The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19.
Pray for the impartation of the Holy Spirit and believe that it is for you…. Search your own hearts, and prepare the vessel for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Do not be satisfied with your present experience. Sink the shaft deeper and still deeper into the mine of truth….
It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ’s nature, a nature far above that which Adam forfeited by transgression. He who sees the Son by faith and believes in Him, is obedient to the commandments of God, and in this obedience he finds everlasting life…. You will not have a firm religious experience unless you dig deep, and build your house upon the Rock….
Satan works through men who will be worked, blinding the perceptive faculties, paralyzing the senses with selfish ease and love of the world, and unless a special message direct from heaven comes to them they will not discern their peril.
Human nature is vacillating. Men grasp the truth with their perceptive powers, but they refuse to separate themselves from the world. Men will not consent to be God’s peculiar people. They know the truth of the Bible, but they do not want to obey, and they turn from the truth. They act out their unbelief, and darkness comes upon their souls. Choosing their own way they are left to be filled with their own devices. Truth is insulted, Christ ignored, and perdition will be their portion unless they turn and repent….
While these opposing influences are at work to lead away from the truth, away from conviction, away from heaven into the broad path of self-gratification, the agents of God are to work to save souls that are ready to perish. After wrestling with God in prayer, put on the armor, and engage in earnest labor for the conversion of souls. Let men see that with you truth is not a jest, but an eternal reality. You are to deal with principles as you have never dealt with them before. Scatter the seeds of truth with no sparing hand. Sow beside all waters. Have no prescribed limits which you will not pass, but [work] with all the powers that God has given you. Then the people will know you as a man who believes the truth, and to whom truth is a reality. Let not your faith fail. Bring your mind to the point of decision or shake yourself free from all slothfulness and inaction…. Hold fast. Leave no means untried. Work, and watch, and pray, and walk humbly with God.—Letter 6a, January 4, 1900, to a college Bible teacher and his wife.
The Upward Look p. 18
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Eileen’s incision has become infected. Please pray that it will clear up and heal completely. Rose
—-Please pray for Mike as he flies back home tomorrow. Rose
—- Please pray for my husband Mike. . . .He had a serious car accident 2 months ago and totaled the vehicle at work. He was severely bruised in the chest and shoulder from the seat belt. They did tests in ER after, but nothing showed up.
Well, now he’s having severe diaphragm spasms that cause him to sometimes stop breathing. . . .Please pray for him and for all involved and that workers comp will help us through this. Cynthia
—-Please pray for my friend Samantha who was admitted to her hospital earlier today her time and she is fighting with her issue of her illness. Tony
—-Praise and update—Connie is doing very well! The surgery according to the surgeon went flawlessly! . . .Her aneurysms openings were blocked by the pipeline procedure in the Carotid artery in the brain. It was congenital- fortunately we found this problem when an MRI was taken to rule out stroke or tumor because of sudden hearing loss! They discovered the Aneurysms. When Connie has a near fatal accident in 2006 I insisted that they would do an MRI. She had serious brain bleeds. Found out after this incident that the aneurysms were present in 2006, unfortunately or maybe fortunately no one ever told us about them! The present surgeon was able to measure both and there had been changes that could move us closer to rupture! We are pleased and happy for all of your prayers! Our God knows exactly what is best always! Norm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church. The theme was the Lord’s Prayer. As the pastor spoke of each part of the prayer, it really helped the children to understand. One of the sections he spoke about was “Forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors.”
Jesus “told a parable to illustrate His desire for us to have the same heartfelt forgiveness toward those who have wronged us, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 19:22-35
For some of us, having that heartfelt forgiveness is difficult. We are not naturally forgiving and can receive that ability only from God. Jesus promises, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt 7:7. We have the privilege to believe and claim His promises. Then we can press forward knowing that we have received our request.
May we ask for and receive the ability to forgive from the heart those who have wronged us. May we reflect the love of Jesus fully. May we declare as did Paul, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim 1:12
Rose