“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes”.- Psa. 119:71
At first glance you might think that this man has lost his mind. Or you might suppose that this is a special case that applies to him, but not to you. You would be wrong on both counts. This was written by a man of God as directed by the Spirit of God, and what he says is true of us as well as him.

Some are probably wondering, “How could anything painful be profitable? How could something bad make things better? Can afflictions actually aid us? Indeed they can. There are numerous examples of how people have been helped greatly by being hurt grievously. Even if we had no examples we have the testimony of God’s word. We have exceeding great and precious promises that assure us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” ( Rom. 8:28). It would be a serious mistake to doubt what God has said. We can’t trust our feelings, but the facts never fail.

Remember this — he is viewing his afflictions by looking back on them. His conclusion is based on what he sees at the present rather than what he saw in the past. Yesterday he might have wondered how they could possibly be of any benefit tomorrow, but now he sees clearly. It works the same with us. While going through trials we are confused as to how they can be helpful, “nevertheless afterward” (Heb. 12:11) the blessing is seen. That’s why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions, get angry, or give up during hard times. At that moment we can’t see the end result. What we can do, what we must do , is to trust God. He doesn’t make any mistakes. Nor does He need our permission to proceed with His plan. Had it been best for us to know the purpose beforehand God would have told us. He knows we don’t need to know at that time, it would hinder His plan. It is not until afterward that He will explain.

We should be thankful for such a great God as this. If left to ourselves we would spend our lives running from the very things that are good for us. With God’s plan we are prone to run to Him, what’s best for us, because we know we need Him. This same man also said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” (vs.68). Notice- “Before” and “now“– Don’t complain about what God is doing, because later you’ll understand and thank Him for it. – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”- 2 Cor. 3:18
There are certain verses that I repeat regularly. I do so because of the impact they have had on my life and also because I know they are needed by others. One of those verses is 2 Cor. 3:18. Notice the attraction–“ the glory of the Lord“. How could that not get your attention? Notice the action spoken of “beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord”. That speaks gazing upon the Lord Jesus Christ – contemplating Christ. This is something we can’t do without a radical transformation taking place– radical and glorious. In this verse we find a thrilling treasure of truth. We see glory revealed, received, and reflected.

Although I have never seen Him face to face, I have seen the Lord in a greater way than a glimpse of His physical appearance. He is revealed to me through the revelation of God’s Word which gives me insight far beyond what the natural eye can see. By beholding Him in the Bible I see Him both outwardly and inwardly. I see Him going about doing good, nailed to the cross, raised from the grave, and lifted up to heaven. But I also see His inward groaning, the agony of His soul, the yearnings of His heart, etc. – and that changes me!

Notice the affect of this action– “are changed into the same image from glory to glory”. And notice the agent of change–“by the Spirit of the Lord”. This doesn’t speak of changes we make, but of changes made to us by the Holy Spirit. The only part we play is that of “beholding“, giving our attention to the great attraction–“the glory of the Lord“. It is then that He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. It is no wonder that Heb. 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”. May God help us believers to be beholders! Every Christian should “consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” ( Heb. 12:3)-HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”– Psa. 5:3

The Bible has a lot to say about the morning. It speaks of praying in the morning (Psa. 5:3), singing in the morning ( Psa. 59:16), and the Word of God in the morning ( Psa. 119:147). Although not everyone’s favorite time of the day, what we do in the morning is of great importance. It sets the tone for the day. Naturally, health, duties, and circumstances have a bearing on what time we rise, but time isn’t the point. I’m talking about how we start our day. That can determine how we finish the day.

 The future is a mystery. As we start this day we have no idea what it might hold, what we might encounter. Whether it’s the weather, the boss’s temperament, or even the beating of our heart, things can turn on a dime. Things can change from pleasure to pain in a second. One moment we are thrilled and the next we are troubled. And the fact that these changes come without warning makes them all the more difficult to deal with. They leave us in a state of shock, and that can often provoke us to act out of character. That why it’s important that we get a good start each day– it can make us or break us!

What we must remember is that regardless of the circumstances there are certain boundaries we must not cross, certain thoughts we must not entertain, certain words we must not say, and certain things we must not do. Difficulties do not excuse us from duty. And we make it more difficult on ourselves if we don’t get a good start to the day. And there is no better way to prepare for the day than to get our thoughts on God– the One constant in a continuously changing world. Knowing “I Am” is what He is and always will be puts us on a firm foundation. Rather than being shaken by the winds of adversity and uprooted we can stand firm in the storms of life. Knowing He never changes enables us to deal with the changes. Knowing that the measure of our trials were weighed out by the wisdom of God assures us that they will never be more than we are able to bear. Being sure of His great love we know that He will make the bad work for some good. Having the promise of His presence gives us a peace that passeth all understanding. Start your day with God. Set your thoughts upon Him and stay in His ways throughout the day, and then end the day with Him on your mind. Have a blessed day my friend! – HDS

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

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”- 2 Cor. 4:16

Here is an undeniable fact, “our outward man” will “perish“. You could say we are dying as we live. Every beat of our heart brings us closer to the grave. But it does more than that. The Greek word translated “perish” means “to change for the worse, to corrupt, consume”. Living out our allotted time with each day at the peak of our health is one thing, living the same amount of time wasting away is another. Ask any elderly person and they will tell you that they have wished they could feel as they did when they were young–even for a day. But they can’t. Solomon describes old age in Ecc. 12:1-7. Read it and you might weep.

But Paul puts sunshine in this dark picture. He changes from this depressing prospect to a delightful possibility. He says, “yet the inward man is renewed day by day”. Life is tough and those who are serious about serving God subject themselves to even greater trials. Becoming a Christian is easy. Being a Christian is hard. Christ imposes great demands on His disciples and as we weaken physically the struggle to keep going becomes more intense. But there is good news also–“the inward man is renewed day by day”. Thank God for that! We could not keep going without it.
The point is that, regardless of the situation God is able to supply our need. He does so one day at a time. However high His expectations are His grace is sufficient to raise us to that level. — HDS

Day by day and with each passing moment,
          Strength I find to meet my trials here;
          Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
          I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
          He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
          Gives unto each day what He deems best–
          Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
        Mingling toil with peace and rest.

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

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.“– 1 John 4:7-8
We live at a time when we hear a lot of news and boasting about things we’ve learned. The sad thing is that most people are majoring on minors. They learn this and that, but never learn to love. The fact is, most folks don’t even know what love is. Much of what is called love is not love at all. J. R. Miller said, “The test of love is service. The love which does not give and do the utmost, is not love”. While much more could be said in that regards, Miller made a crucial point. Love has to do with giving rather than getting. It is the pouring out of our life for the filling of another persons needs.

The problem, our chief cause of failure, is self-interest. We allow others to do without because we are unwilling to do without– or even be deprived of our desires, which usually far exceeds our needs. Being “lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim. 3:2) “more than lovers of God” ( 2 Tim. 3:4) they have no genuine concern for others. On the other hand, as Paul said, “love “seeketh not her own” ( 1 Cor. 13:5). True love is dead set on doing good unto others, rather than gratifying self.

While many complain about not being loved, few are critical of themselves for not loving others. They expect from others what they excuse from themselves. I’m guessing that we are all more guilty of this than we would like to admit. It’s time we got brutally honest and asked ourselves this question- “Do I truly love other people?”. I didn’t say “someone”. We can all think of someone we claim to love. I said “other people”. If our heart is right no one will be left off the list. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world“, and we as we are loved so should we love. Learning to love begins with loving God because He first loved us ( 1 John 4:19) for “he who loveth God” will “love his brother also” ( 1 John 4:21). – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346