Category: Entrée

Entrée

His Strength Is Perfect

The Manna Chef

“I have to be strong!”  How many times have you said those words?  We ignore how we really feel for the benefit of those around us.  But is that really beneficial?  Is ignoring your feelings helping you grow or heal?  Probably not.  Society teaches us that we have to always be strong, even to the detriment of our well-being.  And we see that message everywhere, teaching us to bury our feelings and not truly process our emotions.  But Sisters, that does not help you at all.   

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.  You don’t have to be strong.  You already are strong because the God you serve is Omnipotent.  He is all-powerful, and you have access to His strength.  I want you to stop trying to be anything—just be who you are.  If you are feeling sad today, feel sad.  If you are angry, be angry (and sin not!).  If you are frustrated, that’s okay, talk to God about whatever is on your mind.  But stop trying to be so strong. 

Now, let me clear, I’m not telling you to forget to put on the whole armor of God.  He instructs us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)  But did you notice that He instructs us to be strong in the Lord.  He’s not expecting you to meet today’s challenges in your own strength.  That’s why Jesus came to restore our relationship with God—to give us access to Him. 

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Entrée

Take that Step!

The Manna Chef

Sisters, how many of you have been sitting by, stuck for years, “waiting on God”?  Now, I’m not talking about those Sisters who really have been seeking God and are actually waiting for His command to pursue.  I’m talking to those Sisters who have gotten comfortable sitting idly on the sidelines, reciting that spiritual-sounding adage:  I’m waiting on God.  It’s a familiar response, even when it’s not actually true.  Some of us have been sitting and waiting for so long that our spiritual muscles are experiencing atrophy.  They have lost their power from a lack of use! 

Waiting on God does not mean you sit and do nothing.  Waiting on God is active.  That means you are praying and praising.  You are asking, seeking, and knocking.  You are walking in faith.  You are reading and studying His Word.  You are feeding your spirit man so that your faith will increase to allow you to do what God has called you to do.  Waiting is active.  And it requires some initiative from you.   

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Entrée

For Just a Moment…

The Manna Chef

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)

Sisters, I want you to do something for me—no, do it for you.  For a moment, stop everything and just take a breath, one deep breath. Today, I want you to intentionally rest.  Life is busy; we all know that.  But we need to take time to rest in the Lord, especially when life gets too busy! 

Today, take a break from all those plans, those to-do lists, and that ridiculously long agenda and choose to rest in the arms of your Heavenly Father.  Doesn’t that sound wonderful—to rest safely in His arms?

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Entrée

“When” Not “If”

The Manna Chef

This morning, as I was reading Isaiah 43:2 (NLT), God told me to take a closer look at the words in the Scripture.  Well, actually one word—when. 

When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

The Scripture doesn’t say “if you go through deep waters…”  It says “when.”  In other words, at some point in our lives, we are going to have to face some deep waters, some rivers of difficulty, and the fire of oppression.  If you haven’t encountered those types of situations, as my mom used to say, “Keep living!” 

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Entrée

God’s Math!

The Manna Chef

Have you ever noticed that God has a way of working beyond the limits that you seem to face every day?  When I was a student, one of my favorite subjects was math.  And years later, when I was a classroom teacher, I spent a lot of time teaching math to my own students.  (Any of my former students out there remember writing “I love math!” at the top of your papers?)   

God has been blowing my mind lately with His ability to work outside of the rules of mathematics.  I encourage you today to truly believe that God can move beyond what you see or even what you are used to experiencing.  When we are open to the possibilities that God presents, He can do some extraordinary multiplication (instead of just adding to provide increase).  For anyone struggling with faith to believe that God will provide for you no matter what, I’d like to share a few illustrations of how God moves beyond our limitations.

In John 6:9-14, Jesus took two fish and five loaves of bread and fed over 5,000 people, and there were many more than 5,000 present because only the men had been counted!  Verse 13 adds a bit more emphasis to the revelation of this miracle: there were even leftovers! The Scripture says that “over and above” remained.  The disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with leftovers!  That image amazes me!  They started with very little and had baskets of leftovers?  The people ended up with way more than they even started with.  Have you ever been there?

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