The Meals

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True Love

The Manna Chef

Do you know that God loves you, really loves you?  Sisters, He loves you so much—so much more than you could ever even imagine. 

We use the word “love” all the time.  We love our favorite TV show.  We love our favorite purses and our favorite pair of shoes.  We love our favorite foods and desserts.  We love Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  We love songs, books, and all kinds of other things.  I know people who have even loved just the feeling of being “in love.” 

You see, we use the word love a whole lot, sometimes haphazardly.  Unfortunately, that may cause us to lose sight of what love really means and how powerful love really is.  We may not fully grasp the reality that God truly does love us.  And oh, He loves His precious daughters!

And I’m not just talking about His love for His people or His love for “the Church.”  I’m talking about His love for you—specifically.  You!  God truly loves (insert your name here)! Sisters, God really loves you.  He even gave His own Son for (insert your name here). 

He knows everything there is to know about you.  He designed you with such care that He even knows how many hair follicles are on your head!  He has left nothing to chance concerning your life.  Nothing!  Nothing about you is coincidental.  He put a great deal of thought into your life!

His love for you is unconditional, and it won’t change, no matter what!  Even when we change up on Him, His love for us will never change.  It’s true that sin brings separation in our relationship with God, but even in our darkest moments, God is right there—still loving us all the way through those moments.  You can never go so far away that God cannot reach you.

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A Very Different Road

The Manna Chef

Sometimes, in moments of deep reflection, I look at the twists and turns my life has taken.  I’ll admit, I don’t understand why certain things have happened and I won’t be so super spiritual and pretend that I have welcomed everything that has occurred.  I have had many days when I wondered, “How can I know God like I do and still end up here?”  And other times, I have asked the Lord, “Why have You allowed this to happen to me (or to those who I love dearly)?”  I know that God is Omniscient, and I really do trust Him, but my mind cannot completely process everything that happens all the time. 

But I can tell you that I firmly believe Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  I know that what I have experienced throughout my life has made me a more compassionate person, I’ve gained wisdom well beyond my years, and hopefully it has made me a better woman of God (including wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend).

I can honestly say that I love God more now than ever.  I remember, as a little girl, hearing a song, “I Love Jesus More Than I Did Yesterday.”  I used to love the song, and now that I’m older, I realize it rings true for me.  And I’m grateful to know that God loves me too, because the enemy is always close by trying to tell me the opposite.

You see, the last few years tossed me a few curve balls that I wasn’t completely prepared for.  I found myself crying out to God from the very depths of my soul.  Sometimes, I have seen the spiritual storms before they arrive, but every now and then, I experience a “pop-up storm.” 

I began to wonder, “Is this what I am supposed to be doing with my life right now?”  I seek God daily for direction, so it’s a sincere question because I want to be sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit.  But let’s be real, we have all imagined where are lives will be in 5, 10, 20 years.  (I’m grateful that God’s ways are not my ways because who knows where I’d be, even with the best intentions.)  I took a long look at my life and it left me with one word:  Grateful. 

I’m grateful for it all: the good, the bad, and the very ugly.  It’s all part of God’s plan.  And the windy road to get where I am today is by design.  Don’t believe me?  Well, check this out: 

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17-18)

Notice that God didn’t lead them along the shortest route—the easiest route—to the Promised Land.  Look at your life.  You probably haven’t experienced the shortest route either.  God knows that adversity may cause us to waiver, and we may be tempted to turn back and miss the blessings and opportunities that God has waiting for us.  That same adversity can actually build you and propel you forward into your destiny if you remain faithful to God.  But let’s be honest; sometimes we wish for that easy route though, don’t we?

God knew His people then, and He knows His people now.  He even knows that His very own Manna Chef would not have benefited from the easier route.  She may not have had the testimony that she has that can reach the soul of others, even those who are not believers.  And, my dear sisters, He knows you, too.  Your life may be very different from what you thought it would be, but know that God is refining and pruning you each day.  You are His masterpiece, so you can’t go the route that “everyone” else is going.  But the road God made for you was built with purpose.  Trust Him, and follow His lead.

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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!

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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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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.