By Word of Mouth

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. Genesis 5:5.
Adam’s life was one of sorrow, humility, and continual repentance. As he taught his children and grandchildren the fear of the Lord, he was often bitterly reproached for the sin which had resulted in so much misery to his posterity. When he left beautiful Eden, the thought that he must die thrilled him with horror. He looked upon death as a dreadful calamity…. Most bitterly did he reproach himself for his first great transgression. He entreated pardon from God through the promised Sacrifice. Deeply had he felt the wrath of God for his crime committed in Paradise. He witnessed the general corruption which finally provoked God to destroy the inhabitants of the earth by a flood. Though the sentence of death pronounced upon him by his Maker at first appeared so terrible to him, yet after he had lived some hundreds of years, it looked just and merciful in God, thus to bring to an end a miserable life.
As Adam witnessed the first signs of decay in the falling leaf and in the drooping flowers, he mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. The dying flowers were not so great a cause of grief, because they were more tender and delicate; but when the tall stately trees cast off their leaves to decay, it presented before him the general dissolution of beautiful nature, which God had created for the especial benefit of man.
To his children, and to their children, to the ninth generation, Adam delineated the perfections of his Eden home; and also his fall and its dreadful results…. He declared to them that sin would be punished, in whatever form it existed; and he entreated them to obey God, who would deal mercifully with them if they should love and fear Him.
Adam was commanded to teach his descendants the fear of the Lord, and, by his example of humble obedience, lead them to highly regard the offerings which typified a Saviour to come. Adam carefully treasured what God had revealed to him, and handed it down by word of mouth to his children and children’s children. By this means the knowledge of God was preserved.24
Conflict and Courage p. 22
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for B and E who are being interviewed today for a good job. L
—– Kindly pray for me and my family [that God will supply all my needs] for my school, I’m
joining computer study(ICT) at ______..Thanks Julius
—–update— Durwin went to sleep in Jesus about 9:30 [yesterday] morning. My heart is broken, V.
—–update— a meeting with CFS that will take place likely sometime [this] week (Jan. 25th-29th) with Abigail’s parents—a “crossroads” kind of meeting crucial to whether Abigail will return to the parents. . . . that “moving forward” the parents can in succinct points make their concerns and questions known to both specialists and CFS people, so that all can recognize that these parents and the physicians are able to dialogue respectfully with each other (as was occurring already in Calgary, both the parents and the physicians) and that CFS can observe this unequivocally so they have no excuses for thinking Abigail cannot safely be placed, full custody, with her . . . . that [during] the JDR (Judicial Dispute Resolution) currently scheduled for Feb. 3rd, . . . reveals . . . that the true facts in the case that reveal this may be exposed during this JDR and steps to rectify the situation are thereafter acted upon. Please pray for the parents, for their lawyer, also even for those on the other “side” and for the impartial, new judge who will hear the presentations of both sides for the first time and make a recommendation. . . . An interventional radiologist at . . . was able to finally perform the procedure on Abigail regarding the blockage/clot and was successful (PTL!!). . . . God answered powerfully the earnest prayers that have been ascending on this four year old child’s behalf. Praise the LORD, the Source of everything and all blessings!. . . .Please pray that these parents endure to the end, to the final return of their child and beyond, to the return of our Saviour in the clouds of glory! Debby
—–Please pray for Carol who is in the final stages of cancer. Rose
—– My right arm from shoulder to hand is in painful spasm. Nothing working. Typing with left hand. Will go to doctor this AM. Please pray now! Thank you! Sarah
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Dear Friends,
My mother did not like to be around her grandfather, Winfield Harmon. He was very stern and pompous and smoked big, fat cigars. All my mother’s life she remembered those stifling, smelly cigars even though she was still a little girl when he died. When they visited him, he would take them for a drive to see the sights around Chicago. Even though they did not have a car, and normally would be excited to go on a drive, they dreaded it. As he drove, he puffed away on his cigar. He insisted on keeping the car windows tightly closed which filled the car with smoke. This made my mother feel sick to her stomach and gave her a terrible headache.
My grandfather, who was sitting in the back seat with his girls, hated the smoke as much as his girls did. Winking at them, he began to roll down the windowa tiny bit at a time to let out some of that nauseating smoke. By the time he would get the window open an inch or two, my great-grandfather would make him close it again. Over and over my grandfather tried to roll down the window very slowly so as not to be noticed, but every time, he would hear a stern “Edwin!” Even though he was a grown man, was afraid of his father and obeyed immediately. He had suffered too much at the hand of that abusive man over the years to take a stand.
Just as that cigar’s smoke surrounded my great-grandfather and became the strongest memory of him for my mother, so all that we do, our attitudes, our words, and all that we think have an influence on those around us. We may have a heavenly influence or we may have an evil one. It is our choice.
Solomon wrote, “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.” “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov 15:26, 25:11 Isaiah tells us of his experience, “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isa 50:4
Jesus admonishes us, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 We are to be a witness in more ways than by our words. Dorcas was a person who witnessed by her works. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed, and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9:36-42
Dorcas’ life spoke volumes to those around her. By her kind deeds, she spread a blessing to all around. Even though great trial and even death came upon her, it was for the saving of many who knew her. Indeed, God did not allow her to be removed from them. He worked through Peter to raise her up that by the influence of a godly life, she might continue to help those in need. In the same way, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
May the love of Jesus shine through us to all around us. May all that we do be done “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, Knowing that of the Lord [we] shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for [we] serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Col 3:23-25 May our thoughts, words, and whatsoever we do bring glory to the One Who loves us so.
Rose