MORNING MANNA          10-27-24

THE POTENTIAL OF PRAYER

Perceiving the potential of prayer should motivate us to pray as the Bible tells us to do. Here is a couple quotes that will instruct and inspire you.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Good Rule of Thumb for Effective Prayer – Prayer is not telling God what we want and then selfishly enjoying it. Prayer is asking God to use us to accomplish what He wants so that His name is glorified, His kingdom is extended and strengthened, and His will is done. I must test all of my personal requests by these overruling concerns if I expect God to hear and answer my prayers.”

Someone wrote:“What Prayer Has Done – Prayer has divided seas, rolled up flowing rivers, made flinty rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers and poisons, marshalled the stars against the wicked, stopped the course of the moon, arrested the sun in its rapid race, burst open iron gates, recalled souls from eternity, conquered the strongest devils, commanded legions of angels down from heaven. Prayer has bridled and chained the raging passions of man, and routed and destroyed vast armies of proud, daring, blustering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea, and carried another in a chariot of fire to heaven. What has not prayer done?”

We ought to pray as though everything depends on prayer, because it does!- HDS

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

MORNING MANNA             10-26-24

GOD’S TESTING ROOM

“…there he proved them.-“ Exodus 15:25

It is often so with God’s children. God does not want us to be like vases of glass or porcelain. He would have us like these toughened pieces of steel, able to bear twisting and crushing to the uttermost without collapse.

He wants us to be, not hothouse plants, but storm-beaten oaks; not sand dunes driven with every gust of wind, but granite rocks withstanding the fiercest storms. To make us such He must needs bring us into His testing room of suffering.” 2-28-12

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭

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

MORNING MANNA             10-25-24
A BRIGHT STAR IN THE BLACKEST MIDNIGHT
“Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.-“-1 Samuel 12:7

In light of man’s mind-set in the 21st century the words “stand still” almost seems laughable. People are so busy in the pursuit of self-interest that they seldom if ever take the time to sit down and reflect on their blessings. Instead of seeing it as a good thing, they consider it a waste of time. It is no wonder that they can’t cope with their circumstances. We would all do well to consider these words from J. R. Miller:

“It is good to stand still sometimes, and look back over the way by which God has led us. Of one thing we may always be sure—all God’s dealings with us are right. Some of them may seem hard. We all have our trials, disappointments, sorrows, sufferings, our cups of bitterness. There is no way in which we can see goodness in all these experiences, except by faith in the unfailing righteousness of God. Yet a firm conviction of this truth brings peace in the darkest hour. God cannot be unloving. He is our Father.

It does us good to stand still before God at times, and look back over our life—and see all our experiences in the light of the love that streams from his face. We cannot understand, all seems mysterious and dark; yet we know God is righteous, and righteousness is goodness. If we firmly believe this all through life, whatever may come, faith will live, and its light will shine as a bright star in the blackest midnight.”

MORNING MANNA             10-24-24
THE GLORY OF THE CROSS

”But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ-“-.Gal. 6:14 

Paul had what we all need–a burning desire to proclaim the glories of the cross to a lost and dying world. In spite of all the difficulties he faced, he never allowed anything to 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 sights on the cross. See the two arms stretched out in both directions, east and west, embracing all the peoples of the earth. See the foot of the cross descending below the grave, down to the very gates of hell, making a way for the lowest of men. Behold 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 at the center 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.- HDS
 
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

This poem byJohn Oxenham says it well