MORNING MANNA          9-23-21

KEEP PERSEVERING 

“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

It is one thing to be tempted to quit, to be tempted to give in, or give out and give up. It is another thing to be told to do it and especially by the people closest to you. In the midst of Job’s pain and suffering, he needed a helping hand to pull him out, but instead those he loves and trusts the most put their foot on his head.

The one thing that Job had continued to do in all of this was the right thing. He had done the right thing by not responding in the wrong way. Yes, later on in the book, he will confront God, but he will never curse God. He will try to reason with God, but he will never reject God. He will try to stand up to God, but he will never walk away from God. Just imagine your husband or your wife, the best friend you have in the world, basically telling you to commit suicide, to end your own life, but do it while you are cursing God and shaking a fist in his face. There are two things that Satan will always try to get us to do, particularly in tough times – quit on God and quit on your faith in God.

Here is what we know about a man named Job. He didn’t wallow in self- pity. He didn’t walk away from God but went to God in worship. No blame, no bitterness, no whining, no cursing, no “How dare you do this to me knowing what an upright man I’ve been.” He gives God the one thing that God always deserves in the good times or bad – worship. Job’s entire world had walked out on him, but he would not walk out on God. Because of God and his faith in God, he did not quit on himself and that is why you can read this fantastic testimony about him.

You may question God, but don’t you ever quit on God, because God never quits on you. When God starts a work in you, he finishes it. God promises he will never quit on you. What if Jesus had quit before he got to the cross? What if Jesus had quit on the cross – but he didn’t, so we wouldn’t, and we shouldn’t.

Dear Lord, thank you for never quitting on me or giving up on me. You are so good and so faithful. Give me the strength to keep trusting you when I’m tempted to give up hope. In Jesus’ name, amen – Copied

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

MORNING MANNA          9-22-21

THE BEST IS YET TO BE

As Charles Simeon, the great nineteenth century English preacher, lay mortally ill in his Cambridge home, he realized that his time on earth was fast slipping away. He turned to those at his bedside and asked,

“Do you know what comforts me just now? I find infinite consolation in the fact that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

His friends asked how that thought could give solace as he faced death. He answered with the confidence of one about to meet the Lord,

“Why, if God can bring all the wonder of the worlds out of nothing, He may still make something out of me!”

To think of the glory that awaits God’s children—to have a spirit perfectly pure and a resurrected body that will enable us to enjoy eternity to its fullest—staggers the imagination. The great changes we will experience in glory are beyond our understanding.

Even now God’s transforming power is at work in us. At conversion we became children of God and were made “alive together with Christ” (Eph 2:5) But that is not all. Paul said that in the future God will “show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7)). No wonder the apostle John exclaimed with astonishment, “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be.”

Glorious prospects await those who have trusted Christ for salva­tion. God is not done with us yet. The best is yet to be. —P. R. Van Gorder 

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

UPDATE:I had planned to preach tomorrow, but due to my weakness I will have to wait — hopefully just another week.

Words can’t describe how much I wanted to preach, but it’s not that I just want to preach. I desperately want to explain what God has done in my life through this experience and how it changed me. So it’s the message I want to preach not just the love of preaching.

In 55 years of preaching I’ve never gone this long without preaching. This will make the sixth week that I’ve been unable to preach. Although it is very disappointing I’m not discouraged because I believe God has a reason for it.

If you’re wondering about what I’m thinking or how I feel I’ll sum it up like this. Although I will be 80 next month I do not feel like I’m dying or that I ought to quit. Because of something God did during this experience I have more reason to believe that I will be preaching another 10 years than I do to think that my life will soon end. I’m not concerned about the length of time. My concern is to finish the course God has for me.

I’ve never had such an overwhelming sense of being on a mission as I do now. And when I speak of a mission I’m not just talking about what I do personally. I’m talking about how God can use me to help us as a church do exactly as God desires. Please pray for His will to be done.

Your in Christ, Bro. Stone

Sent from my iPad

MORNING MANNA           9-17-21

WE’RE NOT HOME YET

“I am a stranger in the earth….” Psalms 119:19

The wonderful thing about truth is that it is always relevant. Here is an article I wrote a few years ago and it’s still true today.

Bev, my wife, sings a song that says–

We’re not home yet children
So keep your eyes on the savior
Just a few more days to labor
And we’ll sit down beside the river
How we long to be with Jesus
And our loved ones gone before us
There’s a better day a comin’
We’re not home yet

That’s something every Christian needs to think about! I can remember my mother singing “This world is not my home” while hanging clothes on the clothesline. It didn’t mean anything to me until years later when I trusted Christ as my Savior. I love the way James Smith spoke of this subject:

“Beloved, we are strangers and pilgrims in the earth, as all our fathers were; our days are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. We are born from above and are bound for glory. We are distant from home, where our kindred, our treasure, and our hearts are found. Here we have no fixed residence; nor should we have any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. We are called to submit to many inconveniences. The Bible is our light, our food, our joy, and our directory. We want a guide, a guard, a companion, a comforter; but Jesus has engaged to fill each of these offices. We should pray for the peace of the country where we sojourn; we should not be meddlers with its concerns, but keep ourselves detached, we should be thankful for every advantage, but set and keep our affections on things above; we should neither be impatient nor reluctant in reference to going home, but submit to our Father’s will; we should consider ill-treatments permitted to do us good; and contrast the present with our own beloved country and home.” -HDS

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

This is my first attempt to contact my Lakeway family and friends. I won’t make an effort to describe what all has happened. I just want you to know that Bev and I love you dearly and deeply appreciate all you’ve done and what you are doing. I’m hoping that I will be able to speak to you personally this coming Sunday morning. Although I am much improved I’m still very weak. Please know I want to be back and will be as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for Bev! Yours in Christ, Bro. Stone