And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17.
As regards this earth, Scripture declares the work of creation to have been completed. “The works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Hebrews 4:3. But the power of God is still exercised in upholding the objects of His creation…. Every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the care of Him in whom we live and move and have our being.
Not by its own inherent energy does the earth produce its bounties, and year by year continue its motion around the sun. An unseen hand guides the planets in their circuit of the heavens.
The God of heaven is constantly at work. It is by His power that vegetation is caused to flourish, that every leaf appears and every flower blooms. Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub, testifies of God. These little things so common around us teach the lesson that nothing is beneath the notice of the infinite God, nothing is too small for His attention.
Many teach that matter possesses vital power, … and that the operations of nature are conducted in harmony with fixed laws, with which God Himself cannot interfere. This is false science, and is not sustained by the Word of God. Nature is the servant of her Creator. God does not annul His laws, or work contrary to them; but He is continually using them as His instruments.
God’s handiwork in nature is not God Himself in nature…. While nature is an expression of God’s thought, it is not nature but the God of nature that is to be exalted.
There is in nature the continual working of the Father and the Son. Christ says, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 5:17.
The hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their orderly arrangement and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.
The Faith I Live By p. 28
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for a heartbreaking situation that my friend is going through. Rose
—–Please pray for my daughter and her family who are just entering the mission field. Tony
—–Asking for prayers for my brother Anthony. He was admitted in the hospital. He has lung cancer. Things are not looking good right now. Diann
—–Please pray that my husband will accept the Adventist message & beliefs and that he will stop pulling our son in a different direction. Please pray fervently! Mary
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Dear Friends,
This morning, I overslept! In Matthew 25, we find a story about ten girls who also overslept when they should have been awake and watching. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13
How easy it is for us to be sleeping, when we should be awake and watching. How easy it is for us to be lulled into a false security, when our very first priority should be making sure we have that extra oil of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. How easy it is for us to think that all is well, when in reality we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” Rev 3:18
Jesus is coming soon! The signs all foretell it! “It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Rom 13:11-14 Let us sleep not as do others but spend the time we have before the Bridegroom appears gathering precious souls for His kingdom, so when we see our Loving Saviour coming in the clouds, we may look up and with rejoicing exclaim, “Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
Rose