Peace Be Still (1/30-31)

Mark 4:39 “He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

What do we do when we are stuck in a troubling situation with nowhere to run? Maybe, we feel like the disciples who were stuck in a life-threatening storm in a boat? Strange to say, Jesus was sound asleep with His head on a cushion when all these things were happening. I tried to imagine that Jesus looks so peaceful when He was so tired from all His day’s work.

The story was about disciples who were in the boats and they were going across on the lake of Galilee. It was so peaceful at first when their boats went sailing and then unexpected storm came with a very strong wind. There was a big waves came over the sides and into the boat so that it was already full of water. [Ref. Mark 35-41]

When the disciples couldn’t get the water out of the boat quick enough, they panic and knew they were going to drown. They “ran to Jesus” and woke Him up. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and said to the waves, “Peace be still!” Then the wind stopped, and it became completely calm.

We could learn from the disciples who “fled to Jesus” as their only hope. Jesus may be “asleep in our boat” in the storms of life so we, like the disciples who faced trouble, will “wake Him up.” Thankfully, He is always with us in the storms of life, saying things like, “Peace be still!”

So, look for Him in your storm and let Him fill you with peace that comes from knowing He is near. (Even if we have to “wake Him up”)!

SONG: With Christ in the Vessel (Boat)

With Christ in the vessel

         we can smile at the storm,

Smile at the storm, smile at the storm.

With Christ in the vessel

         we can smile at the storm

As we go sailing home.

Sailing, sailing home,

     sailing, sailing home,

With Christ in the vessel

         we can smile at the storm

As we go sailing home.

[Inspiring Choruses]

Sound the Battle Cry! (1/28-29)

Luke 21:34-36 NCV, Jesus said: "Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly, like a trap on all people on earth. So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Song: Sound the Battle Cry!

Chorus:

Rouse, then soldiers, rally round the banner;
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward, shout a loud Hosanna!
Christ is Captain of the mighty throng. 

1. Sound the battle cry! See, the foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high for the Lord;
Gird your armor on; Stand firm, every one;
Rest your cause upon His holy Word. [Chorus]

2. Oh! Thou God of all, Hear us when we call;
Help us one and all By Thy grace;
When the battle's done And the victory's won,
May we wear the crown Before Thy Face. [Chorus]
[Lyrics and Music: William Fiske Sherwin]

How does God "Sound the Battle Cry"? There are some examples I could think of. God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way. God warned Joseph in a dream to leave for Egypt. Why the warnings? Herod killed the baby boys at Bethlehem. Why? Because the Wise Men did not come back to tell Herod where Jesus was. God warned Joseph to escape in time before the soldiers would come and kill Jesus.

Jesus withstood the temptation against Satan through the Word of God and overcame Satan. What about us? Sometimes God gives us dreams or visions or burdens as a warning to pray. Jesus gave us example how to overcome Satan through using the Word of God. Knowing the Word of God could make a different for us.

We tend to worry. God's Word said: Do not worry. This is a warning. This is a favorite tool of Satan, worrying. It is the opposite of having faith in God. God has answer for us how to be ready at all the time. The key is to pray that we will be strong in the Lord and trust in Him at all times.

He Hides My Soul (1/26-27)

Psalm 46:1, KJV: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:1-2 NCV: “God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble. So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes, or the mountains fall into the sea.”

Song: He Hideth My Soul

Chorus:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

1. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see. [Chorus]

2. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord;
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved;
He giveth me strength as my day. [Chorus]
[Lyrics: Fanny Jane Crosby, Sing His Praise]

Psalm 9:9-11 KJV: The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou LORD, has not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

Psalm 9:9-11 NCV: The Lord defends those who suffer; he defends them in times of trouble. Those who know the LORD trust him, because he will not leave those who come to Him. Sing praises to the LORD who is king on Mount Zion [Jerusalem]. Tell the nations what he has done.

"The Lord is our REFUGE?" Refuge? The dictionary explains:
1. Shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.
2. a person or thing that gives shelter, help, or comfort.
3. a place of safety; shelter; safe retreat.
4. action taken to escape trouble or difficulty.
Shelter means something that covers, protects or defends.

Inspiration: I found this song, ‘He hideth my soul’ from 2008 Manna and I updated it. And oh, it just touches my heart to remind me that God wants us to know that we can hide in Him … The song just inspires me and I pray that it would inspire you too! 

Brethren, Pray for Us (1/25/15)

2 Thessalonians 3:1 “Finally, Brethren, pray for us …”

Why did Paul asked the believers in Thessalonica to pray for him? The apostle Paul experienced danger and hardship as a missionary. He was imprisoned, shipwrecked, and beaten. It’s no surprise that his letter contained pleas for prayer.

He asked the believers in Thessalonica to pray for success in spreading the gospel—that God’s Word would “run swiftly and be glorified” (2 Thess.3:1). Paul knew he would need to “open [his] mouth boldly” and declare the gospel (Eph.6:19), which was yet another prayer request.

Story from Jennifer Benson Schuldt, The Daily Bread RBC: “A missionary recently visited the Bible study I was attending. She described what it had been like to pack up her household and relocate to a distant country. When she and her family arrived, they were greeted with a flourishing drug-trade and hazardous roadways.

The language barrier brought bouts [attack] of loneliness. They contracted four different stomach viruses. And her oldest daughter narrowly escaped death after falling through a railing on an unsafe stairwell. They needed prayer.”

Do you know any Missionaries who work with the Deaf that needs our prayers? It is as if this song was in their hearts, asking you to remember them in your prayer. Hear their hearts’ cry, “Will you pray for me?”

      SONG: WHEN YOU PRAY
At the close of the day when you kneel to pray,
will you remember me? I need help every day,
this is why I pray, Will you remember me?
Chorus:
When you pray will you pray for me,
For I need His Love and His care---
When you pray will you pray for me,
Will you whisper my name in your prayer?

When I pray I will pray for you,
For you need His Love and His care---
When I pray I will pray for you,
I will whisper your name in my prayer.
[Audrey Mieir]

Face to Face (1/23-24)

Luke 9:29-31 NLT, “And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothing became dazzling white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking of how He was about to fulfill God’s plan by dying in Jerusalem.”

Jesus might have prayed for a while since Peter, John and James were very drowsy and had fallen asleep. Now they woke up and saw Jesus’ glory and two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter got so excited and blurted out, “This is wonderful! Let’s make three shrines—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

A cloud came cover them; and Peter, John and James were terribly afraid. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him.” Then the cloud was gone. They looked around, and Moses and Elijah were gone, and only Jesus was with them. [Ref. Luke 9:28-36; Matt. 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13 in NLT]

Inspiration: I had a question, wondering, what would happen if a person pray to God for a while. Would there be anything during prayer time? Then somehow, God led me to read the “Transfiguration” scriptures. Some of the commentaries quoted, “The Transfiguration revealed Christ’s divine nature” and “God’s voice at the Transfiguration gave authority to Jesus’ words.”

Here’s what impressed me. Peter, John and James had a wonderful experience of who Christ really was. Jesus was God’s own Son. They saw the transformation in Jesus, face to face. Then God said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” Then it dawn on me. God emphasized was “Listen to Him.” The dictionary, ‘listen’ means pay attention in order to hear and to give heed and take notice of and follow advice.  

Then God spoke to me, “All those times of your reading, studying, praying for understanding My Words, I was there with you. You already did what I want for you to do, was to listen to Jesus’ Words from the Bible. Didn’t you feel My Presence many times? Didn’t you feel any inspiration from the Words I had shown you? Didn’t you write My Manna that was Fresh from Heaven? I was there speaking to you sometimes when you took nap, didn’t I?”

Oh, Lord, thank You for speaking to me and correcting me. Then God spoke to my heart, “Someday you will see Jesus, face to face. For now, listen to Jesus’ Words and study them and share it with others.”

My friend, “listen to Jesus” was what God had told Peter, John and James to do. Their “listening to Jesus” was put into writings: John wrote the Gospel, three letters and Revelation and Peter wrote two letters. We have the Bible today which tells us that someday, we’ll see Him, “Face to Face.” The song often is a blessing.

                                 Song: Face to Face

Chorus:
Face to Face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky--
Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!

1. Face to face with Christ my Savior, Face to Face what will it be--
When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me?
[Chorus]

2. Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkened veil between--
But a blessed day is coming When His glory shall be seen.
[Chorus]

3. Face to face! O blissful moment! Face to face--to see and know--
Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so.
[Chorus]    [Lyrics: Carrie E. Breck; 1Cor.13:12; Music: Grant Colfax Tullar]

Enriched In Christ (1/21-22)

Song: The Windows of Heaven Are Open

The windows of heaven are open,
God's blessing are falling tonight.
There's joy, joy, joy in my heart,
Since Jesus made everything right.
I gave Him my old tattered garment,
He gave me a robe of pure white;
I'm feasting on manna from heaven,
And that's why I am happy tonight.

[Collection of Choruses]

Enriched in Christ - I Corinthians 1:4-5
KJV: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are ENRICHED by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.
AMP: I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus. [So] that in Him in every respect you were ENRICHED, in full power and readiness of speech (to speak of your faith), and complete knowledge and illumination (to give you full insight unto its meaning).
NCV: I always thank my God for you because of the grace God has given you in Christ Jesus. I thank God because in Christ you have been MADE RICH in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.

Christ Live in You Richly - Colossians 3:16-17
KJV: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing (encouraging) one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
NCV: Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Dorothy: The word from the dictionary meaning, "enrich" has impressed me. It means to make rich or richer. Example: An education enriches your mind. Two letters, en means cause to be or make. The word rich means well supplied, valuable, and producing or yielding abundantly. Enrich really means made rich. I was blessed when the Holy Spirit brought the word to me "enrich." The windows of heaven are open when we sing and study God's word. [Part Revised from June 8, 2008 Fresh Manna Blog]

May God bless you today.

Conquerors, Yay! (1/19-20)

Romans 8:37 KJV: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. NCV: But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us.

The word, conquer means: 1. get by fighting; win by war: conquer a country. 2. overcome by force; defeat; get the better of: conquer an enemy, conquer a bad habit. 3. be victorious; be the conqueror. 

SONG: WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS
We are more than conquerors thro' Him that loved us so.
The Christ who dwells within us is the greatest power we know.
He will fight beside us tho' the enemy is great;
Who can stand against us, He's the Captain of our fate.
Then we will conquer, never fear, So let the battle rage.
He has promised to be near until the end of the age.
We are more than conquerors thro' Him that loved us so;
The Christ who dwells within us is the greatest power we know.
[Word & Music: Ralph Richard Carmichael]

Let us read Romans 8:31-39 NCV "So what should we say about this? If God is with us, no one can defeat us. He did not spare his own Son but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one, because God is the One who makes them right. Who can say God's people are guilty? No one, because Christ Jesus died, but he was also raised from the dead, and now he is on God's right side, begging [make intercession to] God for us. 

Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or problems or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or violent death? As it is written in the Scriptures: "For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed" [Psalm 44:22].

But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Jesus said, "Pray for strength against temptation". As for Paul, there are temptations to face, a battle to fight and things that could have made Paul give up serving God. But Paul said, "We are more than conqueror" which means, we can beat this thing. We do not allow things to defeat us. We do not give up. 

How do we do that? Through the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, and also that is in us. It takes love of Christ in us to conquer things that tried to destroy us. What things that Paul said to overcome? We need to read Roman 8:31-39 again because it explains what things that can stop us from serving God and also from having the love of Christ in us. 

Paul said that nothing would stop us from having Christ's love in us. We can be more than conqueror. Holy Spirit is the One who help us beat the temptation of things and keep Christ in our hearts against anything that tries to make us give up. 

Jesus said,'Pray for strength against temptation.' May the Holy Spirit gives us strength to fight things and to conquer or be victorious over it. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen! 

This was revised from Fresh Manna June 2008 because this inspired me so much that I want to remind myself again, "We do not give up."