Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/UKX4XxGVyVc/4414.html

We are living in an age when all should especially give heed to the injunction of the Saviour, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” One of your strong temptations is to irreverence. God is high and holy; and to the humble, believing soul, His house on earth, the place where His people meet for worship, is as the gate of heaven. The song of praise, the words spoken by Christ’s ministers, are God’s appointed agencies to prepare a people for the church above, for that loftier worship into which there can enter nothing that is impure, unholy….

Do not have so little reverence for the house and worship of God as to communicate with one another during the sermon. If those who commit this fault could see the angels of God looking upon them and marking their doings, they would be filled with shame and abhorrence of themselves.—Messages to Young People, 265, 266.

Those who are unwilling to forsake every sin and to seek earnestly for God’s blessing, will not obtain it. But all who will lay hold of God’s promises as did Jacob, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 203.

Do not neglect secret prayer, for it is the soul of religion. With earnest, fervent prayer, plead for purity of soul. Plead as earnestly, as eagerly, as you would for your mortal life, were it at stake. Remain before God until unutterable longings are begotten within you for salvation, and the sweet evidence is obtained of pardoned sin.—Messages to Young People, 268.
With God at Dawn p. 78
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for travelling mercies for Brian as he is driving across country beginning this evening. Rose
—-Please pray for safety for my son who is going on a trip. Carla
—-I am asking for prayer for our friend Freddy, he is having heart surgery at this moment..they are putting in a Stent and a Pacemaker. His Mother Emma is very scared for him and needs our prayers as well. Debra
—-Please pray . We have a tornado warning in our area. Jean
—-Just when it seems like my wife is starting to get better, the coughing and shortness of breath comes back. She spoke with the doctor over the phone who told her that since they’ve prescribed everything that they could and nothing is changing, that we’ll have to bring her in to the hospital. She’s been sleeping all day, but she’ll be up in awhile and we’ll going then. We’re getting really concerned so Please pray for my Laurie, Thanks, David
—-Alyssa, age 2, was recently diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. She is getting a bone marrow biopsy done. I’m begging my Lord that the cancer hasn’t spread and that this tumor is something my baby’s body could fight. Maria
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Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago, my grandchildren’s Sabbath School lesson was on the Rich Young Ruler. It reminded me of the time after I had moved away from Kalamazoo, and had returned for a visit. The church had gotten a new pastor, so I had the opportunity to hear him speak for the first time. His sermon was very different from what I was used to hearing. He spoke on the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22.

This new pastor did not sermonize on this story but made up a “novel” about what happened to that young man after he turned away from following Jesus. I don’t remember much of his story but I do remember that everything went wrong for the young man and he eventually perished a pauper in the destruction of Jerusalem.

Of course, that could have happened as the pastor imagined, but it might not have been that way at all. Even so, it is certain that the young man’s window of opportunity had passed and his life was far different from that which God had intended.

This story serves as a warning to us living today. Throughout each day, we, too, are making decisions for or against our Dear Saviour. Each day we have the opportunity to do His will for our life, yet, our possessions, our desires, our wishes, our plans are first and foremost in our mind. How often we go through the day with scarcely a thought heavenward. Jesus tells us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matt 19:24-26 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt 6:24

There is a song by Rhea Miller that should be the theme of our life.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold, I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause, I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name. Than to be the king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

May this be the song of our heart each day is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/cYS4i9_e1oM/the-father-seeks-true-worshipers.html

Christ is today the same compassionate Saviour as when He walked among men. He is as verily the helper of mothers now as when He gathered the little ones to His arms in Judea. The children of our hearths are as much the purchase of His blood as were the children of long ago…. When Jesus told the disciples not to forbid the children to come to Him, He was speaking to His followers in all ages—to officers of the church, ministers, helpers, and all Christians. Jesus is drawing the children, and He bids us, “Suffer them to come;” as if He would say, They will come, if you do not hinder them. Let not your unchristlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never give them cause to feel that heaven would not be a pleasant place to them if you were there….

Do not give them the false impression that the religion of Christ is a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the Saviour they must give up all that makes life joyful.

As the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the children, co-operate with His work. Teach them that the Saviour is calling them, that nothing can afford Him greater joy than for them to give themselves to Him in the bloom and freshness of their years.

The Saviour regards with infinite tenderness the souls whom He has purchased with His blood. They are the claim of His love. He looks upon them with unutterable longing.—The Ministry of Healing, 41-44.
With God at Dawn p. 76
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Annie. She is still leaking spinal fluid and her doctor is on vacation for two weeks. They will not see her until after then. Please pray that they will reconsider. Pray also for insurance issues. Rose
—-Please pray for my brother, CHARLIE & his wife RUBI . Both tested positive for Covid -19, and are admitted to the _____ Adventist Medical Center in _______. Becky
—-David is depressed and angry. Please pray that God will heal him. Pray also for his family that they will be safe. Buck
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Dear Friends,

When I was seven, my mother and George, a boyfriend she met at work, took me with them to go swimming at his house on one of the many lakes in the Kalamazoo area. I was excited! I loved going to the beach even though I did not know how to swim. All of the time we spent in the house visiting with his mother, seemed like an eternity. All I could think of was that invitingly cool water I could see through the window.

Finally, the formalities were over and George, my mother, and I headed for the beach. It wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be, however. They left me to play around in the shallows while they went out into the deep water. They were having fun, but I soon tired of being alone with nothing to do. Looking out across the water, I decided that I would walk out to where my mother was. This was a shallow lake and although my mother was quite a long way from shore, the water was not very deep. I could tell that she was standing. My mother was not a strong swimmer.

Fearlessly, I started walking toward them. Suddenly I found myself completely underwater. I had stepped into a large dropoff. I had not even had time to shut my eyes and I remember that the bright sunshine made the water that enveloped me a yellow-green. A fish swam by. I was not afraid. Fascinated, I looked at it. Everything seemed so unreal and pleasurable, that I did not even realize my danger. I just held my breath and looked around. I must have held it a little too long, for the next thing I remember was being on the shore and gasping for breath. Thankfully, George had looked toward the shore and had seen me disappear from view. He suddenly remembered the huge hole and knew instantly what had happened. He was an excellent swimmer and soon had reached the place where he had last seen me. It did not take him long to find me and drag me to shore.

Every day we meet people who are looking around at the allurements of sin and walk headlong into them not realizing that they are walking into a trap: a trap that they cannot get out of by themselves. They do not know that “(their) adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 They don’t realize that he has set many traps to capture them. They think they are enjoying life and having fun. Suddenly, without warning, everything begins to go terribly wrong. They find themselves in too deep to extricate themselves. They want to be free, but they are held too tightly. They feel like their very life is being snuffed out. They need someone to save them out of their danger.

Jesus bids us to rescue them just as quickly as George rescued me on that long-ago day. 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.” Matt 28:19,20 He has promised to be with us as we follow this command. “Brethren, if any…do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:19,20 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 21-25

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/ZCoNtTZVQcI/he-seeks-the-very-young.html