God wants every child of tender age to be His child, to be adopted into His family. Young though they may be, the youth may be members of the household of faith, and have a most precious experience. They may have hearts that are tender and ready to receive impressions that will be lasting. They may have their hearts drawn out in confidence and love for Jesus, and live for the Saviour. Christ will make them little missionaries. The whole current of their thoughts may be changed, so that sin will not appear a thing to be enjoyed, but to be hated and shunned.

Small children, as well as those who are older, will be benefited by this instruction; and in thus simplifying the plan of salvation, the teachers will receive as great blessings as those who are taught. The Holy Spirit of God will impress the lessons upon the receptive minds of the children, that they may grasp the ideas of Bible truth in their simplicity. And the Lord will give an experience to these children in missionary lines; He will suggest to them lines of thought that even the teachers did not have. The children who are properly instructed will be witnesses for the truth.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 169, 170.

Work as if you were working for your life to save children from being drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences of this life.—Child Guidance, 309.

A teacher should be employed who will educate the children in the truths of the Word of God, which are so essential for these last days, and which it is so important for them to understand. A great test is coming: it will be upon obedience or disobedience to the commandments of God.—The Review and Herald, July 2, 1908.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 140
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Prayer Requests
—-My husband has been diagnosed with vascular dementia, which finally makes sense of the downward slide into insanity that we are dealing with. It’s been horrific to watch this happen, and deal with the rages and verbal abuse. I’ve been praying for wisdom as to how to handle this in the best way possible, even though he considers me his enemy now and say all sorts of horrible things about me and about God. He is not a Christian. I have hoped and prayed that he would be saved before he dies, but he doesn’t have the wherewithall now to make that decision anymore. It is so sad. Please, I need help praying for a good place for him to be taken to. He keeps threatening to kill me, and I may have to move into my parents’ house. The problem is he is disabled from strokes, and I’ve been his caregiver for the last 10 years. I’m not sure what to do. Kathy
—-Please continue to pray that God will guide and protect E and children. R
—-please pray for our dear friend Li. She is a single mother and my sister’s housemate. She came home earlier and complained to my sister that she has a terrible headache and was throwing up. She lost consciousness while talking, my sister rushed her to hospital. And she’s in ICU now. Dr’s has informed my sister that she has massive brain aneurysm. And isn’t looking good. Please pray that she survived. He son is only 6yrs old. Samantha
—-There is a nurse in SC whose 16 y/o daughter suddenly ended up in ICU with septic shock and DIC. Being intubated and put on dialysis, RBC, plasma, etc Hospitalized yesterday. I am asking if you and your group could say prayers for her daughter. Thank you Kathy
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Dear Friends,

Happiness, peace, and love are the three things that people spend most of their life trying to find; and they don’t even realize that they are simply looking in the wrong places! How often we look for these three things in our relationship with those around us. Some spend their lifetime seeking the fleeting pleasures this world has to offer only to find that happiness eludes them. In the end, they suddenly realize that they have wasted their life. Some spend their time and energy amassing fame and fortune but have poverty of soul. Others think if they find the perfect mate, their life would be complete. Too late, they find that there really such a thing as the perfect mate. While it is true, that God has someone special in this world for each of us, but we must find happiness, peace, and love before we try to find these things in that “special someone.”

God’s Holy Word bids us, “Seek peace, and pursue it.” Ps 34:14 Yes, the Bible holds the key to where we can find the happiness, peace, and love we desire. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you.” John 14:27 Only through the Prince of Peace can we find what we are looking for!

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, experienced no peace when He dwelt upon this sinful, old planet. He was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Isa 53:3-11

Praise the Lord for His goodness and His wonderful love and sacrifice. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17 Think of it! “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:4-10

“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . . .My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:9-2:2.

Jesus pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20, 21 May we open our heart’s door today.

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/very-close-to-the-children.html

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