2 March 2020 | Elder Ted N.C. Wilson, President of the General Conference, has just released a statement: “As many people are fully aware, there is a very serious health situation affecting various parts of the globe in relation to the coronavirus COVID-19 illness. About 90,000 people have been diagnosed in about 65 countries worldwide […] Source: https://atoday.org/elder-wilson-call-for-prayer-about-covid-19-gc-session/
Wrapped in the Bible’s Promises
Forty-four
sick children had a warmer Christmas this past year thanks to the quilting
ministry of the Truro, Pugwash, and New Glasgow Seventh-day Adventist churches
in Nova Scotia. Headed by Jean and David Streifling, the churches prepared the
handmade children’s quilts in record time when an opportunity came to
distribute them at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax—the largest pediatric
hospital that serves patients in Atlantic Canada.
Although the church members couldn’t
enter the children’s ward directly, they were told by the nurses that the
children had loved their quilts and the parents had expressed sincere
appreciation for the beautiful Christmas gifts.
One quilt that
was given away recently went to an 18-year-old girl waiting for a stem cell
transplant in the cancer ward. When she heard about the ministry and was
presented with her own quilt, she was overcome with emotion, especially since
the quilt had a Bible verse on it. This girl was trying to memorize a Bible
verse before her transplant, but it was difficult. Now she was happy to have a
Bible verse to take with her when she went into the hospital. The member prayed
with her and assured her of God’s love.
Another recent
story happened when two of the church members met a young lady in a store who
had that very morning lost her home in a fire. She, her husband, her three
young children, and even the pet birds had made it safely
outside, but aside from a single box of precious
papers, they had lost everything else. The smell of smoke was still
noticeable on her clothing—all the clothing she had left. They had contents
insurance but, because a renovation had been in progress, had no house
insurance at all—basically a total loss. Touched by the devastation she clearly
felt, the members raced to our church nearby and retrieved the one quilt we
still had in stock there, also purchasing a gift card for her to buy other
things they so desperately needed.
“Oh, you didn’t need to do that” was
her response. Yet there were tears of appreciation in her eyes as the members
replied, “This is our way of doing what we can to help out.” It was our way of
giving her another “hug” to let her know that the community cares. The members
headed home to make three more quilts, including a queen-sized one, so that
each family member could have a quilt of their own which included a Bible
message of God’s care (Num. 6:24–26) embroidered on its back. These, along with
a warm coat, were given to the family the following day. This is the latest
giveaway in a quilting ministry that has produced and shared over 450 quilts
since its inception, including quilts for families who have lost their homes,
for people who are severely ill, and for new
mothers.
Each quilt we give has a Bible verse embroidered on the back as well as a message of love from our Adventist church.
—Alexandra Richards, co-pastor of the Truro, New Glasgow, and Pugwash churches
Source: https://adventistmessenger.ca/news/wrapped-in-the-bibles-promises
Tuesday: The Value of Intercession
Read Daniel 9:5-13. What is significant about the fact that Daniel keeps on saying that “we” have done wrong, thereby including himself in the sins that ultimately have brought such calamity to the nation?
Image © Lifeway Colletion at Goodsalt.com
Daniel’s prayer is just one among other significant intercessory prayers contained in the Bible. Such prayers touch God’s heart, staving off judgment and bringing deliverance from enemies instead. When God is ready to destroy the entire Jewish nation, the intercession of Moses stays His hand (Exod. 32:7-14, Num. 14:10-25). Even when severe drought is about to consume the land, God answers Elijah’s prayer and pours out rain to revive the land (1 Kings chapter 18).
As we pray for family members, friends, and other people or situations, God hears our prayers and can intervene. Sometimes it may take longer for a prayer to be answered, but we can rest assured that God never forgets the needs of His children (see James 5:16).
In this case, Daniel plays the role of an intercessor, or mediator, between God and the people. From his study of the Scriptures, the prophet realizes how sinful the people have become as they transgress God’s law and refuse to hear God’s warnings. Thus, recognizing their desperate spiritual condition, Daniel prays for healing and forgiveness. But the prophet also identifies with his people. In some aspects Daniel illustrates the role of Christ as our intercessor (John chapter 17). However, there is a radical difference: Christ is “without sin” (Heb. 4:15) and therefore has no need to confess personal sin or to offer sacrifices for personal forgiveness (Heb. 7:26-27). But He identifies Himself in a unique way with sinners: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21, NIV).
| “If you would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason”. — Ellen G. White, Faith and Works, p. 24. What do these words teach us about our need for an Intercessor on our behalf? |
Amen!
(0)
(0) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/eXu2Bi9MN0Y/
Are You Preparing for Heaven?
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
What a work is before us. We need greater faith in Christ and the Father, for this we must certainly have, else we shall be counted with the unbelievers. We see great opportunities and a great amount of work to do. We want the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We cannot afford to miss the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. The sanctification of the truth, confirming man’s steadfastness in the faith, will constitute men laborers together with God.
United with the Source of all power, persevering in duty, enlarging the apprehension of the love of God in Christ Jesus, they become one with Christ, until they are complete with Christ in God.
The glories that await the faithful overcomer are beyond any description. The Lord will greatly honor and exalt His faithful ones. They shall grow like the cedar, and their comprehension will be certainly increasing. And at every advanced stage of knowledge their anticipation will fall far beneath the reality. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our work now is to prepare for those mansions that God is preparing for those who love Him and keep His commandments…. The Lord Jesus will enlarge every mind and heart for the reception of the Holy Spirit….
Time is short. Let the little time you have be employed for your own present and eternal good by active Christian service, doing all the good possible. Redeem the time that has been lost; seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then you will have something to impart in good works, in cheerful, consecrated influence….
What preparation have you made for the future, eternal world? … You want something higher and better than you now have. You may exert a conscious and unconscious influence in right doing. God deserves something better from you as His subject than that which you have given Him. Carefully consider: Are you standing under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, or under the black banner of the prince of darkness? There is an obligation resting upon you to return the influence and money that is lent you of the Lord to advance His cause and glorify His name.
The Lord calls upon you, “My son, give me thine heart.”—Letter 71, May 17, 1900, to John Wessels.
The Upward Look p. 151
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Prayer Requests
—-The flu has been going around our house. Please pray for complete healing and God’s providing for our needs. R
—-Pray for my dad ,they found a tumor in one kidney and they believe its cancer a cyst on the other one.pray for his salvation and healing.He is 95 and radiation, surgery is not what he wants ,it would be too hard on him.given he has lost lots of weight. Becky
—-Please pray for my mother Sue. She is in the hospital with sepsis. She is 83 years old and we love her very much. Jenny
—-Please pray for my little Chihuahua ……just got a call telling me he just got ripped up by 2 big dogs. Please pray that he will be ok. Connie
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Dear Friends,
One day shortly after the war between the states, Mrs. Russell was riding the train home from visiting a friend who lived in Chicago. When it stopped at a station along the way, a beautiful young lady with a baby boarded the train. She hesitated at the entrance of the car for a moment while looking intently at each of the passengers. Finally, she decided to sit beside Mrs. Russell.
As the train pulled out of the station, the two women began to talk. Mrs. Russell was admiring the baby and talking to him. The baby was smiling and making baby noises in response. Before long, the young lady asked her if she would please hold her precious little one while she went to the restroom. Mrs. Russell was delighted to do so. Soon, the train stopped at a station and more passengers got on. Some got off. Mrs. Russell talked to the baby and cuddled it and waited for his mother to come back. A half an hour passed. No mother. Forty-five minutes went by. She did not return.
Finally Mrs. Russell stopped the conductor as he walked by her seat. She explained that the baby’s mother had not returned from the restroom and she was getting worried. Perhaps the girl was ill. The conductor checked. The restroom was empty. Then he remembered that the young lady had left the train at the last stop. The conductor and the woman took the beautiful blanket off the little baby boy. Pinned to his garment was a note. It said, “Please care for my dear baby. When he is 21, he is to go to a certain bank in Chicago. At that time he will be told who he is and given enough money to go to the university.” It did not take Mrs. Russell long to decide what to do. She would go the authorities and get permission to raise this little baby as her very own.
Just as that tiny baby became Mrs. Russell’s very own son, so our Loving Heavenly Father adopts us into His family if we but ask. He counts us as His beloved sons and daughters “according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Eph 1:5-7 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Rom 8:14-17 “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal 4:5
Think of it! We can be a child of the King of the Universe! What a blessing! What a privilege! John gives us insight into its meaning, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 3:1-7;5:11-15
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16 Let us “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, and with all [our]soul, and with all [our] strength, and with all [our] mind” because of His marvelous grace that He so freely offers us. Luke 10:27 Let us, in all that we do, in all that we say, in all that we think, rightly represent our Father in Heaven, Who loves us so much that He has adopted us as His very own.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/FAr87ddfb6M/are-you-preparing-for-heaven.html
Patient with Potential Coronavirus Symptoms Admitted to Adventist Health Tulare
1 March 2020 | The Fresno Bee reported today that a patient with symptoms similar to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been admitted to Adventist Health Tulare. It is not clear whether the patient in the Tulare, California-based hospital has the virus, since a positive test result has not yet been confirmed. The Adventist-run hospital […] Source: https://atoday.org/patient-with-potential-coronavirus-symptoms-admitted-to-adventist-health-tulare/
