Thursday, November 28, 2024

Gratitude For the Manna


In the book of Exodus, God provided for His people. They were living a nomadic life. He provided just what they needed, just how much they needed for the duration it was needed.
It is what Jeaus prayed so many years later
📖  Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

He provided what they needed each day. With instructions on how to harvest and store for that day and that day only. He would take care of the next. 

📖 The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.  This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.  And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.  On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?  Exodus 16:11-28

Some didn't trust that there would be enough. They gathered more than instructed and it molded...spoiled. 
They believed it was up to them to make sure there wasn't a shortage..even when God had given specific instructions as to the gathering of the mana. 
They weren't grateful for what they did have.

Today..or maybe sometime this week most everyone is going to sit down to a pretty lavish dinner. Not mana and quail...but a feast.
I would even venture a guess that within the past year you have had at least one meal a day.
We are abundantly blessed. 
But do we behave that way? Do we think that way? 
In our humanness  we tend to skip over what we have been blessed with to the what we are lacking. 
"Lord thank you for these blessings, but I really need....."

God has taken care of our needs. And He will continue. If we had nothing in our cupboards He would still take care of our needs. 
📖  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippines 4:19

I know that some situations are dire, money is short, a job might be gone, sickness might be overwhelming, there is at least one empty chair.....but I know that in all things...
📖  Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-187

God will take care of our need and that is something worth rejoicing about,
to communicate with Him continuously,
to be grateful in what we are provided.

🙏🏼 Heavenly Father, I pray that each of us can look at all You have given us and be grateful.  I pray we spread our blessings and gratitude to others and share Your love to those around us.♥️

🦃 Thanksgiving Day 🦃
                   Tracey Thompson       ©TJT 2010

Thanksgiving is a time to gather those we love close by

We laugh and eat and celebrate and even enjoy some pie

We eat until our bellies are full, we work, and rest and play

But do we stop and give pause on Thanksgiving day?

To reflect on all the blessings that are showered from above

Gifts from our Lord and Savior, who lavishes us with love

Will we stop to think as we dress ourselves that morn,

 that we have choices of what to wear, what color or how warm?

As we bathe and shower and brush our teeth so clean

Should we pause and be grateful for the gift of simple hygiene?

As we prepare the food, with extra portions to spare

Will we take the time and thank the Lord that we have enough to share?

 As we smile across the table from family and loved ones so dear

Should we stop and say ”Thank you, Lord,  for all those gathered here”?

 As stories and memories are shared, even some with tears

Will we give thanks for those who touched our lives over the passing years?

 God has blessed us so with much, our cups to overflowing,

 if we only take the time and find what is most important in knowing

 that God’s love, and grace and mercy is there for us each day

 and we must share it with others we meet along the way.


Thank you God and Father

For loving us so

That you sent your Son

So Salvation we could know





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