Tag: life

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Meditate on These Things

The Manna Chef

There is so much negativity in the world that we are often bombarded with bad news the moment we wake up and on a daily basis, too.  Between the extreme weather, the increasing incidents of violence, the ongoing pandemic statistics, racial injustice, homelessness—you get it—the list is unending!  If you are not careful, you may begin to focus on all of these issues instead of focusing on the God who has the final say over all of it.  And it’s really easy to say that none of it affects you, but you are human, so at some point, you will be affected whether you admit it to others or not. 

The pandemic alone has caused some mental health issues that often go ignored.  Listen to your body and your emotions when they are signaling an overload warning to you.  Don’t be so holy that you neglect your emotional well-being.  And learn how to be still and let the Lord minister to you.

Face it, Sisters, everything around you has the potential to influence your thoughts.  I want to encourage you to focus on the positive things and all of the blessings around you.  Look at Philippians 4:8 (NKJV):

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

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Who Told You That?

The Manna Chef

I recently asked, “Whose steps are you following?” to remind you to be intentional in following the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It’s a great reminder that nothing in our lives happens by chance and that we need to be aware at all times of the effects of our actions.  But today, I want to go even deeper.  If you’ve ever had to deal with negative thoughts, then this message is for you.

I remember many years ago reading about “negative self-talk.”  At the time, I was teaching middle schoolers, and it was a message that was near and dear to my heart.  I firmly believed (and I still do) that speaking words of life into our young people is vital to their development.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We need those same words of life.  And we need to speak them constantly.  (You have power of life and death right in your own mouth, according to Proverbs 18:21.)

This pandemic has altered our daily lives.  Many of us are working from home.  Others may not be working at all, while some are working nonstop as essential staff.  Don’t believe for a second that the enemy is not waiting by to speak all kinds of lies to you.  He wants to plant ideas of hopelessness and despair.  He wants you to be paralyzed from fear and for you to succumb to the pressure that is all around you.  He wants you to be depressed from being constantly inundated with bad news and frightening statistics.  Sisters, he wants desperately to defeat you.  Remember, he has three jobs: to steal, to kill, and to destroy, so you have to be prepared to defeat him. 

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Your Words Matter

The Manna Chef

I know that we are living in challenging times, but I want to encourage you to look at the good in the midst of all of the chaos going on around us. Listen to what God is whispering to you. Is He calling you for more prayer time with Him or more time spent in His Word? Is He encouraging you to spend more quality time with your loved ones? Are you able to get some much-needed rest? Or are you on the front lines showing that God truly takes care of His own while you are demonstrating His love and power to those seeking medical care?

I need to remind you of something today: your words are important. They have power, so be careful how you use them, especially now. You can speak blessings over your life or you can speak curses. Even in the midst of all that is going on right now, you can speak life, Sisters!

Let me give you a practical example. My grandmother (one of the greatest prophets to have ever lived) never allowed us to speak words of poverty. We weren’t allowed to say things like, “I’m broke.” We learned at an early age that our words spoke life and death and that we were responsible for how we used them. Instead of saying those negative words, we learned to call on the Lord to bless us. We learned to speak blessings into our lives–and yes, even into our wallets. It was a profound lesson, and I still remind myself of the power I have in my own mouth to create and manifest results. That shouldn’t really be a surprise though, should it?

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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?

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Breathe on Me, Lord

The Manna Chef

I was having “one of those days.”  It seemed as if life was hitting me hard from every direction.  For a moment, I couldn’t catch my breath.  And then I sat sit—very still.  I turned the lights out and just sat there waiting for God to speak to me.  What I really needed was for Him to just breathe on me to refresh my spirit.  Have you been there before?

I have learned to shut everything down when I need a moment with the Lord.  I create that space; I make the time.  I need His Presence every day, so I try to consistently make room for Him in my actual day—even on the busy days—not just at night before I go to bed.  I encourage you to take Jesus with you all day long.  Watch how your perspective changes throughout your day.  And when you have a weary day, go right to God. 

I have had to recite, “This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psalm 118:24) through tears.  I didn’t feel like rejoicing, but I was choosing to rejoice in the midst of the struggle, because I know joy brings strength.  (Yes, you can actually do that.)  I’ve learned to sit still and just breathe in the Presence of the Lord.

There’s a scene from the movie, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” that I completely love.  Actually, there are many scenes, but there’s one that comes to mind often.  At the end of the movie, Aslan breathes on those who were turned to stone, and they return to flesh once again.  That’s what I imagine when I read Job 33:4, “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” I need the breath of the Almighty every single day.

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