Be Not Stiff-necked, but Yield

If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” … Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.

We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life, should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery.—The Great Controversy, 489.
With God at Dawn p. 134
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-I just received an update: my Dad’s aneurism has gone from a 4.6 to 5.5 in size and he now needs surgery and we are under a serious lockdown. His condition is now dangerous. His creatine levels have not decreased, so his kidneys are not good and he’s severely dehydrated. Please continue to pray for him. The aneurism is in a place that if it bursts it will affect his heart. He is truly in God’s hands right now. Whatever his will. Please continue to keep us in prayer. God bless. Shannah
—-Prayers appreciated for our son, Joel who is having open heart surgery May 18th. Astrid
—-Please pray for Libby! She had surgery a few days ago & hasn’t woke up yet. She screams through the night and still can’t wake up. PLEASE PRAY! Kathy
—-prayer request. for Tracy she has a brain bleed has for two weeks. they are watching it. M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When Ronnie Jay was in college, he lived in a basement apartment rather than in the dorm. On one occasion, he heard of storms and tornadoes in the area, so he stayed up until about three o’clock in the morning to make sure that he could warn Brian and Esther if a tornado was near. His plan was that he would call them and then they would jump in the car and drive the three blocks to Ronnie’s apartment where they would be safe. After all danger was past, he went to bed.
Imagine his surprise when he woke up the next morning to find five inches of water on his floor! The heavy rains from the thunderstorms that had dumped huge amounts of water on already saturated ground. His heart sank as he saw his computer tower and the rest of his possessions standing in that water. Quickly, he went began unplugging all of his electric cords. He felt electric shocks go through his body as he did so, but it had to be done. It was truly a miracle that the water was not electrically charged for he had many items plugged into power strips which lie on the floor.
When Ron went with him to make a claim on his renter’s insurance, the agent told him that flooding was not covered under his policy. Ron chided the man for selling our son, who lives in a basement apartment, a policy without flood insurance and cancelled the policy.
How swiftly our life can be turned upside-down. How quickly all that we have worked so hard for can be ruined. It can be gone in a moment in the blink of an eye. In view of this, Jesus advises, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21
Peter reminds us of a soon-coming event where everyone’s material possessions will be no more. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:10-14
May we look away from the things of this world and keep our focus on Heavenly things. May we make our “calling and election sure,” that we may dwell in the Place where there are no floods, no tornadoes, no more death, pain, or sorrow. 2 Peter 1:10, Rev 21:4 May we all be there is my prayer.
Rose