MORNING MANNA            8-8-24

LOOK TO THE LORD
 “Looking unto Jesus—consider Him–lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” – Hebrews 12:2-3
 
 Some foolish people blame God for their pain or problems— saying He is unfair or unloving. That’s a big mistake! They ought to be glad they don’t get what they deserve. So should we all! Wise is the person who realizes that we can’t measure God’s love by looking at our troubles and trials. To see God’s love we must look at Christ, not man. And it is only by keeping our focus on Christ that we are able to endure.

Adrian Rogers said it well—-“When we come to a place where we don’t understand what’s happening…when everything seems to be caving in, there is Jesus. We always have the forgiveness of the cross, the victory of the empty tomb, and the hope of Christ’s imminent return.

When we go to the doctor and he tells us we have a malignancy. When we hear that we as a couple are infertile and cannot bear a child. When we have to declare bankruptcy. When we are laid off work. When we read a note that our spouse has left. When a loved one dies because of a terrorist act.

We have a Savior…and we have a choice to believe or not to believe! At that time we can begin to murmur, criticize, grumble, or despair. Or we can yield to the Savior and hear Him say, “My child, no matter what is happening, this is how much I love you. Look to the cross. Look to the empty tomb. Look for Me. I’m coming again.”- HDS, 1-7-13

Dear friends, as believers the best is yet to come. Until then let us look unto the Lord, for then we shall be looking at Jesus! You can chisel on my grave marker “Looking at Jesus”, for that is exactly what I will be doing.-HDS
 
 David Stone
 Lakeway Baptist Church
 5801 FM 1960 E
 Humble, TX. 77346 

MORNING MANNA            8-7-24

”…Christ is all, and in all.”
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

David Stone    

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, TX

MORNING MANNA            8-6-24

The Gift of Pain

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”-‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭

Many people believe that pain is God’s one mistake.  Pain usually gets bad press, but have you ever considered that a wise God created us with an ability to feel pain for a reason?  

I read a book by Dr. Paul Brand who knew physical pain is a gift. As he studied the suffering of people infected with Hansen’s disease—leprosy—he came to the conclusion that, at least in some cases, pain is vital to our survival.

While the word leprosy may conjure up images of stubby fingers and toes, ulcerated wounds, and distorted facial features, it is not the direct cause for these conditions. Because of pain deprivation, leprosy causes its victims to inadvertently destroy parts of their own bodies. Hansen’s disease acts as an anesthetic, numbing the pain cells of hands, feet, eyes, ears, and nose.

While most diseases are feared because of their pain, Hansen’s is deadly because its victims feel no pain. According to Dr. Brand, the destruction of facial features and limbs follows because the warning system of pain is gone.

In African and Asian villages where Dr. Brand worked, lepers reached directly into fire to retrieve a dropped potato. Patients at the hospital in India worked, gripping a shovel with a protruding nail; extinguished a burning wick with bare hands; stepped on broken glass. They simply couldn’t feel the warning signals telling them to stop. 

No wonder Dr. Brand concluded his findings by saying, “Thank God for inventing pain.” Pain is both an essential and unavoidable part of life; the art of living is learning how to respond to pain. God uses pain in several ways: to correct us—”It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy own statutes” (Psalm 119:71);“ “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:”(Rom.5:3-4)

Pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, communicates a clear message: something isn’t right! The loss of a loved one, a job, physical ability, or any other type of earthly pain has been caused by Adam’s sin in the garden, as well as our own sin.

But there is the remainder of the verse in Romans 5:4 that says, “. . . and experience hope.”  Our perspective has to go beyond our lives—it has to stretch out into eternity.  That gave the Apostle Peter hope and joy: 

“ “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ 

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Stephen Davey said,”God has promised to set everything right; let God’s gift complete its perfect work!  And while you wait, give Him glory—while you suffer, honor Him.  While you get that which you don’t want—and don’t get what you do want—exult in Him alone. God isn’t finished . . . yet.

Pray for strength to face the trials that stand in your way, and to withstand the painful consequences of living in a sin-struck world. Then thank God for the “hope” of eternal life.” HDS  

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, TX

YOUR MISSION FIELD

“ “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” John‬ ‭1‬:‭41‬ ‭

Senior Living tells this story. “A young woman excited about her salvation developed a deep desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. She felt called to missions, so she asked her pastor where she might go to serve to be most effective. He told her to come back the following day and he would have an answer for her then.

The next day, when she returned to his office, the pastor was waiting for her with an answer. He handed her a folded slip of paper and said, “I’m suggesting that you begin with someone who needs Christ right now more than anyone else in the entire world.”

The young woman quickly left the pastor’s office, eager to find out where her mission field was. She carefully opened the note and was surprised to discover two words: “Your father.”

She had been so passionate about reaching the lost in foreign lands that she had neglected to share the Gospel with someone so close to home.

Are there people in your life who don’t know Jesus? Maybe it’s a parent, a sibling, a grandchild, a close friend, an acquaintance, one of your children, or even your spouse. Many people make the mistake of thinking the only mission field is overseas.

But God has called you to share the Good News of His Word right where you are—in your city, neighborhood, and among your circle of friends. If you know someone who is living with no hope and without a relationship with Jesus, then take the time today to share truth that will change their lives forever.”

Consider this. If each member of the church just reached one during the course of a year, the church would double in size in just twelve months! – HDS

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble,TX

MORNING MANNA           8-4-24  
WORSHIP