The Word of God presents the most potent means of education, as well as the most valuable source of knowledge, within the reach of humanity. The understanding adapts itself to the dimensions of the subjects with which it is required to deal. If occupied with trivial, commonplace matters only, never summoned to earnest effort to comprehend great and eternal truths, it becomes dwarfed and enfeebled. Hence the value of the Scriptures as a means of intellectual culture. Their perusal in a reverent and teachable spirit will expand and strengthen the mind as no other study can. They lead directly to the contemplation of the most exalted, the most ennobling, and the most stupendous truths that are presented to the human mind. They direct our thoughts to the infinite Author of all things.

We see revealed the character of the Eternal and listen to His voice as He communes with patriarchs and prophets. We see explained the mysteries of His providence, the great problems which have engaged the attention of every thoughtful mind, but which, without the aid of revelation, human intellect seeks in vain to solve. They open to our understanding a simple yet sublime system of theology, presenting truths which a child may grasp but which are yet so far reaching as to baffle the powers of the strongest mind….

Our Savior did not ignore learning or despise education, yet He chose unlearned fishermen for the work of the gospel because they had not been schooled in the false customs and traditions of the world. They were men of good natural ability and of a humble, teachable spirit; men whom He could educate for His great work….

The learned lawyers, priests, and scribes scorned to be taught by Christ. They desired to teach Him, and frequently made the attempt, only to be defeated by the wisdom that laid bare their ignorance and rebuked their folly. In their pride and bigotry, they would not accept the words of Christ, yet they were surprised at the wisdom with which He spake…. But the words and deeds of the humble Teacher, recorded by the unlettered companions of His daily life, have exerted a living power upon the minds of men and women from that day to the present.—The Review and Herald, September 25, 1883.
From the Heart p. 15
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Prayer Requests
—-My Grandson Armonie is in the Hospital with Pneumonia. Say a Prayer for him. Melisa
—-Asking for prayers for our family, my husband is dealing with cancer and now kidney/liver issues. Dottie
—-Please pray for a church member who has cancer. Buck
—-Please pray that they can find my purse at the hospital. Ever since my surgery on Tuesday i haven’t been able to find my purse. I don’t think they put it in my car at the hospital. Debra
—-I’d like to ask for prayer for my mom. We just recently found out that she has a mass on her pancreas. She went to the doctor told her that before they can do surgery she has to get a few things done first. And they’re going to take part of her stomach as well when they do the surgery. They also found a spot on her lung we don’t know what they’re going to do with that just yet. Bob
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, Eileen worked for a private nursing home. One early in the morning, she got a call from one of the other workers. The lady who worked the day shift wanted to trade working times. Her daughter had fallen and she needed to take her to the doctor for stitches. Since Eileen had traded with her before, she said okay.

Unfortunately, the woman never showed up to work Eileen’s shift so she had to work both shifts. She was so exhausted that she wasn’t sure she could stay awake long enough to drive home, so she called to talk to her until she got home.

How much we need our Heavenly Father to “talk to us all the way home.” He reminds us, “Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

How His Great Heart of Love must ache as He watches us struggling day by day without Him. He would love to take complete control of our situation and make it all right, but He will not force us to allow Him to do so. Instead, He waits to be asked to take control. Without Jesus dwelling within us, speaking to us through His Holy Word, guiding us to His Heavenly Home all our efforts to get there are in vain. Solomon commented on such a life, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecc. 3:2, 14, 17

Praise God! If we call upon Him, He is more willing to give us the help we so desperately. If we allow Him too, He will give us the comfort and rest that we so much need in these frantic times. Beyond that, He will change us into His image and give our life true meaning.

May we allow our Dear Saviour to take complete control of our life and guide us all the way home is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/understanding-for-all.html

No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer. Especially should we entreat the Lord for wisdom to understand His Word. Here are revealed the wiles of the tempter, and the means by which he may be successfully resisted. Satan is an expert in quoting Scripture, placing his own interpretation upon passages, by which he hopes to cause us to stumble. We should study the Bible with humility of heart, never losing sight of our dependence upon God. While we must constantly guard against the devices of Satan, we should pray in faith continually, “Lead us not into temptation.” 62The Great Controversy, 530.

When Balaam, allured by the promise of rich rewards, practiced enchantments against Israel, and by sacrifices to the Lord sought to invoke a curse upon His people, the Spirit of God forbade the evil which he longed to pronounce, and Balaam was forced to exclaim: “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?” Numbers 23:8….

The people of Israel were at this time loyal to God; and so long as they continued in obedience to His law, no power in earth or hell could prevail against them. But the curse which Balaam had not been permitted to pronounce against God’s people, he finally succeeded in bringing upon them by seducing them into sin. When they transgressed God’s commandments, then they separated themselves from Him, and they were left to feel the power of the destroyer.

Satan is well aware that the weakest soul who abides in Christ is more than a match for the hosts of darkness…. Only in humble reliance upon God, and obedience to all His commandments, can we be secure.63The Great Controversy, 529, 530.

Let none deceive themselves with the belief that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God.64The Signs of the Times, November 30, 1882 (The Review and Herald, May 3, 1881).

The Faith I Live By p. 331
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Prayer Requests
—-My brother-in-law passed away yesterday of a heart attack. Please keep my sister Marilyn and her family in your prayers. Sherry
—-My friend Tony is getting major surgery tomorrow….So can I please ask you to pray for him. I appreciate it very much. Dean
—-Please pray for CJ to receive a job offer after her interview at the Pharmacy. Alexandra
—-My son had his foot almost cut off in a work accident. Please pray that he will heal quickly without complications. Joann
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Dear Friends,

When I was thinking of what to make for next week’s Thanksgiving meal, I found a vegan “turkey” roll that used both tofu and vital wheat gluten. That reminded me of something that happened fifty-eight years ago when Ron and I were first married.

We had moved from Battle Creek to a little cottage on Lake Huron just south of Alpena. It was a nice little place, and I loved being able to see the lake right outside my window and the majestic pine trees surrounding us.

Like all new brides, I made some real big mistakes—mostly in the kitchen. One day, while Ron was at work, I decided to make gluten steaks even though I only had a vague idea how it was done. At best that was no small task! In order to get the gluten separated from the flour, I had to wash the starch out of that ball of flour many times. Something was not quite right, though. The “ball” would not stay together. I tried to keep it together and rinse the starch out of it, but it was too soft.

As the water would become white with not only the flour’s starch but much of the gluten, I would pour it down the sink and get new water. It was a terrible mess! Finally I ended up with a very small amount of gluten. Even so, I was quite proud of my accomplishment.

That is, I was proud until the next day. To my horror, when I went to use my kitchen sink, it was completely plugged up. I tried everything I knew to unstop it, but try as I might, the water just would not go down. Overnight, that starchy mess had hardened in the drainpipes.

Finally I went next door and got the landlord to help me. As he was working on those clogged-up pipes, he asked, “What did you do, pour cement down the drain?” All my pride fell to the floor. I was too embarrassed to tell him what I had done, so I just stood there. It took him hours to get everything unclogged.

Sometimes we are like those drainpipes. We get all clogged with sin. We desire the water of life to fill us, but it can’t get through because of the hardened mess that sin has caused within us. Our Heavenly Father assures us that He will solve the clogged-up mess in our lives. “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 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.” “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 36:25-27; 33:11

He will cleanse us, yes, He longs to set us free from the sins that have bound us for so long. John, the loving apostle has written, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 This process often takes time just like it took time for the landlord to rid those pipes of that glutenous mass. It can be painful as the sin is chiseled away but we can trust Him because He has loved us with an everlasting love. He assures us of His constant care during this refining process, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee… and he that formed thee…Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3

May we come to Him now that we may receive the pardon and cleansing that He so freely offers is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/safety-only-in-obedience-2.html

The church must and will fight against seen and unseen foes. Satan’s agencies in human form are on the ground. Men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts. These confederacies will continue until Christ shall leave His place of intercession before the mercy seat and shall put on the garments of vengeance. Satanic agencies are in every city, busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God. Professed saints and avowed unbelievers take their stand with these parties.45Testimonies for the Church 8:42.

God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble….

It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance…. The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild and apparently Christian, but when it shall speak it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. It is our duty to do all in our power to avert the threatened danger.46Testimonies for the Church 5:452.

The time is coming when God’s people will feel the hand of persecution because they keep holy the seventh day…. The man of sin, who thought to change times and laws, and who has always oppressed the people of God, will cause laws to be made enforcing the observance of the first day of the week. But God’s people are to stand firm for Him. And the Lord will work in their behalf, showing plainly that He is the God of gods.47Testimonies for the Church 9:229, 230.

The Faith I Live By p. 325
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my grandson his name is Daniel he has left the Lord he’s 15 years old and he’s struggling with his own life he’s searching however he’s in a lot of pain he lost his mother when he was 10 she died and his father is non-existent, Joann
—-I have a few people I would like prayer for. Anon
—-Please pray for my daughter Rebekah. She had major abdominal surgery on Thursday and Friday it was found out that she has a blood clot in her upper arm. Ilene
—-My brother-in-law is a manipulative snake. I’m so tired of him trying to get his way. I really need prayers. I need to rise above this and be like Jesus in my thoughts and behaviors towards him. Anon
—-Please pray for a fellow missionary named Scott..he has drooping corneas. Bonnie
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Dear Friends,

When Ronnie Jay was still living at home, he and I often went places together. Sometimes it was going to a wildlife area so he could take pictures, sometimes it was on a walk on Sabbath afternoons, sometimes it was simply going to the grocery store. One such time, when we got out of the store, I was pushing the shopping cart and Ronnie Jay was standing at the side sort of pulling it as we walked along. He was thinking, “I wonder why Mom is going this direction. I thought we parked over there.” I was thinking something similar about his leading, but I thought, “Oh well, it isn’t the first time I’ve forgotten where I parked.” Finally, Ronnie Jay said something concerning the way we were going. I told him that I was following his leading. He laughed and said that he had been following mine. At that point, I pushed the trunk latch and a few rows over we found the car. It was so funny that we made up a little joke—What happens when two people who are followers are let loose in a parking lot? They never find their car.

Having no one leading in a unimportant situation just brings a feeling of silliness or embarrassment, but how dangerous it is to follow the wrong person or group in the important things of life. How vital to our present and future happiness it is to choose the right leader. God’s Holy Word tells us, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” yet it is so easy to do so. Ex 23:2 Amos asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3 Often we are lured into the wrong path by friends or acquaintances before we realize what is happening. They seem to be harmless, yet before long we find ourselves making a compromise here and another there until we are in harmony with them and caught in the devil’s snare. Sometimes we allow the media to guide our thinking until we begin to love what used to alarm us.

We have a great adversary who often tricks us into following him into the wrong path. Peter says of him, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 As that old lion walks about, he bids us follow him into the trap he has prepared for us. Jesus warns of this and gives us some much-needed advice, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt 7:13, 14 Daily we must ask ourselves if we are allowing others to lead us away from that narrow path. If they are, we must turn from them and step back onto the way that leads to eternal life.

May we follow our Dear Saviour as He leads us to His Heavenly Home is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/seen-and-unseen-foes-2.html