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

A man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority, … was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Acts 8:27-29.
A heavenly messenger was sent to Philip [one of the chosen deacons] to show him his work for the Ethiopian. The evangelist was directed: “Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.” …
Today, just as much as then, the angels are leading and guiding those who will be guided and led. This angel could have done the work himself, but this is not God’s way of working. Believers must connect with other believers, and as God’s instrumentalities work in behalf of the lost.
Philip understood his work. This man of high authority was being drawn to the Saviour, and he did not resist the drawing. He did not make his high position an excuse why he could not accept the crucified One. The evangelist asked him, “Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” and explain to him the Word of God….
“Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest…. And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” …
While angels from heaven are doing their work, evil agencies are working to draw the mind to something else. Satan is interposing obstacles, so that the inquiring mind that would understand the Word of God shall become confused. Thus he worked with Christ in the wilderness of temptation. The experience of Christ is placed on record that we may understand the methods and plans of Satan. Had Philip left the eunuch with his case hanging in the balance, he might never have accepted the Saviour. Evil angels were waiting for their opportunity when they could press in their falsehoods and divert the newly awakened mind from seeking after truth. The Lord’s agencies must be wholly consecrated to His service, that they may be quick to understand their work. As wise stewards they must take advantage of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw people to Christ.—Manuscript 11, 1900.
Christ Triumphant p. 308
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Prayer Requests
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. Please pray. Buck
—-Please pray for me, my husband died almost 2 years ago and I’m still struggling. A
—-Prayers for my friend Jaclyn and her son Joey. Jaclyn will have a heart procedure on Tuesday. She is hoping this will help deal with her health issue as they have determined her episodes that looked like seizures were actually related to her heart. Joey will be having several small procedures done on Thursday. Prayers for good reports and quick recoveries. Jennifer
—-Please pray for the family of a friend who has died. R
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Dear Friends,
Today, we had a baptism at church. It reminded me of the time when we lived in Washington state at one of our church’s campouts our son was baptized. Joy filled my heart! Although he was only about ten, Ronnie Jay had been through Bible studies as well as having the benefit of family worship morning and evening from birth and had a great desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Surrounded by the beauties of nature, we sat on benches and listened as the pastor spoke of the meaning of baptism and then questioned those who were getting baptized.
Then we followed him down to the ice cold Columbia River where the baptism would take place. It was a cold, overcast day with an icy wind blowing. Little chunks of ice even floated in the current. Yet the weather could not extinguish the happiness that we felt to see our son take this important step in his life. As the pastor followed the instruction of our Dear Saviour baptizing him “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” our hearts swelled with joy. Matt 28:19
Our Great Exemplar sanctified baptism by being baptized. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17 Think of it! The Sinless One came to John to be baptized that He might be our example in all things. I have heard it said that His baptism also covers all who find it impossible to be baptized such as someone repenting and accepting Him on their deathbed. How good and kind He is!
Sometime later, in His midnight interview with Nicodemas, (John 3) He declared that we must not only be baptized by water baptism but must receive a daily baptism of His Holy Spirit, that we may “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:12,13 How much we need the power to live good, obedient Christian lives. Paul tells us, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom 6:3-6
How vital it is that there is a daily working of the Holy Spirit upon our heart. Only then can we truly become a new creature made after the Likeness of the Crucified One. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor 5:17 May we come to our Loving Redeemer to receive the cleansing from sin that He yearns give us. May we receive that daily baptism of the Spirit that He longs for us to have. May “we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [be] changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 3:18
Rose

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8.
After His resurrection, Christ ascended to His appointed honor. Before the heavenly universe and the worlds unfallen He was to be enthroned. The Father would impress the minds of the believers with the glorious reception of His Son in the home He had left. For our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich….
As Christ ascended, His hands were outstretched in blessing upon His disciples. While they stood gazing upward to catch the last glimpse of their ascending Lord, He was received by the heavenly throng into the rejoicing ranks of cherubs and seraphs. And as they escorted Him to His heavenly home, they sang in triumph, “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; … that rideth upon the heavens of heavens.”
Christ determined to bestow a gift on those who had been with Him and on those who should believe on Him, because this was the occasion of His ascension and inauguration, a jubilee in heaven. What gift could Christ bestow rich enough to signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy of His greatness and His royalty. Christ gave His representative, the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. This Gift could not be excelled….
On the day of Pentecost Christ gave His disciples the Holy Spirit as their Comforter. It was ever to abide with His church. During the whole Jewish economy the influence of this Spirit had often been revealed in a marked manner, but not in full. The Spirit had been waiting for the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. For ages prayers had been offered for the fulfillment of the promise, for the impartation of the Spirit; and not one of these earnest supplications had been forgotten. Now for ten days the disciples sent up their petitions, and Christ in heaven added His intercession. He claimed the gift of the Spirit, that He might pour it out upon His people…. [Christ] having reached His throne, the Spirit was given as He had promised, and like a rushing, mighty wind, it fell upon those assembled, filling the whole house. It came with a fullness and power, as if for ages it had been restrained, but was now poured forth upon the church, to be communicated to the world. What followed this outpouring? Thousands were converted in a day.—Manuscript 44, 1898.
Christ Triumphant p. 301
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for E and her children. R
—-Lift my daughter Sancia and my Nephew Shem and Seth in prayers as they are going to sit for their final Exams this end month. EN
—-Please pray for a friend of Emma’s step-dad who is in ICU. Also please pray for Mike as he has a very important doctor’s appointment this week. Rose
—-I am requesting prayers for the mother-in-law of a dear friend’s son. She needs a kidney transplant desperately and my friend’s son was found to be a perfect match. Now just days before the surgery, the test on my friend’s son came back negative and they don’t know what to do. They’ve had to postpone the transplant surgery. Needless to say, everyone is reeling right now. I’m praying for God to carry them through this. Kathy
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Dear Friends,
When we moved to Washington state, the church that we attended often had social functions where the members could bond and become like a family. Sometimes we would go to a campground for the weekend or out to a lake for the day. Some of the church members who had really nice houses invited the members and their friends to a picnic.
Over the years, Esther often reminisced about the first picnic that we attended there. It left quite an impression on her six year old mind. Jerry and Judy had opened their home for a church get-together. That year there had been a lot of rain and behind their house it was flooded because the creek had risen too high. They had a campfire and picnic table on the bluff in the front yard, so they did not have to cancel the church social.
Of course, the adults sat around the campfire talking while the children took turns paddling around in the shallow water in a canoe. Esther and her friend, Gene, begged to have a turn. Against my better judgment, I said yes. As I watched them having so much fun, I wondered why I had been hesitant to allow my little girl to get into the canoe. About that time, the canoe somehow tipped over. The water was not deep, but they got really wet. As the children waded to higher ground, Esther was very distressed because she lost one of her pink patent leather shoes in the mud. Those shoes were her favorites. She only had two pair of shoes (one pair for church and one for everyday), so she really needed those shoes. She began to cry.
Gene’s father rescued them out of the water and mud, wrapped them in a blanket and held them on his lap. To quiet the whimpering child, he told her, “Don’t cry, your shoe will grow a pink shoe tree, and then you will have all of the pink shoes you every wanted.” That thought dried her tears. She believed him.
For several years Esther would go out into Jerry’s backyard looking for a pink shoe tree to poke its head out of the ground. As she matured, she realized the impossibility of such a thing and realized that he was only trying to make her feel better.
How careful we must be in what we tell little children. They have perfect trust, perfect confidence in us. They believe what we say. They watch what we do. They model our words and actions. As a twig that is bent when young and pliable grows in that particular shape, so little children become what we teach them by precept and example.
Our Dear Saviour used a little child to teach the disciples an important lesson. “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:1-4 Jesus wants us to have the same perfect trust and confidence in Him as does a little child in his parents. He desires us to believe His promises with our whole heart. “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb 11:6
May we have the confidence of a little child in our Loving Heavenly Father. May we love and trust Him with our whole heart. May we be careful what we teach our little ones for He warns, “whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. . . . Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 18:6, 10