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

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3.
In our life here, earthly, sin-restricted though it is, the greatest joy and the highest education are in service. And in the future state, untrammeled by the limitations of sinful humanity, it is in service that our greatest joy and our highest education will be found.
“If any man’s work abide …, he shall receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:14. Glorious will be the reward bestowed when the faithful workers gather about the throne of God and of the Lamb…. They have been partakers with Christ in His sufferings, they have been workers together with Him in the plan of redemption, and they are partakers with Him in the joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom of God, there to praise God through all eternity.
A Christian once said that when he reached heaven he expected to meet with three causes of wonder. He would wonder to find some that he did not expect to see there. He would wonder not to see some that he expected to meet, and, lastly, he would wonder most to find so unworthy a sinner as himself in the Paradise of God. Many who have stood in high places as Christians upon earth will not be found with the happy throng that shall surround the throne. Those who have had knowledge and talent, and yet have delighted in controversy and unholy strife, will not have a place with the redeemed…. They desired to do some great work, that they might be admired and flattered by men, but their names were not written in the Lamb’s book of life. “I know you not,” are the sad words that Christ addresses to such. But those whose lives were made beautiful by little acts of kindness, by tender words of affection and sympathy, whose hearts recoiled from strife and contention, who never did any great work in order to be lauded of men, these are found recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Though the world counted them as insignificant, they are approved of God before the assembled universe.
The Faith I Live By p. 370
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Prayer Requests
—-Pray for Travis he needs a job and the Lord. Rosemary
—- Remember us in prayer as we travel early in the morning. I think there are thunderstorms along our path. Keffie
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Dear Friends
Last week, I had to renew my car license. I chose the wrong time and had to wait over an hour to get waited on. Some years ago, I had a wait, but it was not as long a wait and I had a very sweet incident to watch as I waited. I happened to notice a grandpa and his granddaughter (probably age four) in line a ways ahead of me. He was tall and thin, had his long yellow-gray hair tied back in a ponytail, and was covered with tattoes. Despite his hard-looking exterior, he was smiling at the little girl. Their relationship was obviously deep and happy. She showed that she had perfect love, perfect trust and confidence in him. He was squatted down and she was whispering “secrets” in his ear. When it was his turn to renew his vehicle, the little girl tried and tried to see over the counter. Again smiling tenderly at the girl, he lifted her up and sat her on the counter. When the lady behind the counter asked the little one what was her favorite animal, the girl asked her grandpa for advice. Rather than telling her outright, he helped her decide for herself by making several suggestions. She then answered the woman. When it was time to go, grandpa and child left hand in hand.
How our Heavenly Father longs to have us have perfect love, perfect trust and confidence in Him even more than that little girl had in her grandfather. We can tell Him anything and everything. We cannot weary Him. Indeed, He is even now bending over His throne listening for our prayers. He bids us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 7:7-11; 18:19 There is a qualification that must be met in the asking, however. We must abide in Christ for He says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
Jesus used the example of an unspoiled child to illustrate the perfect love and trust we should have in Him. “And they brought young children to him, 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
May we “pray without ceasing” to our Heavenly Father for He loves us with an “everlasting love.” 1 Thes 5:17; Jer 31:3 May we have strong confidence that He will do what is best for us in all circumstances. May we continually keep our hand in His Strong and Mighty Hand is prayer.
Rose