Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Grudgingly or Gladly? 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 at the bottom of each devotional called "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!  Click here to view this email in your browser 


Grudgingly or Gladly?

March 18, 2026
by Timothy Burt

When our kids were little, Renee and I tried to be intentional about planning fun occasions and events that would bless our family. “ When the time came, we announced, "Hey kids, we’re going to go do something fun!”

Most of the time, smiles followed. But almost without fail, there was one who wasn’t thrilled. Arms crossed. Energy low. The attitude said it all: I’ll go… but I don’t want to. They went anyway—but they went grudgingly.

Looking back, what stands out isn’t just the reluctance. It’s how often those same outings turned out to be wonderful. Laughter replaced resistance. Joy followed obedience. And later, there was embarrassment over how stubborn they had been about something that ended up being so good and so much fun.

That same pattern doesn’t just disappear when we give our lives to Christ. When we surrender to Jesus, we also surrender to a lifetime of being led into growth, maturity, blessing, correction, healing, service, and sometimes discomfort. God has places He wants to take us. Most of them are designed to help us grow spiritually. Many of them also mature and bless us deeply in the process. Yet sometimes, we go grudgingly.

The kids loved our church, but occasionally Renee would hear, "Can we just sleep in this morning. I'm tired!"

Or when I'd tell them I was taking them to a park after dinner so they could burn off some energy and Renee could get a break from spending the day with them while I worked. "Dad, we went to the park twice last week to play!"  "I know, but I'm taking you to a new park tonight! You'll love it!"  It started grudgingly and ended up as great fun!

I'm sure you remember your own scenarios of grudgingly spending time with your kids. Do you remember the times you had that attitude only to feel embarrassed by it later?  

God may be nudging us to work on our marriage, forgive someone, change an attitude, step out of isolation, serve others, or spend more intentional time with Him. There are countless scenarios! Oftentimes, God, through His Word or a pastor’s voice, is calling us toward something that would genuinely move our lives forward. But our flesh pushes back.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) says, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or under pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

While this verse speaks directly about giving, the principle reaches far beyond money. God is not interested in reluctant obedience. He isn’t looking for sons and daughters who drag their feet in response to His leading. He desires hearts that trust Him—even when the destination is unfamiliar.

So why does this matter so much? It matters because God intends to take you on many journeys you haven’t traveled before. Some will be fascinating. Some will be joyful. Some will be hard work. Some will stretch you in ways you didn’t expect. But all of them are designed to lead you into the life He planned for you and to shape your heart and mind—things He planned for you long before you knew Him.

The enemy understands this all too well. The devil would love to interfere with that process. He wants to exhaust you, isolate you, distract you, and convince you to hibernate spiritually. He fills our lives with endless scrolling, meaningless noise, and shallow substitutes for real growth. His goal is simple: make everything that is good and from God feel burdensome—so obedience becomes grudging instead of joyful.

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.”

If we’re honest, most of us can point to moments when we obeyed God reluctantly—and later realized how wrong we were to resist. The conversation that changed us. The service we almost skipped. The discipline we didn’t want. The step of faith we delayed. We went grudgingly… and came back grateful.

God is patient, but He is also purposeful. One of the qualities He wants to change in us is that inner resistance—the habit of dragging our heels when He calls. As we mature, grudging obedience should show up less and less, replaced by trust, anticipation, and willingness. Because when God leads, He never wastes the journey.

Psalm 32:8 (NLT) “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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Monday, 16 March 2026

Is There Premium Fuel in Your Tank? 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 at the bottom of each devotional called "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!  Click here to view this email in your browser 


Is There Premium Fuel in Your Tank?

March 16, 2026
by Timothy Burt

I’m pretty intentional about what I put into my body. I’ve learned over the years to think of food as fuel. Not just something to enjoy—but something that determines how well I function throughout the day and supports my body for the future.

Automakers say something similar about engines. They’ll tell you that if your car is designed for it, using premium fuel can make a difference. Premium fuel burns cleaner. It can reduce carbon buildup. It helps an engine run more efficiently and smoothly over time. It’s not magic—but it is better fuel for a high-performance engine. You might think, "I'm anything but a high-performance engine!" but maybe you shouldn't. God can do more in you and through you than you ever imagined!

That idea crosses my mind often as I pour my morning coffee and reach for my usual Greek yogurt with berries and a banana. Simple. Clean. Reliable. It’s my way of starting the day with what I consider “premium fuel.” I know how my body responds to it. I feel clearer, steadier, more ready for what’s ahead.

This isn’t a new thought for me—it’s a daily reminder. Each morning, as I choose what will fuel my body, I’m also reminded of the importance of choosing the right fuel for my soul.

Every morning, before the noise starts and the demands pile up, we choose what will fuel our inner life. Just like junk food might fill us but not strengthen us, the wrong spiritual inputs can leave us sluggish, distracted, or reactive. But God has made it clear to us! Matthew 4:4, NKJV, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Scripture is premium fuel for the soul. It reminds us who we are before the world tries to define us. It steadies our hearts before pressure hits. It realigns our purpose before we drift. God sees us as important to His plan. But do we value His view and purpose for us? He tells us, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14, NKJV)

When we start the day remembering that truth, it changes how we carry ourselves. We don’t just react—we represent. We don’t just endure—we shine.

Prayer, too, is part of that premium fuel. If Scripture is the quality of what we put in, prayer is the fuel in the tank that keeps us moving. It’s how we stay connected, supported, and supplied as the day unfolds.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NKJV)

Premium fuel doesn’t eliminate hills, traffic, or long drives—but it helps the engine perform the way it was designed to. God designed us for more than survival. He designed us for purpose, clarity, and influence.

Some cars are high-caliber performance cars. The right fuel is critical to their performance. I hope you think God created you as high-caliber. He is still doing a work in you and it's always been His purpose to use you in the world around you! Ephesians 2:10 “For we (meaning YOU!) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

So before the day revs up, ask yourself: what fuel am I putting in first? Because what you start with often determines how far—and how well—you’ll go.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NKJV) “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Prayer: Lord, help me be intentional about what fuels my heart and mind each day. Teach me to start with Your Word, to lean on You in prayer, and to walk in the purpose You’ve designed for me. I want to run clean, steady, and strong for You—bringing light wherever You send me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!



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Saturday, 14 March 2026

The Beautiful World of the Unseen 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 Beautiful World of the Unseen

April 6, 2026
by Timothy Burt

Some mornings during the week, my wife Renee and I meet early on our living room couch. We’ve each already spent time with the Lord, and then we come together with coffee in hand—to talk, to pray, and to share what God has been speaking to us through His Word. Those moments are quiet, simple, and deeply meaningful.

Other mornings look different. Renee may be caring for our special-needs granddaughter, checking in on her 97-year-old father who lives nearby in assisted living, or spending time encouraging one of the many friends God has placed in her life. No matter where she goes, she carries the same posture—kindness, attentiveness, and warmth. She listens well. She smiles easily. She leaves people stronger than she found them.

She lives a beautifully selfless life. And the truth is, not many people see it.

I often think I’ve married one of the greatest women I’ve ever known. Her life seems fixed on being a blessing to others—not for recognition, but because love is simply how she lives. And that realization has led me to consider what I would call the beautiful world of the unseen.

When I married Renee, I didn’t fully understand how deeply rooted these qualities were in her. I came to see them over time. And in a way, that makes it even more meaningful—because it mirrors the life of my mother. I always believed my mom was one of the greatest women who ever lived, quietly serving, loving, and giving without fanfare. I didn’t know it then, but God was giving me someone cut from the same cloth.

The world is filled with people like this—men and women who live gently, love deeply, pray faithfully, and serve selflessly. They are not applauded. They are not celebrated. They are often overlooked. Yet they are empowered by their love for God and grounded in His Word, living out His call to kindness, humility, mercy, and service.

Jesus spoke directly to this kind of life.

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:3–4, NKJV)

God sees what others miss. He notices faithfulness that never draws attention. He keeps record of obedience done quietly and sincerely.

Scripture is clear that salvation is a gift. We cannot earn it. We receive forgiveness, mercy, and eternal life through Jesus Christ alone. But the Bible also speaks plainly about rewards—about how the way we live after receiving salvation matters deeply to God.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23–24, NKJV)

Renee and I both know this truth well. Our calling is far more important than the pursuit of temporary, earthly things. This life is brief. Eternity is long. And what is done for Christ—especially what is done quietly—echoes forever.

That morning, watching her move through life with love and purpose, I found myself thinking about the multitudes who live this way. People whose names may never be known publicly, but whose faithfulness makes the world gentler, steadier, and more beautiful.

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name.” (Hebrews 6:10, NKJV)

The unseen are not forgotten. Heaven is watching.

2 Corinthians 4:18, NKJV “For we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for seeing what others overlook. Help us live for what is eternal, not for recognition or reward on this earth. Teach us to love quietly, serve faithfully, and trust that You are keeping record of every act of obedience done in Your name, in Jesus’ name, Amen 


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Friday, 13 March 2026

It's all in how you slice it

Grudgingly or Gladly? Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Fresh Manna with Pastor Tim Burt    A Note from Pastor Tim Greetings and thank you for rea...