Stand Strong 5/29-31/20

29-31 May 2020 - Stand Strong – Manna revised from 4/2013 & 2009 by Dorothy

1 Corinthians 15:58 NCV “So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything change you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.”

KJV: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

NLT: “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Have you ever felt like when you have given so much time in the Lord’s work for so many years and nothing much has really happened to you or others? It is like “Why should I continue to volunteer work for the deaf while I struggled to meet my own need?” What does the Scriptures say when we might be tempted to give up?

  I used “The Bible from 26 Translations.” So I put some words together and would say: “Since future victory is sure, let us be strong in our purpose and HOLD YOUR GROUND. Let us stand firm and let nothing move you. As we continue to be busy for the Lord and let us always be devoted to the Lord. Let us work for the Lord always and work without limit. Let us be active in the Lord’s service at all times. Why? Because you know that your labor in the service of the Lord is never thrown away.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask You to open our spiritual eyes and let us see the work of the Holy Spirit and help us to be true to you. After reading the Scripture, I realized that Satan is working very hard to try to discourage us to give up the service of the Lord. Oh Holy Spirit, revive us today and deliver us from Evil One who walk about as a Roaring Lion seeking to whom he could destroy. We ask for help and we believe that You will reveal Yourself to us and assure us that You do care and love us so much. Thank You, Father in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Dorothy: As of May 28, 2020, reading those Manna again, I really need to “hear” that great encouragement to my soul.  The title used to be “Hold Your Ground” but now I realized in ASL it really meant “Stand Strong.”  I could sense the difference between those two titles. Stand strong seems powerful. It is not weak, but forceful. Dictionary gave a meaning of word, strong as enthusiastic. No wonder NLT translate “always enthusiastic” about the Lord’s work.

If you’re not sure about the word, enthusiastic. It means feeling of excitement and active interest. Two hands rubbed together in ASL is enthusiastic or as in excitement.  KJV used two words, steadfast and immoveable and it actually meant be strong and stand strong. Do not let anything change you.

So I encourage you as well as what this Manna was all about you not to give up. In spite of all the corona-virus “prison” us at home should encourage us that the Lord has everything for a purpose. It makes us strong in the Lord. Again, I say, stand strong!

And God bless you!

Dorothy

Be Strong in Grace 5/26-28/20

26-28 May 2020 - Be Strong in Grace – Manna from 3/1/13 by Dorothy & Tony

2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (KJV).

Grace, the source of strength is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was facing death and Paul knew where to find strength, it is found in our Lord Jesus. Timothy would soon have to take over Paul’s place. Soon Timothy would take the responsibility for spreading the gospel across the earth (2 Tim. 2:2).  Timothy was like a son to Paul and they were very close.

Paul was concerned about Timothy. Could Timothy stand up under the pressure? Could he handle all the problems and circumstances that would arise? There was only one hope for Timothy, just as there is only one hope for any of us. Timothy needed an unlimited strength, a strength that could drive him to conquer any circumstance and to work at any task until it was accomplished. That strength could come from only one source and that strength is the strength of God.

Grace means the undeserved favor and blessings of God. We do not deserve the favor and blessings of God, but God loves us. So God has provided the way for us to receive His favor and blessings—the greatest way possible—through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We can receive the blessings of God through the very Son of God Himself. And this includes the strength of God, strength to conquer and overcome all trials and to do the work that God called us to do.

Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong, but not strong in his own strength, but strong in the grace (favor) of Christ. Let us look up to Christ, not to ourselves or to other people. Let's put our trust completely in Christ, His power and His strength alone. Paul often quoted, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me” (Phil. 4:13).

Song: He Leadeth Me

1. He leadeth me! O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught (fully)!

Whatever I do, where ever I be,

Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me!

Chorus:

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,

By His own hand He leadeth me:

His faithful follower I would be,

For by His hand He leadeth me.

(Lyrics: Joseph Henry Gilmore, Sing His Praise)

Oh that grace of God that would never lose its power in us!

Dorothy

A Strong Soldier 5/25/20

25 May 2020 - A Strong Soldier – Manna from 3/5/13 by Dorothy & Tony

Happy Memorial Day! This Manna reminds me of our soldiers who gave their lives for America! So I would like to use this Manna as a reminder . . .

2 Timothy 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (KJV).

Paul used a comparison with soldiers who discipline themselves and who were willing to sacrifice to work toward the goal that God has called a person to do. Like soldiers who have to give up the worldly security and endure severe discipline. Paul, himself knows what it is like to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul knew that as Timothy preached and taught God’s Word, Timothy would face suffering, and Paul encourage Timothy to endure all things for Christ.

The New Living Translation would be better interpreted as Paul stated, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army” (2Tim.2:3-4). The New Century Version stated, “Share in the troubles we have like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. A soldier wants to please the enlisting officer, so no one serving in the army wastes time with everyday matters.”

What would it take for a Deaf Christian believer to be a strong soldier of Jesus Christ? Here are the few selective answers from the QVLAB study notes that impressed me. A strong soldier endures, suffers, and shares hardship with all other soldiers. A strong soldier stands with the other soldiers and suffers the hardships of the struggle with them. A strong soldier sacrifices all that he is and has for Christ.

A strong soldier is loyal and committed to his commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ. A strong soldier focuses upon his commander and his words to carry the message of gospel to those around us. To me, it would take a strong soldier to keep up with the daily study or reading of God’s Word to feed our hungry soul and to share God’s Word with others. Keeping in touch with our Commander, Jesus Christ is the most important thing to do. This song might motivate the Deaf people in the Deaf Church.

Song: Onward Christian Soldier

1. Onward, Christian Soldiers! Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus, going on before;

Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle, See His banners go!

Chorus:

Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus, Going on before.

(Lyrics: Sabine Baring-Gould, Sing His Praise)

Let's be a strong soldier for Jesus Christ, our Commander!

Dorothy