minister would say, "Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God's perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing."
The next time you think it's all over for you-
- just remember how things turned out for Joseph in the book of Genesis.
Just remember how things turned out for Daniel-
- no doubt things looked pretty grim when he was in the den of lions.
It looked hopeless as well for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Things looked pretty hopeless for Peter when he was in prison, awaiting execution.
And things certainly looked bleak for Martha and Mary when their brother died.
Things can look bad at one moment-
- but then God will step in and turn events around.
Then as time goes on, you will look back and say-
"Now I understand what God was/is doing."
My Manna
Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.
I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals.
He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible.
On the back of the bookmark was a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern.
He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say-
"Look at that and tell me what it says."
As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say-
"I have no idea what it says. It doesn't seem to say anything."
Then he said, "Now, turn it over."
As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words "God is love.."
The minister would say, "Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God's perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing."
The next time you think it's all over for you-
- just remember how things turned out for Joseph in the book of Genesis.
Just remember how things turned out for Daniel-
- no doubt things looked pretty grim when he was in the den of lions.
It looked hopeless as well for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace.
Things looked pretty hopeless for Peter when he was in prison, awaiting execution.
And things certainly looked bleak for Martha and Mary when their brother died.
Things can look bad at one moment-
- but then God will step in and turn events around.
Then as time goes on, you will look back and say-
"Now I understand what God was/is doing."
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 13 Jul 2018, 3:38 pm
Have you done that?
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14.
Sometimes when I’m studying for a sermon or even just having a quiet time with the Lord-
I wonder, do I really comprehend the incredible gift we were given when Jesus died for our sins?
Do any of us?
Not that we take this act for granted-
- but we speak about it so routinely that I think we fail to absorb the full scope of this gift.
It’s as though all of our sins were listed on a writing board.
And then Christ has come along with a cloth and erased them forever…as though they were never even there.
On that board, somebody puts a receipt that says, “PAID IN FULL.”
That’s what the nails of the cross did – paid the penalty for our sin in full.
Christ has done it all.
Our sins have been nailed to the cross; they’ve been taken care of.
Nothing more is needed for forgiveness other than our accepting this amazing gift.
Have you done that?
Have you claimed the liberating freedom of knowing that Christ has paid the full debt of your sins?
If not, why not let Christ give you a clean slate?
Our choice is simply to accept His gift in faith.
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14.
Sometimes when I’m studying for a sermon or even just having a quiet time with the Lord-
I wonder, do I really comprehend the incredible gift we were given when Jesus died for our sins?
Do any of us?
Not that we take this act for granted-
- but we speak about it so routinely that I think we fail to absorb the full scope of this gift.
It’s as though all of our sins were listed on a writing board.
And then Christ has come along with a cloth and erased them forever…as though they were never even there.
On that board, somebody puts a receipt that says, “PAID IN FULL.”
That’s what the nails of the cross did – paid the penalty for our sin in full.
Christ has done it all.
Our sins have been nailed to the cross; they’ve been taken care of.
Nothing more is needed for forgiveness other than our accepting this amazing gift.
Have you done that?
Have you claimed the liberating freedom of knowing that Christ has paid the full debt of your sins?
If not, why not let Christ give you a clean slate?
Our choice is simply to accept His gift in faith.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Sun 08 Jul 2018, 11:22 pm
Blocked doors
My Manna
The Bible has much to say about open doors-- but many times—even as Christians—we seem to face obstacles on our path and in our ministry.
Blocked doors can be VERY frustrating.
Yet God often uses closed doors to advance His cause.
God closed the womb of a young Sarah-
- so he could display His power to the elderly one.
He shut the palace door on Moses the prince-
- so he could open shackles through Moses the liberator.
He marched Daniel out of Jerusalem-
- so he could use Daniel in Babylon.
And even Jesus knew the challenge of a blocked door.
When he requested a path that bypassed the cross, God said no.
He said no to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane-
- so He could say yes to us at the gates of heaven.
It’s not that-
- our plans are bad but that,
- God’s plans are better.
A prayer is circulating on the Internet that expresses it this way:
He asked for strength that he might achieve, he was made weak that he might endure;
He asked for health to do larger things, he was given infirmity that he might do better things;
He asked for power that he might impress men, he was given weakness that he might seek God;
He asked for wealth that he might be free from care, he was given poverty that he might be wiser than carefree.
He asked for all things that he might enjoy life, he was given life that he might enjoy all things;
He received nothing he asked for.
He received more than he ever hoped for.
His prayer was answered!
Blessed man!
The shortest distance between a closed and open door is-
- the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord-
- can stand up to anything.
My Manna
The Bible has much to say about open doors-- but many times—even as Christians—we seem to face obstacles on our path and in our ministry.
Blocked doors can be VERY frustrating.
Yet God often uses closed doors to advance His cause.
God closed the womb of a young Sarah-
- so he could display His power to the elderly one.
He shut the palace door on Moses the prince-
- so he could open shackles through Moses the liberator.
He marched Daniel out of Jerusalem-
- so he could use Daniel in Babylon.
And even Jesus knew the challenge of a blocked door.
When he requested a path that bypassed the cross, God said no.
He said no to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane-
- so He could say yes to us at the gates of heaven.
It’s not that-
- our plans are bad but that,
- God’s plans are better.
A prayer is circulating on the Internet that expresses it this way:
He asked for strength that he might achieve, he was made weak that he might endure;
He asked for health to do larger things, he was given infirmity that he might do better things;
He asked for power that he might impress men, he was given weakness that he might seek God;
He asked for wealth that he might be free from care, he was given poverty that he might be wiser than carefree.
He asked for all things that he might enjoy life, he was given life that he might enjoy all things;
He received nothing he asked for.
He received more than he ever hoped for.
His prayer was answered!
Blessed man!
The shortest distance between a closed and open door is-
- the distance between your knees and the floor.
The one who kneels to the Lord-
- can stand up to anything.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 06 Jul 2018, 10:34 am
My Manna
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20.
We all know there is an undeniable relationship between our health and our ability to reach our full potential.
We may labour to have a clean heart, a clear mind, and a balanced schedule-
- but without a healthy body, we simply cannot do our best.
And good health will be enhanced when we begin to think about our bodies the way God does.
In the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul teaches that our bodies belong to the living God. vs. 19-20.
As a result, we all have to make a decision:
Am I going to take care of my body, or will I ignore or abuse it?
None of us would walk into church and deliberately make a big mess, smearing red or black paint all over the place.
We wouldn’t do that, because we respect the church building as a place where God’s people worship.
With that in mind, consider this:
The human body, because it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is far more important than any house of worship that ever existed.
Nevertheless, people often assume that neglecting or mistreating the body is their own prerogative.
Whether the issue is substance abuse, abortion, or unhealthy habits, many people will say-
“This is my body. I can do with it whatever I want.”
But as we read in Scripture, your body is not your possession.
Although you can do as you please-- you will pay the price for poor decisions.
Sin has its consequences, and sin against the body can inflict a penalty that lasts even beyond the present generation.
Ask God to help you regard the body as He does so that you will care for it appropriately.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20.
We all know there is an undeniable relationship between our health and our ability to reach our full potential.
We may labour to have a clean heart, a clear mind, and a balanced schedule-
- but without a healthy body, we simply cannot do our best.
And good health will be enhanced when we begin to think about our bodies the way God does.
In the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul teaches that our bodies belong to the living God. vs. 19-20.
As a result, we all have to make a decision:
Am I going to take care of my body, or will I ignore or abuse it?
None of us would walk into church and deliberately make a big mess, smearing red or black paint all over the place.
We wouldn’t do that, because we respect the church building as a place where God’s people worship.
With that in mind, consider this:
The human body, because it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is far more important than any house of worship that ever existed.
Nevertheless, people often assume that neglecting or mistreating the body is their own prerogative.
Whether the issue is substance abuse, abortion, or unhealthy habits, many people will say-
“This is my body. I can do with it whatever I want.”
But as we read in Scripture, your body is not your possession.
Although you can do as you please-- you will pay the price for poor decisions.
Sin has its consequences, and sin against the body can inflict a penalty that lasts even beyond the present generation.
Ask God to help you regard the body as He does so that you will care for it appropriately.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Mon 02 Jul 2018, 11:13 pm
My Manna
"But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:5-6.
Momentum is simply the force or speed of movement that carries an object to its final destination.
If you want to break through-
- you need to have a certain amount of momentum.
In order for a rocket to blast into space-
- it needs tremendous momentum to break the gravitational barrier,
- but with the enormous power of jet engines and rocket fuel the ship is propelled faster and faster till it breaks free of the earth’s gravitational pull.
Often our challenge is gaining the spiritual momentum to break through.
It requires real power.
Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner once remarked that the Lord requires "muscular Christians".
Believers who are serious in their faith-walk are people who stand steadfastly against difficult obstacles-
- and who pray with great fervency and devotion for the causes of their Lord.
This produces spiritual power for significant breakthroughs in the spirit realm.
Sin and self-indulgence will compromise and slow the spiritual momentum required for our break through.
But if we nourish the vision and cultivate the habit of pressing on to the higher calling-
- we'll be inspired to forsake our sins and focus on the glory and joy of the Lord's victory.
And one more thing:
It is often true that the most ferocious battle, requiring the greatest momentum and perseverance (just like the rocket blast into outer space), will occur just before the breakthrough to victory.
Regain momentum in your spiritual life through repentance toward God-
- and steadfast perseverance in that specific vision and call He has given you.
There is a great victory waiting for you from His heavenly realm.
And soon enough you’ll see it manifested right here on Earth!
"But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." 1 John 2:5-6.
Momentum is simply the force or speed of movement that carries an object to its final destination.
If you want to break through-
- you need to have a certain amount of momentum.
In order for a rocket to blast into space-
- it needs tremendous momentum to break the gravitational barrier,
- but with the enormous power of jet engines and rocket fuel the ship is propelled faster and faster till it breaks free of the earth’s gravitational pull.
Often our challenge is gaining the spiritual momentum to break through.
It requires real power.
Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner once remarked that the Lord requires "muscular Christians".
Believers who are serious in their faith-walk are people who stand steadfastly against difficult obstacles-
- and who pray with great fervency and devotion for the causes of their Lord.
This produces spiritual power for significant breakthroughs in the spirit realm.
Sin and self-indulgence will compromise and slow the spiritual momentum required for our break through.
But if we nourish the vision and cultivate the habit of pressing on to the higher calling-
- we'll be inspired to forsake our sins and focus on the glory and joy of the Lord's victory.
And one more thing:
It is often true that the most ferocious battle, requiring the greatest momentum and perseverance (just like the rocket blast into outer space), will occur just before the breakthrough to victory.
Regain momentum in your spiritual life through repentance toward God-
- and steadfast perseverance in that specific vision and call He has given you.
There is a great victory waiting for you from His heavenly realm.
And soon enough you’ll see it manifested right here on Earth!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 29 Jun 2018, 3:29 pm
My Manna
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17.
We who have a more melancholy disposition have a hunger for heaven-
- tending to see this world as filled with dangers and threats and sorrow.
The opposite of those cheery optimists who reckon all is well and let’s squeeze what we can out of life because this life is all there is.
As usual, the truth lies between the extremes.
Our text reminds us that life is to be lived as representatives or ambassadors for Jesus.
This fact alone transforms how we live.
It means we truly live rather than merely exist.
There is much good in the world and much in which to delight.
There is much evil and pain in the world and much from which we shrink.
But in either case-
- we live as those loved and accepted by God through Jesus.
Being a Christian is not just about getting to heaven when we die.
It is about embodying and expanding the values of heaven here and now.
It is not just about life after death.
It is about life before death.
We are not merely passing through this world like travellers on a plane or train.
We are immersed in it as it is even as we anticipate its eventual renovation!
Jesus transforms our existence into real life.
And so our fear is not that our life may one day end but that it may never even begin.
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17.
We who have a more melancholy disposition have a hunger for heaven-
- tending to see this world as filled with dangers and threats and sorrow.
The opposite of those cheery optimists who reckon all is well and let’s squeeze what we can out of life because this life is all there is.
As usual, the truth lies between the extremes.
Our text reminds us that life is to be lived as representatives or ambassadors for Jesus.
This fact alone transforms how we live.
It means we truly live rather than merely exist.
There is much good in the world and much in which to delight.
There is much evil and pain in the world and much from which we shrink.
But in either case-
- we live as those loved and accepted by God through Jesus.
Being a Christian is not just about getting to heaven when we die.
It is about embodying and expanding the values of heaven here and now.
It is not just about life after death.
It is about life before death.
We are not merely passing through this world like travellers on a plane or train.
We are immersed in it as it is even as we anticipate its eventual renovation!
Jesus transforms our existence into real life.
And so our fear is not that our life may one day end but that it may never even begin.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Thu 21 Jun 2018, 9:21 pm
But His never do!
M y Manna
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15–17.
There are so many aspects of time.
Time marches on.
There is wasted time.
There is lost time.
There is forgotten time.
There is doing time.
Time drags, and time flies.
Time can run out.
And time waits for no one!
We can be driven by time.
Or we can be on the Lord’s time schedule.
Jesus had a scheduled appointment with the city of Jerusalem.
He spoke often of it.
And when He arrived in the city at the appointed time, He looked over it and wept, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes ...They will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42, 44.
Jesus was saying, “I had an appointment with you, and you didn’t show up. Were you too busy? Or, you just didn’t want to? Maybe you weren’t listening. Maybe you didn’t write it down.”
The people of Jerusalem missed their moment.
They missed the time of their visitation, a word that means “inspection” or “deliverance.”
They missed their moment.
God has an appointment with each one of us and we don’t want to miss it.
We want to seek His timing.
Ephesians tells us that we should redeem the time because the days are evil..
Redeem means “to buy up, to ransom, to rescue from loss.”
I want my time to be at His beck and call, don’t you?
I want to be on His time schedule.
We need to put our time in His hands.
My hands drop things.
My hands lose their grip.
My hands get totally distracted. But His never do!
M y Manna
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15–17.
There are so many aspects of time.
Time marches on.
There is wasted time.
There is lost time.
There is forgotten time.
There is doing time.
Time drags, and time flies.
Time can run out.
And time waits for no one!
We can be driven by time.
Or we can be on the Lord’s time schedule.
Jesus had a scheduled appointment with the city of Jerusalem.
He spoke often of it.
And when He arrived in the city at the appointed time, He looked over it and wept, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes ...They will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42, 44.
Jesus was saying, “I had an appointment with you, and you didn’t show up. Were you too busy? Or, you just didn’t want to? Maybe you weren’t listening. Maybe you didn’t write it down.”
The people of Jerusalem missed their moment.
They missed the time of their visitation, a word that means “inspection” or “deliverance.”
They missed their moment.
God has an appointment with each one of us and we don’t want to miss it.
We want to seek His timing.
Ephesians tells us that we should redeem the time because the days are evil..
Redeem means “to buy up, to ransom, to rescue from loss.”
I want my time to be at His beck and call, don’t you?
I want to be on His time schedule.
We need to put our time in His hands.
My hands drop things.
My hands lose their grip.
My hands get totally distracted. But His never do!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Sat 16 Jun 2018, 1:33 pm
His glorious plan!
My Manna
"Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people." Psalms 3:8.
Jesus told His disciples to go into the deep waters and let down their nets for fish.
When they did, their nets were filled up with fish to the point of breaking..
Being fishermen and businessmen, they may have been tempted to start doing business.
I mean, think how much they could make!
But God had a different purpose.
The disciples' occupation as fishermen was just a vehicle for God to demonstrate His great power and love.
He wasn't blessing them with fish so that they would get excited about fishing.
He was blessing them with fish so that they could get their eyes off their fishing and on to the greater call He had for them!
Thankfully, they left the fishing business and went off with the Lord to do great and mighty things.
Too many of us are wrapped up in fish.
We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success.
But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings!
We can rejoice in our blessings-
- but let's not dwell on them! Let's set our eyes on the Lord and the calling He has for us.
When He sees that we have pure and willing hearts-
- He will be faithful to use us to accomplish His glorious plan!
My Manna
"Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people." Psalms 3:8.
Jesus told His disciples to go into the deep waters and let down their nets for fish.
When they did, their nets were filled up with fish to the point of breaking..
Being fishermen and businessmen, they may have been tempted to start doing business.
I mean, think how much they could make!
But God had a different purpose.
The disciples' occupation as fishermen was just a vehicle for God to demonstrate His great power and love.
He wasn't blessing them with fish so that they would get excited about fishing.
He was blessing them with fish so that they could get their eyes off their fishing and on to the greater call He had for them!
Thankfully, they left the fishing business and went off with the Lord to do great and mighty things.
Too many of us are wrapped up in fish.
We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success.
But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings!
We can rejoice in our blessings-
- but let's not dwell on them! Let's set our eyes on the Lord and the calling He has for us.
When He sees that we have pure and willing hearts-
- He will be faithful to use us to accomplish His glorious plan!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Wed 13 Jun 2018, 10:04 pm
My Manna
"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." Psalm 42:11.
It's not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have their days of doubt!
Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances.
After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he basically told the Lord:
"I'm fed up. Just kill me. I don't want to deal with this another day."
Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life.
He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, "Take my life."
Even the great apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged.
He wrote to the church at Corinth, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." 2 Corinthians 1:8.
Jeremiah, the great prophet, faced it as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for giving out the Word of God.
Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop giving out God's Word altogether.
He said, "The word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name'."Jeremiah 20:8-9.
You aren't the only one who has ever faced doubt or uncertainty or has been perplexed as to why God did not work in a certain way.
We may be in the midst of God's working and can't see the big picture as He can.
We can trust His heart-
- even when we can't trace His path!
"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God." Psalm 42:11.
It's not unusual for even the most spiritual people to have their days of doubt!
Moses, on one occasion at least, was overwhelmed by his circumstances.
After he had listened to the constant complaining of the children of Israel, he basically told the Lord:
"I'm fed up. Just kill me. I don't want to deal with this another day."
Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Jezebel had put a contract out on his life.
He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, "Take my life."
Even the great apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged.
He wrote to the church at Corinth, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." 2 Corinthians 1:8.
Jeremiah, the great prophet, faced it as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for giving out the Word of God.
Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop giving out God's Word altogether.
He said, "The word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. Then I said, 'I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name'."Jeremiah 20:8-9.
You aren't the only one who has ever faced doubt or uncertainty or has been perplexed as to why God did not work in a certain way.
We may be in the midst of God's working and can't see the big picture as He can.
We can trust His heart-
- even when we can't trace His path!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Sun 10 Jun 2018, 8:44 pm
My Manna
"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
If He was a man of the world-
Jesus would have chosen the elite of His day to accomplish His mission.
However He used simple fishermen.
These men were considered uneducated, lacking "social status", wealth or worldly distinction of any kind.
Yet these "simple" men were the ones the Lord selected to build the Kingdom of God.
When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt-
God didn't send an army to deliver them,
He sent a single man.
But a single man of God was shown to be greater than the most powerful kingdom on Earth.
Throughout the Bible-
- we read of the Lord choosing and using the weak things of the world to confound and shame the wise and powerful.
God seems to love revealing His awesome power through humble vessels, so that no flesh can glory in His presence.
Don't allow the enemy to convince you that God cannot use you because you are "flawed", weak, or seemingly inconsequential.
No!
Instead, remember that He uses the base, despised, nonentities of this world, ordinary, often broken, people...to do extraordinary things.
Our God is not looking at your wealth, your social status or your education..
He's looking at your heart!
If your heart is willing and your life is available-
- then He is more than able to perform miraculous work through you for His Kingdom's sake.
With so much work to be done-
- don't allow the enemy to stifle or steal the Lord's vision for your life.
He has a plan to use you-- to confound the wise of this world,
- and to bring to naught the things that are!
"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
If He was a man of the world-
Jesus would have chosen the elite of His day to accomplish His mission.
However He used simple fishermen.
These men were considered uneducated, lacking "social status", wealth or worldly distinction of any kind.
Yet these "simple" men were the ones the Lord selected to build the Kingdom of God.
When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt-
God didn't send an army to deliver them,
He sent a single man.
But a single man of God was shown to be greater than the most powerful kingdom on Earth.
Throughout the Bible-
- we read of the Lord choosing and using the weak things of the world to confound and shame the wise and powerful.
God seems to love revealing His awesome power through humble vessels, so that no flesh can glory in His presence.
Don't allow the enemy to convince you that God cannot use you because you are "flawed", weak, or seemingly inconsequential.
No!
Instead, remember that He uses the base, despised, nonentities of this world, ordinary, often broken, people...to do extraordinary things.
Our God is not looking at your wealth, your social status or your education..
He's looking at your heart!
If your heart is willing and your life is available-
- then He is more than able to perform miraculous work through you for His Kingdom's sake.
With so much work to be done-
- don't allow the enemy to stifle or steal the Lord's vision for your life.
He has a plan to use you-- to confound the wise of this world,
- and to bring to naught the things that are!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Wed 06 Jun 2018, 8:00 pm
"My Manna"
What does tomorrow hold for you? Does your future look bright?
Or are there storm clouds on the horizon in your life? Do you have fears when you think about the days ahead? Let's look at faith and the secret to facing tomorrow with calm assurance:
The secret is not-- simply having a positive attitude! It's not a blind faith-- refusing to recognize the difficulty! It's not-- trying to be optimistic! It's not-- hoping for the best!
You need more than optimism to face the future. The secret you need is-- a faith that is based on confidence in God! That's the kind of faith that Ruth had.
"And Ruth said, 'Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God'".Ruth 1:16. Ruth was leaving her country and her parent's home and going to a totally new place. Her future was uncertain!But her faith in the God of Israel was her hope for tomorrow.
When Ruth came to Israel, she found a home in Bethlehem.
It is fascinating to note that Bethlehem is the little town where the hope for the future of all mankind would be born years later when the baby Jesus was born there. And Ruth is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.Matthew 1:1,5..
Do you have faith in your future?
You can-
- if you have the kind of faith that Ruth showed ,
- faith in God.
Faith that He cares for you, knows the future and will take care of you.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD.'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'".Jeremiah 29:11. The One who "plans to give you a future and a hope" is-- with you and is in control of your future. And that is the secret to faith for the future
"My Manna"
"Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News, and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power." 1 Corinthians 1:17.
There is explosive power in the message of the gospel because Paul says, "It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16.
The word power that Paul used in this verse originates from the Greek word dunamis!
It is the same word Jesus used in Acts 1:8:
"But you will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere."
The English words dynamic, dynamo, and dynamite also have been translated from this word dunamis.
Paul was saying the very message of the gospel is the dynamite and dynamic of God.
We often underestimate the raw power of the gospel in reaching even the most hardened heart.
We think we need to add to it, dress it up, make it ultracontemporary, gloss it over, or even complicate it.
But there is distinct power in the simple message of the life, words, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Never underestimate its appeal.
Never be ashamed of its simplicity. Never add to it or take away from it.
Just proclaim it!
And then stand back and watch what God will do.
As Paul said, "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!
But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.
My Manna
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:3–5.
I read about a young couple who moved into a new home.
As they ate breakfast together on their first morning there-
- the lady who lived next door was hanging her laundry on an old fashioned clothes line to dry in the sun.
“That laundry doesn’t look very clean,” the wife remarked to her husband. “Perhaps her washing machine doesn’t work very well, or she should try a different laundry soap.”
Each time the neighbour hung her laundry, the lady made a comment on how dirty it looked.
Then a few weeks later, something changed.
“Wow her laundry looks clean this morning,” the lady said. “She must have changed something.”
“Not really,” her husband replied. “I washed our windows.”
Many times we are quick to see the flaws and faults in others.
Those failings may be imagined or real-
- but in either case they seem glaring to us.
On the other hand-
- our own faults frequently seem to escape our attention.
Isaiah was a prophet with a message from God for a people who were not living right.
At first Isaiah’s focus was on the people, and if you read the first chapters of Isaiah, you will find “Woe to them” a repeated theme.
But when the prophet saw God-
- his first concern was not for the people, but for himself.
Measured against God’s perfect holiness-
- all of us fall short and stand in need of God’s mercy.
What does tomorrow hold for you? Does your future look bright?
Or are there storm clouds on the horizon in your life? Do you have fears when you think about the days ahead? Let's look at faith and the secret to facing tomorrow with calm assurance:
The secret is not-- simply having a positive attitude! It's not a blind faith-- refusing to recognize the difficulty! It's not-- trying to be optimistic! It's not-- hoping for the best!
You need more than optimism to face the future. The secret you need is-- a faith that is based on confidence in God! That's the kind of faith that Ruth had.
"And Ruth said, 'Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God'".Ruth 1:16. Ruth was leaving her country and her parent's home and going to a totally new place. Her future was uncertain!But her faith in the God of Israel was her hope for tomorrow.
When Ruth came to Israel, she found a home in Bethlehem.
It is fascinating to note that Bethlehem is the little town where the hope for the future of all mankind would be born years later when the baby Jesus was born there. And Ruth is listed in the genealogy of Jesus.Matthew 1:1,5..
Do you have faith in your future?
You can-
- if you have the kind of faith that Ruth showed ,
- faith in God.
Faith that He cares for you, knows the future and will take care of you.
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD.'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'".Jeremiah 29:11. The One who "plans to give you a future and a hope" is-- with you and is in control of your future. And that is the secret to faith for the future
"My Manna"
"Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News, and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power." 1 Corinthians 1:17.
There is explosive power in the message of the gospel because Paul says, "It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16.
The word power that Paul used in this verse originates from the Greek word dunamis!
It is the same word Jesus used in Acts 1:8:
"But you will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere."
The English words dynamic, dynamo, and dynamite also have been translated from this word dunamis.
Paul was saying the very message of the gospel is the dynamite and dynamic of God.
We often underestimate the raw power of the gospel in reaching even the most hardened heart.
We think we need to add to it, dress it up, make it ultracontemporary, gloss it over, or even complicate it.
But there is distinct power in the simple message of the life, words, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Never underestimate its appeal.
Never be ashamed of its simplicity. Never add to it or take away from it.
Just proclaim it!
And then stand back and watch what God will do.
As Paul said, "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!
But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.
My Manna
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:3–5.
I read about a young couple who moved into a new home.
As they ate breakfast together on their first morning there-
- the lady who lived next door was hanging her laundry on an old fashioned clothes line to dry in the sun.
“That laundry doesn’t look very clean,” the wife remarked to her husband. “Perhaps her washing machine doesn’t work very well, or she should try a different laundry soap.”
Each time the neighbour hung her laundry, the lady made a comment on how dirty it looked.
Then a few weeks later, something changed.
“Wow her laundry looks clean this morning,” the lady said. “She must have changed something.”
“Not really,” her husband replied. “I washed our windows.”
Many times we are quick to see the flaws and faults in others.
Those failings may be imagined or real-
- but in either case they seem glaring to us.
On the other hand-
- our own faults frequently seem to escape our attention.
Isaiah was a prophet with a message from God for a people who were not living right.
At first Isaiah’s focus was on the people, and if you read the first chapters of Isaiah, you will find “Woe to them” a repeated theme.
But when the prophet saw God-
- his first concern was not for the people, but for himself.
Measured against God’s perfect holiness-
- all of us fall short and stand in need of God’s mercy.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 18 May 2018, 10:19 pm
Looking for answers?
"My Manna"
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1.
Are you looking for answers in the midst of difficult circumstances? Asking the questions, but not finding a logical response? More often than not, we must live with unanswered questions and trust God.
Suffering is sometimes a mystery. We must affirm both the mystery and God. In a world where the universal principle is cause/effect-- the book of Job reminds us that the principle is a reflection of the mysterious, self-revealing God. It is subsumed under Him, however, and He cannot be subsumed under it. The God-speeches remind us that a Person, not a principle, is Lord. Looking for answers? I'd encourage you to cease looking for answers.And instead look to the Author! A Person!Not a principle!! It is in God-
- that we can trust regardless of our circumstances! |
"My Manna"
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1.
Are you looking for answers in the midst of difficult circumstances? Asking the questions, but not finding a logical response? More often than not, we must live with unanswered questions and trust God.
Suffering is sometimes a mystery. We must affirm both the mystery and God. In a world where the universal principle is cause/effect-- the book of Job reminds us that the principle is a reflection of the mysterious, self-revealing God. It is subsumed under Him, however, and He cannot be subsumed under it. The God-speeches remind us that a Person, not a principle, is Lord. Looking for answers? I'd encourage you to cease looking for answers.And instead look to the Author! A Person!Not a principle!! It is in God-
- that we can trust regardless of our circumstances! |
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 18 May 2018, 10:04 pm
My Manna
"But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Acts 25:19.
While we affirm that God is supernatural-
- we of all people should not be superstitious.
Yes, we recognize that from time to time in biblical history God has spectacularly suspended natural law as a strategic way to display the credentials of his Son, and to authenticate a select group of prophetic messengers.
And yes, we also appreciate the overarching providence of God as he purposefully works within the framework of history and natural events.
But we should be careful to note that the Bible condemns those superstitious tendencies-
- that always seek to assign a spiritual relationship to a set of natural circumstances.
This presumed cause-and-effect relationship can lead to a variety of erroneous and sinful conclusions.
Consider when Paul’s hand was bitten by a snake and the superstitious people of Malta wrongly assumed he must have been a criminal. Acts.28.
Or remember when the worldly Israelites lost a military battle and foolishly assumed that if they brought the ark of the covenant into the next battle they would win. 1Samuel.4.
Think of the Pharisees who had constructed and employed an entire set of superstitious methods and devices in hopes of conjuring up good for their lives. Mark.7.
Or envision the women of Judah who were chided for including mystical amulets in their daily wardrobe.Isaiah.3.
We must be careful then to be sure we exclusively trust in God-
- not in any of the superstitions of our culture.
We must be certain to rely only on God’s word-
- and not the speculative connections between one thing and another.
"But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Acts 25:19.
While we affirm that God is supernatural-
- we of all people should not be superstitious.
Yes, we recognize that from time to time in biblical history God has spectacularly suspended natural law as a strategic way to display the credentials of his Son, and to authenticate a select group of prophetic messengers.
And yes, we also appreciate the overarching providence of God as he purposefully works within the framework of history and natural events.
But we should be careful to note that the Bible condemns those superstitious tendencies-
- that always seek to assign a spiritual relationship to a set of natural circumstances.
This presumed cause-and-effect relationship can lead to a variety of erroneous and sinful conclusions.
Consider when Paul’s hand was bitten by a snake and the superstitious people of Malta wrongly assumed he must have been a criminal. Acts.28.
Or remember when the worldly Israelites lost a military battle and foolishly assumed that if they brought the ark of the covenant into the next battle they would win. 1Samuel.4.
Think of the Pharisees who had constructed and employed an entire set of superstitious methods and devices in hopes of conjuring up good for their lives. Mark.7.
Or envision the women of Judah who were chided for including mystical amulets in their daily wardrobe.Isaiah.3.
We must be careful then to be sure we exclusively trust in God-
- not in any of the superstitions of our culture.
We must be certain to rely only on God’s word-
- and not the speculative connections between one thing and another.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Tue 08 May 2018, 10:32 pm
My Manna
Labour Day
A day when our nation honours all those who've made our nation great through their work.
Our nation owes much to them, and they truly have exemplified the Bible's injunction:
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Unfortunately, many people have the same attitude you once had toward your job:
They wish they didn't have to work and yearn for the day when they can stop working and retire.
This isn't necessarily all wrong, of course; eventually most of us will step aside and allow those who are younger to take our place.
In the Bible, the Levites (who maintained the nation's place of worship) were required to retire at the age of 50-
- so younger men could take up the work.Numbers 8:24-26.
But we easily forget two important truths.
First, we forget that God gave our work to us, and it's an important part of His plan for our lives.
The Bible says, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God." Ecclesiastes 2:24.
The second truth we often forget is this:
We need to ask God to show us His will for our retirement years.
Don't waste them, but find another job...volunteer your time to help others...get more involved in your church.
With God's help these can be the best years of your life.
My Manna
Negative impact
When we back away from our giving and aren't as generous as we could be-
- it has a negative impact
Not just on the organizations we supported-
- but on the countless people who need their help.
Churches too will be affected.
The work God has given them will be hampered.
The Bible tells us "to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:18.
In tough economic times-
Churches and charities need our support more than ever.
Let me make two suggestions:
First-
Ask God to help you trust Him for your future.
He knows what will happen.
He can be trusted to see you through.
That doesn't mean you won't face hard times, because you might.
But God loves you and will be with you.
Also-
Ask God to help you yield your lives.
- including your pocketbooks - to Christ.
Everything you have comes from His hands.
You are far better off than millions of others during these difficult times.
Be prudent in your spending!
But thank God for the privilege of helping others in Christ's name.
Calculating without God!
Mon May 7, My Manna
"Fret not thyself, it tend only to evil doing." Psalms 37:8.
Fretting means getting out at elbows mentally or spiritually.
It is one thing to say "Fret not!"
But a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret.
Resting in the Lord does not depend-
- on external circumstances at all,
- but on your relationship to God Himself.
Fussing always ends in sin.
We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are.
It is much more an indication of how really wicked we are.
Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way.
Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious,
Because-
He was not "out" to realize His own ideas.
He was "out" to realize God's ideas.
Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God.
Have you been bolstering up that stupid soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God?
Put all "supposing" on one side.
And dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.
Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing.
All our fret and worry is-
- caused by calculating without God!
Labour Day
A day when our nation honours all those who've made our nation great through their work.
Our nation owes much to them, and they truly have exemplified the Bible's injunction:
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10.
Unfortunately, many people have the same attitude you once had toward your job:
They wish they didn't have to work and yearn for the day when they can stop working and retire.
This isn't necessarily all wrong, of course; eventually most of us will step aside and allow those who are younger to take our place.
In the Bible, the Levites (who maintained the nation's place of worship) were required to retire at the age of 50-
- so younger men could take up the work.Numbers 8:24-26.
But we easily forget two important truths.
First, we forget that God gave our work to us, and it's an important part of His plan for our lives.
The Bible says, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God." Ecclesiastes 2:24.
The second truth we often forget is this:
We need to ask God to show us His will for our retirement years.
Don't waste them, but find another job...volunteer your time to help others...get more involved in your church.
With God's help these can be the best years of your life.
My Manna
Negative impact
When we back away from our giving and aren't as generous as we could be-
- it has a negative impact
Not just on the organizations we supported-
- but on the countless people who need their help.
Churches too will be affected.
The work God has given them will be hampered.
The Bible tells us "to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:18.
In tough economic times-
Churches and charities need our support more than ever.
Let me make two suggestions:
First-
Ask God to help you trust Him for your future.
He knows what will happen.
He can be trusted to see you through.
That doesn't mean you won't face hard times, because you might.
But God loves you and will be with you.
Also-
Ask God to help you yield your lives.
- including your pocketbooks - to Christ.
Everything you have comes from His hands.
You are far better off than millions of others during these difficult times.
Be prudent in your spending!
But thank God for the privilege of helping others in Christ's name.
Calculating without God!
Mon May 7, My Manna
"Fret not thyself, it tend only to evil doing." Psalms 37:8.
Fretting means getting out at elbows mentally or spiritually.
It is one thing to say "Fret not!"
But a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself able not to fret.
Resting in the Lord does not depend-
- on external circumstances at all,
- but on your relationship to God Himself.
Fussing always ends in sin.
We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are.
It is much more an indication of how really wicked we are.
Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way.
Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious,
Because-
He was not "out" to realize His own ideas.
He was "out" to realize God's ideas.
Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God.
Have you been bolstering up that stupid soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God?
Put all "supposing" on one side.
And dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.
Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing.
All our fret and worry is-
- caused by calculating without God!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Sun 29 Apr 2018, 11:29 pm
My Manna
"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9.
Before he became the great evangelist-
D. L. Moody had a conversation that deeply impacted him and would direct the course of his life from that point on.
Someone said to Moody, "You know, the world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man who is totally committed to Him."
Those words went deep into Moody's heart, and he prayed, Lord, I want to be that man.
He sure came close.
The book of Acts is a story of ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because they allowed God to have His way in their lives.
In the same way, God wants to use you to turn your world upside down for Christ.
It starts with your saying, "Lord, I want to make a difference. I don't want this world to turn me around. I want to turn it around. Use me."
The world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man or woman who is totally committed to Him.
Will God find such people today?
I wonder if you would say, like Moody:
"I want to be that person."
If you will-
- then your life can Make a difference!
It will be exciting in the days ahead to see what God will do through and with you.
But He wants you to be available to Him.
One of these days, your life will come to an end.
What will you say about your life?
What will others say?
How great it would be to say, like Paul-
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." 2 Timothy
"The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9.
Before he became the great evangelist-
D. L. Moody had a conversation that deeply impacted him and would direct the course of his life from that point on.
Someone said to Moody, "You know, the world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man who is totally committed to Him."
Those words went deep into Moody's heart, and he prayed, Lord, I want to be that man.
He sure came close.
The book of Acts is a story of ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things because they allowed God to have His way in their lives.
In the same way, God wants to use you to turn your world upside down for Christ.
It starts with your saying, "Lord, I want to make a difference. I don't want this world to turn me around. I want to turn it around. Use me."
The world has yet to see what God can do with and through the man or woman who is totally committed to Him.
Will God find such people today?
I wonder if you would say, like Moody:
"I want to be that person."
If you will-
- then your life can Make a difference!
It will be exciting in the days ahead to see what God will do through and with you.
But He wants you to be available to Him.
One of these days, your life will come to an end.
What will you say about your life?
What will others say?
How great it would be to say, like Paul-
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." 2 Timothy
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:09 pm
My Manna
"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."James 4:14.
Imagine if you were to check your bank account one morning only to find a direct deposit for $86,400.
And it goes on for weeks!
Each morning you find a new deposit for this amount...but soon realize that your balance is not carried over to the next day.
Instead, it is deleted each evening and the next morning you begin again with a new balance of $86,400.
What would you do when you finally realized your account balance would be deleted each evening if you didn't use it all that day?
Of course...you'd withdraw the balance left over each day!
You and I have such a bank account called time.
Each day we are credited with 86,400 seconds.
And every night that which we have not used is deleted from our account.
However, our time accounts do not allow overdrafts, loans, or savings options.
We must invest our time wisely in this life.
According to one time management study, the average person spends two years making phone calls to people who are not at home, six months waiting for traffic lights to turn green, and another eight months reading junk mail!
Have you evaluated the way you use your time lately?
Are you using it wisely to glorify the Lord?
Psalm 39:6 says, "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.."
Our time on this earth is brief.
God wants us to use every minute of our lives to serve and honour Him.
Determine to use your time wisely to advance the cause of Christ.
Pray that God would show you how to spend your time wisely and to keep you from wasting precious opportunities to further His Kingdom.
"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."James 4:14.
Imagine if you were to check your bank account one morning only to find a direct deposit for $86,400.
And it goes on for weeks!
Each morning you find a new deposit for this amount...but soon realize that your balance is not carried over to the next day.
Instead, it is deleted each evening and the next morning you begin again with a new balance of $86,400.
What would you do when you finally realized your account balance would be deleted each evening if you didn't use it all that day?
Of course...you'd withdraw the balance left over each day!
You and I have such a bank account called time.
Each day we are credited with 86,400 seconds.
And every night that which we have not used is deleted from our account.
However, our time accounts do not allow overdrafts, loans, or savings options.
We must invest our time wisely in this life.
According to one time management study, the average person spends two years making phone calls to people who are not at home, six months waiting for traffic lights to turn green, and another eight months reading junk mail!
Have you evaluated the way you use your time lately?
Are you using it wisely to glorify the Lord?
Psalm 39:6 says, "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.."
Our time on this earth is brief.
God wants us to use every minute of our lives to serve and honour Him.
Determine to use your time wisely to advance the cause of Christ.
Pray that God would show you how to spend your time wisely and to keep you from wasting precious opportunities to further His Kingdom.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Tue 24 Apr 2018, 9:42 pm
TEA BAGS
My Manna
"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.Matthew 14:22.
Although He knew that a storm was coming-
Jesus said to His disciples, “Go to the other side.” Matthew 14:22–24.
Jesus sent them out on the Sea of Galilee because He knew there was a lesson for them to learn.
He knew they would make it safely to the other side, so He allowed His disciples to go through the storm.
You might say the storm was a part of the day’s curriculum for the disciples.
Life is like that too.
We don’t always know when a storm is coming.
We don’t know when a tragedy will strike. We don’t know when a crisis is going to hit.
We don’t know when a hardship may come up in our lives.
But God does.
And He knows when we are ready to face these things.
Now here is the question:
How will we face life’s storms?
It has been said that into every life some rain must fall.
To put it biblically, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Mark 6:45.
Hard times happen to everyone, but as Christians, we have this promise:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Whatever we are going through, in His wonderful providence-
God will turn it around for our good.
Courageous people are a lot like tea bags!
We don’t know their strength until they are in hot water.
It takes courage to face your trials.
It takes courage to say-
“I’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus.
I’m not going to give up.
I’m going over to the other side.”
My Manna
At the end of time-- the final battle in this great spiritual conflict will be fought, - and God will triumph over Satan forever.Revelation 20:10..
Not only that, but all the evils that have come into the world because of Satan's rebellion against God will be destroyed.
Sin... sickness... death... sorrow... suffering -- all these will come to an end-- and God's people will dwell safely in His presence forever. One of the Bible's greatest promises speaks of that day:
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4.
Why doesn't Satan just give up?
The Bible doesn't tell us.But one reason may be because he doesn't believe what God says about his eventual fate.
The very first question in the Bible came from Satan's lips-- telling Eve that God was a liar and His word couldn't be trusted. Genesis 3:1-4.
Satan's goal is to take God's place-- and perhaps he still believes he can do it.
But he can't.
Are you on the winning side? Is your faith and hope in Jesus Christ?
Don't be deceived by Satan's temptations.
He promises happiness and peace if we'll only follow him.But his promises are a lie.
Instead make it your goal to follow Christ and His Word-- for He alone brings us victory.
My Manna
"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.Matthew 14:22.
Although He knew that a storm was coming-
Jesus said to His disciples, “Go to the other side.” Matthew 14:22–24.
Jesus sent them out on the Sea of Galilee because He knew there was a lesson for them to learn.
He knew they would make it safely to the other side, so He allowed His disciples to go through the storm.
You might say the storm was a part of the day’s curriculum for the disciples.
Life is like that too.
We don’t always know when a storm is coming.
We don’t know when a tragedy will strike. We don’t know when a crisis is going to hit.
We don’t know when a hardship may come up in our lives.
But God does.
And He knows when we are ready to face these things.
Now here is the question:
How will we face life’s storms?
It has been said that into every life some rain must fall.
To put it biblically, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. Mark 6:45.
Hard times happen to everyone, but as Christians, we have this promise:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Whatever we are going through, in His wonderful providence-
God will turn it around for our good.
Courageous people are a lot like tea bags!
We don’t know their strength until they are in hot water.
It takes courage to face your trials.
It takes courage to say-
“I’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus.
I’m not going to give up.
I’m going over to the other side.”
My Manna
At the end of time-- the final battle in this great spiritual conflict will be fought, - and God will triumph over Satan forever.Revelation 20:10..
Not only that, but all the evils that have come into the world because of Satan's rebellion against God will be destroyed.
Sin... sickness... death... sorrow... suffering -- all these will come to an end-- and God's people will dwell safely in His presence forever. One of the Bible's greatest promises speaks of that day:
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4.
Why doesn't Satan just give up?
The Bible doesn't tell us.But one reason may be because he doesn't believe what God says about his eventual fate.
The very first question in the Bible came from Satan's lips-- telling Eve that God was a liar and His word couldn't be trusted. Genesis 3:1-4.
Satan's goal is to take God's place-- and perhaps he still believes he can do it.
But he can't.
Are you on the winning side? Is your faith and hope in Jesus Christ?
Don't be deceived by Satan's temptations.
He promises happiness and peace if we'll only follow him.But his promises are a lie.
Instead make it your goal to follow Christ and His Word-- for He alone brings us victory.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Thu 12 Apr 2018, 10:49 pm
My Manna
Does God Understand That I Am Busy?
Some of the busiest men and women I've ever known were also some of the most committed to Christ, in spite of their schedules.
How did they do it?
The answer is that-- their lives weren't broken up into a series of separate, unrelated compartments- family, career, finances, relaxation, religion, and so forth.
Instead, Jesus Christ was at the center of everything they did.And He influenced everything they did.
Christ was part of every "compartment."And in fact He ruled them all! In other words, - Christ wasn't part of their lives just one hour a week, but 24 hours a day.
What is your priority in life? What is most important to you?
Money? Success?
Prestige? Pleasure?
Or is it God and His will for your life?
Be honest in your answer.And then ask yourself if your present goal in life is what it should be.
Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33.
Don't waste your life on things that will not last-- but come to Jesus Christ and give your life to Him.
Then ask Him to help you use your time wisely-- and to put Him first in everything
Does God Understand That I Am Busy?
Some of the busiest men and women I've ever known were also some of the most committed to Christ, in spite of their schedules.
How did they do it?
The answer is that-- their lives weren't broken up into a series of separate, unrelated compartments- family, career, finances, relaxation, religion, and so forth.
Instead, Jesus Christ was at the center of everything they did.And He influenced everything they did.
Christ was part of every "compartment."And in fact He ruled them all! In other words, - Christ wasn't part of their lives just one hour a week, but 24 hours a day.
What is your priority in life? What is most important to you?
Money? Success?
Prestige? Pleasure?
Or is it God and His will for your life?
Be honest in your answer.And then ask yourself if your present goal in life is what it should be.
Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33.
Don't waste your life on things that will not last-- but come to Jesus Christ and give your life to Him.
Then ask Him to help you use your time wisely-- and to put Him first in everything
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Wed 14 Mar 2018, 10:10 pm
Inflated ego!
"My Manna"
There’s a story of a British general serving in Asia who hosted a dinner party for distinguished guests. One of those guests was an aristocratic lady visiting from England.
The general’s assistant seated her to his left while the highest seat of hono u r was to his right.
She seethed inside and as the dinner wore on, she could not contain herself..
She haughtily complained to the general, “I guess you have difficulty finding qualified help to seat people properly.”
To which the general replied: “Not at all. Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind, don’t matter.”
Her ego was suffering from inflation that called for deflation. It’s a reminder to all of us of the danger of prideful arrogance. The more our ego gets inflated- - the more life has a way of humbling us—big time. God’s Word tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought- - for ego inflation leads to ego deflation in the most humiliating ways. “I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think". Romans 12:3.
"My Manna"
There’s a story of a British general serving in Asia who hosted a dinner party for distinguished guests. One of those guests was an aristocratic lady visiting from England.
The general’s assistant seated her to his left while the highest seat of hono u r was to his right.
She seethed inside and as the dinner wore on, she could not contain herself..
She haughtily complained to the general, “I guess you have difficulty finding qualified help to seat people properly.”
To which the general replied: “Not at all. Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind, don’t matter.”
Her ego was suffering from inflation that called for deflation. It’s a reminder to all of us of the danger of prideful arrogance. The more our ego gets inflated- - the more life has a way of humbling us—big time. God’s Word tells us to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought- - for ego inflation leads to ego deflation in the most humiliating ways. “I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think". Romans 12:3.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Fri 09 Mar 2018, 9:57 pm
Denominationalism
My Manna
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-5.
I am part of a denominational church.
There’s no problem with denominations.
They are simply different regiments of Christ’s army doing the work of the church here on earth.
Denominationalism, however, is a huge problem.
What is “denominationalism?”
It’s when people make an idol of their denomination.
It’s when people begin to rely more on rituals, traditions and the customs of their particular denomination than on Biblical revelation.
It’s when a person or church is asked about their faith and their first response is-
“I’m a Baptist, or Catholic, or Methodist,” rather than “I’m a Christian.”
For the Christian, the first answer when asked about your faith should be always be-
“I’m a Christian.”
We are called to be people of the kingdom of God.
We’re called to let people know that we are followers of Jesus-
- not followers of a specific branch of Christianity.
Therefore, our goal as Christians is to build up that kingdom, not our denomination.
For that reason, our church supports kingdom vision no matter the denominational label.
Why?
Because Christ did not come to begin denominations.
Christ came to begin the kingdom of God.
So what about you?
Are you Kingdom focused?
Don’t let non-believers stereotype you by a specific branch of Christianity.
Instead, put Christ first and become known as a kingdom minded follower of Christ – a Christ-ian more than a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Pentecostal or non-denominational.
Be known as a devoted follower of Jesus!
My Manna
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-5.
I am part of a denominational church.
There’s no problem with denominations.
They are simply different regiments of Christ’s army doing the work of the church here on earth.
Denominationalism, however, is a huge problem.
What is “denominationalism?”
It’s when people make an idol of their denomination.
It’s when people begin to rely more on rituals, traditions and the customs of their particular denomination than on Biblical revelation.
It’s when a person or church is asked about their faith and their first response is-
“I’m a Baptist, or Catholic, or Methodist,” rather than “I’m a Christian.”
For the Christian, the first answer when asked about your faith should be always be-
“I’m a Christian.”
We are called to be people of the kingdom of God.
We’re called to let people know that we are followers of Jesus-
- not followers of a specific branch of Christianity.
Therefore, our goal as Christians is to build up that kingdom, not our denomination.
For that reason, our church supports kingdom vision no matter the denominational label.
Why?
Because Christ did not come to begin denominations.
Christ came to begin the kingdom of God.
So what about you?
Are you Kingdom focused?
Don’t let non-believers stereotype you by a specific branch of Christianity.
Instead, put Christ first and become known as a kingdom minded follower of Christ – a Christ-ian more than a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Pentecostal or non-denominational.
Be known as a devoted follower of Jesus!
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Mon 05 Mar 2018, 11:01 am
It’s inaccurate!
My Manna
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
Have you ever heard the the scripture:“All things work together for good?”
Sounds right, doesn’t it?
And it is one we hear time and time again. But it’s incomplete.. It’s inaccurate!
All things don’t work together for good for those who die and wind up in hell!
What the Bible DOES teach is that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
There is an often overlooked condition to that familiar verse.
We have to love God through Jesus Christ and live according to His teaching in Scripture in order for this verse to be true.
To believe anything or to live any way we want nullifies its authenticity.
But when we love God and are living for Him, then from any tragedy, any suffering, God can bring good.
For with every tragedy and every setback-- our choice is to grow bitter or to trust God to bring good out of the greatest grief and difficulty.
I hope you’ll choose to trust God-- even when life doesn’t make sense.
Look for the good that God can bring.
My Manna
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
Have you ever heard the the scripture:“All things work together for good?”
Sounds right, doesn’t it?
And it is one we hear time and time again. But it’s incomplete.. It’s inaccurate!
All things don’t work together for good for those who die and wind up in hell!
What the Bible DOES teach is that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
There is an often overlooked condition to that familiar verse.
We have to love God through Jesus Christ and live according to His teaching in Scripture in order for this verse to be true.
To believe anything or to live any way we want nullifies its authenticity.
But when we love God and are living for Him, then from any tragedy, any suffering, God can bring good.
For with every tragedy and every setback-- our choice is to grow bitter or to trust God to bring good out of the greatest grief and difficulty.
I hope you’ll choose to trust God-- even when life doesn’t make sense.
Look for the good that God can bring.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Mon 26 Feb 2018, 11:21 pm
My Manna
Jesus said, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!." Matthew 7:11.
Terry was in the habit of praying very specifically for what she wanted.
She told God in great detail about-- the kind of job, - the kind of husband, - the kind of life that she envisioned for herself.
And Terry was frequently frustrated.
One day, a friend suggested that she try a different tack. Give God a blank sheet of paper, the friend suggested, and let God give you his list for your life.
Not long afterwards-Terry went back to school—something she hadn't anticipated doing.
And she met a wonderful new man whom she eventually married. He didn't fit the criteria of her earlier list, but he was everything she wanted in a husband.
When Terry turned her life over to God's will-God provided for her needs in ways she couldn't have imagined.
There's nothing wrong with asking God for what we would like-- but to get prayers answered, they need to be in harmony with God's will.
And while "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"-He often does give us the desires of our heart when we pray in harmony with His will.
"Dear God, thank You that You hear and answer my prayers. Thank You, too, for the times You haven't answered my prayers according to my wishes which, if You had, it may have done me more harm than good. Help me to live and pray in harmony with Your will so that I can be sure that You will answer my prayers one way or another. Gratefully, in Jesus's Name,
Jesus said, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!." Matthew 7:11.
Terry was in the habit of praying very specifically for what she wanted.
She told God in great detail about-- the kind of job, - the kind of husband, - the kind of life that she envisioned for herself.
And Terry was frequently frustrated.
One day, a friend suggested that she try a different tack. Give God a blank sheet of paper, the friend suggested, and let God give you his list for your life.
Not long afterwards-Terry went back to school—something she hadn't anticipated doing.
And she met a wonderful new man whom she eventually married. He didn't fit the criteria of her earlier list, but he was everything she wanted in a husband.
When Terry turned her life over to God's will-God provided for her needs in ways she couldn't have imagined.
There's nothing wrong with asking God for what we would like-- but to get prayers answered, they need to be in harmony with God's will.
And while "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"-He often does give us the desires of our heart when we pray in harmony with His will.
"Dear God, thank You that You hear and answer my prayers. Thank You, too, for the times You haven't answered my prayers according to my wishes which, if You had, it may have done me more harm than good. Help me to live and pray in harmony with Your will so that I can be sure that You will answer my prayers one way or another. Gratefully, in Jesus's Name,
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Thu 22 Feb 2018, 11:41 pm
My Manna
Revival
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you."Hosea 10:12.
Over the years I've often gotten emails asking "When do you think revival will come?"
What is "revival", exactly?
One of Merriam-Webster's definitions is "a renewed attention to or interest in something".
Here are some important questions for us to answer today:
How interested are we in praying to the Lord and truly worshipping His Holy Name?How interested are we in growing in God's truth and knowing Him deeply?How interested are we in gaining a greater knowlege and understanding of His Word?And just how interested are we in sharing those precious things with the dying world around us?
A key aspect of world revival is revival within ourselves. And it's not just a one-time thing, either.
Once, a lady asked Billy Sunday "Why do you keep having revival meetings?" He quickly retorted, "Why do you always take a bath?"
Revival is something that needs to happen daily. It's an ongoing transformation of our hearts to be constantly moved by the Spirit of God.
We need to be daily breaking up our fallow ground-- those places in our hearts which we've allowed to grow hard.
We have to ask the Lord to-- reveal those hard places, - pray that He would forgive us and ask Him to heal all our rough edges- that we might be soft before Him and sensitive to His leading.
Let's get serious about getting ourselves revived!
Sow for yourselves righteousness.Reap in mercy.Break up your fallow ground.
For it is time to seek the Lord-Till He comes and rains righteousness on you
Revival
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you."Hosea 10:12.
Over the years I've often gotten emails asking "When do you think revival will come?"
What is "revival", exactly?
One of Merriam-Webster's definitions is "a renewed attention to or interest in something".
Here are some important questions for us to answer today:
How interested are we in praying to the Lord and truly worshipping His Holy Name?How interested are we in growing in God's truth and knowing Him deeply?How interested are we in gaining a greater knowlege and understanding of His Word?And just how interested are we in sharing those precious things with the dying world around us?
A key aspect of world revival is revival within ourselves. And it's not just a one-time thing, either.
Once, a lady asked Billy Sunday "Why do you keep having revival meetings?" He quickly retorted, "Why do you always take a bath?"
Revival is something that needs to happen daily. It's an ongoing transformation of our hearts to be constantly moved by the Spirit of God.
We need to be daily breaking up our fallow ground-- those places in our hearts which we've allowed to grow hard.
We have to ask the Lord to-- reveal those hard places, - pray that He would forgive us and ask Him to heal all our rough edges- that we might be soft before Him and sensitive to His leading.
Let's get serious about getting ourselves revived!
Sow for yourselves righteousness.Reap in mercy.Break up your fallow ground.
For it is time to seek the Lord-Till He comes and rains righteousness on you
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Wed 21 Feb 2018, 10:00 pm
My Manna
Even though I am really busy speaking at a conference now-I am blessed with a beautiful mountain cabin as my accommodation.
The best time, and about the only time I could enjoy it, is early in the morning. This cabin has a large porch from which you can see majestic forest views and an awe-inspiring tapestry of green mountains and deep valleys.
As I stepped out onto that porch one morning, the scenery had undergone a significant makeover.
The fog was winning. I watched as these large clouds of fog billowed up.
First they filled the valley below and then steadily rising to totally obscure the mountains. It looked almost as if the mountains were being consumed by the fog.
So, the morning light from the sun that should have been illuminating the area by that time was nowhere to be seen.
That fog began to quickly shrink and pretty soon totally disappear.The Fog Could not Win!
The fog never really stands a chance.It's no match for the inevitable victory of the sun in a majestic mountain landscape, or in the dark moments of your life and mine.
And maybe you're just in one of those seasons right now.
It's been a time of loss, of grief, of doubt and confusion, maybe a prodigal loved one, or just no answers. Maybe you've been walking through a fog where evil seems to be winning; where injustice seems to be prevailing.
The fog has rolled into your life and it's obscured things that you once were really sure of. It's covered the joy you once had with a sense of sadness and fear and maybe even thoughts of giving up.
But if you belong to the Sovereign Lord, the One who rules the galaxies and cares about your daily bread-- the fog cannot ultimately win! The sun of God's power and love on your life is more powerful than the fog in your valley, no matter how dense, no matter how stubborn that fog may seem to be.
Psalm 84:11 promises that "the Lord God is a sun and a shield...no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
And in our word for today from the Word of God, you have five hope-filled words straight from your Father's heart to yours. They're in Psalm 112:4, "Even in darkness light dawns."
Let's get the context of that promise for every foggy day. "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."
Don't let the darkness change the kind of person you are. Your mission is to keep on being gracious, keep on being upright, and keep on being compassionate.
Don't let the light inside you go out. Psalm 112 goes on to say: "Good will come to him...surely he will never be shaken...he will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord...in the end he will look in triumph on his foes."
Bottom line: The fog that seems so impenetrable right now actually stands no chance against the rising sun of your Lord's breakthrough.
The evil may have its hour of filling your horizon, but the Son's going to win! The grief will not last forever.
Your prodigal will one day be carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. The doubts you're having in the darkness can't change what you heard from God when it was light. The answers you need will break through your confusion and struggle. The sadness of the fog is going to succumb to the joy of God's much more powerful sunlight.
The fog's been billowing up, it's been filling your view and maybe even making you forget the sun sometimes. But the fog can never ultimately win.
Don't lose hope now. Don't stop trusting now. Don't stop doing what you know is right just because the fog has rolled in.
The light may have been delayed.But there's no way it can be cancelled.
Even though I am really busy speaking at a conference now-I am blessed with a beautiful mountain cabin as my accommodation.
The best time, and about the only time I could enjoy it, is early in the morning. This cabin has a large porch from which you can see majestic forest views and an awe-inspiring tapestry of green mountains and deep valleys.
As I stepped out onto that porch one morning, the scenery had undergone a significant makeover.
The fog was winning. I watched as these large clouds of fog billowed up.
First they filled the valley below and then steadily rising to totally obscure the mountains. It looked almost as if the mountains were being consumed by the fog.
So, the morning light from the sun that should have been illuminating the area by that time was nowhere to be seen.
That fog began to quickly shrink and pretty soon totally disappear.The Fog Could not Win!
The fog never really stands a chance.It's no match for the inevitable victory of the sun in a majestic mountain landscape, or in the dark moments of your life and mine.
And maybe you're just in one of those seasons right now.
It's been a time of loss, of grief, of doubt and confusion, maybe a prodigal loved one, or just no answers. Maybe you've been walking through a fog where evil seems to be winning; where injustice seems to be prevailing.
The fog has rolled into your life and it's obscured things that you once were really sure of. It's covered the joy you once had with a sense of sadness and fear and maybe even thoughts of giving up.
But if you belong to the Sovereign Lord, the One who rules the galaxies and cares about your daily bread-- the fog cannot ultimately win! The sun of God's power and love on your life is more powerful than the fog in your valley, no matter how dense, no matter how stubborn that fog may seem to be.
Psalm 84:11 promises that "the Lord God is a sun and a shield...no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
And in our word for today from the Word of God, you have five hope-filled words straight from your Father's heart to yours. They're in Psalm 112:4, "Even in darkness light dawns."
Let's get the context of that promise for every foggy day. "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man."
Don't let the darkness change the kind of person you are. Your mission is to keep on being gracious, keep on being upright, and keep on being compassionate.
Don't let the light inside you go out. Psalm 112 goes on to say: "Good will come to him...surely he will never be shaken...he will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord...in the end he will look in triumph on his foes."
Bottom line: The fog that seems so impenetrable right now actually stands no chance against the rising sun of your Lord's breakthrough.
The evil may have its hour of filling your horizon, but the Son's going to win! The grief will not last forever.
Your prodigal will one day be carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. The doubts you're having in the darkness can't change what you heard from God when it was light. The answers you need will break through your confusion and struggle. The sadness of the fog is going to succumb to the joy of God's much more powerful sunlight.
The fog's been billowing up, it's been filling your view and maybe even making you forget the sun sometimes. But the fog can never ultimately win.
Don't lose hope now. Don't stop trusting now. Don't stop doing what you know is right just because the fog has rolled in.
The light may have been delayed.But there's no way it can be cancelled.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Re: My Manna
Admin Tue 20 Feb 2018, 7:44 pm
My Manna
A highgrading miner secretly pilfers a small amount of rich ore and smuggles it out of the mine by-- concealing it in imaginative ways, - such as putting it in a sandwich, - scattering it through his hair - or cramming it in his ear. After all, he figures, what difference does a little gold dust make to a rich mining corporation?
It can make a lot of difference. At one mine in Nevada in 1908- four miners were arrested when a whole wagonload of ore they had highgraded was discovered in their homes.
Jesus said: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"
God is faithful.He requires faithfulness in your life. The highgraders in Nevada were dishonest in the little things. But their intent to sell the wagonload shows you that they were also dishonest in much.
The life of faith does not consist of-- acts of worship - or of great self-denial - and heroic virtues. But-- of all the daily conscious acts of our lives.!
God notices the small things. You build faithfulness into your life as you daily approach the little things in a godly way. Godliness is God-likeness!He is faithful and cannot waver. As you become more and more like Him-- you will build faithfulness and become more conscious of how you are using the time, resources and abilities God has entrusted to you.
The time to be faithful is now!The place to be faithful is where you are. The way to be faithful is to be Christlike in all you do.
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6.
A highgrading miner secretly pilfers a small amount of rich ore and smuggles it out of the mine by-- concealing it in imaginative ways, - such as putting it in a sandwich, - scattering it through his hair - or cramming it in his ear. After all, he figures, what difference does a little gold dust make to a rich mining corporation?
It can make a lot of difference. At one mine in Nevada in 1908- four miners were arrested when a whole wagonload of ore they had highgraded was discovered in their homes.
Jesus said: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"
God is faithful.He requires faithfulness in your life. The highgraders in Nevada were dishonest in the little things. But their intent to sell the wagonload shows you that they were also dishonest in much.
The life of faith does not consist of-- acts of worship - or of great self-denial - and heroic virtues. But-- of all the daily conscious acts of our lives.!
God notices the small things. You build faithfulness into your life as you daily approach the little things in a godly way. Godliness is God-likeness!He is faithful and cannot waver. As you become more and more like Him-- you will build faithfulness and become more conscious of how you are using the time, resources and abilities God has entrusted to you.
The time to be faithful is now!The place to be faithful is where you are. The way to be faithful is to be Christlike in all you do.
"Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6.
Admin- Admin
- Posts : 81724
Join date : 2008-10-25
Age : 79
Location : Wales UK -
Page 14 of 28 • 1 ... 8 ... 13, 14, 15 ... 21 ... 28
Page 14 of 28
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
» NUGGET Today's Devotional
» VERY IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN CONCERN
» PROPHESY NEWS WATCH
» Chip Brogden CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS
» The Holocaust and Faith
» ISRAEL BREAKING NEWS
» WORTHY NEWS
» THE BLAZE
» AISH Honest Reporting
» israelAM
» ZAKA Tel Aviv
» HONEST REPORTING Defending Israel from Media Bias plz read REGULAR UPDATES
» BIBLE STUDY on VERSE
» KEITH NOTES FROM NANJING
» PULSE OF ISRAEL
» Israel 365 News
» AISH
» FRANCIS FRANGIPANE MINISTRIES
» Gatestone Institute