Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13:30.
God’s Word teaches that those who will follow the footsteps of the Man of Calvary in these last days will have to press forward under the greatest difficulties, for Satan has come down with great power, knowing that he has but a short time to work….
Enmity between truth and falsehood had existed ever since the fall of Satan. The being who now works so constantly to sow the seeds of error once occupied one of the most exalted positions in the heavenly courts. But he was not satisfied with his position. He determined to be more highly exalted, and he worked to further his ambitious projects until there was war in heaven.
Satan, and those whom he had deceived, and who fought with him, were cast out of heaven, but the warfare has been continued on the earth. In every age Satan has worked through men who have departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and teaching deceptive doctrines and principles of satanic origin. Christ taught His disciples how to meet the deceptive work of Satan and his followers. Under a variety of symbols the Saviour presented the work of extending His kingdom of truth and righteousness throughout the world. It is by teaching the truth that we are to defeat the purposes of Satan. Christ illustrated this work in the parable of the sower….
The teaching of this parable is illustrated in God’s own dealing with men and angels. Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy him. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt of God’s goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character.
Through long ages God has borne the anguish of beholding the work of evil. He has given the infinite Gift of Calvary, rather than let any be deceived by the misrepresentations of the wicked one, for the tares could not be plucked up without danger of uprooting the precious grain. And shall we not be as forbearing toward our fellow men as the Lord of heaven is toward Satan?
Not condemnation and judgment of others, but humility and distrust of self, is the teaching of Christ’s parable.—Letter 86, March 4, 1907, “To Our Churches in the Large Cities.”
The Upward Look p. 77
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Cameron who had an aneurysm and stroke while at school. Sally
—-Please pray for Kathy who lost the love of her life. E
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Dear Friends,
When Eileen was three, we lived in a small community in Pennsylvania. It couldn’t be called a town as it consisted of a tiny gas station that had a few grocery items to sell, a bar, and about fifteen houses. We lived at the top of the hill a mile or two away. Occasionally we would walk down to the store to buy a needed item. I didn’t like to go down there without Ron as there was a stray dog that always terrorized anyone who walked along the road. He never bit anyone as far as I knew, but he looked and sounded very scary.
One day, we needed more items than usual at the store, so he took his backpack to carry things in. Eileen asked to go too. She has always been “Daddy’s girl.” Eileen loved to stand in that backpack and ride high on her daddy’s shoulders, so Ron let her take a ride in the empty pack. She looked so cute with her head peaking over Ron’s head and her arms outstretched sideways for balance.
About half an hour later, Ron came back laughing. When thy had gotten down to the bottom of that long hill and were passing the town’s bar, that stray dog came out from behind that dilapidated, wooden structure. He was growling and showing his teeth and acting as if he were going to attack. Suddenly, he stopped, looked surprised, turned around quickly, and went yelping in fright back behind the building. Ron was puzzled. Why the sudden change? Then he thought of how they would look from a dog’s point of view. That animal must have seen them as a whole—a man with two heads and four arms!
Sometimes we can feel as frightened and confused as that big mongrel dog had been. Often the voices vying for our attention are beyond our comprehension to discern. Jesus warns, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:23-27
False Christs are easier to discern than false prophets, although the current one in Florida has quite a few followers. Yet, most people can tell by his look and teachings that he is on the devil’s side. False prophets, however, are not so easy. Who are these false prophets? They are anyone who teaches truth with a little error mixed in can be very dangerous. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt 7:15
How much we need the discernment that comes only from Above. How much we need God’s guiding hand. Without His guidance we will surely fail for the subtle teachers who twist the Scriptures. Without relying upon the One Who knows the end from the beginning, we will make wrong decisions and follow the “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The Faithful and True Witness offers us the eyesalve of spiritual discernment that we may truly see and understand. (Rev 3:15-18) This gift is free for the asking. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isa 55:1
More than all of this, 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 How does He guide us? Through a careful study of His Holy Word. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:19, 20 It’s only through the light of God’s Holy Word can we know the truth. David says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:105
May we “study to shew [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into His image through beholding Jesus through His Word as Paul advises, “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 May we follow the True Light all the way to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Exodus 31:13.
The Lord speaks to those who turn away their feet from [trampling on] the Sabbath. This is the Sabbath spoken of in the thirty-first chapter of Exodus, which God declares is a sign between Him and His people. By keeping this day holy, we show to the world that we recognize God as the One who created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. Earnestly and untiringly we are to bear the message given us, lest time shall pass and people be left unwarned.
My heart aches almost to breaking as I see so much left undone that ought to be done. God’s ambassadors are to maintain a living connection with Him. They are to enlarge their borders and extend their labors. Their lives are to be made pure, holy, ready for the great day soon to come upon the world. When they are imbued with the Spirit of the Master, they will see all around them souls … perishing in sin, and they will make every effort to save those nigh—even in their own households—and those afar off. Earnest, consecrated effort for those who are out of the fold leaves no time for criticism or questioning.
There must be no compromise with selfishness, for selfishness leads to idolatry. Minds that are in the darkness of ignorance in regard to the truth of the Word of God must be enlightened. A breach has been made in the law of God by the transgression of the fourth commandment. The Sabbath command is to be given its rightful position in the law of God, and by those who see and realize its importance, it is to be presented to the world. Those who work unitedly, who act faithfully their part in raising the foundation of many generations with patient, persevering effort, will be called, Repairers of the breach, Restorers of paths to dwell in.
There is no excuse for those who have the light of present truth, and yet fail to impart this light to others. God calls for workers. We have a great work to do in cooperating with Him as His helping hand and helping voice. Satan is casting his hellish shadow across the pathway of every soul, seeking to eclipse the testing truth for these last days. We are to sound the message of warning to a guilty race. We are to present to men the binding claims of God’s law, so that when Christ comes they will not be found in disloyalty, on the side of the Apostate. We must now prepare the way of the Lord. We must make plain in the desert a highway for our God.—Manuscript 22, March 3, 1901, “Diary.”
The Upward Look p. 76
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Prayer Requests
—-I need prayer for my son. Josephine
—-My 15 year old son has runaway. Thank you for your prayers. Shelley
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Dear Friends,
A week or two ago, Eileen found a huge, black and yellow caterpillar in her garden. She didn’t know what it was so we looked online until we saw one that looked like it. It reminded me of the time when I was seven, my mother found a huge, green worm crawling on a plant in the garden. She brought it inside and showed me. She told me to let it crawl on my hands while she got a glass jar, poked holes in the top, and put a few leaves inside. She chose leaves from the plant on which it had been crawling, so it would have the right food to eat. Then we placed the caterpillar inside the jar.
We gave it fresh leaves every day and within a week or two, that big, green creature had made a cocoon. Every day I would watch to see if it was coming out of its self-made prison. One day, just as I was coming home from school, that cocoon began to move. By the time I had gotten home, it was beginning to split. I was so excited!
For the next hour or so, I watched the wonderful event that was taking place. No longer was the creature before me a huge green worm. When it first wriggled out of its cramped quarters, its wings were crinkled up and useless, but as it stood there, a change began to take place. It moved its wings back and forth pumping fluid into them. Before long, those crinkled up wings were about 5 inches across, fuzzy brown, and had beautiful big blue eye spots. My mother, who had collected butterflies and moths for a science project in school explained that it was a polyphemus moth. She did not add it to her collection but let it go for my sake.
Just as the fat, green worm was changed into a beautiful moth, so can we. If we allow Him to, the Holy Spirit changes us from an ugly “worm” to a beautiful new creature. The Apostle Paul was a good example of how we can be changed. Paul was very zealous in his relentless persecution of Christ’s followers. He was filled with a great hatred for those who worshipped Jesus. He was sincere in his hatred thinking to do God honor, but he was sincerely wrong.
Still, our Loving Saviour did not give up on Paul. He used the memory of Stephen’s sermon and death (Acts 6:8-8:4) to reach this man who working so hard to destroy Christians. He was fighting against that memory by being even more vigilant in his seeking out those whose beliefs differed from his. But in His mercy, our Great Redeemer stepped in to put a stop to it. On the Damascus road, our Dear Saviour met that persecutor face to face. He said to this shocked and dazed man, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” 9:4,5
How surprised Paul was to see the Living Christ! As he listened to Jesus give him his commission, he must have thought of all of the needless deaths he had caused. Then the vision ended and Paul found that he was without sight. He must have wondered how he could ever proclaim the Good News while unable to see. For three days, Paul fasted and prayed. He went over and over in his mind the Scriptures relating to the Messiah. The Holy Spirit brought to his mind the passages that were needed and enlightened his understanding.
Then, he was ready to receive his sight again. God did this in a special way to get him in contact with fellow believers. “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” vs 10-16
So it was. Paul spent the rest of his life proclaiming the very message that he had tried to silence. Paul had become a changed man. He tells us, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13,14
May we also put our former life behind us and follow Him with our whole heart. May we receive the new heart that our Great Creator promises us. “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.” Eze 36:26 May we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into a new creature as “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor 3:18; 5:17
Rose

Unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Hebrews 4:2.
Life is a sacred trust…. Christ has given us this present time in which to prepare for the home above. Just in accordance with the life which the human agent lives in the time of probation granted him will be the decision made regarding his case by the Judge of all.
We need to realize the necessity of exercising that faith which is acceptable to God—the faith which works by love and purifies the soul. Without faith it is impossible to hear the Word in such a way as to profit by the hearing, even though it be presented in a most impressive manner….
Unless we mix faith with our hearing of the Word, unless we receive the truths we hear as a message from heaven, to be carefully studied, to be eaten by the soul and assimilated into the spiritual life, we lose the impression of the Spirit of God. We do not understand by experience what it means to find rest by receiving the divine assurances of the Word.
The importance of studying the Word cannot be overestimated. Its promises are large, and full of richness. In no case should we fail of securing the heavenly treasure. Christ is our only security. We cannot trust to human reasoning. The world is full of men and women who cherish deceptive theories, and it is dangerous to listen to them….
The religion of Jesus Christ works a reformation in life and character. The true Christian seeks constantly for the grace that changes the objectionable features of the natural character. Instead of speaking sharp, dictatorial words, he speaks the words of encouragement that Christ would speak were He in his place. He shows benevolence to all, not only to the few who may flatter him and exalt his wisdom. The purity and holiness revealed in Christ’s life radiates from the life of the true Christian.
Christians are to be light bearers in the world, shining amid the darkness of sin and crime. In the kingdom of this world, the principalities and powers that take Satan as their leader must constantly be met. Following Christ’s example of cross bearing and self-denial makes those who receive Christ children of God. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). They are victors in the battle of life; for they have put on the new man, “which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10).—Manuscript 30, March 2, 1902, “Christlikeness in Business Dealings.”
The Upward Look p. 75
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Haleigh. Cris
—-Going through a rough time. Please pray for God to intervene. Renee
—-My Aunt Ginger is in need of prayer. She is being sent to the hospital with a tear in her aorta. Shirley
—-Our neighbor Kim’s father and son-in-law are in the hospital. Please pray for her and the family. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One winter when we lived in Pennsylvania, it snowed so much that snow was about seven feet deep on the level. Ron decided to make Eileen, age 4, a snow cave in the back yard. He was sure that she would have many hours of fun in her own little snow house. He worked and worked to make it a fun and safe place for her. Then he and Eileen crawled inside. They played together happily. She was delighted!
Eileen really liked her snow cave, but didn’t play in it like Ron thought that she would. Day after day, the snow cave stood empty. Ron was disappointed. I urged her to play in the nice cave he had made for her, but soon she was back inside. Finally she explained that it was only fun if we were in the cave with her. She was lonely for our presence. That nice snow cave held no joy, when she was in it all alone.
It is much the same with our Great Creator, the One Who “created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.” Isa 45:18 Think of it! His greatest joy is spending time with us. Having sweet communion with us as He had in the beginning with our first parents.
“In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day” in that perfect world of His creation. Ex 20:11 He, Who looked upon the work of His hands and pronounced them “very good” did not create an empty world. Gen 1:31 He created beings who could spend time with Him, who could love Him, who could appreciate the gifts that He showered upon them. Each day He spent time with Adam and Eve in close fellowship. He walked through their garden with them and explained the marvels of creation to them. The fellowship and sweet harmony that they felt, filled them with joy and great happiness.
One day, however, all was different. When Adam and Eve “heard the voice of the LORD God (as He was) walking in the garden in the cool of the day (for their normal time of meeting): Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” Gen 3:8 They had listened to the evil one, who wanted to spoil God’s happiness. And through their sin, had lost that sweet face to face communion with their Maker.
God’s Great Heart of Love was filled with unutterable grief as He saw the beings that He had created in His own image, begin to take on the characteristics of the evil one. Their sweet harmony was broken. Their evening walk together in close communion was a thing of the past. The worship of all of the angels and all of the unfallen beings on all of the unfallen worlds held no joy for our Creator now. He longed to have sweet harmony with these fallen children of His as well. His Great Heart of Love could not bear the thought that they would have to bear the consequences of their sin. “Christ Jesus volunteered to make “himself of no reputation, and (take) upon him the form of a servant, and [be] made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” to restore us to fellowship with Him forevermore. Eph 2:7,8 What love! What sacrifice! It is beyond comprehension.
May we accept His marvelous grace. May we continually love Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength. May we reach out to those around us and bring them to our Dear Saviour’s feet, that they, too, may be restored into sweet harmony with the One Who loves us so.
Rose

For one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matthew 23:8.
Before God’s servants take up any work, they are to pray to God in all humility, with a sense of their dependence upon God, realizing that they must be worked by His Spirit. They are to guard against setting themselves up as kings, because if they do this, they will dishonor the Lord and make a failure of their work. “All ye are brethren.”
Man’s ingenuity, his judgment, his power to execute, all come from God. To God’s service all should be devoted. The principles of the Bible are to control the Lord’s servants. His workers are ever to do justice and judgment, steadfastly keeping the way of the Lord. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Make this the point round which your life centers, and then all things needful will be given you. Put the Redeemer’s interests before your own or those of any other human being. He has bought you, and all your powers belong to Him.
Make no man your king. Who is our King? He who is called, “Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He is our Saviour, our King. To Him you may always go with your burdens. However great your sins, you need have no fear of repulse. If you have injured your brother, go to him, and confess the wrong you have done him. When you have done this, you may come to your King, asking Him for pardon. He will never take advantage of your confessions. He will never disappoint you. He has pledged His word to forgive your transgressions and to cleanse you from all defilement. The names of all His people are written in His book of life.
Remember that Christ is our only hope, our only refuge. He “bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:13-15).—Manuscript 3, March 1, 1903, “To Every Man His Work.”
The Upward Look p. 74
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Prayer Requests
—-I have several prayer requests—The McDougal family, some neighbors of ours, yesterday their 24 day old daughter died of SIDS. The grief is deep.
Travis D – Just had part of his leg amputated. He is not diabetic. His body is poisoned somehow and they don’t know what is wrong. Having trouble with other organs now and is in serious condition and depressed. Praying they can figure out what is ruining his body.
Jenna a 16 year old with acute leukemia would like prayers to continue and said to thank everyone and that God is in control. M
—-Asking for prayer again for my daughter Marcy that her heart will be softened. Shari
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Dear Friends,
As soon as Esther could crawl, she often found some tiny space to get into and sleep. This she continued to do all through her childhood. She liked tight, closed-in spaces. They made her feel very secure. This made it necessary for me to hunt for her quite often.
One day, after having looked in all of her favorite spots, I still could not find her. I searched everywhere. Finally as I was in her bedroom looking for her, I saw a slight movement in the top shelf of her closet. Soon I saw her face looking down at me. I asked her how she had gotten up there. She told me that by putting her arms and legs on each side of the closet door frame, she had “walked” up all that way.
In these frightening and confusing time, we, too, can have a hiding place just as Esther had found. We, too, can have a safe and secure place where we can go for rest amid the storms of life. David prayed, “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Ps 143:9;119:114;32:7;27:5
Psalm 91 is a psalm that speaks of the Hiding Place and one our family most often reads when we are traveling or parting from one another. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Our Dear Saviour bids us, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” Isa 26:20 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe will be our comfort, our protection from the storm, our Guide through all the rugged way. We can put all of our trust in Him.
May we find in Him a hiding place from the storm. May we be secure in His great love. May we continually cling to the precious promises of His Holy Word is my prayer.
Rose

But let them ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6.
Faith … reaches out to grasp the hand of Christ, knowing that He will hold more firmly than it is possible for the human hand to hold, and that He will never let go. While the human agent is willing to be led, Christ will lead him….
Faith is the very lifeblood of the soul. Its presence gives warmth, health, consistency, and sound judgment. Its vitality and vigor exert a powerful though unconscious influence. The life of Christ in the soul is as a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. It leads to a constant cultivation of the heavenly graces and to a kindly submission in all things to the Lord. It enables us to reveal that Christ is abiding in the soul….
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Have we not proved this in the past as we have moved out in faith to produce the things now seen? … Faith is not only to look forward to things unseen; it is to be confirmed by looking at past experience, at tangible results, the verification of God’s Word…. Pray, “Lord, increase my faith.” Faith quickens the senses to work diligently to produce results. Faith elevates and ennobles the powers of the soul, enabling it to lay hold upon the unseen….
Entanglements in secular business are sometimes permitted by God to stir the sluggish faculties to more than common action, that He may honor faith by the bestowal of rich blessings. This is a means of advancing His work. But those who are without faith will never learn. By unbelief they dishonor their Lord. Unless they are converted, they will make shipwreck of their faith. They stand in the way of advancement, and this the Lord will not tolerate. He desires His people, even in the darkest shadow, to trust in Him.
Satan is permitted to throw his shadow across their pathway that their dormant faith may be aroused to pierce the cloud, and find light and courage and life beyond….
Looking unto Jesus, not only as our Example, but as the Author and Finisher of our faith, let us go forward, having confidence that He will supply us with all the strength that is needed for every duty. Eternal life is presented to us. Let us do all in our power to gain it.—Manuscript 18, February 27, 1901, “Canvassing for Christ’s Object Lessons.”
The Upward Look p. 72
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my oldest daughter Candice. Cindy
—-Please pray for my dear friend Milt that God will heal his eyes. Arlene
—-My wife, Cyslin will be undergoing open heart surgery today. I request your prayers, that God will guide the hands and decisions of all the medical professionals who will be attending to her, and that according to His will the surgery will be successful. Errol
—-Please pray God will give us wisdom in a decision we need to make. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One day after church some years ago, Ronnie Jay, a friend of his who was visiting for a few days, Eileen, and I decided to go walking in a nearby park. I was thinking we were going to the area of the park that has nice cement walkways, so I wore my church clothes. As we were driving to the park, Eileen asked if we could go to the other side. Now that area has tiny dirt trails. I said, “Well, I’m not dressed for it, but I like that area better too, so let’s go there.”
After we had started down the trail, I realized that few people had been there since a flood in that area almost a year before. There were places where the path had been washed away and other areas where it was barely visible because grass and thistles had grown over it. To add to my troubles, it had rained the night before, so most of the way was muddy. Church shoes and mud just do not go well together! I slipped and slid along the trail and almost fell a few times.
Still, the walk was enjoyable. We saw many birds, a couple of deer, and stopped occasionally to watch a spider on its web. As we neared the end of the walk, the trail was no longer visible. It was covered with grass. That does not sound like a problem, but here in Kansas the wild grass is over six feet tall! That’s about a foot taller than Eileen and I. We felt like we were in a jungle. If we had not been going fairly close to the trees, we would have become completely disoriented. That stand of trees was our guide. (Ronnie Jay and his friend, who was as taller than the grass, were far ahead of us. They were no help at all.) Finally the trail was visible again and soon we were back to the car.
As I was sliding along, I was thinking how like life our little walk was. We have two paths to choose. One is broad and smooth. One is narrow and hard to travel. Jesus says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt 7:13,14
Which path are we traveling? The easy path seems like the best choice, but if we choose that one, we will perish. The difficult trail will take us through sorrows and heartaches and many trials, but we have a Guide Who 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 ”I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 Most often He teaches us through His Holy Word. David declared, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”Ps 119:105 Just as seeing the treetops guided Eileen and me when we were surrounded by grass high above our heads, so following the Scriptures just as they read without holding to preconceived ideas guides our feet on that pathway of life.
May we choose the steep and rocky path to the Heavenly Kingdom. May we ever look to our loving Savior for the help that we need to stay on that path. May we listen to His gentle voice as He says, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa 30:21
Rose