All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:18-20. U
The lessons on the parable of the vineyard and of the two sons come close home to all who have had the light of truth…. The instruction contained in these parables is of great value. All who are bearing responsibilities, be these responsibilities great or small, should study this instruction carefully. God looks for fruit from His vineyard. This fruit is the result of the work of His laborers. Every soul who believes in Christ has a work to do for Him. No true Christian can be idle in this time of such solemn importance….
Have you become a silent partner? … There are in our world many large cities in which the truth has not yet been proclaimed. Why should not the people of these cities hear the gospel message for this time? Has not Christ purchased them with His own blood? Are they not of as much value in His sight as those who have already received the truth? Are these portions of His vineyard to be left unworked, while upon other portions blessings are poured so abundantly that they are not appreciated? The truth is not appreciated, not being mixed with faith in them that hear, because they do not arouse and give to others the light they have received….
Christ’s last words to His disciples show the importance to be placed on the work of spreading the truth. Just before His ascension He gave them the commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19, 20).
Christ did not confine His labors to one place. Of His work we read, … “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee” (Luke 4:43, 44).
Would that all who have the light of truth would follow the example set by Christ, and not expend their God-given time and ability and means in one or two places, when the light of truth is to go to all the world. The wonderful display of grace shown in the gospel message is to be carried to all places.—Letter 92, April 8, 1902. “To My Brethren in Responsible Positions in the Medical Missionary Work.”
The Upward Look p. 112
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Kitty who is losing her battle with cancer. Rose
—-Please pray for my neighbor. Her cat Miracle has a urinary tract infection and is fighting her when she tries to give her the needed medicine. My neighbor is asking prayer for her cat’s healing. M
—-Please pray for my sister-in-law Denise. She has been taken to the ER. Kay
—-please pray for Milt as He undergo a surgery this morning. Arlene
—-Please pray for my family. We are planning a trip to visit my in-laws in China and I’m terribly uneasy about it. If we are not supposed yo go, then I pray the holy spirit bring my husband and I into an agreement about the trip. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; … for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26.
Think of the life of Moses. What endurance and patience characterized his life. Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews says, “For he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). This character of Moses does not simply mean passive resistance of evil, but perseverance in a firm, consistent course. He kept the Lord ever before him, and the Lord was at his right hand to help him.
Moses had a deep sense of the presence of God. He saw God. He was not only looking down through the ages to a Christ that would be revealed, but he saw Christ in a special manner accompanying the children of Israel in all their travels. God was real to him and present in his thoughts. When called upon to face danger, to bear insult, and to be misunderstood for Christ’s sake, he was persevering to endure without retaliation.
Moses believed in God as One whom he needed, and One who would help him because he needed His help. God was to him a present help in every time of need. We have far too much dead, nominal faith, but the real trusting, persevering faith we do not have. God was to Moses a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Moses had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Here is another point in faith we wish to study, and if brought into the life and experience, it will enable everyone who fears and loves God to endure trials. God will reward the man of faith and obedience. Moses was full of confidence in God, because he had appropriating faith. He needed the help of God, and he prayed for it, and believed for it, and wove it into his life experience that God cared for him. He believed that God ruled his life in particular. He knew that God had assigned to him a special work, and he would make that work thoroughly successful so far as possible. But he knew that he could not do this without the help of God, for he had a perverse people to deal with. The presence of God, he knew, was strong enough to carry him through the most trying positions that a man could be placed in. He could see and acknowledge God in every detail of his life, that he was under the eye of an all-seeing God, who weighs motives, who tries the hearts. He looked to God and believed in Him for strength to carry him through uncorrupted every form of temptation…. This is the kind of faith we need, faith that will endure the test.—Letter 42, April 7, 1886, to “Brother Ramsey.”
The Upward Look p. 111
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Prayer Requests
—-Praise—The company that deals with the lost cards are going to replace them free of charge. God is so good! Rose
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Dear Friends,
This is the time of year when people are planning and choosing a gift for friends and family. Conversation turns to Christmas plans, whether our shopping is done, decorating done, cooking and baking begun, what we wish to receive.
Decorations are everywhere, yet there is something missing. Some stores do not allow their employees to wish the customers “Merry Christmas.” No longer are there manger scenes in store windows or in the park as there was when I was a child. The lightpost decorations are mere snowflakes. While December 25th was not the actual day when Jesus was born but was a compromise chosen to make those who worshiped Mithra, the sun god, more comfortable with joining the Christian church, it is a time of year when we can especially remember that the Great Creator of the Universe “gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) for us.
Just as we delight to give gifts to those we love, our Heavenly Father sacrificed everything for us in giving us His Dearest Treasure. He gave this Great Gift even though He knew that few would appreciate Him, few would accept Him. What a sacrifice! What great love He has for us! With great care He sent a message of love to us through His Holy Word. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21
God moved upon these special men, who were expecially filled with His Holy Spirit, to write His message of love and restoration to a perishing world. On every page, from Genesis to Revelation, we find His message to us, we find the way of salvation. The stories of the lives of those who lived so long ago, “were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom 15:4 Their sins and their victories were “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor 10:11
Moreover, our Loving Father gave Moses the pattern for the sacrificial system that pointed to Jesus and His great sacrifice for us. It serves “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” Heb 8:5. As Moses met with God face to face upon Mount Sinai, he was shown and given a blueprint, so to speak, for the tabernacle He was about to build that was be but a dim reflection of the great sanctuary in Heaven. Each piece of furniture, each ceremony, was to point to a Heavenly reality. Each piece of furniture, each ceremony pointed to Jesus and His great work for our salvation.
The great prophets of old wrote what God revealed to them about the future. Prophecies were given that take us to the very end of time and beyond. Prophecies not only let us understand what is taking place around us, not only give us a glimpse into the future, but give us confidence in God’s Holy Word as we see the fulfillment of them. Our Powerful King has shown us the future, so we will not be left unprepared. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 So He has not left us in darkness. He has given us great light.
May we, with joy, accept this Great Gift of Love, that He has sacrificed so much to give us. May we daily read and meditate upon His Holy Word and hide its words in our heart that we may draw closer to the One Who loves us so. May we daily kneel before our Saviour and give Him the gift He longs for most of all—our undivided heart.
Rose

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24.
In this age we can see the necessity of drawing men to Christ. This draws them to one another in that confidence, that love, that unity, for which Christ prayed in His last prayer with and for His disciples. This unity was essential for their spiritual growth. This world is a battlefield, upon which the powers of good and evil are in ceaseless warfare.
At the time when Christ’s work bore only the appearance of cruel defeat, when to the disciples the case seemed hopeless, certain Greeks came to the disciples, saying, “We would see Jesus” (John 12:21). This inquiry showed Christ, who was then standing in the shadow of the cross, that the sacrificial offering of Himself would bring all who believe into perfect harmony with God. By making this propitiation of man’s sins, Christ’s kingdom would be perfected and extended throughout the world. He would work as the Restorer. His Spirit would prevail everywhere.
None of the people, not even the disciples, understood the nature of Christ’s kingdom. They seemed to be unable to believe that Jesus would not sit on David’s throne, that He would not take the scepter, and reign as a temporal prince in Jerusalem, before His ancients gloriously….
Christ heard the eager, hungering cry, “We would see Jesus.” These Greeks represented the nations and tribes and peoples who would awake to their great need of a power out of and above finite power. For a moment Christ looked into futurity, and heard voices proclaiming in all places of the earth, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (chap. 1:29). This anticipation, the consummation of His hopes, is expressed in His words, “The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified” (chap. 12:23). But the way and manner that this glorifying was to take place was never absent from Christ’s mind. Only by His death could the world be saved. As the grain of wheat, the Son of man must be cast into the earth, and die, and be buried out of sight; but He was to live again!
[In] every harvest this lesson of the grain of wheat is repeated. Those who till the soil have the illustration of Christ’s words ever before them. The seed buried in the ground produces much fruit, and in their turn the seeds of this fruit are planted. Thus the harvest is multiplied. The harvest of the cross of Calvary will bear fruit unto eternal life. And the contemplation of this will be the glory of those who will live through eternal ages. With this lesson Christ connects the self-sacrifice we must practice.—Manuscript 33, April 6, 1897, “We Would See Jesus.”
The Upward Look p. 110
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Prayer Requests
—-Ron lost at work something worth thousands of dollars. If they are not found, he may have to pay for it. God knows where they are. Please pray that they will be found either by man or angels and returned quickly. Rose
—-Please pray for Eric who is having knee surgery today. Ron
—-Please pray for Anita and her needs. Katherin
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Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3.
We do not always consider that the sanctification we so earnestly desire and for which we pray so earnestly is brought about through the truth and, by the providence of God, in a manner we least expect. When we look for joy, behold there is sorrow. When we expect peace, we frequently have distrust and doubt because we find ourselves plunged into trials we cannot avoid. In these trials we are having the answers to our prayers. In order for us to be purified, the fire of affliction must kindle upon us, and our will must be brought into conformity to the will of God. In order to be conformed to the image of our Saviour, we pass through a most painful process of refining. The very ones that we regard the most dear upon the earth may cause us the greatest sorrow and trial. They may view us in the wrong light. They may think us in error, and that we are deceiving and degrading ourselves because we follow the dictates of enlightened conscience in seeking for the truth as for hid treasures….
Our prayers for conformity to the image of Christ may not be answered exactly as we desire. We may be tested and proved, for God sees it best to put us under a course of discipline which is essential for us before we are fit subjects for the blessing we crave. We should not become discouraged and give way to doubt, and think that our prayers are not noticed. We should rely more securely upon Christ and leave our case with God to answer our prayers in His own way. God has not promised to bestow His blessings through the channels we have marked out. God is too wise to err and too regardful of our good to allow us to choose for ourselves.
The plans of God are always the best, although we may not always discern them. Perfection of Christian character can be obtained only through labor, conflict, and self-denial….
How inestimably precious are the gifts of God—the graces of His Spirit—and we shall not shrink from the trying, testing process, be it ever so painful or humiliating to us. How easy would be the way to heaven if there were no self-denial or cross! How worldlings would rush in the way, and hypocrites would travel in it without number! Thank God for the cross, the self-denial. The ignominy and shame our Saviour endured for us is none too humiliating for those saved by the purchase of His blood. Heaven will indeed be cheap enough.—Letter 9, April 5, 1873, to a “Sister Billet,” of San Francisco, California.
The Upward Look p. 108
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for me, I have eye Dr’s appointment this Thursday. I’ve been feeling uncomfortable about my eyes for quite sometime now. Samantha
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Dear Friends,
We often enjoy spending time reminiscing about years gone by. Our conversation drifts to places we’ve been, things we’ve seen, and events that have happened in our lives. It is a fun time of togetherness. We look forward to these happy times.
On one such evening a few years ago, Ron began complaining about the many plants that Eileen had growing in our house. He said he felt like he lived in a jungle. She retorted that she was going to get some Kudzu for a house plant. Then he’d really live in one!
Eileen’s comment brought protests from Ron and a funny comment from me about waking up in the morning and being trapped in our beds because the vine would have filled the house while we were sleeping. Often we had seen that vine cover large areas of ground, trees, telephone poles and wires, and attempting to “crawl” onto the roads of the Southeastern United States. The conversation continued to get funnier as each made their contribution to the scenario.
As we were talking, I began to think how much Kudzu is like sin. It is a pretty vine with fragrant purple flowers, but left unattended, it quickly takes over an area choking out the other plants. Sin is like that. One little sin cherished in our lives can take root and grow much larger than we could ever anticipate. Soon it takes over and chokes us spiritually. One little sin stubbornly held onto can separate us from God. “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.” Isa 59:1,2
What pain it brings to His great heart of love as He sees the sins grow in our lives and we will not allow Him to take them away. He pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die” Eze 33:11 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13
May we allow Him to dig out the roots of the Kudzu vines of sin that bind us, so that we may be set free. May we allow Him to untangle us from those sin-cords that have bound us for so long. May we let go of our cherished sins and cling to our Great Redeemer Who loves us so much that He gave His Life for us is my prayer.
Rose

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5.
There are so many who, when they are in trouble, … forget the invitations God has abundantly given, and begin to look and plan for human help. They go to human beings for aid, and this is the way in which their experience becomes feeble and confused. In all our trials we are directed to seek the Lord most earnestly, remembering that we are His property, His children by adoption. No human being can understand our necessities as Christ [can]. We shall receive help, if we ask Him in faith. We are His by creation; we are His by redemption. By the cords of divine love we are bound to the Source of all power and strength. If we will only make God our dependence, asking Him for what we want, as a little child asks his father for what he wants, we shall obtain a rich experience. We shall learn that God is the source of all strength and power….
God has been greatly dishonored by His people leaning upon human beings. He has not told us to do this. He has told us that He will teach us, He will guide us. We may come to Him and receive help….
What did Christ promise His disciples if they would believe in Him as their personal Saviour? “Lo, I am with you alway,” He said, “even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Again He says, “I am at thy right hand to help thee” (see Psalm 16:8). Think of how many promises He has given us, which we may grasp by the hand of faith. When we go to the Source of power, we know that we shall receive that intelligence and wisdom which comes from a pure source, which is not mixed with anything of humanity. As we pray, it is our privilege to know that God wants us to pray, to ask Him for help. “Ask, and ye shall receive” (John 16:24). It is for you to believe that you will receive. He wants us to become acquainted with Him, to speak to Him, to tell Him of our difficulties, and obtain an experience in asking of One who never misjudges and never makes a mistake….
We dishonor God by striving to get someone who we think understands our case to help us. Has He not given us His only begotten Son? Is not Christ close beside us, and will He not give us the help we need? …
We forget that the threshold of heaven is flooded with the glory proceeding from the throne of God, that the light may fall directly on those who are seeking the help that Christ alone can give.—Manuscript 144, April 3, 1901, “Early Morning Meeting.”
The Upward Look p. 107
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Prayer Requests
—-Would appreciate prayers for Maxx. I thought after 1 1/2 weeks of not feeling well he was getting better. Not! He hasn’t been eating for two days. Didn’t take meds today because he didn’t want to throw them up. He threw up anyway. He has no fever but he’s pale and miserable. He did hold down liquids the rest of the day but he laid down all day too. I dont like having sick kids. Carol
—-Pls pray for my boy Lee. He is having his wisdom teeth pulled today. Praying all goes well. Donnell
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Dear Friends,
The parable of the prodigal son so truly illustrates our Heavenly Father’s great love and care for us. It is found in Luke 15:11 and onward. Often, as we read this parable, we think of this for the overt sinner and fail to realize that we, ourselves, are that prodigal son. While we may outwardly comply, how often we rebel inwardly against our loving Heavenly Father’s commands. How many times we want our own way even though it leads us far from home. We soon find ourselves in the same condition as the prodigal son. Yet, even when we are so far from our Loving Redeemer, He is seeking us. He is watching with longing desire for the first indication that we are sorry and want to come back to Him.
Even while we are still a long way off, He runs to us, embraces us, removes our filthy garments from us and wraps us in the pure spotless robe of His righteousness. Praise God! “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19
Think of it! No matter what the sin, we can return to our Loving Heavenly Father. He will wrap us in His loving arms and lead us Homeward. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 1:9-2:2
Our Loving Heavenly Father does not scold us about our former waywardness. Instead, He rejoices when we come to Him. He assures us, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 He greatly desires a closeness with us that is “closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24) Indeed, He longs to fellowship with us every moment. He is pleading with us now, “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. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20
Moreover, if we open our heart’s door to Him, He will develop within us His own perfect character, that we may be like Him and show His glory to others. He promises, ” A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we open our heart’s-door to our Loving Saviour. May our prayer be the words of a song Esther Marie wrote many years ago. “Lord, give me a clean heart, A kind and a true heart. Lord, through me please show, Others that You care. Lord, give me a new heart, A loving and pure heart, So others may find You And know that You care. Though this world is rough and dirty, A new heart is waiting for you. Though your sins may be many, Jesus is waiting for you. Lord, give me a new heart And keep me in Your care.”
Rose