Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.
Fathers and mothers should feel that a duty devolves upon them to guide the affections of the youth, that they may be placed upon those who will be suitable companions. They should … so mold the character of the children from their earliest years that they will be pure and noble, and will be attracted to the good and true….
True love is a high and holy principle, altogether different in character from that love which is awakened by impulse, and which suddenly dies when severely tested. It is by faithfulness to duty in the parental home that the youth are to prepare themselves for homes of their own. Let them here practice self-denial, and manifest kindness, courtesy, and Christian sympathy. Thus love will be kept warm in the heart, and he who goes out from such a household to stand at the head of a family of his own, will know how to promote the happiness of her whom he has chosen as a companion for life.
Fathers and mothers, you are to build up in this life characters which will help you to fit your children for the future, immortal life, which will help them to form such characters that you will not be ashamed to see them, as parents, taking the charge of their own children, and transferring to them your own attributes.
Let those who are contemplating marriage weigh every sentiment and watch every development of character in the one with whom they think to unite their life destiny.
Take God and your God-fearing parents into your counsel, young friends. Pray over the matter…. The step you are about to take is one of the most important in your life, and should not be taken hastily. While you may love, do not love blindly.
Let every step toward a marriage alliance be characterized by modesty, simplicity, sincerity, and an earnest purpose to please and honor God.
The Faith I Live By p. 277
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Pray for my cousins to follow Jesus fully. Buck
—-I would like to request prayer for my 80 year old mother. She just recently had a mini stroke and then came down with a cold or virus, and she is feeling pretty low and depressed right now. I would like to request prayer for her, that God will bring her into the sunshine of His love and sweep away her depression and anxiety and stress. Kathy
—-Please pray for my friend Eilene K. she is in a relationship with a married man. He said he will divorce his wife, but he has not yet. I told Eileen she should not be in this relationship. Now she has broken our 20 year friendship. My heart is broken, but I could not keep quiet and have her lose her soul. Pray for me also, that I can let this go. . . . Pray the Holy Spirit convicts her of sin. Jacqueline
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
One of the highlights for my grandchildren is the children’s story each week. The children in our church usually sit attentively and without incident. One church we attended some years ago, had some rather funny and very distracting things happen during children’s story. I thought I would share one of those times with you this morning.
When it was time for the children’s story, children from ages one to ten or eleven began walking to the front of the church, collecting an offering for the church school. Most walked down the center aisle, but several walked down the side aisle. One little boy, about two and a half, was one of those children. As he climbed up the step to the platform, he happened to notice the organ pedals. He stopped walking toward the gathering group of children and faced the organ. It was plain to see that he was tempted to explore those well-lit pedals. Deciding that he would resist the temptation, he joined the rest of the children.
The story held no interest to him, however. All he could think about was the organ. Soon, the temptation was too great. The little boy tiptoed away from the group and headed toward that large, musical instrument. Standing by the pedals, he hesitated a moment as though wondering if he should go through with his plan. Finally, he reached out one chubby hand and pressed down on the lowest pedal. A deep rumbling tone was his reward. This was fun. He tried another pedal. A different tone filled the church. Delighted, he stepped up onto those noisy pedals and began stepping from one to another. Discordant tones filled our ears.
At this, I jumped out of my front row seat and rushed to the little boy and began to guide him out from between the organ and its bench. He looked up startled. By then, an older sister reached the toddler. Taking him from his position, she led him to the group of children. Before long, thoughts of that organ again filled his mind. Creeping away from the group, he headed toward the object of his temptation. Big sister followed and swooped him up in her arms. Wriggling free, the boy ran toward his embarrassed parents yelling “NO!” at the top of his lungs much to the delight of the congregation.
It is not a sin to be tempted. It becomes sin when, instead of putting it out of our mind the enemy’s first suggestion, we toy with it as did that little boy. We know that we shouldn’t listen to the evil one, but soon we begin thinking of its possibilities. The more we think about it, the stronger the temptation becomes until we finally yield. Soon, our yielding become evident to all around.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who 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 Cor 10:13 “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom 6:11-16
*Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win. Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, look ever to Jesus. He’ll carry you through.
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain, God’s name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain. Be thoughtful and earnest, kind-hearted and true, look ever to Jesus. He’ll carry you through.
To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown. Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down. He Who is our Saviour our strength will renew. Look ever to Jesus. He’ll carry you through.
Ask the Saviour to help you, comfort, strengthen, and keep you. He is willing to aid you. He will carry you through.
May we heed our Dear Saviour’s words, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” Matt 26:41 May we flee from the enemy’s first whispered suggestion to do evil. May we “fight the good fight of faith” is my prayer. 1 Tim 6:12
Rose
*Yield Not to Temptation by Horatio R. Palmer

An Ever-Widening Circle