MORNING MANNA               7-13-25
Waking Up in Heaven

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

Peter Marshall told the story of a young boy about four years old who had a terminal disease. At first he was simply sick and in bed and didn’t understand his condition, but eventually he realized that he wasn’t going to get better and would never again play with his friends. 

One morning he asked his mother, “Am I going to die?” And she said, “Yes, dear.” “Mommy, what is death like? Will it hurt?” The mother ran out of the room to the kitchen and leaned against the refrigerator, her knuckles gripped white to keep from crying. She prayed and asked the Lord to give her an answer for her son. Suddenly, an idea came and she went back to his room and sat down on the bed. “Do you remember how you used to play outside all day and when you came inside at night you were so tired you just fell down on the couch and slept? In the morning you woke up in your own bed. During the night your father would come along and pick you up and carry you to your own bed. That’s what death is like. One night you lie down and go to sleep and your Heavenly Father picks you up and carries you to your own bed. In the morning when you wake up, you’re in your own room in heaven.” The little boy smiled and nodded. And several weeks later he died peacefully. That’s what death is like for the Christian. Satan’s hold is broken. The fear is taken away. Jesus came to break the bondage of death.

Even if you heard this story before, rejoice – someone reading it today will be blessed by its truth. – HDS

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

MORNING MANNA                  7-12-25
MERCY AMID MISERY

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”Lam. 3:22-23

Sent by David Stone on Friday, July 11 at 7:06AM

MORNING. MANNA             7-10-25
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”‭‭1 Tim. ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭

You’ve probably heard it said, “This is the first day of the rest of your life”. That then begs the question, “How shall I spend it?” Interesting! If you knew this was the last day you might call your family and friends together to say,”Good-bye”, or you might make your funeral arrangements ASAP, or you might want to just get alone with the love of your life without any interruptions. But we don’t know how much time we have left. It might be a day or a decade. So what shall we do? Here’s an idea—

Maybe we ought to just simply move on to the next thing on our list. What do you normally do? What does your duty demand of you? What’s next on your list? If our priorities are right the right thing to do is business as usual. Since we cannot see the future there is no reason to throw everything in a state of panic just because we might die. Surely it would be foolish to live every day like that. Just because you might die it doesn’t mean you will, so why should you ignore your duties and make yourself more miserable by imagining the worst.

It is for good reason that God doesn’t allow us to know the future. Instead of worrying about what you would do if this was your last day on earth, it would be better to make sure you spend this day and everyday doing the will of God. What that looks like for you is between you and God. It isn’t exactly the same for everybody. However, as Christians there are some things that ought to be a part of our daily activities–things commonly called “the spiritual disciplines”, such as Bible study, prayer, etc. Make room for them and do whatever else needs to be done. That’s a day well spent. Repeat it everyday and the result is a life well lived.

If you’re a child of God in the will of God, don’t let anyone throw you into a state of panic concerning the fact that you could die today. I love the story about the zealous preacher who was trying to impose guilt on an old farmer by asking, “What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming today?”. Without any hesitation the old gentleman replied–“Plow”. Instead of fretting so much about what might happen maybe you ought to just go ahead and get dressed and go to work today. A hard days work or even a few hours fishing is just as honorable as any thing else if done at the right time and in the right way. Too often the upright are too uptight. Relax! Take a few deep breaths and enjoy the day. Remember what Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:17— God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy”.- HDS

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

MORNING MANNA             7-9-25

BURDENS AND BLESSINGS 

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭22‬ ‭

Dear friends, sometimes when we bring a burden to God, we groan over it, as if God is groaning with us, struggling to bear the load. But the truth is, it doesn’t burden Him at all. God says, “It’s a light thing for Me to do this for you.” What seems heavy for us is nothing to Him. Christ carries the weight of the world on one shoulder, not two. “The government shall be upon His shoulder,” and He isn’t struggling or groaning under it. His mighty arm can carry all your burdens without strain. There is power in Christ for our sanctification. Yes, the Lord can sanctify, the Lord can heal, the Lord can do anything. We must have faith in God.

If you come to this river of grace today, it won’t bear you away like Niagara carrying a small boat toward a waterfall. No, it will bring you into the loving arms of God, where blessing flows forever.

Oft there comes a wondrous message,
When my hopes are growing dim,
I can hear it through the darkness,
Like some sweet and far-off hymn.
Nothing is too hard for Jesus,
No one works like Him. 

– A.B. Simpson

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, TX