In order to be true soldiers of Jesus Christ we must meet the requirements of His Word as loyal subjects of the heavenly kingdom…. Those who claim to believe the truth must appreciate the great warfare before us and what is comprehended in being a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ…. The Saviour’s army invites voluntary enlistment. There must be a complete surrender of the passions, will, and ways to the will of the Master. Our work is to obey the orders of the mighty General of armies. A strong and active bodily organization is to be maintained. The senses must be enlightened as to perfect obedience; duties are to be done which cannot always be seen as essential; but now comes in the necessity of faith in a higher wisdom and power than your own. Have faith in God, unshaken faith in the skill and ability and fidelity of your Commander, who knows the plan of the battle.

The Lord Jesus does not deceive His soldiers. He opens before them the conflict, presents the plan of the battle, points out the hazardous undertaking, and exhorts everyone to count the cost. He does not leave them in ignorance. He tells everyone before enlistment to count the cost before they enlist as soldiers in His army, for a soldier’s life is a life of duty.

To every man in service is given his work, and no excuse can be accepted why that God-given work is not done. Some are negligent and indolent. Some are slothful servants like the man who had one talent entrusted to use and improve, but … buried it in the earth and made no use of it. When his talent was called for, to be rendered back to God, the Owner, he had only the one unused talent. No one was improved by his entrusted gift. The least he could have done was to use it to the best of his ability, but he handed it back with a complaint against God: “I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine” (Matthew 25:24, 25). The Lord repeated His words, “Thou knewest.” The fact was he had not a knowledge of God and His works and His ways and His mercy and His kindness in giving an opportunity to improve the entrusted gift. The word is, “Take … the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, … but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (verses 28, 29).—Manuscript 98, August 4, 1900, “True Soldiers of Christ.”
The Upward Look p. 230
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Andjaloni and her family as her brother has died. Rose
—-Poor Maya. Her family went to the park yesterday, and she hurt her little foot on the slide. They took her to ER and her xrays were clear, but her foot is really swollen and sometimes swelling masks injuries. Let us pray that she is peaceful and that when her mom takes her to the ped they will find some answers. Jennifer
—-I have an urgent prayer request and need all prayer warriors. My mom is in the ER and we just found out she is in kidney failure and is being transferred to another hospital. Chelsia
—-I’m in need of prayers I have such pain in my knee. Mike
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Dear Friends,
When our children were little, I would not always help them with whatever it was they were doing even though I knew it was beyond their ability to do it. It was difficult for me to stand by and watch them try to do it on their own, but I wanted to teach them a lesson. They would struggle and struggle until they realized the futility of it all. When at last they would come to me and ask for help, I would gladly give it. This gave me an opportunity to teach them to take all of their problems to their Heavenly Father Who is waiting with longing desire to grant the desires of our heart.
Just as it was hard for me to allow my little ones to struggle, so our Heavenly Father longs to help us. He is just waiting for us to ask Him for the help we so much need. Jesus assures us, “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matt 6:8 Our dear Saviour tells us the conditions for answered prayer, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7 “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.” Luke 11:9,10 This does not always mean that we will get just what we ask for. James explains, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3
Think of it! If we abide in Him and ask according to His will, we will have our petitions. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15 What a wonderful Father we have! He listens to our prayers and weighs each request. Then He gives us an answer that is better than we could ask or think.
May we have confidence that He hears and gives us our requests according to His great knowledge and understanding. May we trust Him to take complete control of our lives. May we put our hand in His and let Him lead us to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/joNemY25h7M/true-soldiers-of-christ.html

The great Medical Missionary was a wonderful healer. He worked the most convincing miracles. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He spoke only the truth. Continually there fell from His lips the precious words that bring spiritual strength to those who make them a part of the daily life. Spiritually we are built up from the food that we give the mind.

It is our privilege to receive the bread of life from the great Medical Missionary, who came to give life to the world. Truth, pure, refining, ennobling truth, came from His very heart…. His heart was constantly burning with the love that brought Him from heaven to our world. His goodness and His power enabled Him to reveal in His life the truth that He came to this earth to bring to the fallen race. In every word, in every act, He manifested the love of God, cheering and encouraging the downcast and distressed. In heavenly wisdom He asserted His true majesty by bending all things to the present and future happiness of human beings. He came to teach men and women how to live, here below, the life of which He gave them an example—the life that will make them fit to enter the abodes of bliss.

In His breast, mercy may be said to have held her court. Hear His words of compassion, spoken to relieve the sin-sick culprit, “Thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2)…. He brought healing to soul and body. In His life was enshrouded the love, the pity, the compassion, the joy, of heaven. Thousands were healed by His word, “I will; be thou whole.” By His work, His glory was so plainly revealed that demons were pained, and when compelled to cease tormenting human beings, confessed Christ to be the Holy One of God.

This work Christ did to show men that He was the tabernacle of witness; that the Word had been made flesh. In the human encampment, amongst the erring and sinful, Christ pitched His tent. He lived close to the poor and the lowly, yet He was the King of glory. He would make all familiar with His character, that we might be partakers of the divine nature, and thus become one with Him in faith and practice. He declares, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father” (chap. 11:27). “All things that the Father hath are mine” (John 16:15). “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). Why was this wonderful transfer made but that Christ might be the world’s Redeemer, the incarnate Saviour! … The great Teacher, while on this earth, gave His whole life to teach us how to work as devoted, consecrated missionaries for God.—Letter 281, August 3, 1904, to Dr. W. H. Riley.
The Upward Look p. 229
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer request. for my tenant that they will get their visa sooner . He takes care of the property here and it is getting out of control. M
—-Please pray for David who is having depression problems again. B
—-I wanted a request for my sister today. She takes care of our 89 year old Mother and an infant granddaughter, but has been having issues with internal bleeding again. She had one of those tests where you swallow a camera pill, but it got lodged inside someplace. If she does not pass it naturally by Monday or so, she will require surgery, and they still do not know what is wrong with her (this time). She lives on the east coast, and I live a thousand miles away, and have no way to assist her. I also help take care of my infant granddaughter who finally got out of NICU the end of April. She is on oxygen and being tube fed, and has vomiting issues, and cannot be left alone. Many prayers are asked, and all appreciated. Thank you and God bless each of you. Ann
—-Please help me pray for my goddaughter Angel who is battling cancer! Patricia
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Dear Friends,
In this day and age, there is so much to occupy our mind. Before we realize it, the day, the week, the month, the year is over. We look back over the year, over the life, and wonder where the time has gone. How often we think the things of this world are of the utmost importance. How often they occupy our time—time that should be spent getting our lives right with God. How many times worldly things become our passion, our whole focus in life. It may be sports; it may be TV programs; it may be the computer; it may be music; it may even be another person. It is different for different people, but it is a real danger none-the-less. How easy it is to get so entangled in this world’s pleasure and even in providing for its necessities that we get our priorities mixed up.
Nothing, no matter how dear, should be allowed to cause us to put off our decision to accept Jesus into our heart. Behold “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 Nothing should come between us and a study of God’s Holy Word. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10 Paul urges us, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12, 13 This cooperating with Jesus in building a beautiful character for His glory and for His joy is should be our greatest work. He, Who left the glories of Heaven so that we might be saved, promises, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt 6:33 This is of the utmost importance. This should be a daily seeking, a daily asking Jesus into our heart, a daily walk with Him.

Character Building

By Aletha Phillips-Spoor

You my build a house with marble walls,

You may build a mansion with stately halls,

Or may build a ship to sail the seas,

You may build a cabin if you please,

You may build a home for a happy pair,

You may build castles in the air;

All these will last but for a day,

You’re building for eternity.

‘Tis character that you must build,

Your very being must be filled

With noble deeds and thoughts, then smile,

‘Twill build character worth while;

A character that can’t be sold

But one that’s worth its weight in gold,

The house will stand but for a day,

Its walls will crumble and decay,

The ship may sail, we know not where,

Your castles vanish in the air,

Fire or storm may raze the home

And the happy pair be left to roam;

But the character you build today

Will last through all eternity.

So build with the best the Lord has given,

And show to the world that you have striven,

And when the goal is reached at last

And all the cares of life are past,

You’ll hear the Master’s glad “Well done,”

At the last setting of the sun.

How wonderful it will be to hear that “Well done” from our Master’s lips as He welcomes us to His Heavenly Home with abundant joy. May Jesus have first place in our heart. May we daily choose to serve Him. May we receive freely of His grace, that we may hear Him say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/IteGkM5FeYk/the-great-medical-missionary.html

God had a church when Adam and Eve and Abel accepted and hailed with joy the good news that Jesus was their Redeemer. These realized as fully then as we realize now the promise of the presence of God in their midst. Wherever Enoch found one or two who were willing to hear the message he had for them, Jesus joined with them in their worship of God. In Enoch’s day there were some among the wicked inhabitants of earth who believed. The Lord never yet has left His faithful few without His presence nor the world without a witness.

Enoch was a public teacher of the truth in the age in which he lived. He taught the truth; he lived the truth; and the character of the teacher who walked with God was in every way harmonious with the greatness and sacredness of his mission. Enoch was a prophet who spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. He was a light amid the moral darkness, a pattern man, a man who walked with God, being obedient to God’s law—that law which Satan had refused to obey, which Adam had transgressed, which Abel obeyed, and because of his obedience was murdered. And now God would demonstrate to the universe the falsity of Satan’s charge that man cannot keep God’s law. He would demonstrate that though man had sinned, he could so relate himself to God that he would have the mind and spirit of God and would be a representative symbol of Christ. This holy man was selected of God to denounce the wickedness of the world, and to evidence to the world that it is possible for men to keep all the law of God….

Enoch not only meditated and prayed, and put on the armor of watchfulness, but he came forth from his pleadings with God to plead with his fellow men. He did not mask the truth to find favor with unbelievers, thus neglecting their souls. This close connection with God gave him courage to work the works of God. Enoch walked with God and “had the testimony that his ways pleased God.” This is the privilege of every believer today. It is man dwelling with God, and God taking up His abode with man. “I in them, and thou in me,” says Jesus. To walk with God and have the witness that their ways please Him is an experience not to be confined to Enoch, to Elijah, to patriarchs, to prophets, to apostles, and to martyrs. It is not only the privilege but the duty of every follower of Christ to have Jesus enshrined in the heart, to carry Him with them in their lives; and they will indeed be fruit-bearing trees.—Manuscript 43, August 2, 1900, “The Prophet Enoch.”
The Upward Look p. 228
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Prayer Requests
—-This is an update on the status of my Mother, Evelyn. And it is not good news …They WERE talking about sending her to a unit that does stroke rehabilitation. But now they are saying that she doesn’t have enough movement in her limbs to “qualify” for that. It sounds to me like thy have pretty well made up their minds that they are going to send her to Palliative Care. I think you all probably know what that means.That said, I still believe that God can perform a miracle. All I can think of to say now is, I ask you all to please keep praying for her. Mark
—-Thank you for all the prayers for my friends daughter who was going into labor at 20 weeks. Today Jane lost her baby boy Oliver. Connie
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Dear Friends,
This time of year, I always have problems with my eustation tubes getting plugged up because of allergies. There’s not much that can be done but endure it. It reminds me of a program I used to watch that followed an emergency room doctor as he saw patients. Having worked in a hospital many years ago, this sparked my interest. One of the patients that was shown was a man who had a very large bug in his ear. It had caused the man much pain and discomfort. His only thought was to be rid of that creature that was hanging on with its pinchers. As the doctor worked to remove the insect, the man moaned and howled loudly. (At least I don’t have that happening.)
Sin is like that bug in that man’s ear. Once it gets inside us, it holds on even tighter than that bug did. Once we allow sin even a tiny entrance, it takes over everything. We can fool ourselves into believing that we can stop sinning any time we want to. But when we try to get rid of it, we cannot. We can only say as did the apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Rom 7:24
Praise God! We have Someone Who is waiting to help us. He longs to save us from our sins. He wants to cleanse us before it is too late. He pleads, “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?” Eze 33:11 “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. Joel 2:12, 13 He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Gal 1:4 “For 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 Therefore “we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:12-14
May we allow the Great Physician to rid us of every sin even though it is sometimes painful to us is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/NgWHkj5OHUY/enoch-pleased-god.html