The Ship

November 11-15, 2013 The Ship – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Psalm 107:26 “Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths, the sailors’ cringed (shrink) in terror.”

 

Reading from New Living Translation Psalm 107:23-31. “Some went off in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, His impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and sank again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. “LORD, HELP!” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! Let them praise the LORD for His great love and for all His wonderful deeds to them.”

Psalm 107:23-31 tells a story of people in peril (danger) at sea. In KJV, the verse quoted, “their soul is melted because of trouble.” Have you ever felt like that, “soul is melted because of trouble?” The Psalmist was telling us that when the sailors send an S.O.S. to God and God responds by smoothing out the sea and guiding them to their destination.

I visualized us inside a ship that faced a towering wall of water edged with claw-like form that was about to crash down our struggling ship. Sometimes I felt like Satan’s hands were like the claws and he tried to crash us down. The Scripture teaches us to call, “LORD, HELP!” We cried in our troubles and God held back Satan’s claw-like hands from destroying us. God gave us a “smooth” sailing and we arrive in a safe spiritual harbor of rest from the sufferings and pains.

I read this commentary and I thought it was good to share. “Those who have never truly suffered may not appreciate God as much as those who have matured under hardship. Those who have seen God work in times of distress have a deeper insight into His loving-kindness. If you have experienced great trials, you have the potential (real possible) for great praise.” (Note from Quick Verse Life Application).

As for the news: I went for a check up with the Doctor and the next thing I will see the lung specialist next month. I still need prayer since my bronchus areas are not too comfortable. My breathing seems to improve some with the medicine inhaler. As for Tony, he is fine with the new medicine he is taking. As for Manna, I am not sure what it would be like since I am struggling with my health issue. I appreciate your prayers.

God bless you!

Car Wash

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (NKJV).

Do you know what it is like to be compared as a car and you as a car would go through the car washed? Imagine we like a car would line up and waited. The guys would vacuum my car rugs, and seats. Then the powers began moving my car forward. Then there comes a thunderous rush of water, soap, and brushes hit my car from all directions. This doesn’t sound pleasant.

What if I get stuck in here or water crashes in? Oh, my car moved on to a clear rinse of water. Suddenly the water ceased. My car get blow-dry. Then guys came to my car with rags and clean inside and outside polished. Then my car is ready to go and face the world again. So this is what God was doing, preparing us …

Are you going through “the rivers of difficult time”?  The Lord God has spoken: “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!” (NLT).  Let His Word of love flows into our spirits and healed us in Jesus’ name. In His presence there is peace.

News from Dorothy and it is November 6, 2013.

I began to understand why God was preparing me the devotion for “passing through the waters” and that He would be with me. He wants me to be aware that He knows what is happening. You will understand why when I tell you this. Just after I came out of the hospital last week, Tuesday-Thursday, guess what?

Yesterday on Nov. 5, 2013, Tony went to ER to have his blood clots in his lungs being worked on with new medications and shots. He will be in the hospital for few days. So I appreciate your prayer. God has giving me strength moment by moment. What helps also was taking Ensure drinks as needed to support my body when I am on steroid medication until I see the Doctor on Nov. 11^th to reevaluate my bronchus. I am trusting God that all things will work together …

May God bless you!

Dorothy 

Halted

This devotion was halted because I was taken to emergency hospital 2 nights to be treated for the shortage of breathe. It was due to bronchitis and narrow airway. They gave me medication so that I could breathe easily and rest for 10 days. I just trust God day by day and thank you for your prayers.

Dorothy Callies

Springs Without Water

October 25-31, 2013 Springs Without Water – Manna by Dorothy Callies

2 Peter 2:17 “Those false teachers are like springs without water …” (NCV).

Peter was writing about the false teachers who would cause the people to be lost. The false teachers even refuse to accept the Master, Jesus, who bought their freedom. This requires study of God’s Word and a determined effort to know the truth and teachings of Scripture. Studying God’s Word will help us to defend our faith and resist the false teaching.

The holy faith is the New Testament revelation handed down by Christ and the apostles. The important thing is to be faithful to what Jesus Christ teaches. Without a strong view of Holy Scripture, the full authority and teaching of the Bible are weakened; the Bible will in time be replaced by human’s other religious experience or human become independent into their own belief.

Without a strong view of Holy Scripture, the church has no true and sure foundation for its faith. Without Jesus’ teachings, there is no salvation. Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no message to preach. Without the Son of God, there is no baptism in the Holy Spirit and the working of miracles. Without Jesus Christ, there is no hope looking forward for His coming again. Without Jesus, we have no living water to drink from and eventually it will lead to spiritual death.

The song “Without Him” is a powerful testimony against the false teachers that should constantly remind us that from Him comes the living water of eternal life. Hallelujah! My heart is filled with praises to Thee.

Song: Without Him

Chorus: Jesus, O, Jesus!

Do you know Him today?

Do not turn Him away.

Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus!

Without Him how lost I would be.

1. Without Him I could do nothing.

Without Him I’d surely fail;

Without Him I would be drifting

Like a ship without a sail. (chorus)

2. Without Him I would be dying.

Without Him I’d be enslaved;

Without Him life would be hopeless,

But with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved.

(Mylon R. LeFevre, Sing His Praise)

Wells Without Water

October 22-24, 2013 Wells Without Water – Manna by Dorothy Callies

2 Peter 2:17 “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever” (KJV).

Jude who is a half-brother of Jesus wrote this letter. “… clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees who fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness for ever” (Jude 1:12c-13 KJV).

Peter wrote “Those false prophets are like springs without water. They are like mists driven by a storm. The blackest darkness is reserved for them” (2Pet.2:17 NIRV).

Jude wrote “They are like stains at the meals you share. They eat too much. They have no shame. They are shepherds who feed only themselves. They are like clouds without rain. They are blown along by the wind. They are like trees in the fall. Since they have no fruit, they are pulled up. So they die twice. They are like wild waves of the sea. Their shame rises up like foam. They are like falling stars. God has reserved a place of very black darkness for them. He will keep them there forever” (Jude 1:12-13 NIRV).

The commentary from the Full Life Study Bible quoted what “twice dead” means. The apostate teachers among Jude’s readers are “twice dead” (literally, “twice having died”). The false teachers were once believers in Christ who had “passed from death into life” [John 5:24] but had sometime afterward severed (separated) their union with Christ and passed out of life back into death [Eph.2:1]. The word apostate means “giving up their previous loyalty to Christ.”

Paul wrote the reason for their spiritual death. “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (control) the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13 KJV). It was their failure to put to death the sinful deeds of the body that leads to spiritual death and the lost of inheritance in the kingdom of God. The words “ye shall die” mean that a Christian can pass from spiritual life back into spiritual death. It means that sin is always striving to regain control over us.

Like Jude quoted the kind of teachers who had no control over their flesh, their souls were lost. So how do we avoid this? In my translation what Paul meant, “If you through the Spirit do discipline the body that often tried to tempt you, you shall live.” It means that we as believers must continually decide whether we will surrender to the ‘pulling’ of the sinful human nature or surrender to the demands of the divine nature of which we partake in Christ living in us.

Wow! Now we know what it means “wells that has no water.” This is why Jesus said, “Come and drink” the living water. It is Jesus that keeps us alive. Keep drinking the Word of God from day to day. Amen!

I see why I miss the Bread Verse is like drinking the living water for my soul! Log in: http://www.deafprayerpartners.blogspot.com/

News about Bread Verse

The Bread Box Verse now goes to the Deaf Prayer Partners LIFELINE. Log in:

http://www.deafprayerpartners.blogspot.com/

If you check my profile, you will see two Blogs:
Fresh Manna and Deaf Prayer Partners Lifeline.
You could try to click it for Bread Box Verse.

Any questions, email dotcallies@hotmail.com

Many thanks!

Dorothy Callies

Shall Never Thirst

October 19 21 2013 Shall Never Thirst – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 4:14a “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst …”

Jesus is the living water. Water does at least three things. It cleanses or purifies; it refreshes; and it revitalizes or energizes. How does a person feel when he or she drinks the water? Like someone quote, “Drink lots of water.” Why? The water cleanses your body. The water refreshes your body. The water energizes your body.

What happens when we “drink the living water” which is Jesus Himself? Jesus, the living water cleanses us. Jesus, the living water purifies us. Jesus, the living water refreshes us. Jesus, the living water revitalizes us. Jesus, the living water gives us new life. Jesus, the living water gives us new strength. Jesus, the living water gives us energy. Jesus, the living water gives us the power to do things.

The “water” given by Christ means spiritual life which Isaiah 12:3 quotes, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” To partake of this living water, you need to “drink” as Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (Jn.7:37). This act of drinking is not just for a moment or just for one time, but rather a repeated drinking.

The word “drink” is a present command or a strong encouragement to continue to repeat the same thing over and over. Drinking the water of life requires regular communion with the source of the living water, Jesus Christ Himself.

Word of warning: No one can continue to drink of the water of life if we become separated from its source (who? Christ). No one can survive without drinking the living water who is Christ. What happened when a person become separated from Christ? Such people will become, as Peter describes, “springs without water.” [More to come on the next Manna]

I wondered if we really understood what Jesus was trying to tell us about the living water like He had talked with the Samaritan woman at the well. He said, “If you only knew the free gift of God and who it is that is asking you for water, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” (Jn.4:10 NCV).

Let’s listen to Him today.

Song: There is a River                                              Song: Only Jesus

There is a river                                                          Only Jesus, only Jesus,

That flows from deep within;                                     Only He can satisfy;

There is a fountain                                                     Every burden becomes a blessing,

To cleanse the soul from sin.                                     When I know my Lord is nigh.

There is a vast supply,                                               [Inspiring Choruses]

There is a river

That never run dry.

[Inspiring Choruses]