Day 1: Spiritual Daily Bread

                                                                                                                       

Getting up and out of the house early is a challenge in itself at my house so it didn't help that we began the Manna Principle Project (MPP) this week, of all weeks! My kids had testing... you know, end of year National State Tests.  The type I stress out over for weeks before and then weeks after until I receive the results! Well, this is how it went...

We couldn't begin this project without the biggest change being spiritually. After all, we are asking God to provide our Daily Bread. 

John 6:35, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." We decided that we would receive our daily bread spiritually first, then go to the supermarket to buy our physical daily bread for the day. 

                                                     

 

In an attempt to do something different and get out of our daily surroundings, we got up early and headed down the block to the neighborhood park.  Its amazing to me how the change of scenery changed my perspective.  Hearing the birds chirping, watching the morning sun rise above the shadows of the houses, and the smell of the morning air helped me focus better on my time with God. 

It would normally be easy to have put off our spiritual daily bread time on a day like today when testing would have taken presedence.  In a way, I think our timing in beginning this experiment is perfect because it 's helping us put the focus where it should always be, on our relationship with the Lord, instead of on other things in life that we sometimes prioritize. 

Was it easy- not really! I'm not a morning person, but there was something special in doing this. It reminded me of Jesus and how he would go out early in the morning before daybreak to spend time with His father in prayer (Mark 1:35). I think its a good reminder to keep me grounded during times when I get busy and may not feel I can take the time to do this.  Jesus was a lot busier and I can't compare my trivial schedule of house chores, homeschooling, and errands to that of the Lord's healings, casting demons, and preaching.

Today I came to Jesus and he fed me. He gave me more than just a taste.  He provided my daily bread and fed my soul.  

Are you coming to receive your daily bread from the Lord?

The Manna Principle

                                               

The Manna Principle was born on an airplane trip back home from a Christian conference.  My husband and I were discussing all we had learned and were excited to implement some new changes at church.

                                                                 

The conversation led to me expressing my feelings about how I always seem to live either in the past or in the future.  I was longing to slow down and take life day by day.  I wanted to live in the present and not look backwards or forward.  Just enjoy each day as it came.

                                                        

Of course, I never expected what was about to come next.  Carl, my husband, challenged me to try for the next 30 days to live day by day, literally. As he explained what was running through his mind, I immediately had an answer for him. “No!” It was too difficult, too radical, just down-right crazy for a family of seven to try and implement all that it would take to pull it off and personally, I wasn’t looking to complicate my life any further.  Did he not just hear me? I was longing to     s l o w   
d o w n. 

“Let’s make it an experiment,” he coaxed me.  “Remember when I first mentioned homeschooling to you?” Yes, I remember.  At first I thought he was nuts and I rejected the whole idea for about two years.  Now eight years later I’m still homeschooling and loving it.   But this was different.  This was...so him and so not me!

                                               

In his attempt to convince me, he kept talking, as if he were unaware of my resistance.  Everything he said after that was a blur to me since I was trying to come up with something to say that would put this idea to bed, for good. Well, almost everything.  “You could even blog about it, about the experience, the pros and cons, the spiritual principles connected,” on and on he went.  In my mind, he had me at “You can blog about it.”  

Now I started to really consider it.  The thought of taking on such a huge project was terrifying.  I had more questions than answers but then again, wasn’t that the point? To dig deeper into the principles that God gave us and search them out.  To wonder why he set certain things in place and then discover those truths in our lives? It wasn’t going to be easy but I was up for the adventure. 

                                                                       

The notebook and the pen came out and Carl and I were sent on a journey.  We began writing everything that came to our minds that would be part of this project.  Whatever questions we had, ideas, rules and comments, were all jotted down.  We wondered where this project would lead us.  At the very least, we hoped to have learned a few things while drawing closer to God and that in its self would be a tremendous experience for       our family. 

Well, I guess since you’ve made it this far, I should explain what the Manna Principle is.  I’m sure you’re curious about it. 

                                                

 It begins with scripture in the book of Exodus.  The Isrealites were out in the desert griping to Moses about how they longed to be back in Egypt where although they were slaves, they at least had an abundance of food.  Now here they were, wondering if God had saved them just to starve them in the desert.

Moses met with God and God told Moses to let the people know that he would make it rain manna from heaven.  This would be what they would eat.  Everyday they were to collect a designated portion, for each person living in their house.  They were to eat of it and not save any of it for the next day.  The day before the Sabbath they were to collect twice as much and prepare some to have for the Sabbath because on that day, manna would not fall from heaven. 

God told them not to save it from one day to the next.  For those who chose not to listen, they found that the manna had maggots on it and began to smell.

                                                       

                                                                                              

  
Fast forward to Jesus teachings a few thousand years later and we hear Jesus telling the people not to worry about what they would eat or drink because our Father in heaven would supply all our needs.  We even hear Jesus praying to the Father in the Lord’s Prayer saying...”Give us this day our daily bread”. 

                                                                                                                            

                                                       

     So we decided (actually, Carl did) that in an attempt to live day by day why not start in the food department.  Why not, get up every day, head to the supermarket, and buy what we would eat that day. NOW do you understand my resistance? Everyday, get up and take five kids to the supermarket to buy our daily bread?  Think about the implications, hungry kids in the store daily and an average of 30 trips to the supermarket in one month. 

                                                                     

      What good can come out of living day by day? Will we depend more on God?

Be more grateful? Eat healthier? Learn to live in the present? Or will we grumble like the Isrealites? Spend more money? Or end up quitting?

                                                            

                        




Join me for the next 30 days as I give a daily  account on our learning experience. I can't wait to tell you all about it!

    

I'm Forgiven

I had a very rough day.  My life seemed to be caving in on me.  You know, the normal demands on a mom that can sometimes make us feel less than unworthy. The laundry was piling up, the house was messy, and I had a super bad attitude with the kids.  I sat in the car while the kids were at their home schooling enrichment program because I wasn't feeling up to socializing that day. 

"I don't get it", I wondered.  "Lord, if you don't give us more than we can handle then why do I always feel like I can't handle what I have?" I was having flashbacks of poor choices made and my failures as a wife and mother and to top it all off I was feeling as if I didn't even understand my baby.  She was fussy and I didn't even know why.  (This IS baby #5, you would think I'd have a clue by this point!)  Add postpartum emotions to this sea of doubt and it made for the perfect storm.  

So there I sat... in the back seat of my minivan...nursing the baby...trying to go unnoticed by the world, when song #10 on the WOW Hits 2011 CD came on.  Had I been in the drivers seat I would have pressed the forward button to the next song (I don't think I've ever made it 30 seconds into this song).
Being that I was in the back and I wasn't in a singing mood I just sat there nursing, my mind going in all different directions.

THEN I HEARD IT.  God took notice and answered me through the words of a song I had always blown off.  It came at the perfect time.  I sat there listening while being comforted by my Heavenly Father. Since that day, I listen to that song daily to remind myself of the treasure I am to my creator. 

Well, I love this song so much that I wanted to share it with you as well. 

I'm still not close to perfect.
I still haven't finished attacking the laundry pile
I still need to pray for patience, then repent when I lose it
But I know who's I am and I know my worth is in Him!
Isn't He amazing?!!!

This is where my focus should be. On the blessings that my family brings to me.  On the sweet memories of the past and the ones that are still to be made.

"The Girls" after a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner

"The Boys" getting ready to enjoy their Valentines Day treat!

The Hubby and I

In what ways has God taken notice in you lately?

ENJOY!!!!