MORNING MANNA          10-4-21

THE HOPE

“The hope which is laid up for you in heaven.” Col. 1:5

I have posted this to correct a misconception. We Christians have been accused of “being so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good”. The fact is, most folks are “so earthly minded that they are of no heavenly good”. The truth is, as Spurgeon shows below, the true Christian lives with both heaven and earth in view.

“Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here. It will animate our hearts to think often of heaven, for all that we can desire is promised there. Here we are weary and toilworn, but yonder is the land of rest where the sweat of labour shall no more bedew the worker’s brow, and fatigue shall be forever banished. To those who are weary and spent, the word “rest” is full of heaven. We are always in the field of battle; we are so tempted within, and so molested by foes without, that we have little or no peace; but in heaven we shall enjoy the victory, when the banner shall be waved aloft in triumph, and the sword shall be sheathed, and we shall hear our Captain say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We have suffered bereavement after bereavement, but we are going to the land of the immortal where graves are unknown things. Here sin is a constant grief to us, but there we shall be perfectly holy, for there shall by no means enter into that kingdom anything which defileth. Hemlock springs not up in the furrows of celestial fields. Oh! is it not joy, that you are not to be in banishment forever, that you are not to dwell eternally in this wilderness, but shall soon inherit Canaan?

Nevertheless let it never be said of us, that we are dreaming about the future and forgetting the present, let the future sanctify the present to highest uses. Through the Spirit of God the hope of heaven is the most potent force for the product of virtue; it is a fountain of joyous effort, it is the cornerstone of cheerful holiness. The man who has this hope in him goes about his work with vigour, for the joy of the Lord is his strength. He fights against temptation with ardour, for the hope of the next world repels the fiery darts of the adversary. He can labour without present reward, for he looks for a reward in the world to come.”

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

MORNING MANNA            10-3-21

A Handful Of Thorns –

 Jeremy Taylor was a 17th-century English cleric who was severely persecuted for his faith. But though his house was plundered, his family left destitute, and his property confiscated, he continued to count the blessings he could not lose.

He wrote: “They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promises … my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too, and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And He that hath so many causes of joy, and so great should never choose to sit down upon His little handful of thorns.”

Although we may not be afflicted with the grievous difficulties that Jeremy Taylor endured, all of us face trials and troubles. Are we grumbling? Or do we refuse to let our “little handful of thorns,” our troubles, obscure the overwhelming abundance of our blessings?

When we feel like complaining, let’s remember God’s faithfulness and “give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!… Remember His marvelous works which He has done!” (Ps. 105:1,5).

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

MORNING MANNA            9-26-21

REMEMBER GOD’S BLESSINGS

“ O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”– Psa. 105:1

“ Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;”– Psa. 105:5

The following story which I have in my notes is just what I needed as a reminder of God’s goodness even when things aren’t going as I planned or hoped. Perhaps this will be a blessing to you also.

Jeremy Taylor was a 17th-century English cleric who was severely persecuted for his faith. But though his house was plundered, his family left destitute, and his property confiscated, he continued to count the blessings he could not lose.He wrote: “They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promises … my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too, and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And He that hath so many causes of joy, and so great should never choose to sit down upon His little handful of thorns.” Although we may not be afflicted with the grievous difficulties that Jeremy Taylor endured, all of us face trials and troubles. Are we grumbling? Or do we refuse to let our “little handful of thorns,” our troubles, obscure the overwhelming abundance of our blessings? When we feel like complaining, let’s remember God’s faithfulness and “give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people!… Remember His marvelous works that he hath done!” (Ps. 105:1,5).

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

PASTOR’S PEN 

Strange—just about the time you think you’ve got it you lose it. For example, I could and have preached about “Defeating Discouragement”. But then something happens to show me / us that we aren’t always as strong as we think we are. That’s why I shudder when I hear someone say, “If I’ve learned anything I’ve learned……”. I shudder because I’ve been there done that. The fact is, in most cases we are only in the process of learning. And it’s when we think we’ve got it that we lose it.

Well it happened again today. All week I’ve been excited about preaching tomorrow and then overnight everything changed. Due to my physical problems it became obvious to me that I’m not ready yet. It breaks my heart.

The nurse and everyone says I’m making remarkable progress, but it doesn’t seem that way to me.

I would apologize to my dear church family except for the fact that this is something I can’t help. The desire of my heart is to preach tomorrow but I can’t. I know if God wanted me to I would be able to. I can only rest in that fact. He doesn’t make any mistakes.

Please know that I love our church family and would do anything for it. I miss being there and I assure you that I will be there as soon as I can. I’ll be praying for you and that you will have a blessed day. Love you folks!
Yours in Christ, Bro. Stone

MORNING MANNA         9-24-21

GIFTS FROM GOD

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”- James 1:17

There are many good things that come to us through our friends. The father toils and saves, and leaves an inheritance for his children. Many rich blessings come to us through human affections. Hands are ever being reached out to us, hands of love and kindliness, offering us good things. We owe far more than we ever can estimate, to those who love us. The kindly ministry of friends, brings countless benefits to our lives.

But everyone of these is a blessing sent to us from God. The human hands which bring them—are but the hands of messengers. This is only one of God’s ways of sending his good things to us.

James tells us also, that all that God gives us is good, and that every blessing of his is perfect. Sometimes we think that what we receive from God, cannot be good. We think he must have changed toward us. It is a loss or a disappointment, and it seems unkind. But in whatever form it comes, there is a blessing—some good is wrapped up in everything God sends to any of his children. (J. R. Miller)

We should never make the mistake of failing to thank others for their help and gifts. Neither should we ever thank others without also thanking God for them. – HDS

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