ADVENT-WAITING FOR HIS COMING!

Advent is a latin word that means COMING.  Jesus, Immanuel - God with us. He came but He is coming again. We wait with joy and expectation of His second coming and at the same time we rejoice that He came in the flesh as the baby in the manger. We live not by what is seen in this world but what is unseen for what is unseen is eternal. God has always been. He was in the beginning. He is the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end. The same God who was intimately creating us from His affection and not just speaking us into existence like He did the rest of creation is the same God who intimately came into the world as a baby to be with us and die for us to have eternal life.

These last 3 1/2 years have been a time of waiting.  A time of waiting on God. All my other support systems have not been able to be there to rely on. Friendships waxed and waned. The ministry visions have not come to pass. One child allive, 4 children died in my womb. My family church has gone through so many changes and losses. Family has had misunderstandings. Career as a lawyer on hold. All the years of hospitality, dinners and people constantly over non-existing. My husband facing his own struggles at work and where God wants him.  My Mom's lupus getting worse. My sister's fiancee dies to cancer at a young age. Lots of deaths in her family. Betrayal of trust.  It has been a time in which all my trust muscles had to be strengthened. I could go on about loss and death and what looks like a stump - death. However, with Jesus despite the darkest days, we have HOPE!  God is with me through it all. He comforts me and I am seeing shoots of His hope. 

Today, December 1, 2013, we light the candle of HOPE. In this season of waiting, Hope is what I know God has taught me. Hope is not hope if it is seen. If it is seen, no longer need to hope.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Romans 5:3-5 - 3 Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame (disappoint), because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  We lived sealed by our inheritance, the Holy Spirit our Seal of the Promise, God with us forever.

In this waiting, I am reminded that the Holy Spirit is the seal of our inheritance. Hope does not disappoint because God poured out His love through the Holy Spirit. God does not live in a temple made by human hands but in human hearts that trust and believe in Him.

God's first creative act, In the Beginning found in Genesis, is that he spoke "LET THERE BE LIGHT". Light dispels the darkness. We speak God's Word (the Word that was in the beginning, Word was with God and the Word (JESUS) is GOd in John 1:1-4). Light, a light that does not just dispel physical darkness to light our path that we physically walk on, but a spiritual light that gives hope and wisdom in our darkest days. Our God is the God with us not the God that just says something. I read once from Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree Experience that God spoke all of His creation into existence by His authority but His creative making of us humans was by his affection. He intimately created Adam from the dust and Eve from Adam's rib. He formed us and His design on all human life is that He is intimately involved. He knew us before He formed us in the womb. His speaking and His presence is our HOPE. He is our Hope.

Today, we made a candle/light ornament to remind us that God is our Light and that He wants us to see the springing forth of hope/the shoot of hope coming from the cut off stump. We read of the Assyrians raiding Jerusalem and in God's judgment to cut down all the great trees of Jerusalem.  God does not leave his Nation without Hope. In the destruction there is always hope. We will be like trees planted by the waters bearing forth fruit in its season. Our roots in Him will be strong. We have a new family and new family roots. We have been grafted into this family by Jesus' death on the cross. He did what we couldn't do. We couldn't earn or be good enough to have a relationship with God. Jesus died and made available to all of us - HOPE, Hope with Him here and now and forever more. We don't have to worry, fret and live in fear. We can live in HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE. Believe on His name and we will be saved. Trust in Him!

Going back to what I thought was cut off stumps and death in my life, I am seeing that life and light even in dark times. God is speaking life, light and hope. God has allowed me to pour into Nehemiah and Nehemiah is bringing many into His Kingdom. Everywhere he goes, He asks "Do you know Jesus?" His heart's cry is to be a fisher of men and he is sharing God's hope wherever he goes.  Our other four children are with God. They have eternal souls and I believe I will see them one day.The career on hold as been good because I am now able to be home with Nehemiah and focus on sharing the Lord and being with family.  Homeschooling has been wonderful to me t his year. Being home where God has me has been the biggest delight in my life but I didn't know this 6 years ago when I was pregnant and my job ended.  I see roots growing deeper in other's life because God is doing it (not me).   I do cry out to God and emotions are still there showing me hurt but God is strengthening me to see light in the darkness and speak out life to myself, family and others. LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!!  There is a light in the darkness, His name is Jesus.

His Word My Hope Secures

Week One - BELIEF AND PRAISE

My prayer this week was "May the words of my mouth reflect belief in you and your promises rather than unbelief." The song Amazing Grace kept coming to me especially the part "The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures."

We just finished our first week of the Living Like Jesus Study (Living Like Jesus (GMG Study - GoodMorningGirls.Org) - Leaving our Comforts and Walking in Faith)

I like using Saturdays to review the Scriptures,  observations, applications and prayers from the previous week's reading. This week I noticed a huge connection between believing what God says in our hearts and the outpouring of our belief/faith through praise. Belief leads to praise and praise leads to a fulfillment of promises told to her from the Lord. It is as if we realized the fulfillment in the spiritual realm when we believe and praise.

Luke started out with  stating that he wanted to set in order an orderly account of what occurred when Jesus came. He followed up on all things carefully and diligently to provide an orderly account. The purpose was to let Theophilus and others know the certainty of things. I see faith written all over these accounts. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). I think faith sees the certainty of things that God says.  As we read about John the Baptist, we see his purpose was to make the people ready/prepared for the Lord. In order to believe and praise, John the Baptist was to turn hearts toward God.

Also in Chapter 1, we read Mary's response to the Angel Gabriel's message to her about the birth of Jesus. She said "Behold the maid-servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word." This response carried a cross with it - a cross of Jesus, a cross in her own life to have to tell her soon to be husband that she is already pregnant, the sneers and comments from other people who think she was unfaithful, the suspicions, her reputation. She would one day watch her son be crucified. However, Mary said she was God's servant to to let it be according to His Word.  We then read how Mary magnifies God. She makes God bigger (like using a magnifying glass) and herself smaller. He increases, she decreases as she praises Him.

Next in Chapter 1 of Luke, we see a Priest, Zechariah who did not believe the Angel Gabriel who tells him that his wife, Elizabeth is going to have a son, John the Baptist.  His response was not like Mary's and thus he is made mute. He can't speak until after the birth of his son.  Gabriel tells Zechariah "you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in our time." After birth of John the Baptist and Zechariah speaks the words His name shall be John. We read that Zechariah's mouth opened, tongue loosed and he spoke praising God. After speaking words of belief, Zechariah'praised God.  Again, we see belief and praise connected.  The praise continues from Zechariah at the end of Chapter 1.  God is magnified in our belief of what He speaks.  Zechariah talks about God's salvation through Jesus, to show mercy, to serve God without fear.

When I look with my physical eyes and recall the many years that have gone by without a certain promise  being realized, I can start to try to make it happen on my own rather than wait on God so he can renew my strength. I am learning to wait on God and be able to say let it be as you spoken. Elizabeth said to Mary "blessed is she who believed for there will be a fulfillment of these things which were told her fromt he word." Although this message was spoken for Mary, I believed God was saying this in areas of my life, especially
my marriage. With Zechariah, Gabriel says the words he spoke will be fulfilled despite Zechariah's unbelief. This word fulfilld also spoken to Mary by Elizabeth who says that blessed is Mary who believed because there will be a fulfillment of these things spoken. Belief in what God says does bring a blessing of peace and words of praise to magnify God and encourage others.

Our hope can be secured by God's Word in what He says will happen. If you have an area in your life where you have unbelief and hopelessness, let God be yoru anchor and hope. Step by step, I am learning to do that in my marriage. My husband and I have worked on "issues" for 11 years of marriage and 6 years of dating. There is improvement then a period of time where the same issues come up over and over. There are times I say "not again". There are times where I feel hopeless or want to give up. There are many times where I just don't feel like be loving or intimate. However, in the last month, I am learning to take the promises in God's word about how nothing is impossible for God and that what God joins let no man separate. I am warring against Satan, the real enemy who tries to destroy our marriages. I have taken a stand and put on the armor God provides (Ephesians 6). We are in a spiritual war. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:4 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

God is helping me and giving me strength to overcome feelings of hurt, betrayal, lack of trust, pain and pour out love, forgiveness, grace, humility and intimacy to my husband. The only reason for this is God's word above about the spiritual war going on. I am aligning myself with God and saying I want my marriage and that my husband is not my enemy. Satan uses lust, attractive ads, other women in the workplace to feel emotional needs, pornography, busyness, tv, computers or any other weapon he can to come against us. I too am learning my own pride in my own heart. I don't want to live a life of thinking I am more righteous or better than anyone. I am not. It is only through Jesus robe of righteousness and His power that sin is defeated.

In believing God's word about the spiritual war this last week, I have had much praise despite feelings of lack of trust and fatigue. God is our overcomer. This belief and praise has helped me to see with my spiritual eyes the fulfillment of God's promises. The more I respected my husband because God said so and pointed him to Jesus, I have seen my heart feel much closer to my husband.

"BLESSED IS SHE WHO BELIEVED FOR THERE WILL BE A FULFILLMENT OF THESE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD."

Thank you Jesus for Gift of Reconciliation

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For ^[b]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[c]is before all things, and in Him all things ^[d]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[e]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the ^[f]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,whether things on earth or things in ^[g]heaven.

²¹ And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—²³ if indeed you continue in ^[h]the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, ^[i]was made a^[j]minister.

Colossians 1:16 always brings me back to my first love, Jesus. God used v. 16 to see He is my all and all. God showed me that my purpose was not about my self or my life but was about Him. ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.  We learn much about who Jesus is in the above Colossian verses. He is the image of the invisible God. He has all the attributes. He is God in the flesh . God was pleased for all of Himself to live in Christ. All things were created by Him (to show that He is the one true God) and all things are sustained by Him and continue because of Him. We know He is above all  things and before all things.  He is to have the supremacy in everything.

We also hear that God made peace by the blood of Christ's death on the cross. Reconciliation is a word that we all need to hear. We can and have been reconciled back to God. We are no longer enemies. We don't have to earn his favor nor do we have to run and hide. We were once alienated but now through Jesus' death, we can come near. Jesus makes us blameless and holy in God's sight when we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

After reconciliation with God, we can have reconciliation with others.  We can spread this ministry of reconciliation to others that are alone, afraid and in hiding.

Many of us are living with broken relationships whether broken marriages, broken in law relationships, broken family relationships, and broken friendships. We don't have to live like this. God has provided a way to be reconciled back to him by Jesus death on the cross. He has conquered death.  He brings us back into a relationship with Him. Our reconciliation with others is made through His forgiveness and sacrifice. We can forgive others through His power. God tells us that as far as it depends on us to be at peace with all men. This passage comes from Romans 12 where we are told to be a living sacrifice. It is good to read all of Romans 12 to see love in action in all relationships.  

I am learning through this gift of reconciliation due to Jesus death that I can bless those who persecute me. Through Christ, I can love and do good those who hate me. Through Christ, I can bless those who curse me. I am not to repay evil for evil. Through Christ, I can pray for those who spitefully use me. If my enemy is hungry, I am to feed him. If my enemy is thirsty, I am to give him a drink. Love needs to be sincere. 

Through Jesus Christ's sufficiency, I am seeing that I can have right relationships with others. I can't force them to love me but I can love as God gives me the power to love.

The Good News is that we were once alienated and enemies of God in our minds by wicked works yet now He, Jesus Christ has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death to present us holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight. We all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Sin deserved death but God himself was born of flesh and died on the Cross. The grave could not hold him and He conquered death and sin. He rose again after 3 days.  If we believe in our heart He has been raised from the dead and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved.(see Romans 10:9). Call on the name of the Lord. We are then to continue on in faith, remaining steadfast to the Good news we heard.

Thank you that we don't have to live  away from you God or others. Thank you Jesus that you promised that you will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5-6). Call on the name of the Lord through Jesus Christ. May God's grace and peace be with you. May he heal your relationships and in all things, may he be your sufficiency. You were created for a purpose - to glorify God (reflect who He is) and enjoy Him forever. All things were created through Him and for Him. This means you - you were created FOR HIM.

Giving Thanks for Holy and Faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ

I just finished up a study on Colossians with Good Morning Girls. Before beginning a new study, I really wanted to marinate in what God was already showing me and do what He was asking me to do. I wanted to say Thank you god for what He has done in me and what He is teaching me. God is faithful.

Colossians 1:1-14 gave me a new perspective on Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I think a lot about interactions with people. Sometimes, I over think. The draining part of relationships for me is the thinking after all the conversations are over. In some ways it is so good as God shows me where I have sinned and need to be cleansed. Others times He encourages.. Other times, I see where God wants to grow me.  However, many times there is just there long line of I should have done that or I should have said that. Conversations and interactions just keep playing over and over in my mind as Satan tries to attack me and cause much noise in my head so that I would believe relationships are too hard or too training or too much work.

I love people. However, I get distracted when I am around others. I tend to get drawn into their feelings and thoughts rather than spread God's joy, grace and peace. Maybe to them I am spreading God's joy, grace and peace but I feel distracted and a lack of peace as I am with many people. God made us to be with others and to encourage one another on.

Paul  calls His brothers and Sisters in Christ holy and faithful. Do I tend to think of my brothers and sisters this way?

Paul also gives a blessing by saying grace and peace to his brothers and sisters in Christ.  At first, we may want to just skip over this and get right into the meat of the scripture. I didn't this time. God keeps drawing me back to these first 14 verses. I am learning to give grace and draw on God's power, strength, wisdom to be at peace and share that with others.

We are to keep on praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. These 14 verses gave so much to pray for.
Pray this for brothers and sisters:
1.  For God to fill all of us with knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
2.  To have a life worthy of Lord and that we would please God in every way
3.  To bear fruit
4.  To grow in knowledge of God
5. To be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might
6. To have great endurance
7. To have patience
8. To joyfully give thanks

Purpose of praying for brothers and sisters in Christ is found in verse 10 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. Then in verse 10- 11 Paul goes on to say what a life that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him looks like: bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God and are strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. Paul goes on in v. 11-12 to state that great endurance, patience and joyfully giving thanks comes from the bearing of fruit, growing in knowledge of God and being strengthened with God's power according to His might.

I just realized as I was typing that I am in included in here. Many times, I think I need to be the one praying for brothers and sisters without praying for my self. God has called me Holy and Faithful as His child based on Christ alone who has qualified me to partake in the inheritance.

Going back to feel distracted with others. Many times I have great joy and peace without others. Also, I think I get way more done without complaints, arguments, trouble, people asserting their ways, going in so many directions, being pulled. However, I realized once again God does not give me grace, peace and joy to keep to myself. It is meant to be shared with others.  It is easy for me to share food, money, possessions and to be generous with others but I don't know how to share grace, peace and joy with others.  Is it a hug with words that if we are God's children, He has rescued us from dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of son of His love. We have redemption and forgiveness.  I am to be faithful to just be and have God's light shine in the darkness so that the ministry of reconciliation to God is done. People need to know they are forgiven and can have peace with God. There is a hope stored up for them. People need to know there is a rescuer.

Colossians 1:11-12 reminds us that God strengthens us with His glorious might so that we can have endurance, patience and joyfully give thanks. These qualities are needed in order to continue faithful in relationships.

I start out as David did many times in the Psalms pouring out my heart to God about others but end up rejoicing in God that He is our power, our might, our strength, and our endurance.

Lord Jesus, may I continue to walk faithful in spreading your love, grace and Good news. A way to know I  abide in you and love you and others is to obey what your word says. May I continue to bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me,pray for those who spitefully use me and persecute me. (Matthew 5:44-48). May I and my brothers and sisters be filled with the knowledge of yoru will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. May we have a life worthy of you and please you in every way. May we bear your fruit, grow int eh knowledge of you, being strengthened with your might, have your endurance, patience and joyfully give thanks to you. May we walk faithfully in your love.

PRAISE JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

In the previous post, I posted how God in the Old Testament revealed Himself to Moses as "I AM" God says "I AM WHO I AM". It is important to know God's name JEHOVAH YAHWEH.

Jesus reveals Himself as I AM as well in the New Testament in John 8:58 when he says "Assuredly I say to you before Abraham was, I AM."  In  John 6:35, Jesus says " I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

Thinking on the Bread of Life, my three year old son reminded me of Satan and Jesus in the dessert. Satan told Jesus to turn the rocks/stones into bread because he knew Jesus had not eaten in 40 days. Jesus answered "It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4).

About three or four weeks ago when we read devotionals on God being our bread these are the thoughts on bread that we remembered and talked about:

1. Jesus says He is the bread of life - John 6:35

2. Jesus taught us to pray "Give us each day our daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer - Luke 11:3

3. Jesus says we don't live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4

4. Jesus says in John 6:35 and John 6:48  and John 6:51- I am the bread of life.

5. Jesus talked about how their fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. He goes on to say This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. "I am the living bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and that I give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." John 6:47-51. Jesus says these words in John 6:31-34.  

6. Communion and how Jesus body is the bread.  His body was broken for us.

It would be important to read all of John 6:22-59. The word bread is mentioned at least 13 times with other references to food, manna and loaves.

Jesus says "he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me and I in him." (John 6:56).

Jesus says something to the people who followed him to Capernaum. They had followed Jesus by boat. They wanted to know when Jesus came here. Jesus replied "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." (John 6:26)  This talk of Jesus being the bread is right after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand at the start of John 6. In v. 12 of chapter 6, we see the people are filled.  At first in verse two they followed him because of the His signs. Then they sat all day listening to Jesus. They heard His words.  After they were filled with the bread, there was more bread left over than when they started. There were 12 baskets filled. I am seeing this again how God's provisions are never exhausted even if it starts with just 5 loaves to feed 5000. His words are life.  Filled  and strongs word #5526 of chortazo came to signify being satisfied with food in abundance. 

Jesus says he came to give us abundant life. In John 10:10, Jesus says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

In Philippians 4:19, we read "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Jesus goes on to tell the people to not labor for food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life which he gives. (John 6:27).

The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD. The food Jesus gives endures to everlasting life The people ask Jesus, What shall we do they ask that we may work the works of God?

Jesus replies "THIS is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He sent (v. 28,29).

In v. 36, Jesus says they don't believe. Jesus goes on to say in v. 40 that the will of Him who sent me is that everyone who sees the son and believes in Him may have everlasting lift and I will raise him up at the last day.

What is God's will - to believe in Him? How do we believe in Him - sees teh son and believes in Him. God is the one who draws us. Then we seek. In John 6:45 = "And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me."

This discussion in Chapter 6 of John is what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in Chapter 4 of John.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the water he gives will become a spring of water flowing inside him and it will give eternal life. After this encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus disciples are trying to get him to eat as he has not eaten all day. Jesus tells them that he has food to eat that you know nothing about. The disciples were confused and wondered if someone brought Jesus food that they didn't know about. Jesus said "My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do. My food is to finish the work that he gave me to do." Then Jesus goes on to say that the fields are ready for harvesting now meaning there are many people ready to believe onto Jesus, obey and be His followers onto eternal life.(John 4:31-39).

Believes onto Jesus means obedience. We cannot say we believe Jesus if we are not following His words. Many will look for a new "sign" or a new word. God does speak to his people and gives them truth and the truth will set them free. However, the truth Jesus gives of Himself and the truth that truly sets us free is given only to those who continue to obey His teaching. In John chapter 6 we read that the words Jesus speaks are spirit. The words in the Bible are spirit and life. They are not just words on a page not to be obeyed. The Good News is that Jesus came, he died and he rose again to conquer death and sin. Sin no longer has its hold. When we believe and obey and continue in what Jesus taught, we have eternal life. His Holy Spirit is born inside of us and the living waters flowing is the Holy Spirit at work in us. God's words are not burdensome now as He lives in us to accomplish all these. Our part is believing in him = obedience. We depend on Him and Submit to Him because He is our life.

Abiding in Jesus is continue to eat of his flesh and drink of His blood. This means obedience. This article explains this well.  http://loveintruth.com/amf-docs/flesh1.htm

I keep thinking of the story of the Israelites complaining of the manna sent from heaven to feed them during the 40 years in the wilderness. They kept thinking about the good food they had in Egypt but forgot the mighty hand of God that took them out of slavery. The Israelites were treated cruelly and harshly in Egypt. They had to work hard, long days. They were slaves. They cried out to God. God had hear their cries and sent a deliverer. Now they are complaining and wish they were dead or back in slavery.  I am sick of this manna. I am tired of eating it.  Likewise, many reject Jesus and would rather be in slavery serving their lusts and desires of the flesh. People walk in darkness and forgot the great benefits God gives through Jesus when our eyes are on our physical appetites. The people continued to murmur we read in Exodus 16 and God sends quail. There is so much quail that the people eat, eat and eat. They die. Likewise when we feed on our our desires rather than believing Jesus is from heaven and is God then we die in disobedience. God desires all men to know him. He has provided for all men. 

The manna got sent to his people was not ordinary bread. It fell from heaven during the night and in the darkness. It fell on the dew of the ground. It came every day except the Sabbath. This bread was sweet like honey. Likewise in Psalm 119:103, God says his word is sweeter than honey. The people could gather as much as they were hungry for. The only thing they were not to gather more than they could eat because it would spoil. It would not keep to the next day. Likewise, we need "daily bread" and daily relationship with the Lord. Each day is a new walk of obedience in collecting  what Jesus provides in His Written Word which is spirit and life and in Himself, the incarnate word who came down from heaven and lived among us.

In Exodus 16 where we read about the manna, God said he was doing this to see if the people will do what I teach them. Again, it was about obedience to what God says.  God told them that the food was for all of them. The people had to go out and gather what they needed for that day. On the sixth day was the only day they could gather twice as much or enough for the following day which was the Sabbath.  Some people gathered little and some gathered much. The person who gathered more did not have too much. The person who gathered less did not have too little. Each person gathered just as much as he needed. Moses instructed the people not to keep any of it to the morning as God had said. But some of the people did not listen. They kept part of it until morning (disobedience). God had said the reason he did this was to see if they will do what he taught. The manna they kept until the next day was full of worms and began to stink.   The only time you could keep it and it would not rotten was for the Sabbath.  

Moses instructed the people like God had said that they had to gather twice the amount before the Sabbath. Again some people did not listen and obey God's instructions. They went out on the Sabbath and did not find any Manny. Then the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 16:28 - "How long will all you people refuse to obey my commands and teachings?" God went on to talk about the obedience of the Sabbath.  "Look the Lord has made the Sabbath a day of rest for all of you. So on the sixth day he will give you enough food for two days. But on the Sabbath each of you must stay where you are. Do not leave your house." (Exodus 16:29).  This manna was provided 40 years until they came to the promised land, Canaan.


His is an article on the manna:

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Gleanings_Exodus/exodus_23.htm

Praise The Great I AM

THE GREAT I AM

Last week in our family, we were learning Jehovah Yahweh, I am the self-existent, unchanging one.  In the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3, we see the bush burned and burned but it never burned up. Moses had turned aside to see this great sight and when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to look that is when God called to Moses. Moses said "here I am". God goes on to tell Moses that he has seen the oppression of his people and Egypt and that he wants Moses to go to Pharoah to let His people go. Moses makes some excuses and then asks God when I come to the children of Israel and say "The God of your fathers has sent me to you" and they say to me "what is His name? What shall I say to them?" 

God's reply to Moses as to His name was "I AM WHO I AM". And He said "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you." (Exodus 3;14).

Then Jesus in John 8:58 said "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Psalm 9:10 says "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For you, Lord have not forsaken those who seek you."  It is important to know who God reveals Himself to be.  A person's name in Bible times revealed His character and purpose.  

I would try to write the significance of I AM means but this article does that well: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-am-who-i-am.  I have focusing on the I AM of Jehovah YAHWEH as the one who never changes.  He is the one that makes and gives everything. He is not a God that needs to be served by our hands. He doesn't need anything. He is everything.

When Moses met God at the burning bush, he didn't know God's name and that is why he asked. It becomes easier to trust God when we know who He says He is. When we make up in our mind who we think God is and what His name is (meaning all He is) then we are worshipping idols.

Like Moses ask God, what is your name? Seek Him with your whole heart. He wants us to know Him as He is.  Jesus reveals Himself as the same name that God revealed to Moses "I AM". This I AM statement is significant. He remains who He is. He exists.  In the next week for my Thanksgiving praise, I will be writing about the seven I AM statements of Jesus as He reveals His name and who He is.

Further Application:
1. How does knowing who God is help you trust him?
2. What does I am who I am mean in the Word of God?
3. Who does God say He is?

Prayer:  Thank you God that you reveal yourself so that we can know you and worship you and spirit and truth. Where we have believed lies about you, fill our minds and heart with your truth. Thank you that those who know your name will put their trust in you. Thank you that you never leave us.

Praise God for Stability,God Never Changes

In Yesterday's post of Praise, I wrote about God's word. Today, I have been thinking about how God Himself never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So many things in this world change - friendships, Church family, family, environment, jobs, our children grow up, our appearance, food supplies, financial market. Everything changes but God's Word says God does not. He does not grow weary. He never gets worn out. His love is constant. Even the heavens and earth will be changed but God will not.

Many times, we want stability but the only stability we can have is in God.  He can not be manipulated, coerced nor does he compromise like we do. His plan from the beginning of time since He created Adam and Eve has never changed.  We are His people and He is our God. He wants to live with us, be in relationship with us, and guide us. By his love, He created us, his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the works he created us to do before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 2:10).

We sometimes may wonder why we are joyful one minute and full of anger the next. We change with our circumstances. If our children are behaving, we are at peace. If they are not behaving or if someone says something unkind to us, our attitude changes. We go from one thing to the next seeking stability. God is our rock, our ever present help in trouble. He does not change. He does not waiver. His love does not increase when we do good nor does it decrease when we do wrong/bad.

Verses to think on:
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 1:10-12 - “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.”^[a]Malachi 3:6 - I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.

Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man that he should lie nor a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Psalm 102:27 - But you remain the same and your years will never end.

Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Lord, I praise you that you are my rock. You are my stability. I can have joy despite hardship, pain, loss as well as in good times. You are my treasure. Your strength is what lifts me above my circumstances. I thank you that I can always run to you. I thank you that you never leave me or forsake me.