MORNING MANNA 8-12-24

August 12, 2024 By Pastor David Stone

MORNING MANNA 8-12-24

GIVE THANKS
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thess. 5:18

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” – Eph. 5:20

Giving thanks seems like an easy thing to do, but truth be told, it is one area of man’s greatest failure. We tend to be takers rather than givers of thanks. We focus more on our miseries than we do on our mercies. Rather than being grateful for the grace of God we grumble about our difficulties.

It’s been said, “We can’t always give thanks ‘for’ everything, but we can always give thanks ‘in’ everything”. But that’s not altogether true. Eph. 5:29 says, “Giving thanks for all things”. Imagine that – “all things” includes the good, the bad, and the ugly, our burdens as well as our blessings. Considering how difficult life can be, that is admittedly beyond our natural ability. How can we be thankful for the things that are problematic and painful? We do so by the power of “God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In other words, God enables us to do what He expects us to do. He does for us what He demands from us. Or else we would surely fail. If you really believe Rom. 8:28 you will give thanks to God “for all things”.

“For all the heartaches and the tears,
For gloomy days and fruitless years
I do give thanks, for now I know
These were the things that helped me grow!” – Crandlemire

Not only should we be thankful for our prosperity, and for people God placed in our lives, we ought to be thankful for our problems. We fail at this because we don’t look far enough ahead. At the moment the problem seems to be working against us, but if we could see into the future we would see that it is actually working for us. If you believe God’s word you have to believe that. To be thankful for all things is a command not a suggestion, an obligation, not an option. That being the case, God evidently expects us to think about why we should be thankful for our problems. This is what comes to my mind:- HDS

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

MORNING MANNA 8-11-24

August 11, 2024 By Pastor David Stone

MORNING MANNA 8-11-24

BACK TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP

”Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

How do you start your day? Do you check out the game scores? the stock market? the weather? the news? Or do you just hit the ground running, rushing off to work? Isn’t it a shame that, although God gives us the gift of life and another day to enjoy His blessings, we do not start the day in a spirit of adoration and praise?

In his book, Called to Worship, Dr. Vernon Whaley writes about anticipating the heavenly worship services described in the Book of Revelation: “One day, worshipper, you and I will be a part of that great multitude, that choir from all the nations. No one really knows what kind of choir it will be–contemporary, classical, traditional, or gospel–but it won’t matter. And even if you couldn’t carry a tune on earth, or didn’t have a lick of musical talent, it won’t matter. You and all who love Christ will be qualified to join the eternal chorus, and together our voices will sound across the universe in one unified statement: ‘We love Jesus; He is worthy to be praised!'”

Dear friend, worship should be as natural for the Christian as breathing. We should respond to His presence by worship. And it shouldn’t be limited to a few minutes on Sunday. We ought to start every day and live every moment in an attitude of worship. You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to enjoy God. He is here and you can enjoy Him right now through worship. Do you? – HDS, 7-19-10

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

MORNING MANNA 8-10-24

August 10, 2024 By Pastor David Stone

MORNING MANNA 8-10-24

NEVER ALONE

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”–Psalm 10:1

We all have troubles and there are times when we feel all alone– sometimes we feel that even God is gone! That’s why it’s important that we consider the facts rather than consult our feelings. An old publication called “Daily Devotional Commentary” reminds us of the facts regarding this matter:

“God is ‘a very present help in trouble’. But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation.

We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark–the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled, there comes an answering voice which shows that He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!”

Remember this, although we may moan we must not murmur. Our pain is preparing us for God’s purpose. We are in training for reigning! -HDS

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

Morning Manna 8-9-24

August 9, 2024 By Pastor David Stone

MORNING MANNA 8-9-24

CALLING EVIL GOOD
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil-“– Isaiah 5:20

Do you not find it strange how we change the name of something, or legalize it, or get the majority in favor of it, and suddenly it is suppose to be okay? Does that make sense? Too what extent do you take that? Go ahead, let your imagination run wild—picture the possibilities! Does “anything go” as long as it meets this criteria? Are you the one who decides what is right and wrong? If so, how did you get that position? What are your qualifications? Shall every man do what is right in his own eyes? Yet this is exactly where we find ourselves today.

Most people rule out God’s Word as the sure standard by which all else is to be judged. The same nation that has been so greatly blessed by God has now dis-barred Him from the courtroom of our lives. We no longer recognize Him as an/the authority figure. We refuse to have Him rule over us.

Do you not see the hypocrisy of this? Some of the same people who turn to the Bible to find comfort when they’re troubled, refuse to obey it when it comes to it regulating the manner in which they live. They even pray to God and ask for help when they are in need, but they refuse to listen when He speaks. In other words, they want to use God when it’s convenient, but they have no use for Him when He interferes with the way they want to live. It is as though they think themselves to be wiser than God.

This is not only hypocritical, it is harmful. If the Bible is true, and it is, rebellion against it results in ruin. We reap what we sow—and more. At this very moment some of you are suffering the consequences of your sin–yet you continue to deny it, and even defend the very sin that is destroying you. Does that make sense? Some of you are miserable because your sin has not brought the pleasure you hoped for, yet you continue on the same path. Why?

You will never experience the peace and joy you long for until you confess and repent of your sin. Changing the name, making it legal, and promoting it until it’s popular doesn’t change the fact that it is sin. And the wages of sin is death.Call it whatever you will, changing its name doesn’t change its nature. Calling evil good doesn’t make it good. And thinking you will escape sin’s consequences does not mean you will. You can make yourself believe anything, but you can never make evil good by calling it good. It’s a fool’s game and you always lose. Sin is like a boat anchor tied around your neck—you can go through all the motions of swimming and try with all your might, but it will eventually pull you down to your destruction.

God has given us His infallible Word and righteous standards to live by that are for our own good. If you aren’t going to follow the Bible what will you use to guide your actions? Your own judgment? The advice of others? How’s that been working for you? Don’t you think it is time to give up your foolish notions and listen to God? He has never misled anyone and He won’t fail you. His will is right, best and safest. Think about it!- HDS

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

MORNING MANNA 8-8-24

August 8, 2024 By Pastor David Stone

MORNING MANNA 8-8-24

LOOK TO THE LORD
“Looking unto Jesus—consider Him–lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” – Hebrews 12:2-3

Some foolish people blame God for their pain or problems— saying He is unfair or unloving. That’s a big mistake! They ought to be glad they don’t get what they deserve. So should we all! Wise is the person who realizes that we can’t measure God’s love by looking at our troubles and trials. To see God’s love we must look at Christ, not man. And it is only by keeping our focus on Christ that we are able to endure.

Adrian Rogers said it well—-“When we come to a place where we don’t understand what’s happening…when everything seems to be caving in, there is Jesus. We always have the forgiveness of the cross, the victory of the empty tomb, and the hope of Christ’s imminent return.

When we go to the doctor and he tells us we have a malignancy. When we hear that we as a couple are infertile and cannot bear a child. When we have to declare bankruptcy. When we are laid off work. When we read a note that our spouse has left. When a loved one dies because of a terrorist act.

We have a Savior…and we have a choice to believe or not to believe! At that time we can begin to murmur, criticize, grumble, or despair. Or we can yield to the Savior and hear Him say, “My child, no matter what is happening, this is how much I love you. Look to the cross. Look to the empty tomb. Look for Me. I’m coming again.”- HDS, 1-7-13

Dear friends, as believers the best is yet to come. Until then let us look unto the Lord, for then we shall be looking at Jesus! You can chisel on my grave marker “Looking at Jesus”, for that is exactly what I will be doing.-HDS

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

MORNING MANNA 8-12-24

MORNING MANNA 8-11-24

MORNING MANNA 8-10-24

MORNING MANNA 8-10-24

Morning Manna 8-9-24

MORNING MANNA 8-8-24

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