In vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. Matthew 15:9, NRSV.
My soul is much burdened, for I know what is before us. Every conceivable deception will be brought to bear upon those who have not a daily, living connection with God. Satan’s angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which some will claim to be advanced light and will proclaim it as new and wonderful; yet while in some respects the message may be truth, it will be mingled with human inventions and will teach for doctrine the commandments of men…. Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer, for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path that lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it….
A new order of things has come into the ministry. There is a desire to pattern after other churches, and simplicity and humility are almost unknown. The young ministers seek to be original, and to introduce new ideas and new plans for labor. Some open revival meetings, and by this means call large numbers into the church. But when the excitement is over, where are the converted ones? Repentance and confession of sin are not seen. The sinner is entreated to believe in Christ and accept Him, without regard to one’s past life of sin and rebellion. The heart is not broken. There is no contrition of soul. The supposed converted ones have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus….
The Lord desires His servants today to preach the old gospel doctrine, sorrow for sin, repentance, and confession…. Sinners must be labored for, perseveringly, earnestly, wisely, until they shall see that they are transgressors of God’s law, and shall exercise repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ….
Workers should not feel that it is a virtue to stand apart because they do not see all minor points in exactly the same light. If they agree on fundamental truths, they should not differ and dispute about matters of little real importance. To dwell on perplexing questions, that after all are of no vital consequence, tends to call the mind away from truths vital to the saving of the soul….
Unbelievers are critical, and they seek to frame some excuse for not receiving the truth as it is in Jesus. Where these differences exist among us, those who stand outside will say, “It will be time enough for us to believe as you do when you can agree among yourselves as to what constitutes truth.” Thus the ungodly take advantage of the divisions and controversies among Christians.—Manuscript 82, 1894 (The Review and Herald, November 4, 1965).
Christ Triumphant p. 362
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for some friends who are having financial troubles because they are not getting paid for their work. Anon
—-Please pray for E and children. The devil is trying to cause problems in many ways. R
—- Imogen woke up this morning at home with a loss of motion in her left arm (and somewhat in her leg). We have taken her to the Emergency Department and she is currently waiting for her neurosurgery team to decide what to do. She has been in pain especially at night time. We have started fasting her in case she has to have a general anesthetic for an MRI or other type of scan – possibly later tonight. She is 3-weeks post spinal surgery. Please pray that there is no permanent damage and that the cancer has not grown.
It’s a bit traumatizing being back in hospital again at Christmas time (which is the time of year when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma in Dec 2019).
God is good and we put our faith and trust in Him, and are believing in Him for full healing for Imogen. Jeanie
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Dear Friends,
I was on the internet recently when I came across a prayer request. As I read the responses, I saw one reply that was different than all the others. This man spoke harshly to the writer of the request telling her that she had no business bothering God with such and small and unimportant prayer request. I was shocked! That man’s idea of God was skewed and did not understand God’s love at all. I wrote a reply explaining to him that God loves to have us come to Him with our needs and even our wants. His reply what I expected–not at all nice. So sad.
How good God is! No prayer is too small for Him to answer. Indeed, He yearns for us to ask Him for help in every aspect of our life. Jesus bids us, “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. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?0 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt 7:7-11; 18:19, 20 Think of it! What power there is awaiting us if we will only ask! Yet, how seldom do we ask Him. How rarely do we allow the Great Burden Bearer to bear our burdens, to untangle the mess we’ve got ourselves into, to lead us in the path which we should go, to help us in the daily routine of our life.
Sometimes we pray and our prayers do not seem to be answered. God answers, but He does not always answer in the way we have specified. He may say, “wait awhile” or “that would not be good for you, here is something you really need.” James explains, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 So, we see there are guidelines for answered prayer. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 14:13, 14; 15:7-11 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:5, 6
May we bring our joys, our sorrows, our problems, our needs, whether large or small to the Throne of Grace is my prayer.
Rose

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10.
The world is a theater. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of. There is no unity of purpose, except as parties of people confederate to gain their ends. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into human hands, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is … working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect.
Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise….
The wicked have chosen Satan as their leader. Under his control, the wonderful faculties of the mind are used to construct agencies of destruction. God has given the human mind great power, power to show that the Creator has endowed human beings with ability to do a great work against the enemy of all righteousness, power to show what victories may be gained in the conflict against evil….
But when those to whom God has entrusted capabilities give themselves into the hands of the enemy, they become a power to destroy. When people do not make God first and last and best in everything, when they do not give themselves to Him for the carrying out of His purposes, Satan comes in and uses in his service the minds that, given to God, could achieve great good. Under his direction they do an evil work with great and masterly power. God designed them to work on a high plane of action, to enter into His mind, and thus acquire an education that would enable them to work the works of righteousness. But they know nothing of this education. They are helpless. Their powers do not guide them aright, for they are under the enemy’s control.
The way to holiness and heaven is found in the path of obedience. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—Letter 141, 1902.
Christ Triumphant p. 359
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Prayer Requests
—- Asking for prayers for my sister Elaine as she has had an injury but is not with the Lord in a manner that is needed. Please pray for her salvation. Cindy
—-Please pray for A who has become very angry and bitter and is miserable. B
—-Can you please pray for my earache to heal with the antibiotic I am using. Andre
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Dear Friends,
Well, today is the first day of Christmas vacation. That means no homeschooling for two whole weeks. How many things I thought I was going to accomplish today. So far, my day has been so crazy that all I’ve been able to do are dishes and starting a loaf of bread in my bread maker. I hope to do better the rest of our vacation, but if those days are like this one……
I feel something like some hamsters that Ronnie Jay used to have. We had so much fun watching them running on their exercise wheel. The three creatures would often try to run on it at the same time—-sometimes in the opposite direction! This would cause one or more to be slung out of the wheel. Whereupon that little creature would jump right back on and begin the process all over again.
How often we feel as if we are like those hamsters—always busy but accomplishing nothing. When we fail to keep the connection with the Great King of the Universe, we feel like a hamster on a giant exercise wheel—ever running but getting nowhere. How many times we can get ourselves into circumstances where there seems to be no way out, no future. How it must break our Great Redeemer’s heart to see us struggling futilely in our own strength, when He is there to help us disentangle ourselves from the mess we have gotten ourselves into, to deliver us out of the cage we are in. All we need to do is ask Him. He assures us, “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.” Matt 7:7,8 When we cry unto the Lord in our trouble, He will save us out of all of our distresses. He will deliver us from the exercise wheel of life and open a plain path of escape before our feet for He is faithful Who has promised, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8
How important then, that we” pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 How vital that we keep in touch with our Dear Saviour moment by moment. Then we won’t be running around accomplishing little to nothing. When He was upon this earth, our Loving Redeemer felt the need for His Father’s guidance. Indeed, He often spent all night in earnest prayer with strong crying and tears. (Luke 6:12) Heb 5:7 That very same Jesus is yearning for us to earnestly desire to get off life’s exercise wheel and pray to Him for the guidance and strength that He so freely offers.
May we listen to His pleading voice bidding us, “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.” Matt 11:28, 29
Rose

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, … saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come. Revelation 14:6, 7.
The proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages has been located by the Word of Inspiration. Not a peg or pin is to be removed. No human authority has any more right to change the location of these messages than to substitute the New Testament for the Old. The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols. The New Testament is the substance. One is as essential as the other. The Old Testament presents lessons from the lips of Christ, and these lessons have not lost their force in any particular.
The first and second messages [Revelation 14:6-8] were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s message. There cannot be a third without the first and second….
The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel that related to the last days…. When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, “Time shall be no longer.” The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days.
[Revelation 14:6, 7 quoted.] This message, if heeded, will call the attention of every nation and kindred and tongue and people to a close examination of the Word, and to the true light in regard to the power that has changed the seventh-day Sabbath to a spurious sabbath…. The Sabbath memorial, declaring who the living God is, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has been torn down, and a spurious sabbath has been given to the world in its place. Thus a breach has been made in the law of God….
In the first angel’s message people are called upon to worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that are therein…. The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.”—Manuscript 32, 1896 (Manuscript Releases 17:6, 7).
Christ Triumphant p. 338
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Geanina who fell and broke her wrist very badly. Rose
—-My good friend, Jewell, is having heart related issues. She is seeing her cardiologist in the morning. Please keep her in your prayers. TIA.
—-I have a friend who needs a miracle after being hit by a car. Pain that drugs will not take away. Please pray for healing, increased faith. Sylvia
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Dear Friends,
Someone I know well spends much of his time reading the news on the Internet. He listens to talk radio every day. As he hears all these dreadful things, he gets so worried and upset. His whole focus is on the negative. His very countenance shows the worry that fills him. This is how the enemy of souls would have it, for as we focus on the frightening things transpiring in this world, we take our eyes off from Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
Truly, this sinful, old world is showing signs that “the end of all things is at hand.” 1 Peter 4:7 It is totally out of control! Wars and rumours of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, man’s inhumanity to man, all foretell that Jesus is coming again. As we see all of the sin and sadness in this world, our heart should not only break for those who are in great trials but also can be filled with expectation. Our focus should be upon the blessed hope of Jesus’ soon return. Think of it! Soon we “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt 24) Praise God! All of the heartache, all of the sadness, all of the unfairness of life, all of the pain, all of the death will be a thing of the past when our Dear Saviour comes again!
There is an old hymn by Jessie E. Strout that exclaims the joy we should feel as we see these things come to pass. “Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring: Jesus is coming again! Cheer up ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing; Jesus is coming again! Coming again! Coming again! Jesus is coming again! Echo it, hilltops; proclaim it ye plains, Jesus is coming again! coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain; Jesus is coming again! Coming again! Coming again! Jesus is coming again! Heavings of earth, tell the vast, wondering throng: Jesus is coming again! Tempests and whirlwinds, the anthem prolong; Jesus is coming again! Coming again! Coming again! Jesus is coming again! Nations are angry— by this we do know Jesus is coming again! Knowledge increases; men run to and from; Jesus is coming again! Coming again! Coming again! Jesus is coming again!”
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Ephesians 6:12.
Angels from heaven communicate with the human family, and not one of us by anything we can do may uphold or keep ourselves. We are where we are, kept every moment by the power of God. I have thought that we do not make the ministration of heavenly angels as important as we should…. What would we do without them? I want you to consider what kind of position we should be left in if we had not the ministry of holy angels….
We meet the opposition of men and women, but there is someone behind that opposition. It is the prince of the powers of darkness, with his evil angels, who is constantly at work…. Who is it that is ruling the world today? And who is it that has chosen to stand under the banner of the prince of darkness? Why, it is nearly the whole world at large. All the world that has not accepted Jesus Christ has chosen for their leader the prince of darkness, and just as soon as they stand under his banner, they have connection with evil angels.
Either the evil angels or the angels of God are controlling all human minds…. Every provision has been made; everything in God’s plan has been arranged so that we should not be left to our own impulses, to our own finite powers, to carry on the warfare against the powers of darkness in our own finite strength, because we would certainly fail if we were thus left to ourselves….
In the Psalm David speaks of God’s being a refuge and a strong tower, a refuge and a fortress; unto Him we can run and we can be saved. How precious is the thought that God is our refuge and that He will be our helper in all times and in all places, and that in every emergency we have God with us. He says that He will give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways…. In our God we have a helper, and we will trust in Him. We must constantly look in that direction, believing that the angels of God are round about us, and that heaven is in communication with us, because these heavenly messengers are ascending and descending upon the ladder of shining brightness….
How is it with us? Are we standing with the whole armor on, so that we can work in harmony with the angels of God who are working for us? If we separate ourselves from these angels by taking our own course of action, then we place ourselves where the wicked one can tempt us.—Manuscript 1, 1890 (Sermons and Talks, 2:57-59).
Christ Triumphant p. 333
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Prayer Requests
—-I have a very important unspoken request. Please pray. Buck
—-My wife is having equilibrium issues since yesterday, please pray for her recovery and our family’s dire need of salvation, I’m the only Adventist in the family. David
—-Please continue to pray for Davanna. She is in a lot of pain with her double ear infection. I’m trying to walk her through how to make and use an onion poultice. Prayers she can get some relief. Jennifer
—-I have a prayer request for an SDA-owned medical business that a family member works for. The owner strongly believes in getting out The Great Controversy to as many as possible. A few days ago, right after he had been impressed by God to fund more of the books to be sent out, his business was hit by a cyber attack for ransom. The authorities are now involved in figuring out who is behind it and working at getting the business back up and running. At this point, my family member and the rest of their team in accounting have not been able to work for the last few days due to the loss of the stolen information. This is really a bad situation and involves a lot of people’s personal information. Would you please pray with me for God to rectify this situation as soon as possible and in the best manner possible so they can continue to care for their client’s needs? May God be praised for what He will do! And may those Great Controversy books reach as many people for Jesus as possible!!! anonymous
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Dear Friends,
Thanksgiving is a time to remember God’s goodness to us. I thought I’d share with you something that happened some years ago when Ronnie Jay still lived at home. He needed to drive our van to go camping, so we had traded cars for the weekend.
A little later, Ron jumped into Ronnie Jay’s car and started the engine. As he was backing out of the driveway, he heard a loud snap. To his horror, the car stopped moving. The engine was still running, but it would not go anywhere. Ron thought that it must be the transmission. The next day, our mechanic examined Ronnie Jay’s broken vehicle and called with the results. The ball joint had broken as well as the A-frame that holds it. Somehow, that had caused some sort of u-joint that connects the transmission to the axle to snap. Oh the love and watchcare of God! How good and kind He is! Our hearts filled with gratitude as we realized His goodness to us. How thankful we were that the car had broken at home. Had it broken while Ronnie Jay was driving on the highway, he could have had a very serious accident.
It is easy to remember to thank God for something big like the car breaking down after we get safely home, but how often we forget to thank Him for the little blessings that daily surround us taking them for granted as though we deserved them. How many times our prayers are “give me” prayers instead of praising our Great Creator for goodness and mercy. In fact, one of the signs of the last-day generation is their unthankfulness. (2 Tim 3:1-5)
“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! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation; And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
“Therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Heb 13:15; 1 Thes 5:18; Phil 4:6, 7
Rose

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda…. And in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain. Revelation 5:5, 6.
The Saviour was presented to John under the symbols of the “Lion of the tribe of Juda,” and “a Lamb as it had been slain.” Here the whole work of redemption was expressed. These symbols represent the union of omnipotent power and self-sacrificing love. As the Lion of Judah, Christ will defend His chosen ones and bring them off victorious, because they accepted Him as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ the slain Lamb—who was despised, rejected, the victim of Satan’s wrath, of human abuse and cruelty—how tender was His sympathy with His people who were in the world! And according to the infinite depths of His humiliation and sacrifice as the Lamb of God will be His power in glory as the Lion of Judah, for the deliverance of His people.
To John were opened the great events of the future that were to shake the thrones of kings and cause all earthly powers to tremble. He beheld the close of all earthly scenes, the ushering in of His reign who is to be King of kings, and whose kingdom shall endure forever…. He saw Christ receiving the adoration of all the hosts of heaven and heard the promise that whatever tribulation might come upon God’s people, if they would but patiently endure they should be more than conquerors through Him that loved them….
John was now prepared to witness the thrilling scenes in the great conflict between those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void His law. He saw the wonder-working power arise that was to deceive all who should dwell upon the earth who were not connected with God, “saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” …
Of the loyal and true who do not bow to the decrees of earthly rulers against the authority of the King of heaven the revelator says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
These lessons are for our benefit. We need to stay our faith upon God, for there is just before us a time that will try every soul. Christ upon the Mount of Olives rehearsed the fearful judgments that were to precede His second coming…. While these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in the last days.—Manuscript 100, 1893.
Christ Triumphant p. 315
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Mike who is having shoulder replacement surgery on Tuesday. Pray for Eileen who will be caring for him for the next twelve weeks. Also pray for Carl who is having heart trouble. Rose
—-Just received a request from a fellow sister in the faith who has been diagnosed with MDS-EB1. She starts treatment on Monday and will need bone marrow transplant. Her name is Terri. She is also asking for prayers that her insurance will cover her if she could go to NC where her kids are and have their help through this ordeal. Michael
—-Please pray for my daughter Hadassda she’s not well. She feels like she cannot breathe. A
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Dear Friends,
I enjoy hearing others tell of their life’s experiences both past and present. Whenever someone feels in a nostalgic mood and shares something of their past memories, I am always ready to listen with pleasure. I think I must have developed this interest when I was a little girl. I spent many hours listening to my grandfather tell the stories about his life. Certain stories were favorites and I would ask to hear them nearly every evening. Patiently, he would re-tell them. Sometimes, however, my grandfather would tire of them and tell me stories of his heroes such as John Paul Jones and Teddy Roosevelt or of a movie he had seen that had caught his interest. All I remember about it was the title—King Solomon’s Mines. I didn’t enjoy those stories nearly as much. They were not stories of his experience, so I lost interest very quickly.
So it is with us. We have the privilege of sharing our testimony with others whenever the Lord opens the way. Talking of someone else’s experience is often interesting, but the one experience above all others, that really means something to those around us and that we should love to share is what our Loving Redeemer has done for us personally. Indeed, our Dear Saviour longs for our walk with Him to be an ever-flowing fountain touching all whom we meet. He declares, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 He commissions us as He did Jeremiah of old, “thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.” Jer 1:7,8
Our Loving Redeemer proclaimed, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 The Great Light of the World bids us also to become lights to those about us. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.” ” Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:14-16
Peter declares that we “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should show forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 Therefore, may we speak often of our experience in the Lord showing “forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) May we “sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.” Ps 96:2 May we “sanctify the Lord God in [our] hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us] with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15
Rose