I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5.
We have but one life to live, and through our daily connection with God we have, in and through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, a constant sustenance in doing the things that will represent Christ to the world. We may not have all the conveniences that some have in ease and comfort and in earthly goods, but we have the blessed assurance which Christ gave to His believing disciples…. To them He said, “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” (John 14:1-3)….
Blessed words! We may receive Him into our hearts, and He will be unto us hope and courage and sustaining grace. The Lord would have us trust fully and entirely in Him. Then we will, in the simplicity of our faith, believe that Christ will do for us all that He has promised. Let all come to the Saviour in the full assurance that He will do all that He has promised.
We cannot please our Saviour more than by having faith in His promises. His mercies can come to you, and your prayers can come to Him. Nothing can break this line of communication. We must learn to bring all perplexities to Jesus Christ, for He will help us. He will listen to our requests. We may come to Him in full assurance of faith, nothing doubting, for He is the living Way….
The more we press our petitions to His throne, the more sure we are of constantly receiving the great grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You do not give strength to the road you are traveling by [having] faith. But you increase in strength and in assurance because you have a Guide right by your side, and you can ask Him with perfect faith to guide your steps aright.
Then trust in the Lord Jesus to lead you step by step into the right path. You can derive assurance and strength at every step you advance, for you can be assured that your hand is in His hand. You can “run and not be weary”; you can “walk and not faint,” for you can realize by faith that you have your hand in the hand of Christ. You wPlease ill not sink under discouragement, for as you follow on to know the Lord, trusting in Him, you will have the assurance that the One who never forsakes those who fully trust Him is your constant Helper.—Letter 313, November 2, 1905, to Mabel White, her 19-year-old granddaughter.
The Upward Look p. 320
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Prayer Requests’
—-Pray for Laura who is having surgery to remove a tumor. Esther
—-Corky (my brother) has bone marrow Wednesday. They still trying to find out why abnormal blood test. I pray not cancer and they can find out something. Carol
—-Things are getting worse with David’s mental condition. Please pray that he will get the medicine he needs and that he will be willing to take it. Buck
—- My dear grandson Solomon committed suicide about a month ago and he has his wife and 4 children left to try and get through this horrible situation. It is his wife’s birthday today and I would just like to request prayer for her and those four precious kids for today and always that God will bring comfort healing and peace. And please pray for my son who is his father he is suffering terribly with grief as we all are who loved him. Connie
—-Please pray for Ron as he is having a procedure done on his eye today. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Last evening, we were reading about Enoch to the children. That brought up the question, “Was Adam still alive when Enoch was translated. I remembered that I had done a study on the ages of the Patriarchs some time ago. I thought I would share it with you this morning.
Adam was 130 when Seth was born.
Adam was 235 and Seth was 105 when Enos was born.
Adam was 325, Seth was 195, and Enos was 90 when Cainan was born.
Adam was 395, Seth was 265, Enos was 160, Cainan was 70 when Mahalaleel was born.
Adam was 460, Seth 330, Enos 225, Cainan 135, and Mahalaleel 65 when Jared was born.
Adam was 622, Seth 492, Enos 387, Cainan 297, Mahalaleel 227, and Jared 162 when Enoch was born.
Adam was 687, Seth 557, Enos 452, Cainan 362, Mahalaleel 292, Jared 227, and Enoch 65 when Methuselah was born.
Adam was 874, Seth 744, Enos 639, Cainan 549, Mahalaleel 479, Jared 414, Enoch 252, and Methuselah 187 when Lamech was born.
Adam died when Lamech was 56 years old. Enoch was taken to Heaven when Lamech was 113. Lamech was 168 when Seth died.
Enos was 821, Cainan 731, Mahalaleel 661, Jared 596, Methuselah 369, and Lamech 182 when Noah was born.
Enos died when Noah was 84. Noah was 179 when Cainan died. He was 234 when Mahalaleel died and 366 when Jared died.
Methuselah was 872, Lamech 685, and Noah 503 when Shem was born.
Methuselah died when Noah was 600 and Shem was 97 which was the year of the flood. Noah was 601 and Shem 98 when they came out of the ark.
Noah was 603 and Shem was 100 when Arphaxad was born.
Noah was 638, Shem 135, and Arphaxad 35 when Salah was born.
Noah was 668 , Shem 165, Arphaxad 65, and Salah 30 when Eber was born.
Noah was 702, Shem 199, Arphaxad 99, Salah 64, and Eber 34 when Peleg was born.
Noah was 732, Shem 229, Arphaxad 129, Salah 94, Eber 64, and Peleg 30 when Reu was born.
Noah was 764, Shem 261, Arphaxad 161, Salah 126, Eber 96, Peleg 62, and Reu 32 when Serug was born.
Noah was 794, Shem 291, Arphaxad 191, Salah 156, Eber 126, Peleg 92, Reu 62, and Serug 30 when Nahor was born.
Noah was 923, Shem 320, Arphaxad 220, Salah 185, Eber 155, Peleg 121, Reu 91, Serug 59, and Nahor 29 when Terah was born.
Noah died when Terah was 27. Peleg died when Terah was 118. Nahor died when Terah was 119
Shem was 450, Arphaxad 350, Salah 315, Eber 285, Reu 221, Serug 189, and Terah 130 when Abraham was born.
Reu died when Abraham was 18. Serug died when Abraham was 50. Terah died when Abraham was75. Arphaxad died when Abraham was 88.
Shem was 550, Salah 415, Eber 385, and Abraham 100 when Isaac was born.
Eber died when Isaac was 19. Shem died when Isaac was 50.
Abraham was 160 and Isaac was 60 when Jacob was born.
Abraham died when Jacob was 15.
Isaac was 151 and Jacob was 91 when Joseph was born.
Isaac died when Joseph was 29. Jacob died when Joseph was 56.
Rose

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21.
The existence of a personal God, the unity of Christ with His Father, lies at the foundation of all true science. From nature we can gain only an imperfect idea of the greatness and majesty of God. We see the working of His power and His wisdom, but He Himself is beyond our comprehension. The ocean, the cataract, the lofty, rugged mountains reveal but imperfectly His handiwork. Satan has introduced confusion and deformity into the creation of God. Something more than nature is needed to reveal the character of the Father.
Christ came to this earth to reveal what finite minds can comprehend of the glory of God. He came to unite divinity and humanity, that through Him, with character made perfect, human beings might at last behold God in the fullness of His glory. Through the merits of the sacrifice He has made, we may become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). The bright beams of divinity pass through Christ to His followers. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12)….
In these days, many deceptions are being taught as truth. Some of our brethren have taught views which we cannot endorse. Fanciful ideas, strained and peculiar interpretations of the Scripture, are coming in. Some of these teachings may seem to be but jots and tittles now, but they will grow and become snares to the inexperienced….
We need to search the Scriptures daily, that we may know the way of the Lord, and that we be not deceived by religious fallacies. The world is full of false theories and seductive spiritualistic ideas, which tend to destroy clear spiritual perception, and to lead away from truth and holiness. Especially at this time do we need to heed the warning, “Let no man deceive you with vain words.”
We must be careful lest we misinterpret the Scriptures. The plain teachings of the Word of God are not to be so spiritualized that the reality is lost sight of. Do not overstrain the meaning of sentences in the Bible in an effort to bring forth something odd in order to please the fancy. Take the Scriptures as they read. Avoid idle speculation.—Manuscript 30, October 29, 1904, “Redeem the Time.”
The Upward Look p. 316
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer request for some very dear friends of mine she just called they had a water leak behind the fridge the refrigerator fell through the floor then their water pump went out so they have no water. please pray for them. they don’t have the money to take care of the things that need to be taken care of. they both have heart problems his is worse. he can go anytime. please pray that the Lord will hear and answer their prayers I told her God’s bank is never broke. thank you .M.
—-My father in-law is. Dying please pray strength comfort courage for the family his wife also is in hospital sick and also my husband and nephew pray for healing and the sister who is caring for them need strength please pray. Therese
—- Please pray for my friend Jean she has Covid! Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Two days ago, we had freezing rain that coated everything with a thin coating of ice. Yesterday, it rained all day and today it is sunny. Every trace of the ice is gone.
Such was not the case some years ago when we had an ice storm that coated everything with an extra-thick coating of ice. Tree branches snapped and fell from the weight. This caused power outages that lasted from a few hours to many days. After the storm was over, these trees were ugly and grotesque.
How often we are covered with a “ice-coat” of sin. How many times we feel like we are about to snap under sin’s great weight. Like those trees, our character is flawed, ugly, and grotesque. How much we need the renewing that only our Great Redeemer can give. Although, like those trees, the scars of sin remain, yet Christ’s Righteousness can make us beautiful, pure, clean once more.
Zechariah was given a vision of Joshua, the high priest, that illustrates this very point. “And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” Zech 3:1-7
Just as Joshua was standing before God in his filthy garments, so we stand before Him in the filthiness of our sins, our “branches” broken and torn. We cannot take away those sins ourselves. We need to be cleansed by Jesus’ blood. Praise God! Our Loving Saviour has taken our place. He has provided His own spotless robe of His righteousness. He does not put that robe on top of our filthiness, but He takes away our filthy garments of our own unrighteousness and then clothes us.
When we have been cleansed, however, we are not free to cover ourselves with another ice-coat of sin. We need Him to fill us through and through. Jesus explained, “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. Luke 5:36-38 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Matt 12:43-45
James admonishes us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22-25
May we come to Jesus that we may be forgiven, cleansed of our sin, and covered with His spotless robe of righteousness. May we daily invite our Dear Saviour to dwell within our heart that we may walk in His path. May we obey our Dear Redeemer, not to earn salvation, but because our hearts are filled with love and gratitude for His great Gift of Salvation and Grace.
Rose

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment. Exodus 23:2.
To be singular for singularity’s sake is positively detestable, below the dignity of a Christian, but to be singular because it is necessary to be so as the result of worshipping God and Him only, places Heaven’s dignity upon man. We must not be afraid of being singular when duty requires us to be thus to exalt and honor God….
Do not court singularity for the sake of being odd, but for the sake of avoiding sin and dishonor to God. And in this case we are not to mind even the multitude who are against us. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.”
Because the law of God is made void in our world, does it make it a virtue to transgress that law? It may appear to the world a very small matter for the Christian to be in harmony with the world by just the act of keeping Sunday for the Sabbath in the place of the seventh day, but God’s Word says the seventh day is My holy day. The man of sin says, “I make a Sabbath for you and you must keep the first day of the week.” …
God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church.
Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides, let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name. The bitterest opposition expressed by those who hate God’s great moral standard of righteousness should not and will not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God….
They that will be doers of the word are building securely, and the tempest and storm of persecution will not shake their foundation, because their souls are rooted to the eternal Rock.—Letter 108, October 28, 1886, to her older sister and her husband who had not accepted the Sabbath truth.
The Upward Look p. 315
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Prayer Requests
—-Please keep my husband Joseph in your prayers, we just found out that he will be needing open heart surgery. We have an appointment with the heart surgeon next week! Sandra
—-Asking for prayers depression has been getting the best of me a lot lately. Alyse
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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. Their love brought great joy to my heart. 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 scamper off hugging 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. Their working 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, Who “loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor 9:7 It is only the offering that is given from a love-filled heart that means anything to him. It brings such joy to His Great Heart of Love. He pleads, “wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved.” Jer 4:14 “Give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Prov 23:26 “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” Ps 4:5
One of my favorite songs and one that I used to play for the offering is They Brought Their Gifts to Jesus. By Eben E. Rexford. I’d like to share it with you today.
“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.”
How important it is that we give our Dear Saviour the gift that He wants most of all. The gift He counts the greatest is when we give Him our time, our love, our thoughts, our heart, and do 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. May we “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service” is my prayer. Rom 12:1,2
Rose

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17.
Trust yourself in the hands of God. Do cease complaining, even though you suppose that there is something to complain of. Satan says, “I will harass him until he shall make shipwreck of faith”; but you need not be overcome by his devices. God will uphold you if you will only let Him. At times you are inclined to make a complete surrender of yourself to God, and then you feel at rest; but you take yourself back again, you do not let Jesus carry your burdens.
You want the will of God to be done in you, but at the same time you shrink from the pain and self-sacrifice involved in having it done. In order that the will of God may be done in you, you must trust your heavenly Father as a child trusts its parent. But you have an anxious, troubled heart; you are actually afraid to trust yourself with God, afraid of the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Do not, I beseech you, mar your own Christian experience.
The Spirit speaks to you, “Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). In words and attitude you reveal a weakness of character when you are under the impression that you are not treated well and with the confidence and deference you should have….
You are to know that God has you under His special care; you are to trust in Him because you love Him, and He loves you. He will uphold all who put their trust in Him. God will make everything work for your sanctification if you will stop fretting and trust in Him. The words spoken to you by One who cannot make a mistake were: “Do not fall into the temptation to harass your own life and make yourself miserable by your own reflections, which are frequently the direct insinuations of Satan.” You keep fresh in your mind your own grievances, and go over and over the same things, cutting and bruising your own soul….
Do not bring the disagreeable things of the past into your present life. Testify that life with Christ is no failure…. Dismiss Satan, walk with Jesus, and be complete in Him. Never, never give Satan the satisfaction of taunting you or others that our faith is a deception, a delusion.
There is a work to be done by the Holy Spirit in the heart; when this is accomplished, bitter tears will no longer flow forth, but the promise will be fulfilled, “The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). You can stand only in God. When the heart is reconciled to God, the fact will be made manifest in your association with your brethren. It will be seen that Christ is abiding in the soul temple.—Letter 10, October 27, 1894, to an evangelist working in Australia.
The Upward Look p. 314
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Prayer Requests
—-Friday I lost my keys. house car. tenets place. but I went to bed with a p peaceful feeling that the Lord will bring them back to me in His time and his way. please pray that I can get them back soon. MC
—-Please pray for George who is having heart surgery this AM. Ann
—-Please pray for my healing. Mark
—-Please pray for me. I have bad nerves and emphysema. Chris
—-Please pray that God’s will be done in David’s life. Buck
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Dear Friends,

Ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery. Ephesians 3:2, 3.
Through divine revelation, the plan of salvation, as wrought out by Christ, was laid open to Paul. Called of God, he was to teach men that from a state of hopelessness, dead in trespasses and sins, there was deliverance through the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was life and power to reach forth unto holiness. Because of these revelations, Paul was blessed with a marvelous insight. Though he could not present to others all that he himself had seen, yet he was firmly rooted and grounded in the truth. No suffering or reproach could ever lead him to deny the great truths that had been revealed to him. No presentation of false theories could lead him away from the influence of the grand views he had received of heavenly things…. The gospel as presented by Paul in his writings is just as powerful today as when it was written. To men in all ages is made known the rich treasures of the grace of Christ, the abundant love of God as revealed through His Son. Can we, while in a cold, lifeless condition, appreciate these truths?
The gospel of Christ was preached to the Jewish nation. Had they accepted its truths, it would have proved their salvation. Through belief in Christ they might have become members of the royal family, manifesting through the succeeding ages the riches of His grace. But they, as a nation, rejected Christ, refused His offers of mercy, and were cut off from the parent vine, that the Gentiles might be grafted in. Still it is their privilege to become partakers with the Gentiles of the salvation of God. Belief in Christ will work in every man a transformation of character.
Through the transforming grace of Christ, the fruits of the Spirit are made manifest in the life of those who were once dead in trespasses and sins. In disposition, in words, and in actions, they are seen to be partakers of the divine nature. This wonderful grace was revealed to Paul, and he worked constantly that others might be brought to a knowledge of these saving truths.
To Jew and Gentile alike was the gospel preached under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The middle wall of partition that had separated the Jews was broken down in Christ Jesus. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).—Manuscript 111, October 22, 1906, “A Warning Against Formation.”
The Upward Look p. 309
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Mike and Larry as they travel today. LS
—-Jamie needs prayer. please pray for her, her 6 year old son was just killed in a car accident hit by tractor trailer. Arlene
—-Urgent prayer request. Toms aunt Cathy was admitted to hospital this morning with covid and pneumonia. She had a sinus infection and was on antibiotics when she was exposed. She is not doing well. Darla
—-Thank you all who prayed for me about my having sepsis. I went to my doctor and got another blood test and my sepsis is gone! I thank God for healing me! I praise his Holy name! Connie
—-Please pray for Elijah that God will guide in his life. Rose
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Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to December more this year than ever before, as Esther will have her third baby then. She is so enjoying feeling baby Jonathan moving inside her even though she is at the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy. Knowing that a baby can hear the mother and feel her touch in the womb, she talks to him and sings to him while rubbing her expanded belly. She can hardly wait until she can actually hold him in her arms and cuddle her little one.
I remember those feelings. When my children were born, I had such love for them. As I looked upon that tiny babe, there was a bond, a special love that nothing else can match. Now that they are grown, I still have that same love for them. It does not change. God’s love and care for us is even deeper than our love could ever be. God’s love never changes. He assures us, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Isa 49:15,16;66:13