Manna for Your Morning

for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises] — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) Let us be consistent in our faith walk, living moment by moment and day after day strong in our faith. Believing our heavenly Father, more than the temporary things we see with our physical eyes. Don't let the enemy steal your joy, or anything else. Keep your trust in God and His wonderful promises. Abba Father is a good God and He is faithful. But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 AMP)

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. — Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) Always hold onto hope. The woman who had been suffering with an issue of blood for twelve years, could have given up, but instead she pressed through the crowd, touched the fringe of Jesus’ cloak and received her healing. (Matthew 9:20-22) The man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years, continued to lay by the pool of Bethesda waiting for the moving of the water, day after day. (John 5:2-3) He held onto hope and was in the right place at the right time. One encounter with Jesus and immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. (John 5:5-9) So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair? Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for living before his face is my saving grace! (Psalm 42:5 TPT)  Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our ho...

If we were at home, I don’t think any of us would allow a robber to come in and just take what belongs to us and walk out the door. However, many people allow Satan to do just that. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. — John 10:10a (NKJV) The enemy's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. He goes to and fro on the earth (Job 1:7). Don't think that he is not coming. First Peter 5:8 tells us to be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Jesus came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly. — John 10:10b (NKJV) Our heavenly Father has given us so many precious promises and perfect gifts, but we let the enemy come and bind us up with his lies, and take what belongs to us. The minute you believe one of his lies, he steals your joy. Believe another lie and he takes your peace. He continues to steal from us until he has killed our hope and our trust ...

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. — Matthew 8:13 (NKJV) Matthew 8:10 says: When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! May we be like the centurion and take Jesus at His Word. In John 19:30, Jesus said, “ It is finished! ” The battle is already won. Jesus has done everything that needed to be done for us to live a victorious life. He has given us the authority here on earth. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is...

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. — Psalm 21:6 (NKJV) When we focus our attention on the presence of the LORD and give His Holy Spirit access to every area of our being, we become exceedingly glad. He makes us full of joy in His presence. (Acts 2:28 & Psalm 16:11). In the light of His Presence, darkness has to flee, bondages are broken and strongholds are destroyed. In His presence, our mourning turns into dancing (Psalm 30:11). The mountains that stand before us, become molehills when we look to our Mighty God, and remember that He is with us. The battle belongs to our great God and He is well able to establish all that concerns you. That is cause for exceeding gladness to well up inside of us! Don’t let the enemy steal your joy. The joy of the LORD is your strength.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) When we cast ALL our cares upon the LORD, there is nothing standing between us and God. It rids us of unnecessary distractions and we are free to focus on our faithful heavenly Father, the One who lavishes His loves on us. He is the One who will never leave us or forsake us. As we abide in Him, He gives us the strength and wisdom to overcome life's challenges.

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. — Psalm 140:7(NKJV) Not only does the LORD cover your head, He has enclosed you behind and before, 
and laid His hand upon you (Psalm 139:5 NASB). Our heavenly Father is our hiding place; He shall preserve us from trouble; He shall surround us with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7). The LORD is a shield to all who trust in Him (Psalm 18:30). He loves us with an everlasting love; with lovingkindness He has drawn us to Himself and He constantly watches over us. Glory hallelujah!

As I see a flurry of halloween decorations and activities, I am reminded of the real horror in life. The truly horrific thing is to live without hope in your heart. Hope is the earnest  expectation that your future is better and more glorious than your past and your present; the belief that you will see the fulfillment of God’s promises and your dreams. To be alive and without hope is like being a zombie, the walking dead. Before we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were in the world, dead in ours sins, and without hope (Ephesians 2:1, 12). But now in Christ Jesus we have been made alive and partakers of God’s wonderful promises. Put your hope in God and it will not be cut off. Hebrews 10:23 says, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.” — Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)

Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
 He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. — Psalm 112:4 (NKJV) No matter how thick the darkness of your night becomes, light arises for the upright in heart. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes with the light of morning. Our gracious God makes His light shine on us. May His light shine on you today!

I want to hear what God the LORD says, because he promises peace to his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity. Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him, and his glory will remain in our land. Psalm 85:8-9 (GW) Our God is a God of love and peace. He has called us to live in peace. A heart at peace gives life to the body (Proverbs 14:30). Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace in our minds, peace in our hearts and peace in our relationships with others. No matter what troubles may come, Jesus said, “in Me, you may have peace...” (John 16:33). Peace He left with us (John 14:27). As we trust in God, He keeps His perfect peace flowing in us like a river. May lasting peace be yours in abundance!

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 (NKJ) The LORD is forever faithful. He keeps all the promises He has made. He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He is faithful to be with you through the floodwaters and through the fire. Great is His faithfulness. He remains faithful even if we lose faith. When you trust the LORD, you will not be disappointed.

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down! I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:3-6 (NCV) Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. We also need to get a good view of our Lord and Savior. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. Instead of looking at our circumstances, let us rise above the muck and mire of this world and stay focused on following Jesus. Instead of viewing the negative news reports, let us cast our eyes on the One who brings good news for all people. Love, Jackie

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 (NIV) For me some of the scariest words in the Bible are found in Matthew 7:23: "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Jesus speaks these words to believers who were supposedly serving Him, yet He says they never knew Him. Let us not be deceived. We need to make sure the things we put all of our time and energy into are God's will and not our own. Even then, it is not wise to get so involved with our "stuff" that we forget to draw near to God and get to KNOW HIM more.