Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17.
Sin has marred earth’s beauty; on all things may be seen traces of the work of evil. Yet much that is beautiful remains. Nature testifies that One infinite in power, great in goodness, mercy, and love, created the earth, and filled it with life and gladness. Even in their blighted state, all things reveal the handiwork of the great Master Artist. Wherever we turn, we may hear the voice of God, and see evidences of His goodness.
From the solemn roll of the deep-toned thunder and old ocean’s ceaseless roar, to the glad songs that make the forests vocal with melody, nature’s ten thousand voices speak His praise. In earth, and sea, and sky, with their marvelous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we behold His glory. The everlasting hills tell us of His power. The trees that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their delicate beauty, point to their Creator. The living green that carpets the brown earth tells of God’s care for the humblest of His creatures.
The caves of the sea and the depths of the earth reveal His treasures. He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and chrysolite among the rocks, is a lover of the beautiful.—The Ministry of Healing, 410-412.
The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears, and every flower blooms. Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub, testifies of God. These little things so common around us teach the lesson that … nothing is too small for His attention.—Testimonies for the Church 8:260.
With God at Dawn p. 14
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for these dear ones she has not been able to see her husband. pray that Dewey can keep from getting covid. -19 pray for her as well thank you . My friend Christine contacted it while in the hospital last week. so now they put her in the nursing home she has cancer liver and pancreatic she just turned 78 Christmas day. M.
—-Please pray for Pastor Lacson who had open heart surgery yesterday. Emerson
—-My son Lee and two college friends are traveling home today. Pls pray for safe travel. Donnell
—-I am on my way to visit a relative who is terminally ill. It is a 4 hour trip one way and through Dallas. Please pray for traveling mercies. Jean
—-There are multiple demons in my house and we seriously need prayer! Connie
—-Please pray for BRIAN P. HE IS SERIOUSELY SICK AND ADMITED IN THE HOSPITAL AND ISOLATED AS PER YESTERDAY UPDATE, NO BODY EVEN HIS WIFE ALLOWED TO SEE HIM. Daniel
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Dear Friends,
We do not have cable because most things on regular TV are not worth watching. We do, however, have a Roku hooked up to our television. On it we enjoy watching nature webcams, creation programs, and sermons.
On one of the sermons we watched, the evangelist called a young boy of about eight to the platform. The evangelist handed him a dollar bill. The boy reached out, took it gladly, and thanked the man. The evangelist then told the boy he could go back to his seat. Clutching his dollar, the boy happily obeyed.
Then the man told the audience that he had tried to use adults for this illustration but they always stood there looking at him skeptically and asked, “What’s the catch?”
We, too, can reach out and grasp the Great Gift of Salvation as did that little boy. We do not need to be skeptical. It is ours for the asking. When the Philippian jailer asked, ” Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 16:30, 31 Was this belief a mere mental assent? No! True belief is a wholehearted belief that changes the life.
Yes, salvation is a free gift, yet it costs us everything. Jesus explains, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46
Isaiah urges, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isa 55:6,7 Paul adds, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb 11:6
May we give diligence to make our calling and election sure. (1 Peter 1:10) May we allow nothing to hinder us from obtaining the Gift of Salvation. May we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; for we have the promise that if we do, all these things shall be added unto us. (Matt 6:33)
Rose