Author: The Manna Chef

Entrée

Does Jesus Really Understand?

The Manna Chef

Does Jesus really understand how I feel?  How many of you have ever asked that question in total sincerity?  It’s not even that you doubt that He is God or that He died for your sins.  The challenge sometimes is that we forget that He is God in the flesh and that He really is relatable.  We don’t doubt His omniscience or His power or even His ability to be omnipresent.  We get that part.  It’s easy to focus on the fact that He is fully Divine; what we forget is that He walked on this earth fully human, too.

I had the funniest thought earlier today as I listened to my stomach growl while I was sitting in my office.  Well, first, of course, I thought, “It’s snack time.  Let me eat something.”  But after that, I had a second thought:  Jesus knows the pangs of hunger. 

Now that may not seem earth-shattering to you right now, but the thought allowed me to reflect on Jesus as a human being.  A real man.  One that got lonely, angry, and sad.  He experienced rejection, sorrow, pain, and loss.  The people around Him didn’t really understand Who He was or what He was doing most of the time.  He had to maintain balance because He lived among the people, but He had to find alone time with God.  (That can be a real challenge today because our lives are so fast-paced.)  Jesus’s life teaches us so many things, but we can miss out on really connecting to Him because we don’t fully realize that He does understand how we feel.  He gets it.

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor.  He knows what is lying ahead of us—He’s seen it already—and He really does understand what it’s like to be human.  He doesn’t offer clichés with little more than great sound bites.  He can speak from total authority and total empathy at the same time. 

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Entrée

Take Another Look

The Manna Chef

Sisters, I want to encourage you today to revisit those dreams and goals that seem too far away from your reach.  I know what some of you are thinking:

I’m too old.

I’m too young.

I don’t have enough money or resources.

I’m not as qualified as “they” are.

Too much time has passed by.

I don’t know where to even begin.

I know all of these excuses because I have tried to use them many times.  I won’t even pretend that I haven’t.  Sometimes it’s hard not to respond with an excuse when your back is against the wall.  But today, Sisters, I want you to dig deeper and press past those excuses.  We need you!

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Just as He Said

The Manna Chef

How many of you read Matthew 28:5-6, as we all prepared to celebrate Resurrection Sunday?  And for anyone who didn’t, you can read it right here:

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.”  (NIV)

It’s a very familiar passage, describing the moment that Mary and Mary Magdalene search for the body of Jesus at the tomb—only to find that He really did rise from the grave, “just as He said.” 

Sisters, this is not a Resurrection message—well, not directly.  Every day, we should celebrate the fact that Jesus volunteered to walk in the flesh, die a horrific death on the cross, and then rise with all power to restore our relationship with the Father.  Jesus took my place and yours on that cross, and He finished what He came here to do.  (Go ahead and praise Him right there!)

But what I want to bring to your attention are those four words in verse 6:  just as He said.  Jesus did everything that He said He would do.  Go back and take a look through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  He healed the sick, raised the dead, restored what was lost, and set free those who were bound.  And He didn’t allow Himself to be restricted by the confines of rules and traditions.  As a matter of fact, He moved in a way that was revolutionary at the time.  He hung out with people who were undesirable.  He healed on the Sabbath.  He spoke and moved in ways that were untraditional.  And when it was all said and done, He did what He said He would do.  When Jesus spoke, circumstances changed.  Don’t believe me?  Remember in Mark 4:39 when Jesus simply spoke to the storm and told the waves to be still—and immediately the stormed calmed?   

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Entrée

The Right Way

The Manna Chef

This morning, as I was studying Psalm 107:1-9 (NKJV), the Holy Spirit pointed something out that has blown my mind today.  First, let’s take a look at the passage of Scripture:

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

4They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in.
5Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
6Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.
7And He led them forth by the right way,
That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
8Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

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Grace, Prayer

Prayer for Calling

The Manna Chef

Father God, today I simply want to say thank You for the gift of Your Presence, Your Son, and Your Holy Spirit.  Lord, You are Awesome, and You never cease to amaze me.  Thank You for Your continued faithfulness and Your direction each and every day.  God, please remind Your daughters that they have been called for such a time as this, and that You have already prepared them for the journey.  Thank You, Jehovah Jireh.  We will stand boldly on Your Word to do what we’ve been called to do.  In the Mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.