Thank God for Comfort (9/27-30)

27-30 Sept. 2015 – Thank God for Comfort – Manna by Dorothy Callies

2 Cor. 1:3-4a KJV, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation . . .”

We can thank God for His comfort who is “the God of all comfort.” The word “comfort” translates the Greek: paraklesis means to stand beside a person, encouraging and helping him in a time of trouble. God supremely fulfils this role; He sends to His children the Holy Spirit, He who is called “comforter.”

In John 14:16 tells us that Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “another comforter.” “Comforter” translates the Greek: parakletos, meaning “one called alongside to help.” This is a rich word, meaning Comforter, Strengthener, Counselor, Helper, Adviser, Advocate, Ally, and Friend. The Greek word for “another” is allon, meaning “another of the same kind.” The Holy Spirit continues what Christ Himself did while on earth. [From the Full Life Study Bible]

Question: Why would Jesus need another Comforter? So who is the first comforter? God, our Father in Heaven was always the first Comforter. Jesus was the second Comforter to the disciples while He was on earth. Because He was leaving the earth, He promised another Comforter. Another of the same kind, who? God the Father and God the Son . . . both of them were alway the Comforter.

While Jesus was on earth, He was limited with His flesh. When God send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit to 120 disciples and Holy Spirit was like an internet coming into a person, spoke the language to another person who knew the language, went back to his home country and share the Gospel to many. Holy Spirit can be everywhere at once. It’s hard to imagine that, but believe it! Nothing is too hard for God to send the Comforter when we need Him the most.

So “all praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ” (2Cor.1:3-5, NTL).

My friend, when you are weighed down with troubles, remember it is good for you because God through His Holy Spirit could comfort you. And you will be able to comfort others as well. You will be able to thank God for His comforts through the Holy Spirit!

Song: Come, Holy Spirit

Chorus:

Come, Holy Spirit, I need You,

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray;

Come in Your strength and Your Power,

Come in Your own gentle way.

Come as a wisdom to children,

Come as new sight to the blind,

Come, Lord, as strength to my weakness,

Take me: soul, body, and mind. (Then Chorus)

(Gloria & William J. Gaither, Sing His Praise)

Thank God for Pain (9/24-26)

24-26 Sept 2015 Thank God for Pain – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Acts 14:22 KJV, “. . .  we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

What was this really about when Paul and Barnabas said: “They encouraged them to continue in faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations” (Acts 14:22 NLT)?  This was about Paul who were preaching the Good News in different cities, Lystra and Derbe.

“Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead. But as the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day Paul left with Barnabas for Derbe” (Acts 14:19-20).

What? Paul got stoned and left him for dead? Why? In New Testament times God did not always protect His servant from harm. To bring the Gospel’s truth into the darkness of the world always give people two choices: to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior or to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The people who rejected the Gospel often brought persecution to God’s servants at a great cost of their lives.  

When Paul was writing to the churches of Galatia, he said, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:17). Reading from New Living Translation about Paul’s many trials from 2 Cor. 11:16-33, makes me wonder how did Paul goes through all that pains? What was Paul’s secret? Paul was always thankful for many things, even thank God for pain.

Now what kind of marks did Paul had in his body? Paul had been whipped many times while he was in jail several times. Five different times the Jews gave Paul 39 lashes. Three times Paul was beaten with rods. Wow! That’s many marks on Paul’s body! Why did they do this? They tried to stop Paul from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 2 Cor. 11:27 NLT, Paul said, “I have lived with weariness and pain . . .” KJV, “In weariness and painfulness . . .” Yet Paul was always thankful . . . even when Paul had “a thorn in the flesh” (2Cor.12:7).  Paul gave us a perfect example how to depend on God’s divine grace, and now God is saying to you, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor.12:9).

What impressed me about Paul? I just never thought of how much Paul went through until I brought up the topic called, “Thank God for Pain.” Sometimes you read through the Bible, but don’t think much of it until you have the topic to start with. Then you search the scriptures related to the topic and you realized there’s something more that brought inspiration you didn’t notice before. Thank You Lord for teaching me this!

So if you have problems that you can’t get rid of yet, think about Paul who loves Christ so much that he was willing to bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ. And think about God’s grace. [Song: Let’s just praise the Lord … praise the Lord … Let’s just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord … praise the Lord! Repeat]

May God bless you today!  

Be Ye Thankful (9/21-23)

21-23 Sept 2015 - Be Ye Thankful – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

NLT: “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

The list are from the songs “Thanks to God” might be helpful to find words when we pray and we can be thankful to God for:

Thanks for prayers answered

Thanks for prayers deny

Thanks for storms

Thanks for supply

Thanks for pain

Thanks for pleasure

Thanks for comfort

Thanks for grace

Thanks for love

Thanks for roses

Thanks for thorns

Thanks for home

Thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope

Thanks for joy

Thanks for sorrow

Thanks for tears

Thanks for peace  

And many more thanks to God for.

When we are thankful, it opens the door inside our hearts and God dwells in the hearts of thanksgiving. Paul’s letters has many verses that he was always thankful for. I chose two for examples: “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers” (Phil.1:4). “I thank my God always …. that you are enriched by Him …” (1 Cor. 1:4).

Inspiration Song:

Thank you, Lord for amazing grace!

Thank you, Lord for your lovely face!

Thank you, Lord for your heart of love.

Thank you, Lord for the Spirit above.

Thank you, Lord for everything.

Thank you, Lord for the love you bring.

Thank you, Lord for my eyes to see.

Thank you, Lord for loving me.

(Written by Rev. Dorothy Callies)

Thank God for Tears (9/18-20)

18-20 Sept 2015 – Thank God for Tears – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 56:8 “. . . (thou put) my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”

A friend read the Manna, “Thank God for Trials” with tears … thankful … That two words inspired me to realize that there’s a verse and a song to go with it. I want to share this with you and encourage this friend. NLT makes it clear: “You (God) keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”

I remember Tony told me about one book he read about Mary Baxter who wrote about what she saw in heaven. There was a Tears Room and an angel showed Mary the shelves that had a lot of blank books and a lot of bottles with tears collected from the Christians. An angel took the book, put it on the table, open the blank page, took the tears bottle, and pour one drop of tears over the page, behold, one blank page became full of words.

Every tears you make, God collects them and put it in the bottle, saving it for you. When someday, God will show you your bottle of tears went into the book with full of words. Your tears express your feelings and tears are the language that only God understands. Even if you couldn’t find words for it, He knows how to interpret your tears into the book.

Amazing grace, how sweet it is to know this! How much God loves you and cares that much for you! One line quotes, “Thanks for tears . . .” This song is so impressive about what to thank God for. Look carefully for many words to thank God for . . .

Song: Thanks to God (3 of 3)

 Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou does provide!

Thanks for times now but a memory,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and dreary fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul.

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

Thank God for Trials (9/16-17)

16-17 Sept 2015 - Thank God for Trials – Manna by Dorothy Callies

1 Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you” (NLT).

How do we respond or react to that verse 12? Should we get upset, mad or angry? What does the Bible teaches us? The next verse 13 from NLT quotes, “Instead, be very glad …” Glad? How are we going to be glad about the fiery trials? Let’s dig the word, glad. I found one word, grateful, another meaning, “thankful.”

Another question: Why should we be thankful for all the fiery trials we are going through? The answer: It is “because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His suffering …” (1 Peter 4:13). Partners with Christ in his suffering? Ever thought of that? I guess I forgot that … Thank you Holy Spirit for reminding us why we need to thank God for trials so we are partners with Christ. That, certainly, is a great honor to be partners with Christ in his suffering.

Another question: What is the result of taking part with Christ’s suffering? The answer: “And afterward you will have wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:13 NLT). When we continue to thank God for the trials, in the future when Christ comes, we will have wonderful joy sharing his glory for all the world could see.

I say, “Wow!” I hasn’t thought of it that much before. Now reading them again and experiencing the trials we go through, it makes the Word of God more alive and powerful than before. So Holy Spirit is working on our hearts to “rejoice” in our trials according to KJV. I like to repeat James 1:2-4 NLT as a reminder.

“Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (NLT James 1:2-4).

So let us be thankful for the trials and be partners with Christ’s suffering!

Song: Thanks to God (2nd of 3 lines)

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! (song)

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heavenly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

Testimony in Giving Thanks (9/13-15)

13 15 Sept 2015 Testimony in Giving Thanks – Submitted by Dorothy

This is Mary Tomasian now living in RI. I have scripture and something to share in giving thanks. 1 Thess 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The hardest part was leaving my friends and my "freedom" or independent in SC. Moved to RI to get my life on track financially and family. I know that He has a better plan for me down the road. I’m learning to adjust my life here since living on earth is not my home. (Heaven is my real home.) However, I’m grateful for friends here at RI to give me support. I’m living one day at a time. PTL! God is good. Amen...

[Dorothy: Friends, let’s support Mary Tomasian in prayer through the anointing of Holy Spirit and lift her up in Jesus’ name. Amen!]

Shelley Guinn from Canada: Thank you for a wonderful introduction of yourself. It is joyful to read and learn more about you, the author of Manna and your relationship with Christ and family. I am blessed! May God richly bless you with this ministry. All for His glory! Shelley  [Dorothy: Thank you, Shelley for encouraging me!]
 

Melinda Gerstein of Chicago:  Praise Report: I was in the hospital for cat scan. NO heart arteries or heart problem. [Dorothy: Thank you, Lord for this wonderful news.]  One thing I have spot on right lung nodule. Will check for CAT scan in 3 to 6 months later. Please pray for me. Melinda

[Dorothy: Lord God of heaven and earth, we all pray for Melinda to be healed from nodule (a small rounded mass) on her right lung. Let it be free when they check again soon. In Jesus’ name we pray for anointing and the blood of Jesus over that area. In Jesus’ name. Amen!]

Dorothy and Tony Callies of Bloomington, IL: I choose one of three part of the song, Thanks to God that fits what we are going through right now. We have had prayers answered and there are other prayers that has been denied. I am sure you have been through this that God has answered your prayers while denied your other prayer requests. Still God is teaching us that “whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (NLT James 1:2-4).

Song: Thanks to God (1st of 3)

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou has deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare.

(J.A. Hultamn, 1861-1942, August Ludvig Storm,

1862-1914, Tr. C.E. Backstrom, 1901)

O Give Thanks to the Lord (9/10-12)

10-12 Sept. 2015 - O Give Thanks to the Lord – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 136:3 KJV: “O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for His mercy endureth forever.” NLT: “Give thanks to the Lord of lords! His faithful love endures forever.”

Did you know that chapter Psalm 136 begins and ends with the words, “Oh, give thanks” (vv.1, 26)? Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 136:26 “O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever.”

The chapter of Psalm 136, each 26 verses has one sentence that quotes, “. . . for his mercy endures forever” which NLT translate: “His faithful love endures forever.” We could spend a lot of time learning about being thankful or gratitude from Psalm 136. The psalmist reminds us of God’s “great wonders” (v.4). He tells us of God’s creative work brought on by His wisdom (v.5). He moves on to rehearse the great exodus of His people (v.10-22).  

As we think through these pictures of creation and deliverance found in Psalm 136, it helps us to find something to thank God for. Two verses that really “impressed me” were Psalm 136:23 and 24 in KJV: “Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever” and “And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for His mercy endureth forever.” NLT: “He remembered our utter weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful loves endures forever.” 

“Low estate” means at the humility of condition, like Mary during her pregnancy quoted from Luke 1:48 “For He (God) hath regarded the “low estate” of His handmaiden …” In another word, Mary had nothing famous about her to begin with, but God thought of her and had chosen her to become important mother to raise a Son, Jesus. NLT gives a clear meaning: “For He took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.” Mary had something to be thankful for. God has raised her up from lowly place to a higher place of honor for raising His Son, Jesus.

Prayer from Psalm 136:23 & 24:

Dear Lord, thank You for remembering us in our low estate for Your faithful love endures forever. Thank You, Lord, for remembering us in our lowly position for Your mercy endureth forever. Thank You Lord for redeeming us and saving us from our enemies for Your faithful love endures forever. Thank You Lord for teaching us that Your mercy and your love are the foundation of all Your works and of all our thanksgiving. Your mercy includes Your faithfulness and kindness toward all of us. Thank You for all You have done for us through Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

Song: Surely, Goodness and Mercy

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.

(Inspiring Choruses)