Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25.
God’s appointments and grants in our behalf are without limit. The throne of grace is itself the highest attraction, because occupied by One who permits us to call Him Father. But God did not deem the principle of salvation complete while invested only with His own love. By His appointment He has placed at His altar an Advocate clothed with our nature. As our Intercessor, His office-work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who have received Him. To them He gives power, by virtue of His own merits, to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ’s friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and mediation of His Son.
No sooner does the child of God approach the mercy-seat than he becomes the client of the great Advocate. At his first utterance of penitence and appeal for pardon, Christ espouses his case, and makes it His own, presenting the supplication before the Father as His own request.
As Christ intercedes in our behalf, the Father lays open all the treasures of His grace for our appropriation, to be enjoyed and to be communicated to others….
God desires His obedient children to claim His blessing, and to come before Him with praise and thanksgiving. God is the Fountain of life and power.—Testimonies for the Church 6:363, 364.
With God at Dawn p. 8
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Prayer Requests
—-Asking prayers for my daughter who had a minor case of Covid but now has been having migraines. Also asking prayers for myself. I have been having issues with tenderness in my throat for almost two months. Asking for complete healing. John
—-Please continue to pray for my one and only brother who is in the ventilator fighting against covid19. Specifically for his heart and lungs. Helen
—-My daughter tested positive for Covid and I am 78 with diabetes she is my caretaker— I am scared! Please pray! Ann

This year’s devotional will be With God at Dawn by E G White and published by the Review and Herald Publishing Association

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.
Those who walk in the narrow way must follow the directions of the Guidebook. Thus only can they reach the gates of the City of God….
God has put men and women in possession of precious gifts. To different ones He has given different gifts. Not all have the same strength of character or the same depth of knowledge. But each one is to use his gifts in the Master’s service, however small this gift may seem to be. The faithful steward trades wisely on the goods entrusted to him.
The endowments of mind and body are to be carefully guarded. Our gifts are not to be weakened by self-indulgence. Every power is to be carefully preserved, that it may always be ready for instant use. No part of the physical organism is to be weakened by misuse. Each part, however small, has an influence on the whole. The abuse of one nerve or muscle lessens the usefulness of the whole body. Those for whom Christ has given His life should bring their habits and practices into conformity to His will.
God’s Word declares, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). But God does not desire the death of anyone. At infinite cost He provided for man a second probation. He “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Should not those to whom the light of truth for this time has come place themselves in close connection with God, using their capabilities to advance the work of soul saving? Should not the one who possesses an understanding of the Scriptures impart the knowledge given him to those who know not the truth?
Upon every believer in present truth rests the responsibility of working for sinners. God points them to their special work—the proclamation of the third angel’s message. They are to show their appreciation of God’s great gift by consecrating themselves to the work for which Christ gave His life. They are to be stewards of the grace of God, dispensing to others the blessings bestowed on them.
e who has found comfort in the Word of God is to share this comfort with others. Thus only can he continue to receive comfort.—Manuscript 147, December 31, 1903, “The Narrow Way.”
The Upward Look p. 379
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a dear dear friend deep in a custody battle. I can’t give specifics, but I know God will be the victor and I ask for your prayers for the children especially. Tanya
—-The doctor called and dad pulled out his feeding tube again and ended up puncturing his lung. They are giving him oxygen to see if the lung puncture will heal in his on. If that does not work then they will have to give him a chest tube to help drain the air from his lungs. Also since he keeps pulling out his feeding tube and he cant swallow food on his own they might need to put the tube in his stomach for him to get nutrition. This is crazy. Please continue to pray for him. Tony
—-Please pray for Andy who has an important meeting. Also pray for David’s mind and emotions. Buck
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Dear Friends,
On this last day of 2020, many will reflect upon the happenings of the year and what a crazy year it has been. Even the most careless among us will take a few moments to ponder what changes this year has brought. However, there will also be those cherished memories that we will never forget. There will be pleasant remembrances of victories won. As we think back over the year, we can also see the many times we have failed our Loving Redeemer. We will have many regrets, many sorrows, much pain.
This coming year does not have to be a repeat of the past for us spiritually even though some of the mandates of 2020 will be continuing in 2021. Praise God, we can have a new start in our personal life! Paul tells of a “beginning again” that can be ours. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Phil 3:12-16
John tells us the way to a new start. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 1:9-2:6
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Ps 103:8-14The Great Forgiver of Sins promises to heal our backsliding and to love us freely. (Hosea 14:4) “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” Eze 33:11,14-16
Let us break off our sins by righteousness and our iniquities by showing mercy to those around us. Let us pray as did David, “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 51:9-13 Let us exclaim as did Isaiah, “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” Isa 38:17-19
Rose

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. Ephesians 2:4, 5
The heart surrendered to God’s wise discipline will trust every working out of His providence…. Temptation will come to discourage, but what is gained by yielding to any such temptations? Is the soul made any better by murmuring and complaining of its only source of strength? Is the anchor cast within the vail? Will it hold in sickness? Will it be the testimony borne in the last closing scenes of life when the lips are becoming palsied with death? The anchor holds! I know that my Redeemer liveth….
O Precious, loving, long-suffering, long-forbearing Jesus, how my soul adores Thee! That a poor, unworthy, sin-polluted soul can stand before the Holy God, complete in the righteousness of our Substitute and Surety! Wonder, O Heavens, and be astonished, O earth, that fallen man is the object of His infinite love and delight. He rejoices over them with celestial songs, and man defiled with sin, having become cleansed through the righteousness of Christ, is presented to the Father free from every spot and stain of sin, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).
Let every weak, tempest-tossed soul find anchorage in Jesus Christ and not become so self-centered that he can think only of his little disappointments and the interruption of his plans and hopes. Is not the subject of the plan of salvation all-absorbing? If the infinite God justifies me, “who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died” (verse 34). He has in His dying for man revealed how much He loves man—enough to die for Him! The law condemns the sinner and drives him to Christ. It is God that justifies and pardons.
Satan will accuse and seek permission to destroy, but it is God that opens the door of refuge. It is God that justifieth him that entereth that door. Then if God be for us, who can be against us? Oh, the bright glorious truth. Why do not men discern it? Why not walk in its bright beams? Why do not all who believe talk of Christ’s matchless love? …
God lives and reigns. All who are saved must fight manfully as soldiers of Jesus Christ; then they will be registered in heaven’s books as true and faithful. They are to work the works of Jesus Christ, fight the good fight of faith.—Letter 2, December 29, 1889, to W. C. White’s first wife, Mary White, who was dying of tuberculosis.
The Upward Look p. 377
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Prayer Requests
—-Tomorrow Brian’s family are going back home. Please pray for safe travels and blessings. Rose
—-Please pray for us. Buck
—-Please pray for Mr Royston’s mother. She is critically ill right now and not expected to pull through. But we know only god can heal her. May she be healed and reunited with her family again soon. Samantha
—-Please pray for my husband Anthony who is now feeling sick I was tested positive for covid-19 the 22. God is merciful to allow me to heal to take care of him. Misty
—-Please keep praying for Paulette. ( struggling with cancer now after effects of Covid). Still on ventilator. Pray specifically for her kidneys to work better! Ann
—-Esther has a doctor’s appointment to see how her broken shoulder is healing. Please pray that all is well. Also, Eileen fell down the stairs today. Please pray that she is not hurt, only jarred. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One day, as I was riding along in the car, I suddenly breathed in a lozenge that was soothing my sore throat at the moment. It lodged in my throat, so that I could not get even the tiniest breath. All that lovely air surrounding me, but I couldn’t breathe a bit of it. Ron didn’t notice my plight as he was busy driving. Suddenly, it came to me what I should do. I gave a quick sharp push on my diaphragm and out the lozenge popped. Finally I could get air into my lungs. It took several minutes before I felt like I could breathe normally again. How thankful I was that I had reacted quickly.
Just as that small lozenge blocked my ability to breathe, so a tiny cherished sin can block our spiritual “breathing.” “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa 59:1,2 Just as that cough drop separated me from the surrounding air, so “a little leaven (of sin) leaveneth the whole lump” eventually shutting off even our desires Heavenward. Gal 5:9
How often what starts out as a little sin that did not seem to worthy of our notice, in time becomes our master. We find ourselves near death, trapped, drowning in our sin. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isa 64:6 “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Ps 38:4
Praise God, we have a Saviour Who does not leave us in this condition! He will come swiftly to our aid. He gives us the desire to be freed from our pitiable condition. He is the One Who is mighty to save. (Isa 63:1) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” Ps 103:2-4 “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. Isa 53:4,5 What a Wonderful Saviour! What a compassionate Friend!
May we look ever to Him for the help that we need to be rid of those chains of sin that bind us. May we serve Him with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. May we joyfully “offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” for His Great Deliverance is my prayer.
Rose

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:17.
Christians are Christ’s jewels, bought with an infinite price. They are to shine brightly for Him, shedding forth the light of His loveliness. And ever they are to remember that all the luster that Christian character possesses is received from the Sun of Righteousness.
The luster of Christ’s jewels depends on the polishing that they receive. God does not compel us to be polished. We are left free to choose to be polished or to remain unpolished. But everyone who is pronounced worthy of a place in the Lord’s temple must submit to the polishing process. He must consent to have the sharp edges cut away from his character, that it may be shapely and beautiful, fitted to represent the perfection of Christ’s character….
The divine Worker spends little time on worthless material. Only the precious jewels does He polish after the similitude of a palace. With hammer and chisel He cuts away the rough edges, preparing us for a place in God’s temple. The process is severe and trying. It hurts human pride. Christ cuts deep into the experience that man in his self-sufficiency regarded as complete, and takes away self-uplifting from the character. He cuts away the surplus surface, and putting the stone to the polishing wheel, presses it close, that all roughness may be worn off. Then holding the jewel up to the light the Master sees in it a reflection of His own image, and it is pronounced worthy of a place in His temple.
Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, enabling it to shine with living brightness! …
[The Lord] has workers whom He will call forth from poverty and obscurity. Engaged in the common duties of life, and clothed with coarse raiment, they are looked upon by men as of little value. But Christ sees in them infinite possibilities, and in His hands they will become precious jewels, to shine brightly in the kingdom of God. “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of Host, in that day when I make up my jewels.” (Malachi 3:17).
Christ’s perfect knowledge of human character fits Him to deal with minds. God knows just how to treat each soul. He judges not as man judges. He knows the real value of the material upon which He is working in fitting men and women for positions of trust.—Manuscript 168, December 24, 1902, “The Sin of Evil-speaking.”
The Upward Look p. 371
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Ken and Jamie and family as they travel here this weekend. Rose
—-I’m desperately asking for prayers for my sister Hazel, she has thyroid cancer. Angie
—-I Am asking for Prayer.I am having a very Rough Recovery from Colon Resection Surgery W/ a Colostomy for one, & I have an open Wound next to it where I have to do Wound Care… I am Really Super Nervous about getting Infection’ Cheryl
—-Will you please pray for my grandson Landyn? He tested positive for covid, he’s 8 years old. Gina
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Dear Friends,
Today, we watched a Christmas program on SUM.tv. No doubt we will be listening to more Christmas music.Singing or listening to Christmas carols seem so special because they are sung only at this time of year. Although we know that December 25 is not the actual birthday of Jesus, the most important fact is that He was born. On that eventful day, God the Father, the Great King of the Universe proclaimed of His Son, this tiny Babe Who was lying in a roughly hewn feed trough, “let all the angels of God worship him.” Heb 1:6 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9,10
When the time was right, “the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Surprised at this announcement, Mary wondered what the angel meant. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Luke 1:27-31; Matt 1:21 Matthew tells us “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” vs 22,23 (Isa 7:14)
I’d like to share the words of my favorite Christmas carol with you, as it is so full of meaning. *O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times once gave the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of Thy people be; Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
May we, during this holiday season, keep our focus upon our Dear Saviour Who left all the glories of Heaven, became a helpless babe born into a poor family, suffered all the hatred that the evil one could heap upon Him, and gave His Own Life to redeem us from all sin; that we might dwell with Him forevermore. May we ever make “melody in [our] heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” “for His unspeakable Gift.” Eph 5:19,20; 2 Cor 9:15 May “Christ dwell in [our] hearts by faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph 3:17-21
Rose