2015 January 31 - Morning Manna

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion,  Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. (Matthew 8:5-13)

Today's Morsel:  What is it about a child's cry that a mother realizes something definitely isn't right and they come running?  I have seen kids cry and their parents just get annoyed with them.  But then, as soon as that intonation changes to the tone that says, "Where's mom," they come running.  Well, faith is somewhat like that with Jesus.  We may cry out and He doesn't come.  But then there is that intonation that gets His attention and He says, there is something is wrong with my child.  The faith of the centurion was so that he amazed Jesus; and nothing really amazes God. The centurion's faith was so strong in Jesus' abilities that Jesus went 'WOW!  I haven't seen this kind of faith in all Israel' (my wording). When God says that, you've got great faith.  This is the faith that all of us should have in Christ.  Scripture says: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).  If you want Him to do what you are asking of Him, let Him see your WOW faith.

Sing: Touching Jesus, is all that really matters, and your life will never be the same; There is only, one way to touch Him, just believe when you call on His name.

Thought for Today: Faith as a child will get God's attention every time.

2015 January 30 - Morning Manna

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  (Matthew 10:28)

Today's Morsel:  One of the biggest reasons there is not transformation in people's lives is that people don't fear God anymore. You know, when I first got saved, they preached so much about hell that people said they were scaring the people off.  And so they went about using the word fear in regards to respect, reverencing, and honoring God.  And that is true.  But we also need to be afraid of God. We've made God out to be this loving compassionate, forgiving everybody God, and no one fears Him anymore.  We just come before God any way we feel like.  We look any way we want to look, we do anything  that makes us feel good.  We dip and dab in the things of the world as we see pleasing to us.  Many people don't fear God anymore.  But I do.  Did you know that Jesus preached and taught more about hell than He did heaven so that you and I would transform and change. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man was to inspire change in peoples' thinking and lives.  People today are somewhat like Hezekiah, thinking that they are alright and ready for heaven.  Yet when God sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah to set his house in order for he was going to die, suddenly Hezekiah feared God and turned his face to the wall, weeping and repenting; praying for God's mercy and forgiveness. When the hand came out and wrote on the wall before king Belshazzar, he feared and quaked (See Daniel 5).  Jesus said we need to fear him that can cast us into hell.  Fear is supposed to cause you to stay away from things that can hinder your transformation while at the same time keep you pure and holy for Christ.  If you don't fear and respect God, you will never transform into His likeness.  As the writer of Hebrews admonishes, "It's a fear thing to fall into the falls of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

Sing: Oh my brother are you ready for the call? To crown your Savior, King and Lord of all; the kingdoms of this world, shall soon before Him fall, we shall see the King when He come.

We shall see the King!   We shall see the King!  We shall see the King when He comes; He's coming in His Power, we'll hail the blessed hour, we shall see the  King when He comes.

Thought for Today: True transformation begins with a fear of and for God.

2015 January 29 - Morning Manna

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?... Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:25; 31-33)

Today's Morsel: It seems that folks are concerned about many things these days.  And their focus on those things are causing many to forgo their walk with God.  But how is the gold so soon become dim? Can you think of anything that is more important to you than eternal life?  Jesus came for one purpose, and that was so we may have life and that more abundant.  Eternal life is what He came to give.  We can say He came for other things, but the main purpose was to give us life.  He wants each of us to live and reign with Him in heaven forever and ever.  But if we focus on what we will eat, or what we will drink; what we will put on, or other things of this world, we may miss out on eternal life. Jesus said that He already knew that you would have need of those things, so not to worry about them; but rather focus on the things that will bring you eternal life.  What we need to focus on is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  That's the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).

Sing:  I'm gonna view that holy city one of these days! You know, I'm gonna view that holy city one these day, hallelujah! I'm gonna view that holy city, view that holy city one of these days, one of these days.

Thought for Today:  What's more important than eternal life?

2015 January 28 - Morning Manna

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.... Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

(Acts 10:9-15;34-35)

Today's Morsel: One of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said in his "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963, was that he looked forward to the day when man would be judged not by the color of his skin, but the content of his character.  Most people that I know don't care about other peoples' skin color.  They are just concerned with their moral fiber.  If the church is going to be what Jesus desires of it to be, then we all must move beyond skin color and allow God's Spirit to lead and direct us, as He is no respecter of persons.  If we were to use the word of  God as our gauge to measure others by, we would  probably see our own shortcomings before we see those of others and then we could make the corrections needed to be like Christ.  And we will be able to say to ourselves, free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I am free at last.  

Sing: To be like Jesus! To be like Jesus! On earth I long to be like Him. All through life's journey, from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.

Thought for Today: What yardstick do you use to measure and judge others by? 

2015 January 27 - Morning Manna

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." (Colossians 3:23-25)

Today's Morsel:  The law of sowing and reaping applies to everyone as God is no respecter of persons.  If you wrong others, others are going to wrong you.  If you gossip about others, others are going to gossip about you.  If you steal from others, others are going to steal from you.  If you do good to others, others will do good to you.  When Jacob lied to his father Isaac, and stole from his brother Esau his birthright, his uncle Laban lied and stole from him, too.  He even gave him the wrong wife and changed his wages ten times.  If you want to reap good, then you have to do good things for and to others.  Malachi asked if a man would rob God?  Some people do, and then they wonder why they have no joy, peace, love, contentment, and righteousness.  It's all because God allows the devil to steal it from them because they've stolen from Him.  The writer of Hebrews tells us,  "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16).  Can you identify anything that God has wronged or stolen from you?  No?  Then purpose to do right in your life for Him, too.  

Sing:  God is so good. God is so good. God is so good, He's so good to me.

Thought for Today: Doing wrong didn't come with the Spirit of God (Parker)

2015 January 26 - Morning Manna

 " The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever"(Psalms 23:1-6).

Today's Morsel:  When we look closely at the 23rd Psalm, we see that within its verse are divine leadership, protection, comfort, provision, rest, salvation, and forgiveness.  All this is found in one Psalm.  There is no reason for us killing ourselves trying to find these things in others or in the world.  The scriptures are designed so that we can find hope and put our trust in Christ and have eternal life (Romans 15:4; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 3:16).  If we allow Jesus to be the head of our lives and lead us, we will be less stress filled and discontented.  James admonishes us: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:22-25).  If you take heed to the word of God, you will see the importance of the house of God, and  you will see that Jesus will provide everything that you have need of according to His perfect will just like the Psalmist said.

Sing: Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me; Jehovah Jirah, my Provider, His grace is sufficient for me.

My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in glory, He shall give His angels charge over me; Jehovah Jireh careth for me, for me, Jehovah Jireh careth for me.

Thought for Today:  There is something following you (Jerry  Jones).

2015 January 24 - Morning Manna

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. (John 11:14-15)

Today's Morsel: Throughout scripture, Jesus allowed many things to happen to get His disciples to a point of belief.  They, the disciples, were stuck in their unbelief.  Many today, even though they are born again and see God at work on a continuous basis, are like the disciples were, stuck in their unbelief.  The disciples walked and saw the miracles that Jesus did, and yet they had trouble with believing.  In today's  passage, Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, had died.  Martha and  Mary told Jesus that if  He had been there Lazarus would not have died (John 11:21;32).  And Jesus told the disciples that He was glad for their sake that He was not there so that they would believe.  However, we find that even with the raising of Lazarus, some still did not believe.  Paul wrote to the church at Rome, "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged" (Romans 3:3-4).  Our ability to trust God and to take Him at His word should not be based on our seeing, but on our faith.  If we will walk by our faith and not our sight, we can take Christ at His word and live victoriously in this world.

Sing:  Have faith in God, have faith in God, Have faith in God, the Almighty, have faith in God.

Thought for Today: Faith comes by hearing the word of God.