God Withholds No Good Thing

The promises of God are full and abundant, and there is no need for anyone to depend upon humanity for strength. To all that call upon Him, God is near to help and succor. And He is greatly dishonored when, after inviting our confidence, we turn from Him—the only one who will not misunderstand us, the only one who can give unerring counsel,—to men who in their human weakness are liable to lead us astray.—Testimonies to Ministers, 381.

God loves the sinless angels, who do His service and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them grace; they have never needed it; for they have never sinned. Grace is an attribute shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it; it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow grace upon all who hunger and thirst for it, not because we are worthy, but because we are unworthy. Our need is the qualification which gives us the assurance that we shall receive the gift.—Testimonies to Ministers, 519.

The gold and the silver are the Lord’s, and He could rain them from Heaven if He chose; but instead of this He has made man His steward, intrusting him with means, not to be hoarded, but to be used in benefiting others. He thus makes man the medium through which to distribute His blessings on earth. God planned the system of beneficence, in order that man might become, like his Creator, benevolent and unselfish in character, and finally be a partaker with Him of the eternal, glorious reward.—Testimonies for the Church 4:473.
With God at Dawn p.60
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for me to rest in the perfect peace of the Lord, and cast out all fear! Satan has been attacking me and I realize that I need to be filled with His Holy Spirit to cast out all fear! Continued prayers for physical healing from our Lord. Annie
–—-My work is starting to work on Sabbath and does not want to accommodate me. Please pray that they will allow me to work more hours on other days to make up for it or that they will let me have Sabbath off. If nothing can be done, please pray that I can get my old job back. JT
—-Please pray for our daughter, Heidi. She had a septic miscarriage yesterday and is on IV fluids and antibiotics. Our prayer is that she will continue to respond well to the antibiotics. Sherlyn
—-Please pray for Larry as he is having a CT scan today to see if the spots in his lungs have gotten any bigger. Eileen
—-Asking for prayers for one of my seniors. Kim
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Dear Friends,

Ronnie Jay has loved animals all of his life and over the years has gotten great enjoyment feeding the birds and rabbits and other critters in whatever area he lives. Some years ago while he still lived at home, however, a not-at-all happy Ronnie Jay came into the house. A cooper’s hawk decided that the birds that frequented his feeder were an easy target. They were. It was like a fast-food restaurant for that raptor. Remnants of the hawk’s meal were evidence of his success. Ronnie Jay was sickened at the sight although he realized that the hawk was only killing so he could eat. He did what he could to give his birds a “fighting chance” by moving the feeder amongst the branches of our huge cottonwood tree. Eventually the hawk went elsewhere. Then a red-tailed hawk decided to try his luck but was unsuccessful. He was much too big to maneuver through the area where Ronnie has the feeders and finally gave up.

In this old world, death is common. Indeed death is necessary for the carnivorous animals’ survival. On this sinful, old planet death seems to be natural, a part of life, but our Loving Creator never intended for there to be any death. He formed the earth to be inhabited by holy, happy beings. He provided everything that was needed to live forever. Sad to say, Adam and Eve sinned and ruined the perfect world they were given. How little they realized the changes that would come from that one act of disobedience—changes not only to their lives but to the animals’ lives as well. How they must have mourned when they saw the first falling leaf, the first dead creature. How responsible they must have felt—and rightly so.

Praise God, our Great Creator did not leave us to die! He provided a way of escape! Jesus, our Saviour, died that second death for us, so that we do not have to! “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” 1 Cor 15:21-23 What great love He has for us! What great deliverance!

Jesus is coming soon to put an end to all the death, all the sorrow, all the pain of this evil world! At that time He will gather together both the righteous living and those who died who had faith in Him. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thes 4:16,17 “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Cor 15:51-55 What a glorious reunion that will be when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away!” Rev 21:4 May we soon see our Loving Saviour coming in the clouds and look up with rejoicing and declare, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:9

Rose