“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too”
Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
Earlier this year, Sharon Platt-McDonald, Director of Adventist Community Services (ACS), Health & Women’s Ministries at the British Union Conference (BUC) developed and launched the ACTS of Service initiative. This project was designed to make outreach ministry meaningful, by applying four key elements: Attention,Compassion, Teamworking and Solutions. See full article…Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2022-10-13/adventist-community-services-addresses-energy-fuel-crisis/
Inside Story: Every Cent is Sacred – South Pacific Division
Every Cent Is Sacred
By Andrew McChesney
Shyamala’s eyes widened with surprise as she read the handwritten note tucked in an envelope with two money orders worth U.S.$110.52. The letter came from the U.S. East Coast, and the money orders were made out to Global Mission, the frontline arm of Adventist Mission whose missionaries start new groups of believers in unreached territories.
“I have enclosed a donation to Global Mission to help people learn about the love of God,” the letter read. “I love God and try to help spread the gospel in my neighborhood.”
Image © Pacific Press
It was the next part of the note that astonished Shyamala, a donor specialist at Global Mission. The writer explained that the $110.52 donation consisted of pennies that she had found on the street. When her jar of pennies got full, she cashed them in and sent the donation.
“This gift is pennies that I collected for Jesus,” she wrote. “I hope it will bring smiles to someone as you share the love of God.”
Another surprising letter arrived at Global Mission’s office at the General Conference a few weeks earlier. The letter, from the U.S. West Coast, contained no note, but the enclosed $165 check spoke volumes. It was issued by a prison on behalf of an inmate. With inmates earning up to $55 a month at the prison, the donor would have had to work at least three months for the gift. “And it wasn’t his first donation,” Shyamala said.
A third letter was opened by Nimfa, who, with Shyamala, runs the donor relations department at Global Mission. The letter came from a man who had called Global Mission’s hotline a few days earlier to inquire whether Global Mission had received a donation submitted through its website. Nimfa found that the caller’s bank had rejected the transaction. When the caller asked for an alternative way to donate, she suggested a check or a wire transfer. A check for $70,000 arrived a few days later. The donation was the proceeds from the sale of a piece of property. “The man promised God that if the property sold, he would give everything to mission,” Nimfa said.
Stories about the faithfulness of people to God’s mission deeply touch the hearts of Shyamala, Nimfa, and others who work at Global Mission. Whether the donation is $1 — one donor has sent three $1 bills every month for years — or $70,000, every penny goes to frontline work. “Every cent that we get is no ordinary cent,” Nimfa said. “When we receive a donation, especially when we learn about how that money got to us or why it was sent to us, we are reminded that every cent is sacred. It is the Lord’s money. Every cent goes only to help finish the work so Jesus can come.”
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
(2)
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-every-cent-is-sacred-south-pacific-division/
Friday: Further Thought ~ Understanding Human Nature
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The First Great Deception,” Pages 531-550, in The Great Controversy.
If you have ever been in surgery and were put out with general anesthesia, you might have a faint idea of what it must be like for the dead.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
But even then, when under anesthesia, your brain still functions. Imagine what it would be like for the dead, when all brain function, everything, has totally stopped. Their experience in death, then, is to close their eyes and, as far as each dead person who ever lived is concerned, the next thing they will know is either the second coming of Jesus or His return after the millennium (see Revelation 20:7-15). Until then, all the dead, the righteous and the wicked, rest, for what will seem to them to be an instant. For those of us who remain alive, death seems as if it lasts for a long time. For the living it does; but for the dead it seems to last only an instant.
“If it were true that the souls of all men passed directly to heaven at the hour of dissolution, then we might well covet death rather than life. Many have been led by this belief to put an end to their existence. When overwhelmed with trouble, perplexity, and disappointment, it seems an easy thing to break the brittle thread of life and soar away into the bliss of the eternal world.” — Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 539.
“Nowhere in the Sacred Scriptures is found the statement that the righteous go to their reward or the wicked to their punishment at death. The patriarchs and prophets have left no such assurance. Christ and His apostles have given no hint of it. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead do not go immediately to heaven. They are represented as sleeping until the resurrection.” — Pages 549, 550.
Discussion Questions:
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Amen!(2)
(2)The post Friday: Further Thought ~ Understanding Human Nature first appeared on Sabbath School Net.
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-understanding-human-nature/
2.First Two Blessings in the Beatitudes (What Does Jesus Teach Us?) – Pastor Ted Wilson
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IwLU8dL6Wc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=1280&h=720]
In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about the first two blessings Jesus mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount.
“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’” (Matthew 5:1-4).
But how can one be blessed while being poor in spirit or in mourning?
Ellen White gives us an insight in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, saying, “He who feels whole, who thinks that he is reasonably good, and is contented with his condition, does not seek to become a partaker of the grace and righteousness of Christ. Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give. There is no room for Jesus in the heart of such a person…They feel that they are full; therefore, they go away empty. Those who know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action, are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed…Whom Christ pardons, He first makes penitent, and it is the office of the Holy Spirit to convince of sin” (page 7).
So, by mentioning the “poor in spirit,” Jesus refers to those who feel the need of Him and understand that there is nothing good in and of themselves. This is in contrast to those who claim, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” but do not realize they are actually “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
For these self-absorbed, self-sufficient people, Jesus says, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (verse 18).
Indeed, the poor in spirit are blessed. When we realize our need of God and confess it to Him, He will pour out His blessings upon us and the kingdom of heaven will be ours.
What about “those who mourn”?
Ellen White says in Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing that “the mourning here brought to view is true heart sorrow for sin…as one is drawn to behold Jesus uplifted on the cross, he discerns the sinfulness of humanity. He sees that it is sin which scourged and crucified the Lord of glory. He sees that, while he has been loved with unspeakable tenderness, his life has been a continual scene of ingratitude and rebellion…He is separated from God by a gulf of sin that is broad and black and deep, and he mourns in brokenness of heart.” It is “such mourning” that “shall be comforted” (pages 9 and 10).
With this, we can see that God reveals to us our guilt so we can come to Him, confess our sins, and surrender our burdens at the foot of the cross. Then, we shall be comforted.
Ellen White continues on Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, “To every stricken one, Jesus comes with the ministry of healing. The life of bereavement, pain, and suffering may be brightened by precious revealings of His presence. God would not have us remain pressed down by dumb sorrow, with sore and breaking hearts. He would have us look up and behold His dear face of love. The blessed Saviour stands by many whose eyes are so blinded by tears that they do not discern Him. He longs to clasp our hands, to have us look to Him in simple faith, permitting Him to guide us. His heart is open to our griefs, our sorrows, and our trials…We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace” (page 12).
To learn more about this topic, read Ellen White’s book Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing and visit https://egwwritings.org/.
Sabbath: A Symbol of Rest Under the Loving Care of Christ #sermon #shorts
The Sabbath is a gift of rest and a day of total dependence and trust in God. This #short clip from the message, “God is Offering a Refuge of Eternal Security” by Pastor Mark Finley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kunfAgllGsM, reminds us of the significance of the Sabbath in finding shelter in God. He sanctified the Sabbath so we could experience His genuine love and care as we remember and observe it. Watch the video to learn more about how we can find refuge through Sabbathkeeping. ————————————————————————————
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 21 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers who promise to help people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Click the notification bell so that you never miss a new video! Find us on social media by following the links below:
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