The rich had bestowed from their abundance, many of them to be seen and honored by men. Their large donations had deprived them of no comfort, or even luxury; they had required no sacrifice, and could not be compared in value with the widow’s mite.

It is the motive that gives character to our acts, stamping them with ignominy or with high moral worth. Not the great things which every eye sees and every tongue praises does God account most precious. The little duties cheerfully done, the little gifts which make no show, and which to human eyes may appear worthless, often stand highest in His sight. A heart of faith and love is dearer to God than the most costly gift. The poor widow gave her living to do the little that she did. She deprived herself of food in order to give those two mites to the cause she loved. And she did it in faith, believing that her Heavenly Father would not overlook her great need. It was this unselfish spirit and childlike faith that won the Saviour’s commendation.—The Desire of Ages, 615.

In order to manifest the character of God, in order that we may not deceive ourselves, the church, and the world, by a counterfeit Christianity, we must become personally acquainted with God. If we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity.—Testimonies for the Church 6:13.
With God at Dawn p. 272
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Dr. Tan who has covid and went to the ER for low O2 levels. Rose
—-Please remember to pray for me and my family, I have not been well for the last one week. I am sick with rashes all over my body and headache. Jose
—-Please pray Carl is very sick, and we don’t know why. He’s been getting weaker for 3 weeks now, and almost fell tonight. Sylvia
—-The other summer I had you all praying for my preemie granddaughter who was born at 26 weeks, and only weighed 2 lbs 1 oz at birth. Thank you everyone for all of those prayers. She is two years old now, and doing good. She can sit, crawl and stand and is trying to walk. She is about 20+ lbs. But she is still tube fed and vomits a lot. Would you all pray for her to be able to eat normally, and not vomit so much? Thank you again for every single prayer for her. My son is a OTR trucker, and needs a job close to home please also. Ann
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Dear Friends,

Several days before we went up to the Black Hills on vacation some years ago, I did a search on the Internet to find a cabin for the seven of us to stay in. We had planned on camping, but the weather forecast was for cold and rainy weather. One of the requisites was a place that allowed dogs since Ronnie Jay was bringing his chihuahua and Brian and Esther were bringing their large spaniel.

After searching and calling a few places, I rented a cabin that slept seven. There was only a small picture of the outside. The woman said that it was “bare-bones” and we should plan on bringing our own linens as well as a camp stove for cooking. This seemed a little strange since it was about thirty dollars a night more than the lovely cabin Ronnie Jay had rented for our vacation to southeast Oklahoma a few months before.

When we got there, my heart sank. Looking at it from the outside, I could not imagine how seven people could fit in the place. Inside was even worse. The inside dimensions were about 15’x15.’ It was dirty and smelled of formaldehyde. Two mattresses were placed on the floor of the loft upstairs. A double bed was on the main floor with a single-sized bunk that pulled down over it for the seventh person. There was a small microwave for cooking. (This we had to use as we forgot to bring the camp stove.) There was virtually no floor space as the steps to the loft loomed large in the middle of the room. I had thought of trying to find another place, but the woman had already told me that if I did, I’d have to pay for one night anyway.

I felt trapped in a situation I could not get out of. I felt sorry for all seven of us as I was sure they were as disappointed as I was. Eileen, Esther, and I headed for the store to buy cleaning supplies and some plastic to cover the mattresses. After some cleaning, the place was sanitary even though it was barely livable.

How often the promises of this world leave us empty and disappointed. How many times we feel helpless because nothing turns out as it should. This old world is full of such disappointments, but praise God! We have promises that will not fail! Jesus assures us that He is preparing a mansion for us that will be beyond our most hopeful dreams. (John 14:1-3) There will be no disappointments there. In that glorious land, our joy will know no bounds. We will not be cramped there. Indeed, we will follow the Lamb wherever He goes in all of His vast Universe. (Rev 14:4) We will have the privilege of fellowshipping with His angels who excel in strength. We will sit down to eat with Adam, the father of our race. Jesus tells us, “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 8:11 Think of it! We will hear from the lips of patriarch and prophet the story of their experience. We will be able to ask them answers to questions that we have always wanted to know. May we all be there, is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/rdKS9BKfZZ8/consecration-of-the-poor-widow.html

Jesus carried the awful weight of responsibility for the salvation of men. He knew that unless there was a decided change in the principles and purposes of the human race, all would be lost. This was the burden of His soul, and none could appreciate the weight that rested upon Him. Through childhood, youth, and manhood, He walked alone. Yet it was heaven to be in His presence. Day by day He met trials and temptations; day by day He was brought into contact with evil, and witnessed its power upon those whom He was seeking to bless and to save. Yet He did not fail nor become discouraged.

In all things He brought His wishes into strict abeyance to His mission. He glorified His life by making everything in it subordinate to the will of His Father. When in His youth, His mother, finding Him in the school of the rabbis, said, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us?” He answered, and His answer is the keynote of His life-work,—“How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”—Gospel Workers, 42.

The same devotion, the same consecration, the same subjection to the claims of the Word of God, that were manifest in Christ, must be seen in His servants. He left His home of security and peace, left the glory that He had with the Father before the world was, left His position upon the throne of the universe, and went forth, a suffering tempted man; went forth in solitude, to sow in tears, to water with His blood the seed of life for a lost world.—Gospel Workers, 111.
With God at Dawn p. 269
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our church as many of our members have covid. Rose
—-Please pray for my mom who has a severe brain aneurysm. G
—-I have pneumonia and I am getting worse not better. Can’t breathe and am alone. Melaura
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Dear Friends,
Occasionally, waves of homesickness sweep over me. I long for my childhood home with my grandparents, During those times I type in my old address and just stare at my home with longing to go inside and see what changes have been made and what is the same. It excites and comforts me somehow.

We each have something far more important and far more exciting than childhood memories found on the Internet. Do we share the good news of salvation with the same enthusiasm as I have when I see the home and neighborhood of my childhood? Does it animate our very being to think of Jesus and His great love for us? Do we joyfully speak of His soon coming?

Our Dear Saviour has given us a work to do before He comes. He bids us, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt 28:19, 20 Think of it! We can hurry or delay His coming by whether we share the Good News with those we meet.

May we get as excited over Jesus’ love as I do over seeing something from my childhood. May we joyfully share Him with all around us. May we take seriously Paul’s admonition to Timothy, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim 4:1-8

Rose

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Interface Language

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/X9JX4fHpxB8/consecration-of-jesus.html

The world today is in crying need of a revelation of Christ Jesus in the person of His saints. God desires that His people shall stand before the world a holy people.—Testimonies to Ministers, 458.

In the history of Joseph, Daniel, and his fellows, we see how the golden chain of truth may bind the youth to the throne of God. They could not be tempted to turn aside from their course of integrity. They valued the favor of God above the favor and praise of princes, and God loved them and spread His shield over them. Because of their faithful integrity, because of their determination to honor God above every human power, the Lord signally honored them before men…. These youth were not ashamed to display their true colors. Even in the court of the king, in their words, their habits, their practices, they confessed their faith in the Lord God of heaven. They refused to bow to any earthly mandate that detracted from the honor of God. They had strength from heaven to confess their allegiance to God. You should be prepared to follow the example of these noble youth. Never be ashamed of your colors; put them on, unfurl them to the gaze of men and angels. Do not be controlled by false modesty, by false prudence which suggests to you a course of action contrary to this advice. By your choice words and a consistent course of action, by your propriety, your earnest piety, make a telling confession of your faith, determined that Christ shall occupy the throne in the soul temple; and lay your talents without reserve at His feet to be employed in His service.—Messages to Young People, 27, 28.
With God at Dawn p. 267
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Prayer Requests
—-May I ask your prayers for a friend, Don who is now in the hospital for bleeding due to flu. Pray this not to be Covid again. Sally
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, a friend was telling me about their neighbor. The man is a rich doctor and his wife spends her time lounging around the house watching the shopping channel on TV and spending his money. She is very spoiled and self-centered and feels as if everyone should serve her.

My friend was half laughing-half disgusted at the woman’s attitude and how the woman’s husband treats her. When the doctor asked my friend’s husband, who cares his and other’s lawns as a side business, if the grass seeds he had just planted would grow this time, he responded, “If you have your wife turn on the sprinklers, it will.”

Shocked that anyone would expect his wife to do such a menial task, the doctor said, “Oh, my wife couldn’t do that. She doesn’t feel well. She is going through menopause.”

It’s hard to believe that there are people in this world that are so pampered that they cannot even turn a knob. We shake our head in disgust. Yet, how often we are like that woman living a self-centered life as if we deserve all of God’s good gifts which He daily showers upon us. How seldom we give Him thanks for all He has done for us? How rarely do we put aside our desire for ease and work for Him? How unlike our Dear Saviour we are!

Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, the One Whom all Heaven adores, came down to this sinful, rebellious world and humbled Himself living a life of service to others. He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” He equipped His disciples for a life of service as well. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matt 20:28; 9:35-10:1

In view of all that Jesus has done for us, how can we sit in self-centered idleness? May we serve as He served. May we respond with the attitude in this poem by Ralph Atwood.

To fill a need as best I can
To see the worth in broken man
To break the hold of guilt and pain
And restore dignity again
To see a smile where there were tears
To offer hope that shatters fears
To love the unloved while there’s time
And make his heavy burden mine
To look a lost soul in the eye
And tell him Jesus came to die
And follow through with word and deed
And never quit while there’s still need
To recognize my Master’s voice
And serve with love This is my choice

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/8TrJi0lIiI0/right-living-brings-honor.html