Tag: gifts

Entrée

Expectations

The Manna Chef

Sisters, who is measuring your success?  Many times, we are so focused on achievement and our perceived status that we lose sight of the real prize:  Jesus Christ and His limitless grace, mercy, and favor!  Our focus should be on living a life that is pleasing to God, not on how many material things we can acquire so we can appear successful to other people. 

And let me clear here, I certainly am not saying that you should not live well; I want you to live full:  full from the life that God promised you as you do what He put you here to do.  Jesus promised to give us life and life more abundantly.  We just need to focus on abundance in the Spirit, and He will do the rest.  Remember Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) reminds us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”   

I recently spoke to someone who shared that she was disappointed because she wasn’t where she “was supposed to be at this point in her life.”  How many of you have ever felt like that?  I wondered, “Who’s measurement was she trying to live up to?”  She was looking at where her friends were in their lives and referring to a list that she made when she was younger.

Pages: 1 2
Entrée

What Will You Give Him This Season?

The Manna Chef

When they [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:10-11 NKJV)

Sisters, as you prepare yourselves (and your families) for this holiday season, I want to remind you of a few things.  First, please remember that Jesus really is the Reason for the season.  Take some time to truly reflect on the goodness of Jesus Christ, the miracle of His birth, and His life as God in the flesh.  The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the best gift we could ever receive!  And reflecting on that should give you some breathing room through all the hustle and bustle as you prepare for Christmas Day. 

But the next reminder is really important, too, because I know some of you are on the verge of burnout from overdoing it this season.  So, I want you to really hold on to this one.  I began this entrée with Matthew 2:10-11, the description of the wise men (no, there weren’t three of them, the Bible doesn’t say that; it just sounds nice in Christmas songs) as they brought gifts to Jesus, who by then was a young child.  We’ve all read it or heard it, “They presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  So, my question to you is this:

What will you bring Him this season?

Pages: 1 2 3 4
Entrée

What’s in Your Hand?

The Manna Chef

Have you ever had that moment when you wonder if you’ve “missed it”?  Be honest with yourself.  (And admitting it doesn’t mean you lack faith, by the way.)  Whether it’s a dream that seems too far away, a career opportunity, a relationship with someone special, a business endeavor—that “something” that seems like it’s out of your reach now?  We have a list of excuses too:

  • If I was younger or older…
  • If I had more money…
  • If I was married or still single…
  • If I had another degree…
  • If I had just done this or that…

Well, I’m here to remind you that it’s not too late!  You woke up this morning, so there is yet time to accomplish that which God has placed on the inside of you.  He gave you that dream for a reason, so ask Him to show you how to implement the plans to produce results.  He has strategies that would never occur to you, so why not just ask Him?

Pages: 1 2 3
Entrée

From My Heart to Yours

The Manna Chef

I want you do to something for me.  Think about those conversations that you’ve had with the Lord when He just whispers in your spirit about the plans He has for you.  You know, those dreams that have been inside you for as long as you can remember.  What have you been dreaming about lately, or have you gotten so distracted with life that you’ve stopped dreaming?  God has placed some amazing things inside of you, and I really want you to allow Him to show you the real you, the one He formed with His own hands (the vessel He breathed life into).  Do you see her? 

God has placed gifts, talents, and abilities in you to bring Him glory.  I’m not going to talk about the parable of the talents.  (That one is for another day.)  Instead, I want to bring your attention to Philippians 2:13.  It says, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  He wants us to thrive, and it is for His good pleasure.  Sisters, you bring our Father joy!  He has so much love for you that it cannot be contained.  He delights in you.  Do you really know that?  Our Father delights in us.  And guess what?  Those gifts that you carry on the inside give glory to God and encourage others to develop their gifts for His Kingdom.

Pages: 1 2
Entrée

God’s Got You!

The Manna Chef

God’s got you!  Look, I know that is not grammatically correct, but I need you to really understand that today:  God’s got you right where you are!

God has been speaking to me about supernatural provision and His ability to take care of His children.  Surprisingly, He didn’t send me to Exodus with Moses and the children of Israel or to Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings.  He sent me to a passage that seemed odd at first, and I wondered, “What does this have to do with what You have given me, Lord?” 

But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples.  Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss.  But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!”  And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.

But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.  Luke 22:47-51(NLT)

First of all, let me give you some context here.  This passage describes for us the moment Jesus is betrayed and arrested.  Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, led a crowd that included soldiers and temple guards to capture Him.  They carried blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons as they arrived at the olive grove looking for Jesus.  Judas walked over to Jesus and kissed Him to identify the Man they were seeking, and chaos ensued.  The disciples were ready to throw down to defend Jesus.  Peter even drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus.  But Jesus shut it all down, and He healed the man’s ear.  He didn’t condemn the soldiers.  He didn’t yell at Judas.  He didn’t run away.  Before willingly allowing the soldiers to take Him, He performed a miracle and healed Malchus—a man who was there with the crowd to arrest Him.  Even when it seemed as if the enemy was winning, Jesus stopped everything and showed us Who He really is. 

Pages: 1 2