2015 October 16 - Morning Manna

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:24-27)

Today's Morsel:  You know, scripture has a lot to say about hope.  Paul places it in the category with faith and love.  Someone penned a song which says, "Faith, hope, and charity that's the way to live successfully. How do I know? The Bible tells me so."  Paul said, "For we are saved by hope."  In other words, if we are looking for that eternal glory and the soon coming of the Lord, we must have hope and patiently wait for it.  Paul also tells us that the thing which was written before was written for our example, that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might find hope (Romans 15:4).  God's word is a great source of hope for us.  We are told to study and apply it (2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:22).  Solomon admonishes, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).  Jesus is always at the end of hope.  We know He is the tree of life.

Sing:  Faith, hope, and charity that's the way to live successfully. How do I know? The Bible tells me so.

Thought for Today:  Jesus is always at the end of hope. He is the tree of life.

2015 October 15 - Morning Manna

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God"
 (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

Today's Morsel:  If I had to choose which sport I like best it would probably be football.  And that is because I played the game.  But in the game of football, both offense and defense can be flagged for certain infractions.  Some of the infractions are:  Offsides, holding, tripping,  premeditated celebration, and excessive celebration.  Let me share with you how they apply to the church.  OFFSIDES:  If you are yoked with unbelievers, fellowshipping with the unrighteous,  in a relationship with darkness, and eating at Satan's table, you are guilty of being offsides.  HOLDING: If you aren't paying tithes, giving offerings, and you are clutching your purse or wallet when offering time comes, you are guilty of holding.  TRIPPING: If you think darkness is light and light is darkness, and you think you can do what the world does and make it to heaven, you are tripping. PREMEDITATED CELEBRATION:  If you make up your mind to skip church to go to the game, go to some amusement park, or go do anything other than being at the house of God, you are guilty of premeditated celebration. EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION:  This penalty should be thrown on every Christian every day.   When we think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for us, our souls should cry out HALLELUJAH, praise God for saving me.

Sing: When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all He has done for me, my soul cries out, hallelujah, praise God for saving me. 

2015 October 14 - Morning Manna

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Today's Morsel:  The Global Positioning System (GPS) seems to be what most people use for traveling these days.  It is a good tool and I'm glad that we have one.  It sure makes it easier to find our direction and destination.  But there is one thing it doesn't work for.  And that is showing us how to get to heaven.  There is no GPS for that.  But there is a B- I-B-L-E that has the directions from earth all the way to glory.  We just have to read it and obey it.  The wise men followed the star in search of Jesus and they  found Him.   If we follow that Bright and Morning Star,  we'll find Him too and we will even find our way home. Checked your map lately?

Sing: I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Thought for Today:  If you follow Jesus, you'll blaze a path for someone else to follow, too.

2015 October 13 - Morning Manna

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD." (1 Samuel 1:9-20).

Today's Morsel: I often wonder if the reason some of our prayers aren't answered is because God isn't getting anything out of it.  We pray and ask God for a job, and then we won't tithe or give offerings.  We ask for a child and then you don't train them for the ministry or even bring them to church.  We ask God to heal us, and then we seek for jobs and do things outside the church  with our time.  When Hannah asked God for a son, she said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head."  God answered her prayer because He got something out of it.  He got a prophet.  Hannah fulfilled her promise.  God knew her heart.  And He knows ours, too. I just wonder what would happen if we prayed as Hannah did and then kept our vows.  Solomon said, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?"(Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).  I want God to get something out of all my prayers from this day forth. What about you?

Sing:  Hear my cry, oh Lord, attend unto my prayer, from the end 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.

Thought for Today:  What will God get if He answers your prayer?

2015 October 12 - Morning Manna

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Today's Morsel:  Today we celebrate Columbus Day.  Columbus Day was first recognized as a legal holiday in the United States through the lobbying of Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian, in Denver.  The first statewide Columbus Day holiday was proclaimed by Colorado governor Jesse F. McDonald in 1905, and it was made a statutory holiday in 1907.  In April 1934, as a result of lobbying by the Knights of Columbus and New York City Italian leader Generso Pople, Congress and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 a federal holiday under the name Columbus Day.

 Somewhat like Abraham, Columbus felt a call to seek for a new country.  I'm sure he was a bit apprehensive about his new journey the same as Abraham was.  I am sure many probably tried to get Columbus to turn around after days of no sight of land.  But maybe Columbus had read the book of Hebrews and read where it said of the Patriarchs,  "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:13-16).  Columbus discovered America because he didn't turn back.  You will not find that heavenly city unless you keep looking and seeking.  If you turn back, you will never make it.

Sing:  There's a country far beyond the starry skies, there's a city where there never comes a night, if we're faithful we shall go there by and by, tis the city where the Lamb is the Light.

Thought for Today:  If you are seeking that holy city, don't turn back. It's closer than you think. 

2015 October 10 - Morning Manna

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1)

Today' Morsel:  Last month, our local church's monthly theme was "Now Faith."  I told them that I was going to do a play on words and show them why they needed "Faith Now."   Two of the reasons I told them why they need "Faith Now" was because of discouragement and contingency.  Discouragement can oftentimes appear without warning and catch us unaware.  Someone says something that hurts us.  We lose our job. We don't get hired for a job.  The death of a loved one or friend.  These are just a few of the things that can shake our faith and bring discouragement.  And so this is why we need "Faith Now".  When these type things happen  to us, we have to be able to retain our trust and confidence in God to see us through.   And the other was because of contingency.  Job, Daniel, Joshua, and Paul were men who had "Now Faith" for contingency.   Job said that he had heard about how things happen to others (Job 3:25-26), and he prepared.  Daniel prayed  three times daily (Daniel 6).   Joshua was obedient and believed God under Moses' leadership and it proved profitable in his own leadership later (Joshua 10).  And Paul was able to recall his faith on the ship to Rome (Acts 27).  They built their faith in God before those unforeseeable events of trouble happened in their lives.  As Christians, we are told that we are going to suffer persecution, face hatred, fiery trials, and rejection.  Knowing this, shouldn't we build up our faith in God now so that when these things come we do not lose heart become hopeless?  "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" Jude said (Jude 1:20-21).  How's your faith now?  Are you building it up for "then"?

Sing: Faith, Faith, Faith, just a little bit of faith; Faith, Faith, Faith, just a little bit of faith.  You don't need a whole lot, just use what you've got; Faith, Faith, Faith, just a little bit of faith.

 Thought for Today: "Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Apostle Paul).

2015 October 9 - Morning Manna

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:1-11)

Today's Morsel: What do you use to determine if you will have a relationship with people?  Many people do not consider the consequence of a relationship until it is too late.  People marry thinking they are entering a great relationship only to find out later that it was a huge mistake.  Some share their hearts with people thinking it's a good relationship only to find out what they said to the person is known by so many others.  If you rush into a relationship, someone is most likely going to get hurt.  Solomon's mother told him to choose carefully those he associated with (Proverbs 1:10-15).  Paul tells us to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  Let me share with you three ways to ensure a good relationship:  1. Look for people who have a strong relationship with God;  2. Look for people who are strong in their obedience to God;  3. Look for people who have strong confidence in God.   If any one of these three are missing, it's not a good relationship for you to become involved in.

Sing:  Jesus hold my hand, Lord I need Thee every hour. Through this pilgrim land, protect me by Thy saving power. Hear my feeble plea, oh Lord, look down on me, when I kneel in prayer, I know I'll meet you there, blessed Jesus hold my hand.

Thought for Today:  Can you relate to the person you are with on a ship?  If not, then it's probably not a good relationship, because loose lips sink ships.