THINK ABOUT IT           8-3-23

Call it intuition, a gut feeling, a guess, hope, or whatever, but I wasn’t surprised that someone was saved last Sunday morning and evening. I had expressed that to Bro. Kenneth and I was thrilled when I learned that another soul was saved after the evening service.

None of us are prophets, but sometimes we expect things that come true. Although we might not call it prayer, it’s as though God takes it as such and gives us the desires of our heart. Besides, I expected it because the church had actually been praying that God would bless our camp, and He did!

What God has done recently is wonderful. It reminds us that God does great things when we pray. That shouldn’t surprise us, for the Lord said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”- Jer. 33:3.

Yet for some reason we sometimes fail to have any expectations of good things to happen. And the result is predictable – expect nothing and you get it. Some folks think that’s what we ought to do. Alexander Pope said, “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed’. But I believe it would be better if we had the attitude of William Carey who said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God”.

While it is wise to avoid unrealistic expectations, we have the reason, right, and responsibility to claim God’s promises. In doing so we have expectations based on the veracity of God. For example, when God says, “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58) we can expect fruit from our labor – success of some sort in our service. When the Lord tells us that we reap what we sow that is true of good as well as bad. Consequently we know that righteousness is rewarded. God will provide or perform what He promised – so we can expect good things to come. And knowing that produces great joy.

When we do what God expects we can expect great things from Him. In fact, we can even expect the unexpected – things we never imagined. If we desire what God desires and do what God demands we can live in expectation of what God does next. Think about it! – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx.

THINK ABOUT IT

” Christ is all, and in all.” Col. 3:11
Christ My All
Christ for sickness, Christ for health, Christ for poverty, Christ for wealth, Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow, Christ today and Christ tomorrow; Christ my Life, and Christ my Light, Christ for morning, noon and night, Christ when all around gives way Christ my everlasting Stay; Christ my Rest, and Christ my Food Christ above my highest good, Christ my Well-beloved Friend Christ my Pleasure without end; Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord Christ my Portion, Christ my God, Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep Christ Himself my soul to keep; Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace Christ hath wrought my soul’s release, Christ my Righteousness divine Christ for me, for He is mine; Christ my Wisdom, Christ my Meat, Christ restores my wandering feet, Christ my Advocate and Priest Christ who ne’er forgets the least; Christ my Teacher, Christ my Guide, Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide, Christ the Ever-living Bread, Christ His precious Blood hath shed; Christ hath brought me nigh to God, Christ the everlasting Word Christ my Master, Christ my Head, Christ who for my sins hath bled; Christ my Glory, Christ my Crown, Christ the Plant of great renown, Christ my Comforter on high, Christ my Hope, draws ever nigh.  – Source unknown

THINK ABOUT IT            7-30-23

     When we talk about what is most important we better be careful.  All too often we get things out of their proper order.  However when I say that nothing is more important to the Christian than the Word of God, I do so without reservation.  It is impossible for us to live as God desires if we neglect His Word.  We must know it and obey it.  Sadly many folks don’t seem to care.  They go day after day without ever reading it.  It’s no wonder that they fail to grow spiritually, resist temptation, cope with difficulties, etc.  They are spiritually malnourished.

     I can’t understand how a Christian could not love the Word of God.  It is food for the soul, light for our path, a map to guide us, and a weapon against our enemy.  It provides information, insight, and inspiration.  We need that whether we think so or not.  However, as great as the Bible is, it does you no good sitting on a shelf gathering dust.

     It would be good if every believer would study the Bible as does a teacher who is preparing a lesson or a pastor who studies in preparation for a sermon.  The problem is that many do not see it as the treasure it is.  That is a dangerous thing.  Thomas Guthrie wrote, “If you  find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – take alarm.”

     A. W. Tozer gave us this wise advice: “Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night.  When you awake at night, think of a helpful verse.  When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day.  The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, he will make much of you.  It is through the Word that He reveals Himself.  Between those covers is a living Book.  God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive.  God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book.”

     Think about it! – HDS, 8/23/07

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

Sent by David Stone on Friday, July 28 at 5:29AM

THINK ABOUT IT            7-17-23

Spiritual Sight

The hymnwriter Fanny Crosby gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs. Although blinded by an illness at the age of six weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, “I think it is great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” She replied quickly, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?” “Why?” asked the surprised clergyman. “Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!”

One of Miss Crosby’s hymns was so personal that for years she kept it to herself. Kenneth Osbeck, author of several books on hymnology, says its revelation to the public came about this way: “One day at a Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by D. L. Moody to give a personal testimony. At first she hesitated, then quietly rose and said, ‘There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.’ She then recited while many wept, ‘Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story—saved by grace!’” At the age of 95, Fanny Crosby passed into glory and saw the face of Jesus.

That’s the sure hope of every child of God!

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx