A living church will be a working church. Practical Christianity will develop earnest workers for the advancement of the cause of truth…. We long to see the true Christian character manifested in the church. We long to see its members free from a light, irreverent spirit; and we earnestly desire that they may realize their high calling in Christ Jesus. Some who profess Christ are exerting themselves to the utmost to so live and act that their religious faith may commend itself to people of moral worth, that they may be induced to accept the truth. But there are many who feel no responsibility even to keep their own souls in the love of God, and who, instead of blessing others by their influence, are a burden to those who would work and watch and pray….

Those who are seeking in humbleness of mind to exalt the truth of Christ by their exemplary course are represented in the Word of God as fine gold, while the class whose chief thought and study is to exhibit themselves are as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal….

We entreat those who have a connection with God to pray earnestly and in faith, and not to stop here, but to work as well as pray, for the purification of the church. The present time calls for men and women who have a moral fixedness of purpose, men and women who will not be molded or subdued by any unsanctified influences….

No man or woman can succeed in the service of God without putting the whole soul in the work and counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Those who make any reserve, who refuse to give all that they have, cannot be disciples of Christ; much less can they be His colaborers. The consecration must be complete….

Jesus has gone to prepare mansions for those who are waiting and watching for His appearing. There they will meet the pure angels and the redeemed host and will join their songs of praise and triumph. There the Savior’s love surrounds His people, and the city of God is irradiated with the light of His countenance—a city whose walls, great and high, are garnished with all manner of precious stones, whose gates are pearls, and whose streets are pure gold, as it were transparent glass.—The Review and Herald, June 3, 1880.
From the Heart p.50
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Shelly who is at the end of her days. Brenda
—-I had some imaging done on my cervical spine and during that they detected a nodule on the thyroid gland. Have to have a biopsy of the nodule and see another specialist for cervical spine. I sure would appreciate your prayers. William
—-Please pray for Joyce, Fran, Gean, Steve, and Aliona who need healing. Rose
—-Please continue praying for Rui and whatever the next step will be after removing the tumor from his spine. Jeri
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Dear Friends,

When we lived in Washington state, we lived in a trailer on about an acre of land. Behind us and to one side of us, were many more acres where the children could explore to their heart’s content. We didn’t have much of a lawn, as our water supply was not adequate for such. When Esther was about 9, a little girl moved into a trailer down the road. They had a nice lawn as they had a better well, and the two girls often played on the nice, green grass. One day, as they were playing at Ashley’s house, they decided to do some “gymnastic” tricks on some old railroad ties that were being used for decoration along the driveway. As Esther turned a cartwheel on one old, wooden tie, a large piece of wood went deep into her bare foot.

She hobbled home for me to remove the “intruder.” When I examined her foot and saw how large a piece of wood it was and how much of it was sticking out of her foot, I was sure that there would be no problem removing it. As the tweezers took hold of the protruding part, it crumbled. The wood was just too rotten to pull out. I tried digging it out, but that was too painful. Finally, I had to take her to the doctor. Even he had a difficult time getting it, but since he was able to deaden her foot so she could not feel the pain, he was eventually able to free her of that offending piece of timber.

That large, crumbling sliver is like the sin in our lives. We may try as hard as we can to rid ourselves of sin, but we are helpless to remove it. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jer 13:23 We can, through determination, appear to change outwardly; but our heart remains the same. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17:9 As we hold on to those sins that at first seem so pleasing, they strengthen until our condition is as Isaiah describes, “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 1:5,6

How much we need Someone Who can change our vile hearts and make us pure and clean within. Praise God! There is a Great Physician Who can truly rid us of those sins that so easily beset us. He is even now pleading, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa 45:22;1:18 “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” “And I will cleanse [you] from all [your] iniquity, whereby [you] have sinned against me; and I will pardon all [your] iniquities, whereby [you] have sinned, and whereby [you] have transgressed against me.” Eze 18:33; Jer 33:8

May we respond to His great love and allow Him to do His merciful work upon our heart, that we may be found of Him without spot or wrinkle or any such thing when He comes to receive His own is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/a-living-church.html

[Prayer offered by Ellen White at the 1903 General Conference session.] Our heavenly Father, we come to Thee this morning just as we are, needy and wholly dependent upon Thee. Help us to have a clear knowledge of what we must be, and of the characters that we must form, in order that we may be prepared to unite with the heavenly family in the city of our God….

O my Father, how can we proclaim Thy goodness, and Thy mercy, and Thy love, unless we cherish them in our own hearts and reveal them in our own experiences? Thou knowest how Thou hast presented this matter to Thy servant….

Here are Thy ministers, whose work it is to proclaim Bible truth. I ask Thee that they may have a clear realization of the responsibilities that rest upon them as guardians and as shepherds of Thy flock…. Let them understand their own weakness, and may the sanctification of the Spirit come to them….

Here are those who bear responsibilities in our institutions…. They have not in their dealings given a right example to the world. They did not realize that others were taking knowledge of them, to see whether they were sanctified by the truth.

Oh, pardon our transgressions and forgive our sins! Show us where we have come short. Let Thy Holy Spirit descend upon us. The world is perishing in sin, and we ask Thee to roll the burden upon us at this meeting….

Thou hast opened these things before me, and Thou alone canst prepare minds and hearts to hear the message that unless those who have left their first love shall return to recognize the work that needs to be done in their individual hearts, Thou wilt come quickly and remove the candlestick out of his place….

We must be reconverted, sanctified, and made fit to bear the message of the Lord….

My Father, break down the barriers, that confessions may be made, from heart To Whom It May Concern: heart, from brother to brother. May the Spirit of God come in; and Thy blessed name shall have all the glory. Amen.—The General Conference Bulletin, April 2, 1903.
From the Heart p. 48
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Prayer Requests
—-Request prayer for my friends Son, high fever. 4 years old. BL
—-Please pray for Becky who just found out she has leukemia and Mindy who has lost two good friends this week. Michael
—-Please pray for a friend who is having all sorts of health problems. A
—-We are having problems with our car. It seems to be a loose wire in the transmission. The mechanic can’t find it. Please pray that Ron can find someone who will be able to fix it. Rose
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Dear Friends,

My grandfather, Edwin Harmon, spent much of his growing up years living the life of a hobo traveling up and down the east coast of the USA by “riding the rails” in a boxcar. He met many interesting characters along the way. Some of these homeless men were very nice to him, shared their food with him, and taught him the ways of survival. He grew up tough and wiry but kept his tender heart.

The railroad companies tried in vain to stop these hobos from hopping into the boxcars by hiring men to catch all who were riding for free. One particular security guard had quite a reputation because of his size and the hard look on his face. All of the men who rode the rails were afraid of him. As they would tell one another about this man, the stories grew and grew until he became something of a legend.

At this time, Ed was in his early twenties. He had, for the most part, left his wandering life. Yet there were times when he would still ride the rails to get where he wanted to go. He had heard all the stories about that mean security guard and hoped that he would never meet him. He had faced many dangers throughout his life and was well able to take care of himself, but those stories of this man’s cruelty filled him with fear.

One day, he decided to catch a ride on the train. He knew he would have to be extra careful not to get caught. Sneaking into the railway yard, he grabbed the ladder that was at the end of a boxcar as the train went slowly by. The infamous security guard saw him. This guard had captured many other men who had ridden the rails without paying and now he was after my grandfather.

Ed held onto the ladder for a few moments before climbing up onto the boxcar. Just as his head was peeking over the top, he saw the guard coming his way. Immediately he ducked down, hoping that he had not been seen. In the few moments he had before the man got to him, he had a decision to make. The train was now going too fast for him to jump off without being hurt. He laid his plans. Climbing up the ladder when he was sure the guard was right above him, he sprung up onto the top of the boxcar right in front of the guard. Looking his meanest, he faced this huge strongman. The guard’s menacing look made the hair on Ed’s neck stand up, but he did not let his fear show. The guard told him that he was going to throw him off the train which had picked up even more speed.

In desperation, Ed told the man that he had a gun and was going to put an end to the guard once and for all. Suddenly, that big guard’s attitude changed. Even though that guard had not seen a gun, he was afraid at the mere mention of the word. The frightening look on his face turned to one of fear. His whole demeanor changed. Slowly. he backed away and left my grandfather alone for the rest of the trip. Ed was greatly relieved but could not relax. He was sure that at the next stop this guard would have the sheriff waiting for him. Later, when the train slowed while going up a steep grade, he jumped off.

How many times we are like that guard. We profess one thing, but we are quite different within. Jesus tells us, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt 7:21-23 Fearful thought!

Profession does no good when there is no change in our heart. Profession is worthless without the love of God dwelling inside. Whenever we do good for the wrong reason, it counts for nothing. How much we need to have a new heart. How much we need that cleansing that only Jesus can give. We cannot cleanse ourselves. It is a gift of God, Who 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.” “I will put my laws into [your] hearts, and in [your] minds will I write them; And [your] sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Eph 2:8-10) Eze 36:26,27; Heb 10:16,17

May we accept God’s great forgiveness and so live that we truly become all that we profess to be is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-prophetic-messenger-prays.html

The Lord is soon to come. Wickedness and rebellion, violence and crime, are filling the world. The cries of the suffering and the oppressed rise to God for justice. In the place of being softened by the patience and forbearance of God, the wicked are growing stronger in stubborn rebellion. The time in which we live is one of marked depravity. Religious restraint is thrown off, and people reject the law of God as unworthy of their attention. A more than common contempt is placed upon this holy law.

A moment of respite has been graciously given us of God. Every power lent us of heaven is to be used in doing the work assigned us by the Lord for those who are perishing in ignorance. The warning message is to be sounded in all parts of the world. There must be no delay. The truth must be proclaimed in the dark places of the earth. Obstacles must be met and surmounted. A great work is to be done, and this work is entrusted to those who know the truth for this time.

Now is the time for us to lay hold of the arm of our strength. The prayer of David should be the prayer of pastors and laymen: “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.” Let the servants of God weep between the porch and the altar, crying, “Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach.” God has always wrought in behalf of His truth. The designs of the wicked, the enemies of the church, are subject to His power and His overruling providence. He can move upon the hearts of statesmen; the wrath of the haters of His truth and His people can be turned aside, even as the waters of a river could be turned, if thus He ordered it.

Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. He who marshals the stars in order in the heavens, whose word controls the waves of the great deep—the same infinite Creator will work in behalf of His people if they will call upon Him in faith. He will restrain all the forces of darkness until the warning is given to the world, and all who will heed it are prepared for His coming.—The Review and Herald, December 14, 1905.
From the Heart p. 36
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my sister who is in so much pain she just can barely function. Michael
—-My husband is having severe high blood pressure. Please pray that he won’t have a stroke or heart attack. A
—- I’d like to request a prayer for my dad who’s dying in the hospital. And for his girlfriend of thirty plus years, my pastor’s going up there to see them later today, and will you please pray that he’ll lead them to the Lord. Gina
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Dear Friends,

Last week, I was listening to a man who had an interesting experience. He heard God speaking in his mind to go and talk with a woman that he saw in a store. Many times he hesitated, but eventually he obeyed. How glad he was that he did. This woman was going through a time of great trial and his kind words were just what she needed. He was able to minister to her and help her to realize that God loved her and had not forsaken her.

About ten years ago or so, Eileen was thankful she also listened to that still, small voice. She was getting ready to go to work, when she got this overwhelming feeling that taking her dog Murphy to work with her that day was not a good idea. (Eileen worked at a private nursing home and the ladies there loved that little dog.) At first, she dismissed the feeling and continued getting ready. That strong feeling persisted. Finally, she called her mother-in-law and asked her if she would like Murphy’s company for the day.

By the end of day, Eileen knew that God had directed her to keep Murphy away from work that day. It had been extremely hectic because one of the residents had to go to the hospital. Nurses and ambulance attendants had been going in and out much of the time, and Murphy would have been in the way. How thankful Eileen was that she had listened.

How good and kind our Heavenly Father is to direct us not only in the big things but also in the little things of life. He, Who knows the end from the beginning, is willing to help us in every aspect of our life. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Pr 3:5, 6

Yet, is every impression or thought a guidance from God? No, sometimes thoughts and impressions come from our imaginings. “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jer 10:23 Moreover, we have an adversary who is constantly trying to confuse us and lead us down the wrong path. The evil one also gives us impressions. How we need discernment to know who is speaking to us.

Only as we fortify our mind with the truths in God’s Holy Word can we knew the difference. Paul advises, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 As we study, we can claim the promise, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8

May we pray as did David, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” Ps 119:33

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/a-time-for-prevailing-prayer.html