This is a tool for you to use if you lead a Sabbath School (SS) class or small group. It is keyed to the Bible texts used in the current week’s Adult SS Lesson and includes a brief story from current news you can use to introduce the discussion and then a series of discussion […] Source: https://atoday.org/sharing-scripture-june-2-8/
An Adventist Remnant in the Wilderness
by Jack Hoehn | 4 June 2019 | Last month I spent a week wandering in the desert with a small tribe of Adventists on the Talking Rocks geological tour. Perhaps we were replaying the Festival of Booth or Tents, advised by Jehovah to be annual, after the grown-up children of slaves entered the Land […] Source: https://atoday.org/an-adventist-remnant-in-the-wilderness/
Wednesday: Conflict, Abuse, Power and Control
Sometimes unresolved conflict and anger may develop into a very negative, destructive dynamic, even an abusive relationship. Abuse can take a number of forms—physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, et cetera. But any form of abuse is contrary to the central principle of God’s kingdom—unselfish love.
What crucial teachings about relationships are found in 1 John 4:7-8 and Colossians 3:19?
Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” (Col. 3:19, NIV). The word harsh in the original Greek language refers to one’s being angry or bitter toward the partner, causing continued pain, intense hostility, and expressions of hatred toward the other. Paul is very clear that a spouse is not to be hostile or violent. Emotional, sexual, and physical abuse is not acceptable behavior for a Christian husband or partner. Instead, what is acceptable is to love your spouse. Paul also makes it clear that love is patient and kind and that love does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, does not keep record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. None of the attributes of love even remotely condones or accepts abuse in any way, shape, or form.
A healthy relationship is one in which both partners feel protected and safe, in which anger is managed in a healthy way, and in which serving one another is the norm. Often victims of abuse feel guilty, as if they were responsible for provoking their abuser or that perhaps they somehow deserve the abuse they receive. Abusers can be quite controlling and often skillful at making their victims feel responsible. The truth is that no one deserves to be abused by another, and abusers are responsible for their own choices and actions. The good news is that the Bible offers comfort, not guilt, for the victims of abuse. In some situations, in which the problem gets unmanageable, people should not be afraid to seek outside help.
| How unfortunate that some cultures all but condone abuse of women. Why should no Christian ever fall into that kind of behavior, regardless of what their culture allows? |
Amen!
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Living the Life of Eden
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1.
Heaven is a school; its field of study, the universe; its teacher, the Infinite One. A branch of this school was established in Eden; and, the plan of redemption accomplished, education will again be taken up in the Eden school….
The prophet of Patmos thus describes the location of the school of the hereafter: FLB 360.3
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Revelation 21:1, 2….
The giving of the tree of life in Eden was conditional, and it was finally withdrawn. But the gifts of the future life are absolute and eternal….
Restored to His presence, man will again, as at the beginning, be taught of God: “My people shall know my name: … they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Isaiah 52:6….
All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in contemplation of God’s handiwork. And the years of eternity, as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations. “Exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) will be forever and forever, the impartation of the gifts of God….
The life on earth is the beginning of the life in heaven; education on earth is an initiation into the principles of heaven; the lifework here is a training for the lifework there. What we now are, in character and holy service, is the sure foreshadowing of what we shall be.
The Faith I Live By p. 360
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Prayer Requests
—-A former classmate, Donna, passed away having had cancer for one and one-half years. Please pray for her husband, children, and family members as they grieve her loss. Rose
—-A daughter of one of our church members had a seizure for the first time. Pray it is the last. Keep Katie J. In your prayers. Barbara
—-Please pray for JayDen, my 11 yr old daughter. She has a concussion. Shannon
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Dear Friends,
Often my children will reminisce about special times in their childhood. It is interesting what they remember. Usually, Esther will comment on a certain walk we took when she was three or four. We lived on a narrow, dirt road near a lake at the time and I took them on many walks just letting them explore their surroundings. Whatever they noticed became an opportunity to teach them of our Great Creator and His love and plan for us. One day, Esther happened to notice a frog that had been run over by one of the few cars that drove down that narrow path. She stopped and looked sadly at the flatted frog’s remains that had been dried by the North Carolina sun. This gave me an opportunity to point her to a time when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” Rev 21:4 That simple lesson impressed her so much that she remembered it all of her life.
So it should be in the Christian’s walk. If we will allow Him to, our Heavenly Father will walk with us and teach us just as surely as I did with my children. He has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps. 32:8 What a wonderful blessing! To be taught by the One Who made all things, Who loves us so much that He died to save us, to walk with Him each day as He unfolds new and beautiful truths from His Word, this is His great desire. This is our great privilege!
Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us in our walk with Him is as real today as it was when He walked this earth so long ago. He said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13 What blessing is ours to have the Great God of the Universe love us and change our hearts and lead us ever upward on the path to the Heavenly Kingdom.
Let us submit to the lessons He is so willing to teach us. Let us place our hand in the hand of the One Who loves us so much that He gave His All for us. Let our fondest memories be of our time spent with Him.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/_eFxNrZHUp4/living-the-life-of-eden.html
Fraud Alert Ahead Of Oshkosh Pathfinder Camporee
3 June 2019 | The Andrews University-based Center for Youth Evangelism has sent out a news release titled “FRAUD AWARENESS REGARDING CAMPOREE TICKET RESALE.” Dated June 3, the release alerts the public to recent fraud cases involving ticket sales for the upcoming August 12-17 International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The alert stresses that tickets […] Source: https://atoday.org/fraud-alert-ahead-of-oshkosh-pathfinder-camporee/
