Author: The Manna Chef

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God Is Our Source

The Manna Chef

I was sitting here reflecting on the many ways God continues to provide for me, many times without me even realizing it.  I have experienced some difficult seasons in my life, like times when the bills totaled more than my actual income, and it seemed like I was buried in debt.  But God continued to provide for me.  (He always has.)  It was pretty humbling.  I went from being able to write checks to help folks meet their needs to having to borrow a dollar on more than one occasion.  I found myself on the receiving end, and it was really a season of growing in humility.  I simply didn’t have what I desired, and I certainly didn’t have the surplus I was used to having, so I had to allow others to bless me.  

I’ll be honest; that wasn’t easy.  I have always been a giver; turns out, I needed to learn how to receive.  And I had to learn how to trust God to get me through those times.  He continued to take care of me while teaching me how to allow Him to provide and show up in my life and how to make room for others to experience the joy of being a blessing to me.  Whether it was a golden handshake (when God leads someone to place a monetary blessing in your hand) or someone showing up at my door with groceries, God took care of me.  Other times, He allowed income opportunities to make their way to me.  Out of nowhere, there were tutoring jobs and singing gigs, anything to create room for God to provide for His daughter.  You know what?  God always takes care of His own.  Think about the many ways God has provided for you throughout your life.

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Chosen

The Manna Chef

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.  (Ephesians 1:4)

Even before God made the world, He already loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy, without fault, in His eyes.  That is amazing to me because I have fallen short so many times.  We are not saved because we deserve it, nor did we do anything to earn it.  We are saved by the grace of God.  He freely offers salvation to us.

God had the plan of your life from the beginning.  How about this?  He had the plan of your life before the beginning.  That’s deep!  He’d planned you before He even formed the world. 

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how God could love such imperfect people.  I’ll admit, I’ve even asked Him, “Why do You love me so much?” 

He answered, “I have always loved You, daughter.  You are indeed the apple of my eye.”  Wow!  Sisters, God has always loved you, too!  Always!  He looked past your sins, your mistakes, your past—even those shady things in your present, just to love you.

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The Dinner Party

The Manna Chef

Picture it.  We’re all out to dinner at this amazing restaurant.  We take our seats and begin to fellowship.  Laughter fills the room as old friends connect, new friendships form, and everyone enjoys the evening.  All of a sudden, the host of the evening stands and announces, “Hello, everyone!  Tonight, order whatever you want because I am covering the bill today.”  Everyone cheers and begins to review the menu options.  And each person orders her favorite appetizer, entrée (with salad and sides), drink, and dessert. 

Can you picture that scene?  You are free to order whatever you want.  Now, the sister with the high cholesterol knows that she shouldn’t order anything too salty, but today she cannot resist.  The sister who is lactose intolerant knows she can’t have dairy, but that ice cream is calling her name.  The sister with high blood pressure knows that eating pork makes her sick, but hey, it’s a special occasion.  The sister watching her weight knows that she should not eat that huge slice of cheesecake, but that’s her kryptonite.  Another sister orders lots of cocktails because she’s not driving, so who cares that she’s had five of them?

You get the picture, right?

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Faithful Friends

The Manna Chef

Sisters, what do you think of when you hear the word “faithful”?  Today, I want you to look at the people who are in your circle and ask yourself two questions:

  1. Am I connected to faithful friends?
  2. Am I a faithful friend? 

Someone recently asked me about being connected to a community of faith.  She was asking about a church, but it made think even more about the phrase “community of faith.”  What if we really were a community of faith—a group of people who really believed that God will do what He promised to do simply because He said that He would?  What if we, the people of God, really stood on His Word no matter what—and we actually stood together on His promises?  Sisters, we can accomplish so much more together than we can on our own.  There is power in connection; now we need to get connected to the right people—those sisters of great faith.

I asked you what words come to mind when you hear “faithful.”  I want to focus on the actual words: faith + full.  How many of your friends really are full of faith?  Would you describe yourself as “full of faith”?  When we connect and we are full of faith, that connection produces results!  Don’t believe me?  Let’s look at Luke 5:17-20 (NIV).

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.  When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Read verse 20 again:  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

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Work it Out

The Manna Chef

I recently listened to Tye Tribbett’s “Work It Out.”  First of all, it’s one of my jammy-jams!  But beyond that, it’s an incredible reminder:  nothing is too hard for God to handle.  He tells us so in Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV).

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh.  Is there anything too hard for Me?

I was having one those moments when I desperately needed to be reminded, and then I heard “Work It Out.”  You ever feel like you’re alone in a valley looking up at a mountain that seems impossible to climb?  Well, I was there.  I was overwhelmed and exhausted, feeling like the test was just too intense.  I couldn’t even catch my breath.  And then I heard “Work It Out” in my office, and something on the inside refused to give in and throw in the towel.

You may not be able to see your way out, but know that God is always moving on your behalf.  You don’t have to know any answers right now; just trust that God knows everything, and He has already made the way for you even if you can’t see it yet.  God really is taking care of you, so just rest in Him today, Sisters.

I’ve had challenges even trying to rest sometimes; let me go ahead and be honest with you.  It’s difficult to rest when your mind and heart are racing.  You ever feel tightness in your chest when stress tried to weigh you down?  (If that tightness persists, please seek medical attention.) 

I had to just whisper, “Jesus, please help me.”  That was all I had left.  But He’s all I need, right?

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