Manna for Your Morning

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. — Proverbs 19:21 (MSG) Before every person lies a road that seems to be right, but the end of that road is death and destruction. (Proverbs 14:12 VOICE) When we are in the driver’s seat, we are sure to end up on a dead-end road or going over a cliff. God allows us the free will to do things our way but realize that there are always consequences to that. In addition, when we choose to do things our way, it’s not God’s best for us. Some people think the word submission is a bad thing, but we are all submitting to something. Are you submitting to your flesh, to this world, or to God, our Maker? It is a good thing when we are submitting to the right authority. Submit your life to our heavenly Father, and to the authority of His Word. May we follow Him all the days of our lives. He knows the best way for us to go so that we arrive at the glorious destination of His master design. The steps of a [good and ri...

As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”  — Genesis 19:17 (NIV) After being warned by an angel, Lot’s wife chose to look back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). God gave us free will. We always have a choice. Like Lot's wife, we can chose disobedience and death or we can choose to give up our old ways and follow the LORD's instruction. His ways lead to a rich and satisfying life, full of His blessings and favor. Our heavenly Father, like any good parent, gives us instructions for our own good and our protection. He is not out to get us. He loves us and is on our side.

“ The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do.” — John 10:17-18 (GW) Jesus gave His life to save us. He held nothing back, He gave all of Himself. Wherever He went, Jesus met the needs of the people around Him. Even on the cross, He extended salvation to the criminal on the cross beside Him. Let us follow the example of Jesus and be givers. May we exercise our free will to pour life and love into the empty lives of those around us. If they don't know Jesus, they are empty and the greatest gift we can give anyone is the unconditional love of Christ.