The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19.
Pray for the impartation of the Holy Spirit and believe that it is for you…. Search your own hearts, and prepare the vessel for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Do not be satisfied with your present experience. Sink the shaft deeper and still deeper into the mine of truth….
It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ’s nature, a nature far above that which Adam forfeited by transgression. He who sees the Son by faith and believes in Him, is obedient to the commandments of God, and in this obedience he finds everlasting life…. You will not have a firm religious experience unless you dig deep, and build your house upon the Rock….
Satan works through men who will be worked, blinding the perceptive faculties, paralyzing the senses with selfish ease and love of the world, and unless a special message direct from heaven comes to them they will not discern their peril.
Human nature is vacillating. Men grasp the truth with their perceptive powers, but they refuse to separate themselves from the world. Men will not consent to be God’s peculiar people. They know the truth of the Bible, but they do not want to obey, and they turn from the truth. They act out their unbelief, and darkness comes upon their souls. Choosing their own way they are left to be filled with their own devices. Truth is insulted, Christ ignored, and perdition will be their portion unless they turn and repent….
While these opposing influences are at work to lead away from the truth, away from conviction, away from heaven into the broad path of self-gratification, the agents of God are to work to save souls that are ready to perish. After wrestling with God in prayer, put on the armor, and engage in earnest labor for the conversion of souls. Let men see that with you truth is not a jest, but an eternal reality. You are to deal with principles as you have never dealt with them before. Scatter the seeds of truth with no sparing hand. Sow beside all waters. Have no prescribed limits which you will not pass, but [work] with all the powers that God has given you. Then the people will know you as a man who believes the truth, and to whom truth is a reality. Let not your faith fail. Bring your mind to the point of decision or shake yourself free from all slothfulness and inaction…. Hold fast. Leave no means untried. Work, and watch, and pray, and walk humbly with God.—Letter 6a, January 4, 1900, to a college Bible teacher and his wife.
The Upward Look p. 18
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Prayer Requests
—-Eileen’s incision has become infected. Please pray that it will clear up and heal completely. Rose
—-Please pray for Mike as he flies back home tomorrow. Rose
—- Please pray for my husband Mike. . . .He had a serious car accident 2 months ago and totaled the vehicle at work. He was severely bruised in the chest and shoulder from the seat belt. They did tests in ER after, but nothing showed up.
Well, now he’s having severe diaphragm spasms that cause him to sometimes stop breathing. . . .Please pray for him and for all involved and that workers comp will help us through this. Cynthia
—-Please pray for my friend Samantha who was admitted to her hospital earlier today her time and she is fighting with her issue of her illness. Tony
—-Praise and update—Connie is doing very well! The surgery according to the surgeon went flawlessly! . . .Her aneurysms openings were blocked by the pipeline procedure in the Carotid artery in the brain. It was congenital- fortunately we found this problem when an MRI was taken to rule out stroke or tumor because of sudden hearing loss! They discovered the Aneurysms. When Connie has a near fatal accident in 2006 I insisted that they would do an MRI. She had serious brain bleeds. Found out after this incident that the aneurysms were present in 2006, unfortunately or maybe fortunately no one ever told us about them! The present surgeon was able to measure both and there had been changes that could move us closer to rupture! We are pleased and happy for all of your prayers! Our God knows exactly what is best always! Norm
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Dear Friends,
Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church. The theme was the Lord’s Prayer. As the pastor spoke of each part of the prayer, it really helped the children to understand. One of the sections he spoke about was “Forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors.”
Jesus “told a parable to illustrate His desire for us to have the same heartfelt forgiveness toward those who have wronged us, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 19:22-35
For some of us, having that heartfelt forgiveness is difficult. We are not naturally forgiving and can receive that ability only from God. Jesus 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.” Eze 36:26,27 “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt 7:7. We have the privilege to believe and claim His promises. Then we can press forward knowing that we have received our request.
May we ask for and receive the ability to forgive from the heart those who have wronged us. May we reflect the love of Jesus fully. May we declare as did Paul, “for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim 1:12
Rose

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4.
We need to draw near to our Helper, the One who is infinite in wisdom. He is our Minister and our great Medical Missionary, and He knows the straits through which His believers on this earth will pass…. He has been tempted in all points like as we are tempted. Let us not forget that Christ had the tempter to meet in every form, and that when He met him, He, our Saviour, was bearing the likeness of humanity. He is our Restorer, the Perfecter of His covenant with the human agencies who depend upon Him as their Prince and their Redeemer.
Christ conquered as the sinless, unfallen, perfect Man. As the Messiah He has won the victory over the temptations of the enemy, making it possible for us to overcome as He overcame. We are to overcome in every encounter with the enemy. We are to be victors by becoming partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Each victory that He gained in His humanity makes it possible for us, through receiving and believing in Him, to gain the victory. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12). Each victory that He gained in humanity secures for us its genuine fruits. Each assault of Satan overcome marks the occasion of a victory for humanity….
The deliverance of the people of God and His mercies to them in past trials are to be called to mind as an assurance of that which, if we trust in God, He will do for us in present and future emergencies. Whatever may have been their experience, if they will surrender to God with full purpose of heart, with humility and contrition, He will receive them. To all who by faith receive Christ as their personal Saviour, He will give power to become overcomers—sons and daughters of God. They become partakers of the divine nature, and fully realize His mercy and the grace of His Holy Spirit….
Let our prayers ascend to God in all humility. Let us through the grace Christ came to the world to impart confess and forsake our sins, with humble, contrite hearts. The Lord understands, for all secret things are known to Him. Not one mean action can be performed without God understanding every phase of temptation….
Throughout the gospels, Christ made frequent reference to the great conflict that He had with Satan at the beginning of His ministry. He makes constant reference to Satan’s kingdom as opposed to the kingdom of God. Let us be sure that we are on the Lord’s side,—Letter 14, January 3, 1906, to Dr. and Mrs. D. H. Kress.
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for the Mills family as their father died of a massive stroke after fighting for life since an operation for a brain aneurysm in March. Rose
—-Please pray for Doug who cracked several vertebra in his back. Rose
—-A prayer request… Greg has battled cancer for almost 7 yrs. The doctors are giving him only days to live. Andy
—-Please pray for my son his job changed and they are now requiring him to work every other Sabbath! Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Until I was nineteen, my mother and I had no car. We walked or rode the bus wherever we needed to go. This wasted many hours as it seemed that the bus was always late. We really longed to have a car, but there just was no money for it. There were so many times when we felt trapped because of our lack of good transportation.
It was such a treat when Floyd and Mary, my mother’s ex-in-laws, would let us use their car for the weekend as payment for watching their son. Tommy was a good boy and enjoyed being with us. He was a few years younger than I, and didn’t tease and torment me about my size; so we got along well together. What fun we would have going places that were not accessible by public transportation and doing things that we wished we could do.
Having that car gave my careworn and overworked mother a sense of freedom and relaxation. and changed her into a smiling, relaxed, energetic girl once more. All of the built up tensions and worries she daily experienced disappeared as we drove around southeastern Michigan and did things that she had been longing to do. All of the frustrations of the day to day survival evaporated.
Those happy feelings did not last long, however. As soon as the weekend was over and Tommy and the car went back home, my mother picked up the cares she had left behind and life went back to a normal routine. All the tensions and frustrations returned and it seemed to me that her weekend of freedom only made her more resentful of her lot in life.
Just as my mother had no lasting peace and happiness from having a car for a short time, so the pleasures of this world last but a moment. They are fleeting at best, and leave us careworn and exhausted and all empty inside when they are over. “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.” I John 2:16-18
Our Dear Saviour desires to give us “the peace of God, [a lasting peace] which passeth all understanding.” Phil 4:7 Just as He “arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still,” so He will bring peace and calmness to our troubled mind if we will ask Him. He assures us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
David exclaimed, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Ps 16:11; 119:165 Praise God! These joys, these pleasures never fade away! No matter what trials and troubles surround us, we can have peace in our heart!
May we turn from the vanities of this world unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” Acts 14:15 May we experience freedom from the worries and cares of this old world by looking forward to spending eternity with our Blessed Redeemer. May we daily receive the peace that passes all understanding that He offers us is my prayer.
Rose

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:22, 23.
Paul felt that the Lord’s requirements must be obeyed, His judgments avoided. Like Paul, we must make every effort to obtain the crown of life, which brings eternal honor to every victor. We must not be content to live useless lives.
What is humility? That sense of sin and unworthiness which leads to repentance. But we must be assured of the malignity of a disease before we feel our need of a cure. Those who do not realize the sinfulness of sin are not able to appreciate the value of the atonement and the necessity of being cleansed from all sin. The sinner measures himself by himself and by those who like himself are sinners. He does not look at the purity and holiness of Christ. But when the law of God brings conviction to his heart, he says with Paul, “I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died” (Romans 7:9)….
God created man for His glory. He will not, cannot endure the presence of sin in His dominion. If there are in the church those who are willfully sinning against God, every possible means should be used to bring them to repentance. If this is not done, God’s name is dishonored. He is too pure to look upon iniquity with favor….
Adam’s sin would be regarded by the churches of today as a simple mistake, to be at once forgiven and no more thought of. But God’s standard is high and His word immutable, and all selfish, covetous practices are an abomination in His sight. The hearts of believers need to be purified, sanctified, refined, ennobled….
Look up, my brethren. Has the gospel lost its power to impress hearts? Is it because the regenerating influence of the Spirit of Christ has died away that hearts are not purified, sanctified, and prepared for the Holy Spirit? No; the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of the living God, is with us yet; but it must be wielded with earnestness. Let us use it as did God’s sanctified ones of old. By its living, quickening power it will cut its way to hearts….
The Lord calls for a reformation all through our ranks…. When the church is awakened, decided changes will be made. Men and women will be converted, and so filled will they be by the Spirit of God that they will pass from country to country, from city to city, proclaiming the message of truth. With hearts filled with earnest love for souls, they will open their Bibles and present the Word.—Manuscript 2, January 2, 1900, “The Need of a Reformation.”
Upward Look p. 16
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Prayer Requests
—-Eileen is home from the hospital. Thankyou for your prayers. Please pray for a quick and complete recovery. Rose
—-update on Connie—She had surgery yesterday morning. The doctor has indicated that the next 24 – 48 hours are critical! She and I have appreciation all your prayers! The next 24 – 48 hours will be critical! Norm
—-Praise—Two days ago Maxx had to push me in the wheelchair around Walmart to get groceries because all the motorized carts were in use. I’m so heavy it’s hard for him with his tight leg muscles. Today after his PT appt. we again needed to stop at Walmart. I talk to God out loud all the time. I asked if He would please have a cart so Maxx wouldn’t have to push me. Maxx added it would be nice to please have a parking spot right up front and a cart. Well, the very first parking spot was open with a motorized cart parked right next to it. It had enough power to get into the store and there was another cart fully charged just waiting for me. God blessed in what may seem like a simple thing but it was an important need for us. I wanted to share because I believe we need to thank Him and share that blessing with others. It’s so easy to call it luck but I believe it is God blessing and He had it planned out before we even thought to ask for His blessing. He loves us and knows our needs. I’m sure He was smiling at our delight! Carol
—June 24 the dear Rusgrove family was in an accident and three of them have passed away. The other two are in hospital right now. my prayers and thoughts are with the dear mother and son as the reality of the accident sets in for them.
it’s a reminder to all the rest of us to take our loved ones to Jesus often in prayer. H
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Dear Friends,
Before my grandfather was married to my grandmother, he had married a girl from Canada. This young lady had never been away from her mother before and was terribly homesick. She was such a “mama’s girl” that her mother even went with them on their honeymoon.
Over the next few years, a boy (Edwin Harmon Jr.) and a girl (Dorothy) were born to brighten their home. Sadly, those two little ones did nothing to take away their mother’s homesickness. A few years later, she took those children who were so precious to my grandfather and returned to her country and to her mother’s house. This broke my grandfather’s heart.
How my grandfather missed his children. Even after he married my grandmother and had two little girls, he often thought wistfully of his son and other daughter and sent letters to them assuring them that they were dear to his heart.
One day, about fifteen years after she had taken his children from him, they returned for a visit. It was a joyous time for all. My grandfather, who rarely smiled was all smiles to have all of his children with him. Although Ed and Dorothy had to return to Canada, that visit assured him that they had not forgotten him. Although he never saw Dorothty again, Ed came back for a visit one time when I was about six or seven. Again my grandfather was happy.
Even more than my grandfather missed his children, does our Heavenly Father miss having a close fellowship with us. How His Great Heart of Love yearns to have us spend quality time with Him. He intently listens for our prayer of praise assuring Him of our love because of His great sacrifice and love for us. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” 1 John 3:1; John 3:16, 17 Even though we have strayed from Him, even though we have disappointed Him, He has not forsaken us. With lovingkindness, He assures us, “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 49:15, 16 Praise the Lord!!!
Jesus told a story illustrating our Heavenly Father’s wonderful love. “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:11-24
May our hearts swell with thanksgiving and praise to the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful love for us. May we “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, and with all [our] soul, and with all [our] mind, and with all [our] strength. Matt 12:30 May we daily keep in close fellowship with the One Who loves us so is my prayer.
Rose

They desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16.
. . . . let every thought, every feeling be that of remembrance of God’s love. Let us gather up one token after another….
The evidence we have of God’s care and love for us is expressed in the lessons Christ gave to His disciples upon the things in nature…. The eye is not to be fastened upon deformity, upon the curse, but upon the riches of the grace of Christ that has been provided so abundantly, that we may live in this world, and act our part in the great web of humanity, and yet not be of the world. As pilgrims, as strangers looking for the bright things of God, the joy that is set before us, seeking a city whose builder and maker is God, and by beholding the provisions made for us, the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare for us, talking of the blessed home, we forget the annoyances and the fretting cares of this life. We seem to breathe in the very atmosphere of that better, even the heavenly country. We are soothed, we are comforted; we are more than this, we are joyful in God.
We could not know the gracious purposes of God toward us, but for the promises, for it is from them alone we learn what He has prepared for those who love Him. As the flowers in God’s wise economy are constantly drawing the properties from earth and air to develop into the pure and beautiful buds and flowers and give forth their fragrance to delight the senses, so shall it be with us.
We draw from God’s promises all that peace, that comfort, that hope that will develop in us the fruits of peace, joy, and faith. And by bringing these promises into our own life we bring them always into the lives of others. Then let us appropriate these promises to ourselves…. They are like the precious flowers in the garden of God. They are to awaken our hope and expectation, and lead us to a firm faith and reliance upon God. They are to strengthen us in trouble and teach us precious lessons of trust in God. He in these precious promises draws back from eternity and gives us a glimpse of the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Let us then be quiet in God. Let us calmly trust in Him and praise Him that He has shown us such revelations of His will and purposes that we shall not build our hopes in this life but keep the eye upward to the inheritance of light and see and sense the amazing love of Jesus.—Letter 27, January 1, 1886, to Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Kellogg.
The Upward Look p. 15 (a devotional by Ellen G. White)
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Prayer Request
—-Would you please lift Connie up in prayer on June 26? She is having a surgery to prevent an aneurysm rupture in her brain! This procedure is a very delicate pipeline surgery. Norm
—-Please pray for a terrible cough I’m having. I’ve been taking medication but still no positive result. Arlene
—-Please pray for Mary who is having trouble focusing her eyes. Rose
—-Please pray for pastor Harlin he is not feeling well, they will be running some test here. Becky
—-My uncle Darrell passed away early yesterday morning. Please pray for his family. Mary
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Dear Friends,
As a child, my school days were quite unhappy. I have had a life-long weight problem and my kindergarten teacher did all that she could to ridicule me in front of the other children. She would have me walk beside the tiniest girl in the class and make unkind comments about my size. Perhaps she thought that would make me want to lose weight, but all it did was teach the other children that it was alright to tease and torment people who are fat. My classmates learned their lesson well—as long as I went to that school they teased and tormented me.
There was only one person who did not tease me. A boy named Wade Timothy Huffstutter was always nice to me, and I appreciated his kindness more than he realized. He would play with me when the other children shunned me. He knew how it felt to be teased. Our classmates would sing a tormenting song to him. “Wade, wade, wade in the mud.” Oh, how he hated that. I would get upset and try to get them to stop. Now they were making two people miserable. What joy they felt! That kindergarten teacher’s lesson had become a way of life for them. They acted out her example many times over.
How important children are to our Heavenly Father. How He yearns for them to be close to Him. When Jesus was teaching one day, a group of mothers brought their babies and children to our Loving Redeemer “that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16 How it must have thrilled each mother’s heart as she saw her child especially blessed by the Creator of the Universe!
How careful we should be to teach children only good and never evil. Our actions, our words, the unconscious lessons we teach by our example become affect those little ones’ lives for right or for wrong. They are influenced by what they see and hear and model it. Indeed, our influence is strengthened from generation to generation. Jesus warns, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6 What greater offence can there be than to teach evil habits by precept or example? How earnest we should be to lead them to the Saviour Who loves them so.
Solomon advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov 22:6 Our Great Creator commands us how we should train our children, “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.” “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut 4:9;6:6, 7
Paul’s admonition should also be our guide not only in our own life but in training the little ones under our influence. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
May we be careful in our dealings with the children we meet. May we carefully lead them to the Master’s feet. May we reflect the kindness and love of our wonderful Savior to these little ones, that they may, in turn, reflect the Light of the World to all around.
Rose

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9.
As we enter the kingdom of God, there to spend eternity, the trials and the difficulties and the perplexities that we have had here will sink into insignificance. Our life will measure with the life of God.
There, immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.
All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar…. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God’s handiwork…. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption, and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise….
One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.
The Faith I Live By p. 371
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Esther as she gives the sermon tomorrow. Rose
—-My dear elderly mother has taken a fall and hurt her left hip. She cannot bear weight on it so they are taking her to an Urgent Care for an X-ray to see if her hip is broken. Please pray for her because I don’t think she is in good enough condition to have anesthetic. And she still has her ear problem with an abscess. Please pray that it is not broken. And I seem to be going into a deep depression so please pray for me too. Connie
—-update on Jake age 2—Surgery went well… please keep the prayers going on Jake’s behalf. Prayers that the skin grafts will take and he will heal better than expected. Sabrina
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Dear Friends,
As a child, my school days were quite unhappy. I have had a life-long weight problem and my kindergarten teacher did all that she could to ridicule me in front of the other children. She would have me walk beside the tiniest girl in the class and make unkind comments about my size. Perhaps she thought that would make me want to lose weight, but all it did was teach the other children that it was alright to tease and torment people who are fat. My classmates learned their lesson well—as long as I went to that school they teased and tormented me.
There was only one person who did not tease me. A boy named Wade Timothy Huffstutter was always nice to me, and I appreciated his kindness more than he realized. He would play with me when the other children shunned me. He knew how it felt to be teased. Our classmates would sing a tormenting song to him. “Wade, wade, wade in the mud.” Oh, how he hated that. I would get upset and try to get them to stop. Now they were making two people miserable. What joy they felt! That kindergarten teacher’s lesson had become a way of life for them. They acted out her example many times over.
How important children are to our Heavenly Father. How He yearns for them to be close to Him. When Jesus was teaching one day, a group of mothers brought their babies and children to our Loving Redeemer “that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16 How it must have thrilled each mother’s heart as she saw her child especially blessed by the Creator of the Universe!
How careful we should be to teach children only good and never evil. Our actions, our words, the unconscious lessons we teach by our example become affect those little ones’ lives for right or for wrong. They are influenced by what they see and hear and model it. Indeed, our influence is strengthened from generation to generation. Jesus warns, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:6 What greater offence can there be than to teach evil habits by precept or example? How earnest we should be to lead them to the Saviour Who loves them so.
Solomon advises, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov 22:6 Our Great Creator commands us how we should train our children, “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.” “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut 4:9;6:6, 7
Paul’s admonition should also be our guide not only in our own life but in training the little ones under our influence. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
May we be careful in our dealings with the children we meet. May we carefully lead them to the Master’s feet. May we reflect the kindness and love of our wonderful Savior to these little ones, that they may, in turn, reflect the Light of the World to all around.
Rose