Manna for Your Morning

The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. — Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT) Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction from where the LORD called him. We can run, but we can never hide from Yahweh. The LORD hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. (See Jonah 1:4) After the sailors threw Jonah overboard, the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he prayed to the LORD from inside the fish. (See Jonah 1:17 & 2:1) Yahweh heard his prayer and the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.  Jonah 3:3 says: This time Jonah o...

The LORD hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. — Jonah 1:4-5 (NASB1995) In Jonah 1:12, Jonah said to the sailors, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” Jonah was willing to die, instead of going to preach to Ninevah and have Yahweh show compassion toward his enemies. Sometimes our disobedience affects others, as well as ourselves. How many storms have we encountered that were brought about by our own disobedience and hardness of heart? Don’t be like Jonah and get lulled to sleep in the midst of running away from God. Thank Yahweh, that He does not give up on us. He is faithful ...

Remember [what happened to] Lot’s wife [when she looked back]! — Luke 17:32 (AMP) When Lot and his family were being rescued from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife looked back, after being warned by the angels not to look back. They were told to escape to the mountains, or they would be swept away. But his wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (See Genesis 19:15-17,19:26) Don’t look back on that low, valley living with regret, or longing. Let go of any anger and bitterness from past wrongs. In Isaiah 42:9 (AMP), the LORD says: “ Indeed, the former things have come to pass, now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you. ” 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) His ways and His thoughts are...

But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, so that I may tell of all Your works. — Psalm 73:28 (NASB) No matter what we go through, we still belong to our heavenly Father. He guides us with His counsel, and is leading us to a glorious destiny. Whom do we have in heaven but our mighty God? May we desire Him more than anything on earth. Our health may fail, and our spirits may grow weak, but God remains the strength of our hearts; he is ours forever. (See Psalm 73:23-26 NLT) Stay near God. It is for your good.

[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God … — Hebrews 12:2 (AMP) Look to the LORD our God. Our help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (See Psalm 121:2) He will not allow your foot to slip; The LORD is your keeper; The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. (Psalm 121:3a,5a,7,8 NASB) May we keep our eyes focused on Jesus and on accomplishing the goal He has set before us. We stay focused on Jesus (the Livng Word) by faithfully standing on the Word, and not being shaken by earthly circumstances. Remember, Jesus has already overcome the world.

After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. — Acts 16:23-24 (CSB) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25 CSB) Even after being severely beaten and thrown in jail, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God. They were not whining and complaining about how “ hard ” it was to serve God. They were not having a pity party or playing the victim role. What an example for us. Don’t let the troubles and hardships get you down. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. (Acts 16:26 CSB) Keep praying and praising God and He will loosen chais and open the doors that need to be opened for you.  Amen. The Father sent Jesus...

God’s Sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace. — Luke 1:79  (MSG) In spite of the tense times we live in, as believers, we can experience everlasting peace. In the midst of the turmoil, we have the Prince of Peace, the One who has overcome the world. In the severe storms of life, we have the strong tower as a refuge. Stay tuned in to His Presence, and be led by His Holy Spirit. He will guide us along the right paths, one step at a time. He shows us the way of life and fills us with joy in His Presence. (Acts 2:28) The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. — Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT) Amen.

Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. — Psalm 78:12-14 (NKJV) For forty years, God led the Israelites through the wilderness. He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. Today, we are to be led by the Holy Spirit who resides within us. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14 NLT) He made His own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; and He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (Psalm 78:52-53 NKJV). Our heavenly Father keeps His people safe and takes care of our enemies. You may wander in the wilderness at times, but keep going, He has a land of promise for you too. He has marvelous things to perfor...

But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. — Genesis 45:5 (NKJV) Perspective, “ how ” we choose to look at a situation is so important. Joseph could have looked at his brothers selling him into slavery as a betrayal and an attempt to destroy him. This perspective would have led to bitterness and unforgiveness. Instead, Joseph recognized that God used the events in his life to put him in the right position, to serve as a life preserver for His people. So don’t look at the troubles you can see now; rather, fix your gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things which are seen are temporary. (2 Corinthians 4:18). They will come to pass. However, when we fix our eyes on our mighty God, and His faithfulness and trust Him day by day, we will maintain a proper perspective. And He will get us in the right place at the right time, regardless of the circumstances that come and go.

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” — Matthew 11:2-3 (NKJV) In Matthew 3:13, John the Baptist realized, he needed to be baptized by Jesus. In Matthew 3:16, he witnessed the heavens open, and the Spirit of God descend like a dove on Jesus. In Matthew 3:17, He heard God’s voice from heaven, say, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” However, as he sat in prison, he lost confidence and began to question if Jesus really was the One. Don't let the disappointments and difficulties you face in life, cause you to doubt or get discouraged. Never put a question mark where God put a period. God said, Jesus is the One. Jesus is the way. Follow Him. Jesus is the truth, the living Word. Believe Him. Jesus is the life, one of everlasting peace, and abundant joy.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. — Psalm 37:5-6 (NKJV) Even though a man’s heart plans his way, it is the LORD who directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9). For good and lasting success, commit everything you do to the LORD and trust Him to bring it to pass in His perfect timing. The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way... (Psalm 37:23 AMP).

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. — Luke 10:39 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. — Luke 10:42 (NKJV) While Mary chose to hang out with Jesus, Martha was distracted with much serving (Luke 10:40). Most of us can relate to Mary or Martha. However, at any given moment we can ignore the distractions and CHOOSE to sit at Jesus feet, and meditate on the Word. Instead of being like Martha, worried and troubled about many things, we can cast all our cares on the Lord (Psalm 55:22). We can choose not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together with other believers (Hebrews 10:25). You choose!

But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. — Psalm 37:39-40 (NKJV) In times of trouble, the Lord stands by our side and strengthens us. After you have suffered a while, the God of all grace, will perfect, establish, STRENGTHEN, and settle you (1 Peter 5:10). TRUST in the Living God to help you gain the victory in every situation. The psalmist says, “My heart trusted in Him, and I received help” (Psalm 28:7).

O Lord, I cry out to you, “Come quickly.” Open your ears to me when I cry out to you. Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:1-2 (GW) Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) instructs us to stay alert and be persistent in our prayers for all believers everywhere. Let us pray without ceasing, because the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16, NLT). Let go of your concerns by putting them in God's hands through prayer. He is able and willing to work all things together for good. May your prayers be as sweet-smelling incense in the Presence of Abba Father.

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10 (NLT) Because of God's love for us, He sacrificed His Son to pay the debt for our sins. Because of God's unrelenting love, Jesus binds up the brokenhearted, sets the captives free, releases the prisoners from darkness and comforts those who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-2). 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 Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). This is REAL LOVE!

So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." Isaiah 28:16 (NIV) No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). He is our sure foundation. Anything else on which we build our lives is shifting sand. He is a foundation of truth, anything else is a lie. Jesus is the firm foundation on which we can stand and not be moved. The one who trusts in Him will never be dismayed. Hallelujah! Love, Jackie