2015 June 30 - Morning Manna

" The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalms 23:1-6).

Today's Morsel: When I was stationed in Germany, I had this shepherd who came through my Petroleum Tank Farm that would ask me if it was okay if he allowed his sheep to graze around the tank farm, as the grass was always so green.  I always granted him permission. This shepherd knew where to lead his sheep for greener pastures. Jesus is the same way. He knows where to lead us to.  Maybe today you are a little discouraged and could use a little encouragement. What I would like you to do is go back through our scripture reading and read the 23rd Psalm, but this time everywhere you see an "I", "me", or "my"; insert your name. Read it through two or three times that way and see what a difference it will make to you.  Jesus wants you to know that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

" The LORD is ________ shepherd; ____ shall not want. He maketh ______to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth _____beside the still waters. He restoreth ______ soul: he leadeth _____ in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though _____walk through the valley of the shadow of death, ____will fear no evil: for thou art with ______; thy rod and thy staff they comfort _______ Thou preparest a table before ______ in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest _______ head with oil; _____ cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow _____ all the days of _____ life: and ____will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalms 23:1-6).

Sing: The Lord is my shepherd, He has everything that I need. He maketh me lie down in green pastures, and He leadeth me beside the quiet streams. I will not fear in the valley because He protects me from hidden enemies. He's my Comfort, my Provider, my Savior, and my Lord; He anoints me, and He leads me, and He cares for me forever, and ever, and ever amen!

Thought for Today: If you are feeling dry, God may be leading you to a better pasture. 

2015 June 29 - Morning Manna

 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. (Proverbs 16:17)

Today's Morsel: When we were missionaries, my wife and I put 52,000 miles on the vehicle we had in 16 months.  That was a lot of highway to cover.  And over all that highway, in every church service, we were trying to help pastors get folks to depart from evil and live upright while sharing what God was doing on foreign soil.  Solomon said that the highway of the upright is to depart from evil.  I know he's not talk about the black top highway we drive on, but he's talking about the way that we should live. We that are born again must live higher than the evil and sins of this world around us.  We must be on a higher plane. We must stay upon the Solid Rock.  Habakkuk said that God would cause him to walk upon his high places (Habakkuk 3:17-19).  It should be a compliment if people see us as being on a higher level.  Just don't allow it to be prideful.  Simply walk in your high places where God has placed you.

Sing: Lord lift me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven's table land; a higher plane, than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground!

Thought for Today: Stay away from evil and you won't have to worry about the valley of the shadow of death.

2015 June 26 - Morning Manna

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalms 34:12-14)

Today's Morsel: If you could choose how long you could live, how many years would you choose? Scripture says, "And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died"(Genesis 5:21-27).  These men lived what we would call a long and good life.  But the psalmist also tells us how we too can have a long and good life.  He said, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."  "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof", Solomon said (Proverbs 18:21). We must remember that James tells us that, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell" (James 3:5-6).  The ball for long life is in our court and it begins with our words.  

Sing: Welcome Holy Spirit, we are in your presence, come fill us with your power, live inside of me!

Thought for Today:  A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

2015 June 25 - Morning Manna

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

(Proverbs 13:10)

Today'  Morsel: I often wonder why they call a group of lions a "pride"?  And then I wonder, just how many relationships could be mended if people would let go of their pride; how many marriages could be saved, lives maintained,  or peace reached among people if just one would forgo their pride? Solomon tells us that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before one falls.  Pride can be dangerous and we may not even know it's total results.   Solomon also tells us, "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with" (Proverbs 17:14).  He said leave it alone.  Once you open the flood gate for contention there is no stopping it from flowing.  So don't open the breech in the wall of your heart.  Once pride gets into a person's heart, that heart can become hateful, jealous, and even demonic.  When you find one that isn't willing to forgo pride, stand back and watch their downward spiral.  You keep yourself humble. "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Proverbs 29:23). Crush pride before it takes root in your own heart.

Sing:  I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul. I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul.

Thought for Today: If you have contention with someone, check your cage, your lions may be out! 

2015 June 24 - Morning Manna

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
(Psalms 128:1)

Today's Morsel:  A few day ago, I asked you what you use to determine if a person is blessed.  The psalmist said,  "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways."  That being the case, everyone who says that they are Christian, should then be blessed.  We who know truth should always walk in His ways and reverence Him.  If it feels as though your blessing fountain has stopped flowing, check your pathway, you may be walking in the wrong way.

Sing: I am blessed, I am blessed, everyday that I live I am blessed. When I wake up in the morning, till I lay my head to rest, I am blessed, I am blessed.

Thought for Today: "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD" (Psalms 119:1)

2015 June 23 - Morning Manna

And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time. And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount. And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath. Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice. Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. (Deuteronomy 9:20-24)

Today's Morsel: As Moses is doing a recapitulation with the children of Israel before they cross into the Promise Land, he seems to be somewhat angry with them in his discussion with them for their rebellion and stubbornness.  But I don't think that he is as angry with them, but rather he is desiring them to get the message.  Sometimes, spiritual leadership has to crack the whip.  Moses knew that all the things that God had done for them by this point, and they should have been some of the most obedient people upon the earth.  Yet they were not. He told them, "You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you."  Ouch! Moses knew that if they did not wake up, they would not enjoy the blessing and protection of God.  The book of Deuteronomy should speak to all of us if we say that we are born again.  We must learn to do what is right and stop being a rebellious people when it comes to God's word or else we will forfeit our eternal reward of heaven.

Sing: I'll say yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way. I'll say yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey, when Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I'll agree, and my answer will be yes, Lord, yes.

Thought for Today: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (The Prophet Samuel).

2015 June 22 - Morning Manna

 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:36-41)

Today's Morsel: I was listening to the radio the other day, and a minister stated that the majority of our prayers are either for someone else or for our wants. I thought to myself that this is true. We are either interceding for others or for a want the majority of the time.  If you want to change your world with a prayer, then pray as Jesus prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done." When you can get to the point of "nevertheless" in your prayer life, it will really change how you view, prioritize, and decide what things are important  in your life.  Even though Jesus wanted the cup to be removed, He realized that His purpose for coming and dying was so that we could live.  His prayer of  "Nevertheless" changed the world.

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.

Thought for Today: A prayer of "Nevertheless" will change your world.