Naming God 9/26-30/18

26-30 Sept 2018 - Naming God – Manna by Dorothy and Tony

Genesis 16:13 NKJV: “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Why would Hagar, an Egyptian woman quoted that she has now seen the One who sees her? There’s a reason. Let’s read the story of Hagar.

The story was about Hagar who was Sarai’s handmaid, an Egyptian woman. (Sarai was named Sarah in Genesis 17:15.) It’s been years since God told Abram (Abram was named Abraham in Gen. 17:5), and Sarah they would have a son. Sarah became older and grew impatient for not having a son soon enough.  Sarah resorts to a custom of the day. So she gives her slave, Hagar, to her husband, and Hagar becomes pregnant.

Soon after a few month, there conflict between Hagar and Sarah. So Sarah mistreats Hagar, who runs away. Alone in the deserts, she meets the Angel of the Lord.  New Century Version in Genesis 16:7 “The Angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the desert, by the road to Shur. V8. The Angel said, “Hagar, Sarai’s slave girl, where have you come from? Where are you going?”  Hagar answered, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.”

V9. The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Go home to your mistress and obey her.”  V10. The Angel also said, “I will give you so many descendants they cannot be counted.”  V11. The Angel added, “You are now pregnant, and you will have a son.  You will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your cries. V12. Ishmael will be like a wild donkey. He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will attack all his brothers.”

V13.  The slave girl gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her, “You are ‘God who sees me,’” because she said to herself, “Have I really seen God who sees me?”  v14. So the well there, between Kadesh and Bered, was called Beer Lahai Roi. [Note: This means “the well of the Living One who sees me.”]

I want to stop there and ask again, “Why would Hagar, an Egyptian woman quoted that she has now seen the One who sees her? There’s a reason. This slave girl came from Egypt which had a culture of worshiping the multiple gods in images that could not see nor hear. And now she met the Angel of the Lord. [The note from Amplified Bible quoted an Angel of the Lord is identified as Christ Himself in Gen. 48:16, where He is called “the redeeming Angel,” or “the Angel the Redeemer.”]

The ‘gods’ that Hagar was so familiar with and now she met an Angel of the Lord and said, “You are God who sees me.”   And the difference between god, an image who can’t see nor hear prayer and the God who sees her.  The Angel names Hagar’s son, Ishmael, which means “God hears” (v.11).  The Angel of the Lord had heard her anguish cries.

Dorothy: What impressed me? “In response, this slave from a culture with multiple gods that could neither see nor hear gives God the name “You are the God who sees me” (V.13). [Quote from Tim Gustafson, Our Daily Bread]  It was an eye opening for Hagar to know that there is a God who truly cares, who truly hears and sees her. Reading this story about Hagar makes me want to say, “Thank You, Lord, that You are the God who sees us, and yet we can still run to You, to praise You, to love You and to worship You.”  Here’s a song that I found has truly inspires me.  God bless you!

Song: How Can I Help But Love Him

Down from His splendor in glory He came,

Into a world of woe;

Took on Himself all my guilt and my shame;

Why should He love me so?

Chorus:

How can I help but love Him

When He loved me so?

How can I help but love Him

When he loved me so?

2. I am unworthy to take of His grace,

Wonderful grace so free;

Yes, Jesus suffered and died in my place,

Even for a soul like me. (Chorus)

3.  He is the fairest of thousands to me,

His love is sweet and true;

Wonderful beauty in Him I now see,

More than I ever knew. (Chorus).

(Lyrics & Music: Elton Menno Roth, Sing His Praise)

Goodness & Mercy 9/21-25/18

21-25 Sept, 2018 - Surely Goodness and Mercy – Manna by Dorothy & Tony

Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

I woke up early in the morning with the verse in my heart, “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11).  Then I began to sing “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life.” I repeat several times until I decided to check up the song book if there’s a song in it. Sure enough, there’s one.  Before I start to type those song, I research two references on Psalm 23:6.

From NCV, “Surely Your goodness and love will be with me all my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”  I like the Amplified Bible even more. “Surely or only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life; and through the length of days the house of the LORD [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Psalm 23:6.

The Psalmist, King David wrote “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” During David’s time, there was an Ark in the temple where God’s presence had lived there until the cross where Jesus had died, “the veil of the temple was rent in twain (torn in two) from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:38).  What does that means?

God’s Presence was no longer “a prisoner in the Ark of the Temple” that separated God, Himself from being among His people since the days of Moses. The veil of the temple that was torn in two means that God came out of the Temple that was located in one place in Jerusalem.  It was on the day of Pentecost, God’s outpouring Spirit dwell in the heart of believers who had accepted the blood of Jesus’ forgiveness of sins.

Now, God’s Spirit is no longer limited in one place.  Wherever we are, God’s Presence becomes our dwelling place in our hearts.  And God’s Presence is free to be everywhere, looking for the repented hearts that welcome His Presence forever.  Praise the Lord!

Song: Surely Goodness and Mercy

(Lyrics: John Willard Peterson; Alfred Barney Smith, Sing His Praise)

He restoreth my soul when I’m weary,

He giveth me strength day by day;

He leads me beside the still waters;

He guards each step of the way.

Chorus:

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.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,

And I shall feast at the table spread for me;

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,

All the days, all the days of my life.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,

And I shall feast at the table spread for me;

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days, all the days of my life.

May the Lord bless you as you welcome His presence!

Dorothy 

Words Sweet & News! 9/16-20/18

16-20 Sept 2018- Your Words Sweet and News! – Manna by Dorothy and Tony

Psalm 119:103 AMP: “How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

What other example would this verse clarify the meaning? Possible NCV: “Your promises are sweet to me, sweeter than the honey in my mouth!”  If we taste honey, it’s sweet.  This is supposed to compare God’s promises that is sweeter than the honey.

I try to imagine… like no fellowship with God and His Words for days and days, then the soul get parched (dry up), hungry spiritually, something is missing…  So we go back to Jesus and study His Words… Ahhhh that feels good… It’s like sweeter than normal taste of honey… Spiritually we “taste” His Words like honey, but it’s sweeter. 

Ever experience this?  I have.  When I get busy and forget… I miss my Manna… I go back, it’s feel like it’s sweeter to my soul. Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to stay with You and Your Words.  Bless my friends to stay true to you in Jesus’ name. Amen!  May the Lord bless your day!!

News! News! News!

I would like to share a small news with you!  David and Ruby Stecca were traveling East to PA and Delaware for events.  And I want to quote from DVC’s letter of August 2018. “We were also greatly encouraged by visit with a deaf pastor who reported that the Tony Callies’ Bible Studies had been well-received by the Deaf in a Central American country.  We had no idea the gospel was penetrating there.  Praise the Lord!” David & Ruby.

I want to explain that when Tony had completed first Titus, Jude and Philemon on verse by verse Bible Studies.  David asked Tony if he could work on the Bible Study on Hebrews.  Tony refused to do this because he knew it would involve a lot of labor. 

Sometimes later, while we were at home, David and Ruby drove 2 hours from their home to our Mobile home in 1985’s. Tony was surprised and wondered what’s up. David, patiently asked Tony again to please accept the need to work on Hebrews. David explained why it was important for the Deaf to understand what the book of Hebrews was all about.  Tony sighed and said that he would think about it. 

Sometimes later, the Lord really did touched Tony’s heart to take this labor. Tony spend many hours on studies on Hebrews which eventually worked with David to develop the lessons plan for taping. It took a few years to complete the book of Hebrews which involves  many long trips over the weekends.

Now, we hear that Tony’s Bible Studies had reached to the Deaf in a Central American Country.  Tony never dreamed that his studies could reached far and wide.  We give God the praise and glory for having done the wonderful works to reach the Deaf with gospel.

May God bless you!

Continue in My Love 9/11-15/18

11-15 September 2018 - Continue in My Love – Sept. 2013 by Dorothy & Tony

John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love”(KJV). “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in My love” (NLT).

The word, continue means to do or cause to do the same thing without stopping [I continue to work hard] or [The weather continued hot and sunny]. Note: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The idea of continue is to keep on doing this. It was like Jesus was saying, “Just as Father keeps on loving me, so I will keep on loving you and you keep on loving Me. You live in My love.” The word, remain means to continue unchanged or continue the same thing.

Do you ever felt empty, barren, lonely and sad? Do you ever felt like your life has no meaning and no purpose at all? Jesus offers a very special relationship with us. A relationship that Jesus offers to deliver us from barren, empty, lonely, unmeaning life, and sad. Christ has loved us with a very special love, the very same love with which God has loved Him.

Two things to notice here: The Father’s love for His Son, Jesus Christ and Christ’s love for the believers. Imagine this: Christ loves believers with the same kind of love God has for His own Son. This is so rich, my friends, to realize how much love there is. This makes me want to “dive into the pool of love and swim into His great love.” The way to do this is to worship Him, adore Him and live your life for Him.  So let’s keep on loving Him.

Song: He Loves Me

He loves me, He loves me

He loves me this I know

He gave Himself to die for me

Because He loves me so.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Dorothy:  What led me to choose this Manna of Sept. 2013? It started with Hebrews 10:24, “Let us consider (think about) one another in order to stir up love and good works.” What impressed me? Stir up love and good works.  How do I stir up love and good works? To stir is to rouse up or wake up and take action, and to become active to do something for better.

Holy Spirit stirred up my heart to look up the Manna and remember to continue in His love by reading His Word, by singing to Him, and by worshiping Him that led into prayer of communication with Him.  His love stir up my heart to pray for others in need, friends and families.

The Lord wants me to encourage you to continue in His love for you and to continue to love others the same way as Jesus loves you. That’s a tall order.  To love others the same way as Jesus loves you.  I am to love my husband, Tony the same way as Jesus loves me. Jesus said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in My love” NLT.

May the Lord bless you today! 

Continual Coming 9/6-10/18

06-10 Sept. 2018 - Continual Coming – Manna from 2013 by Dorothy & Tony

Luke 18:5 “Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me” (NKJV).

You know, I had wondered about keeping on asking the Father about the healing for some of my Deaf friends who had ongoing vision problems. Until I read this, I realized Jesus was giving me an instruction. “But this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests” (NLT)! Don’t you love this? Let’s read on. 

Reading from Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gave a parable that we ought always to pray, and not to give up easily. The word “always” means at all times. Jesus told about a judge and the widow who kept coming to him for help. The word “persistent” means continuing and stubbornly determined. Another important word is “persevere” which are often used as “persevere in prayer.” It means to keep at something in spite of difficulties, opposition, or discouragement.

There was the unjust judge. The judge had no fear of God. The idea is that the judge took bribes and gave favors to person who held position and authority. There was the poor widow who had no money to bribe the judge. The widow was all alone with no money to get legal counsel to plead her case. The widow was persecuted, being taken advantage of some adversary or enemy. The widow kept coming to the judge and asked him to help her, to get rid of her adversary.

 The judge ignored her. The judge did not move to help her. The judge was silent. The Scripture quoted, He “would not for a while,” but the poor widow kept on coming and coming, pleading and pleading. She would not let the judge rest. Finally, he gave in to the widow and helped her of her adversary.

Why the judge gave in? Because of her “continual coming.” The judge could not get rid of her. The judge said, “Even though I don’t respect God or care about people, I will see that she gets her rights. Otherwise she will continue to bother me until I am worn out” (NCV).

The Lord said, “Listen to what the unfair judge said.” What Jesus meant was the unfair judge holds a great lesson for believers. Hear, give attention and thought to what He teaches. Then Jesus said, “Shall not God help his own people who cry to Him, day and night?” Jesus used a story of the unjust judge to compare that God is far better because He does listen to the cry and Jesus said, “I tell you, God will help His people quickly” (Luke 18:8a NCV).

Luke 18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Jesus’ word was strong and forceful in stressing the believer’s duty to persevere in prayer. The word “ought” means it is absolutely necessary that we persevere in prayer. The word “always” means at all times. The words “not to faint” mean not to lose heart, or give up, give in to evil. To pray is to “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek His face continually" (1 Chron.16:11).

Prayer: Thank You, Lord for this word of encouragement that in spite of what was happening around us, You stress strongly for us to keep on praying and to believe that He does hear our cry and to keep on trusting Heavenly Father. Thank You for the peace inside of us, knowing that You have a plan for us. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!

May the Lord touch your heart that God does cares.

Dorothy: I felt impressed to look into Manna on September 2013.  I was so surprised to see the whole month of different Manna on the subject of “Continue or Continual.” That was five years ago counting to this month of September 2018. How time flies!  God is still good. God encourages me to be faithful to Him and to continue in Him. How rich is that? For me, very rich that led me to remember this song.

Song:  Constantly Abiding

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine:

Constantly abiding, rapture divine;

He never leaves me lonely, whispers, O so kind:

“I will never leave thee” Jesus is mine.

(Anne S. Murphy, Sing His Praise)

Thy Testimonies 9/1-5/18

01 05 September 2018 Thy Testimonies – Manna by Dorothy and Tony

Psalm 119:111 NKJV “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

Happy First day of September and it’s a new month to begin with!  Also have a good holiday weekend and enjoy God’s greatest blessings upon you and be healed in Jesus’ name. Amen!  Tony and I are doing well and we keep quoting God’s Word to keep our healings going!

I read from “Our Daily Bread” and thought it was an amazing articles to share. Why? Since August 1, 2018, I started writing Psalm 119, two or three verses at a time in my Journal notebook 8x11 from KJV and NCV.  I just felt like I need to really write the Word of God into my heart, holding on to His promises. It came from Prayer Calendar for prayer guide for families, friends, every needs, etc. If you want a copy of Prayer Calendar, go to www.DeafMinistries.com.

Here’s an articles I want to share from David McCasland, Our Daily Bread, “The Book Behind the Story.” Millions of people around the world have seen Gone with the Wind, which premiered (first showing) in the United States on December 15, 1939.  It won 10 Academy Awards and remains one of the Hollywood’s most commercially successful films.  It was based on Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, which sold one million copies within 6 months, received a Pulitzer Prize, and has been translated into more than 40 languages.  An epic movie often has its source in a powerful and timeless book.

The book that’s the basis for the Christian faith is the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation, it is infused (to put in as if by pouring) with God’s plan for His creation, including us.  Psalm 119 celebrates the power and necessity of God’s Word in our lives.  It lights our path (v.105), revives our souls (v.107), and guards our steps (v.110).  Through the Scriptures we find wisdom, guidance, life, and joy. “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (111). 

Jesus our Lord calls us to base our lives on His Words and share the joy of knowing Him with people who are longing to find life.  “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (v.112).  What a book!  What a Savior!

Prayer: Dear Lord, Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.  Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.  I am determined to keep Your decrees to the very end.  [End of David McCasland’s Devotion].

Dorothy: What does this mean to me?  It seems like God wanted me to know about this articles which gave me a great encouragement to continue writing Psalm 119, few verses a day into my daily Journal.  This is amazing to me how much God does cares enough to let me read this articles with the comparison story.  This helps to understand how His Word would last forever while “Gone with the Wind’s” story will just faded when Christ comes.  I was inspired to sing, “Isn’t He wonderful?

Song: Isn’t He Wonderful?

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful?

Isn’t Jesus, my Lord wonderful?

Eyes have seen, ears have heard,

It’s recording in God’s Word,

Isn’t Jesus my Lord, wonderful?

(Inspiring Choruses)

 God bless you!

Dorothy