This Sabbath, most of the world celebrates Christmas, "the happiest time of the year.” And while happiness may not be a part of those experiencing sorrow right now, we can all rejoice in the knowledge that Heaven sent us a Savior, and He will one day make all things right! That is the plan of salvation in a nutshell—Heaven sent fallen man a Savior who is coming back soon! It’s the message Adventist World Radio beams daily around the world, and it’s the message that transformed the rebels on the island of Mindoro, Philippines. When the communist rebels and assassins understood that there was hope and forgiveness for them, their joy knew no bounds. They gladly abandoned their former life and embraced their Savior, Jesus. Here is a short video where I share a few of the moments lived on the island of Mindoro as we celebrated the victory of the gospel. Yes, Jesus is the Star of Christmas, He’s the Star in the message Adventist World Radio shares with the world, and He’s the Hope that makes everything worthwhile. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB5yI-oFNFE
Inside Story: Japan ~ Teen Makes Christmas Music
Teen Makes Christmas Music
By Andrew McChesney
Every year, Miharu Shimizu’s church organizes a special Christmas program in Tokyo, Japan. Every year, Miharu wished that she could participate and somehow share her joy about Christ’s birth. One fall, during her first year in university, a teacher asked her to write the lyrics for a musical.
Image © Pacific Press
The musical turned out to be the final exam for all 30 students in her class. Miharu was supposed to write the script and lyrics, while the teacher would compose the music. Then the class would be divided into four groups, and each group would learn and sing the musical.
After some prayer, Miharu put together a short story about Christmas caroling. The songs were filled with praise for Jesus at Christmas. She wasn’t sure what the teacher or classmates would think. None of them were Christian. When Miharu submitted the eight-minute musical, the teacher didn’t change a single word. “The lyrics are very noble,” he said.
As the class learned and rehearsed the musical, Miharu remembered the Christmas program at church. Maybe her musical could be her contribution to the Christmas program.
That Christmas, she played the piano as seven classmates performed her musical at Setagaya Seventh-day Adventist Church, a church for young people in Tokyo. Young Adventists assisted the production behind the scenes.
More people showed up to watch the musical than Miharu had expected. About 75 people crowded into the small church building, overflowing a space where usually only 25 church members worshiped on Sabbaths.
Miharu was delighted. She sensed a bond with the audience. She saw that she and they were sharing the true spirit of Christmas — the joy that Jesus loves people so much that He came to the earth as a baby. Miharu was especially happy that one of her classmates was sitting in the audience. Afterward, the classmate asked for Bible studies.
Miharu decided to compose another musical for the next Christmas. She wrote a musical about how her grandfather became a Seventh-day Adventist. Finding classmates to participate in the new musical proved easy. They liked the previous Christmas musical and were eager to sing again. One of the new participants was the classmate taking Bible studies. Miharu, 19, is praying that Jesus will use her musical talents to draw classmates to Him.
Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering three years ago that helped Miharu’s Setagaya Church establish a youth evangelism training center. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will reach out to more Japanese young people through online ministry.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-japan-teen-makes-christmas-music/
Friday: Further Thought ~ The Resurrection of Moses
Further Thought:
“When they angrily cried, ‘Must we fetch you water out of this rock?’ they put themselves in God’s place, as though the power lay with themselves, men possessing human frailties and passions. Wearied with the continual murmuring and rebellion of the people, Moses had lost sight of his Almighty Helper, and without the divine strength he had been left to mar his record by an exhibition of human weakness.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
The man who might have stood pure, firm, and unselfish to the close of his work had been overcome at last. God had been dishonored before the congregation of Israel, when He should have been magnified and exalted.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 418.
“Upon the mount of transfiguration Moses was present with Elijah, who had been translated. They were sent as bearers of light and glory from the Father to His Son. And thus the prayer of Moses, uttered so many centuries before, was at last fulfilled. He stood upon the ‘goodly mountain,’ within the heritage of his people, bearing witness to Him in whom all the promises to Israel centered. Such is the last scene revealed to mortal vision in the history of that man so highly honored of Heaven.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 479.
Discussion Questions:
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Amen!(0)
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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-resurrection-of-moses/
Miracle in a Storm-Drain
by Melissa Brotton | 20 December 2021 | “Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:10) My windshield wipers cannot keep up with the pelting rain, and the streetlights are barely visible, though I am driving on a wide strip in a well-lit city. Only a half […] Source: https://atoday.org/miracle-in-a-storm-drain/
There Shall Be No More Curse
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. Revelation 22:3.
The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.—The Great Controversy, 678.
The voice of the Son of God is heard calling forth the sleeping saints, and as the prophet beholds them coming from the prison-house of death, he exclaims: “Thy dead men shall live…. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.”
In the visions of the prophet, those who have triumphed over sin and the grave are now seen happy in the presence of their Maker, talking freely with Him as man talked with God in the beginning.—Prophets and Kings, 728, 729.
Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven. As the scene rises before me, I am lost in amazement. Carried away with the surpassing splendor and excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, “Oh, what love! what wondrous love!”—Early Writings, 289.
With God at Dawn p. 359
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for E that she will make the right decisions. She needs God’s protection and guidance for her and her children. R
—-I have an urgent unspoken prayer request that’s going to need a miracle. My wife’s bronchitis is acting up again out of the blue. David
—-Please pray for my sister Zena. She is homeless and has other thing going on.. Pray she comes to rely on the Lord and know him as her best friend. Beverly
—-My friend of 20 yrs. Jill died peacefully at her home today. She battled lung cancer for 4 years. . . . Please pray for her son Ethan who had also lost his father to ALS some years back. N
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/there-shall-be-no-more-curse.html
