“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” – 2 Cor. 3:5

Like a lot of Houstonians, we recently flooded – again! By now we know the drill, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’ll be honest, I don’t like discomfort! Does anyone? So it was a great day when the recovery was finally finished. But there was a problem.
Last on the list was getting the computers running again and the internet back on. So we plugged everything in and hoped for the best. But there was a problem! From all indications the wireless modem and/or some of those other little boxes had been fried by lightning during the storm. So they were returned and replaced, but there was a problem! It still wouldn’t work.

Next we called the cable company and their guy came out and seemed to fix everything. Sweet relief at last! But there was a problem. The low battery light came on, at a critical time, and we were about to lose the connection. Why was it running on the battery – it was plugged in? Fortunately we have an expert in our church and he rushed to our rescue – but there was a problem! We couldn’t get power to the computer, so we thought something else, maybe the power strip, had been fried by the lightning. However, after a bit of trouble shooting our man discovered that rather than being plugged into the outlet, the power strip was plugged into itself!

My first thought was, “That’s a great commentary on life”. Man goes from one problem to another, but is never able to solve them because he depends on himself as the source of power. Try as we may, our efforts are in vain. Our problems are too complex. The load is too heavy. The enemy is too strong. The flesh is too weak. Whatever the nature of the problem, we need help – divine help! Every person has needs that God alone can meet and problems that He alone can solve. Whether we live in victory or defeat depends upon what (Who) we depend upon. To prevail we must trust God. We must live by faith of fail. It’s that simple and it’s that serious! Therefore we should never forget that it is ” Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” ( Zech. 4:6) – HDS

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

“So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.” – Deut. 3:29

We often think of being in the valley as a bad or sad place to be, but sometimes it is the best place to be. Having been denied his desire to enter the promised land Moses was assigned the task of helping others get there ( vs.28). Thankfully, rather than getting bitter and quitting he did as he was told, fulfilling his duty. Notice his response to God’s directive – “So we abode in the valley“. That little word “So” is very telling. He was longing for the land, but his desire was denied “So” he “abode in the valley”.

That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is. There are many details about this of which I could speak, but I want to keep your focus on the main thing. Rather than selfishly quitting the project or stubbornly forging ahead in defiance toward the land, Moses stayed in the valley. In other words, he did what he could and should. He submitted himself to the will of God without complaint. He did not look at this as a valley of defeat or despair, but rather of divine design. In the denying of his desire he put himself on the path to pleasing God.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all put ourselves in the place God has purposed for us? There is great peace in accepting what God appoints. Knowing God knows what is best enables us to rest with the assurance that He will provide our needs. Moses was not in the valley just so he could be punished, as it might seem, but rather for his protection and provision. That’s a good place to be! But it is your choice. God was not forcing Moses to stay there, but he would have wished he had if he didn’t. The same is true of us. You can choose as you please, but when you choose the course you also choose the consequences. Sadly, some get what they want, but then don’t like what they’ve got. Choose wisely my friend! _ HDS

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

“I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.” – Deut. 3:25-26
Moses was a faithful servant of God and a great leader of the people, but not perfect. His imperfection showed through in a fit of anger when he smote the rock rather than speaking to it as God told him to do ( Num. 20:7-13). That act of disobedience caused God to ban him from the promised land that he longed to see. That, however, didn’t stop Moses from begging that God would change His mind. Our text describes God’s response to his request. It is blunt and clear – “speak no more unto me of this matter”. And you can mark it down, God isn’t in the habit of spoiling His children because they keep whining. When He says, “No” He means no! And we are wise to accept that answer.
There is a time to speak and “a time to keep silence” ( Ecc. 3:7), a time to ask and a time to accept what God appoints or allows. Were we as wise as God we would thank Him for what we call “unanswered prayers”. When God told David he wasn’t allowed to build the temple he would have been foolish to keep asking, and even more foolish to do it anyway, or to get bitter about it. When God says, “No” we should cease complaining, refrain from requesting, and quit questioning God. Enough is enough, as we say, and when God says “No” he means no. We ought to drop it, leave it there, and stop talking. Keep in mind that God had already told him “No” – so it’s not like he didn’t know what God wanted. Prayer is one thing, pouting is another.
Indeed we ought to persist in prayer, pray without ceasing, ask, seek, and knock. But there are times when God would have us to stop praying about certain things. And our persistence won’t stop God’s purpose. When He has made His answer obvious we should stop speaking about the matter. Desiring something doesn’t always mean we ought to ask for it. What if God gave everyone everything they desired? He is too wise to do that. God denied his request because He knew what was best and wanted what was best. The good news is that God still had a work for him to do ( Deut. 3:27-28) and Moses did as commanded ( Deut. 3:29). We would be wise to do the same! -HDS

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