Author: The Manna Chef

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What Do You See?

The Manna Chef

The Bible is full of the promises of God.  It’s a love story; the evidence of just how much God loves us.  Think about the many times God has delivered you, made a way, healed your body, provided for you—He has manifested His greatness on your behalf time and time again.  So, what happens when you’ve prayed to God, but there is a delay in the manifestation of the answer, the promise?  Think about the promises that God has made to you.  Actually write a few down on paper.  (I really do want you to write them down.)  I have two questions for you.

  1. Can you see them, spiritually? 
  2. Have you really claimed them?

We’ve heard many times the account of the children of Israel as God delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians.  If not, we’ve at least seen “The Ten Commandments” or the “Prince of Egypt.”  God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.  And God moved in dramatic fashion on behalf of His people.  Can you imagine crossing the Red Sea on dry ground? 

But here’s the thing; God wasn’t just taking them from Egypt.  He was leading them to Canaan.  Sometimes we’re so happy to get out of a situation that we stop before we even reach the purpose of being delivered.  God hasn’t delivered you so that you can stop moving forward in your spiritual walk with Him.  God promised the Israelites that they would enter the Promised Land, a land of milk and honey.  You have a Promised Land too.  Think about that for a moment.  Your Promised Land is the destiny for which you were created to fulfill.  There is a place of manifestation of the promises of God for your life.  Can you see it?

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God Loves You Even on Your Worst Days

The Manna Chef

We know God loves us.  His Word reminds us over and over.  We know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us.  We know that He loves us with an everlasting love.  We all know that, right?  But have you ever had one of those days when you just feel unlovable to anyone, including God?  Have you ever felt so far from God because of your failures or shortcomings?

I read something recently that I had to just meditate on:  God loves you on your worst days.  I read it over and over.

Talk about unconditional love!  We’ve been taught since we were children that when things get tough, you’ll find out who your real friends are.  I learned it in the midst of divorce, sickness, and periods of lack.  God reveals those who are meant to be your life-timers, people who will be there for the long haul. 

But I’m referring to challenges that go even deeper than that.  I mean, have you ever felt distant from God?  And I’m not just talking about the separation that results from sin.  I’m talking about that feeling of just being far from God, even when you are praying, reading His word, doing what He’s telling you to do—and still feeling like you’re falling short or like you’ve somehow missed “it.”  It’s like that loneliness that Elijah felt right after God showed out on Mt. Carmel.  Elijah saw the supernatural move of God and then experienced one of his greatest lows.  Have you ever been there?

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Five Smooth Stones and a Sling

The Manna Chef

Sometimes the giants that we face seem insurmountable. The storms of life are raging all around us and it may feel like we cannot face the challenges ahead for any number of reasons. But the truth of the matter is that we may simply have to face the giants and fight for our promises. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit and quit allowing the enemy to beat us up time and time again.

In I Samuel 17, Saul and the army of Israel were standing on one side of a mountain ready to face the Philistines, who were standing on the other side. Only a valley was separating them. They were prepared for battle.

Enter Goliath. He was 9 feet and 9 inches tall. He had on a bronze helmet, and he was covered in armor. He even had bronze armor covering his legs and carried a bronze javelin between his shoulders. His armor weighed between 175-200 lbs. The head of his spear weighed 20-25 lbs. And he even had a man running in front of him carrying a shield the size of a grown man. Let’s face it, this was no ordinary foe! Goliath presented an enormous challenge.

(v. 8) Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.”

Goliath challenged the men of Israel to a representative battle. That meant they would fight one on one. The winner’s side would prevail over the army of the loser. Goliath was very arrogant, too; he believed that no one could beat him. And he issued his challenge for 40 days!! Every day he flaunted his size and his strength. Isn’t that just like the enemy? Giants of fear and worry, of depression and anger and doubt – they taunt us day and night to cause us to focus on the problem instead of the ultimate solution—God. Sometimes the giant is a person; other times it’s a circumstance.

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Fill Me Up, Lord

The Manna Chef

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like you simply have nothing else to give?  We get pulled in so many directions sometimes; it can be hard to just catch your breath, let alone function at a high level on a daily basis.  And the demands of everyday life never seem to stop, just a constant pull on you spiritually and naturally.  You ever just get tired of being tired?  I have definitely been there.  It’s in these moments that we have to really press to get into the Presence of the Lord.  He promised to renew us, but sometimes we get so caught up in the chaos that we forget that and try to operate under our own strength.  Well, guess what ladies?  That gets old really fast.  In our own strength, we are extremely limited. 

God recently reminded me that it’s in my weakest moments that His strength is made perfect.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  He reminds us, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  In other words, you have enough and you are enough because I am in control.  It’s in those moments that we rely totally on Him, not our own strength, experiences, or knowledge.  And it’s those times that we have no choice but to turn to God.  And He doesn’t disappoint; God shows up and He shows out.  Well, now God is teaching me how to rely on Him for everything—even those things I think that I have a good handle on.  You know, the day goes a lot smoother when you consult God at the start of the day instead of waiting until a crisis to talk to Him.

God can fulfill our needs in ways we can’t begin to imagine.  There are many examples of God’s ability to move us beyond our own abilities and resources, but the Holy Spirit led me to this one to share.  It’s an example of God’s supernatural provision.

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