Perfectly Broken

My Manna


"By reason of breakings they purify themselves." Job 41:25.

God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken!
The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts.

It was the breaking down of Jacob's natural strength at Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual power.
It was breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb, by the stroke of Moses' rod that let out the cool waters to thirsty people.

It was when the 300 elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, a type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth to the consternation of their adversaries.
It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth, that God multiplied it to pay her debts and supply means of support.

It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death.
It was when Jesus took the five loaves and broke them, that the bread was multiplied in the very act of breaking, sufficient to feed five thousand.
It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house.
It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His inner life was poured out, for thirsty sinners to drink and live.

It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by death, that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains.

And thus, on and on, through all history, and all biography, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have broken things.

Those who are-
- broken in wealth,
- broken in self-will,
- broken in their ambitions,
- broken in their beautiful ideals,
- broken in orldly reputation,
- broken in their affections, and
- broken ofttimes in health; those who are despised and seem utterly forlorn and helpless,
- the Holy Ghost is seizing upon, and using for God's glory.

Wealth

My Manna

"But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Prov 13:22.

In the last days there will be a transfer of wealth into the hands of the righteous for the purpose of-

- funding a great harvest of souls and

- for believers to have greater influence on society in the name of Christ.

This will happen in at least four ways:

1. Supernatural Transfer

Like the Israelites leaving Egypt, Christians and non-profit organizations will receive major gifts from individuals or foundations to carryout their Christian mission.

2. Strength to Make Wealth

God is going to give witty inventions to believers throughout the world that will generate wealth.

This has already begun.

"But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." Deut 8:18.

3. Social Entrepreneurship

Just as Joseph was entrusted with the resources of Egypt to solve a societal problem resulting from a famine in the land, God is going to transfer money to believers who are solving societal problems.

Governments will fund private enterprises because government is not been able to do it.

4. Sincere Conversions

Finally, many non-believers who are wealthy will become Christians in these last days and will begin to use their wealth for Kingdom purposes.

The transfer of wealth is designed to accelerate God's activity on the earth, not to simply make believers wealthy. 

Pray that God uses your work life call to accelerate His Kingdom on earth.

And pray that God raises up good stewards of wealth.

We are like eagles;we have the spirit of the eagles

My Manna

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31.

While walking through the forest one day, a farmer found a young eagle who had apparently fallen out of his nest.

He took it home and put it in his barnyard with his chickens and there it stayed for years.

It wasn't long before the little eagle learned to eat and behave like the chickens.

One day a naturalist passed by the farm and saw the eagle confined in the barnyard with the chickens.

When he inquired about this strange sight, the farmer told the man his story.

"Unfortunately," said the farmer, "the poor little guy just never learned to fly." 

"Still," the naturalist sighed, "he has the heart of an eagle and can surely be taught. Will you allow me to work with him?"

The farmer agreed, but with much disbelief.

The naturalist picked up the eagle and lifted him toward the sky and said, "You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly." 

The eagle, however, was confused.

He did not know who he was, and seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.

The naturalist took the bird to the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly."

But the eagle was afraid and jumped down once again to be with his chicken friends.

Finally the naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain.

There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, "You are an eagle. You belong to the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly!" 

The eagle looked around, back towards the barnyard and then up to the sky.

Slowly, he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, he soared away into the heavens.

Somewhere along the line, we like this poor young eagle, were put in a lowly barn with the chickens of the world around us.

We learned to live and eat from the ground and grew up believing that there was not much more to do than sit and cluck all day.

But the reality is that we are eagles!

We were created to fly and even soar!

God has great purpose for our lives!

If we would only realize who we are in Him!

Let's remember who we are today and stop acting like chickens! 

We are the head and not the tail!

We are Kings and Priests!

We have great things to do for the Kingdom!

A Lesson in Faith

The amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a wonderful illustration of what true faith is.

Blondin's greatest fame came on September 14, 1860, when he became the first person to cross a tightrope stretched 11,000 feet (over a quarter of a mile) across the mighty Niagara Falls. People from both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat.

He walked across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and blindfolded. One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the middle of the rope!

A large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the river bank. The crowd "Oohed and Aahed!" as Blondin carefully walked across - one dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.

Then a one point, he asked for the participation of a volunteer. Upon reaching the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls!

Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed his audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?"

The crowd enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. We believe!"

"Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into the wheelbarrow."

As far as the Blondin story goes, no one did at the time!

This unique story illustrates a real life picture of what faith actually is. The crowd watched these daring feats. They said they believed. But... their actions proved they truly did not believe.

Similarly, it is one thing for us to say we believe in God. However, it's true faith when we believe God and put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Note: In August of 1859, Blondin's manager, Harry Colcord, did ride on Blondin's back across the Falls.

This is what the Lord says

--He who made you,   who formed you in the womb.   (Isaiah 44:2 *nkjv )

  Dear Friend

      God knew you long before you were born, just as   He knew Isaiah and Jeremiah.  He thought about you and   planned for you!  For He wanted someone just like you,   therefore you are very special to Him.  After all God has   said: "before I formed you in the womb I knew   you, before you were born I set you apart."   (Jeremiah 1:5 )

      So when you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember   that God has always thought of you as very valuable.  He is   always with you and He loves you dearly, and nothing can   separate you from that love!  For I am convinced that   neither death nor life, neither  angels nor   demons, neither the present nor the  future,   nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor   anything else in all creation, will be able to   separate us from the love of God that is in   Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39 )

      So never feel that you are unloved, or let one of   life's many discouragements set you back, instead: be   confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion   until the day of Christ Jesus.   Amen.

  (Philippians 1:6 )

  All My Love & Prayers,

         Joe

Mind Matters

My Manna

"Gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13.
Since we came into this world physically alive but spiritually dead-

- We had neither the presence of God in our lives nor the knowledge of His will. 

Our minds were programmed to live independently of Him.

We were mentally conformed to this world.
When we became Christians, nobody pushed the clear button in our pre-programmed minds.

Even as Christians we can still allow our minds to be programmed by the world.

So what must we do?
First-

Provide!

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1. 

How do you renew your mind?

By providing it with God's Word.
Second-

Prepare!

Peter directs us to prepare our minds for action. 1 Peter 1:13.

Do away with fruitless fantasy.

To imagine yourself doing things without ever doing anything is dangerous. But if you can mentally prepare yourself in advance to obey the truth-

- you can motivate yourself toward productive living,

- as long as you follow through by doing what you imagine.
Third-

Practice!

Take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Practice threshold thinking.

Evaluate every thought by the truth-

- And don't let your mind entertain thoughts contrary to the will of God.
Fourth-

Pray!

Turn to God.

When your commitment to do the will of God is being challenged by thoughts from the world, the flesh, or the devil, bring it to God in prayer. Philippians 4:6.

By doing so you are acknowledging God and exposing your thoughts to His truth.

Your double-mindedness will dissolve "and the peace of God...shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7.

Fifth-

Program!

Consider your responsibility to think spiritually. 

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8.

Because-

Mind matters!

Corporate Worship

My Manna

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God." Collosians 3:16.
A disgruntled church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained:
"I've gone to church for thirty years now, and in that time I have heard something like three-thousand sermons.
But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.
I think I'm wasting my time and the Pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This began a major controversy which went on for weeks until someone wrote in this reply:
"I've been married for thirty years now.
In that time my wife has cooked some three thousand meals.
For the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.
But I do know this...they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work..."
So true.
We need our spiritual nourishment to be able to do the work of the Lord effectively!
Corporate worship, fellowship with our brothers and sisters and Godly counsel are a great means to get it!
God does not want us to isolate ourselves!
He wants us to be in consistent fellowship with like minded believers, teaching and exhorting one another, singing psalms and spiritual hymns together!
Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.Heb.10:25.
There's so much work to be done!