We have all heard about living the American dream which usually includes a respectable job, nice home, new cars, vacations and the appearance that everything is just perfect. But the truth is that it’s just a dream. In time our beauty fades, relationships change and we can lose our jobs, homes, health and money. The storms of life can wash away our dream lives that are built on sand. Jesus told us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” He said, “I am the bread of life, I have the words…

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19 Yesterday I was in the grocery store as several shoppers clamored to buy, balloons, flowers, chocolates and cards all to express their love to their Valentine. I looked at…

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:8 Have you ever had one of those days where it feels you have a constant struggle with your attitude? You want to be joyful and happy because you have every reason to be, yet you still feel grouchy and unsettled. That was exactly how I was feeling today and thankfully God had an answer to my prayer for a peaceful spirit. – a paradigm shift. After I prayed and asked God to help me with my attitude I began reading a devotional that said, “You don’t fight for victory. You fight…

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. – Psalm 32:8 Yesterday we talked about the different places that the Lord lead the Israelites, each with a purpose of teaching them about the redemption He had provided for them, and us, before the creation of the world. His desire was that they would trust Him completely regardless of where He took them or what He asked them to do. 1 Corinthians 10:6 tell us that these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Over and over…

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1 I was studying in the Old Testament this week and read about the multiple times that the Israelites were thirsty. The first time the Lord had led them from the Red Sea into the desert to a place called Marah where they found undrinkable, bitter water. They grumbled to Moses who cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a piece of wood that when thrown into the water would make it become fit to drink. (Exodus…

For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. – John 6:33-35 When the Lord provided manna for the children of Israel, His intention was to teach them about daily dependence on Him. This daily reliance on Yahweh to provide bread from heaven, reminded them and us that there is something even better we can rely on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week….Jesus. Hunger means that we are in…

The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. – Exodus 16:31 Can you imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites to wake up that first morning and see the provision of the Lord displayed all around them? The bible tells us that it was like coriander seeds and tasted like wafers made with honey. I imagine that they slowly picked it up, examined it and cautiously lifted it to their lips and tasted it. Then their eyes lit up, smiles crossed their faces and they wanted more. After eating their portion for the day…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. – Exodus 16:4 As I’m writing today, there are large snowflakes slowly falling outside my window. It’s a very creative way for God to give me a visual while teaching me about His generous provision and my strong will. In the Old Testament we are told about the provision of God through Manna. It was bread from heaven that He rained down on the Israelites while they were in the…