Dear Manna Family;

The corona virus pandemic has highlighted our interdependence on one another.

Most people practice social distancing, not only to avoid getting Covid 19, but also to avoid giving it to others by accident.

Personal freedom says ‘I’m going to do whatever I want to do, regardless of the consequences to others.’

Personal responsibility says ‘I’m willing to limit my personal freedom for the benefit of others.’

Some people refuse to limit their freedom of association, even though it may harm others.

Romans 14 tells us that love for others should determine how we exercise our personal liberty.

The human body itself is a study in loving servant hood, where each member does its part for the good of the whole body.

The Apostle Paul compares the spiritual body of Christ to the physical human body.

I Corinthians 12

Vs 12 For even as the body is one, and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Vs 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Every part of the physical body has a role to play that is vital to the health of the whole body.

There is no part of the human body that is more important than any other part.

Paul says that the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you’, or the head say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’

The other day, I smashed my toe into the leg of a chair, and now I have a swollen, purple toe.

Believe me, when your toe is screaming in pain, your whole body is concerned about the toe.

In the same way, the Body of Christ is commanded to care for one another, so that God’s family can be healthy and whole.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;

Vs 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

We are all called to serve each other, not with arrogance or pride, but with humility.

We are living in a time of uncertainty and change which can create stress and anxiety.

It’s very easy to only think about our own self interest.

However, when we treat others as more important than ourselves, we are loving like Jesus.

This pandemic has highlighted how much we need to love and serve each other.

This is a great time to ask God to show you how to put His love into action through your life.

Jesus said in

John 13: 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Remember, God designed us to ‘do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family:

I can imagine many people are praying more as a result of the corona virus pandemic.

The nation of Israel is a good example for us today.

God had moved Jacob to Egypt where his family grew from 70 people into a nation of 2 million people.

Sometime during their stay in Egypt, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians.

Exodus 1: 11 So, they (the Egyptians), appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor.

Vs 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously imposed on them.

2: 23 And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God.

Israel began to pray and ask God for help.

We know that they had been slaves for over 80 years.

God had a plan for His people and He called Moses to be their human deliverer.

Exodus 3: 7 And the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.

Vs 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey……

God says, “I see, I hear, and I am going to take action and bring My people out of Egypt into the good land of Canaan.

It’s important to understand that God always knows what people say when they pray.

However, just because we ask for something, doesn’t mean that God will give us what we ask for, or when we ask for it.

God answers prayers in one of three ways, ‘Yes, No, or Wait.’

When trouble knocks down the front door of our life, prayer is often the last thing we do, rather than the first thing we do.

We generally try to fix it ourselves before we ask God for help.

We don’t know how long it took Israel to ask God for help when they were enslaved in Egypt.

However, as of today, we in the United States have not yet had a national day of prayer specifically asking for God’s help with this pandemic.

How bad does it need to get before we humble ourselves and pray?

Maybe humility is one of the lessons God is teaching us through this tiny virus.

Whatever burden you are carrying, roll it onto God’s shoulders, because He cares for you.

I Peter 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

Vs 7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family,

We live in uncertain times.

Uncertainty conveys the idea of unpredictability and ambiguity.

Certainty speaks to that which is predictable and specific.

A pandemic is so uncertain, because so much about it is unknown.

After all, the last truly global pandemic occurred in 1918.

The corona virus is full of uncertainties.

Will I or my loved ones be infected with the virus?

How will this pandemic change the world we live in?

When will it end, and will we ever be able to go back to living like we did before the pandemic, or are we now entering a ‘new normal?’

Is anything certain in an uncertain world?

A good example of living with certainty in uncertain times is Daniel.

In 605 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar invaded the kingdom of Judah for the first time and deported members of the Jewish nobility to Babylon.

Daniel, who was a teenager at the time, was among those captured and taken 500 miles away to the city of Babylon.

His whole world was turned upside down.

King Nebuchadnezzar was always on the lookout for talent to help him administer his empire.

So Daniel and other Jewish youths were enrolled in a three year Babylonian leadership development program.

They lived in what we would call ‘dormitories’ and ate the food that the king provided.

However, the king’s food was considered to be ‘unclean’ according to the Law of Moses.

It would be considered a sin for a Jew to eat it.

Most people would say, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’

Daniel 1: 8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

Vs 9 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the officials.

Notice that Daniel made up his mind to honor God, even as a slave in foreign land.

Everything in Daniel’s circumstances had changed, but Daniel’s convictions didn’t change.

Daniel trusted the certainty of God’s presence and God’s promises, and God honored Daniel’s faith.

When he asked permission of the authorities to not eat the king’s food it was granted.

No matter how much uncertainty the corona virus has brought into your life, you can trust in the eternally certain character of God.

We serve a God who controls the destinies of planets, people and even tiny viruses.

In these uncertain times, make up your mind, like Daniel did, to trust and obey the God who never changes.

They watch what He will do in your changing world.

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family;

When you are driving to a destination, there is generally more than one way to get ‘there.’

Often there is a freeway or a highway.

You get where you are going quickly, but you don’t see much on the way.

The whole point of a freeway is the destination, not the journey.

Sometimes, however, there is a ‘scenic route’ or a ‘back country road’ to our destination.

It’s almost always slower, less efficient, far less predictable, but the scenery can be spectacular……..if we slow down enough to see it.

Someone in the Bible who had trouble with the ‘scenic route’ was Jesus’ friend, Martha.

Luke 11 tells us the story.

Vs 38 Now as they, (Jesus and His disciples), were traveling along, He entered a certain village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

Vs 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.

Vs 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”

Vs 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;

Vs 42 but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Two sisters, two different priorities, two different choices.

Martha prioritized tasks, Mary valued relationships.

Martha was a talker, Mary was a listener.

Martha’s destination was getting dinner on the table, and that drove her behavior.

Mary chose the slower, scenic route of listening to whatever Jesus had to say to her.

Martha’s life was dictated by her task list, while the center of Mary’s life was listening to Jesus.

B.T.W: there is nothing wrong with working hard to prepare dinner or do any other task.

A diligent work ethic is commanded in the Bible.

But the text says that all her hard work had distracted Martha.

He task list had distracted her from the most important thing; her relationship with Jesus.

It’s not that dinner wasn’t important, but it wasn’t as important as listening to Jesus.

It’s easy to criticize Martha, and yet we fall into the same trap.

Our agendas fill up our calendars because we believe that working for Jesus is more important that listening to Jesus.

The truth is, our work for Jesus flows out of our relationship with Jesus.

This coronavirus pandemic has forced us to stay at home.

This is a good time to get out of the fast lane, sit down, and listen to Jesus.

Mary made time for what matters most; time alone with Jesus.

So should we.

Remember, God designed us to ‘do life together!’

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family,

Carry On Smartly is a United States Naval term that means keep doing your job.

Complete your current task.

Almost like ‘get back to work.’

One of Israel’s greatest prophets Elijah had this experience.

Israel had forsaken God and was worshiping the Phoenician false god, Baal.

Elijah called all Israel to a great confrontation at Mount Carmel to demonstrate who was the true God.

Yahweh, the God of Israel, sent fire from heaven that consumed Elijah’s offering and proved that He alone was God.

You can read the entire story in I Kings chapter 18.

Wicked queen Jezebel was furious and promised to execute Elijah.

Elijah became terrified and went A.W.O.L.: Absent With Out Leave.

He ran for his life and was so depressed that it took him 40 days to travel about 250 miles south to Mount Sinai, the mountain where God had given Israel the Ten Commandments.

God met his discouraged prophet on the mountain and asked, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

In other words, “Elijah, I called you to be My representative in Israel.

Why did you run away from your job?”

Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life to take it away.”

In other words, I’m the only one left in Israel that is loyal to You, and they are trying to kill Me, so I ran away.

God replied, “Go back to work, and by the way, I’ve got three more jobs for you to do.”

God said, “Carry on smartly, keep being My prophet.

And, Elijah, be encouraged, you are not alone.

There are more than 7,000 people in Israel who have remained faithful to Me.”

This lesson is so timely for us today.

Just because there is a corona virus pandemic doesn’t mean that God’s mission for us has changed.

We are still to be “making disciples” and telling people about Jesus.

Don’t let a virus distract you from your mission.

When Paul was imprisoned in Rome and chained to Praetorian Guards, his mission didn’t change, his location changed and his audience changed.

He was under house arrest and his prison guards were chained to him, so he had a captive audience for the gospel

In Paul’s case, being a prisoner was not a detriment, it actually enhanced his ability to tell others the good news of Jesus.

Just like Paul, our physical circumstances have changed dramatically as a result of this virus.

We can’t gather face to face as a church family in a physical building.

We are now connected electronically.

This can actually enhance our ability to reach out to people who are feeling isolated by the virus.

As a matter of fact, many people today are feeling like they are prisoners in their own homes.

This is the time for us to ‘reach out and touch’ someone who needs encouragement and tell them that Jesus loves them. Let’s not forget what God has called us to do.

So, “Carry on smartly!”

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Brad

Dear Manna Family,

How fast life can change!

Most of the time, today looks a lot like yesterday, and so we assume that tomorrow will look a lot like today.

Most of the time that’s true, but not always.

When 911 occurred and the USA was attacked, our world changed in an instant.

We no longer felt as safe as we did the day before, even in our own country.

The tragedy of terrorism was no longer ‘over there.’

Now it was ‘right here, right now.’

Earlier this year, the corona virus seemed to be someone else’s problem, far far away.

Now this infectious, invisible enemy is spreading exponentially all around the world and it has changed our world, almost overnight.

In times like these, we need to remember that God really is in control of everything.

When the disciples were in the boat with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee, a storm suddenly sprang up and threatened their lives…………until Jesus calmed the storm. ( Matthew 8: 23-27)

When the Shunamite woman’s only son suddenly died, she grieved…….until God used Elisha to raise her son from the dead. (2 Kings 4)

Peter, the leader of Jesus’ twelve disciples, trusted in his own strength and denied even knowing Jesus……….until the Holy Spirit filled him with divine power, and then thousands came to faith in Christ. (John 18 and Acts 2)

When Stephen preached a powerful sermon to the Jewish religious leaders, they were convicted of their sin, but instead of repenting, they stoned him to death……….and he saw Jesus face to face in heaven. (Acts 7)

Not all change ends in ‘happily ever after,’ as we define ‘happily ever after.’

Change is seldom peaceful and it is often frightening.

We sing the old song, “This is My Fathers World.”

That’s very true, but as The Owner of Everything, God can and will do whatever He chooses with what belongs to Him, and that includes us.

It’s comforting to know that our Heavenly Father loves us, and arranges everything for our good and His glory…………even sudden changes from a small virus!

Remember, God designed us to ‘do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family:

As part of the strategy to combat the coronavirus, we have been told to practice social distancing and to shelter in place.

About 850 B.C. the prophet Elijah was told to do the same thing.

As a result of Israels’ refusal to repent from their wicked ways, God told His prophet Elijah to go to King Ahab and tell him that God was sending a drought on the entire land.

For an agricultural economy, drought meant famine which meant starvation and death.

We have recently experienced long lines at the grocery stores as people rush to stock up on supplies.

Back then, there were no grocery stores; if you didn’t grow it, you didn’t eat.

I Kings 17

Vs 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

Vs 2 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Vs 3 “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

Vs 4 It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”

Vs 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

Vs 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.

After Elijah went to the palace and pronounced God’s judgment to King Ahab’s face, God told him to practice social isolation.

Go hide yourself, all by yourself, so that Ahab cannot find you.

He was to get out of the country and camp outdoors by a brook, with zero human contact.

No phone calls, emails, texts, tweets, television, or even the Pony Express.

The only communication he had was with God Himself.

He was to depend on God alone.

God commanded to ravens to bring him food, and the raven was an unclean bird according to the Mosaic Law.

Ravens often scavenged seeds from dung, and God commanded these birds to bring him bread and meat twice a day. The meat was probably carrion, which we would call ‘road kill.’

God provides what we need, not always what we want.

I think I need to stop complaining about the restaurants being closed!

God may want you to self quarantine for spiritual reasons, not just for medical reasons.

Maybe God wants time alone with you, because He loves you and wants to reveal Himself and His will to you.

When you are home alone, consider turning off all the electronic devices, so you can ‘be still and know that I am God.’ ( Psalm 46:10)

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Brad

Dear Manna Family,

Last time we saw that the kingdom of Judah was about to be invaded by a coalition of neighboring kings.

They were terrified and King Jehoshaphat led them to seek God in a national day of prayer.

Today we’ll see how God responded to their prayer for help.

2 Chronicles 20: 14 …..the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel…..

Vs 15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.

Vs 17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. ‘Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.’”

Vs 21……(then) those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him…..went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the LORD, for HIs lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Vs 22 And when they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.

God told His people to get into battle positions…………..but not to fight.

It was God’s job was to fight, it was their job was to watch and praise, and in this case, praise required great faith.

The nation of Judah went out to meet an enemy army, not carrying instruments of war, but instruments of worship, not fighting, but singing.

And, the people on the very front lines, who faced the enemy first, were not soldiers, they were musicians dressed in their ‘choir robes’, praising the LORD for HIs loyal love.

They faced their enemies with joy, because they believed God’s promise that He would save them.

And He did, in miraculous ways.

God caused their enemies to become so confused that they destroyed each other.

When Israel walked into the battlefield, all they saw were dead enemy soldiers and a great deal of spoil.

There was so much booty that it took them three days to carry it all home.

And on the fourth day, they held a prayer and praise meeting and gave God thanks for His miraculous deliverance.

We all face enemies; sometimes it’s a person, more often it’s a situation or a circumstance.

The lesson is clear.

Whatever your circumstance, whatever your enemy or fear is, face it with praise.

We can praise God in every circumstance, because He has promised to be with us, to fight for us and save us.

Praise Him for HIs promises and then live in light of His presence!

Remember that God designed us to “do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family,

The recent coronavirus has created a large amount of fear in our world.

We hear it in the news, in conversations and online.

Long lines and overflowing grocery carts reveal our fear that there won’t be ‘enough.’

Fear is a response to something that we think will harm us or cause us pain.

Fear can keep us safe while crossing a busy intersection, but it can also paralyze us.

So, how do we manage fear?

We manage fear by focussing on God.

A good example of this was King Jehoshaphat of Judah who faced a great threat.

Several neighboring kings made an alliance to invade and destroy Judah, and Jehoshaphat became very afraid.

2 Chronicles 20 : 3 And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Vs 4 So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.

Vs 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD before the new court,

Vs 6 and he said, “O LORD, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.

When Jehoshaphat felt fear, he changed his focus.

He stopped focussing on what He feared, and turned his attention to seek the LORD through prayer and fasting.

He brought what he feared to God and put his problem in God’s hands.

This is crucial.

The object of our faith is far more important than the amount of our faith.

Jesus said that tiny faith, faith the size of a mustard seed, could move mountains.

You can have great faith in the tooth fairy, but it won’t do any good, because the tooth fairy is a myth. (sorry to break the news to you!)

Only God is worthy of our faith, because only God rules over everything, including the things that cause us fear.

Whatever you fear, bring it to the LORD and put it into His hands.

‘You’re in good hands with Jesus!’

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Love and prayers,

Brad

Dear Manna Family:

Perspective is one of my favorite words.

It means point of view, and it refers to a place where you stand in order to view the world around you.

Sometimes when you are driving, you will see a sign that says “scenic outlook” or “scenic overview.”

This usually refers to an elevated point from where you can see the ‘big picture.’

In the middle of a global pandemic, we need a big picture point of view.

We need God’s point of view.

One example of seeing a situation from God’s perspective is the prophet Elisha.

God had supernaturally enabled Elisha to warn the king of Israel about upcoming attacks by the king of Syria, who shared a border with Israel.

So the king of Syria sent an army into Israel to capture Elisha.

2 Kings 6: 14 And he sent horses and chariots and a great army there and they came by night and surrounded the city.

Vs 15 Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

Vs 16 So he answered, “ Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Vs 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

It certainly looked hopeless.

How could two men overcome an entire army with horses and chariots?

The servant was filled with fear, but Elisha was filled with faith.

They had different responses because they saw different things.

The servant saw Syria’s human army, Elisha saw God’s heavenly army.

When God opened the servants eyes, he saw that God’s army of angels had surrounded Syrias’ army of soldiers.

That’s a heavenly point of view, that’s seeing what God sees.

When we see life from God’s point of view, we can live without fear.

Our circumstances seem uncertain to us, but nothing is uncertain to our God.

God has already provided us with everything we need for every circumstance we encounter, including a global pandemic.

Seeing from God’s perspective is understanding that God is using every event to draw people to Himself.

God is using a tiny virus to open large doors for the gospel.

Let’s make sure we follow Him through those open doors.

That’s the eternal perspective.

Remember, God designed us to “do life together!”

Love and Prayers,

Brad