Our Creator Will Redeem Us

As the shepherd leads his flock over the rocky hills, through forest and wild ravines, to grassy nooks by the riverside; as he watches them on the mountains through the lonely night, shielding from robbers, caring tenderly for the sickly and feeble, his life comes to be one with theirs. A strong and tender attachment unites him to the objects of his care. However large the flock, the shepherd knows every sheep. Every one has its name, and responds to the name at the shepherd’s call. As an earthly shepherd knows his sheep, so does the divine Shepherd know His flock that are scattered throughout the world…. Jesus says, “I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.”

Jesus knows us individually, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which we live, the name of each occupant. He has at times given directions to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city, to such a house to find one of His sheep.

Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto Himself. He bids them, “Follow Me,” and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows who they are. He also knows who gladly hear His call…. He cares for each one as if there were not another on the face of the earth.—The Desire of Ages, 479, 480.
With God at Dawn p. 330
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Esther and family as they travel across country today. Rose
—-Please pray for Rick who was taken to the hospital and put on a ventilator last week now his organs are shutting down and he is in a coma. Please pray for his family. Joann
—-I’m seeking prayers for healing comfort and deliverance. My aunt Claire was hospitalized on Saturday for High blood pressure and while her husband waited to get more news on her, he collapsed and died. Please pray for strength comfort for the family. She’s still in the hospital. Arlene
—-Carl has been in the hospital for 2 days. I brought him home tonight, but his catheter is not working, which is why he was there. We will call the doctor in the morning. Please pray, for release from depression and healing for Carl. And the ability to handle this for me (I have a history of panic attacks; pain from fibro). Sylvia
—-My beloved husband he is very sick again I wish if you could pray with me for him. God have mercy on him. H
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

Until the last few years of her life, my mother had an excellent memory. Now that could have been a blessing if used aright, but unfortunately she used her total recall to dwell on nearly everything bad that had ever happened to her—all the hurt, all the sadness, all the things that had been said or done over the years that had caused her pain. In every conversation, something said in passing or the mere mention of a person’s name brought back a flood of memories that should have been forgotten long before. Because she never forgave and never forgot all the bad things, she relived them over and over.
Forgiveness: what a blessing it is! It erases all of the hurt, all of the pain, all of the sadness from our mind. It brings peace of mind and pleasant happiness to our life. One day Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt 18:14-25

When Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s prayer, He spent extra time explaining forgiveness. He told them, “if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt 6:14, 15 Just as the rain washes away the impurities of the earth, so forgiveness cleanses the mind from the sorrows and heartaches that an unforgiving heart will bring. Forgiveness brings peace of mind. Forgiveness brings freedom from past trials. Forgiveness helps us to reflect the image of the Greatest Forgiver, Who loves us so much “that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Let us “put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col 3:12-17

Rose