MORNING MANNA               2-15-23

PEACE IS POSSIBLE

“Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

Adrian Rogers said,”I heard about a man who was in a crisis and couldn’t sleep. He thought about this verse of Scripture, “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” He said, “Well, Lord, there’s no need for both of us to stay up all night. Good night, Lord. I’m going to sleep while you stay awake.”

The Bible says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3

It may sound like a paradox: on one hand, pray earnestly. On the other, get some sleep. But Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Be anxious for nothing,” don’t worry about anything “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God” (listen to it) “the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Friend, turn your problem over to Him. Roll it on the Lord. I don’t care how big it is. When you obey Philippians 4:6-7, God’s peace will have  mastery over your panic.

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

MORNING MANNA             2-14 -23

GRACE SUFFICIENT

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Someone has said, “God always answers our prayers, either by giving us what we ask for or by giving us something even better.” In Paul’s case, God gave him something even better.

Paul was afflicted with what he described as “a thorn in the flesh” — it was something that caused him constant pain. It was such a deep-felt difficulty that he took it fervently to God in prayer, three times pleading to have his suffering taken away.The verse above is God’s answer to Paul.

But how was this an answer to prayer? God didn’t remove Paul’s painful burden. In fact, God told Paul that he wouldn’t remove it at all. But God’s answer to Paul’s prayer was even better: my grace is sufficient for thee.

Notice God didn’t say, “My grace is sufficient for this difficulty;” God said “My grace is sufficient for you, Paul.” Paul asked for deliverance from one ordeal, but God guaranteed him grace for every trial, throughout his life.

And, although Paul would still experience much suffering, God reminded him that this simply gave him an even greater opportunity to exalt the name of Christ. My strength, God declared, is even more evident when you are helpless. Therefore, this struggle is an opportunity for you to fulfill your purpose as a Christian, more than you ever could in a pain-free life.

Beloved, rest assured that God’s grace is still sufficient, and that his power is still being manifested through the difficulties you face in your life. What a marvelous answer to prayer this is! – Copied

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             2-13-23

GOD’S WORD

“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” – Jeremiah 23:29

What is needed for the cold spirit and the hard heart? A consuming fire and a hard-hitting hammer. And that is exactly what God says that his Word is.

Perhaps you have experienced the warming radiance and the resistance-shattering power of God’s Word. When it is preached, when it is read, when it is sung it is nothing less than the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

Recognizing this kinetic energy that is contained in the pages of God’s Word, do you take full advantage of this spiritual weapon? Do you strap it on before every battle? Do you ignite your heart with it daily? Do you read it to your children? Do you share it with your friends? Is it your answer to life’s problems, your retreat when you are under attack, your offense against Satan’s dominion?

When the Word of God comes with the Spirit of God to the hearts of God’s people, there is unspeakable, other-worldly power at work. It is an uncontrollable spiritual fire, it is a perfectly weighted hammer in the hand of the great Sculptor. May it defend you today, may it inspire you today, may it engulf you today, may it shape you today.( Baptist Bible Hour)

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             2-11-23

They waste their lives majoring on minors. How wicked is that? Is it not horrible that that they long for their lusts more than love the Lord? Is it not terrible that they worship and enjoy the creature more than the Creator? Such people worship the evil trinity — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, rather than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thomas Watson wrote: Lust is an inordinate desire or impulse, provoking the soul to that which is evil. Lust, like a feverish heat, puts the soul into a flame. Aristotle calls sensual lusts, brutish,because, when any lust is violent—reason and conscience cannot be heard. These lusts besot and brutalize the man.

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA             2-10-23
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

After spending most of the day worrying yesterday, I still must say,”I’ve got an idea that the most common acknowledged 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 a harmless sin. But 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
 
DAVID STONE
LAKEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
5801 FM 1960 E.
HUMBLE, TX. 77346