But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31.
We had a very precious season of prayer in our little tent [at the Fresno, California, camp meeting] this morning. I felt my soul drawn out in earnest prayer for you [her husband, James White] and for myself. The dear Saviour seemed very near and very gracious, full of mercy and love. I feel like serving Him with my undivided affection….
Divine power must be combined with human effort or this terrible paralysis of indifference, this deathlike sluggishness will never be broken from the souls of those in darkness and error. Jesus is our strength. He is our Righteousness. We must pray more and exercise faith continually. I feel the necessity of drawing nearer and closer to Jesus. I see I must labor to the point to keep my mind ascending to God continually if I would maintain the victory over Satan’s temptations.
Oh, I have been shown how he exults when we are overcome and the spirit of impatience and faultfinding is indulged. He is in an exultation of triumph, for he knows that this grieves the Spirit of God and separates us from our Strength. Our words must be faultless, our spirit patient, and kind, forbearing, long-suffering, and we manifesting by our words and actions that we have learned of Jesus and are still learning in the school of Christ….
We are, dear husband, building for eternity. God is rich in strength and power, and we may have His shining countenance beaming upon us and we reflecting the light to others…. God will not excuse us in sin who have had so great light. We have not one atom of righteousness of our own to stand upon. All we have ever done is because Jesus has given us His strength and His power, not because there was any inherent goodness or wisdom or righteousness in us. We are sinful and weak and imperfect, and we must feel this strongly enough to reach up for a stronger help and holier power than we possess. Jesus’ life is a perfect model. We must not build upon the sand. If we do, there will be a terrible down-tumbling by and by of our house. Ye are God’s building. Let us show this in a harmonious character.—Letter 25, April 23, 1880, to James White.
The Upward Look p. 127
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Angie’s daughter who is seven months pregnant. Her unborn baby boy has two holes in his heart. Please pray that by the time he is born, the holes will have closed. Esther
—-Please continue to pray for Hannah. She had a bad spell yesterday during tests. Her heart raced to 178 bpm and she passed out. Also her rash became worse. The doctors have no clue why this is happening. Please pray that God will direct their thinking so that they will know what treatment to give her. Rose
—-My 10 year old son is ill. Please pray for healing. His name is Travis. Jenny
—-Please pray that my mother’s precious doggie will be found. When my mom died she left her precious doggie behind. This doggie was one of the last things my dear mother asked about before she died. She wanted to know if her dog was okay. I just found out her dog had somehow gotten out of my mom’s house and she has been missing for about a week. The caregiver has been taking care of her but somehow she got out of the house and it was a foggy day and now she is lost. I am so sad about this. This poor dog loved my mom so much! Please pray that she is ok and will be found soon. My mom had her for over 10 years. Connie
—-I’d appreciate prayers for continued healing and regaining my stamina. Georgia
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Dear Friends,
A couple of days ago, we were reminiscing about something that happened in the early 90’s, when we lived in Washington state. The rural area where we lived had high rolling hills, fields, some trees and few neighbors.
Across the gravel road from us was a house set back a ways. A man, his wife, the man’s father, and at least 30 cats lived there. I hated those cats because they would come over to our yard and I am very allergic to cats.
We began to notice that fewer and fewer cats were coming over to our yard. Had all the times I’d chased them running and growling like a crazy woman finally scared them away? Looking across the road, I could see that there were fewer and fewer cats in the neighbor’s yard. That was puzzling. Where could they have gone?
Ronnie Jay was playing outside one day when he noticed an animal in the field north of their house. It seemed to be eating something. He was able to get a good look at the creature and ran into the house all excited about seeing a wolverine. It seemed strange that one would be in that area, but Ronnie was always very interested in wildlife and I had no doubts that if he said he saw a wolverine, he had truly seen one. We told our friends who did a lot of hiking and camping and they assured us that no wolverines were around there. They said he had to be mistaken.
A few days later, he saw the wolverine again. As it was farther away, he grabbed the binoculars and began stalking the animal. To his surprise, he saw it was eating a cat. Ahhhh! So that’s why the cats were disappearing! Again, we told our naturalist friends. Again, they told us that was impossible.
One day as Ronnie Jay and I were walking down the road, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. This time both of us saw the wolverine! There was no doubt about it. It was not very far away. It faced us and sniffed to see what we were. It definitely looked like all the wolverine pictures I had ever seen. It was marked like a wolverine. It turned and ran away with that distinctive run that only a wolverine has.
That wolverine stayed around as long as there were cats across the road. Then it moved on. About this time, the lady across the street remarked to Eileen, “I don’t know where all my cats have been. They’ve totally disappeared. The only three we have left absolutely refuse to go outside. I don’t know what’s gotten into them.” Eileen didn’t tell her that the three that were left were the only ones who were smart. Those cats knew what had happened to their fellows and they had no desire to be a wolverine’s meal!
Just as that wolverine devoured the neighbor’s cats that wandered around outside the house, so Peter tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 The evil one intends on destroying us just as thoroughly as the cats were destroyed. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev 12:12
Those three cats who refused to leave the safety of their owners’ home were safe as long as they stayed inside. So our only safety is in keeping close to our Dear Saviour’s side. “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Ps 27:4-6; 92:13
Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 8:12; 12:25, 26 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 We must follow and obey Him here or we will never be able to follow Him in His Heavenly Kingdom. (Rev 14:4)
May we never stray from the safety of our Good Shepherd’s fold. (John 10:7-15) May we declare as did David, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Ps 23:4-6
Rose