Manna for Your Morning

...He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. — Luke 5:4-7 (NASB) The call of Jesus to come to Him, is a continual call. He calls us into a deeper relationship with Him. Dive deeper into His Word, into Worship and His Presence. Why live a surface level life, when you can go deeper in God and experience bountiful blessings in your life? When we do what Jesus says, we will have boat-sinking blessings, more than enough to share with others. Launch out, away from the shallow waters, and into the deep with Jesus! Be like Simon Peter, James and John, when they had brought ...

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” — Luke 5:4-5 (NKJV) Jesus may be calling you to launch out in the deep. Even if you have toiled day after day, for years, don't hesitate to act on His Word. The Message Bible says: “ It was no sooner said than done .” (Luke 5:5) Simon acted on the word of Jesus, and they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. (Luke 5:6-7) As a result of Simon’s obedience, God provided more than enough. May we continually act on the Word of God, and experience His abundant provision, which is enough to bless others as well as our own family.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. — Psalm 37:23-24 (NASB) We are never alone. The LORD is our constant companion. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 MSG)  He delights in every detail of our lives. (Psalm 37:23b NLT) When we stumble He is there to catch us. When we cry, He puts our tears into His bottle (Psalm 56:8)  The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT) Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way. (Psalm 16:11 MSG)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and the source of all comfort. We can know that we know, our God is faithful. He is no respecter of persons and He does not change. What He does for one, He will do for all. If we fall, our merciful Father is there to catch us in His arms. In all of our troubles He is there to comfort us. He is the excellent role model for us. As He is compassionate and comforts us, likewise we can be there for others when they are troubled, and going through hard times.

Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave the people this message from the LORD: “I am with you, says the LORD!” — Haggai 1:13 (NLT) This morning, I give you this message: “The LORD is with you!” Have you ever wondered why God repeatedly reminds us, in His Word, that He is with us? Could it be that He wants us to remember that He is always there to help us and comfort us, to lead us and guide us. We never have to feel alone, rejected or abandoned. He is there to catch us if we fall. In Isaiah 41:10 , He says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” He is with us to support and strengthen us. Praise the LORD for His Presence!

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’ — Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT) The everlasting arms of our heavenly Father are underneath us. He is there to catch us when we fall. He formed us in our mother's womb and gave us the breath of life. He has continually been our support, since birth. God holds us close and carries us through the difficult times. He delivers us from all our troubles and will carry us even to old age. Our faithful God has not brought you this far to leave you now.

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. — Luke 5:9-11 (NKJV) One characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ is that they forsake all. In Philippians 3:8 (GW), the Apostle Paul says, “I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ” Another trait of the early disciples is that they followed Jesus. They did not make any excuses. Jesus said,  “Follow Me” and they simply followed Him. When we forsake all and follow Him, astonishing things happen in our midst!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah — Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV) When it seems the world is falling apart around us, God is a very present help. We need not fear because our mighty God is an impenetrable refuge. The LORD surrounds His people like a strong fortress. If life has you standing at the edge of a cliff, about to fall. Be courageous, God is there to catch you and be your strength.

The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.  — Psalm 145:14 (NKJV) In Isaiah 41:10, the LORD says, “ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” The LORD is our support. He is there to catch us if we fall. Our heavenly Father reaches down and lifts us out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire of life. He sets our feet on a rock and gives us a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:2). Amen!

He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. — Ezra 7:9 (NIV) Ezra had the good hand of God upon him during his five month journey to Jerusalem. May the gracious hand of God be upon on us, as we embark upon the journey to a higher and deeper place in God. His gracious hand will guide us and protect us along the way. The good hand of God is there to catch us, when we fall and comfort us in our distress. The good hand of God opens doors, that were previously shut. Let us rely on the gracious hand of God. Amen.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;  — Psalm 34:15 (NIV) Our heavenly Father diligently watches over you. He does not neglect His children. He is there to catch us when we fall. Abba Father knows our anxious thoughts and when we cry, He is there to catch every tear that falls from our face. Psalm 34:17 says, the righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Amen and Hallelujah! Draw near to the LORD.