MORNING MANNA                  3-3-23
GOD’S HANDS

It’s strange how the words of a song stick in your mind–even for many long years. As I was thinking about the “terrible times” in which we live, I was reminded of that old song that says,”He’s got the whole world in His hands”. We need to think about that!

 The fact of the matter is that sometimes it seems that everything is whirling madly out of control. Admit it–sometimes you feel that God has forgotten all about you. It seems that He either doesn’t know, doesn’t care, or can’t help. We know we shouldn’t feel that way, but we do. Right? That’s when we need to get back to the facts, rather than following our feelings. To do that we must get into the Word and get the Word in us. Here’s a fact that ought to help you–“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”(Isa. 49:16). Isn’t that great! 

God not only has the “wind and the rain” and “the little bitty baby” in His powerful hands, He is constantly mindful of us. Think about it dear friend–we are on His mind and in His hands! The failures of the past, the frustrations of the present, and the fearful prospects of tomorrow are all in His hands. By the way–things are never out of control when they are in His hands! If you still feel a bit apprehensive go get your Bible and read Psalms 139:1-10. It ends with these words–“Even there (wherever that might be) shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” No wonder we sing “Safe am I”. God knows–He cares and He can help. —  HDS 

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

MORNING MANNA             3-1-23

GOD’S WORD

“And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.”- Colossians 4:16

 For the members of a first century church, receiving a letter from Paul was a major event. In some cases, the apostle had only been in a city for a few days or a week before leaving. In other places, like Ephesus or Corinth, he was there longer. The letter to the Colossians was written to people Paul had never even met. Because Paul spent so much time in prison, he was often not able to return to see the people he had led to the Lord. With the difficulty and danger of travel in those days, it would often be weeks or even months after the epistle was written that it would arrive for its intended audience. These letters were read, studied, copied, and passed around, not just from person to person but even from church to church. It was a vital means of instruction and guidance for the believers.

Today we often take the Word of God for granted. We have multiple copies in our homes. We have access to the Scriptures and numerous Bible study tools on our phones, tablets, and computers. We can read or listen to the Bible no matter where we are. It is critical that we not allow this ease of access and familiarity to diminish our sense of awe and wonder at what God has given us in His Word. Just as He has done through the centuries, God is still looking for people who treat the Word of God with awe and reverence and a commitment to obedience. “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). The Bible is far more than a collection of ancient stories and religious teachings. It is God’s revelation of Himself to us, and it contains His perfect direction and guidance for our lives. Our love and service for God are shaped by, grounded on, and empowered by His Word. ( Daily in the Word)

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             2-28-23

A FAITHFUL CREATOR

“Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a Faithful Creator”. — 1 Pet 4:19

The more one ponders these words, the more wonderful they appear! That God is faithful is as clear as noonday. He is faithful in the return of the seasons and the orbit-order of the stars; faithful in holding back the flood, that it should not overflow the world and destroy the homes of men; faithful to every living creature that He has made, providing for its exact sustenance. Even the odd sparrow, which Christ must have seen thrown in by the dealer, when His Mother bought four others, does not fall to the ground without His notice. God is the Faithful Creator in the heavens above and in the earth beneath. We are not surprised, therefore, to find His faithfulness the theme of Holy Writ; but why does Peter lay emphasis on His faithfulness as Creator, when ministering to the special circumstances of suffering believers? Is not this the reason? We are apt to concentrate our thoughts on the Birth, the Cross, the Grave, the Intercession of our Lord, and to forget that behind all these, deep in the nature of God—the Almighty Creator—there are ever-welling fountains of faithfulness, love, and tenderness. We are summoned to go back beyond the story of Redemption to the infinite silence of Eternity, when each of us was a distinct thought in the mind of God. In His book, all our members were written, when as yet there was none of them.

Whether we have realised that eternal purpose is open to serious questioning, but everyone of us has a right to look into the face of God, and say” “Thine hands have made me, and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments.” We may not question God’s dealings with us. They are immutably wise and right. But we may claim that in some way He should make good our deficiencies, so that though sorrowful, we should be always rejoicing; though poor we should make many rich; though having nothing, we should scatter our wealth, as though possessing all things. There is no reason why our life should be a failure, no reason why we should not minister richly to others, no reason why, by His grace, we should not be more than conquerors! We may humbly make this claim on the Almighty Creator, and He will not allow His faithfulness to fail!

Help us to commit ourselves to Thee in well-doing, O God, our Faithful Creator. May we find a solace for our own griefs and disappointments, in sympathy and ministry to others. Amen.- (Author unknown)

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             2-27-23

ACCEPTED

“ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”- Eph.1:6

One of the worst feelings in life is the feeling of being rejected. It is awful beyond description. Yet most of us have experienced it in some way. You can probably think of something that still lingers in your mind—a part in a school play, a place on the team, the cold shoulder from the “in crowd”, over looked for a promotion, etc.Things like that can hurt us deeply and can linger for years. But there’s something much worse than these things.

 Many people will be rejected by God (Matt. 7:21-23) and there is nothing worse than that. If you are unsaved you need to understand what a terrible state you are in. It doesn’t get any worse than being separated from God for eternity! 

The good news is that Jesus Christ made it possible for us to be “accepted”. The word “accepted” means “to peruse with grace, compass with favor, honor with blessings”, literally “be-graced”. We talk a lot about accepting God, but strictly speaking, salvation is God accepting us, not us accepting Him. 

So what causes God to accept us? The answer is “Christ”. He accepts us because of Christ. We can’t do anything to make ourselves acceptable to God, but by His grace we are “accepted in the beloved”. He does so “To the praise of the glory of his grace”—that is God’s explanation for why He saves us. Although we benefit immensely, the primary reason for salvation is the glory of God.

 Instead of thinking about the ways in which you have been rejected by man, focus on the glorious fact that God has accepted you. He accepts all who accept His Son!     —–David Stone 9/3/08

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx.

What is all this struggle in the world for? Why so many attempts to be something, and have something–in the sphere of nothing?

This struggle for passing vanities, is as if the foam and bubbles should contend for station on the rapid stream–but in a moment they are are gone!

We forget that we are but of yesterday–and tomorrow we are no more. It is a shame to think so much about these few fleeting days–and so little of endless ages of eternity!

Let me look to the generations past. How few of our deceased acquaintances are remembered! And how soon, like them, shall we also be forgotten!

How frail is our life! It is likened to a pile of grass, a withered leaf, dry stubble, a flower, a breath, brittle clay, fading flesh!

How swift is our life! It is likened to a weaver’s shuttle, an eagle, a ship, a wind that passes away, and comes not again!

How short is our life! It is likened to a moment, a breath!

Surely I need not be so anxious about . . .
  a life so short,
  a state so uncertain,
  and a world so vain
–where I am only a stranger, a pilgrim, a sojourner–and shortly leaving everything below.

Let the world, then, go with me as it will. This shall not trouble me, who am daily going through the world, and shall in a little while–go entirely out of the world, to return no more!

How, then, shall I spend this short life, my few winged moments, which are all appointed to me? Surely, in nothing better, than in looking out, and laying up for eternity!

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”Colossians 3:2