Morning Manna

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" -- Luke 1:45 NIV

Abba, this statement was made by Elizabeth, Mary's cousin when they saw each other. It was an affirmation statement. I believe that Elizabeth said it about herself and Mary. Happy are women who believe that the Lord will fulfill His promises for their children.

Elizabeth helped Mary grasp even further what was to come for Mary affirms herself following Elizabeth's words. Mary is not only humble in her words, but also in heart...she stays with Elizabeth for three months...a mentoring relationship.

Elizabeth and Mary believed for the impossible. Uninspired wombs...similar circumstances, same God.

And the fruit of their wombs changed the world! John comes out of the wilderness and Jesus goes into the wilderness. John comes out of the wilderness to begin his public ministry...Jesus goes into the wilderness to begin His public ministry.

What if Elizabeth and Mary had not believed? Oh how things would be different today...how things would be lost.

Strengthen my heart, Lord, to believe for what seems impossible. Affirm my heart in Your Love. And in Your Compassion give me glimmers of Hope.

Morning Manna

"All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy." -- Isaiah 65:17 MSG

Abba, I'm so ready to look ahead with joy. The winter season is SO hard!

When the next season arrives, and I sure hope it's sooner than later, I pray that I leave the winter of 2010 learning all that you designed from Your winter curriculum.

You have wrestled with my heart and have provoked me to really believe what I have believed all these years of my spiritual journey with You.

Teach me to joyfully look ahead with eyes wide opened...no need to squint in fear of tomorrow.

Child-like faith and joy, I pray.
 

Morning Manna

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" -- Psalm 30:11-12 NLT

Abba, my feet are restless if I am not resting in You. Dancing the dance of Joy is my heart's desire.

Lead me, Jesus, in The Dance...You are the Artist of My Life. You know the right timing, the perfect steps, the righteous posture, and the effortless Grace the makes the dance a work of art.

Lead Your Bride, lead me, in The Dance...gently twirl me in Your Love.

Morning Manna

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." 

Psalm 23:1 KJV

Abba, who better could care for me? Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
W. Phillip Keller (p. 35)

I am completely satisfied with His management of my life. Why? Because He is the sheepman to whom no trouble is too great as He cares for His flock. He is the rancher who is outstanding because of His fondness for sheep -- Who loves them for their own sake as well as His personal pleasure in them. He will, if necessary, be on the job twenty-four hours a day to see that they are properly provided for in every detail. Above all, He is very jealous of His name and high reputation as "The Good Shepherd."

He is the owner who delights in His flock. For Him there is no greater reward, no deeper satisfaction, than that of seeing His sheep contented, well fed, safe, and flourishing under His care. This is indeed His very "life." He gives all He has to it. He literally lays Himself out for those who are His.

He will go to no end of trouble and labor to supply them with the finest gazing, the richest pasturage, ample winter feed, and clean water. He will spare Himself no pains to provide shelter from storms, protection from ruthless enemies and the diseases and parasites to which sheep are so susceptible.

Morning Manna

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." -- Proverbs 17:22 MSG



Abba, doom & gloom are not welcome here. A cheerful disposition is simply a better view of living, not just for me, but also for my family.

I'll admit, I confess, that I am prone to a suspicious disposition...this is the pattern of my flesh and so easy to fall into, it's natural and not hard at all.

Feelings of impending doom are anxious feelings...fearful feelings.

I read a book this weekend that said that most of the time, when we imagine our future, it is without You. It is the most fearful thing we could ever imagine and then, we try to solve it in our own power. Most of the time, if not all, this future never even happens...it's all imagined. How exhausting!!

Gloom and doom tires everybody...it turns your brain into mush!

You offer Hope, You offer Joy, You offer Peace...and I accept.

Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." -- John 20:29 MSG

Abba, as You enlighten the eyes of my heart, You are faithfully revealing little foxes spoiling my vine.

Help me, Jesus, to accept what needs accepting and believe for what needs believing. There's no greater frustration for me than trying to change what cannot be changed, trying to control what I cannot control...pure and utter frustration leading me to turn in knots.

By Grace, through faith, lead me to let go.

"Watch this: God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He's ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together." -- Psalm 33:18-19 MSG

Abba, You reminded me this morning that Your Eye is watching over me. What a comfort!

I am one of Your Precious Ones...in awe of You, in worship of You, looking for Your Love in all the righteous places.

You are ever poised with an Outstretched Arm. You keep me from slipping, from falling. You catch me and settle me once more.

In lean times, You strengthen me inside and out. You keep me from falling apart. You make me whole.

If Your Eye is on the sparrow, then certainly Your Eye is on the crescendo of Your Creation...woman. We hold a very special place in Your Heart.

Resting in Your Watchful Care.

Morning Manna

"Elijah said to Ahab, "Up on your feet! Eat and drink—celebrate! Rain is on the way; I hear it coming." -- 1 Kings 18:41 MSG

Abba, Elijah was a very brave prophet of Yours. He called upon You and You answered him and proved yourself to King Ahab and the double-minded Israelites, who went back and forth between Baal and You.

Not only did Elijah have much faith, but he was a good listener. He listened with his "inner" ear and expectantly waited. He heard the rain approaching before anyone else did.

I am encouraged by this Scripture because You always provide. There are times of drought that we all face, but there is also an end to the dry season. Provision is on the way...supply is coming.

Oh yes, I am double-minded at times, vacillating between faith and fear. You are so patient and kind. You don't punish me...You perfect me through Your Son. You encourage me to listen close. You encourage me to listen to Your Heart that is ever for me.

You will never fail me or abandon me...rain is on the way, by faith I hear it coming.

Morning Manna

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." -- Micah 7:7 AMP

Abba, I enjoyed watching Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring yesterday. Such a nice day for a blankie and a movie!

One of the things I love about the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the parallels to real life and spiritual journeys. I enjoy the depth, the symbols, the hearts of the characters. I love pondering what J. R. R. Tolkien might be saying to us in each scene.

There is one particular scene that stopped me in my tracks yesterday. The scene where Gandalf faces off with the Balrog on the withering bridge. The Balrog is a huge, ugly demon-like creature...a very scary, intimidating and larger-than-life figure with a fiery whip. Yet, Gandalf, after making sure his troop has crossed the bridge safely before him, raises his staff and says to this ugly animal, "You cannot pass!" He raises his staff and a bright light shines..."You cannot pass!"

In this scene, Gandalf appears to be in a David vs. Goliath position. The little guy vs. the big guy. Yet, Gandalf's resolve and understanding of his powers and position, wards off the demon, although it costs him his very life.

As I watched this scene, I felt the "mother hen" rise up in my heart. I was reminded of Luke 10:19 that says that we have been authority over all the power of the enemy. Oh my momma's heart felt so strong at that moment!

The Blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son, is more powerful than any arrow thrown our way!

I will wait expectantly and watchfully. I will pray over my family. I will understand that authority that You have given me and resolve to stand firm as I wait on You. I will put on the Robe of Righteousness and wield my Sword of the Spirit and stand.

I will wait with Hope for You hear me.

Morning Manna

 

"I will be like the dew and the night mist to Israel; he shall grow and blossom like the lily and cast forth his roots like [the sturdy evergreens of] Lebanon." -- Hosea 14:5 AMP

Abba, You reveal Your Manifold Care for me day by day...give me this day my Daily Bread.

You will be like the dew...bringing refreshment every morning. The lily quickly fades, so You are willing to complete me, fill in my gaps, every morning.

Not only do You make me like the lily, an emblem of Grace, You cause my roots to spring forth like the cedars of Lebanon...a beautiful mountain range. Deep, established, immovable roots...tried and true.

The lily and the cedar - emblems of Grace and Strength.

You are my daily Grace and Strength.  

Morning Manna

"You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You." -- Isaiah 26:3 AMP

Abba, You heard my thoughts this morning and settled them with Your Word. Thank You.

When my mind is steadfast, immovable on You, You guard me and keep me in perfect and constant peace. I am painfully aware that when my mind is focused and filled with me, I am out of peace.

You are gentle with me. You remind me to look to You, not to me...upward, not inward. You lead me beside the still waters...You restore my soul.

You don't resist me...You restore me. You are willing.

You will never fail me nor abandon me.

These are my meditations.

You are my Hope and I will confidently dwell in safety.

Morning Manna

"Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever." -- Psalm 125:1 NLT

Abba, this Scripture renews my hope! When I lean into You, when I am confident about Your Heart towards me, You are my Refuge. When I trust You, I will not totter, shake, or slip.

What I love about this Scripture as well is that it is titled, "A Song of Ascents." This is part of a group of Scriptures entitled the Pilgrim's Songs...Scriptures for the journey.

Hope deferred, transferring my hope to anything or anyone except You, casts my heart into an empty pit of despair.

Man will fail. Materials will fail. Mount Zion stands strong forever.

You reminded me of this Scripture through a song written by Pastor Gary years ago. Thank You for kindly taking my chin and turning it up and towards Your Mountain of Refuge.

Morning Manna

"Return to your home, and recount [the story] of how many and great things God has done for you." -- Luke 8:39 AMP

"Story is the language of the heart." -- John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance

Abba, how can I withhold Your Story in me?

I wholeheartedly agree with John Eldredge, story is the language of the heart. Story is what draws us together...similarities, contrasts, mutual experiences...it is what unties our hearts in purpose.

- I am healed by Your Grace. 
- I am cleansed by Your Blood. 
- I am whole by Your Spirit alive in me.

My past is not behind my back...my past is behind Yours.

How many great and marvelous things You have done and it ain't over yet!

Your Glory in my story revealed day by day.

Morning Manna

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened...." -- Ephesians 1:18 NIV



Abba, this is my prayer...enlighten the eyes of my heart.

Not only do I ask that my eyes shine with the Fire of Your Glory, but I also ask that my eyes shine with understanding.

Increase the understanding of my heart that I may see clearly. Increase my heart with Your Wisdom for my path.

Enlighten the eyes of my heart that I may see what You see, that I may understand Your Plan.

Sharpen my focus. Increase the depth of my vision that I might avoid the enemy's snares by Your Strength.

Enlighten the eyes of my heart for my family, my future, my faith.