Skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He provides both the gift and wisdom to use the gift aright. When He desired a work done on the tabernacle, He said, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:2, 3). Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord said, “Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

“When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cumin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cumin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cumin with a rod. Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working” (Isaiah 28:23-29).

God dispenses His gifts as it pleases Him. He bestows one gift upon one, and another gift upon another, but all for the good of the whole body. It is in God’s order that some shall be of service in one line of work, and others in other lines—all working under the selfsame Spirit. The recognition of this plan will be a safeguard against emulation, pride, envy, or contempt of one another. It will strengthen unity and mutual love.—Counsels to Parents and Teachers, 314, 315.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 218
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for E and children. R
—-Please pray for Bob who is having trouble with his cerebellum.
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Dear Friends,

Ronnie Jay and I have always enjoyed collecting rocks. On the many hikes we have taken in our lives, we have always stuffed our pockets full of rocks that looked pretty to us. Most of them were worthless, but we liked them. It didn’t matter to us if we didn’t know the name of many of them, we have kept them for years.

One time Ronnie Jay when Ronnie Jay was twelve or thirteen, he went with some friends on a hike. As they were climbing on some small cliffs, he found a rock that he thought was a frilly, black, fossil of a fern. He was very happy to have found it.

When he showed it to my friend Darlene, she smiled and explained that it was not a fern a fern at all. It was a dendritic mineral crystal that is fern-like in its growth. This type of mineral is formed when water rich in manganese flow along the naturally occurring faults and fissures in certain types of rock. Here is a link to a photo from the internet that looks almost identical to the one that he found http://www.mindat.org/photo-32701.html . As you can see, it did look like a fern fossil and was very pretty, but that did not change the fact that it was not what it appeared to be.

So it is in the Christian life. There are many who look like Christians, act like Christians, and talk like Christians, but their heart is far from our Wonderful Saviour. Jesus, with sadness in His voice, said; “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matt 15:8

“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matt 13:24-30

How often we are like those servants. We might think we can tell who the tares are and who is the wheat, but only God really knows. Jesus tells us, “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Matt 7:1 Again He explains, “Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 How easy that is for us to do. How many times we judge according to the appearance but later find that we were so wrong. We do not know the heart. We do not know the background of that person. But God takes these things into account when He judges. “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” Ps 87:6

Paul writes, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom 2:2-11

May we be careful not to judge one another’s motives for only God knows what is in the heart. (1 Sam 16:7) May we make “our calling and election sure” this day. May we lead others to our Righteous Judge, our Saviour, our King.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/god-can-use-common-skills.html

Ministers who labor in word and doctrine should be thorough workmen, and should present the truth in its purity, yet with simplicity. They should feed the flock with clean provender, thoroughly winnowed. There are wandering stars professing to be ministers sent of God who are preaching the Sabbath from place to place, but who have truth mixed up with error and are throwing out their mass of discordant views to the people. Satan has pushed them in to disgust intelligent and sensible unbelievers.

Some of these have much to say upon the gifts and are often especially exercised. They give themselves up to wild, excitable feelings and make unintelligible sounds which they call the gift of tongues, and a certain class seem to be charmed with these strange manifestations. A strange spirit rules with this class, which would bear down and run over anyone who would reprove them. God’s Spirit is not in the work and does not attend such workmen. They have another spirit. Still, such preachers have success among a certain class. But this will greatly increase the labor of those servants whom God shall send, who are qualified to present before the people the Sabbath and the gifts in their proper light, and whose influence and example are worthy of imitation.

The truth should be presented in a manner which will make it attractive to the intelligent mind. We are not understood as a people, but are looked upon as poor, weak-minded, low, and degraded. Then how important for all who teach, and all who believe the truth, to be so affected by its sanctifying influence that their consistent, elevated lives shall show unbelievers that they have been deceived in this people. How important that the cause of truth be stripped of everything like a false and fanatical excitement, that the truth may stand upon its own merits, revealing its native purity and exalted character.—Testimonies for the Church 1:414, 415.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 205
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Prayer Requests
—-My good neighbor Ethel had a stroke in her sleep. She is in a coma in the hospital. Please pray for her and her salvation. Ann
—-I ask for prayer for my dear friend Cindy. Her father appears to be nearing the end of his life. She is caring for him as well as having her husband in the Cardiac ICU. I ask you to lift her in prayer, that she will feel Jesus giving her the strength she needs as she travels this difficult road! Mary
—-Please pray for my daughter, 27 years old. She has pulmonary hypertension. They put a picc line and a port in. She started today IV meds. Please pray for Gods healing Becky
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Dear Friends,

One day while I was still working, as I was making some deliveries to one of the offices in the courthouse where I worked, the receptionist and I began to talk about our children. Like mine, her children were grown. She was sharing her heartache because her sons never call her or come to see her. It is as if she doesn’t exist. When I asked why she didn’t call them, she replied with much sadness, “I have tried to call, but they always act as if I were disturbing them.”

As I left to go back to the department where I work, I thought about my children. We kept in contact daily. Even when they are busy and can’t talk right when I called, they would call back when they can.

How often our Heavenly Father waits for us to think of Him, but how often we go through our daily routine with scarcely a thought heavenward. We treat our Great Creator and Re-Creator just like that receptionist’s sons treated her. How it must break His Great Heart of love for just as parents look forward to hearing from their children, so our Great Creator looks forward to hearing from us. He longs to have us talk to Him, to bring Him all our perplexities, to share with Him our joys, to ask His advice, to listen as He speaks to us through His Word and through that “still small voice.” David said, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps 55:17 Paul advises, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17

As we go through the day, our Dear Saviour desires for us to be conscious of His presence. He yearns to be part of all we do, all we say, all we think. As we pray, He instructs us. As we meditate on His Word, He enlightens us. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Ps 119:11-16

May we continually draw near to our Loving Heavenly Father with thankfulness and joy is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/tongues-to-preach-the-gospel.html

The remark is often made, by one and another, “Why depend so much on sanitariums? Why do we not pray for the miraculous healing of the sick, as the people of God used to do?” In the early history of our work many were healed by prayer. And some, after they were healed, pursued the same course in the indulgence of appetite that they had followed in the past. They did not live and work in such a way as to avoid sickness. They did not show that they appreciated the Lord’s goodness to them. Again and again they were brought to suffering through their own careless, thoughtless course of action. How could the Lord be glorified in bestowing on them the gift of health?

When the light came that we should have a sanitarium, the reason was plainly given. There were many who needed to be educated in regard to healthful living. A place must be provided to which the sick could be taken, where they could be taught how to live so as to preserve health….

Lectures should be diligently kept up as a means of teaching the patients how to prevent disease by a wise course of action. By means of these lectures the patients may be shown the responsibility resting on them to keep the body in the most healthful condition because it is the Lord’s purchased possession. Mind, soul, and body are bought with a price…. “Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20)….

In the providence of God, instruction has been given that sanitariums be established, in order that the sick may be drawn to them, and learn how to live healthfully. The establishment of sanitariums is a providential arrangement, whereby people from all churches are to be reached, and made acquainted with the saving truth for this time.—Manuscript Releases 7:378, 379.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 201
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Prayer Requests
—-E has come to a pivotal point and I ask that God will work all things out for her and her children’s good. R
—- My daughter Jennifer’s boyfriend of 4 years just had an aneurism and they are trying to help him at the moment. His name is Ramsey and is only 41. Kristen
—-Please pray for my son who is filled with hate and refuses to believe in God. Dan
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, Ronnie Jay brought cable TV to our house. I enjoyed a few programs that I hadn’t seen before. One of them was a program where people bought an old home and found many clues as to who had lived in the house over the years. Some occupants had been famous, others not so well known. Some of the antiques, letters, and paintings found when remodeling were worth thousands: others were only interesting because they are part of the history of the home.

Some of those homes were like the old Victorian-style house my great-aunt lived in after her husband died. The house was really not hers but her daughter and son-in-law owned it. They made an apartment for her in her need. Even after Dorothy died, Ed allowed her to stay there and provided for her needs. (She lived there until she was about 88, when a massive stroke made it necessary to place her in a private care home.)

When I was a little girl, I used to love to visit Auntie Blanche. I would climb the stairs to her apartment with anticipation because I knew that she always had something special for me to do, or to taste, or to see. One of my favorite things was to visit the large room upstairs beside her apartment that had been the ballroom. Painted on the walls were ladies in their beautiful evening gowns and gentlemen in their tuxedos. I could almost hear the music they seemed so real. It was empty and dark since Dorothy had died, but I would often wander around in it and imagine happier days.

There are treasures found in God’s Word much more valuable than anything found in these old homes from yesteryear. The treasure found therein brings everlasting joy rather than the fleeting pleasures the homes’ occupants had enjoyed. Jesus speaks of these treasures. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Matt 13:44-46 That treasure is His Holy Word and all the promises that it contains. How important it is that we set aside all that interferes with our digging deep within its pages. We should, with joy, anticipate the discoveries that await us for they point to “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. John 14:6

As we open its pages, we can hear the Author say to us, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jer 33:3 Each time we read, the same Holy Spirit, Who inspired holy men to write the Scriptures, is there to enlighten our minds with the truth contained therein. Jesus promised, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:13-15

By His Word we are changed and sanctified. What a treasure that is! Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 The Psalmist David says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. . . .Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. . . . Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Ps 119:89-91,105,133

God’s Word is above every other book. It is God’s message of love and hope and joy for each of us. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16

May we spend time in His Word each day. May we be guided by its precepts. May we be filled with His Spirit as we discover the great and marvelous treasures He has there for us is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/healing-gift-does-not-replace-institutions.html