Daily Bread

Matthew 16:8-11
Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread?

God has brought me to a place where I am totally dependent on Him for daily bread in order to fully seal my trust in Him. I no longer understand these verses with my head, but I rest in them with my heart. Thank you Jesus for building my faith one test at a time.

David's Heart

2 Samuel 3:31-32
Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also.

2 Samuel 3:38-39
Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"

Why does David mourn for those that have tried to hurt him? Why does he pay honor to Saul after he was hunted for years? Perhaps David respected the office in spite of the man occupying the throne. Perhaps it was more than that.

I believe that even though David cried out to God in Psalms, he was able to rest in the knowledge that God had it under control. David submitted himself to become God's tool for justice, but he left revenge in God's hands.

When I know the end of the story, it makes it easier to endure the painful chapters. I must submit myself to Him daily.

Prophetic Picture

Joshua 3:14-16
The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.

God gave me this image as a prophetic picture tonight. I sensed that our work is piling up in a heap, and it can't be released until we complete our bankruptcy.

Thank you Jesus for the dry ground. We look forward to the work that you have for us.

Prophetic Picture

I was given a prophetic picture from two ladies that only know me by name. Here is what resonated with me:

• I was a pilot with a headset.
• My instruments were in front of me, and I can not see the ground.
• I am on God's flight plan.
• Even though I can't see how to get to the destination, I must trust my instruments and stay on course.
• I must daily choose to stay on God's plan to get to the destination
• I am in constant contact with God. When I speak, He listens, and when He speaks, I listen.

These women did not know that I was a pilot or that this would clearly encourage me. Thank you Jesus for the encouragement.

Promise Secured

Matthew 7:7-11
Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

David was anointed King and then chased around the country by Saul for many years. He was given a promise that seemed impossible with earthly wisdom.

God is good, and He only gives me good gifts. If I must go through some temporary pain, it is only so that He can get me to a better place and bless me in the future. My promise may not come the way I expected or the way I wanted, but at the end of the book the promise is secure.

We Love Mana

Tiffany was given $50 this week for mowing lawns and baby sitting.

Our dear friends brought over pizza, cookies, and coke for tax day. Is there anything better than Chicken, Bacon, Ranch pizza?

Thank you Jesus for your daily blessings!

Cleaning up the Mess

Psalms 11:7 MSG
God's business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.

Psalms 11:7 NIV
For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face.

Now that the trucks and the trailers are gone, God is cleaning up the mess. He is setting us free and making the lines straight again. Thank you Jesus for cleaning up my mess, and for giving me a fresh start.

40 Days of Taunting

1 Samuel 17:16
Each morning and evening for forty days, Goliath took his stand and made his speech.

1 Samuel 17:26
David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked, "Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?"

1 Samuel 17:45-47
David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!"

During my 40 day fast, Satan loved to taunt me and tell me that fasting would not make a difference. I must take an active step. I am ready to slay the giants that are taunting me and stealing my hope.

"When faith is all I have, that is when God creates and builds His champions"

My Weakness

2 Corinthians 13:5-9
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.

We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

I have been concerned that my failure would cause those around us to stumble. Would they question the sovereignty of the God that we serve? Would they say, "Where is your God now, why didn't He save you?" Perhaps their perception of my God will come from the way I respond to the situation. If I mope around all day, our neighbors will see a God sized failure.

I must choose to face each day with a smile on my face resting in the joy of my salvation. The things of this world are temporary, and He will use my failures for His Glory. When I trust that His grace is enough, my testimony is restored.

I have not lost my Spiritual authority. I rest in the knowledge that God will use my weakness to build the faith of those around me, and He will increase their spiritual maturity.

Today's Mana

Jesus directed us to the right attorney this weekend, and her office called this morning to schedule an appointment. When the receptionist said that Jill could see us on the 21st, I was a little disappointed. Then she said that Jill had an appointment available in 2 hours, but she knew that it was short notice. We took the appointment, and I am so glad that we did. We found the right attorney. Praise Jesus!

We were also blessed today with $500 for a project that we have been working on for several weeks. We are so honored to be able to tithe on these blessings as they come in.

Mo Mana

God sent Mo Mana this weekend.

• A close relative sent $260 on Saturday to help with legal expenses
• We were able to sell another household item for $500 today
• Jim lent us his dad's truck which we proudly drove to church today. We have nick named it "The Humbler" and we will post pictures soon.
  

Thank you Jesus for teaching us to live within our means and on cash!

More Like Him

2 Corinthians 11:30
If I have to "brag" about myself, I'll brag about the humiliations that make me like Jesus.

Every trial makes me more humble and more like Him. Thank you Jesus for the trials!

Mana Fairy Sighting

We were able to sell a piece of equipment this week, settle the balance on the loan, and we had $500 left over to pay the electric bill.

Thank you Jesus for every miracle, big or small

Give us a King

1 Samuel 10:18-19
Samuel called the people to assemble before God at Mizpah. He addressed the children of Israel, "This is God's personal message to you:

"I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I delivered you from Egyptian oppression—yes, from all the bullying governments that made your life miserable. And now you want nothing to do with your God, the very God who has a history of getting you out of troubles of all sorts.

"And now you say, 'No! We want a king; give us a king!'

"Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get! Present yourselves formally before God, ranked in tribes and families."

Since I have struggled and failed, I find myself ready to go back into slavery. I am looking for a job and a king to rule over me. A king to fight my battles for me. Now that He has set me free, why should I go back into bondage?

Share the Burden

2 Corinthians 8:9-14
You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit.

I will do what I can, and I know that God has sent me brothers to share the burden. Thank you Jesus for Bible Nuts.

Complete Trust

Matthew 6:30-34
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.


I needed this today. A reminder that when I worry, I am not trusting completely. When I try to control things there will never be peace.
No God. No peace.
KNOW God. KNOW Peace.

Mana Fairy Sighting

We received a check in the mail for $30 as a reimbursement for an exam for the VA Hospital.

Thank you Jesus for more mana!

Salvation

2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Jesus, Thank you hearing our cry for help, and for the salvation.

Don't Give Up

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

I may be forced into it, but I will not quit. Thank you Jesus for giving us the gift of faith.

Mana Fairy Sighting

The Mana Fairy was hard at work today. God sent blessings beyond belief:

• $50 Walmart Gift Card from our loved ones in California
• $50 Walmart Gift Card from our loved ones in Washington
• $300 Blessing for landscaping work

Our budget is like the lady pouring the oil. We have been down to our last $200 since January 1st. I keep thinking that we can't go on any longer, and then God sends another obedient person to bless us. May God bless those of you who are obedient Mana Fairies and multiply your reward 1,000x.

The Rescue

2 Corinthians 1:8 - 10
We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation - I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part.

God how many times have you saved us from bankruptcy, and we are in the same place again. As the fast comes to an end, I look forward to the doors that you will open next week. Either way, freedom lies at the end of the path. Thank you Jesus for Freedom!