Jesus … said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10.
The gifts of God are on every hand, and all His gifts come to us through the merit of Jesus, whom He gave to the world. The apostle Paul breaks forth in an exclamation of gratitude, saying, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” And with Christ God has given us all things. The opening bud, the blooming flowers in their variety and loveliness, delightful to the senses, are the work of the Master Artist’s expressions of His love toward us…. The Lord has taken great care that everything should be grateful and pleasant to us, and yet how much greater effort He has made to provide us with that gift whereby we may perfect a Christian character, after the pattern of Christ.
Through the flowers of the field God would call our attention to the loveliness of Christlike character…. God is a lover of the beautiful. He desires that we shall consider the lovely flowers of the valley, and learn lessons of trust in Him. They are to be our teachers…. The Lord takes care of the flowers of the field, and clothes them with loveliness, and yet He has made it evident that He looks upon humanity as of greater value than the flowers for which He cares….
Suppose that our benevolent Father should grow weary with our ingratitude, and for a few weeks should withhold His innumerable bounties. Suppose He should become discouraged in seeing His treasures applied to selfish ends, in hearing no response of praise and gratitude for His unmerited mercies, and should forbid the sun to shine, the dew to fall, the earth to yield her increase. What a sensation would be created! What dismay would fall upon the world! What a cry would be raised as to what we should do to supply our tables with food and our bodies with clothing! …
God has not only supplied us with temporal benefits, but has provided for our eternal welfare; “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” … Oh, if we did but know the gift of God, if we did but appreciate what this gift of God means to us, we would have been earnestly seeking for it with unwavering perseverance.—Signs of the Times, June 19, 1893.
From the Heart p. 91
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my daughter, Rose. She and her husband are considering buying a house out in Montana, and I would like to request prayer for them, that if it is the Lord’s will for them that they purchase this house, that He will work it out that their offer will be accepted. The Lord knows what is best. My daughter is not a Christian but I feel like she wants me to pray about this. anonymous
—-Would you say a prayer for my husband right now? He is being attacked by the enemy. anonymous
—-Please pray for Justin and Savannah. Their 4-month-old baby girl, Stella, passed away unexpectedly from SIDS. Kathy
—-Please pray for Rita who is waiting for a heart cath and kidney stone surgery. Rose
—-A friend who had spinal surgery in January and is still trying to recover, fell and broke his right hip. Please pray for him. Aleta
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Dear Friends,
I thought that I would share a very familiar song with you that I shared some years ago. It should be the sentiment of our heart.
I’d Rather Have Jesus
Words by Rhea F. Miller
Music by George Beverly Shea
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause,
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
When Jesus walked this earth, “one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, ….if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matt 19:16-22
This rich young man’s possessions were more important to him than was the One Who was giving His life that he might live eternally. Jesus tells us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” vs 24-26 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” 6:24
So it is with us. Throughout each day, we are making decisions for or against our Dear Saviour. Each day we have the opportunity to do His. Yet, how often we go through the day with scarcely a thought heavenward. How often our desires, our wishes, our plans are first and foremost in our mind. May we lay aside our plans and follow Jesus’ plan for our life, serving Him with our whole heart is my prayer.
Rose