Jesus has not left you to be amazed at the trials and difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, and He has told you also not to be cast down and oppressed when trials come. Look to Jesus, your Redeemer, and be cheerful and rejoice. The trials hardest to bear are those that come from our brethren, our own familiar friends; but even these trials may be borne with patience. Jesus is not lying in Joseph’s new tomb. He has risen, and has ascended to heaven, there to intercede in our behalf. We have a Saviour who so loved us that He died for us, that through Him we might have hope and strength and courage, and a place with Him upon His throne. He is able and willing to help you whenever you call upon Him.

If you try to carry your burdens alone, you will be crushed under them. You have heavy responsibilities. Jesus knows about them, and He will not leave you alone, if you do not leave Him. He is honored when you commit the keeping of your soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator. He bids you hope in His mercy, believing that He does not desire you to carry these weighty responsibilities in your own strength. Only believe and you will see the salvation of God….

It hurts you when one for whom you have done much becomes your enemy, having been brought under an influence opposed to you. But do you not do almost the same thing to Jesus when you turn away from Him? He has been your best friend…. He declares that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Show that you believe this. Take God at His word.—Testimonies for the Church 8:128, 129.
With God at Dawn p. 104
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Prayer Requests
—-My wife has a job opportunity that she has always dreamed of. Please pray that she gets it if it is God’s will. JT
—-It seems like the devil is messing with our family. Please pray. Buck
—-my daughter need your prayers she need success with exams today please lift her up in the care of the stress vanisher and mind relaxer. Therese
—-Please pray for the people of St. Vincent who are displaced by the volcano. Arlene
—-Please be praying for my friend Kayti, that injured her back this week. Dan
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Dear Friends,

Several years ago, while visiting with a friend upon religious topics, the subject of deism arose. As she had not heard of deism, we explained a little of that belief. The Encyclopedia Britannica Online puts it thus: “A form of natural religion, Deism originated in England in the early 17th century as a rejection of orthodox Christianity. Deists asserted that reason could find evidence of God in nature and that God had created the world and then left it to operate under the natural laws he had devised. The philosopher Edward Herbert (1583–1648) developed this view in On Truth (1624). By the late 18th century Deism was the dominant religious attitude among Europe’s educated classes; it was accepted by many upper-class Americans of the same era, including the first three U.S. presidents.” As I thought about this false belief held by so many in the 17th and 18th centuries, I could see how it naturally would lead to the multitude of agnostic and atheistic teachings so prevalent in the world today.

Our Great Creator made the universe and all that is in it. All of the beings in the Universe know that fact: all, that is, except sinful human beings who have listened to the devil’s lies. John saw “the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev 4:10, 11 Isaiah adds, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Isa 45:18

Our Loving God did not create the world and then walk off and let all things develop as they will. Indeed, He is even now “upholding all things by the word of his power.” Heb 12:3 He declares, “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Ps 50:10,11 Jesus uses His loving care over all His creatures as an illustration of His tender care for each of us. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Jesus assures 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.” Matt 6:26-30; Luke 12:6,7

Think of it! He, Who created the Universe and all that is in it, knows each one of us so well that He even knows the number of the hairs of our head (a number that changes daily)! Moreover, He knows our thoughts and our motives. Others may misjudge us; but He does not, for He knows every secret thing about us. Things that we would not want others to know, He knows. Secrets that we think are hidden from sight, are plain to Him. Jesus says, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:2,3 Solemn thought. Solomon advises, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc 12:13,14

In light of this, our prayer should be, “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 51:10-13 Our Loving Redeemer promises, “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 Precious promise! He, Who has created all, will personally give us a new heart, a clean and a pure heart. Through His power “the righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 He says, “ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24 What a Wonderful, Personal, Loving, Caring Saviour! He is personally interested in our life! He upholds us as if there were no other! He gives us the victory over all that is false!

May we put away the false doctrines of the world which would take us down the wrong path and recognize our Great Creator’s tender care over all that He has created is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/fcU65NTpsZM/cast-thy-burden-upon-him.html

Not by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple are men brought into communion with heaven. Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit’s working is manifest, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them His sons and daughters.—The Desire of Ages, 189.

Our meetings for worship should be sacred, precious occasions…. Nothing that savors of an unchristian, unloving spirit should be permitted to enter; for do we not assemble to seek mercy and forgiveness from the Lord? and the Saviour has plainly said, “With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged….” Who can stand before God, and plead a faultless character, a blameless life? …

Our meetings should be made intensely interesting. They should be pervaded with the very atmosphere of heaven. Let there be no long, dry speeches and formal prayers, merely for the sake of occupying the time. All should be ready to act their part with promptness, and when their duty is done, the meetings should be closed…. This is offering to God acceptable worship.—Testimonies for the Church 5:607-609.
With God at Dawn p. 101
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my neighbor, Kim, who is having surgery today. Also please pray for Larry who is in rehab and is getting a roommate today. Pray that they will get along well and that Larry can soon recover and be able to go home. Rose
—-Cindy’s brother-in-law had emergency open heart surgery on Thursday. Please keep him, the family, and the surgeons in your prayers. Amy
—–Moving 300 miles for job for my daughter I live with. Pray we find a home there quickly and easy transition (I am handicapped) Ann
—-Please pray for my coworker a frontliner who is sick with COVID. Emerson
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Dear Friends,

When my children were little, they often brought me little things that thought was especially nice. Sometimes it was a pretty flower or a colorful stone. Sometimes it would be a piece of candy that they had bought with their small allowance. Sometimes is was some cherished toy. As I received their gifts, I cuddled the giver and thanked them profusely. Often I would ask my child if they would take care of that cherished toy for me because it was so special. Delighted that the gift was appreciated and returned, they would hug it tightly to their heart.

Although the various gifts, large and small, were special to me because they were given from a heart filled with love, there was one gift that far exceeded them all. Those times when my children would surprise me by doing the dishes, cleaning their room, or some other menial task without being asked meant a great deal to me. They were giving of themselves, of their time, of their energy.

So it is with our Heavenly Father, Whose Great Heart of Love yearns for us to love Him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might. (Deut 6:5) God “loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor 9:7 Indeed, it is only the offering or obedience that is given from a love-filled heart that means anything to him. He pleads, “Give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Prov 23:26 “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam 15:22 “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” Ps 4:5

The gift He counts the greatest is when we give Him our time, our love, our thoughts, doing those things which please Him because we love Him. Indeed, unless we do all and give all from a loving heart, the gift is worthless. Here is a song that illustrates the importance of giving to our Dear Saviour the gift that He wants most of all. They Brought Their Gifts to Jesus by E E Rexford.

They brought their gifts to Jesus, And laid them at His feet, And love for this dear Saviour, Made every offering sweet; Good deeds and words of kindness, Help for the poor of earth, And not a gift among them Was thought of little worth. Wouldst bring a gift to Jesus that He would count most sweet? Say, “Lord, my heart I give Thee.” And lay it at His feet.

Apart from other givers A poor wayfarer stood; He saw the gifts they offered, The poorest counted good; And he was filled with longing, A gift, though poor, to bring; Alas! all empty handed He stood before the King. Wouldst bring a gift to Jesus that He would count most sweet? Say, “Lord, my heart I give Thee.” And lay it at His feet.

“Dear Lord,” he cried in sorrow, “I know how kind Thou art, Take all I have to give Thee, My sinful wayward heart.” Then Jesus answered softly, “Count not the gift as small, Though all of them are precious, Thine is the best of all.” Wouldst bring a gift to Jesus, That He will count most sweet? Say, “Lord, my heart I give Thee,” And lay it at His feet.

“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” giving our all to our Master, Who gave His All for us is my prayer. Heb 13:5
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/5CHmM9cbAjg/worship-god.html

In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to turn aside from ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father. As the throng that had followed Him depart, He goes into the mountains, and there, alone with God, pours out His soul in prayer for these suffering, sinful, needy ones…. All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God. In them is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practises; and they need to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart.

When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. He bids us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God. Amidst the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities, he who is thus refreshed, will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. He will receive a new endowment of both physical and mental strength. His life will breathe out a fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s hearts.—The Ministry of Healing, 58.

In the midst of this maddening rush, God is speaking. He bids us come apart and commune with Him…. Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ, to sit down in companionship with Him—this is our need.—Education, 260, 261.
With God at Dawn p. 99
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Prayer Requests
—-my little brother needs your prayers please. He’s diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Blood cancer
He’s been transferred to the hands of the Cancer team. We’re awaiting to see them to inform us how they will proceed with treatment. Therese
—-Please pray for Homer who was in a very bad accident. Joe
—-Please pray for my auntie who has been having leg problems for sometime now and she has been faithful to the Lord in prayer. Isaac
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Dear Friends,

What an interesting time in which to live. It seems like every day we hear of new inventions to make life easier and more enjoyable. Yet, with all of the modern inventions, life seems much busier and more complicated. Some of the problem is because we are constantly stimulating our mind until it is overstimulated and overwhelmed. From our first waking moments until we go to bed for the night, we are bombarded with the media. We watch television, listen to music, talk on the cell phone, play computer games until we have little time for anything else. The pleasures that this world has to offer are fleeting and temporary at best. In this mad rush for happiness and peace of mind in this sinful, old planet, there often is lacking the very element in our life that will bring true happiness, true peace— the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart.

God’s Holy Word tells us, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isa 32:17, 18 Our Dear Saviour offers us this true peace and happiness that we so much desire. He pleads, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28 When we come to Him for that rest, we must give Him every aspect of our life. He promises, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13 Truly, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matt 13:44-46 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25

There is a song by E. A. Hoffman, which illustrates this very principle. It would be well to meditate upon its message.

*You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase, And have earnestly, fervently prayed; But you cannot have rest, or be perfectly blest Until all on the altar is laid. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart, does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul.

Would you walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, And have peace and contentment alway, You must do His sweet will, to be free from all ill, On the altar your all you must lay. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart, does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul.

Oh, we never can know what the Lord will bestow Of the blessings for which we have prayed, Till our body and soul He doth fully control, And our all on the altar is laid. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart, does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul.

Who can tell all the love He will send from above, And how happy our hearts will be made, Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet, When our all on the altar is laid? Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart, does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul.

May we find that peace and true happiness that only our Great Creator and Redeemer offers is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/8YPB5DkjsBg/be-still-and-know.html