My Manna

My Manna​​

Someone has estimated that there are​​ ​​​​7487 promises in the Bible.

Of course some of them are made to specific individuals or groups of people.
But many of them can be claimed by you and me.

The question is, however, can we trust God to fulfill them?

What is God's performance record when it comes to fulfilling His promises?

"But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Corinthians 1:18-22.

All of God's promises from Genesis to Revelation are focused on one person-
Jesus Christ.

In Him-
- the promises of our salvation, the redemption of Israel, our future in heaven and everything else find their fulfillment.

When doubts about God's faithfulness to His Word crop up, open your Bible to the Gospels, and read again about the fulfillment of God's promises.

As Paul reminds us in Romans 8:32:
"He who did not spare His own Son , but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

T​​​​iming of God

My Manna​​ Many people will tell you to take life by the horns. "Stop waiting and make something happen!" It sounds like good advice!But is it really?
David was a man who faced that choice. David was pursued by Saul the King of Israel. One day, David and his followers hid in a cave to avoid Saul's passing army. Saul, not knowing that David was there, also went into the cave. "Now's your opportunity," David's men whispered to him. "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'"​ ​1 Samuel 24:4. In other words-"Kill him and take the throne!"
David could've solved two problems if he'd taken their advice. First, David could have ended Saul's murderous pursuit of him. Second, David would be free to become king as God had promised. David made up his mind.

Creeping forward in the dark cave-David took out his sword and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
David told his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed."1 Samuel 24:6.
David recognized that when God was ready to remove Saul from the throne and elevate David-God would do just that. If you were in David's position-- what would you have done?

Why?
Are you frustrated with where you are today?
Patience is more than a virtue.It shows our faith and trust in God. David truly believed in God's promises.And so he was willing to wait for God's timing. In our world today-- we have all kinds of ways of speeding through life, - from speed dating to get-rich-quick schemes. Learn to trust in the promises and the ​​​​timing of God

Ingredients
My Manna​​

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.

One afternoon, a teenage girl joined her mother in the kitchen.

The young lady began explaining to her mom everything that was wrong with her life-she had failed an algebra test, her friend broke up with her, and she just found out her best friend would be moving away soon.

All the while, the mother was baking a cake as the young girl talked.

Finally, the girl's mother interrupted to ask if she wanted a snack.

The daughter replied, "Absolutely! I love your cakes!"

"Here...have some cooking oil," her mother offered.

"Yuck!" the girl responded. "That's gross."

"Well, how about a couple of raw eggs?" asked the mother.

"Gross, mom!" was the girl's response.

"How about a cup of flour or a teaspoon of baking soda?" the mother then offered.

"Mom, those are all disgusting!" the girl said. "I don't want those things for snacks."

After a long pause, her mother finally said, "Dear, all these things seem bad by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!"

God works the same way in the lives of believers.

Not everything in life is a piece of cake.

Sometimes tragedy or hardship strikes and leaves you wondering, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God do this to me?"

Many times we wonder why He would even let us go through such difficulties.

However, what we oftentimes don't realize is that when God puts all these things in His order, they always work for good!

We must simply trust Him that each of life's events, combined by His hands, will turn out to be something deliciously wonderful!

Thank God for the good and bad "​​​​​​ingredients" He allows to come into your life.
Thank Him for working all things together for your good and His glory.

My Manna​​

"Do not consider his appearance or his height, for...the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the ​​​​​​outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7.

A man was strolling down the beach when he came upon a cave.

He ventured inside and stumbled upon a canvas bag filled with many
hardened clay balls.
It looked as if someone had rolled the clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.
They didn't look like much, but the man took the bag anyway and headed out of the cave.

As he strolled along the beach, he threw the clay balls, one-by-one, into the ocean as far as he could.

He continued this for some time until he accidentally dropped one on the ground and it cracked open on a rock.

To his amazement, a precious stone was hidden inside!

The man began breaking open the remaining 20 clay balls left in his bag and found similar treasures in each one.

Then it struck him.

He had just thrown more than 50 clay balls into the ocean.

He could have had thousands of dollars more in treasure, but he threw them all away because they didn't look to be of much value.

This is the same way we treat people sometimes.

We look at the rough exterior and decide it doesn't look like much, so we discount them and toss them aside.
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful, stylish, well-known, or wealthy.

As believers, we must take time to get to know people, regardless of appearance.
If we do this, then the clay will begin to break away revealing a brilliant gem inside.

May we never find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in unattractive bits of clay.

May we always see others as Jesus does.

Ask God to reveal the beauty inside others-
- and show you those people the way He sees them.

My Manna​

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12.

How does our Enemy operate?

He has four primary objectives in interrupting God’s work in our lives.

First-
Satan wants us to doubt God’s Word.

If he can get you doubting just a little bit, then he’s secured a foothold in your life.

In Genesis 3:1, this is how he confronted Eve in the Garden.
The serpent planted a seed of doubt in her mind.
And the results were catastrophic for all mankind!

Second-
Satan tries to distract us from spiritual matters.

He wants us focused on earthly, temporary outlets.
It sometimes seems as if the Enemy uses every television, cell phone, and computer to change our focus from the Word to things with no eternal value.

Third-
Satan works to disable us from the Lord’s service.

He will do anything to prevent you from making an impact for Christ.

Think about all the popular Christian leaders who have fallen away.
Their sinful deeds were made public.
And the spiritual work they had done was discredited.

The Devil rejoices at this and considers it a great success.

Fourth-
Satan wants to destroy us physically.

One of his most effective tactics involves attacking our bodies.
Sickness, addictions, stress, and obesity can consume a person’s entire life.
The Devil would much prefer that you focus on your body, not spiritual things.

Satan wants you to be useless in your daily battles.
He’s looking for ways to destroy you.

​Don't let him!
Keep your spiritual eyes open.
Watch for the Enemy’s skillful, devious attacks.
And most importantly, depend on God’s Spirit.

M​y Manna​
​
"And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:15-17.

If someone asks if you’re aware of God, what will you say?

Maybe you’d reply, “I go to church, read my Bible, and pray all the time. I’m definitely aware of God.”

But the real question is this:
Are you aware of God’s presence and activity in your daily life?

This second question makes it a bit more personal, doesn’t it?
It refers to God being in our daily lives all the time.

We’d like to have that constant awareness of God’s presence, but it’s difficult.

When hardships and trials come from nowhere, we sometimes feel confused.
We may feel like God has left us so alone.

During difficult times, we might pray even harder and longer.
We plead for help, but see little result.

The problem is that our prayers usually revolve around our desires.
Even when communicating with God, we may be aware only of ourselves, leaving the Lord out of the matter entirely.

At that point, we may find we’re not really talking to the Father at all; we’re talking to ourselves.

Perhaps we’re focusing on the problem and actually wishing for the ability to handle it on our own.
We can, in effect, become completely blind to how God may be working.

Second Kings 6:15-17 gives us a clear picture of what happens when we remove our self-centered blinders and truly see God’s hand at work.
​​
Open your eyes!
You may be shocked to discover the help God has already sent your way.

My Manna​

Some time ago on a talk show, the guest was a body builder.

During the interview, the host asked, "Why do you develop those particular muscles?"

The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf.

The audience applauded.

"What do you use all those muscles for?" the host asked again.

This time the muscular specimen flexed his biceps and triceps which sprouted to impressive proportions.

"But what do you use those muscles for?" the host persisted.

The body builder was bewildered.
He didn't have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame.

The Bible tells us that Christians are given spiritual gifts not simply to look good or to brag about-
- but for a ​​​​special purpose​!​

What that purpose might be.

"A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other."
1 Corinthians 12:7.
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.
"So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others​.​" Romans 12:5.

Discovering your spiritual gifts and using them wisely means grasping the truth that all gifts are-
From God
In Christ
Through the Holy Spirit
For the church family
To God's glory

Is there any part of that that you have difficulty accepting?

If not, then you have made progress in your journey to discovering the purpose for your spiritual gifts.

You could begin by acknowledging God's sovereignty in giving gifts.
Tell Him that you are open to any gift He chooses for you.

And then commit to using that gift as best you can to edify your church family.

My Manna

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him" Ps​alm​. 37:7.

Have you prayed and prayed and waited and waited?
And still there is no manifestation?

Are you tired of seeing nothing move?
Are you just at the point of giving it all up?

Perhaps you have not waited in the right way!

"With patience wait!"​ ​Rom​ans​. 8:25.

Patience takes away worry!
His promise is equal to His presence!
He knows your need better than you do!!
His purpose in waiting is to bring more glory out of it all.

Patience takes away your weeping!
Patience takes away self-works.
The work He desires is that you "believe". John 6:29.
And when you believe, you may then know that all is well.

"weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5.

Patience takes away all want!
Your desire for the thing you wish is perhaps stronger than-
- your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled in its arrival.

Patience takes away all weakening!
Instead of having the delaying time, a time of letting go,
- know that God is getting a larger supply ready and must get you ready too.

Patience takes away all wobbling!
"Make me stand upon my standing".Daniel 8:18.
God's foundations are steady.

When His patience is within-
- we are steady while we wait.

​​Patience gives worship!
A praiseful patience paves the way for a joyful worship.

"Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long​ ​suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Col.1:11,12.

​"Let patience have its perfect work-
- that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4.

My Manna

“Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41.

When Jesus spoke about going the extra mile-
He wasn’t referring to customer service​,
-​ but to a Roman law imposed on the people.

The law stated that Roman soldiers could order any citizen-
- to carry their weapons or equipment for a distance of up to one mile.

No matter what you were doing, the law required that you drop everything and obey.
You can guess how the people felt about that!

So when Jesus said, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two,” the people weren’t exactly thrilled.

In today’s context-
- it would be comparable to having a very demanding boss who expects so much from you that at times it seems unreasonable.

Yet still you do even more than he or she expects even if it goes unacknowledged.

What Jesus was saying to Christians is this:
“Even if your boss is incredibly difficult, don’t just do the bare minimum.
Go above and beyond, even exceeding their expectations.
But be careful to watch your motives.
Don’t act in this way expecting a raise or hoping to be promoted; do it because you want to be a positive witness for Christ.”

Do it for the glory of God!

If you want to communicate a character and a lifestyle that is beyond the norm-
- if you want to be a positive witness for Christ,
- are you willing to go the ​​​​​​extra mile?

The world is always surprised when people live that way!

DON’T LOOK TO YOUR FAITH, LOOK TO JESUS

If you are sick, you must know that you are already healed because of the finished work of Christ. Don’t ask, “Do I have enough faith to be healed? Do I have the right kind of faith to be healed? What if I am lacking in faith?” You are focusing on yourself and your faith, instead of Christ and His finished work.

You should be asking, “Did Jesus take away this sickness? If He did, then He must have done a perfect work.” In other words, fix your eyes on Jesus and His perfect work. AB Simpson, who lived in the 19th century, wrote an article entitled Himself. In it, he mentioned his exhausted nervous system, and broken-down heart which could have proved fatal any time. So he sought the Lord for healing. God showed him Matthew 8:17, which says that Jesus “Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses”.

AB Simpson said that though he believed that Jesus had borne away his sicknesses, he saw many hindrances which stood between him and his healing. And they all boiled down to one thing—his preoccupation with his faith! He had believed that if only he had the “right” kind of faith, he would receive his healing instantly.

He eventually came to the realization that he had to remove that last hindrance—his focus on his faith—and just rest in the finished work of Christ. That revelation marked his complete recovery from his sicknesses.

When you ask yourself, “Do I have enough faith?” you have already put faith as a hindrance between you and Jesus’ finished work. The more you focus on your faith, the more faith slips away. But if you focus on the finished work of Christ and see God’s grace toward you, God sees that as faith! Without realizing it, faith is there in your heart to believe that you will not die of what Christ Himself has already borne away completely for you, and you will see your miracle manifest!

Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Matthew 18:3-4
And God said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. . Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
© 2017 Mrs. P's Haven of Refuge

My Manna
GOSSIP
"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."James 3:6.

Gossip isn’t a popular subject-
- but it certainly is a popular activity.

Many people spend a great deal of time participating in idle talk about someone else-
- usually with the intention of injuring the individual in some way.

Unfortunately, believers are oftentimes just as guilty of gossiping as unbelievers.

But our Father wants us to see the practice for what it truly is.

The Bible includes gossip in a couple of odious categories.
Paul lists it amidst interrelated sins like deceit, malice, slander, and arrogance. Rom. 1:29-30.

Gossip is deceptive and defamatory-
- and it is accompanied by both cruelty and pride.

These are all characteristics of “haters of God,” according to the apostle.

In another passage describing ungodly practices-
Paul places gossip in the middle.

And of course, everyone recognizes the Ten Commandments, whose last decree is-
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” Ex. 20:16.

Gossip does not fit who we are as God’s children.

Just as you can’t have poison and pure water pouring from the same stream-
- you cannot have both God-honoring talk and gossip coming from a believer.

When evil words pass our lips, they are indicative of what we harbour in our heart.

However-
God is in the heart-cleaning business.

If we falter-
- allowing gossip and its cohorts, malice and deceit, into our lives
- we should pray as David did:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14.

​My Manna
​
"All things are possible to him that believes." Mark 9:23.

The "all things" do not always come simply for the asking-
- for the reason that God is ever seeking to teach us the way of faith,
- and in our training in the faith life there must be room for the trial of faith, the discipline of faith, the patience of faith, the courage of faith, and often many stages are passed before we really realize what is the end of faith, namely, the victory of faith.

Real​​ ​​moral fibre is developed through discipline of faith.

You have made your request of God.
But the answer did not come yet.

What are you to do?

Keep on believing God's Word.
Never be moved away from it by what you see or feel, and thus as you stand steady, enlarged power and experience is being developed.

The fact of looking at the apparent contradiction as to God's Word and being unmoved from your position of faith make you stronger on every other line.

Often God delays purposely.
And the delay is just as much an answer to your prayer as is the fulfillment when it comes.

In the lives of all the great Bible characters-
God worked thus.

Abraham, Moses and Elijah were not great in the beginning-
- but were made great through the discipline of their faith,
- and only thus were they fitted for the positions to which God had called them.

For example, in the case of Joseph whom the Lord was training for the throne of Egypt, we read in the Psalms:
"The word of the Lord tried him." ​Psalm 105:19.​

It was not the prison life with its hard beds or poor food that tried him.

But it was the Word God had spoken into his heart in the early years concerning elevation and honour which were greater than his brethren were to receive​.

​I​t was this which was ever before him, when every step in his career made it seem more and more impossible of fulfillment, until he was there imprisoned, and all in innocenc​e​, while others who were perhaps justly incarcerated, were released, and he was left to languish alone.

These were hours that tried his soul.
But hours of spiritual growth and development, that, "when his word came" (the word of release), found him fitted for the delicate task of dealing with his wayward brethren, with a love and patience only surpassed by God Himself.

No amount of persecution tries like such experiences as these.

When God has spoken of His purpose to do-
- and yet the days go on and He does not do it,
- that is truly hard;
- but it is a discipline of faith that will bring us into a knowledge of God which would otherwise be impossible.

My Manna
What would you think- - if I tell you that you could live without fear?
Fear isn't just a reaction to external circumstances.

It's a spiritual force. It begins inside a person.
And it is totally destructive.

Fear is Satan's primary weapon. He moves in response to fear.He challenges the promises of God with it.

Jesus invited Peter to come to Him on the water.

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Matt.14: 30.

What enabled Peter to walk on the water? His faith in the Word of Jesus. What caused Peter to sink? He saw the wind boisterous and he was afraid.
It wasn't the wind that defeated him; it was his fear of it! He looked at his circumstances, gave into the fear, and the result was defeat. If Peter had kept his focus on Jesus- - his faith would never have wavered.

All the blustering and blowing in the world couldn't have drawn him off course.

Faith is developed by meditating on God's Word.
Fear is developed by meditating on Satan's lies.
Such fearful meditation is called worrying. ​​Don't do it!

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Use it to fight Satan every time he comes against you.
Hold up your shield of faith. And quench all of his fiery darts. Speak words of faith and fear will depart.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."​ ​2 Timothy

My Manna
Hopeful approach​!​
"We all stumble in many ways." James 3:2.

Maybe you’ve noticed one or two flaws in a few of the Christians around you.

But that’s not really so surprising, right?
After all, we’ve got a few flaws ourselves.

If the church is supposed to be a place where hope abounds-
- even with sin hanging around as an all too frequent visitor,
- our responses to one another in these inevitable moments of unworthiness are crucially important.

If all we do is stand back and register our critique and frustration-
- rather than apply ourselves to our brother or sister’s improvement,
- we only cause more damage in an already destructive situation.

Scripture counsels us to take a more ​​​​​​​​hopeful approach​!​

See the person in process.

God isn’t finished with anybody.
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.

And since Jesus hasn’t come back yet-
- that’s all the proof we need that He hasn’t abandoned the job of completing this “good work” He started.

He hasn’t decided that the one who stumbles is a lost cause—and if He hasn’t, we certainly shouldn’t.
Allow one who’s struggling room for being a work in progress.

Shelter ​him​​​.
​ ​
Cover h​i​m.
Notice I didn’t say cover for h​i​m.

Enabling people to escape consequences or feel entitled to their sin is not a functional equivalent of love.

But to cover the individual—being discreet about the matter, keeping to a minimum the people who need to know what’s going on-
- is a loving expression of both grace and protection.

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9.

This doesn’t keep us from perhaps needing to talk straight with the person in private-
- but it does keep us from widening their public exposure to unhelpful rumor and ridicule.

Show mercy.

Grace means getting what we don’t deserve (the forgiving favor of God).
Mercy means not getting what we do deserve (an eternity separated from Him in hell).

Our most logical, reflexive response to someone whose ways are running counter to the faith they profess-
- especially someone close to us—is to bring down the hammer with heavy authority.

But be wary of such a quick-strike approach-
- even if for no other reason than your own self-protection.

“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13.

Search yourself.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.” Galatians 6:1;Ephesians 2:4; Romans 5:8.

Even if we’re not the one stumbling at the moment-
- we’ve stumbled before and we’ll stumble again.

That’s why every Christian, when noticing a brother or sister struggling-
- always needs to know where to find the nearest mirror.

Examining ourselves first will help us watch more carefully what we do and say to them.

As long as we’re in close proximity to other believers—and they with us-
- there will be ample opportunity to notice each other’s flaws.

But let’s take these opportunities to help make each other better-
- spreading hope,
- instead of gossip.

"Lord God, You alone are perfectly good, holy, and blameless. You have set high standards, knowing our fullest blessing will only come from being totally surrendered to Your will and Your Word. But You are “rich in mercy” You have shown us Your love “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Help me to be an example of Your patience, gentleness, and perspective toward those who, like me, are prone to fall short of what You’ve called us to be and do. In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

"My Manna"
Double-minded
"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is ​​​​d​​ouble-minded and unstable in all they do.' James. 1:2-8.

The often-quoted first chapter of James teaches about responding appropriately to trials.

In hard circumstances, the heart is purified and faith strengthened.
However, in order to formulate a proper response, we must ask for God’s wisdom.

James then slips in a principle:
“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” v. 6.

In other words, believers shouldn’t vacillate between certainty that the Lord will respond as He has promised and fear that He will not.

Wavering faith hinders God’s plan.

Unacknowledged sin-
- is often a cause of wavering faith,
- as is our tendency to focus on circumstances rather than on Christ.

But uncertainty can frequently be traced back to our own weak prayer life.

Unspecific requests-
- too many believers present:
“Lord, You know what’s going on with me and what I need. Please give me what I need.”

When a believer is unsure of what he is requesting-
- he simply cannot be confident the Lord will answer.

Sometimes our need is obvious-
- and we can ask God for it by name immediately.

In other circumstances, we must seek His will before we can know how to petition Him:
“Father, You promised that if I trusted You and did not lean on my own understanding, You would direct my path. So, I am expecting to receive clear direction from You.”

Since God longs for His children to make right choices-
He has obligated Himself to show us His will when we ask.

Whatever He impresses on your heart-
- begin to pray specifically
-​ ​and follow through faithfully.

My Manna

"That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” Acts 24:24-27.

Some people like to say that they are “born procrastinators.”

According to Scripture, that is impossible for believers.

Procrastination can be a form of bondage in a person’s life, and the Lord, who wants the best for His followers, didn’t design us to be enslaved.

Procrastination has several common causes.

Discomfort
The first is an attempt to dodge discomfort.

Many people put off taking action because they feel uncomfortable or anxious about the ramifications.

In today’s passage, Felix sends Paul away-
- fearing the apostle’s talk about righteousness, self-control, and judgment.

This can show up in our spiritual life!

We sometimes delay Bible reading and meditating-
- because we are afraid God will bring to the surface a matter we need to confront.

Then, if such a subject comes up, we often choose to procrastinate about dealing with it.
Issues like pride, self-control, or guilt may not be comfortable to face, but dodging them obstructs God’s purpose in our life.

Doubt
The second cause for putting things off is self-doubt.

Those who consider themselves inadequate to complete a task may choose not to begin it.

Related to this is another factor:

Dread
Fear of making a mistake or failing in an endeavour can make postponement seem preferable.

Procrastination is no laughing matter-
- particularly in the spiritual realm since delaying on an assignment from God is the same as disobeying Him.

Are you prone to delay?

Identify problem areas and the feelings that accompany them.
Then confess your tendency, and rely on God’s strength to overcome it.

My Manna
As Lazarus was dying, his sisters urgently called for Jesus to come. John 11:1-6.

Imagine how their grief must have compounded-
- when He didn’t instantly respond to their request.

God’s silence​ ​ is-
- difficult to accept!

We want Him to leap into action at our call-
- particularly if we are hurting or afraid.

But since He promises to meet our needs-
- we can be sure that a silence from heaven has purpose.

God’s silence-
- expects us to admit!

The disciples knew that Jesus could heal, so they must have wondered why He delayed instead of rushing to His friend’s bedside.

But the Lord wanted them to witness something even greater:
His power over death.

They had been confused by His statements about conquering death, and they needed to understand that He could fulfill His own resurrection prophecies. Mark 9:31-32.

The miracle at Lazarus’s tomb was part of their preparation.

God’s silence-
- teaches us to anticipate!

Mary and Martha sent word of Lazarus’s illness because they anticipated the Lord would heal him.

But if that expectation was not met, would their faith waver?

Martha answered the question by stating that she believed Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of God.” John 11:21-27.

The women’s trust was rewarded with a stunning miracle: their brother’s return to life.

At times, the only thing we can hear when we pray is our own breathing.
That can be frustrating and frightening.

But Scripture says God is always with us, and His silence won’t last forever. Ps​alms​. 38:15; Heb. 13:5.

Cling to those promises as you seek the purpose behind​​​ His silence!

My Manna
"Taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8-10.

Two conflicting opinions about material wealth exist among believers.

One says that to be truly spiritual, a Christian must keep few worldly goods.

Proponents of the opposite idea think that prosperity is a sign of God’s favour and, therefore-
- a desired possession can be claimed by faith.

Bewildered, many followers of Jesus wonder-
Which of the two is the correct approach?

But neither answer gives the full picture.

A hindrance to answering the question is our common view of what constitutes “good things”; usually these are defined as items and experiences that make us feel happy.

From God’s perspective, however, the good things in life are-
- those that fit into His individualized purpose and plan for us.

His will could include prosperity, robust health, talents, and opportunities.

But more than likely-
- the Lord’s plan involves some periods of trouble and need, and He considers those times valuable too.

When our vision of what is truly good clears-
- we are ready to understand how to receive God’s blessings.

The key to receiving life’s good things is to seek the Lord Himself rather than just the treasures He has to give.

We often approach God with an empty basket rather than an open heart-
- we tell Him what we need and wait for the bin to be filled.

But an open heart says:
“God, I just want more of You.”

According to Psalm 34:8-
God is good, and James 1:17 says that He is the source of “every good and perfect gift.”

Giving blessings from His storehouse is in God’s nature-
- but He wants His children to seek Him ​​​​​​above all else.

My Manna​
W​e often think seconds are not very important.

But seconds tick away into minutes, minutes into hours, and hours into days.
We have all been amazed at how swiftly days turn into weeks, months, and years.

Think of it this way:
A 70-year-old has lived the equivalent of about two billion, two hundred seven million, five hundred and twenty thousand seconds!

While you read that last sentence-
- about five seconds of your life elapsed, and you can never go back and decide to use them differently.

As small as they are, seconds are precious because they are a creation and a gift of God.

How we use even these small time increments makes a difference.

Since our heavenly Father has a plan for each life—that we live for His purpose and His will-
- then we must consider how we spend not just years, months, and days, but even minutes and seconds.

And the time to decide is now-
- before any more of your life passes by.

Understanding the value of each moment, the apostle Paul urged us-
“Be careful how you walk... making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians. 5:15-16.

In essence, he is instructing us:

“Take advantage of every opportunity God gives you. Don’t waste your time!”

Let Jesus be your role model for keeping a balanced schedule.
He knew that spending time with the Father was the most important thing He could do.

Follow His example, and begin each day in the Father’s presence.
He will help you ​​​​arrange your schedule and can make every second count.

My Manna

"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD​."Exodus 15:23-26.

Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. 

Sometimes we focus on the "big sins" such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin-
- but the Lord doesn't give this sin a free pass- quite the opposite. 

It's a ​​​​​​​​hidden killer! 
This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! Numbers 16.

In this passage, we read how the Israelites, who were desperately thirsty, looked only at the fact that the water they had come to was bitter and undrinkable. 

How quickly they forgot their God who had led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders.

They had just witnessed His dividing of the Red Sea and destruction of those who had enslaved them.
And yet, so quickly they returned to looking only with their natural eyes at the problem in front of them, completely forgetting the miracle working power of their God!

And so they murmured against Moses.
But honestly, weren't they really murmuring against God?

Once again, Moses interceded for them-
- revealing the faithfulness of His God to answer every impossible dilemma and provide for every need;
- and again, setting them the example: they simply needed to go the Lord!

So often, just like the Israelites-
- we focus on our desperate situation with our physical eyes, and not with eyes of faith, and then fall into the trap of complaining.

And if you're like me, once I start, it can be really hard to stop...until the Lord stops me, right in my tracks and He reminds me- aren't you really complaining against me? 

I have to remember to see that I actually hinder the Lord's answers to my problems by unbelief-
- which leads to the sin of murmuring!

Let's not allow this sin to gain a foothold-
- because it can easily become a stronghold!

The same wonder working God that led the children of Israel out of Egypt, is still at work today-
- but are we hindering Him?

If we are grumbling and complaining-
- we are missing out on His answers and blessings which are waiting in the wings to meet our faith in Him!

My Manna

“Look, the days are coming”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“when I will fulfill the good promises that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 33:14.
The prophet Jeremiah told us God would fulfill His promise of a Saviour. 
The people could look forward to someone who would save them from captivity.
What did they expect as an answer to their prayers? They thought the Messiah would be a powerful leader, capable of subduing an empire and ushering in God’s reign. 
But instead of answering the promise as they anticipated-God did the opposite. He sent a servant who would die on the cross for their sins.
God often does that!He answers our prayers in unexpected ways. 
We ask for healing, but God chooses to give us strength for each day. We ask for relief from our trials, but God helps us endure and grow stronger. We ask God to deal with our adversaries; instead, He transforms our attitudes.
God is always faithful to his promises.He just doesn’t do things the way we expect. 
When you don’t see answers to prayer that you are anticipating-- take a look to see if God is blessing in unexpected ways.
"Father, You are faithful to Your Word. I give You praise

My Manna
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14. 

There are two kinds of birds that roam the desert: 
Vultures and hummingbirds. 

The vulture thrives on a diet of rotting meat. 
He flies overhead searching for traces of leftover carcasses from slow-footed critters eaten by wild animals who’ve already had their fill.

Hummingbirds, on the other hand-
- will sweep through the desert, passing over all those repulsive, dead animals and seek colorful patches of beautiful wild desert flowers. 
They will suckle the delicious juices of those sweet desert blossoms and be satisfied.

While vultures look to the dead for their survival, the hummingbird seeks the living! 

Likewise, some of us unconsciously look to our past with its regrets, failures and sins to keep us alive. 
We think that somehow by looking back to those dead things, we might find some motivation to keep surviving here and now. 

But let’s take a lesson from the hummingbird.

Let's sweep past that which is dead and focus on the sweet new life-
- the exciting future that God holds for us as we continue seeking Him and moving forward in our relationship with Him!

My Manna

"...your youth is renewed like the eagle’s". Psalm 103:5.
When we read “your youth is renewed..,” most of us think in terms of the physical body. 
Yet a youthful heart attitude can contribute greatly to keeping us young.

What characterizes such a youthful heart?

Approach!
A youthful approach to life. 

This includes curiosity, passion, enthusiastic responses, optimistic viewpoints, and enduring confidence. 
Jesus promises us a full life. John 10:10. 

Are you passionately pursuing the Lord and life in Him?

Adaptation!
Active pursuit of learning.

The young at heart are willing to embrace new ideas, make changes in their lives, and adapt to new things. 
For Christians, God’s Word is to be a primary source of learning. 2 Tim. 3:16. 

What have you learned from the Bible this past week, and how has it impacted your life?

Attitude! 
A hopeful outlook in the face of trials. 

A youthful attitude is resilient and able to find meaning and strength in adversity. Rom. 5:3-5. 
Ask the Lord to increase your trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope. 15:13.

Affection! 
Those who are youthful in spirit willingly reach out in friendship. 

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whom will you befriend?

Beware of hindrances to being young at heart. 

One obstacle is self-absorption-
- which can close us to new ideas, new people, and even to the Spirit’s call. 

Heed Jesus’ command to deny self. Matt. 16:34. 
If self-focus describes you, confess it, and seek to have a youthful heart attitude. 

You’ll experience the inward vitality that characterizes the young at heart.2 Cor. 4:16.

My Manna

"Return, Israel, to the Lord your God.Your sins have been your downfall!Take words with you and return to the Lord.Say to him:“Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,that we may offer the fruit of our lips." Hosea 14:2.
How do we deal with demandingness? 
We must repent of it. Our passage today tells us how. 
First:Return!
"Return to the LORD." 
The key to ridding ourselves of anything that is spiritually injurious is to return to God. 
The pursuit of God involves a shift away from dependence on one's own resources to dependence on God. 
Doing good and correcting wrong behavior does not automatically make us good people. 
Obedience is extremely important, but it must be accompanied by deep, heart repentance.
Second:Repent!
The passage says: "Take words of repentance with you."
This phrase means that we must put into words a clear description of what we are repenting of. 
If we are not clear about what is going on inside us, how can we repent of it? 
Next: Receive!
"Forgive all our sin." Repentance puts us in touch with God's forgiveness. 
We can work to bring about change also-- but the greatest catalyst for change is humbly positioning ourselves before God and asking for His forgiveness.
Then: Rejoice!
"Accept what is good, so that we may repay You with praise from our lips."
The thought here is: "Receive us that we may worship You more effectively."
The purpose of all restoration is to worship God. 
We will be drawn into true worship when we give up insisting on our own way and learn to trust God for our own happiness. 
When repentance moves us from a spirit of demandingness to absolute trust in God-- then we are in the place where God is able to make our feet like "hinds' feet," - and equip us with the ability to ascend into the heights with Him.
"Tender and skillful Invader of my heart, I yield my stricken being to You for healing.Drain every drop of demandingness from my being. For I want not only to be better but to be whole. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

My Manna

Do you believe that the Lord has absolute control over our universe—including all the people in it? 

The best way to know the truth about the Lord is to see what He has inspired men to say about Him in Scripture.2 Tim. 3:16. 

God declares He is sovereign over . . .

• Nature. 
Psalm 135:6 says, “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.” 

God causes the rain to fall, the grass to grow, and the land to bring forth food. 
There isn’t a single aspect of nature over which the Lord lacks control.

• Nations. 
“He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.” Job 12:23. 

God’s rule is certain and sure. 
He keeps watch over the nations (Ps. 66:7), knows all that is happening, and maintains His authority over both good and evil governments Rom. 13:1.

• Natural man. 
God has control over unbelievers as well as believers. 

“He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25. 
He forms us in our mother’s womb, knows the number of hairs on our head, and determines the appointed times and places of our lives. Psalm. 139:13; Luke 12:7; Acts 17:26. 
Spiritual life as well as physical life is under His complete control. John 6:44.

When we believe God is sovereign and experience this truth in our lives, we will be filled to overflowing with peace and joy. 
We will rest secure in the knowledge that no matter what is happening in our world, our God reigns. 

His will shall be accomplished. 
Does your life show trust in God’s sovereignty?