MORNING MANNA           9-7-23

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW 
“ Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”-Matt.10:29-31

The song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” was written by Civilla Martin, the wife of a Baptist Pastor. Here is how she described in her own words how she came to write the song.
“In the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship with a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for over twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them the secret of their joy in the midst of pain. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: ‘If His eye is on the sparrow, then I know He watches me.’ The beauty of this expression of simple faith gripped my heart and that same evening I wrote the words for the song.” 

Your situation might be different than hers, but regardless of your circumstances you can find comfort in the words of her song: “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel lonely, and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me. His eye is on the sparrow; and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free! His eye is on the sparrow; and I know He watches me. His eye is on the sparrow; and I know He watches me.”

It’s obvious that her song was based on our text, so perhaps you ought to read what Jesus said again.- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA            9-5-23

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ-“–.Galatians 6:14 

Paul had what we all need–a burning desire to proclaim the glories of the cross to a lost and dying world. In spite of all the difficulties he faced, he never allowed anything to dim his vision of the cross. Neither should we. Keeping our focus on the cross will feed our faith, fuel our faithfulness, and fix our faults. 

Turn your eyes away from the vanities of the world and set your sights on the cross. See the two arms stretched out in both directions, east and west, embracing all the peoples of the earth. See the foot of the cross descending below the grave, down to the very gates of hell, making a way for the lowest of men. Behold the cross ascending upward, beyond the sun, moon, and stars, until it reaches the very throne of God, bringing us from the darkness of this sinful world to to the bright glory of that heavenly city of light.Then, there you will hear the heavenly choir singing in perfect unison the “new song”- redemptions song, composed by the work of Christ on the old rugged cross. 

If the cross is our theme for eternity it certainly should be at the center of our thoughts ever wakening moment here below. All else pales in comparison. Let us then glory only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have nothing else of which to boast. It is at the cross where we first saw the light that leads to life. As the old song says, “The way of the cross leads home”.- HDS 

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

MORNING MANNA            9-4-23

THANKFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Verna Chambers, of Willcox, AZ., got out of bed one morning and put on a t-shirt with these words on it,”Be nice to me. I had a hard day”. Shortly afterward little Eric looked at her and said,”How can you tell this early in the morning?. 

That ought to get our attention. Sometimes we start the day expecting the worst. Before our feet ever hit the floor we have convinced ourself that this is going to be “a hard day”. We rise with no chreeful expectation of what the day might hold. We just assume the worse. In other words, we make ourselves miserable before God has had a chance to bless us with some good thing. 

The sad thing is that our attitude usually shows in our face and affects those we come in contact with. So, how are you doing so far this morning? Have you already decided that this is going to be a bad day? Is there really nothing to smile about? Is it not possible that some delightful blessing is just a few hours, or maybe only minutes, away? 

I know, some of you would like to give me a piece of your mind about now. And you are right, I don’t know how hard life has been for you. And I don’t know what the day will bring. But I do know this. As a child of God I have a loving Father in heaven who is anxious to bless me–and you. Why then should we not expect Him to do so? By the way–blessings come in many forms. Just being able to get out of bed and dress yourself is a great blessing. Many can’t do that. Having a roof over your head, shoes on your feet, and something to eat should be a reason to rejoice. Things could be a lot worse than they are! 

I’ll admit, I don’t know what your day will hold. It might indeed be “a hard day”, but why should we expect it to happen when we have no evidence that it will? Even if it does can God not use it for some good? The best way to start the day is to be thankful for the gift of life, the gifts in life, and the gift of eternal life. Now, I hope you do indeed have a good day!-HDS

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

MORNING MANNA            9-3-23

FINISHED

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost”- John 19:30

Here is lesson number six from Jesus on the cross: the most important thing in your life is God’s will for your life; you are not finished until you can say, like Jesus, “it is finished.”

Jesus “gave up the ghost,” or died, according to his own time and pleasure. Unlike us, Jesus’ life was in his own hands. Yet, he refused to depart this world until he had accomplished the purpose for which God had sent him. He endured the cross and cruel mocking until his business here was finished.

The apostle Paul wanted to die. He even said “to die is gain.” But in the end he concluded that “to abide in the flesh [keep on living] is more needful” (Philippians 1:24). Why? Because God was not through with him yet. Paul knew that as long as God had him here at all, then he was here for a purpose.

The perspective changes in Paul’s last letter, as he faces his approaching martyrdom under Nero. Paul confesses, “I am read to be offered” (2 Timothy 4:6). Why? Because, Paul says, “I have finished my course” (7). Not until he had finished all that God had for him was he ready to die. Whether young or old, rich or poor, happy or sad, the most important thing in your life is God’s will for your life; you are not finished until you can say, like Jesus, “it is finished.” (Baptist Bible Hour)

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