The parable of the talents should be a matter of the most careful and prayerful study; for it has a personal and individual application to every man, woman, and child possessed of the powers of reason. Your obligation and responsibility are in proportion to the talents God has bestowed upon you. There is not a follower of Christ but has some peculiar gift for the use of which he is accountable to God.

Many have excused themselves from rendering their gift to the service of Christ, because others were possessed of superior endowments and advantages. The opinion has prevailed that only those who are especially talented are required to sanctify their abilities to the service of God. It has come to be understood that talents are given only to a certain favored class, to the exclusion of others who, of course, are not called upon to share in the toils or rewards. But it is not so represented in the parable. When the master of the house called his servants, he gave to every man his work.

The whole family of God are included in the responsibility of using their Lord’s goods. Every individual, from the lowliest and most obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with abilities for which he is accountable to God. To a greater or less degree, all are placed in charge of the talents of their Lord. The spiritual, mental, and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections, sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the Master for the salvation of souls for whom Christ died. How few appreciate these blessings! How few seek to improve their talent, and increase their usefulness in the world! The Master has given to every man his work. He has given to every man according to his ability, and his trust is in proportion to his capacity. God requires everyone to be a worker in His vineyard. You are to take up the work that has been placed in your charge, and to do it faithfully.—The Review and Herald, May 1, 1888.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 218
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Prayer Requests
—-please be in prayers for my family friend Kathy. Her brother and his wife’s funerals will be held this weekend. She has asked for prayers at this difficult time, as their passing was very unexpected. Jennifer
—-Please pray for Kathy and family as her son Matt has passed. Rose
—-I’m asking for prayers for one of my grandsons he’s only 23 and into drugs. Barbara
PLease continue to pray for E and children. R
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Dear Friends,

Several times a year when I was a child, my mother and I would take the train to Grand Rapids to shop. On one such occasion, she happened to notice a large crowd going into a certain store that had a big grand opening sign. We joined the milling crowd and soon found ourselves inside, surrounded by a vast “sea” of shoppers. I was about six at the time and was given careful instructions to keep holding her hand. Somehow, as my mother was looking at some merchandise, we got separated. Soon, I found myself being carried along by the crowd and unable to find my mother. I began to be fearful, but I didn’t know what to do or where to go.

Finally, a clerk noticed my sad face and asked me if I was lost. Then she took me upstairs to the toy department and let me hold a great big doll. The doll was beautiful, but it held no interest for me. I just wanted my mommy. I remember the concerned faces of the clerk and some man with glasses hovering over me. He could have been the manager, but I was not interested in him. I just wanted to see my mother’s face.

When my mother finally discovered that I was not at her side, she nearly panicked. While searching for me in that milling crowd, she came upon a clerk who explained that the store’s policy was to take any lost child to the toy department. Rushing to the elevator, she made her way to the fifth floor. A clerk, seeing her panic-stricken look, walked over and asked if she could help. My mother asked if any lost child had been found. Smiling, the woman took her to where I was. As soon as I saw my mother, I set that beautiful doll down and rushed into her arms. Then I burst into tears.

Just as I became lost when I took my hand out of my mother’s hand, so we can become lost only if we let go of our Heavenly Father’s Hand. Yet, praise God! We do not need to stay that way “for the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 Indeed, there are many who have become separated from their Loving Redeemer. Perhaps they have been allured by worldly pleasures, or by choosing a friend who has led them down the wrong path. Perhaps it is simple carelessness or neglect of Bible study and prayer. Whatever the cause, they soon find that they can no longer see their Saviour’s face.

Because of His great love, our Dear Jesus does not leave us alone. No, He works out circumstances that we may return to Him if we will. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:4-10

“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zeph 3:17 Wonderful thought! The Great King of the Universe rejoices over us with singing! “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Rom 11:33 Think of it! Not only does the Great Creator of the Universe rejoice when we repent, but all of the angels of Heaven and all of the beings on the unfallen worlds are interested in our salvation. May we run to His Outstretched Arms of Love is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/every-man-woman-and-child-is-responsible.html

Let teachers and students watch for opportunities to confess Christ in their conversation. Such witness will be more effective than many sermons….

Students, make your school life as perfect as possible. You will pass over the way but once, and precious are the opportunities granted you. You are not only to learn but to practice the lessons of Christ. While obtaining your education, you have the opportunity to tell of the wonderful truths of God’s Word. Improve every such opportunity. God will bless every minute spent in this way. Maintain your simplicity and your love for souls, and the Lord will lead you in safe paths. The rich experience you gain will be of more value to you than gold or silver or precious stones.

You know not to what position you may be called in the future. God may use you as He used Daniel, to take the knowledge of the truth to the mighty of the earth. It rests with you to say whether you will have skill and knowledge to do this work. God can give you skill in all your learning. He can help you to adapt yourself to the line of study you take up. Make it your first interest to gather up right, noble, uplifting principles. God desires you to witness for Him. He does not want you to stand still; He wants you to run in the way of His commandments.

Christ desires to use every student as His agent. You are to cooperate with the One who gave His life for you. What rich blessings would come to our schools if teachers and students would consecrate themselves, heart, mind, soul, and strength, to God’s service as His helping hand! His helping hand—that is what you may be if you will yield yourselves to His keeping. He will lead you safely, and enable you to make straight paths for yourselves and for others. He will give you knowledge and wisdom, and a fitness for fuller service.—Counsels to Parents and Teachers, 554, 555.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 215
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for Marc and Kathy. Marks O2 was dropping as he has pneumonia, they’re doing a CT scan and they don’t have the results yet Kathy is asking for prayers that she tests negative for Covid tomorrow so she can see him in the hospital and that his CT scan will be negative. Becky
—-Please pray for my brother. He’s been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and is in a lot of pain. Yolanda
—-Please continue to pray for E and children. R
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Dear Friends,
When I was a teenager, I loved to take long walks in about three miles from our house. I loved it because it was a section of town where the very rich lived. The houses were huge and the lawns expansive. Some were nestled in a stand of trees and others seemed to be on display. I used to imagine, as I walked by them, what it must be like to live in one of those mansions. It seemed to me like the occupants had no worries as to where the money would come for their next meal, no cares about how to pay the bills, an ideal life. In my imaginings the people there lived in constant happiness and bliss. Of course, those people had just as many problems as my mother and I did, they just had a different set of problems.

No matter what our station in life, we are filled with cares and perplexities. Each day brings its own set of trails and troubles, but we have the privilege, as did Abraham, of looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb 11:10 There “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” Isa 33:24 Our Dear Saviour promises, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

Think of it! Our Loving Saviour is preparing a home for us that far surpasses any earthly dwelling! The mansions and castles of this world pale in comparison. The loving disciple, John, was given a glimpse of this glorious place, the New Jerusalem. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. . . He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. . . . And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. . . . And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. . . . And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones…. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. . . . And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it. . . . And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. . . . And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true. . . . Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. . . . Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev 21:1-22:14

May we and our loved ones be there is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/students-gifted-to-be-witnesses.html

To every man is given his work. One man may not be able to do the work for which another man has been trained and educated. But the work of every man must begin at the heart, not resting in a theory of the truth. The work of him who surrenders the soul to God and cooperates with divine agencies will reveal an able, wise workman, who discerns how to adapt himself to the situation. The root must be holy, or there will be no holy fruit. All are to be workers together with God. Self must not become prominent. The Lord has entrusted talents and capabilities to every individual, and those who are most highly favored with opportunities and privileges to hear the Spirit’s voice are under the heaviest responsibility to God.

Those who are represented as having but one talent have also their work to do. By trading, not with pounds, but with pence, they are diligently to employ their ability, determined not to fail nor be discouraged. They are to ask in faith, and depend upon the Holy Spirit to work upon unbelieving hearts. If they depend upon their own capabilities, they will fail. Those who faithfully trade upon the one talent will hear the gracious commendations spoken to them with as much heartiness as to those who have been gifted with many talents, and who have wisely improved them, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21).

It is the spirit of humility in which the work is done which God regards. He who had but one talent had an influence to exert, and his work was needed. In perfecting his own character, in learning in the school of Christ, he was exerting an influence that helped to perfect the character of those who had larger responsibilities, who were in danger of building themselves up, and of neglecting some important little things, which that faithful man with his one talent was regarding with diligent care.—Notebook Leaflets, vol. 1, 129, 130.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 211
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for E as she needs God’s guidance in an important decision. R
—-Please pray for Svetlana’s son who is very sick. Michael
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Dear Friends,

When we were younger, we used to go up in the mountains and camp. One time, when we lived in Utah, we found a nice spot up in the mountains. It was one of those “pack it in, pack it out” places. We set up our tent under the trees by the river. The next morning we were delighted to see an almost grown female moose very close to our camp. (My children learned at an early age to hold very still and be quiet when an animal was around, so it was a good experience for us.) She had been eating water plants and became curious to see what we were. She came within about 35 feet of our camp and watched us. We all stood very still and watched her. Her curiosity satisfied, she walked on and started eating water plants again. We followed at a distance and watched her until the children grew restless.

Moose have a bad temper and are very unpredictable, and that encounter could have turned out far differently. More than once when we lived in the Northwest, we have had to wait for a bull moose to get out of the road so we could keep driving to wherever we were going. Once we were able to get off the road and slowly drive in the grass to a side road in order to get around him. (We knew better than to honk at him.) I look forward to the time when we will not only be able to see the animals up close, but they will not be dangerous.

God has promised a time when “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. ” Isa 11:6-9 Not only will we be able to interact with wild beasts, but we will live a life filled with nothing but happiness and joy. God has promised, “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isa 65:21-24

What a wonderful time that will be! The animals will be gentle and friendly. We will have no fear of them and they will have no fear of us. We will be safe wherever we go without worry, without fear. But the best thing of all is our Great and Glorious Creator and Savior will be there. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:1-5 May we all be there is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/more-gifts-more-responsibility.html