MORNING MANNA           7-8-21

THROUGH GOD’S EYES

 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”  – Psalm 116:15

I have often said, God wants for you exactly what you would want for yourself if you were as smart as God. I believe that. Our attitude about everything would change if we saw things through God’s eyes. Here’s a good example, taken from some old notes in my drafts, of what I’m talking about:

“From our perspective it is the greatest grief we can imagine; from God’s perspective it is the delight of His heart. From our perspective, it brings a sorrow that only heaven can erase; from God’s perspective, it brings a joy that only heaven can know.

How can the death of His people be so precious in the sight of the Lord? Doesn’t He care about the gaping wound that loved ones leave behind on earth? Is He not sensitive to the pains and anguish that usually precede our own death? Why would anything so grievous to us be so precious to God?

The answer, of course, is that God loves more, sees more, and wants more for us than we love, see, or want for ourselves or loved ones. God sees the majesty, sweetness, purity, and perfection of each glorified saint as they cross over from this cursed earth and put on the robes of Christ’s righteousness.

If we could see just how delightful heaven is, just how joyful we will be there, and just how overwhelmingly sweet it will be to live in the presence of Jesus Christ forever, we would doubtless find death as precious as God does.” 

Since the wisdom of man cannot be trusted we must rely upon God to do as He promised and trust that He does all things well even when we can’t understand. Regardless of the circumstances we can find rest if we remember this – God’s will is always right, best, and safest! – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA           7-7-21

TURN IT AROUND

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”- Eph. 4:29

There are only a few, but they have a powerful effect on my life. They are the “Encouragers”. As you might suspect, they are often in my thoughts. How can you not be mindful of those who think of you, those who go out of their way to encourage you? It’s only natural that you develop a closer relationship with folks like that than you do to others. When you know they care about you it’s easy to care about them.
 
Over and over again, the apostle Paul made mention of those who ministered to him. They held a special place in his heart and he didn’t hesitate to make mention of them and thank God for them. We all need people like that and we need to be like that.
 
Folks would think more of us, both in frequency and value, if we made it a habit to express our gratitude for the good qualities in their life and our concern for the needs in their life. Sadly, we usually do just the opposite–we condemn rather than commend, and criticize rather than congratulate. We need to turn it around! One writer made this suggestion: “Instead of trying to catch their children doing something wrong, conscientious parents try to catch them doing something right–and praising them for it: “Your drawing is amazing!” “I appreciate the way you let your sister go first.” “You always seem ready to help. That’s a great quality.” “Thank you for saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ so often.”
 
We live in a difficult and discouraging world and people need all the encouragement they can get. We can make a big difference in the lives of people by simply offering words of encouragement. Little gestures of kindness can make a huge difference in our relationships. So if you’ve developed the bad habit of always looking for the bad in people, turn it around and cultivate the practice of pointing out the good things in their life. Everybody concerned will be happier for it. – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA              7-6-21

FASHIONED IN FIRE

“For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” —Philippians 1:29

I can’t remember the first time I read it, but I distinctly remember the first time the full weight of this verse hit me square in the face. It was a remarkable revelation! It was one of those experiences that you never forget. Although the details of my experience are not important to you, the truth of verse is of great importance to all believers. Suffering is a gift from God! It is a part of God’s plan for His children. Although we do not understand it and would not choose it, suffering plays a vital role in our spiritual development and eternal blessings.

Cortland Myers wrote,”The finest china in the world is burned at least three times, some of it more than three times. Dresden china is always burned three times. Why does it go through that intense fire? Once ought to be enough; twice ought to be enough. No, three times are necessary to burn that china so that the gold and the crimson are brought out more beautiful and then fastened there to stay. We are fashioned after the same principle in human life. Our trials are burned into us once, twice, thrice; and by God’s grace these beautiful colors are there and they are there to stay forever.”

So then, if we are to turn trouble into triumph, let us remember these words from Theodore Cuyler:This school of our Heavenly Father will soon close for us; the term time is shortening every day. Let us not shrink from a hard lesson or wince under any rod of chastisement. The richer will be the crown, and the sweeter will be Heaven, if we endure cheerfully to the end and graduate in glory. – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA         7-5-21

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”– Jam. 4:14

During the time when the United States was sending astronauts to the moon, one of the astronauts was being interviewed before he left on a mission and was asked this question, “After you get to the moon, and do what you are supposed to do, how are you going to leave the moon?” He said, “Well, we will get into our lunar module, fire the rockets, and the engine will lift us from the face of the moon and bring us home.” Then the reporter asked, “What if the rocket doesn’t ignite? What if the engine doesn’t work? How much time will you have?” The astronaut said, “We will have about six hours of life support on the lunar module.” The reporter then said, “What will you be doing during those last six hours?” He answered, “I’ll be working like crazy on that rocket and on that engine!” That was a great answer!

There is one thing we all know for certain and that is that life comes to an end. The clock is ticking for all of us; and one day that clock on this side of eternity will stop. For a believer it could end in one of two ways: Either we are going to die and go to be with Jesus, or before we die, Jesus is going to come for us. None of us are going to be here forever…or even, in the grand scheme of things, for very long.

In a real sense, we are all in the situation that the reporter asked the astronaut about. What he said about those potential final six hours of his life is exactly how we as Christ followers should live every day because we know that our time is short and we won’t be on this earth forever. We also know that what we do now echoes for eternity.

Our mission is greater than walking on the moon. It is to introduce people who don’t know Jesus, to the Jesus they can know, so that their lives can be transformed by the power of the same Gospel that has transformed ours. The Gospel, simply put, is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried and raised from the dead, and wants to come and live in us and take control of us so that we might be all that He created us to be.

Jesus lived His entire life under the shadow of the cross, knowing He was going to die for us. Therefore, we should live our lives under the shadow of the cross as well, being determined to live for Him. How do we do that? It’s not by working for Him, but by allowing Him to work in and through us. He is our lunar module – our life support – by which we can work like crazy to point others to Him.- James Merritt

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

MORNING MANNA         7-4-21

GOD BLESS AMERICA?

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