Closer To Heaven
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par Mark Gutman | 10 août 2023 | Il y a quelques années, un sabbat matin, j’ai fait 150 kilomètres pour aller prêcher dans une église. A mon arrivée, j’ai appris que j’avais une semaine d’avance. J’ai vérifié sur mon agenda, et j’ai découvert que j’avais mal lu: sous une date différente, j’avais inscrit en […] Source: https://atoday.org/serai-je-perdu-si-jai-tort/
by Shelley Curtis Weaver | 10 August 2023 | My mother was the women’s ministry director when I was a young adult. I’m not sure exactly how that position came to be. During my childhood, there were only women at the helm of children’s divisions and the Dorcas Society. By the time our young family […] Source: https://atoday.org/the-gimmick-free-gospel/
Una vez oí la historia de dos hombres de negocios, hermanos de iglesia, que se reunieron para almorzar en un restaurante lleno de gente. Después de que les pusieran delante sus pedidos, uno le preguntó al otro: “Bueno, ¿nos rascamos las cejas?”. Se refería a la incómoda sensación de saber que debería orar antes de […] Source: https://atoday.org/revisaste-tus-propias-tradiciones/
The steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10, NRSV.
The joyous festivities of a Jewish wedding were preceded by solemn religious ceremonies. In preparation for their new relationship, the parties performed certain rites of purification and confessed their sins.
A most interesting part of the ceremony took place in the evening when the bridegroom went to meet his bride and bring her to his home. At the house of the bride a company of invited guests awaited the appearance of the bridegroom. As he approached, the cry went forth, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The bride, clothed in pure white, her head encircled with flowers, received the bridegroom, and, accompanied by the guests, they went from her father’s house. By torchlight, with impressive display, with sounds of singing and instruments of music, the procession slowly proceeded to the house of the bridegroom, where a feast was provided for the guests.
For the feast the best food that could be secured was provided. Unfermented wine was used as a beverage. It was the custom of the time for marriage festivities to continue several days. On this occasion, before the feast ended it was found that the supply of wine had failed. When a call was made for more wine, Jesus’ mother, thinking that He might suggest something to relieve the embarrassment, came to Him and said, “They have no wine.” … The active part that Mary took in this feast indicates that she was not merely a guest, but a relative of one of the parties. As one having authority, she said to the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” …
Jesus said unto them, “Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.” … The action of Christ at this time was left on record for all ages, that we might see that Christ did not fail even in such a perplexity as arose on this occasion. Yet He never worked a miracle to help Himself. A few days before this He had refused to satisfy His own hunger by changing a stone into bread at Satan’s suggestion.—Manuscript 126, 1903.
Christ Triumphant p. 229
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for travelling mercies for Esther and her children and Ken and Jamie and their children. Rose
—-Prayer please for my brother Shem.. pain in chest, kidney and vomit when eating. He has been in hospital for months. Other problems are not known, doctors working hard to find out. Please keep him in prayer for complete recovery. Daniel
—-Pray for me. I gave in to lust and let an abusive man into my life. Today I told him we were done and I wanted to leave and he began beating me. anonymous
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Dear Friends,
I’ve been looking at old photos lately. One was taken when Ronnie Jay was outside on the deck holding a caddis fly that had landed on him. Somehow, this insect had flown away from its natural habitat and visited our yard.
How often we, like that caddis fly, wander far from the path that leads to Heaven. How many times we stray from the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Jesus bids us, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,1
How much we need a Shepherd to keep us from straying. Praise God! We have such a One. Jesus assures us, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:11-15
David desired to be led by his Heavenly Shepherd. He prayed, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth,and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” “Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path.” “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Ps 25:4-12; 27:5; 61:1-4
Our Great Redeemer tells us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” 32:8-10
May we allow our Good Shepherd to lead us in the straight and narrow way. May we cooperate with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) May we daily give our Dear Saviour our whole heart for He desires to fit us to dwell with Him forevermore.
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/jesus-cares-about-human-problems-and-perplexities.html
About a year passed. Almira prayed and read the Bible every night to keep the evil spirit at bay. She attended church every Sabbath, enduring painful criticism and even threats from parents, relatives, and neighbors. But the rest of her life remained unchanged. She went to school on weekdays and often partied with friends at clubs on nights and weekends.
Image © Pacific Press
At 18, Almira reached a crossroads in her Christian faith. She came across a question that she could not answer. She couldn’t understand why the Bible called Jesus’ death a sacrifice. To her, Jesus’ death didn’t seem like a sacrifice. While He was cruelly persecuted and crucified, He surely knew that he would be resurrected, so how was His death a sacrifice? In contrast, Almira faced persecution every Sabbath, and she felt like she had sacrificed her relationship with her parents, relatives, and friends for Jesus. She had no idea how her story would end. She seemed to have made a greater sacrifice.
Stumped, she prayed for an answer. “Jesus,” she said, “I have read that I need to openly tell You about my worries and You will answer. Here’s what I propose: I will read about Your life in the gospels and The Desire of Ages every day. Please reveal to me what Your death on the cross means and why Your sacrifice was so great.”
Almira didn’t really want to read the Bible or Ellen White’s The Desire of Ages, but she forced herself to read both every day. At first, she fought boredom as she read. She didn’t have a close relationship with Jesus. Even though she worshiped on Sabbath, she lived her own life during the week.
Almira kept reading and finally found an answer. She read in The Desire of Ages, “Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal” (753).
This was the answer to her prayer. Jesus also had been afraid that He would die forever, but He had been ready to take the risk for her. It struck her that He had not known the end, just as she did not know how her story would end. But He had risked His eternal life to save her.
Amazed by such infinite love, she poured out her heart in prayer. “Jesus, even if no one else on earth follows You, I will follow You,” she said.
She decided to give her life to Jesus in baptism.
Read more about Almira next week. Thank you for your mission offerings that help spread the gospel in Russia and around the world.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
(1)The post Inside Story: A Genuine Sacrifice? ~ Part 4 appeared first on Sabbath School Net.
Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-a-genuine-sacrifice-part-4/
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