Manna for Your Morning

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. — Acts 16:22-24 (NLT) Acts 16:25 says, around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. The Word doesn’t say they were complaining, nor crying out to God “why me?” Instead, they maintained their peace, joy and faith in Yahweh and prayed and praised the God of heaven and earth. Acts 16:26 says, suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials… (See 2 Peter 2:7-9 NLT) However, the prisoners were all accounted for when th...

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! — Psalms 42:5-6a (NLT) Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12 NLT) Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name. (See Hebrews 13:15 TLV) For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalms 96:4 NASB1995) Praise Yah! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. Let everything that has breath praise Yah. Praise Yah! (Psalms 150:1-2, 6 LSB) I will bless Yahweh at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalms 34:1 LSB) I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. (Psalms 86:12 NKJV) I will...

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. — James 1:2-4 (NLT) For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. (Hebrews 10:36 AMP) What enables us to endure when faced with challenges and difficulties from all sides? Hebrews 12:3 tells us to consider Jesus, Who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (See Hebrews 12:2) May we keep our joy, as we persevere through temporary trials and temptation, for the c...

in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (AMP) Being thankful begins with having an attitude of gratitude. Realizing that it is not because of our works that we deserve the good things of God, but by grace that He has generously given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. (See Ephesians 2:8-9 & 2 Peter 1:3)  It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. (Psalm 92:1 NLT) Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. (Psalm 105:1) He forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases; He redeems our lives from the pit, and crowns us [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy; The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. (See Psalm 103:3-4,6 AMP) Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. (...

Fear and intimidation is a trap that holds you back. But when you place your confidence in the Lord, you will be seated in the high place. — Proverbs 29:25 (TPT) Confidence in the Lord, positions us in the safety of His high place. The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? (Psalm 118:6 NLT) Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NLT) We can never look to men for help; no matter who they are, they can’t save us, for even our great leaders fail and fall. They too are just mortals who will one day die. (Psalm 146:3 TPT) So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! (Hebrews 10:35 NLT) Lord, it is so much better to trust in you to save me than to put my confidence in someone else . — Psalm 118:8 (TPT)

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “This is hopeless, my master! What are we to do?” And he said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are greater than those who are with them.” — 2 Kings 6:15-16 (NASB) Then Elisha prayed and said, “LORD, please, open his eyes so that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17 NASB) The circumstances of a child of God are never hopeless. The enemy wants you to believe that he has you surrounded, but we are surrounded by our great God and His mighty angels.  Remember, there are more with us than with the enemy. Who can stand against us, with God on our side? May you see every situation through eyes of faith.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. — Genesis 50:20 (NLT) “For I hold you by your right hand— I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT) People may plan evil against you but God will use those same plans for your good. When you endure hardship, the great and glorious outcome, is that the lives of countless people may be preserved. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. — Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) Let us be thankful God woke us up this morning. I am so grateful that God has a plan and a purpose for each day of our lives. If there was an escape button to life, I believe many of us would have pushed the button by now, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:23). But after we have opened our hearts to Jesus, the heavenly Father leaves us here so we can show others the Way. We are to let the light of His love and grace shine through us and draw others to Jesus. So be thankful today and every day. Abba Father has not forgotten about you. He has an extraordinary purpose and a plan for your life and He is going to work everything together for good. Amen. Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.  (Philipp...

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. — Romans 1:8 (NKJV) Before you do anything else, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:13) Thank God for His Presence, that He will never leave you, nor abandon you. You are always on His mind. Thank God that all your days are written in His book and the plans He has for you are good. Thank God, that He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6) Thank God for every good and perfect gift He has given to us from above. (James 1:17). The most important one being the gift of His Son, Jesus. Thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for all that He sacrificed to bring us back into fellowship with our heavenly Father. And yes, I thank my God for you all!

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.” — Matthew 6:30-31 (MSG) God has given us so much, His Son, His Spirit, His peace, etc. How do you respond to God’s giving? Let us always give thanks for the many blessings our heavenly Father continually pours out on us, too numerous to count. I believe, a genuine heart, full of gratitude and appreciation for all He has done and is doing, is an awesome way to respond to our great God. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus says, “ Freely you have received, freely give. ” Another response to God’s giving is to become like Him and generously give to others. We are blessed to be a blessing!

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. — Psalm 119:37-38 (NLT) The Holy Bible is a love letter from God, full of promises He makes to His Beloved, that’s us. His wonderful Word gives us life. It strengthens us and revives us. (Psalm 110:25, 28). The Word of God is our comfort in affliction (Psalm 119:50). His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Forever, His Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). When we stand on His Word, we are standing on solid ground. May we  meditate on it day and night. (Psalm 119:105)

When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. — 2 Corinthians 2:12 (MSG)  God opens the door, our part is to walk through it. God-given opportunities may not always look the way we think they should, so we have to listen for His still small voice. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21 NLT). Then, instead of lingering at the closed door and longing for what used to be, let’s spring into action! Take each step in faith and go forward with God, to the wide open space He has given you to occupy!

And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death... — Revelation 12:11 (AMP) We overcome the devil, who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), by the precious blood of Jesus and by the words we utter out of our mouths. Our tongues have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Choose to speak words of life. Tell others about the goodness of God and what He has done in your life. We conquer the lies and deception of Satan as we speak truth: the Word of God. In Deuteronomy 6:7, God’s people were instructed to talk about the Word when they sit in their homes, when they walk by the way, when they lie down and when they rise up. We overcome the works of our enemy by continually speaking God’s Word and sharing our testimonies.

God didn’t have to wake me up this morning, but I am so glad He did! The Lord did not have to take me out of darkness, and bring me into His marvelous light, but He did. Jesus didn't have to suffer and die on the cross to save us from the pit of hell, but praise the Lord, He did! God did it all! Now we can shine as children of light and live free, healthy and whole! Thank you, JESUS! All this is for your sake so that, as God’s kindness overflows in the lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of God. — 2 Corinthians 4:15 (GW)

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) We can be thankful in all circumstances because we know that our heavenly Father works all things together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We can thank our heavenly Father that He is with us, in all circumstances. He stands by our side and never runs out on us. Let us give thanks that no matter what happens, God's ear is always open to hear our prayers and He sends His answer.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. ” Luke 6:35 (NLT) What is the key to unlocking the door to a very great reward from heaven? It is to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to them and never expect anything in return. If we do these things, Jesus said, we would truly be acting like children of our heavenly Father. He is generous and gracious to those who are ungrateful and evil.

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

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV) The words "It is finished," signified the completion of Jesus' mission on earth. He built the bridge for a sinful humanity to reach a holy God. He stamped the debts for our sins, "PAID IN FULL." When we confess our sins to God we are cleansed in the blood of Jesus. God forgives us and we experience His amazing grace. Love, Jackie