Young as he was when brought to minister in the tabernacle, Samuel had even then duties to perform in the service of God, according to his capacity. These were at first very humble, and not always pleasant; but they were performed to the best of his ability, and with a willing heart….

If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, as a school in which they were to be trained to render faithful and efficient service, how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear. To perform every duty as unto the Lord, throws a charm around the humblest employment and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven.38Patriarchs and Prophets, 573, 574.

The life of Samuel from early childhood had been a life of piety and devotion. He had been placed under the care of Eli in his youth, and the loveliness of his character drew forth the warm affection of the aged priest. He was kind, generous, diligent, obedient, and respectful. The contrast between the course of the youth Samuel and that of the priest’s own sons was very marked, and Eli found rest and comfort and blessing in the presence of his charge. It was a singular thing that between Eli, the chief magistrate of the nation, and the simple child so warm a friendship should exist. Samuel was helpful and affectionate, and no father ever loved his child more tenderly than did Eli this youth. As the infirmities of age came upon Eli, he felt more keenly the disheartening, reckless, profligate course of his own sons, and he turned to Samuel for comfort and support.

How touching to see youth and old age relying one upon the other, the youth looking up to the aged for counsel and wisdom, the aged looking to the youth for help and sympathy. This is as it should be. God would have the young possess such qualifications of character that they shall find delight in the friendship of the old, that they may be united in the endearing bonds of affection to those who are approaching the borders of the grave.39The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1021.
Conflict and Courage p. 144
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my family. My Best Friend had a miscarriage, my Father might have to go the ER and other family member is having fighting a disease. We are in need of prayer. A
—-Please pray for Mary who is losing her sight. Pray also for our family because we are having a huge miscommunication problem. Buck
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Dear Friends,

About two years after Ron and I were married, we wanted to buy something to live in. Since there were only two of us and we weren’t making much money, a trailer seemed to be a good solution. Up to this time we had been living with his parents.

After work, we began our search. We visited all of the trailer sales lots in town so we could find just the one that was right for us. When the salesman showed us one trailer after another, we began to grow weary. They were all so small. Finally we entered an 8×28 used travel trailer that had a slide out just big enough for the sofa. “That will give you more room,” the salesman assured. The slide out was shoved in, but he explained how it would look when it was shoved into place. He artfully kept our minds on the good features of the ancient trailer and hoped that we did not notice the problem areas. We were young and inexperienced, so we believed every word he said. We had such high hopes and dreams. We visualized years of wedded bliss in this trailer that was now our very own.

After it was set up and we moved in, however, all was not bliss. We began to notice those problem areas that the salesman had hidden. With the slide out shoved into place, we saw what the salesman did not want us to see—a large spot in the floor where the wood was rotten. As we pressed our foot on it, it sunk down ominously. Looking up, Ron saw the cause of the problem—a leaky roof.

Soon it was winter and our trailer developed other problems. With sinking heart, we discovered that our trailer was not made to live in year round. As the Michigan temperatures dropped, we developed more problems. The heater just did not keep us warm. The trailer had no insulation and Northern Michigan gets very cold in the winter. When I mopped the floor, the water froze and we had our own private skating rink until the temperatures got warmer. One day, as I walked into our tiny living room, I noticed that it was snowing—-inside! A fine mist of snow was spraying from around the slide out. I was so discouraged.

Finally spring arrived with all the normal rain. It was like living under a waterfall there were so many leaks in the roof. I placed buckets under them all and miserably huddled on the sofa trying to keep dry. I was thinking rather uncomplimentary things about that salesman who had sold us this “albatross.”

Summer brought its own disappointments. Mosquitoes took over our living quarters. Not just one or two mosquitoes, but clouds of them moved in. We were miserable. If we went outside, we were covered with those blood sucking insects. If we went inside, we were covered with those biting creatures. There was no escape. In desperation, Ron pitched his pup tent in the living room, so we could at least sleep in peace.

How much like that crumbling travel trailer are the allurements of sin. The evil one shows us the “good features,” but carefully hides sins consequences. Only after we have “bought” his “bill of goods,” do we realize that we have made a grave mistake. Only after being caught in his snare do we see the folly of our ways. With sinking heart we realize that we are bound with the cords of sin— cords that we cannot break. Day after day passes, bringing with it more and more misery.

Praise God! We do not have to stay in that condition. Our Loving Saviour has provided a way of escape. He will break those cords that hold us so tightly in the grasp of the enemy if we ask Him. “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.” John 3:16 What a great sacrifice! What great love! Think of it. Jesus left the glories of Heaven to die on the cross that we might have eternal life. The adoration of the unfallen inhabitants of the universe meant nothing to Him, as long as we were ensnared in the enemy’s trap. His Great Heart of Love filled with “compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” Lam 3:32

Isaiah foresaw our Dear Saviour’s sacrifice. He says, “He is 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.” Isa 53:3-6 He endured so much for us that we might dwell with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom. What wonderful love! It is beyond comprehension!

May we accept fully this free gift of salvation, that we may be delivered from the evil one and follow our Dear Saviour out of a heart full of thankfulness and love is my prayer.

Rose
—-

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/no-generation-gap-2.html

From Shiloh, Hannah quietly returned to her home at Ramah, leaving the child Samuel to be trained for service in the house of God, under the instruction of the high priest. From the earliest dawn of intellect she had taught her son to love and reverence God and to regard himself as the Lord’s. By every familiar object surrounding him she had sought to lead his thoughts up to the Creator. When separated from her child, the faithful mother’s solicitude did not cease. Every day he was the subject of her prayers. Every year she made, with her own hands, a robe of service for him; and as she went up with her husband to worship at Shiloh, she gave the child this reminder of her love. Every fiber of the little garment had been woven with a prayer that he might be pure, noble, and true. She did not ask for her son worldly greatness, but she earnestly pleaded that he might attain that greatness which Heaven values—that he might honor God and bless his fellow men.

What a reward was Hannah’s! and what an encouragement to faithfulness is her example! There are opportunities of inestimable worth, interests infinitely precious, committed to every mother. The humble round of duties which women have come to regard as a wearisome task should be looked upon as a grand and noble work. It is the mother’s privilege to bless the world by her influence, and in doing this she will bring joy to her own heart. She may make straight paths for the feet of her children, through sunshine and shadow, to the glorious heights above. But it is only when she seeks, in her own life, to follow the teachings of Christ that the mother can hope to form the character of her children after the divine pattern. The world teems with corrupting influences. Fashion and custom exert a strong power over the young. If the mother fails in her duty to instruct, guide, and restrain, her children will naturally accept the evil, and turn from the good. Let every mother go often to her Saviour with the prayer, “Teach us, how shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him?” Let her heed the instruction which God has given in His word, and wisdom will be given her as she shall have need.25Patriarchs and Prophets, 572, 573.
Conflict and Courage p. 138
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for P who is having some behavioral problems. A Buck
—-Please pray for E and family for guidance and protection. R
—-Please pray for my 74 year old mom for healing from intestinal surgery. For my niece Demiah is 12 years old and has depression. Also for a friend’s daughter, Margaret (in 20’s) pregnant, for her mom who is not happy and says she’s too young to be a grandma. Selfish lady. Thank you. Robert
—–Please keep Terri F in prayer that her bone marrow transplant takes. Thanks. April
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Dear Friends,
Names. How careful we must be when we name our helpless babe. A name can make or break the person. I used to have a friend whose name was Nayon. Her mother had a friend by that name, but how Nayon hated her name. Whenever someone asked for her name, she got many strange looks. Then she felt compelled to explain.
In the Bible, babies were of named according to something that happened surrounding their birth. Seeing what the various Biblical names mean makes for interesting study. For example, Isaac was named “he laughs” because Abraham and Sarah laughed when God told Abraham that she was going to have a baby. (Gen 17:17; 18:12) Esau was named “hairy” because he was covered with red hair. Jacob’s name meant “heel holder” or “supplanter” because he took hold of Esau’s heel during the birthing process. (Gen 25:25, 26)
The name of Jesus, how precious it is! His name tells Who He is: the Saviour! The angel commanded Joseph, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:23 Truly He is the “Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa 9:6
Through the name of Jesus, His followers taught the people the way to eternal life, had power to heal the sick, cast out demons, even raised the dead. (Matt 10:8) Looking at the future reward of God’s people, John tells us, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Rev 22:4 Will we have a visible mark tattooed across our forehead that says “Jesus”? No! His name is His character, His glory. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, he was told, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee.” As Moses was in the cleft of the rock, “the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Ex 33:19; 34:5-7
When our Great Creator gave us the Ten Commandments, which are a transcript of His Character and a rule for our happiness, He proclaimed, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Ex 20:7 This commandment encompasses more than common swearing, for that sin can be forgiven. When we take on the name of Christ, we are to become like Him in character. Paul tells us, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim 2:19 When we fail to do so, over and over again, we become hardened in our sin, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” to gain the victory. 2 Tim 3:5 Eventually, we get discouraged and turn away from our Only Hope, our Only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Fearful position—a position that we need not be in, for our Great Redeemer has provided us with all that we need to be saved, even giving His Most Precious Gift, His Only Begotten Son. (John 3:16)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:5-13 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25
Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/gods-property-2.html

God Himself appeared to the wife of Manoah and told her that she should have a son, and that he should be a great man and should deliver Israel. Then He gave her special instructions regarding her diet…. Let us regard this as instruction given to every mother in our world. If you want your children to have well-balanced minds, you must be temperate yourselves. Keep your own heart and affections sound and healthful, that you may impart to your offspring a healthful mind and body.7 Manuscript 18, 1887.

Every mother may understand her duty. She may know that the character of her children will depend vastly more upon her habits before their birth and her personal efforts after their birth, than upon external advantages or disadvantages…. The mother who is a fit teacher for her children must, before their birth, form habits of self-denial and self-control; for she transmits to them her own qualities, her own strong or weak traits of character.8Counsels on Diet and Foods, 218, 219.

Unwise advisers will urge upon the mother the necessity of gratifying every wish and impulse, but such teaching is false and mischievous. The mother is by the command of God Himself placed under the most solemn obligation to exercise self-control. And fathers as well as mothers are involved in this responsibility. Both parents transmit their own characteristics, mental and physical, their dispositions and appetites, to their children.9Patriarchs and Prophets, 561.

Many make the subject of temperance a matter of jest. They claim that the Lord does not concern Himself with such minor matters as our eating and drinking. But if the Lord had no care for these things, He would not have revealed Himself to the wife of Manoah, giving her definite instructions, and twice enjoining upon her to beware lest she disregard them.10Temperance, 233, 234.

The effect of prenatal influences is by many parents looked upon as a matter of little moment; but heaven does not so regard it…. In the words spoken to the Hebrew mother, God speaks to all mothers in every age.11The Ministry of Healing,
Conflict and Courage p. 130
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Angie’s husband Mike who is on his way to the hospital with a heart attack. Sherry
—-Please pray for Dick. They have found that he has throat cancer. Planning on radiation and chemo, as surgery is problematic in patients with Dementia, as they have trouble cooperating with their recovery.
Please continue to pray. Sylvia
—-Please be praying for my husband. There was miscommunication and he found out last minute he had to enroll in classes for the summer AND the payment is due this week. Jennifer
—-Please pray for E and family as they embark on a new journey. R
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Dear Friends,

About ten or fifteen years ago, we went to southeastern Oklahoma with Ronnie Jay. He had rented a cabin at a state park so he could photograph some of the local animals. He was especially hoping to get some good pictures of black bear.

Before going on one of his photography adventures, he always researched carefully what animals inhabit the area and the best places to find them. Normally, he is successful. Not that time. Those miles and miles of forested land should have been teeming with creatures, but we had never seen an area so devoid of animal life. The thick forest was beautiful to behold, but no amount of hiking, no amount of driving on narrow forest paths produced the desired results. We didn’t even see a deer or a squirrel let alone the desired bear. We looked for the usual animal trails. There were none. We did see one set of deer tracks and a few raccoon handprints on one of the hikes, but that was all. There was nothing but a few birds, a tarantula, a few turtles, and a couple of snakes. It was very unusual and very disappointing.

That lush forest which seemed so lifeless reminds me of the fig tree that Jesus passed one day. The fig tree had leaves but no fruit. He used that fruitless tree to teach His disciples a lesson in faith. “Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt 21:18-21

How often we are equally as fruitless as that fig tree. Isaiah speaks of this “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.” Isa 5:1-6 Fearful warning.

Yet there is hope. We do not have to stay in that fruitless condition. If we allow Jesus to work His will in our life, we can yield an abundant harvest of the fruit of the Spirit which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance.” Gal 5:22, 23 He shows us the way to obtain these fruits. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:1-8

May we “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” is my prayer. Col 1:10, 11

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/before-the-baby-comes-2.html