Manna for Your Morning

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” — Matthew 11:2-3 (NLT) You can be certain, that we don’t need to look for anyone else. Yeshua is the Messiah, our risen Savior. After John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Matthew 3:16-17 says, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” As he sat in prison, something caused John the Baptist to doubt the Word of Yahweh. Never let difficult circumstances cause you to doubt. Yeshua is the only way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (See John 14:6)

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” — Acts 17:27-28 (NLT) Instead of following the behavior and customs of the world, let us seek after God and follow His ways.  The Word instructs us to seek after God. It does not say to seek fame, fortune, a celebrity, or a sports team, etc. Our heavenly Father is the only One Who can fulfill the deep longing in our hearts. “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to the LORD, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” (See Isaiah 55:2 NKJV)  The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand (act wisely), Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance]. — Psalms 14:2 (AMP)

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. — Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NASB195) Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught. Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart. (Proverbs 3:3 TPT)

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. — Psalm 68:19 (NASB1995) Are you feeling anxious or stressed out? Are you weary and worn out? Give your cares to Yahweh because He cares for you. Bless the LORD O my soul! Day after day He carries our heavy loads, when we give them to Him. Jesus says: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 HCSB) Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22 NASB1995) May we continually give our cares to the LORD, each and every day. He is faithful to deliver us out of all our troubles. (See Psalm 34:17)

“ And I will give them one heart [a new heart], and put a new spirit within them. I will take from them the heart of stone, and will give them a heart of flesh [that is responsive to My touch], ” — Ezekiel 11:19 (AMP) May our hearts always be responsive to the touch of the LORD, just as clay in the hands of a potter. “…learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him...” (See 1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT) Do not let self-righteousness or pride cause you to harden your heart. Proverbs 11:20 (NKJV) says: Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD. Anything contrary to the Word of God (truth) is perverse. Humble yourself and set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD our God. The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, the LORD will not endure. (See Psalm 101:4 NKJV) If your heart has gone astray from ...

Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me.” — Song of Songs 2:13 (TPT) Arise beloved! Run to the higher place. Come away with Jesus. The LORD has good plans for you and it’s the LORD’s purpose that will prevail. (See Proverbs 19:21) He will guide you with His counsel, and lead you to a glorious destiny. (See Psalm 73:24 NLT) Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:14 NKJV) “Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and Yahweh’s glory now streams from you! Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth,  and thick gloom covers the nations,  but Yahwe...

A true friend loves regardless of the situation, and a real brother exists to share the tough times. — Proverbs 17:17 (VOICE) In John 15:13-15 (NASB), Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” Jesus is a friend who loves at all times, (See Proverbs 17:17 NASB) Jesus is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother. (See Proverbs 18:24 AMP) Choose today, to follow Jesus closely and serve Him, the One who gave His life to save us.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. — Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Don’t allow your faith to be shipwrecked. Fix your hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people. This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], (Hebrews 6:19 AMP). Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. — 1 Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. — Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV) What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. (Psalm 31:19 MSG) You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! (Psalm 31:20-21 NKJV) As we worship the LORD and set our affections on Him, we will see the wonders of His unfailing love. In His presence is fullness of joy; in His right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11) Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world.  (Psalm 31:21 MSG)

When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” — Psalm 27:8 (AMP) The presence of the LORD is our greatest need. Seek His face, every moment of your day. 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) With His help we can advance against a troop; with our God we can scale a wall. (Psalm 18:29 NIV). With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; my soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1 AMP)

You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.’ — Deuteronomy 3:22 (NKJV) Have no fear of the giants that stand before you. Mountains are molehills to our great God.  So don’t be discouraged by the fiery trials and tribulations that come, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Second Chronicles 20:17 says, You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you…   For victory and success in the battles of life, humble yourself under His mighty hand, keep your heart in a position of prayer, and stand on His Word.

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. — John 16:21 (NIV) Just as a woman endures labor pains in order to deliver a baby, we too must persevere some trials and suffering, in order to give birth to the dreams and desires God placed inside of us. Once the labor pains begin, it's only a matter of time before a new life is born into this world, but the mother has to go through the process. Let us not quit in the process of realizing our dreams and goals. Don't let the pains of childbirth discourage you. We can look forward to the inexpressible joy that will be ours as we accomplish all that God has for us. If you are in the waiting room of life, patiently wait, full of expectation, knowing that your time will come.

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. — Isaiah 26:3 (AMP) We can have perfect and constant peace as we center our thoughts on the LORD (not our problems). Think about His faithfulness, His goodness and His mighty power. Stay mindful of our awesome God, and all the wonderful works He has done in our midst. May we be fully committed to the LORD and be completely confident that He is able to take care of everything that concerns us.

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. — Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful (Psalm 147:1). No matter what mayhem comes, continue to sing praises to the LORD Most High. His Presence inhabits the praises of His people. And in His Presence, the mountains before you will melt like wax (Psalm 97:5). Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Your arm is mighty. Your hand is strong. Your right hand is lifted high. Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne. Mercy and truth stand in front of you. Blessed are the people who know how to praise you. They walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.  — Psalm 89:13-15 (GW) Hear the joyful call to worship and walk in the light of the LORD's Presence! If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7). In the Presence of our mighty God there is fullness of joy. In His Presence, we draw strength from a well that never ones dry. May we continually praise the LORD and walk in His light with every step we take.

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 (NIV) The prodigal son took his share of his father's estate and wasted it all on a wild lifestyle, far away from home. When he came to his senses, he returned to his father's house. If you have strayed away from our heavenly Father, return home, the place where His glory dwells. You are His child and He longs to embrace you and surround you with His love and compassion. The father of the prodigal son put the best robe on him. He had a ring put on his finger and sandals on his feet. He celebrated with a feast. Our heavenly Father will rejoice over you.

"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry." Isaiah 58:9-11 (The Message ) When we take our eyes off of what we don't have and look at how we can bless others with what we do have, we become a beacon that illuminates the darkness. If you're taking care of the needs of those who are troubled and hungry and not making trouble for others, then your light will shine in this dark world. You will be bright like the sunshine at mid-day. God will always show you which way to go and you will live a full life even in empty places.

God , investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can't take it all in! Psalm 139:1-6 (The Message) We are never out of God's sight. He takes what is behind us and works it all together for good. He knows your final outcome and it is to prosper you, to give you hope and a glorious future. No matter what you go through, God will take care of you. He will not abandon you. Amen. Love, Jackie

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) Imitate God and live a life of love. God showed His love by sending His only Son to die for our sins. Jesus loved us and gave His life to save us. Love is characterized by giving and serving, by putting the needs of others before your own, by sacrifice. May we always walk in love with those God has placed in our lives.   Love, Jackie