MORNING MANNA        5-12-24

NO ONE LIKE MOTHER

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”– Prov. 31:30 

With much discomfort she carried you in her womb for nine months and with great pain she brought you into this world. She set out on a journey, down a road she never travelled before, with many questions and fears. With many sleepless nights and much hard work she attended to your needs. In weariness and with great sacrifice she determined to make life easier for you than it was for her. She walked the floor with you when you were sick, wiped your feverish brow with a cool wet cloth to comfort you, and held you close when you were frightened. She warned you of dangers, counselled you with words of wisdom, wiped away your tears, and kissed your cheek. She made you brush your teeth, took you to the doctor, helped you with your homework, prepared your meals, washed your clothes, and did numerous other things without any fan-fare, praise, or reward. She was over-worked, under-paid, grossly neglected, and seldom appreciated, but she never complained about it. 

She hasn’t been perfect, although it seemed so, but she was always there for you–even when everyone else turned away. She might have been weary, but she wasn’t weak. She did whatever needed to be done to make you the person you are. She was bold enough to tell you the truth– even when you didn’t want to hear it; courageous enough to put her foot down and stop you from doing what you shouldn’t; brave enough to confront the neighborhood bully and anybody else who threatened her “babies”. She was wise enough to challenge you to always do your best and to believe that you could do anything you set your mind to do. She was patient when you came short and urged you to try again. And she was always willing to forgive you when you failed, even if it was for the tenth time! Chances are, your mother has been your wisest teacher, your finest example, your greatest provider, your strongest supporter, and your best friend. It’s like an old poem that begins with these words–

“There’s no other love like a sweet Mother’s love;

An affection like hers there’s no other.

Our friends and companions all love us we know,

But no one else loves us as Mother.”

Then, after several verses, the poem ends with this wise advice-

“Then while she is with us let’s brighten her days;

Let’s show her how dearly we love her.

For in all of the walks of life’s many ways,

No one else loves us as Mother.”

That’s true, and no one on earth is more deserving of our love and respect than a godly mother. On this special day, and every day, tell her you love her and prove it by meeting the needs in her life. She has always been there for you, so don’t fail to express your appreciation and affection for her. Remember the words of Lincoln, “No man is poor who has had a godly mother.” We have eight very rich children and I pray that they understand how wealthy they are. -David Stone 5/8/11 (revised 5/12/19) 

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

MORNING MANNA          5-11-24

EMBLEM OF THE HUMAN HEART
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

In a vessel filled with muddy water, the mud visibly subsided to the bottom, and left the water purer and purer, until at last it seemed perfectly clear. The slightest motion, however, stirred up the sediment and the water became as murky as before.

Here we have an emblem of the human heart. The heart is full of the mud of sinful lusts and carnal desires, and the consequence is that no pure water–that is, good and holy thoughts–can flow from it. It is, in truth, a miry pit and swamp of sin in which all sorts of ugly reptiles are bred and crawl. 

Many however never imagine that his heart is half so wicked as it really is, because sometimes its lusts are at rest, and sink, as it were, to the bottom. 

But this lasts only so long as he is not stirred up; I mean, so long as he is without opportunity or incitement to sin. Let that occur, and worldly lusts rise so thick, that his whole thoughts, words, and works, show no trace of anything but slime and impurity. 

One is meek as long as he is not thwarted. Cross him, and he is like gun-powder, ignited by the smallest spark, and blazing up with a loud and destructive effect.
Another is temperate so long as he is not with his wicked companions.
Another is chaste while the eyes of men are upon him.
Alas, my God! How often have I imagined that the world and all its lusts were a thousand miles away, and yet afterwards discovered that, like a crafty foe, they had kept quiet only to attack and beguile me unawares. 

O my God, purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow! Create in me a pure heart, O God! – (C. Scriver, 1671)

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

MORNING MANNA           5-10-24

REMEMBER THE DUCK

“ But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” Num. 32:23

I love this story I read several years ago from Senior Living. With Mother’s Day coming up, this grandmother reminds me of the wisdom and love often seen in mothers.

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s backyard, he saw her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let it fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead.

So he panicked and hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. After lunch that day, Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck.” 

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper.” Sally smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it.” Again she whispered, “Remember the duck.” Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.

Finally, after several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he couldn’t stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he’d killed the duck. “I know, Johnny,” she said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I just wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

How many Christians today have received forgiveness in Christ, but miss out on living in the freedom they have? Don’t live under the impression that you still have to earn your salvation. Instead, live in the freedom that Christ has bought you!

Pray and ask God to help you understand the freedom you have in Christ. As you grow in your freedom, shake off the yoke of slavery and experience the joy you’re meant to have!

In light of that remember this, “ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7

THINK ABOUT IT

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

MORNING MANNA             5-9-24

THE COST OF OBEDIENCE   

“And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”  Matthew 26:37–39

Dr. J.H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.” If we are going to do anything for Christ that truly matters, we are going to have to be willing to make sacrifices and pay the price. This was true for Jesus in His own life and ministry. Though salvation is free to us through His grace, it was purchased at great cost to the Lord. When He was confronted with the test in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion, Jesus expressed His willingness to submit to the Father’s will and become the sacrifice that would pay for the salvation of all who believe.

Jesus was willing to pay that price, and He expects the same level of commitment from those who would follow Him: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”(Matthew 16:24). The cross is not a metaphor for difficulty—it is a picture of great sacrifice. A man who is carrying his cross to the place of execution has no plans for his own future. He is committed to a course of action that will entail suffering and loss. The Christian life—the life of one who will truly live according to the example of Jesus—is not cheap. But the eternal value that is produced by those who are willing to pay the price is worth all that it costs.

Those who are willing to count the cost and take up the cross will never regret their eternal investment. (Daily in the Word)

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble,Tx

MORNING MANNA            5-8-24
CHOOSING CONTENTMENT

“—for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.–“ Philippians4:11

This statement from the pen of Paul never ceases to amaze me. I would like to be able to be say the same thing, but I sometimes fail. About the time I think I’ve learned this lesson something happens to show me that I haven’t –I’m still learning!

It thrills and challenges me when I see others who, like Paul, have learned to be content, regardless of the circumstances. Here’s one of my favorite stories:

A 92-year-old petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.  His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.  After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.  As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I(the author) provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.  “I love it,” he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.  “Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait.”  

“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.  Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged . . . it’s how I arrange my mind.  I already decided to love it.”   It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up.  I have a choice;  I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.  Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away.  Just for this time in my life.

So, dear friend, how is it with you? Have you made that choice? Have you learned to be content? Are you in the process of learning this lesson? Or, have you just resigned yourself to failure –discontent, disgruntled, depressed, and disappointed? It’s your choice! – HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

5801 FM 1960 E.

Humble, TX. 77346