Look beyond the immediate

My Manna

"I remember my affliction and my wandering,   the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope." Lamentations 3:19–20.

When the weather is nice, temperatures are pleasant, and a gentle breeze blows, people will sing:

"This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." 

But when the weather is horrible, temperatures are at the extremes, and perhaps the wind is a gale force, people aren't as likely to sing. 

Yet God makes both kinds of days.

We need to remember that God is good all the time. 

His goodness is not dependent on how much we like our current situation. 

That must have been Jeremiah's perspective. 

At a time when his soul was "downcast" within him-

- he could look beyond the immediate to the eternal. 3:20.

Rather than allowing his circumstances to drag him down-

- he focused his attention on God's faithfulness and said, "I have hope." v. 21.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." v. 22.

It's easy to sing the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" when things are going well. 

Yet the verses from which that theme is taken do not come from a time of smooth sailing for the prophet. 

Instead, it was a time of extreme difficulty. 

Jeremiah knew that God is good all the time and that even in the worst of times He is faithful.

Even when life looks hopeless-

- remember that looks can be deceiving. 

Ask God today to help you be a person of hope. 

Don't let the immediate cloud your view of the eternal. 

Hope in the ever-faithful God.

The Perfect Word of God

 "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."   (1 peter 1:24-25 *niv )

 Dear Friend,
       Now I will bet that, from time to time, you have heard from someone who claims that the Bible is fiction.  For some fail to  see that; all scripture is given by inspiration of God,  and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for  correction, for instruction in righteousness, that  the man of God may be complete, thoroughly  equipped for every good work.  (2 timothy 3:16)

        Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but  men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  (2 peter 1:20-21 )

        After all God worked through 40 different men, who lived  on three different Continents, from every walk of life, for over  a sixteen hundred year period to write His letter to us.  (The Holy Bible) the result is the Bible was still created containing not one single contradiction, and a vast number of prophecies, all of which have now been fulfilled, except those that speak of the end times.

      So Friend, the next time someone, who undoubtedly hasn’t even bothered to read the Bible, tells you that the Bible is full of fiction, and fairy tales, ask them to prove it.

       After all we know that; every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (Proverbs 30:5) for the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword,   (Hebrews 4:12)

     therefore we are bold to say; your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path, o Lord!"  Amen! (Psalm 119:105)

Made Complete

My Manna

"In Him you have been made complete." Colossians 2:10.

Colossians 2:6-10 reveals three levels in our relationship with Christ.

If we are going to present every believer complete in Christ-
- our discipleship must acknowledge the following order. Colossians 1:28.

Level One ensures that our identity is in Christ!

This entails:
Leading individuals to Christ and directing them to their scriptural assurance of salvation;
Guiding them to a true knowledge of God and who they are in Christ;
Helping them see the ways they are still playing God or rebelling against God's authority;
Breaking down their defenses against rejection by accepting and affirming them.

Level Two deals with the issue of maturity in Christ-
- which Paul alluded to as "being built up in Him." verse 7.

The second level of discipleship is to accept God's goal of sanctification and grow in Christlikeness.

This entails:
Helping people learn to walk by the Spirit and by faith;
Helping them get off the emotional roller coaster by focusing their thoughts on God instead of their circumstances;
Encouraging them to develop self-control;
Challenging them to resolve personal problems by forgiving others and seeking forgiveness.

Level Three reflects the issue of our responsibility in Christ-
- which is possible when our identity and maturity are in Christ.

The third level of discipleship is to help believers live responsibly in Christ in their homes, on their jobs, and in society.

The effective Christian walk involves the proper exercise of spiritual gifts, talents, and intellect-
- in serving others and being a positive witness in the world.