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Sanctify to God the Talent of Speech

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We all know what mischief an unruly tongue will do if left to run at will. Those who have been brought together in church capacity have bound themselves by their act in joining the church to keep evil speaking out of their ranks. It is the duty of those in responsible positions in the church to closely guard this matter to see that order and harmony are preserved in the church….

Never are you to tear one another down, for you are doing Satan’s work. Day by day you are to help one another to grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. In this work you close the door to the enemy. The power of speech is a great talent to bless others or a great curse to cause dissension and strife.

The one who gives himself up to finding fault with this one and that one is neglecting his own precious soul. And those who allow such a one to carry on his un-Christlike work unrebuked are themselves accountable before God of injury to their brethren….

Can we expect the blessing of God to rest upon a church when the members are cherishing bitterness against one another? … Those in whose hearts Christ abides will show in their lives the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. Those who are controlled by the enemy will be filled with envy, strife, malice, and evil-surmising….

If one of those of whom these cruel words are spoken were tonight lying cold in death, how different would be the words spoken of him. How often this is the case: While a person is living and could be blessed by kind words, unkind, bitter words are spoken of him, but when his work is ended, and his hands are folded in death, words of love and appreciation are spoken. But the words of love fall upon ears that hear not. They are spoken to hearts that cannot be comforted. It is too late! Oh, if some of these words of love could have been spoken in life, how much better it would have been….

God desires His people to bring into their homes all the peace and joy and love that it is possible for them to have. The love that they bring into the home, they will bring into the church. My brethren and sisters, you can bring the peace of heaven into the home and into the church, if you will sanctify to God the talent of speech.—Manuscript 26, July 15, 1886, “Evil-speaking,” a sermon preached in Oslo, Norway
The Upward Look p. 210
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer Requests from last evening’s prayer meeting: Pray for a safe reopening of our church soon.—Pray for James’ daughter, Rene, who has Hodgkin’s Lymphoma—Pray for Joyce’s young relative who was hurt seriously in an accident.—Pray for safe travel for Mike and Larry and for Larry’s health—Pray that Brian does not get a tic-borne disease from the tic that had been on him for a few days before discovered. Also pray that BG will get air conditioning so it won’t be so hot at work.—Pray for Barb’s daughter who just separated from her husband as his alcoholism is getting worse.—Sherlyn asks that the important package she sent her son overseas will arrive with no problems.—Pray for Sarah—Pray for Minnie’s son who is on the road a lot.—Pray for Dan’s father who had surgery and his mother-in-law who needs special care.
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me to many enjoyable places for a little vacation. Holland, Michigan during the time of the Tulip Festival was one of those places. Holland was like stepping into a storybook or visiting the real Holland that is on the other side of the world. During the festival, the residents would dress in traditional Dutch costumes and there would be parades, craftsmen who made wooden shoes and various other articles for sale, acres of tulips to view, windmills, etc. It is a cherished memory
Just as, my mother took me to many places when I was young, so we will someday have the privilege of roaming the Universe and seeing all of the wonders of creation. We will “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” Rev 14:4 Think of it! Soon Jesus will come to take us to His Glorious Heavenly Kingdom. We will see our Dear Saviour face to face! He will embrace us and welcome us with the words, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt 25:34 Our Heavenly Father, Himself, will “wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and 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 21:4 We will “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” and hear from their own lips the way that the Lord led in their life. Matt 8:11 We will meet the angel, who has guarded us since our birth and listen to the stories of the many times he protected us even times when we did not know that we were in danger. We “shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. [We] shall not build, and another inhabit; [we] shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. [We] shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for [we] are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and [our] offspring with [us.] And it shall come to pass, that before [we] call, [our Great Creator] will answer; and while [we] are yet speaking, [He] will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat.” Isa 65:21-25 How I look forward to that time!
May we soon look up and see our Great Redeemer coming in the clouds to take us to His Heavenly Home. May we all worship together around the throne of the Great Creator of the Universe. May that time come soon is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/xF10gB6FC08/sanctify-to-god-the-talent-of-speech.html

Wonderful Transaction

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O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Galatians 3:1.

The redemption that was wrought out for us by our Lord on the cross of Calvary was to bring us to obedience to the law of God, making it possible, through His righteousness imputed to us, to keep the law of God….

No man’s work, no matter what his position may be, can bear any comparison with this great work for fallen man. The subject is so great, so important. Then why is it that so few pay attention to it? Men act as though they had no souls to save, no heaven to win, no hell to shun. What does it mean?

Says the apostle Paul, “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1). The truth was to the apostle so great, so clear, so important, because eternal interests were involved, that he could only ascribe to the bewitching power of Satan the continued impiety and neglect of this great salvation. Now are there not many who are so bewitched with Satan’s wiles that they do not obey the truth? that they do not see the advantages of obedience? Who is thus unwise? It is those who have not sought the Lord for help that they may cease to longer transgress His law.

There is nothing so offensive to God as sin. Instead of making void the law of God by continuing in sin, every truly converted soul will be walking in the path of humble obedience to all of God’s commandments. They will search the Scriptures that they might know the truth. Who hath bewitched the impenitent, the transgressor, that sin is chosen rather than obedience? It is the power of Satan that came to Adam and Eve in Eden, the deceiving, bewitching power of the fallen angel….

How few talk about this great sacrifice of the life of Jesus to save the guilty sinner! If we appreciated this love manifested by God for our souls we would be elevated by taking hold of the merits of Jesus Christ, for without the righteousness of Christ man could not give to God perfect obedience….

He condescended to this great sacrifice, not that sin in man should become a virtue, not that sin might be made righteousness. He took the steps that man is required to take in conversion. He went forward in baptism, and when He came up out of the water He kneeled down and offered up such a prayer to His Father as Heaven had never heard before.—Manuscript 25, July 14, 1887, “A Peculiar People.”
The Upward Look p. 209
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Prayer Requests
—- please pray for G. he is in the hospital with multiple infections and none of them the covid virus. they just put in him/ .there.he hasa high temperature.
and his son is on dialysis and his daughter in law has cancer. he is a good member at church he has been hit with a lot of trails through the years. please pray the DR’s will find the cure for him his wife has had healt issues as well age has no boundaries . M.
—-Please pray for a friend’s co-worker. His name is Terry he is 49 and was getting dizzy and had trouble walking.th ey ran some test and discovered he has a brain tumor.. M
—-Please pray for David. That’s all I can say. B
—-Prayer needed for Leonardo in the Philippians. He has been admitted to hospital with serious kidney problem. His sister has asked for prayer through my prayer net. She can’t visit him as she has no transportation and things are still shut down. Michael
—-My son Chris is in the burn Center. He is burned in his throat from a explosion. He is on a respirator. Please Pray for him. Sandy
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Dear Friends,
My mother did not like to be around her grandfather, Winfield Harmon. He was very stern and pompous and smoked big, fat cigars. All my mother’s life she remembered those stifling, smelly cigars even though she was still a little girl when he died. When they visited him, he would take them for a drive to see the sights around Chicago. Even though they did not have a car, and normally would be excited to go on a drive, they dreaded it. As he drove, he puffed away on his cigar. He insisted on keeping the car windows tightly closed which filled the car with smoke. This made my mother feel sick to her stomach and gave her a terrible headache.
My grandfather, who was sitting in the back seat with his girls, hated the smoke as much as his girls did. Winking at them, he began to roll down the windowa tiny bit at a time to let out some of that nauseating smoke. By the time he would get the window open an inch or two; my great-grandfather would make him close it again. Over and over my grandfather tried to roll down the window very slowly so as not to be noticed, but every time, he would hear a stern “Edwin!” Even though he was a grown man, was afraid of his father and obeyed immediately. He had suffered too much at the hand of that abusive man over the years to take a stand.
Just as that cigar’s smoke surrounded my great-grandfather and became the strongest memory of him for my mother, so all that we do, our attitudes, our words, and all that we think have an influence on those around us. We may have a heavenly influence or we may have an evil one. It is our choice.
Solomon wrote, “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov 15:26; 25:11 Isaiah tells us of his experience, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isa 50:4
Jesus admonishes us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 We are to be a witness in more ways than by our words. Dorcas was a person who witnessed by her works. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9:36-42
Dorcas’ life spoke volumes to those around her. By her kind deeds, she spread a blessing to all around. Even though great trial and even death came upon her, it was for the saving of many who knew her. Indeed, God did not allow her to be removed from them. He worked through Peter to raise her up that by the influence of a godly life, she might continue to help those in need. In the same way, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
May the love of Jesus shine through us to all around us. May all that we do be done “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord [we] shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for [we] serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Col 3:23-25 May our thoughts, words, and whatsoever we do bring glory to the One Who loves us so.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/uuQQhF1dJyI/wonderful-transaction.html

Seek Wisdom From Above

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But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17.

Dear Edson and Emma: … My greatest desire is that you may be a polished instrument in the hand of God to be used to His glory.

I hope you will not think you can go forward in your own strength relying upon your own judgment. Seek wisdom from above. Be true, be noble in purpose. Be elevated in life, and may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, soul, body, and spirit. Do not cease searching and studying and getting at the very bottom of things. God will help you in all your earnest efforts, my dear children. If you both consecrate yourselves unselfishly to God and to His work, He will accept you. You will not have the reward here, but you must look for the reward by and by when the “Well done” is spoken by the Master….

All who enter heaven must be brought to the test and tried as gold in the fire even in this world. Our greatest danger will be in a carnal security. God help you, my children, to never boast in self. Unless you both watch unto prayer, you will fail at last. Never fancy it a brave life to live at ease….

Be sure, my son, dig deep, lay the foundation sure. Do not … [be deficient in] thoroughness in your efforts to seek God. Do not seek to cover up or gloss over one sin, but search deep. Guard against moving from impulse, calling it religious zeal. Surrounding influence may affect the feelings of many. The good example of others may have weight for a season, but if the heart is not renewed, if it is not thoroughly converted, it will return naturally to its own element. Watch, my dear children, against self-deception. Selfish ends may want to creep and insinuate themselves into the best actions, but give no place to the devil. Stir up your souls with daily fears of sin. Connect with heaven, and angels will minister unto you….

Cling to Jesus, your Redeemer. He has given you continual evidences of His love in that He has given you adversity time and again. If we cannot bear these lighter trials, if a little lift of prosperity or adversity discover in us falseness, pride, and selfishness in the heart, if we yield to discouragement and to sin, if the scoffs and frowns of wicked men afflict us and take away our courage and hope, and we faint in the day of adversity, O, how shall we stand when He appeareth? …

We pray for you often. We believe the Lord is helping and blessing you. Aim high. Seek for more dignity—that which is of heavenly birth. Mother.—Letter 23, July 13, 1875, to Edson and Emma White.

The Upward Look p. 208
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Prayer Requests
—-please pray for my son who is sick his name is Don. Sharon
—- Please pray for my tooth! We are going to try to save it. Going to try to remove nerves and repack. It is abscessing from the inside out! May have to pull out and turn into a bridge or implant. Have to see a endodontist very soon for 2nd opinion!! ( old injury from many years ago when hit in face with a baseball. The front one had to have vanere and root canal), this one is next to it! Heidi
—-Please continue to pray for Allyson. She is now out of ICU but still has a chest tube in. Please pray that it can come out soon and that she will be well enough to come home. Esther.
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Dear Friends
One of the most beautiful passages in the Bible is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Every verse points to our Loving Creator, Who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:7,8
“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 52:13-53:12
What wonderful love! Who can comprehend it! When our first parents disobeyed God’s express command, He did not leave mankind to suffer for their sin. No! “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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16,17
Let us daily meditate upon His great love for us. Let us open our heart’s door to the One Who calls, “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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20,21 Let us share this good news of salvation with others that they, too, may worship the One Who loves us so.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/-4Xf23030bE/seek-wisdom-from-above.html

God Is in Every Place

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Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works. Revelation 2:1, 2.

These words fall from the lips of One who cannot lie. The picture reveals eternal vigilance. Christ is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, walking from church to church, from congregation to congregation, from heart to heart. He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. If the candlesticks were left to the care of human agents, how often the light would flicker and go out. But God has not given His church into the hands of men. Christ, the One who gave His life for the world, that all who believe in Him may not perish, but have everlasting life, is the true Watchman of the house. He is the Warder, faithful and true, of the temple-courts of the Lord. We have reason to thank God that we are not dependent on the presence of earthly priest or minister. We are kept by the power of God. The presence and grace of Christ is the secret of all life and light….

A holy Watcher notes every work and action of our lives, and weighs every motive that prompts to action. The hand that traced the characters on the wall of Belshazzar’s palace is everywhere writing, “God is here.” God is in every place. All our words, all our plans, all our secret motives, are weighed in the balances of infinite justice and truth.

Shall the compassionate, self-sacrificing Saviour find us wanting in tenderness, love, sympathy for those for whom He gave His life? God has granted us gracious opportunities for service. He has provided us with precious talents, and we are answerable to Him for the use we make of them. If we use them wisely, God will call us laborers together with Him. If we cleanse ourselves from every impure, selfish principle, we shall one day hear the benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, said, “The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3). David says, “Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity” (Psalm 62:9). Isaiah declares, “Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just” (Isaiah 26:7). And Solomon writes, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2).

There is not a motive in the heart that the Lord does not read. He reads every purpose, every thought.—Manuscript 99, July 12, 1902, “A Holy People.”
The Upward Look p. 207
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Prayer Requests
—-Prayer Requests from last night’s prayer meeting: Ray asks that his colonoscopy will be successful—Lori is having surgery on the 10th—Pray for Sara—Pray for Andrew’s decision on neck surgery.—Pray that Esther can witness to Angela (a childhood friend whom she met yesterday. Also her dog Jack, who is very old, is going to have some teeth removed—Veronica’s mom is having knee issues. Also pray for wisdom on how to minister to Kim who had a house fire.—Pray for Jojo who has a brain tumor.—Pray for Joyce who is recovering from surgery.—Pray for the USA.—Brain asks for prayer for Allyson, age 15, as she recovers from surgery. Pray that BG will give the workers heat breaks Pray for Brian who is still grieving his mother’s death. Also pray for his co-worker that she will give up alcohol.—Pray for Mark who recently lost his mother.—Our Bible study group on zoom.—Subira’s loss of two sisters.
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Dear Friends,
Until I was nineteen, my mother and I had no car. We walked or rode the bus wherever we needed to go. This wasted many hours as it seemed that the bus was always late. We really longed to have a car, but there just was no money for it. There were so many times when we felt trapped because of our lack of good transportation.
It was such a treat when Floyd and Mary, my mother’s ex-in-laws, would let us use their car for the weekend as payment for watching their son. Tommy was a good boy and enjoyed being with us. He was a few years younger than I, and didn’t tease and torment me about my size; so we got along well together. What fun we would have going places that were not accessible by public transportation and doing things that we wished we could do.
Having that car gave my careworn and overworked mother a sense of freedom and relaxation. and changed her into a smiling, relaxed, energetic girl once more. All of the built up tensions and worries she daily experienced disappeared as we drove around southwestern Michigan and did things that she had been longing to do. All of the frustrations of the day to day survival evaporated.
Those happy feelings did not last long, however. As soon as the weekend was over and Tommy and the car went back home, my mother picked up the cares she had left behind and life went back to a normal routine. All the tensions and frustrations returned and it seemed to me that her weekend of freedom only made her more resentful of her lot in life.
Just as my mother had no lasting peace and happiness from having a car for a short time, so the pleasures of this world last but a moment. They are fleeting at best, and leave us careworn and exhausted and all empty inside when they are over. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” I John 2:16-18
Our Dear Saviour desires to give us “the peace of God, [a lasting peace] which passeth all understanding.” Phil 4:7 Just as He “arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still,” so He will bring peace and calmness to our troubled mind if we will ask Him. He assures us, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
David exclaimed, “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.””Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Ps 16:11; 119:165 Praise God! These joys, these pleasures never fade away! No matter what trials and troubles surround us, we can have peace in our heart!
May we turn from the vanities of this world unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” Acts 14:15 May we experience freedom from the worries and cares of this old world by looking forward to spending eternity with our Blessed Redeemer. May we daily receive the peace that passes all understanding that He offers us is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/2aK9CwKL0PU/god-is-in-every-place.html

Balanced Christian Development

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And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:6.

Humility is greatly needed. If cherished, it would be an ornament of great value in the sight of God. It is essential in the work. But there is no virtue in thinking that humility consists in cheap inefficiency. While humility is always essential in the service of God, while it must always be cultivated, be careful that it does not degenerate into the timidity which leads men to waver when circumstances require them to stand stiffly for the truth. There must be no half-and-half service offered to God. To every man the Lord has given his work. Everyone is to be a channel through which the Lord can work to communicate the will of Heaven….

Arduous and unpleasant duties have to be performed. None are to place themselves where they will sanction wrong by silence. They aid and abet the schemes of the enemy by keeping their lips closed when they should speak decidedly, though not in a boasting, self-sufficient manner. They are to speak the truth in love….

God in His great mercy will give to all His believing people efficiency and power for His work and service, even as He gave power to Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Timothy, and scores of others who availed themselves of His promises. They believed Him and relied upon Him, and this was their righteousness. Men and women have to move by faith. They have to press their way through the cloud of objections which Satan brings up to hinder their progress. When God sees that they will trust Him as their helper and their efficiency, they may pass safely through the great darkness of men’s unconsecration….

Without the constant help which comes only from God, even those who are looked upon as the most eminent believers are in danger of falling into the sins which Satan has prepared to dishonor God. Bear in mind, all who claim to be believers, that it is only when you have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, only when you have the joy of Christ’s salvation in the heart, that you are qualified to guide sinners to repentance and reformation. It is the genuine believer, who not only assents to the truth, but believes and practices the truth, who is not satisfied unless he has with him the presence of God, that is a power for good in the world….

Christ, the One who gave His life for the life of the world, that all who believe in Him may not perish, but have everlasting life, is the true Watchman of the house…. We are kept by the power of God. The presence and grace of Christ is the secret of all life and light.—Letter 79, July 11, 1901, to A. G. Daniells.
The Upward Look p. 206
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Prayer Request
—-Please pray for Linda and her family as they grieve the loss of her husband, Ken. Also please pray for Allyson who had back surgery yesterday. Rose
—-Today is the Day, going to have 2 teeth removed at 9:30 please pray. Connie
—-Please pray for a missing homeless young lady who has mental problems. She has been missing for about 5 days now and those who love her are so worried about her safety. Also please pray that she might not only be found, but that she might come to understand salvation. Her name is Jihan. Louise
—-Please keep my friend and her family in prayer. Her special needs child Maya is having multiple surgeries today. Due to the virus, the surgeries have been pushed back several months and her quality of life has diminished from this. There are several surgeries all being done back to back or overlapping if they can. They have to drive several hours to get to the nearest children’s hospital. The surgeries will last at least 30 hours. Let us pray for little Maya and her family. Let’s pray for wisdom for the doctors and peace for her family as they wait. These surgeries were originally supposed to be in Jan and Feb. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
Often, Esther sits down at the piano and plays one of the songs that she wrote, something classical, or some of the old hymns. I often harmonize with her no matter where I am in the house. As we harmonizd on some of the old hymns, I can’t help thinking forward to the time when we would join all the saved from all the ages around the throne of the Great King of the Universe. What a grand and glorious time that will be! “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.” Ps 92:1-5; 95:1-6
Zephaniah tells us that not only will we sing praises to God, but “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zeph 3:17 Think of it! He, Whose voice is as many waters, as a great multitude, as the sound of thunder will be so happy to finally have us together with Himself, that He will sing for joy! Oh! How much He loves us!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col 3:16, 17 May we “be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Eph 5:18-20
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/PPpJblRly6I/balanced-christian-development.html

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