Your Father Knows 10/27-31/19

27-31 Oct. 2019 - Your Father Knows – Manna from July 2014 by Dorothy Callies

Matthew 10:29, 31 NLT “Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  So don’t be afraid, you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

I woke up in the morning with an inner spirit singing from the Holy Spirit. He encourages me to get up and go to the laptop. As I sat down to do the work with Manna, and I receive an inspiration from the Holy Spirit tenderly singing to you.

Your Father knows … just how you’re feeling …

Your Father knows … just when you’re hurting …

Your Father sees … the birds that fall …

Your Father sees … your tears that roll …

Your Father cares … and He embrace …

Your Father cares … and He sees your face …

Your Father loves … and He lifts you up …

Your Father loves … and fill your cup …

With Father’s love … and overflowing …

With Father’s love … and flows with healing …

(Words written by Dorothy Callies with help of Holy Spirit)

Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to the sparrows. You are far more valuable to Him than they are. You are so valuable that God sent His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). Because God places such value on you, you need never to fear any personal threats or difficult trials. These cannot shake God’s love or dislodge His Spirit from within you. (Dislodge: to force out of a place especially of rest, hiding, or defense)

But this doesn’t mean that God will take away all your troubles.  Jesus said, “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16 NLT). Be wary means be very cautious; especially being on guard against danger or trickery; be careful. Be harmless means be free from hurting others.

From Matt. 10:16, Jesus gave a warning about the opposition of the Pharisees, they were like ravaging wolves, they attacked Jesus and often He responded with words of wisdom. He was gentle like a dove, yet strong with God’s Word and His teaching.

He knows the risk of sending you out as a sheep among wolves, meaning the danger of all things around you. But remember this: the real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear, tear, and stress of everyday life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly have their lasting value and they will receive great rewards.

Matthew 5:11, 12 from NLT quote: “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers. Be happy about it! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”  End.

Dorothy: From the shelf where I kept the Manna binders, I was led by Holy Spirit to choose July 30-31, 2014 and read “Your Father Knows.” The poem that Holy Spirit inspired me to write has really impressed me that once again, my heavenly knows what I was going through. Once again, His words stirred my heart as well as reading Joseph Prince’s today’s devotion, “God has seen your future and it is good.”

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy Callies

Good Stewards 10/22-26/19

22-26 October 2019 - Good Stewards – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

The word, steward, means to serve others. Manifold means many ways to serve others. As NIV explained it: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” In another words, we can show God’s grace through our action of serving others.

            “A group of teenagers on a ministry trip in Jamaica were enjoying some downtime with a game of Ultimate Frisbee.  But when someone noticed that a boat had overturned off a nearby beach, the game ended and the teens eagerly rushed to the water to help.

            There they found a small group of professional boat operators struggling with their craft—trying to turn it upright.  That’s where the teens could help.  They waded in, put their young strength to work, and together they were able to right the boat.

            What happened that day in the Caribbean Sea reminds me of what can happen in the church.  The “professionals,” the pastor and others who are trained to lead the church, face a task they can’t do alone. It’s often a struggle to get the work of the church done until laypeople join in and work alongside the leadership.

            This was the situation in Acts 6.  Some in the church were being neglected and the “professionals,” the apostles who were leading the church, realized they couldn’t do everything themselves.  Only when seven laypeople pitched in to help the leaders could the church proceed.

            How can you come alongside your pastor and other leaders to help keep your church moving ahead?” –Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread devotion)

           

Let us sing! Jesus, Use Me!

Je-sus, use me,

And O, Lord don’t refuse me,

For surely there’s a work that I can do . . .

And even though it’s humble,

Help my will to crumble, (break down)

Though the cost be great –

I’ll work for You . . .

[Inspiring Choruses]

May the Lord bless you real good!

Dorothy

Troubles All Around 10/15-21/19

15-21 October 2019 - Troubles All Around Us – Manna from 12/10/2009 Dorothy

“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated” (2 Cor. 4:8a ncv). “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed” (2 Cor. 4:8a kjv).

I would like to share with you what is called, ‘The Bible from 26 Translations’ on the base of 2 Corinthians 4:8a. This special theme interests me to check out a few translations. I hope to find inspiration with words that would help expand our mediation during our devotion time.

ASV—we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened.
Con—I am hard pressed, yet not crushed.
TCNT—Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in.
Bas—Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in.
Knox—For ourselves, we are being hampered everywhere, yet still have room to breathe.
Ber—We are hedged in from every side, but we live no cramped lives.

TROUBLED… YET NOT DISTRESSED.
Paul wrote a letter to Corinth Christians and he encouraged them and us that any troubles around us are expected. But do not dwell or live on troubled thought. If we experience the presence of Christ and His power in our lives, absolutely no trouble, affliction, sickness, or tragedy will cause your spiritual defeat.

When things around us become too hard to bear and when all our resources are exhausted, God’s resources are given to us to enlarge and expand our faith, hope, and strength. God will not forsake His faithful children. He is always there to help us in time of need. Let us dwell on that thought, ‘we have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated.’  [Manna from Dec. 10, 2009]

Dorothy: When I read this devotion, I was impressed that God was speaking to me about that important verse to remember, “We are not defeated.” In another words, “we are not destroyed.”  We are valuable to God and Satan tried “to destroy the value” in us.  To defeat Satan is to win a victory over him. We can only do that through the blood of Jesus Christ and through the word of testimony quoting God’s Word.

I watched TV news about the fires in California.  I was concerned because my families lives there as well as my friends.  So I prayed for their protection. Just then my deaf sister called to let me know that the fire had died out nearby their apartment which they didn’t have to evacuate as they had planned.  Then I came to that verse and realized that God was speaking to me not to be concerned, but to trust God in all things. 

 Prayer: Thank You, Lord for reminding me to keep my eyes only upon You, knowing that you have a plan in all things.  Thank You for teaching me to keep my eyes on the cross that reminds me, You came to save the world.  We read the news and saw on TV many weird weather that changes so abruptly (suddenly) in many parts of USA and in the world.  Truly this reminds me of what You, Jesus had warned us about from Matthew 24^th.  You do not want us to get upset, but to keep us at peace with Your presence. You are amazing and I worship You. Thank You . . . in Your name, Amen!

May the peace of God abide in you, 

Dorothy Callies 

In That Day 10/11/19

11 October 2019 In That Day – Cheryl Bache share devotion - Manna by Dorothy

Isaiah 29:18
"And in that said shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness."

One day, Christian deaf will hear. It is a hard to live in a hearing
world, trying to read lips and not understanding. One day, the Lord will change all that. One night a deaf foster daughter asked Ted, "Why doesn't someone write a poem or song for the deaf"? Her question remained with Ted so Ted wrote a poem, "I cannot hear." It has been greatly used of the deaf.

Poem: I Cannot Hear by Ted Camp
I cannot hear now in this life, I cannot hear,
One day I will for Jesus cares.
I cannot hear the birds that sing,
I cannot hear the bells that ring,

I have never heard a baby cry,
I have to brush tears from my eye.
For in this life I cannot hear,
One day I will for Jesus cares.

I thank My God that He saved me.
I may be deaf but I’ve been made free.
I have God's word in Heaven I'll be,
With Him for all eternity.

There I will praise the Lord and sing,
There I will hear the bells that ring,
My deafness will be gone forever more,
I'll sing with Him, my Lord adore.

I will sing with angels and happy be,
With Christ my Lord through eternity,
For in this I cannot hear,
One day I will, for Jesus cares!
By Ted Camp

Thank you Cheryl Bache for this article

Manna from Dec. 4, 2010

Don't Give Up 10/8-14/19

08-14 October 2019 - Don't Give Up – Manna by Dorothy and Tony

Luke 18:1 KJV: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

NIV: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” I like the title from NIV “The Parable of the Persistent Widow.” The word, persistent means continuing, or acting for a long time or longer than usual time. 2: stubbornly determined (Merriam-Webster). (Suggest reading Luke 18:1-8).

I read part from page 130 from “Heaven Is So Real” by Choo Thomas, the quote impressed me. Jesus said to Choo Thomas, “I love persistent children. People’s persistence proves their faithfulness, and by this I know that they believe I hold the answers to all their prayers.”

This statement from Jesus should encourage us to walk in the Word of God, to live according to the Word of God, to pray according to His principle and to believe all His promises for our needs and for our healing powers. We are encouraged to believe that “God’s way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (Ps. 18:30).

Song: Let the Lord Have His Way
Let the Lord have His way
In your life every day.
There’s no rest, there’s no peace
‘Til the Lord has His way;
Place your life in His hand
Feel secure in His plan
Let the Lord . .
Let the Lord have His way.
(Inspiring Choruses)

So let us trust the Lord today!

Dorothy

PS. Manna from Dec. 7.2010

Our Hearts 10/1-7/19

01-07 October 2019 - Our Hearts – Manna by Dorothy & Tony

1 John 3:20b “. . . God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” 1 John 3:19 “. . . set our hearts at rest in His Presence.” (NIV)

In KJV it quoted: “. . . shall assure our hearts before Him.”  I like the translation: “. . . set our hearts at rest in His Presence.” The word, assure means to give words of comfort or confidence to. 1 John 3:21 “. . . we have confidence toward God.”

The devotion from Jennifer Benson Schuldt, Our Daily Bread quoted this part. “Sometimes we look inward for answers to our problems, yet the Bible says “the heart is deceitful” (Jer. 17:9).  In truth, we are often the source of our problems in life.

Thankfully, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything” (1 John 3:20). Because of this, He knows exactly how to help us.  Lasting heart-level change and real progress with our problems originate (first began) with God. Trusting Him and living to please Him means we can flourish and be truly free.” End.

1 John 3:20 quoted, “If our heart condemn us” is when Satan announced us 'guilty.'  We need to remind ourselves that the month of October is a Halloween month and it has been known of multitudes attacks that comes from Satan upon God’s people. That is when John encouraged us that “God is greater than our heart and He knows all things.” God is greater than Satan and He knows what Satan is doing to our hearts.

It is a good time to “Put on the full armor of God so that we can fight against the devil’s evil tricks” and “Use the shield of faith which we can stop all the burning arrows of the Evil One” (Ephesians 6:11, 16 ncv).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I attend to Your Word. I incline my ears to Your sayings.  I will not let them depart from my eyes. I keep them in the midst of my heart, for they are life and healing to all my flesh. (Prov. 4:20-22 by Charles Capps, God’s Creative Power for Healing). In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Song: Jesus Came

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Yes, Jesus came into my heart,

Flood of joy over my soul

Like the sea waves roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.

(Inspiring Choruses)

God bless you!

Dorothy Callies