2014 March 8 - Morning Manna

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause
(Proverbs 1:10-11)

 

Today's Morsel:  Back in the days when I went to school, one of the things we learned about was the five basic needs.  One of those basic needs was  "Social Acceptance." We all like to be liked by others and to be a part with others and the group.  Even Luke tells us that  after the Day of Pentecost, about the early church, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)  Most people participate in fellowship because they feel a need to belong.  But when we don't feel a part, it is easy to regress, to become lonely, and give in to those who may show us social acceptance in the wrong way.  Young boys and girls are lured in prostitution. Spouses divorce. People backslide from churches, change jobs.  And children run away from home.  When we are in a low state, that is when the enemy of the soul can entice us to follow the wrong crowd or wrong people.  If we do not feel the social acceptance of the people in the church, we may turn to the world.  People who get tattoos, pierce their bodies, and dress immodestly are looking for social acceptance. They are hoping their outward appearance will be accepted by those who they then look like.  We may say that they are rebellious, and this may be true, but really they are looking for social acceptance.  Somewhere within them, they don't feel accepted by their parents, friends, or family.  And so, they seek it from the world not realizing the enemy of their soul has a trap set for them.  Solomon's mother told him, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."   She was telling him that it may look as though it is okay, but there is a trap.  She said to him, "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird."(Proverbs 1:17)  Let me encourage you today, if you are seeking social acceptance, don't turn to the world, look to Jesus.  The people inside the building aren't Jesus.  They are folks just like you, looking for acceptance, too.  Many of them have made Jesus their friend, and He is a friend that will stick closer to you than a brother.  Always remember, he that will has friends must show himself friendly. Be the one to accept others within the church, extending a hand of fellowship and watch acceptance follow.

 

Sing:  What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour , still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do they friends despise forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; in His arms He'll take and shield thee, thou will find a solace there.

2014 March 7 - Morning Manna

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

 

Today's Morsel:  Why are there so many people suffering from fear.  Why do we fear each other?  Why do we fear people of different races?  Why do we fear convicted felons?   Why do we fear our bosses and leaders?  Why do we fear our spouses?  Why do we fear not getting what we ask for?  Why do we have all these phobias about us?  What is there about fear that sends that scare within us?  Paul tells us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."(2 Timothy 1:7)  He lets us know that fear is a spirit.  It is an evil spirit that God did not give us. It is a spirit from the pits of hell.  The antidote for fear is love.  If we are going to be able to deal with fear, we must become perfect in God's love.  Jesus told us to not let our hearts be troubled, but to believe in Him (John 14:1-2) . When we are made perfect in His love, because God is love (1John 4:8), we can overcome fear; because greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world.  Fear is just False Evidence Appearing Real.  When you show forth His love, fear leaves.

 

Sing: My God is bigger than all my questions, bigger than all my fears, yes, my God bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see. 

2014 March 6 - Morning Manna

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.   (Proverbs 1:8-9)

 

Today's Morsel:  Many people do not see the value of the church.  But when we understand that Jesus is the Father of His Church, and the church is the mother of us all (Galatians 4:26), we can understand the importance of heeding Jesus' instructions and obey what the laws of the church are.  Solomon's mother told him if he would heed the instructions of his father and not forsake the law of his mother, they would be an ornament of grace unto his head and chains about his neck.  In other words, they would keep him from doing wrong.   They would keep him from going astray.  They would keep him from strange women and wrong influences.  They would keep him from making wrong decisions and running with the wrong group of people.  The law served two purposes:  Morality and How to seek forgiveness.  It still teaches us lessons in good behavior, how to live decently and in order, and how to be ethical.  And at the same time it also teaches us how to love others as ourselves and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  When we listen to our Heavenly Father and mother we can always, "Come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

 

Sing: Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into my heart, floods of joy o'er my soul like a sea billow roll, since Jesus came into my heart.   

2014 March 5 - Morning Manna

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (Psalms 13:1-2)

 

Today's Morsel:  When I was young living in the south, when people wanted directions, they didn't ask how far a place was, they would ask, "How long is it from here."  We hear people saying, "How long will we have to wait?" "How long before we get there?" "How long before they come?"  Even the children of Israel asked Moses how long they would have to eat manna.  There is that sense in all of us of wanting knowing when.  King David even ask the Lord, "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?"  David felt that God had abandoned him.  I know that none of you ever feel that way.  David wanted relief from his enemies, but it wasn't forth coming.  And so his prayer was, Lord how long wilt thou forget me?  I don't think we should be concerned with how long it is taking God, I think we should learn to trust Him and walk by faith and not by our sight.  As the writer of Hebrews encourages us,  "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 10:35-11:1).  Remember, your ways aren't His; so hang in there, He's always on time.  Ask Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

 

Sing:  He's an on time God,yes is.  He's an on time God, yes He is.  He may not come when you want Him, but He'll be there right on time, He's an on time God, yes He is?

2014 March 4 - Morning Manna

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. (Romans 16:7)

 

Today's Morsel:  When I became an Army Drill Instructor in 1973, one of the highlights for me was serving with men who had been my Drill Instructors when I enlisted in 1969.  I always felt so good serving beside them.  They had taught me well, and now they were able to see the fruit of their labor, and each time they saw me being recognized for proficiency, they would tell their soldiers, "If Drill Sergeant Parker can do it, you can too. " 

In Reading through the Apostle Paul's letter of salutation to the Romans, he makes mention of those who were his helpers.  In the 7th verse, he said, "Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me."  Can you think of anyone who was in the Lord before you, someone who has been a greater helper to you, taught you, opened your understanding to the scriptures, and has labored with you?  Do you send them cards, letters of thanks, and words of encouragement to them for their labor.  I know for me, every time I meet someone that may know someone that I know and may have served with them, I always tell them to please greet them for me.  When we can send word by others to those we have labored with in times past, their hearts are renewed knowing that you are continuing on in the faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works"(Hebrews 10:23-24).

 

Sing:   You're my brother your my sister, so take me by the hand, together we will work until He comes, there's no foe that can defeat us, when we're walking side by side, as long as there is love, we can stand.

2014 March 3 - Morning Manna

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. (Exodus 2:24-25)

 

 

Today's Morsel: Do you ever get discouraged because it doesn't seem like God is answering your prayer?  When we walk by our faith and not by our sight, we are able to keep going when the answer isn't prevalent.  The Bible says that when God heard the groaning of the children of Israel, He remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.  God cannot forget the promises and oaths that He makes according to His word.  He doesn't forget even though scripture says that He remembered.  In other words, God was mindful of what He had said to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, so don't think He had forgotten.  The only thing God doesn't remember is our past sins that are under the blood.  Often, when it seems like more is coming upon us then we can handle, it may be God's way of developing us for what He is going to do with us.  When we look at what Jesus and the early church went through it was not some cake walk.  They had to learn to endure persecution, beatings and even prison.  Let me encourage you, ask yourself these two questions if you think that God isn't coming through for you. First, is there sin in your life that you are aware of and that is holding God back from answering you (Isaiah 59:1-2)? And second, is what you are going through more then you can handle?  If it was the latter, then God would have stepped in a long time ago.  Apparently, you can handle it and that's why He hasn't stepped in.  Just don't cast away your confidence.  But if it is the former, then you'll have to do the math.

 

Sing: Hear my cry oh God attend unto my prayer, from the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee.   And when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to that rock that is higher than I, so much higher than I.

2014 March 1 - Morning Manna

 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.   (Jeremiah 10:10-12)

 

Today's Morsel:  After men's prayer, I had asked one of the brothers to give a short devotion to the men.  And as he was talking about believing and knowing, the Holy Ghost spoke to me and said, "That is the problem with my people. Many of them believe in Me, but they do not know Me."  Now, I would think that if we say that we believe in Him, that we would know Him.  Jeremiah said, "But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king."  John wrote to the church, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). When you understand who Jesus Christ is, you understand who the Creator of the world is and that He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens by His discretion.  We must not just believe in Jesus, we must know Him.  Do you know Him?

 

Sing:  The Mighty God is Jesus, The Prince of Peace is He, The Everlasting Father, The King Eternally, The Wonderful In Wisdom, by whom all things were made, the fullness of the Godhead in Jesus is displayed.

It's all in Him! It's all in Him! The fullness of the Godhead is all in Him. It's all in Him, It's all in Him, the Mighty God is Jesus and it's all in Him.