Thank God for Comfort (9/27-30)

27-30 Sept. 2015 – Thank God for Comfort – Manna by Dorothy Callies

2 Cor. 1:3-4a KJV, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation . . .”

We can thank God for His comfort who is “the God of all comfort.” The word “comfort” translates the Greek: paraklesis means to stand beside a person, encouraging and helping him in a time of trouble. God supremely fulfils this role; He sends to His children the Holy Spirit, He who is called “comforter.”

In John 14:16 tells us that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “another comforter.” “Comforter” translates the Greek: parakletos, meaning “one called alongside to help.” This is a rich word, meaning Comforter, Strengthener, Counselor, Helper, Adviser, Advocate, Ally, and Friend. The Greek word for “another” is allon, meaning “another of the same kind.” The Holy Spirit continues what Christ Himself did while on earth. [From the Full Life Study Bible]

Question: Why would Jesus need another Comforter? So who is the first comforter? God, our Father in Heaven was always the first Comforter. Jesus was the second Comforter to the disciples while He was on earth. Because He was leaving the earth, He promised another Comforter. Another of the same kind, who? God the Father and God the Son . . . both of them were alway the Comforter.

While Jesus was on earth, He was limited with His flesh. When God send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit to 120 disciples and Holy Spirit was like an internet coming into a person, spoke the language to another person who knew the language, went back to his home country and share the Gospel to many. Holy Spirit can be everywhere at once. It’s hard to imagine that, but believe it! Nothing is too hard for God to send the Comforter when we need Him the most.

So “all praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ” (2Cor.1:3-5, NTL).

My friend, when you are weighed down with troubles, remember it is good for you because God through His Holy Spirit could comfort you. And you will be able to comfort others as well. You will be able to thank God for His comforts through the Holy Spirit!

Song: Come, Holy Spirit

Chorus:

Come, Holy Spirit, I need You,

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray;

Come in Your strength and Your Power,

Come in Your own gentle way.

Come as a wisdom to children,

Come as new sight to the blind,

Come, Lord, as strength to my weakness,

Take me: soul, body, and mind. (Then Chorus)

(Gloria & William J. Gaither, Sing His Praise)

Thank God for Pain (9/24-26)

24-26 Sept 2015 Thank God for Pain – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Acts 14:22 KJV, “. . .  we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

What was this really about when Paul and Barnabas said: “They encouraged them to continue in faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations” (Acts 14:22 NLT)?  This was about Paul who were preaching the Good News in different cities, Lystra and Derbe.

“Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead. But as the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day Paul left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:19-20).

What? Paul got stoned and left him for dead? Why? In New Testament times God did not always protect His servant from harm. To bring the Gospel’s truth into the darkness of the world always give people two choices: to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior or to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The people who rejected the Gospel often brought persecution to God’s servants at a great cost of their lives.  

When Paul was writing to the churches of Galatia, he said, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:17). Reading from New Living Translation about Paul’s many trials from 2 Cor. 11:16-33, makes me wonder how did Paul goes through all that pains? What was Paul’s secret? Paul was always thankful for many things, even thank God for pain.

Now what kind of marks did Paul had in his body? Paul had been whipped many times while he was in jail several times. Five different times the Jews gave Paul 39 lashes. Three times Paul was beaten with rods. Wow! That’s many marks on Paul’s body! Why did they do this? They tried to stop Paul from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 2 Cor. 11:27 NLT, Paul said, “I have lived with weariness and pain . . .” KJV, “In weariness and painfulness . . .” Yet Paul was always thankful . . . even when Paul had “a thorn in the flesh” (2Cor.12:7).  Paul gave us a perfect example how to depend on God’s divine grace, and now God is saying to you, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor.12:9).

What impressed me about Paul? I just never thought of how much Paul went through until I brought up the topic called, “Thank God for Pain.” Sometimes you read through the Bible, but don’t think much of it until you have the topic to start with. Then you search the scriptures related to the topic and you realized there’s something more that brought inspiration you didn’t notice before. Thank You Lord for teaching me this!

So if you have problems that you can’t get rid of yet, think about Paul who loves Christ so much that he was willing to bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ. And think about God’s grace. [Song: Let’s just praise the Lord … praise the Lord … Let’s just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord … praise the Lord! Repeat]

May God bless you today!  

Be Ye Thankful (9/21-23)

21-23 Sept 2015 - Be Ye Thankful – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

NLT: “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

The list are from the songs “Thanks to God” might be helpful to find words when we pray and we can be thankful to God for:

Thanks for prayers answered

Thanks for prayers deny

Thanks for storms

Thanks for supply

Thanks for pain

Thanks for pleasure

Thanks for comfort

Thanks for grace

Thanks for love

Thanks for roses

Thanks for thorns

Thanks for home

Thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope

Thanks for joy

Thanks for sorrow

Thanks for tears

Thanks for peace  

And many more thanks to God for.

When we are thankful, it opens the door inside our hearts and God dwells in the hearts of thanksgiving. Paul’s letters has many verses that he was always thankful for. I chose two for examples: “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers” (Phil.1:4). “I thank my God always …. that you are enriched by Him …” (1 Cor. 1:4).

Inspiration Song:

Thank you, Lord for amazing grace!

Thank you, Lord for your lovely face!

Thank you, Lord for your heart of love.

Thank you, Lord for the Spirit above.

Thank you, Lord for everything.

Thank you, Lord for the love you bring.

Thank you, Lord for my eyes to see.

Thank you, Lord for loving me.

(Written by Rev. Dorothy Callies)

Thank God for Tears (9/18-20)

18-20 Sept 2015 – Thank God for Tears – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 56:8 “. . . (thou put) my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”

A friend read the Manna, “Thank God for Trials” with tears … thankful … That two words inspired me to realize that there’s a verse and a song to go with it. I want to share this with you and encourage this friend. NLT makes it clear: “You (God) keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

I remember Tony told me about one book he read about Mary Baxter who wrote about what she saw in heaven. There was a Tears Room and an angel showed Mary the shelves that had a lot of blank books and a lot of bottles with tears collected from the Christians. An angel took the book, put it on the table, open the blank page, took the tears bottle, and pour one drop of tears over the page, behold, one blank page became full of words.

Every tears you make, God collects them and put it in the bottle, saving it for you. When someday, God will show you your bottle of tears went into the book with full of words. Your tears express your feelings and tears are the language that only God understands. Even if you couldn’t find words for it, He knows how to interpret your tears into the book.

Amazing grace, how sweet it is to know this! How much God loves you and cares that much for you! One line quotes, “Thanks for tears . . .” This song is so impressive about what to thank God for. Look carefully for many words to thank God for . . .

Song: Thanks to God (3 of 3)

 Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou does provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul.

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

Thank God for Trials (9/16-17)

16-17 Sept 2015 - Thank God for Trials – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you” (NLT).

How do we respond or react to that verse 12? Should we get upset, mad or angry? What does the Bible teaches us? The next verse 13 from NLT quotes, “Instead, be very glad …” Glad? How are we going to be glad about the fiery trials? Let’s dig the word, glad. I found one word, grateful, another meaning, “thankful.”

Another question: Why should we be thankful for all the fiery trials we are going through? The answer: It is “because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering …” (1 Peter 4:13). Partners with Christ in his suffering? Ever thought of that? I guess I forgot that … Thank you Holy Spirit for reminding us why we need to thank God for trials so we are partners with Christ. That, certainly, is a great honor to be partners with Christ in his suffering.

Another question: What is the result of taking part with Christ’s suffering? The answer: “And afterward you will have wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:13 NLT). When we continue to thank God for the trials, in the future when Christ comes, we will have wonderful joy sharing his glory for all the world could see.

I say, “Wow!” I hasn’t thought of it that much before. Now reading them again and experiencing the trials we go through, it makes the Word of God more alive and powerful than before. So Holy Spirit is working on our hearts to “rejoice” in our trials according to KJV. I like to repeat James 1:2-4 NLT as a reminder.

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (NLT James 1:2-4).

So let us be thankful for the trials and be partners with Christ’s suffering!

Song: Thanks to God (2nd of 3 lines)

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! (song)

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

Testimony in Giving Thanks (9/13-15)

13 15 Sept 2015 Testimony in Giving Thanks – Submitted by Dorothy

This is Mary Tomasian now living in RI. I have scripture and something to share in giving thanks. 1 Thess 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The hardest part was leaving my friends and my "freedom" or independent in SC. Moved to RI to get my life on track financially and family. I know that He has a better plan for me down the road. I’m learning to adjust my life here since living on earth is not my home. (Heaven is my real home.) However, I’m grateful for friends here at RI to give me support. I’m living one day at a time. PTL! God is good. Amen...

[Dorothy: Friends, let’s support Mary Tomasian in prayer through the anointing of Holy Spirit and lift her up in Jesus’ name. Amen!]

Shelley Guinn from Canada: Thank you for a wonderful introduction of yourself. It is joyful to read and learn more about you, the author of Manna and your relationship with Christ and family. I am blessed! May God richly bless you with this ministry. All for His glory! Shelley  [Dorothy: Thank you, Shelley for encouraging me!]
 

Melinda Gerstein of Chicago:  Praise Report: I was in the hospital for cat scan. NO heart arteries or heart problem. [Dorothy: Thank you, Lord for this wonderful news.]  One thing I have spot on right lung nodule. Will check for CAT scan in 3 to 6 months later. Please pray for me. Melinda

[Dorothy: Lord God of heaven and earth, we all pray for Melinda to be healed from nodule (a small rounded mass) on her right lung. Let it be free when they check again soon. In Jesus’ name we pray for anointing and the blood of Jesus over that area. In Jesus’ name. Amen!]

Dorothy and Tony Callies of Bloomington, IL: I choose one of three part of the song, Thanks to God that fits what we are going through right now. We have had prayers answered and there are other prayers that has been denied. I am sure you have been through this that God has answered your prayers while denied your other prayer requests. Still God is teaching us that “whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (NLT James 1:2-4).

Song: Thanks to God (1st of 3)

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou has deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare.

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

O Give Thanks to the Lord (9/10-12)

10-12 Sept. 2015 - O Give Thanks to the Lord – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 136:3 KJV: “O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth forever.” NLT: “Give thanks to the Lord of lords! His faithful love endures forever.”

Did you know that chapter Psalm 136 begins and ends with the words, “Oh, give thanks” (vv.1, 26)? Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 136:26 “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever.”

The chapter of Psalm 136, each 26 verses has one sentence that quotes, “. . . for his mercy endures forever” which NLT translate: “His faithful love endures forever.” We could spend a lot of time learning about being thankful or gratitude from Psalm 136. The psalmist reminds us of God’s “great wonders” (v.4). He tells us of God’s creative work brought on by His wisdom (v.5). He moves on to rehearse the great exodus of His people (v.10-22).  

As we think through these pictures of creation and deliverance found in Psalm 136, it helps us to find something to thank God for. Two verses that really “impressed me” were Psalm 136:23 and 24 in KJV: “Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever” and “And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth forever.” NLT: “He remembered our utter weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful loves endures forever.” 

“Low estate” means at the humility of condition, like Mary during her pregnancy quoted from Luke 1:48 “For He (God) hath regarded the “low estate” of His handmaiden …” In another word, Mary had nothing famous about her to begin with, but God thought of her and had chosen her to become important mother to raise a Son, Jesus. NLT gives a clear meaning: “For He took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.” Mary had something to be thankful for. God has raised her up from lowly place to a higher place of honor for raising His Son, Jesus.

Prayer from Psalm 136:23 & 24:

Dear Lord, thank You for remembering us in our low estate for Your faithful love endures forever. Thank You, Lord, for remembering us in our lowly position for Your mercy endureth forever. Thank You Lord for redeeming us and saving us from our enemies for Your faithful love endures forever. Thank You Lord for teaching us that Your mercy and your love are the foundation of all Your works and of all our thanksgiving. Your mercy includes Your faithfulness and kindness toward all of us. Thank You for all You have done for us through Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

Song: Surely, Goodness and Mercy

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me,

All the days, all the days of my life,

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days, all the days of my life.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Introducing Rev. Dorothy Callies (9/8)

08 Sept. 2015 Introducing Rev. Dorothy Callies, The Editor of Manna

What interest me to write about myself and my family? Reading Rhonda Barrett’s story she wrote about herself and the family she raised, impressed me to realize that maybe the readers of Fresh Manna might not know enough about me so . . .

I would like to introduce myself briefly:  

I am a Deaf Ordained Minister of United Evangelical Churches since Oct. 2000 & Licensed since 1978. I received A.A. Degree in 1964 C.B.C. Mo. and B.A. degree in May 2000 from West Coast Deaf Bible College. I have developed the 15 Lessons of The Christian Life Notes for the Deaf since 2003 with a purpose to build up the spiritual root of faith in Jesus Christ. This note is now in training under Rev. Rod Renusch of Hawaii.

A brief history of how I got saved and had a ministry in California:

As a Southern Californian, I was saved and called to work with the Deaf at the age of 13 and I went to California Deaf School in Riverside in 1956. I was a very strong witnessing for Jesus Christ. From time to time, I would often asked the Deaf if they had Jesus in their hearts yet. I graduated from Central Bible College, Missouri in 1964. While Rev. Bea Berry was my pastor, I became the Youth for Christ Ambassador for Assembly of God Deaf Church in Riverside, California in 1963 in the summer. During my growing teen, I was the only one of many adults in a Deaf Church. So I began the ministry for the youth and it grew from one myself into 20. I was a strong believer for a growing ministry. After the Deaf Church service, I would traveled an hour or so to a small town, Hemet, California two times a month on Sunday afternoon to look for deaf. I attended Assembly of God hearing church in Hemet, California and at the altar time, I would spend intercessory prayers for the Deaf. Through the help of Policeman, I found one deaf who worked nightly at the restaurant bar and witness to him.

Short history how I met Tony and married and had ministry with him:

In 1966, I traveled by bus to attend the Deaf Convention at Central Bible College, Missouri, but I came earlier so I could visit classes for the deaf. I remember this one special class that Tony had to give his speech on his essay. One teacher came by and interrupted the class and told Mr. Lawrence that Tony was speaking too loud and need to lower his voice. Tony was embarrassed. I learned that Tony had fallen in love with me while I was watching him speaking, and he got carried away, his voice became louder. During that week of Deaf Convention, we became sweetheart and sadly, when the Deaf Convention ended and I had to return home to California. We wrote letters. In the summer, I flew to meet with Tony at Chicago Airport and I stayed at Beloit, Wisconsin with Rev. Hedy Miller’s home and attended a week Michigan Camp. I flew back home to California being engaged with Tony.  

After Tony graduated from CBC and we married in June 1967. We became Evangelists, and we had performed dramas in the USA and New Brunswick. I had Super 8 Regular Movie Camera with a purpose to make movies for the Deaf. In 1970’s I had burdened to pioneer the  silent Christian films in ASL which had lead into making “Seven Great Films” and in 2005 converted the films into class DVDs. In 1986 Tony and I workedwith Deaf Video Communication at Carol Stream, Illinois and DVC created five excellent verse by verse Bible Studies of Hebrews, Titus, Philemon, Jude and Romans. In 2007, Tony became 70 years old retired from working as Maintenance at DVC from 2003 to 2007.  We moved to Bloomington, Illinois and Tony became Assistant Pastor to Terry Newman. I helped with Master of Ceremony and with song worship at Normal Deaf Church. I enjoy it very much.

Brief history about myself and my family:

I was born in Pomona, California with a big family of nine. I have two hearing and one deaf sisters and one hearing brother, two hearing brothers have passed away. I was born deaf and was the seventh child. Actually, my mom had three miscarriages so I would have been the 10^th child if they have lived. [I am looking forward to meet them in heaven.]

Brief history about my dad:

My dad came to America from Switzerland when he was 28 year-old as a meat butcher in Los Angeles area. In Switzerland, He was Lutheran, but he wasn’t satisfied with life so his mother gave him the Bible and explained to him that he could only find salvation from God’s Word. My dad read the Bible and God touched his heart and he accepted Christ.  My dad applied Visa to go to Brazil as a meat butcher, but God led him to apply for America and he waited two years before he could go to America. [Whew! I’m glad he didn’t go to Brazil!]

My dad had friend in Los Angeles who hired him at the Meat Locker and worked as a meat cutter. There was a revival in Assembly of God church in Pomona and my mother played the piano. My dad came to the revival and saw my mom with her beautiful black hair, played piano and he fell in love with her. Later, they married and lived in Pomona, California and my dad got another job as meat cutter. Soon after, my dad decided to build his own business as a meat butcher, went to different farmers to butcher animals and bring them to Meat Locker to cut up and wrap the meats and freeze them.

My dad decided to build his own Meat Locker business in Chino, California when I was eight years old. He, also had a house being build and we moved from Pomona to Chino when I was 12 years old. When I was a teenager, during the summer I learned how to wrap meat and memorized the names of all the meat I wrapped. My mom became the manager and an accountant of the Hottinger Meat Locker while my dad was the butcher, and a meat cutter. He also cured bacons and hams, as well as smoke them in a tiny smoke house. Three brothers and one sister helped Dad with business while they were teenagers.

Brief history about my mom:

I would need to add a little about my mom as well. She came from a large family of nine as well. She had five brothers and one sister. When she was a teenager, my mom loves to play baseball and she was very good at it. In fact, she was a tomboy girl. She loves to go to Silent Movies in her days. Then she accepted Christ and really loves the Lord. Mom had great faith in God and her faith had influenced my life. She was a very powerful prayer intercessor and she would really pray for me. Mom became a strong supporter for Tony and me and would often prayed for our ministry and for us as Ministers to the Deaf.

Thanks for Victory (9/7-9)

07-09 Sept. 2015 – Thanks for Victory in Christ – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

You know, it takes a lot of faith on God to keep on thanking Him for victory over many things. It is easy to live in a thankless world and we can find many reasons to complain. Even in the worst of times, reading different stories of what others went through often touch my heart to realize that my problem were small compare to what others went through. Here is one story that I want to share something that I have never thought of.

A story of Corrie Ten Boom who wrote in her autobiography about herself and her sister Betsie. Both of the sisters went through horrible time in a Nazi concentration camp in 1940’s. On one special time when they came to the line for inspection, Corrie and Betsie were forced to take off their clothes. Corrie stood in line feeling defiled and forsaken.

Then suddenly, she remembered that Jesus was on the cross, naked. That thought brought a strong impression on Corrie with wonder and worship, so Corrie whispered to her sister, “Betsie, they took off His clothes, too.” Betsie gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, … and I never thanked Him.” [Some revised from RBC, Daily Bread]

That touched my heart to realize that Christ had been naked on the cross. Yes, many pictures and movies often shows that covering of the private part was because of our culture. This may be the reason why we don’t realized that in reality, anyone on the cross during the Roman’s time, they stripped the person completely naked . . .

Corrie and Betsie thanked God for their being naked during inspection time and Holy Spirit gave them victory to overcome their shame when they thought of Christ being naked, too. Doesn’t that make you realized that your problems compare to this . . . ohhh, what could I say? “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 15:57). Here’s a song of thanking the Father for Jesus.

Song: There Is a Redeemer

Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son;

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.

Chorus:

Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory, I will see His face;

There I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place.

Chorus:

Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

(Melody Green, Sing His Praise)

Giving Thanks Always (9/4-6)

04 06 Sept 2015 Giving Thanks Always – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always . . .”

To whom should we always give thanks to? “For all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20b). What else should we do? “Making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19b).

Giving thanks in words is good, but making melody unto the Lord is even greater. It does something to your soul. It feels tender, sweet and peaceful when we sing even when we, Deaf people cannot hear the music. Be filled with the Holy Spirit helps a Deaf person experience constant renewal by giving thanks and singing unto the Lord.

Just how important it is to always give thanks? Maybe you wonder if it is worth giving thanks in spite of the problems that you might have or what we have been “hearing” many tragedies from News. I was reading one article from RBC, Our Daily Bread. It was an unusual short story which I didn’t know what to make of it. But at the end, there’s a point that’s something to think about. It really taught me something.

The story was about a family that was left with a tragedy, a void that nothing could fill. A toddler chasing a cat wandered into the road and was run over by a truck. A 4-year-old watched in shocked silence as her parents cradled the lifeless body of her little sister. For years, the cold emptiness of that moment confined the family in sadness. The only comfort was numbness. Relief was unimaginable.

Author Ann Voskamp was the 4-year-old, and the sorrow surrounding her sister’s death formed her view of life and God. The world she grew up in had little concept of grace. Joy was an idea that had no basis in reality.

Ann Voskamp set out to discover the elusive thing the Bible calls joy. [Elusive means hard to understand] The words for joy and grace come from the Greek word chairo, which she found out is at the center of the Greek word for thanksgiving. Could it be that simple? She wondered. To test her discovery, Ann Voskamp decided to give thanks for 1,000 gifts she already had. Soon her being gratefulness was flowing freely. Ann Voskamp discovered that giving thanks brought to life feeling of joy that had died along with her sister. Joy comes from thanksgiving. [Written by Ackerman Link]

Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me” (John 11:41). Just as Jesus gave thanks before, not after, raising Lazarus from the dead. This is a good example if you are “feeling dead,” try thanking Your Heavenly Father and He will “raise you up” into the inner renewal of the Holy Spirit who will give you a song to sing.

Song: Thank You, Lord!

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,

Thank you, Lord, for making me whole.

Thank you, Lord, for giving to me,

Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Enter His Gates (9/1-3)

01-03 Sept 2015 - Enter His Gates with Praise – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 100:2, 4 “Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. 4) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

Why is it important to serve the Lord with gladness? The answer: “Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” Psalm 100:3. “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” Psalm 100:5.  

After I read verse four, I want to know those two meaning of the words, gates and court. I try to visualize what it looks like so I look it up. To my surprise, it is something I never thought of how to explain it clearly. I choose to keep it simple and remember easily. It bless me even more when I come to know the Scripture so here goes.

The word, gate means door, a barrier by which an entry is closed and opened. The word, court means an open space completely or partly surrounded by building. During the time of King Solomon, the Temple at Jerusalem had courts and gates which the people could enter in and out.  The Ark in the Most Holy Place was where God’s mercy seat was and the people came to serve the Lord with gladness.

Ps. 100:1, “Make a joyful noise ‘unto the Lord,’ all ye lands.” Individual and congregational singing should be done primarily “unto the Lord,” with joy and out of a conscious awareness of His presence. In song we remember that He created us and redeemed us, and that we are now His people and He is our shepherd. We sing of His love, faithfulness, and truth that will endure forever. [Commentary, The Full Life Study Bible]

Song: I Will Enter His Gate

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart.

I will enter His courts with praise.

I will say this is the Day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice for He has made me glad,

He has made me glad, He has made me glad,

I will rejoice, for He has made me glad,

He has made me glad, He has made me glad,

I will rejoice, for He has made me glad.

(Inspiring Song Collections List)

Dorothy: I woke up with this song in my heart this early morning so I put it into Manna and found the verses that comes with it and here’s a Manna. It is a new month to begin with a song of praise. So Happy September first!