The Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Reading express their deepest condolences to the heartbroken families and friends of those fatally stabbed on Saturday, 20 June at Reading Park.Source: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2020-06-25/reading-district-pastors-respond-to-triple-murder-attack/
Adventist Church Receives COVID-19 Award Nomination from Lancashire High Sheriff
The volunteers have been delivering food since the lockdown on a weekly basis and helping and supporting the other food hubs/food banks/food markets with additional supplies of bread, potatoes and vegetablesSource: https://adventist.uk/news/article/go/2020-06-25/adventist-church-receives-covid-19-award-nomination-from-lancashire-high-sheriff/
Christian Perfection
There is a real work to be wrought in us. Constantly we must submit our will to God’s will, our way to God’s way. Our peculiar ideas will strive constantly for the supremacy, but we must make God all and in all. We are not free from the failings of humanity, but we must constantly strive to be free from these failings, not to be perfect in our own eyes, but perfect in every good work. We must not dwell on the dark side. Our souls must not rest in self, but in the One who is all and in all.
By beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are actually to be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. We expect too little, and we receive according to our faith. We are not to cling to our own ways, our own plans, our own ideas; we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Besetting sins are to be conquered, and evil habits overcome. Wrong dispositions and feelings are to be rooted out, and holy tempers and emotions begotten in us by the Spirit of God.
This the Word of God explicitly teaches, but the Lord cannot work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure unless we crucify self, with the affections and lusts, at every step. If we try to work in our own way, we shall grievously fail…. We have a great work to do, and if we are laborers together with God, the ministering angels will cooperate with us in the work…. Then let us lay hold of this mighty power by living faith, praying and believing, trusting and working. Then God will do that which only God can do….
Self is the most difficult thing we have to manage. In laying off burdens, let us not forget to lay self at the feet of Christ. Hand yourself over to Jesus, to be molded and fashioned by Him, that you may be made vessels unto honor. Your temptations, your ideas, your feelings, must all be laid at the foot of the cross. Then the soul is ready to listen to words of divine instruction. Jesus will give you to drink of the water which flows from the river of God. Under the softening and subduing influence of His Spirit your coldness and listlessness will disappear. Christ will be in you a well of water, springing up into everlasting life….
Let the sanctifying power of truth be expressed in your life and revealed in your character. Let Christ mold you, as clay is molded in the hands of the potter.—Letter 57, July 23, 1887, to J. H. Durland and A. A. John, workers in England.
The Upward Look p. 218
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer Requests from last night’s prayer meeting: Brenda asks for prayer that Marc will grow closer to God [pray the same for her other two children]—DeeDee asks for prayer for wisdom as they decide when and how to open area schools {Also pray the same for our church school)—pray for Braydon as he continues to recover from his bicycle accident—Pray for Sarah that God will lead in her life.—Pray for protection for the area’s nursing homes—Pray for Elina and her family as they grieve the death of her daughter—pray for those seeking jobs—Pray for Joyce for healing—pray for Millie who has cancer and is going to Eden Valley—Pray for Eric who has covid and is in the military—Pray for Susan who is dealing with loss—pray for Aliona who was bitten by a brown recluse.
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Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I wrote about the songbook that Aunt Allie wrote. Some years ago, I was able to find her book of poems she wrote from a used book store. I was so happy to find it. Here is one of her poems that I thought I would share with you today.
The Unfinished Picture
By Aletha Phillips-Spoor
A beautiful picture was painted
And hung upon a wall,
‘Twas the scene of a grand old forest
With stately trees and tall.
The leaves of the forest were crimson,
The sky was an amber hue;
No artist could have painted
The autumn tints more true.
An old man, gazing at the scene,
Admired the colors grand;
“In many ways,” he said, “it shows
The work of a master hand.
“But still there’s something lacking,
More beautiful ‘twould be
If within that grand old forest
Some shadows we could see.”
So with our lives, the sunshine
We could not do without,
But we really need some shadows
To bring the beauty out.
May we give thanks for all that the Master Artist paints upon the canvas of our life is my prayer. (Heb 12:5-15)
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/zZ20MAd2H-Y/christian-perfection.html
Lawsuit: Woman Claims She Was Subjected to Non-Consensual Body Cavity Search at Adventist Health Hospital
24 June 2020 | A woman represented by women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred has filed a lawsuit against California Correctional Institution (CCI) and Adventist Health after what she describes as sexual battery and violation in September 2019. The woman claims she went to visit her husband at a California Correctional Facility and was abused by […] Source: https://atoday.org/woman-claims-she-was-subjected-to-non-consensual-body-cavity-search-at-adventist-health-hospital/
Christ Is Our Pattern
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12.
To follow Christ is not freedom from conflict. It is not child’s play. It is not spiritual idleness. All the enjoyment in Christ’s service means sacred obligations in meeting oft stern conflicts. To follow Christ means stern battles, active labor, warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Our enjoyment is the victories gained for Christ in earnest, hard warfare. Think of this.
“We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Christ engaged in the great work for which He lived and died. We are to be instant in season and out of season. And why? “For ye are bought with a price,” and have enlisted under the banner of Prince Emmanuel. We are enlisted for labor, “not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). We are to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling. We are not our own. We are bought with a price, to glorify God with our bodies and spirits, which are His. A work is to be done. There is a faithful work to do in His vineyard. And to every man is given his work. If we are privileged with the bread of life, we must work in the Lord’s vineyard. A charge comes to us to deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Christ. We are to run the race set before us with persevering earnestness. This oft requires energetic movements. We cannot be idlers. We are urged, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” …
We must keep constantly before the ones who are pledged to the service of Christ that it means diligence. It means to be faithful workers, to do all possible to win souls to Christ. It is a constant watchfulness to be faithful unto death, to fight the good fight of faith until the warfare is ended and as overcomers we shall receive the crown of life.
This means much more than we take in. Christ is our example. The Christian warfare is not a life of indulgence to eat and drink and dress as self-indulgent worldlings. The Lord Jesus came in human nature to our world to give His precious life as an example of what our life should be. He is the specimen, not of spiritual indulgence, but of a life constantly before us of self-denial, self-sacrifice. We have the correct view that Christ our Pattern came to give us. There is before us the Prince of heaven, the Son of God. He laid aside the royal crown and the princely robe and came to take His position in our world as a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. How few take it in!—Manuscript 156, July 22, 1907, “Diary Fragments.”
The Upward Look p. 217
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for travelling mercies for Mike and Eileen. Rose
—-Please pray for my friend’s little girl Maya. I asked for prayer a few weeks ago when she was having surgery. She was doing well btu right now she’s having respiratory issues and multiple seizures. They have flown her via helicopter to a bigger hospital in Sioux Falls. Pray for wisdom for the medical team, pray for peace and strength for Maya’s family. Jennifer
—-My son just got taken to the hospital, he is septic so this is very serious please everybody pray. Kristine
—-Please pray for KYra as her mother died.
—-Please pray for my friend Bonnie,she’s positive for covid. Emmerson
—-I need your prayer I have an orphan child was born with HIV. Jose
—-Please pray for Aailyah age 7 who was shot in the head and is on life support. Connie
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Dear Friends,
Occasionally, when I was a little girl, my grandmother would let me look at a small songbook for children that was very precious to her. It was written by Aletha Phillips-Spoor, her aunt Allie. Aunt Allie was a school teacher and had a gift for music. She wrote many little songs for her students and published them for others to enjoy.
My grandmother must have taken that songbook with her when they moved to Florida. When she died, my mother went down there and got rid of everything my grandparents owned—including, no doubt, that songbook. I would have liked to have had it for my children, but it is gone. All of Aunt Allie’s hard work no longer exists. Her “labor of love” is no more. The music she wrote will never again be sung.
Solomon asks, “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” Ecc 1:3 Jesus tells us, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27
Peter warns, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
“The word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:25 The Word of the Lord is the one thing that we can count on. From generation to generation it stands firm. God has watched over His Word and kept it pure and safe thoughout the millenia. It is the most precious Book on earth. Many were martyred for reading it during the Dark Ages. Many have been exiled for obeying its truth. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13 Many have been changed because of it’s message. (2 Cor 3:18) Many have built their life upon its principles. Their work endures forever for it is founded upon the Rock.
David tells us, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psa 19:8-11;119:160
May we remember that the things of this world will pass away. May we fix our eyes upon the Place our Dear Saviour has gone to prepare for us. (John 14:1-3) May we measure all of our words, all of our thoughts, all of our actions, and all of our work by God’s Enduring Word is my prayer.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/RuvvK57bDkA/christ-is-our-pattern.html
