Manna for Your Morning

I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. — 2 Timothy 4:7 (AMP) Let us be like the Apostle Paul and keep fighting the good fight, until we finish the race. Keep the faith, no matter what the circumstance. Our mighty God is a God of restoration. He will restore what the locusts have eaten. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NASB) Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (Philippians 2:12)

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!  — 1 John 4:11-12 (MSG) This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. (1 John 3:16-17 MSG) Don't be a dead-end to God's love by not passing it on. May we take the love our Heavenly Father lavishes on us and share it with others. If God dwells in us, then we have His perfect love, to love Him in return, and to love others, including our enemies. Remain in His love. Let all that you do be done in the perfect lov...

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. — Psalm 36:5  (NLT)  Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations... — Psalm 119:90a (NASB) Thank the LORD for His continual faithfulness. He is faithful to get us through the difficult days and challenging situations. In faithfulness, He strengthens us when we are weak. He is faithful to love us unconditionally. When we cast all our anxiety on Him, He is faithful to give us His perfect peace. He will trade our sorrow for joy. He is faithful to always be with us and stand by our side. In faithfulness, He will complete the good plans He has for us. He is faithful to fulfill all His promises. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. (Psalm 33:4 NASB) He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) and His word does not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). Rejoice in His faithfulness today!

This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.  — 1 Peter 2:21-23 (MSG) When others do us wrong, our inclination is defend ourselves or strike back, instead may we be content to let God set things right in our lives. May we love God and put our time and attention into fulfilling the purpose to which He has called us.  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NASB)

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. — Ephesians 3:8 (NLT) In Christ we have unsearchable riches and endless treasures available to us. Endless! They never stop. We receive a continuous flow of His amazing love. He gives us a deep, abiding peace that is available in any and every situation. We have everlasting joy. His living Word is a great treasure, that stands forever. In Christ lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3). If we lack wisdom, we can ask of God and He gives to all liberally. (James 1:5) Never forget the good things he does for us. He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. He redeems us from death and crowns us with love and tender mercies. He fills our lives with good things. (Psalm 103:2-5)

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. — Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). Life apart from Christ is a life with no hope. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). As members of God’s family we have been given access to enjoy a close intimate relationship with our heavenly Father. We are not visitors. We don’t wear welcome out. Our heavenly Father wants us close to Him at all times. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need i...

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. — Isaiah 50:10 (NLT) When the storms of life come rushing in, instead of drifting away from God and allowing your faith to be shipwrecked, draw near and rely on your God. When your journey causes you to wander in the wilderness instead of the promised land, rely on your God. If life situations seem to have you imprisoned, realize that Jesus has proclaimed freedom to those held captive and given a pardon to all prisoners. When all you can see is darkness around you, look up and into the light of the LORD your God.

May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. — 2 Peter 1:2 (Amp) According to Psalm 34:10, those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And we gain access to these good things by getting to know Him, personally and intimately. The best way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. As we spend time with our heavenly Father, our nature becomes more like His divine nature and we take on more of His characteristics. Amen.

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. Psalm 42:5 (The Message) Instead of giving all of your attention to the challenges you face, fix your eyes on God. He is bigger than any mountain that stands before you. Hope in God and continue to praise Him. He will put a smile on your face and joy in your heart. He is God and there is no other.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7 (NKJ) Though you are in the midst of trouble, keep walking right on through. The Lord will protect you from your enemies. No matter how dark and dismal your night appears, keep you eyes on the horizon for your glorious morning draws near. As the prophet Malachi says about those who honor the LORD Almighty, " goodness will shine on you like the sun ," (Malachi 4:2, NCV) Love, Jackie

I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction  and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:6-7 (NIV) Though we experience trials and tribulations, we can be glad and rejoice in the love of the LORD. Because of His great and wonderful love, we can trust Him to see us through each difficulty. Turn away from worthless idols and cling to the LORD.  Love, Jackie