The church of Christ is dependent on Him for her very existence. Only through Him can it gain continued life and strength. The members are to live constantly in the most intimate vital relationship with the Saviour. They are to follow in His steps of self-denial and sacrifice. They are to go forth into the highways and byways of life to win souls for Him, using every possible means to make the truth appear in its true character before the world.

The truth is to be presented in various ways. Some in the higher walks of life will grasp it as it is presented in figures and parables. As men labor to unfold the truth with clearness, that conviction may come to their hearers, the Lord is present as He promised to be….

In His wonderful Sermon on the Mount, Christ used the lilies of the field in their natural loveliness to illustrate a great truth. His language is adapted to the opening intellect of child life. The great Teacher brought His hearers in contact with nature, that they might listen to the voice which speaks in all created things; and as their hearts became tender and their minds receptive, He helped them to interpret the spiritual teaching of the scenes upon which their eyes rested. The parables, by means of which He loved to teach lessons of truth, show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature, and how He delighted to gather spiritual teaching from the surroundings of daily life.

The birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the sower and the seed, the shepherd and the sheep—with these Christ illustrated immortal truth. He drew illustrations from the facts of life, facts of experience familiar to the hearers—the hid treasure, the pearl, the fishing net, the lost coin, the prodigal son, the houses on the rock and on the sand. In His lessons there was something to interest every mind, to appeal to every heart. Thus the daily task, instead of being a mere round of toil, bereft of higher thoughts, was brightened and uplifted by constant reminders of the spiritual and the unseen.

The Lord Jesus would have the true philosophy of nature’s great lesson book opened before the mind…. We need workers who will gain breadth of mind by studying the book God has opened before us of His created works. Angels cooperate with those who proclaim the truths represented by the things of nature. These things are not God, but they are specimens of God’s handiwork.—Letter 223, June 2, 1905, to J. A. Burden.

The Upward Look p. 167
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for D to overcome his besetting sin. B
—-Please pray for Oliver. He has Corona Virus and is hospitalized in ICU. Wanda
—-Please pray for my post open heart patient for successful recovery. Emmerson
—-Our niece was put in ICU over a week ago with pneumonia. They moved her to a room. She had lots of fluid they was giving her a lot of lasix. Well it has dryer her whole body out. Please lift her up in Prayer. Bertha
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite stories when I was a little girl was what I called “The Breadbasket Story.” I begged for it About 1900, my grandfather, Edwin Harmon, joined in the National Guard. Things were different in those days. It was not just a “weekend adventure.” It was like joining any other branch of the armed forces. The camp was completely made of tents instead of having buildings.

My grandfather and his tentmate Moon, couldn’t sleep one night. They were hungry. Somehow their supper had not been sufficient to hold them until breakfast. As they talked about their plight, they decided to do something about it. They planned to sneak into the tent that housed the kitchen and find something to fill their growling stomachs. The moon was shining brightly, so they had to be very careful not to be seen, because there were guards who walked all night between the rows of tents and made sure everyone stayed in their tent and that all was well. Ed peeked out of the tent door and looked carefully. He saw no one. He went outside for a better look but still saw no one. Moon joined him. Quietly the two young men tiptoed toward the tent kitchen.

When they were almost there, a guard saw them. He shouted, “Halt! Who goes there?” Ed and Moon took off running. They were in big trouble if they were caught. Disobeying an order to halt brought hard punishment but so did being outside of the tent at night. Soon more guards came running. The commotion awakened the sergeant, who joined in the chase.

Finally, the young men reached the kitchen tent and dove under the side. Once their eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness, they tried to find a place to hide. Moon went one direction and Ed the other. In one corner of the huge white tent was a large wicker basket. Inside this basket were loaves of unwrapped bread. Ed lifted the lid and found that the basket was about three-fourths full. Carefully he climbed inside and closed the lid. Then he wiggled down into the middle of the loaves and waited. Soon he could hear the soldiers enter the tent. He held motionless. He could hear the sergeant “barking” orders to his men. They were searching everywhere.
Suddenly the older man’s eyes lit up. “The breadbasket, of course!” Walking over to the huge wicker basket, he drew his sword. “If he’s in there, I’ll find him.” He proclaimed. He stuck his sword into the basket many times in many different directions. My grandfather remained motionless. He could feel the loaves move as the sergeant pierced them near his head. Once, the flat side sword blade slid across his belly. Still Ed did not move. After what seemed liked hours, the sergeant said to his men, “Well, I guess he isn’t in there after all.” The guards left. Still Ed did not move. He listened intently for any sound that might indicate that the guards were outside waiting for him. Finally, when he was sure everyone had gone, he wriggled up enough to lift the lid slightly and peer into the now-empty kitchen. Sneaking out of there and into his tent, was not an easy matter for the guards were on the alert, but Ed finally reached his destination. There sat Moon on his bed grinning at him. Ed asked him to tell of his adventure and where he had hidden, but Moon would not. His only comment was, “I’m not telling. I might need to hide there again sometime.”
Often we have trials of our own making. Often it is because of our own sin that we must suffer. Even though my grandfather did not get caught, there were still consequences. Because of his little escapade, my grandfather had to go about his duties after hours of lost sleep without showing any tiredness. The sergeant, no doubt had known that he was in that basket and was careful how he used his sword, but still he could have accidentally stabbed my grandfather. In those far-off days, that could have been fatal. Not only did Ed have to eat dirty bread, for the dirt on his shoes had ruined many loaves, but so did most of the other men. When the cook had seen the dirty bread, he was going to cut away that part, but the sergeant would not allow that. He walked up and down between the long tables of men and watched carefully to see who was not eating bread that morning. He knew that that would be the man who had dirtied them. My grandfather and Moon ate the bread, dirt and all!

God’s Word says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal 6:7-9 This is a principle that deals with every aspect of our life. Whether it is mild reaping like my grandfather’s experience, or whether it is of much graver consequences, this principle holds true. May we keep so close to our Dear Saviour, that our sowing and reaping will be within His will.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/VGzgwnaVg6k/natures-lesson-book.html

I feel deep sympathy for you, knowing that you are sorely tempted. The enemy is trying to make you faint and become discouraged. I feel no less sympathy and deep interest for your husband. Our Saviour will be his Saviour, if he will accept Him. Never, never are any one of us to feel that it is anything but the highest honor to become sons and daughters of God.

My sister, never, never yield to the temptation to sacrifice Christian principle in order to meet the world’s criterion. Be firm, be faithful, for you are bought with a price. Your duty to your Saviour may not lead you in the smoothest paths, for your Redeemer never walked in paths of self-pleasing and self-indulgence. He lived not to please Himself. He went without the camp, bearing the reproach. Wherever Providence has placed you, God will give you strength to stand firm in the faith. Let nothing interpose between your soul and God….

Christ did not merely give us directions as to the path in which we must travel, but He came to be our Teacher. He did not merely tell us how we ought to obey, but in His own life He gave us a practical example of how we should obey. Thus He is the true Helper. Going before us, he beats down the obstructions, and tells us to walk in His footsteps. Our blessed Saviour says, “Follow Me. I will lead you. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness” (see Matthew 4:19; John 14:6; 8:12).

Christ served as a true Son, an obedient Son. He declared, “I have kept my Father’s commandments” (John 15:10). Sanctification is a lifelong obedience. We can be greatly honored by being in co-partnership with Christ. “Take my yoke upon you,” He says, “and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The obedience of which Christ has left us an example is perfect and complete….

My sister, the Lord loves you, and He wants you to have the crown of life. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5). The white robes are the garments of Christ’s righteousness, and all who have this righteousness are partakers of the divine nature. They have written upon them, “The name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (verse 12).—Letter 48, June 1, 1898, to a believer in Australia.
The Upward Look p. 166
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my brother Jim and my cousin Larry who have both had strokes this month. Rose
—-Please pray for the many requests from those with the Corona virus or know someone with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
During this time of great distress throughout the world, I thought I would share with you something I wrote about prayer some years ago.
What a privilege is prayer! We can come before the throne of the Great King of the Universe, Who upholds ” all things by the word of his power” yet is interested in us as if we were the only person in all the world. Heb 1:3 Think of it! From the moment we renew our commitment to God every morning by asking Him to dwell within our heart, till we fall asleep at night, we can walk in close communion with the Great Creator. Paul, speaking of this very close relationship, bids us, ” Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 Of course he realized that we cannot spend all of our time with our hands folded and our head bowed, no! He is speaking of that constant companionship that the One Who gave His life for us is yearning to have with us.
As we go about our daily duties, we can be in His presence. We have the privilege of telling Him all of our sorrows, all of our joys, asking Him for victory over sins yet unconquered, talking to Him regarding the happenings throughout our day, meditating upon His Word, listening to His voice. Our Great Redeemer says to us as He said to Joshua of old, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Josh 1:8
It is only when we take our eyes off from Jesus, that we go astray. It is only when we forget to “practice the Presence” and become so busy that we forget Him, that we begin to wander from “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6 It is when we begin to listen to the world’s beckoning voice that we get into trouble. We soon become fascinated with the fleeting pleasures the evil one has to offer, lose our balance, and fall from the Path. The apostle John advises, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17
Let us daily give our heart to Jesus, praying as did David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.” Ps 51:10-14 Let us look to Him in these perplexing times for protection from the evil that surrounds us and pray, “O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou [our] arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.” Isa 33:2 Let us diligently keep our weak and trembling hand in His mighty nail-scarred hand, walking with Him is sweet fellowship, telling Him all of our joys, all of our sorrows, all of our fears and trusting Him to lead us all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/AMnxO3X89vU/never-yield-christian-principle.html

It may be surprising to some that Christ’s work was not extended to the heathen nations, that it was confined in so small a circumference. But the heathen nations were not prepared for His work. And had He devoted His time to the conversion of the Gentile world, He would have closed the door whereby He could bear His message to the Jewish nation….

Frequently the people of other nations came to Christ to be healed, or to make some request for their relatives or friends. These people represented the great human family, who knew not God or the truth, but who felt a soul-longing for something they had not. All who came to Christ listened to His instruction, and as they heard the word of truth, they were deeply impressed. In speaking words of hope to those weary, unsatisfied souls, in healing the infirmities of those who came to Him, Christ was setting an example to be practiced from one end of the world to another. He was speaking and acting for humanity at large…. Although generation after generation would pass away, His lessons of practical service would be given by His witnesses. He was to ascend to heaven, but His work was to be carried forward with greater power than before, because He and His Father would cooperate in doing greater things for His people than they had seen while He was among them.

We are to work while it is day, for the night cometh, in which no man can work. Our life is represented as a day, and when our work is ended, when the worker ceases his busy activity, the work does not cease. Others take it up. Though the human agents pass away, the work of Christ does not cease, but goes on, each worker doing God service by working as Christ worked.

We often feel that in the work of God there are great interests to be handled that we are unable to touch. We seem bound about. Let us remember that Christ’s work while on earth was confined to a narrow compass. Yet multitudes from all parts of the world heard His lessons. He was giving His message to those who would afterwards become His disciples.

Christ worked out before His disciples and the world a perfect example of true religion. And when men realize the importance of showing patience, sympathy, and regard for the souls of men, nigh and afar off, Christ will be revealed in His followers.—Manuscript 50, May 31, 1897. “The Work of Christ.”
The Upward Look p. 165
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Brian and his family as they grieve the loss of their mother. Also, please pray for N that he will stay away from bad influences and give his heart to Jesus. Rose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, we were talking about the effect that being raised by my grandparents, Edwin and Ida Harmon until I was ten had upon my views. My grandfather was really the only one who took any time for me, so I naturally learned more from him than from my grandmother or my mother. Most of the things that I learned from him were good, but there were some things that he had laying around that he did not realize that I was looking at. He had his own special room where he could relax and keep his stuff. He had a big overstuffed chair that was very comfortable and in the evening he would relax in that chair and read his magazines, when I was outside playing, that is. If I was inside, he would tell me stories of the old days.
Those magazines that he had were not “children rated.” But while he was at work, I would look at grandpa’s magazines. Many of them were about hunting and fishing, but some were adventure magazines with pictures of headhunting and cartoons that I still remember today. He also had books about World War II. How cruel is the heart of mankind without the Spirit of God dwelling there. They had very graphic pictures from the war. They frightened me and fascinated me at the same time. I spent time looking carefully at each picture. Just the thought of some of them makes me shudder. Those war books I could look at while he was around and he would talk about what I saw in them, but he had no idea that I was looking at those adventure magazines.
It was never our Great Creator’s intention for such things to exist. When He created this planet, He spent evenings instructing Adam and Eve and warning them about Satan and advising them to stay together and stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yet they disobeyed God by eating the very fruit He warned them against. Even before, Eve had wandered from Adams side. How little they realized the results of their disobedience. It seemed like such a little test. It was such a small act of disobedience, but it was a pivotal moment in their experience. From that small act, came a great change.
Praise God! He does not leave us in such a pitiful state. He has provided a Way. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 He left the glories of Heaven, the adoration of all the beings in the Universe, and came to this earth to suffer all the abuse that wicked men could heap upon Him, and finally sacrificing His own life, so that we may have a restored relationship with our Creator. Wonderful Saviour! May we always serve Him from a heart filled with gratitude and love for His great sacrifice is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/2BuEJcWVG0A/christs-work-and-our-work.html