MORNING MANNA                  1-31-23

INSPIRED BY THE INVISIBLE

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.–2 Cor. 4:18 

The first twenty years of my ministry I spent a lot of time away from home preaching revival meetings, etc. In doing so I often found myself in unpleasant situations. The thing that kept me going was knowing my stay there would be short and I would return home after the meeting was over. At home I could feel the embrace of my wife, hear the laughter of my children, eat home-cooked meals, and sleep in my own bed. Indeed–“there’s no place like home”. That inspired me and kept me going through the days while I was away. 

Knowing something good lies ahead helps us get through the difficulties we encounter enroute. That’s why I keep saying,”For the Christian, the best is always yet to come”. I believe that. And knowing it is so helps me. The anticipation of something delightful can be a great encouragement when you are facing unpleasant situations. If you only focus on your present problems it will drive you to despair. But when we know that we only have to endure for a brief time it makes matters a lot easier. For that reason we ought to think much and more about heaven. The hope of heaven can help you like nothing else that I know of. The reality of it brings great relief to God’s weary children.

 Regardless of what you’re going through, if you know the Lord, things will get better, much better, they will in fact be perfect! It’s just a matter of time. If Christ is your Savior then God is your Father, heaven is your home, and the Holy Spirit is your Helper until you get there. Don’t let the hardness of the way cloud your vision and rob you of your joy. Soon your journey will end and you will be home at last. There everything will be absolute perfection. So, keep your eyes on the prize! – HDS 

MORNING MANNA             1-30-23

DOING YOUR DUTY
“ For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:”– Acts 13:36

We are continually seeing useful lives removed from earth. The loss seems irreparable. But there are no accidents in God’s providence. Everyone’s life is a plan of God, and no faithful servant is taken away–until his part in the great plan is finished. There is abundance of work remaining–but it is the work of others, not of him who is gone. His mantle falls at someone’s feet– yours, perhaps.

A godly father dies, and there is grief in the home. How he will be missed! Yes, but an elder son stands by the coffin, strong and gifted, blessed with the blessing of the father’s life and teaching. At his feet the mantle falls from the father’s shoulders. He must take it up, and with it lift the burdens and responsibilities of manhood. He must become now his mother’s protector, and the shelter and defender of his younger brothers and sisters.

A godly mother dies, and when a gentle mother goes out of a home–the loss indeed seems irreparable. But if there is an elder daughter in the sorrowing group at the grave, at her feet the mantle falls.

So it is in all the breaches which death makes in Christian homes and communities, in every case the mantle falls at someone’s feet. God makes provision that his work shall not suffer, unless his servants fail in their duty. We must be ready always to take up what is ours.- J R Miller

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA            1-29-23

A NEW CREATURE
“ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ”– 2 Cor. 5:17

A few years before John Newton died, a friend was having breakfast with him. Their custom was to read from the Bible after the meal. Because Newton’s eyes were growing dim, his friend would read, then Newton would comment briefly on the passage. The day the selection was from 1 Corinthians 15. When the words “by the grace of God I am what I am” were read, Newton was silent for several minutes. Then he said, “I am not what I ought to be. How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be, although I abhor that which is evil and would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be, but soon I shall put off mortality, and with it all sin. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say I am not what I once was: a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am!”

Do you ever stop and reflect on who you are in Christ? Do you meditate on the believers benefits? Understanding who you are and what you have in Christ will transform your life. It will produce peace and give you reason to rejoice. You will focus on praise rather than problems. It will turn your thoughts from trials to thanksgiving. Stop and think about where you would be without Christ. His saving grace has not only saved you from hell, it has secured for you a place in Heaven. It has made you a new creature. Not only are you saved from the penalty of sin, you are being saved from the power of sin, and will, one day be saved from the very presence of sin. And it’s all because of God’s amazing grace!- HDS

David Stone

Lakeway Baptist Church

Humble, Tx.

MORNING MANNA                   1-28-23
HUMBLED AND HELPED

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. ”- Heb. 12:2-3

Life is tough and sometimes we come face to face with things that are overwhelming and we wonder how we can endure them. We feel helpless because we can’t change the situation. But there is hope. While we can’t change our trials we can change our thoughts and that changes us. Way back in 1660, Thomas Brooks gave us the following wise advice.

“Dwell much upon the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness to you. Nothing humbles and breaks the heart, like God’s mercy and love. In Luke 7, the Lord Jesus shows mercy to that notorious sinner, and then she falls down at His feet, and loves much and weeps much, etc.

Oh, if ever you would have your souls kept humble, dwell upon the free grace and love of God to you in Christ! Dwell upon . . .
  the firstness of His love,
  the freeness of His love,
  the greatness of His love,
  the fullness of His love,
  the unchangeableness of His love,
  the everlastingness of His love, and
  the ardency of His love.

If this does not humble you, there is nothing on earth which will do it. Dwell upon what God has undertaken for you. Dwell upon the choice and worthy gifts which He has bestowed on you. Dwell upon that eternal glory and happiness which He has prepared for you—and then be proud if you can.”

Think about it! Such thoughts not only humble us, they help us to accept whatever God appoints or allows.-HDS

DAVID STONE
LAKEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
HUMBLE, TX.

MORNING MANNA             1-27-23

THE LARGER WATERS

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”2Cor. 5:8

As to that question, the verses following our text gives us the answer— “ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.“– 2 Cor.5:9-10. God doesn’t leave us here to do as we please, but rather to do what pleases Him. That is a life well lived.- HDS

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