Manna for Your Morning

I will send terror ahead of you that will force the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way. But I will not force all those people out in only one year. If I did, the land would become a desert and the wild animals would become too many for you. Instead, I will force those people out slowly, until there are enough of you to take over the land. Exodus 23:28-30 (NCV) God drove the enemies of the Israelites out of their Promised Land little by little until they were able to take care of the land. This Scripture is a reminder of how things happen according to God's perfect timing. He will not give us more than we can handle. Single people looking for a partner must remember there is a time of preparation involved for them and their future spouses before God will bring them together. For those wanting to advance in a career, there is a time of acquiring the necessary skills. When it comes to receiving the desires of our hearts, let us be patient and wait on the LORD and His ap...

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. Psalm 65:5-8 (NLT) Almighty God is our only hope. He is life and He is love. God faithfully answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer does not look the way we thought it might, but we have to open our eyes and see the handiwork of God in our lives. May His awesome deeds inspire you to shout for joy. Love, Jackie

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! Proverbs 12:20 (NLT) Are you running a little low on joy? King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said joy would fill the hearts of those who plan peace. So make every effort to live in peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14). To maintain peace we must answer offensive remarks with kind words in a loving attitude. Promote peace in your home, at your place of employment and wherever you go and you will have a joyful heart. In Love & Peace, Jackie

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJ) There is no Rock like our God. He is our Rock of refuge and there is no other. He is strong and immovable, our Redeemer. He takes us by the hand, pulls us out of the muck and mire and leads us to a higher place. God is the strong foundation on which we can stand. Praise the LORD. Love Jackie

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (The Message) We have been called and chosen by our heavenly Father, and He is completely dependable. If we fall, He is there to catch us. He does not sleep and he doesn't slumber. Even if we are unfaithful, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13, NLT). We can be confident that He will do what He says. Every word that goes forth from His mouth accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11). Trust God and stand on His Word. Love, Jackie

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17 (NLT) The path God lays before us is not always the shortest or easiest route. It may seem like God is taking us on a detour, in a direction away from where we want to be. He may be keeping us from harm or leading us through some difficulty that will make us stronger and prepare us for a future event. Whatever the case, we can trust our Shepherd to guide us to our desired destination, our promise land. Don't ever change your mind about following God. As we patiently walk with Him, the Lord will position us in the right place at any given moment. Enjoy the Journey, Jackie

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) The Lord is our strength. Cast all your worries, anxieties and concerns on Him because He cares about you. He does not want you heavily burdened. Once you have given your them to God leave them in His hands. Don't pick them up again. Take up the yoke of the Lord, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:29). Love, Jackie

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3 (The Message) You are redeemed and have everlasting life. God called you by name and engraved you on the palms of His hands. No matter what you are going through, He is there with you. Jehovah-Shammah is His name, our Ever-Present God. No need to fear. He is faithful to make a way for you. Love, Jackie

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 57:1-2 (NLT) Take refuge in the shadow of God's wings until the storm is over. He is El Shaddai, All-Sufficient, the One who takes care of us. Cry out to the Most High God. He watches over you and He will fulfill His purpose for you. Love, Jackie

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. Psalm 52:8-9 (NLT) Blindly trust in God's unfailing love and thrive in His house. If we rely on God, we refuse to be shaken by the constantly changing circumstances of this world. When we remember how much God truly loves us, we do not worry about the challenges we face. Instead, we are rooted in God's deep, abiding peace and nothing rocks our joy. Let us always praise Him for the amazing things He has done. Amen. Love, Jackie

Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” Exodus 5:22-23 (NLT) Sometimes when we follow the Lord's instructions, things seem to get worse. And like Moses, we throw ourselves little pity parties, where we whine and complain and accuse God of doing nothing. God never promised us it would be easy, but that He would get us through it. While we do not always see the big picture, we can treasure the Lord's declaration in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Amen. Love, Jackie

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 (NKJ) Thank God for His grace and His mercy, but there is nothing quite like His wonderful Presence. And He promises to never leave us or forsake us. In His holy Presence we are sanctified and filled with His peace that passes all understanding. His loving Presence chases all our fears away. In His Presence we find unspeakable joy and everlasting life. May you be sustained by His generous Spirit today and always. Love, Jackie

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The people of Israel groaned, because they were forced to work very hard. When they cried for help, God heard them. God heard their cries, and he remembered the agreement he had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He saw the troubles of the people of Israel, and he was concerned about them. Exodus 2:23-25 (NCV) The Egyptians showed the Israelites no mercy and made their lives very bitter. But God heard the cries of the Israelite people and He was concerned about them. Whatever troubles you may be experiencing, remember that God hears your cry for "help!" He is concerned about you. Your day of deliverance draws near. God will eventually get you through it or over it. The bitter will be changed to sweet. Amen. Love, Jackie

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 (NLT) After their father died, Joseph's brothers feared he would pay them back for the many wrongs they had done to him (Genesis 50:15). However, Joseph comforted them and spoke kind words to them. He realized that God had been working in His life the whole time to get him in the right position at the right time. We may not understand why bad things happen but that is where trust becomes essential. When others intend to harm us we need to exercise our faith in God. He will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Forgive those who have plotted evil against you or fal...

But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. Genesis 39:20-22 (NIV) Joseph was thrown in prison because his master's wife falsely accused of him of attempted rape. However, in the midst of his trials, the LORD was with Joseph and gave him favor. Genesis 39:23 says, t he warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." No matter where the winds of adversity may take you, God is with you and He will give you success. Even if you are, emotionally or physically, shut up in a prison cell today, like Joseph, you can still experience victory in the midst of your trials. No wall is high enough to shut out God's love. At God's appointed time, the king ordered Joseph's...

The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. Genesis 39:2-4 (NLT) The secret to success is obedience to God. Joseph's response to the temptation of laying with his master's wife was, "How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" When we walk in line with God's will, He blesses the work of our hands. Even those around us will receive the benefit of God's blessings, similar to how God treated Potiphar. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished (Genesis 39:5, NLT). W...

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19 (NLT) This same God who generously took care of the Apostle Paul, will amply supply all your needs, in every area of life. The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is Jehovah-Jireh, God, the Provider. He foresees each and every one of your needs. Nothing catches Him by surprise. The earth and all it contains belong to Him (Psalm 50:12). Fear not, He has already made a way for you. Amen. Love, Jackie

He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT) God prepares us to face our challenges and He gives us what we need day by day. The LORD is our source, and when we stay tapped into Him our spirits are revived, our souls are refreshed and our energy is renewed. When you are tired and worn out, find new strength as you trust and wait on the LORD. Love, Jackie

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2:9-11 (NLT) Seek wisdom from God and treasure it in your heart. The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). Make wise choices to follow God's ways and you will have good success in life. Love, Jackie

“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:14-15 (NLT) Let your sacrifice to God be a thankful heart. Give thanks to the Most High for his unfailing love and undying compassion. Thank Him for His awesome deeds. And be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Love, Jackie

Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.” Isaiah 12:5-6 (NLT) Jehovah-Shammah is the God who is always there. He never leaves you or forsakes you. In the fullness of His power and glory, He dwells in you and around you. No matter where you are or how alone you feel, God is there. Wrap yourself in His arms of love, be comforted by His compassion. Let Him guide you with His wisdom and knowledge. Allow His peace to permeate your being. Enjoy His Presence today, tomorrow and forever! Love, Jackie

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the LORD Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth . Psalm 47:1-2 (NKJ) Clap your hands and give God a joyful shout of praise! Today is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. How awesome is our great God, the King over all the earth. He is seated on His holy throne. The LORD is highly exalted and worthy of all praise, honor and glory. Leave a sacrifice of praise on His altar today. Hallelujah! With Love, Jackie

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJ) No matter what calamities may come, do not fear because the LORD, our God is a very present help. In times of trouble, He is our hiding place and our strength. You are not alone. Be confident that God is not only with you in every situation but He also helps you.

It wasn't their swords that took the land. It wasn't their power that gave them victory. But it was your great power and strength. You were with them because you loved them. —Psalm 44:3 (NCV) The Israelites defeated their enemies and took the land because God was on their side. It is with God's mighty power and strength that we win our battles. Don't think for a minute that you can do it on your own. God is with you because He loves you and with His help you gain victory. Hallelujah!

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2 (NKJ) Today is the day to come and appear before God. He is the only one who can quench the thirst of your weary soul. Whoever is thirsty, let him come and drink of the living water. Love, Jackie

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. Psalm 40:1-2 (NKJ) When we patiently wait for the LORD, He will establish our steps and give us a firm place to stand. He hears when we cry out, and picks us up out of the pit of despair. Praise God for His faithfulness.

Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'I am too old to have a baby'? Is anything too hard for the Lord? No! I will return to you at the right time a year from now, and Sarah will have a son." Genesis 18:13-14 (NCV) Is anything too hard for the Lord? The answer is a resounding, "NO!" He created the earth and put the sun, moon and stars in place. He split the sea and held it open for His people to walk through on dry land. The Lord takes what is barren and makes it fertile. Sarah gave birth to a son in her nineties, just as the Lord said. At the right time what the Lord has promised you, will also come to pass. Nothing is too difficult for our great God. Enjoy the Journey, Love, Jackie

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJ) Let's not think our Christian duty is done when we leave church on Sunday morning. That warm, cozy feeling we get when come together and worship often dissipates before we make it out of the parking lot. There are 10,080 minutes in a week. What can be said in a 60-minute service that will sustain you for the rest of the 10,020 minutes? We must dine daily with the King of kings to get the strength we need to stand victorious in the trials and temptations we face. Sit at His feet, like Mary, and feast on His Word everyday. Enjoy the Presence of the One who gave His life for you. Love, Jackie

Then Abram brought back everything the enemy had stolen, the women and the other people, and Lot, and everything Lot owned. Genesis 14:16 (NCV) God helped Abram defeat his enemies and rescue his nephew, Lot. John 10:10 says, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. What has the enemy stolen from you? Did he take your joy? Has he robbed you of marital bliss? When you walk on that job, do you allow the devil to steal your peace? Has he destroyed family relationships? Does he steal your patience as you sit in traffic? Has he killed your hope of success and prosperity? It is time to bring back everything that has been stolen. Everyday we are in a battle because the devil declared war against the offspring of Eve (Revelation 12:17). But God has already given us the victory. Put on the full armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:13-18). Pursue, overtake and recover all...

To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiates 2:26 (NIV) When we live our lives to please God, He blesses us with wisdom, knowledge and happiness. Wisdom helps us make the right choices and knowledge brings understanding. Another benefit to pleasing God is great joy. May we live for an audience of One. With Love, Jackie

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6 (NLT) Whatever endeavors you pursue in 2010, commit them all to the Lord and He will help you. Trust the Lord and He shall bring it to pass. With Love, Jackie