2010 October 25 - Morning Manna

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:55-58).

Today's Morsel: Have you ever been stung by a wasp or a bee?  Those stingers  are painful when they are injected into you.  My parents use to tell us to stay away from them, leave them along, and they want bother or sting you.  If you notice, they cause swelling and redness, and they may even cause you to have a reaction that can kill you.  Paul says that death has a sting, and it's call sin.  James says that this sting is also inside of lust.  Lust is like a bee or wasp, and it, too, carries the sting of sin.  And once lust attaches itself to you, it will inject its sting into you as well.  Sin is like an insect sting.  Once it is injected into you, it can cause you to swell up with pride, envy, jealousy, deceit, sedition, hatred, lust, evil, and emulation. It can cause redness of eyes from drugs, alcohol, and watching things that can destroy your eyesight and good judgment.  And the end result of sin is always death (Roman 6:23).  Therefore, the key to survival from the sting of death is to get the stinger out as quickly as possible.  "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:37-38).  Stay away from sin, and it won't sting you!

Sing: I wanna be washed in the blood of the Lamb. I need a cleansing from the fountain.  My soul is hungry, I've got this aching within. I wanna be washed, in the blood of the Lamb.

2010 October 23 - Morning Manna

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
(2 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Today's Morsel: Paul said that he had determined some things in his life. He said that he was determined not to make the church burdened or sad, because he would have to be the same one that would be required to make them glad. He said to them that he had determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Job said that he had made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a maid (Job 31:1). The Psalmist said, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes (Psalms 110:3). These men determined things in their lives. There must come a time in all of our lives that we determine things that we will or will not do. If we say that we are born again, then we must determine that we will not do anything contrary to the Word of God or His commandments. We must decide that we will serve no other God but Jesus Christ. We must settle on truth and not on error. We must establish within ourselves that we will not let go of truth, and we must resolve within ourselves that we are going to make heaven at all cost. And finally, we must also determine to keep others edified and exalted in Christ so that they, too, can become overcomers and make it to heaven as well.

Sing: I am determined to hold out unto the end. J esus is with me, on Him I can depend. For I know I have salvation, for I feel Him in my soul. I am determined to hold out to the end.

2010 October 22 - Morning Manna

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28)

Today's Morsel:  What was it about Jesus disciples that when He called men to follow Him, they did?  What was it that caused them to just stopped what they were doing and follow Him?  How is that some people can speak and others will follow them and others will not?  I wonder if the disciples were tired of what they were doing and felt that maybe Jesus was getting ready to open a new business, and they would be better off than what they were?  Were they radical in mind and were thinking that Jesus was getting a group together to go against the Romans, and they would have a position in His government?  We can speculate and view this in many ways, but the real question is, are you willing to leave all to follow Him?  Is this what Jesus meant when He said, "Many are called but few are chosen?"  Is it few because many aren't willing, as the disciples, to leave all and follow Jesus?   Jesus holds some very high standards for His followers, and especially those in leadership.  You see, His followers have to be committed to the mission of preaching the gospel.  It's not a part-time mission, or part-time commitment, but it's an all or nothing.  It's a mission of self-less service, duty, loyalty, and commitment.  It's being ready to give the ultimate sacrifice if asked.  When James and John wanted the positions of honor, Jesus asked them are you able to drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  And they said, we be able.  Many people are being baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost, but few are willing to drink that cup.  The cup was rejection, loneliness, bitterness, persecution, and even death.  If Jesus calls you, and you accept, can you drink the cup?  The Name of the 12 apostles are on the twelve foundations of the city, of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14), because they followed when He called them.  Where will your name appear?

Sing:  When He calls me, I will answer. When He calls me, I will hear.  When He calls me, I will answer; I'll be somewhere listening for my name.

I'll be somewhere listening, I'll be somewhere listening, I'll be somewhere... listening for my name.  I'll be somewhere listening, I'll be somewhere listening, I'll be somewhere listening for my name.

2010 October 21 - Morning Manna

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:51-58).

Today's Morsel: What do think it will be like when that final trumpet sounds? Are you anticipating that day? After much reading of the New Testament, I find in it pages the continual exaltation by the writers to get ready for that day of Jesus return. The Bible says in Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." Was this his message title? I think so. Be Ready To Go; and he preached until midnight. A pretty lengthy sermon. But he wanted to get the message across.

Jesus said that no man knows the minute nor the hour of His return. Therefore, we should always be ready. Peter cautioned us, that in the lasts days, many would come saying that everything is continuing just like it always has been and they will deceive many (2Peter 3,my wording). But Paul is a little more forceful and says, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; we are going to be changed." We aren't going to stay in the flesh forever. This body has got to be changed, it has to put on immortality. Are you ready should Jesus sound the trumpet today? Don't wait until the last minute and think that you have time. Paul said that it is going to happen in a moment, in the twinkling of eye. That's pretty fast. There isn't going to be time for death-bed repentance, or asking for forgiveness. Those who are ready will be out of here. Heaven is getting ready now for that final call. So be proactive and not reactive.

Sing: If we never meet again, on this earth, my precious friend; But if to God, you have been true, and you've lived above all sin, then for us, there'll be a meeting, with hallelujah greetings, I'll see you in the rapture some sweet day.

Hallelujah! I'll see you in the rapture. I'll see you in the rapture. I'll see you in the meeting in the air.

2010 October 20 - Morning Manna

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9)

Today's Morsel: Have you ever had anyone say to you, "Let's go sightseeing?" I've thought about that saying many times, and thought to myself, shouldn't it be "Site seeing?" If I'm seeing, don't I already have sight? If I want to see buildings and things, aren't they called "Sites"? Okay, I'm not an English major, but a Sergeant Major. Are you walking by faith with Jesus, trusting completely in His Word with assurance that He will guide you over the land and weary ways? Are you trusting without having any cause of fear and dread for what may lie ahead? Are you finding great joy along your way, as you are walking with Jesus every day, knowing that while you walk with Him you will never roam and that He will never leave you alone? Are you truly walking by faith and not by sight, and trusting Him with great delight? If you can see where you are going, it isn't a faith walk, it's a sight walk.

Are you daily trusting in His grace each hour? Let me encourage you today, push your faith button a little bit more, and give Jesus first shot to take care of anything that seems wrong in your life. Try Jesus before you take matters into your own hands. See what He will do for you.

Sing: Walking by faith with Jesus the Lord on my way home. Walking by faith with Jesus the Lord, striving each day, to gain the reward, till I reach home, no more will I roam, because I am walking by faith with Jesus the Lord on my way home.

2010 October 19 - Morning Manna

"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:1-12).

Today's Morsel: Do you remember the childhood stories that your parents told you about Jesus? What about those Sunday school stories of how the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea and Moses parting the water. What about David killing Goliath, the bear, and the lion? What about Daniel in the lion's den? Jesus turning the water into wine? Opening the blinded eyes, causing the lame to walk, and raising Lazarus from the dead? What about the story of the Resurrection at Easter, and the feeding of the multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fish? Those stories are just as fresh today as they were when we were young. God's Word is always the same. Moses told the children of Israel that they were to never forget who God was and what He had done for them. They were to teach it to their children and to talk about it always. Are you still sharing those Bible stories with your children? You are never too old to impart wisdom and knowledge to them, and they are never too young nor too old to hear it. Don't leave it up to the church to tell them the stories of Jesus. It will mean a whole lot more in their lives as they grow older when they know that you, mom and dad, told it to them.

Sing: I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, how He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning, then I repented of my sins, and wonder the victory.

Chorus: O' victory in Jesus, My Savior forever, He sought me and brought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.

2010 October 18 - Morning Manna

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:1-11)

Today's Morsel: What words do you think Jesus wrote on the ground? Here we see a woman caught in adultery, and under the law of Moses, she was to be stoned. But when the men asked Jesus what they should do, He just stooped down and wrote on the ground. Be confident of this, Jesus was not giving His permission for anyone to committ adultery by not answering them. Jesus knew their cunning and sly methods of trying to trick Him. He knew they knew the law by what they said to Him. And so He said unto them, "You without sin cast the first stone." The law stated, "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor." And many of these men may not have even seen her in the act of adultery, but only what they heard others say. How many times have you agreed based on what someone says, instead of gathering the facts for yourself before you make a judgment call? Jesus said, "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke 9:56). When all the men were gone, Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus looked up and saw none but the woman, he said to her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus also said, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"(John 3:17). Do you need forgiveness today? Then why not come to Jesus and allow Him to forgive you of your sins.

Sing: God is so good, God is so good! God is so good; He's so good to me. God cares for me, God cares for me, God cares for me; He's so good to me.