The standard of truth may be raised by humble men and women; and the youth, and even children, may be a blessing to others, by revealing what the truth has done for them. God will use the most feeble instruments if they are wholly submitted to Him. He can work through them to reach souls to whom the minister could not obtain access. There are the highways and byways to be searched. With your Bible in your hand, with your heart warm and glowing with the love of God, you may go out and tell others your experience; you may make known to them the truth that has impressed your heart, praying with faith that God will make your efforts successful in their salvation. Communicate light, and you will have more light to communicate. Thus you may become laborers together with God.

God desires that His children shall make use of all their powers, that in working to bless others, they may grow strong in the strength of Jesus. You may not be learned; you may not be thought capable of doing a great work for God; but there are things which you can do. You can let your light shine forth to others….

Everyone may have an understanding of the truth, and exert an influence for good. Then go to work, my brethren and sisters. Gain an experience by working for others. You may make mistakes; but this is not more than the most intelligent, and those in positions of trust, have done again and again. You will not always meet with success; but you can never know the result of humble, disinterested effort to help those who are in darkness. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, you may win souls from error to truth, and in so doing your own souls will be filled with the love of God.—The Review and Herald, January 12, 1897.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 173
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Caterine as she goes to a specialist tomorrow. Also pray for Mike as he has a consultation with an orthopedic doctor tomorrow as well. Eileen
—-Followup on prayers for friend facing losing leg..Praise God..they saved her leg, but she will have a prothsectic knee! Rehab in process. Continue in prayer for same friend lost daughter to a violent husband yesterday. Mel
—-Please pray for me…my ankles are inflamed again and I am in pain. I can barely walk with mechanical assistance. I am in medication for gout but I guess it is not working……..this mess is/has taken a serious toll on me. I just went back to work after almost a month dealing with this issue and covid. If I can’t walk, I can’t work. If I can’t work, I can’t take care of myself nor take care of my responsibilities. PL
—-Please pray for Jerry who tested positive for covid and cannot fly with his wife. Rose
—-Please pray for E and children for their protection and guidance. R
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Dear Friends,
Every so often, I get nostalgic and homesick for my childhood home. This is normal for most of us, I believe. On such times, I type “911 N. Burdick St” in the search bar on my computer and reminisce. My grandparents’ house is now a light green instead of gray. Mr. and Mrs. Perry’s tiny dry cleaners is gone as are all the houses to the south of ours. There’s a rather tall pine tree where the cleaners was and my grandmother’s rose bushes, English Ivy, and trumpet vine are gone. Someone had closed in the front and side porches where I spent so much time playing. Yet, it still was familiar enough to bring back so many childhood memories.
Some people who have gone back to their childhood homes have regretted doing so. I ask myself, “There are some changes on the outside. I wonder how much it has changed on the inside.” Yes, this old world is full of change. Nothing on this planet is permanent. One day the routine of a comfortable life can change into a miserable existence with much pain, sickness, and death.
Praise God! There is Someone Who never changes. We can fully rely upon Him Who says, “I am the LORD, I change not.” Mal 3:6 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Deut 32:4
There is an old hymn that we used to sing that speaks of this very thing.
The Lord’s our Rock, in him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide, A shelter in the time of storm. Mighty Rock in a weary land, Cooling shade to the burning sand, Faithful guide for the pilgrim band—a shelter in the time of storm.
A shade by day, defense by night, A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright, A shelter in the time of storm. Mighty Rock in a weary land, Cooling shade to the burning sand, Faithful guide for the pilgrim band—a shelter in the time of storm.
The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm; We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm. Mighty Rock in a weary land, Cooling shade to the burning sand, Faithful guide for the pilgrim band—a shelter in the time of storm.
O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm. Mighty Rock in a weary land, Cooling shade to the burning sand, Faithful guide for the pilgrim band—a shelter in the time of storm.
May we fully trust in “Jesus Christ Who is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Heb 13:8 Amen!

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/even-children-may-share-their-faith.html

If we had a just appreciation of the importance and greatness of our work, and could see ourselves as we are at this time, we should be filled with wonder that God could use us, unworthy as we are, in the work of bringing souls into the truth. There are many things that we ought to be able to understand, that we do not comprehend because we are so far behind our privileges.

Christ said to His disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). This is our condition. Would they not have been able to understand what He had to say to them, if they had been doers of His word—if they had improved point after point of the truth which He had presented to them? But although they could not then understand, He told them that He would send the Comforter, who would lead them into all truth. We should be in a position where we can comprehend the teaching, leading, and working of the Spirit of Christ. We must not measure God or His truth by our finite understanding, or by our preconceived opinions.

There are many who do not realize where they are standing; for they are spiritually blinded. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). I trust that none of us will be found to be reprobates. Is Christ abiding in your hearts by faith? Is His Spirit in you? If it is, there will be such a yearning in your soul for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died, that self will sink into insignificance, and Christ alone will be exalted….

Those who profess to be united to Christ should be laborers together with God. The people of God are to warn the world, and to prepare a people to stand in the day of wrath when the Son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven. The members of the church of Christ should gather up the divine rays of light from Jesus, and reflect them to others, leaving a bright track heavenward in the world.—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1889.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 170
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Fran whose cancer has returned. Rose
—-I asking for prayers for my cousin Martha who is losing her battle with lung disease I’m asking for GOD to heal her and for all my family as we battle this. Henry
—-Please pray for my friend Harmony. She’s a single mom who jsut had her first baby. She made the choice to have her baby and keep it, even though it seemed like a big mistake. She feel she will be judged at church and needs a lot of support and encouragement. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Eileen “rescued” a plant arrangement that someone had thrown away into the dumpster. It was about a foot tall, flower pot and plant included, and consisted of a small snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue is the common name), a cane plant, and a plant we were not sure of, but it looked like a miniature cross between a palmetto and a palm tree. Whether the person who got rid of it was just tired of it, didn’t like the arrangement, or just didn’t know how to care for it, I don’t know, but it looked a little bedraggled, so it was probably for the latter reason.
With some tender, loving care from Eileen, that arrangement grew so big that it nearly touched the ceiling. It had two lovely palmlike trees (I still don’t know what their name is) that have made branches off from the main trunk so it’s nice and full. Only the cane plant did not survive. The snake plant grew very large and spread throughout the three feet in diameter pot that she had put it in. Every summer, Ron and Ronnie Jay dragged it out to our deck where it got bigger and looked healthier with each passing year. Even so, if the person who threw out that plant arrangement could see it, they would be very surprised that it had grown so tall and lasted so long.
How many times we look upon others as worthless. How often we see someone that we feel is not worth saving, but “the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 When our Dear Saviour looks upon us, He sees what we can become if we allow Him into our heart. He pities our sinful condition and offers us His help. Indeed, His Great Heart of Love breaks when we are far from Him.
A good example of this principle is the life of Doug Batchelor, director of Amazing Facts. We were listening to his testimony yesterday, not only about his conversion experience, but also how God led in his life to get him where he is today. Surely he was rescued as was Eileen’s plant arrangement. Unlike Eileen’s rescued plant arrangement that had no choice in the matter, however, Doug did have a choice. Praise God! He made the right choices and God is using him to spread the Gospel far and wide.
We also are given this same choice 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 We can accept His free gift or we can reject it. We can allow Him to change our heart and help us to obey, or we can shut our heart’s door to His knocking and turn away. We can follow His leading as He opens the door, or we can “do our own thing” and soon find ourselves falling away from the experience we once had.
Our Loving Saviour pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him and he with Me.” Rev 3:20 What wonderful fellowship we can have with our Creator and Redeemer, but we must open the door. May we choose this day whom we will serve and may it be the Lord. (Josh 24:15) May we allow Him to lead us into all righteousness. May we keep our eyes focused on our Loving Rescuer and rejoice in His salvation is my prayer.
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/unworthy-but-useful.html

God has determined to leave nothing undone to recover man from the toils of the enemy. After Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit was given to man to assist all who would cooperate with Him in the reshaping and remodeling of the human character. The Holy Spirit’s part of the work has been defined by our Saviour. He says, “He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit is the convictor, and sanctifier as well.

As none can repent of their sins until they are convicted, the necessity of uniting the Spirit with us in our labor to reach the fallen is apparent. All of our human abilities will be exercised in vain unless we are united to the heavenly intelligences. It is through the lack of knowledge of the vitalizing truth, and the corrupting influence of error, that men are fallen so low, sunk in the depths of sinful degradation. Angels and men are to work in harmony to teach the truth of God to those who are unlearned therein, that they may be set free from the bonds of sin. It is the truth alone that makes men free. This liberty, this freedom through the knowledge of the truth, is to be proclaimed to every creature.

Jesus Christ, God Himself, and the angels of heaven are interested in this grand and holy work. Man has been given the exalted privilege of revealing the divine character by unselfishly engaging in the effort to rescue man from the pit of ruin into which he has been plunged. Every human being who will submit to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit is to be used for the accomplishment of this divinely conceived purpose. Christ is the head of His church, and it will glorify Him the more to have every portion of that church engaged in the work for the salvation of souls.

But the human workers need to leave more room for the Holy Spirit to work, that the laborers may be bound together, and move forward in the strength of a united body of soldiers. Let all remember that we are “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9).—(Australasian) Union Conference Record, April 1, 1898.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 166
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Cindy and her family. Her brother just died. It was really sudden. He only went in the hospital on Friday. Wanangwa
—-Please continue to pray for E and children. R
—-Please pray that God will guide the hands of the doctor as Larry has surgery tomorrow. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, a friend commented to a group of us, “Doesn’t each person believe he is doing what is right?” At first, I didn’t agree with him because I knew that the Holy Spirit works upon each person’s heart bringing conviction of sin. (John 16:7-11) As he expanded upon his thought, I began realize what he meant. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
It is only as we study God’s Holy Word that we can know the way that leads unto eternal life. Paul advises us, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 David agreed when he said, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” Ps 119:9-12
Jesus bids us, “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 It is only as we allow the Good Shepherd to keep us on that narrow path, that we are kept from straying. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:1-15
May we hear the Good Shepherd’s voice and instantly follow Him all the way to His Glorious Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/cooperating-with-the-divine-power.html