Isn't He Wonderful? 1/30-31

30-31 January 2017 - Isn’t He Wonderful? – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Song: Isn’t He Wonderful?

(Verses: Herbert Buffum, Jr.; Chorus: Anonymous)

What a wonderful, wonderful love,

Brought our Savior to earth below.

And our sins, which were scarlet are cleansed,

For His blood washes whiter than snow.

Chorus:

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful?

Eyes not seen, ears not heard,

What’s recorded in God’s Word,

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful?

            The Story of H. B. Garlock from 1897-1985. H. B. Garlock was one of the last of the great wave of missionary pioneers to western Africa.  Even though he lived in the 20^th century, many of his missions’ adventures read like those of Paul in the Book of Acts.

            He was the oldest of 12 children, Garlock was raised by God-fearing parents. He began to serves the Lord when he was a child, but at age 16, Christmas Day 1913, he had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit.

            Soon he determined to leave the family farm in Connecticut to go to Bible School. After completing his studies in 1920, he set to sail for Liberia, in West Africa.  He started a church . . .  [I would like to come to one part of his amazing Gospel story].   

            A few years later, Garlock went through a thick jungle to bring Gospel to the cannibals. Garlock was again surrounded by an angry tribe of cannibals.  The witch doctor threw his wand on the ground before Garlock as if to say, “Before we kill and eat you, you are permitted to speak.”

            Garlock remembered Jesus’ words in Mark 13:11: “Do not worry beforehand, or premediate what you will speak.  But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” 

            Garlock opened his mouth and a flood of words poured out that he had never learned.  When he had finished, the witch doctor asked forgiveness on the behalf of the tribe for trying to harm him. Again, the gospel had triumphed and Garlock’s life was spared.  (The book called, Heaven’s Heroes by David Shibley)

           

Dorothy: The point of the story I had read was the song that connected to what Garlock had faced. Garlock remembered Jesus’ word . . . “Do not worry . . .” when they plan to kill and eat him. Garlock had a perfect trust in Jesus’ Word when he had no idea if his life was going to end or to be spared.

Like chorus says: "Eyes not seen, ears not heard, what’s recorded in God’s Word . . ." We have no idea how much more God wants to do for us . . . yet simple faith in God will bring wonderful things that Christ wants for us.  Isn’t Jesus wonderful that He saved Garlock from cannibals and the Gospel had reached the tribe? 

These are the words of encouragement for us to trust God in time of tumult (uproar; great confusion) that is happening in USA right now!  Jesus said, “Do not worry . . .” Put your perfect trust in Jesus just like Garlock set an example for us. 

May the Lord bless you and you trust in Him!

Dorothy 

Holy is the Lord! 1/26-29

26-29 January 2017 - Holy is the Lord – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 99:5 KJV: “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for He is holy.” NLT: Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before His feet, for He is holy.”

Song: Holy is the Lord

                (Inspiring Choruses)

Holy is the Lord and mighty is His name,

King of heav’n, yet down to earth He came.

Angels sing His praise,

     all earth shall do the same.

Holy is the Lord and mighty is His name.

Dorothy: The song “Holy is the Lord” had been on my heart all day.  This afternoon I just felt like a spirit of poetry as I wrote this.  I was inspired to write this.  

Poetry: Holy is the Lord

            (Written by Dorothy Callies, Jan. 26, 2017)

When you rise in the morning,

     does it ever occur to you

            that the Lord is Holy?

When you rise in the morning,

     do you ever think of how the

            angels of God worship Him?

In the book of Hebrew 1:6 even say,

     “Let all the angels of God

            worship Him!”

In the book of Isaiah 43:3 even He said,

     “I am the Lord thy God,

            the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior.”

In the book of David 29:2, he said,

     “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name;

            worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”

In the book of Isaiah 66:4 tells us,

     “All the earth shall worship thee,

            and shall sing unto thee . . .” (End)

Dorothy: This just make me want to sing again:

Holy is the Lord and mighty is His name,

King of heav’n, yet down to earth He came.

Angels sing His praise,

     all earth shall do the same.

Holy is the Lord and mighty is His name.

May the Lord bless you and inspire you to worship the Lord!

Magnify the Lord 1/22-25

22 25 January 2017 Magnify the Lord – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 34:3 “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Song: Magnify the Lord

Magnify the Lord with me . . .

Magnify the Lord with me . . .

Blessed Lamb of Calvary . . .

For His grace so rich and free . .

Magnify the Lord with me . . .

Magnify the Lord with me . . .

Jesus gives us liberty . .

O Magnify the Lord with me . . .

(Author, unknown)

David wrote Psalm 34:1-2 "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."  

Commentary:  The writer of this psalm praises the Lord for a miraculous deliverance from great trouble.  His testimony encourages all afflicted believers to believe that they may also experience the goodness of the Lord. 

Dorothy:  The Lord is good to all of us so let us magnify the Lord. Amen.

Little Is Much, When God...1/19-21

19-21 Jan. 2017 - Little Is Much, When God Is in It – Manna by D. Callies

John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (Other translation)

Jesus fed five thousand with a lad’s lunch, proving His Deity in His power to supply the necessities – John 6:1-14.

            John 6:11 “And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed (gave) them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down, and likewise (same way) of the fish, as much as they wanted” (NKJV).  

            (1)  In His fourth sign Jesus once again transcended (to rise above) the laws of nature, demonstrating (showing) His authority over His creation and proving His deity.  Deity means showing that Jesus is God.

            (2)  In an instant He duplicated (copy) the process (step by step) of nature, creating enough bread and fish to feed five thousand men, plus women and children (John 6:10).  Only God can supply all the necessities of life.

            (3)  It was a very public sign.  Some of the miracles of Jesus were done in the presence of a few people.  But in this case, Matthew tells us, “Those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children” (Matt. 14:21).  The total might have been over 15,000.

            (4)  These witnesses saw Jesus create bread and fish, and ate it themselves until they were satisfied.  They also witness disciples gather 12 baskets full of leftover food.

            Key: Nothing is too hard for Jesus as God to meet all our needs. Singing: “He is all I need. He is all I need. Jesus is all I need.”

            Dorothy: The study notes came from the book of John. It was one of the seven signs that John, the Beloved disciples had written to prove that Jesus Christ is indeed, God.  And that Christ as God has the power to supply every need.  This would be a perfect story to fit this song, ‘Little is much, when God is in it.’

Song: Little Is Much, When God Is in It.

                (Written by Kittie Louise Suffield)

1. In the harvest field now ripened,

There’s a work for all to do;

Hark, the voice of God is calling,

To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it,

Labor not for wealth or fame;

There’s a crown and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus’ name.

2. Does the place you’re called to labor

Seems so small and little known?

It is great if God is in it,

And He’ll not forget His own.

Little is much when God is in it,

Labor not for wealth or fame;

There’s a crown and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus’ name.

May the Lord really bless you with this Manna.

Blessed is He! 1/16-18

16 18 January 2017 Blessed is He – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 21:9 “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Song: In the Name of the Lord

There is strength in the name of the Lord;

There is power in the name of the Lord;

There is hope in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

(Lyrics & Music: Phill McHugh, Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patti Hellvering)

Good morning! For the morning devotion, this is the song that I remembered and searched for verse that comes with it. I was inspired to read the story of Jesus who rode upon the donkey.  When He came near to Jerusalem, the people followed Jesus and they cried out, “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest” (Matt. 21:9).

“And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matt. 21:10-11).  Here I was impressed that “all the city was moved.”

The shouting of people who cried out, ‘Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,’ had reached the whole city of the people. Words spread fast to see “Who is this?” The people who followed Jesus introduced Him as the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee to the whole city, meaning the people within that city.

There was a great excitement that day and many came to see Jesus. As Jesus rode on the donkey, He came near to the temple of God.  He stopped there and got off the donkey. I assumed that He came to pray, but instead what did He found? Money changers and the seats of them that sold doves in the temple of God.

Where exactly? It was in the court of the Gentile where they pray in the Temple of God. Jesus was angry. He overthrew the tables of the money changers. Those who were selling doves and animals, He cast out all of them in the temple of God. (Matt. 21: 12).

Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13).  Jesus did the cleansing of the Temple so that the Gentiles could have room to pray and to worship God. After the temple was cleansed, what was the next thing that happened?

Matthew 21:14 tells us that the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and Jesus healed them.  They felt free and came to Jesus in the court of Gentile and they received their healing. From this verse, I claimed the healing of Jesus upon us. The people and the children saw the wonderful things that He did. And the children were singing to Jesus in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

After this was over, Jesus left Jerusalem and went to Bethany to rest. Simple story isn’t it? But it's a very powerful and inspiring story. 

May the Lord bless you!  

Dorothy

Twinkling of an Eye 1/13-15

13-15 January 2017 - Twinkling of an Eye – Manna by Dorothy Callies

I Cor. 15:52 “In the twinkling of an eye . . . we shall be changed.”

The word, twinkling is interesting to me because it is something I didn’t notice before. The four letters in between one word are ‘wink’.  Wink means to close and open the eyes quickly. Twinkling means the time required for a wink, instant; moment. I can’t imagine a big sudden changed in our bodies when the trumpet of God shall call us up from the earth to meet the Lord in the air.

Here’s a few things I would like to share.  How do we know what Paul said that we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye?  Did Paul made that up?  No! Let’s go back to the Word of Christ that will back up to what Paul said. It is found in Matt. 24:40-42.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”  This is the word of Jesus telling us that there will a time of rapture. That’s where Paul studied and wrote to the churches, Corinthians and Thessalonians. (Ref: I Thess. 4:16-17).

Now we know the Word of Jesus so we see why Paul was able to explain deeply about our bodies. The bodies we now have are prone to aging, physical decline, and the final death.  But the resurrection of Jesus Christ holds within it the promise of a new supernatural body raise in glory.

The apostle Paul tells us, “The body sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (I Cor. 15:42-43). As life takes its way in our aging process, good news … we have the hope of a new body that will far outshine the first body.  There will be a new changed in our bodies just like the twinkling of an eye. 

Song: In the Twinkling of an Eye

(Lyrics: Fanny Jane Crosby, Sing His Praise)

When He comes in the clouds descending,

   And they who loved Him here,

From their graves shall awake and praise Him

   With joy and not with fear;

When the body and the soul are united,

   And clothed no more to die,

What a shouting there will be

   when each other’s face we see,

Changed in the twinkling of an eye.

Chorus:

Changed in the twinkling of an eye,

Changed in the twinkling of an eye,

The trumpet shall sound,

   the dead shall be raised,

Changed in the twinkling of an eye. 

May the Lord bless you.

Dorothy 

Names Above All 1/10-12

10-12 January 2017 - Name Above All Names – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Song: Jesus, Name Above All Names

(Lyrics and Music by Naida Hearn, Sing His Praise)

Je-sus, name above all names,

Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.

Emmanuel, God is with us,

Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

Song: Emmanuel

(Lyrics and Music by Bob McGee, Sing His Praise)

Emmanuel, Emmanuel,

His name is called Emmanuel;

God is with us, revealed in us;

His name is called Emmanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 “. . . Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel.”  Matthew 1:23 “. . . they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted is, God with us.”  Matthew 1:25, “. . . he called his name JESUS.”

The song, Jesus, Name Above All Names, came to me around midnight of January 8^th while I was in bed.  My mind was so clear and the Holy Spirit brought the song to me and I sang it several times.  I decided to have Manna on that and share with you. 

I see the list of few names I typed from a book called, The Wonderful Names of our Wonderful Lord combined by Charles E. Hurlburt and T.C. Horton. It is Christ from Genesis to Revelation.  In the book of Old Testament, there’s a clue to what His name was called such as “The Seed of the Woman,” Gen. 3:15; “The Angel of Jehovah,” Gen. 22:15; “Shiloh,” (Peacemaker) Gen. 49:10. There are about 100 of them.

Many of His hidden names were like many puzzles from the beginning of Genesis to Malachi.  When it comes to one missing puzzle left to find out who exactly the person of the whole Old Testament was.  One last puzzle was found in Matthew 1:25 “. . . he (Joseph) called his name JESUS.”  That was the final puzzle of many puzzles that fitted into one big picture and it was “JESUS” all that times.  

Jesus said, “Search the Scriptures for they speak of Me” (John 5:39). The religious leaders had no clue that it was Jesus, the Messiah of the Old Testament which often speak of Him under many different names.  One time Jesus gave the clue of Jonah that was in the belly of the great fish for three days. You could guess this one. Jesus was buried for three days.

Jesus introduced Himself as “The New Testament” was His blood shed for many for the forgiveness of sins (John 26:28).  The New Testament began with the writers from His disciples, plus Luke and Paul. There are also names for Jesus such as Son of David, a Sign, Son of Mary, A Light to the Gentiles, Son of the Highest and several more.

Dorothy: Immanuel, God is with us.  Beautiful song to sing. His name above all names, Jesus.  I pray that somehow this will bless you.  Now I could go back to bed and sleep with a beautiful song in my heart. 

May God bless you!

Because He Loves Me 1/7-9

07-09 January 2017 - Because He Loves Me – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 55:8 “I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” (NKJV).  “I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (KJV).

This came from the song book called, ‘Worship the Lord,’ Hymnal of the Church of God, and all songs came with the verses. The words seems to inspire my inner soul.  I just felt like I need to “hear” that God loves me so in time of storm and tempest (violent wind like rain, hail or snow).  

Are you going through the storm of life? God is your shelter! Run to Him!  There’s nothing that would satisfy us when we run to Him. Visualize God’s wide open arms when the prodigal son came back home into his father’s loving arms with hugs. Visualize yourself into the arms of your Heavenly Father just because He loves you so much.

Let this song be of comfort and encouragement to keep on trusting God.

Song: Because He loves Me

(Words and music: Charles W. Naylor & Andrew L. Byers)

1. When the storm winds rage and the rain falls fast,

And the clouds hang low above,

I shall be secure till the storm is past,

For I trust my Savior’s love.

And He know the way and He holds my hand,

And He will not let it go;

He will lead me home to that better land,

Just because He loves me so.

2. I will trust His love, for it ever will last,

It is rich and warm and free;

Thru the years of life it will hold me fast,

And my help and comfort be.

To my waiting heart all its treasures rare

As a sparking stream shall flow;

In the joy of God I shall ever share,

Just because He loves me so.

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy

PS. I pray that you would feel God’s greatest love deep inside your soul and allow the healing to come through your body and relax in His presence of radiant love in Jesus’ name. Amen!

O Holy Night! 1/4-6/2017

04-06 January 2017 - O Holy Night! – Manna by Dorothy Callies

            It was on December 31^st, during the night when the song of “O Holy Night!” came to me. It was so strong I got up from bed to look for ‘O Holy Night’ from the song book. Along with the help of Holy Spirit, I sang in sign language unto the Lord with all three verses. It was a song of worshiping the Lord in spirit. After that, I went back to bed peacefully.

            It was 5:30 a.m. when I got up and I was curious if there were any verses that match the title of the Manna.  I found the line from NKJV, “You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept …”  So Holy Spirit inspired me to read on.

            Isaiah 30:29 “Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity (festival) is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goes with a pipe (flute), to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel” (KJV).

            V.30 “And the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of His arm, with the indignation of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and the tempest, and hailstones.  V.31 For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with rod.”

            Isaiah’s chapter 30 and 31 is a prophecy concerns the overthrow of the Assyrian army.  God would come as a lion, fight the Assyrians as a champion warrior, and defend Jerusalem.  

            Dorothy: The Scriptures that I was reading, made me realized that God has not forsaken us when we are seeing terrible, terrible news I have been reading from internet. The Holy Spirit encourages me to remember that God has a plan.

            Reading the Isaiah just simply reminds us that God had defeated Assyrians in the past. God is our champion warrior and He will defend us!  Let’s stay strong in Him! Meanwhile, we are to trust Him and allow the song, ‘O Holy Night’ to ease our concerns and know that ‘in His name all oppression shall cease.’ And I praise Him for that!

            This was the reason Christ came to earth … Even though Christmas is over, but still the song is so beautiful to those whose heart is opened to the Holy Spirit.

Song: O Holy Night!

(Lyrics: John Sullivan Dwight; Music: Adolphe Adam, Sing His Praise)

1. O holy night! The stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

3. Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love, and His gospel is peace;

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;

Let all within us praise His holy name;

Christ is the Lord, Oh, praise His name forever!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory ever more proclaim.

A Sojourner 1/1-3/2017

01-03 January 2017 - A Sojourner – Manna by Dorothy Callies

David, the Psalmist said, “For I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.”—Psalm 39:12

On this earth, David felt like a stranger and a sojourner.  Sojourn means a temporary or short stay; to stay as a temporary resident. It is like you travel for a month at one place, then you go on and stop at another place to rest. Sojourner is a person who is always traveling, never really settled at one place.

Why does David felt that way even though he had a home in Jerusalem? David was crying out to God in prayer and David wondered how long he has to live on this earth. David was suffering and he prayed for strength to go on.  He knew his life was short.

David wrote that he felt like a sojourner just like all his fathers were … So Hebrews 11:8-10 explained that Abraham by faith, God called him to go to a place where it would become a future “Promised Land.”  So Abraham by faith, sojourned in the land of promise, in a strange country, the land of Canaan. 

Abraham looked forward for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  Isaac and Jacob carried the same faith as Abraham.  Jacob in his dream had seen the New Jerusalem with ladder, angels of God ascending and descending from earth to heaven (Genesis 28:12). This speaks of Messiah’s reign during 1,000 years of peace.

And after new heaven and new earth, we will finally “be home” with the Lord as Abraham was looking forward to that. David, the Psalmist looks forward to “be home” with the Lord forever.  We, too are looking forward to that city of God.  It was also my mother’s favorite, “Like Abraham, I’m looking forward to the city of God.”

Dorothy: Why am I writing this?  My original families are in California, and other families are further away.  I am living in Illinois, as a missionary that God called me here along with Tony.  So Tony and I are sojourners, knowing our times are short and like Abraham, we are looking forward to that city of God.  [That’s faith, believing His Word.]

This devotion encourages me to look forward to that day, the city where the Lamb is the light.  In spite of many things that are happening all around us, God’s Spirit is inside of us, keeping that “Blessed Hope” in Him.  I found a beautiful inspiration song.

Song: In the City Where the Lamb is the Light

In that city where the Lamb is the light (beautiful light),

The city where there cometh no night (no more night);

I’ve a mansion over there,

And when free from toil and care,

I am going where the Lamb is the light.

(Lyrics: Herbert Buffum, Sing His Praise)

So let’s trust God today!