Manna for Your Morning

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. — Psalms 4:6-7 (NLT) Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (Psalms 34:8 NLT) Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (Psalms 34:5 NLT) There is no greater delight than the fullness of joy we are able to experience in the glorious Presence of our mighty GOD. His lovingkindness is better than life and it endures forever. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Chr...

God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people. And now, God, do it again— bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, so those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. — Psalm 126:3-6 (MSG) Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalm 40:5 NKJV) Abba Father, I look with joyful expectation for You to do it again. For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. (Psalm 92:4) I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. (Psalm 9:1) God has not brought you this far to leave you now.

“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” — Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) This Scripture speaks of three seasons. A season of planting seeds, a season of harvesting, or gathering in the fruit that has been produced. And in between those two seasons, there is the season called TIME. How long? Only God knows. Some call this a time of waiting, but there are still things to do while you wait. If you have planted seeds of faith, the seed must be watered by speaking God’s Word over it. We have to keep weeds of doubt from growing, by guarding our heart and our ears to negative worldly opinions. (If it's not the truth of God's Word, it's an opinion.) We have to remain faithful to God and His Word and then the seed produces fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” Unlike natural seasons, we are to be engaged in all three seasons at the same time, continually planting seeds by speaking God's ...

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. — 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NKJV) Great is the faithfulness of our awesome God. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ — Hosea 10:12 (NLT) Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2) Instead of setting your heart on worldly events, set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. (1 Chronicles 22:19)  For it is time to seek and search diligently for the LORD and long for His blessing (Hosea 10:12 AMP). And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him. Seek the LORD and live… (Amos 5:6). Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10b) Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! (1 Chronicles 16:10-11 NKJV) The time is now!  Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near! (Isaiah 55:6...

Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us]. — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (AMP) We are called to love. Love our brothers and sisters, love our friends and even our enemies. Proverbs 17:17 says, a friend loves at all times… First Peter 3:8 encourages us to have compassion for one another and love as brothers. Jesus tells us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us… (Matthew 5:44 NKJV) First Peter 4:8 says: Above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Why this great call to love? Because love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8) As we continually sow seeds of love there will be a great harvest and love will be the fruit. Ephesians 4:2 says, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bear with one another in love… We have to bear with one another’s shortcomings because it will not always be easy. That is why we are to be inspired and motivated by God’s lov...

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! — 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NLT) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT). So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9 NLT). Fight the good fight of faith. Finish the race. Keep the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

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 our hearts are open to receive God’s love, He continually plants seeds of love within us. His compassions are new every morning. Out of God’s love for us, we grow love and compassion for others. His love, in our hearts, will outgrow any weeds and roots of bitterness, if we let it. If we don’t accept and embrace the love God lavishes on us, we will be barren and unfruitful when it comes to loving others. The fruit of the Spirit is love, etc. (Galatians 5:22). Be fruitful. Make love the constant harvest of your heart.

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” — Genesis 8:22 (NIV) God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. (Genesis 1:11 NKJV). As long as the earth remains seeds will produce according to their own kind. If we want a harvest of good and positive, we have to speak words (seeds) that are good and positive. If you want peace, speak words of peace. Negative words suck the life out of those who hear them. Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of our tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. As we speak positive words over our lives and the lives of others, and continue to water those seeds with the powerful Word of God, we will produce a harvest of like kind.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. — Luke 8:15 (NKJV) The bearing of fruit comes with patience. Once we receive the seed, the Word of God, on the good soil of our hearts, we need to develop patience as we wait for the fruit to appear. Just as the farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. (James 5:7 AMP) God’s Word will bear fruit in your life, whether it's the early or late rains, or both. His Word does not return to Him void. Keep watering the seed by speaking words of life over it and protect it from the enemy who wants nothing more than to steal the Word that has been sown in your heart. “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.” (Luke 8:15 MSG) Stick with it! No matter...

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ — Hosea 10:12 (NLT) Let us plant good seeds by doing what we know is right, loving God and walkng in love with our neighbors. 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). May we break up the unplowed ground of our hearts and pull out the weeds of offense, unforgiveness, and bitterness. Then we are able to enjoy a bountiful crop of unfailing love!

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. — Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV). The time of planting and cultivating the seed for any endeavor may be labor intensive and cause us to weep, but continue on, no matter what difficulties you face. Endure the struggle! The Message Bible says, those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing (Psalm 126:6). So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9 NLT)!

He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth! — Psalm 116:8-9 (NLT) Praise our God, beloved children of the Most High! Let the sound of His praise be heard all over the land. He redeemed our lives from the pit of destruction and kept our feet from slipping. If we fall He is there to catch us. The tears we have sown shall bring in a bountiful harvest of joy. Let us walk in the life-giving light of the LORD’s presence, every moment He gives us here on earth.

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  — Psalm 126:5-6 (NKJV) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4). During times of hardship, we may sacrifice, sweat, and tears, but if we persevere through the pain, we shall reap a bountiful harvest with shouts of joy!

Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest. — Psalm 126:5 (GW) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. If you are sowing in tears, as you fulfill God purpose in your life, be certain that your time of rejoicing is coming. Amen!

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. — Psalm 71:16 (NKJV) If you are tired or weak, go in the strength of the LORD, our mighty God. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). No matter how exhausted you become, stay in pursuit of the things of God. Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). And our heavenly Father has no pleasure in anyone who draws back (Hebrews 10:38).

Some people are like seeds on rocky soil. They welcome the word with joy whenever they hear it, but they don’t develop any roots. They believe for a while, but when their faith is tested, they abandon it. — Luke 8:13 (GW) Rocky soil believers receive the word with joy when they hear it, but when their faith is tested it withers because they have no root. No matter what is going on in your life, never abandon your faith! Live your life in Christ Jesus. Sink your roots in Him and build on Him, then your faith will grow strong  (Colossians 2:7). May the word be planted on the good soil of your heart. The seeds that fell on the good soil represent those who hear the word with a noble and good heart, cling to it, and produce a huge harvest, despite what life may bring (Luke 8:15).

I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (GW) We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Our heavenly Father began a good work in you, and He is faithful to carry it through to completion. For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose (Philippians 2:13). Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9 (NLT) Never get tired of doing what is good. Live to please the Spirit and you will reap many blessings. The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT). Instead of following the desires of your sinful nature, yield to the Holy Spirit who is at work in you. Love, Jackie