Category: Entrée

Entrée

Time for Reflection

The Manna Chef

The end of the year always allows time for me to reflect on my life—the events of the current year and those of past years.  Those who know me well know that I no longer create a list of resolutions for the upcoming year.  God instructed me several years ago to stop creating a list that would ultimately cause me to become discouraged when I could not achieve everything on the list.  (My lists were extensive!)  I would become slightly depressed when I realized a whole year had gone by and I didn’t complete the list that I had made.  Notice, I said the list that I had made, because in the past, I didn’t really seek God as I made the list.  My lists were full of positive goals and great aspirations, they just weren’t necessarily for me at that time and definitely not where I was going to need to focus my energy.  How many of you can relate to that?

God began to teach me that He would empower me to accomplish all the things that He had planned for me in the year to come—and He even promised to guide my actual steps to do what He was calling me to do.  So, instead of a list of New Year’s resolutions, God instructed me to write a list of the blessings I received and experienced throughout the current year; it’s my gratitude list.  And each year, I am blown away by just how much God has moved on my behalf and how He has left nothing to chance concerning me.  I am so grateful to God!  And I really enjoy creating the list.  I encourage you to take some time and actually write a list of the blessings you received in 2019. 

Sisters, if you choose to write resolutions, seek God first so that you can focus your energy where it needs to be.  And for those who may inevitably choose to focus on some challenges 2019 has brought, you are still here, God is still moving, and if you have faith to believe that God has the final say, you will soar to heights you never imagined!

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Wishing you continued blessings in 2020! Happy New Year, Sisters!

Entrée

More Abundantly

The Manna Chef

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  (John 10:10)

The Bible is very clear here.  The enemy has no good intentions for any of us.  What he offers comes with a death sentence.  It’s just not worth it.  He has three jobs: to steal, to kill, and to destroy.  He attempts to take things from us that do not belong to him.  He not only tries to kill us physically, he tries to kill us spiritually: killing our hopes, depriving our lives, trying to get us to stop moving forward, and causing extreme pain to try to tire us to the point of just collapsing.  He also tries to annihilate our dreams, to damage us beyond repair, and to defeat us completely.  This is his mission.  He’s up to the challenge all day, every day.  There are demons on assignment trying to accomplish this every single day.

But we have no reason to fear.  It is very important to be aware, but we need not be afraid.  Why?

Jesus explains the enemy’s plan, and then He tells us how those plans are cancelled out.  Jesus didn’t just come to redeem us from eternal damnation.  He didn’t just come to die on the cross.  He didn’t just come to do miracles, signs, and wonders.  He came to give us life—eternal life—and show us how to live triumphantly while we are here on Earth.  Sisters, you don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to enjoy the promises of God.  You can receive those promises while you are yet alive. 

Jesus came to teach us how to live beyond abundance, not frivolously but abundantly.  And the Scripture says MORE abundantly.  He desires that we prosper in all things and be in good health, even as our souls prosper.  (3 John 2)  Life is a precious gift.  Sister, claim your right to abundance!

The Amplified Bible says, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).”  You know what?  It’s possible to be alive and miserable.  But that is not the vision for your life.  Jesus makes it plain right here.  He has called us to abundant living.  Sister, you have been called to the season of overflow.  Your life should overflow with love, peace, joy, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, too!  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Abundance means existing or occurring in large amounts; marked by great plenty of resources; amply supplied; plentiful and bountiful.

We are called to really live, not just to be alive.  God is pleased when we enjoy our lives.  It honors Him because that’s part of why Jesus came, too.  When you enjoy something, you celebrate it.  We should celebrate every single day, not just once a year on our birthdays.  Jesus came to fill us until the abundance overflows.  That’s His desire, and I fully expect to live in that abundance!  It’s time to claim the abundance that God promised us.  It’s time for overflow!

He didn’t just say that we live life abundantly.  He said MORE abundantly.  Are you ready for more?

Entrée

He’s Already There

The Manna Chef

Sisters, I’d like to share something with you today:  God is with you at every step of your journey.  As a matter of fact, Jesus is already at the location of your next challenge, test, doctor appointment, fearful moment, argument (you get the idea).  He is already there waiting for you.

That brings much comfort to me right now, because I honestly do not know exactly what is ahead of me.  But I know that He does, and I trust Him completely.

I heard a song this morning, and the soloist asked the Presence of the Lord to follow her.  I listened and then said, out loud, “I need the Presence of God to lead, accompany, and follow me.”  (Yes, I need Him like that!)  I need Him to lead me so that I know I am heading in the right direction.  I need Him to accompany me—to walk right beside me—to encourage, protect, and strengthen me.  And I certainly need Him behind me, knowing that He always has my back.

Later, I was reading John 4:1-10 (NKJV).  It may be familiar to many of you.  It’s the story about Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman. 

Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.  4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.  It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water.  Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”  For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

I’d like you to look at verse 6 again.  Did you notice that Jesus was already there when the Samaritan woman came by?  He didn’t care about where she’d been, what she’d done, or any of the things we judge others by.  And He wasn’t even there to simply ask for a drink.  He was there to give her a drink of living water.  He was there to meet her where she was and to offer her something that no one else could.

Sisters, God loves you that much.  He wants to meet your needs.  He wants to love you like no one else can.  He offers to you that living water that will spring up inside of you to sustain you in those desolate places that do sometimes present themselves in life.

God is right there beside you now.  He is there to meet you right where you are.  As a matter of fact, He’s been waiting for your arrival.

Entrée

Thank You, Lord

The Manna Chef

Sisters, I want you to do something for me today.  You see, today it’s going to be very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle that Thanksgiving Day may bring.  Let’s face it:  if you didn’t start last night, some of you are up right now trying to get that turkey in the oven.  Others, like me, are on the road traveling to your holiday destination.  There’s so much to do, right?  Your list may look something like:

o Clean the house.

o Prepare for guests.

o Cook a delicious dinner and dessert.

o Get the kids ready and keep them occupied.

o Do I have time for a nap?

o What am I even wearing?

o Plan for tomorrow’s (or tonight’s) shopping.

But, wait!  Have you taken a moment to just say, “Thank you, Lord”?  Did you spend some quality time with your Heavenly Father this morning?  Will you take a moment to read His Word and to talk to Him today?  Will you make Him a priority in your busy day?

Right now, take a moment to reflect on the goodness of God.  Things may not be perfect today, but the Lord you serve has everything under control.  He knows just how to take care of you and sprinkle sunshine in your life.  Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed in the midst of the demands that are trying to make their way to you right now.  You are a daughter of the King.  Breathe.  Relax.  Smile. Laugh—a lot!  Enjoy time spent with family and friends.

I encourage you throughout the day to simply find yourself in the place of gratitude.  Think of all of the blessings you have received just this year.  Look at how many times God has moved on your behalf and all of the ways He has made just for you.  (You know He has created a road in your wilderness and a river in your desert!  (Isaiah 43:19))  He has blessed you so many times!

And before you ask God for another thing, take the time to say, “Father, I just want to thank You!”

Entrée

He’s Still Good

The Manna Chef

Sometimes life can be tough when we get consumed in the cares of the world.  We may even find ourselves crying out to God, “Why me?”  We are hurt, and we can’t seem to move beyond our circumstances.  Let’s face it, even the strongest of the strong have their moments. 

Life is a series of cycles from suffering to overcoming.  And in the moments of intense suffering, we sometimes ask God, “Do You see me?  Are You really listening to my prayers?  Do You really know what I’m going through?”

The thing is, God heard you the moment the words came out of your mouth.  As a matter of fact, He heard them when they were still just thoughts floating around in your head.

God is trying to get us to quit focusing all of our energy and attention on our problems, burdens, tests, and circumstances – whatever it is that is causing us discomfort.  Instead, He wants us to focus on Him, the God we serve, and praise Him in the midst of it all. 

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