Pray, yes, pray as you have never prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan’s devices, that you may not be given up to a heedless, careless, vain spirit, and attend to religious duties to quiet your own conscience. It is inappropriate for Christians in any age of the world to be lovers of pleasure, but how much more so now when the scenes of this earth’s history are so soon to close.

Surely the foundation of your hope of everlasting life cannot be laid too sure. The welfare of your soul, and your eternal happiness depend upon whether your foundation is built upon Christ. While others are panting after earthly enjoyments, be ye panting after the unmistakable assurance of the love of God, earnestly, fervently crying, Who will show me how to make my calling and election sure?—Testimonies for the Church 2:144.

The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching, we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy-seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation.—Steps to Christ, 94.

With God at Dawn p. 206
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Prayer Requests
—-Please be praying for Maya. They’ve finally got all the paperwork ready for submission to the insurance company for her medical bed. There’s a high chance they will deny, but we have a miracle-working God that can push it through. Prayers for divine favor so Maya can get the bed she needs so she can be safe when she sleeps and to give mom Jenny some peace of mind. Jennifer
—-Please pray that David will get the mental help that he needs. Pray also for his family whom he verbally and emotionally abuses. Buck
—-My only brother was on a tall ladder trimming branches from a tree. He fell yesterday. He was life flighted to _____ Hospital in _____. He had a brain bleed which required brain surgery. He had a big blood clot about 1″ thick in some places. It covered the whole left side of his brain. They drained the blood. They had to do a craniotomy to reach the brain for surgery. He has a broken back at L1 vertebra. And a broken ankle. They are waiting for him to wake up from his sedation. The Lord answers prayer. I am believing for a good report in Jesus name. Thank God for the privilege of prayer. Nancy
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Dear Friends,

Some years ago, we went over to some friend’s house for Bible study. During the course of the conversation, I was asked to give my testimony. That brought back many memories of long-ago years. My grandparents had adopted me shortly after I was born to keep me from my alcoholic father and raised me until I was ten. Although they were Adventists, their religion seemed to consist of just going to church. The rest of the week, there was no mention of Heavenly things. I went to Sabbath School occasionally whenever my mother didn’t take me shopping or to a movie.

Just before my tenth birthday, my mother married a man who was an alcoholic and I went to live with them. My grandparents moved to Florida. My life became almost unbearable. After nearly four years, he left in the middle of the night taking everything of value in the house except my mother’s guitar and amplifier. Things went from bad to worse. My mother had to sell her guitar and amp just so we could have food. Our landlord would not wait for the rent until my mother found a job, so we had to find a very cheap apartment over a music store on the corner of Main and Westnedge. Life was very difficult.

Even though we were far from Jesus, He was near to us. I had been taught to pray the “Now I lay me down to sleep….” prayer and as I got older, I added my own words, and had a sort of faith in Him because of the times I had gone to church. He accepted the tiny spark of faith as the best I knew. There were many times that He protected us in that crummy apartment. He helped my mother find work, even though she did not recognize it as a blessing from Him. Finally we were able to move into a one room apartment in a better part of town. Life was still a struggle, and there were many times there was nothing to eat in the apartment except a little flour and some sugar, but through it all, God was there protecting us and longing for the time when we would come to Him. Finally we were able to move a couple of blocks away into a three room apartment. We felt like we were in a mansion. It was in that apartment that I began to have the desire to start going to church and asked God to lead me to the right one. Praise God! He did!

Jesus, speaking of His Heavenly Father said, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45 God loves each person in this world whether they love Him back or not. His Spirit draws them, leading them into circumstances that will give them an opportunity to choose His way. He showers His blessings upon them even though they don’t know the Source of all blessings. He assures us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 How loving and kind He is to us! He not only makes us His sons, but He changes us into His image as we meditate upon His Word. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 1 Cor 3:18 May we allow Him to change us into His likeness is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/297VkuxcOn0/we-will-give-ourselves-to-prayer.html

The heart that has once tasted the love of Christ, cries out continually for a deeper draught, and as you impart, you will receive in richer and more abundant measure. Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love.—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 20.

The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul is still going forth, and it appeals to us with even greater power than to those who heard it in the temple on that last day of the feast. The fountain is open for all. The weary and exhausted ones are offered the refreshing draught of eternal life.—The Desire of Ages, 454.

The greatest victories gained for the cause of God are not the result of labored argument, ample facilities, wide influence, or abundance of means; they are gained in the audience chamber with God, when with earnest, agonizing faith men lay hold upon the mighty arm of power.

True faith and true prayer—how strong they are! They are as two arms by which the human suppliant lays hold upon the power of Infinite Love. Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these.—Gospel Workers, 259.
With God at Dawn p. 204
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Larry, Mike’s dad, who is having knee replacement surgery this morning. Rose
—-Please pray for Ron as he is driving a long way today and the truck he is driving is acting up. He’s been trying be get his boss to fix it but so far it hasn’t been fixed. Rose
—-Please pray for my sister, judith. She is having problems with her sciatic nerve and is in a lot of pain. Jean
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Dear Friends,

Ronnie Jay and I have always enjoyed collecting rocks. On the many hikes we have taken in our lives, we have always stuffed our pockets full of rocks that looked pretty to us. Most of them were worthless, but we liked them. It didn’t matter to us if we didn’t know the name of many of them, we have kept them for years. Before we moved to Kansas Ronnie Jay and I had many more beautiful rocks that we could enjoy collecting.
When Ronnie Jay was twelve or thirteen, he went with some friends on a hike. As they were climbing on some small cliffs, he found a rock that he thought was a frilly, black, fossil of a fern. He was very happy to have found it. When he showed it to my friend Darlene, she smiled and explained that it was not a fern a fern at all. It was a dendritic mineral crystal that is fern-like in its growth. This type of mineral is formed when water rich in manganese flow along the naturally occurring faults and fissures in certain types of rock. It was very pretty, but that did not change the fact that it was not what it appeared to be.

So it is in the Christian life. There are many who look like Christians, act like Christians, and talk like Christians, but their heart is far from our Wonderful Saviour. Jesus, with sadness in His voice, said; “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matt 15:8

“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matt 13:24-30

How often we are like those servants. We might think we can tell who the tares are and who is the wheat, but only God really knows. Jesus tells us, “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Matt 7:1 Again He explains, “Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24 How many times we judge according to the appearance but later find that we were so wrong. We do not know the heart. We do not know the background of that person. But God takes these things into account when He judges. “The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” Ps 87:6

Paul writes, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom 2:2-11

May we be careful not to judge one another’s motives for only God knows what is in the heart. (1 Sam 16:7) May we make “our calling and election sure” this day. May we lead others to our Righteous Judge, our Saviour is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/JHsALkcXBec/my-soul-thirsteth-for-god.html

Thoughts and meditations upon the goodness of God to us would close the avenues of the soul to Satan’s suggestions. God’s love for us is proved daily; yet we are thoughtless of His favors and indifferent to His entreaties. He seeks to impress us with His Spirit of tenderness, His love and forbearance; but we scarcely recognize the marks of His kindness, and have little sense of the lesson of love He desires us to learn. Some, like Haman, forget all God’s favors, because Mordecai is before them and is not disgraced; because their hearts are filled with enmity and hatred, rather than love, the spirit of our dear Redeemer, who gave His precious life for His enemies.

We profess to have the same Father, to be bound for the same immortal home, to enjoy the same solemn faith, and to believe the same testing message; and yet many are at strife with one another like quarrelsome children. Some who are engaged in the same branch of the work are at variance with one another and therefore at variance with the spirit of Christ.—Testimonies for the Church 4:222.

Let the student take the Bible as his guide, and stand like a rock for principle, and he may aspire to any height of attainment. All the philosophies of human nature have led to confusion and shame when God has not been recognized as all in all. But the precious faith inspired of God imparts strength and nobility of character. As His goodness, His mercy, and His love are dwelt upon, clearer and still clearer will be the perception of truth; higher, holier, the desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought.—Testimonies for the Church 8:322.
With God at Dawn p. 202
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that the people who want to buy my mobile home and some other items, will follow through and actually buy them. Pray also for my dad’s upcoming knee surgery. It is on the 21st. Mike
—-Please pray for Jesse and his wife. He has gone to fight a fire in a neighboring state. Pray also that they will give their hearts completely to the Lord. M
—-asking for prayers for my aunt, who is very sick in the hospital. Kacy
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Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl, I spent most of my time with my grandfather, Edwin Harmon. From the moment he came home from work, until I went to bed, I followed him everywhere. No matter what he did, or where he went, I loved to be with him.

When he sat at the dining room table and made change purses from pungent Moroccan leather, he would help me to make one too. He would also explain how leather was made and how to tell a good quality leather by its smell. I watched him clean fish at the kitchen table whenever he had gone fishing. He used this opportunity to explain anatomy as he pointed out the fish’s still-beating heart and various other organs. When he was very tired from working as a bookbinder all day, he would sit in his blue, overstuffed chair and read. That is, he would read until I came into the room. Then he put his magazine down and tell me wonderful stories of his life in bygone days, or teach me how to make shadow pictures on the wall. When he ate his bedtime snack of aged cheese and crackers or crackers and milk or ketchup and bread, I did as well. I listened to him as he explained how these things were made. No matter what he did, he would explain it to me. I listened intently to his every word.

This is the kind relationship our Heavenly Father yearns to have with us. Our Great Creator desires to spend quality time with us. He wants us to desire to spend our time with Him as well. He longs for us to listen to His voice, to hear our response, to interact with us throughout the day. He desires to have us ask Him anything, to talk with Him about our perplexities, to bring our joys or our sorrows to Him. He promises to walk beside us, to lead and guide us. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” Isa 48:17; 30:21; Ps 25:8, 9

Jesus bids us, “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 11:28-30 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:21, 23 Just before His final moments, Jesus prayed, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” John 7:24 That close walk can begin today. It is our choice.

May we have as close and loving a relationship with our Dear Father in Heaven as I had with my grandfather. May we read God’s Holy Word and keep what is written therein because we love Him. May we “trust in the LORD with all [our] heart; and lean not unto [our] own understanding. In all [our] ways [may we] acknowledge him, and he shall direct [our] paths.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/F_2CH5NFJtg/i-will-meditate-in-thy-precepts.html