Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28.
Many of the young are eager for books. They read everything they can obtain. Exciting love stories and impure pictures have a corrupting influence. Novels are eagerly perused by many, and, as the result, their imagination becomes defiled. In the cars, photographs of females in a state of nudity are frequently circulated for sale. These disgusting pictures are . . . hung upon the walls of those who deal in engravings. This is an age when corruption is teeming everywhere. The lust of the eye and corrupt passions are aroused by beholding and by reading. The heart is corrupted through the imagination. The mind takes pleasure in contemplating scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These vile images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals and prepare the deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful passions. Then follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in the image of God down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last in perdition. Avoid reading and seeing things which will suggest impure thoughts. Cultivate the moral and intellectual powers. Let not these noble powers become enfeebled and perverted by much reading of even storybooks. . . .
It is impossible for the youth to possess a healthy tone of mind and correct religious principles unless they enjoy the perusal of the word of God. This book contains the most interesting history, points out the way of salvation through Christ, and is their guide to a higher and better life. They would all pronounce it the most interesting book they ever perused, if their imagination had not become perverted by exciting stories of a fictitious character. You who are looking for your Lord to come the second time to change your mortal bodies, and to fashion them like unto His most glorious body, must come up upon a higher plane of action. You must work from a higher standpoint than you have hitherto done, or you will not be of that number who will receive the finishing touch of immortality.
Maranatha p. 143
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for Abby, she is a 4 month old who is in the hospital with a viral .she is on oxygen, and will be there for several days. also her 2 year old sister has pneumonia she is two her name is Chan. please keep these two precious girls in prayer. M.
—–Please pray for our friend Willis C. He was just in a bad car accident Thank you! Vickie
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Dear Friends,
When Ronnie Jay was almost four, we moved to a small trailer park next to our pastor’s house. Ronnie Jay thought Pastor John Earnhardt was the most wonderful person in the world. His greatest happiness was in spending time with him. Whenever the man would mow his large lawn, do some repair work, or anything else outside of his house, Ronnie Jay would follow him around like a little puppy dog, talking constantly, and nearly always getting in the way. Sometimes the pastor would send him home because he was afraid that our son would get hurt, but most of the time he let him stay. Over time, they developed quite a bond.
One of Ronnie Jay’s fondest childhood memories is of a church campout when he was seven. From infancy, Ronnie Jay had the habit of awaking shortly after the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, but he never awakened us. Even when camping, he was quiet. That particular campout was no exception. When he awakened, he unzipped the tent and quietly crept outside and began exploring the campsite. Before long, he noticed that he was not the only one awake. Pastor Earnhardt, was quietly sitting against a tree, reading his Bible. Soon Ronnie Jay was beside him quietly watching him. Before long, they were in whispered conversation.
When we finally awakened, we saw the two of them sharing their special time together. They did not notice that we were watching. A short distance away was our pastor with his arms around Ronnie Jay, teaching him how to swing a bat. Then Pastor Earnhardt walked a short distance away and tossed the ball toward our son. Ronnie Jay swung the bat just as his hero taught him. He was delighted when he actually hit it and it went sailing a few yards away. The pastor was nearly as excited as he was.
Just as Ronnie Jay watched for Pastor Earnhardt to come out of the house so he could be with him, so our main focus is to be upon our Dear Saviour. Our most precious thoughts should be of Him. How we should love to speak of His great sacrifice. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psa 123:1,2; 145:15,16 As we behold our Loving Creator, we will be “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18
Just as our son’s happiest times were when he could spend time with our pastor, so our happiest times should be when we spend time communing with our Loving Redeemer by reading His Holy Word and in prayer. David declared, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” “O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” Ps 5:3; 55:17; 30:12; 119:9-12 “Paul advises, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 Praise God! As we study and pray, we can feel His presence! Moreover, He promises to be our Leader and Guide. We do not have to flounder in the confusing maze the evil one has placed around us. Our Great Redeemer bids us, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Jer 33:3; Isa 30:21; Ps 32:8
Our Dear Saviour calls, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev 3:20,21
Let us continually keep our focus upon our Great Redeemer. Let us joyfully open our heart’s door to Him . Let us be diligent to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” doing all that pleases Him for He is our Lord, our Creator, our Saviour, our King! Rev 14:4
Rose