Morning Manna

"March Madness", that time of year where college basketball teams must play as though there is no tomorrow in order to advance towards their goal of excellence. This has me thinking. What if Christ-followers had the same focus? Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

In today's episode I want to read and share with you a powerful, prayful post from a dear friend. I hope it encourages you and invites you in to God's presence in challenging times. Thank you Alejandra!

What are you thankful for right now as you listen to this episode? What will you be thankful for as you move throughout your day? Today's episode is inspired by a coffee tab... yes that's right... a coffee tab. Grazie is the Italian word for "Thanks". Make gratitude a focus for your day and it will change you powerfully!

Beginning in 1940, there was a popular game show on radio called Truth or Consequences. It really became popular on TV from 1950 -1975 with the host, Bob Barker. On the show, contestants received roughly two seconds to answer a trivia question correctly before the buzzer sounded. Failing to complete this "truth" portion meant that the contestant had to face "consequences," typically by performing a zany and embarrassing stunt. There are always consequences when we compromise the truth in our lives. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

In today's episode I'm sharing a story that a dear friend posted. It was moving and motivational for me. I hope it will challenge you too.

Why do you do what you do? Think about it. There is a reason why we should do what we do and there is a reward that is attached to it. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

Dialing 911 is a powerful system that we're all blessed to have. To be in an emergency situation and be that close to the help you need is amazing. The same applies to other emergencies we face. Let's talk about it on Morning Manna.

Need some help today? Listen to what Jesus said in John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." We all need help at times and what better helper is there than the Holy Spirit? Let's talk about it today on Morning Manna.

Dark and light are realities in our world. Dark and light are not just in the physical but also in the spiritual. I love the saying... "The darker the night, the brighter the light." Physically our light source is the sun, moon, headlights, flashlights and lamps; but spiritually we have one primary light source and that is the Word of God. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

I was inspired for my episode today by the purchase of some new jeans and my wife's sharing of how to deal with the dye in the new jeans and them not ruining other items of clothing. I thought about a godly women in the Bible named Lydia. Let's talk about it in today's Morning Manna.

What are you pursuing today? What drives you as you leave the starting gates of our life today? Is it simply success, building up that 401K or impressing your boss? Let me give you this challenge to pursue today - Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."

I can only imagine how exciting it was when the Gutenberg Press was invented over 150 years ago. The blessing of having a printed copy of the Bible was world changing. Today we have the incredible access via computer technology, to all kinds of sermons, bible studies, worship music and devotionals. Then you add on top of that the power of a smartphone in you hand and it's amazing. Are you maximizing those opportunities?

To start out I want to say this episode has nothing to do with wearing masks due to the pandemic but it does present the temptation due to hypocrisy, to wear a mask. Masks were really popular in the early days of dramas and stage productions... like the ones I use for today's graphic. It's so easy to wear a mask to hide our struggles or to give a false perception to those around us. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

Well it is March 1st and we start a brand new week and a brand new month. As I thought about March, my mind went to our marching orders. In military terms, marching orders are instructions for action. Jesus gave us our marching orders before ascending into Heaven in Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Proverbs 27:17 says; "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." You need good friends, and you need to be a good friend. Iron can sharpen iron, and a good friend can sharpen a friend. The iron of a file can make a blade sharper, and a good friend can make his friend better. Are you a good friend? Do you have good friends?

In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration outside an area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about natural features and other activities in the area. One of my favorite Bible stories has a great illustration of God knowing everything and giving us heavenly recon. It's critical for us to remember that God knows everything that is happening in our lives and our world. Psalm 56:3 says; "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."

I drive a white Kia Soul and let me tell you... it shows dirt quickly. With all the ice, snow and chemicals on the road, Miss Daisy gets dirty. I have a monthly subscription at the Zips Car Wash here in Lynchburg and I can and do, go as many times in the month to keep Daisy sparkling. In the same way, in the process of life, we too pick up a lot of dirt and grime. But we don't need a car wash subscription because we have the Word of God.

I love the encouragement of Psalm 23:4 - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Valley trips are certainly challenging but we don't face them alone. God is with us every step of the way. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

Today's episode come from the YouVersion verse of the day... "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19. It so easy to focus on the wilderness and wasteland experience and miss the new thing that God is bringing forth in the midst of all the chaos. Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.

We've got some icy road conditions today in our area. So what do I need to do? I need to be careful right? Let's talk about it on today's Morning Manna.