MORNING MANNA            10-10-23      
UNANSWERED PRAYER 

Contrary to what we think, God always answers our prayers. He either says “yes“, “no”, or “later”. But it’s common for us to speak of prayer as being unanswered when we don’t receive what we request. Sometimes we want answers and God isn’t talking. Sometimes we experience “needs” and God isn’t giving. How do you explain it? How can a loving God ignore our requests, crush our dreams, and strip us of our happiness? Should we really thank God for unanswered prayers? Yes–we should. Although we don’t understand His ways, He does all things well–even when He denies our desires. God’s answers are much wiser than our prayers and He loves us too much to let us have whatever we want. 

We need to learn to look at things as He does, the best we can. Our main desire should not be for comfort and cheer, but for Christ-like character, and that is what God is working to create in our life(Rom. 8:29). Contrary to what we think or desire, pain is often better for us than pleasure, loss is better than gain, and sorrow is better than joy in the plan God is working out in our lives. We often need the opposite of what we desire, we just don’t realize it. Sometimes we need disaster rather than deliverance, because that’s what it takes to make us humble. 

When God withholds what we desire it doesn’t mean He isn’t giving us what is best. God loves you just as much when He denies your request as He does when He grants it. So when it seems that the heavens are brass and God is deaf, take comfort in the fact that God knows what we need most and He gives us what is best. Trust Him instead of trying to understand Him, and thank Him for unanswered prayers!- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA            10-7-23

GLADNESS

“I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”- Psalm 30:8–12

Charles Spurgeon said, “Gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy. The Christian feels that he may delight himself not only in what God is, but also in all that God has done in the past. The Psalms show us that God’s people in olden times were wont to think much of God’s actions, and to have a song concerning each of them. So let God’s people now rehearse the deeds of the Lord!”

As children of God, we have deep reason to be glad no matter what is happening around us.- unknown 

David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church    

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA              10-6-23

CATCH A FALLING STAR?

”Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee”.–Jeremiah 32:17 

Who hasn’t heard the old song, “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket”? Stars have been the object of man’s attention throughout  the ages. As a boy I spent a lot of hot summer nights sleeping outside under the stars. My favorite part was watching for “falling”, some would say “shooting”, stars. They were amazing.

 Did you know it is possible that you have been hit by a piece of a falling star? Scientific studies say it’s true! It’s estimated that more than 10,000 tons of “star dust” falls to earth every year. So, although the pieces are so small you wouldn’t be aware of it, you just might have been sprinkled with “star dust”.

 The universe is marvellous! I don’t know how anyone can look up in the starry sky and deny the existence of God. In fact you don’t even have to look up. We see evidence of intelligent design everywhere we look. We see it with the telescope and with the mircoscope. It’s everywhere. And to think–planet earth is just a speck in the vast universe. What if we could see it all? The mysteries are endless. We aren’t nearly as smart as we think we are. But anyone should be able to see that, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”(Psalm 19:1). 

I have no way of knowing if I’ve been hit by a piece of a star, but I suppose it could have happened. That’s no big deal. Whether you knew about this possibility or not really isn’t important. It has no affect on your life. However, there are some things that we desperately do need to know –and, in this case, God has given us the answers.

 Did you know that although we have all sinned and are deserving of eternal punishment, God made it possible for us to have eternal life? It’s true! He sent His Son who He died on the cross that we might be saved.”–God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8). And all who trust Him receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Even if you were so smart that you knew the exact distance to and the weight of each star it would not get you into heaven. Only Jesus Christ can do that (John 14:6).

 If God can create and control the universe He can do anything–even save your soul. Nothing is too hard for God! Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior? – HDS 

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

MORNING MANNA            10-5-23

ONE DAY AT A TIME

As I reflect upon the needs of people that I care about and pray for them, I often think about this wonderful poem that has helped me so many times. I hope it will be a blessing to you and that you will refer to it often. Also, please notice the scriptures upon which the poem was based.

One Day at a Time

One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time – but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day. 

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
“Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave.” 

Not yesterday’s load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow’s uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day. 

One day at a time, and the day is His day; 

He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own. 

– Annie Johnson Flint

Deut. 33:25 ...”and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

2Cor. 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx 

MORNING MANNA            10-4-23      
HOW TO WIN OVER WORRY

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.”–Philippians 4:6  

 
I’ve got an idea that the most commonly unconfessed sin is worry. Few people have the audicity to say that they never worry. But although we readily acknowledge it, we seldom repent of it. Why ? Maybe it’s because we fail to realize what great harm it does. We seem to believe it is troublesome but a harmless sin. Nothing could be farther from the truth.  
 
Someone defined worry as “a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” James describes the danger like this–“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”(James 1:8). The worrier is like the mule that starved to death while standing between two stacks of hay, because he couldn’t make up his mind which one to eat out of.  
 
The fact of the matter is that worry affects us in every way: emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually. Worry can be deadly. When the Bible says,”Be careful for nothing” we ought to take it as a serious warning. God is looking out for our welfare! Heed His warnings, obey His commands,and claim His promises. A child of God in the will of God has nothing to worry about. When trouble come, go to God in prayer. When your burden is heavy cast “all your care upon him” and leave it there.  
 
Mike Singletary was one of the greatest football players ever. Mike grew up in the ghetto of Houston. He was one of ten children and times were tough, especially after his father abandoned the family. Six months later, the oldest child was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Everyone wondered how Mike’s mother could ever support such a large family by herself. How could a poor single mother possibly provide for so many children? Mike answered that question when he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame”. He said,”She responded the only way true champions respond: on the knees”. Dear friend, that’s the only way any of us can make it! – HDS

Don’t let prayer be your last recourse in time of need; make it your first.

 
DAVID STONE
LAKEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
5801 FM 1960 E.
HUMBLE, TX. 77346