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Confession Leads to Salvation

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For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10.

Could Christians realize how many times the Lord has ordered their way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them. They would acknowledge Him as their wisdom and efficiency, and He would bring to pass that which He desires to work out through them.—Prophets and Kings, 576.

The conditions of obtaining mercy from God are simple and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order to gain forgiveness. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression. He that “confesseth and forsaketh” his sin “shall have mercy.”

In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church—pleading for those for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages, can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast. If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may seem feeble, but His love is that of an elder brother; so long as we maintain our union with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand.—The Acts of the Apostles, 552.
With God at Dawn p. 230
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Prayer Requests
—-There’s a fire about 15 miles from my area, please pray that it doesn’t reach here. David
—-Please pray for Mike, Eileen, and Brian as they travel. Rose
—-I need prayer for direction and wisdom on finding a plan for my grandson’s school year. Cora
—-I’m having a plumbing problem that’s taking a toll on my health and life. Will you please pray it will be resolved very soon. Nancy
—-Please pray for my daughter Kayla who finally got pregnant and is due in February and has now tested positive for COVID. Linda
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Dear Friends,

One afternoon when Ronnie Jay was not quite three, I noticed he was acting rather strangely. He was standing on the floor and leaning against the sofa with his head on one of the cushions. Worried, I went over to investigate. He had been playing outside. He was always a very good child and never got into trouble of any kind so he often went outside by himself. I questioned him and tried to figure out why he was not acting his usual self. Finally, I noticed that he was holding something. It was small, triangular, dark brown, and a little wet. I had no idea what it was, but whatever this “something” was, it had to be the cause of his problem.

I asked Ronnie Jay to show me where he had found this “something” that was in his hand. He took me to a dark, damp area close against the house. There were three mushrooms growing. One had a piece missing! That piece in Ronnie Jay’s hand fit perfectly.

Just as putting that mushroom into his mouth for a short time, had caused Ronnie Jay to be groggy and listless for the afternoon; so one little cherished sin can cause us to become listless spiritually. Solomon explains, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Ecc 10:1 We must stop “tasting” the evil “mushrooms” of sin, for although they look so desirable, they are full of poison.

There is only one remedy for our spiritually groggy condition. Praise God! Our Dear Saviour can heal our listlessness and cause us to be alert and full of life. Think of it. He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 The gift of salvation is ours for the asking! We have the privilege of coming to Jesus for the forgiveness and cleansing we so desperately need. Paul urges us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” John assures us, “if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Heb 4:16; John 1:9

The prayer of confession David prayed after his great sin should be our heartfelt cry, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight….Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. . . . Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:1-13

May we daily pray, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps 19:12-14

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/0U9o1DaCfXI/confession-leads-to-salvation.html

Only God Can Forgive

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To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. Daniel 9:9.

Do not look to men, nor hang your hopes upon them, feeling that they are infallible, but look to Jesus constantly. Say nothing that would cast a reproach upon our faith. Confess your secret sins alone before your God. Acknowledge your heart wanderings to Him who knows perfectly how to treat your case.

If you have wronged your neighbor, acknowledge to him your sin, and show fruit of the same by making restitution. Then claim the blessing. Come to God just as you are, and let Him heal all your infirmities. Press your case to the throne of grace; let the work be thorough. Be sincere in dealing with God and your own soul. If you come to Him with a heart truly contrite, He will give you the victory. Then you may bear a sweet testimony of freedom, showing forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. He will not misapprehend or misjudge you. Your fellowmen cannot absolve you from sin, or cleanse you from iniquity. Jesus is the only one who can give you peace. He loved you, and gave Himself for you. His great heart of love is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”

What sins are too great for Him to pardon? What soul too dark and sin-oppressed for Him to save? He is gracious, not looking for merit in us, but of His own boundless goodness healing our backslidings and loving us freely, while we are yet great sinners. He is “slow to anger and of great kindness.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:649.

Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another.—Testimonies for the Church 5:639.
With God at Dawn p. 227
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that I can find my address book. It has some very important numbers in it. M
—-pray God proves rhe doctors wrong and my tumor be removed by Gods miracles. L
—-Please pray for Brian as he travels. Rose
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, when Ron, Ronnie Jay, and I went down to southeast Oklahoma, we stopped by a lake to see what we could photograph. As I was gazing over the water, I noticed to my left there were two rocks near the shore. Clinging to those rocks were several saplings whose roots sunk deep into the sand. Although the wavelets were trying to wash them away, they were holding fast.

So it is in our spiritual life. The trials and troubles of this old world beat upon us just as those waves were beating upon those saplings. Just as those saplings were clinging to the rock along the water’s edge, so only as we cling to the Rock can we be secure. Just as those young trees were rooted deeply into the shoreline, so we must be anchored deeply in God’s Holy Word in order to withstand the onslaughts of the evil one.

Anchoring deeply in the Word of God keeps us from being washed away by every wind of doctrine and theory of man; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph 4:14-16 John warns us, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 How can we try them? By comparing what they say and do by the precious Word of God. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa 8:20

Only as we cling as tightly to Jesus as those saplings did to the rocks, can we be ready to meet Him when He comes to receive His own. Only as we make Him our foundation, can we be sure we are building aright. Jesus tells us, “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49
May we always cling to the Great Anchor of our soul, Who is both sure and steadfast that we may be ready to meet Him when He comes to receive His own is my prayer. (Heb 6:19)

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/UyK44Lkk5vg/only-god-can-forgive.html

The Holy Spirit Brings Conviction

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And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:8.

It is the privilege of every Christian to enjoy the deep movings of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade the mind, and you will love to meditate upon God and heaven. You will feast upon the glorious promises of His Word. But know first that you have begun the Christian course. Know that the first steps are taken in the road to everlasting life. Be not deceived. I fear, yea, I know that many of you know not what religion is. You have felt some excitement, some emotion, but have never seen sin in its enormity. You have never felt your undone condition, and turned from your evil ways with bitter sorrow. You have never died to the world. You still love its pleasures; you love to engage in conversation on worldly matters. But when the truth of God is introduced, you have nothing to say. Why so silent? Why so talkative upon worldly things, and so silent upon the subject that should most concern you—a subject that should engage your whole soul? The truth of God does not dwell in you.—Messages to Young People, 132.

The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.—Messages to Young People, 157.

The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image.—The Desire of Ages, 302.
With God at Dawn p. 225
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Prayer Requests
—- I have prayer request for Azura & Abu, pray for their recovery. They have been intubated due to covid. Azura is 5 months pregnant. Abu is in critical condition, he has blood clot in his brain and Dr’s are trying to save him. Samantha
—-Please send prayers for Jamari 11 months old who is in the hospital. Arlene
—-Please pray that God will heal David mentally and spiritually. Buck
—-Please join hands with me in prayer for my daughter Andrea and her daughter Solenne they have been
Tested positive for covid Therese
—-Please pray for my friends who have covid. There are several. Rose
—-My friend baby went into cardiac arrest 2 days ago he is 7 months old his name is Augustine they finally found a Medication to keep his rhythms stable praise God so he can have a MRI to see what is going on need all you prayer warriors to pray for this little guy. Lisa
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Dear Friends,

There are so many wonderful chapters or verses in God’s Holy Word, that it would be hard to choose just one, but I’d have to say that one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Every verse points to our Loving Creator, Who “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.” Phil 2:7, 8 I thought I’d share it with you today.

“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 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. 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. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 52:13-53:12

What wonderful love! Who can comprehend it? May we daily meditate upon His great love for us, for as we do, we will find that our love for Him will grow stronger and deeper until we are filled with all fullness of joy in Him. (Ps 16:11)

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/BBeAWnUQP9w/the-holy-spirit-brings-conviction.html

I Will Declare My Iniquity

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For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18.

A little time spent in sowing your wild oats, dear young friends, will produce a crop that will imbitter your whole life; an hour of thoughtlessness—once yielding to temptation—may turn the whole current of your life in the wrong direction. You can have but one youth; make that useful. When once you have passed over the ground, you can never return to rectify your mistakes. He who refuses to connect with God, and puts himself in the way of temptation, will surely fall. God is testing every youth. Many have excused their carelessness and irreverence, because of the wrong example given them by more experienced professors. But this should not deter any from right-doing. In the day of final accounts you will plead no such excuses as you plead now. You will be justly condemned, because you knew the way, but did not choose to walk in it…. While some of the youth are wasting their powers in vanity and folly, others are disciplining their minds, storing up knowledge, girding on the armor to engage in life’s warfare, determined to make it a success. But they cannot make life a success, however high they may attempt to climb, unless they center their affections upon God. If they will turn to the Lord with all the heart, rejecting the flatteries of those who would in the slightest degree weaken their purpose to do right, they will have strength and confidence in God.—Testimonies for the Church 4:622-624.

It is for you to yield up your will to the will of Jesus Christ; and as you do this, God will immediately take possession, and work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.—Messages to Young People, 152.
With God at Dawn p. 223
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Brenda and several other of my friends who have covid. Rose
—-David and his family need earnest prayer. Buck
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Dear Friends,

When we lived in Washington state, a neighbor about a fourth of a mile from our house had let us have some garden space. He even had rototilled it for us. We were very grateful and envisioned a bountiful harvest of our very favorite vegetables. With enthusiasm, we bought the seeds and planted them. After the little plants appeared, we were there each day to keep them free of weeds. At least we attempted to keep the garden free of weeds. We found that there was one big problem with our garden. Morning glories! I had always thought the big purple flowers of the cultivated kind were beautiful; and before they appeared in our garden, I even thought the little white blooms of the wild kind were pretty, but when they overran our garden, I hated even the sight of them.

Daily we labored pulling up the strong vines that ran underneath the soil. This was no easy task. We had to be careful not to uproot the good plants. We pulled and pulled and chopped and chopped and worked and worked to rid that garden of those miserable plants. Often we would think we had those pesky flowers completely gone, only to find the next day more leaves appearing above the soil. All summer we battled them without success. We had an acceptable harvest, but the “wheat and tares” grew together.

How much those morning glory vines are like sin in our life. Every day sin springs up when we least expect it. It is a constant battle to keep sin under control. That is the problem. We often think sin must be kept under control, but that is impossible. Sin must be eradicated completely!

We look at God’s Perfect Law of Liberty—the Ten Commandments and know that it is just and true and right and good. Yet, that law cannot change us: it only shows us our need of a Saviour. We cannot keep God’s Law in our own strength any more than I could keep the morning glories out of my garden. Just as the morning glories kept coming back because I could not get every tiny bit of the roots out of the garden, we must not give even a little part of our heart to the devil by holding on to sin. (Eph 4:27) In Romans 7, Paul describes our condition if we do. “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I…. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do…. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Praise God there He has shown us a way we can be delivered! It is found in the 25th verse. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He does not leave us to fight and battle the morning glories of sin by ourselves. No! He gives us power to obey if we will cooperate with Him and follow His directions. He assures us, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27

May we gain the victory over all the “morning glory weeds” in our life, so that when He comes we may look up with joy and exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/xDoRPhDtKsA/i-will-declare-my-iniquity.html

The Burden of Sin Is Too Heavy

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For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. Psalm 38:4.
When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition, that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say,—
“In my hand no price I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.” …
Satan cannot hold the dead in his grasp when the Son of God bids them live. He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives Christ’s Word of power. God is saying to all who are dead in sin, “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.” That Word is eternal life…. If we receive the Word, we have the deliverance.—The Desire of Ages, 317-320.
Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power.—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 8.
With God at Dawn p. 220
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Prayer Requests
—-My husband has a blood clot below his left knee. Prayers for quick healing without complications please. Heidi
—-Please pray for 12 year old Lourdes who has suffered an appendix burst! Kidneys are failing! Sepsis is also present! Please pray! Lyra
—-Requesting prayer for my son Aaron who is 42 and has the coronavirus. He’s very sick. Shari
—-Please prayer for the Ca fire near Weimar College, it is 0% contained and has burned over 2400 acres already. Pray for safety of all living near there. Pray for my granddaughter and her family, they live on the campus. Martha
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Dear Friends
We enjoy watching travel programs on YouTube and now that we are older, our evenings are often filled with watching videos others have taken. We have so many memories of camping trips we have taken over the years, encounters with wild animals we have had, and the many beautiful drives that we went on when we lived in the West and the Northwest. As we reminisce it makes us long to be there once more.
Even after 6000 years of sin, this world has many places of beauty where our thoughts can be lifted up to the Creator of all. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps 19:1-6:33:6-9
Although this world is still full of beauty, sin has spoiled its original purity. There are traces of death and suffering wherever we look. Man and animal, tree and plant, even the very earth beneath our feet show sin’s malignant result. Indeed, “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together.” Rom 8:22
Yet this shall not always be. Someday soon, the One Who created all things will come. He will deliver us from this wretched old planet! He will “destroy them which destroy the earth.” Rev 11:8 He will make it new again. No trace of sin or sinners will be found. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:1-5 May that time come soon. Amen!
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/oIF5NXCiEio/the-burden-of-sin-is-too-heavy.html

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