THINK ABOUT IT             2-12-25

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭ 

A church may fail in many ways and still survive. However there is one area where failure is deadly. Think about that as you read what Charles Spurgeon wrote many years ago. He said—

 “O God, thou art My God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭63‬:‭1

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble,TX

THINK ABOUT IT             2-11-25

This is just another day for most folks and I understand that. Today will be difficult or delightful for different people in different places. But for me it is and always will be one of the most special days in my life.

Today is Bev’s birthday. While that was just another day until we started dating as teenagers in the 50’s, this is the first time I’m not able to give her a gift. As I write this she is enjoying a gift I could never give her – the gift of eternal life with Christ. What she could only imagine while here on earth is a reality for her now. This is her happiest birthday ever!

Now I look back and think of this day as her gift to me. Unknown to both of us, the day she was born God knew that, in spite of my sinfulness, she would one day become my wife. He also knew that next to my salvation she would be the greatest gift I would ever receive.

Now, like everyone else who has a loved one in heaven, I’m hoping that God will allow her to know how I feel about her. This day will always remind me that I wish I had done more to show her how mush I love her.

But mainly I want this to be a day of thanksgiving to God for such a special gift. Every time I start feeling sorry for myself I remember that we were married just two months shy of 65 years. Then my grief turns to gratitude. I don’t have the words to explain how special Bev is to me. I say “is” rather than “was” because although she isn’t here the influence of her life still affects me for good.

I pray that someone reading this will be encouraged to follow her example and become to someone else what she was to me. I agree with what one of our church members wrote,”Sister Beverly was the perfect example of a Godly woman.”

Bev and I always parted with a kiss and saying “I love you”, and then blowing each other a kiss. But I wasn’t there when she departed for heaven. I would have been had I known, but God didn’t give me that information. He knew I didn’t need to know. All I will say at this time is this, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven “. So I live each day reminding myself that God’s people never meet for the last time. I will see her again!

If she was here I would say, Happy Birthday Babydoll. With all my love always and forever, David

THINK ABOUT IT             1-31-25

THE SECRET OF A HOLY LIFEI

 remember as a young preacher reading the books by Frederick Marsh. They were to the point and easy reading. I thought of that when I came across the following article which is to the point, yet deserving of deep thought.-HDS

Prayer is a Christ-revealer–for it clarifies our vision and enables us to see the unseen Christ!

Think about it!

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx.

THINK ABOUT IT              1-30-25

The Soul Winning Work of John Vassar

I have often spoken about being encouraged as a young preacher by reading about people who had been greatly used of God. One of those men was Uncle John Vassar. Here is a short account of his dedication to God’s work as told by Billy Sunday:

John Vassar was one of the greatest personal workers of the nineteenth century. He never preached a sermon but that he did personal work. He was a wonder. One time he was going to help a preacher in a town. This preacher met Vassar at the Depot. Walking down to the hotel they went past a blacksmith shop. He said to Vassar, “There’s a blacksmith in there. He’s got a great drag with his crowd but he never comes to church. If we could only win him, then he would win scores in his class.” Vassar asked, “Have you talked to him?” “Oh, we are afraid. He will cuss any preacher who comes near him.” He said, “Wait a minute until I take my turn.” Vassar went in. The man was shoeing a mule—that isn’t a good time to talk religion to a man, take it from me! But Vassar had good sense and waited until the fellow was through and had disarmed his prejudice. In fifteen minutes he had him on his knees weeping like a child.

 
He went up to the hotel where he was to be entertained. He registered, then strolled around, looking for somebody to speak to. He went into a little reception room and there sat a finely dressed lady. He walked up to her and said, “Lady, are you a Christian?” She said, “Yes, I am.” “I beg your pardon,” he said, “I didn’t mean that kind. I mean, have you been born again?”

“Oh,” she said, “we’ve gotten over that here in Boston.” “Well,” he said, “lady, you’ve gotten over Jesus Christ in Boston, too. You’ve gotten over God.” He talked with her until her prejudice was disarmed and tears trickled down her cheeks; then he said, “May I pray for you?” She said, “I wish you would. God knows I need it, although I’m a member of the church.”

He prayed. She wept and he slipped out. Her husband came in and noticed that her eyes were red. He said, “Has anybody insulted you?” She said, “The queerest little man was here a little while ago and he talked so nice to me about Jesus.” He said, “If I had been here I would have told him to go along and mind his business.” She said, “I wish you had been here. You would have thought he was minding his business. His business was a mission for his King, to bring people to Jesus Christ.”

Vassar distributed tracts in the army. He worked with the American Bible Society. When the chaplain died, they wanted Vassar to take the place of the chaplain. He wasn’t ordained and the government law does not allow anybody to be a chaplain who hasn’t been ordained. He came up to Poughkeepsie and they were examining him. One fellow with cinders all over his back, said, “Mr. Vassar, your duty now is to distribute tracts. Your salary is three hundred dollars a year, and you wish to be ordained?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Does that mean an increase of salary?”

“Yes, sir, fifteen hundred dollars a year.”

Then he said, “The increase of salary has allured you and brought you here for us to ordain.”

Vassar said, “Stop where you are! I don’t want it; I won’t take it if you give it to me,” and he wouldn’t. He went back to distributing tracts for three hundred dollars a year, to do something for Jesus Christ. He was a wonder. God did marvelous things through him.

THINK ABOUT IT!

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, TX. 77346