THE BLESSING OF BROKENNESS
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psa. 51:17).

    Brokenness comes before blessing; suffering precedes service. This has always been God’s order.

    Joseph was in prison before he could bless from the palace. Moses was on the backside of the desert before he was qualified to act as deliverer of Israel. David learned in secret the use of the sling before he became the conqueror in public.

    God told Elijah to go and hide himself before showing himself to the wicked king Ahab. Daniel knew how to trust God in the lion’s den before he caused God to be acknowledged in Babylon.

    The apostle Paul had the thorn in the flesh before he experienced the sufficiency of God’s grace. The Isle of Patmos was the place where the apostle John had the vision and heard the voice.

    There is a rose of blessing in every thorn of adversity. There is a lifting up in every letting down. Out of weakness we are made strong. God gives songs in the night, and but for the night we would not have songs to sing. Blessings still accompany testings. Refreshment is found in many a hollow place in life, and but for the hollowness the supply would never have been secured for us.–Unknown

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

FAITHFULNESS IN DAILY LIFE

“With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”– Eph 6:7

 

The common drudgery of daily life can be a Divine Calling. We often speak of a young man as “being called to the Ministry”; but it is as fitting to speak of a carpenter being called to the bench, the blacksmith to the forge, and the shoemaker to his last. “Brethren,” said the Apostle, “let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”

 Remember that your life has been appointed by God’s wise providence. God as much sent Joseph to the drudgery and discipline of the prison as to the glory and responsibility of the palace. Nothing happens to us which is not included in His plan for us; and the incidents which seem most tiresome are often contrived to give us opportunities to become nobler, stronger characters.

We are called to be faithful in performing our assigned duties. Not brilliance, not success, not notoriety which attracts the world’s notice, but the regular, quiet, and careful performance of trivial and common duties; faithfulness in that which is least is as great an attainment in God’s sight as in the greatest.

In every piece of honest work, however irksome, laborious, and commonplace, we are fellow-workers with God. We must help God to give men their daily bread. It is for Him to cause the growth of the corn, but man must reap and thresh, grind out the flour, make and distribute the bread. The tailor is God’s fellow-workman, helping Him to clothe the bodies which He has made to need garments of various textures. The builder co-operates with God in housing His children. The merchant helps to bring the products of the East to refresh and enrich the toiling masses of the West. God uses man in a thousand ways to serve the children of men.

Take up your work, then, you who seem to be the nobodies, the drudges, the maid-of-all-work, the clerk, or shop assistant. Do it with a brave heart, looking up to Him who for many “years toiled at the carpenter’s bench. Amid the many scenes and actions of life, set the Lord always before your face. Do all as in His presence, and to win His smile; and be sure to cultivate a spirit of love to God and man. Look out for opportunities of cheering your fellow-workers. Do not murmur or grumble, but let your heart rise from your toil to God your Maker, Saviour, and Friend. So the lowliest service will glisten, as grass-blades do when sun and dewdrops garnish them.

 

Be not far from me, O Lord, this day; and through all its hours may I be found doing those things which are well-pleasing in Thy sight. AMEN.

–F B Meyer

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

                                    

“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.”- Psalm 145:1–4

Every one of us is going to leave a legacy of some kind. If you think of those who have gone before, whether friends or family, usually there are one or two words that sum up the main thrust of their lives. People are remembered for their generosity, their courage, their attitude, or perhaps a particular hobby or interest. Sometimes this legacy is a positive one, and sometimes it is not. Most people don’t like to think about the end of their lives, but each day we are building a legacy that we will leave behind. We do not choose it at the moment of our death, but over the course of each day we live.

There are few things that are more fitting for a Christian than to be known as a person who praises God. The impact of praise to God on our own lives is great, but the impact of that praise on others may be even more important. The stories passed down about what God did for Dad or how He answered a special prayer for Grandma are of enormous value. Each of us has so much for which to praise God, but unless we tell those stories to others, they will be lost. We have a responsibility to the future to be people of praise. 

Every day you have the opportunity to choose the legacy you will leave to those who come after you. – Paul Chappell

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

OVERWHELMING OBSTACLES

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”- (Joshua 6:1–2)

Have you ever faced what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle, something that was so big and so overwhelming that you wished you just could turn and run away? Maybe you’re facing something like that right now: an incurable illness, a prodigal child, or a marriage that is unraveling. Maybe you think it will never get fixed.

If you have ever faced something like this, you have a general idea of how the nation of Israel felt as they stood before the massive, ancient city of Jericho, the city God said they were supposed to conquer. His battle plan was one of the most unorthodox ever envisioned in human history. They were to march around the city once for six days, and on the seventh day, they were to march around it seven times, blow trumpets, and shout. It was a plan designed by God to show His power.

Sometimes God will allow a Jericho in our lives, something big and scary. It might be a problem. It might be a challenge. It might even be an opportunity. But all you know is that it’s massive, and there is no way you can deal with it in your own strength. For many, the greatest difficulty is getting to the place where they are willing to admit they need God. It’s that place where they are willing to admit the thing they’re facing is too big for them and that if God doesn’t come through, then they won’t get through it.

That is not a bad place to be. God has a plan for you, but He won’t force His plan in your life. You can botch or sabotage the plan, or you can cooperate with the plan. That is up to you. God will not force His purpose in your life.– Greg Laurie

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