The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17.
Our people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy of notice, but a change will come. The Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring commandment-keeping people into prominence.
The whole world is to be stirred with enmity against [God’s true people], because they will not yield homage to the papacy, by honoring Sunday, the institution of this antichristian power. It is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth, in order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed.
Every position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest of the world’s great men will be brought in contact with truth, and therefore every position we take should be critically examined and tested by the Scriptures. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the world’s greatest men, it will be done.
We must individually know for ourselves what is truth, and be prepared to give a reason of the hope that we have with meekness and fear, not in a proud, boasting, self-sufficiency, but with the spirit of Christ. We are nearing the time when we shall stand individually alone to answer for our belief.
We shall be attacked on every point; we shall be tried to the utmost. We do not want to hold our faith simply because it was handed down to us by our fathers. Such a faith will not stand the terrible test that is before us. We want to know . . . what real reason we have for coming out from the world as a separate and distinct people. . . .
The powers of darkness will open their batteries upon us; and all who are indifferent and careless, who have set their affections on their earthly treasure, and who have not cared to understand God’s dealings with His people, will be ready victims. No power but a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, will ever make us steadfast; but with this, one may chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.
Maranatha p. 217
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Prayer Requests
—–update—Abigail’s case is set for April 17. Please pray that God will overrule those who mean her harm. Pray also for her full recovery and that she will be reunited with her parents soon. Debbie
—–update—Ginger is home and on pain meds. Please continue to pray for her back.
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, Mrs. Russell was taking the train home from visiting a friend. When the train stopped at a station along the way, a beautiful, well-dressed young lady with a tiny baby boarded the train. She looked around at all the passengers and decided to sit beside Mrs. Russell. As the train pulled out of the station, the two women began to talk. Mrs. Russell was admiring the baby and before long the young lady asked her if she would please hold him while she went to the restroom. The train stopped at a station and more passengers got on. Some got off. Mrs. Russell talked to the baby and waited for his mother to come back. A half an hour passed. No mother. Forty-five minutes went by. She did not return.
Finally, Mrs. Russell stopped the conductor as he was walking by. She explained that the baby’s mother had not returned from the restroom and she was worried. The conductor checked. The restroom was empty. Then he remembered that the young lady had left the train at the last stop.
The conductor and the woman took the beautiful blanket off the little baby boy. Pinned to his garment was a note. It said, “Please care for my dear baby. When he is 21, he is to go to this bank in Chicago. At that time he will be told who he is and given enough money to go through the university.
When the train arrived in Battle Creek, Mrs. Russell took the baby to the authorities. She got permission (which was much easier in those far-off days) to keep the baby and raise him as her own When James Russell was 21, Mrs. Russell told him this story. He was shocked and horrified! All his life, he had thought she was his real mother. Now he found that his real mother had abandoned him. He was repulsed and sickened by the whole situation. After thinking about it. He decided that he did not want to know who he was. He did not want his real mother’s money. Mrs. Russell had loved him. She had raised him. She was his mother: not the one who gave him birth.
When my mother was a little girl, she lived next door to James Russell. He was a bent-over, white-haired old man who walked on crutches because he had arthritis so badly. He had lived his life as a common laborer in a small house, when he could have had a good education and great riches. When I was a little girl, I used to look at his picture. He and his wife were standing on the steps of their very small wooden house. I would think of the mansion he could have had. It was within his reach. All he had to do was ask for it. But he would not..
Our Heavenly Father has provided a “bank account” for us, yet how many are like Jack and refuse to accept His Great Gift. All that can be done for mankind’s salvation has been done. “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.” John 3:16 It is probably the most familiar verse, but so full of meaning. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.” He says, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6 How our Dear Saviour longs for us to accept His great provision. How He desires us to put our hand in His and allow Him to give us His great gifts of love. He assures us, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Isa 49:15,16 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa 45:22 “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer 31:3
May we never turn away from His marvelous grace. Let us accept His promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9 May we love Him with all our heart , and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength,” is my prayer. Mark 12:33
Rose