Morning Manna

"He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?" -- Romans 8:32 AMP

Abba, I confess that I withhold from You when I feel that You are withholding from me. It's like I withdraw due to disappointment or unmet expectations.

You desire that I remain connected. You desire to hear my prayers. You even desire to hear my cries of impatience because You understand my heart and know my every need.

Jesus was acquainted with needs and is my Intercessor before Your Throne of Grace. May I be bold in my approach and faith-filled in my waiting. You know what is best for me...You are working behind the scenes.

I am Your Beloved...You will never fail me nor abandon me. In these truths I am rooted and established.

Morning Manna

"And Jesus stopped and called them, and asked, What do you want Me to do for you?" -- Matthew 20:32 AMP

Abba, this Scripture in Strong's Greek Lexicon explains that You literally said to them, "What do you choose from Me?, What do you want to take from Me and keep taking over and over again?"

The choosing or taking in this verse was like lifting up your arm and pulling fruit from a tree. It was like Jesus said, "Raise your hands and take from Me and then take some more." 

The word "stopped" in the verse means that You not only stopped, but You established Yourself...You put Yourself in purposeful position. I believe that You put Yourself in position to give...arms outstretched.

Jesus, I'm no scholar, but I am a student of Your Word. I do love to dig into the original meanings because there is so much...there is so much to take from You and then keep taking and taking!

It seems that in the Old Testament, Your people asked what You wanted from them...they asked You to give them the Law. However, in the New Testament, it seems as though You ask Your People what they want from You...You give them Grace.

Oh how I love Your Ways...for they are perfect.

I feel as though up ahead there is a transition point, a fork in the road, and You are asking, "What do You want to take from Me? What do you want from Me for the new journey?"

These are precious discussions...may my inner ear hear Your Whispers.

Morning Manna

"God said, "I love you." You replied, "Really? How have you loved us?" "Look at history" (this is God's answer)." -- Malachi 1:2 MSG

Abba, circumstances sure have a way of effecting my memory. The "everyday" has a way of drowning out all that You have already done in my life. Some days, I need to re-member what the enemy tries so hard to dis-member.

There are days that I tell my girls, "I love you...I just love you!" It's nothing they have earned, it's nothing they have obeyed to receive. My love for them is not based on what they have done...it is based on their belonging to me. I just love them period!

You feel the same way about me...Your Grace overwhelms me. Your Grace causes my heart to want to please You more and more. Your Grace causes me to draw near to You. I need You.

Thank You for reminding me to "re-member" what the enemy fights so hard to "dis-member". The enemy of my soul wants me to focus on what has yet to be answered through thoughts of doubt, suggestions of abandonment, arrows of fear.

You and I, Jesus, we have a history...a His-Story between us. You have done SO much in my life and it's not over yet!

I'm gratefully calling to remembrance Your Love for me...You shepherd my heart with Your Tender Care.

I am Your Beloved...thank You for reminding me to live loved.

Morning Manna

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." -- Psalms 16:11 AMP

Abba, You will reveal to me the road to travel, for You have traveled it for me. This path will be continually life-giving for a lifetime. Your Path revives, Your Path renews, Your Path is perfectly planned. My part is to believe that You are for me.

In Your presence I find satisfying, overwhelming glee, delight, joy. Only in You will I find true happiness for all other paths are empty. You are relational at Your Core and desire a face-to-face relationship with me. Your arms are outstretched to hold me...You invite me to rest on my way.

At Your Right Hand, Your Strong Arm, there is beauty. At Your Right Hand is where Jesus sits alongside You. At Your Right Hand, I behold Your Son...in whom You Delight and in whom I find delight, pleasure.

Your invitation...from fallow to follow. Take my hand...

Morning Manna

"She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard." -- Proverbs 31:16 AMP

Abba, the Hebrew Lexicon really opens up this Scripture.

This woman strategically sorts out, considers the pros and the cons, before making any decisions. She weighs the effects that her decisions have on her family. She moves forward when the pros outweigh the cons in every way...family first is her motto.

I love the strength found in this Scripture verse. This woman is purpose and mission focused. She's not afraid to say yes or no. She weighs the consequences of her choices - short term and long term.

Give me strength, Abba, to continue plowing and planting in the fields that You provide for me. May my yes be yes and my no be no...in strength.

I love a cut-through-the-bologna woman...a bottom line mom.

Strengthen my heart for this journey I pray.

Morning Manna

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -- Romans 12:12 NIV


Abba, this Scripture bubbled up in my heart during the night. So, I will meditate on Your Word today, for You are whispering to me.

Romans 12:12 is a foundational prayer. It is a Word of encouragement and admonishment. I can run the three parts together or mediate on them separately. Your Word brings Life!

You encourage me to look up. You encourage me to persevere. You encourage me to communicate with You.

"Remain steadfast."

Expect. Abide. Listen.

Morning Manna

"And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety." -- Job 11:18 AMP

Abba, safety and security matter a great deal to me. You are very aware of my story and my heart.

There IS Hope in You...You are my Hope. Knowing this, grasping this, embracing this, fills me with confidence for today and my tomorrows.

You will not fail me. You will not abandon me. Never, never, never.

You are my Protector and I confidently rest in safety.

Infuse me with Your Strength to finish strong in this season.

Morning Manna

"For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song or instrument of praise." -- Isaiah 51:3 AMP

Abba, by faith I believe that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You. You respond when we call Your Name. Your ear is ever bent towards me...You know my voice.

Disappointment comes when my plan for Your Will in my life doesn't work out. Disappointment comes when my prayers aren't answered in my timing and in my design.

You are so patient with my finite mind. How could I possibly know how all the pieces of Your Plan fit together. You are the Supreme Parent. You know what's best for me. You will never intentionally harm me. You are not holding out on me...that's an ancient lie!

Sift through my prayers, Jesus...intercede on my behalf, my Priest. You know my deepest desires, needs, dreams.

May the days in the wilderness produce a fruitful and blossoming garden...flowers in the Garden of Your Love.

Morning Manna

"Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!" -- Proverbs 31:25 AMP

Abba, I love the strength of this Scripture. In You, I am strong and secure. In You, I am validated. In You, I have nothing to fear!

The future is a person, Christ Jesus, and I choose to rest rather than wrestle about tomorrow and thereafter. You have a Plan and I will enter into each day knowing that You hold my days.

My future is bright and the path becomes more and more brilliant each day. My steps are ordered and I will not slip. You keep me from falling. You strengthen my weak and tottering knees.

My position in Christ is one of Righteousness. I am Your Beloved and no one can take that from me...no one.

May I see myself the way You see me...deeply loved, highly favored, safe, and secure.

Morning Manna

"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us." -- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 MSG

Abba, it is an honor and a pleasure to share Your story in my life. Your Story of Amazing Grace. Your Story of Deliverance. Your Story of Hope.

Thank You for bringing women of great faith alongside me in my journey. Thank You for allowing me to come alongside others to encourage their hearts and offer eternal hope.

Thank You for my husband...so patient, so supportive. My prince!

Thank You for daughters who are gracious with me...forgiving and full of second chances.

You know, Jesus, the desires of my heart...to encourage others, to teach what I'm learning while I'm in the thick of it, to reveal Your Son.

Have Your Way, I pray...lead me beside the still waters today, restore my soul.

Thank You for Your Mercy. Thank You for Your Healing Counsel. Thank You for Your Grace.

Morning Manna

"[The Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple [as one who is taught]." -- Isaiah 50:4 AMP

Abba, learning from You leads me to paths of righteousness. Learning from You, I cannot go wrong. You cover every gap and fill in the cracks of my foundation.

"Teach to learn," Dr. B. The more opportunities to teach, the more the Truths of Your Word become a part of the fiber of my heart.

It's not a trivial pursuit, no Jesus, learning of You brings Abundant Life!

May Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done. Not one word more, not one word less than You have ordained for the moment.

It is my desire not only to be a vessel in the Potter's Hands, but also a conduit of Your Grace for the weary soul. You know my desire to reach into the winter soul...You know my desire to comfort with the Comfort that I have been given.

You are tilling the soil of my heart and it is an arduous process...I know You have a Plan and I submit to Your Gracious and Tender Plowing of my fallow ground.

Morning Manna

"....Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time...." -- Hosea 10:12 AMP

Abba, it's time to tell the story.

Little by little, Jesus, You are walking me out of the winter season. It has been long. It has been hard. It has been painful. It will reveal Glory.

This season has been purposeful. All that You have done has yet to be revealed. I choose to celebrate today. I choose to tell the story as it is written.

The questions, the wrestling, the tugging...You have been so patient with me. You are so kind to see me through my struggles and turmoil. You transform my turmoil into turn-soil.

Teach me in the way that I should go...lead me, my Great Shepherd.

Morning Manna

"I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go...." -- Psalm 32:8 AMP




Abba, You've created me with an insatiable desire to learn. I look to You as my Teacher.

You are faithful...You satisfy my mouth with good things and show me Your Salvation. You give Wisdom liberally and don't make me feel bad for asking.

You grew in Wisdom, Stature, and Favor with Your Abba and man. Year after year, You increased in maturity both spiritually and physically. I ask You for the same. You Grew in Grace during Your season on earth and may I Grow in Grace in my current season as well.

Take my heart, mind, and strength...lead me in paths of righteousness. I look to You, Jesus, my beginning and my end. You took my my sin, my punishment, my shame and exchanged my sentence of unconditional doom to a pardon of Unconditional Love and Everlasting Life.  

I am Yours...I am Loved.

Morning Manna

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." -- Matthew 11:28-30 AMP

Abba, You desire to teach me the unforced rhythms of Grace. It is not balance that I am looking for. You give me permission to be "gloriously lopsided" and that sets me free!

When I read those two words in Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan last night, I went to bed with a pep in my step. Thank You for validating my season. Thank You for releasing the pressure that tends to bottle up and fizz.

That is Your Way Lord, You bring Peace...no condemnation. You take the yoke, You bear the weight of the pressure on Your Broad and Strong Shoulders.  

Teach me the unforced Rhythms of Grace. Cause me to remember Your availability in all of my ways, for Your Hand is ever outstretched towards me.

You lead with gentleness and meekness; therefore, the rhythms are unforced. You lead me softly and with great care.

Teach me, Jesus, You know my heart and my eagerness to learn from You.

Morning Manna

"Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. 

And Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong, courageous, and firm, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to possess it. 

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm]." -- Deuteronomy 31:6-8 AMP

Abba, I love how You sandwich Joshua's mission between encouragement. You speak through Moses and tell Joshua that You will neither fail, nor abandon him. Then, You give Joshua Your Big Promise for Israel, followed by more encouragement.

The changing of the guard requires boldness...and boldness begins with security.

I love, Jesus, how You understand our propensity to fear, especially the fear of change. You take time in Your Word to remind us that it is You who will lead us, it is You who makes the path, it is You who calls us to new adventures, and it is You who is responsible for the outcome. Trust and obey.

I pray for my family. May we not fear individually nor corporately when You call us to new seasons and times. May we with shoulders back and head high, and with holy security, forge forward.

I am secure in Christ Jesus. I am secure in my Abba who is fiercely in love with me. I am secure in the Holy Spirit who teaches me the way to go.

Morning Manna

"So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?" -- Hebrews 13:6 AMP

Abba, thank You for opportunities for bravery. Thank You for opening doors where faith and fortitude are the keys. Thank You for provoking our family to focus forward!

Adversity provides chances for us to either shrink back or spring forward. The choice is our to make.

There are seasons and times in our lives where a fork appears on the path before us. "Give me the shortest route please!" That's usually my heart's cry; however, the fast forward requires me to dig deep into the Truth that I know, the Truth that You have revealed to me. I rely on our relationship and all that we have journeyed throughout our story.

Your Arm is not short, nor weak...You are the God of the Angel Armies. You are fiercely in love with me...I need not fear.

You paid a great price for my Peace...may I choose the road less traveled in response. You will never fail me, nor abandon me.

Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!

Morning Manna

"Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell]." -- Hebrews 4:11 AMP

Abba, You were intentional to prescribe a pattern for us at the very Beginning. Work followed by rest. And in this work, not only was it Very Good, but if brought You much pleasure. And then, You rested to gaze upon the beauty of Your Creation.

Thank You that You bring the increase! You invite us to partner with You because You know our pattern of working, of earning. I believe You do that just for us. Because we are prone to sweat, You give us opportunities to purposefully engage in specific activities for our pleasure.

You invite me to pray for my benefit and just because You love to hear my voice. Yet, You will provide all of my needs according to Your Heavenly Warehouse...regardless. You invite me to pray and exchange my prayers for Your Peace.

Unbelief is a serious work and is exhausting...doubt, fear, wondering if the answers will ever come. Unbelief is defeating. Unbelief and worry is sin and is hurtful to You.

So we labor to enter into Trust. We labor to enter into Peace. We labor to enter into Rest. For our very own flesh fights all these Gifts of Your Grace.

The season of Harvest is approaching. Cause me to enjoy the fruit of my labor. Cause me to enjoy the Work of Your Hand in the life of my family.

Cause me to enjoy this time in this season...for I am Loved.

Morning Manna

"And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint." -- Galatians 6:9 AMP

Abba, I am enjoying what You are teaching me about times and seasons. My understanding of Your Timekeeping is growing bit by bit, little by little...spreading seeds of patience in my heart.

Delay is not denial. My seed is encased in Your Protection and will produce a harvest at the right time and within the right season. The immense blessing for me is that You are the Vinedresser. You lead me, You guide me, in the care-taking of my vineyard. You season my vineyard with Love.

"Due" and "appointed" are words of hope. May I not see them as occasions that will never come, but specific points on the time-line of my life that have yet to arrive. They are on their way!

I am Your learner. I ask You to continue to teach me, Holy Spirit, reveal more and more of Christ Jesus, The Risen Savior, The Anointed One, The Lover of My Soul.

Teach me that I may teach others, I pray.

Morning Manna

"Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." -- Psalm 35:27 AMP

Abba, the word "prosperity" in Psalm 35:27 means Shalom = completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace.

In Your Last Will & Testament, You bequeathed Shalom to Your disciples (John 14:27). Shalom is my inheritance! You took my fear, my hesitations, my doubts and replaced them with Your Shalom....Your Gift to me.

Oh that I might live as an heir of Your Grace...Your undeserved, unmerited Favor. I magnify You this morning for You are most certainly worthy of my praise.

You take pleasure...this makes me smile! As You provide, as You bring new seasons, as You make Yourself my Dwelling Place, Your Heart is full of delight. You delight in me...as I do with my children. They bring me so much pleasure!

Jesus, I am overwhelmed that You love me sooooooo much. After all that You and I have been through together, the ups and downs of this life, You have never failed me nor abandoned me...You never will.

I invite and receive Your Shalom today in Your Name I pray.

Morning Manna

"...Break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." -- Hosea 10:12 ESV

Abba, I love it when You wake me up early to teach me something! You planted a seed in my heart yesterday, a curiosity...now this morning, You are watering that seed and opening my understanding.

You are SO faithful. You provide me with the direction that I need in due season and at the perfect time.

You made me a Learner...I bet You're just as excited as I am about new Truth.

Open my ears that I might hear. Open my eyes that I might see. Open my understanding that I might grasp.

Morning Manna

"Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour." -- 1 Peter 5:8 AMP

Abba, I'm afraid that when I'm irritable, weary, and out-of-sorts, I sound like a roaring lion myself! I can come across as the enemy to my husband and children. This is not what I desire.

The real enemy is The Enemy. As John Eldredge says in his book Epic, "Life is very confusing if you do not take into account that there is a Villain. That you, my friend, have an Enemy."

The truth is that there is an enemy who longs to destroy me. Either I am aware of his devices and understand how to respond in prayer or I blame You for all that appears negative in my life, for all that has not gone "according to plan", my plan. 

Satan is my arch-enemy, my adversary, my opponent in this life. I can be sure that he has a strategy...he has studied my statistics, he knows my weaknesses, and he knows what makes me tick - like a time bomb!

Thank You, Jesus, that You remind me and make me keenly aware that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against satan and his cohorts. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world!

Thank You for reminding me that satan is the accuser...he accuses everyone except himself. He's good at pointing the finger! 

Thank You, Abba, for sending Your Son to redeem me from the curse, to redeem me from a life of accusation and condemnation, to redeem me from certain gloom and doom.

In You, in Christ, I can do all things...in Christ my enemy has already been defeated. 

Thank You that we fight from a position of victory vs. for victory!

Morning Manna

"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." -- Exodus 14:14-16 AMP

Abba, I've found myself in a strange situation and I can't really make heads or tails of it. I know that I'm in amongst these circumstances for a reason, although I don't see it right now.

Father, You made a way when there was no way. You parted the sea for Your Children, Your People Israel. You are the God of the Angel Armies and Your Hand is Outstretched. You are the God who sees, You are the God who hears, and You are the God who is concerned about me. You are Forever Faithful and Trustworthy.

My heart desires to follow Your Lead. My heart desires to follow the guidance of my Great Shepherd. Thank You for comforting me with Psalm 23 in the midnight hour. You know me so well...You know how my brain works. You know that, because of my strengths, I am prone to figure out a matter. However, You remind me that the matter is not mine to solve, but Yours.

I cry out to You this morning. And at Your Beckoning I move forward. Your Hand is outstretched to mine, plump with comfort, to enter into a new season.

My heart is Yours. <3