No One Knew (2/27-28)

27-28 February 2015 - No One Knew – Fresh Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 77:19 NLT, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!”

What impressed me? “… a pathway no one knew was there!” In KJV quote, “… and thy footsteps are not known.” Let’s read Psalm 77:16 NLT, “When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.”

Psalm 77:19 in KJV says, “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.” Psalm 77:20 tells us in NLT, “You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.”

When God led Moses and His Israelite people to go to the Red Sea between two mountains, it was the right place that only God knew the special pathway for the people to cross over easily. God parted the Red Sea and they walked through on dry land. So God planned an unexpected route for His people. They never thought that there was a way out of troubles, but God did. Miriam led her people to dance and sang songs of victories what Almighty God had done.

A story was about Napoleon’s engineer, Albert Mathieu during 1802, he proposed the 31-mile passage beneath the English Channel allows travel by train each day between England and France. Nearly two centuries (192 years), people had sailed across the Channel until this surprising new way to go under the Tunnel was completed and opened on May 6, 1994. One could imagined people’s delight by taking a train which was much faster than sailing across the Channel between England and France.   

“A pathway no one knew was there.” What does it means for us? God can create roads where we see only obstacles (something that stands in the way). When the way ahead of us seems uncertain, what should we do? It is good to remember what God has done in the past. He specializes in pathways in any circumstance—pathways that point us to His love and power.

So doesn’t this makes you want to trust our loving God even more?

SONG: LET GO AND LET GOD

        Let go and let God have His wonderful way,

      Let go and let God have His way;

Your burdens will vanish,

      your night turn to day:

         Let go and let God have His way …

       (Inspiring Choruses

God's Strong Hand (2/25-26)

25-26 February 2015 God’s Strong Hand – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Isaiah 40:10 “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand …”

It has been four years since Tony works part time at Taco Bell in December 14, 2010. For me? Since April 2008, it would be seven years next April 2015! Since we moved to Bloomington, Illinois June 2007, I was thinking what we have been doing since the Lord led us here … maybe I was struggling … the weather is so cold … searching for Fresh Manna … Then I glanced over the Daily Bread, “God’s Strong Hand!”

It reads from KJV, “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.” I thought I better read from NLT since I felt strong that the Lord wants to talk to me so I am reading and typing and sharing this with you.

“Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in all His glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, He brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. [Is.40:10-11]

“Who else has held the oceans in HIS hand? Who has measured off the heavens with HIS fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to be HIS teacher or counselor? [Is.40:12-13]

“Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does HE need instruction about what is good or what is best? No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with HIM. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. HE picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all.” [Is.40:14-15]

“The nations of the world are as nothing to HIM. In HIS eyes they are less than nothing—mere emptiness and froth (little values). To whom, then can we compare GOD? What image might we find to resemble HIM? Can HE be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? [Is.40:17-19]

“Or is a poor person’s wooden idol better? Can GOD be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won’t fall down? Have you never heard or understood? Are you deaf to the WORDS OF GOD—the WORDS HE gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? [Is.40:20-21]

“It is GOD who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to Him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes His tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when He blows on them and their work withers. The wind carries them off like straw. [Is. 40:22-24]

“To whom will you compare ME? Who is MY equal?” asks the HOLY ONE. Look up into heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And HE counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. [Is. 40:25-26]

“O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say GOD refuses to hear your case? Have you never heard or understood? Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting GOD, the CREATOR of all the earth? HE never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of HIS understanding. [Is.40:27-28]

“HE gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. BUT THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH. THEY WILL FLY HIGH ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES. THEY WILL RUN AND NOT GROW WEARY. THEY WILL WALK AND NOT FAINT. [Is.40:29-31]

Dorothy: Wow, Lord! Thank you for reminding me who You really are! Thank you for showing me Your word of wisdom. You convinced my heart that You are the God over all things, even the coldest weather. You alone, knows our troubles. You will hear our case. I pray that our readers will see this and be reminded that You are the God of our Creator.

You asked if we know the weight of the earth (Is.40:12). No! We don’t know the weight of the earth. Oh Lord, forgive us for our knowledge are small. Teach us to keep our eyes upon You for You alone are our strength. We love You and worship You as the God of Israel and One Lord over all. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

SONG: HE IS LORD!

He is Lord! He is Lord!

He has risen from the grave

And He is Lord!

Every knee shall bow,

Every tongue confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord!

[Inspiring Choruses]

Let It Be (2/23-24)

23-24 February 2015 - Let It Be – Fresh Manna by Dorothy Callies

Luke 1:38 NKJV, Mary said, “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Do you ever felt like you are struggling for something that you have been wanting something for so long and didn’t get it until much later? You might felt like, “Why did God wait so long to answer my prayer? Do you still trust God anyway?

It happened to the aging Elizabeth who longed for a baby. People around her made fun of her being barren. Even while Zechariah and Elizabeth suffered of their culture stigma (mark of shame) of childlessness, they were described as “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord” (Luke 1:6-7).

At the same time, Mary being very young and engaged, Mary being pregnant should have been disgrace. But when both Elizabeth and Mary learned they would have a child, they accepted the news with the faith in the God whose timing is perfect and for whom nothing is impossible (Luke 1:24-25, 37-38).

Mary went to visit Elizabeth and both of them rejoiced at God’s great plan even though they didn’t understand God’s timing. Yet their example shows us how very important to have a trusting heart that accepts the mysterious ways of God and the presence of His mighty hand, no matter how strange timing the circumstances may be. It would be like Mary would say, “Let it be to me according to Your plan.”

Inspiration: When Jesus speak His words of healing to us, let us say, “Let it be to me according to Your word, Lord Jesus.” Let us have a trusting heart and accept God’s great plan for all of us in Jesus’ name, amen!

SONG: O, To Be Like Thee

O, to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. 

Chorus:

O, to be like Thee! O, to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

(Lyrics: Thomas Obediah Chisholm, Sing His Praise)

Dragon Skin (2/19-22)

19-22 February 2015 - Dragon Skin – Fresh Manna by Dorothy Callies

Ephesians 4:24 NKJV, “Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

What is troubling you today? How can we put on the new man? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of our “impatient” habit and to replace it with godly character.

Receiving God’s gift of salvation through Christ is a one time-event, but to become like Him often involves putting off old sinful habits and one of them is “impatient habit” and replacing them with new godly ones (fruit of patience).

Paul wrote, “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt … [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24).

The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful so how do we Deaf really understand how does the process of becoming like Christ works? I will use a story like a parable to compare earthly story to heavenly thing. My favorite story was the Chronicle of Narnia, the books which I had when I was a teenager. One of the seven books, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader written by C.S. Lewis. If you had seen the movie, it would be good to watch and learn something.

The characters were Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace are summoned to help on a quest in the Eastern Sea. Along the way, Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasures and one was diamond bracelet he put on his left upper arm. He had turned into a dragon while he was asleep. In his thought and heart, he was greedy and became a dragon himself.   

When Eustace awoke from his sleep, he realized he had become a dragon. Eustace become desperate tried to remove his dragon skin three times. Eustace was not successful. Eustace lifted up its voice and wept like a powerful dragon crying its eyes out. The great lion, Aslan, king of Narnia came and the desperate dragon gladly accepts Aslan’s help.

The great lion, Aslan used his claws to painfully tear off the dragon’s flesh along with the bracelet from Eustace’s left upper arm which was causing him pain. Then Aslan threw Eustace into the water to bathe. Eustace was swimming and splashing. Eustace discovered that all the pain had gone from his arm. Eustace was given a new and better clothes than he ever had before. Eustace was grateful for his deliverance. Eustace chooses to become a better boy.

Aslan, the lion is a comparison of Christ, the Lion of Judah. As we like Eustace can only surrender to Christ, the One who can remove our “dragon skin” from an old man and Christ “threw us” into that living water of life and bathe us. We are given a new and better clothes, Christ’s robe of true righteousness and holiness! And we can choose to become a better person.

Paul wrote, “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt … [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24). [Point? Put off your dragon skin and put on the new ‘you.’] 

God bless you and I pray that this will touch your heart! 

God of Patience (2/17-18)

17-18 February 2015 - God of Patience – Fresh Manna by Dorothy Callies

Romans 15:5 KJV, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.”

Patience? Who would want to have patience? Who would ever thought that God would have lots of patience? What does the word patience means? It means the quality or state of being patient. The word, patient means 1. Putting up with pains or hardships calmly or without complaint. 2. Showing calm self-control 3. Not hasty or reckless 4. STEADFAST 1. Firmly fixed in place; not subject to change 2. Firm in belief, determination, or allegiance.

I have never thought that the word, patience involves “putting up with pains” or “hardships calmly” and “without complaint?” This is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit which is “longsuffering.” KJV in Galatians 5:22-23 doesn’t say “patience,” but longsuffering does. Longsuffering involves ‘lasting endure hardship with patient.’

What was I thinking when it comes to this? I have seen other Deaf going through some kind of painful hardships physically and financially. Then the other day, somehow I lost my patience and I was shocked at myself for swearing. I said, “God, why did I do that? What’s happening?”

Then God led me to search the scriptures on ‘the God of patience.’ I was impressed when I saw this, ‘God of patience?’ Two things: First on God, Himself and this subject is broad so I will focus on the second thing is us, “… grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Jesus Christ.”

What are you going through? Why do we have to go through this and that? First when I think about God of patience, He set an example that He is a very patient God and that He has a plan for you and me. Groan! Sigh! God’s goal is to comfort you and me for “putting up with pains” and grant you and me to be like the God of patience toward one another just like Jesus Christ. This is tough! So we pray for Holy Spirit to help us through.

Inspiration: God is giving us the answer to all of “why pains?” God wants us to go deeper and yield to Holy Spirit’s flowing of God’s presence. When I do that, I noticed something happen inside my inner-spirit, I can’t explain. But I know God is working. So let us trust God’s work in us, the God of patience who will give us the comfort to go through the pains to become like Jesus Christ and He will give us the patience toward one to another.

Sometimes there are no words to express what we are all going through such as painful experiences, but there is one thing we could do is to sing this song of comfort, “Standing Somewhere …” Jesus will be there for you!

Song: Standing Somewhere in the Shadows

Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus.

He’s the one who always cares and understands.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him.

And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

(Inspiring Choruses)

Feedback 2/16

"Let’s share the feedback” from Fresh Manna of 15-16 Feb. 2015 Before You Ask.Dorothy: I was impressed with the verse Kim Johnson shared:

KJV: In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.  Psalm 94:19     

I remember this scripture on sign that hung at Pippa White's old house in her bathroom :) :)  And i really liked this.......in the multitude of my thoughts meaning many things on mind, thy Word comforts my soul or maketh my soul to revive/delight!!!  :)  Happy Valentine's.  God bless & keep.  kj

Dorothy: I was curious what NIV says. Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” The word anxiety means 1: fear or nervousness about what might happen. 2: fearful concern or interest <anxiety to succeed>. Consolation, console means to comfort in times of grief, distress, or suffering. Boy, I learn something. Thank you Kim!

If you have any feedback on this subject, you’re welcome to share. 

 Christine Mitchell: Parallel verses NLT when doubts, perplexing thoughts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.  Praise The Lord that we don't have to dwell or drown in our sorrow and can rely on His Word for comfort and peace. The more we meditate and fill our mind with His word will not leave enough room for worldly chaos that tend to fill our heart, soul mind with fear and confusion. Praise The Lord, I like that verse Ps. 94:19 as it gives us hope knowing we're not stuck in bondage. Love you!!! Let Us Throw in a verse and let us analyze its meaning, that would be great for all of us. Can make it simple what it means that applied to our lives. Agree? Christine

Before You Ask (2/15-16)

Matthew 6:8 “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

In our time of need—whether it is spiritual, emotional, or physical—we can depend on our heavenly Father’s faithful care. Our Abba, our Father knows us so well that He chooses the perfect time to give us what is best and to send reassurance of His care.

How can we know that God send His reassurance of His care? There are scriptures that Jesus, the Son of God knows His own Father’s concern for us. Jesus said, “Not one [sparrow] is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear …; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:6-7).

The word, reassurance may seems difficult to visualize the purpose of God’s caring. So the key is to open up the meaning of the word and give us more understanding. One dictionary says, reassure in verb means “To calm someone and give the person confidence or courage. The doctor reassured the woman before the operation.

Another technology dictionary, reassure in verb means to assure again; to give fresh confidence to: free from fear. The word, assure means 1. To provide a guarantee of like assure security. 2. To give words of comfort or confidence to like tried to assure the worried children.

Are you nervous about something? God wants to calm you. Are you worried? God wants to comfort you. Are you scared? God wants to give you courage. Your Father knows the things you need. God assured you of His support. Praise God that He always wants to “reassure” us. So let us trust Him!

Song: I Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee every hour,

Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford (give).

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee!

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

[Annie Sherwood Hawks, Sing His Praise]