Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad. Genesis 11:4.
Some of the descendants of Noah soon began to apostatize…. They journeyed a distance … and selected a large plain wherein to dwell. There they built a city, and then conceived the idea of erecting a large tower to reach unto the clouds, that they might dwell together in the city and tower, and be no more scattered. They reasoned that they would secure themselves in case of another flood, for they would build their tower to a much greater height than the waters prevailed in the time of the Flood, and all the world would honor them…. Before the work of building was accomplished, people dwelt in the tower. Rooms gorgeously furnished and decorated were devoted to their idols….—The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1879.
But among the people of Babel there were living some God-fearing persons who had been deceived by the pretensions of the ungodly and drawn into their schemes. These would not join this confederacy to thwart the purposes of God. They refused to be deceived by the wonderful representations and the grand outlook. For the sake of these faithful ones, the Lord delayed His judgments and gave the people time to reveal their true character….
This confederacy was born of rebellion against God. The dwellers on the plain of Shinar established their kingdom for self-exaltation, and not for the glory of God…. Determined individuals, inspired by the first great rebel, would have been urged on by him and would have permitted nothing to interfere with their plans or to stop them in their evil course. In the place of the divine precepts they would have substituted laws framed in accordance with the desires of their selfish hearts, in order that they might carry out their purposes.
But God never leaves the world without witnesses for Him. Those who loved and feared Him at the time of the first great apostasy after the Flood humbled themselves and cried unto Him. “O God,” they pleaded, “interpose Thyself between Thy cause and the plans and methods of men.”“And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.” …
God bears long with the perversity of human beings, giving them ample opportunity for repentance, but He marks all their devices to resist the authority of His just and holy law. As an evidence of His displeasure over the building of this tower, He confounded the language of the builders, so that none could understand the words of fellow workers.—Manuscript 94, 1903 (Manuscript Releases 8:42, 43)
Christ Triumphant p. 69
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that they will find a missing mission helicopter with the pilot, nurse, patient, and a couple of other people. Some debris has been found floating in the water. That does not sound good….
—–Eye infection has come back in left eye pls pray for healing and for wisdom what to do to cooperate with God in healing and for strength. Andree
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Sunday is Ron’s 74th birthday. It reminds me of another birthday that he had about fifteen years ago or so. The evening before his birthday, Ron and I went to a pre-retirement seminar. I had gone there with an idea that in a year I could retire. As the man spoke, it soon became apparent that it was doubtful. Still I thought and planned different ways around what he was saying. On the way home, however, Ron told me that because I was the one carrying our insurance, there was no way I could retire early at 62. I was so disappointed.
The rest of the evening, I was feeling very sorry for myself. It’s not that I was unhappy at work. On the contrary, I loved my job and was very happy there. Yet, I had built up some false hopes that were not practical for someone who was still in debt. Ron tried to comfort me by saying that as soon as we got our bills paid off, I could retire. I was still wallowing in self-pity and looking at the negative side of that statement. I knew that every time we were almost there, something major would break and had to be replaced, so I pictured myself working until the day I died.
Just before going to bed, I checked my email. I saw one from Kayla, a young woman who was expecting her second child. For the past month or two, she had been having trouble with her pregnancy. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed, and the last three weeks she began to leak amniotic fluid. The doctor had told her to stay in bed. That day she had gone to the doctor expecting to find the date when she would have a C-section. Instead, the doctor could not find a heartbeat. How heartbroken Kayla and her family were. In the email she told me that she be having surgery the next day to remove her dead baby. How very sad.
As I wrote a note of sympathy and encouragement, I began to contrast my little disappointment with her gigantic one. Kayla’s problems really put things in perspective. How selfish I realized I was by my tearful attitude just because my plans and dreams were not going to work out the way I had desired. Compared to Kayla’s disappointment, mine was nothing. Compared to her loss, mine was of no account.
How easy it is to get all caught up in our self, our wants, our needs, our hopes, our agenda. Indeed, our biggest battle is with self. Jesus gave a parable about a man who was all wrapped up in self. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:16-20
Serving self is not God’s way. We are to become like Him. He, Who put our needs ahead of His, wants us to do the same for others. He, Who “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” longs for us to live a selfless life as well. Gal 1:4 He, Whom all Heaven adored, went through the Gethsemane experience for us, offering “up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb 5:7-9 He, Who created all things, “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:8 “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
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Rom 12:1-3
Rose

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Matthew 6:22.
This says, “thine eye,” not some other person’s eye. The rich experience that it is our privilege to have, we lose when we expect someone else to do our seeing for us, and guide us in our spiritual experience as if we were blind. We must have a single eye to God’s glory, a single and persistent purpose to leave self and the preferences of others out of the question, not asking, “If I take this course, shall I increase my personal possessions, or shall I decrease them?”
Great simplicity must be cherished by those who seek wisdom of God. Then their feet will not slide. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
A person who truly loves and fears God, striving with singleness of purpose to do His will, will place body, mind, heart, soul, and strength under service to God. Thus it was with Enoch. He walked with God. His mind was not defiled by an impure, defective eyesight. Those who are determined to make the will of God their own must serve and please God in everything. Then the character will be harmonious and well-balanced, consistent, cheerful, and true.
“But if thine eye be evil,” if you study selfish purposes, and work only to that end, the whole character is defective, the whole body is full of darkness. Such do not look to Jesus. They do not behold His character, and they are not changed into His image. The spiritual vision is defective, and the way from earth to heaven is darkened by the hellish shadow of Satan. So Satan is pleased to have it, for he can lead that person blindfolded to ruin.
“If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” The conscience is the regulative faculty, and if people allow their conscience to become perverted, they cannot serve God aright. Their object in life shows to the world whether they are Christians or in rebellion against God. Their whole life is a failure. It is distorted and double, and all the faculties are misdirected. The profession may be all right, but the faith is perverted, and this is revealed by the practice, which misleads others. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”—Letter 128, 1897 (Manuscript Releases 13:154, 155).
Christ Triumphant p. 64
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–My coworker Cindy’s cousin Renee is getting a heart transplant today. Please pray. Wanangwa
—–Please pray for James who contracted MRSA from shoulder surgery and is in ICU. Jamie
—–Please pray for Esther. She is allergic to something that is giving her an itchy rash on her face and neck. Rose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Some years ago, we took a drive to Oklahoma so Ronnie Jay could take some photos of the animals and birds of the place. He really wanted some pictures of an armadillo. Most people consider that creature to be a pest and unworthy of notice, but he finds them fascinating. In reality they are helpful as they eat many harmful insects.
An armadillo has very sharp claws, but its armor is its greatest defense. When alarmed, it will jump into the air to surprise its enemy or run away if it can, but some armadillos can roll up in a ball like the tiny pillbug. However, most of the time they have so much confidence in their armor that they just go about their business no matter what is happening around them. Ronnie Jay did not alarm in the least the three armadillos he photographed. They stopped and looked at him briefly then continued on looking for food.
Jesus says to us as He said to His disciples of old, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:18-20 We can learn a lesson from the lowly armadillo. No matter what distractions the enemy of souls throws around us, we must continue with that great commission given to us by our Dear Saviour.
Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 The evil one will attempt to sidetrack us, but we must not allow his temptations to get us off track. I have heard it said that when John Wesley was asked what he would do if he knew he would die that night, he replied that he would do those things that he had already planned to do that day. What a good way to live—perfect confidence that he was doing God’s will in every aspect of his life, perfect trust in his relationship with his Lord.
Paul reminds us, “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.” In view of that fact, he urges us to “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 put on that armor each day that we may work for the Master no matter how the devil tries to distract us is my prayer.
Rose

The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Genesis 7:11.
The antediluvians were warned, but the record states that they knew not until the Flood came and took them all away…. They saw Noah and his wife and their sons and their wives passing into the ark; and the door was closed upon them. Only eight persons entered that refuge from the storm, and for a week they waited for the rain to come…. Daily the sun rose and set in a clear sky, and daily there came to Noah the temptation to doubt. But the Lord had said that the Flood was coming, and Noah rested in this word.
At the end of seven days clouds began to gather. This was a new sight, for the people had never seen clouds…. Thicker and thicker gathered the clouds, and soon rain began to fall. Still the people tried to think that this was nothing very alarming. But soon it seemed as if the windows of heaven had been opened, for the rain poured down in torrents. For a time the ground drank up the rain; but soon the water began to rise, and day by day it rose higher and higher. Each morning as the people found the rain still falling they looked at one another in despair, and each night they repeated the words “Raining still!” Thus it was, morning and evening.
For forty days and forty nights the rain poured down. The water entered the houses and drove the people to the temples that they had erected for their idolatrous worship. But the temples were swept away. The crust of the earth was broken, and the water that had been concealed in its bowels burst forth. Large stones were thrown into the air.
Everywhere could be seen human beings fleeing in search of a refuge. The time had come when they would have been only too glad to accept an invitation to enter the ark. Filled with anguish, they cried, “Oh, for a place of safety!” Some shrieked to Noah, pleading for admission into the ark. But amid the furious blast of the tempest their voices were unheard. Some clung to the ark till they were washed away by the dashing waves. God had shut in those who believed His word, and no others could enter.
Parents with their children sought the highest branches of the trees yet standing; but no sooner had they reached this refuge than the wind flung tree and people into the foaming, seething water….
Where now was the ark and those at whom the people had jeered and mocked? Preserved by the power of God, the immense boat was riding safely upon the waters, and Noah and his family were safe inside.—The Signs of the Times, April 10, 1901.
Christ Triumphant p. 61
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Mike and Ronnie Jay as they go for some training next week. Rose
—– My daughter’s boyfriend is very sick in the hospital with some kind of blood disorder. He’s only 19 and scared as anyone would be. Please pray for him and my daughter as neither are in the faith, although I have tried to share little things with her often and with him when we met him for the first time at Christmas. David
—–Update on Baby Wyatt:
On Wednesday 2/22/23 Wyatt’s mama posted this update: Wyatt still remains home on hospice.
Wyatt has been sick for a few weeks and not doing the greatest. His kidneys are still trying to heal from a respiratory infection and it’s really taking a toll on him. Wyatt’s GiGi ( Katie’s mom) also had a mild heart attack on Saturday but is doing well now.
We continue to trust in God’s timing. Please continue to pray for Wyatt. Pray for his comfort, healing, heart and kidneys. Mary
—–I really need prayer. One of my dear sons was in a horrible auto accident and he died on the scene. Not only am I grieving badly for him but now my house has become very dark and scary with a very evil presence that I can feel. My dog has been acting weird too with her suddenly barking and growling and the fur standing up straight on her back when she looks towards my house with nothing that is visible then she quickly runs away. There was also a loud continuous knocking last night inside an empty fifth wheel on my property. Thank you so much for your prayers. They are really needed. Connie
—–Please continue praying for E and children. R
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl and still lived with my grandparents, I had a playmate named Gary. He lived several blocks away, but was allowed to come to my house to play. His parents were older, as were most people in the neighborhood and I think they were probably glad to have somebody for him to play with so they could have some peace and quiet. Over the years we liked each other like it is normal for children to do. We talked about what we would do when we grew up and, since he wanted to be an architect, he would draw up plans for our house.
One day as we were at the playground of the school across the street, he saw some girls he knew. At first he ignored me and talked to them. When they asked him who I was, he introduced me as his cousin. That made me feel quite upset. I suddenly realized that all those plans for the future were something he told all girls and that I was nothing special to him. I was brokenhearted.
After I went to live with my mother and her second husband, I seldom saw Gary. One day around my 14th birthday, I happened to meet him and invited him to my birthday party. He gladly accepted. At the party, he was flirting with June and Gloria and ignoring me. I was thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with him. He, whom I had counted as my friend, was really no friend at all.
Do we do the same to our Loving Saviour? Are we ashamed of our Best Friend? Do we introduce Him to others, or do we pretend that we don’t even know Him? Do we go to meet Him in His house but allow our focus to be on other things or on others. Do we try to rationalize away our denial? Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:32,33 Paul warns, “if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim 2:12 Solemn words. Words that have eternal consequences.
Often we are like Peter and declare that we would never deny our Lord. When Jesus told His disciples that they would deny Him, Peter stood up and proclaimed that although everyone else would deny Him, he never would. “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” Mark 14:29-31 Peter could not believe it, but when he was “backed into a corner,” he denied his Master. He denied the One Who was giving His life for him. When Peter denied Jesus, the Bible says, “Peter
remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:75
May we serve our Dear Saviour with our whole heart and joyfully confess Him to all around is my prayer.
Rose

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Genesis 6:13.
In the future there will be broken thrones and great distress of nations with perplexity. Satan will work with intense activity. The earth will be filled with the shrieks of suffering, expiring nations. There will be war. The places of the earth will be in confusion, as from its bowels pour forth its burning contents to destroy the inhabitants of the world who, in their wickedness, resemble the inhabitants of the antediluvian world.
In that time [before the Flood], as in this, there were two classes, the righteous and the wicked. Enoch and others walked with God in uprightness. But the great majority of the inhabitants of the earth were given over to iniquity, and their wickedness rose before God….
God gave direction that an ark was to be built for those who desired to be saved from the coming destruction. He was about to speak in determined language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful proportions. He was about to clothe Himself with vengeance and execute His judgment against the transgressors of His law.—Manuscript 72, 1902 (Manuscript Releases 18:92, 93).
As Noah proclaimed his warning message, some listened and worked with him in building the ark. But they did not endure. Evil influences prevailed. They turned away from the truth to become scoffers.
Thus it will be in the last days of this earth’s history. Those who today hear the message of truth, but do not believe, will fall amid the moral infidelity, even as in Noah’s day those who were not firmly grounded failed to stand till the end of their probation. When the Lord rewards everyone according to his deeds, these people will understand that God is truth, and that His message would have been their life and salvation if they had accepted the evidence given and practiced the conditions laid down. Then they will see that they might have been saved had they not rejected the only means of salvation.
The trials of God’s people may be long and severe, but the Lord never forgets them. Those who believe the truth and obey the commandments will find refuge in Christ. They will have the effectual protection of His ever-loving care as long as they take their position on the side of God and His law, which ever has governed, and ever will govern, His kingdom.—Manuscript 42, 1900.
Christ Triumphant p. 56
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for my husband and his family. His mother is being mistreated by a family member that cares for her. She is 91 yrs old and my husband is praying for help from God to guide him what to do. His mother lives in their home and he doesn’t know what to do. She lives in ____ and we live in another state, so he’s searching for someone to tell him how he can help her. We appreciate your prayers! Cynthia
—–A lady at church said that her boyfriend named Paul has been missing since Thursday and has suicidal thoughts. Please lift him up and may the Holy Spirit come upon Him and lead him home. Thank you. Mike
—–Sedona went to a treatment facility for her alcoholism for about 5 days where the helped her withdraw and is now 20 days sober. Please continue to pray that she continues this path! Mary
—–Please continue to pray for E and children. R
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When Eileen was seven, we were in a store looking at baby clothes, since it would not be long before Ronnie Jay would be born. The clerk , smiling, said to Eileen, “It looks like you will soon be a big sister! Isn’t that wonderful?”
Eileen said, “Yes! I prayed and prayed for a baby and finally Jesus said, ‘Oh, all right! You can have one.’ ” Both the clerk and I had a hard time holding in our laughter.
Later, as I reflected upon what my daughter had said, I wondered how many times I had said with exasperation in my voice, “Oh, all right. You can have one.” in answer to her constant begging for something. From that moment I determined that I would not give in to her pleading because I had been inadvertently giving her a wrong idea about prayer and how and why God answers. From then on, I was more careful to explain why I could or could not grant her requests.
Over the years had many conversations with my children explaining that God answers our prayers even when they seem to go unanswered. He knows far better than we do what is best for us. Jesus assures us, “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” “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.” Matt 6:8; Luke 11:9,10 At first that seems like we will get anything we desire, but that is not the case. Our dear Saviour tells us the conditions for answered prayer, “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
The apostle John adds an additional qualifier to answered prayer. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15 James gives us another reason why we do not always get what we ask for, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 What a wonderful Heavenly Father we have! He listens to our prayers and weighs each request. Then He gives us an answer that is better than we could ask or think. It may not seem best in our finite judgment but could we see the end from the beginning, we would choose the same. May we have perfect trust and confidence in the answers God gives us to our prayers even if they are not the answers we expect.
Rose

To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26, NRSV.