And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17.
The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born delicacy and sense of propriety. A Christian cannot be self-exalted, for this is not Christlike. The world’s Redeemer, the sinner’s substitute and surety, says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)….
But let us continually bear in mind that the meek and lowly Jesus has the spirit and the ambition of a conqueror. The vast dominions over which earthly potentates hold sway form no adequate theater for the exercise of His grace, the expression of His love, and the manifestation of His glory. He who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity will love those whom Christ died to save, and will eagerly embrace every opportunity to minister to Christ in the person of His disciples.
We must look at our lives as sons and daughters of God, as laborers with Jesus Christ, living for a noble purpose. We are representatives of Jesus Christ in character, and are to serve Him with our undivided affections. Not only will we reveal the fact that we love God, but will, in accordance with His holy character, live a pure, perfect life. We must live perfection, because in looking at Jesus we see in Him the embodiment of perfection; and the great Center upon whom our hope of eternal life and happiness is centered will lead us to unity and harmony….
The life we now live must be by faith in Jesus Christ. If we are Christ’s followers our lives will not be as pieced out by little cheap spasmodic actions according to circumstances and surroundings—jerking actions, revealing feelings to be our master, indulging in little frettings, envious faultfindings, jealousies, and selfish vanity. These put us all out of harmony with the harmonious life of Jesus Christ, and we cannot be overcomers if we retain these defects….
When exposed to varied scenes in life, and words are spoken that are calculated to cut and bruise the soul, speak to yourself: “I am a child of God, an heir with Jesus Christ, a colaborer with God. I must not therefore have a cheap mind, easily to take offense, always thinking of myself, for this will naturally produce an inharmonious character. It is unworthy of my noble calling. The heavenly Father has given me my work to do; let me be worthy of the trust.”—Letter 78, January 22, 1893, to E. J. Waggoner, a prominent minister.
The Upward Look p. 36
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Prayer Requests
—-I need your continued prayers for my little preemie granddaughter. Ann
—-Please pray for me. My husband is being so mean to me. He is not physically hurting me but he is very verbally abusive and emotionally abusive. I can hardly take any more. Connie
—-Please continue to pray for David. Things are no better. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Someone near and dear to my heart is going through some very difficult trials. She has been tempted to feel stressed and overwhelmed. Yet, God has been there to help her in so many ways. He has sent comfort through family and friends who are giving her guidance and support. God is good and will give her a clear path through her distresses!
How often, as perplexities surround us, as trials and uncertainties threaten to overwhelm us, we are tempted to say “The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Isa 49:14 Yet, He is with each one of us in those trials we all face that threaten to overwhelm us.
He, Who gave His only Son for us, assures us, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” Isa 43:2;49:15
Paul declared, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:35-39
Praise God! Because of His love and grace, we can declare with assurance, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed….For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:8,9,17,18 Through God’s Holy Word, we can look beyond this present moment and see what is happening behind the scenes. We can, as did Moses, choose “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures” of this world which are soon to perish. Heb 11:25,26 As did Abraham, we can look “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” vs 10
A song by Ira Stanphill called I Don’t Know about Tomorrow illustrates the attitude and faith that we should have in our day-to-day experience:
I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine, for it’s skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said;
And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
I don’t know about tomorrow, it may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow, is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion, may be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me, and I’m covered with His blood.
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.
May we trust in our Loving Saviour no matter what the future holds. May we rely upon Him in whatever circumstance we find ourself. May we, when overwhelmed and perplexed, “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16
Rose

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Matthew 13:47.
We have abundant evidence that tares grow with wheat in the church of God. There are sincere Christians in the church, and there are also lukewarm Christians. These have opportunity to know the truth. The Word of God is presented to them; they come to the banquet, as Judas came to the Passover, but like Judas, they do not eat the Word of life. No one can compel them to eat the Word of eternal life—to make thorough work for repentance, that they may obtain a Christian experience, and become rooted and grounded in the truth….
We must not be overwhelmed with discouragement because good and bad are gathered into the church. Judas was numbered among the disciples. He had every advantage a man could have, but although he heard the truth, and listened to the principles so plainly laid down, yet Christ knew that he did not receive the truth. He did not eat the truth. It did not become a part of himself. His old habits and practices constantly sought to assert themselves. But Christ did not take forcible means to cut Judas away from the disciples….
All who are trying to do true service to God will be brought into perplexity. But do not think of failure. Do not talk of discouragement. Let all be united in doing the will of our heavenly Father…. If we are Christians, we cannot follow the world’s policy. “It is written” must be our constant counselor. What ungodly men do should not guide us….
Men act as though they had been given special liberty to cancel the decisions of God. The higher critics put themselves in the place of God, and review the Word of God, revising or endorsing it. In this way, all nations are induced to drink the wine of the fornication of Babylon. These higher critics have fixed things to suit the popular heresies of these last days. If they cannot subvert and misapply the Word of God, if they cannot bend it to human practices, they break it….
All who are doers of the Word of God will be blessed abundantly. Whatever crosses they must lift, whatever losses they must sustain, whatever persecution they may suffer, even if it be to the loss of their temporal life, they are amply recompensed; for they secure that life which measures with the life of God. In losing their lives for Christ’s sake, they gain a life which lasts through the eternal ages. They walk under the direction of the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. They shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads.—Letter 48, January 21, 1897, to “Brethren Daniells and Salisbury,” leading workers in Australia.
The Upward Look p. 35
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Art as his wife passed away in her sleep. Rose
—-Monday a friend of mine is having surgery on her torn retina sp. her name is Kathy.also just found out. that another dear friend of ours was in a car accident and has a horrible whip lash. another request.is for Craig’s cousins husband who had a accident at work Friday. he has a broken shoulder and pelvic broken his name is Terry. than you. M.
—- This morning I found out my son Nathan has throat cancer. He is only 27. I think the hardest part for me is he is in prison. 6 hours away. I don’t want my precious son to have to go through this alone! Please pray for Nathan. Please pray for his brothers and his dad as they are struggling with this news. As most of you know Annora my granddaughter is currently fighting cancer and she is only 1. God has done great thing for Annora. Good doctors. Medication to kill the tumor. Parents to help her stay positive and fight along with her, and a spirit like none other! Christina
—-Please pray for David who is battling depression. Buck
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Dear Friends,
When Esther was still in college, she was feeling the need for a pet. She didn’t want just any kind of pet, but one that was big enough to cuddle. Since the apartment house where she and Brian lived did not allow dogs or cats, she wasn’t sure just what to get. Ronnie Jay and I suggested a gerbil, but she wanted something bigger. As she does with all of her problems, she took it to the Lord in prayer.
The pet store where Ronnie Jay often went offered an adoption program. They would take back any unwanted pet and then give it away to a good home. Esther looked at the animals and decided on a guinea pig. This poor creature’s neck had been injured by its former owner, so its head was a little twisted. Esther felt very sorry for it. Because the guinea pig had suffered so much, the store manager gave her its cage and all that came with it for free. He felt that it had gone through enough anxiety already.
When she got him home, she and Brian named him Gerber. At first, he was timid and unsteady on his feet. They gave him lots of love and very good care. Gradually, Gerber’s condition improved and he became very tame. He reveled in all of the love and attention that Brian and Esther showered upon him. Whenever either of them came into the room, he squealed with delight and wanted to be held. He was a very obedient pet and whenever Esther let him run around the floor, he even cames when he was called.
Just as Brian and Esther lovingly cared for Gerber when he was in poor condition, so our Loving Saviour nurtures and cares for us, bringing us ever closer to His will for our life. Just as Gerber’s whole happiness was wrapped up in Esther and Brian, so our entire being should be wrapped up in Jesus. Just as Gerber’s little heart loved his owners supremely, so our Dear Saviour longs for our heart to be completely filled with love for Him. Indeed, our Loving Redeemer loves us even more than we could possibly love Him. He assures us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jer 31:3 Paul reminds us, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8
The One Who laid down His life for us, yearns for us to love the Him with all of our heart, and with all of our soul, and with all of our mind, and with all of our strength. Mark 12:30 Yet, how often we live our life with scarcely a thought Heavenward. How often we have a “head knowledge” but not a “heart knowledge.” How often we have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. (2 Tim 3:5) How it must break His Great Heart of Love for us to be content with a “do nothing” religion. With tears in His voice, our Dear Saviour declares, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matt 15:8
May we be known as the friend of God as was Abraham of old. (James 2:23) May we walk with our Great Creator as did Enoch. (Gen 5:22) May we sing as did David, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Ps 9:1, 2
Rose

I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10.
I know that all who are saved in the kingdom of God will have battles to fight against Satan; and I know that he will work every device to secure you to himself, for through you he could afflict us and weaken our courage and bring a burden of care upon us. But I am glad for every letter that we receive expressing your feelings of determination to press on and fight the good fight of faith. You say you love Jesus and mean to devote your lives to His service. Precious resolution!
The more you preserve your Christian integrity to know and understand for yourself the way of life and salvation, the less of the worldly mold will be upon you. The more you know of Jesus, the more you will desire to know, and the more ignorant you will feel that you are in regard to things of eternal interest. We want the right spirit, the teachable spirit, willing to learn in Christ’s school the lessons of humility and meekness. “Learn of me,” said the heavenly Teacher, “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” (Matthew 11:29, 30).
It is when we seek to carry our own burdens and when we manufacture a yoke for our own necks that the yoke is grievous and the burden becomes heavy. We want Christ’s meekness; then little things will not irritate us. We may have zeal in working, but this is not all that we need. We want true Christian sympathy. We want self and our will submerged in the will of Christ. We want an eye single to the glory of God. We want to be continually anxious and working for the honor and glory of God.
The soundness of our principles will be tested, and the strength of our loyalty will be proved. I wish all could see as I have seen the sharp, keen, persevering workings of Satan to tempt and to deceive. His vigilance never relaxes. He has ready access to souls because they are not attentive to heed the warnings God has given them…. So many invite the enemy to tempt them. They walk so carelessly that they become an easy prey. They throw wide open the citadel of the soul and invite his entrance, place themselves in circumstances where they will be entrapped….
We are to remain just the people God designed we should be, gathering the divine rays of light from the Son of righteousness, and diffusing these rays amid the moral darkness that covers the earth.—Letter 8a, January 20, 1879, to Edson and Emma White.
The Upward Look p. 34
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Prayer Requests
—-I want to send out a prayer request for Pat and her family as she has an aunt Lorraine who is battling brain cancer and whose husband just died in a tractor accident. Ronnie Jay
—-Please pray for my mom and my family. She is losing her battle with Colon cancer. Louise
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Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that nearly a month has passed since the Fourth of July. We went to the parade in a nearby town commemorating our birth as a nation. That night there were fireworks displays large and small that we could see from our back porch. Many of the fireworks in our neighborhood were almost as good as the ones in town. We were amazed at their beauty.
Far more beautiful than any manmade fireworks we saw are the wonderful works of our Great Creator. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Ps 33:6-9; 19:1, 2; 8.
May we praise the Lord as we view His great creation. May our hearts swell with love for Him. May we someday soon leave this old earth behind and travel beyond our solar system as we journey toward His Heavenly Home is my prayer.
Rose

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Ephesians 3:14, 15.
In the church, officers are appointed as co-workers with God for the edification of the body of Christ. Mothers and fathers who are doers of the Word of God are a part of the body of Christ. They nurture and admonish their children in accordance with God’s Word, raising up a little army to stand under Christ’s banner. They are God’s witnesses, showing to the world that they are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Christ is their pattern and they educate their children to know God.
In the prayer Christ offered in behalf of His disciples just before His betrayal and crucifixion, He said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Should not every family on earth be a symbol of the family in heaven? In each household should there not be heard songs of praise and thanksgiving?
The family whose members love God and one another, who do not get provoked, who are longsuffering, forbearing, kind, is a symbol of the family above. The members realize that they are a part of the great firm of heaven. They are taught by the laws of mutual dependence to rely upon the great Head of the church. If one of the members of such a family suffer, all the rest suffer. The suffering of one entails suffering on the other. This should teach the youth to take care of their bodies, and to pray to be preserved in health, because when they suffer from disease, the whole family partakes of their suffering.
Those men and women who have determined to serve God will seek to govern their families so that they may correctly represent the religion of Christ. The children will be taught to be tidy and useful, to share the burdens of the home, not allowing the parents to bear any [burden] which they can carry. Thus the lot of mother and father is made much easier. The whole family shares the blessing of the helpfulness of its members.
Why do not parents come to Jesus just as they are, asking for His forgiving grace and healing power? Why do they not plead to be endowed with capabilities that will enable them to rule their households aright?…
God is robbed when men and women do not connect with Him in such a way that mind, soul, and strength may be controlled by the Holy Spirit. The family of God here below should cooperate in the most perfect harmony with God’s appointed agencies in the work of molding the human character after the divine similitude.—Manuscript 1, January 19, 1899, “Unity, Courtesy, Love.”
The Upward Look p. 33
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Caden’s son, Landon. He has surgery today. Buddy
—-Please pray for my sister Michelle. She was T-boned in a tragic car accident July 25. She is in critical condition in ICU with a traumatic head injury. She was the driver with no passengers. The other car occupants are ok I understand. Shelley was visiting my mother Carolyn who is mourning the loss of her husband, who was tragically killed on May 13 when a whole tree fell over. God is still in control! David
—-Update on the Knutson family—. . . . Trinity who is the youngest at 3 years old. She suffered a femur fracture during the accident and after being transferred to ___, was placed in traction last night until she could go to the operating room this morning. She underwent a closed reduction of her femur this morning and was placed in a spica cast. She will endure a period of immobility, which will be difficult as she is a normal, healthy, and very active child. Whitney is the second youngest at age 6. She had the best outcome of all who were in the accident. Though physically she was ok and able to extricate herself from the vehicle, she informed the first responders to the accident that her sister was dead. What a tragedy for her, I do not know what Sierra looked like, but it was enough for this six-year-old girl to know instantly that her sister was dead. Bryson, the second oldest, was not in the car during the accident but at home with his cousins and his Aunt Rebekah. He is now faced with filling the role of being the oldest sibling and not having his older sister to look up to. Sierra, age 9, was the oldest of their four children and she is the one who died in the car accident. . . . MaryAnn suffered terribly in the accident. She sustained a C6 spinal fracture and presented to the ER with only limited movement of her upper extremities and no movement of her lower extremities, which remains largely unchanged at this time. She too was transferred to ___ where she immediately was taken to the OR last night for stabilization of her fracture. She is still intubated in the ICU and we are unsure when exactly she will be extubated but hoping sometime this week. . . . For TJ I don’t know where to start. . . . His faith in God’s goodness is unwavering, amidst the many prayers we’ve had he still will remember and pray for other people in need as well. He’s entrusted their family to God completely and can do no more then take things one day at a time. There is so much for him to think about, and many considerations about both the present and future of his family. He and is family need your continued prayers and support as words cannot describe the pain that he is in.
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Dear Friends,
Due to the length of the above prayer request, I will only include “It is Well With My Soul” which was written by Horacio Spafford, a father who experienced great loss of all those he held dear.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7.
It seemed to Eve a small matter to pluck of the forbidden tree; the fruit was pleasant to the eye and to the taste and seemed desirable to make one wise. But what terrible results! It was not a small matter to thus forfeit her allegiance to God. It opened the floodgates of woe to our world. Oh, the amount of evil which will come from one false step! Not to the earth must our eyes be fixed, but upward to Heaven. We must pass through dangers and difficulties, making advance at every step, gaining victories in every conflict, still rising higher and higher; the air becomes purer as the soul is brought nearer to Heaven. The earth holds no attractions now. The heavenly landscape opens with clearness and beauty. The Christian sees the crown, the white robe, the harp, the palm branch of victory; immortality is within his reach. Now the earth sinks out of sight….
If we lose everything else, we should keep conscience pure and sensitive. When asked to go where there is the least danger of offending God, doing that which you cannot do with a pure conscience, do not fear or hesitate. Look the tempter firmly in the face and say, “No; I will not imperil my soul for any worldly attraction. I love and fear God. I will not venture to dishonor or disobey Him for the riches of the world or the love and favor of a host of worldly relatives. I love Jesus who died for me. He has bought me. I am the purchase of His blood. I will be true to His claims, and my example shall never be an excuse for any to turn from the straight path of duty. I will not be the servant of Satan and of sin. My life shall be such as to leave a bright track heavenward.”
A single word for God, a firm, silent resistance even, would save not only your own souls, but hundreds of others….
The time has come when every soul must stand or fall according to his own merits. A few righteous acts, a few good impulses, may be presented to the mind as evidences of righteousness, but God requires the whole heart. He will accept no divided affections. The whole being must be given to Him or He will not receive the offering.
We must now be learning the lessons of faith if we would stand in that time of trouble which is coming upon all the world to try them who dwell upon the face of the earth. We must have the courage of heroes and the faith of martyrs.—Letter 14, January 18, 1884, to “Brother and Sister Newton,” a lay family.
The Upward Look p. 32
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a prayer request for my dear sister. She had to go to the ER last night. They told her she Copd, pneumonia and spots on her lungs. We are all very scared . She has three grown kids and a 4 yr old grandson. Please pray for her that God will heal her. Heather
—-Prayers needed for a family. They live in northern ____. . . . One of the 4 children have passed. The mom might also. Life can change within seconds. Jerrod
—-Please pray for my niece Star to receive mercy! And that she gets on a better path. Janee
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Dear Friends,
One summer we camped at a private campground for the entire summer until we could find a place to rent. Ronnie Jay, who was three at the time began to run a high fever. If we would have been home, we would have put him in a bathtub of tepid water to bring the fever down but there were no bathtubs there. We were especially worried about our little boy because just a year before a high fever had given him convulsions. That had been so frightening.
We were trying to decide what to do when, suddenly, Ron swooped up Ronnie Jay in his arms and headed for the swimming pool. Puzzled, I followed. When he got to the pool’s edge, he handed me our son and jumped in. Then Ron reached up and took our sick little boy in his arms and submerged him about chest deep in the cool water.
Poor Ronnie Jay! He could not understand why his father was being so mean to him. He cried. He screamed. He tried to get away from his father who was holding him securely. His pleading eyes looked up at me for help. I felt so sorry for him, yet I knew that this was what he needed. As expected, after 15 or 20 minutes of this “torture,” the fever broke and Ronnie Jay began to feel better.
How often our Heavenly Father must plunge us into the “pool” of troubles and trials in order to break sin’s hold upon us. How many times we, like Ronnie Jay, are perplexed, confused, and frightened as we struggle to get back to normal. We wonder why our Heavenly Father has forsaken us, not realizing that He is giving us exactly what we need. We cry. We scream. We try to get away just as Ronnie Jay did, yet our Loving Father is holding us in His great arms of love whispering in our ear, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 41:10;43:1-3
Paul explains the reason for the trials we must endure, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Heb 12:5-15
James adds, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 5:7-15;1:12
May we, when troubles and trials surround us, declare as did Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 13:15; 23:10 May we cast all of our cares upon Jesus for He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) May we look unto Jesus Who assures us, “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt 24:13
Rose