Eyes Looking Heavenward

Shall we not break off our sins by righteousness, and have our conversation in heaven, whence we look for our Saviour? Shall we not talk of our Saviour until it becomes natural for us to do so? If we do not order our conversation aright, we shall not see the salvation of God. Satan will take possession of the heart, and we shall become low and sensual. Let us elevate the thoughts, and take hold upon things that are of real value, gaining an education here that will be of value in the world to come. Shall we not seek the Lord with earnestness, repent of our backslidings, mourn that we have neglected His Word, that we do not know the truth better, and turn to Him with all the heart, that He may heal us, and love us freely? Today let us take a step toward heaven….

The latter rain is to fall upon the people of God. A mighty angel is to come down from heaven, and the whole earth is to be lighted with His glory. Are we ready to take part in the glorious work of the third angel? Are our vessels ready to receive the heavenly dew? Have we defilement and sin in the heart? If so, let us cleanse the soul temple, and prepare for the showers of the latter rain. The refreshing from the presence of the Lord will never come to hearts filled with impurity. May God help us to die to self, that Christ, the hope of glory, may be formed within!

I must have the Spirit of God in my heart. I can never go forward to do the great work of God, unless the Holy Spirit rests upon my soul. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God” (Psalm 42:1). The day of judgment is upon us. Oh, that we may wash our robes of character, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb!—The Review and Herald, April 21, 1891.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 295
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my cousin Bruce who fell and dislocated his hip and will be having surgery. Mike
—-I have a job possibility with a former employer. Please pray that I get the job if it is God’s will. RJ
—-Please pray that God will guide and provide for E and her children. R
—-Please pray for my Granddaughter, Katie who is 27 weeks pregnant and having contractions. She is in the hospital tonight. May God be with her and her baby to bring her contractions to a stop and allow her baby to grow and develop. May God bring forth a strong and healthy baby in due time to His honor and glory. Kathy
—-I found out I have a spot on my liver and am requesting prayers. Dan
—-My boys, Alan and Jon have had a bad cough lately. Doctor said it’s a virus and just has to run its course but gave us some meds to help with the cough and Alan’s ear infection. Normally, one gets sick, then a few days later the other gets sick. I was really thankful they were not required to do a nasal swab, as that sets off Alan’s anxiety and fears. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,

I’ve been thinking about Darlene lately and missing her, evan though she died of cancer almost twenty years ago. I am very lonely for a friend as close as was we were. We spent a lot of time together and had the same interests and enjoyments. She was very knowledgeable in the things of nature, and I learned many things from her. We could drop by one another’s house without calling first and be totally welcome even if our house was not ready for company. We could be perfectly comfortable to share our inmost thoughts and feelings with each other. Many were the times when we would study God’s Holy Word and pray together. Darlene had been a strong student of the Word for years and I learned so much from her. When we moved away, I missed her greatly.

I was not the only one who benefited from Darlene’s friendship. She had many other friends. Our Saviour had given her the gift of helps. (1 Cor 12:28) She was totally unselfish putting others’ needs, others’ desires before her own. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, she used her devastating condition to help those she met. She became involved in the lives of the other cancer patients in the doctor’s waiting room. Often, she spoke words of encouragement to them and pointed them to the Great Physician. She always carried little books, such as Steps to Christ, to give to them. Many times, she was able to go to their homes and study the Word of God with them. Many times, she took them food that she had baked or potatoes she had gleaned from the potato fields. Many of those people gave their heart to the Lord. Surely, they will be stars in her crown someday.

Even though we were miles apart, we kept in contact by phone. The moment I would say “Hello,” she would know who it was. She knew me so well. She would not talk to me very long, before she could tell that I was feeling a little “down” even though I tried to hide it. (Often the reason I was feeling sad, was because of her condition.) Even during the last weeks of her life, she spent time encouraging me, whenever I called to encourage her.

I have never met anyone, before or since, who was so totally focused on the needs of others. Our Loving Saviour longs for each one of us to look away from self and take the time to share His love with those we meet just as Darlene had. How much she exemplified her Saviour, Who, when He was upon this earth, ” went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.” Matt 4:23, 24 “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24

Our Dear Saviour would have us “follow in His steps, to be “an example . . . in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim 4:12 He said of His work, ” I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30 So we are to seek not our own will but His will

May we set aside our selfish desires as did Darlene and daily lay ourselves at the foot of the cross praying “Here am I; send me.” Isa 6:8

Rose