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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27.
This morning my hope is in Christ my Saviour. I pray that He will impart His Holy Spirit to me every day, that with heart and mind and strength I may glorify Him in this life. We are to do God’s work, not according to our own plans, but in accordance with the example that the Lord Jesus has given us. He came to our world to do the work appointed Him by His Father, that we might receive an education in the high science of performing genuine service for the Master.
If we practice the teachings He has given in His Word, these principles become a part of the life. This is what is meant by eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood. In this world we are daily to prepare for the higher life; and when we unite with the family above, we shall not be given new lessons, but a continuation of the lessons that Christ gave His disciples when He was here….
Never are we to forget that we are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are to labor with a constant sense of our obligation to Him who gave His life for us…. Thus we shall glorify our heavenly Father; and when the time comes for us to lay off our armor, we shall with sincerity be able to say that we have finished the work given us to do….
Every capability and power that we possess is to be regarded as a sacred trust, to be used in revealing the power of saving grace. Let there be day by day a well-doing for God. Thus we shall prepare for a place in the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him…. These mansions He is preparing for those who accept the invitation “Come unto me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is the highest science that we can possibly obtain, but those who refuse Christ will never understand it. The Word of God, studied and obeyed, fits men and women for entrance into the higher courts. Those who are striving to be true Christians have the constant guardianship of heavenly angels, for they are laborers together with God….
Every day we are to become more like Jesus, learning the meekness and lowliness of Him who, though the only begotten Son of God, came to this world as our Redeemer, giving His life to pay the penalty of sin. Though hiding His divinity under the guise of humanity, He was the Mighty Counselor, the Prince of Peace. His life was filled with sympathy and love, goodness, kindness, and benevolence. He revealed the science of everlasting life—the science that we are to carry into all our efforts.—Manuscript 83, August 20, 1904, “Revealing Christ to the World.”
The Upward Look p. 246
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Sandra, a coworker, who is having thyroid problems. Ronnie Jay
—-Prayers for Thomas. He had a motorcycle accident and now is paralyzed from the chest down. This is a young man and needs encouragement and prayers. Linda
—-Well last week my brother was in hospital due to overdose and trying to take his life.. The doctor’s released him without getting medical attention sending him to the emergency room then to rehab then back to the emergency room due to a covid test that came out negative ..He was denied mental help.. Just got a phone call a hour ago he tried to take his life again my older brother found him under his bed. With a huge bottle next to him she is not coherent and his pulse completely dropped their working on him in the hospital right now and I don’t know what the circumstances at the moment please pray. Mary
—-Please continue praying for David and family. Buck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When we lived in Washington State, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend at Camp Mivoden for a Vacation Bible School workshop. A friend had been asked to teach the music to the delegates who had come from the various churches to learn how to better conduct Vacation Bible Schools. She asked me to play the piano for her. I was thrilled at the prospect of spending the weekend at such a beautiful place.
Finally, the looked-forward-to day was here. Ron and the children drove me to Idaho , where Camp Mivoden is located. After we arrived, we spent some time walking around the grounds and enjoying the beauty of the place. When it was time for them to leave me there, Esther Marie, who was about seven at the time, clung to me, sobbing. She had known that she would have to leave me there for the weekend, but when the moment came, she could not bear it. I felt so sorry for her as I felt her little arms and legs wrapped tightly around my body.
We tried to console her by telling her that I would be back on Sunday night, but still the tears flowed freely. Suddenly, I wished that I had not told my friend that I would help her, but there was nothing I could do about it then. I was committed to fulfill my obligation. Finally, we were able to pry Esther off from me, and Ron carried the crying child to the car. The last thing I saw as they were driving away was her outstretched arms and tearful face.
Just as Esther was grieved because we would be separated for a weekend, so our Loving Father in Heaven grieves when we separate ourselves from Him. How He longs to hold us back with His Nail-scarred Hands from the fleeting pleasures of this world. With tears, He cries, “How can I give you up?” (Hosea 11:8) How often His Great Heart of Love yearns over us, longing for us to come back to His Welcoming Arms. As He said to Israel of old, so He says to us today, “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isa 30:15 “And ye would not:” what sorrowful words. How lonely our Great Creator is for our companionship and love. He pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord, 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 “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Mal 3:7 “I will heal [your] backsliding, I will love [you] freely.” Hosea 14:4 “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” Joel 2:25,26
Think of it! Our Great Creator longs to have closer fellowship with us than a loving mother has with her well-beloved child. 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.” Isa 49:15,16 Our Dear Saviour pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isa 57:15-17 What a wonderful God!
May we daily open our heart’s door and invite the Dear Saviour in, that He may take complete control of our life. May we cling to our Loving Saviour just as tightly as Esther clung to me, when we were going to be separated for a few days. May we, throughout our life, walk in the assurance of His matchless love and grace.
Rose

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7.
If we will put self out of sight and come into right relation to God, we will manifest a forbearance and kindness that will make us a blessing to all with whom we associate. We need to come into right relation to God, for we are not safe unless we place ourselves under the broad shield of Omnipotence. Only there can God work through us to will and to do of His good pleasure, as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling….
Many of us need a clearer understanding of what it means to be an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. We need to learn, as we follow on to know the Lord, that His going forth is prepared as the morning. You have watched the rising sun and the gradual breaking of day over the earth. Little by little the light increases till the sun appears. Then, growing constantly stronger, the light increases until we have the full glory of the day. This preparation of the morning is a beautiful illustration of what God desires to do for us in the perfecting of our Christian experience. We cannot afford to do a haphazard work in this world. We are seeking for a life that measures with the life of God….
We need to keep ever before us the course that Christ followed. It was an overcoming course. When the devil came to Him in the wilderness of temptation, bidding Him command that the stones be made bread, that He might satisfy His hunger, the Saviour, though faint from want of food, refused to follow his suggestion…. It was in the order of God that He should have this experience that He might be touched with the feelings of the hungry, and know how to sympathize with those who were suffering and in want….
As the enemy worked to overcome the Saviour, so he will work with the human family today. But in every time of trial and difficulty, remember that Christ has passed through similar experiences, and He came out from every trial without a stain of sin upon His character. He came to show what every member of the human family may become through His grace. He understands every difficulty that we must meet, and He stands ready to strengthen those who struggle with Him against the powers of evil. He waits to hear and answer their prayers.
When heaven is won, and we pass through the gates of the City of God to hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant;—enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,” how small will seem the trials and difficulties that have beset our pathway here.—Manuscript 17, August 19, 1911, sermon preached at Long Beach, California.
The Upward Look p. 245
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-I have a job opportunity and need prayer that the Lord will lead whether it is the right job for me. JT
—-I feel the pain in my chest i dont know what is it. I need prayer. Pray also for my kids. Jose
—-Please pray for Mary Lou. Just admitted to hospital having a heart attack. Edmond
—-Please pray for one of our grandsons. He struggles with depression and anxiety. He needs God’s deliverance. Kathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~