“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”- Gen. 18:19

After trusting Christ as my Savior, one of the first devotional books I discovered was Streams in the Desert. I was like a kid in a candy store. Having never attended church, nor read the Bible, I was thrilled by each new discovery of truth. The following is an example of why it was such a great encouragement. Let this truth sink deep into your heart and it will change your attitude about afflictions.

God wants people that He can depend upon. He could say of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children … that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken.” God can be depended upon; He wants us to be just as decided, as reliable, as stable. This is just what faith means.

God is looking for men on whom He can put the weight of all His love and power and faithful promises. God’s engines are strong enough to draw any weight we attach to them. Unfortunately the cable which we fasten to the engine is often too weak to hold the weight of our prayer; therefore God is drilling us, disciplining us to stability and certainty in the life of faith. Let us learn our lessons and stand fast.  —A. B. Simpson

God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not. It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be. God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man’s strength, through God, to bear it.

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

“Underneath are the everlasting arms.”– Deuteronomy 33:27

God—the eternal God—is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet “underneath” thee “are everlasting arms.” Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ’s great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as “the uttermost”; and to the uttermost he saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are “the everlasting arms.” He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the “everlasting arms”—they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan’s efforts to harm him avail nothing.

This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, “I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the “everlasting arms”—arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary.” ( C.H. Spurgeon)

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

I can’t think about Veterans Day without thinking of what Paul said in Phil. 1:3,”I thank my God upon every remembrance of you”. Dear soldiers, you are in my thoughts and prayers!

“On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the world rejoiced as a treaty was signed ending World War I” –known as “the war to end all wars”. One year later America celebrated what came to be known as Armistice Day, honoring those who served during the war. Then in 1938 Armistice Day was declared a national holiday. Sadly, shortly after that it became apparent that W.W.I was not to be the last war and W.W.II came– a war even bloodier than the first. But we prevailed because of people like you. Then in 1954 Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, including the veterans of all U.S. wars.

Veterans Day is primarily intended to honor those who are still living for their service to America. While there is no way that we could ever repay our veterans for the service they’ve rendered, and they would be the last to ask for it, yet we can be thankful and show our appreciation–let us not fail in this!

On Memorial Day we remember the dead, as we well should, but on Veterans Day our attention is turned to the living—the ones still able to hear our words of thanks. We dare not be silent. We need to let it be known loud and clear that we appreciate their sacrifice. Freedom was gained and maintained at a great cost– the suffering and lives of great men and women who loved country more than life, and were willing to give all for the sake of others. We must never allow that to go unnoticed.

George Washington said,”The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated.” That being the case, on this special day we want it to be known that we view our veterans as the true heroes, deserving of all honor and respect.

Someone said, “Thanksgiving is a day when we pause to give thanks for the things we have. Veterans Day is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have!”. So, to all our vets, regardless of where or how you served, I say,”Thank you!” from the bottom of my heart.
  Thank you for–
 –putting all your plans on hold, so the rest of us could pursue our dreams,
–the time you spent away from your family and friends, while the rest of us enjoyed their company,
–the rigorous training you were subjected to in preparation for your assignment,
 –the difficulties you experienced and never wrote home about,
–the fears you faced as you stepped on foreign soil for the first time, not knowing if you would ever return home,
–the hardships you endured over and over, day after day,
 –the long days, sleepless nights, lousy food, and uncomfortable gear you had to wear– so we could be comfortable,
–the dangers you faced, so that others wouldn’t be in danger,
–the problems you’ve faced since returning home, because you willing left home to serve,
 –the scars, seen and unseen, that came about all because you wanted to protect the rest of us!

I simply cannot say it enough times and in enough ways–Thanks Soldier! May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America!
 –David Stone

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

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Being in the ministry 52 years I have seen my share of arguments. And I have observed the devastating affect they can have on a church, a marriage, or a family. I can also tell you that a major player in the problem is the manner in which we speak to one another. I found the following story in my files and it serves as a good reminder as to how we should communicate with others.
   President James Madison suffered from many ailments in his old age that required him to take a variety of medicines. A longtime friend sent him a box of vegetables pills, one of his own home remedies, and wanted to know if Madison saw any improvement by taking them.
   It wasn’t long before the man received a carefully-worded reply back from Madison. It said,
   “My dear friend, I thank you very much for the box of pills. I have taken them all; and while I cannot say I am better since taking them, it is quite possible that I might have been worse if I had not taken them.”
   One of the biggest challenges we can face when we’re in a position where we have to have a hard conversation is doing so in a way that preserves another person’s dignity. Whether you’re declining an offer from a salesman or breaking some bad news to a good friend, how you say it will speak much more loudly than what you say.
   But when it comes to having those tough conversations, it’s important you don’t shy away from what’s right. Maintain your commitment to the truth, but bathe the truth in love and grace, and let others know you sincerely care. Love others well by speaking what’s right in the right way!

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