Manna for Your Morning

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:1-2 (NASB) Let us not conform to the ways of the world around us, just going along with the flow, being carried by the currents of popular culture. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ... (1 Peter 2:9a KJV). We are to be in this world, but not of this world. Let us allow the Spirit of God to transform us from the inside out, first our hearts, and thought life, then our actions will follow. Be a vessel of light through which His love can be poured out. May we walk in love and show kindness, and compassion to everyone He brings our way, whether or not, they look like us, talk ...

This is what the Eternal One says, the One who does the impossible, the One who makes a path through the sea, a smooth road through tumultuous waters, — Isaiah 43:16 (VOICE) “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” — Isaiah 43:18-19 (MSG) With our great and awesome God, all things are possible. Where there appears to be no way, He will make a way. Forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13) May we be alert to what God is doing and wanting us to do, in this present moment. I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, wh...

But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. — John 4:23 (AMP) There is no time like the present to worship God, the one who gives us the breath of life. And serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you… (1 Chronicles 28:9 NKJV) Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. (Psalm 100:4 NASB)  Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 NKJV)

Seek and deeply long for the LORD and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually. — Psalm 105:4 (AMP) His Presence is truly the best present of all. It is the highest privilege and honor we have in this life. While all of our earthly possessions may be taken away from us, no one can remove His Presence from His People. The presence of the LORD enables us to overcome obstacles. His Presence empowers us to run with endurance the race that is set before us. It is God who arms us with strength, and makes our way perfect. He makes our feet like the feet of deer, and sets us on our high places. (Psalm 18:32-33). Let His Presence lead and guide you every moment of the day.

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24 (NASB) When we let go of the regrets of yesterday and the worries about tomorrow, we are free to enjoy the present moment God has for us today. This is the day He has made. Every day of your life was recorded in His book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16). So, do all things without complaining and disputing, (Philippians 2:14). Instead rejoice and be glad for the new mercies and compassions, the LORD poured out on you this morning. He has packed this day full of purpose and power just for you. Amen.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. — Matthew 6:34 (MSG) When we declutter our minds with thoughts of the past and worries about the future, we are free to rejoice in the good things God is doing today. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34B NIV). Enjoy this present moment, that God has given to you. He is doing amazing things today. Delight yourself in His Presence and let Him guide you each step along the way.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. — Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NKJV) Regardless of the circumstances, this is the day the LORD has made. All of our days were written in His book before one of them came to be, so let us make the most of every moment. The present is what we have been given to work with. We cannot change the past and we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Therefore, seize every opportunity to follow God's purpose and plan for your life.

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)

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. — Psalm 84:11 (AMP) The LORD is a Sun and He makes His face shine upon you (Numbers 6:25). He is a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Samuel 22:31). He will protect you from the fiery arrows of the enemy. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! (Psalm 84:12, NIV)

God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.  — Psalm 103:17-18 (The Message) God's love is forever and always. He is not a deserter. Our heavenly Father never abandons us, or runs out on us. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16). Don't let your heart get out of alignment with the love of God.

My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled. Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn’t change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon. — James 1:16-17 (GW) Our heavenly Father is good all the time. The plans He has for us are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Everything He does is motivated by the great love he has for us, His children. God is love and He does not change. He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just (Deuteronomy 32:4). Praise the Lord!

Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 1:30 (The Message) Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. God is about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? (Isaiah 43:18-19). God has given us a clean slate and a fresh start. Praise the LORD! Reach forward to those things which are ahead and don't turn back.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) The LORD, our God is an ever-present help. He does not leave us in our time of need. His Spirit dwells within us and He is all around us. Even when the world as we know it falls apart, we shall not fear because He is our safe sanctuary. In Him, we have the strength to withstand any adversity. Amen.