Manna for Your Morning

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 (NASB) Brothers and sisters, as I said, I know I have not arrived; but there’s one thing I am doing: I’m leaving my old life behind, putting everything on the line for this mission. I am sprinting toward the only goal that counts: to cross the line, to win the prize, and to hear God’s call to resurrection life found exclusively in Jesus the Anointed. (Philippians 3:13-14 VOICE) May we look unto Jesus and keep our ears attuned to the still small voice of God, as He leads us and guides us through this day. Stay mission minded, because God has a good plan and a purpose for you to fulfill.

Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” — Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NASB) Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; (Proverbs 29:18a AMP) The Message Bible says, If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. (Proverbs 29:18) May we write God’s Word on our hearts and run with the vision He has given. Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. — P roverbs 29:18 (KJV)

He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. — Matthew 12:30  (NASB) Let us gather, in love, peace and unity. Tear down the walls that separate and build bridges that connect us. In John 17:20-21 (MSG), Jesus prayed: “I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.” “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse. ”— Matthew 12:30 (MSG)

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 (AMP) One of the enemy’s tricks is to keep us looking back. It's a distraction that puts us in a holding pattern. We will never attain all that God has for us, if we don’t press on and reach forward. Five times the Apostle Paul received thirty-nine lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked… He had been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from his countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; he had been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2...

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. — Philippians 3:15-16 (MSG) As we make our goals for the new year, may we set our hearts and minds to be totally committed to pursuing all that God has purposed for us. No turning back and no detours. After all, our heavenly Father only wants the best for us. Let us press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14 NLT). Let us keep the faith and run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). He is calling each one of us to higher ground, a holy ground, where we will experience a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.

…I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. — Philippians 3:14 (MSG) The rear view mirror is smaller than the windshield because where you are going is much more significant than where you have been. Forget those things which are behind you and reach forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13). God is calling us onward & upward! “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19a NIV)

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:14 (NKJV) God chose us and called us, and He has plans to give us a future and a hope. We are to progress forward and upward, as we pursue the good plans and purposes God has for us. In Philippians 3:12, the Apostle Paul says, not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. May we too, PRESS ON! Instead of letting the difficulties set you back, use them to take a step up, into a stronger, more spacious place in God. Run your race, with your eye on the prize, being fully confident that He who began a good work in you, is faithful to complete it.

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. — Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare;” (Isaiah 42:9, NKJV). God is doing a new thing! Stop studying past events. They cannot be changed. No longer cling to what is old and familiar. The Apostle Paul said, “one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:13b-14, NKJV). Today is a new day! May we press on and look forward to what lies ahead!

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3:30 (NKJV) This is the first Scripture God put on my heart in the new year and I'm making it my ultimate goal for 2014. It goes along with the series Pastor Matthew Pollock has been preaching about making room for Jesus. In order for Him to increase in our lives, we have to make room for Him. Let us get rid of the clutter in our lives, close our ears to the cries of our flesh and open all the doors and windows of our hearts to Jesus. May we allow Him to increase in our hearts, minds and lives. May we allow His Presence to increase in our homes, on our jobs, in the market place and everywhere we go. Amen!

For we walk by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) A thought from my hike yesterday: I could not always see the top of the mountain, but I continued to take each step, looking as far ahead as possible. Eventually, we reached our goal, the mountaintop. As we journey through life, we may not be able to see the destination God has in mind, with our eyes. But if we take each step, as He directs, with faith, He will guide us to our desired destination. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day (Proverbs 4:18, NIV). Keep walking by faith, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.  — Philippians 3:13 -14 (AMP) Sometimes it is a strain to move forward, but when we lay aside the disappointments and regrets of the past and throw off everything that hinders us, we are able to run with perseverance the race marked out for us. So let us press on, with our eyes on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus! Let there be no turning back or getting side-tracked.

We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 (GW) In this life we have to endure some things. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The Amplified version goes on to say that Jesus deprived the world of power to harm us and conquered it for us. Amen! We must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3), knowing that He has already given us the victory. Let us be like the Apostle Paul and fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)!

Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. — Philippians 3:13-14 (The Message) As we begin to put closure on this year, let us forget those things which are behind us and press on. Where we are going is much more important than where we have been. May we move onward and upward, to Jesus and the call that God has on our lives. Don't turn back. Keep your eye on the goal!

Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him.  — 2 Corinthians 5:9 (GW) When it comes to pleasing people versus pleasing God, may we always strive to please God rather than man. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions (2 Corinthians 5:9, The Message). First Thessalonians 4:1 encourages us to EXCEL in living a God-pleasing life even more than we already do. Amen.

Then the LORD answered me, “Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (GW) If God has given you a vision for your future, write it down and make it clear. Run with it and the vision will certainly come to pass. If there is a delay don’t start to have doubts or get discouraged. God brings everything together at the appointed time. At the appointed time, Sarah’s previously barren womb gave birth to a son well past her child-bearing years. Abraham and Sarah did their part (this was not the virgin birth) and God made it happen. Likewise, we have to do our part and patiently wait for God to make it happen. And when it does, it will be right on time. Amen!

It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (GW) Congratulations! You may have overcome many obstacles this year, but the important thing is that you persevered and made it through. Praise the Lord! As we look forward to the New Year, may we resolve to get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. Let us run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up (Hebrews 12:1, GW). Run straight toward your goals, jump over any hurdles and keep your eyes on JESUS. Run to win! Complete the course!

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJ) Brothers and sisters, don't get hung up on what happened in days gone by. That is like driving down the road while looking in the rear view mirror. You will not get very far before you crash. Instead, keep reaching forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal, to finish the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14 (The Message) Today is a perfect day to reflect on all the LORD has brought you through in 2010 and praise Him for it. Hold onto what you learned and let go of all the disappointments. We don't want to carry any old, heavy baggage into the new year. May we keep our eyes on the goal, as we constantly move toward Jesus. Be eager to follow God's direction as we journey through 2011. Have a Blessed New Year!