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

Truth constantly enriches the receiver. The minds of those who receive the truth increase in activity. As they exercise their talents, seeking to improve every capability, their mental and spiritual powers strengthen, for where there is spiritual life, there is development and growth. There is no possibility of the treasures of the householder diminishing, if rightly used.

Mighty truths have been buried beneath the sophistry of error, but they will be found by the diligent searcher. As he finds and opens the treasure house of the precious jewels of truth, it is no robbery, for all who appreciate these jewels may possess them, and then they too have a treasure house to open to others. He who imparts does not deprive himself of the treasure, for as he examines it, that he may present it in such a way as to attract others, he finds new treasures.

The treasures of truth in our possession must be given to the world, that they may have opportunity to learn the value of truth. The necessities of those who are suffering from spiritual poverty must be relieved. And not only will the minds of those helped be impressed, but the mind of him who is doing the work will be quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the cooperation of the power that comes from God alone, he will be enabled to make the truth so plain that it will vibrate in other minds….

Christ died for the whole world, yet how few fill the place God has assigned to them as householders. The talents lent us in trust are to be used to benefit and bless others. They are lent to be improved. Their value is in themselves. Whether or not the one to whom they are entrusted realizes their value, they remain the same. But, if he does not appreciate them, they are of no value to him.

Money may be locked up in various ways. It is still money, but it is of no special benefit to anyone. But money wisely invested brings money in return, which may be used to gain more money. Thus it is with the householder’s treasure—the Word of the living God. The use made of the gems of truth determines their value to the possessor. They are to be used to help and bless and save those for whom the Lord gave His only begotten Son. Then they are of the highest value to us, and in this way our talents increase constantly. We add jewel to jewel.—Manuscript 88, July 10, 1898, “The Parable of the Householder.”
The Upward Look p. 205
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Prayer Requests
—-Max needs your prayers. He will be going to the hospital this Wednesday for a 4 to 5-hour-long surgery. He has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma-cancer on his face involving the parotid gland. After a month of recovery, he will be starting radiation treatment 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Samantha
—-My friend Gayle is dying she hasn’t eaten for two weeks or had nay liquids and her husband just asked me to put his nephew on the prayer chain he is in his 20′ and was rushed to the hospital he had a heart attack. his name is Harley . thank you .M.
—-Pray for churches everywhere that have been closed due to the pandemic. Jane
—-Please pray for my post open heart patient for healing. Emerson
—-Prayers for me and family my dad just died. Arlene
—-Prayers for my family. 5 are Covid-19 positive. Ana
—- I need your prayers. Every time I fall asleep the enemy attacks me really hard. The enemy is attacking me really hard right now and I am so oppressed that I can’t pray. So please pray for me for protection and deliverance and a breakthrough in my situation and that I can pray and fast. Please pray that God protects me while I sleep. Please pray that God protects my mind and heart in Christ Jesus. Ricardo
—-I need extra prayers today for a stressful situation. LS
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Dear Friends,
Before the pandemic, our plans were that Ronnie Jay and Wanangwa would drive out her for a week for my birthday. Sadly, that will not happen as his state has a travel ban on. I feel so disappointed and sad. We are hoping that things will be open by his birthday in August, but no one is sure.
Our Dear Heavenly Father is even more homesick for us than I am to see my son. With longing desire He is waiting until Jesus comes to take us to His Heavenly Home. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thes 4:16-18; 2 Peter 3:9-14) How He yearns to have a relationship with us that is nearer and dear than any earthly ties. Indeed, He wants first place in our heart and it is right that He should. He is our Creator, our Redeemer, our Re-creator. He “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.” Gal 1:4 He assures us, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3 In that last great prayer on the way to Gethsemane , Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” John 17:21 Blessed privilege!
How may we have that oneness for which Jesus prayed? By listening to His voice as He speaks to us through His Holy Word and allowing His Spirit to change us into what He would have us to be. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” verse 17 Jeremiah declared, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15:16 David adds, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Ps 119:9-12, 18
When we read God’s Word, we listen to His voice. Our Dear Saviour is listening for our voice as well. He desires to be the center of our life. He longs for us to share with Him all our sorrows, all our joys, all our perplexities, everything. Paul advises, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 God asks, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jer 33:3
Think of it! The Great King of the Universe wants to have an even closer relationship with us than I want with my children. He longs to hear our voice uplifted in prayer to Him even more than we long to hear from our children. Through this daily communion, “our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 David sang, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. . . . thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. . . .Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Ps 139:1-17
May we listen to our Master’s voice as we daily read God’s Word. May our heart and mind be uplifted in prayer to our Dear Saviour as we go about our daily duties. May we be so filled with His Spirit, that others will be drawn to the One Who loves us so.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/X5MTwomeO-4/be-a-faithful-householder.html

He who beholds Jesus, realizing what He is to us and what we are to Him, will be diligent. He will live on the plan of addition, adding to his faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. This is a process of growth. He who cooperates with Christ will not be found tomorrow where he is today. Every day he will follow on to know the Lord, that he may know that His going forth is prepared as the morning. Of those who live in this way it will be written at last, “Ye are complete in him.”

We are to work not merely for our own souls, but for the souls of all with whom we are connected. Parents are to keep before them the point to which they should work—the perfection of the characters of their children. They are to strive earnestly to perfect the characters of their children, because the future immortal life will show the result of the work they have done.

Those parents who educate their children aright, weeding out every unruly trait, are fitting them to become missionaries for Christ in truth, in righteousness, in holiness. He who in his childhood does service for God, adding to his faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, is fitting himself to hear the words, “Child, come up higher. Enter the higher school.”

Do you think we shall not learn anything there? We have not the slightest idea of what will then be opened before us. With Christ we shall walk before the living waters. He will open before us the beauty and glory of nature. He will show us what He is to us and what we are to Him. There are lessons we do not know now that we shall know hereafter….

It means everything to us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God works in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure. If we let Him work, He will work. Our reward in heaven above depends on our daily walk and conversation here below. We can be Christians here. And to be a Christian, it is not necessary that we live in depression, mourning because we cannot have our own way. If we are Christians indeed, Christ is formed within, the hope of glory.—Manuscript 102, July 9, 1899, “Remarks Made by Mrs. E. G. White in the School Chapel.”
The Upward Look p. 204
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my friends as they are having housing problems. Also please pray for my family as we are having some hurtles to overcome. LS
—-Prayer please for homeless friend with Dr appointment tomorrow after mild heart attack. Mel
—-Please put Lily in your prayers she sick with a fever of 102. Toni
—-PRAYERS PLEASE for a certain situation-God knows! Laura
—-Please be praying for my liver function and pre-scirotic condition. Dan
—-Update on my friend Sheri. The result of her phone court appointment yesterday was that her kids were ordered to live with their abusive father for the next 8 weeks. E (her oldest daughter) ended up in the ER last night. Rachelle
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Dear Friends,
Nearly twenty years ago when Esther was doing Bible work in West Virginia, she and some friends went to a nearby state to do some shopping. While they were there, it started raining. This was no ordinary rain. It was a real downpour.
With a sinking heart, she remembered that she had left the sun roof open on her car. In the back seat, she had some important papers. She prayed that it would not be raining at the church where it was parked.
As they neared home, the rain was even harder. When she told them of her concerns, one of her friends remarked that Esther was going to have two feet of water in her car. Everything inside would be ruined. Esther Marie told them that she was praying that it was not raining at the church.
When they were within a short distance, it was still raining just as hard as it had been. Her friends were sure that a mess awaited at the car. Esther was still praying. As they pulled into the church’s parking lot, they were filled with praise to God. Although it was raining hard all around, it was not raining on the church’s property! Esther jumped out of her friends’ car and closed her sun roof. Immediately the rain started pouring down!
God, in His mercy, sent this faith-building experience for them all! He bids us, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee” Jer 33:3 “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 Think of it! The Great Creator of the Universe is longing to answer our prayer of faith!
However, there are conditions that we must fulfill. Isaiah exclaims, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa 59:1,2 James adds, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 Jesus assures us, “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” Luke 17:6 “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14 “I say unto you, 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. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13 James tells us, “let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:6,7 John explains, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14
Let us come to the Great Supplier of All, knowing that He loves us with an “everlasting love.” Jer 31:3 Let us be diligent to fulfill the conditions to answered prayer, that God, Who longs to give us all good things, may work mightily in our life. Let us never take our Dear Saviour for granted but remember to praise Him when He answers our petitions.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/Hl3P99FvWCk/developing-characters-for-heaven.html