Manna for Your Morning

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14 (The Message) Today is a perfect day to reflect on all the LORD has brought you through in 2010 and praise Him for it. Hold onto what you learned and let go of all the disappointments. We don't want to carry any old, heavy baggage into the new year. May we keep our eyes on the goal, as we constantly move toward Jesus. Be eager to follow God's direction as we journey through 2011. Have a Blessed New Year!

God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 (The Message) Just as earthly parents always hope for the best regarding their children, our heavenly Father never gives up on us. Glory to God! Abba Father is faithful and so worthy of our trust. Depend on Him. He will keep you strong and on the right track until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements]. Romans 13:8 (Amp) Let us have no debt except the continuing debt we have to love one another. To practice love means it is not something we do sporadically, but consistently. And as we constantly carry out acts of love, it gets easier and we get better because the intrinsic rewards are so good. First John 4:16 says,God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. This is the way our love is made complete.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NLT) In order to have a Spirit controlled mind, we must be transformed from the inside out by renewing our minds to align with God's Word. When the world says hate, God says love. When the world says get even, God says to forgive. The world tells us to look out for ourselves, but God's Word says to consider the needs of others before yourself. When we stop following the ways of the world and set our minds to do what is pleasing to the LORD, we are being led by His Spirit and we experience a full, vibrant life and a deep sense of peace which surpasses all understanding. Amen.

With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? Romans 8:31-32 (The Message) Have no doubt, God is on our side. He loves us so much He let His Son shed His innocent blood and die on the cross to pay the debt for our sins. God did this so that we could fellowship with Him now and forever. Now Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for us. With our mighty God on our side, no one can defeat us. No weapons formed against us will prosper. God loves us and is working for our good. Praise the LORD!

There was no hope that Abraham would have children. But Abraham believed God and continued hoping, and so he became the father of many nations. As God told him, "Your descendants also will be too many to count." Romans 4:18 (NCV) Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said (Romans 4:19-20, The Message). Abraham never doubted and he never stopped believing. Let us be like our father Abraham and have a faith that doesn't fizzle. Plunge into the promises that God has given to you by taking the action you need to take and believing Him for the rest. The things that are impossible with man are possible with God.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NKJ) After the shepherds saw Jesus, they went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Let us glorify and honor God for sending us His Son, our Savior. Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor, and His ear is always open to hear your voice. He is a Mighty God, who gives us the victory. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will reign forever and ever. Praise the Lord!

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 (NKJ) Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room in the inn. Be sure to make room for Jesus in your heart. Instead of letting a desire for the temporary things of this world occupy your heart, seek the face of the Lord with all your heart. May the longing of your heart be for more of His Presence. Do not allow your heart to be hardened by hatred or made cold with bitterness. Instead, open your heart wide to the Lord, until it’s only reflection is the soft, warm glow of His love and His light.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 (NIV) The fact that Jesus came to earth is good news for everyone! For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17). Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, to set the captives free, to release prisoners from darkness, and to comfort those who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). He came that we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). What a wonderful Savior we have in Christ Jesus. Let us celebrate His birth with great joy. Merry Christmas!

The godly are showered with blessings; Proverbs 10:6 (NLT) We are blessed to be a blessing to others. Just as the wise men found Jesus and presented gifts to Him, what will you give to bless someone else? The greatest treasure we can share is the gift of unconditional love. Do you need to forgive anyone for a wrong they have done to you? Now is the perfect time. Just as Jesus gave Himself to save us, we can give of ourselves to the benefit of another. Will you offer the gift of your friendship to someone who is lonely? It's easy to go out and buy a gift, but what people value most is what comes from inside your heart.

He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 115:13-15 (NLT) The LORD blesses those who reverently fear Him. May you and your children be richly blessed as you choose to follow the LORD. If you obey the Lord your God, blessings will come upon you and overtake you. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. The LORD will send a blessing on everything you put your hand to. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Amen.

Peter began to speak: "I really understand now that to God every person is the same. In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!" Acts 10:34-36 (NCV) God shows no favoritism. He loves us all and lavishly pours out new compassions on us every morning. No matter who you are or what you have done when you humble yourself and sincerely worship God, you are accepted by Him. You do not have to pretend you are something you're not. God comes to you exactly where you are and meets you there. Hallelujah!

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM . - Exodus 3:14 (NIV) “I am Almighty God, the Holy One of Israel. I am God, and there is no other. There is none like me. I am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Do not be afraid, for I am with you and I watch over you wherever you go. I am your shield, your very great reward. I never change. I am faithful. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed. My promises never fail. I am your Creator, the One who formed you in your mother’s womb. I am your Father. I know you better than you know yourself. I am the potter who shapes your life. I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48:17). I am compassionate. I am He who comforts you. I am the LORD, who heals you. I am the Sovereign LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? ” (Jeremiah 32:27)

He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash, Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best. He gives childless couples a family, gives them joy as the parents of children. Hallelujah! Psalm 113:7-9 (The Message) Our heavenly Father is the ultimate transformer. He specializes in changing the condition of our lives, hearts and minds. God picks up the poor out of the dirt and raises us up in Christ and seats us in heavenly places in Christ. He shows us the incomparable riches of His grace. He crowns us with glory and honor and gives us a deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance. He takes those who have been thrown out by society and treasures them with love and compassion. God takes that which is dead and barren and brings it back to life and makes it fruitful. Glory be to God!

For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. Psalm 113:4-6 (NLT) The Lord our God is seated on His throne, high above heaven and earth. He is full of glory and majesty, worthy of all adoration and praise. He is all powerful and all knowing. No one can compare to our mighty God. What a privilege we have to be called His children! To have this great God as our protector and defender. Let all the earth worship our heavenly Father.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. Psalm 112:6-8 (NIV) Those who do what is right will not be shaken. The person who trusts in the LORD has no reason to succumb to fear. Our hearts are secure, as we rely on our heavenly Father. We can run our race with the confidence that we will be victorious over our enemies. Hallelujah!

“Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT) Feeling weak and worn out? Count your blessings and praise the Lord. You will find strength as you rejoice in the Lord. May God anoint you with the oil of gladness and never let your cup go dry.

Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate. Psalm 111:2-4 (NIV) Let us ponder the great works of the LORD. His spectacular deeds reveal His majesty and glory. He created the earth and the heavens. He gives the breath of life to every living being. Our heavenly Father wrote all our days in His book before one of them came to be. Full of grace and compassion, He guides us along on the right path and never leaves our side. Always remember the wonderful works of our great God!

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27 (NIV) Doubting Thomas had to see the Lord and the nail marks in His hands and put his hand into His side before he believed. But Jesus said those who have believed without physically seeing are blessed. James 1:6-7 says, 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. Believe Jesus is all He claimed to be, the way, the truth and the life. Believe that He conquered death, sin and everything in this world that rises up against us. Remember, in Jesus, we have the victory!

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 108:12-13 (NIV) Instead of putting your confidence in man, look to the LORD. With God's help, we gain the victory. The One in us, is greater than the one in the world. With God all things are possible. As long as we remain in our heavenly Father, we are a powerful, unstoppable force. Amen!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. John 10:11-12 (NLT) Jesus is the Good Shepherd who sacrificed His life to save the sheep. He does not abandon us when we are in danger. We have nothing to fear, because He is with us. He guides us along the right paths and leads us beside peaceful streams. Amen.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth. Psalm 108:4-5 (NLT) God's unfailing love reaches you wherever you are. If you're down in a deep, dark valley, His relentless love will help you up. If you're on the mountaintop, His eternal love met you there. When you may think no one cares, our heavenly Father proves you wrong. May His majestic glory shine upon you today and always.

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.” John 8:12 (God's Word) When we believe in the light, we become children of light (John 12:36). We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with our heavenly Father and His Son. It is in the light that we experience God's abundant life, and His unending love and compassion. In His light, we are able to clearly see the truth. Let us live in His brilliant light.

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38 (NKJ) Are you feeling a little dry and lifeless? Jesus said those who drink the water He gives will never thirst again (John 4:14). He satisfies the thirst of our souls with the presence of His Holy Spirit. Come to the Lord and drink. Be rejuvenated and refreshed as His streams of living water flow deep within you.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 (NIV) Jesus is the bread of life. With Him in our hearts, we are fully satisfied, more so than if we had eaten a 3-course meal. He is the One we need to feed on to receive our daily nourishment. However, we should not act like it's a buffet and choose whatever we want on the menu of life. We are to eat the food our heavenly Father provides, and we will never experience the pangs of hunger and emptiness.

Be glad that you are his; let those who seek the Lord be happy. Depend on the Lord and his strength; always go to him for help. Psalm 105:3-4 (NCV) Be glad that you belong to the LORD and no one can take you out of His hands. As you seek God and His will, let your heart be filled with joy. Instead of trying to accomplish things in your own strength, depend on the LORD and His strength. He is your helper and nothing is too difficult for Him.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NLT) Today, I celebrate the single most important, life-changing event of my life. Twenty-one years ago, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and God wrote my name in the Book of Life. During the ignorance of my college years, I was an atheist, but on December 5, 1989, in a small trailer in Fallbrook, California, God opened my eyes to see the Light. Oh what a happy day! Jesus took my burdens and set me free. He replaced my loneliness and pain with joy and the companionship of His Holy Spirit. He took my emptiness and filled my life with love, hope and purpose. I told my sad story to two co-workers who cared enough to listen and they told me about the love, forgiveness and eternal life Jesus offers. Never fail to plant the seeds of the Good News about Jesus and God will cause them to grow.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Psalm 104:33-34 (NLT) When we fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable and think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise, as Philippians 4:8 instructs, then we can be sure our thoughts are pleasing to the Lord. Hebrews 3:1 tells us to fix our thoughts on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He is most excellent and worthy of the highest praise. Rejoice in the Lord and let the meditation of your mind settle on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the reason for all of the seasons.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. Psalm 103:11-13 (NLT) The Lord is like a good father to His children. He wants the very best for us and gives us the necessary tools and resources for success. The Lord showers us with tender lovingkindness and compassion. He is merciful and forgiving. Like a good father, He provides for our present needs and prepares us for a glorious future. Hallelujah!

"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36 (The Message) In a conversation about end times, Jesus warned his followers not to get distracted by worldly events. We are to watch, and pray for strength to endure all that will happen before Jesus returns. Amen.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT) Let us never forget the good things the Lord does for us. He forgives us for all the times we fall short of His will. He heals our diseases. The Lord redeems us from death and gives us the wonderful gift of eternal life. His love and tender mercies sit upon us like a crown of sparkling jewels. He renews our youth and vigor and fills our life with good things. Glory hallelujah! Praise the precious name of the Lord!