Manna for Your Morning

“When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.” — Luke 9:10-11 (NLT) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT) He still brings healing and wholeness to those who are sick. And He still welcomes ALL who choose to follow Him. In Luke 9:23 (NLT), Jesus said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” May we give up our own ways, and follow Yeshua every day. He will empower us to walk in the ways of the Kingdom of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! In His great mercy He caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua from the dead.  — 1 Peter 1:3 (TLV) No matter what trials and tribulations we encounter in this life, we have a living hope in Yeshua. He is alive and seated at the right hand of Abba Father. …God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue profess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord— to the glory of God the Father. (See Philippians 2:9-11 TLV) and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God. (1 Peter 1:21 AMP) Yet I am so thankful to God, who always marches us to victory under the banner of the Anointed One; and through us He spreads the beautiful frag...

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” — Ruth 1:20-21 (NLT) In the land of Moab, Naomi’s husband and two sons died. (See Ruth 1:3-5) She returned home to Bethlehem, with her loyal daughter-in-law, Ruth, feeling quite empty. However, Yahweh was not finished with her. In the midst of horrific circumstances, know that God is still at work. He provided a kinsman redeemer named Boaz. Ruth became his wife. The LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. (See Ruth 4:13-14) And indeed, their son, Obed became the grandfather of King David. (See Ruth 4:22) Loss, pain and suffering are part of our li...

From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help]. For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. — Psalm 61:2-4 (AMP) Know that He alone, whose name is the LORD, is the Most High over all the earth. (See Psalm 83:18 NASB1995) He called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. (See 1 Peter 2:9) This call is from a lower place to a much higher place, and from a dark place to a place full of His marvelous light and amazing love. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (See Isaiah 55:9 AMP) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. (See Psalm 18:16 NLT) In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the ...

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:7 (NLT) In the same way you received Jesus our Lord and Messiah by faith, continue your journey of faith, progressing further into your union with him! (Colossians 2:6 TPT) Stay connected to Jesus, and always reflect His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin. (See Colossians 2:6 AMP) We are able to do this knowing that everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. — 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. — Psalm 130:1-2 (NLT) I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT) For the same God who made everything, our Creator and our mighty maker, he himself is our helper and defender! (Psalm 124:8 TPT) You can count on, trust in and rely on Him. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever. (Psalm 125:2 NLT) I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. — Psalm 130:5 (NLT)

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, and He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. When he falls, he will not be hurled down, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him. — Psalm 37:23-24 (AMP) You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. (Psalm 139:5-6 TPT) Find strength in the One Who holds your hand and sustains you. He has placed His hand of blessing on your head. ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ — Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. — Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG) After the crucifixion and burial of Christ, the Believers were discouraged, defeated, and hopeless. They could not see past Friday, to the glory of Sunday and the empty tomb. If we are more plugged in to the negative news of this world, instead of the Good News we have in Jesus, the Living Word, our outlook becomes dark and gloomy. If we rely on the Word of God instead of a doctor’s report, we will maintain our peace and a proper perspective. To keep a proper perspective, look up to Almighty God and look in His Word which stands forever. What looks like failure, is just a temporary spot on the way to your promise land. It’s ...

Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  — Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NKJV) Even though the vision God has given you seems slow in coming, wait patiently for it, because it will surely take place at the appointed time. To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1). “… the just shall live by his faith. ” (Habakkuk 4 NKJV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NASB)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. — Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) In order to stand up to everything the devil throws our way, we must clothe ourselves in the full armor of God, and use our weapon (the Word). Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:14-18 NLT) Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)

  Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. — 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 (MSG) We are similar to priceless gems, diamonds in the rough. We all have the potential to shine, with the love and light of the LORD. Diamonds are formed under high temperature and pressure conditions beneath the earth’s surface. They undergo a refining process (removal of impurities) before they sparkle and shine. God can use the fiery trials and high pressure conditions we experience in life, to remove what is not of Him from our lives and draw our hearts closer to Him. We too are in a refining process. When we respond...

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. — Psalms 46:1-2 (MSG) No matter what fierce storms come or how violently our lives get shaken, may we stand courageous and know, with every fiber of our being, that our mighty God is a safe hiding place. Be confident that He is always ready to help. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

  But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. — Matthew 28:5-6 (NKJV) When the women told the apostles about the empty tomb, their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them (Luke 24:11). In order for the power of the resurrection to have any effect in our lives, we must believe. Followers of Jesus can rejoice in the resurrection. The fact that Jesus defeated death and rose again, gives believers the power to live in freedom and victory. His resurrection infuses in us renewed strength and hope. Just as Jesus triumphed and overcame the world, we too can be victorious. He made a way for us. Thank you, Jesus!

...the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. — Daniel 5:23b (NKJV) How do we bring glory to the God who gives us the very breath of life? LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) and seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We honor God by letting the death and resurrection of Jesus make a difference in how we live our lives today. By letting His love, His patience and His peace shine through us in all our interactions with others (our spouses, children, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, boss, etc.). And by living in the victory, that Jesus has already provided for us. We glorify God, by becoming more and more like Him, each and every day. Amen!

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  — Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT) Once we were far away from God, but now we have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). The LORD is full of compassion and mercy. He loves us and wants us close to Him. The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning(Lamentations 3:22-23. Praise the LORD!

You can depend on God. Our message to you isn’t false; it’s true. Certainly, Christ made God’s many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!” — 2 Corinthians 1:18, 20 (GW) Depend on God (DOG). Surely, our God is faithful! He fulfills all His wonderful promises. The word that comes out of His mouth does not return to Him empty, but it accomplishes what He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Fully rely and trust the Lord at all times, regardless of how circumstances may appear. He always does what He says. And He said, ALL all things work together for good to those who love God. Amen.

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 60:11-12 (NIV) Any help that comes from the strength of man is limited and temporary. With God's help we can do all things. He ensures that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). It is not by might nor by power that we succeed, but it is by the Spirit of the LORD that great gains are made, which have lasting value. With God we win!

He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:10-11 (NLT) The Lord's delight is in those who fear him. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm (Psalm 37:23, NIV). Let us give all praise, honor and glory to the Maker of heaven and earth, in all that we do. Hope in the Lord's unfailing love and you will not be disappointed.

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness. Psalm 57:2-3 (NIV) God has plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). God created you with a purpose and He is faithful to bring it to pass. He showers you with His love and saves you from those who seek to harm you. Praise God! Love, Jackie