2015 August 8 - Morning Manna

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

(Psalms 123:1-4)

Today's Morsel:  With the way the world is going today, many seem to be taking matters into their own hands.  And this is how wars start and lives are lost. People are focusing on their surroundings and not on God.  Solomon admonishes us, "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences" (Ecclesiastes 10:4). Paul told us that these times would come (see 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 3).  Therefore, we must keep our eyes on the Lord and wait for Him and not take matters into our own hands.  As the writer of Hebrews informs 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" (Hebrews 10:35-39).  The psalmist also said, "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us."  So let me encourage you today, don't focus on your surroundings and what is happening around you.  But instead, keep your eyes on the Lord and the things around you will be seen for what they are, nothing in comparison to Him.

Sing: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Thought for Today:  If things seem to be obscure, clean your lens.

2015 August 7 - Morning Manna

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 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 5:18-20)

  

Today's Morsel: One of the things about the importance of understanding the deity of God is that everything else in life flows from that knowledge and understanding.  I am of the firm belief that the reason so many people are having such a hard time in their lives is because they do not know who Jesus Christ is. People divorce because they don't know who Jesus is.   People fight, argue, say mean things, and call others bad names because they do not know who Jesus Christ is. Many make bad decisions and wrong choices because they do not know who Jesus is. People don't know who they are, spend millions on products and services trying to change who they are, all because they don't know who Jesus is.  John tells us, "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).  Do you know Him?  Who do you say that He is?  Truth always corrects wrong.      

Sing: I'm so glad that I've been buried in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, in the name of the Lord. I'm so glad that I've been buried in the name of the Lord, since the name of the Lord has been revealed.

Thought for Today: Who do you say that I am? (Jesus Christ)

2015 August 6 - Morning Manna

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Proverbs 27:20)

Today's Morsel: What would you say is the number one thing that would make you satisfied?   I'm sure that many of us could list many different material things.  But really, material things will not fully satisfy us. They may give us a sense of satisfaction for a short time, but it will not last.  Solomon said that our eyes are never satisfied.  Isn't it amazing that the more we see, the more we want.  When I am out, I often times find myself just looking, and then I find myself buying stuff that I already have.  And then I say to myself, Rufus, you did not need more cookies.  And it is all because my eyes told my brain that I needed them. Yikes!  We must get to the point that we go after more of the things of God, those things that satisfy the soul and not our flesh.  Jesus said that they that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). Maybe this is why we aren't satisfied. We are going after the wrong things to fill us.  When we seek Him and His righteousness, His Spirit will satisfy us. 

Sing: I am so satisfied, I am so satisfied, with my Savior, for He means more to me, more to me, than anything than this world, could ever offer me. 

Thought for Today: The hallmark of satisfaction is contentment. 

2015 August 5 - Morning Manna

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)

Today's Morsel: I was listening to this lady give another lady some counsel about a situation that she was facing.  And the lady told her to just trust her heart.  Maybe you have heard someone say that to someone before, too.  Solomon said he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool. Why?  Jeremiah said because the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)  You don't know what you will do when you are in an emotional state.   Solomon tells us, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" (Proverbs 3:5-8). Always remember, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21).  If you want to trust a sure thing, trust in the Lord.  

Sing: Jesus be the Lord of all; Jesus be the Lord of all; Jesus be the Lord of all, the kingdoms of my heart. Jesus I surrender all; Jesus I surrender all; Jesus I surrender all, the kingdoms of my heart.

Thought for Today: Godly counsel still works!

2015 August 4 - Morning Manna

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. (Proverbs 21:21)

Today's Morsel: So many young men and women are serving prison sentences because they were guilty by association.  They were following the wrong person.  I find it strange that so many people are so gullible when it comes to truth.  There are so many people with educational degrees that have no clue of truth.  They will take what a text book says as truth, but not what the Bible as truth.  And yet these same people say that they are Christians. The last time I checked, the Bible was still the book that  Christians believed as truth, and the only source of complete truth.  Solomon said, "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour."  Therefore, if we follow Jesus, who causes us to be right and have mercy; we can find eternal life, learn how to do what is right, and receive honor from Him.  If you want honor from man, then follow the text books of education. But if you want honor from Jesus, then follow your Bible.  Who are you following for your source of truth?   

Sing: Jesus is the One who loves me, Jesus is the One who cares.  Jesus is the One who answers, every one of my prayers. I know He'll never leave me, I know He'll always be there, When I have my fears  and doubt, Jesus is the One who cares.

Thought for Today: "If you want honor from man, then follow the text books of education.  But if you want honor from Jesus, then follow your Bible"

2015 Aug 3 - Morning Manna

"David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them" (1 Samuel 26:4-12)

  

Today's Morsel: One of the things that the enemy of your soul desires to do is draw you deeper into his trap.  He knows that the deeper you are in debt, the deeper you are in depression, the deeper you misunderstand God's word, the easier it will be for him to destroy you.  Scripture says that King Saul went in deep (vs 4); and David could not believe that he did.  David could have easily destroyed Saul, but he would not touch the Lord's anointed.  And so he took his spear and cruse of water.  You see, soldiers always need water and a weapon.  If a soldier does not have these items, he is defenseless.  When David took these from Saul, he was defenseless.   You can be sure that once your enemy draws you in, he will take your Bible.  I'm appalled at the number of people who do not know where their Bibles are.  Paul said that the word of God was as a sword (Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 4:12).  And Jesus said it was as living water (John 4:10).  Let me encourage you today, don't get in so deep, in over your head, that you don't know where your  Bible is.  Remember, faith always comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  You need your weapon and you need the living water.

Sing:  O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and He bought me, with His redeeming blood. He loved me e'er I knew Him, and all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

Thought for Today: Do you know where your Bible is?

2015 August 1 - Morning Manna

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(2 Corinthians 3:17)

Today's Morsel:   As I was checking out at the store a few days ago, I noticed the cashiers name was Liberty.  And so to strike up a conversation, I said to her, "Are you free?" She said, " Oh yeah, I'm as free as a bird."  I said to her, "I notice your name is Liberty and that means freedom." She said, "I know, that's why I'm free."   

Many people think that they have freedom because of where they were born, what they have, or who they are.  But according to Friedrich Nietzache, "Freedom is the will to be responsible for ourselves."  Paul informs us that only where the Spirit of the Lord is do we have real freedom.  That being the case, then we must learn to abide in His presence all the time so that we do not forgo our freedom.

Sing: Holy Spirit Thou are welcome in this place. Holy Spirit, Thou are welcome in this place, Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace, Thou are welcome in this place.

Thought for Today:  Don't use your liberty as an occasion for the flesh!