No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. Job 28:18.
A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. . . .
Mental ability and genius are not character, for these are often possessed by those who have the very opposite of a good character. Reputation is not character. True character is a quality of the soul, revealing itself in the conduct.
A good character is a capital of more value than gold or silver. It is unaffected by panics or failures, and in that day when earthly possessions shall be swept away, it will bring rich returns. Integrity, firmness, and perseverance are qualities that all should seek earnestly to cultivate; for they clothe the possessor with a power which is irresistible–a power which makes him strong to do good, strong to resist evil, strong to bear adversity.
Strength of character consists of two things–power of will and power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by his powers to subdue his feelings, not by the power of his feelings to subdue him. The strongest man is he who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies.
If it were considered as important that the young possess a beautiful character and amiable disposition as it is that they imitate the fashions of the world in dress and deportment, we would see hundreds where there is one today coming upon the stage of active life prepared to exert an ennobling influence upon society.
Maranatha p. 223
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Vicky who will be having open heart surgery today plus other things done to her heart,
Also keep Joann in prayer her heart is acting up she is on a heart monitor for a month, so they can find out what is wrong with it. Mary
—–update—Please continue to pray for Abigail and her parents. They face further psychological assessment being done next week. . . .Pray that this application to a higher court will succeed in freeing Abigail from foster care and restoring full visitation and guardianship to her rightful parents, the sooner the better. Thanks for your continuing prayers. Our Heavenly Father is merciful and will continue to move mountains on behalf of this family. Unfortunately this case is by no means an isolated case. . . . Debby
—–Pray that I can find an honest guy to build me a new deck. this one is rotting away. and for me to have the money thanks to get it done. thanks M.
—–I also need God to touch my half-brother’s heart so he’ll deed the property my 2 house trailers sit on back to me, so I can sell the whole place and get out of _____. while [I still can]. P.
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Dear Friends,
In the 1970’s, we lived in Pennsylvania . Often it would rain for many days causing the rivers to flood. One time it rained for nine days without stopping. Of course, there were floods from all that water. How I longed to see the sun again. Finally the sky began to clear, so we went for a little drive. As we neared one river, we found that this once peaceful water was now a raging torrent. It was about twice the depth of normal and almost to the bottom of the high bridge that we normally took to town. This had been barricaded because of the danger.
We stopped the car and walked to the riverbank. The water was brown with silt and dirt that its rushing had carved from its banks. Huge logs, branches, parts of houses, cars, and unidentifiable items were being carried along at a maddening speed. As we watched, we noticed part of the roof of some outbuilding floating along on top of the rushing water. On that roof was a small, brown animal. It had crawled upon that floating debris and was riding out the flood. It was very wet and looked quite miserable. We felt so sorry for the creature.
Sometimes, troubles and trials come upon us as an overwhelming flood. Sometimes, life turns upside-down, and our hopes and dreams are dashed upon the rocks. We feel as did David when he cried, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” Ps 69:1-3 “When the enemy shall come in like a flood” we have a Mighty Deliverer Who says, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” Isa 59:19; 43:2,3 “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8
Paul assures us, “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 He explains the reason trials must overwhelm us at times, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
May we cooperate with our Great Re-Creator as He molds us into His Image. May we, when troubles come upon us as a flood, declare as we flee into His comforting arms “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” Ps 32:7. May we continually place our hand in His all-powerful hand resting in Him Who is our Hiding Place, our Shelter in the time of storm.
Rose