“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭

Nearly every Christian is familiar with this verse and many claim it as their favorite, but I wonder how many actually believe it. Based on their attitude regarding afflictions it appears that they don’t. Rather than accept what God appoints or allows they get angry, and miss the benefit of believing what God says.

Over and over again I have read what Charles Spurgeon said about it. He started by saying,”The worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me!”
Then he proceeded to explain, “I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health—with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has.
The believer is absolutely sure that an invisible hand is always on the world’s helm, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That reassuring knowledge prepares him for everything. He looks over the raging waters, and sees Jesus treading the billows; and he hears a voice saying, “It is I, do not be afraid!”

Knowing that God is always wise, he is confident that there can be no accidents or mistakes. He knows that nothing can occur, which ought not to arise. He can say, “If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose, than have—if God so wills. The worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me—if God ordains it.”

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” The Christian does not merely hold this as a theory, but he knows it as a matter of fact.

Everything has worked for good as yet. The poisonous drugs mixed in fit proportions, have worked the cure. The sharp cuts of the lance, have cleansed out the infected flesh and facilitated the healing. Every event as yet has worked out the most divinely blessed results.

Believing . . .
  that God rules all,
  that He governs wisely,
  that He brings good out of evil
—the believer is enabled calmly to meet each trial as it comes. He can in the spirit of true resignation pray, “Send me what you will, my God—so long as it comes from You! A bad portion never came from Your table, to any of Your redeemed children.”

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

MORNING MANNA           10-20-24   
PROFITABLE PROBLEMS 
“And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ 

It has been the distinctive aim, and the sincere desire of my ministry — to make known and to endear the Savior to your hearts. 

Oh, how worthy is He . . .
  of your most exalted conceptions,
  of your most implicit confidence,
  of your most self-denying service,
  of your most fervent love!

When He could give you no more — and the fathomless depths of His love, and the boundless resources of His grace, would not be satisfied by giving you less — He gave you Himself! 

Robed in your nature,
oppressed with your sorrows,
laden with your curse,
wounded for your transgressions,
and slain for your sins —
He gave His entire self for you! 

His redeeming work now finished — He is perpetually engaged in meting out blessings to His people, from the exhaustless treasures of His love! He constantly woos your affection — invites your grief — and bids you to come with your daily trials to His sympathy, and with your hourly guilt to His blood. You cannot in your drafts upon Christ’s fullness, be too covetous; nor in your expectations of supply, be too extravagant! You may fail, as, alas! the most of us do, in making too little of Christ — but you cannot fail, in making too much of Him!

It is utterly impossible to know Christ, and not become inspired with a desire . . .
  to love Him supremely,
  to serve Him devotedly,
  to resemble Him closely,
  to glorify Him faithfully here,
  and to enjoy Him fully hereafter!

MORNING MANNA             10-18-24

Surrounded By The Enemy

“–we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”-Romans 8:37

 If we truly understood who we are in Christ it would change our views about everything. Sadly, some don’t. Fortunately a few do. Most certainly all should.It would make a big difference in how we look at the challenges in life.

 During World War II General Creighton Abrams and his troops were surrounded by the enemy to the east, west, north, south. General Abrams said,”Gentlemen, for the first time in the history of this campaign, we are now in a position to attack the enemy in any direction.” 

Wouldn’t it be great if we all had that attitude? Far too often we bemoan the fact that many things are against us without ever considering that God is “for us”( Romans 8:31). It’s true, we should not ignore reality–we do have enemies, but we need to see the big picture. 

As Christians we have every right, and even a responsibility, to maintain a positive attitude. Forget about all that is against you and focus on the One who is for you. He is all powerful and He cares about you. He can defeat every foe, meet every need, and solve any problem–trust Him. as John said, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”(1 John 4:4).HDS, 1-23-09

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX

THE PEARL NECKLACE

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with
her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening
white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh please, Mommy, can I have them?
Please, Mommy, please?”

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked
back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A
dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll
think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money
to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might
get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.”

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17
pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went
to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten
cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at
last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She
wore them everywhere-Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time
she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother
said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he
would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.

One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?”

“Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.”

“Then give me your pearls.”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess – the white horse from
my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you
gave me. She’s my favorite.”

“That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her
cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s Daddy asked again, “Do you
love me?”

“Daddy, you know I love you.”

“Then give me your pearls.”

“Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new
one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow
blanket that matches her sleeper.”

“That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And
as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with
her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was
trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

“What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?”

Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And
when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little
quiver, she finally said, “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with
one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached
into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine
pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just
waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine
treasure. –Author Unknown