MORNING MANNA          10-16-24  
OVERCOMING EVIL.
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬ ‭
Although I had sent other emails, the following is the oldest Morning Manna that I have. Hard to realize that I’ve been sending these daily for 18 years. Hopefully the message here will be just what someone needs.

The parable is told of an old dog that fell into a farmer’s well. After assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the dog but decided that neither the dog nor the well were worth the trouble of saving. Instead he planned to bury the old dog in the well and put him out of his misery.
   When the farmer began shoveling, initially the old dog was hysterical. But as the farmer continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It dawned on the dog that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he should shake it off and step up. This he did blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself.

   No matter how painful the blows or how distressing the situation seemed, the old dog fought panic and just kept shaking it off and stepping up! It was not long before the dog, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well. What seemed as though it would bury him actually benefited him–all because of the way he handled his adversity.
   If we face our problems and respond to them positively, refusing to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to bless us! Forgiveness, faith, prayer, praise, and hope are some of the biblical ways to shake it off and step up out of the wells in which we find ourselves. HDS 

The thing which made Elijah pray as he did, was the man that he was. When our Great High Priest comes with the lighted torch of His grace, and ignites the wood of our being into a holy flame–then the sweet-smelling fragrance of our requests ascend acceptably to God, and bring down the benediction of His love.

The art of prayer, is a sense of desperate need! There must be a sense of need, and an earnest desire to have that need met.
“Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
 Uttered or unexpressed,
 The motion of a hidden fire,
 That trembles in the breast.”

Prayer is a sin-killer. No one can sin and pray; for prayer will either make us cease from sin–or sin will make us cease from prayer.

Prayer is a power-bringer. It is the hand which touches the hem of the garment of Divine grace, and causes the life which is in the Divine One to flow into us.

Prayer is a victory-giver. Bunyan’s Christian found that the weapon of “all-prayer” was sufficient to wound and defeat the adversary who would stop him in his progress as a pilgrim.

Prayer is a holiness-promoter. It is like the gentle dew which falls upon the thirsty plants and causes them to be refreshed and to fructify.

Prayer is a dispute-adjuster. Let any two brethren who are at loggerheads get on their knees, and ask the Lord about any disputed matter–and they will find the Lord saying to their troubled spirits, “Peace, be still.” 

Prayer is an obstacle-remover, as Peter found when an angel came in answer to the prayers of the saints, and delivered him from the prison of Herod’s hate.

Prayer is a Christ-revealer, for it clarifies our vision, and enables us to see unseen spiritual realities.

Prayer is the secret of a holy life! We cannot do without prayer. The spiritual life is born in prayer–and it flourishes, and is strong, as it lives in that same atmosphere!

It is not the arithmetic of our prayers–how many they are;
 nor the rhetoric of our prayers–how eloquent they are;
 nor the geometry of our prayers–how long they are;
 nor the music of our prayers–how sweet our voice may be;
 nor the logic of our prayers–how proper they may be;
 nor the method of our prayers–how orderly they may be;
 nor even the theology of our prayers–how good the doctrine may be,
which God cares for. It is only fervency in prayer, which will make a man prevalent with God. Fervent prayer hits the mark, and pierces the walls of Heaven! “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!” James 5:16 –  

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 
Today we celebrate the 55 th anniversary of Lakeway Baptist Church. Anniversaries remind us of the past – something notable happened and we pause to think about it. That can be profitable. We need to look back sometimes. Memories, pleasurable and painful can be profitable. They all play a part in making up the fabric of our lives.

As we celebrate the anniversary of our church I am reminded of several things. I think about-
— Companionship. The church has given me my dearest friends. I appreciate them more than words can tell. They are worth more than any amount of money. Friends are invaluable. That’s why ever person needs a good church home. We need one another!

Anniversaries not only remind us of times past they also remind us of the passing of time. It’s amazing how fast time flies. And the older you get the faster it goes. Each anniversary reminds us that we have less time than ever before. That should affect the way we live. Time is short,let us not waste it. God has given each of us a work to do and we need to do it the best we can while we can- while we still have the ability and opportunity to do it.

With all this in mind I cannot but help to think about the future. And when I do two things come to mind. First, what will I do with the time I have left? We need to be ministry minded and that requires a servants heart. Second, when will I do it? Some things can’t be done immediately.So we must plan and be patient. But some things should be done now. Let us not delay.-HDS

David Stone  
Lakeway Baptist Church  
Humble,TX.

.”-Luke 24:11

As celebrate our Lord’s victory over death, hell, and the grave every Sunday, this is a good time for us to remember that not everyone believes it. There are more doubters than disciples.

Billy Graham once told “TIME” magazine,”If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim at the Resurrection, because that is the heart of Christianity”. I haven’t always agreed with Billy on everything, but he got this right. He is on target. That’s exactly what the enemies have done. One after another has denied it and denounced it as though it was a mere myth, a foolish fable. How sad!

Dear friend, you can deny it– as though it was a lie, or ignore it– as though it doesn’t really matter, but you can’t change the facts. You can continue ignoring all the evidence and deprive yourself of hope if you so choose, but I choose to embrace it as the truth, enjoy what it provides, and exclaim it until the day I die. If you want to do otherwise that’s your privilege, but you had better consider the consequences of being wrong. You won’t get a second chance to get it right.

If you’re not a believer I encourage you to reconsider and to examine all the facts before you dismiss the claims of Christ. It not only makes a world of difference now, it determines your eternal destiny. You can’t afford to be wrong! Jesus said,”–I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”(John 14:6). There is no reason to be deceived –He is the “way”. There is no reason to be doubtful–He is the “truth”. There is no reason to be dead in your sins–He is the “life”. He is all you need!- HDS, 4-7-12