Part 2 Apple of His Eye 11/28-30

28-30 Nov. 2016 - Part 2, The Apple of His Eye – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Zechariah 2:8 “Whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye” (NIV).

Sharing the devotion from ‘Our Daily Bread’ written by Amy Boucher Pye:

“The prophet Zechariah employs (uses) this phrase (a brief expression) in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. 

“He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God.  For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye.

“Hebrew scholars (a person who attends a school or studies under a teacher) suggest this phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes (point out plainly) one’s reflection in the pupil of another’s eye, with the word “apple” emerging (became clear) because it’s a common spherical (relating to) object (thing).

“So with eyes being precious and fragile (easily broken or delicate), they need protecting, and that’s how the Lord wants to love and protect His people—by holding them close to His heart.” [End]

Sharing the notes from ‘The Full Life Study Bible’ written by Donald C. Stamps:

“2:8 HE THAT TOUCHETH YOU TOUCHETH THE APLLE OF HIS EYE. Zion (v. 7) represents the godly (having showing love to God) remnant (small survivors) of Israel; they are the apple (pupil) of God’s eye, precious and important to Him.  Believers today are as important and loved as were God’s people of Old Testament times; we are under His protective care and concern.” [End]

Dorothy:  Now I read two verses: Psalm 17:8 and Zechariah 2:8 about “The Apple of His Eye.” How else could God being able to express His feeling for His own people that He loves so much?  This phrase really gives us a deeper insight of how God really feels. 

Sometimes people of the world might view God as a cruel God who seems heartless when so many terrible things were happening.  I remind myself: God has a plan. God is giving people time to turn to Him.  There are many wonderful testimonies of God’s grace upon many people who appreciate the chance to accept Christ through tragedy.

People who turned to God becomes the “Apple of His Eye” and God is glad that He waited enough time for them to turn to Him.  His heart is tender. His heart is touched when you are hurting. Like David said, “Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.” God is like a hen, God covered us under His arms.  So lets’ sing: Oh God, Awesome!

Oh God, awesome in power,

Oh God, tender in love.

Oh God, You are my God,

And I love You.

Oh God, full of compassion,

Oh God, faithful and true.

Oh God, You are my God,

And I love You.

(Collections of song)

The Apple of His Eye 11/25-27

25-27 Nov. 2016 - The Apple of His Eye – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (KJV).  

 *The psalmist uses two figures (represents) which looked back of God’s love and care for His faithful people.  The first figure, “The apple of the eye” is the pupil and is a Hebrew metaphor (word or phrase meaning) expressing something greatly valued and dear. The second figure, “The shadow of thy wings” is a metaphor drawn from the imagery (picture idea) of a hen that protects her young with her wings; so it expresses tender protection.

*Christ used this metaphor (word of phrase meaning) to express His love for Israel (Matt. 23:37).  All believers should pray that God will reach out to protect us in times of danger just like someone who instinctively (have natural ability) reacts to guard (protect) the pupil of the eye from harm, and that the Heavenly Father will always be ready to hide and shield us as a mother hen covers her chicks (Ps. 91:4).  [*Commentary from the Full Life Study Bible and I add the meaning the words.]   

Dorothy: The apple of His eyes reminds me of a song that seems to fit Psalm 17:8 the prayer of David asking God to protect him from danger.  Let us focus on God who is always watching over us in time of danger.

Song: We’ve Got a Great Big Wonderful God

            (Song collections, author, unknown)

We’ve got a great big wonderful God!

Great big wonderful God,

A God who’s always victorious,

Always watching over us—

Great big wonderful God.

We’ve got a great big wonderful God!

Great big wonderful God—

A God who loves every one of us,

Does so much for all of us,

Great big wonderful God.

He never, never, never leaves us,

He’s always standing by –

To pick us up if we stumble,

We’re the apple of His eye. –

We’ve got a great big wonderful God!

Great big wonderful God -

O what a glory it is to sing

Praises to the coming King -

Great big wonderful God.

Our great big wonderful God.

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy

Condemn Not 11/22-24

22-24 Nov. 2016 - Condemn Not – Manna & Share Devotion by Dorothy Callies

John 3:17 KJV: “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” NIV: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

What does the word, condemn really mean? From the Holman Bible Dictionary, it says “act of pronouncing someone guilty after weighting the evidence.” In another dictionary it says, “to declare to be wrong.”  I would like to share the devotion from “Our Daily Bread” written by Randy Kilgore, Ambassador of Love. [*I add the meaning of words.]

“In my work as a chaplain, some people occasionally ask if I am willing to give them some additional spiritual help.  While I’m happy to spend time with anyone who asks for help, I often find myself doing more learning than teaching.

“This was especially true when one painfully honest new Christian said to me with resignation, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to read the Bible.  The more I read what God expects from me, the more I judge (*make an opinion after careful consideration of) others who aren’t doing what it (the Bible) says.”

“As he said this, I realized I was at least partly responsible for instilling (*cause to feel) this judgmental spirit in him.  At that time, one of the first things I did was those new to faith in Jesus was to introduce them to things they should no longer be doing. In other words, instead of showing them God’s love and letting the Holy Spirit reshape (*to give a new form to) them, I urged them to “behave like a believer.”

“Now I was gaining a new appreciation for John 3:16-17.  Jesus’ invitation to believe in Him in verse 16 is followed by these words. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (* judge guilty to) the world, but to save the world through Him.”

“Jesus didn’t come to condemn (*pronounce guilty on) us.  But by giving these new Christians a checklist of behaviors, I was teaching them to condemn themselves, which then led them to judge others. Instead of being agents of condemnation, we are to be ambassadors of God’s love and mercy.”   [End of Randy Kilgore’s devotion]

Dorothy: What does this mean to me? I was very impressed with devotion that Jesus did not come to earth to “condemn” us.  Jesus reminds us of Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Because if you do judge, you’ll get it right back to you. Let us pray. “Oh, Holy Spirit fill our hearts to love others so that there would be no room to judge others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!”

Song: Like a Mighty Sea

Like a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,

Comes the love of Jesus, sweeping over me;

The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol (to praise highly),

Comes the love of Jesus, sweeping over my soul.

[Lyrics and music by A. I. Zelley and H. L. Gilmour, Melodies of Praise]

May the Lord fill your hearts with the love of Jesus today!

Dorothy

More Than Enough 11/19-21

19-21 Nov. 2016 - More Than Enough – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 103:4-5 [The Lord] beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; [The Lord] satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]! (Amplified Bible)

God is good! God wants us to have more than enough! We serve a God of abundance who is consistently “more than enough.”  God is consistently means God never change what He wants to do for us, abundantly, more than enough.  God’s generous nature in the way He loves His children and that is us.

In Psalm 103, David lists the many benefits our Father wants to give to us. Verse 4 says that He redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He satisfies me with good things and makes me young again, like the eagle. More translation: My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Our age is our destruction, but verse 4 says He redeems our life from destruction. David quoted, “My youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” David believed!  David took action what he had written and quoted the verses and David said, “God crowns us with loving-kindness and tender mercies.”

God understood our pains and wants to remind us from verse 3, “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases” (NLT) from Psalm 103:3.  Like David, the Psalmist, we need to believe and hold on to His promise, “He heals ALL my diseases.”  I keep on believing.

Even apostle Paul reminds us that God “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” and “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 1:3; 3:20).  When we ask God for healing, God wants to do more than that … bless us with spiritual blessing … Inner blessing that would overflow our bodies with healing power.

I pray that our inner blessing be filled with God’s love and grace and be filled with more than enough that we would be healed and be renewed again and again. So let’s keep on believing on His Word.  Let us take action and say, “My youth is renewed just like the eagle whose feathers are renewed every year.”  May we feel like an eagle, a new strength!

     Song: Keep on Believing

Keep on believing, God will answer prayer;

Keep on believing, never despair;

Though you be heavy laden and

     burdened down with care,

Remember God still loves you

     and He answers prayer.

          (Inspiring Choruses)

May this Manna really bless you and heal you today!

Dorothy

Reach Out with Love 11/16-18

16-18 Nov 2016 - Reach Out with Love – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest is charity.”

What was Paul, the Epistle, tried to tell us that the greatest is charity? I chose this meaning, “love for others.” It is clear from the whole chapter 13 that God exalts (take great notice) Christ-like character in love for others more than ministry, faith, or the possession (having) of spiritual gifts.

What does God values? God values (highly worth) and emphasizes (very important) character that acts in love, patience, kindness, unselfishness, hatred for evil (wrong doing) and love for the truth, honesty, and endurance in righteousness much more than faith to move mountains or to perform (to do) great achievements (success) in the church.

What is the greatest in God’s kingdom? True greatness is important in heartfelt love, commitment, and dedication to God.  It is important to be consecrated and faithful where God chooses to place us.  In God’s sight, the greatest in His kingdom are those with the greatest love, loyalty, and commitment to Him and to His revealed Word.

We need to understand something . . . that greatness is not position, office, leadership, power, influence, academic degree, fame, ability, great accomplishments, or success. It is not so much what we do for God as what we are in our inner spirit before Him.

What is in our heart right now?  Do we have the true greatness that requires us to become great wherever we are? God called us to serve and that is the greatest love we can reveal our true self. The kingdom of God is within you. Let’s pray . . .

Prayer:  Oh, Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love to pour out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We thank You for revealing Your simple Word that greatest is love.  Satan wants to fight this since his hatred for us is so real.  Satan doesn’t want us to have Your love inside of us. But we stand against Satan and be gone, Satan! Through the blood of Jesus Christ, let Your love flows through us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Song: Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove

Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove,

Fill me with Thy tender love;

Make my heart Thy royal throne;

Reign in me; I am Thine own.

Holy Spirit, source of peace,

When the storms of life increase,

Fill me with Thy peace and joy;

No more fears can then annoy.

(Helen E. Fromm, Sing His Praise) 

God bless you today!

Dorothy 

Lift Up Your Hands 11/13-15

13 15 Nov 2016 Lift Up Your Hands – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 28:2 “Hear the voice of my supplications (to ask earnestly), when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle (place).” Psalm 63:4 “Thus will I bless thee while I love: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

The Holy Spirit led me to lift up my hands to praise the Lord. I was praying for you. Holy Spirit reminds me of Moses when he lift up his hand, the enemies of Amalekites were defeated.  So when I lift up my hands to the Lord, our enemies are defeated.

It is found in Exodus 17:11 KJV “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed . . .” (to win against opposition).  NCV: As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites would win the fight . . .”

David also lift up his hands toward God to praise the Lord and believing that God has met his needs when he cry unto the Lord. David, the Psalmist believed that God has heard his cry.

Let us be like David and Moses who had lifted up their hands unto the Lord, believing that God has met our needs by faith and that any of the problems we have in our bodies are completely healed in the name of Jesus. 

Thank you for praying for Tony Callies since last Friday morning on November 11th, he had surgery on his head, cleaned out the cancer and after the fourth tests, it was all cleared. The Doctor stitches his top head about 3 inches long. During our waiting time for the final test, Tony and I sang together, Precious Lord . . .

“Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, help me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Thru the storm, thru the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” 

Also I lift my hand up unto the Lord and praise the Lord. I don’t remember all of the song, but it was a song of victory over the cancer.  Like Moses lift his hand up for victory over the enemies.

I lift my hands up unto the Lord,

I lift my hands up unto the Lord,

Thus will I bless thee

Thus will I praise thee,

I lift my hands up unto the Lord.

(Unknown where I got it)

I pray that you will have victory over the enemies when we all lift up our hands unto the Lord and praise the Lord! 

Dorothy

Rejoice in the Lord! 11/10-12

10-12 Nov. 2016 - Rejoice in the Lord! – Share Devotion from Dorothy Callies

Rejoice and exult (very joyful) in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12 (Amplified Bible)

We're to live in hope. We're to rejoice. So, when Satan comes to steal your victory and tell you that God is not going to help you this time, you just think on the Word of God and start rejoicing. Rejoice that you're in Him. Rejoice that heaven is your home. Rejoice that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Rejoice. Brag on God today. The devil can't stand it!

"Be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation...." Tribulation means "being under pressure." When pressure comes, don't cave in. Don't faint. Instead, go to the throne of grace. Go boldly in the Name of Jesus and get the help you need.

Remember this: When things get hard isn't when you let go of the Word. That's when you double up on it. That's when you are "constant in prayer" so that you are unmovable.

Rejoice. Be patient under pressure. Be constant in prayer. The devil won't be able to steal one thing from you!  [Devotion from Gloria Copeland “Brag on God,” From Faith to Faith]

Dorothy:  This devotion reminds me of a song and a verse to go with it. Paul said in Philippines 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”  Imagine, Paul in his extreme (very great) suffering, tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord, always.”  

So we, as a believer are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord!  We receive strength when we remember Lord’s grace and His being near to us.  We remind His promises to meet our needs. So, my friend, rejoice in the Lord always! It is a powerful weapon against Satan!

Song: Rejoice in the Lord!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice … Rejoice …

Again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice … Rejoice …

Again I say, Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord, always!

Again I say, Re-joice!

(Heard someone sang this song and

   I memorized it, unknown author)   

May the Holy Spirit help us to get into the spirit of rejoicing and use the powerful weapon against Satan in Jesus’ name, amen!

Dorothy

 

Greater Works 11/7-9

07-09 Nov 2016 - Greater Works – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 14:12 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, he (you) who lives in Me, the works that I do he (you) will do also; and greater works than these he (you) will do, because I go to My Father.”

What did Jesus means when He said that we could do greater works like He did? Actually, if I think of what He did, how many people did He healed?  Many and I don’t think I actually healed that many people like Jesus did.  So how could He expects me to do all those greater works than He does?

Peter knew the answer to this question.  It is found in Acts 10:38 KJV, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”

The key is “by the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus said, “It’s the Father within Me who does the work.”  He said that you, as a believer, would be able to do greater works than He did (John 14:12).  He added that it is through the promise of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who will do greater work inside of you.

I stop and think. God, the Almighty can do many things, Himself. But it is no fun for God to do that all alone.  God created man in His image and His likeness so God is in all of the human beings (Gen. 1:26). Like Paul said, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being … we are also His offspring (person)” (Acts 17:28). 

It is through the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us to do many things. Jesus in His time, didn’t have the computer.  Today we reached people through emails, devotions, YouTube, Face Book, etc. He anointed us with Holy Spirit to reach as many people as we can.  Mine is through Manna, Holy Spirit anointed me to write devotion.  What does Holy Spirit anointed you to do?

Song: Anointing, Holy Spirit

       (Walt Mills, Sing His Praise)

1. Holy Spirit, flow thro’ me;

Holy Spirit flow thro’ me,

And make my life what it ought to be;

Holy Spirit, flow thro’ me.

2. Holy Spirit, rest on me;

Holy Spirit, rest on me,

And use me, Lord, win the lost to Thee;

Holy Spirit, rest on me.

3. Holy Spirit, flow out from me;

Holy Spirit, flow out thro’ me,

That others, Lord, may see You in me;

Holy Spirit, flow out thro’ me.

May the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit be inside of you!

Dorothy

Crisis? 11/4-6

04-06 Nov. 2016 – Crisis Time? – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Acts 16:26 “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.”

There are stories about different earthquakes that had happened around the world, we kept hearing about it.  It can be frightening crisis time especially in Haiti. The hearts of people goes out to them, ready to help in time of crisis. Does this crisis lead people to open their heart to God?  We pray they do.

Now in the book of Acts, we read how God used an earthquake to open someone’s heart to the gospel.  Paul and Silas were in jail at Philippi because they were falsely accused. How did Paul reacted to his crisis when he was falsely accused? Was Paul upset when they ‘had laid many stripes upon them’ and cast him and Silas into the prison? (Acts 16:23).  Let’s find the answer in Acts 16:25.

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”  Here, Paul and Silas were not upset. Instead, they prayed and sang praises to God.  This story shows us how we should react to any crisis time by turning to God in prayer and to praise God for showing us a way through crisis.  Important thing is to be calm and allow God to give us peace and wisdom and guidance.

This was exactly what Paul and Silas had done.  They just prayed and praise God for all things even having stripes on their back which must have been very painful.  Are you going through painful time?  Think about Paul and Silas. What happened when they prayed and sang praises to God? Let’s read Acts 16:26

“Suddenly there was a great earthquake . . . the prison were shaken: and immediately all the door were opened, and everyone’s bands (chains) were loosed.”  God moved when they prayed and sang praises.  In your case, try prayer and sing praises to God and by faith watch God in action what He could do for you.

When the jailer learned that Paul and Silas had not tried to escape, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (16:30). Paul responded “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (v.31). The jailer and his family believed and were baptized. And know something? It all started with a crisis, an earthquake.

In crisis time, it is good to reach out and touch the Lord in prayer!

Song: Reach Out and Touch the Lord

            (Inspiring Choruses)      

Reach out and touch the Lord

     as He walks by

You’ll find He’s not too busy

    to hear your heart’s cry.

He’s passing by this moment

     your needs to supply.

Reach out and touch the Lord

     as He walks by. 

May the Lord bless you!

Dorothy 

Messiah as High Priest Part 2 11/1-3

01-03 Nov 2016 - Part 2 - The Messiah as High Priest – Manna by Dorothy Callies

             Psalm 110:1-2 NKJV, The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your *footstool.” The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

            (1)  *The footstool is a symbol for dominion, control, and rule. The Messiah will have supreme authority over His enemies, those who opposed to Him. God makes the Messiah, the King to triumph over His enemies, who are then made His footstool. [Holman Bible Dictionary]

            (2)  David prophesied that after the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah, He would sit at the right hand of the Father. This is one of the strongest declaration of Christ’s deity (being a God) in the Bible.  God the Father said to God the Son, “Sit at My right hand.” 

            (3)  When Christ as a Messiah will return to the earth, the Messiah will sit upon the throne of David, Jesus’ father by natural descent (one’s line of ancestors by birth and lineage). Jehovah God will say to the Messiah, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter (a baton carried by a ruler as an emblem of authority) of Your kingdom” (Heb. 1:8).

            (4)  Psalm 110:5-7 is a message announcing the Messiah’s reign. These passage foretell what Christ will do during His reign on the earth.  Remember, He was led as a sheep slaughtered (act of killing) to death. He had surrendered Himself to the hand of the enemies who persecuted Him. 

            (5)  Christ, as a “lamb was meek and lowly” and He was the Lamb of God on Calvary.  And then Christ becomes the Lion of Judah and He will rule over His enemies. In the day of battle, He will be victorious as a “Lion who will roar” over the enemies. [Rev. 5:5 “. . . behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David . . .”]

            (6) Let’s read from NLT: “The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you. He will strike down many kings in the day of his anger.  He will punish the nations and fill them with their dead; he will shatter heads over the whole earth. But he himself will be refreshed from the brooks along the way.  He will be victorious” (Psalm 110:5-7).

            Key: In this Messiah’s Psalm 110, the prophet David shows us two great doctrines (teachings): the deity of the Messiah and the priesthood of the Messiah. David shows that the Messiah is God-Man and He is our High Priest. Hallelujah!

        Song: The Lion of Judah

                     (Inspiring Choruses)

The Lion of Judah shall break every chain

And give to us the victory again and again.

The Lion of Judah shall break every chain

And give to us the victory again and again.

The Lord is returning oh, shout hallelujah!

Our blessed Redeemer is coming again.

For soon we shall see Him

     the King in His beauty;

The joyful shouts will then ring out;

     He comes… to… reign …

May the Lord bless you real good today!

Dorothy 

PS. What a rich Manna today! I love this!