Life is disciplinary. While in the world, the Christian will meet with adverse influences. There will be provocations to test the temper; and it is by meeting these in a right spirit that the Christian graces are developed. If injuries and insults are meekly borne, if insulting words are responded to by gentle answers, and oppressive acts by kindness, this is evidence that the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart, that sap from the Living Vine is flowing to the branches. We are in the school of Christ in this life, where we are to learn to be meek and lowly of heart; and in the day of final accounts we shall see that all the obstacles we meet, all the hardships and annoyances that we are called to bear, are practical lessons in the application of principles of Christian life. If well endured, they develop the Christlike in the character, and distinguish the Christian from the worldling.

There is a high standard to which we are to attain if we would be children of God, noble, pure, holy, and undefiled; and a pruning process is necessary if we would reach this standard. How would this pruning be accomplished if there were no difficulties to meet, no obstacles to surmount, nothing to call out patience and endurance? These trials are not the smallest blessings in our experience. They are designed to nerve us to determination to succeed. We are to use them as God’s means to gain decided victories over self, instead of allowing them to hinder, oppress, and destroy us. Testimonies for the Church 5:344.

If honesty is an essential principle of business life, must we not recognize our obligation to God—the obligation that underlies every other?—Education, 139
With God at Dawn p. 114
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Prayer Requests
—-My wife has a job interview this afternoon. Please pray that she gets the job if God sees that she would be happy with it. JT
—-Please continue to pray for David. Buck
—-Please pray for my aunt Maria she fell down and fractured her hip she will have surgery on Monday May 3,pray also that they get the blood that she might need that day of her surgery, she is 89 yrs old . Becky
—-Maurice needs prayers. He went to the hospital on Monday. They told him nothing was wrong but they would keep him overnight and let him go home Tuesday. Then yesterday they told him he would be going home this morning. This morning they are telling him he needs open heart surgery. All prayers are greatly appreciated. Donna
—-Please pray for one of my sons safety. This morning when I got up I looked at my phone and found a HORRIBLE DEATH THREAT written to him but sent to my phone accidently. I am so afraid for him and now for myself also. Please pray for God to put a hedge of protection around him and for God to save his soul for eternity. AND PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. TOO BUT ESPECIALLY FOR HIM. Connie
—-Please pray for my husband Charles he keeps getting fluid in his lung and has bladder cancer. They had to postpone the surgery 2 time because of the fluid. Debbie
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Dear Friends,

One day, when I was about four or five, I walked into the dining room just as my grandmother was putting the finishing touches on a beautiful centerpiece. On the large, dark, highly-polished dining room table was a narrow, maroon cloth. Sitting on the cloth was a basket shaped like a horn which she called a cornucopia. In this basket and spilling out from it were all types of fruits and vegetables. My grandmother told me to leave it alone. Then she walked back into the kitchen. I knelt on the chair and visually examined this new centerpiece. The fruit looked so good. It made me so hungry.

Day after day I looked at that tempting display. Day after day I obeyed and kept my hands off from it. Then one day, when no one was around, I decided that I just could not wait another moment. I reached out and picked up a shiny, red apple. As soon as I took a bite, I knew something was wrong. Instead of a sweet, juicy taste, there was no taste at all. It was hard and dry and my teeth could not penetrate very deep. That apple was made of wax. I was so disappointed. I put it back into the display, but it did not look right. I had to adjust the apple in such a way that the tooth marks did not show. Even so, it was not long before my grandmother discovered what I had done. You can imagine what happened next…..

How much like the pleasures of this world that centerpiece was. The world’s pleasures look so inviting, but they do not give us the happiness that we seek. They leave us with an empty feeling after the initial “high” is gone. They do not satisfy. We are like the seed that fell among the thorns in Jesus’ parable of the sower. Jesus says of them, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:14 As the wise man said, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Prov 21:17 The pleasures of this world leave us spiritually poor, fruitless, twice dead.

Praise God we do not have to be content with the “wax fruit” this world has to offer. David declares, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Ps 16:11 Paul adds, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

May we find our true happiness by turning away from the things of this world and keeping our eyes focused on our Dear Saviour and those things which He is preparing for us in His glorious kingdom above is my prayer. (2 Cor 2:9)

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/IroDoN102KU/be-honorable.html

We have no time to lose. We know not how soon our probation may close. Eternity stretches before us. The curtain is about to be lifted. Christ is soon to come. The angels of God are seeking to attract us from ourselves and from earthly things. Let them not labor in vain. When Jesus rises up in the most holy place, lays off His mediatorial robes, and clothes Himself with the garments of vengeance, the mandate will go forth, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still…. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. Are we prepared to meet it? We need not say, The perils of the last days are soon to come upon us. Already they have come. We need now the sword of the Lord to cut to the very soul and marrow of fleshly lusts, appetites, and passions. Minds that have been given up to loose thought need to change…. The thoughts must be centered upon God. Now is the time to put forth earnest effort to overcome the natural tendencies of the carnal, heart. Our efforts, our self-denial, our perseverance, must be proportionate to the infinite value of the object of which we are in pursuit. Only by overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life….

We must turn away from a thousand topics that invite attention. There are matters that consume time and arouse inquiry, but end in nothing. The highest interests demand the close attention and energy that are too often given to comparatively insignificant things.—Testimonies for the Church 8:314-316.
With God at Dawn p. 113
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Prayer Requests
—-I need prayer for my nephew Jared, age 31. He’s in ICU with a stroke. Outcome now good. Sherry
—-A dear client’s family has asked for prayers. Please she has surgery in the morning. Sandi
—-Please pray for the abdominal pain from after a procedure I had done at a doctor’s office and that I will regain my health back soon! Evelyn
—-Please pray for Tony who has stage 4 cancer. Therese
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Dear Friends,

When Ronnie Jay was a baby, we lived less than five miles from the Atlantic Ocean, so we spent a lot of our free time there. In the evenings after the majority of the people had left the beach, we would eat our supper while sitting on the sand and gazing out over the water. It was so peaceful.

Once Ronnie Jay learned how to walk, however, the peaceful times were gone. He showed no fear of that immense body of water and would get away from us whenever we were not watching him. Off he would go toward the incoming waves, just as fast as his little legs would carry him. Those waves would grab him and roll him over and over and push him toward the shore by the time we were able to catch up to him. Always frightened of his little game, I would grab him out of the water, give him a little spank, tell him “no,” futilely try to explain the dangers to my one year old boy, and carry him back to where we had been sitting. Over and over again this process was repeated.

One day something happened when he was two years old that cured him of his little game. Our church often went to an area of the beach where no sunbathers went. From the parking lot to the ocean was about a mile walk, so the beach usually was deserted. It was nice to walk along the water’s edge with our friends and view the handiwork of God even though a cold March wind was blowing that day. As we got to the beach, Ronnie Jay wanted out of his stroller. It was too cool for his little game of “let the waves tumble me about and scare Mommy half to death.” I warned my son that it was too cold to go near the water and made him hold my hand.

As I got involved talking to my friends and looking for shells and sharks’ teeth, Ronnie Jay saw his chance to escape. Before I realized it, he had slipped his hand out of mine and headed straight for the water. I headed after him, but he was a fast runner. Into the cold water he plunged. I grabbed my dripping boy up into my arms with thoughts of his re-catching the pneumonia he had had three months before and ran as fast as I could to the car. The cold March wind seemed even colder now that we were both wet. Now, I’ve never been able to run very fast, but that day not even Ron could keep up with me. Adrenaline had set in. I knew that a warm blanket was in that car and Ronnie Jay needed to be wrapped up in it to keep him from getting sick. He must have gotten cold enough that day to decide that his little game was not fun any more, because that was the last time he ever played it.

How often we toy with sin, just as Ronnie Jay toyed with the waves. Our little “sin games” seem to be innocent and fun, that we do not realize the danger we are in. Even when warned of the consequences of our sinful indulgence, how often we run right back into the sin just as my son ran into the waves of the Atlantic. How often we do as Peter describes, “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22 Over and over we play with our darling sin until we one day find ourself held firmly in its grasp. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17:9 “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 64:6;1:6

How much we need a Strong Deliverer, Who will snatch us up out of the waves of sin, remove our filthy, sin-stained garments, and clothe us with His Own Robe of Righteousness. Praise God! We have such a Deliverer! He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever.” Gal 1:4, 5 Our Dear Saviour promises, “I will put my laws into [your heart], and in [your mind] will I write them; And [your] sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb 10:16, 17 Precious promises! Loving Redeemer!

May we always serve the Lord with our whole heart and strength and being and no longer toy with the pleasures of sin is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/QPWOfg2K0xU/flee-from-lusts.html

Every student needs to understand the relation between plain living and high thinking. It rests with us individually to decide whether our lives shall be controlled by the mind or by the body. The youth must, each for himself, make the choice that shapes his life; and no pains should be spared that he may understand the forces with which he has to deal, and the influences which mould character and destiny.

Intemperance is a foe against which all need to be guarded. The rapid increase of this terrible evil should arouse every lover of his race to warfare against it…. But in order to reach the root of intemperance we must go deeper than the use of alcohol or tobacco. Idleness, lack of aim, or evil associations, may be the predisposing cause. Often it is found at the home table, in families that account themselves strictly temperate. Anything that disorders digestion, that creates undue mental excitement, or in any way enfeebles the system, disturbing the balance of the mental and the physical powers, weakens the control of the mind over the body, and thus tends toward intemperance. The downfall of many a promising youth might be traced to unnatural appetites created by an unwholesome diet.—Education, 202.

Attention to recreation and physical culture will at times, no doubt, interrupt the regular routine of school work; but the interruption will prove no real hindrance. In the invigoration of mind and body, the fostering of an unselfish spirit, and the binding together of pupil and teacher by the ties of common interest and friendly association, the expenditure of time and effort will be repaid a hundredfold.—Education, 213.
With God at Dawn p. 111
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Johanna who is having repeat lab work this morning. Pray that there is nothing seriously wrong. Annie
—-Prayer Request for neighbors husband. MC
—-Please pray for Dick who is in ICU with Covid. Rose
—-Pray for our country to open people walk free we are suffering for covid 19 lockdown. Jose
—-I’m in need of prayers for my daughter, Megan. She mentioned suicide, saying she hates her life, drinks alcohol and smokes pot. Tina
—-ptay for my eyes that Dr K can restore the good eye back and maybe help the bad which right now is better than the good one. Also my heart problems. Betty
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Dear Friends,

One day when I was in my late teens, my mother and I were walking by the library. We happened to see her second cousin, Lilian, walk out of the library where she had been a librarian for many years. Lillian and my mother stopped to talk as they had not seen each other for years. I was a little bored as they were having a rather lengthy conversation. As they were talking Lillian kept bringing up the fact that she could trace her genealogy all the way back to the American Revolution. (We could as well, but didn’t bring it up to her.) They talked of other things for a bit and then Lillian would again talk about her ancestors. She was so proud that she was able to trace her linage back to the very beginning of our country and that she was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It was her total focus.

Praise God! We can trace our family tree farther than that for our Father is the King of the Universe! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:3-14 Think of it! He, Who desires “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” has adopted us in His Heavenly family! 1Tim 2:4

Are we as willing to tell others about our Heavenly Father as Lillian was to tell us about her ancestors? Do our sweetest thoughts center upon Him? Is He the theme of our conversation? Think of it! We are children of the Heavenly King! The Great Creator of the Universe longs for an even closer relationship with us than any earthly tie we might have. Jesus tells us, “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” “whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matt 23:9;12:50 Wonderful privilege! He desires for us, His well-beloved children, to share our joys, our sorrows, our perplexities with Him that He may fix them. May we cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/tQpZ0KyIP4k/glorify-god.html