MORNING MANNA              4-15-25
WAKING UP WORRIED

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭

Did you ever have one of those days—you wake up worried? No sooner than you drag out of bed than you are attacked by anxiety. It might revolve around several things:
The Unfinished—“How in the world will I get it all done?”
The Unknown – “How will this work out?””What will happen?”
The Unpleasant – “I don’t want to do it?”
The Unpopular – “I wonder what they will think?”

Before your feet hit the floor you find yourself in need of an attitude adjustment.  So, what do we do?  The solution is to re-orient ourselves, get our focus back in alignment with God’s point of view.  Listen – you don’t need a long list of “do’s” & “don’ts.”  I know, I don’t know your situation, but I do know that God’s word has the power to change our attitude.  Open your Bible and search out the rich treasures God has for you.  Fill your mind with His “exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Pet.1:4).

 Paul gives us the answer for this problem in Phil.4:4-8.  In those verses Paul tells us to “think on these things” – “whatsoever things are true—honest—just—pure—lovely—of good report,” and if we do “the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:7).- HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church  
Humble, TX

MORNING MANNA                       4-14-25

ENDING EXPECTATIONS
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..” Genesis 50:20

George Eliot wrote, “I’ve been a great deal happier since I have given up thinking about what is easy and pleasant, and being discontented because I couldn’t have my own will. Our life is determined for us; and it makes the mind very free when we give up wishing, and only think of bearing what is laid upon us, and doing what is given us to do.” 

He discovered what most folks never discover. The harder we work trying to make ourselves happy the more miserable we become. It is only when we resign ourselves to do the will of God, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, that we discover happiness. To overcome anxiety we must accept what God allows, believing, as tough as it is, that He will use it for some good and His glory. That is the path to peace.
 
We simply must stop expecting people to beat a path to our door seeking to bless us. Gripe all you want about it being their duty—that doesn’t change anything for the better. We need to think of ourselves as being totally undeserving of anything, only then will we be thankful for everything.

Answer this question, “How many paths have you made to the doors of others, seeking to be a blessing?”.  Expect a blessing and you will be disappointed. Be a blessing and you will be delighted—-even if others ignore you. True happiness doesn’t depend on what others do or don’t do. It comes from a proper perspective regarding your relationship with Christ. That puts happiness within the reach of every child of God.- HDS, ( revised 6-18-14)

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

MORNING MANNA                 4-13-25

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…“.Galatians 6:14 

Paul had what we all need–a burning desire to declare the glory of the cross to a lost and dying world. In spite of all the difficulties he faced, he never allowed anything to distract his attention or dim his vision of the cross. Neither should we. Keeping our focus on the cross will feed our faith, fuel our faithfulness, and fix our faults.
 
Turn your eyes away from the vanities of the world and set your sight on the cross. See the two arms stretched out in both directions, east and west, embracing all the peoples of the earth. Picture the foot of the cross descending below the grave, down to the very gates of hell, making a way for the lowest of men. Consider the cross ascending upward, beyond the sun, moon, and stars, until it reaches the very throne of God and sheds its light throughout the heavenly city. Then, there you will hear the heavenly choir singing in perfect unison the “new song” about the old rugged cross.
 
If the cross is our theme for eternity it certainly should be the target of our thoughts ever wakening moment here below. All else pales in comparison. Let us then glory only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have nothing else of which to boast. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭ – HDS 

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

MORNING MANNA                 4-12-25

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

MORNING MANNA                4-11-25

A FABULOUS FUTURE

We live in a day when we are constantly bombarded with bad news and negative issues. It wears on you! Many are so fearful and discouraged that although they live in the lap of luxury they don’t enjoy it. If that describes your disposition you need to do as Paul commands in 1 Thessalonians 4:18,”Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” To do that you must consider what he said in the previous verses regarding the return of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the rapture of the saints. That describes the belivers “blessed hope”(Titus 2:13) and it gives us reason to rejoice! But, notice that we are not to just seek comfort for ourselves, we are to “comfort one another”. It is through comforting others with these glorious truths that we find the most comfort for ourselves. The person who seeks to be a blessing is always blessed himself.

 We need the attitude of D.L. Moody. A little girl had heard someone talking about the end of the world and she was greatly troubled. Seeing tears in her eyes, Mr. Moody asked what was wrong. When the little girl said, “The world is coming to an end”. The wise old preacher said,”Don’t worry honey, we can get along just fine without it”.

 Indeed we can ,if we know Christ as our Savior. Regardless of the wretched conditions on earth we have a fabulous future. One glorious day Christ will return and we shall be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air! We will be reunited with the saints that have gone before, relieved of our heavey burdens, and rewarded for the deeds we’ve done. It doesn’t get any better than that! As the old song says,”What a day that will be”. Cheer up weary pilgrim you’re not home yet. And, until we finally reach our homeland, we have the aid of the Holy Spirit to sustain us.Remember, “–weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(Psalms 30:5).–HDS 2/12/11

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