Friendship of Christ’s Friends

It is natural to seek companionship. Everyone will find companions or make them. And just in proportion to the strength of the friendship, will be the amount of influence which friends will exert over one another for good or for evil….

Young persons who are thrown into one another’s society may make their association a blessing or a curse. They may edify, bless, and strengthen one another, improving in deportment, in disposition, in knowledge; or, by permitting themselves to become careless and unfaithful, they may exert only a demoralizing influence.73Testimonies for the Church 4:587, 655.

It is by leading the followers of Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements, that Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin…. The followers of Christ are to separate themselves from sinners, choosing their society only when there is opportunity to do them good. We cannot be too decided in shunning the company of those who exert an influence to draw us away from God. While we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are to shun temptation, so far as possible.74Patriarchs and Prophets, 458, 459.

By the choice of evil companions many have been led step by step from the path of virtue into depths of disobedience and dissipation to which at one time they would have thought it impossible for them to sink.75Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 224.

We may refuse to be corrupted, and place ourselves where evil association shall not corrupt our hearts. Individually the youth should seek for association with those who are toiling upward with unfaltering steps.76Messages to Young People, 423.
The Faith I Live By p. 234
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Buddy who is having a stent put in his heart today. M
—-Our dear son Wesley is now in ICU fighting for his life. He is on total life support and they said his heart is only working at 5%. Please pray for God to heal him. He has little children that love him so much. More than life itself. They will be devastated for life as we will be also. He’s had a very hard and a very sad life. Please pray that Jesus will not allow my dear son to die unsaved in the name of Jesus Christ. Please pray that God will show himself to our son clearly in a dream showing his unbelievable love towards him. And how badly Jesus wants him to be saved. Connie
—-Please pray for me. Buck
—-Please continue to pray for Marvin. Rose
—-Please pray that God will guide E and her children and supply all their needs. R
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Dear Friends,

Wednesday was Ronnie Jay’s birthday. It reminds me of another birthday some years ago when we celebrated by taking a walk at Pawnee Prairie so he could take some pictures. Ron and I walked on the trail while our son took off cross-country looking for deer. He especially wanted to get some photos of fawns. As he walked he prayed that he would find a doe and her fawn interacting naturally.

Praise God! He answered Ronnie Jay’s prayer! Two mothers with their fawns were feeding in a meadow. He got photos of the fawns cavorting and frolicking for sheer love of life. Not all of the photos turned out crisp and clear, but it was still a thrilling experience for him. When one of the fawns discovered Ronnie Jay, it was a little frightened and went over to his mother and touched her nose for reassurance. She must have let her half-grown youngster know that the man with the camera was harmless as he had taken many photos of her and she had suffered no harm, because he soon went back to his play.

How good our Great Creator is to answer our prayers for little desires as well as great needs. He loves us so much that He supplies our every need and fills our life with happiness through granting our requests.

Our Dear Saviour spoke of our Father’s love and care. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6, 7 Think of it! He knows us so well, He is so interested in our wellbeing that He knows everything about us. Jesus illustrated our Great Creator’s promises to take care of us through the things of nature. “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Luke 12:24-32; Matt 7:7-11

May our heart fill with love for our Tenderhearted Redeemer Who yearns for us to ask Him for the blessings He so greatly desires to shower upon us, that He may bring us joy in every aspect of our life.

Rose