The Meals

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The Pause Button

The Manna Chef

Have you ever been fully engrossed in a movie and then needed to push “pause”? The movie is still on; you just had to step away for a moment to complete another task or tend to another matter.  Well, I want to encourage anyone who is experiencing that scenario in real life.  You were in full pursuit of the promises of God, and then He pushed the pause button.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV)

There is a time for everything that God has ordered for your life, but God operates outside of our time.  We operate in chronological time (chronos)—the sequential, linear passage of time.  But God moves through chronos and operates in kairos, which does not measure how much time passes but what happens within it—God’s appointed time—that moment when God’s will connects with your purpose, your faith, and your obedience.   

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8 NKJV)

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Purpose in the Storm

The Manna Chef

After experiencing an amazing move of God at The Manna Chef Sisterhood Fellowship in Cincinnati, OH, several members of the Manna Tribe and I went on our annual retreat to rest, recover, and plan for our gathering next year.  We arrived at the airport, eager to see what was in store for us, as we knew God was still moving behind the scenes.  I always look forward to our time together, enjoying the laughter and meaningful conversations, so I was already excited.

The agent at the counter announced that the time had come to board the airplane.  We were in different “zones,” so we boarded at different times.  Once all of the passengers were seated on the plane (and buckled in), we began to watch the safety video, and the plane began to move. 

All of a sudden, the pilot made an announcement, “A storm is approaching in just a few minutes, so we will wait here on the tarmac.  There’s no need to deplane, we will just wait until the storm passes, and then we’ll be on our way.”

I was sitting in a window seat, so I pulled up the window shade and watched as the rain started pouring down on us.  I thought, “Thank You, God, for allowing us to wait for this storm to pass.  You didn’t let us experience the severe weather in the sky.”  We had been sitting on the tarmac for quite some time when we heard a flight attendant exclaim, “Is there a medical professional on the plane?”

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Can’t Touch This

The Manna Chef

Sisters, you are not on this planet by chance, and nothing about you is coincidental.  God designed you specifically for His use for such a time as this.  You matter to God; you always have!  He cares so deeply for you and everything that concerns you. 

I want you to take some time to reflect on what God has promised to you—personally.  If you have a moment, actually write some promises down on paper so that you can read them repeatedly.  The Bible is full of promises to us, but we may be unaware for a number of reasons, including (1) we don’t spend time in the Word of God, and (2) we don’t actually believe that God will do what He said He would do for us.  (Father, please have mercy on us!)

Many of us are living beneath our privileges because we voluntarily give them up, and not as the result of some fierce battle.  We give up so easily when things seem rough or when things don’t turn out the way we thought they would.  Sometimes, the enemy fools us into believing that so much time has passed that maybe God is not going to come through for us.  And other times it’s not even the enemy—we simply throw in the towel and quit before the promise manifests. 

Sisters, don’t give up and walk away from your destiny.  What you carry is so important in the Kingdom of God.  We need you!  You are fully equipped for what God has ordained in your life.  You have what you need; you just need to tap into what is already inside of you.  Ask the Lord to show you the strategies you need in this season of your life.  And then do what God requires of you. 

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Creative, Able, and Committed

The Manna Chef

You know those moments when you think about your life, even from childhood?  Well, today, I had that moment.  I was thinking about the start of the school year in second grade (yes, I can remember back that far!), when I was placed in the gifted program, “Creative, Able, and Committed.” 

Of course, back then, I didn’t think much about the title of the program; I just knew it meant I was going to another classroom for math and science.  (And later, I would realize that I had to do twice the classwork!)  However, today, God allowed me to reflect on the actual words: creative, able, and committed.  I am all of those things because He designed me that way.  And then, I began to focus on one word: committed. 

Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV) says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.”

According to Merriam-Webster, commit means to entrust; to pledge or assign for use; to put in charge.  Establish means to institute permanently; to make firm or stable; to set up; to gain acceptance.  Works are tasks or jobs; achievements; everything possessed, available, or belonging to.

Let’s look back at the Scripture:  Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.

In other words, entrust God with everything you are and do, and He will set you up for success because your thoughts are shaped by Him.

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Crucified with Christ

The Manna Chef

This week, the whole world will set aside time to acknowledge the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Churches all over the world will hold special services on Good Friday to revisit “The Last Words of Jesus.” 

On Sunday, some of those same churches will rent out convention centers and arenas to welcome thousands of people who will attend worship services, wearing their Sunday best.  (I can hear my mother say, “Girl, you are sharp as a tack,” or “Boy, you are cleaner than the board of health!”  I sure do miss her.)  Later, after eating a delicious dinner, many families may watch “The Ten Commandments” on television. 

After all, this week is paramount in the lives of believers.  Our entire relationship with God and our salvation are based upon Who Jesus is and the sacrifice He chose to make for us.  We should forever be grateful that He lives, He bled, He died, and He rose with all power for you and me! 

But, after the celebrations are held throughout Holy Week, I wonder, “Will anything really change in our daily lives when the services end?” 

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