MORNING MANNA            11-28-23

STRENGTH FROM STRUGGLE

“ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”- Job 23:12

Behind all worthy success, lies ever a preparation almost infinitely painstaking. Those who despise routine, technique, drill, discipline, in the days of training — never can win honors for fine attainment and achievement in after years. Self-indulgence today, means mediocrity — or less — tomorrow.

One tells of seeing a builder idly picking up a piece of wood as he stood talking to a friend. He turned it over in his hands and said: “See what a beautiful piece of oak this is. Notice the fineness of its grain. This wood will take a higher polish than a piece of ordinary oak. Can you guess why this is?” he asked. His companion could not answer, “Well, it is because the tree from which it came, had to endure a great deal of buffeting. It did not grow in a forest, sheltered by other trees. It stood apart in some field alone, and this wood gets its delicate grain from the battle with the elements which it had to wage through all its history as a tree. It was beaten on every side, and it was this experience of hardness, which has given to this piece of wood such an exquisite quality of fibre.”

What is true of trees, is true also of men — they grow best, into the finest character, into manliest strength, the noblest influence — in a life of struggle, toil, self-denial. The easy life may seem more pleasant today, but it does not fit us for masterful and victorious life tomorrow.

The same law applies in spiritual life. Our tomorrow, depends upon our today. It is possible in a Christian home to put into the hearts and minds of children, such qualities and principles that they shall be able to master the world’s evil, when they go out to face it. When men build a great ship to go out upon the sea, they store away in its frame enormous reserves of strength — stanch ribs of iron, immense beams and stays, massive plates of steel. If the vessel were being built to sail only on some peaceful river or even to go upon the ocean in quiet days — it would be a wasteful expenditure at such large cost, to put such enormous strength in her frame. But the builders are wisely equipping the ship for the most terrific storms she may ever have to encounter.

If we live well the days of youth and opportunity — we shall not fail in the days of stress and need. God is in all our life, and if we are only faithful each day as it comes ..good shall fall to our lot.– (Revised from message by J R Miller)- HDS  

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA              11-27-23

THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD

“And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.”Luke 24:50–51

Paul Chappell said, “As Christians we have received the greatest blessing possible in salvation through Jesus Christ. But God’s love is so amazing that He offers us far more. David, who experienced great blessings throughout his life wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death” (Psalm 68:19-20).

We do not receive scanty blessings from the abundant resources of God. He loads us down with good things—good things which we do not deserve. A Christian who cannot find much for which to be thankful is simply not paying attention. We are surrounded by blessings every day. The fact that we often are not grateful is not a testimony to God’s lack of provision and blessing, but our lack of appreciation. Where would we be if God charged us for air, or there was a fee each time our hearts beat? How would we function if we had to create all the resources we need rather than using what God already created?”

Charles Spurgeon said, “God’s goodness to us is not merely bene volens, in which He wishes us well, but it is beneficence of good doing. His gifts and benefits are deeds of goodness, acts of goodness. He doeth to us that which is good. He doth not only wish us well, and speak to us well, and direct us well, but He doeth well unto us.” Though God is gracious and patient, it must break His heart when we take His blessings for granted, or even worse, when we complain because we don’t have more. Let us never fail to be grateful for the daily benefits we receive because of God’s grace.”- HDS

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, Tx  

MORNING MANNA              11-25-23 

 THE COMFORTER        

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”- John 14:16–18

Having Jesus with them should have been a great source of comfort and peace to the disciples. They had the Son of God with all His power in their presence. Yet often despite Him being with them in person, they still worried, doubted, and were gripped with fear. Once, as they crossed the Sea of Galilee, a sudden storm threatened to sink the boat. In terror, the disciples ran to Jesus. “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). After He calmed the storm, Jesus rebuked their lack of faith. His presence should have given them strength to face any storm.

When Jesus was on Earth He could only be in one place at a time. When He sent the disciples on preaching trips, He was no longer with them. Now because each believer has been given the Holy Spirit, we always have God’s presence no matter where we are. We never need to fear that we are abandoned or forsaken. When a Christian lives in fear, it is an indication that he is not living with an awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Though having Him with us does not guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen, it does give us the hope and the promise that we are not alone. We can face whatever trials come, secure in the knowledge of His divine presence and comfort.Rejoice today in the presence of God the Holy Spirit in your life and live in His power and comfort.- copied  

David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA           11-23-23

BLESS THE LORD

“ Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”- Psalms 103:2

I love this story by Tom Goodman. “A man had grown tired of his small ranch and decided to sell it. He met with a real estate agent, who said she would write an ad describing the house and the land.

The agent took it over to the owner when the ad was ready. She read it to him.

After hearing it, the owner said, “Read it to me again.”

She did.

The owner pulled at his lip in silence for a moment, then he said, “I don’t think I’m going sell after all.” When the agent asked why, the owner replied, “I have been looking for a ranch like that all my life, and I did not know I already owned it!”

If you will read Romans 5:1-11, or numerous other scriptures, and consider the believers benefits you will see a reason to rejoice and give thanks for God’s grace. You will thank God for your treasures.- HDS

David Stone 

  Lakeway Baptist Church 

  Humble, Tx. 

MORNING MANNA           11-21-23  
 CONSIDER HIM    

My mind is at times harassed with fear, tormented with doubts, and burdened with a load of guilt. I have tried a variety of things in order to get relief, and have looked for deliverance in many ways. But experience has taught me, that the only way to conquer fear, dissipate doubts, and remove a burden of fresh-contracted guilt — is to look back to the cross! There, I see Jesus as the Sinner’s Substitute, bearing our sins, in his own body on the tree, paying all the debt we had contracted, answering all the demands that can be made upon us, harmonizing all the perfections of God in our salvation, and providing a free and full salvation for us. As I look on the cross — I feel peace flow into my soul, and a holy quietness take possession of my spirit.

 

I ask, “What should I fear? Jesus has made a full atonement for all my sins. He has given full satisfaction, to the law and justice of God, for all my misdeeds.

 

Why should I doubt? God is love, or he would not have given his Son to die the just for the unjust. Having given his Son, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself — will he not deal graciously with me, and freely give me all things? 

Why should I carry a load of guilt? Has not Jesus been punished for me, that I may not be punished? Did not Jesus die, that I may live forever? Is not the atonement of God’s own Son sufficient? Does not the blood of Jesus cleanse from all sin? If Jesus suffered for me, if he died in my stead — then surely I may go free.

Thus looking back to the cross, and exercising faith in Jesus, I find my fears depart, my doubts remove, and my sense of guilt taken away. I have peace with God, confidence in God, and can leave all things with God.

Sometimes I feel sad and lonely. I have no one to whom I can open my heart, or into whose ear I can pour all my complaints. I need one who has a fellow feeling with me. One who has experienced what I do. One who can stoop to and help me. At such times I find it best to look up to the throne of grace, and sigh for fellowship with Jesus. He has been tried in all points like as we are. He has a human heart. He has carried the experience of earth, with him to Heaven. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is our brother still. He remembers the lonely mountain, the howling wilderness, and the gloomy garden. He never forgets how he felt the need of sympathy, and friendly fellowship, when he went backwards and forwards to his disciples, and found them sleeping. I will therefore lift up my eyes to Jesus in the Heavens, and will seek to pour out my heart before him, and receive comfort and consolation from him. I have always one who feels forme, and feels with me. One that will listen to me, and prove his love by sustaining, cheering, and delivering me. 

O Jesus, Savior of my soul, when I look up to you, and believe that you are before the Father for me, and ever sympathize with me — I feel relieved, and the principal sense of loneliness and isolation leaves me! O my soul, whenever earth refuses to furnish you with a companion, a comforter, a friend who can identify himself with you — look up to Heaven, for Heaven will furnish what earth denies!

“Why should any living man complain?” Lamentations 3:39. Occasionally, I am tempted to complain of my hard lot — and think myself harshly dealt with. Ingratitude rises and works in my heart. This always makes me wretched. I then find it profitable to look down into Hell — and realize its horrors and agonies as my just desert.

If anyone ever deserved to go to Hell — I did!

If justice was ever honored in a sinner’s damnation — it would have been in mine!

If anyone was ever saved by grace alone — I am the man!

Shall I then, who deserve to be in Hell — but am not; shall I who am an heir of Heavenly glory — though no one ever deserved it less; shall I, because of a few trials, troubles, and disappointments, or because I have rather a heavy cross to carry — shall I dare to murmur, or fret, or complain, or think myself harshly dealt with?

Shocking inconsistency! What are my present pains or sufferings — compared with the Hell that I deserve!

All the afflictions that I am called to endure here on earth — cannot even be compared with only twenty-four hours in Hell! And yet my desert is, not to be in Hell for a few hours — but forever! Surely every lost soul, every damned spirit — will be ready to rise up in judgment against me — if I complain of my present lot! What base gratitude — if I do not praise the Lord with joyful lips, for His rich, free, and sovereign grace!

O my soul, whenever tempted to complain of my difficult lot — think of my deservings! Think of what would have been my eternal doom — if God had not saved me by His sovereign grace! Yes, I do find that looking down into Hell . . .
silences my complaints,
awakens my gratitude, and
humbles me in the dust before my God!

Now and then, I get weary and ready to faint along the long and difficult way. The journey appears so long, the road is so rough, the seasons are so trying, the difficulties increase so fast — and my strength and courage are so small. Every little trouble is magnified — and numberless mercies are overlooked! Then I find it of advantage to look forward to — the heavenly crown promised, the glorious mansion provided, and the eternal kingdomprepared. O what a splendid close to this dreary pilgrimage! O what a finish to this exhausting race! 

A heavenly crown — and a crown for the likes of me! A crown of life, a crown of righteousness! A crown of glory which fades not away. 

A mansion — a glorious residence in my Heavenly Father’s house. A residence fitted up by Jesus expressly for me. A residence which anticipates all my wishes, gratifies all my desires, and far exceeds my highest expectations!

An eternal kingdom — and a kingdom prepared to express God’s highest love, to display God’s deepest wisdom, and to exhibit the exuberant riches of God’s glorious grace!

Heaven! Oh, what will Heaven be! The vision of God. The presence of Jesus! “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand!” Psalms 16:11 

Heaven! Oh, what I shall see, hear, feel, and possess in Heaven! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined — what God has prepared for those who love him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Looking forward to Heaven — how can I do otherwise than pant for glory? What are the trials along the way — when I think of the end! What are the sorrows of earth — when I think of the joys of Heaven! What are my sufferings for Christ — when compared with the glory which shall be conferred by Christ!

May I, whenever depressed and disconsolate, whenever disheartened and cast down, whenever sad or sorrowful — look forward to the eternal rest which remains for the people of God — to the glorious inheritance promised, to that eternal city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. O the glory, the glory — which awaits the way-worn pilgrim, the toil-worn laborer, the exhausted sufferer in the cause of Christ!

And is it not the province and prerogative of faith to act thus? Does not faith ever look BACK to the cross of Jesus — for pardon, peace, and reconciliation to God? Does it not look UP to the throne of God — and sigh for fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ? Does it not look DOWN into the eternal pit, the prison, the torments, from which there is no redemption — in order to fill the soul with gratitude, love, and praise? Does it not also look FORWARD to the unfading crown, the eternal kingdom, and the glorious inheritance — and inspire with hallowed pantings for glory? Yes, it is even so!

Then, O gracious God, increase my faith, and help me to look BACK to Jesus crucified for me — that I may enjoy unspeakable peace, and solid satisfaction of soul!

Help me to look UP to your throne — that I may enjoy the closest, the sweetest, the most hallowed fellowship with you possible!

Help me to look DOWN to the gloomy regions of despair, the abode of misery and woe — that I may be grateful for my deliverance from such a fearful doom!

Help me to look FORWARD to the glory, the splendor, the unspeakable bliss — which is laid up for all who love you, and look for the appearing of your Son. 

May my faith be strong, simple, and rightly directed. May it be influential and work by love. May it grow exceedingly, and be found unto your praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Author of faith — work faith in me! Object of faith — be ever present with me! End of faith — let me embrace you, and rejoice in you forever!- James Smith, 1858

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