Manna for Your Morning

Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good. — Job 7:7 (NKJV) Job made the above statement in the midst grief and suffering. However, God had another plan for him, a triumphant plan that was good and full of hope. Job 42:10 (NASB) says, the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. In Job 42:12, the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Job 42:16-17 says, after this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. And Job died, an old man and full of days. God has all the days ordained for us written in His book. (Psalm 139:16) When you are in a chapter that contains tragic life events, remember, your story is not over. Don’t make a final conclusion based on a temporary condition. Know that our heavenly Father is with you in each chapter. He is taking you from one glory to the next as each chapter unfolds. God has a plan for you th...

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. — Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) Consider Jesus. He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; (Isaiah 53:3 AMP). He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; (Isaiah 53:7 AMP). Just take a moment and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself. Hebrews 12:3 (AMP) says, “…consider it all in comparison with your trials, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plo...

“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” — Luke 24:6-7 (NKJV) Day One : Christ gave His life on the cross to bear the sins of many; to set the captives free from the penalty of sin and death. There was pain. There was blood shed and there was sacrifice. Day Two : There was sorrow and grief. To the disciples of Jesus, all appeared hopeless, but Jesus was taking care of business, behind the scenes. Day Three : Jesus rose from the dead. The tomb was empty. He declared victory over death, and hell. He overcame the world. My beloved friends, let us patiently endure day one and day two of any trials and tribulations that come our way. For we know that the 3rd day is coming! God will deliver us from all our troubles. Jesus has given us the victory. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, ...

Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom!  — Job 13:5 (NKJV) Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us that there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Sometimes silence is golden. When Job's friends learned of his troubles, they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great (Job 2:13). Wisdom is not only speaking the right word, but also speaking at the right time. A word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Proverbs 15:23)

So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all . — 1 Samuel 30:18-19 (NKJV) In the midst of his grief and loss, David inquired of the LORD. And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” As we encounter various trials, may we remember to always inquire of the LORD. He is a mighty God of restoration and He has given us the victory!

My child, find your source of strength in the kindness of Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 2:1 (GW) In the midst of despair, grief, or suffering of any kind, may you draw strength straight from the source, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His grace. After everyone had abandoned him, the Apostle Paul said,   “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength” (2 Timothy 4:17). May you look to Him today, as He stands by you and know that His grace is all you need. When we are weak, He shows Himself strong.

May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10 (NKJ) Isaiah 53:3 tells us that even Jesus was a Man of suffering and familiar with pain. Endure hardship, the suffering won't last forever. When you are experiencing grief in all kinds of trials, it seems like its going to last forever, but it is temporary. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. And after you have suffered a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. Your present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40 (NIV) Those three days Jesus spent in the heart of the earth were a time of mourning and weeping for His followers. They lost all hope. However, Jesus had already told His disciples in John 16:20, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy." We will experience times of weeping, as well as times of laughter. There will be times to mourn and times to dance. We often walk through dark valleys, before we come into the Light. We have to endure the battle before we can claim the victory. Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Hallelujah! May the rising of the Son usher a season of great joy into your life. Love, Jackie