Under Construction 'til June 1st

Since May 13th, Manna will be under construction until June 3rd, 2013.

Dorothy

The Secret Tabernacle

Psalm 27:5b “In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me” KJV.

Amplified Bible reads in Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 17:8 NLT: “Guard me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 31:20 NLT: “You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. Psalm 91:1 KJV: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Those are the words of comfort that I began with only one verse of Psalm 27:5b. Then I checked out the other resources to find more notes that would expand those verses. The secret place is the same as the secret of His tabernacle. This psalm offers security for us, the children of God that we commit ourselves to the will and protection of the Almighty. We seek daily to dwell in God’s presence. We seek to abide in Christ and His word for our lives.

This does not mean that there will never be difficult times but that as long as we make God our Lord and our refuge, everything that happens to us will work out for good. Romans 8:28 tells us that “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God …”

In all these things, let us trust Him!

Song: Only Believe

Only believe, only believe

All things are possible. Only believe.

Only believe, only believe

All things are possible, only believe.

Lord, I believe; Lord, I believe

All things are possible, Lord, I believe.

Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe

All things are possible. Lord, I believe.

Jesus is here, Jesus is here

All things are possible, Jesus is here.

Jesus is here, Jesus is here

All things are possible, Jesus is here.

(Inspiring Choruses)

The Great Psalm

Psalm 119:2 “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (KJV).

This chapter of Psalm is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 119:1-176). The history says that it may have been written by Ezra after the Temple was rebuilt (Ezra 6:14,15). Psalm 119 was used as a repetitive mediation on the beauty of God’s Word and how it helps us stay pure and grow in faith. Almost every verse mentions God’s Word. You may wonder why we see the repetition in every verse that was common in the Hebrew culture. Remember people did not have personal copies of the Scriptures to read as we do now.

So God’s people memorized his Word and passed it along orally. Remember, God’s Word, the Bible, is the only sure guide for living a pure life. A pure life means a separate life from the “pagan’s way of living.” I use the word, pagan which means the kind of people that worship their own gods and their lifestyle that would bring the destructive to their souls. This kind of pagan’s living is not a blessed life.

The word, blessed means to be happy. Testimonies, God’s testimonies represent the covenant requirements that are declared His will. Maybe we might ask, “What does God expect of me?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires you to fear (show respect to) Him, to live according to His will, to love and worship with all your heart and soul, and to obey the Lord’s commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own” (NLT).

Some part of the notes came from other resources to help me understand what Psalm 119:2 was all about especially Deut. 10:12-13. If we understand what kind of pagan’s way of living and that they do not follow God’s will, they cannot be called, “blessed.” It was because the pagan does not choose to fear God. The pagan does not choose to love God. Therefore, they are not blessed for not keeping His testimonies.

I appreciate “The Great Psalm” because it will keeps us from becoming like “pagan” and reading His Word will keep us close to Him. I am so thankful for His Word into my heart.

Bless the Lord for His Word today!

Dorothy

Draw Me Nearer

Psalm 73:28 “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works” (KJV).

Do you ever felt like David quoted, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee?” (Psalm 73:22 KJV). “I was senseless and stupid. I acted like an animal toward you” (Ps.73:22 NCV). Next verses are encouraged: “Yet I still belong to You; You are holding my right hand. You will keep on guiding me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? I desire You more than anything on earth.

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but [You] God remains the strength of my heart: He is mine forever. But those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. BUT AS FOR ME, HOW GOOD IT IS TO BE NEAR GOD! I HAVE MADE THE SOVEREIGN LORD MY SHELTER, AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU (GOD) DO” (Psalm 73:23-28 NLT).

Interesting how I found Psalm 73:28 from the technology Franklin Holy Bible after I felt lead to sing a song, “Draw Me Nearer” and that came from “I Am Thine, O Lord” theme by Fanny Jane Crosby. I like to call it, “Draw Me Nearer” because I felt a need to draw myself to Him. I found Psalm 73:28 “… draw near to God” that match the chorus.

Song: Draw Me Nearer

Chorus: Draw me near..er.., near-er, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me near-er, near-er, near-er, blessed Lord..,

To Thy precious bleeding side.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour,
That before Thy throne I spend, 

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

I commune as friend with friend!

Chorus:

Draw me near..er.., near-er, blessed Lord,

To the cross where Thou has died;

Draw me near-er, near-er, near-er, blessed Lord..,

To Thy precious bleeding side.

(Lyrics: Fanny Jane Crosby, Sing His Praise)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for rescue me when I felt foolish for using so much time on other things when they should be put in balance and put the certain time for You. Thank You for finding the verses that matched my feelings and I was able to confess and ask for forgiveness. And the beauty of this was that You even lead me to sing a song to draw me to You even before I found this reading of Psalm 73:22-28. You even forgave me when I haven’t asked You for it. You knew, yet You draw me nearer to You. This humbled my heart how much You loved me and helped me to draw close to You. How amazing God You are. Thank You so much for loving me. Maybe others might have felt that and we thank You for today’s Manna to meet our needs in Jesus’ name, amen!

Amazing Grace!

 Dorothy

PS. May 6-8, 2013 Manna

A Mighty Fortress

Psalm 46:1-2a “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”

The reason I remember this song when I read a story of Martin Luther from the comic book. When he started the Lutheran Church, he noticed the people in their daily lives seem to lack something so he developed a song “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The children and the people’s lives were changed into the spirits of trusting God through singing.

The words may be difficult to grasp so what this means is that God is our protector and a bulwark, a protection from God will never fail. God is in the middle of the flood. He is there when there is trouble time. Mortal is people and when ills or trouble time comes seems prevailing (overcoming us).

Ancient foe is Satan and Martin Luther has faced prison time. Although Satan seeks to make us despondent and work us woe… giving us trouble times. Satan’s craft are clever and Satan’s power seems great and often Satan is armed with cruel hate, yet on earth is not his equal.

Although Satan seems to have power over many people but still heaven and earth belongs to God and God through His Son, in God’s time will finally defeat Satan. The rest of the words of Martin Luther’s song were about Christ Jesus and He will win the battle against Satan. So God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Stand strong in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Song:  A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;

Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

Doeth seek to work us woe—

His (Satan’s) craft and power are great,

And armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.                                                                                         

[Lyrics: Martin Luther, Frederick H. Hedge;

Music: Martin Luther]

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that you are our refuge. You are our strength. You are here in a very present help in time of need. Thank you for already helping us to be strong and also to be well completely in Jesus’ name. Amen!

God bless you!

Dorothy

I Loved You

John 15:9

KJV: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

NCV: “I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love.”

AMP: “I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with me].

Poem: I Love You Truly

I love you truly ‘cause you are Mine.

I love you truly; you’re My sunshine.

I love you truly though when things goes wrong.

I love you truly for I am very strong.

I love you truly, I am on your side.

I love you truly; there’s nothing to hide.

I love you truly, day after day.

I love you truly in every way.

I love you truly, very truly, dear.

I love you truly and I am very near.

I love you truly because I really do.

Won’t you love Me as much as I love you?

Secretary for Jesus,

Dorothy Callies
Written in April 1982

Uphold All that Fall

Psalm 145:14 
“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.”

“The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.” Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear, and we wonder how we can go on. David stands at this bleak intersection of life’s road and David meditates on the Lord, the great burden bearer. A bleak intersection is like a dark time when a person stands at the cross roads and he doesn’t know what to do. Through Psalm 145, David remembers that God is our great burden bearer and how God is able to lift us up. [Notes: The QuickVerse Life Amplification quotes]

Psalm 145:19b “He hears our cries and rescues us.” When you are bended under a burden and felt like you are about to fall, remember, He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden.

Song: My Burdens Rolled Away
1. I remember when my burdens rolled away;
I had carried them for years, night and day;
When I sought the blessed Lord,
And I took Him at His Word,
Then at once all my burdens rolled away.
Chorus:
Rolled away..., rolled away...,
I am happy since my burdens rolled away...;
Rolled away..., rolled away...,
I am happy since... my burdens.. rolled away.
[Minnie A. Steele, Sing His Praise]

Prayer: My dear heavenly Father, I want to thank You for the uplifting devotion. I look back from life experiences; I see that progress and failure are both part of the journey. You remind me of Your grace when You helped me find a solution to any problems. I gain insight from past struggles that help my spiritual growth. You showed me how You have been faithfully working in my life.

Reading the psalms is like a spiritual journal. Some of the psalms show how You God have helped in times of testing like Psalm 40, David writes: I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined (listened closely) to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps”(v.1-2). Thank You for reminding me of Your faithful deliverance in Jesus’ name, amen! I love You and I worship You.

May the Lord lift you up into His hands!

Dorothy