Manna for Your Morning

“These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love false oaths; for all these are what I hate,’ declares Yahweh.” — Zechariah 8:16-17 (LSB) In order to speak truth we must know the truth. Let us search the Holy Scriptures daily, for the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword... and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (See Hebrews 4:12). All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT) As we learn the Word of God and apply it to our lives, we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. In John 8:31-32 (TLV), Yeshua said to the Judeans who had...

Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
 Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. — Psalms 32:6-7 (NASB1995) Rejoice in hope, persevere in tribulation, and be devoted to prayer (continual communication with our heavenly Father) (See Romans 12:12)  He is our hiding place and our shield; wait for His word. (See Psalms 119:114) …the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NASB1995)  It is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. (See Psalms 91:3) Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in Yahweh, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. (Psalms 32:10-11 LSB)

Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” — Zechariah 4:6 (NLT) May we surrender our own will, wants and desires and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:13-14 NKJV) …if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will fail and be destroyed; but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!” (See Acts 5:38-39 AMP) Our victory against the enemy is in Christ. With God all things are possible. (See Matthew 19:26) Amen.

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” — John 20:19 (NKJV) Jesus has given us His peace. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. Instead, let His perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge. (See John 14:27 AMP) In John 16:33 (NASB1995), Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” We can have constant peace, because Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isiah 9:6), has promised to be with us always, to the very end of the age. (See Matthew 28:20) And despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (See Romans 8:37 NLT) Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your he...

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. — 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT) In John 16:33, Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world, but praise the Lord, we shall overcome! Our victory comes from the LORD. “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” (See Zechariah 4:6 NLT)

Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the LORD will soon arrive. — Joel 3:14 (NLT) That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. (Joel 2:12-13 NLT) Don't get caught in the valley of decision. Choose today whom you will serve. Make a dedicated decision to follow YAHWEH, the only true and living God, the God Most High. Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to him there. (Joel 1:14 NLT) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved … — Joel 2:32 (NLT)

The LORD is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made. — Psalm 145:9 (CSB) Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love. (Psalm 145:17 MSG) The LORD is faithful to fulfill every promise He has made. The LORD helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed. (Psalm 145:14 CSB) The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. (Psalm 145:20 NLT) The LORD is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19 CSB) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; (Psalm103:2 NASB) I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:1 CSB) My mouth will declare the LORD’s praise; let every living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.  — Psalm 145:21 (CSB)

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! — 2 Corinthians 12:7 (MSG) At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, “ My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. ” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 MSG)

“ Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, ” — Luke 1:67-79 (NLT) We have a mighty Savior in Jesus. He has already made a way for us to  live extraordinary, victorious lives. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. (Luke 1:74-75 NLT)  The Message Bible says: …we can worship him without a care in the world, made holy before him as long as we live (Luke 1:74) Let us give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 NKJV)

What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. — James 5:11 (MSG) As we exercise patience and perseverance, God will work it all together for good. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord (James 5:11a NKJV). The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10 NKJV). The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11b NKJV). May He restore unto you, double for all your troubles.

Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. — Zephaniah 3:17 (MSG) Our heavenly Father takes great delight in you. He is the Mighty Warrior who saves. He sings songs of victory over us, because He has already made a way for us. Let His perfect love, calm all your anxieties and fears. Let His unfailing love comfort your soul. He enjoys fellowship with you. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” (Psalm 27:8 NLT)

And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. — 2 Kings 19:30 (NKJV) Let’s be among the believers who take root downward in the Lord and bear much fruit upward and outward. Colossians 2:6-7 says, as you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith… (NKJV). By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples (John 15:8 NKJV). May the roots of our inner beings be firmly and deeply planted in the Lord and always on the grow. And let us purposefully, bear an abundance of fresh fruit in every season.

And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. — Joshua 14:10 (NKJV) Caleb was 85 years old when he claimed the mountain which the LORD promised him (Joshua 14:12). As long as we are on this side of heaven, it is never too late to make the rest of your life, the best of your life. Why wander in the wilderness, when you can experience mountaintop living and move in the Presence and power of the LORD, with purpose and a plan?

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. — John 10:10 (NKJV) First, we have to remember that we have an enemy who prowls about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). If we stay alert and do not allow him to distract us in our walk with our heavenly Father, we will experience the more abundant life Jesus came to give us. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). In Jesus, we experience grace and more grace, our cups overflow with blessings. We have a love that never ends, and never fails. Praise the Lord!

I will sing forever about the evidence of your mercy, O LORD. I will tell about your faithfulness to every generation. I said, “Your mercy will last forever. Your faithfulness stands firm in the heavens.” Psalm 89:1-2 (GW) Let us sing about the everlasting mercy of our heavenly Father. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. His tender mercies begin afresh each morning. Tell everyone about His great faithfulness. It endures to all generations. God's faithfulness is firmly established in the heavens. May His tender mercies fall afresh on you today!

Though the Lord is supreme, he takes care of those who are humble, but he stays away from the proud. Psalm 138:6 (NCV) God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way (Psalm 25:9). He opposes the proud and gives grace to those who are humble. With humility comes wisdom and honor. Let us humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand and He will lift us up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. Hebrews 12:2 (The Message) Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't let the things of this world distract you. Cast off anything that hinders you from running your race. You may have to put up with a lot, but keep running. Never lose sight of the finish: a glorious and eternal life in the Presence of Almighty God, Himself. Love, Jackie

Though it cost all you have get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) Consistently seek to gain an understanding of who the LORD is and what His will is for you. Hosea 4:14 says a people without understanding will come to ruin. Love, Jackie