Manna for Your Morning

"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity." 1 Chronicles 29:17a (NIV) Since our heavenly Father is pleased with integrity, let's make sure we are men and women of integrity. When we give our word, we are to keep it, even if it is no longer convenient for us. Integrity calls for us to adhere to the moral standards of God's Word, in every area of our lives. Integrity is doing what you know is right: loving God and loving our neighbors, no matter how unloving they may be. When you do this, know that you have put a smile on the face of God.  Love, Jackie 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) Walk in the light. The truth that sets us free is found in the light. In the light, love, peace and joy abounds. In the wonderful light, we are cleansed by the wonder working blood of Jesus. It is in the light, where we fellowship with the Father and behold His glory. Love, Jackie

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 (NIV ) Even though you cannot see it, the LORD is making a way for you. What seems impossible to man is possible with God. Keep looking to Him with eyes of faith and He will show you the way. Love, Jackie

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) God has begun a good work in you and He will be faithful to bring it to completion. Stay on His altar and submitted to His will and you will enjoy a more abundant life. Be confident that God is working for your good. Love, Jackie

As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 Kings 11:4 (NIV) King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and his wives led him astray. What a tragedy when hearts turn away from the one true God. To stay fully devoted to the LORD, we must guard our hearts because the things we allow into our hearts determine the course of our lives (Proverbs 4:23 NLT). We guard our hearts by being very careful of what we look at and what we listen to. As we read the Word and sing His praises we are laying good soil in our hearts that will cultivate a harvest of faithfulness and loyalty. Love, Jackie

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message) The Apostle Paul encourages believers not to lose heart. The troubles we experience in this world last only a moment when compared to the future glory we will experience forever. Instead of focusing on the temporary, let us keep our eyes fixed on what is eternal. Love, Jackie

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. Luke 19:2-4 (NIV) Zacchaeus set his heart on doing what he could to see Jesus. What special efforts will you take today to fellowship with the Lord? What trees will you climb to get a glimpse into the glory of the Lord? He comes your way, today. Seek Him and the kingdom of God first and foremost, before anything of this world.  Love, Jackie

Now I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Philippians 1:12 (NIV) The Apostle Paul rejoiced as he sat in prison in chains. He realized the hardship he suffered encouraged other believers to speak the word of God more courageously (Philippians 1:14). Paul rejoiced because he did not focus on his temporary circumstances and difficulties, but on the eternal impact of spreading the Good News. May God help us to keep our eyes on Him and His kingdom in all of life's challenges. Amen. Love, Jackie

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (NKJV) We are a work in progress, but God is faithful. He does not abandon the works of His hand. The Apostle Paul said you can be confident that, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). May we stay submitted to the work of perfection God is doing in our hearts, our minds and in our lives.   Love, Jackie

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. Proverbs 27:20 (NLT) "More!" seems to be the cry of the human heart. Colossians 2:9 says we have been given fullness in Christ. If we have accepted Jesus and given our hearts to God, we have ALL that we need. The Apostle Paul said, "I've learned to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." (Philippians 4:12 The Message) I encourage you to find the recipe for your own happiness. You don't know how many days are ordained for you to live on this earth, so enjoy each and every day of your life. Loving Life, Joyful Jackie

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV) Have you been struggling to know God's will for your life? Only after we have renewed our minds with the Word of God will we be able to discern the perfect will of God. As long as we conform to the ways of the world the things of God will remain a mystery. May we renew our minds according to the Word and allow ourselves to transformed to be more like Jesus Christ.   Love, Jackie

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) The words we speak are supposed to edify and build others up. If you are calling the people in your life, stupid, dumb, good for nothing, fat, greedy, etc., you are tearing them down and crushing their spirits. Instead of speaking negative into someone's life, make it a habit to speak loving, kind and uplifting words every chance you get to make a deposit into another person's life. May your words be beneficial to all who hear them. Love, Jackie

"Watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape..." Deuteronomy 4:15-16 (NIV) God is still speaking to me about idols, so I'm sharing with you. May we search our hearts and see if we have put anything before God. If you give more attention to following celebrities and emulating sports figures, instead of seeking God's will and His direction then you may have a problem with idolatry. Husbands, your idol may be in the form of a vehicle if you put more energy into keeping your vehicle spotless than you do glorifying God by loving your wives as Christ loved the church. Let us be like the Thessalonians who turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Amen.  Love, Jackie

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us." He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." Exodus 32:1, 4 (NIV) In Exodus 20:2, God says, "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything..." The Israelites made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. What form do our idols have today? For some, the idol may be a rectangular-shaped box known as the TV. Anything we honor more than God becomes an idol in our lives. If we spend more time watching television than we do spending time singing praises to God, reading His Word or talking to Him in prayer, TV may be our idol. If we spend more time absorbed in our favorite shows than we do expressing our love for God and for our neighbors ...

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:13-14 (NIV) If we meditate on the Word of God until it gets into our hearts we will be more likely to speak His Word. When we are thinking and speaking God's Word we increase the probability of following God's Word. This is pleasing in His sight. So let us seek to please our heavenly Father at all times. Amen. Love, Jackie

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." Genesis 35:2-3 (NIV) Jacob instructed his family to change clothes as part of their preparation to worship God. Similarly, the Apostle Paul instructs believers to take off the old self with its evil practices and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Let us clothe ourselves as children of the light and worship our heavenly Father. Love, Jackie

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) We must use wisdom and exercise self-control to live a godly life. It doesn't come easily and naturally. Like those in physical training we need to discipline ourselves and take in the proper diet. As we feast on the Word of God, our minds and hearts are renewed and transformed to be more like Christ. Let us pursue godliness which has great value for all things, including our relationships, our mental health & emotional well-being. Grace and Peace to you, With Love, Jackie

The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NIV) As we renew our minds with the Word of God, we are transformed. Submit to His Word and His Spirit and you will have life more abundantly and ever flowing peace.  Love, Jackie

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16 (NIV) Let us be like the Apostle Paul and always strive to keep a clear conscience before God and people. That means we have to exercise our love muscle in all our interactions. Make a decision today  to walk in love with God and your neighbors at home, work and play. In His Love, Jackie

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:16-17 (NIV) Jesus appointed us to bear fruit that will last. When we walk in love with each other, our actions produce the sweet, delicious fruit of joy, peace, and patience. When we touch the life of another human being with a kind deed and a caring attitude, this is fruit that will last. May you go and bear much eternal fruit. Amen.  Love, Jackie