2014 May 31 - Morning Manna

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:17-19)

 

Today's Morsel: When I was in the infantry in Vietnam, we would have what we called a "Mad Minute."  We knew that the enemy would usually attack just before day break, and so our commander would have us all rise early, get into our selected fighting positions, and on his command, we fired 3 to 4 clips of 90-120 rounds each into our selected sectors of fire.  If any enemy was out there, they were sure to get hit.  When is the last time you got up early and fired off about 90- 120 prayers into your selected sector of fire?  There's an enemy trying to get into your perimeter.  If Jesus saw him fall like lightning, what do you see him falling as?

 

Sing: Let God arise and your enemies be scattered; Let God arise and your enemies be scattered; Let God arise and your enemies be scattered; let God, let God, arise. 

2014 May 30 - Morning Manna

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.   (Ephesians 5:25-31)

 

 

Today's Morsel: Reading the paper a few mornings ago, it said that marriages are down due to people are getting married older now, and divorce among people 50 and older is on the rise. And they contributed the cause to the economy for people getting divorced. Wrong! The cause for divorce is sin. There isn't any other reason. When men and women who get married honor and respect each other, go to church, pray together, read their Bibles together, and keep Christ as the center of their lives;  their marriage will be stronger and remain intact.  As Jesus said, a house divided against itself cannot stand.  Remove sin, and it will stand.

 

Sing: You are, the love of my life. You are, the hope that I cling to. You mean, more than this world to me. I wouldn't trade You, for silver or gold, I wouldn't trade You, for riches untold.   You are, You are my everything.  

2014 May 29 - Morning Manna

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:1-3)

 

Today's Morsel: We know that scripture says that without a vision the people perish.  Stop and think about that for a moment.  More people are frustrated, distressed, and without hope, because they have no vision.  They don't know what they want to do nor become in life.  Many of them that do set visions, think that it will happen overnight.  Visions are for a time to come.  They are something that you want to see 10-15 years down the road, should the Lord tarry.  The Lord told Habakkuk, "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."  Notice it is for an appointed time to come.  So set your vision, make goals that support your vision, and work towards it each day and when you reach the date you are looking for it to come to fruition, you will be satisfied in the Lord that you have accomplished what you set out to do.

 

Sing: And when we reach the portal, where life forever reigns. The ransomed host's grand final, will be this glad refrain.

I see a crimson stream of blood, it flows from Calvary, its waves which reach the throne of God, are sweeping over me.

2014 May 28 - Morning Manna

And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. (Acts 27:30-32)

 

Today's Morsel: It's amazing to me what people will do to save their lives.  Many have been seen jumping from windows of houses and buildings, over the side of sinking ships, or some other place, just to save their lives.  When the people who were on board with Paul heading to Rome thought that they were going to die, some tried to sneak away in other boats.  When Paul saw them, he told them except they abide in the ship, they would not be saved.  Paul had a word from the Lord that they all would be saved.  And he knew that if any exited the ship, they would be lost.   The true church is the ship.  If you are in truth, don't leave the ship because there is no other way that you can be saved. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"(Acts 4:12).   So stay in the boat.

 

Sing: It's the old ship of Zion, it's the hope, for the lost and dying; It's a soul saving station, it's the tower of salvation. Well, it's the church triumphant oh Lord, and it's built, by the hand of the Lord.  I'm talking about the church, in the book of Revelation, it's built on a Rock, it's got a firm foundation; it's been through the flood, it's been through the fire, but one of these days, the church is gonna, move up a little higher; Well it's the church, triumphant oh Lord and it's built by the hand of the Lord. 

2014 May 27 - Morning Manna

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: (Mark 4:3)

 

Today's Morsel: Most Christians, when they leave home each day and head off to work, school, or to shop, do not consider that they are supposed to be going forth sowing seed.  You see, you are supposed to read the word and pray so that you have seed (the word) to sow.  One of the things I've learned about witnessing is that if you will listen to people talk, and not interrupt them, you can see whose heart (soil) is ripe and ready for the seed to be sown into.  Are you aware that Jesus and His disciples didn't witness to everyone?  Scripture tells us, "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us" (Acts 16:14-15).  Notice, Lydia's heart was ready for the seed (the word) and life was birthed in her.  Harken!  Don't cast your pearls before swine.

 

Sing: Jesus use me, oh Lord, don't refuse me, for surly there's a work that I can do. And even though it's humble, Lord help my will to crumble, though the cost be great, I'll work for You.

2014 May 26 - Morning Manna

 

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.   (Hebrews 11:32-40)

 

Today's Morsel: Every year on the last Monday in May,  United States citizens observe Memorial Day, a holiday which honors all those who have died in military service to our country.  Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day began as a way to commemorate soldiers who died in the Civil War in service to the Union Army.  It became Memorial Day after the First World War, and it now honors all men and women who have died in military service, in all branches of the U.S. military.  This federal holiday has a rich, fascinating history, and it holds enormous significance in the lives of so many Americans.  Let us never forget that freedom is not free.

 

Sing: He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away, and now I sing a brand new song amazing grace, for Jesus paid a debt, that I could never pay.

2014 May 24 - Morning Manna

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  (Psalms 90:12)

 

Today's Morsel: When is the last time you stopped and considered your life?  I was pondering this scripture a few days ago, and I asked myself how many days did I think I had left?  The thought is minding boggling because none of us know.  And because we don't know, and because we all must stand before the judgment seat of God, shouldn't we give the more honest heed to the things that are written lest anytime we should let them slip?  If we live our lives on this earth according to the word of God, there may be a limit to our days on earth in this flesh, but there will be no limit to our days in heaven. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day"(2 Peter 3:8).

 

Sing: Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere, than thousands elsewhere.