Word Wednesday

Word Wednesday

“The One (Part 2)”

Evelyn Fordham Goodman

September 30, 2015

“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Matthew 11:3b (ESV)

Yes. I admit. I am one of those people.

I check my oven multiple times before leaving the kitchen just to make sure it's off.

I often double check the envelope just to make sure I didn't forget the stamp.

And yes, I check the door a few extra times before heading upstairs for bed at night just to make sure it's locked.

I realize this tendency is irrational and is listed in the checklist for OCD, but there's something in me that desires to double check- just to be sure. Perhaps there is an underlying fear that causes me to doubt what I know to be true.

John the Baptist seems to have had this struggle.

John knew Jesus was the promised One. He had experienced Jesus’ miraculous baptism where the heavens opened and poured out visible and audible confirmations.  John had even proclaimed, "Behold, The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)." He knew this was the Messiah. Yet from his darkened prison cell he sends disciples out to double check.

What do we do when doubt darkens our perspective?

I love Jesus' response. He does not rebuke John for his flickering faith, but instead reassuringly points back to the scriptures reminding John of what he already knows to be true.

“The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Matthew 11:5).”

May the Word of God strengthen our faith today.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

You are the Messiah, the Savior of this world.  We know that to be true, but at times we all struggle with the darkness of doubt.  Please strengthen our faith by Your Word.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

© 2015 by Evelyn Goodman. All rights reserved.

www.evelyngoodman.blogspot.com

Morning Manna Devotional

2 Chronicles 7:14

Lamentations 3

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Morning Manna Devotional

2 Chronicles 7:14

1 Samuel 7:12

Revelation 22:1

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Morning Manna Devotional

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)

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Morning Manna Devotional

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

Like 1:18 (NIV)

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Morning Manna Devotional

But Jesus immediately said to them: 

"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 (NIV)

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Word Wednesday

“The One”

Evelyn Fordham Goodman

September 23, 2015

The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!" Matthew 8:27 (NLT)

Some of you will remember the moment when you knew your special someone was "the one".

You had enjoyed many other moments- dinners, walks in the park, intimate conversations, but there was something special about this particular point in time.

Perhaps it was something they said or did or just a culmination of several events that settled it in your mind. You knew this was more than an acquaintance or special friend. This was "the one".

I believe something similar happened with the disciples.

They had watched their Jewish carpenter friend preach, teach, and even heal. But I believe on this day, for some, He became "The One".

Jesus, in the midst of a terrorizing, life-threatening storm was unmoved and unafraid. He appeared comfortable in this chaotic setting- like He had been here before.

Then like a father correcting unruly children, He spoke to the wind and waves, demanding their attention and compliance. He spoke as One with authority and experience- like He had spoken to them before.

This was no ordinary scene.

This was strikingly reminiscent of those events recorded in the scriptures detailing the origin of the world.

"By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.  

For he spoke, and it came to be;

   he commanded, and it stood firm.

(Psalm 33:6 & 9)"

This was no ordinary man, teacher, or prophet.

He is God. He is "The One".

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

What an amazing moment this must have been for the disciples! I believe You still reveal yourself today. May I be open to Your Divine impressions. And may my faith grow to receive You as "The One".

© 2015 by Evelyn Goodman. All rights reserved.

www.evelyngoodman.blogspot.com

Morning Manna Devotional

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 8:27 (NIV)

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Morning Manna Devotional

Exodus 15:2

2 Corinthians 10:5

Hebrews 10:23

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Morning Manna

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

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Morning Manna Devotional

"When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored."

Matthew 9:28-30(b) NIV

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Morning Manna Devotional

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

 Ephesians 4:29

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Word Wednesday

Word Wednesday

Creator God (Part 3)

Evelyn Fordham Goodman

September 9, 2015

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

Hebrews 11:3

My husband Keith is an amazing photographer. His images brilliantly capture not just that moment, but the backstory-giving you more than a photo, but an experience.

He and I often chuckle in astonishment when a casual observer comments on his impressive equipment, suggesting that his camera is the reason for the great shot.

All they can see is the long lens or bright flash, not realizing that Keith's detailed eye, knowledge of composition, and years of experience are contributing to the creation of an extraordinary image.

Often what we see is incomplete. There is more behind the picture.

The same can be said of our physical world. We often only see what's right in front us- our present reality.  We see the bills on the table, the diagnosis on the chart, and even the bier holding our loved one.

But beyond what we see, smell, hear, taste, and touch is an unseen truth. Our world was created by the word of an ever present, all- powerful, all-knowing God. He is greater than the creation He created and can manipulate, annihilate, and even re-create if necessary.  The world is always subject to God's word.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

Stand on the Word today!

PRAYER:

Lord, 

It is SO Hard to walk by faith. All I can see is what's in front of me. No wonder I'm paralyzed by fear. 

Please increase my faith and sharpen my focus so that the only image that matters is the image of You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

© 2015 by Evelyn Goodman. All rights reserved.

www.evelyngoodman.blogspot.com

Morning Manna Devotional

"19 Arise, cry out in the night,
    as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
    in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
    for the lives of your children,
who faint from hunger
    at every street corner."

Lamentation 2:19

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Morning Manna Devotional

"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

Psalm 33:6 & 9

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Morning Manna Devotional

"Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (NIV)

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Morning Manna Devotional

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want."

Philippians 4:4 & 12

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Morning Manna Devotional

Isaiah 54:10

5 Genesis 28:15

Matthew 28:20

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Morning Manna Devotional

5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Morning Manna Devotional

Psalm 42:5

2 Corinthians 13:4

Jeremiah 31:25

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Morning Manna Devotional (by Karen)

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Matthew 17:20

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Morning Manna Devotional

Today's message is dedicated to the Wallington family in honor of Chucky. What we see is not the whole picture. There is a backstory- a sure hope in Christ that overrides our physical reality. May our eyes stay fixed on this hope!
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Morning Manna Devotional:
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
Hebrews 11:3

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Morning Manna Devotional

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."

Genesis 1:31

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Morning Manna Devotional

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Genesis 1:2

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Word Wednesday

Word Wednesday

Creator God (part 2)

Evelyn Fordham Goodman

September 2, 2015

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Genesis 1:2

Formless, void, and dark-

These adjectives describe Earth as a chaotic, uninhabitable dark abyss.

Yet, in spite of Earth's pre-creation condition, I find myself surprisingly drawn to it with hope and refreshing reassurance.

God can bring order, fruitfulness and beauty from apparently hopeless conditions.

He doesn't need a palette of perfection from which to paint, but is skilled in working in the most unseemly surroundings.

He is not afraid of disorder or darkness.

Actually, these are the scenes upon which we see His best work.

And the earth was without form-

How refreshing it would be

To just be

To not have to look the part,

Not have to perform,

but to show up unmade and undone

And void-

What burdens could be lifted if I stopped trying so hard to produce, but instead surrendered to the barrenness, admitting that in and of myself, I have nothing

I am nothing

And darkness was upon the face of the deep-

The darkness

Oh the darkness

You mean I could finally stop pretending, even if only for a moment?

I could stop covering and hiding?

I could let go of the mask and just be?

I could let Him see?

God doesn't need us to do; He needs us to be.

He does the work.

He exercises the power.

His Spirit hovers over us and He speaks in us.

And before we know it, we are transformed.

We are changed.

PRAYER:

Oh Lord,

Order, beauty, and purpose- this is what I desire.

Thank You for your willingness to take me as I am and create what can be.

For Your glory and honor,

Amen

© 2015 by Evelyn Goodman. All rights reserved.

www.evelyngoodman.blogspot.com

Morning Manna Devotional

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint"

Luke 18:1

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