And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die. 2 Samuel 12:5.
The Bible has little to say in praise of mortals. Little space is given to recounting the virtues of even the best men and women who have ever lived. This silence is not without purpose; it is not without a lesson. All the good qualities that people possess are the gift of God; their good deeds are performed by the grace of God through Christ….
It was the spirit of self-confidence and self-exaltation that prepared the way for David’s fall…. According to the customs prevailing among Eastern rulers, crimes not to be tolerated in subjects were uncondemned in the king; the monarch was not under obligation to exercise the same self-restraint as the subject. All this tended to lessen David’s sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin…. As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of humanity’s carnal nature….
When in ease and self-security he let go his hold upon God, David yielded to Satan and brought upon his soul the stain of guilt…. Bathsheba, whose fatal beauty had proved a snare to the king, was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s bravest and most faithful officers…. Every effort that David made to conceal his guilt proved unavailing. He had betrayed himself into the power of Satan…. There appeared but one way of escape, and in his desperation he was hurried on to add murder to adultery….
Nathan the prophet was bidden to bear a message of reproof to David. It was a message terrible in its severity. To few sovereigns could such a reproof be given but at the price of certain death to the reprover…. Appealing to David as the divinely appointed guardian of his people’s rights, the prophet repeated a story of wrong and oppression that demanded redress….
Nathan fixed his eyes upon the king; then, lifting his right hand to heaven, he solemnly declared, “Thou art the man.” “Wherefore,” he continued, “hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight?” The guilty may attempt, as David had done, to conceal their crime …; they may seek to bury the evil deed forever from human sight or knowledge; but “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” …
The prophet’s rebuke touched the heart of David; conscience was aroused; his guilt appeared in all its enormity. His soul was bowed in penitence before God. With trembling lips he said, “I have sinned against the Lord.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 717-722.
Christ Triumphant p. 147
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my dog who is needing dental surgery on Tuesday. Rose
—-Please pray for my friend Gabbie. Someone in her family had some sort of emergency a few days ago, and apparently today things are worse. Mary
—-Mike was very sick last night (vomiting) and his blood pressure was high. There are many vaccinations that are required to be on the transplant list and he received them all at once so I’m guessing in his weakened condition, this may have contributed to his setback. Roberta
—-I have an unspoken important request. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ron was removing some metal from the edge of our roof in preparation for re-roofing the mobile home we lived in at the time. The metal was about a foot wide and very sharp. As he was standing on the ladder putting a lot of force into its removal, he lost his footing and slipped. Ron’s throat landed right on the edge of that knife-like metal. How thankful he was that it did not cut him. A few minutes later, he did cut the end of his thumb on that same metal stripping. It was a very deep cut just as if a scalpel had done it. Then Ron realized that his throat could have been cut in the same way and much deeper, and he praised God for the miracle of His protecting care!
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us–ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Ps 107:8; 40:5
Just as Ron was delivered from severe injury or even death that evening, so our Great Protector delivers us from the evil one many times when we do not even realize it. “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Ps 37:7, 8 “Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb 1:14 In God’s Holy Word we find many examples of God’s protecting care through these agents. They are still at work today.
As important as it is to be delivered from injury or death, there is an even more vital protection we need. That is the deliverance from sin. Praise God! He has provided “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” to be our Mighty Deliverer! “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Isa 63:1 “ 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.” John 3:16, 17
Think of it. “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 1 Cor 5:21 “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:4-10
May “the Lord deliver [us] from every evil work, and preserve [us] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” is my prayer. 2 Tim 4:18
Rose

Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22.
The last days are upon us, and Satan is working with all his hellish arts to deceive and destroy souls. Reproofs by testimony are met almost universally, by the ones corrected and reproved, with “I believe the testimonies, but I do not understand them.” The Lord has corrected their wrong ways in order to save them from unhappiness, deception, and ruin; but they pass on the same as if light and warnings had never come to them. If they were in harmony with God, they would not be departing from Him. It is because they are so far departed from God that they do not hear His voice as He calls to them, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you,” “and I will heal your backslidings.”
Saul, after he had disobeyed the requirement of God to destroy the Amalekites, met Samuel and said, “Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears?” … The answer was the same that we have heard in similar cases—an excuse, a falsehood: “The people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God.” Saul did not say “my” or “our,” but “thy” God. Many who profess to be serving God are in the same position as Saul—covering over ambitious projects, pride of display, with a garment of pretended righteousness….
Samuel looked upon Saul with indignation, yet with deep pity and undisguised grief for the sinful course of one he loved sincerely; but this love must not close his lips…. Samuel then spake the cutting words of the Lord…. “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” …
Oh, how few can know the sadness of heart that Samuel bore back to Ramah! God had laid upon him the burden of Saul and the burden of this terrible message that he must bear to the monarch.
Sinners seldom feel right in regard to reproof. They blame the ones who open their lips to speak the words of warning, as though it were a personal matter. In their blindness they fail to see that they are flinging from them, in their stubborn resistance, the last offer of light and mercy.—Manuscript 1a, 1890.
Christ Triumphant p. 143
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Prayer Requests
—–E and children continue to need your prayers. R
—–Please pray for my husband’s friend who has a blood clot in his spleen. Mary
—–Please pray that Jack who has been missing for over a week will be found. BP
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Dear Friends,
Occasionally, someone asks the question concerning my alternate e-mail address. It seems strange to them that it is “Louisamarie” when my name is Rose. Some people think that that email address belongs to someone else. So today I thought I would share the reason with everyone, although this will be “old news” for some.
My parents were divorced when I was a born, and my grandmother talked my mother into letting her adopt me. Although my mother had wanted to name me “Louisamarie,” my grandmother named me “Rosa Lee.” My father begged her not to, since he already had a daughter by the name of Rosalie. My grandmother wouldn’t listen. She felt she had the right to name me whatsoever she wanted to since she was adopting me.
Years later, my mother told me that she had wanted my name to be Louisamarie but that my grandmother insisted on naming me after some girl on some radio program. From that moment, I no longer liked my name. So years later, when I was thinking of what to have as an e-mail address, I thought about my mother’s desire. I chose the name that my mother had wanted me to have. I never realized how confusing it would be.
Jacob must have hated his name as much as I hated the name my grandmother named me. Jacob was named “cheat” because of something he had done at his birth. “And when her (Rebecca’s) days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.” Gen 25:24-26
For many years, Jacob lived up to his name. He cheated his brother. He cheated his father. Because of that incident, he had to flee from Esau’s wrath. He had to bear the consequences of his cheating ways. Over and over and over again he was cheated by his father-in-law. Years later, his own sons deceived him in the matter concerning Joseph.
As Jacob was returning to his homeland, our Dear Saviour gave Jacob a new name. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. . . .” Gen 32:24-30 From that moment his life changed.
I can somewhat understand this change of feeling on Jacob’s part as he went from being called a cheater to being called a prince of God. Why? Because many years later when I was researching my genealogy, I discovered that Rosa was my grandmother’s aunt. Suddenly I realized that she had named me after a well-loved aunt! How much better I felt!
Someday soon, our Heavenly Father will give each of us a new name too. We will have a special name that is unique to us. It will be a precious secret between God and ourselves, a name known only to the two of us. We will receive our new name with joy! We will cherish it forever. This promise is found in Revelation 2:17. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” May we give diligence to make our “calling and election sure” that we may someday receive that new name from our Great Creator is my prayer. 2 Peter 1:10
Rose

Thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:52.
As he [Moses] looked back upon his experience as a leader of God’s people, one wrong act marred the record. If that transgression could be blotted out, he felt that he would not shrink from death. He was assured that repentance, and faith in the promised Sacrifice, were all that God required, and again Moses confessed his sin and implored pardon in the name of Jesus.
And now a panoramic view of the Land of Promise was presented to him. Every part of the country was spread out before him, not faint and uncertain in the dim distance, but standing out clear, distinct, and beautiful to his delighted vision. In this scene it was presented, not as it then appeared, but as it would become, with God’s blessing upon it, in the possession of Israel. He seemed to be looking upon a second Eden. There were mountains clothed with cedars of Lebanon, hills gray with olives and fragrant with the odor of the vine, wide green plains bright with flowers and rich in fruitfulness, here the palm trees of the tropics, there waving fields of wheat and barley, sunny valleys musical with the ripple of brooks and the song of birds, goodly cities and fair gardens, lakes rich in “the abundance of the seas,” grazing flocks upon the hillsides, and even amid the rocks the wild bee’s hoarded treasures….
Moses saw the chosen people established in Canaan, each of the tribes in its own possession. He had a view of their history after the settlement of the Promised Land; the long, sad story of their apostasy and its punishment was spread out before him. He saw them, because of their sins, dispersed among the heathen, the glory departed from Israel, her beautiful city in ruins, and her people captives in strange lands. He saw them restored to the land of their fathers, and at last brought under the dominion of Rome.
He was permitted to look down the stream of time and behold the first advent of our Saviour. He saw Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem…. He followed the Saviour to Gethsemane, and beheld the agony in the garden, the betrayal, the mockery and scourging—the crucifixion….
Still another scene opens to his view—the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him. There is no sin, and death cannot enter. There the nations of the saved find their eternal home.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 472-477.
Christ Triumphant p. 128
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for E and her children. R
—-Please continue to pray for baby Wyatt. He is doing better but is still in need of prayer. Jennifer
—–Special prayer request for Linda who was anointed for healing of pancreatic cancer. Cindy
—-please lift up my pastor, Pastor Mike. He had a massive heart attack on Friday the 5th. Danita
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Dear Friends,
Often, as my children were expanding their world to include friends from church or the neighborhood, they would sometimes ask permission to do something or to go somewhere, that they knew was not permitted in our family. When I would remind them of that fact, they would say, “But everyone else is doing it.” Then I would again explain the reason why they should not partake in that particular activity. As they entered the teen years, this desire to be like their friends or classmates strengthened, but we held firm. At times, they thought we were being mean, but it was for a far different reason that we denied them some forbidden pleasure. We had a duty to God to do all we could to keep their feet on the right path.
How often the children of Israel out of Egypt looked around at the nations around them and wanted to be like them. God had intended for them to be different. He had wonderful plans for them. He made them the depositaries of His law, a law they were to share with those around them. He wanted them to be the example to other nations. He greatly desired them to show His great love to all the world. If they had fulfilled His plans for them, what a different world we would have today.
Sadly, they did not share the knowledge of the True God with the nations around them. Instead, they worshiped the false gods of those heathen nations. They even asked for a king so that they could be like the nations around them. They rejected God, because they did not want to be different. He had poured out His blessings upon them, but they turned from Him. Through the prophets, He tried to reason with them, but they would not hear. With tears in His voice our Great Redeemer pled, “What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” Jer 2:5 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
How many times we are guilty of the same. Our Dear Redeemer has led us out of the world to be lights in the world, yet how often we mimic those around us who know not the way to eternal life. He greatly desires that there be a difference between ourselves and those who do not follow Him. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” to those perishing in their iniquities. 2 Cor 4:6 Our Dear Saviour longs for us to be His special people. Are we making the same choices as did the children of Israel?
Paul advises, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
Our Great Creator longs for us to follow His plan, that the world may be ready for His coming. Are we proclaiming the Good News? Are we letting Him lead in our life or do we want to be just like the world? Do our lives reflect the love, the kindness, the goodness of God or are we just like those who follow Him not? Since we have accepted Christ’s great sacrifice, His love, His changing power, has there been indeed a change in our heart, in our life? Our Maker has promised to remake us, to mold us into His image if we allow Him to do so. “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 Moreover, we are not to keep our walk with the Lord hidden for fear that someone will notice that we are different. No! Jesus commands, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Mat 5:16
May we allow our Great Redeemer to take control of our life and help those around us to turn from the way that leads to destruction and travel the upward path to the Kingdom of Heaven is my prayer.
Rose

We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. Numbers 13:31.
Young people are needed in the work—those who will undertake the work interestedly and will carry it forward zealously and strongly. But the Lord is, and ever will be, with the old, steadfast leaders who have held fast to the truth in times of peril. When the foundation of the faith of the younger leaders seems to be swept away and their houses falling, the testimony, like that of Caleb, will be heard from the old warriors, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the voice of unbelief was heard. “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” One word of unbelief prepares the way for more. Satan does not easily let alone any person whom he can tempt to dishonor God by expressing unbelief….
What effect did this report have upon the congregation? … “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” .
Let all read carefully the fourteenth chapter of Numbers, and let them understand that people can make false reports as did these who had been sent on an errand that concerned the movements of more than a million people….
Those who bore the discouraging report and brought discouragement to the whole camp of Israel, when opposed because of their unfaithful witness, served the satanic powers in complete rebellion. And they carried the disappointed congregation with them, in that they believed their interpretation of the land. The congregation took the wrong side, and, inspired by satanic agencies, they cried out against the faithful spies, and bade them stone Joshua and Caleb, who dared to bear the truthful representation in regard to the land.
But there is always a defense provided for those who have borne witness for the truth. What was it that saved the lives of Joshua and Caleb? “And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.” …
We have here a positive evidence that the anger of the Lord was awakened against the rebellious people—those who had been blessed with great light and precious opportunities to know the will of God, which was communicated to them by Christ Himself, their invisible Leader, enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.—Letter 106, 1897 (Manuscript Releases 15:289-291).
Christ Triumphant p. 119
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Richie that God will guide him in an important decision.
—–Please pray for Esther and the children as they travel to their great-grandma’s funeral. Please pray for all of the family during this sad time. Rose
—–Praying for a good friend, Glenn, that he will have peace and be strong during this difficult time. He has been fighting cancer for 15 years now. It has metastasized to the bones, appendix, and lung. Hoping they can find a stabilizing treatment so he will be comfortable. Praying more so that he will find Jesus as a personal Savior and Friend. NB
—–Please pray for the safety of my family. I received a very scary phone call todaS and I am very afraid. Please pray for a hedge of protection to be put around every member of my family. I can’t. Connie
—– My fiancée is in Mexico with 3 friends. They were captured by a drug Cartel a week ago. He has contracted Malaria and is very ill. They won’t give him any food and very little water. I’ve tried every legal way and contacts to help to no avail. I’m so afraid he is going to die. Then last night my daughter told me she just found out she possible has leukemia or other. Waiting for results. Please pray for God to intervene. Sandra
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Dear Friends,
Some days, it seems as if everything is going wrong. We’ve been having some of those troubles lately. We have a leak somewhere around our water meter (which the city has decided is on our side rather than theirs like they have been saying); we have a leaky pipe under our bathtub; my car has been at the mechanic’s for at least three weeks, our pickup truck has been broken for months and they don’t know when they will get the part in, and so many other things that it is very frustrating. Even so, that is nothing compared to many people’s problems. Throughout the world there are wars, famines, earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding and other dangerous situations that make our little problems like nothing.
We rarely think about it, but we all are in constant danger that is more dangerous than any physcal danger. Our real danger comes from the evil one, who, like a roaring lion is continually seeking to destroy us not only physically but spiritually as well. (1 Peter 5:8) Paul reminds us that “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.” Eph 6:12 Sadly, the devil is too often successful in his evil designs until we are as Isaiah describes, “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Our “whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 64:6; 1:5, 6
Praise God! We have a Savior, Who gave His life that He may snatch us away from the enemy. He has rescued us from the danger that has eternal consequences. Zechariah saw in vision what God wants to do for us all. He saw Joshua the high priest standing before God clothed in the filthiness of his own sinful character. But God rescued him from the hand of the enemy who was accusing him before the Lord. He writes, “And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; …is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, 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.” Zech 3:1-4 How comforting to know that we serve a God Who is standing there ready to save us from the troubles that the enemy of souls brings upon us. He longs for us to ask Him to deliver us. David reminds us, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Ps 34:17-19 “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.” John 3:16 “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:21
May we trust our Rescuer with our whole heart. May we always do those things that are pleasing in His sight. May we allow Him to change us into His image is my prayer.
Rose

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Exodus 33:18.
All who have responsible positions must realize that they must first have power with God, in order that they may have power with the people…. God listens to the appeal of His self-denying workers who labor to advance His cause. He has even condescended to talk face-to-face with feeble mortals. He listens not only with patience but with approval to the importunate prayers of those who really long for His help.
His servant Moses felt his insufficiency for the great work before him and pleaded, with an earnestness that seemed almost presumption, for the presence of God to be with him. But instead of receiving a reproof, the earnest pleader receives the reply “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest”—an assurance that all his burdens may be rested upon God. But the mind of Moses is so burdened with the tremendous weight of the responsibilities resting upon him that he approaches still nearer to God, and his request is pressed still further. The answer from God is “I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”
Encouraged by his success, Moses ventures still further—a holy boldness he possesses, until it reaches a point that is incomprehensible to poor, finite human beings. The servant of God has been, through prayer, approaching nearer and nearer to God, and now [makes] a request such as no mortal human had ever dared to make—“I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Will God thrust aside His servant now for his apparent presumption? The third time the answer comes, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” …
Oh, what condescension on the part of God! That hand that made the worlds takes the mighty man of faith and puts him in a cleft of the rock, that He may show him His glory, and make all His goodness to pass before him….
The most brilliant intellect, the most earnest study, the highest eloquence, can never be substituted for the wisdom and power of God in those who are bearing the responsibilities connected with His cause…. God has made every provision for workers to have the help that He alone can give. If they allow their work to hurry, drive, and confuse, so that they will have no time for devotional thought or for prayer, they will make mistakes. If a standard is not lifted up by Jesus Christ against Satan, he will overcome those who are engaged in the important work for this time.—Manuscript 6, 1879.
Christ Triumphant p. 117
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for my family as my half-brother died in his sleep on April 17. Rose
—–Please keep me in prayer. My eyes are very troubled. I may have severe environmental allergies and deterioration all at the same time! I have to get a physical to address any allergies if any and a immediate Opthamologist appointment next week too! Please pray for answers, peace and wisdom. My biggest fear is that I will have to give up and rehome my 2 cats who are dear to me. Please pray for strength, should this be the case. Heidi
—–I would appreciate if you all would remember me in prayer. An illness (chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia) that has been fairly consistent over the last 20 years has significantly worsened over the last couple of weeks, and especially the last 2 days. I am to the point of needing help at home. Only God knows what the future holds and I thank Him for getting me through many things in my life! Barbara
—–Please pray for my niece Bella she had emergency brain surgery today. They found a mass on her brain. So far it’s only headaches and vomiting and I think tomorrow we will know more and see if she needs physical and occupational therapy It just depends on how she recovers. Thru were able to take 90% of the mass. Savannah
—–Please continue to pray for a miracle for baby Wyatt. He is at home on hospice. Mary
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Dear Friends,
One day, when I was about four or five, I walked into the dining room just as my grandmother was putting the finishing touches on a beautiful centerpiece. On the large, dark, highly-polished dining room table was a narrow, maroon cloth. Sitting on the cloth was a basket shaped like a horn which she called a cornucopia. In this basket and spilling out from it were all types of fruits and vegetables. My grandmother told me to leave it alone. Then she walked back into the kitchen. I knelt on the chair and visually examined this new centerpiece. The fruit looked so good. It made me so hungry.
Day after day I looked at that tempting display. Day after day I obeyed and kept my hands off from it. Then one day, when no one was around, I decided that I just could not wait another moment. I reached out and picked up a shiny, red apple. As soon as I took a bite, I knew something was wrong. Instead of a sweet, juicy taste, there was no taste at all. It was hard and dry and my teeth could not penetrate very deep. That apple was made of wax. I was so disappointed. I put it back into the display, but it did not look right. I had to adjust the apple in such a way that the tooth marks did not show. Even so, it was not long before my grandmother discovered what I had done. You can imagine what happened next…..
How much like the pleasures of this world that centerpiece was. The world’s pleasures look so inviting, but they do not give us the happiness that we seek. They leave us with an empty feeling after the initial “high” is gone. They do not satisfy. We are like the seed that fell among the thorns in Jesus’ parable of the sower. Jesus says of them, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:14 As the wise man said, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Prov 21:17 The pleasures of this world leave us spiritually poor, fruitless, twice dead.
Praise God we do not have to be content with the “wax fruit” this world has to offer. David declares, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Ps 16:11 Paul adds, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14
May we find our true happiness by turning away from the things of this world and keeping our eyes focused on our Dear Saviour and those things which He is preparing for us in His glorious kingdom above is my prayer. (2 Cor 2:9)
Rose