"Daily Portions Are Available"

   Now it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and behold , the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
   And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.'"
   So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp.
   And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
   So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.
   "This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one more for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.'"
   And the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.
   So when they measured it by Moses, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need.
   And Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning."
   Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.
   So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot it melted.
   And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two homers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
   Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for y ourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.'" Exodus 16:10-23

Manna! What is it? According to the Strong's Concordance the word manna means ... a whatness (so to speak) so called from the question. From the root word which means,   what (including How? Why? When?) but also exclaiming What!

When you know that in that moment when the people are exclaiming, "What is it?" There is also the idea of "how? why? and when?" as well it explains just how amazing this 'manna from heaven' miracle was for the people of Israel. God shows up in a cloud of glory, shares His plan, and declares to them that because of what He is about to do they would "know that He was the Lord their God." In all that ....what....how....why....where astonishment also comes an awe for the One who provided the manna. For 40 years, every single day God provided for His people as the Lord their God! Check out Nehemiah 9:20-21 "You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst. Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, So that they lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell."

Not only did God provide an amazing "What is it'" moment/miracle but He sustained them in every way possible on a daily basis all because He was their God. They lacked nothing! Their clothes didn't even wear out! He sustained them in every way possible including their daily supply of manna!

The truth is I love reading about this manna event in the lives of His people because it means I can trust Him with my daily supply as well! He provided for them each and every day. All they had to do is go outside their tents and pick it up. They could bake it or boil it and Exodus 16:31 tells us that it tasted like wafers made with honey. Psalm 119:10 says"How sweet are The words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!"I love that we too only need to 'collect' or manna each day! His Word is daily our provision! It too daily provides guidance and direction. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It too causes us to be filled with awe at His works! Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18 And of course their is the promise found in Matthew 6:30 ...Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Manna ... Don't forget to collect your daily portion today!

Change of Plans

A candle flame dance and leaped in the night. Paul watched it from where he lay in bed. Staring. Wondering. Trying to figure out what God wanted.

Why wasn't He letting them go preach?

God had forbidden them from going to speak the Word in Asia. They had traveled up to Mysia, when the Spirit of Jesus stopped him cold. He did not allow the group to go into Bithynia. It seemed like every time they got excited about going into a new region to preach the Gospel, God stopped them. Several people in the group expressed frustration. Truthfully, Paul was starting to feel the same way.

"There must be a reason," he mumbled into the quiet night.

A haze of light overtook his vision, and a man of Macedonia appeared to stand before Paul as clear as day. His expression was desperate, and his eyes pleaded with Paul's. He realized the man was speaking. "Come over to Macedonia and help us." The man said it over and over and over...

Paul startled. The vision was gone. Like it had never happened, but Paul knew better.

A knowing smile overtook his face. He could almost feel God's smirk. There was a reason. God wanted them to preach the Gospel to the people of Macedonia.

Based on  Acts 16:6-10

"And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." Acts 16:6-10

I am a very stubborn person. So when I get a plan into my head, it is devastating ahem...very difficult to let those plans go.

I would have been so confused here. I would have been a wee bit angry. "God," I would have cried out, "I doing this for you! Let me go where I want to go! Let me do this for you. I want to go here! This is the better path!"

I...I...I...

When God says, "Do this for me."

When God says, "Change of plans," what is your response? Mine is usually not good. It takes a lot of gnashing of teeth, crying, and pouting before I come around.

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9

This group had their heart set on God. Instead of fighting God and being frustrated and angry, they said, "Oh, God must want us to go here for a reason. He must want us to preach here!" God always has a reason. Next time you face a change of plans, remember there must be a reason.

V. Joy Palmer

Personal Rights Versus Right Choices

"We're going to do what?"

"Well, not we. You." Paul said jokingly.

Timothy shot him a look, and Paul dropped the lighthearted mask. Timothy had every right to be upset. Unfortunately, some of the Jewish people refused to drop the old ways. The situation was starting to explode.

He patted Timothy on the back. "Listen Timothy. God has given you a powerful anointing, and I want to take you on my travels. I believe God will greatly use you. However, the Jews where we would be traveling will not listen to you if you are uncircumcised because they know your father is Greek."

Timothy sighed. "It just doesn't seem right," he mumbled while running a hand through his hair.

"It's not, but it is a stumbling block to their walk with God. I can't make you do anything....But sometimes serving God means making a personal sacrifice for those around you. You've heard me teach on how it's better to go without something then to cause another brother to fall into sin." Paul studied Timothy's hard face, hoping and praying some of this was getting through to him.

Timothy was fixated on a dirty spot on the wall before he stood up from the chair where he'd been sitting. He huffed long and slow before answering. "Ok. Let's do it."

Based on Acts 16:1-5

"Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily." Acts 16:1-5

So here's what I think. This kinda stunk.

It did. Timothy had to get circumcised because others couldn't let go of the old ways, about things that God didn't care about anymore.

But you know what. It didn't matter.

It could have been so easy for Timothy to be mad, to let this affect his ministry, to let hate burrow into his heart. But he and Paul took a higher road.

"Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." Romans 14:13

"But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."
1 Corinthians 8:9

This was a stumbling block to other people, so Paul and Timothy made the bigger, mature decision to not let this be a stumbling block for any of them.

Sometimes your personal right to something is not always the right answer. Sometimes we have to let things go. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to. Sometimes we have to eat the broccoli so someone else can come to know God. But we have to make the choice. We can say no, just like Timothy could have said no. Fortunately, Timothy didn't. He took a hit, but he made the right choice.

What will our choice be?

V. Joy Palmer

"Love Never Fails"

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. LOVE NEVER FAILS. 1Corinthians 13:4-8

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. John 13:1

Everything Jesus said and did paints the perfect picture for us of what the love of God looks like even up to and including the last words He spoke before returning to the Father. 

   So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30 

"It is finished!" With His last breath He declared His love for us by declaring that our debt was paid. He had done what His love for us had brought Him here to do ...He poured out His soul unto death, was numbered with the trangressors, and bore the sins of many, making intercession for the trangressors. Isaiah 53:12 I don't know about you but for me I know that I find it very humbling to know that I was on His heart in His last moments. It says, that 'He loved us to the end' which means that it was His love for us that not only caused the need for His sacrifice but it was also what helped Him to endure all things ..."who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 His love for us ..... means we were the joy that was set before Him. We were the prize that was set before Him. We were the prize He had His gaze fixed upon. We we were the finish line He was aiming for. Paying the price ... being our Redeemer... was worth the cost of the cross because He loves us that much! And when He cried out, "It is finished!" It was with a heart that was full of His love for us! It was His declaration that His love for us was enough to get the job done! We need to remember that we are His beloved and that His love never fails ... it is always enough!

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercession; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Isaiah 59:15-16

A Soft Heart to Work With

Some men were really stubborn.

And then there was Paul. Their leader.

"He's not coming." Paul said. His brow was furrowed, and he had that look in his eye. The look that said, "You thought Balaam's donkey was stubborn, huh? Well, now you've met me."

Barnabas wanted to hold him down and shout reason at him. Paul would have none of it. He refused to let Mark come with them.

"Mark has changed. He's grown so much in the Lord. God will use him mightily."

Paul glowered. "God does not use quitters!"

"But He does use men who make mistakes and sometimes quit."

Paul cast Barnabas the iciest, meanest glare he had ever seen. It could have frozen the whole county. Paul threw his hands up. "If you want him, you take him. He's not coming with me." Paul threw back his chair, and he stormed out of the room.

Paul's ultimatum hit Barnabas in the chest like a knife. He knelt down to pray right in the middle of the empty room. It would be easy to feel like Paul, just like it would be easy to hate Paul for what he had said.

Easy. But not right. He needed to keep his heart soft, and right now, he needed God's help to do that.

Based on Acts 15:36-41

"And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.' Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches." Acts 15:36-41

I know, I know. Everybody talks about this infamous squabble. There's a reason for that. There's so much to learn from this fight!

What I was thinking about this time was hearts. In a situation like this, it would be really easy to have a hard heart, kind of like Paul did at the time. You've been abandoned, and you certainly don't want to go through that again! So you say, "No. No way!" I've known a lot of Christians who have done this, and I'm ashamed to admit to all of you that I've done this - sometimes without even realizing it!

The enemy is out to destroy soft, loving, compassionate hearts. He doesn't want us to forgive, forget, or support one another. He wants to drive that wedge between us.

We can't function with a hard heart. And neither could Paul. Eventually he forgave Mark.

"Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry." 2 Timothy 4:11

How much more can we do for God if we keep our  hearts soft, pliable, and ready?  Give second (and multiple) chances. Give love. Give grace. Give God a soft heart to work with.

V. Joy Palmer

"Is It Tme To Weep?"

Then, as He as now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
   And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
   But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
   Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for Your peace! But now they are hidden from Your eyes.
   For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
   And level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.
   Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of thieves.'" Luke 19:37-45

As I was reading in Luke today this verse jumped out at me, "Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying:" The thing I noticed is this ...He was coming from His 'triumphal entry' with everyone shouting praises and the Pharisees complaining about it into the city. So what does He do? He takes the time or maybe it's the opportunity to weep over the city. It says that as He draws near the city He Sees it and wept over it. When He draws near suddenly the praises and the complaining take a back seat to the souls in the city before Him that are about to "miss their time of visitation." He knows what is going to happen in the days ahead. He knows that in the days ahead they are going to be shouting to crucify Him. He knows that in the days ahead they will reject who He truly is as He is paying the price for theirs and our redemption.

How about you? When was the last time you took the time and or the opportunity to weep over your city? When was the last time we as His disciples wept over our cities? Take the time today to intercede on behalf of those who are missing out on their redemption. Pray that they don't miss 'the time of their visitations.'

"Stepping Out"

   And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.
   But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
   Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
   And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
   But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
   And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
   So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
   But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
   And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
   And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
   Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." Matthew 14:23-33

How about you? Would you like to walk on water? Would you be the one who was able to hear Him say, "Come." Would you be able to respond like Peter and get down out of the boat? Would you be able to take those first few steps of faith? Truth is Peter walked on water and that miraculous event was the easy part. The hard part ...getting out of the boat and taking that first step. We need to remember that if He says "Come," then He makes the walking on water part ... possible ...easy even!

When He bids you to come, trust Him and obey! Take your step of faith! The miraculous will follow because for Him the miraculous comes easy! With Him all things are possible! He is always there to see us through any storm, and any and every step of faith we take. He is there to call us out and to lift us up when we fall. Trust Him and step out!