MORNING MANNA           6-8-24  

PEACE IN PRISON
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” –Acts 16:25

During WW II, a lady by the name of Darlene Deibler was doing mission work in Indoneisa when she was captured by the Japanese secret police. This is how she described what happened as she was locked in solitary confinement:

“The door closed upon me, and I dropped to my knees, eyes intent upon the keyhole. When I saw the key make a complete revolution, I knew I was on death row, imprisoned to face trial and the sentence of death.

I listened to the footsteps of the guard recede on the concrete walkway. When he was gone beyond hearing, I sank back onto my heels. My face and hands were wet with cold perspiration; never had I known such terror. Suddenly I found I was singing a song that I had learned as a little girl in Sunday school in Boone, Iowa:

Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot;

He enters all rooms, The doors being shut.

He never forsakes, He never is gone,

So count on His presence from darkness ‘til dawn.

So tenderly my Lord wrapped His strong arms of quietness and calm about me. I knew they could lock me in, but they couldn’t lock my wonderful Lord out. Jesus was there in the cell with me.”

The same God who gave Paul and Silas peace in the prison gave this dear sister a song in the night. In her most desperate hour she was assured that God was there with her, and that gave her hope. They could lock her in prison, but they couldn’t lock God out!

My dear friend, it might be that you feel as though you are bound in some dark lonely prison today. There appears to be no ray of light and no reason to hope. Although your circumstances are different your fear is just as real. In this terrible time I remind you that her God is your God and what He did for her He can do for you. With God we always have reason to hope. –HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E.
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA             6-7-24   

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4–5

Known as the “Nine Day Queen,” Lady Jane Grey was just fifteen years old when she was briefly placed on the throne of England before being deposed by Bloody Mary, who would later order her execution. Jane Grey never wavered in her faith, even when told that converting to Catholicism might spare her life. In a letter not long before her death, she wrote, “For my sins the body of Christ was broken, and his blood shed on the cross. I ground my faith upon God’s word, and not upon the church. The faith of the church must be tried by God’s Word, and not God’s Word by the church; neither yet my faith.” She feared disappointing God more than losing her own life, and her faith remains a shining example hundreds of years later.

The first and greatest commandment is that we love God above all else and all others. The priority of God determines how we spend our lives—how we use our time, talents, and resources. If He is first, then we will be devoted to following His Word and obeying His will. Yet the lives of many Christians do not reflect those priorities as being the most important. Too often we lose sight of the balanced nature of God’s character. Yes, He is a loving and gracious Father to His children. Yet, He also hates sin with a fiery wrath, and He will not allow it to go unpunished: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil”(Proverbs 16:6).

When we understand the holiness and character of God, we fear failing Him more than anything else. (Daily in the Word) 

   

David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble,Tx

MORNING MANNA           6-6-24

AN AMAZING ATTITUDE

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬ 

‭“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬

As long as we are in this corrupt world, characterized by confusion and conflict, circumstances will never be ideal. Conditions will never be perfect, and changes will keep coming. Yet in all this we are commanded to be content (Heb. 13:5). Impossible? It seems so. Paul, however, proved it isn’t (Phil.4:11). Speaking of Paul’s great attitude,

 S. G. Rees wrote:

Paul not only stood the tests in Christian activity, but in the solitude of captivity. You may stand the strain of the most intense labor, coupled with severe suffering, and yet break down utterly when laid aside from all religious activities; when forced into close confinement in some prison house. That noble bird, soaring the highest above the clouds and enduring the longest flights, sinks into despair when in a cage where it is forced to beat its helpless wings against its prison bars. You have seen the great eagle languish in its narrow cell with bowed head and drooping wings. What a picture of the sorrow of inactivity.

Paul in prison. That was another side of life. Do you want to see how he takes it? I see him looking out over the top of his prison wall and over the heads of his enemies. I see him write a document and sign his name–not the prisoner of Festus, nor of Caesar; not the victim of the Sanhedrin; but the–“prisoner of the Lord.” He saw only the hand of God in it all. To him the prison becomes a palace. Its corridors ring with shouts of triumphant praise and joy. 

Restrained from the missionary work he loved so well, he now built a new pulpit–a new witness stand–and from that place of bondage come some of the sweetest and most helpful ministries of Christian liberty. What precious messages of light come from those dark shadows of captivity.

My dear friend, as the old song says, what He’s done for others He can do for you! Like Paul, we can have peace in prison, joy in jail, contentment in the worst circumstances, an amazing attitude although greatly afflicted. Considering my condition I am still learning. But simply knowing it is possible keeps me encouraged. I pray it does the same for you. HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA           6-5-24

THE SMALL COIN OF LOVE

“And be ye kind one to another—“Eph. 4:32

I wish I could say I wrote the following, but I can’t. I found it in some of my notes and the author is unknown. HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

MORNING MANNA            6-4-24  

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT

“—- the God of all comfort.”–2 Cor. 1:3

Do you remember the old song that says, “Troublesome times are here”? Well, you could say that about every generation. This world is a tough place to live. It is bad and getting worse. Everyone has troubles and trials, and everyone needs comfort–that’s the bad news. 

The good news is that God is able and willing to provide exactly what we need. He is “the God of all comfort”, and that is a comfort to know! Knowing that He is at our side to encourage and support us gives us great courage to face the storms of life. Whatever our need might be He is able to help. He is aware of your situation, available in every season of life, and “ able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”( Eph.3:20).

• When I am sick, the Great Physican is at my bedside. 
• When I am impoverished, the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills is my Provider. 
• When I am lonely, He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. 
• When I am hated and despised, He loves me with an everlasting love. 
• When I have sinned, He is the Blessed Redeemer who forgives and cleanses from all unrighteousness. 
• When I come to the valley of the shadow of death, the Great Shepherd of the sheep leads me safely through.

Whatever you face today, or may face tomorrow, you have the blessed assurance that “the God of all comfort” will be there to help you. And, He never fails! He might not change your circumstances , but He can change you – enabling you to triumph over your trials. “ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”– HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346