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. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself at certain periods from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart. Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. His face was radiant with a holy light, even the light that shineth in the face of Jesus. As he came forth from these divine communings, even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance.41Gospel Workers, 52.
Enoch kept the Lord ever before him…. He made Christ his constant companion. He was in the world, and performed his duties to the world; but he was ever under the influence of Jesus. He reflected Christ’s character, exhibiting the same qualities of goodness, mercy, tender compassion, sympathy, forbearance, meekness, humility, and love. His association with Christ day by day transformed him into the image of Him with whom he was so intimately connected. Day by day he was growing away from his own way into Christ’s way, the heavenly, the divine, in his thoughts and feelings.42The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1097, 1098.
If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet, joyful sense of the presence of Jesus. Often our hearts will burn within us as He draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch. When this is in truth the experience of the Christian, there is seen in his life a simplicity, a humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart, that show to all with whom he associates that he has been with Jesus and learned of Him.43Christ’s Object Lessons 129, 130.
Conflict and Courage p. 30
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Prayer Requests
—-Will you all pray for me please……….I have been going through hell for a long time now and I just can’t take it no more. PL
—-Please pray for Chris and Cindy. Cindy is in the hospital with pneumonia and it’s not responding to any meds. Jennifer
—-Asking for urgent prayers for one of our workers. DNK
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Dear Friends,
In a couple of weeks, it will be Winter Convocation where all of the area churches of our denomination get together to listen to a special speaker. I’m reminded of one of these meetings which was very spiritual and uplifted Jesus and His great forgiveness. I don’t remember the name of the speaker, but I remember that he brought out a point that we had never thought of. He reminded us that there were no chapters and verses in the original. Therefore John 14:1 is a continuation of the thought in the last verse of chapter 13. “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 13:33-14:6 In those famous verses of 14:1-3, Jesus was saying to Peter and the rest of the disciples, “You will deny me this very night, but let not your heart be troubled. You will repent and I will forgive you and someday you will be with me in my Father’s house.” Precious thought!
Although the speaker did not use this parable, it illustrates the Great King of the Universe’s desire that we forgive others. “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 18:23-35
May we, from our heart, forgive others that we may be forgiveness my prayer.
Rose

She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:6.
Having herself transgressed, she [Eve] became the agent of Satan working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.
An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die. She reasoned that this must be true, for she felt no evidence of God’s displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers.
Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus? Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other. Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation…. He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater love for him than before. No sign of death appeared in her, and he decided to brave the consequences. He seized the fruit and quickly ate.13Ibid., 56, 57.
Conflict and Courage p. 16
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our family as we have some health issues. Buck
—-Please pray for my husband. He is diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea and needs the right treatment. I hear him struggling with breathing in the nights while sleeping. MM
—-My father is in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy. He is a heart patient and there are complications. My sibling has a divorce court meeting with her lawyers and soon to be x. Please pray for my father’s heart and resolution in the courts. Anon
—-My son Wesley …..his whole body is swelling up and he said his lungs and heart are feeling weird so he has finally decided to go to the Emergency Room for help. He can hardly move and he is gasping for air. His legs are swollen to twice their normal size and they are discolored with purple …red…pink….blue streaks. Please pray that he will not change his mind about going for help. Please pray that God will heal him and not allow him to die unsaved. Connie
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Dear Friends,
A few days ago, it snowed a few inches and everything was covered with a blanket of white. At first, there were no tracks in the snow and it did look beautiful even though I have never liked snow. It wasn’t long, however, until the entire yard was full of tracks and bare spots. What made the difference? My grandchildren discovered the snow as soon as they awakened and immediately got dressed in their snowpants and winter coats. Soon there were footprints everywhere. Then they decided to make a snowman. Long paths of snowless grass where they rolled their huge balls for the man of snow. They had so much fun!
Just as those tracks in the snow gave witness that my grandchildren were playing in the yard, so we leave “our tracks” in the lives of those around us. It is good to ask ourselves the question, “Are they any closer to God because of our presence?”
Jesus tells us, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:13-16
We have a calling to fulfill as did John the Baptist for we are to prepare a people to meet Jesus when He comes again. Just as John’s whole life witnessed to the work given Him by God, so should ours. From his birth he was set aside for this special work, so are we. The disciple John speaks of him, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:6-9
John the Baptist did not live a life of ease. He even separated himself from the temptations of the day and dwelt in the wilderness. Although he lived in a solitary place, people went out to the wilderness to hear him. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. . . . Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt 3:1-11
John spoke the word in truth no matter what the consequences would be. “Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” Matt 14:3, 4 It cost him his life, but his reward in Heaven will be great. Jesus, speaking of John, said, “This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:27, 28
May we be faithful in our witness as was John. May others take “knowledge of (us), that (we have) been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 May we leave evidence of our walk with God wherever we go by leading those around us to the foot of the cross, that they may receive the grace and blessing and eternal life that our Great Redeemer longs to impart is my prayer.

The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Isaiah 26:7.
We have before us in the Word of God instances of heavenly agencies working on the minds of kings and rulers, while at the same time satanic agencies were also at work on their minds. No human eloquence, in strongly set forth human opinions, can change the working of satanic agencies. Satan seeks continually to block the way, so that the truth shall be bound about by human devising, and those who have light and knowledge are in the greatest danger unless they constantly consecrate themselves to God, humiliating self, and realizing the peril of the times.
Heavenly beings are appointed to answer the prayers of those who are working unselfishly for the interests of the cause of God. The very highest angels in the heavenly courts are appointed to work out the prayers that ascend to God for the advancement of the cause of God. Each angel has a particular post of duty, and is not permitted to leave for any other place. If an angel should leave, the powers of darkness would gain an advantage….
Day by day the conflict between good and evil is going on…. As a people we do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Evil angels are constantly at work, planning their line of attack, controlling as commanders, kings, and rulers, the disloyal human forces.
I call upon you who are not ready for the last great controversy to wake up. You are not watching for that which is soon coming upon the earth. Human instrumentalities under the control of fallen angels are seeking to gather in their harvest. Those who would find themselves under the protection of the angels of God must live wholly for God’s glory, prepared to stand in their lot and in their place….
Over every person good and evil angels strive. It is the person himself who determines which shall win. I call upon the ministers of Christ to press home upon the understanding of all who come within the reach of their voice the truth of the ministration of angels. Do not indulge in fanciful speculations. The written Word is our only safety. We must pray as did Daniel, that we may be guarded by heavenly intelligences. As ministering spirits, angels are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Pray … pray as you have never prayed before. We are not prepared for the Lord’s coming. We need to make thorough work for eternity.—Letter 201, 1899.
Christ Triumphant p. 368
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Prayer Requests
—-PLEASE Pray for my sister who is 65 living with my 86 and she has been high on drugs and we don’t know what to do..shes been to the Er all day yesterday. It was horrific. Please pray this will end. My poor dear mother. Heather
—-Please Pray for E for healing and guidance. R
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Dear Friends,
Over the years, we had enjoyed spending time in nature. In whatever part of this vast country we have lived we have hiked or camped in the mountains or beside a stream or lake or in a pine forest. Sometimes, we just took a nice long drive and reveled in the beauty of God’s great creation. (Sadly we are now too old to hike, we still can go for drive whenever we feel that we can afford the gas, but most of the time we enjoy watching the beauties of nature on the television. Yet, we have many memories of the happy times of bygone days.)
How important it is that each of us leave the city behind and go out into nature whenever we have the opportunity. Even after 6000 years of sin, there are scenes of grandeur that are breathtakingly beautiful. As we walk beside a river whose rushing water is splashing over great rocks worn smooth by its action, we can think of the works of the Lord upon our heart, constantly bringing about circumstances to mold us into His image. When surrounded by great, snowcapped mountains dotted with evergreens nearly to their summit, we can meditate upon the Rock Christ Jesus, Who veiled His glory and majesty and came to this dark and sinful world to live a life filled with all the troubles and trials the evil one could heap upon Him. He is our “chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” He is “the stone which the builders disallowed,” Who is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.” (1 Peter 2:6,8) As we gaze upon the colorful clouds at the close of the day, we look forward to our Heavenly Home where all is light and beauty, “and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Rev 21:23 Even as we marvel at our Great Creator’s handiwork, we can see signs of the enemy’s work in dead and dying flower, leaf, and animal. This makes us look forward to the time when “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev 21:4
David exclaimed, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Ps 33:6-9;19:1-6;8:3-9
May we praise the Lord for His marvelous creation as we spend time viewing His handiwork is my prayer.

In vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. Matthew 15:9, NRSV.
My soul is much burdened, for I know what is before us. Every conceivable deception will be brought to bear upon those who have not a daily, living connection with God. Satan’s angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which some will claim to be advanced light and will proclaim it as new and wonderful; yet while in some respects the message may be truth, it will be mingled with human inventions and will teach for doctrine the commandments of men…. Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer, for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path that lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it….
A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches, and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, without regard to one’s past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus….
The Lord desires His servants today to preach the old gospel doctrine, sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession…. Sinners must be labored for, perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until they shall see that they are transgressors of God’s law, and shall exercise repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ….
Workers should not feel that it is a virtue to stand apart because they do not see all minor points in exactly the same light. If they agree on fundamental truths, they should not differ and dispute about matters of little real importance. To dwell on perplexing questions, that after all are of no vital consequence, tends to call the mind away from truths vital to the saving of the soul….
Unbelievers are critical, and they seek to frame some excuse for not receiving the truth as it is in Jesus. Where these differences exist among us, those who stand outside will say, “It will be time enough for us to believe as you do when you can agree among yourselves as to what constitutes truth.” Thus the ungodly take advantage of the divisions and controversies among Christians.—Manuscript 82, 1894 (The Review and Herald, November 4, 1965).
Christ Triumphant p. 362
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for some friends who are having financial troubles because they are not getting paid for their work. Anon
—-Please pray for E and children. The devil is trying to cause problems in many ways. R
—- Imogen woke up this morning at home with a loss of motion in her left arm (and somewhat in her leg). We have taken her to the Emergency Department and she is currently waiting for her neurosurgery team to decide what to do. She has been in pain especially at night time. We have started fasting her in case she has to have a general anesthetic for an MRI or other type of scan – possibly later tonight. She is 3-weeks post spinal surgery. Please pray that there is no permanent damage and that the cancer has not grown.
It’s a bit traumatizing being back in hospital again at Christmas time (which is the time of year when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma in Dec 2019).
God is good and we put our faith and trust in Him, and are believing in Him for full healing for Imogen. Jeanie
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Dear Friends,
I was on the internet recently when I came across a prayer request. As I read the responses, I saw one reply that was different than all the others. This man spoke harshly to the writer of the request telling her that she had no business bothering God with such and small and unimportant prayer request. I was shocked! That man’s idea of God was skewed and did not understand God’s love at all. I wrote a reply explaining to him that God loves to have us come to Him with our needs and even our wants. His reply what I expected–not at all nice. So sad.
How good God is! No prayer is too small for Him to answer. Indeed, He yearns for us to ask Him for help in every aspect of our life. Jesus bids us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?0 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt 7:7-11; 18:19, 20 Think of it! What power there is awaiting us if we will only ask! Yet, how seldom do we ask Him. How rarely do we allow the Great Burden Bearer to bear our burdens, to untangle the mess we’ve got ourselves into, to lead us in the path which we should go, to help us in the daily routine of our life.
Sometimes we pray and our prayers do not seem to be answered. God answers, but He does not always answer in the way we have specified. He may say, “wait awhile” or “that would not be good for you, here is something you really need.” James explains, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 So, we see there are guidelines for answered prayer. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 14:13, 14; 15:7-11 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:5, 6
May we bring our joys, our sorrows, our problems, our needs, whether large or small to the Throne of Grace is my prayer.
Rose

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10.
The world is a theater. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of. There is no unity of purpose, except as parties of people confederate to gain their ends. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into human hands, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is … working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect.
Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise….
The wicked have chosen Satan as their leader. Under his control, the wonderful faculties of the mind are used to construct agencies of destruction. God has given the human mind great power, power to show that the Creator has endowed human beings with ability to do a great work against the enemy of all righteousness, power to show what victories may be gained in the conflict against evil….
But when those to whom God has entrusted capabilities give themselves into the hands of the enemy, they become a power to destroy. When people do not make God first and last and best in everything, when they do not give themselves to Him for the carrying out of His purposes, Satan comes in and uses in his service the minds that, given to God, could achieve great good. Under his direction they do an evil work with great and masterly power. God designed them to work on a high plane of action, to enter into His mind, and thus acquire an education that would enable them to work the works of righteousness. But they know nothing of this education. They are helpless. Their powers do not guide them aright, for they are under the enemy’s control.
The way to holiness and heaven is found in the path of obedience. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—Letter 141, 1902.
Christ Triumphant p. 359
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Prayer Requests
—- Asking for prayers for my sister Elaine as she has had an injury but is not with the Lord in a manner that is needed. Please pray for her salvation. Cindy
—-Please pray for A who has become very angry and bitter and is miserable. B
—-Can you please pray for my earache to heal with the antibiotic I am using. Andre
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Dear Friends,
Well, today is the first day of Christmas vacation. That means no homeschooling for two whole weeks. How many things I thought I was going to accomplish today. So far, my day has been so crazy that all I’ve been able to do are dishes and starting a loaf of bread in my bread maker. I hope to do better the rest of our vacation, but if those days are like this one……
I feel something like some hamsters that Ronnie Jay used to have. We had so much fun watching them running on their exercise wheel. The three creatures would often try to run on it at the same time—-sometimes in the opposite direction! This would cause one or more to be slung out of the wheel. Whereupon that little creature would jump right back on and begin the process all over again.
How often we feel as if we are like those hamsters—always busy but accomplishing nothing. When we fail to keep the connection with the Great King of the Universe, we feel like a hamster on a giant exercise wheel—ever running but getting nowhere. How many times we can get ourselves into circumstances where there seems to be no way out, no future. How it must break our Great Redeemer’s heart to see us struggling futilely in our own strength, when He is there to help us disentangle ourselves from the mess we have gotten ourselves into, to deliver us out of the cage we are in. All we need to do is ask Him. He assures us, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matt 7:7,8 When we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, He will save us out of all of our distresses. He will deliver us from the exercise wheel of life and open a plain path of escape before our feet for He is faithful Who has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8
How important then, that we” pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 How vital that we keep in touch with our Dear Saviour moment by moment. Then we won’t be running around accomplishing little to nothing. When He was upon this earth, our Loving Redeemer felt the need for His Father’s guidance. Indeed, He often spent all night in earnest prayer with strong crying and tears. (Luke 6:12) Heb 5:7 That very same Jesus is yearning for us to earnestly desire to get off life’s exercise wheel and pray to Him for the guidance and strength that He so freely offers.
May we listen to His pleading voice bidding 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.” Matt 11:28, 29
Rose