MORNING MANNA                 12-22-25
WARM THOUGHTS OVER THE WAR FOUGHT!

“and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭

Satan would’ve loved to have taken Jesus‘s life before he could give it up on our behalf. The war was fought all the way to the cross and Jesus won! No one took his life. He gave it up for us all. We are assured of the outcome for us, because of Him. We are Overcomers in Christ. Among the many warm thoughts we have at Christmas, let’s make sure we have one over the war fought and won by Jesus!

It’s the reason why the Christmas story is so glorious. It’s what makes the stars twinkle. It’s why the angelic choir is singing. It’s prophetically why the shepherds were worshipping!

If you are not on the winning side gloriously celebrating the victory, being cleansed, forgiven for your sins, and experiencing peace of a home in heaven, you can today. Simply place faith in the gift of God‘s grace, Jesus Christ, who won the war over sin for us!- 

Kenneth Preston
Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, TX

MORNING MANNA              12-19-25
GOD CAME AS MAN

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭

Paul Harvey told a story on this subject on God becoming a man I’ve never forgotten. I hope it simply conveys the message to you as well.

“One raw winter night a man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass. Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through the fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in the corner, and sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers to direct them to the barn. The sparrows, which scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, still hid in darkness, afraid of him.
He tried various tactics: circling behind the birds to drive them toward the barn, tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them, retreating into the house to see if they flutter into the barn on their own. Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them. The birds could not understand that he actually desired to help.
He withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky : if only I could become a bird – one of them – just for a moment. Then I wouldn’t frighten them so. I could show them the way to warmth and safety. At the same moment another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the principle of the incarnation. A man’s becoming a bird is nothing to God’s becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign being as big as the universe he created, confining himself to a human body was – and is – too much for some people to believe.”

It is true though. His name is Emmanuel = God with us. Jesus Christ came to this earth, represented God, and presented God to us through his person. He came to show us the beauty and majesty of God in the flesh. He made the way to God for us. We know what it’s like to have God with us because Jesus Christ came to us!
Merry Christmas!Kenneth Preston Lakeway Baptist Church Humble,TX

MORNING MANNA               12-18-25
A SEASON FOR SUBMISSION 

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭22

Notice in these verses the circumcising of Jesus and the purification of Mary.

“And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬

Jesus was brought under submission to the law and was circumcised.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭

Mary submitted herself to the law in giving birth to the Messiah. She was considered unclean for 40 days. She did not partake in social living or religious ceremonies during that time. This had nothing to do with her morality. It did say a lot about her humility and reverence for God though.

We are not under ceremonial law today, but we are to be in submission to God, living in obedience to His Word. If this included Jesus, we surely see that this goes for all of us. What glory to God this is, as well as a gift to ourselves. 🎵Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 🎵

Sometimes we use our circumstances or some kind of status to think we are exempt from complete obedience. We would never say it’s right, but would have to admit we have slipped into this fictional state.

Let’s see this change today and give glory to God by our practice of obedience in every area to His will. Jesus is our example! The Holy Spirit is our empowerment!

What glory to God this brings. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭20

This Christmas, may we examine ourselves and have the most submissive Christmas ever, experiencing the joy and peace that comes with our obedience!

A SEASON FOR SUBMISSION

MORNING MANNA                   12-17-25
DON’T MISS CHRISTMAS

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭

The innkeeper missed Christmas. He was too wrapped up in his business and money to consider making special accommodations that would have been comfortable for Mary. If he would have only had a spirit of giving instead of getting, he wouldn’t have missed Christmas.

The guests of the inn missed Christmas. They were too selfish to give up their room. If only they had compassion toward others override their own comfort, they wouldn’t have missed Christmas.

They represent many today who are missing Christmas. Some will miss Christmas because it’s about an abundance of presents instead of The Gift of The Lord Jesus Christ. Others will miss Christmas because it’s about making it to all of the parties and festivities which could actually detract from His Birthday. It can become all party and no praise.

We also have examples of those who didn’t miss Christmas :

The angels – They praised God and gave Him glory for the peace of Christmas.

The shepherds – They said, “Let’s go.” Where did they go at Christmas? To see Jesus. That was a great decision which brought about a joyful Christmas experience. They spoke to others of the birth of Jesus which filled the people with wonder, and they glorified and praised God.

– We read on and find that Simeon embraced Christmas!

– Then Anna gave thanks to the Lord and shared the message of the gift of redemption.

Let’s make sure we don’t miss Christmas.

May we do as the Christmas hymns says : “Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King!” – Kenneth Preston 

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX

MORNING MANNA                12-16-25
PRINCE OF PEACE

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called … The Prince of Peace.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭

There once was a man who would often go for a swim in a lake near his home. There was no one around who knew he would do this. It was quiet, relaxing, and it was his source of peace, he said. One day as he was swimming, the warm air swooped down over the cool lake and almost instantly created a thick fog. It was so thick he lost his sense of direction. Panic set in. He swam 50 feet in one direction, turned around and swam 75 feet in another direction. He could not find land or even get to a place where he could touch the bottom of the lake. So he stopped and treaded water with his heart pounding, feeling hopeless, blind in the fog, when all of the sudden a voice called out to Him. This voice immediately calmed him, and he started swimming in the direction of the voice. Needless to say, the frequent swim in the lake was not a sure source of peace.

This prophetic word from God through Isaiah of the Messiah went out to Israel at a time when they needed unfailing peace. It was a time of darkness, affliction, and battle. They had engaged with the Amalekites, Midianites, Philistines, etc.. There was so much hatred, violence, and bloodshed which took its toll on Israel. In the midst of their foggy experience, God has the voice of the prophet to call out to them about a sure source of peace. The message from God through Isaiah was, “You go tell them my Son is the Prince of Peace.”

His completeness completes us. He is needed and He is everything we need. O how we, as well as Israel, needed the promise of a person like this.

Seven hundred years later from that time, over two thousand years ago for us, Peace came to earth, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The good news to the Christian today is the experience of peace :
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7

The good news for the one reading this who would like to place faith in Jesus Christ to save them from their sins today is, the experience of peace :

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” ‭‭Romans‬ 5‬:‭1

Kenneth Preston
Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX