The Lord Jesus is your Redeemer. Will you not appreciate the great sacrifice He has made for you? No one has any justification for departing from Bible principles….

He who is sensitive to the admonitions of the Lord will work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who is working in him, to will and to do of His good pleasure. The truth of God, abiding in the heart, brings the principles of the law of God into daily practice.

The man who consents to be deceived is the man in whose heart the truth is not abiding. To be occasionally a Christian, to be occasionally devout, is a great deception. It is living a lie. An occasional glance at the Word of God is not enough. An occasional petition to the throne of grace, a form of words, does not bring a supply of grace for the soul’s need. In order for the truth of God to regulate the life, it must be implanted in the heart. It must be brought into the inmost life.

The day will come when you will see that it does not pay to trifle with the interests of your soul, allowing it to become diseased, so inefficient that Christ declares, “Thou art neither cold nor hot…. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15, 16). What does this mean? That He will no longer present the name of such a one to His Father.

Christ clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this world to live a life free from spot or stain of sin, that human beings, by laying hold of divinity, might become partakers of the divine nature, thus escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. To those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, the veil that conceals the glory of God from human discernment is drawn aside. With the eye of faith they behold eternal realities.

The Word of God is to be brought into the very life. “I am that bread of life,” Christ declares. “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:48, 53, 54, 63). Study the whole of the sixth chapter of John. Strive for your soul’s sake to understand it.—Letter 253, July 18, 1904, to a longtime Adventist in business in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The Upward Look p. 213
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Ronnie Jay and Wanangwa as they are travelling back home. Rose
—-Requesting prayer for dear Sister Gertrude. She is in the hospital now with severe elevated blood pressure and pulse of 122! Please please pray for this prayer warrior of 92 years! S
—-Please pray for Jacob who was in a bad accident. Shannon
—-Please add my sister-in-law Angela to your prayer list. She has COVID-19 and is in the ICU fighting for her life. She is 8 months pregnant. Connie
—-Please continue to pray for Larry that the doctor will not discharge him before he is well enough to travel back to Michigan. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When my children were little, they had a memory verse that they were to learn each week and then all were repeated up in front of the adults on 13th Sabbath. Most of them were quite easy to learn but Isaiah 6:8 seemed impossible for my children to remember. So, remembering that the children of Israel were bidden to set the words of the law to music in order to remember it, I made up a little tune that fit the verse. Within minutes they remembered it and for quite awhile afterward enjoyed singing that little song. In fact, they learned it so well that whenever that verse so well, that even now whenever that verse is mentioned, that little tune comes to mind.
I hadn’t known much about the setting for that little verse, but I decided to find out more. Isaiah was distressed about how his people had fallen away from the true worship of the True God. Yet, as he compared himself with others around him, he felt like all was right in his walk with the Lord. He tells us about a life-changing experience that showed him his true condition, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isa 6:1-8
Only as Isaiah saw he true condition, could he be used to bring the True Light to those of his nation who had left God’s Word to explore the things this world has to offer. As they did this, the Source of all Light, got farther and father away and the less could see until God said of them, “this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.” Isa 29:13
Sometimes we, like those in Isaiah’s time, try to be like those around us. Sometimes we follow someone who says they have a new way to spread the gospel or to increase the size of the church, but it is a plan of their own making and will come to nothing just as so many manmade plans have in the past. Only as we receive the cleansing from sin and pride as Isaiah did can we really accept the call of the Lord. Only as we set aside our ways and obey God’s ways can we be effective workers for Him.
May we behold the Great King of the Universe through a study of His Word. May we obey Him from a heart of love for His great love for us. May we ask for the cleansing that our Dear Saviour offers us claiming the promise, “if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/du3PTjcrucI/bring-gods-word-unto-the-very-life.html

I would call your attention to the precious promises in the Word of God. All who are children of God have not the same powers, the same temperaments, the same confidence and boldness. I am glad indeed that our feelings are no evidence that we are not children of God. The enemy will tempt you to think that you have done things that have separated you from God, and that He no longer loves you, but our Lord loves us still, and we may know by the words He has placed on record for just such cases as yours. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (chap. 1:9).

Now, my dear sister, I have evidence that God loves you, and the precious Saviour, who gave Himself for you, will not thrust you from Him because you are tempted and in your weakness may have been overcome. He loves you still.

Peter denied his Lord in the hour of trial, but Jesus did not forsake His poor disciple. Although Peter hated himself, the Lord loved him, and after His resurrection, He called him by name and sent him a loving message. O, what a kind, loving, compassionate Saviour we have! And He loves us though we err.

Now do not worry yourself out of the arms of the dear Saviour, but rest trustingly in faith. He loves you; He cares for you; He is blessing you, and will give you His peace and grace. He is saying to you, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” You may be depressed with bodily infirmities, but that is no evidence that the Lord is not working in your behalf every day. He will pardon you, and that abundantly. Gather to your soul the sweet promises of God. Jesus is our constant, unfailing Friend, and He wants you to trust in Him….

Jesus sees the guilt of the past, but He speaks pardon; and we must not dishonor Him by doubting His love. This feeling of guiltiness must be laid at the foot of the cross of Calvary. The sense of sinfulness has poisoned the springs of life and of true happiness. Now Jesus says, “Lay it all on Me. I will take your sins. I will give you peace. Banish no longer your self-respect, for I have bought you with the price of My own blood. You are mine. Your weakened will I will strengthen. Your remorse for sin I will remove.” Then turn your grateful heart, trembling with uncertainty, to Him, and lay hold on the hope set before you.—Letter 49, July 17, 1898, to a dear sister.

The Upward Look p. 212
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Larry who is in the hospital and is having tests today to see why his iron is so low even though he has had iron IV’s since Thursday. Rose
—-Peter (age 7) has many chigger bites in a very sensitive area. Poor boy is miserable with all the itching. The doctor said to give him Benedryl. Please pray for him. Rose
—-Please pray that Ronnie Jay and Wanangwa will have a safe trip home tomorrow. Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/PoO1AQcubeE/our-merciful-god.html

Dear Brother: I have the most tender love for you, and would that it were otherwise with you; that those pursuing you would let you alone. But, my brother, you must bear in mind that these perplexities and annoying things are included in the “all things” that work together for good to those who love God. The Lord’s eye is upon you…. If you will keep up good courage, if you will stay your soul upon God, if you will trust your heavenly Father as a child trusts its parent, and deal justly and love mercy, God can and will work with you. Then amid all your trials you will honor God, and His promise is sure, “Them that honour me I will honour” (1 Samuel 2:30).

Remember that your experience is not the first of the kind. You know the history of Joseph and of Daniel. The Lord did not prevent the wicked plottings of their enemies, but He caused all their devices to work for good to those who kept their faith and loyalty amid trial and conflict.

The furnace fires are not to … [destroy], but to refine, ennoble, sanctify. Without these trials we would not feel so much our need of God and His help. We would become proud and self-sufficient. In these trials I see evidence that the Lord’s eye is upon you, and that He means to draw your heart to Himself. It is not the whole, but the wounded, who need a physician; those who are pressed almost beyond the point of endurance, who need a Helper. Turn unto the stronghold. Learn the precious lesson, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus loves you. The experience which you are having makes me glad, not because you are a sufferer, but because this is evidence to me that the Lord is testing and proving you to see if you will come to Him, to see if you will put your trust in Him, if you will find peace and rest in His love….

Jesus has not left you to be surprised and amazed at the trials and difficulties you meet. He has told you all about them, and He has also told you that you should not be cast down and oppressed when trials come. You are to look to Jesus, your Redeemer, and be cheerful and rejoice…. We have a living Saviour, who so loved us that He died for us, that through Him we might have hope, strength, and courage, and a seat with Him upon His throne.—Letter 8, July 16, 1886, to Dr. J. H. Kellogg, director of Battle Creek Sanitarium.

The Upward Look p. 211
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayers for my father. He’s in ICU with Covid-19. Ana
—-Please pray for Larry. He is in the hospital. Please pray that the doctors will figure out why he is so anemic and has other health issues going on. Rose
—-Please pray for my niece Audry. She had non smokers lung cancer and it has now moved to her brain and spinal cord. Debbie
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ronnie Jay, Esther Marie, and Brian went camping in Northern Minnesota. Even though it rained almost the entire time, they brought back a multitude of photos and videos of both animals and scenery.How much I enjoyed looking at them! There was so much beauty that I wished I had been there.
Even as I marveled at our Great Creator’s handiwork, there were signs of the enemy’s work in dead and dying flower, leaf, and animal. One poor moose that Ronnie Jay came upon as he was walking off the trail, was nothing more than a bag of bones with skin stretched thinly over them.We felt so sorry for this creature and wondered how long it would be before wolves would find her. That thought makes us look forward all the more to the time when “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev 1:4
Yet, even after 6000 years of sin, there are still scenes of grandeur that are breathtakingly beautiful. These places reminds us of our Great Creator. As we walk beside a river whose rushing water is splashing over great rocks worn smooth by its action, we can think of the works of the Lord upon our heart, constantly bringing about circumstances to mold us into His image. When surrounded by great snowcapped mountains dotted with evergreens nearly to their summit, we can meditate upon the Rock Christ Jesus, Who veiled His glory and majesty and came to this dark and sinful world to live a life filled with all the troubles and trials the evil one could heap upon Him. He is our “chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” He is “the stone which the builders disallowed,” Who is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient.” (1 Peter 2:6,8) As we gaze upon the colorful clouds at the close of the day, we looked forward to our Heavenly Home where all is light and beauty, “and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Rev 21:23
David exclaimed, “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Ps 33:6-9; 19:1-6; 8:3-9
May we spend time viewing our Great Creator’s handiwork, that we may praise the Lord for His marvelous creation. May we meditate upon His mighty works, lifting our mind and heart up in thankfulness to the One Who loves us so.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/ym67IPpAS0A/cast-thy-burden-upon-the-lord.html