Strengthen by His Power 6/26-30/18

26-30 June 2018 - Manna from Dec. 5, 2009 By Dorothy and Tony Callies

Theme: Strengthen with His Glorious Power 

“God will strengthen you with his own great power
so that you will not give up when troubles come, but
you will be patient. And you will joyfully give thanks
to the Father who has made you able to have a share
in all that he has prepared for his people in the
kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:11-12 ncv).

Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering
with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:11-12 kjv).

Did problems or troubles came to you today? Do you
ever felt like you are losing patience for every little
things? Do you sometimes felt like pulling your hairs?

God has an answer for you:
1. God will strengthen you.
2. How? With His own great power.
3. Why? So that you will not give up when troubles come.
4. With what? With patience, you will be patient.
5. Our attitude should be? Joyfully give thanks to the Father.
6. What’s in it for us? Father who made you able to have a
            share of the inheritance with saints in heaven.

Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father for the wonderful promise
that You will strengthen us with Your glorious power unto all
patience and endurance with a joyful heart, knowing that we
have a home in heaven. We are looking forward to be with You
and all the saints in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Dorothy: This Manna from Dec. 5, 2009 means so much to me.  God gave me strength when I read this Manna.  I like the questions that reminds me the importance of being patience.  I remember this in Revelation.  Rev. 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

God bless us when we are patient with God’s works inside of us, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that changes our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ.  Song that came to my heart: “Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful? Isn’t Jesus my Lord, wonderful? Eyes have seen, ears have heard, what’s recording in God’s Word. Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful?” 

God bless you!

The Lord is King! 6/21-25/18

21 25 June 2018 The Lord is King! – Manna by Dorothy and Tony Callies

Psalm 10:16-18 “The Lord is King for ever and ever . . .”

Song: Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Rejoice, the Lord is King:

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks and sing,

And triumph ever more.

Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

[Lyrics: Charles Wesley, Sing His Praise]

The Holy Spirit sang this joyful song to me when I arose from the bed in early morning. So I joined with Him and sang this joyful song several times by memory.  Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might worship Him in spirit. I searched the technology Bible on the “Lord is King.” I found one in Psalm 10:16. I read the whole chapter 10 and I was surprised to see how one verse gave hope in spite of ‘despairing’ chapter.

Psalm 10:16-18 “The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou will prepare their heart, thou will cause thine ear to hear; to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.”

Reading from King James Bible on commentary gave me an idea of how David viewed God’s behavior toward the wicked people who persecuted and murdered the innocent.

David complained about evil people and asked God why isn’t He doing something about it?  David interceded before God and prayed this prayer.

“Lord, rise up and punish the wicked” (Psalm 10:12).  “The wicked think, “God has forgotten us.  He doesn’t see what is happening” (Psalm 10:11). “They say to themselves, “God won’t punish us” (Psalm 10:13).  David asked, “Why do wicked people hate God?” (Ps. 10:13). David prayed, “Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things; look at them and do something.” (Ps. 10:14).

“Break the power of wicked people. Punish them for the evil they have done.” (Psalm 10:15) “The Lord is King for ever and ever.  Destroy from your land those nations that do not worship You.” (Psalm 10:16)

The point is that when Christ returns to earth to reign as a King, He will destroy all evil, according to Matthew 25:31-46. After a 1,000 years of reign, once again Christ will cast Satan and its evil people into the lake of fire forever. And finally peace at last!

So what do we do when we kept hearing about bad things that are happening around us? David’s prayer was to trust God to take care of this problem; that we are to keep praying for people who don’t believe in God; we are to keep praying that God will keep us in His care; that we continue our intercessory prayers for all of us; and to look forward to the day that Christ will reign as King and rejoice that He is King.

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Our Testimony 6/16-20/18

16-20 June 2018 - Our Testimony - by Dorothy and Tony Callies

Last June 12th, we just moved to the first floor one bedroom apartment and I'm slow in  organizing things.  Moving in was like a new day to begin with our lives. Our loads were much lighter since we're able to preserve strength. 

God has truly blessed us with a year of waiting for this place since I saw was the wall map of First Site Apartment showed the places where they owned apartments in Normal and in Bloomington, Illinois.  Lisa Drive was one I had noticed.  They told me that only two places out of many apartments have first floors.  And last year there was nothing available. 

The Orthopedist encouraged me to allow Tony to have his exercises with 8 stairs-steps when he comes home.  He used to climb stairs and to let him do it again and build his strength in both of his hip.  So when expired lease came up for June 30, 2017, I felt impressed to go ahead and signed for one more year.  It was a good challenged year then.

Well, one year passed into June 2018, we just had to move to first floor.  Amazing thing, the agent said that the Lisa Drive apartment was now available for us to move in by June 12th. So here we are finally, God answered prayer, but it took a year to wait for this.  

It is something I learned . . . God's timing . . . I just need to trust Him to do all things well.  

Thank you for your prayers support and please continue to pray that we would be able to face more challenges with courage we need to go through.  "I can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."

May God bless you,

Dorothy and Tony     

Kept Thy Word 6/11-15/18

11-15 June 2018 - Kept Thy Word – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

 John 7:6 “. . . and they have kept Your Word.”

Commentary: Christ’s prayer for protection, joy, sanctification, love, and unity applies only to a particular people, that is to those who belong to God, believe in Christ (v.8), are separated from the world (vv.14-16). And keep the Word of Christ and accept His teachings (vv.6,8).

John 17:14-16 “I have given them thy (Your) Word and the world have hated them, because they (the disciples) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou (You, Father) should take them out of the world, but that thou (You, Father) should keep them from evil. They (disciples) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

I was surprised to find another verse about “the world have hated them” all because the disciples have received the Word of Jesus for three years.  Later on, Matthew, Mark, and John had written the famous Gospel. John also wrote Revelation as well as three books.

Luke was a Gentile convert, the only non-Jewish author of a Bible book. Matthew, Mark and John were written for the Jew. Luke has not met Christ.  Luke wrote this Gospel to the Gentiles.  Luke investigated everything carefully from the very beginning (1:3) and doing research and met with Paul and complete his Gospel with Paul.  Luke was a Doctor and he focus on healing ministry of Jesus Christ in the book of Luke.

Yet Jesus prayed for Luke because Luke had kept His Word to the Gentiles who did not have the record of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus prayed for Paul since Paul wrote 14 epistles (letters turned to books), and James, the half-brother of Jesus also wrote a book. Jesus’ prayers were answered when the Bible were finally printed and it has been 2,000 years since the Word of God had been carried on until now. 

Dorothy: “Wow!” I have not thought of what Jesus meant about how the disciples kept His Word.  Jesus’ prayers also applied to me and to you who have kept His Word in our hearts.  To keep His Word means eternal life with Him. Thank You Lord, for reminding us how important to keep Your Word in our hearts. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Song: Wonderful Words of Life

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of life;

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of life;

Word of lie and beauty,

Teach me faith and duty;

Chorus:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life;

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life.

[Philip Paul Bliss, Sing His Praise] 

May the Lord bless you!

Dorothy 

It Is Me They Hate 6/6-10/18

06-10 June 2018 - It is Me They Hate – Manna by Dorothy & Tony C

John 7:7 “. . . but it (they) hates Me . . .” (ncv)

What was the reason that I started this Manna about “hate”?  Before I go deeper with this Manna, I want to share the event that has happened that led me to write this devotion.

 On June 3^rd, it was a day to celebrate our 51^st anniversary.  We had a nice time eating out at a favorite restaurant with deaf friends who helped celebrate our anniversary. Tony and I share an order of sirloin steak, mashed potato, broccoli and salad. The food was so good and we enjoyed it very much. Then we went home.

The rest of the afternoon, we spend the day resting and watching hallmark movies. In the late afternoon, the electricity went out.  We waited for a few minutes for electricity to come back on.  After few minutes, I texted our neighbor and learn he, too had no electricity. I went outside and saw no electricity in the apartment building.  It was too dark in our apartment so we decided to go out to Dunkin Donut for a break. 

Tony and I went out to the car and drove toward the end of the entrance alley, getting ready to go out to the street. There stand a policeman and a front car rammed toward the tree. I asked the policeman if I could pass by the car.  I took a picture and send it out to friends. I don’t know the details of what actually has happened. It looks like another car may have sway into the opposite lane that causes the car to avoid front collision and rammed into the tree instead.  This may cause the electricity to go out.

We went to Dunkin Donut and here’s what I felt was happening.  When we first saw the car crashed onto the tree, the hood was bend badly, and the right tire was bend.  I sensed the hatred of Satan as if he was mad enough to find something to destroy.  Satan was like a “roaring lion” seeking to whom he could destroy.  [Ref: 1Peter 5:8]

As I was thinking about what had happened, Jesus spoke and said, “It isn’t you that Satan hates. It is Me he hates.”  I recalled at work many years ago, when someone was giving me a hard time, Jesus spoke, “It isn’t you they hate.  It is Me, they hate.”  It really blew my mind to understand what’s really behind the scene that we often don’t see. 

After being at Dunkin Donut for a long time, we drove home, but we waited in the car for about ten minutes before the electricity was finally back on.  Because of this experience, I decided to study John 7:7 and to read the whole chapter.  What was Jesus going through and what made Him say this?  John 7 chapter talked about the feast of tabernacles which means the celebration of Passover.

The interesting part about Jesus’ brothers who challenged Jesus to reveal Himself to the world (people) during week of festival.  His brothers did not really believe He was the Messiah (7:41). Jesus said to His brothers that His time was not ready.  “The world (people) cannot hate you, but it is Me, they hate. Why? Because I revealed the works of evil in the heart of religious people who tried to kill me.” [Ref. John 7:19, 25, 30]

I decided to find out more about the word, hate. 1: strong dislike 2: something or someone that is hated. 3: to feel strong dislike toward.  Dislike; to hate someone to an extreme degree.  Hate suggests deep dislike and the wishing of harm to another.

In comparison between Satan who hated any of the Christians who followed Jesus closely, and the love of Jesus who loved the world so much that He was willing to give His life for them.  Jesus came during the middle of the feast and taught (John 7:14). During the few days, Jesus spoke about Himself and His Father who sent Him.

The religious leaders argued with Jesus about who He really was and they hated Him for no reason. John 15:25 quotes, “They hated Me without a cause.” This was fulfilled by Psalm 35:19 “. . . hate Me without a cause”; Psalm 69:4 “They hate Me without a cause . . .”; Psalm 109:3 “They compassed Me about also with words of hatred; and fought against Me without a cause.”  It was Satan behind the scene that had influenced the religious leaders to hate Christ.

What was their reason for hating Christ? Because Christ revealed the works of evil in the heart of religious people who tried to kill Him.  [Ref. John 7:19, 25, 30].  Have you ever face some people who have hated you and give you hard time for no reason?  Just remember that Satan is always behind the scene.  Because “You are an epistle of Christ” (2Cor.3:3) Satan hate you for that.  Let us take courage and hear Jesus say . . .

 “In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink” (John 7:37).  Jesus revealed Himself to the people, the world that He is the Living Water.  Jesus invited us to come to Him, the Living Water.  Are you thirsty? Come to Jesus! Only Jesus can satisfy!

Song: Only Jesus!

Only Jesus, only Jesus,

Only He can satisfy;

Every burden becomes a blessing,

When I know my Lord is nigh (near).

[Inspiring Choruses]

Dorothy: What does this mean to me? Awesome to know that Christ does care how we felt when we are being hated by Satan and some people who gives us a hard time. Christ has endured it all.  Let us pray together that we might be strong in the Lord and to stand against the attacks of Satan in every area of our lives.  It just simply prove that we are God’s child.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the inspiring Manna that has truly touched my heart.  I put on the whole armour of You, heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that I might be able to stand against the fiery darts of Satan.  Thank You for Your Presence that goes with us all the time to stand against the wiles of the devil. Thank You for the victory over all things in Jesus name.  We love you and worship you and glorify you in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  God bless you. 

Our High Priest 6/1-5/18

Happy June First day of the month! (June 3 is our 51 years of anniversary)

01-05 June 2018 - Our High Priest – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Hebrews 4:15 ncv, “For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses …”

Who is our high priest?  Our High Priest is Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.  “Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have.  When He lived on earth, He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin.  Let us, then feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace.  There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it” (Hebrews 4:14-16 ncv).

Where exactly is Jesus now in heaven?  Hebrews 8:1 tells us that “We have a high priest who sits on the right side of God’s throne in heaven.  What is He doing right now? Hebrews 7:25 tells us that “So He is able always to save those who come to God through Him (Jesus) because He always lives, asking God to help them.” 

KJV: “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). The word, intercession means the act of interceding, to act as a go-between for hostile parties (or persons). Also it means to plead in behalf of (support) another.

It is through the cross of Jesus Christ and His blood that bought our redemption, our freedom from the kingdom of darkness.  Jesus pleads the Father for us through Jesus’ blood that was shed through His many stripes.  Through His stripes there is forgiveness of our sins.  It is hard to imagine what Christ has gone through for me.  He loves us that much.  All we need to do is to BELIEVE and open our hearts to Him.

One of the dangerous thing to do is UNBELIEF.  Hebrews 3:12 tells us to “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”  This is why the Scripture tells us to “Exhort one another daily . . .” to keep us from falling into deceitfulness of sin. 

Dorothy: What this means to me?  I am thankful that the Holy Spirit encourage me and reminds me that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ to encourage us to keep on believing in Him and doubt not.  Manna from May 25-28, 2018 was a testimony to remind myself that God cares even though we kept seeing on TV many horrible and tragedy news.  This could cause a person to doubt God and fall into “unbelief” by saying, “I can’t believe God would allow things to happen like that ...”  “Why would the God of loves allow this to happen ... ?”

That is why we need our High Priest who understands our weaknesses because we can’t understand what God is doing.  To remind myself that our God is the Creator and that He knows what He is doing.  It is important for me to ‘HAVE FAITH IN GOD’ and to ‘TRUST HIM’ and to keep my eyes only upon Jesus who is the Savior for the whole world.  God always has a plan for those who trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

This is a song that came to me when I got up this morning, “Jesus Saves.” It inspires me to sing this. I pray that this message will cause you to open your heart to Jesus and let Him come in.  I just love Jesus and His amazing grace.  I pray that God will bless you to keep on believing and to trust Him with all your hearts.  God bless you!

Song: Jesus Saves

We have heard the joyful sound:

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Spread the tidings all around:

Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Bear the news to every land;

Climb the steeps and cross the waves;

Onward! ‘tis our Lord’s command:

Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!

[Lyrics: Priscilla Jane Owens, Sing His Praise]

Dorothy