I have read your letter with much interest ….

The Lord wills not that any soul should perish. His mercies are without number, and He will not leave His purchased possession that He has given His own life to ransom to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. All Heaven is given to all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their present personal Saviour, and no soul can dishonor God more than claiming to believe the truth and yet wearing the garments of mourning as though [he were an] orphan….

The Lord does not leave His wounded and bruised sheep to the power of Satan to be torn in pieces. He is ever strengthening His own when they are weak. He delivers the tried and tempted ones from the enemy’s power. The Lord Jesus never forsakes any soul that puts his trust in Him. And those who claim to be sons and daughters of God must trust in Jesus always. To do otherwise is to disown that He loves us, and, by going [about] depressed, covering ourselves with garments of heaviness and mourning, we make a very bad representation of Christ. We virtually say that our Lord is a hard, tyrannical Master. This is lying against the precious Saviour, who gave His own life that He might make it possible for all to believe in Him, and confide in His interest and love for sinful man….

You do great injustice to my Saviour when you walk as though in the shadow of darkness. You are never to walk in the fire and sparks of your own kindling, subject to feelings and emotions.

Jesus said, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Now if you are following another leader than Christ, who is Light and Truth and Life, leave that leader and follow Jesus the Light of the world. Is the Lord pleased to have you tossed about as the restless waves of the sea? No! No! I tell you He bids you be strengthened, stablished, rooted and grounded and built up in the most holy faith. Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price which cannot be estimated. Then your owner is God, the mighty God, and for the price paid look to the cross of Calvary. This fluctuating between hope and fear grieves the heart of Christ, who hath given you unmistakable evidence of His love and hath chosen you.—Letter 41, May 16, 1893, to D. A. Corkham, a member of the Nova Scotia Conference committee.
The Upward Look p. 150
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Carly who has a mass in her brain. M
—-pray for Judith and her entire family. BP
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Dear Friends,
My grandfather, Edwin Harmon, was the most important and well-loved person in my life. As soon as he came home from work until it was time for bed, I followed him everywhere. I watched as he made coin purses out of fine Moroccan leather, watched him clean fish, listened to the stories of his life, watched as he made shadow pictures on the wall, sang to him when he was tired, ate a bedtime snack with him of ketchup and bread, crackers and milk, or strong cheese and crackers. Whatever my grandfather did, it was alright with me.
One evening, my grandfather, who was a talented artist, thought of a new game to entertain me. It was actually a game that he had played when he was a boy, but it was new to me. Giving me a sheet of paper and taking one himself, he explained that we would each draw the head and neck of something or someone and then fold the paper just so a little of the neck was showing. It was important that the other person not see what we drew until the game was over. Then we traded papers and drew the body and arms. Again we traded papers and drew the legs. Only then could we unfold the papers and see the entire picture. One time my grandfather drew the head of a chicken while I drew a girl. When we finished our drawings, we had a chicken with a girl’s body and chicken legs and a girl with a chicken’s body and girl’s legs. Another time my grandfather drew a lamp and another time a fish. Most of the time they were very funny like that. For some reason, I always drew a person, but I never knew what he was going to draw.
Just as I couldn’t see the drawing that my grandfather was doing on that sheet of paper until all was finished, so we are not always able to understand what picture the Great Master Artist is making of our life. Indeed, we cannot see His completed “drawing” until He is finished. Through disappointments, heartaches, and trials, we learn to rely upon His leading, His strength. Through the changes we experience, we learn to appreciate His unchangeableness. Through these circumstances of life, He molds our character into something beautiful. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13
Yet, how often we fight against this process and make it difficult for Him to work, even so, He patiently picks up the pieces and begins again. Jeremiah was given a vision of this molding process. “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, . . cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand.” Jer 18:1-6 Isaiah adds, “O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isa 64:8
Oftentimes, our Heavenly Father chastens us in order to bring about the needful results. Solomon admonishes, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Prov 3:11,12 Paul explains this more fully, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Heb 12:5-15
May we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our life cooperating fully with Him, waiting patiently for the “drawing” to be complete. May we, by “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.” Ps 119:18; 2 Cor 3:18 May we moment by moment submit ourselves to God’s shaping of our life is my prayer.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/BxLABMuCeqs/cure-for-guilt-and-depression.html

Our great need is unity. We have not one soul that can be spared. The Lord calls upon us to unify in harmony with Bible truth. This should be repeated over and over in the family and in the church….

Said Christ, “As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:31). He came to our world on a mission from the Father. He came to bridge the gulf that sin had made between God and man. There was to be made a provision for a reconciliation, for a union of the human with the divine nature. Christ would sanctify all who believe in Him. In the gift of Christ to our world, God has provided for everyone a power to overcome evil. He has given unto us “exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).

The great apostasy originally began in a denial of the love of God, as it is plainly revealed in the Word. Provision was then made whereby fallen man might have a powerful revelation of the love of God, and be given an opportunity to return to his allegiance to Jehovah. “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” (John 3:16). “I lay down my life for the sheep,” says Christ (chap. 10:15). “The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (chap. 6:51). Here is a revelation of the power mighty to save “to the uttermost.” God is light and love.

After the war in the heavenly courts Satan and his followers were cast out. As human beings, we are subject to the crafty wiles and temptations of this fallen foe. And unless we are kept by the power of Christ, we shall certainly be led away by the satanic sophistries by which the world is flooded. Our safety is to lean not on human power, on the arm of flesh, but upon the divine arm. Those who are partakers of the divine nature will not be beguiled by Satan.

Everyone will be tested. Men professing to be Christians will be placed in positions of trust, as guardians over the flock of God…. We are God’s property. In Jesus Christ we are to behold a pattern of what we should be. Every soul should be educated to look not to his fellow men, but unto Christ. He is the Author and the Finisher of our Faith.—Letter 172, May 15, 1907, to P. T. Magan, cofounder of Madison Institutions.
The Upward Look p. 149
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Prayer Requests
—-update—My sister passed away yesterday I am grateful to the Lord for allowing my sister to go to sleep she was suffering long enough. Praise god for His mercy. Also my oldest stepdaughter is failing. She is on oxygen but is not responding. her name is Marilyn please put her on the prayer chain. M
—-My precious daughter, Kristi, passed away from pneumonia and heart failure. My family and I are devastated. I would appreciate your prayers. Pam
—-I’m sending up a prayer and if you will join me I would be most grateful. I’m going in for treatment this morning. The last two days i have been very short of breath, this has never happened before and it is terrifying. I’m not sure what the Dr will have to say, I didn’t think it would attack so quickly so I’m praying, if it’s Gods will the treatment will work again. Debra
—-My mum is hospitalized for arthritis, keep praying for her, she can not walk. Jose
—PLEASE PRAY FOR MY HUSBAND TO CHANGE AND BECOME A CHRISTIAN VERY SOON BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR HIM. HE HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS GOING ON IN HIS LIFE. Connie
—-Please pray for a friend and her husband. They are having a hard time wirh their marriage and they have a little boy. Tanya
—-Please pray for Brenda. Her back is broken. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Even before Ron and I had children, we determined that if at all possible, we would not take them to a babysitter. We were very serious about bringing “them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Eph 6:4 Throughout the years, we found that there were times when we had to let someone else watch our children, but for the most part, we “juggled” our schedules in such a way that one of us was home to train up our children in the way that they should go. (Prov 22:6)
Sometimes the jobs I had to do were not to my liking, but I was determined to do what was best for my children. One such job was at a fast food restaurant where I worked from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM. Working nights was hard for me. The only sleep I got was when they took a nap or after Ron got home in the evening but felt it was worth being home with my children during the day.
At work, I did all of the baking, sliced the vegetables, and had various other duties some of which I found most unpleasant. One of the least favorite part of my job was using the large slicing machine. I was afraid of the whirling blade. I have never been very coordinated, and I was afraid that my fingers as well and the food might get sliced. The onions posed the greatest danger. They were very strong and would always sting my eyes so badly, that tears would course down my cheeks and I could not keep my eyes open no matter how hard I tried. Running a slicing machine with closed eyes is very dangerous.
When I told Ron about my problem, he suggested that I take his skin diving mask to work and use it when slicing those strong onions. That worked very well! I looked ridiculous, and if I walked by the kitchen door, the customers stared, but I didn’t care. At least the fumes from the onions didn’t bother me any more and I could keep my fingers intact.
Just as that mask protected my eyes from the fumes of those strong smelling onions, so our Loving Redeemer has provided us with a protection from the onslaughts of the enemy. He provides us with “the whole armour of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph 6:11-17
Let us reach out and put on that armour. Let us “be sober [and] vigilant; because [our] adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8,9 Let us diligently resist the evil one; for we have the promise that if we do, he will flee from us. (James 4:7)
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/knOuyVrfwec/the-need-for-unity.html

There is a world to be warned, and every effort must now be made to exalt the truth…. The great Teacher held in His hand the entire map of truth. In simple language He made plain to His disciples the way to heaven, and the endless subjects of divine power. The question of the essence of God was a subject on which He maintained a wise reserve, for their entanglements and specifications would bring in science which could not be dwelt upon by unsanctified minds without confusion. In regard to God and in regard to His personality, the Lord Jesus said, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Christ was the express image of His Father’s person.

The open path, the safe path of walking in the way of His commandments, is a path from which there is no safe departing. And when men follow their own human theories dressed up in soft, fascinating representations, they make a snare in which to catch souls. In the place of devoting your powers to theorizing, Christ has given you a work to do. His commission is, Go throughout the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Before the disciples shall compass the threshold, there is to be the imprint of the sacred name, baptizing the believers in the name of the threefold powers in the heavenly world. The human mind is impressed in this ceremony, the beginning of the Christian life. It means very much. The work of salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human agent. The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is involved in the action required to make assurance to the human agent, … confederating the heavenly powers with the human that man may become, through heavenly efficiency, partakers of the divine nature and workers together with Christ.

Man’s capabilities can multiply through the connection of human agencies with divine agencies. United with the heavenly powers, the human capabilities increase according to that faith that works by love and purifies, sanctifies, and ennobles the whole man.—Manuscript 45, May 14, 1904, “That They All May Be One.”
The Upward Look p. 148
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Prayer Requests
—-Please lift up an 11 yr old boy who is battling the flu. His mother says he isn’t able to keep anything on his stomach including his meds…as of this morning he’s still vomiting and trying to sleep. Please pray for God’s relief and for His healing in this situation. Monica
—-Please pray for for my friend Carol and her family. She has been sent home on hospice and not expected to survive long. Kathy
—-Please pray for my dad who has a kidney scan the 13th of March. Mike
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Dear Friends,

Often brothers and sisters do not get along well. Thankfully, that is not the case with my three children. Ronnie Jay and Esther had always been especially close. Five days after his third birthday, she was born. I had been afraid that he would be jealous, but that was not the case. Ronnie Jay was delighted and wanted to hold and cuddle her. He just beamed with happiness. From that moment, a special friendship developed between them.

As Esther grew and was able to play, Ronnie Jay’s joy knew no bounds. They were constant companions. They had wonderful times together throughout their life. When she got a little older and I would tell her to pick up her toys, Ronnie Jay would pick them up for her. If I told her to clean her room, he would do it for her because he loved her so much. Like all children, Esther Marie would sometimes disobey and had to be punished. Ronnie Jay would beg me not to punish her and offer to take her punishment. Of course, I did not grant him his request, but I marveled at his love for his sister.

Greater love than the love my two youngest children had for each other, is the love of Our Dear Saviour, Who “loves us with an everlasting love” and freely volunteered to take our punishment. Jer 31:3 Think of it! The Great Ruler of the Universe, the One equal with the Father, left all of the glories of Heaven, “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. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Phil 2:5-10

The One Whom all Heaven adored humbled Himself and lived a life of constant self-denial, a life of service, a life of humility. From the time of His birth, the Romans tried to destroy Him. The priests and rulers plotted to kill Him, although they could not until the right time had come. Daniel prophesied, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” Daniel 9:26,27 What an important prophetic week that was! For three and a half years, our Dear Saviour walked through the land preaching “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 3:2 He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God [His Father] was with him.” Acts 10:38 Then, in the midst of the week, He laid down his life for us, that we might have live eternally in His glorious kingdom. What love! What wonderful love!

May we love Him Who first loved us, turn away from the things of this world which will soon pass away, and accept His great sacrifice. 1 john 4:19 May we serve Him with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength putting Him first in everything. Luke 10:27 May we do always those things that please Him Who gave His life for us that we might dwell with Him eternally.

Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/OTw-Yvl8EUo/there-is-a-safe-path.html