Manna for Your Morning

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. — Luke 6:27-30 (MSG) The way the world lives is contrary to the way Jesus instructs us to live. As disciples of Christ, let us live generously. Generosity begets generosity. Let the love, kindness and generosity of God bring about love, kindness and generosity in you. Living in this manner, we can be instruments of change of in this world.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. — Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. (John 3:16 MSG) For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure, the gift of his Son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won’t withhold from us anything else he has to give. (Romans 8:32 TPT) Our heavenly Father is a generous giver. As with any gift given, we must believe the gift is for us and receive it. Believe that our God is a good Father who loves you and wants nothing but the best for you. Settle for nothing less than God's best.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. — Psalm 139:1 (NKJV) You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.  — Psalm 139:1 (NLT) God knows everything there is to know about us, and He still lavishes His love on us. No sense in trying to pretend with our heavenly Father. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us less, His love is unconditional. The sins we have confessed, He does not recall them. He sees the best in us and wants to bring it out. Psalm 139:5 (NLT) says, He places His hand of blessing on your head. He loves you so deeply, His thoughts about you can’t even be counted; they outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore! (Psalm 139:17-18) Be captivated by His love for you and seek to become more intimately acquainted with Him.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. — Proverbs 4:18 (NASB) If you have given your heart to Jesus, you are on a path that shines brighter and brighter. No matter how dim things may appear right now, know that your future shines brighter and brighter. We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) Always be led by His Spirt and the rest of your life will be the best of your life. Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous . (Psalm 112:4 NKJV)

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. — Romans 12:2 (MSG) As we focus on our heavenly Father and all His wonderful attributes, we will become more like Him (loving, kind, gentle, etc.). When we pay close attention to His Word, we allow God to transform us by changing the way we think. He will mold us and shape us and bring the best out of us. May we be captivated by His love and thankful for all that He is doing in our lives here and now.

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. — Job 42:12 (NIV) Whether your former life was great or not so good, the LORD can make the rest of your life, the absolute best of your life. He will turn your sadness into gladness, and your mourning into dancing. He takes the barren and makes it fruitful. He fills what is empty. Our mighty God will restore what the enemy has stolen and what the locusts has eaten. What is dead, our living God can breathe new life into it. What you once thought was a problem will be your praise. “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD and whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:7 AMP)

Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] — 1 John 4:7-8 (AMP) Our walk with God is all about love. Loving Him and loving others. Love is an action word. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him (1 John 4:9 NLT). May our hearts be open to receive the unconditional love our heavenly Father lavishes upon us. Abba Father loves and accepts us right where we are, let us also love people where they are and encourage them to move onward and forward. Just as God always sees the best in us, let us see the best in others. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the ...

“I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. — Matthew 5:44-45 (MSG) A lawyer, asked Jesus a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:35-39 NKJV) Before we are able to love our spouse, our neighbors or our enemies we must love God. The love of God in our hearts gives us the ability to love others, the way our heavenly Father loves us. May the Lord make your lo...

Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. — Romans 13:8 (AMP) Love is a verb, it calls us to action. Love suffers long. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7 NKJV). The love Jesus has for us caused Him to give His life. Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 NKJV). Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13 NKJV)

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.” — Matthew 6:30-31 (MSG) God has given us so much, His Son, His Spirit, His peace, etc. How do you respond to God’s giving? Let us always give thanks for the many blessings our heavenly Father continually pours out on us, too numerous to count. I believe, a genuine heart, full of gratitude and appreciation for all He has done and is doing, is an awesome way to respond to our great God. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus says, “ Freely you have received, freely give. ” Another response to God’s giving is to become like Him and generously give to others. We are blessed to be a blessing!

So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD answered, “He is there, hiding himself by the provisions and supplies.” — 1 Samuel 10:22 (AMP) Saul knew God chose him to be king, but he went into hiding instead. Was he afraid to step into the position God had for him? We have all been called by God. He has a plan for each and every person He created. Are you hiding from the call God has on your life? No good soldier of Christ goes UA (unauthorized absence). Don’t let fear keep you from walking in His perfect will and fulfilling the purpose and plans He has for you. Why settle for less, when God offers you the absolute best? Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ( Ephesians 4:1 NLT )

So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again…” — Genesis 46:3-4 (NKJV) God promised Israel that He would accompany him on his journey to Egypt. And He fulfilled that promise. Israel dwelt in the best of the land, and grew and multiplied exceedingly. (Genesis 47:11, 27). Our mighty God is a Promise Keeper. His words still ring true for His people today. We are not to fear treading where God has called us to go. When we go down, let us remember that God is with us and He will surely bring us up again. May we encourage ourselves in the LORD and find strength to endure life's challenges. Wherever and whatever God leads us to, He is faithful to bring us through it, out of it, or over it. Glory hallelujah!

  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...

In light of all this… I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. — Ephesians 4:1 (MSG) The moment a train is derailed, it is headed for destruction. It has to progress steadily, on the tracks, and allow the tracks to guide it, in order to reach the intended destination. Similarly, once we step off the track of what God has for us, we are headed for a wreck. When we stay in continual communion with the LORD, He will be our guide and support, enabling us to run strong and long, with purpose and determination. Then we will see promises fulfilled and dreams materialized. As we stay on track with God, we will be sure to reach our desired destination. Good wants the best for you, don’t settle for less.

“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” — 2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV) God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure (Ephesians 1:5 NLT). God takes great delight in His children. He is a good Father and as any good father, He takes care of His children. He wants nothing but the best for us. If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him  (Matthew 7:11 AMP). Our heavenly Father is loving and faithful. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).

“Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do.” — Acts 24:16 (MSG) Let us always strive to do our best. When we do what we know is the right thing to do, we can have a clear conscience and live without offense, toward God and people. As we draw near to our heavenly Father, He leads us and guides us along on the right path. And His way, leads to everlasting peace, joy and the abundant life. When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7 NKJV). Amen.

Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP) True love endures ALL things, without growing weak. As Pastor Jeff Osborne preached, “there are no loopholes in love. We cannot choose when to love and when not to love.” Our earthen vessels were created to be containers of God’s love. Not closed up containers, but vessels that are open to receive God’s love and to give love back to our heavenly Father. We are to be open receptacles to let God’s love flow to everyone that comes our way. We are called to love ourselves, our neighbors, and even our enemies. Our love is to remain steadfast during difficult times. The root of bitterness and hatred cannot grow in the soil of God’s love. Let us cultivate love and have faith to believe the best of others.

Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. — Proverbs 3:9 (MSG) As we honor God by giving back to Him  and to others, He pours back into our lives in abundance so that we have more than enough. As Pastor Jeff Osborne taught on Sunday, there are givers, takers and matchers. Takers are only out for what they can get from others. Their mantra is “what have you done for me lately?” Matchers limit their giving to the extent that they receive from others. Givers, freely and cheerfully give. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16a (NKJV). God gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. His love knows no bounds; it is limitless. Freely we have received, let us freely give!

“With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home. — Exodus 15:13 (NLT) Just as God led the Israelites out of the land of slavery to the promise land, He leads us with His unfailing love, each step of the way. God is love. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:7 NIV). Our heavenly Father always sees the best in us. His love never runs out and He never gives up on us. Be reassured, nothing on this earth can separate us from God’s amazing love.

God wants His children to know : “I really do love you. I want the absolute best for you. Don’t think you know better than I do, what is good for you. Don’t grovel in past mistakes, and don’t be like a dog that goes back to its vomit. Your future is so much more glorious than where you have been. The world has nothing of any value to offer you. It’s all temporary. What I offer is life, abundant life, true happiness and a deep, deep peace that will not be moved by circumstances. I have a love for you that never dies and never grows cold. I don’t love like man. I love deep. I love you through and through. I know the worst about you and I still love you. I will never abandon you. I’m here to stay, right by your side. You are not alone. Stop running. I am on your side —not against you. Draw near to Me. I want to hold you in My arms. Let Me surround you with the light of My love. My perfect love casts out fear. When my light enters your being, darkness has to flee. It cannot stay. T...