Guest post: It's Not About The Manna

A sincere thank you to Nikole of The Jackson 5 

for sharing this heartfelt and insightful post!

It’s Not About The Manna…

Occasionally I share from God's word as I ponder it during my quiet time. Most times, I read HIS word and am so humbled as the words seemingly jump from the pages and into my circumstances...I love how HIS word is living like that.

I've been reading the One Year Bible lately, and while reading about the Israelites wandering for 40 years and God's subsequent provision, I've been so challenged by a couple of points.

1) The Israelites had God's favor, though they didn't deserve it.

2) He never failed to provide for them...He gave them manna each day, and He shielded them from their enemies.

But, I kept having this nagging feeling as I continued to read the prescribed passage each day. The recurring thought I had was that it was never about the 'manna'. The Israelites put so much focus on it, but I kept feeling like they were missing something.

Then I read the passage for today. Moses was speaking to the Israelites, preparing them to enter the land that God had withheld from them for 40 years...the land that should have only taken them 11 days to travel to. They could see it in the distance...and they were receiving one final pep-talk...a directive of how they were to live in the land that now was theirs, and Moses was telling them why God allowed them to wait and struggle for so long:

Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wildernessfor forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character,and to find out whether or not you would really obey His commands.Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding youwith manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors.He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life;real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NLT

Little did the Israelites know, but God was preparing for them a Savior...planning for them real life. All along He was showing them that provision was being made…that they were HIS.

I will be totally honest and say that as I read those words, tears were streaming down my face. As B and I wait, we are feasting on God's word and being reminded daily of His goodness, grace and mercy. Just as the Lord was bringing the Israelites into a good land, and preparing to bless them greatly, B and I feel we are at the threshold...not yet ready to cross over to what God has for us, but able to see the blessings to come.

Not physical blessings. Not financial blessings. Not earthly things.

But the blessings that come from perseverance. The blessing of knowing what it's like to solely rest in HIM. The blessing of a hunger and a desire we didn't fully understand, being filled by HIM.

The blessing of walking in a circumstance that has forever changed our relationship with HIM.

The realization that our worth is in HIM. Not our jobs. Not our security. Not our circumstances.

The ability to see and experience God move in a way that you will never understand, unless you allow HIM to strip away the physical. Take away the stuff. Cast aside the obstacles. To live and breathe HIS very word. To make His thoughts yours. To make His ways yours. Learning to make His will your very own.

It's not about the manna.

Things to share

 Happy Monday!

Firstly, we'd like to announce our blog of the week, GraceLaced, by Ruth.

She is the first blogger to spend the entire week on our homepage. We hope that both Ruth and our readers will be blessed by this change, and that you will each take the opportunity to spend some time getting to know her this week!

Also, if you've been looking for My Bright Corner, Rebecca is now blogging with a new look!  

My Bright Corner is now Cotton + Wood, thanks to a little help in the way of design from Heather of Blessed Little Nest!

                                                                                                                           

And, if you've been searching for another blog on our site but can't seem to find it, you will be glad to know that we are planning to add a search box to the site as soon as possible, and hopefully eventually you'll be given the option create an account to sign in and save a list of your favorite FaithBlogs!

Keep sending your suggestions, blog submissions and love!  We are so grateful for you!

Here they are! The new 10!

So sorry, no pictures tonight, but we will add them in over the weekend!  We didn't want to keep you waiting if you happened to be looking for this post!  These are the ten blogs that we have most recently chosen to add to our website, FaithBlogs.net!

We are excited about a few changes/announcements, so stick around to read the few notes after this amazing list!

{The New 10!!!}

Simply Created by Cole by Nicole

Our Nest in the City by Emily

Mommy Needs Coffee by Michelle

The Stanley Clan by Becca

Letters from Coco by Cole

Our Something New by Meg

My Corner in the Universe by Rylie Renee

Tiny Twist Creative by Erin

I Heart Andy Gross by Lauren

CJAE by Christa Jae

(Welcome, each of you, to FaithBlogs.net!
We will be emailing each of you shortly and your blogs will be added to our site this week!)

And a couple more things we want to tell you about:

{one}

We have decided to keep the featured blogs on our homepage for one full week each, instead of  just for one day. We are hoping that this gives all of our visitors a chance to visit the featured blog, and to truly bless the blogger with comments on their posts, and with prayer. We also plan to notify the featured blogger well in advance so that they can plan accordingly for anything special they would like to do on their blog that week!  

If you are one of our bloggers who has already been featured, we plan to start our list over, so you will eventually be featured again, but this time for an entire week!  Over time, we hope to feature all of our bloggers!  

{two}

Sometime soon, we will be choosing a week (that we are not so busy in our personal lives) to add 50 blogs in one week! We are accumulating quite the list, and have our eyes on some lovely blogs!  So please, please don't be discouraged if you aren't on the list above. So many of you have been so kind with your words and your support, and we are ever-so thankful for each of you who has provided your link and sent your love!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Guest post: 10 things to Remember When Your Child is Disobedient

A warm welcome to Ruth of Grace Laced!  Thank you, Ruth, for sharing this wise and ever-so-helpful post for parents, families and anyone who cares for children in their lives!  An excellent reminder!

10 Things To Remember When Your Child Is Disobedient

Here are 10 Things I had to remind myself today when the job of correcting my children felt especially difficult…

1. You disobey the Lord…and He is the perfect Father.

2. His kindness leads us to repentance.

3. God disciplines those He loves.

4. Your child’s disobedience does not measure your value any more than his obedience showcases your achievement.

5. Your child’s disobedience teaches you dependence on God.

6. And sometimes it’s more than dependence He’s after, it’s complete desperation for Him.

7. Your child is clearly a sinner, and needs to hear the truth of the Gospel, and see it lived out through you.

8. Times of correction serve to remind, or establish within your child, his own sense of need for a Savior.

9. It’s not good behavior you really desire…you want his heart.

10. Your child is a person, not a project.

{Original post}

Guest post: Picture me {im}perfectly

Thanks, Hill, for this great idea!  Don't we all need this reminder? Everyone be sure to link up for Wednesday! 

{Hill writes at her lovely blog Capturing Motherhood}

picture me {im}perfectly.

i want you to do something.

i want you to

picture me {im}perfectly.

because you know what?

i am not perfect.

not even close.

have you ever?

yes you have. 

have you ever read a blog post 

where you just knew that the lovely woman 

who authored that blog had it all together?

and even though we know 

in the way, way back of our heads 

that they aren't perfect, 

we still sometimes convince ourselves

that they would never, ever have:

laundry that has been sitting on their couch for three days

waiting to be folded and put away or

a floor that desperately needs to be mopped or

dishes that just sit and sit and sit in the sink or 

children who throw fits or

a craft that went completely awry.

so many bloggers seem to have it all together. 

but we really know that none of us do.

none. 

and you know what? 

that's okay.

that's more than okay. 

that's real life.

because no matter how prepared, 

no matter how organized we are, 

no matter how much planning we have done, 

no matter how thoughtful we try to be, 

sometimes things just fall apart and

sometimes we just fall apart.

and i think that we need the 

regular reminder that 

that happens to everybody. 

picture me {im}perfectly

is a weekly project to reveal that we don't have it all together.

i will post a 

picture me {im}perfectly

blog post every wednesday 

where you will be able to link up to your blog

revealing that:

you are not picture perfect,

your kids are not picture perfect,

your house is not picture perfect,

your crafts are not always picture perfect,

let's 

encourage, 

inspire and 

remind 

other women 

that none of us have it all together.  

But encourage one another daily, 

as long as it is called “Today,” 
so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 

Hebrews 3:13

for instance, D was so responsible to use the bathroom 
before his Christmas performance at CBS 
but not as responsible in making sure that his pants were buttoned.
he sure sang his heart out though!

my sister reminded me that:

there's beauty in the mess ups and the messiness of life.

there's joy in happy accidents and what develops out of them.

there's freedom from the wordly pressure of "having it all together."

and, Auntie B reminded me that

women face great (and often unmet) expectations 
and most of them are self-inflicted.  

add my button to your blog post 

and link up to your direct posting
and feel encouraged.

Find the original post and get the picture me {im}perfectly button code here!

Guest post: An update from Japan

A special thanks to Alely of Oh, Sweetlee Me for sharing this letter from 

missionaries Ken & Bola Taylor, who are serving in Japan.

An update from Japan  

Original post, Saturday March 19

yesterday many bloggers from around the world participated in

for japan with love...

{bloggers day of silence}

this morning i received an an email from our very

close and dear friends who are

missionaries in japan that i wanted to share with all of you.

an update, some prayer requests and a few recommended sites

you can donate to.

read on friends...

Japan experienced a triple tragedy last week. A 9.0 earthquake, then a horrific tsunami, and now nuclear reactor meltdowns. Not to mention the ongoing aftershocks , the cold weather, power outages, the weakening dollar. 

The Tokyo Taylors are fine and we know you are praying for us. Tokyo was spared from much of the devastation but there is a new normal that is taking place. 

The Japanese are one of the most resistant people towards the gospel for Jesus Christ. Japan is one of the most difficult places to share the gospel. Pray that we will be able to respond to the needs most effectively, relevantly, and spiritually. Pray that out of this triple tragedy God will get all the glory and there will be a great spiritual harvest.

Yesterday was the 1 week anniversary of the earthquake. At 2:46pm, we all stopped and prayed at the CRASH command center. It was a powerful and emotional time. See photo below.

JBF MISSIONARIES

Ken is currently the field leader of JBF (Japan Baptist Fellowship). We have a total of 26 missionaries (15 children) from Canada, USA, Europe, and Philippines. All are well and accounted for. Pray specifically for the Flemings who live in an area where there is much devastation. Pray for each missionary and our response to our Japanese contacts and relationships who are surely in fear and searching for comfort. As field leader, pray that God will give Ken wisdom during this time.

CRASH COMMAND CENTER 

Our WorldVenture Japan mission-owned building (where Ken's office is) is now the temporary  Command   Center  for CRASH. Located in the West side of  Tokyo , Ken has been busy in the leadership team. Bola has been assisting in feeding many volunteers. CRASH has been setup for such a time like this. A Christian response to specifically be involved in the relief, rebuilding, and restoration during disasters. Here is the latest news.

CRASH is partnering with Samaritan's Purse to distribute 90 tons of relief supplies in Sendai.

SP (Samaritan's Purse) is flying the plane (a 747) into Yokota AFB from where it (the stuff in the plane) will be airlifted to Sendai Airport on Sunday. They need as many trucks and volunteers as possible from the Christian community to transport that material to our bases and their warehouse as possible.  Anything left will have to be turned over to the civil defense. We need to get as many trucks as possible to Sendai by Sunday!  

HALLELUJAH GOSPEL FAMILY

Many gospel choirs were suspended due to the earthquake, tsunami, and power outages. The Japanese are now gripped by fear and despair. But we are slowly starting up again as we know that the songs they will learn and sing brings hope in Jesus Christ.  Pray that this will stir hearts to the Lord who has been patiently calling out to them for so many many years.  Pray for our choirs that the Truths that they have been singing through the years will be their personal comfort in these difficult times.

SAFETY & CONCERNS

I know many of you are concerned about our safety. We want to assure you that our mission has an evacuation policy and contingency plan in place. And although the Fukushima nuclear power plant situation is still unstable, our assessment at this time is that all our missionary units are at a relatively safe distance from the reactor.

As our colleague (Kevin Laverman) wrote in his update

We wait anxiously for a resolution to the growing nuclear problem in Fukushima. As foreigners leave in droves from Japan, we wonder what God has for us here. Part of us says to evacuate or flee south, too. But our church and Japanese need the hope God brings now more than ever. We have no intention of being foolishly heroic. We are watching the situation carefully and putting together contingency plans. But we feel safe in His care, covered by His wings both night and day. And there's so much opportunity and work to be done now! 

DONATION

We recommend the following for donations.

1. WorldVenture - Japan Earthquake - for WorldVenture Japan related churches. 

2. CRASH - for Christian based relief efforts to Japanese churches

3. Taylor Support (we do need to stay here!)

Go here for One-Time Gift  

Go here for Support Commitment

4. HGF (our primary ministry in reaching the Japanese with the gospel music)

Go here for Special Projects: Go to Enter AMOUNT & SELECT specific SPECIAL PROJECT by scrolling down to:

JAPAN: Hallelujah Gospel Family

In His Hands,

Ken & Bola Taylor

Joining Hearts in Bringing Jesus to Japan

Evangelism, Equipping, Encouraging, Exploring Ministries

our dear friends...the tokyo taylors

let's continue to lift japan up in prayer.

This week's new 10!

So very excited to introduce you to this week's NEW 10! 

And... here they are!!! 

(In random order, but hey, we managed to link them this week!)  

So, start clicking!

The Case for Joy by Katie

Today is Mine, Tomorrow is Not My Business by Marla

Believe it... and Be Satisfied by Karen

Kids Stuff World by Stacy

Letters from the Loft by Julie, Debbie, Annie and Judy

Oh, Sweetlee Me by Alely

Pink Lemonade by Paige

Susie Davis by Susie

Teacups and Trains by Natalie

{To find out why/how we choose TEN, go here.}

If you don't see your blog on this list, don't fret!  We've kept you on our master list of blogs to 

be considered or added at a later date!