By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5.
When we learn to walk by faith and not by feeling, we shall have help from God just when we need it, and His peace will come into our hearts. It was this simple life of obedience and trust that Enoch lived. If we learn this lesson of simple trust, ours may be the testimony that he received, that he pleased God.
In every phase of your character building you are to please God. This you may do; for Enoch pleased Him though living in a degenerate age. And there are Enochs in this our day.
For three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of heart, that he might be in harmony with heaven. For three centuries he had walked with God. Day by day he had longed for a closer union; nearer and nearer had grown the communion, until God took him to Himself. He had stood at the threshold of the eternal world, only a step between him and the land of the blest; and now the portals opened, the walk with God, so long pursued on earth, continued, and he passed through the gates of the holy city,—the first from among men to enter there.
With the word of God in his hands, every human being, wherever his lot in life may be cast, may have such companionship as he shall choose. In its pages he may hold converse with the noblest and best of the human race, and may listen to the voice of the Eternal as He speaks with men…. He may dwell in this world in the atmosphere of heaven, imparting to earth’s sorrowing and tempted ones thoughts of hope and longings for holiness; … like him of old who walked with God, drawing nearer and nearer the threshold of the eternal world, until the portals shall open, and he shall enter there. He will find himself no stranger. The voices that will greet him are the voices of the holy ones, who, unseen, were on earth his companions—voices that here he learned to distinguish and to love. He who through the word of God has lived in fellowship with heaven, will find himself at home in heaven’s companionship.
Conflict and Courage p. 31
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Prayer Requests
—–Update—Emma is fine after her seizure. The doctor gave us some pointers on how to tell when a seizure is coming and what to do about it. Please continue to pray for her. Also Ron is experiencing double vision after his cataract surgery. His eye doctor gave him prisms to help with that. Please keep him in prayer for continued healing and for some decisions that he is making. Rose
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Dear Friends,
I once heard a story of two teenagers who submitted a bill to their parents for the chores that they did around the house. The parents were having a difficult time financially and had not been able to give their children an allowance. They talked over their children’s request but soon realized that they were not able to pay this “bill.” Finally, they decided on a solution. They, themselves, submitted a “bill” to their children for all of the clothing they had bought them, for the food they had eaten, for the sleepless nights they had spent when the children were sick, for the gas they had used to take them places that they had wanted to go, etc. When the children read the bill, they were shocked. They expected that at the bottom of the list would be an outrageous sum for them to pay, but to their surprise and relief the bill said “free, done out of love.”
The goodness of God, how great it is! He loves us so much that He made a way for us to be “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom 3:24 God so loved us that He sent Jesus to this tiny, rebellious world so that we would have the opportunity to live eternally. He draws us to Himself with the cords of love. Paul urges us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:5-13
Yet, how often we take His great love for granted and scarcely think of His sacrifice for us. How many times we think that His multitude of blessings that He daily showers upon us are something we deserve. How ungrateful we are! How many times we are like those children who submitted a bill to their parents for the few things that they had to do around the house. Peter had this attitude. “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matt 19:27-29
How thankful we should be that our Heavenly Father never submits a bill for all of His blessings to us. We could never pay for the blessings that He freely gives us. How His Great Heart of Love longs to hear our praise and thanksgiving for His goodness to us. Paul bids us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thes 5:18 The psalmist exclaims, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps 107:8
May we always remember to praise Him as did David, “I will extol thee, my God, O king, and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD, and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.” Ps 145 May we daily dwell upon His goodness to us and “rejoice evermore” in His great love. May we share His love and mercy to those we meet, that they, too, may “rejoice in the Lord always.” Phil 4:4
Rose
An Open Door