“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.– 2 Timothy 1:7
   Fearfulness does not come from God. As children of God, who believe in the perfection and power of Jesus Christ, we don’t need to worry about the future, or fret over circumstances, or be anxious about what others may think.
   Rather, Paul reminds us, we are to rely upon the power and love and mental soundness that we are granted by God. This is the only way to make God-honoring, God-directed decisions.
   In Christ, we know that we will be granted the strength to do anything that He requires of us. Out of love for Christ—and through Him to others—we must be willing to do whatever tends to His glory and their good. And with careful, thoughtful discipline we should therefore chart the course that He directs.
   It is so easy to crumble because of conflict, or to surrender because of our situation, or to be paralyzed because of possible problems. But through his admonition to timid Timothy, Paul confronts our natural fearfulness and exhorts us to courageously make wise decisions, out of love for God.
   Which paradigm best describes your decision making? Are you most concerned about financial security, or social approval, or selfish pleasure? Or are you walking in paths that are guided by the power of the Spirit, motivated by a love for Christ, and carefully chosen according to faith? (Baptist Bible Hour)

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

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name”– Matthew 6:9
   Every word of our Lord’s model prayer is remarkable and vital, but it is especially important to notice first what He puts first.
   He begins with these wonderful and welcoming words: our Father. Even God’s chosen people, the people of Israel, had never been encouraged to approach God in the Old Testament with such familiarity and warmth! True, Jesus had addressed almost every one of His prayers to His “Father”, but what an unexpected and pleasant surprise for Him to beckon us to enjoy the same intimacy.
   Yet, in the same breath, Jesus reminds us not to grow complacent or presumptuous in the presence of our Father, because He is no ordinary father—He is our Father in heaven. The heavens are His throne and the earth is His footstool.
   But even this is good news, isn’t it? The very One to whom we are encouraged to pray is the One who has the power and authority and wisdom to fulfill our desires and answer our prayers. No matter how big the issue might be, or how impossible the request might be, there is nothing that we cannot bring to our Father in prayer and there is nothing that He cannot do.
And what is to be the first request on our lips, the chief desire of our hearts? Hallowed be Thy name. Recognizing that our heavenly Father is worthy of our every praise and devotion, we are to hallow (set apart and above) His name in our hearts. If His name is sacred in our hearts, then His name will be consecrated in our choices, our actions, our lives.
   Our dear and heavenly Father, may Your great name be hallowed in us! (Baptist Bible Hour)

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

“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.”– Psalm 128:1–4
At the time of his death in 1913, John Pierpont Morgan was one of the richest men in the world. He was renowned in the world of finance for his ability to put together corporate deals, like his pivotal role in the creation of General Electric and U. S. Steel. Morgan almost single-handedly ended the financial crisis known as the Panic of 1907 by supporting the banks that were on the verge of failing and working with others to prop up companies that would otherwise have gone bankrupt.
Morgan was renowned for his philanthropy, supporting museums and hospitals, and was a major contributor to his church. His priorities and goals for the future were revealed in his will, which began with these words: “I commit my soul into the hands of my Saviour in full confidence that having redeemed it and washed it in His most precious blood, He will present it faultless before the throne of my Heavenly Father, and I entreat my children to maintain and defend at any cost of personal sacrifice the blessed doctrine of the complete Atonement for sin through the blood of Jesus Christ once offered, and through that alone.”
Most of us will not leave billions of dollars to our descendants. But all of us can leave them a heritage of faith and love for God and a knowledge of His salvation. There is no greater inheritance than the testimony of a faithful life spent in service to God and a faith that reaches across the generations. There is no financial legacy we can leave behind that compares to the legacy of faith in God. (Daily in the Word)

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