Velma worshiped God fervently as the guest singer declared, "Expect a Miracle". Velma was a candidate for a miracle. She and her husband, Philip, somehow daily found the strength to bear a virtually impossible burden. They pieced together a meager salary from his position as a janitor and her wages as a part-time maid. Their home was modest and neat though the furniture was threadbare without hope of being replaced. All of Velma's seven children were still at home, the youngest a baby and the oldest 17 years of age. Right in the middle, was a precious child wheelchair-bound who had to be fed by her parents. During the inspiring worship that Sunday, Velma tugged on her pastor's sleeve and said, "Pastor, there's a whole lot of days when a miracle just won't do. Miracles only work once, I need something every day of my life." Her pastor, Dr. Mark Rutland, replied, "I know you do, Velma". With surprising passion in her eyes Velma said, "Pastor, His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning".

What a powerful description of the Keeping Mercies of God. Miracles are real. We have all witnessed and experienced them. They are a great act of mercy. However, the keeping mercy of God, is equally as powerful - the strength to get up and go again when all power is gone. The glamor of a miracle is a shot in the arm when needed. Yet, even greater than that is the quiet mercy that floods the exhausted and war-weary and empowers them against the onslaught of fatigue, fear and discouragement to shoulder their packs and march on. That kind of mercy never gets much press but it is requested plenty. More people cry out to make it through the day than cry out for a miracle. When nothing seems new, the mercies of God are new every morning. God is with you today. God is with the one you care about today. His Keeping Mercies are what we need when a miracle just won't do!

"...God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning..." 
Lamentations 3:22-23
 

*This manna was inspired by a story told by Dr. Mark Rutland, president of Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God.