Manna for Your Morning

The rich and the poor have this in common, the LORD is the maker of them all. — Proverbs 22:2 (NKJV) “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth…” (See Isaiah 51:12-13 NKJV) May we never forget our Maker. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. (Psalms 95:6 NKJV) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalms 100:4) Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, and all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name. (Psalms 103:1AMP) All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to Yahweh, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is Yahweh’s and He rules over the nations. — Psalms 22:27-28 (LSB)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me (the Messiah), because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),” — Luke 4:18 (AMP) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins, (Colossians 2:13 AMP) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us... (See Ephesians 1:7-8). How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man whose iniquity Yahweh will not take into account, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! (Psalms 32:1-2 LSB)  And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’...

They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy. But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation. — Job 34:28-29 (NLT) Know that God hears the cries of His people. Psalm 78:35 says, the Israelites remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. May we be like the Israelites, and remember that God is our rock, the stability of our times. A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. (Isaiah 33:6a) When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. (See James 4:8) The Most High God is our Redeemer. He redeems our lives from the pit, and crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion. (See Psalm 103:4)

“ I know your works. You are neither cold with apathy nor hot with passion. It would be better if you were one or the other, but you are neither. So because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. You claim, ‘I am rich, I have accumulated riches, and I need nothing’; but you do not realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. ” — Revelation 3:15-17 (VOICE) “Those I love I also correct and discipline. Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.” (Revelation 3:19-20 (VOICE) “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ” — Revelation 3:22 (NASB)

Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’ “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses… — Luke 14:16-18 (MSG) In Luke 14:21-23 (NLT), the servant is sent out a second time. He went into the streets and alleys of the town and invited the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. There was still room for more, so the servant was told to go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone he could find to come, so that his master's house would be full. Whether you are on the city streets or the country roads, the invitation goes out to you today. Jesus says to “Come!” Daily, we are invited to open the door of our hearts to Jesus. He wants to come in and dine with each one of us. (Revelation 3:20) Everyday, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our heavenly Father have a fe...

Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. — Acts 10:30-31 (NIV) Acts 10:1-2 (NIV) says, Cornelius and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34), just as He heard the prayers of Cornelius and remembered His gifts to the poor, as we commit our lives to Him, our prayers and acts of kindness to those in need ascend before God as a memorial offering. In every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him. (Acts 10:35 AMP). He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6b)

There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. Even so, every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved. — Luke 21:17-19 (MSG) Stand firm on your faith in Jesus, the living Word. Let us stay submitted to His will and His ways, knowing that He is able to take care of everything that concerns us. Our endurance will make the difference between being poor and pitiful or richly satisfied with all things that pertain to life and godliness. Holding onto our faith will take us from being weak and weary to being strong and being continually refreshed and made new. Instead of being victims of circumstances, we will be victorious overcomers. Instead of losing, we will win, in the eternal realm! Instead of being sorry, we will be saved! May we be courageous and remain confident in Christ and all He has done for us.

  For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). — 2 Corinthians 8:9  (AMP) Jesus came that we may have life, and that we may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV). Let us become increasingly aware of His kindness, gracious generosity, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” — Luke 4:18 (NKJV) Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity] (Luke 4:18 AMP). Today as we celebrate America’s Independence, declare your independence as a disciple of Christ. Announce your fredom from the schemes of the enemy. He no longer has the power to oppress you, unless you give it to him. Celebrate the freedom and victory we have in Christ. Hallelujah!

Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people— God’s grace and mercy and justice! The good person is generous and lends lavishly; No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, but a sterling and solid and lasting reputation. Unfazed by rumor and gossip, heart ready, trusting in God, Spirit firm, unperturbed, ever blessed, relaxed among enemies, they lavish gifts on the poor— a generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life! — Psalm 112:4-9 (MSG) In your darkest hour, light will arise! Walk in the light of His love. Extend your arm with compassion and give handfuls of grace to all who come your way.

“...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28 (NKJV) Jesus was anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. He was sent to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (Isaiah 61:1). Our Lord and Savior gave His life to fulfill His mission. What are we willing to give to fulfill the call the Father has placed on our lives? May we model after Jesus and live a life of sacrifice, to serve those whom God has placed in our sphere of influence. We never know whose freedom is tied to our obedience, our willingness to answer the call.

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.
 May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!” As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. — Psalm 40:16-17 (NLT) In the presence of the LORD we are filled with joy and gladness. At His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). How precious are His thoughts about us, O God. They cannot be numbered! We can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when we wake up, He is still with us! (Psalm 139:17-18, NLT) “The LORD be magnified!”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” — Luke 1:34 (NKJV) When the angel told Mary she would conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son, her first response was to ask how. When we are presented with difficult situations, that seem impossible, our first inclination may be to ask God, how He is going to work it out. Sometimes, we even wonder when? When is that promise going to manifest in our lives. What is more important than knowing how or when is knowing WHO. We serve a great big God and nothing is too difficult for Him. With our God, the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them (Luke 7:22). For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). Amen!

This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! — Psalm 34:6-8 (NKJV) Call upon the LORD, in every situation and circumstance, and He will hear you and deliver you out of all your troubles. Because you have made the LORD your refuge, He has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways (Psalm 91:9,11). Surely, He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease (Psalm 91:3). Amen!

...and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, — Revelation 1:5 (NIV) Today as we celebrate our Nation’s independence and remember those who have sacrificed, shed their blood and given their lives for our freedom as a country, let us celebrate Jesus, the most important freedom-fighter of all. He was the ultimate sacrifice. By His precious blood He set us free from sin and death and gave us the wonderful gift of eternal life. He proclaimed good news to the poor and freedom for those in bondage. Praise the Lord! Have a Happy Independence Day!