And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Luke 4:22.

This morning my heart is drawn out to God in earnest longing of soul for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. What words can I speak that will be appreciated and understood? When Christ was in our world He said to the Pharisees and scribes, “Why do ye not understand my words and appreciate them?” They were continually placing their own construction upon the plain words of truth that fell from His lips….

With clearness and power He spoke the words that were to come down to our time as a treasure of goodness. What precious words they were, and how full of encouragement! From His divine lips there fell with fullness and abundant assurance the benedictions that showed Him to be the fountain of all goodness, and that it was His prerogative to bless and impress the minds of all present. He was engaged in His peculiar, sacred province, and the treasures of eternity were at His command. In the disposal of them He knew no control. It was no robbery with Him to act in the office of God. In His blessings He embraced those who were to compose His kingdom in this world. He had brought into the world every blessing essential to the happiness and joy of every soul, and before that vast assembly He presented the riches of the grace of heaven, the accumulated treasures of the eternal, everlasting Father….

There were occasions when Christ spoke with an authority that sent His words home with irresistible force, with an overwhelming sense of the greatness of the Speaker, and the human agencies shrank into nothingness in comparison with the One before them. They were deeply moved. Their minds were impressed that He was repeating the command from the most excellent glory. As He summoned the world to listen, they were spellbound and entranced, and conviction came to their minds. Every word made for itself a place, and the hearers believed and received the words that they had no power to resist. Every word He uttered seemed to the hearers as the life of God….

“The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me” (John 1:14, 15). Yes, He was before John. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, He led the children of Israel through the wilderness. “And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”—Manuscript 118, August 10, 1905, “A Divine Saviour.”
The Upward Look p. 236
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our little girl, Raven, who is being treated for cancer. Kimberly
—-Please pray for the family of Madison, age 15, who died in a car accident. Connie
—-I really, really need some urgent prayer. The devil has definitely taken a strong hold in this household.
My husband has seriously gone off the deep end! I can not talk with him, he is SO very angry. He wants me out of the house and wants me out now…He is a kidney failure patient on dialysis. I do not know if it is meds or something else? Kimberly F
—-Please keep Lori, Joe and Jay in your prayers. They are battling the Coronavirus. Valerie
—-Please pray that all of David’s mental and emotional issues will be healed. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Every time I see a jetski or skidoo, even on TV or in a magazine, it reminds me of the time we went to the lake with Ronnie Jay’s Pathfinder group so many years ago so many years ago. It was a very happy and relaxing afternoon. We swam, we sat and talked to the others in the group, I even got to drive the skidoo that one of the families brought. That was exhilarating! I had so much fun! I felt so free! All too soon, I had to come back to shore and let someone else have a turn. During that fun afternoon, I could feel all of the stress and tension disappearing. The problems of life seemed far away. It was wonderful.
The Bible speaks of a time when we will sit beside the river of life in God’s Heavenly kingdom. John was given a glimpse of that glorious river. “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Rev 22:1-5
All trials and heartaches will be a thing of the past. Worries and dangers will be no more. We will not be separated from those who are dear to us. We will not have the sorrow of watching those we love suffer pain, disability, or death. All will be unending happiness, joy, and peace. “God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And 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. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” 21:4,5 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the Creator of all things, will personally dry our tears. He will wrap His Great Arms of Love around us and comfort us! All of our pain and heartache will disappear and we will be filled with joy and happiness.
Moreover, we will be able to do the things we’ve always wished we could do here on earth. Isaiah tells us, “Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness.” “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Isa 35:4-8; 11:6, 7; 65:21-24;
Rose

Gracious Words Needed