Fresh Manna Devotions

Many of us remember that old War on Drugs commercial with the slogan, “Just say no.” It’s a simple yet profound statement. The word "no" is one of the most potent words in life.

There is a relationship with Jesus that is real and more alive and wonderful than you could ever imagine!

The Power of the Exchange: An Inspirational Story of Restored Relationships Nathan sat on the back porch, staring out at the quiet lake. He took a slow sip of coffee, his heart heavy with regret.

The Relationship Killers: Guarding What Matters Most A Bible Devotional on Avoiding Relationship Pitfalls In Part One of The Art of Exchange —we talked about the power of mutual listening and exchange of conversation in building strong relationships. Today.

The Art of Conversational Exchange Over many years, Renee and I have had some truly tremendous friends and friendships that have brought us so much joy and enriched our lives! Our greatest friendships have been with people who have, somewhere in life, learned the art of conversational exchange .

The Dime That Changed Everything Terry sat at the kitchen table, staring at the ten shiny dimes Grandpa had placed in front of him. Grandpa always had a way of turning simple things into lessons—especially when it came to God.

One of the most profound lessons I ever learned about giving was from teaching my children to tithe when they were young. I would show them how easy it was to give a dime out of a dollar, a dollar out of ten, and so on.

It started with a simple conversation over coffee. Jim and his son, Mack,  found themselves deep in a discussion about the latest political news.

Benny dropped his keys on the kitchen counter, exhaling sharply. The day had been a battlefield.

I was reading Psalm 44, not just reading, but memorizing verses that the Lord had impressed upon me as critical to stand on in faith this year. Psalm 44:4-5 (NLT) says, “You are my King and my God.

Do you love to be inspired? I do!

Rachel sat in the back pew of the church, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her pastor had just finished preaching on honoring your father and mother, and she could feel her stomach twisting in knots.

Have you every had scriptures that seemed difficult if not impossible to obey and walk out in your life such as, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." — Exodus 20:12 (NIV) Some commands in Scripture seem difficult to obey because life has complicated them. For example: 'Honor your father and mother.'  That was personally easy for me because I had fantastic parents.

Like many of you, I’d describe my life as fairly busy. My heart longs to be productive and do good—especially in helping others.

Note from Pastor Tim: It's fun to have something to read to your kids or grandkids that revolves around the Lord. I'm occasionally writing one of these for you!

Hardships are inevitable in every person’s life. Some people draw closer to God during these times, but many turn away.

In life, we're often faced with learning and doing things we haven't done before. Whether it be school, work, relationships, marriage, children, or life in general, we are faced with and forced to learn new things.

Logan Bennett sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the clock on the wall. The steady tick, tick, tick seemed louder than usual in the quiet room.

Have you ever said, “I love You, Jesus, with all my heart! I live for You!

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to think more highly of yourself than what your actions reveal? It’s a common tendency—we all have areas in our lives where we feel more mature or developed than we truly are.

Sophia Adams stood quietly at the back of the mission house, a plate of warm food in her hands. She watched as a young man, barely in his twenties, devoured the meal she’d handed him moments earlier.

When I was a kid, I remember often thinking, I can’t wait till I’m an adult and can do what I want. Wasn't that a thought you sometimes had as you were looking forward to getting older and growing up?

Do You Believe God Wants to Use You? Do you believe the Holy Spirit could prompt you to help someone know Jesus?

Mara sat on her couch, staring at the ceiling. The emptiness in her heart seemed as vast and hollow as the room she lived in.

During a recent discipleship group, my buddies and I discussed some of the Bible's most powerful verses. One of the guys posed an intriguing question: "What do you think is the most powerful verse in Scripture?" That was no easy question to answer!

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV) says, " I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." When I think of King Cyrus in the Bible, I think of a noble king—one who didn’t know God as the Jewish people did, yet was used by God in a profound and history-shaping way.

The fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20), is more important than you might think.

Pearson lives a life of extravagance. His $4.5 million mansion, nestled in an exclusive California neighborhood, is surrounded by a brick-and-wrought-iron fence.

My garden was recently buried under snow, lifeless and dormant. Months before that, it was vibrant, bursting with color and beauty.

Tom Larson was a rising star in corporate real estate. His charm and wit had earned him the reputation of being able to close any deal.

To some, God's word and promises are like a warm blanket in a cool room. To others, like ridiculous babble.

If there’s one thing I’ve come to understand about God, it’s this: His love for us—and for me personally—is far beyond what my human mind can grasp. I’ve learned this over time, but it wasn’t always so clear to me.

The Power of Praying Together as a Couple Renee and I are usually up fairly early in the morning—somewhere between 6:00 and 6:45 AM most days. It’s a routine we fell into over the years with children and work, and one we’ve stayed in even now, in our 47th year of marriage.

One night, Renee and I were coming home from a friend’s house. We were stopped at an intersection with a red light, waiting for it to change.

More often than you’d think, someone will tell me, “I love God, but I feel lost. I feel like I’ve drifted from Him, and the love I once had for the Lord feels cold.

When I was 13 years old, I came up with a plan that seemed clever at the time but, in hindsight, was anything but. A couple of friends and I schemed to steal tobacco and a pipe from the local drugstore.

Now I Get It! Now I've Got it!

For the first 23 years of my life, my understanding of God was entirely shaped by what other people—many from diverse backgrounds—told me about Him. This left me with a confused and distorted perspective of who God truly was.

In Part One and Part Two of "The Question We All Ask: Why?", we explored how misconceptions or ignorance about God—who He is and how He works—often contribute to the challenges people face in life. God has wired every human heart to seek Him.

The Candle of Hope In the small coastal town of Willow Creek, life was never the same after Hurricane Leah roared through. Homes were in ruins, streets were flooded, and the once-vibrant community was now shrouded in darkness.

In my last post, Part One of “The Question We All Ask: Why?”, I wrote about why people are tempted to blame God for the destruction and hurt that life brings. We explored how this leads to the heartfelt cry, “Why God, why?”  It's critical to get understanding so that the "Why's" don't give us  a wrong perception of God resulting in blaming God, and then possibly undermining our faith because we wrongly perceive God as unjust or uncaring, which can result in someone abandoning their faith altogether.

I think one of the most challenging parts of my job as a pastor has been watching people go through difficult seasons of life. The enemy of this world, Satan—whom Jesus called “the thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy” —works overtime to bring hardship into our lives.

Fresh Manna by Guest Author - Pastor Mark Harper “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 We have heard it preached from the pulpit for years. “If you are a good parent and train up your kids in the Christian faith they will not leave the faith.” I’ve preached it from the pulpit and chances are that you have too.

One of the most harmful weaknesses within the body of Christ is the unwillingness to work through relational conflict. At some point, most of us have had a close friend take offense at something we said or did—or perhaps didn’t do.

Small Steps to Building Great Courage In my last post, From Ordinary to Courageous, we talked about how God uses ordinary people who step out in courage for God and plant significant seeds of impact that change things for the better. Today I wanted to simply give you a few examples of places where you might practice steps of courage so that God can work in you and through you.

When we think of Bible heroes, our minds often jump to Abraham or Moses or David, or the Apostle Paul. Some Bible characters whose faith we desire to emulate, we know well.

Jeff had always been the quiet type. He wasn’t the loudest in the room, and he never pushed his faith on anyone.

Julie had been a Christian for several years, but nothing prepared her for what happened in her own home. Her younger sister, who had always been close to her, suddenly became cold and distant after Julie started talking about her faith.

I recently received a call from a friend who is a fairly new Christian. He was feeling discouraged and confused.

Renee and I will celebrate 47 years of marriage this year, and I can confidently say that the strength and joy we experience today are because of one thing: the Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him, we would have never made it this far, much less thrived.

“Mind over matter.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard, suggesting that sheer willpower is enough to overcome any challenge. But let’s be honest—how often does that really work?

I recently had lunch with a Christian friend of mine. He had started a new job a year ago, and I had asked him how it was going.

The Ant and the Contact Lens Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff.

If I asked you, "What's something everyone does?" Would you say eat, drink, or maybe die? All of those would be true!

Do you ever get discouraged? Who doesn't?

Sven Johansson was the kind of employer people loved to work for. He was fair, kind, and deeply committed to his company's success.

Christians don’t all walk out their destiny in God in the same manner, but we should all be devout in our pursuit of Him. We should seek God through prayer and His Word, having great faith that He will order our steps.

If you truly know Jesus—really know Him—then you understand that when you read Scripture, it is never written to condemn you. Instead, it reveals God’s love, His plan, and the incredible destiny He has for you through Jesus Christ.

Kenisha Williams was a 21-year-old college student standing at the crossroads of life, grappling with the question that had weighed on her for years: What am I supposed to do with my life? Despite her success—good grades, a scholarship, and a part-time job—Kenisha felt aimless.

Who am I? It’s a question we’ve all wrestled with at some point, especially as we grow up, trying to figure out where we fit and what we’re meant to do.

At the age of 24, I was seeking to know God. I grew up with questions about God that I could never answer.

The Blamer’s Journey: A Story of Redemption James’ reputation preceded him. To his coworkers, friends, and family, he was “the blamer.” If something went wrong, James always had someone to point a finger at.

When you think about the word “hurt,” what comes to mind? Do you think of pain?

In Part One , we talked about the story of David and his 400 men who came to him distressed, in debt, and discontented. These men started as outcasts, overwhelmed by the challenges of life.

Jake sat alone in the back pew of the church, a place he often retreated to when life felt too heavy to bear. He had been coming to this church for months, hoping to find something—anything—that could break the cycle of frustration and failure that had defined his life for as long as he could remember.

Have you ever heard the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" ? It's often used to suggest that people, like the proverbial old dog, are set in their ways and unlikely to change.

Have you ever felt stuck in life—like you’re working hard but not making any progress? You’re not alone.

The Romans Road is a collection of verses in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans that reveals the need and the path to making Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your life.

If you were to die today, are you 100% sure—beyond the shadow of a doubt—that you would go to Heaven? Most people have doubts because they know they’ve fallen short in some areas of their lives.

Something the Lord taught me a long time ago that has made me more resilient in the face of adversity and more merciful when people do dumb things that may hurt me is to understand that people (including myself) are highly fallible. We all unintentionally create pain that touches and impacts one another and makes us feel that life is tough and not fair!

Have a Happy New Year! Taking a week's break, and I'll be back to writing on January 6, 2025!

Many years ago, I met a man whose life was in a very undesirable place. He was a Vietnam veteran whose experience in that war brought great turmoil to his life.

A Christmas Miracle in the Park Cam Hayes sat across from the corporate attorney in their cramped living room, the man’s polished leather shoes out of place against the scuffed linoleum floor. Beside him, Cheryl clutched his hand, her eyes wide with disbelief.

It’s surprising how often the things that matter most—our relationship with God, meaningful time with loved ones, and a healthy, balanced life—get pushed aside. Meanwhile, distractions that add little value dominate our time and energy, leaving us feeling empty and discouraged.

The Christmas Story: O Holy Night! An Adaption by Pastor Tim Burt In the small village of Bethlehem, nestled among rolling hills and ancient olive trees, the night was beautiful and still!

I was 25 years old. I wasn't a religious person, although I found myself often wondering if there really was a God, and if so, how would I know?

Few things put a real fire in our hearts, but when something does, it takes over and consumes much of our thoughts and time. This is true whether it's a good passion or a lousy passion.

I am reposting this funny post by request and hope it will you bring you a fresh laugh for your weekend! God bless you!

We just had our national election, and the result reflected the will of the people who voted. Their clear message was, "Fix our nation!" People want God to fix this world.

When I think of the word intimacy concerning God, I think of it as a closeness—like a best friend—like someone you truly love and appreciate being with! That's how I feel about the Lord.

“The Bench in the Park” by Pastor Tim Burt It was a beautiful crisp autumn afternoon as Emma walked through the park on her way home from church. She noticed she was still carrying her church bulletin and a small booklet, The Four Spiritual Laws , so she tucked them into her bag.

Many years ago, Renee and I were invited to participate in an anniversary celebration by the daughter of great friends whom we love dearly. It was happening in an expensive restaurant, and we were responsible for covering our own costs.

Renee and I celebrated 46 years of marriage this past September and I have to say that we have a fantastic marriage because of God alone. Our marriage started off rocky!

As Maya and Jada walked into the church hall, their conversation turned to relationships. Jada had been dating her boyfriend for a few months, and she shared with Maya that they’d recently become more serious.

May God’s richest blessings fill your heart and lives through the love of Jesus! Happy Thanksgiving to All!

One of the richest and most rewarding parts of a Christian’s life is the development of godly character through the power of the Holy Spirit. Some people never develop much character because it takes hard work.

Note from Pastor Tim: This Fresh Manna was written by my daughter, Stephanie Gutierrez. They were missionaries in Peru for 10 years.

Renee and I had returned home from an international missions trip! Two of our bags did not arrive with us when we got home.

Is there anything worse than suddenly getting an evil report? The doctor hands you an evil report.

The Rock That Turned Soft Gator Hardison had grown up in a family where prejudice wasn’t just present; it was a principle woven into every conversation, tradition, and expectation. Bigotry ran so deeply in his family that he never thought to question it—it was simply "the way things are." His parents and grandparents reinforced these ideas at every meal, every family gathering, every unguarded whisper.

A few months ago, I was talking with a friend who was upset about some of his relationships. He felt that many of them were one-sided and that he was doing most of the giving to each relationship.

Life has its sudden disappointments, attacks, and hardships. As a Christian, you are on an earth that has been utterly defiled by Satan.

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building.

There's no day in my life when the Lord doesn’t speak to me. I don’t mean in some mysterious way.

If you didn't read Part One of this Devotional , click here, and for Part Two, click here to catch up! In my last post, I told you that God has placed three embedded desires—desires that play a factor in driving your thinking and actions and the outcome of your life.

One day, just as I was getting up to go to lunch, our receptionist called me to tell me that a man had walked in needing to talk to a Pastor. Usually, we meet with people by appointment.

If you didn't read Part One of this Devotional , click here to catch up! I will teach you something on this subject of change—something you may have never heard before.

I recently heard a frustrated person say People never change. I know why many would think that.

"What did you learn in Children's Church today, Tommy?" asked his mother, Emily. "Pastor Jamie read us the story of the boy who gave his five fish and two loaves of bread to Jesus, and it miraculously fed over five thousand people, and they even had more leftovers than what they started with." What was the lesson Pastor Jamie was trying to teach you?" his mother asked?

I was twenty-five years old when I bought my first house. It didn't take me long to realize I had a laundry list of things I had to do to keep up a home!