Morning Manna

"I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." -- John 10:9-10 MSG

 Abba, the lion comes to devour, but You come to give Abundant Life!

Jesus, You are the Keeper of the sheep, the Great Shepherd, and You lay down Your Life for the Sheep. Back in those days, the shepherd of the sheep would literally lay down on the ground as the gate for the sheep. Any sheep would have to go through the shepherd to exit the pasture and any animal wanting to harm the sheep would have to deal with the shepherd first.

Haven't You done this for us? Haven't You laid down Your Life for me? Haven't You placed Yourself as the Guardian of my life? Won't the enemy of my soul, the devouring lion, have to contend with You first?

Thank You, Shepherd of my heart, for getting in harms way. Thank You, Living Savior, for repairing the breach.

You are the Gate...I am a sheep of Your Pasture.

Morning Manna

"I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah] -- From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield]. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." -- Psalm 121:1-8 AMP

Abba, You who keeps me never slumbers, nor sleeps. Your ever-watchful eye does not lose focus on my life.

I'm awake at 3:00 am because my daughter's tummy was feeling yucky. We called upon You and You were right there for us.You brought Peace in the midst of the storm.

This Psalm - 121 - brings great comfort to my heart. Nothing gets by You, Jesus...You are by my side at all times. You are by my family's side as well. You are on night duty...You are on day duty!

Thank You for reassuring me that I am not alone. You are so patient. You are so kind. It is Your Nature to walk alongside me at my pace. You don't rush my understanding of Your Truth. You lead me, You guide me, to still waters. You restore my soul.

Thank You that we call upon Your Name and are saved...we are safe under the shadow of Your Wings.

Morning Manna

"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]." -- Ephesians 6:10 AMP

Abba, in the first 9 verses in Ephesians 6, Paul shares a list of admonitions...instructions for children, parents, masters, servants. Then, Ephesians 6:10 is the conclusion of that list -- Be strong in the Lord! It is amazing to me that he is writing this letter from prison...that makes me stand at attention. It's as though Paul says, "Listen, if I could tell you one thing, it would be this...and here's how to do it."

Then, Paul sets out 9 verses about relationship. Children, this is how to get along with your parents. Parents, this is how to get along with your children. Masters, this is how to treat your servants. Servants, this is how to treat your masters. And how will you do all of this? In the Strength of the Lord.

In order to fulfill my part as a parent, to take Paul's advice, I must find my Strength in Christ so that I can do all things. In order to tenderly bring up my children in Christ, I must rely on Him to quicken and equip me with Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment. I must open my ears, open my heart, for His Guidance.

Then, Paul shares in verses 11 - 17, to put on the complete Armor of God in order to stand against the enemy of our souls. He concludes his mentoring advice in verse 18 saying, "Pray and don't stop praying!"

Jesus, You have defeated this enemy and concluded Your Battle with, "It is finished!"

I ask You for Strength to put on the complete Armor of God and fight for the relationships in my life...for my children, for my marriage, for my voice. In Your Strength, I'll pray and won't stop praying!

I am empowered by my Union with You. I draw my Strength from Your Boundless Might.

Infuse my heart, by the Power of Your Spirit, with unyielding resolve.

I cannot do this alone...You will never fail me nor abandon me.

Morning Manna

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." -- Psalm 37:4 AMP

Abba, searching for, understanding, and articulating the desires of my heart is a journey. I believe that the journey to desire is one full of hope.

I've been challenged to answer three questions about Desire...

1) What do I deeply desire to bring to this world?

2) What is the contribution that I long to hear that I have made?

3) What am I doing when I sense God's pleasure and presence in my life?

Pondering my answers to these questions is causing me to rethink many things. I am pursuing You for clarity, passion, and renewed purpose.

The life of ought is a soul-killing life. -- John Eldredge

Help me to watch my attitude about engagement. I want my heart to follow my obedience. I believe that duty + obedience - relationship = heart failure.

Reconnecting with the "why's" of my current season sheds light and reconnection with The Sacred Romance, the epic story that You are writing about me. It's big-picture thinking.

Pursuing Your Heart about my heart...what do I desire?

Morning Manna

"And prove Me now herewith...." -- Malachi 3:10 KJV



Abba, there's only one Way, one road, to Hope and that's Jesus!

Stopping for a little perspective is good. A little perspective goes a long way!

You ask us to prove You. Because I know that You are a God of Your Word, I boldly approach Your Throne of Grace in my time of need. We are truly stepping out in faith...trusting You to supply all of our need according to Your Heavenly Warehouse.

Open the Windows, the Gates, the Ceiling of Heaven and pour out Your Grace to overflowing. Make us expand our borders. Cause us to expand our boundaries and enlarge our territory for Your Glory!

Awaken the desires of my heart. Laser focus what my true desires are in line with my ultimate purpose in this world.

Awaken my story and bring Hope...for Your Glory, I pray.

Morning Manna

"For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!]" -- Hebrews 13:5 AMP

Abba, You and I have been sealed in Covenant by the Blood of Your Precious Son. Together Forever!

You know that the root of my fears is abandonment...this has been something that I have fought in Your Strength all of my life. Thank You for reminding me that I am in Your Grip of Grace. I am in the hold of Your Strong, Plump, Warm Hands.

You will not relax Your Hold on me. Not only do You hold my hands, You are holding them tight. And although You know my propensity to resist Your Grip, You hold my hands firmly, yet without causing me pain...You don't crush my fingers, cramp my hand, or cause the tips of my fingers to change color. You hold my hands in Confident and Faithful Love.

Hebrews 13:5 is a significant verse not only in my life, but in my daughter's as well. This Precious Scripture is written on our hearts as a result of our story. We cling to Your Heart towards us, "I will never fail you nor abandon you."

What a comfort indeed...to know that I am in Your Grip. Three times You repeat Yourself, the One who in one Word formed the Heavens. Yes, it will most likely take three times and then some for me to believe, to grasp, that I am wanted, that I am lovable, that I am Your Bride.

Your End Picture for us...You and I in Eternal Covenant and Wedded Bliss. I am looking up.

Through the fire and through the storm...in every high and every low...Lord, You never let go of me.

Morning Manna

"On that same day [when] evening had come, He said to them, Let us go over to the other side [of the lake]. And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him. And a furious storm of wind [of hurricane proportions] arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled. But He [Himself] was in the stern [of the boat], asleep on the [leather] cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing? And He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was [immediately] a great calm (a perfect peacefulness). He said to them, Why are you so timid and fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)? And they were filled with great awe and feared exceedingly and said one to another, Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?" -- Mark 4:35-41 AMP

Abba, most often the storm rages in my mind. Some days the storm is a simple rain shower and other days its a downright squall. I awoke at 4:30 am today with so many thoughts swirling in my mind and heart. Of course, in my pride, feeling like I was responsible for total resolution. Feeling like I was responsible to calm the waves of restlessness, the winds of adversity, and the noise of the enemy.

You know I'm a picture person, Jesus. You created me that way. Thank You for bringing to my heart the picture of You on the boat in the midst of the sea. You calming the storm. Peace be still! 

Although in Your Flesh You napped on the boat to recover from Your busy day, Your Heart was wide awake.You shepherded Your Flock all day long - healed the sick, shared the Love of Your Father, were pulled and tugged on by the throng. Yet, The Truth is that You never slumber nor sleep. You are my Vigilant King.

O me of little faith!

This morning You say, "Peace be still!" to my mind and heart and I am calmed. This morning You say, "I will never fail You nor abandon You" and I am comforted. This morning You say, "My Grace is sufficient for You" and I know that we will get to the other side together.

I am not alone...Peace be still!