Manna for Your Morning

“Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.” — Psalms 25:4 (TPT) We can tire ourselves out trying to figure out how to handle a difficult situation, or which way to go. This can lead to anxiety, worry and weariness. Instead, focus your attention on Yahweh, our great and awesome God, and yield to His will. He knows every detail of our lives and He already has a solution to every problem, an answer for every question, and a way of escape for every temptation. And with God nothing will be impossible. (See Luke 1:37) Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP)

This is the day which Yahweh has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalms 118:24 (LSB) We can rejoice in this day because Yahweh is with us, and with God ALL things are possible. (See Matthew 19:26) He will never leave us, nor forsake us. In Isaiah 43:2-3 (TPT), He says: “When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel!” “ Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand .” — Isaiah 41:10 (TPT)   Amen!

“Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.” — Psalms 23:1-3 (TPT) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me… (See Psalm 138:7 NASB1995) Rest in the luxurious love of Yahweh, and He will restore and revive your life. For thus says Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Israel: “By repentance and rest you are saved, in quietness and trust is your strength— but you were not willing.” (Isaiah 30:15 TLV) Release your mind from anxious thoughts and rest from frantic activity. Keep your trust in Yahweh, and you will find strength.

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (TPT) I appreciate that The Passion Translation says that love is “ consistently ” kind. Let us not be sporadic in our love for YAHWEH or toward other people. First John 4:8 says: God is love. And He dwells within us. So let us, as followers of Christ, and children of the Most High God, share the love YAHWEH lavishes upon us, with all people, regardless of their race, color, religion or sexual orientation. May we show genuine love even to those who have not loved us. In Matthew 5:44-45, Yeshua instructs us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, so that you may be sons of our Father who is in hea...

The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD,
 and He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. — Psalm 37:23 (AMP) So follow the steps of the good, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. (Proverbs 2:20-21 NLT) Be a close follower of Christ Jesus. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. — Romans 8:28 (NLT)

“ The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be. ” — Jeremiah 17:9-10 (MSG) The LORD is the righteous God, the soul searcher, who looks deep into every heart to examine the thoughts and motives. (See Psalm 7:9 TPT) He is more concerned with the hidden person of the heart, than with your outer appearance. Our hearts grow to be more like Him, as we spend time with Him. Therefore, “…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). The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him …” — 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NLT)

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. — 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT) Lust seeks self-gratification. Love is other-focused, not self-centered. Jesus was beaten, shed His blood, gave His life and was resurrected, to save us and reconcile us back to the Father. He set us free from sin and made it possible for us to live an abundant life on earth and an eternal life in His Presence. As we decrease and let Jesus occupy every crevice of our heart, His love will shine brighter and brighter through each one of us and we, as children of God, can illuminate the world.  He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NASB)

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) The Passion Translation says that love is gentle and consistently kind to all. (1 Corinthians 13:4 TPT) God’s perfect love for us is constant. May we continually walk in love, with all people. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. (1 Corinthians 13:7 TPT) We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. — 1 John 4:16 (NASB)

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. — John 13:1 (NKJV) Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (John 13:4-5) Jesus showed His love for his disciples by serving them. He washed their feet. The love He had for His disciples moved him to action. The love He has for us led Him to sacrifice His life on the cross. May we continuously walk in love and show others the full extent of our love. Love never comes to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:8 GW)

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 I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (AMP) If you say you love, but never show it, you are merely making a lot of noise. Jesus showed His love to us by stretching out His arms on the cross. How do you show love? May we love extravagantly. Lavish love on others that is rich and genuine. Love BIG and out of the box, in action and kind deeds, not just words.

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. — 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP) What is the antidote to being offended? Walking in LOVE. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening] (1 Corinthians 13:7). Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything (1 Peter 4:8 MSG). This is the same kind of love God has extended to you. Amen!

If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (AMP) Let us all be inspired by the love God has shown to us. For God loved the world so much that He intentionally gave his one and only Son, so everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Love is an action word. To show love and truly serve humanity is something we have to purpose in our hearts and actually follow through with our “DOING.” Are you just going to make a lot of noise or are you going to intentionally touch others with the sacrificial, genuine love of Christ? It’s your choice. Choose wisely!

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.  — Isaiah 38:17 (NIV) Our great God has lovingly delivered our souls from the pit of corruption (Isaiah 38:17, NKJV). In His love, our bitter experiences are changed to sweet. He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28). The magnitude of His love is so large, nothing can separate us  from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In His love, we are able to love our neighbors and our enemies. In His love, there is patience, forgiveness and kindness. Always, live your life in His LOVE!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message) So faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is LOVE. Be extravagantly generous with love. Give love without restraint. Let it out of the box! God is love and whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them. Jesus loved us so much, He gave His life for us. Since God loved us first, let us be rich in love toward others. Happy Valentine's Day!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. 1 John 3:1a (The Message) 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 (1 John 3:16, The Message). Let us take the marvelous, sacrificial love that we have received and share it with our brothers and sisters. Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Happy Valentine's Day!

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (The Message) In the words of the Apostle Paul, without love we are nothing and we gain nothing. If we don't have love in our hearts, our words are nothing more than a loud, irritating noise. I once heard that people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. Love seeks to understand others instead of criticizing and judging them. Love embraces others and keeps no record of wrongs. Lov...

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 (NIV) May we always walk in love with our neighbors, that includes our spouses, children, relatives, in-laws, and co-workers. We are to show our love not only in word but also in deed. Let our actions reflect care and concern for others. Our love for others should be like the love Christ has for us, unfailing and unconditional. Happy Valentines Day! Love, Jackie