Those who are in connection with God are channels for the power of the Holy Spirit. If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred does not make him less dear to the heart of God. He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly, and complain of God, but turns the mistake into a victory. He learns a lesson from the words of the Master, and takes heed that he be not again deceived.

Those who truly love God have internal evidence that they are beloved of God, that they have communion with Christ, that their hearts are warmed with fervent love toward Him. The truth for this time is believed with sound confidence. They can say with all assurance, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty…. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:16-19).

The inner life of the soul will reveal itself in the outward conduct. Let the Word of God bear its testimony in behalf of the messenger whom God hath sent with a message in these last days to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7).

The wisdom of so-called intellectual men cannot be relied upon, unless they have learned and are daily learning lessons in the school of Christ. Men, in their supposed wisdom, may plan and devise theories and systems of philosophy, but the Lord calls them vain and foolish. The Lord says, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).—The Review and Herald, May 12, 1896.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 134
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a friend from a previous line of work whose daughter was admitted to the hospital with an idiopathic infection in her ear that has spread to other parts of her body and it sounds pretty serious. Please pray for both the family’s physical and spiritual well-being. David
—-PLease continue to pray for E and children. R
—-A friend of mine named Stephanie had to have a hysterectomy recently for cancer, and now she has sepsis and has had her lower legs and finger parts amputated. Please keep her in prayers. Ann
—-Please pray for coworker Jennifer that she turns to Christ in her current time of need and desperation. Nathan
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Dear Friends,

Before I was five, my aunt Joyce still lived with my grandparents. So did I as they had adopted me when I was a baby. My aunt loved all children, but I was especially dear to her. So, for those first five years, she used quite a bit of her paycheck to shower me with expensive gifts. Imagine her disappointment when as a very little girl, I played with the box instead of the toy.

As I got older, her gifts were enjoyed, but I did not appreciate the hours of work that she put in at the factory in order to buy these expensive gifts. Gilmore’s Department Store was the fanciest and most expensive store in Kalamazoo; and because Auntie Joyce loved me, she bought my presents there. One time when I was very little, she saw a portable doll house with very expensive and realistic miniature furnishings. Each week she would buy a piece of furniture, so that by the time I was old enough to enjoy playing with it, I had the complete set. How I loved that doll house! It was one of the few things that I really enjoyed playing with.

I can never remember really thanking Auntie Joyce for all the lovely things she bought me. Oh, when I was old enough to talk, I said “thank you,” because I had been taught to be polite; but I took her gifts for granted as though they were just a part of life.

How often do we do the same with our Great Creator’s gifts. How often we enjoy His wonderful blessings with scarcely a thought of the Giver. We might even thank Him politely for something special, but our heart is not filled with gratefulness. We are as He sadly described His followers of old, “this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Isa 29:13 How often we forget that, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

How little we appreciate His Greatest Gift of all and take His Great Sacrifice for granted. Because of His great love for us, He sent Jesus, His only Begotten Son, to suffer and die for us. “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 Yet, how often we live our life as though we deserved such a sacrifice! We can never be worth the sacrifice He made, “but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8

Do we daily thank Him for the great sacrifice that He made for us? Do we have love for Him welling up within our hearts? Do we respond to Him by loving obedience? Can others see His character shining through us? Are His praises continually upon our lips? “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8 Paul advises, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18 May He open our eyes to His blessings each day that we will praise Him from a heart filled with love and gratitude for His marvelous grace is my prayer.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/still-loved-though-we-err.html

When trials arise that seem unexplainable, we should not allow our peace to be spoiled. However unjustly we may be treated, let not passion arise. By indulging a spirit of retaliation we injure ourselves. We destroy our own confidence in God, and grieve the Holy Spirit. There is by our side a Witness, a heavenly Messenger, who will lift up for us a standard against the enemy. He will shut us in with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Beyond this Satan cannot penetrate. He cannot pass this shield of holy light.

While the world is progressing in wickedness, none of us need flatter ourselves that we shall have no difficulties. But it is these very difficulties that bring us into the audience chamber of the Most High. We may seek counsel of One who is infinite in wisdom.

The Lord says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble” (Psalm 50:15). He invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessities, and our need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as difficulties arise, we are to offer to Him our sincere, earnest petitions. By our importunate prayers we give evidence of our strong confidence in God. The sense of our need leads us to pray earnestly, and our heavenly Father is moved by our supplications.

Often those who suffer reproach or persecution for their faith are tempted to think themselves forsaken by God. In the eyes of men they are in the minority. To all appearance their enemies triumph over them. But let them not violate their conscience. He who has suffered in their behalf, and has borne their sorrows and afflictions, has not forsaken them.

The children of God are not left alone and defenseless. Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. Prayer has “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire”—we shall know what it means when we hear the reports of the martyrs who died for their faith—“turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33, 34).—Christ’s Object Lessons, 171, 172.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 132
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Prayer Requests
—- The death toll among Adventist Church members in Ukraine has risen to seven, with 25 wounded among the baptized and non-baptized churchgoers. Keep them all in prayer. as well as those being persecuted for accepting Christ. M
—-E’s meeting was postponed until the tenth. Please pray earnestly. R
—-Prayer request for my great neighbor she fell off the ladder an had emergency surgery this afternoon for a brain bleed she is in iCU now pray for her healing she is a super good neighbor. her name is Marsha. thank you ,M.
—-Please pray for Bill whose wife died yesterday. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Words cannot express our Great Creator’s Love and Mercy toward us! He “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 Think of it! Since God loves us so much that He has given His Greatest Gift to redeem us from the enemy, since He has sacrificed His All for us, He is interested in every aspect of our life. Indeed, He longs to shower us with all of His good blessings. He wants us to ask Him for the things that we need. He bids us “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.” Luke 11:9, 10 Sometimes the answer is immediate and spectacular. Often the answer comes more slowly and in a different form, yet it is still God’s answer. We can have the assurance that He hears and answers each prayer, even if He does not always give us the exact thing for which we ask. Just as a loving parent must often tell their child “no,” “wait awhile,” or “here is something better suited to your needs” so does our Loving Heavenly Father for He knows the future and what would happen if He granted our request. Sometimes we think that He does not answer because we do not get just what we have asked for, but our Loving King weighs each prayer and gives us what is best for us. He is our Great Shepherd, our Guide, our constant Companion, our Heavenly Father. We can safely trust in Him!
Indeed, He loves us so much that He grants the request of even the most feeble and stammering prayer of one reaching out to Him with but a tiny spark of faith. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isa 57:15;41:13
The Great King of the Universe loves us more than anything! How He yearns to hear from us. We are so dear to His Great Heart of Love. He Who made the worlds is listening for our call, waiting for the contact He so greatly desires. With inexpressible longing, He desires to dwell within us, to comfort and strengthen us, to bring us into harmony with Him. Jesus speaks of His tender care for us, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. . . . Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:7,27-32
May we daily come to Him for guidance, for protection, for everything that we need telling Him all of our joys, all of our hopes, all of our troubles, all of our worries, casting all our care upon Him; for we have the assurance that He cares for us. (I Peter 5:7) May we “watch unto prayer” keeping contact with the One Who loves us with an everlasting love. (Jer 31:3) May we “pray without ceasing and in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:17, 18
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/surrounded-by-a-divine-shield.html

Much is being said regarding the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and by some this is being so interpreted that it is an injury to the churches. Eternal life is the receiving of the living elements in the Scriptures and doing the will of God. This is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. To those who do this, life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel, for God’s Word is verity and truth, spirit and life. It is the privilege of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to feed on the Word of God. The Holy Spirit’s influence renders that Word, the Bible, an immortal truth, which to the prayerful searcher gives spiritual sinew and muscle.

“Search the scriptures,” Christ declared, “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Those who dig beneath the surface discover the hidden gems of truth. The Holy Spirit is present with the earnest searcher. His illumination shines upon the Word, stamping the truth upon the mind with a new, fresh importance. The searcher is filled with a sense of peace and joy never before felt. The preciousness of truth is realized as never before. A new, heavenly light shines upon the Word, illuminating it as though every letter were tinged with gold. God Himself has spoken to the mind and heart, making the Word spirit and life.

Every true searcher of the Word lifts his heart to God, imploring the aid of the Spirit. And he soon discovers that which carries him above all the fictitious statements of the would-be teacher, whose weak, tottering theories are not sustained by the Word of the living God. These theories were invented by men who had not learned the first great lesson, that God’s Spirit and life are in His Word. If they had received in the heart the eternal element contained in the Word of God, they would see how tame and expressionless are all efforts to get something new to create a sensation. They need to learn the very first principles of the Word of God.—Selected Messages 2:38, 39.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 127
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for E and children. R
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Dear Friends,

One cold, December day when I was in second grade, I hurried to the cloakroom as soon as the school’s door was open and quickly hung up my new coat. Then I went quietly to my desk and sat down ready to learn new and interesting things.

The morning sped by quickly and soon it was time for recess. As I walked to the cloakroom, I suddenly realized that because my mind had been full of thoughts of Christmas, I had not paid attention to where I had hung my coat. It would be hard for a seven year old to find anything among the hats, coats, gloves, and boots of thirty children. I felt confused. Where was my coat?

At last I saw it, but something was different about it. There was a beautiful Christmas corsage pinned to it. As I stood there with my coat in my hand, I felt like crying for joy. Surely my mother had come there and given me a gift. She had never done anything like this before, but she must have wanted to surprise me. My heart thrilled with happiness and joy.

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain on my left arm. Startled, I looked down at a long, deep scratch on my arm and then up into Lonnie’s angry face. She was screaming something at me, but I was so shocked at her behavior that I could not tell what she was saying. I only knew that for some reason she had scratched me with her long, sharp fingernails.

Hearing Lonnie’s angry screams, the teacher came to my rescue. Soon she had sorted out the problem. Lonnie had a coat that looked almost like mine. The coat in my hand was hers. I was embarrassed and very disappointed. Tears filled my eyes. That beautiful corsage was not a present from my mother. She had not brought me a surprise at all. I turned to where my teacher was pointing and took my own coat down from the hook. Tearfully, I went outside to the playground although I didn’t do any playing. My heart was broken. For many years I had a scar on my arm to remind me of this incident.

Sometimes we get as confused as I was that day, for the evil one has a counterfeit for every good gift of God. He even pins a “beautiful corsage” on his counterfeit to make it more attractive than the real thing. How careful we must be not to make a mistake. Our future depends upon which we will choose. 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 constantly lays snares for our feet. He tries to confuse us and allure us into his traps. We cannot fight him alone. We must resist him “steadfast in the faith.” vs 9 Paul advises, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For 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.” Eph 6:11,12

The wise man tells us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12 The path of truth lies so close to the path of error that only by the Lamp of God’s Word our Great Teacher has given us can we discern the right. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps 119:105 “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 What a blessing God’s Word is! Throughout it’s pages, we find “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6 Yet, how often we spend our time in other pursuits. How often we get caught up in the mundane or the pleasures of this world. How often we have one foot on the narrow path that leads to eternal life and one foot on the broad way that leads to destruction. (Matt 7:13,14) Jesus explains that this is impossible to do. He says, “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.” 6:24

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.” Josh 24:15;Deut 30:19,20
May our daily prayer be “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Ps 143:8
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/separating-the-true-from-the-fictitious.html