And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Luke 4:1.
Why was it that at the beginning of His public ministry Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted? It was the Spirit that led Him thence, and He went, not in His own behalf, but in our behalf, to overcome for us. There was no compulsion about it. He was led by the Spirit, His humanity to be proved, as one who had undertaken to stand at the head of the fallen race.
Christ had been, and was then, in perfect harmony with the Father. He was to be tried and tested as a representative of the race. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to meet the foe in personal encounter, to overthrow him who claimed to be the head of the kingdoms of the world.
While in the wilderness Christ fasted, but He was insensible to hunger. Engaged in constant prayer to His Father for a preparation to resist the adversary, Christ did not feel the pangs of hunger. He spent the time in earnest prayer, shut in with God. It was as if He were in the presence of His Father. He sought for strength to meet the foe, for the assurance that He would receive grace to carry out all that He had undertaken in behalf of humanity. The thought of the warfare before Him made Him oblivious to all else, and His soul was fed with the bread of life, just as today those tempted souls will be fed who go to God for aid. He ate of the truth that He was to give to the people as having power to deliver them from Satan’s temptations. He saw the breaking of Satan’s power over fallen and tempted ones. He saw Himself healing the sick, comforting the hopeless, cheering the desponding, and preaching the gospel to the poor—doing the work that God had outlined for Him; and He did not realize any sense of hunger until the forty days of His fast were ended….
Christ is in the wilderness, the wild beasts His only companions, and everything around Him tending to make Him realize His humanity. Suddenly an angel appears before Him, apparently one of the angels that He saw not long since, and addresses Him with the words “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” “If thou be the Son of God” here is the insinuation of distrust. The words rankle with the bitterness in his [Satan’s] mind. In the tones of his voice is an expression of utter incredulity.—Letter 159, 1903 (Manuscript Releases 21:8, 9)
Christ Triumphant p.189
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mike’s doctor’s appointment this week. Rose
—–I have two prayer requests. URGENT – Family on camping trip and the following has happened. Ivan and Ethan had a head on collision on trail ride. They were 2 hours from civilization. Ethan has small brain bleed and broken cheek bone. Ivan has broken collar bone, nose, and thumb. Bleeding on the brain is dangerous. Kari, Ethan’s mom is 20 hours away and heading to where he is at in the hospital.
URGENT – An X Amish friend’s brother was in a motorcycle accident. In CRITICAL CONDITION AND COMA. Has 2 BRAIN BLEEDS, BORKEN SPINE, BROKEN COLLAR BONE. Still in a coma. His other siblings . . . are all traveling to get there and asking for traveling mercies.
Praying for a miracle and God’s will be done. MM
—-Please pray for my friend Pam. She has been sick all night and can’t keep anything down. This will probably mess with her blood sugar, making her feel even worse. Also please pray for my mom. She will be having surgery on her eyes the next 2 Mondays. She had her cataracts removed and developed adhesions, but has had to wait until her eyes healed enough from THAT surgery to do this. They say it is a very easy, outpatient procedure. Jennifer
—-Please pray for my sister Nancy as she has an aneurism on a heart vessel and not scheduled for surgery until August. Sheryl
—–Please pray for Carol who has vertigo really bad. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, I read a very sad story about a woman who was driving along a narrow, mountain road. Suddenly, a huge logging truck sped around the curve and forced her off the road. Her car plunged down the embankment and into the icy water of the river that ran alongside the road. This woman’s foot was caught because of the impact and although she could see that the car was not that far below the surface of the water, there was no way that she could get out. She must have tried with all of her might to free herself, but soon realized that it was useless. Her thoughts turned toward her baby beside her. She had a choice of continuing to try to free herself or saving her little one. Looking around she realized that if she held her precious baby up by stretching out her arm fully out of the open window, he would be above the water. Picking him up and giving him a kiss, she quickly raised him above the water’s surface. Hours later someone found her in that position. Although she had drowned, she was still in that outstretched position and her precious baby was alive and well.
Just as that mother loved her little child more than life itself, so God loves us more than He loves Himself! Indeed, He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 Think of it! He is interested in each one of us as if there were no other person in all the universe. He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment to dwell within us and lead and guide us in every aspect of our life.
When our first parents sinned, the Great Creator of the Universe could not be happy until he had provided a way for us to be reconciled to Himself . “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.” John 3:16,17 What wonderful love He has for us! It is beyond comprehension!
Jesus gave a parable that illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. “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.”
How many times are we like that prodigal son. How often we rebel against our loving Heavenly Father. How often we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even while we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us, wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness, and leads us Homeward. Praise God! He develops within us His perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others.
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us because of all the talents, all the years we have wasted “doing our own thing.” Instead, He rejoices when we come back to Him. He is pleading with us now to open our heart’s door to Him, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20 May we open the door and let Him come in. May we love Him, Who gave His life for us, with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our strength, and with all of our mind is my prayer.
Rose

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 Corinthians 4:18.
For forty days and nights He [Christ] fasted in the wilderness of temptation, and there Satan came to Him with great power, hoping to overcome Him in His weakness. The temptations then brought upon Christ were in every way greater than those brought upon Adam, but the Redeemer did not swerve a hairsbreadth from His allegiance to God….
Although it may seem that you are alone, yet you are not alone, for Christ is with you; you are in blessed company. And you have the words sounding down along the line from the prophets and apostles to encourage you in steadfastness. Many of these holy people lost their lives because of their faithfulness to God. If you suffer for the truth’s sake, remember that this is no more than others have done before you. What trials and afflictions Paul endured, and yet he says, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” …
When difficulties arise, as they will, remember that Jesus is by your side, a very present help in time of need. To meet trial bravely is part of the Christian warfare, and in this warfare all heaven is interested. Christ knows what temptations you will meet. He knows that when one accepts the truth he or she will have a cross to lift, and He is ready to give the needed help.
Let the light of truth shine forth in your life. Do you say, How shall I let it shine? If before you accepted the truth, sanctifying influence upon your heart and character, that instead of being fretful and impatient, you are now cheerful and uncomplaining. Thus you reveal Christ to the world….
At the moment when you are offering your prayer for help, you may not feel all the joy and blessing that you would like to feel; but if you believe that Christ will hear and answer your petition, the peace of Christ will come.—Manuscript 8, 1885.
Christ Triumphant p. 205
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Prayer Requests
—-I am divourced because of my husbands’ marital infidelity and abuse. My children need a good daddy. Please pray that God will bring me a good Christian man who will be kind and gentle and lead them to Jesus. E
—-Please pray for my grandson Ayden. He’s almost fourteen, and they just found that he has diabetes.. And he also has scoliosis, and it’s getting worse quickly. He is also autistic. Debra
—-Please pray for a friend who is troubled and oppressed by spirits trying to torture her. Mel
—-PLease keep praying for healing! Buddy is still having some issues with his eye and leg. Both have improved. We go tomorrow to the eye doctor. We need prayers for his upcoming back surgery . It is still scheduled for Thursday. Kay
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Dear Friends,
My mother was an artist with an artist’s temperament—nothing satisfied her for long. Everything that she made looked real and done to perfection, but she had to be in the mood to make it. She did beautiful glass etchings for awhile and then never did them again. Then she tried Indian bead-work, but that did not satisfy her. She did pen and ink drawings for awhile, but soon tired of that. Solid embroidery held her interest the longest. For years, when she wasn’t at work, she would make the most beautiful pictures, even going to the library to look at many photos of whatever she was embroidering in order to make it appear real. Her last embroidery project was a quilt of all the (then) 48 states for which she won the golden state award.
Over the years her interest went from one thing to another, stuffed animals that looked so real that it was hard to believe that they weren’t alive, transforming her long, narrow screened porch into a jungle scene, macramé, designing and making her own clothes, plastic canvas creations…. Nothing satisfied her for long. Eventually dementia took away her love for and desire for her art projects and she sold or threw away everything including her blue ribbons and that golden award she of which she had been so proud. What a sad end to a very creative life.
How often we are as dissatisfied as was my mother. No matter how we fill our days, we feel like something is missing. We often are attracted to the pleasures of this world to try to quiet that inner longing, but we find only emptiness there. We try many different things innocent of themselves to try to find happiness, but we soon realize that they, too, leave us flat. Our restlessness increases. Life is short and soon passes away. It is amazing how quickly time flies. Peter tells us, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” 1 Peter 1:24 We have so few days to make the most important decision of all— “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” Matt 27:22 Our answer to that question will make our life complete and bring us the hope of eternal life, or leave us even more restless and incomplete.
Truly, without Jesus we are incomplete. He is the only answer to that inner longing that is within us. He is the only One Who can quiet our restlessness. When He dwells within our heart, all of our longings are satisfied. Jesus bids us, “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 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20
Moreover, when we give our life completely to Jesus, He imparts to us the Holy Spirit Who implants within us His fruit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.” Then we have a peace, a satisfaction found nowhere else. We become changed. Paul tells us, “But 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.”
As we behold our Dear Saviour and His great sacrifice for us, we find the answer to our longing. We have the assurance that there is Someone Who truly loves us, Someone Who really cares about us. His love is more sure than even a mother’s love for her helpless babe. 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 May we open our heart’s door to Jesus Who gave Himself for us.
Rose

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:11.
After the foe had departed, Jesus fell exhausted to the earth. He had endured the test, but He now was fainting on the field of battle. What hand was there to be put beneath His head? How was He to be given care and nourishment so that He might regain His strength? Was He to be left to perish after gaining the victory? Oh, no; the angels of heaven had watched the conflict with intense interest, and they now came and ministered to the Son of God as He lay like one dying. He was strengthened with food, comforted with the message of His Father’s love and the assurance that all heaven triumphed in His victory. He returned from the wilderness to proclaim with power His message of mercy and salvation.
What if Satan had gained the victory? What hope would we have had? Christ came to reveal to worlds unfallen, to angels, and to the human race that in God’s law there is no restriction that we cannot obey. He came to represent God in humanity. He met every requirement that we are asked to meet.—Manuscript 155, 1902 (Sermons and Talks, 2:219, 220).
In their conflicts with Satan, the human family has all the help that Christ had. They need not be overcome. They may be more than conquerors through Him who has loved them and given His life for them…. The Son of God in His humanity wrestled with the very same fierce, apparently overwhelming, temptations that assail us—temptations to indulgence of appetite, to presumptuous venturing where God has not led them, and to the worship of the god of this world, to sacrifice an eternity of bliss for the fascinating pleasures of this life. Everyone will be tempted, but the Word declares that we shall not be tempted above our ability to bear. We may resist and defeat the wily foe.
Every soul has a heaven to win and a hell to shun. And the angelic agencies are all ready to come to the help of the tried and tempted soul. He, the Son of the infinite God, endured the test and trial in our behalf. The cross of Calvary stands vividly before every soul. When the cases of all are judged, and they are delivered to suffer for their contempt for God and their disregard of His honor in their disobedience, not one will have an excuse, not one will need to have perished. It was left to their own choice who should be their prince, Christ or Satan. All the help Christ received, every person may receive in the great trial.—Letter 116, 1899.
Christ Triumphant p. 195
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Buddy who has a sore on his leg and pain in his eye. Kay
—-Please pray for a lady named Carey. She has stage 4 lung cancer and is in hospice. She is really having a hard time now (probably with her breathing). I don’t know if she is a Christian. She is probably in her mid to late 50s. Mary
—-a friend of ours is dealing with cancer and has recently been hospitalized. Please pray for God’s hand to bring healing if He so wills. Her name is Cynthia. David
—-Please pray earnestly for E and her children that the devil will leave them alone. R
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Dear Friends,
In the 1970’s, Ron went to college to learn to be an avionics technician. Many times, over the years, he shared with me how God helped him to repair a certain piece of airplane equipment that was beyond he ability to fix. Whenever he got to the point that he had no idea how to fix the problem, his habit was to go into a quiet place and pray for wisdom and help. Praise God! He received the help that he needed and suddenly realize what to do, and the piece of avionic equipment would soon be repaired.
Just as Ron earnestly prayed for wisdom to fix a problem with the airplane equipment, so we must “pray without ceasing” for power from On High to overcome sinning. 1 Thes 5:17 Just as Ron did not give up until whatever he was working on was repaired, so we are to “give diligence to make our calling and election sure.” I Peter 1:10 Yet, how many times we become discouraged and feel like laying aside the armor and giving up fighting the fight of faith. Paul advises, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity (agape love).” 1 Cor 16:13,14 John adds, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:3-5
To be an overcomer, we must lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us, continually looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith for the help and strength we so much need. (Heb 12:1, 2) Our Dear Saviour promises, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt 24:13 In our own strength, we cannot persevere for we will soon become discouraged. In our own strength, we cannot overcome. In our own strength, we cannot truly keep God’s Commandments. We might be vigilant for a time and appear to do so, but eventually we will tire and let down our guard and give up the faith. In our own strength we cannot endure unto the end “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” Eph 6:12-18
May we remember to go to the Captain of our Faith for the help and strength we need to “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,” and gain the victory over every sin is my prayer. 1 Tim 6:11,12
Rose

It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4, NRSV.
Though he [Satan] appears as an angel of light, these first words betray his character: “If thou be the Son of God.” Here is the insinuation of distrust. Should Jesus do that which Satan suggests, it would be an acceptance of the doubt. If Christ’s confidence in God could be shaken, Satan knew that the victory in the whole controversy would be his. He hoped that under the force of despondency and extreme hunger, Christ would lose faith in His Father and work a miracle in His own behalf.
Not without a struggle could Jesus listen in silence to the archdeceiver. But the Son of God was not to prove His divinity to Satan. He met the tempter with the words of Scripture. “It is written,” He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” In every temptation the weapon of His warfare was the Word of God.
When Christ said to the tempter, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” He repeated the words that more than fourteen hundred years before, He had spoken to Israel. And the same words are written for our admonition. We are to commune with the One who gives us life, the One who keeps the heart in motion and the pulse beating. God is giving the breath of life to every member of His great family here below. He deserves your sincere reverence, your earnest devotion. When you consider what He has done for you, how can you help loving Him? He has given His Son as a propitiation for sin, in order that you might stand on vantage ground with God.
If the world should recognize the claims of God upon them, we would not see and hear of the awful sins that are now so common; we would not read of the murders, the wickedness, and the tyranny daily chronicled in the newspapers. Like the antediluvians, the inhabitants of the world have almost entirely forgotten God and His law.—Manuscript 155, 1902 (Sermons and Talks, 2:218).
When Satan can bring his craftiness to bear on human minds, deceptive influences are received [as] from heaven. If his deceptions are allowed to enter, many souls will be ensnared by them before it is seen that they are not from God, but from the enemy of all righteousness.—Manuscript 37, 1903 (The Upward Look, 135).
Christ Triumphant p. 193
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Dwight who is in the hospital in critical condition with a serious blood infection and cardiac arrhythmia. It has settled in his cervical spine. He is in incredible pain and so sick. The family is overwhelmed both because of him and his large farm. Mike
—-Please pray for a friend’s girlfriend’s sister who has cancer. Mike
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Dear Friends,
One time after Ronnie Jay became a Pathfinder Counselor here in Kansas, he made the comment that Mr. Brown and Mr. Gray were more than just Pathfinder counselors to him, they were his friends. Because of their approachableness, the children felt as if they could come to these men with their problems or with their joys.
These men’s lives were all wrapped up in helping “their kids” and had a big influence upon them. Every spare moment they had was used in preparing for the weekly meeting. Their whole focus was on leading their Pathfinders to become good citizens not only of this country but of the Heavenly Country as well. At the last church camp-out before he died, Mr. Gray, who was especially gentle and kind, sat down with each Pathfinder and talked to them individually about their future plans. He told them of his hopes and dreams for them to carry on in his footsteps. Mr. Gray’s talk was not in vain. This was the reason that Ronnie Jay became a Pathfinder counselor when he got old enough.
Similarly, our Dear Saviour longs to have an even closer fellowship with us. He pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 Whenever we have a meal together with someone, there is a bonding, a fellowship, a closeness. This is what Jesus longs for. Think of it! We have the great privilege of sitting down with our Great Creator and together feasting upon His Word. As we dine upon the truths that it contains, meditating upon its precepts, He will open to us “in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 Paul says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 What a privilege! The same Holy Spirit, Who moved upon holy men of old to write the Scriptures, will guide us in our understanding of them. (2 Peter 1:21)
Moreover, our Loving Redeemer yearns for us to come to Him with all of our happiness, all of our joys, all of our sorrows, all of our troubles and disappointments. We cannot weary Him. We can cast all of our cares upon Him, for He loves us with an everlasting love. He draws us to Himself with His lovingkindness. (1 Peter 5:7; Jer 31:3) He sees us bowing down under the cares of this life and calls to us, “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
May we sit daily at our Dear Saviour’s feet, learning of Him, striving to become like Him in every aspect of our life is my prayer.
Rose

And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Zechariah 3:2.
Satan claims a right to have those who once stood under his black banner, but who have turned from sin to the living God and have cast their helpless souls upon Jesus. All who take hold of the merits of Christ by faith have the pledged word of God that they shall make peace with Him….
Trials are permitted to come upon the chosen people of God. The expressions are used, “God tempted Abraham,” “God tempted the children of Israel.” This means that the Lord permitted Satan to tempt them in order that their faith might be found unto honor and glory when the judgment shall sit, and when every person shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body. God knows every heart, every motive, every thought in the heart; but He permits Satan to try and tempt and test His believing ones in order that their trust and confidence in God may be revealed….
The Lord hates sin; but He loves and forgives the repentant, believing sinner, and takes everyone under His guardianship and control. Satan is on the track of every soul, but with every temptation that is permitted to come upon the children of God’s pardoning love, He makes a way of escape in order that they shall not be tempted above that which they are able to bear….
“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.” The work of Satan is plainly defined as that of resisting the meritorious work of Christ…. When Christ steps in between the tempted souls and Satan, the adversary is angry and opens up with a tirade of abuse and accusation, declaring that Christ is unfair in protecting these souls, and in lifting up a standard against him….
In the presence of the unfallen worlds, in the presence of the universe of heaven, in the presence of the angry adversary who has painted them in robes of blackness and moral defilement, urging that they be given into his hands, Jesus answered Satan’s malignant charge whereby he accused them before God day and night. To those who stood before Him, earnestly watching the controversy and marking the determination of Satan to destroy the righteous, Jesus spoke, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”—Manuscript 27, 1894.
Christ Triumphant p. 186
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will lead in E’s life. R
—-I am in need of some serious prayers for my daughter. She has stomach cancer and she went for a ultrasound test yesterday and found another tumor. Please pray that it is not another cancer. She is 29 and has two little ones. Christina
—-Pray for Vivian who is demon possessed. Jose
—-My friend Lucy is sick and in critical condition. Please pray for healing. Francisca
—-Pray for Mike who has a blood clot in his neck. Roberta
—-Please be in prayer for my brother’s family. His wife is fearful of her ex and the situation is complicated. Prayers for peace and safety for her and their children. The blood of Jesus overcomes much evil in the world, including abusive men with deadly intentions. He does not seem to fear or respect protective orders and she is fearful he may harm her or kidnap the children. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
My granddaughter, Emma, loves helping with the younger children in any type of children’s meetings our church has. I am sure that as she grows, her talent will increase, and she will be more and more help. By the time she is an adult, I am sure that she will be a leader in the children’s division and a great helper in the church.
Jesus told a story about our use of the talents He has given to each of us. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matt 25:14-30
How important that we use our talents for our Lord Jesus Christ. Sadly, most do not. How many there are who use the abilities that our Great Creator has given them for selfish gratification, fame, and fortune. They, too, are like the unprofitable servant who hid the talent in the ground, for they have cheated their Master out of the increase.
May we give our lives completely to the One Who has given Himself for us. May we use our talents for His great cause. May we continually “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18