The North England Conference Executive Committee has approved a version of the proposed new NEC Constitution to present at the NEC Session, which will run from Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 September. More than two years in the making, the latest version is draft 37, which gives an idea of the amount of work that has gone into producing and refining the document.
Delegates at the session will be allowed some leeway with the final document, in relation to the total number of delegates allowed at…Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2021-08-11/nec-approves-draft-constitution-for-session/
Thursday: Finding Rest After Forgiveness
Joseph’s family finally arrive in Egypt. There are no more dark secrets in the family. His brothers must have admitted to having sold Joseph when they explained to their father that the son he had thought had been killed was now prime minister of Egypt.
While it may not always be possible or wise to restore relationships, this does not mean that we cannot forgive. We may not be able to hug and weep with our offender, but we may want to voice our forgiveness either vocally or through a letter. And then it is time to let go of pain to the utmost degree we can. Perhaps some pain will always remain, but at least we can be on the path to healing.
Read Genesis 50:15-21. What are Joseph’s brothers worried about, and why would they be worried about it? What does this fear say about themselves?
Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Joseph’s brothers had been living in Egypt for seventeen years (Genesis 47:28), and yet, when Jacob died, they were afraid that Joseph would take his revenge. They realized again how much they had hurt Joseph. Joseph reassures them of his forgiveness again, now after their father’s death. This refresher was probably good for Joseph, as well as his brothers.
If the wound is deep, we will probably have to forgive many times. When memories of the wrong come to mind, we will need to go to God immediately in prayer and make the choice to forgive again.
Read Genesis 50:20. How does this verse help explain, at least partially, Joseph’s willingness to forgive his brothers’ sin against him?
Joseph firmly believed that his life was part of God’s big plan to help save the then-known world from famine, and then to help his family fulfill God’s promise to become a great nation. Knowing that God had overruled the evil plans of his brothers to bring about good helped Joseph to forgive.
| Joseph’s story had a happy ending. How do we respond when the ending to a story isn’t so happy? Or, could one argue that (long term, that is) with the end of sin and the end of the great controversy, when all issues are solved — it will be a happy ending? How might this hope help us deal with less-than-ideal endings? |
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The Holy Spirit Brings Conviction
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:8.
It is the privilege of every Christian to enjoy the deep movings of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade the mind, and you will love to meditate upon God and heaven. You will feast upon the glorious promises of His Word. But know first that you have begun the Christian course. Know that the first steps are taken in the road to everlasting life. Be not deceived. I fear, yea, I know that many of you know not what religion is. You have felt some excitement, some emotion, but have never seen sin in its enormity. You have never felt your undone condition, and turned from your evil ways with bitter sorrow. You have never died to the world. You still love its pleasures; you love to engage in conversation on worldly matters. But when the truth of God is introduced, you have nothing to say. Why so silent? Why so talkative upon worldly things, and so silent upon the subject that should most concern you—a subject that should engage your whole soul? The truth of God does not dwell in you.—Messages to Young People, 132.
The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.—Messages to Young People, 157.
The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image.—The Desire of Ages, 302.
With God at Dawn p. 225
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Prayer Requests
—- I have prayer request for Azura & Abu, pray for their recovery. They have been intubated due to covid. Azura is 5 months pregnant. Abu is in critical condition, he has blood clot in his brain and Dr’s are trying to save him. Samantha
—-Please send prayers for Jamari 11 months old who is in the hospital. Arlene
—-Please pray that God will heal David mentally and spiritually. Buck
—-Please join hands with me in prayer for my daughter Andrea and her daughter Solenne they have been
Tested positive for covid Therese
—-Please pray for my friends who have covid. There are several. Rose
—-My friend baby went into cardiac arrest 2 days ago he is 7 months old his name is Augustine they finally found a Medication to keep his rhythms stable praise God so he can have a MRI to see what is going on need all you prayer warriors to pray for this little guy. Lisa
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Dear Friends,
There are so many wonderful chapters or verses in God’s Holy Word, that it would be hard to choose just one, but I’d have to say that one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Every verse points to our Loving Creator, Who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:7, 8 I thought I’d share it with you today.
“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 52:13-53:12
What wonderful love! Who can comprehend it? May we daily meditate upon His great love for us, for as we do, we will find that our love for Him will grow stronger and deeper until we are filled with all fullness of joy in Him. (Ps 16:11)
Rose
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Even With all the bad Breaks we are More Than Conquerors!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NKJV
In John 8:1-11 Some men with terrible intentions seduced a woman and dragged her to Jesus to see if He would condemn her or even allow her to be stoned to death. As evil as their intentions were, what they inadvertently did was to bring a woman to the feet of Jesus where she found salvation. As terrible as it was – and believe me it was not Jesus’ idea for them to treat her that way – in the end, Jesus turned things around to workout in her favor and to God’s glory.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
Terrible things happened to Jesus. Satan worked through evil men to make the Son of God a degraded spectacle on the cross. Yet through it all, Jesus became the Savior of the world. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that the One who was so despised, rejected and degraded is Lord. In the process a multitude that no one can number will be saved.
The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.- Ellen White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, Page 71.
What a wonderful promise that nothing can touch us but what infinite love permits, and all these things work together for our good if we love God. Without ever reading Romans 8;28 or this passage from Mount of Blessing I just shared, Joseph realized that all the bad breaks he endured worked out to develop his character so he could save lives. Instead of being bitter and resentful, Joseph saw that even the bad breaks and evil intentions of others were working to his advantage. Not only did Joseph forgive his brothers for selling him into slavery, but, instead of blaming them, he said it was actually God who did it – and He did it for the good of others.
But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5 NKJV
Not only did Joseph not blame his dysfunctional family for all the bad breaks in his life, but he refused to acknowledge them as bad breaks. Instead he realized that through all of the evil intentions of his dysfunctional family and even Potiphar’s wife’s terrible accusations, God was working to refine his character in order to get him exactly where he needed to be in order to save many lives.
When bad breaks come our way, instead of blaming others for our situation, let’s trust God the same way Jesus and Joseph did. Let’s share in their hope and encouragement. Surely God is working out something wonderful in our lives.
Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they could ask or think. He spoke with assurance, knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made. He knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the contest with evil; and that the bloodstained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers. He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His, a series of uninterrupted victories, not seen to be such here, but recognized as such in the great hereafter.-Ellen White, Desire of Ages, Page 679.
Instead of being resentful and bitter over supposedly bad breaks lets bask in the love of God! God’s great love is working through our tribulations and persecutions making us more than conquerors.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
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7: Rest. Relationships and Heading – SPD Discipleship Video
This video is produced by the South Pacific Division Discipleship team.
Week 7_Rest, Relationships & Healing_study this lesson for Aug 14 from SPD Discipleship on Vimeo.
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