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

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

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