Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 04:52:29 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 25); BP: Ps. 34; RBTTY: I Pet. 2; Ez. 24-26
GREETINGS, DEAR PILGRIM:
I do hope this finds you well and having had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In just four short weeks Christmas will be here and then the New Year. Would you pray about God using you to help seven struggling, but deeply-committed pastors in the Philippines have motorcycles to use in their church-planting efforts? Each motorcycle (believe it or not) only costs around $500. They've already raised almost $250 of the $3,500 needed, but when you're only making little more than $1/day, it's a daunting task/goal indeed. So, would you pray about helping make "Leyte Miracle" become a reality? I know the Lord will bless you as you give. Please make your checks out to "Back to Bethel Ministries" and send them to me at P.O. Box 582, Coushatta, LA 71019. Each contribution is tax-deductible. Thank you for your help in this. God bless you!
In Jesus' Precious Love,
Bro. Tom
November 25 “He Knows”
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry. . . The Lord is nigh unto them that are a broken heart—and saves such as be of a contrite spirit . . .The Lord redeems the soul of His servants—and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.”
Psalm 34:15, 18, 22
Next time you feel like giving up, look up instead and whisper, “He knows.”
How easy it is to get discouraged and depressed when troubles come our way—especially if we inwardly say, “But I don’t deserve this.” And, maybe we don’t. But, the fact remains the troubles are still there and the question now is, “How are we going to respond to them?”
Elijah responded by fleeing for his life from the murderous overtones of Jezebel and sitting down under a scrawny juniper tree (I Kings 19:1-4). Even though the day before he’d called down fire from heaven and rid the earth of 850 false prophets (18:20-40), he still sat there and cried, “Lord, I’ve had enough. Take away my life—for I’m not any better off than my forefathers, who are dead and their bodies have turned to dust” (19:4).
Thankfully, the Lord didn’t listen to him and later on reminded him he wasn’t alone and there was still work to do (vv.5-18). And, thankfully He still does the same thing today, even as He did for David that day as he sat in the cave, Adullam, surrounded by those who wouldn’t likely be named “Men of the Year” or “Most Likely to Succeed” (I Sam. 22:1-2).
More times than not, when we’re feeling down and saying “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me” (Ps. 22:1) or “No man cares for my soul” (Ps. 142:4), we need to stop and recite today’s Manna aloud. Speaking these words aloud and personalizing them as our own will help free us from despondency and the pits of despair. As the song of another generation put it, “It’s amazing what praising can do. Alleluia!” Amen and amen!!
Yes, dear Pilgrim, so much of our inward victory depends on our outward praise. It’s all about “faith and focus”—for “as a man thinks (Heb. ‘sha ‘ar’—‘to split or open, a gate-keeper, to estimate, a porter, etc.’) in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7). Simply put, if our focus is upon our problems, rather than Christ’s presence. . .our sorrows, instead of His strength. . .others’ grumbling, instead of our Lord’s sufficient grace. . .we soon will find ourselves faltering both in faith and strength.
Spending some time meditating (lit., “chewing the cud”) on Ps. 34 will certainly renew your heart and mind if you’ll personalize it, Pilgrim. Saying aloud, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from ALL my fears” (v.4) will reinvigorate you. And, repeatedly reciting “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusts in Him” (v.8) will help keep a bitter aftertaste and sarcasm from your lips. Why not spend a few minutes right now “blessing and praising the Lord” (v.1)?
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