Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Change, Seasons, and New Beginnings Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt 
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Greetings and thank you for reading. I pray that Fresh Manna is a blessing to you and helps you launch your day in the Lord. If you are blessed by what you read, please share it with a friend. There is a link in this box and  at the bottom of each devotional that says:  "Forward this email to a friend." Click on it, and put in their email and it will go to them. Thanks in advance for sharing! God bless you and thanks again for reading! Forward this email to a friend


Change, Seasons, and New Beginnings

May, 20, 2026
by Timothy Burt

Zechariah 4:10 NLT — “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”

I remember when I was a very young Christian and asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of my life. Soon after, I began attending a Bible-teaching church that was radically different from my Catholic upbringing. The Bible was opened and taught, and the congregation followed along together. I had never really been exposed to Scripture like that before. Every week, I left in awe of what I had learned—stirred, challenged, and full of wonder. But I also carried one regret: Why had I never read the Bible in all my life?

Somewhere in those early days, I heard, “Do not despise these small beginnings…” That verse became a pillar in my heart. Over time, I realized that following God would always involve new beginnings—new steps, new lessons, new ways of living. And one of the first things He taught me was this: don’t despise them. If God is asking you to do something, He will help you do it. Philippians 1:6 NLT — “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

When you come to Christ, He begins replacing old thinking with new thinking and old habits with new ways of living. Little by little, everything changes. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT — “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

But here’s the challenge—change, new seasons of life, and new beginnings can feel intimidating. Doing something new can make you feel unsure and unqualified. In my case, reading the Bible and faithfully going to church were completely different from the life I had been living. The struggle wasn’t wanting to do the new thing—it was wondering if I could do it at all. I didn’t know how. I didn’t know what it would require.

That feeling doesn’t just happen at the beginning of your faith. It happens throughout life. Sometimes new beginnings are forced upon us—a job loss, a closed door, a sudden change. We find ourselves standing in the unknown. But often what feels like an interruption is actually God’s redirection. And for that reason, trust is critical!  Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Walking with God means learning to trust Him in new places. That’s how it was for the disciples. For three years, nearly everything they experienced with Jesus was new. He didn’t just save them—He led them. And His leading required continual trust.

Think about the Israelites. God was leading them into a land of promise, but they allowed fear to define the journey despite God giving them this critical instruction.  Joshua 1:9 NLT — “This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

There was a wilderness between the promise and its fulfillment, but it was also a place where they could have experienced it as the adventure of God’s provision, miracles, and faithfulness every step of the way with faith and joy!

The same is true for us. The path God leads us on may stretch us, but stretching is God adding to who we are! It is never without purpose. He will not abandon us. He will help us grow with the intention of blessing eventually overtaking us!

Life changes, new beginnings, and new seasons of life are inevitable! They will happen. But, don’t despise the small beginning God is leading you into. Embrace it. Thank Him for it. Trust Him when it feels unfamiliar. What seems small now may be the doorway to something far greater than you can see.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT — “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for leading me into new beginnings, even when they feel small or uncertain. Help me to trust You, follow You with faith and joy, and never despise the work You are doing in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!


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Tuesday, 19 May 2026

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Light Years by Gaurav Krishnan

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Monday, 18 May 2026

The Wisdom That Comes from Walking with God Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt 
Tim Logo   A Note from Pastor Tim
Greetings and thank you for reading. I pray that Fresh Manna is a blessing to you and helps you launch your day in the Lord. If you are blessed by what you read, please share it with a friend. There is a link in this box and  at the bottom of each devotional that says:  "Forward this email to a friend." Click on it, and put in their email and it will go to them. Thanks in advance for sharing! God bless you and thanks again for reading! Forward this email to a friend


The Wisdom That Comes from Walking with God

May, 18, 2026
by Timothy Burt

Wisdom can be gained in many ways, but one of the most powerful forms of wisdom comes through experience. Time has a way of revealing what is dependable, what is trustworthy, and what ultimately proves faithful. When that experience belongs to someone who has walked with God for many years, their words carry a special weight. King David spoke from that kind of experience when he wrote, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalms 37:25 NIV. These were not the words of a man guessing about God’s faithfulness. They were the testimony of someone who had walked through danger, victories, failures, and restorations—and discovered that God never abandons those who trust Him.

When we read about David’s life, it is hard not to think of courage and adventure. From the time he was a young shepherd boy, David had a heart that sought after God. He learned the stories of what God had done through men like Moses and the leaders of Israel before him. Moses once prayed, “O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?” Deuteronomy 3:24 NKJV. David heard truths like this and believed them deeply. But belief alone was not what shaped David’s faith. His faith was strengthened through experience—through watching God act in his own life.

He saw God deliver him from the paw of the lion and the bear while protecting his father’s sheep. He saw God give him victory over the giant Goliath when no one else in Israel had the courage to stand. Later he experienced years of hardship while being pursued by King Saul, yet even in caves and wilderness places God preserved him. Over time these experiences built something powerful inside David—a deep and unshakable trust in the Lord.

Scripture tells us that God is continually looking for people whose hearts are devoted to Him. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself mighty on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV.

People like David—those who passionately love God and trust Him—often become instruments through which God accomplishes remarkable things. The world may overlook such faith, but God never does. As Hebrews reminds us, “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 NIV.

Near the end of David’s life, even after decades of witnessing God’s faithfulness, opposition still arose. There were attempts to disrupt the kingdom and place someone else on Israel’s throne instead of David’s son Solomon. Yet David did not panic or react in fear. Instead, out of a lifetime of walking with God, he spoke words that revealed the confidence built through years of experience with the Lord: “…As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble…” 1 Kings 1:29.

Those words reveal something important. David’s confidence was not based on a trouble-free life. It was based on a life where God had repeatedly proven Himself faithful. Over and over again God had helped him, protected him, and delivered him.

That is how faith grows. It grows when we remember what God has already done. Each answered prayer, each moment of guidance, each season where God carried us through difficulty becomes another reminder that He is faithful. It's one of the reasons I journal.

Over time, those experiences build confidence in our hearts. When new challenges come, faith begins to speak before fear does. We remember the ways God has already helped us, and we trust Him again.

So let David’s declaration become our own confession of faith: “…As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble…” 1 Kings 1:29.

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.” Psalms 37:39–40 NIV.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the many times You have delivered, guided, and strengthened us throughout our lives. Help us remember Your faithfulness so that our confidence in You continues to grow. Let our lives become testimonies that encourage others to trust You as well. You are our refuge and our deliverer, and we place our full trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!


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Friday, 15 May 2026

When Peace Prevails Over Chaos Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt 
Tim Logo   A Note from Pastor Tim
Greetings and thank you for reading. I pray that Fresh Manna is a blessing to you and helps you launch your day in the Lord. If you are blessed by what you read, please share it with a friend. There is a link in this box and  at the bottom of each devotional that says:  "Forward this email to a friend." Click on it, and put in their email and it will go to them. Thanks in advance for sharing! God bless you and thanks again for reading! Forward this email to a friend


When Peace Prevails Over Chaos

May 15, 2026
by Timothy Burt

When we look at the world today, it often feels like chaos is winning. War spreads across nations. Governments stumble under corruption and confusion. Human pride fuels division. Hatred grows louder. The problems feel so large that they appear almost impossible to change.

David lived in a turbulent world, too. Nations battled constantly. Powerful rulers rose and fell. Yet when David looked at the turmoil around him, he didn’t begin by focusing on the chaos. Instead, he lifted his eyes to something far greater—the voice of the Lord.

Psalm 29:3–6 says, “The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.”

In David’s day, the sea represented chaos. The mighty cedars of Lebanon symbolized strength and human pride. The mountains represented what seemed permanent and immovable. Yet David said the voice of the Lord reigns over them all. In other words, the very things that make humanity feel powerless are still completely under God’s authority.

When we watch the news or see the brokenness around us, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We may even find ourselves talking more about the problems than about the One who has the power to change them. But David’s perspective invites us to respond differently. Instead of despairing about the chaos, we bow before the Lord who rules above it.

The voice of the Lord is not only a picture of His power; it is a call to worship and prayer.

When we remember that God is sovereign over the storms of this world, it drives us to our knees. Worship lifts our eyes above the chaos, and prayer invites God’s power into the middle of it.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NLT)  says, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior."

God has given believers the privilege and authority to pray for those in authority and to pray against the chaos that grips the world. When we pray, we are not merely expressing concern—we are exercising faith that God still reigns over nations, leaders, and events.  

And something remarkable happens when believers pray this way. The world around us may still appear unstable, but our hearts begin to steady. We remember that God is Lord of all, and our faith grows stronger than the fear we see around us. This is why Scripture says that when we pray for those in authority, we can live peaceful and godly lives. Not because the world suddenly becomes perfect, but because our hearts are anchored in the truth that God still rules.

Inwardly, every Christian would like to be a world changer. But real-world changers begin on their knees. Changing the world begins with prayer. Those who influence the world most powerfully are often the believers no one sees—the ones quietly praying, trusting God, and asking Him to move.

When we pray, we declare that our faith in God’s power is greater than the chaos we see with our own eyes. That is why Scripture reminds us that the power of God within us is greater than the forces at work in the world.

Even when the world still looks chaotic for a time, we remember what David understood so clearly: above every storm, above every nation, and above every crisis, there is still a greater sound—the voice of the Lord.

Psalm 29:11 “The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses His people with peace.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise You for continually reminding us that You alone are on the throne of Heaven and rule over all things. We look to You to bring peace and restrain the chaos in this world. We thank You for raising up godly leaders from a young age in every area of life who will serve Your will and purpose in the days to come. We trust You to tear down corruption and evil and to raise up those who love You and will work toward Your will being done in the earth. Thank You for the peace in our hearts that comes from knowing You hear and answer our prayers and that You are at work by Your power. We love You and worship You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!


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Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Elementals & Star Beings

Change, Seasons, and New Beginnings Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt  ...