Closer To Heaven
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by David Geelan | 9 January 2025 | After a range of different jobs through my life—working in a lumber yard and as a builder’s laborer, packing cornflakes and cleaning in a factory, washing glassware in a laboratory—to pay my way through school, I began my first real job as a high school chemistry, physics, […] Source: https://atoday.org/teaching-and-parenting-for-character/
When trials come, praising God does not always feel natural. Yet Job chose trust over bitterness. His experience is a reminder that even in loss, God remains worthy of praise. Think of God’s faithfulness in your life and share what you want to praise God for in the comments. Are there blessings you want to thank God for? #AWR360 #HappySabbath Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jquXS0E8jDQ
par Reinder Bruinsma | 8 janvier 2026 | Récemment, je suis tombé sur une déclaration de John Suk qui m’a intrigué. Son livre, Not Sure: A Pastor’s Journey from Faith to Doubt (Pas sûr: le parcours d’un pasteur de la foi au doute), n’était plus disponible sur Amazon. J’ai donc commandé un exemplaire d’occasion pour […] Source: https://atoday.org/lecons-du-pasteur-john-d-suk/
Inside Story for Friday 9th of January 2026
Oscar has worked as a Global Mission pioneer for 10 years, leading 120 people to baptism and planting two churches. He hopes to open a third church soon. Learn more about Global Mission pioneers at bit.ly/GMPioneers.
Oscar stood still, praying, as three barking, snarling dogs surrounded him outside a house in Kenya. The owner, who had unleased the dogs as Oscar approached the house, came over. “Who are you?” he demanded.
“I’m a messenger of God,” Oscar said.
“What message has God sent you with?” the man said.
“It’s the message of God,” Oscar said. “Can I come in?”
The man called off the dogs and tied them up.
He looked at Oscar expectantly after they entered the house. “Let’s pray,” Oscar said. The man didn’t close his eyes. Oscar prayed and then began discussing the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch.
The man wasn’t a Christian. He belonged to a major, non-Christian world religion, but he knew those books of the law. He asked many questions, and the two men became friends. Today, the man and his wife are Seventh-day Adventists.
On another occasion, a homeowner expressed interest when Oscar offered Bible lessons. He sent away his three children, ages 6, 8, and 13. As they left, Oscar saw that they were limping in pain. “Let the children come here so we can pray,” he said. Then he saw that the children had chiggers, a tiny mite with parasitic larvae that live on or under the skin and cause irritation.
Oscar prayed for the children and left to buy medication.
The family thought that the chiggers were caused by witchcraft. But when Oscar returned, he helped the family clean their house and bedding. He instructed the parents to bathe the children, and then he provided the medication. The children were clean. Oscar prayed for the children again, and he studied the Bible with the parents. Later, the family became Adventist and sold land for the construction of a new Adventist church.
In sharing the gospel, Oscar also goes from church to church on Sundays. In Kenya, it’s a tradition to allow visitors to greet church members. But once, a church leader invited Oscar to a worship service and then refused to allow him to speak upon learning that he was an Adventist. Oscar stayed for the worship service. As he left, he recognized several members as his neighbors, and he went over to greet them.
“The Bible is like a big ocean, and this is not the time to wait for the pastor to come and teach you,” he said. “I have lessons that you can study yourself.”
Seven people accepted the Voice of Prophecy Discovery Bible lessons on the spot. Others were wary but later agreed to take the lessons. Today, 43 people from the church are studying the Bible with Oscar. “Not bad for a meeting where I wasn’t allowed to speak,” he said with a smile.
Daily Lesson for Friday 9th of January 2026
Further Thought
“Many are unable to make definite plans for the future.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God’s children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. ‘By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.’ Hebrews 11:8.
“Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.
“Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will ‘keep the feet of His saints.’ 1 Samuel 2:9. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, Pages 478, 479.
Discussion Questions
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