Having the Courageous Faith of a Crocus

March 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

As the snow piles higher we grow weary of plowing our driveways and scraping our car windows, feeling almost imprisoned with cabin fever.

And yet we have an inner hope based on God’s Word, regardless of the weather channel which keeps forecasting more snow, that spring is on its way as we see the first crocus bravely pop its head through the snow. 

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 If you are going through a winter season in your life and growing weary as circumstances pile high and you feel almost imprisoned in your current situation have the courage like the crocuses to keep pressing through. I want to encourage you today that in your life spring is also on its way. Just as sure as we reflect during Lent on Good Friday we can also be just as sure that Resurrection Sunday is on its way!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

CHALLENGE:

 Just as Spring only follows Winter

likewise

 Victories only follow Battles

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The Fruit of Our Lives

February 28, 2015 by 1 Comment

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Dear Child,

Without the fruit of the spirit, there is no manifestation of My presence within. The fruit is the outward evidence of the root structure.

A light is not hid, otherwise how can it show others the way! Your light shines only as your life manifests the fruit of My spirit. This light reproves darkness, just by shining!

Invest in the root structure and the fruit will be naturally born, not by sweat or toil, but just by abiding and spending time alone with Me.

                                                       Thus saith Papa

 

Gal 5:22 -23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

Joy is Love’s strengthimages-2

Peace is Love’s security

Patience is Love’s endurance

Kindness is Love’s conduct

Goodness is Love’s character

Faithfulness is Love’s confidence

Gentleness is Love’s humility

Self-control is Love’s victory

 

CHALLENGE: Does your walk manifest His abiding presence in your life?

 

Hidden Manna Ministries copyright  ©  M.J.Bass 1999

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Laying Down Our Lives for Others

February 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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Last week we spent the day at the Alamo, the most visited place in the State of Texas. So it was appropriate to bring it to remembrance on this day the 23rd.day of February, the day the thirteen day siege of the mission began back in 1836.

 

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Being an Ulster Scot, myself, it was of special interest to me to know of the Scotch-Irish blood that stained the walls of that mission in the cause of freedom.


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The above plaque reads:

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Many of those who fought and died for Texas’ independence were of Scottish (Scots-Irish) descent including some of our most beloved heroes, David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston.  Most of the leaders in that struggle for independence were of Scottish ancestry, including  Stephen F. Austin, Peter J. Bailey, Henry P. Brewster, J.A. Brooks, David Burnet, Mathew Caldwell, Capt. Ewen Cameron, S.P. Carson, Robert Cochran, just to name a few.

Piper John MacGregor stood on the adobe walls in the midst of the battle to pipe the men on in true Scottish tradition. MacGregor played his bagpipes along with David Crockett on his fiddle to entertain the men during their stressful days of siege.

These heros shed their blood for national freedom.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

But never forgetting the blood of the greatest hero that stained an old rugged cross for our spiritual freedom especially during this season of Lent.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

For special interest to my friends who live in Texas there is a predawn ceremony at the Alamo each year to commemorate the Battle on March 6th. Re-enactors led by piper Bill Jones of San Antonio!  In honor of National Tartan Day each April, the Scots of San Antonio present wreaths to commemorate those of Scottish ancestry who died fighting for Texas Independence.

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Preparing Our Hearts During Lent

February 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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Dear Papa,

Help me to die daily as I present my life and body as a living sacrifice. May I die to self this day and live only unto thee.

Dear Child,

My Son died once and for all, but to identify with His resurrection life, you must die daily, that daily you may walk in resurrection life.

He died once but you must die daily.

Resurrection life can only follow death! No death, no resurrection life!

Only resurrection life has power and anointing.

Only resurrection life can produce fruit for eternity.

Each seed and fruit produces after its own kind.

Only that which is birthed by resurrection life will never die.

Child, it is not about more power, it is about more dying!

And then power will automatically flow from the resurrection life that follows.

                                              Thus saith Papa

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We must first die to self if the power of the resurrection life is to flow from our lives. 

By His sovereignty, God uses circumstances of verses 8 and 9 above, to break us, that resurrection life may flow from us. “He who puts his trust only in spiritual gifts is being foolish, for such gifts do not necessarily work that transformation in the inner man. It is only out of brokenness that there can come forth life.” Watchman Nee

CHALLENGE: If we do not die to self, we cannot bear the mark of resurrection power in our lives or ministry..

Read and study more in the chapter “Changed from Glory to Glory” from DEVELOPING A SECRET HISTORY WITH GOD.

This Book and accompanying Study Guide will revolutionize your quiet time with God. Available now at Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Walmart/Kindle Nook / Ibooks/ Lulu/ Rhema Publications/ Cl France or a bookstore near you.

Or you can order the book directly from me today and receive a personal signed copy. Thank you for your support of my ministry. Walk with the King and be a blessing! e-mail maggiebass@epix.net or message me on Facebook

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The Valentine card that changed Destiny

February 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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A young 19 year old girl while serving in the Women’s Royal Air Force in England and based at R.A.F. Hereford, which was the School of Catering for the Royal Air Force, met her destiny. With a base of 7000 men and only 200 women she was never shy of a date but as yet had not met her Mr. Right. Every 6 weeks there would be a new class of potential chefs brought in for training. At a fall dance on the base she won a twisting contest and met one of those trainees who not only won the same contest for the guys but also won her heart. From that night they saw each other most evenings for the next few weeks until his training was over and he had to return to his base on the other side of England.

This is where our story takes a turn as she waits to meet her Knight in Shining Armor at the canteen on the base to say goodbye as he is leaving Hereford the next day. Much to her embarrassment he doesn’t show and stands her up for all their friends to see.They try to console her but her anger overcomes her hurt.

The next morning at breakfast she had to sit in a different dining room as she was permanent staff and he had to sit in the trainee’s dining room. He sees her as she gets up to leave but doesn’t have the courage to face the tearful hurt in her eyes. He lets her walk away to a life without him as he boards the bus to take him hundreds of miles away.

But as Providence would have it, it was Valentine weekend, and to her chagrin she had already mailed him a Valentine card which of course she could not retrieve. When he receives her card back at his base he decides to take the risk to write and try to explain. His excuse for standing her up was that he didn’t want to have to say goodbye. Now who would ever buy that reasoning? Well she did and they have been married now for fifty years!

That Valentine day was 51 years ago and John and I are still thanking God every February 14th. for His providence in our lives through the card that saved the day and our destiny in each other’s lives.

Psalm 78:41 Don’t limit the Holy One of Israel

CHALLENGE: Never underestimate the Providence of God in your life! 

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