Christian Youth and Their Books

Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.111The Acts of the Apostles, 518.

Many of the popular publications of the day are filled with sensational stories that are educating the youth in wickedness and leading them in the path to perdition. Mere children in years are old in a knowledge of crime. They are incited to evil by the tales they read…. The seeds of lawlessness are sown broadcast. None need marvel that a harvest of crime is the result.112The Ministry of Healing, 444, 445.

The readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. It creates an unhealthy excitement, fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, weans the soul from prayer, and disqualifies it for any spiritual exercise.113Messages to Young People, 272.

Suffer not yourselves to open the lids of a book that is questionable. There is a hellish fascination in the literature of Satan. It is the powerful battery by which he tears down a simple religious faith. Never feel that you are strong enough to read infidel books; for they contain a poison like that of asps.114Fundamentals of Christian Education, 93.

Young men and young women, read the literature that will give you true knowledge, and that will be a help to the entire family. Say firmly: “I will not spend precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of service to others…. I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things.” 115Testimonies for the Church 7:64.

The oftener and more diligently you study the Bible, the more beautiful will it appear, and the less relish you will have for light reading. Bind this precious volume to your hearts. It will be to you a friend and guide.116Messages to Young People, 274.
The Faith I Live By p 241
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Prayer Requests
—-My computer can’t be charged any longer so I am doing this on my phone. Please pray that it will work okay to mail out. Also I cracked a rib or two. Please pray that it will heal quickly. Also please pray for Joyce that she will heal quickly and not need more
Surgery. Rose
—-Please pray for Zenna who has a serious infection. Shannon
—-Please pray for my husband who is having problems at work. Jennifer
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Conquering Our Doubts
Welcome to Rose’s Devotional

Conquering Our Doubts
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:31.
“Wherefore didst thou doubt?” said Christ to the sinking Peter. The same question may be addressed to us. . . . The Lord has pledged Himself to give us strength to enable us to stand. As we search the Scriptures we find ground for confidence, provision for sufficiency. It is our privilege to say boldly, yet humbly, The Lord is my helper, therefore I shall not be moved from my steadfastness. My life is hid with Christ in God. Because He lives, I shall live also. Let us pledge ourselves before God and the angels of heaven that we will not dishonor God by speaking words of discouragement or unbelief. . . . Close the door to distrust and open the door wide to faith. Invite into the soul temple the heavenly Guest.
You may have your choice as to who shall rule your heart and control your mind. If you choose to open the door to the suggestions of the evil one, your mind will be filled with distrust and rebellious questioning. You may talk out your feelings, but every doubt you utter is a seed that will germinate and bear fruit in another’s life, and it will be impossible to counteract the influence of your words. You may be able to recover from your season of temptation . . . , but others that have been swayed by your influence may not be able to escape from the unbelief you have suggested. How important it is that we speak to those around us only those things which will give spiritual strength and enlightenment!
It is our duty to encourage faith, to talk faith that we may have faith. If we talk doubt and encourage doubt we shall have abundant doubt, for Satan will help us in this kind of work. We need sanctified hearts and sanctified lips. We need to breathe in the rich, bracing atmosphere that comes from the heavenly Canaan. . . . Why should we fill the gallery of the mind with gloomy scenes of doubt? Why not let the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine into the chambers of heart and mind, and dispel the shadows of unbelief? Turn to the Light, to Jesus the precious Saviour.
That I May Know Him p. 228
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Prayer Requests
—–Richard F. passed away, I believe yesterday. He was felling a tree in his yard and it fell on him. His son-in-law, Kyle was one of the EMT crew that responded to the 911 call…so extra difficult. Please keep the family in your prayers. Sue
—– My sister-in-law says she is in need of prayers, I know not what, and she needs prayer for a renter. Thank you for the prayers. John
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Dear Friends,
Just before my tenth birthday, my mother married a man who was an alcoholic. While they had dated, Eddie seemed so nice, but after they were married, life became almost unbearable.
After nearly four years, I had had enough. I decided to run away the next day. I didn’t know where I would go because my grandparents had moved away, but I knew that I could endure it no longer. My Heavenly Father was watching over me although I didn’t realize it at the time. That very night, Eddie left taking everything of value in the house except my mother’s guitar and amplifier. He left a note saying that he was sure that the sheriff was catching up to him and he needed to flee.
What a relief it was to me to have Eddie gone, yet life became more difficult in some ways. My mother had no job and no prospects for getting one. She had to sell her guitar and amp so she could buy food. Our landlord, who was friends with Eddie, would not wait for the rent until my mother found a job. We finally found a very cheap apartment over a music store in a rundown neighborhood.
Even though we were in difficulty, God was near to us, watching over us, working all things out for good. He who inspired David to write, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Psalm 27:10) knew that had I run away, my life would have been far worse that the situation Eddie’s departure had caused. He had kept that from happening.
Jesus, speaking of His Heavenly Father said, “for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:45 God loves each person in this world whether they love Him back or not. His Spirit draws them, leading them into circumstances that will give them an opportunity to choose His way. He showers His blessings upon them even though they don’t know the Source of all blessings.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3 How loving and kind He is to us. He not only makes us His sons, but He changes us into His image.
Through all of those trying times, I had a sort of shaky faith in God and just before bed every night prayed the “Now I lay me down to sleep….” prayer adding a few of my own words at the end. Our Merciful Redeemer accepted that tiny spark of faith and protected us. He helped my mother find work, even though she did not recognize it as a blessing from Him.
Finally we could move to a better neighborhood. Life was still a struggle, and there were many times there was nothing to eat in the apartment except a little flour. But through it all, God was there protecting us and longing for the time when we would come to Him.
A year or two later, I began to long to know God. I began reading the Bible and visiting churches trying to find the right one. Through a series of events, God led me to find it. Over the years, I have been able to serve Him in various ways in gratitude for His great love and care.
May we, each day, allow our Great Creator to will and to do of His good pleasure. All around us are those who need Him as much as I did so long ago. May we share His love with them that they, too, may accept His great provision for salvation is my prayer.
Rose