By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. – Hebrews 11:8-10
Charles Spurgeon routinely spoke to crowds of 6,000 or more at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. On New Year’s Eve in 1891, he spoke to only a handful of friends who were with him in Mentone, France, where he had been seeking treatment for his painful illness. Spurgeon did not know when he spoke that night that in less than a month he would see the Lord, for whom he had faithfully preached, face to face. Although, Spurgeon did know that he trusted God.
Spurgeon said, “Could we procure a telescope which would enable us to see to the end of the year, would we be wise to use it? I think not. Great mercy has hung up a veil between us and the future; and there let it hang.” The following morning he preached a brief New Year’s sermon at his hotel. “The vista of a praiseful life will never close, but continue throughout eternity. From psalm to psalm, from hallelujah to hallelujah, we will ascend the hill of the Lord where we will bow before the Divine Majesty in the bliss of endless adoration.”
While God does not expect us to be foolish or unwise in our lives, He does expect us to trust Him regarding the future. The path ahead will not be clear to us until we see God face to face. But, every day of our lives is already known to Him. We can trust Him even when we cannot see Him. The hope of eternity in Heaven with God gives us strength to face any challenge or trial. (Daily in the Word)

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

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” – Ps. 32:8

Flying into a storm is a dangerous experience. The temptation is to fly by your instincts, or, as aviators say, “by the seat of your pants.” But as any pilot will tell you, that’s a prescription for disaster. If you rely on your feelings and instincts, you become disoriented, thinking the plane is going up when it’s actually going down. Thankfully, the instrument panel is set to magnetic north and can be trusted every time. Letting your instruments guide you, even when it feels like they’re wrong, helps ensure safety in the storm.

We all face storms that threaten to confuse and disorient us. It may be a call from the doctor’s office, a friend who has betrayed you, or a shattered dream. Those are the times to be especially careful. When you are blinded by life’s disappointments, don’t trust your instincts. Flying by the seat of your pants in the storms of life can lead to despair, confusion, and vengeful responses that make matters worse.

God wants to guide you, and His Word is packed with wisdom and insights for living. His “Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). Where He leads is always right! Go to your Bible, and trust God to guide you. He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Ps. 32:8). – Copied

The God who governs galaxies
And makes the thunder roar,
Gently guides my little craft
With safety to the shore. —Berg

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

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:22

What does it mean to draw near to God?  Followers of Christ are repeatedly exhorted throughout Hebrews to do so.  Hebrews 4:16 says to, “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace…to find grace to help in time of need.”  Again in Hebrews 7:25 we are reminded that, “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him.”  In Hebrews 11:6 we are warned that it is impossible to please God without faith because, “he who draws near to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews seems to center on this key theme – come close in to God.

How important is fellowship with God to you?  Is He a distant idea, a fleeting thought, a nagging voice in your mind; or is He entwined in the reality of your days?  Does He permeate your life?  Do you speak with Him as a friend, run to Him as a refuge, and walk with Him as a companion?

Drawing near to God is not a physical act.  It is an unseen movement of faith that takes place in the heart of a person.  We can draw near to God while sitting in traffic or sitting in the doctor’s office.  We can lean in closer while sitting in class, exercising, flying in an airplane or while on a conference call.  Communion with God does not require a church building or a priest or pastor.  If Christ lives in you through faith, you are free to draw near with confidence.

It’s an amazing truth to wrap your mind around, isn’t it?  Even as Christians, we are aware of our shortcomings, our failures and our unworthiness.  How can He know the hidden parts of us and still welcome us to come?  This is, in reality, the heart of the Gospel: Christ died in order to make a way for us to draw near to His Father without fear.  Because of Jesus, we are not destroyed by our own sin, nor consumed by His holiness.  God has sacrificed so much to make a way for us to come.  He does not need us…but He does want us.

And yet, even amidst all of this grace, we still try to create our own paths to God. Good works, religious rules and rituals, willpower, knowledge, kindness, church membership and service – none of these can bring us near to God.  There is only one way and His name is Jesus Christ.  ( James Merritt)

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

“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”- Rom. 9

Some time ago, a ship off the New England coast capsized in a terrible storm and was going down. The Coast Guard received a distress call, and a young member told his captain, “Sir, we can’t go out in these conditions. We’ll never come back.”

The grizzled old captain took a look at the young man and said, “Son, we have to go out. We don’t have to come back.”

In the armed forces, soldiers are taught to put their duties even before their own lives. And if that’s the kind of commitment that’s expected for the furthering of a nation, then it’s much more expected from followers of Christ for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.

The early Christians saw themselves as disposable for the sake of the salvation of others. That’s because to them, the need was real and urgent for the message of Christ to be expanded so that all would hear.

Let’s make that need urgent again. Let’s spend ourselves daily in sharing the Gospel with others. And if it comes down to it, may we see our very lives as disposable for the sake of the Kingdom and our King!

Ask God to give you a commitment to sharing Christ with others so that even if your own life is demanded for it, you’d give it! (Copied)

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