God's Amazing Grace

The Lord's Prayer 9/9

2009-10-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

"Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory." Matthew 6:13.

The last like the first sentence of the Lord's Prayer, points to our Father as above all power and authority and every name that is named. The Saviour beheld the years that stretched out before His disciples, not, as they had dreamed, lying in the sunshine of worldly prosperity and honor, but dark with the tempests of human hatred and satanic wrath. Amid national strife and ruin, the steps of the disciples would be beset with perils, and often their hearts would be oppressed by fear. They were to see Jerusalem a desolation, the temple swept away, its worship forever ended, and Israel scattered to all lands, like wrecks on a desert shore. Jesus said, "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars." "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:6-8. Yet Christ's followers were not to fear that their hope was lost or that God had forsaken the earth. The power and the glory belong unto Him whose great purposes would still move on unthwarted toward their consummation. In the prayer that breathes their daily wants, the disciples of Christ were directed to look above all the power and dominion of evil, unto the Lord their God, whose kingdom ruleth over all and who is their Father and everlasting Friend.
The ruin of Jerusalem was a symbol of the final ruin that shall overwhelm the world. The prophecies that received a partial fulfillment in the overthrow of Jerusalem have a more direct application to the last days. We are now standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. A crisis is before us, such as the world has never witnessed. And sweetly to us, as to the first disciples, comes the assurance that God's kingdom ruleth over all. The program of coming events is in the hands of our Maker. The Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations, as well as the concerns of His church, in His own charge. The divine Instructor is saying to every agent in the accomplishment of His plans, as He said to Cyrus, "I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me." Isaiah 45:5.
In the vision of the prophet Ezekiel there was the appearance of a hand beneath the wings of the cherubim. This is to teach His servants that it is divine power which gives them success. Those whom God employs as His messengers are not to feel that His work is dependent upon them. Finite beings are not left to carry this burden of responsibility. He who slumbers not, who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs, will carry forward His own work. He will thwart the purposes of wicked men, and will bring to confusion the counsels of those who plot mischief against His people. He who is the King, the Lord of hosts, sitteth between the cherubim, and amid the strife and tumult of nations He guards His children still. He who ruleth in the heavens is our Saviour. He measures every trial, He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul. When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of wrath shall strike through the hearts of His enemies, His people will be safe in His hands.
"Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. . . . In Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12.

~Thoughts From The Mount of Blessings page 121

Angels Are Preparing Me for Eternity

2009-10-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." Exodus 23:20

All heaven is engaged in the work of preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord's preparation. The connection of heaven with earth seems very close. . . .
The heavenly intelligences are waiting with almost impatient earnestness to make Him known to the human agents, that they may be laborers together with these heavenly angels in presenting Jesus --the world's Redeemer, full of grace and truth. . . .
The first tear of penitence for sins creates joy among the heavenly angels in the courts of heaven. The heavenly messengers are ready to be on the wing to minister to the soul who is seeking Jesus. . . .
Grand and glorious things hath God prepared for those who love Him. Angels are looking forward with earnest expectation to the final triumph of the people of God, when seraphim and cherubim and the "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands" shall swell the anthems of the blessed and celebrate the triumphs of the mediatorial achievements in the recovery of man.
Jesus counted the cost of the salvation of every son and daughter of Adam. He provided abundant means that, if they would but comply with the conditions, none need perish, but might have everlasting life. . . . Every heavenly intelligence works as His agent to win man to God.
The angels of glory find their joy in . . . giving love and tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen and unholy. Heavenly beings woo the hearts of men; they bring to this dark world light from the courts above; by gentle and patient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer than they themselves can know.

~My Life Today page 307

Christ My Elder Brother

2009-10-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17

The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations. . . . He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord "telleth the number of the stars"; and yet "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be open for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden Bearer.
Circumstances may separate friends; the restless waters of the wide sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstances, no distance, can separate us from the Saviour. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love; to say, "I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me."
Human love may change, but Christ's love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save.
He desires us to realize that He has returned to heaven as our Elder Brother and that the measureless power given Him has been placed at our disposal.

~My Life Today page 297

My Guarding Angel

2009-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Ps. 91:11

A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said, "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them."
I have seen the tender love that God has for His people, and it is very great. I saw angels over the saints with their wings spread about them. Each saint had an attending angel. If the saints wept through discouragement, or were in danger, the angels that ever attended them would fly quickly upward to carry the tidings, and the angels in the city would cease to sing. . . . They would bear the tidings upward, and all the angels in the city would weep, and then with a loud voice say, "Amen." But if the saints fixed their eyes upon the prize before them, and glorified God by praising Him, then the angels would bear the glad tidings to the city, and the angels in the city would touch their golden harps and sing with a loud voice, "Alleluia!" and the heavenly arches would ring with their lovely songs.
His angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing words for us, and influencing our actions. Thus our influence may be a silent, unconscious, but mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world.

My Life Today Page 303

The Blessing of Sight

2009-10-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Do you ever consider the blessing of sight? Have you ever considered the blessing of not only being able to see, but to see things in color? Things would be very dull life not being able to tell the difference between snowpuffs and rocks. Click Here to see and understand the blessing of sight!

God Vs Science

2009-10-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students,
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one
of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you,
son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's
good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do
anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm
evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The
Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say
there's a sick person over here and you can
cure him. You can do it. Would you help him?
Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a
sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we
could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor
continues.

"He doesn't, does he?
My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though
he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the
professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his
desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God
good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on
this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right.. God made Satan, didn't he?
Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make
everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" ,
the professor continued, "If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and
according to the principle that our works define who we are,
then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there
sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet.
"Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor
repeats his question.

"Who created
them?"

There is still
no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in
front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell
me," he continues onto
another student. "Do you
believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have
five senses you use to identify and observe the world around
you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your
Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or
smelt your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus
Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in
him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't
exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I
only have my faith."

"Yes,
faith," the professor repeats. "And
that is the problem science has with God. There is no
evidence, only faith."

At the back of the room another student stands quietly for
a moment before asking a question of His own.

"Professor, is there such thing as
heat?"

"Yes," the professor
replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there
isn't."

The professor turns to face the
student, obviously interested. The
room
suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to
explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more
heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat,
white heat, a little
heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called
'cold'. We can
hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we
can't go any further after that. There is no such thing
as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it
has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or
matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is
the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word
we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure
cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is
energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the
classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as
darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without
hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not
something; it is the absence of something. You can have low
light, normal light, bright light, flashing light,but if you
have no light constantly you have nothing and it's
called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use
to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would
be able to make darkness
darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of
him. This will be a good semester. "So what point
are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical
premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must
also be flawed."

The professor's
face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed?
Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of
duality," the student explains. "You argue
that there is life and then there's death; a good God
and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as
something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science
can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never
seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death
as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that
death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the
opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students
that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary
process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes,
sir?"

The professor begins to shake his
head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is
going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of
evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is
an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion,
sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The
student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to
the other student, let me give you an example of what I
mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone
in the class who has
ever seen the professor's
brain?"

The class
breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who
has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the
professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's
brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the
established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable
protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due
respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we
trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the
student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.
"I guess you'll have to take them on
faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact,
faith exists with life," the student
continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course,
there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of
man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime
and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations
are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist
sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of
God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to
describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil
is the result of what happens when man does not have
God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold
that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes
when there is no light."

The Professor sat down.

NEVER be Ashamed to stand up for what you believe!

"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
~Matthew 10:33

A Merry Heart

2009-10-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Remember to turn off the playlist at the bottom of the page before you play the video.

The Lord's Prayer 8/9

2009-09-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

"Bring us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one."
Matthew 6:13, R.V.

Temptation is enticement to sin, and this does not proceed from God, but from Satan and from the evil of our own hearts. "God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempteth no man." James 1:13, R.V.
Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our characters may be revealed before men and angels, that he may claim us as his own. In the symbolic prophecy of Zechariah, Satan is seen standing at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord, accusing Joshua, the high priest, who is clothed in filthy garments, and resisting the work that the Angel desires to do for him. This represents the attitude of Satan toward every soul whom Christ is seeking to draw unto Himself. The enemy leads us into sin, and then he accuses us before the heavenly universe as unworthy of the love of God. But "the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" And unto Joshua He said, "Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Zechariah 3:1-4.
God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building. The soul that through divine power resists temptation reveals to the world and to the heavenly universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ. But while we are not to be dismayed by trial, bitter though it be, we should pray that God will not permit us to be brought where we shall be drawn away by the desires of our own evil hearts. In offering the prayer that Christ has given, we surrender ourselves to the guidance of God, asking Him to lead us in safe paths. We cannot offer this prayer in sincerity, and yet decide to walk in any way of our own choosing. We shall wait for His hand to lead us; we shall listen to His voice, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." Isaiah 30:21.
It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan's suggestions. Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it; but it is blinding and deceiving in its nature, and it will entice us with flattering presentations. If we venture on Satan's ground we have no assurance of protection from his power. So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us.
The prayer, "Bring us not into temptation," is itself a promise. If we commit ourselves to God we have the assurance, He "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.
The only safeguard against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. It is because selfishness exists in our hearts that temptation has power over us. But when we behold the great love of God, selfishness appears to us in its hideous and repulsive character, and we desire to have it expelled from the soul. As the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, our hearts are softened and subdued, the temptation loses its power, and the grace of Christ transforms the character.
Christ will never abandon the soul for whom He has died. The soul may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life. Could our spiritual vision be quickened, we should see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief, pressed as a cart beneath sheaves and ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to aid these tempted ones, who are standing as on the brink of a precipice. The angels from heaven force back the hosts of evil that encompass these souls, and guide them to plant their feet on the sure foundation. The battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the armies of this world, and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend.
To us, as to Peter, the word is spoken, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Luke 22:31, 32. Thank God, we are not left alone. He who "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), will not desert us in the battle with the adversary of God and man. "Behold," He says, "I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19.
Live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go. Know and believe the love that God has to us, and you are secure; that love is a fortress impregnable to all the delusions and assaults of Satan. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Proverbs 18:10.

~ Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings page 116, pg 2

Our Wise Physician

2009-09-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

“Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician gives because we need then; and He proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust His skill and thank Him for His prescription.”
~ John Newton

Into the Furnace

2009-07-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they can be fashioned for His work.

~ The Ministry of Healing page 471 pg 2

The Lord's Prayer 7/9

2009-07-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

"Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive
everyone that is indebted
to us." Luke 11:4.

Jesus teaches that we can receive forgiveness from God only as we forgive others. It is the love of God that draws us unto Him, and that love cannot touch our hearts without creating love for our brethren.
After completing the Lord's Prayer, Jesus added: "If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." He who is unforgiving cuts off the very channel through which alone he can receive mercy from God. We should not think that unless those who have injured us confess the wrong we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness. It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults. However sorely they may have wounded us, we are not to cherish our grievances and sympathize with ourselves over our injuries; but as we hope to be pardoned for our offenses against God we are to pardon all who have done evil to us.
But forgiveness has a broader meaning than many suppose. When God gives the promise that He "will abundantly pardon," He adds, as if the meaning of that promise exceeded all that we could comprehend: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:7-9. God's forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart. David had the true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. And again he says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12.
God in Christ gave Himself for our sins. He suffered the cruel death of the cross, bore for us the burden of guilt, "the just for the unjust," that He might reveal to us His love and draw us to Himself. And He says, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32, R.V. Let Christ, the divine Life, dwell in you and through you reveal the heaven-born love that will inspire hope in the hopeless and bring heaven's peace to the sin-stricken heart. As we come to God, this is the condition which meets us at the threshold, that, receiving mercy from Him, we yield ourselves to reveal His grace to others.
The one thing essential for us in order that we may receive and impart the forgiving love of God is to know and believe the love that He has to us. 1 John 4:16. Satan is working by every deception he can command, in order that we may not discern that love. He will lead us to think that our mistakes and transgressions have been so grievous that the Lord will not have respect unto our prayers and will not bless and save us. In ourselves we can see nothing but weakness, nothing to recommend us to God, and Satan tells us that it is of no use; we cannot remedy our defects of character. When we try to come to God, the enemy will whisper, It is of no use for you to pray; did not you do that evil thing? Have you not sinned against God and violated your own conscience? But we may tell the enemy that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. When we feel that we have sinned and cannot pray, it is then the time to pray. Ashamed we may be and deeply humbled, but we must pray and believe. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Timothy 1:15. Forgiveness, reconciliation with God, comes to us, not as a reward for our works, it is not bestowed because of the merit of sinful men, but it is a gift unto us, having in the spotless righteousness of Christ its foundation for bestowal.
We should not try to lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God's estimate of sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible enormity of sin. If we had to bear our own guilt, it would crush us. But the sinless One has taken our place; though undeserving, He has borne our iniquity. "If we confess our sins," God "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. Glorious truth!--just to His own law, and yet the Justifier of all that believe in Jesus. "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 forever, because He delighteth in mercy." Micah 7:18.

~ Thougths From The Mount of Blessing Page 113

Something Precious

2009-07-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

"The fact that we are called upon to endure trials shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into the furnace."

~ The Ministry of Healing, page 471

In Loving Memory

2009-07-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

My Sugar passed away this morning 7/28/09 at 5:50 AM. I will greatly miss her! She ment so much to me! There could never be a nother kitty like her. She never once was mean, but always loving! A special pice of me is gone.

The bright, sunny color of yellow roses evokes a feeling of warmth and happiness. The warm feelings associated with the yellow rose are often akin to those shared with a true friend. As such, the yellow rose is an ideal symbol for joy and Friendship.

That is what my Sugar was, "A Dear and True Friend" she never would have failed me and she brought so much Joy into my life.

Prayer Request for My Sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-27T21:28:00.001-07:00

I just want to ask all of you if you don't mind, to keep my cat in your prayers. I have had her since this past December and she means so much to me. I rescued her from the pound and my family and I have given her a good home.

The reason why I'm asking for prayers is because this morning when I went to say good morning I could not find her. A little later my Mom found her next to the house just laying there lifeless. We did not know what was wrong. We made sure that she had some water and tried to get her to eat, but she was not interested. We noticed that her eyes were inflamed and glassy and we really started to get concerned. So my Mom called the Animal Clinic and they told us to bring her in right away. When we got tO the Clinic the Vet knew immediately what was wrong. She had to take some blood work and send it off to the hospital, but she was positive that what she had was "Bobcat Fever" This is when the cat has picked up a tick that was on a bobcat has picked up a parasite that is in the blood where is attacks the white blood cells. There is no cure for it yet. Although there have been some cats that have survived it.

I have a link here if you would like to take a look at it. http://cats.suite101.com/article.cfm/bobcat_fever_afflicting_domestic_c . It tells the cause of the disease, and the symptoms. If you have a cat I HIGHLY rec amend that you take a look at it, even if you don't have a cat and you know someone that dose than PLEASE share this with them.

When the blood work came back positive (meaning she did have this disease) we asked the Vet what was our options. She said that there was not a cure for that the University was doing some research on it and we could take her up there, but it would cost anywhere from $1,200,00 or more. And we told her that there was no way we had that kind of money. Then we told her that we taught health and that we help people eliminate parasites out of the body and the blood stream. We asked her if she thought that it would do any good for us to try some of the formulas we use on her, and she said to go for it. She also gave us some of the blood thinner shoots to give to her every 8 hours and a IV to run in her every 5 hours.

We have been giving her all this treatment since 5:00 this afternoon. And have been praying constantly for the Lords will to be done and for us to be able to deal with whatever the out come may be. But I know that with a lot of prayer and faith miracles can happen. Already we know that the Lord is answering our prayers, because the tick that was causing my Mom found and it was no longer injected in her. So that tells us that the blood and parasite formulas are working after only 4 treatments. PRAISE GOD!

We still don't know if she will make it. But we are just asking that God's will be done. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your prayers! May God bless you in many ways.

In His Service
Brittany

NOTE: If you would like to post this on your blog than please feel free to do so. We greatly appreciate it. I know it may seem like something simple, but she dose mean a lot to us.

My Redeemer is Faithful and True

2009-07-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Remember to turn off the playlist music at the bottom of the page before playing this music video. Hope you enjoy!

This is one of my favorite songs sang by Christain Berdhal. He Has three albums that are wonderful. Vision of Heaven, Consecration, and The Narrow Way.

Green Cord of Faith

2009-07-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

"...I had another dream. I seemed to be sitting in abject despair, with my face in my hands, reflecting like this: If Jesus were upon earth, I would go to Him, throw myself at His feet, and tell Him all my sufferings. He would not turn away from me, He would have mercy upon me, and I should love and serve Him always. Just then the door opened, and a person of beautiful form and countenance entered. He looked upon me pityingly and said: "Do you wish to see Jesus? He is here and you can see Him if you desire to do so. Take everything you possess and follow me."
I heard this with unspeakable joy, and gladly gathered up all my little possessions, every treasured trinket, and followed my guide. He led me to a steep and apparently frail stairway. As I commenced to ascend the steps, he cautioned me to keep my eyes fixed upward, lest I should grow dizzy and fall. Many others who were climbing up the steep ascent fell before gaining the top.
Finally we reached the last step and stood before the door. Here my guide directed me to leave all the things that I had brought with me. I cheerfully laid them down; he then opened the door and bade me enter. In a moment I stood before Jesus. There was no mistaking that beautiful countenance. Such a radiant expression of benevolence and majesty could belong to no other. As His gaze rested upon me, I knew at once that He was acquainted with every circumstance of my life and all my inner thoughts and feelings.
I tried to shield myself from His gaze, feeling unable to endure His searching eyes, but He drew near with a smile, and, laying His hand upon my head, said: "Fear not." The sound of His sweet voice thrilled my heart with a happiness it had never before experienced. I was too joyful to utter a word, but, overcome with ineffable happiness, sank prostrate at His feet. While I was lying helpless there, scenes of beauty and glory passed before me, and I seemed to have reached the safety and peace of heaven. At length my strength returned, and I arose. The loving eyes of Jesus were still upon me, and His smile filled my soul with gladness. His presence filled me with holy reverence and an inexpressible love.
My guide now opened the door, and we both passed out. He bade me take up again all the things I had left without. This done, he handed me a green cord coiled up closely. This he directed me to place next my heart, and when I wished to see Jesus, take from my bosom and stretch it to the utmost. He cautioned me not to let it remain coiled for any length of time, lest it should become knotted and difficult to straighten. I placed the cord near my heart and joyfully descended the narrow stairs, praising the Lord and joyfully telling all whom I met where they could find Jesus. This dream gave me hope. The green cord represented faith to my mind, and the beauty and simplicity of trusting in God began to dawn upon my benighted soul.

~ Early Writings Page 79 last pg

Special Care of the Flock

2009-07-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Ps. 100:3.

[Jesus] knows the wants of each of His creatures and reads the hidden,
unspoken grief of every heart. If one of the little ones for whom He died is
injured, He sees it and calls the offender to account. Jesus is the Good
Shepherd. He cares for His feeble, sickly, wandering sheep. He knows them
all by name. The distress of every sheep and every lamb of His flock touches
His heart of sympathizing love, and the cry for aid reaches His ear. One of
the greatest sins of the shepherds of Israel is thus pointed out by the
prophet: "The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that
which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have
ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that
which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they
were scattered, because there is no shepherd. . . . None did search or seek
after them." . . .

As Deity He exerts mighty power in our behalf, while as our Elder Brother He
feels for all our woes. The Majesty of heaven held not Himself aloof from
degraded, sinful humanity. We have not a high priest who is so high, so
lifted up, that He cannot notice us or sympathize with us, but one who was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. . . .

You will have many perplexities to meet in your Christian life in connection
with the church, but do not try too hard to mold your brethren. If you see
that they do not meet the requirements of God's Word, do not condemn; if
they provoke, do not retaliate. When things are said that would exasperate,
quietly keep your soul from fretting. . . . You must labor for the erring
with a heart subdued, softened by the Spirit of God, and let the Lord work
through you, the agent. Roll your burden on Jesus. You feel that the Lord
must take up the case where Satan is striving for the mastery over some
soul; but you are to do what you can in humility and meekness, and put the
tangled work, the complicated matters, into the hands of God. Follow the
directions in His word, and leave the outcome of the matter to His wisdom.
Having done all you can to save your brother, cease worrying, and go calmly
about other pressing duties. It is no longer your matter, but God's.

Do not, through impatience, cut the knot of difficulty, making matters
hopeless. Let God untangle the snarled-up threads for you. He is wise enough
to manage the complications of our lives. He has skill and tact. We cannot
always see His plans; we must wait patiently their unfolding and not mar and
destroy them. He will reveal them to us in His own good time. Seek for
unity; cultivate love and conformity to Christ in all things. He is the
source of unity and strength. . . . If you do as God would have you, His
blessing will come into the church (Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 346-348).

~ Lift Him Up - Page 218

The Lord's Prayer 6/9

2009-07-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

"Give us this day our daily bread."
Matthew 6:11.

The first half of the prayer Jesus has taught us is in regard to the name and kingdom and will of God--that His name may be honored, His kingdom established, His will performed. When you have thus made God's service your first interest, you may ask with confidence that your own needs may be supplied. If you have renounced self and given yourself to Christ you are a member of the family of God, and everything in the Father's house is for you. All the treasures of God are opened to you, both the world that now is and that which is to come. The ministry of angels, the gift of His Spirit, the labors of His servants--all are for you. The world, with everything in it, is yours so far as it can do you good. Even the enmity of the wicked will prove a blessing by disciplining you for heaven. If "ye are Christ's," "all things are yours." 1 Corinthians 3:23, 21.
But you are as a child who is not yet placed in control of his inheritance. God does not entrust to you your precious possession, lest Satan by his wily arts should beguile you, as he did the first pair in Eden. Christ holds it for you, safe beyond the spoiler's reach. Like the child, you shall receive day by day what is required for the day's need. Every day you are to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." Be not dismayed if you have not sufficient for tomorrow. You have the assurance of His promise, "So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." David says, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:3, 25. That God who sent the ravens to feed Elijah by the brook Cherith will not pass by one of His faithful, self-sacrificing children. Of him that walketh righteously it is written: "Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." "They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Isaiah 33:16; Psalm 37:19; Romans 8:32. He who lightened the cares and anxieties of His widowed mother and helped her to provide for the household at Nazareth, sympathizes with every mother in her struggle to provide her children food. He who had compassion on the multitude because they "fainted, and were scattered abroad" (Matthew 9:36), still has compassion on the suffering poor. His hand is stretched out toward them in blessing; and in the very prayer which He gave His disciples, He teaches us to remember the poor.
When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we ask for others as well as ourselves. And we acknowledge that what God gives us is not for ourselves alone. God gives to us in trust, that we may feed the hungry. Of His goodness He has prepared for the poor. Psalm 68:10. And He says, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors. . . . But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:12-14.
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." 2 Corinthians 9:8, 6.
The prayer for daily bread includes not only food to sustain the body, but that spiritual bread which will nourish the soul unto life everlasting. Jesus bids us, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." John 6:27. He says, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever." Verse 51. Our Saviour is the bread of life, and it is by beholding His love, by receiving it into the soul, that we feed upon the bread which came down from heaven.
We receive Christ through His word, and the Holy Spirit is given to open the word of God to our understanding, and bring home its truths to our hearts. We are to pray day by day that as we read His word, God will send His Spirit to reveal to us the truth that will strengthen our souls for the day's need.
In teaching us to ask every day for what we need--both temporal and spiritual blessings--God has a purpose to accomplish for our good. He would have us realize our dependence upon His constant care, for He is seeking to draw us into communion with Himself. In this communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of the great and precious truths of His word, we shall as hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the fountain of life.

~ Thougths From the Mount of Blessing Page 110

The Lord's Prayer 5/9

2009-07-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

"Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven." Matthew 6:10.

The will of God is expressed in the precepts of His holy law, and the principles of this law are the principles of heaven. The angels of heaven attain unto no higher knowledge than to know the will of God, and to do His will is the highest service that can engage their powers.
But in heaven, service is not rendered in the spirit of legality. When Satan rebelled against the law of Jehovah, the thought that there was a law came to the angels almost as an awakening to something unthought of. In their ministry the angels are not as servants, but as sons. There is perfect unity between them and their Creator. Obedience is to them no drudgery. Love for God makes their service a joy. So in every soul wherein Christ, the hope of glory, dwells, His words are re-echoed, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart." Psalm 40:8.
The petition, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," is a prayer that the reign of evil on this earth may be ended, that sin may be forever destroyed, and the kingdom of righteousness be established. Then in earth as in heaven will be fulfilled "all the good pleasure of His goodness." 2 Thessalonians 1:11.

~ Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing Page 110. pg 1

God’s Message

2009-07-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

When you say, “I can’t solve this…”
God tells you, “I will direct thy path.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When you say, “it is impossible…”
God tells you, “everything is possible.” Luke 18:27

When you say, “I feel all alone…”
God tells you, “never will I leave you: never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

When you say, “I can’t do it…”
God tells you, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13

When you say, “I don’t deserve forgiveness…”
God tells you, “I have forgiven you.” 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1

When you say, “I am afraid…”
God tells you, “do not fear, for I am with you, I will strengthen you and help you.”
Isaiah 40:10

When you say, “I am tired…”
God tells you, “come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
Matthew
11:28-30

When you say, “no one really loves me…”
God tells you, “ I Love You!” John 3:16, John 13:34

When you say, “ I don’t know how to go on…”
God tells you, “I will show you the path.”

When you say, “what path dose God have for me?”
God tells you, “My Beloved Son Jesus Christ.”
1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:12, John 3:16

And when you and t to know everything else God has for you…
Read the Bible! 2 Timothy 3:15-17

A Thousand Ways

2009-07-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

"Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet."

~ The Ministry of Healing, page. 481.

The Lord's Prayer 4/9

2009-07-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

"Thy kingdom come." Matthew 6:10.

God is our Father, who loves and cares for us as His children; He is also the great King of the universe. The interests of His kingdom are our interests, and we are to work for its upbuilding.
The disciples of Christ were looking for the immediate coming of the kingdom of His glory, but in giving them this prayer Jesus taught that the kingdom was not then to be established. They were to pray for its coming as an event yet future. But this petition was also an assurance to them. While they were not to behold the coming of the kingdom in their day, the fact that Jesus bade them pray for it is evidence that in God's own time it will surely come.
The kingdom of God's grace is now being established, as day by day hearts that have been full of sin and rebellion yield to the sovereignty of His love. But the full establishment of the kingdom of His glory will not take place until the second coming of Christ to this world. "The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven," is to be given to "the people of the saints of the Most High." Daniel 7:27. They shall inherit the kingdom prepared for them "from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34. And Christ will take to Himself His great power and will reign.
The heavenly gates are again to be lifted up, and with ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy ones, our Saviour will come forth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jehovah Immanuel "shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one." "The tabernacle of God" shall be with men, "and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 21:3.
But before that coming, Jesus said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." Matthew 24:14. His kingdom will not come until the good tidings of His grace have been carried to all the earth. Hence, as we give ourselves to God, and win other souls to Him, we hasten the coming of His kingdom. Only those who devote themselves to His service, saying, "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8), to open blind eyes, to turn men "from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified" (Acts 26:18)--they alone pray in sincerity, "Thy kingdom come."

~ Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing Page 108 pg 3

The Lord's Prayer 3/9

2009-07-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

"Hallowed be Thy name." Matthew 6:9.

To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. "Holy and reverend is His name." Psalm 111:9. We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe. The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker!
But to hallow the name of the Lord means much more than this. We may, like the Jews in Christ's day, manifest the greatest outward reverence for God, and yet profane His name continually. "The name of the Lord" is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, . . . forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." Exodus 34:5-7. Of the church of Christ it is written, "This is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." Jeremiah 33:16. This name is put upon every follower of Christ. It is the heritage of the child of God. The family are called after the Father. The prophet Jeremiah, in the time of Israel's sore distress and tribulation, prayed, "We are called by Thy name; leave us not." Jeremiah 14:9.
This name is hallowed by the angels of heaven, by the inhabitants of unfallen worlds. When you pray, "Hallowed be Thy name," you ask that it may be hallowed in this world, hallowed in you. God has acknowledged you before men and angels as His child; pray that you may do no dishonor to the "worthy name by which ye are called." James 2:7. God sends you into the world as His representative. In every act of life you are to make manifest the name of God. This petition calls upon you to possess His character. You cannot hallow His name, you cannot represent Him to the world, unless in life and character you represent the very life and character of God. This you can do only through the acceptance of the grace and righteousness of Christ.
~ Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings page 107

The Lord's Prayer 2/9

2009-07-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

"When ye pray, say Our Father."
Luke 11:2.

Jesus teaches us to call His Father our Father. He is not ashamed to call us brethren. Hebrews 2:11. So ready, so eager, is the Saviour's heart to welcome us as members of the family of God, that in the very first words we are to use in approaching God He places the assurance of our divine relationship, "Our Father."
Here is the announcement of that wonderful truth, so full of encouragement and comfort, that God loves us as He loves His Son. This is what Jesus said in His last prayer for His disciples, Thou "hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me." John 17:23.
The world that Satan has claimed and has ruled over with cruel tyranny, the Son of God has, by one vast achievement, encircled in His love and connected again with the throne of Jehovah. Cherubim and seraphim, and the unnumbered hosts of all the unfallen worlds, sang anthems of praise to God and the Lamb when this triumph was assured. They rejoiced that the way of salvation had been opened to the fallen race and that the earth would be redeemed from the curse of sin. How much more should those rejoice who are the objects of such amazing love!
How can we ever be in doubt and uncertainty, and feel that we are orphans? It was in behalf of those who had transgressed the law that Jesus took upon Him human nature; He became like unto us, that we might have everlasting peace and assurance. We have an Advocate in the heavens, and whoever accepts Him as a personal Saviour is not left an orphan to bear the burden of his own sins.
"Beloved, now are we the sons 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." "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." 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:17.
The very first step in approaching God is to know and believe the love that He has to us (1 John 4:16); for it is through the drawing of His love that we are led to come to Him.
The perception of God's love works the renunciation of selfishness. In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our brethren. We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one family. In our petitions we are to include our neighbors as well as ourselves. No one prays aright who seeks a blessing for himself alone.
The infinite God, said Jesus, makes it your privilege to approach Him by the name of Father. Understand all that this implies. No earthly parent ever pleaded so earnestly with an erring child as He who made you pleads with the transgressor. No human, loving interest ever followed the impenitent with such tender invitations. God dwells in every abode; He hears every word that is spoken, listens to every prayer that is offered, tastes the sorrows and disappointments of every soul, regards the treatment that is given to father, mother, sister, friend, and neighbor. He cares for our necessities, and His love and mercy and grace are continually flowing to satisfy our need.
But if you call God your Father you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father and to every member of His family. You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred.
"Which art in heaven." He to whom Christ bids us look as "our Father" "is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased." In His care we may safely rest, saying, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." Psalms 115:3; 56:3.

~Thougts From the Mount of Blessing page 103

The Lord's Prayer 1/9

2009-07-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

"After this manner therefore pray ye."
Matthew 6:9.

The Lord's Prayer was twice given by our Saviour, first to the multitude in the Sermon on the Mount, and again, some months later, to the disciples alone. The disciples had been for a short time absent from their Lord, when on their return they found Him absorbed in communion with God. Seeming unconscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud. The Saviour's face was irradiated with a celestial brightness. He seemed to be in the very presence of the Unseen, and there was a living power in His words as of one who spoke with God. {MB 102.1}
The hearts of the listening disciples were deeply moved. They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father. His days were passed in ministry to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the treacherous sophistry of the rabbis, and this incessant labor often left Him so utterly wearied that His mother and brothers, and even His disciples, had feared that His life would be sacrificed. But as He returned from the hours of prayer that closed the toilsome day, they marked the look of peace upon His face, the sense of refreshment that seemed to pervade His presence. It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works. Now, as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled. As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they exclaimed, "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1.
Jesus gives them no new form of prayer. That which He has before taught them He repeats, as if He would say, You need to understand what I have already given. It has a depth of meaning you have not yet fathomed.
The Saviour does not, however, restrict us to the use of these exact words. As one with humanity, He presents His own ideal of prayer, words so simple that they may be adopted by the little child, yet so comprehensive that their significance can never be fully grasped by the greatest minds. We are taught to come to God with our tribute of thanksgiving, to make known our wants, to confess our sins, and to claim His mercy in accordance with His promise.

God Said No........

2009-07-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

I asked God to take away my habit.

God said, No.
It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.

God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

God said, No Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No.
I give you blessings;
Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.

God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from
worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said, No
You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things
that I might enjoy life.

God said, No.
I will give you life,
so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.

God said.... Ahhhh,
finally you have the idea.

THIS DAY IS YOURS
DON'T THROW IT AWAY

Now is the Time

2009-06-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

Now is the Time to have extream faith. Lets do what God has instructed us to do and get His message to all the ends of the earth for He is coming, He is on His way to take His people home.

Service for God

2009-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come,--the end of suffering and sorrow and sin! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where "the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever"; where "the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick," and "the voice of weeping shall be no more heard."

"Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students," page. 555.
Messages to Young people page 196

Faith and Prayer

2009-04-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Through faith in Christ, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed.
"Ye are complete in Him."
Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his life work a success must understand. Christ says, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God's will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal.
For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.
We need look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realized when we need it most.

Education page, 257, 258.
Messages to Young People page 252

Search the Scriptures for Yourself

2009-04-20T14:01:00.001-07:00

Young men should search the Scriptures for themselves. They are not to feel that it is sufficient for those older in experience to find out the truth; that the younger ones can accept it from them as authority. The Jews perished as a nation because they were drawn from the truth of the Bible by their rulers, priests, and elders. Had they heeded the lessons of Jesus, and searched the Scriptures for themselves, they would not have perished. . . .
It is impossible for any mind to comprehend all the richness and greatness of even one promise of God. One catches the glory of one point of view, another the beauty and grace from another point, and the soul is filled with the heavenly light. If we saw all the glory, the spirit would faint. But we can bear far greater revelations from God's abundant promises than we now enjoy. It makes my heart sad to think how we lose sight of the fullness of blessing designed for us. We content ourselves with momentary flashes of spiritual illumination, when we might walk day by day in the light of His presence.

"Testimonies to Ministers," page. 109, 111.
Messages to Young People 258

The Choice of Companions

2009-04-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

We should choose the society most favorable to our spiritual advancement, and avail ourselves of every help within our reach; for Satan will oppose many hindrances to make our progress toward heaven as difficult as possible. We may be placed in trying positions, for many cannot have their surroundings what they would; but we should not voluntarily expose ourselves to influences that are unfavorable to the formation of Christian character. When duty calls us to do this, we should be doubly watchful and prayerful, that, through the grace of Christ, we may stand uncorrupted.
Lot chose Sodom as a place of residence because he looked more to the temporal advantages he would gain than to the moral influences that would surround himself and his family. What did he gain so far as the things of this world are concerned? His possessions were destroyed, part of his children perished in the destruction of that wicked city, his wife was turned to a pillar of salt by the way, and he himself was saved "so as by fire." Nor did the evil results of his selfish choice end here; but the moral corruption of the place was so interwoven with the character of his children that they could not distinguish between good and evil, sin and righteousness.

The Signs of the Times, May 29, 1884.
Messages to Young People page 419

The Golden Rule

2009-04-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

In your association with others, put yourself in their place. Enter into their feelings, their difficulties, their disappointments, their joys, and their sorrows. Identify yourself with them, and then do to them as, were you to exchange places with them, you would wish them to deal with you. This is the true rule of honesty. It is another expression of the law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." And it is the substance of the teaching of the prophets. It is a principle of heaven, and will be developed in all who are fitted for its holy companionship.
The golden rule is the principle of true courtesy, and its truest illustration is seen in the life and character of Jesus. Oh, what rays of softness and beauty shone forth in the daily life of our Saviour! What sweetness flowed from His very presence! The same spirit will be revealed in His children. Those with whom Christ dwells will be surrounded with a divine atmosphere. Their white robes of purity will be fragrant with perfume from the garden of the Lord. Their faces will reflect light from His, brightening the path for stumbling and weary feet.
No man who has the true ideal of what constitutes a perfect character will fail to manifest the sympathy and tenderness of Christ. The influence of grace is to soften the heart, to refine and purify the feelings, giving a heaven-born delicacy and sense of propriety.

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page. 192, 193.
Messages to Young People page 420, pg 3

"Ye are the salt of the earth."

2009-03-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

"Ye are the salt of the earth."
Matthew 5:13.

Salt is valued for its preservative properties; and when God calls His children salt, He would teach them that His purpose in making them the subjects of His grace is that they may become agents in saving others. The object of God in choosing a people before all the world was not only that He might adopt them as His sons and daughters, but that through them the world might receive the grace that bringeth salvation. Titus 2:11. When the Lord chose Abraham, it was not simply to be the special friend of God, but to be a medium of the peculiar privileges the Lord desired to bestow upon the nations. Jesus, in that last prayer with His disciples before His crucifixion, said, "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:19. In like manner Christians who are purified through the truth will possess saving qualities that preserve the world from utter moral corruption.
Salt must be mingled with the substance to which it is added; it must penetrate and infuse in order to preserve. So it is through personal contact and association that men are reached by the saving power of the gospel. They are not saved in masses, but as individuals. Personal influence is a power. We must come close to those whom we desire to benefit.

The savor of the salt represents the vital power of the Christian--the love of Jesus in the heart, the righteousness of Christ pervading the life. The love of Christ is diffusive and aggressive. If it is dwelling in us, it will flow out to others. We shall come close to them till their hearts are warmed by our unselfish interest and love. The sincere believers diffuse vital energy, which is penetrating and imparts new moral power to the souls for whom they labor. It is not the power of the man himself, but the power of the Holy Spirit that does the transforming work.
Jesus added the solemn warning: "If the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of men."
As they listened to the words of Christ, the people could see the white salt glistening in the pathways where it had been cast out because it had lost its savor and was therefore useless. It well represented the condition of the Pharisees and the effect of their religion upon society. It represents the life of every soul from whom the power of the grace of God has departed and who has become cold and Christless. Whatever may be his profession, such a one is looked upon by men and angels as insipid and disagreeable. It is to such that Christ say: "I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth." Revelation 3:15, 16.
Without a living faith in Christ as a personal Saviour it is impossible to make our influence felt in a skeptical world. We cannot give to others that which we do not ourselves possess. It is in proportion to our own devotion and consecration to Christ that we exert an influence for the blessing and uplifting of mankind. If there is no actual service, no genuine love, no reality of experience, there is no power to help, no connection with heaven, no savor of Christ in the life. Unless the Holy Spirit can use us as agents through whom to communicate to the world the truth as it is in Jesus, we are as salt that has lost its savor and is entirely worthless. By our lack of the grace of Christ we testify to the world that the truth which we claim to believe has no sanctifying power; and thus, so far as our influence goes, we make of no effect the word of God. "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, A.R.V.
When love fills the heart, it will flow out to others, not because of favors received from them, but because love is the principle of action. Love modifies the character, governs the impulses, subdues enmity, and ennobles the affections. This love is as broad as the universe, and is in harmony with that of the angel workers. Cherished in the heart, it sweetens the entire life and sheds its blessing upon all around. It is this, and this only, that can make us the salt of the earth.

Thoughts From The Mount of Blessing Page 35 Pg 2

He Supplies Our Needs

2009-03-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matt. 6:25, RSV.

He who has given you life knows your need of food to sustain it. He who created the body is not unmindful of your need of raiment. Will not He who has bestowed the greater gift bestow also what is needed to make it complete? {LHU 73.2}
Jesus pointed His hearers to the birds as they warbled their carols of praise, unencumbered with thoughts of care, for "they sow not, neither do they reap"; and yet the great Father provides for their needs. And He asks, "Are not ye of much more value than they?"
"No sparrow falls without His care,
No soul bows low but Jesus knows;
For He is with us everywhere,
And marks each bitter tear that flows.
And He will never, never, never
Forsake the soul that trusts Him ever." . . .

God's law is the law of love. He has surrounded you with beauty to teach you that you are not placed on earth merely to delve for self, to dig and build, to toil and spin, but to make life bright and joyous and beautiful with the love of Christ--like the flowers, to gladden other lives by the ministry of love.
Fathers and mothers, let your children learn from the flowers. Take them with you into garden and field and under the leafy trees, and teach them to read in nature the message of God's love. Let the thoughts of Him be linked with bird and flower and tree. Lead the children to see in every pleasant and beautiful thing an expression of God's love for them. Recommend your religion to them by its pleasantness. Let the law of kindness be in your lips.
Teach the children that because of God's great love their natures may be changed and brought into harmony with His. Teach them that He would have their lives beautiful with the graces of the flowers. Teach them, as they gather the sweet blossoms, that He who made the flowers is more beautiful than they. Thus the tendrils of their hearts will be entwined about Him. He who is "altogether lovely" will become to them as a daily companion and familiar friend, and their lives will be transformed into the image of His purity (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 95-98).
[God] would adorn our characters with His own rich graces. He would have our words as fragrant as the flowers of the field (Review and Herald, May 19, 1896).

Lift Him Up Page 73 Pg 7

Totally Dependent Upon the Creator

2009-03-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

For in him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28.

"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." Here the conditions are plainly stated by Jesus Christ, the Sinbearer. When you deliberately decide to go contrary to the word spoken by Jesus Christ, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," how can you expect to be religiously inclined?
To enlarge our views of His condescension and beneficence, He presents the picture of the judgment--the separation of the just and the unjust--and shows us He identifies His interests with suffering humanity. He is teaching in the open field where the eye can take in the beauties of nature and the creatures of God's creation. "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap . . . : how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?" (Luke 12:24-26).

Here is presented definitely that man is dependent upon God for every breath he draws. The beating heart, the throbbing pulse, every nerve and muscle in the living organism, are kept in order and activity by the power of an infinite God. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:28-33).
Here Christ leads the mind abroad to contemplate the open fields of nature, and His power touches the eye and the senses, to discern the wonderful works of divine power. He directs attention first to nature, then up through nature to nature's God, who upholds the worlds by His power. He points to the opening bud. . . . He watches over little birds. Not a sparrow falleth to the ground without the notice of your heavenly Father. . . .
Christ represents the divine attention given upon [various elements of] His creation that seem so insignificant, and to the objects of nature which His own hands have created. Every lofty tree, every shrub, every blooming flower, the lily of the field, and the earth clothed with its garment of living green are kept in order and occupy their time and season to bear testimony that God loves man (manuscript 73, 1893).

Life Him Up Page 71 Pg 6

The Power of the Blood of Christ

2009-02-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

"...Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner's place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me. Does Satan plead loudly against our souls, accusing of sin, and claiming us as his prey, the blood of Christ pleads with greater power."

Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing Page 8,Pg 2

Footprints in the Sand

2009-02-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."

Yielding to the Master Potter

2009-02-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

But now, 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.

While the human agent is devising and planning for himself something that God has withheld him from doing, he has a hard time. He complains and frets, and has still increased difficulties. But when he submits to be as clay in the hands of the potter, then God works the man into a vessel of honor. The clay submits to be worked. If God had His way, hundreds would be worked and made into vessels as He sees best.
Let the hand of God work the clay for His own service. He knows just what kind of vessel He wants. To every man He has given his work. God knows what place he is best fitted for. Many are working contrary to the will of God, and they spoil the web. The Lord wants everyone to be submissive under His divine guidance. He will place men where they will submit to be worked into oneness with Christ, bearing His divine similitude. If self will submit to be worked, if you will cooperate with God, if you will pray in unity, work in unity, all taking your place as threads in the web of life, you will grow into a beautiful fabric that will rejoice the universe of God.

The Potter cannot mold and fashion unto honor that which has never been placed in His hands. The Christian life is one of daily surrender, submission, and continual overcoming. Every day fresh victories will be gained. Self must be lost sight of, and the love of God must be constantly cultivated. Thus we grow up into Christ. Thus the life is fashioned according to the divine model.
Every child of God is to do his very best to uplift the standard of truth. He is to work in God's order. If self is exalted, Christ is not magnified. In His Word God compares Himself to a potter, and His people to the clay. His work is to mold and fashion them after His own similitude. The lesson they are to learn is the lesson of submission. Self is not to be made prominent. If due attention is given to the divine instruction, if self is surrendered to the divine will, the hand of the Potter will produce a shapely vessel (The SDA Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White Comments, vol. 4, p. 1154).
The potter takes the clay in his hands and molds and fashions it according to his own will. He kneads it and works it. He tears it apart and then presses it together. . . . Thus it becomes a vessel fit for use. So the great Master Worker desires to mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the potters, so are we to be in His hands. We are not to try to do the work of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to the molding of the Master Worker (Testimonies, vol. 8, pp. 186, 187).

Lift Him Up Page 65

Joseph Honored the Creator

2009-02-19T17:24:00.000-08:00

The king . . . made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to discipline his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. Ps. 105:20-22, NIV. {LHU 63.1}

From the dungeon Joseph was exalted to be ruler over all the land of Egypt. It was a position of high honor, yet it was beset with difficulty and peril. One cannot stand upon a lofty height without danger. As the tempest leaves unharmed the lowly flower of the valley, while it uproots the stately tree upon the mountaintop, so those who have maintained their integrity in humble life may be dragged down to the pit by the temptations that assail worldly success and honor. But Joseph's character bore the test alike of adversity and prosperity. The same fidelity to God was manifest when he stood in the palace of the Pharaohs as when in a prisoner's cell. He was still a stranger in a heathen land, separated from his kindred, the worshipers of God; but he fully believed that the divine hand had directed his steps, and in constant reliance upon God he faithfully discharged the duties of his position. . . . {LHU 63.2}
In his early years he had consulted duty rather than inclination; and the integrity, the simple trust, the noble nature, of the youth bore fruit in the deeds of the man. A pure and simple life had favored the vigorous development of both physical and intellectual powers. Communion with God through His works and the contemplation of the grand truths entrusted to the inheritors of faith had elevated and ennobled his spiritual nature, broadening and strengthening the mind as no other study could do. Faithful attention to duty in every station, from the lowliest to the most exalted, had been training every power for its highest service. He who lives in accordance with the Creator's will is securing to himself the truest and noblest development of character. . . . {LHU 63.3}
There are few who realize the influence of the little things of life upon the development of character. Nothing with which we have to do is really small. The varied circumstances that we meet day by day are designed to test our faithfulness and to qualify us for greater trusts. By adherence to principle in the transactions of ordinary life, the mind becomes accustomed to hold the claims of duty above those of pleasure and inclination (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 222, 223). {LHU 63.4}
As a shield from temptation and an inspiration to purity and truth, no other influence can equal the sense of God's presence. "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." He is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." This thought was Joseph's shield amidst the corruptions of Egypt. To the allurements of temptation his answer was steadfast: "How . . . can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Such a shield, faith, if cherished, will bring to every soul (Education, p. 255).

Lift Him Up Page 63

Heartprints

2009-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Whatever our hands touch-
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books.
There's no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.

Oh God, wherever I go today
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.
Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Lord, send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say
"I felt your touch,"
May that one sense YOUR LOVE
Touching through ME.

The Joy of the Lord

2009-01-27T10:34:00.000-08:00

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far, far from the gates of gold--
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer: "One of Mine
Has wandered away from Me,
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."

But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed
through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Far out in the desert He heard its cry--
Fainting and helpless, and ready to die.

"Lord, whence are these blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray,
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, why are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They were pierced tonight by many a thorn."

But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There rose a cry to the gate of heaven,
"Rejoice, I have found My sheep!"
And the angels sang around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
--Elizabeth C. Clephane.

I read this poem in the book "Ministry of Healing" it is found on page 505.

Whiter than Snow

2009-01-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 KJV

The first snow is always the prettiest. And as I was watching the first heavy snow fall, the thought came to my mind "what a wonderful way to start the new year, with a beautiful perfect white, covering the earth." It reminded me of this verse, and what a wonderful Savior we serve. He has washed our sin's away and has made us "as white as snow".

Psalms 91

2009-01-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him

King James Version

"Faithful in That Which Is Least"

2009-01-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10.

The active service of God is directly connected with the ordinary
duties of life, even its humblest occupations. We are to serve God just
where He puts us. He is to place us individually, and not we ourselves.
Perhaps service in the home life is the place we are to occupy for a time,
if not always. Then a preparation for that work should be obtained, that we
may do our best in service for the Lord.

The Lord is testing and proving us to see what sort of timbers, or
attributes, we are bringing into the character building. If we are listless
and indifferent, negligent and careless, in the small, everyday duties we
shall never be fitted for any other service for God. . . . He that is
unfaithful in that which is least would certainly repeat this unfaithfulness
if placed in higher positions of trust and given larger responsibilities. .
. . The service of God will be done in a haphazard manner. . . .

The importance of little things is underrated just because they are
small, but the influence of the little things for good or evil is great.
They supply much of the actual discipline of life for every human being.
They are part of the training of the soul in the sanctification of all our
entrusted talents to God. Faithfulness in the little things in the line of
duty makes the worker in God's service reflect more and more the likeness of
Christ.

Our Saviour is a Saviour for the perfection of the whole man. He is not
the God of part of the being only. The grace of Christ works to the
disciplining of the whole human fabric. He made all. He has redeemed all. He
has made the mind, the strength, the body as well as the soul, partaker of
the divine nature, and all is His purchased possession. He must be served
with the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. Then the Lord will be
glorified in His saints in even the common, temporal things with which they
are connected. "Holiness unto the Lord" will be the inscription placed upon
them.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 331

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. 90:12.
Another year of life is now in the past. A new year is opening before us. What will be its record? What will we each inscribe upon its spotless pages? The manner in which we spend each passing day will decide this question. . . .

Let us enter upon the new year with our hearts cleansed from the defilement of selfishness and pride. Let us put away every sinful indulgence, and seek to become faithful, diligent learners in the school of Christ. A new year opens its unsullied pages before us. What shall we write upon them? ...
Seek to begin this year with right purposes and pure motives, as beings who are accountable to God. Ever bear in mind that your acts are daily passing into history by the pen of the recording angel. You must meet them again when the Judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened....
If we connect with God, the source of peace, and light, and truth, His Spirit will flow through us as a channel, to refresh and bless all around us. This may be the last year of life to us. Shall we not enter upon it with thoughtful consideration? Shall not sincerity, respect, benevolence, mark our deportment toward all?
Let us withhold nothing from Him who gave His precious life for us. . . . Let us all consecrate to God the property He has entrusted to us. Above all, let us give Him ourselves, a freewill offering.
May the beginning of this year be a time that shall never be forgotten--a time when Christ shall come in among us, and say, "Peace be unto you." John 20:19. Brethren and sisters, I wish you, one and all, a happy new year.
"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." Our High Calling page 7

Eternity Before Us

2008-12-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth
before God. Ps. 84:7.

All heaven has been looking with intense interest upon those who claim
to be God's commandment-keeping people. Here are the people who ought to be
able to claim all the rich promises of God, who ought to be going on from
glory to glory and from strength to strength, who ought to be in a position
to reflect glory to God in the works that they do. . . .

We have received the rich blessing of God, but we must not stop here.
We are to catch more and more the divine rays of light from heaven. We are
to stand just where we can receive the light and reflect it, in its glory,
upon the pathway of others. . . .

We need to drink deeper and deeper of the fountain of life. . . . You
may have a living testimony to bear: "Hear what the Lord has done for my
soul." The Lord is ready to impart still greater blessings. He permitted all
His goodness to pass before Moses. He proclaimed His character to him as a
God full of mercy--long-suffering and gracious, forgiving iniquity,
transgression, and sin. Moses was to represent this character to the people
of Israel, and we are to do the same. We are to go forth to proclaim the
goodness of God and to make plain His real character before the people. We
are to reflect His glory. . . . Let us declare the character of God to the
people as Moses did to Israel, both in spirit and life. We are to catch the
light of His countenance, full of compassion and love, and reflect it to
perishing souls.

I beseech you to keep reaching out after God, to keep drinking of the
fountain of living water. You may be as a tree planted by the rivers of
waters, whose leaf does not wither. You may be full of moisture, and may be
able to refresh others, and to give them grace and comfort. I love Jesus
now, and I want to know more and more of Him. I have only begun to know Him,
but there is an eternity before us in which there will be revealings of His
glory, and we shall become better and better acquainted with our divine
Lord.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 370

Watch! Watch! Watch!

2008-12-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house
cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say
unto all, Watch. Mark 13:35-37.

It is a time now when we cannot for a moment take the spiritual eye
from Christ Jesus. His admonition to us is, "What I say unto you I say unto
all, Watch." Is there one professed Christian who needs not the warning, and
whose heart will not bear watching? The heart must be kept with all
diligence, under constant watchfulness. . . .

Watch the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and
natural inclinations lest they exert themselves; force them back, and watch;
force them back if need be a hundred times. Watch the thoughts, watch the
plans, lest they become selfish and self-centered. Watch and pray, lest ye
enter into temptation. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with
His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good.

Like Mary, we need to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn of Him, having
chosen that better part which will never be taken from us. Like Martha we
need to be ever abounding in the work of the Lord. The higher Christian
attainments can be reached only by being much on our knees in sincere
prayer. . . . One fiber of the root of selfishness remaining in the soul
will spring up when least expected, and thereby will many be defiled.

We are in an enemy's country. He who was cast out of heaven has come
down with great power. With every conceivable artifice and device he is
seeking to take souls captive. Unless we are constantly on guard we shall
fall an easy prey to his unnumbered deceptions.

We are stewards, entrusted by our absent Lord with the care of His
household and His interests, which He came to this world to serve. He has
returned to heaven, leaving us in charge, and He expects us to watch and
wait and prepare for His coming. Let us be faithful to our trust, lest
coming suddenly He find us sleeping.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 351

Robed in His Perfection

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And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we
may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John
2:28.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not in their sins but from
their sins, and to sanctify them through the truth; and in order that He may
become a perfect Saviour to us, we must enter into union with Him by a
personal act of faith. Christ has chosen us, we have chosen Him, and by this
choice we become united to Him and are to live from henceforth, not unto
ourselves, but unto Him who has died for us. But this union can only be
preserved by constant watchfulness, lest we fall into temptation and make a
different choice, for we are free always to take another master if we so
desire. Union with Christ means an unfailing preference for Him in every act
and thought. . . .

We are to consider ourselves as constituting the family of Christ, and
we are to follow Him as dear children. Adopted into the household of God,
shall we not honor our Father and our kindred? . . .

We must establish an unyielding enmity between our souls and our foe,
but we must open our hearts to the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.
We want Satan's darkness to be shut out and the light of Heaven to flow in.
We want to become so sensitive to holy influences that the lightest whisper
of Jesus will move our souls. . . . Then we shall delight to do the will of
God, and Christ can own us before the Father and before the holy angels as
those who abide in Him. . . .

But we shall not boast of our holiness. As we have clearer views of
Christ's spotless and infinite purity we shall feel as did Daniel when he
beheld the glory of the Lord and said, "My comeliness was turned in me into
corruption" (Dan. 10:8). We cannot say, "I am sinless" till this vile body
is changed and fashioned like unto His glorious body. But if we constantly
seek to follow Jesus, the blessed hope is ours of standing before the throne
of God without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, complete in Christ,
robed in His righteousness and perfection.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 361

Are You BUSY?

2008-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Even if you are busy, please take time to watch this.

THIS IS FOR REAL!!!!!!!

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said,
"We can't keep Christians from going to church."
"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."
"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their
Savior."
"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is
broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish
dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a
relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that
vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable
schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from
the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small
voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive." To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes,
and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives."

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too!"

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to
look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the
real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and
power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."
"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation.
Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and
small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. "

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek
power from Jesus."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health
and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"
"It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
Having little time for their God or their families.
Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean:
B eing U nder S atan's Y oke ?

Please stay near God and don't let and of the things of this world stop you from spending your time with the Lord, spreading the "Three Angels Messages", and receiving your crown in heaven.

Mark of the Beast

2008-12-16T17:20:00.000-08:00

In a view given June 27, 1850, my accompanying angel said, "Time is almost finished. Do you reflect the lovely image of Jesus as you should?" Then I was pointed to the earth and saw that there would have to be a getting ready among those who have of late embraced the third angel's message. Said the angel, "Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died." I saw that there was a great work to do for them and but little time in which to do it. {EW 64.1}
Then I saw that the seven last plagues were soon to be poured out upon those who have no shelter; yet the world regarded them no more than they would so many drops of water that were about to fall. I was then made capable of enduring the awful sight of the seven last plagues, the wrath of God. I saw that His anger was dreadful and terrible, and if He should stretch forth His hand, or lift it in anger, the inhabitants of the world would be as though they had never been, or would suffer from incurable sores and withering
65
plagues that would come upon them, and they would find no deliverance, but be destroyed by them. Terror seized me, and I fell upon my face before the angel and begged of him to cause the sight to be removed, to hide it from me, for it was too dreadful. Then I realized, as never before, the importance of searching the Word of God carefully, to know how to escape the plagues which that Word declares shall come on all the ungodly who shall worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in their foreheads or in their hands. It was a great wonder for me that any could transgress the law of God and tread down His holy Sabbath, when such awful threatenings and denunciations were against them. {EW 64.2}

The pope has changed the day of rest from the seventh to the first day. He has thought to change the very commandment that was given to cause man to remember his Creator. He has thought to change the greatest commandment in the decalogue and thus make himself equal with God, or even exalt himself above God. The Lord is unchangeable, therefore His law is immutable; but the pope has exalted himself above God, in seeking to change His immutable precepts of holiness, justice, and goodness. He has trampled underfoot God's sanctified day, and, on his own authority, put in its place one of the six laboring days. The whole nation has followed after the beast, and every week they rob God of His holy time. The pope has made a breach in the holy law of God, but I saw that the time had fully come for this breach to be made up by the people of God and the waste places built up. {EW 65.1}
I pleaded before the angel for God to save His people who had gone astray, to save them for His mercy's sake. When the plagues begin to fall, those who continue to break the holy Sabbath will not open their mouths to plead those excuses that they now mato get rid of keeping it. Their mouths will be closed while the plagues are falling, and the great Lawgiver is requiring justice of those who have had His holy law in derision and have called it "a curse to man," "miserable," and "rickety." When such feel the iron grasp of this law taking hold of them, these expressions will appear before them in living characters, and they will then realize the sin of having that law in derision which the Word of God calls "holy, just, and good." {EW 65.2}
Then I was pointed to the glory of heaven, to the treasure laid up for the faithful. Everything was lovely and glorious. The angels would sing a lovely song, then they would cease singing and take their crowns from their heads and cast them glittering at the feet of the lovely Jesus, and with melodious voices cry, "Glory, Alleluia!" I joined with them in their songs of praise and honor to the Lamb, and every time I opened my mouth to praise Him, I felt an unutterable sense of the glory that surrounded me. It was a far more, an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Said the angel, "The little remnant who love God and keep His commandments and are faithful to the end will enjoy this glory and ever be in the presence of Jesus and sing with the holy angels." {EW 66.1}
Then my eyes were taken from the glory, and I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them, "Will ye shun the seven last plagues? Will ye go to glory and enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him and are willing to suffer for His sake? If so, ye must die that ye may live. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have, for the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar--self,property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory. Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach or rust corrupt. Ye must be partakers of Christ's sufferings here if ye would be partakers with Him of His glory hereafter." {EW 66.2}
Heaven will be cheap enough, if we obtain it through suffering. We must deny self all along the way, die to self daily, let Jesus alone appear, and keep His glory continually in view. I saw that those who of late have embraced the truth would have to know what it is to suffer for Christ's sake, that they would have trials to pass through that would be keen and cutting, in order that they may be purified and fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, pass through the time of trouble, see the King in His beauty, and dwell in the presence of God and of pure, holy angels. {EW 67.1}
As I saw what we must be in order to inherit glory, and then saw how much Jesus had suffered to obtain for us so rich an inheritance, I prayed that we might be baptized into Christ's sufferings, that we might not shrink at trials, but bear them with patience and joy, knowing what Jesus had suffered that we through His poverty and sufferings might be made rich. Said the angel, "Deny self; ye must step fast." Some of us have had time to get the truth and to advance step by step, and every step we have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months. They will also have much to unlearn and much to learn again. Those who would not receive the mark of the beast and his image when the decree goes forth, must have decision now to say, Nay, we will not regard the institution of the beast.

Early Writings page 65-67

Father's Love Letter

2008-12-14T13:59:00.000-08:00

My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-30 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14 I knit you together in your mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect Father. Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalm 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good for you. Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek for me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13 I am able to do for you more than you could imagine. Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father that comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthian 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4 And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son, Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separated you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is… will you be my child? John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love Your Dad
Almighty God

I will not forget You!

2008-12-13T17:44:00.001-08:00

Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.

See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.

Isaiah 49:15,16

Why the Lord Delays

2008-12-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8, 9.

As I have labored since 1843 and 1844 I have felt so thankful that the
Lord has permitted time to last to do more fully the missionary work that
was needing to be done to warn our cities. O our wise heavenly Father made
the infinite sacrifice of His only begotten Son! He gave Him to our world
that the world might, through the merciful provisions made, accept the
Word--Bible truth--and prepare for the great event of His coming. That which
caused the believing church so much sorrow in their disappointment in the
time of His coming has been a reason of thanksgiving for the delay. Now the
angels of God are preparing the way for the truth to reach all nations.

There are thousands in the cities, in the byways and the highways, to
hear the warning message. Are we awake? Do we understand there is a world to
have the warning? The cities are all to be worked diligently. We must arouse
and do a great work. There are many more to hear the last warning message to
a perishing world. We have no time to delay, for Satan is doing his best to
destroy souls.

I now praise God for His long and merciful forbearance. The message has
been carried to many countries. It is a worldwide message. There is most
diligent work to do to warn our cities. We have had opportunity to send the
light to many thousands who have rejoiced in the truth and sacrificed their
time and their means to build up the sanitariums and churches in all parts
of America. Schools have been established and new fields are opening, many
in new countries. The work at times has moved slowly. . . . It is for the
need of the Holy Spirit that many more places are not hearing the last
message of warning. . . . Angels are waiting to fit up converted men and
women to do this work if they will consecrate their whole heart, mind, and
soul to the work. We have no time to lose.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 349

He is Coming Again!

2008-12-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every
man according as his work shall be. Rev. 22:12.

Was Christ a false prophet when He uttered these words? More than
eighteen hundred years have passed since John heard this great truth, and
the Lord has not yet come to reign. But shall we give up looking for His
appearance? Shall we say, "My lord delayeth his coming"?

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying,
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints" (Jude 14). . . .
The doctrine of Christ's coming was made known at this early date to the man
who walked with God in continual communion. The godly character of this
prophet is to represent the state of holiness to which the people of God
must attain who expect to be translated to heaven. . . .

Shall we say we have been deceived in regard to the doctrine of
Christ's near coming? . . . Shall we say that all our work to make ready a
people prepared for His coming has been for nought? Never. . . . "Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; . . . and let us
consider one another to provoke"--unto doubts and unbelief, and apostasy?
No, but "unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, . . . but exhorting one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:23-25).

We must have a knowledge of the Scriptures, that we may trace down the
lines of prophecy and . . . see that the day is approaching, so that with
increased zeal and effort we may exhort one another to faithfulness. . . .
Give up our faith? lose our confidence? become impatient? No, no. We will
not think of such a thing. . . . See how the specifications of the
prophecies have been and are fulfilling. Let us lift up our heads and
rejoice, for our redemption draweth nigh. It is nearer than when we first
believed. Shall we not wait patiently, filled with courage and faith? Shall
we not make ready a people to stand in the day of final reckoning?

>From That I May Know Him - Page 348

Now is the Time to Shine

2008-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee. Isa. 60:1.

We need now to arise and shine, for our light has come, and the glory
of the Lord has risen upon us. We have no time to talk of self, no time to
become like the sensitive plant, that cannot be touched without shrinking.
In Jesus Christ is our sufficiency. Will we talk faith? Will we talk of the
glorious hope, of the full and abundant righteousness of Jesus Christ,
provided for every soul? . . .

The whole heavenly universe is interested, and the love of God is
exercised in behalf of His faithful, commandment-keeping people. It is God
in whom we must trust. . . . God has the world in His hand. We have God on
our side. All heaven is waiting and longing for our cooperation. The Lord is
supreme. Why then should we fear? The Lord is almighty; why should we
tremble? In the past God has delivered His people, and He will be our helper
if we will arise in His strength and go forward.

The Bible and the Bible only is to be our refuge. God is in His Word.
"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." That is
enough for us. "By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;
for he shall bear their iniquities" (Isa. 53:11). If the great and loving
heart of God is satisfied with the result of His mission in the souls saved,
let us rejoice. Let us work as we have never done before. Let us put self
aside and lay hold of Jesus Christ by faith. Let us reveal Him to the world
as the One altogether lovely and the chiefest among ten thousand.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 10).

>From That I May Know Him - Page 342

Sweet Music in Heaven

2008-12-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the
least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt. 25:40.

Christ says to His redeemed people, "Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I
was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I
was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and
ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me" (Matt. 25:34-36). . . .

Prayers, exhortation, and talk are cheap fruits, which are frequently
tied on, but fruits that are manifested in good works, in caring for the
needy, the fatherless, and widows, are genuine fruits, and grow naturally
upon a good tree. . . . When hearts sympathize with hearts burdened with
discouragement and grief, when the hand dispenses to the needy, when the
naked are clothed, the stranger made welcome to a seat at your fireside and
to a place in your heart, angels are coming very near, and an answering
strain is responded to in heaven. Every act, every deed of justice and mercy
and benevolence, makes sweet music ring in heaven. The Father from His
throne beholds and numbers them with His most precious treasures. "And they
shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, when I make up my jewels." ...

Our heavenly Father lays blessings disguised in our pathway, which some
will not touch for fear they will detract from their enjoyment. Angels are
waiting to see if we embrace opportunities within our reach of doing
good--waiting to see if we will bless others, that they in turn may bless
us. The Lord Himself has made us to differ--some poor, some rich, some
afflicted--that all may have an opportunity to develop a character. The poor
are purposely permitted of God to be thus, that we might be tested and
proved, and develop what is in our hearts.

Every merciful act done to the needy, the suffering, is counted as
though it were done to Jesus Himself. When you succor the poor, sympathize
with the afflicted and oppressed, and befriend the orphan, you bring
yourselves into a closer relationship to Jesus.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 335

Christ is Our Message!

2008-11-30T09:48:00.001-08:00

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ,
and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:2.

The burden of our message should be the mission and life of Jesus
Christ. Let there be a dwelling upon the humiliation, self-denial, meekness,
and lowliness of Christ, that proud and selfish hearts may see the
difference between themselves and the Pattern, and may be humbled. . . .

Describe, if human language can, the humiliation of the Son of God, and
think not that you have reached the climax when you see Him exchanging the
throne of light and glory which He had with the Father for humanity. He came
forth from heaven to earth, and while on earth, He bore the curse of God as
surety for the fallen race. He was not obliged to do this. He chose to bear
the wrath of God, which man had incurred.... He chose to endure the cruel
mockings, the deridings, the scourging, and the crucifixion. . . . "He . . .
became obedient unto death," but the manner of His death was an astonishment
to the universe, for it was even the death of the cross.

Christ was not insensible to ignominy and disgrace. He felt it all most
bitterly. He felt it as much more deeply and acutely than we can feel
suffering, as His nature was more exalted and pure and holy than that of the
sinful race for whom He suffered. He was the Majesty of heaven, He was equal
with the Father, He was the Commander of the hosts of angels, yet He died
for man the death that was, above all others, clothed with ignominy and
reproach. O that the haughty hearts of men might realize this! O that they
might enter into the meaning of redemption and seek to learn the meekness
and lowliness of Jesus! ...

The gifts of Him who has all power in heaven and in earth are in store
for the children of God. Gifts so precious that they come to us through the
costly sacrifice of the Redeemer's blood, gifts that will satisfy the
deepest craving of the heart, gifts lasting as eternity, will be received
and enjoyed by all who will come to God as little children.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 339

Trading on God's Gifts

2008-11-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his
journey. Matt. 25:15.

The parable of the talents ... has a personal and individual
application to every man, woman, and child possessed of the powers of
reason. Your obligation and responsibility are in proportion to the talents
God has bestowed upon you. . . .

When the master of the house called his servants, he gave to every man
his work. The whole family of God are included in the responsibility of
using their Lord's goods. Every individual, from the lowliest and most
obscure to the greatest and most exalted, is a moral agent endowed with
abilities for which he is accountable to God. . . . The spiritual, mental,
and physical ability, the influence, station, possessions, affections,
sympathies, all are precious talents to be used in the cause of the
Master....

Let the businessman do his business in a way that will glorify his
Master because of his fidelity. Let him carry his religion into everything
that is done, and reveal to men the Spirit of Christ. Let the mechanic be a
diligent and faithful representative of Him who toiled in the lowly walks of
life in the cities of Judea. Let every one who names the name of Christ so
work, that man by seeing his good works may be led to glorify his Creator
and Redeemer. . . .

Those who have been blessed with superior talents should not depreciate
the value of the services of those who are less gifted than themselves. The
smallest trust is a trust from God. The one talent, through diligent use
with the blessing of God, will be doubled, and the two used in the service
of Christ will be increased to four; and thus the humblest instrument may
grow in power and usefulness. The earnest purpose, the self-denying efforts,
are all seen, appreciated, and accepted by the God of heaven.... God alone
can estimate the worth of their service and see the far-reaching influence
of him who works for the glory of his Maker.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 324

2008-10-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most.
SC 96

Treat our Bibles like our Cell Phones

2008-10-09T13:53:00.001-07:00

*I wonder what would happened if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones*

-What if we carried it around in our purses or our pockets? -What if we flipped through it several times a day? -What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? -What if we used it to receive messages from the text? -What if we treated it like we could not live without it? -What if we give it to our kids as gifts? -What if we used it in case of emergency? -What if we felt we could'nt drive, work, vacation; or simply put, travel anywhere without it?

Hmmm, something to think about; by the way, where is your bible? Oh, and one more thing; unlike your cell phone, you don't have to worry about your Bible ever being dissconnected, and you'll never have a dropped call.Why, you ask? It's simply, Christ has paid the bill in full!

I Will be a Christian at Home

2008-10-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

{Love} doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. 1 Cor. 13:5

Much may be gained by self discipline in the home. . . . Let each make life as pleasant as possible for the other. Cultivate respect in the speech. Preserve unity and love. Satan will have no power over those who fully control themselves in the home. {ML 84.2}
We must have the Spirit of God, or we can never have harmony in the home. . . . We cannot cherish home affection with too much care; for the home, if the Spirit of the Lord dwells there, is a type of heaven. . . . Everything that would tend to mar the peace and unity of the family circle must be repressed. Kindness and love, the spirit of tenderness and forbearance, will be cherished. If one errs, the other will exercise Christlike forbearance. {ML 84.3}
He who manifests the spirit of tenderness, forbearance, and love will find that the same spirit will be reflected upon him. . . . If Christ indeed is formed within, the hope of glory, there will be union and love in the home. Christ abiding in the heart of the wife will be at agreement with Christ abiding in the heart of the husband. They will be striving together for the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. . . . Tender affection should ever be cherished between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters. . . . It is the duty of everyone in the family to be pleasant, to speak kindly. {ML 84.4}
A house with love in it, where love is expressed in words and looks and deeds, is a place where angels love to manifest their presence and hallow the scene by rays of light from glory. . . . Love should be seen in the looks and manners and heard in the tones of the voice.

* * * * *
Self-control on the part of all the members of the family will make home almost a paradise.

{My Life Today 84.6}

The Sanctified Life

2008-09-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Let us make God's holy word our study, bringing its holy principles into our lives. Let us walk before God in meekness and humility, daily correcting our faults. Let us not by selfish pride separate the soul from God. Cherish not a feeling of lofty supremacy, thinking yourself better than others. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Peace and rest will come to you as you bring your will into subjection to the will of Christ. Then the love of Christ will rule in the heart, bringing into captivity to the Saviour the secret springs of action. The hasty, easily roused temper will be soothed and subdued by the oil of Christ's grace. The sense of sins forgiven will bring that peace that passeth all understanding. There will be an earnest striving to overcome all that is opposed to Christian perfection. Variance will disappear. He who once found fault with those around him will see that far greater faults exists in his own character. {MYP 73.2}

There are those who listen to the truth, and are convinced that they have been living in opposition to Christ. They are condemned, and they repent of their transgressions. Relying upon the merits of Christ, exercising true faith in Him, they receive pardon for sin. As they cease to do evil and learn to do well, they grow in grace and in the knowledge of God. They see that they must sacrifice in order to separate from the world; and, after counting the cost, they look upon all as loss if they may but win Christ. They have enlisted in Christ's army. The warfare is before them, and they enter it bravely and cheerfully, fighting against their natural inclinations and selfish desires, bringing the will into subjection to the will of Christ. Daily they seek the Lord for grace to obey Him, and they are strengthened and helped. This is true conversion. In humble, grateful dependence he who has been given a new heart relies upon the help of Christ. He reveals in his life the fruit of righteousness. He once loved himself. Worldly pleasure was his delight. Now his idol is dethroned, and God reigns supreme. The sins he once loved he now hates. Firmly and resolutely he follows in the path of holiness.--The Youth's Instructor, September 26, 1901.

{Messages to Young People 73.3} -

Nicodemus

2008-09-17T17:53:00.000-07:00

Nicodemus had come to the Lord thinking to enter into a discussion with Him, but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles of truth. He said to Nicodemus, It is not theoretical knowledge you need so much as spiritual regeneration. You need not to have your curiosity satisfied, but to have a new heart. You must receive a new life from above before you can appreciate heavenly things. Until this change takes place, making all things new, it will result in no saving good for you to discuss with Me My authority or My mission. {DA 171.1}

Nicodemus had heard the preaching of John the Baptist concerning repentance and baptism, and pointing the people to One who should baptize with the Holy Spirit. He himself had felt that there was a lack of spirituality among the Jews, that, to a great degree, they were controlled by bigotry and worldly ambition. He had hoped for a better state of things at the Messiah's coming. Yet the heart-searching message of the Baptist had failed to work in him conviction of sin. He was a strict Pharisee, and prided himself on his good works. He was widely esteemed for his benevolence and his liberality in sustaining the temple service, and he felt secure of the favor of God. He was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for him to see in his present state. {DA 171.2}

Raising His hand with solemn, quiet dignity, He pressed the truth home with greater
assurance, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Nicodemus knew that Christ here referred to water baptism and the renewing of the heart by the Spirit of God. He was convinced that he was in the presence of the One whom John the Baptist had foretold. {DA 171.5}

Jesus continued: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." By nature the heart is evil, and "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." Job 14:4. No human invention can find a remedy for the sinning soul. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Rom. 8:7; Matt. 15:19. The fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams can become pure. He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility. There is no safety for one who has merely a legal religion, a form of godliness. The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.

Nicodemus was still perplexed, and Jesus used the wind to illustrate His meaning: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." {DA 172.2}

The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is invisible, and no man knows whence it comes or whither it goes. So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. It can no more be explained than can the movements of the wind. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God,--a patient, protracted process.

The Pearl

2008-08-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

The blessings of redeeming love our Savior compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchantman seeking goodly pearls "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are "hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 2:3. He is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30. All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ. Our Redeemer is the pearl so precious that in comparison all things else may be accounted loss.

Christ "came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11. The light of God shone into the darkness of the world, and "the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5. But not all were found indifferent to the gift of heaven. The merchantman in the parable represents a class who were sincerely desiring truth. In different nations there were earnest and thoughtful men who had sought in literature and science and the religions of the heathen world for that which they could receive as the soul's treasure. Among the Jews there were those who were seeking for that which they had not. Dissatisfied with a formal religion, they longed for that which was spiritual and uplifting. Christ's chosen disciples belonged to the latter class, Cornelius and the Ethiopian eunuch to the former. They had been longing and praying for light from heaven; and when Christ was revealed to them, they received Him with gladness.

In the parable the pearl is not represented as a gift. The merchantman bought it at the price of all that he had. Many question the meaning of this, since Christ is represented in the Scriptures as a gift. He is a gift, but only to those who give themselves, soul, body, and spirit, to Him without reserve. We are to give ourselves to Christ, to live a life of willing obedience to all His requirements. All that we are, all the talents and capabilities we possess, are the Lord's, to be consecrated to His service. When we thus give ourselves wholly to Him, Christ, with all the treasures of heaven, gives Himself to us. We obtain the pearl of great price.
Salvation is a free gift, and yet it is to be bought and sold. In the market of which divine mercy has the management, the precious pearl is represented as being bought without money and without price. In this market all may obtain the goods of heaven. The treasury of the jewels of truth is open to all. "Behold, I have set before thee an open door," the Lord declares, "and no man can shut it." No sword guards the way through this door. Voices from within and at the door say, Come. The Saviour's voice earnestly and lovingly invites us: "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich." Rev. 3:8, 18. {Christ Object Lessons chapter 9}

God indeed is Love

2008-07-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

....They knelt at the King's feet, saying "yea! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgivg and honor and power and might, be unto our God for ever and ever! Amen!"....

And what makes it all the more noble is that He did it all voluntarily. All on account of the love that He bears for we who walk this dark and dreary planet. Yea, more than willingly, for He loves us with an everlasting love-a love so powerful that it cannot bear to have the object of its affection linger anymore in darkness and pain. Therefore did He exchange His glory for our shame; His riches for our poverty; His throne for our slavery. Yea, He took upon himself the death that we deserve that He might bestow upon us the life that He deserves. Indeed, 'with His stripes we are healed.' All of this He did that He might demonstrate that God is indeed love.

As for we who remain here, Our part is to know Him. To know Him is to love Him. And to love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to be filled with His Spirit. and to be filled with Him is to dwell with Him in joy thoughtout the ceaseless ages of eternity.

Pilgrim's Progress Part 2 page 447.

Kneel in Prayer

2008-07-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

As I write I have a deep sense of gratitude for the loving watchcare of our Saviour over us all. As I read the Word of God and kneel in prayer, I am so impressed with the goodness and mercy of God that I cannot offer my petition without weeping. My heart is subdued and broken as I think of my heavenly Father's goodness and love. I hunger and thirst for more and still more of Jesus in this life. Christ was crucified for me, and shall I complain if I am crucified with Christ? . . .

We know not what is before us, and our only safety is in walking with Christ, our hand in His, our hearts filled with perfect trust. Has He not said, "Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me"? Let us keep close to the Saviour. Let us walk humbly with Him, filled with His meekness. Let self be hid with Him in God. . . . {1SM 79.2}

The more we see

2008-07-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

The more we study the divine character in the light of the cross, the more we see mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness blended with equity and justice, and the more clearly we discern innumerable evidences of a love that is infinite and a tender pity surpassing a mother's yearning sympathy for her wayward child (Steps to Christ, pp. 14, 15).

Amazing Grace

2008-07-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

Amazing Grace

The tombstone of John Newton, the author of this hymn, tells his story: “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had so long labored to destroy.” Those words were written by John Newton himself, and they are a testimony to God’s transforming power.

After years as a hardened slave trader, Newton met Jesus Christ, and his life was dramatically turned around. Throughout his years of ministry, God’s amazing grace remained central to his thinking. When it was suggested he retire at the age of eighty-two due to poor health and a failing memory, he responded, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

In 1772 he wrote a hymn called " Faith Review and Expectation." A song you know as Amazing Grace.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.