And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. Revelation 14:9, 10.
The Lord desires to see the work of the third angel’s message carried forward with increasing efficiency. As He has worked in all ages to give victories to His people, so in this age He longs to carry to triumphant fulfillment His purposes for His church. He bids the saints to advance unitedly, going from strength to greater strength, from faith to increased assurance and confidence in the truth and righteousness of His cause. Let us ever bear in mind that our work is to be one of advancement. We are to follow on to know the Lord. God understands the actuating principles of every mind. He has witnessed the persistent, rebellious course of some whom He has warned and counseled repeatedly. His all-seeing eye has noted the determined following of human devisings. The way of man is before the Lord. He knoweth the thoughts. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). He looketh to the ends of the earth, and He seeth under the whole heavens. The Lord searcheth the hearts. We are to stand firm as a rock to the principles of the Word of God, remembering that God is with us to give us strength to meet each new experience. Let us ever maintain the principles of righteousness in our lives, that we may go forward from strength to strength in the name of the Lord. We are to hold as very sacred the faith that has been substantiated by the instruction and approval of the Spirit of God from our earliest experience until the present time…. Arouse the people to the importance of the times in which we live, that they may be led to place themselves under the discipline of Christ. In His human life Christ revealed a divine nature; no defect appeared in His character. Beholding His life of self-denial and sacrifice that He might minister truth to the world, they may be changed in life, and learn to reflect His likeness…. Let us not be unconcerned regarding our responsibility to form righteous characters, but let us place ourselves under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit that we may form characters that will reflect the divine life.—Letter 66, August 28, 1911, to S. N. Haskell, president of the California Conference.
The Upward Look p. 254
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my urgent unspoken prayer request. LS
—-Please pray for David. He is getting worse again. Buck

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8.
The first chapter of Daniel teaches the lesson that what we eat and drink has an influence upon the powers of the mind, and that if we would have healthful bodies and clear minds, we must be careful of our diet. If we are careless in this matter and eat simply to gratify taste, the digestive organs are impaired and the brain is confused, and neither can act their part as fully as God intended they should…. Daniel and his companions determined to banish from their diet everything that would defile, and a power from above worked in harmony with their efforts. As a result they had the privilege of following their own course in the obtaining of their education. And the education they gained was better than that gained by any of the magicians, astrologers, or wise men in all the king’s realm. Those who desire to come into right relation to God need to study Daniel’s plan. That was a sum proved. You may take the sum and prove it also. There are many who think that those who adopt health reform suffer a loss of physical strength, but if these would test the matter for themselves, they would change their minds on this point…. Daniel stood in a very responsible position in the kingdom of Babylon. There will always be those who will occupy positions of lesser responsibility; but whatever our work, our example may be such that it will lead others in to right paths. We need to humble ourselves before God and pray to Him, and trust in Him…. We cannot afford to miss any opportunity for perfecting a Christian character. Whatever experience may come to others, remember that you, in your lot and place, will be tested by God. There will be times when you will be placed in unfavorable positions, but at such times plead with God, trust in Him, and walk in simple faith before the Lord. Then angels of heaven will impress your minds. Let not your minds be filled with self and self-interests. The Lord is looking upon us in mercy and love today. Who will follow out the will of the Lord? Who will study to overcome the hasty temper, remembering that the words they speak are spoken in the hearing of heavenly angels? These heavenly agencies are continually ministering to us.—Manuscript 73, August 27, 1909, “Lessons From the First Chapter of Daniel,” sermon preached at Council Grove camp meeting.
The Upward Look p. 253
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Prayer Requests
—-I appeal to you to hold Jim up in your prayers. His wife passed today. W
—-Please pray for a woman by the name of Thursday. She was just moved to ICU with COVID-19 AND has other health issues like COPD that will likely complicate her recovery. Cora
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Dear Friends,
I used to have a coworker whose whole focus was on Elvis Presley. The walls in her office were covered with photographs of him. She loved to talk about this singer who had lured so many other performers into drugs and whose career ended abruptly from an overdose of sleeping pills. One time an Elvis impersonator was entertaining in the courthouse lobby (around the time of Elvis’ birthday if I remember correctly) and this co-worker made quite a spectacle of herself. She began screaming like a schoolgirl and even bowed down to him. How disgusting! After the performance, she had this rather poor representation of the former rock star come to her office and showed him all of her memorabilia. One year she even went so far as to burn candles and offer food to a large photo of Elvis on the anniversary of his death. It was quite amazing how she literally worshiped a dead man as if he were a god.
Praise God! We do not worship a dead man! Our Dear Saviour is alive! We do not worship Someone Who leads others into sin! He is Pure and Holy and Good and leads us into righteousness! Moreover Jesus gave His life for us that we might enjoy fellowship with Him both now and eternally. “Wherefore he is able also to save to the uttermost [all] that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for [us].” Heb 7:25 Think of it! The very same Jesus, Who left the throne of glory, walked this earth as a man, was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, Who died for our sins that we might be saved is even now before God, the Father, interceding in our behalf. Wonderful Saviour!
Yet how seldom is our focus on Him Who gave Himself a ransom for us. (Matt 20:28) How rarely do we speak of His goodness. God’s Holy Word is filled with His love, His Goodness, His message for our edification; yet how often we read, listen to, or watch that which edifies not. How it must amaze the unfallen beings of the universe that we think more of the mundane things of this world than we do of the King of Glory.
How our Loving Redeemer’s Great Heart of Love must break when we ignore Him or at best give Him only “lip service.” With tears in His voice He says to us as He said to the Pharisees of old, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt 15:7-9
Contrariwise, how much joy we give Him when our focus is upon Him and His great love for us. How we please Him when we speak of His blessings. Indeed He makes a record of our words and thoughts. “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 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. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Mal 3:16-18
May we never be ashamed to focus totally upon our Great Redeemer and worship Him as openly as that woman worshipped her idol. May our sweetest thoughts be of our Lord Jesus Christ and His marvelous love and grace. May we daily pray as did David, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps 19:14
Rose

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1, 2.
When trials come to us, let us not dwell upon the greatness of the difficulties and feel that we cannot have joy in the Lord. It is true we will have changes of feelings. There will come to us times of discouragement and depression. But shall we live by feeling or by faith? When our brethren and friends speak unadvisedly, and cause us grief, let us not be cast down. Let us remember that we are in a world of trial and grief, of sorrow and disappointment. When these experiences come to us, they should drive us to Christ. If they do not, we meet with loss. When tempted to give up under discouragement and difficulty, let us study the life and experiences of Christ. He had to contend against the powers of darkness that He might not be overcome. We have the same battle to fight, the same victories to win. “God 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). It is our privilege to lay hold on the strength of One who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. He invites you to present your case at the throne of grace, and cast your helpless soul on Him. The purging is not pleasant, but let us remember that Christ came to our world and took humanity that He might bear the afflictions that humanity must bear and be an example of faithful endurance under every form of trial. God wants us to realize that we are a part of the great human family, and that we must bear its tests…. Let your humanity lay hold of divinity. Go to the footstool of God’s grace, and say, “Lord, I hang my helpless soul on Thee. Help me to control my speech. Teach me to overcome.” Christ will give you a spirit of overcoming. “They overcame him,” we read, “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). You may bear a testimony the opposite to that which Satan would have you bear. You may keep heart and mind sanctified by obedience to the truth. Look to Him, at morning and at noon and at night. Keep heart and mind fastened upon Christ. This is your privilege. The suffering and death of Christ has paid the price for your redemption, and through faith in Him you may overcome…. Let the love of Christ dwell in your hearts…. We must graduate sensibly in this life if we would be transferred to the higher school of the courts above.—Manuscript 79, August 26, 1909, “That I May Bring Forth More Fruit,” sermon preached at Council Grove, Kansas, camp meeting
The Upward Look p. 252
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Prayer Requests
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. LS
—-My friend whose husband just left her she needs prayer that she can find someone to volunteer to drive her and the RV towing her car to North Carolina from Southern California to live on her sons property. She has no income and she just had a surgery to remove cancer from her body. So she really needs help. Please pray that she can find someone to help her do this. Connie
—-Please pray for Rufus and family as their son just passed. Arlene
—-Pray for my Sister in law had thyroid removed today. Mel
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ron had a friend who owned some land in the country. Shortly after he purchased the property, he was approached by a nearby farmer and asked if he could farm some of the land. For five or six years, Jay let this man plant crops on the land for free. The rest of the land has grown over with grass and weeds as tall as a man.
One day Jay went out to his property to mow. When he saw the height of the grass, he realized that it would take way to long with the equipment he had, so he drove over to the house of the man whom he let farm part of his land and asked him if he would mow it.
After thinking about it for a moment, the man told him that he would be glad to mow it for $100! Jay was at first shocked then upset. All those years, he had allowed the man free use of his property and this was the “thanks” he got! What ingratitude for Jay’s kindness!
How often we are just as ungrateful for the blessings our Heavenly Father so freely bestows upon us. We treat His gifts as if we have a right to them. This should not be!
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:1-31
May our hearts swell with gratitude for the blessings that our Great Redeemer daily showers upon us is my prayer.
Rose

Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13.
Satan is making every effort to bring in spiritualistic sophistries, to throw his deceptions over minds. Now is the time for every follower of Christ to be clothed with the whole armor of God, and to fight manfully against the encroachments of the power of darkness. Let not our soldiers be found asleep at their post. The world is to be warned….
There are strong men, precious in the sight of God, who are under a spell. They do not realize that they are represented by the foolish virgins. Scientific spiritualistic philosophy has taken the minds of some from the message to be proclaimed at this time. There are those who live merely to criticize. They have been associating with those who have learned from the great deceiver. Their hearts bear the sting of the serpent, and they are prepared to enter upon a campaign of unbelief.
Those who have fallen asleep at their post are now to awake and trim their lamps. They are to entertain not a vestige of doubt as to the truth for this time. The hypnotism of Satan must be shown in its true bearing. We are not to turn our steps toward Egypt, but toward Canaan, the land of promise. The Lord says to me, “I have strengthened you to bear a message for this time. Wake up the men who have been receiving sophistries. They are asleep as to the great importance of the present time and the dangers of the future.” Some who in the past have had a genuine experience will awake, because their lives have not been a continual contradiction of truth….
Our thoughts, motives, and desires are to be brought into obedience to the will of God. They are to be inspired and controlled by Him. We are to ask ourselves, “Am I exerting all my capabilities to keep my lamp filled with oil, and carefully trimmed, that from it may shine, brightly and clearly, the light of present truth? Am I awakening the world to its danger? Am I leading perishing souls to Christ? Am I arousing men to see that the end of all things is at hand?” …
Those who are represented by the wise virgins, those who in the past have had a precious experience in the truth, are now to arouse and trim their lamps. Let those who have listened to sophistry now cut every vestige of this out of their experience. Do not allow your time to be taken up in discussion regarding these sophistries. Do not remain in the fog of skepticism until it is too late for you to find your bearings. Entire consecration to God puts to an end all vain, foolish suppositions and imaginations.—Manuscript 80, 1905, August 24, 1904, “Arise and Trim Your Lamps!”
The Upward Look p. 251
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will guide in a job I would like to have. I just told them about the Sabbath and have not heard back from them. JT
—-Please pray for Jayden who had a bad reaction to his chemo treatment. Chris
—-Please pray for my uncle’s wife, who is in the hospital, not doing to well. JN
—-Thoughts and prayers for one of my co-workers daughter who is having surgery this morning at 9am CT and are going through a tropical storm because they are in New Orleans. Pray for safety from the storm as well as my co-worker’s daughter surgery. Tony
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Dear Friends,
The love and forgiveness of our Great Creator is beyond comprehension. How good and kind He is! He assures us, “I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb 8:12 In His great love, He casts all our sins behind His back, He has compassion upon us; He subdues our iniquities, and casts all our sins into the depths of the sea.. (Isa 38:17; Micah 7:19) “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 103:13,14
Our Dear Saviour’s parable in Luke 15:11-24 illustrates this great love and forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. “A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
*Sinners Jesus will receive; Sound this word of grace to all Who the heav’nly pathway leave, All who linger, all who fall. Sing it o’er and o’er again: Christ receiveth sinful men’ Make the message clear and plain: Christ receiveth sinful men.
Come, and He will give you rest; Trust Him, for His word is plain; He will take the sinfulest; Christ receiveth sinful men. Sing it o’er and o’er again: Christ receiveth sinful men’ Make the message clear and plain: Christ receiveth sinful men.
Now my heart condemns me not, Pure before the law I stand; He who cleansed me from all spot, Satisfied its last demand. Sing it o’er and o’er again: Christ receiveth sinful men’ Make the message clear and plain: Christ receiveth sinful men.
Christ receiveth sinful men, Even me with all my sin; Purged from ev’ry spot and stain, Heav’n with Him I enter in. Sing it o’er and o’er again: Christ receiveth sinful men’ Make the message clear and plain: Christ receiveth sinful men.
Let us come to our Loving Redeemer for the forgiveness and cleansing that we so much need. (1 John 1:9) Let us forget self and focus upon His goodness, His great love. Let us daily allow Him to live out His life within us, leading us, guiding us, working in and through us both now and always.
Rose

Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. Luke 19:17.
If our active temperament gathers in a large amount of work that we have not strength nor the grace of Christ to do understandingly and with order and exactitude, everything we undertake shows imperfection, and the work is constantly marred. God is not glorified, however good the motive….
God would have us pay heed to His words. The carefully wrought service in the sight of God is of value although easily overlooked by human eyes, yet indispensable in this world where we are doing our work. God wants intelligent workers, doing their work not hurriedly, but carefully, and thoroughly, always preserving the humility of Jesus. Those who put thought and painstaking into the higher duties should put care and thought into the smaller duties, showing exactitude and diligence.
Oh, how much neglected work is done, how much leaving things at loose ends because there is a constant desire to take on greater work. The work is slurred over that relates to the service of God, because they pull so much work before them that there is nothing done thoroughly. But all the work must bear the scrutiny of the Judge of all the earth. The smaller duties connected with the service of the Master assume importance because it is Christ’s service. Selfishness and self-esteem should be guarded against as your bitterest enemy. But how easily self finds opportunities to exhibit itself, and how Satan exults at the exhibitions, and how sorrowful and ashamed are the angels of God of man’s foolishness. How unlike Jesus Christ; in what contrast to the example He has given us in His own life. How far removed from His requirements, to crucify self with the affections and lusts….
What will be our feelings when we shall stand on the sea of glass? Shall we look back on the hours of our impatience here? Shall we stand upon the eternal hills of paradise and take in the events of our past life and see how many unnecessary trials we had because we thought God was dependent upon us to do everything? God help us to see our own littleness and God’s greatness. God forbid that we should have exalted ideas of our own greatness, and exalt self. Magnitude of experience is no measure of worth. God has a standard so unlike human standards, and if we see God’s estimate of us, we would see value where we supposed was littleness, and littleness where we supposed was greatness.—Letter 48, August 24, 1886, to “Dear Brethren Engaged in Labor in Nimes” [France].
The Upward Look p. 250
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a young lady who has covid 19 she is in her late 20’s. M
—-Please pray for the people affected by the wildfires. Lisa
—-Please pray for Judy whose brother passed yesterday. Rose
—-Please pray for the McQuiston family. Maya is back in PICU and they need to decide if she will have a trach to help her breathe. Pray doctors get some answers and her parents have some peace right now. Her big sister has a spot on ehr ankle that they can see on the x-rays it doesn’t look like a break, btu it coudl be some sort of cyst or bone spur or possibly a tumor. She will go under general anesthetic to have an MRI tomorrow. Let us pray for answers, peace and wisdom.
I have a dear friend named Dawn who lost her husband last week after a long battle with cancer.
I have a relative (my ex-stepfather’s cousin, but we were raised as cousins and we are close in age, about 5 years apart) lost her dad yesterday. She nearly lost him back in January, so I think she was mentally ready, but probably not mentally ready. Her name is Jolean. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,