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Oneness With Christ

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I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:23.

Let us make it known that provision has been made for our redemption. Christ left the heavenly courts and came to this world to make an atonement for us. All who come to Him in living faith will be enabled to stand on vantage ground. As God’s servants proclaim these things, Satan steps up to some of those who have itching minds and presents his scientific problems. Men will be tempted to place science above God. But who, by searching, can find out God? Men may put their own interpretation upon God, but no human mind can comprehend Him. This problem has not been given us to solve. Let not finite man attempt to interpret Jehovah. Let none indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion.

Christ is one with the Father, but God and Christ are two distinct Personages. Read the prayer of Christ in the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find this point clearly brought out. How earnestly the Saviour prayed that His disciples might be one with Him as He was one with the Father. But the unity that is to exist between Christ and His followers does not destroy the personality of either. They are to be one with Him as He is one with the Father. By this unity they are to make it plain to the world that God sent His Son to save sinners. The oneness of Christ’s followers with Him is to be the great, unmistakable proof that God did indeed send His Son into the world to save sinners. But a loose, lax religion leaves the world confused and bewildered.

My brethren and sisters, take your stand on an elevated platform, and work to the point to be one with Christ. The heart of the Saviour is set upon His followers’ fulfilling God’s purpose in all its height and depth. They are to be one with Him, even though they are scattered the world over. But God cannot make them one in Christ unless they are willing to give up their own way for His way.

In view of all that Christ has suffered for us, should we complain when we are called to endure self-denial and suffering? Would not this make God ashamed of us? Let us rejoice that it is our privilege to be partakers in the sufferings of Christ, for thus only can we be fitted to be partakers of His glory…. Let us live lives that will lead sinners to the Saviour. Christ carried His humanity with Him into the heavenly courts, and all humanity can claim Him as their representative. We may be made complete in Him.—Manuscript 58, “The Work in Washington,” a talk given May 19, 1905.
The Upward Look p. 153
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Prayer Requests
—-update—Thank you everyone who has been praying for my mother Sue. She has been in the hospital since Saturday with sepsis. I know the prayers are working. God is so good! He has been healing her. She is doing so much better and may get to go home in the next couple of days. Please continue to pray for the infection to go down. Jenny
—-Urgent prayer for my Aunt Watie. she is very sick right now and under critical care. Her heart is weak, please include her in your prayers. Samantha
—-Pray for the people of Nashville as they continue to find victims of the tornado as well as those who have lost loved ones in the devastation. AC
—-Please continue to pray for Travis. it seems like demons taking over his life. Rosemary
—-I am asking for prayer for my Uncle Dale and his salvation. he was told he only has two weeks to live. Also prayers for his family for strength and comfort while going through this. Debra
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Dear Friends,
When Ronnie Jay was about one, our church had a series of meetings. One of the people who joined the church was a lady who had recently moved to town. When she heard that we had recently lost everything when our house burned to the ground, she gave us a wool blanket that had great sentimental value to her. Even though it was precious to her, she wanted us to have it. It was an old woven blanket that had been made from the wool of her brother’s own sheep. It was not dyed, but it was a strange shade of black with a greenish tinge. Her brother raised black sheep. Most wool feels prickly but not this blanket. It wasn’t soft, but it wasn’t irritating either. She loved that blanket, but she gave it to us because she knew we had need. That blanket became very special to me because of the sacrifice that woman made.
The blanket became Ronnie Jay’s. He loved that blanket and used it for many years. Eventually, it wore out. Still, Ronnie Jay did not want to get rid of it. Neither did I. In spite of our wishes, Ron threw it away while I was at work. Ronnie Jay was very sad and upset and pleaded with his father to let him keep it. All his pleading did no good.
Eileen, knowing how much that wool blanket meant to her little brother and to me, had an idea. She would make him a quilt and use that blanket inside for warmth. She told her father her plan and he let her have it. She had never made a quilt before, but she had seen them, so she had a fairly good idea as to how they were made. She took our old clothes and cut them into pieces and sewed them together. She left pockets and zippers in the cut up pieces. Day after day she worked on that quilt whenever she had free time and her brother was napping or outside.
Months later the quilt was completed. She gave it to Ronnie Jay for Christmas. He was thrilled when he found that he could unzip the zippers she had incorporated into the quilt and “visit” his well-loved wool blanket. He was also delighted with the pockets that he found she had stuffed with candy and little toys. Each pocket brought a new discovery. It was truly a labor of love, and her little brother’s happiness was a great reward for all those many hours she had spent sewing it all by hand.
Our Loving Heavenly Father gives us gifts that have cost much more than that quilt ever did. He gave us His own Dear Son. It was the greatest sacrifice He could make! All Heaven was wrapped up in that Great Gift. He poured out all His Love, all His Care in His Great Sacrifice. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16,17 What wonderful love!
Yet our Great Redeemer goes even beyond that Gift. He yearns to be intimately involved in every aspect of our life, to dwell with us each moment of the day leading in all of our experiences, guiding us through them, sharing our good times with Him as well as our times of trial and discouragement. He pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 He assures us, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3
And if that isn’t enough, He promises to answer every prayer “above all that we ask or think.” Eph 3:20 “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
May we ask our Loving Saviour to dwell with us each day guiding our thoughts, words, and actions that we may be pleasing in His sight. May our focus so be upon Him that others will notice that we have been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) May we always point those around us to the One Who loves them so.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/dtDlBtRy-LI/oneness-with-christ.html

Beware Seductive Theories

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Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8.

At this time—the last days of this earth’s history—we are to make the book of Revelation a special study. Why? Because it depicts the scenes that we are to meet. We need to understand what we are to meet, and how we are to meet it. We must know what efforts we are to make, so that in this perilous time we shall not be taken by the enemy’s devices. We know that the last great conflict will be Satan’s most determined effort to accomplish his purposes. He will come, not only as a roaring lion, but as a seducer, clothing sin with beautiful garments of light that he may take human beings in his snare.

The Lord desires us to realize that it is of great importance that we stand in these last days upon the platform of eternal truth. Those who think that the church militant is the church triumphant make a great mistake. The church militant will gain great triumphs, but it will also have fierce conflicts with evil that it may be firmly established upon the platform of eternal truth. And every one of us should be determined to stand with the church upon this platform….

There are those today who call the Revelation a sealed book. [It is a mystery,] but it is a mystery unfolded. We need to understand what it tells us in regard to the scenes that are to take place in the last days of this earth’s history. The enemy will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out his deceptive designs. Are they not lacking in wisdom who have no desire to understand in regard to the things that are to take place on this earth? …

In a representation which passed before me, I saw a certain work being done by medical missionary workers. Our ministering brethren were looking on, watching what was being done, but they did not seem to understand. The foundation of our faith, which was established by so much prayer, such earnest searching of the Scriptures, was being taken down, pillar by pillar. Our faith was to have nothing to rest upon—the sanctuary was gone, the atonement was gone….

Do you wonder that I have something to say, when I see the pillars of our faith beginning to be moved? Seductive theories are being taught in such a way that we shall not recognize them unless we have clear spiritual discernment.—Manuscript 46, May 18, 1904, “The Foundation of Our Faith,” a talk given at Berrien Springs, Michigan.
The Upward Look p. 152
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Prayer Requests
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Dear Friends,
Computers and texting have certainly sped up communication with our friends and family. Letters that took days to reach their destination via the postal system take only a few seconds.
Just as we can get a quick response because of modern technology, so we can always ask our Loving Heavenly Father for help in every situation. Indeed, the Great King of the Universe longs to hear our requests and delights to answer. Even though we may not get an immediate answer to our prayer, we can be assured that He always hears. Jesus reminds us, “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?” Matt 7:11 Although the answer may not be what we expect and may not come as soon as we’d like, He always answers. He does not always answer “Yes.” Sometimes we ask for the wrong things. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 Because of His great love for us, He does not always give us what we want, but He gives us what we need. And through it all, He is there, just waiting for us to commune with Him.
A few years ago, I saw a survey on the amount of time spent in prayer each day. The average was three minutes. How lonesome God must be to hear from us! Indeed, He is filled with longing desire for our voice to be lifted up to Him. He pleads, ” Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jer 33:3
Think of it! He, alone, can help us, yet we tend to forget the very One Who can solve our problems. How His Great Heart of Love must ache with sadness to watch us go about our daily duties with scarcely a thought Heavenward.
When He walked this earth, our Blessed Saviour felt a strong need to pray. In fact, he sometimes spent all night in prayer and supplication. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 If He, Who is one with the Father, had need of constant communion with His Heavenly Father, should not we spend more time in communion with Him?
Paul advises, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” Col 4:2 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil 4:6 Just as a parent is overjoyed by the sincere love of their child, so He loves to hear us praise Him when our hearts are full of love and gratitude to Him Who gave His All for us.
Just as we want our children to confide in us, to come to us when they have a problem, to tell us all their joys; so our Heavenly Father longs to have us tell Him all that is going on in our life. He is standing there just waiting to guide, just waiting to help us. He says, “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
Let us “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17. Let us walk in constant communion with God just as Enoch did so long ago. Let it be said of us, as it was of Abraham, that we are the friend of God.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/6Mj8d0MOnGA/beware-seductive-theories.html

Are You Preparing for Heaven?

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Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9.

What a work is before us. We need greater faith in Christ and the Father, for this we must certainly have, else we shall be counted with the unbelievers. We see great opportunities and a great amount of work to do. We want the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We cannot afford to miss the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. The sanctification of the truth, confirming man’s steadfastness in the faith, will constitute men laborers together with God.

United with the Source of all power, persevering in duty, enlarging the apprehension of the love of God in Christ Jesus, they become one with Christ, until they are complete with Christ in God.

The glories that await the faithful overcomer are beyond any description. The Lord will greatly honor and exalt His faithful ones. They shall grow like the cedar, and their comprehension will be certainly increasing. And at every advanced stage of knowledge their anticipation will fall far beneath the reality. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our work now is to prepare for those mansions that God is preparing for those who love Him and keep His commandments…. The Lord Jesus will enlarge every mind and heart for the reception of the Holy Spirit….

Time is short. Let the little time you have be employed for your own present and eternal good by active Christian service, doing all the good possible. Redeem the time that has been lost; seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then you will have something to impart in good works, in cheerful, consecrated influence….

What preparation have you made for the future, eternal world? … You want something higher and better than you now have. You may exert a conscious and unconscious influence in right doing. God deserves something better from you as His subject than that which you have given Him. Carefully consider: Are you standing under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, or under the black banner of the prince of darkness? There is an obligation resting upon you to return the influence and money that is lent you of the Lord to advance His cause and glorify His name.

The Lord calls upon you, “My son, give me thine heart.”—Letter 71, May 17, 1900, to John Wessels.
The Upward Look p. 151
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Prayer Requests
—-The flu has been going around our house. Please pray for complete healing and God’s providing for our needs. R
—-Pray for my dad ,they found a tumor in one kidney and they believe its cancer a cyst on the other one.pray for his salvation and healing.He is 95 and radiation, surgery is not what he wants ,it would be too hard on him.given he has lost lots of weight. Becky
—-Please pray for my mother Sue. She is in the hospital with sepsis. She is 83 years old and we love her very much. Jenny
—-Please pray for my little Chihuahua ……just got a call telling me he just got ripped up by 2 big dogs. Please pray that he will be ok. Connie
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Dear Friends,
One day shortly after the war between the states, Mrs. Russell was riding the train home from visiting a friend who lived in Chicago. When it stopped at a station along the way, a beautiful young lady with a baby boarded the train. She hesitated at the entrance of the car for a moment while looking intently at each of the passengers. Finally, she decided to sit beside Mrs. Russell.
As the train pulled out of the station, the two women began to talk. Mrs. Russell was admiring the baby and talking to him. The baby was smiling and making baby noises in response. Before long, the young lady asked her if she would please hold her precious little one while she went to the restroom. Mrs. Russell was delighted to do so. Soon, the train stopped at a station and more passengers got on. Some got off. Mrs. Russell talked to the baby and cuddled it and waited for his mother to come back. A half an hour passed. No mother. Forty-five minutes went by. She did not return.
Finally Mrs. Russell stopped the conductor as he walked by her seat. She explained that the baby’s mother had not returned from the restroom and she was getting worried. Perhaps the girl was ill. The conductor checked. The restroom was empty. Then he remembered that the young lady had left the train at the last stop. The conductor and the woman took the beautiful blanket off the little baby boy. Pinned to his garment was a note. It said, “Please care for my dear baby. When he is 21, he is to go to a certain bank in Chicago. At that time he will be told who he is and given enough money to go to the university.” It did not take Mrs. Russell long to decide what to do. She would go the authorities and get permission to raise this little baby as her very own.
Just as that tiny baby became Mrs. Russell’s very own son, so our Loving Heavenly Father adopts us into His family if we but ask. He counts us as His beloved sons and daughters “according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Eph 1:5-7 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Rom 8:14-17 “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal 4:5
Think of it! We can be a child of the King of the Universe! What a blessing! What a privilege! John gives us insight into its meaning, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 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 3:1-7;5:11-15
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16 Let us “love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, and with all [our]soul, and with all [our] strength, and with all [our] mind” because of His marvelous grace that He so freely offers us. Luke 10:27 Let us, in all that we do, in all that we say, in all that we think, rightly represent our Father in Heaven, Who loves us so much that He has adopted us as His very own.
Rose

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/FAr87ddfb6M/are-you-preparing-for-heaven.html

Cure for Guilt and Depression

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How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Matthew 18:12, 13.

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

The Need for Unity

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And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. John 17:22.

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

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