2013 October 8 - Morning Manna

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (Psalms 84:10-12)

 

Today's Morsel: What would you do if you knew that you could have anything you wanted just by asking? What would you ask for? The psalmist lets us know that no good thing will the Lord withhold from them that walk upright before him. The apostle Paul tells us that eyes have not seen nor ears heard the things which God has prepared for those that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). So the question is, are you walking uprightly, do you love him, and what do you want? Paul tells us that our love must not be with dissimulation. It must be real love. God knows if we truly love Him or not. There is no faking it with Him. If you say that you love Him, He's going to test you to see. Ask Peter. The Lord told King David that if what he had given him was not enough all he had to do was ask. You didn't need to do what you did with Bathsheba and kill her husband (my wording). All you had to do was ask. So let me encourage you, don't violate your integrity to get things, if you truly love God, then ask Him for them. For he said, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).

Sing: Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, give me oil in my lamp I pray. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning, keep me burning till the break of day.

2013 October 7 - Morning Manna

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God"(John 3:16-21).

 

Today's Morsel: Every so often I will come across a house here in the city that has been condemned. The building inspectors have rendered the house no longer safe for anyone to live in unless some major repairs are done to it. Jesus told Nicodemus that God did not send Him into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. There are many in this world who are condemning themselves by not obeying God's word. But Jesus has come to show us how to fix things before they are so badly out of shape that they feel they cannot ever be repaired again. Does it feel like your home is crumbling around you? Does it seem that nothing works anymore? Jesus said that if we do not believe on Him we are going to become condemned. Why not take Jesus' advice and come to the light so you can see your errors and your house may again become a home once again.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Sing: Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true; and with thanksgiving, I'll be a living, sanctuary, for You.

2013 October 5 - Morning Manna

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. (1 Samuel 16:23)

Today's Morsel: If someone were to ask you what your favorite style of music is, what would it be? I've heard people say that they love country. Some say that they love urban. While others say that they love contemporary. And then there are those who will say they like it all. To me, there are times that I like listening and hearing all of it, too. But in my home, I listen to more country gospel than the others because their singing seems to uplift Jesus and their songs remind me of heaven and what Jesus did for me, which lifts me up. I'm not downing the others, but I just find myself uplifted and feeling better when I've listened to country gospel more than other music styles. When Saul was plagued by evil spirits, he wanted someone to play some soothing music for him. And David was chosen to do that. When David played, the evil spirits departed and Saul was refreshed. If you feel as though you are being tormented by the enemy of your soul, why not listen to some uplifting music that edifies Jesus and allow it to refresh your soul.

 

Sing: The blood that Jesus shed for me, way back on Calvary, it's the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose it power. For it reaches to the highest mountain, and it flows to the lowest valley, it's the blood that gives me my strength from day to day, it will never, lose its power.

2013 October 4 - Morning Manna

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:1-2)

 

Today's Morsel: I think that we all go through those periods of time that we are looking for something better. Whether it be a new home, a new car, new clothes, a new job, or even a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit, we find ourselves looking for something better. There is something about us humans that we aren't content forl on. I have heard people say, "There just has got to be something better than this." They are looking for something better. People go to school, work many jobs, travel to foreign countries, trying to find something better to satisfy their soul. The writer of Hebrews says that the law foreshadowed something good to come. To the children of Israel, it was something hard and something that they couldn't follow. But Paul let us know that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). So we can see that that good thing to come that the law foreshadowed was Christ. Even the governor of the feast told the bridegroom, "You've keep the good wine until now" (John 2:10); And the writer of Hebrews said that God has made some better thing for us (Hebrews 11:40). It's called the Holy Ghost. If you are looking for something better, why not try Jesus. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

Sing:Something beautiful! Something good! All of my confusions, Jesus understood, all I had to offer him was brokenness and strife, but he made something, beautiful, out of my life.

2013 October 3 - Morning Manna

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24)

 

Today's Morsel: Jesus often referred to Himself as the "I Am." This saying appears many times throughout scriptures. Some have questioned what Jesus meant when He said I Am He. Was He referring to the one they were looking for too come? Or was He saying I Am God? Jesus told the people to search the scripture because it was all about Him (John 5:39). When God called Moses at the burning bush, to send him to deliver the children from Egypt, scripture says,"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:13-14). In his commentary, Matthew Henry states of this passage, "Formerly Moses thought himself able to deliver Israel, and set himself to the work too hastily. Now, when the fittest person on earth for it, he knows his own weakness. This was the effect of more knowledge of God and of himself. Formerly, self-confidence mingled with strong faith and great zeal, now sinful distrust of God crept in under the garb of humility; so defective are the strongest graces and the best duties of the most eminent saints. But all objections are answered in, Certainly I will be with thee. That is enough. Two names God would now be known by. A name that denotes what he is in himself, I am that I am. This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies,

1. That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself.
2. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
3. That he is incomprehensible; we cannot by searching find him out: this name checks all bold and curious inquiries concerning God.
4. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature; let Israel know this, I am hath sent me unto you. I am, and there is none else besides me.
All else have their being from God, and are wholly dependent upon him. Also, here is a name that denotes what God is to his people. The Lord God of your fathers sent me unto you. Moses must revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was almost lost; and then they might expect the speed performance promises made to their fathers."

 

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chose: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  I, even I, am the LORD: and beside me there is no saviour.  I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God"  (Isaiah 43:10-12).  Do you know the Great I AM?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sing: I Am, I Am you said to me, I'm the Alpha, the Omega, the in-between; I Am, I Am you said to me, I'll be what it takes to meet your need.

2013 October 2 - Morning Manna

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

 

Today's Morsel: Gratitude can change your life.Thanksgiving is an expression or an act of giving thanks. It is our gratitude for something rendered to us or done for us. It's the giving of thanks. The quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful. It's that warm or deep appreciation for kindness or benefits that we receive. Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was,“Thank you,” that would suffice.” It’s amazing how one simple, easy, good action can change so much in a person’s life. One of the things that has had the biggest affect on my life is the realization of the power of gratitude. That of simply giving thanks. It has affected everything. It has made me a better person. I believe a more productive person. A better achiever. A better husband and father and son and brother (at least, I like to think so). A happier person. I’m not perfect, but gratitude has made me better. Can it change your life as well? I can guarantee it will if we will practice it. You might not get the exact same benefits as I have, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the simple act of gratitude on a regular basis will change anyone’s life, positively and immediately. I can't think of too many other changes that can claim to be that quick, that easy, and that profound. It has been stated that the most unthankful people on the earth are born again believers. And that ought not so to be. If anyone should know how to be thankful, it should be those who have been delivered from darkness and brought into His marvelous light. Paul lets us know that in everything we should give thanks because that is God's will for our lives. Are you thankful. Do you possess an attitude of gratitude? Give it a try, you will be glad you did and so will others!

Sing: Thanks! Thanks! I give you thanks, for all you have done. I am so blessed, my soul has found rest, oh Lord, I give you thanks.

2013 October 1 - Morning Manna

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.(Mark 9:49-50)

 

Today's Morsel: I don't think a day goes by what I don't hear someone talking about what is good for you and what isn't. I hear people and commercials say that fish oil is good for you. And now someone says it isn't. I heard some say an aspirin a day is good for you, and now some say it isn't. I'm sure someone will tell the farmer pretty soon that the salt block his cows are licking is bad for them. Who decides and writes in all this mess and confusion? As Paul asked the church at Galatia, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth...(Galatians 3:1). I'm afraid that too many people are allowing too many who do not know God to make their decisions for them about what is good and what isn't. Paul said, "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving"(1 Timothy 4:4). You see every meat offering for sacrifice was to be salted. "And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt" (Leviticus 2:13). As living sacrifices we must have salt within ourselves. We must be tasty. Salt is symbolic of soundness, sweetness, wholesomeness and acceptability. But if the salt loses its power to season what it is brought into contact with, it's useless. Salt is tasty and able to prevent meats from decaying and rotting. I heard some say that salt is bad for you. I disagree with them because Jesus said that salt is good. Whose report will you believe? The last time I checked, He was still the Chief Physician and He said that we must have salt in ourselves because it is good.

Sing:  Salt! Salt ! More salt, a little bit more salt, we all need to have in us. Salt!