O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Deuteronomy 5:29.
After Satan was shut out of heaven, with those who fell with him, he realized that he had lost all the purity and glory of heaven forever….
He consulted with his angels, and a plan was laid to still work against God’s government. When Adam and Eve were placed in the beautiful garden, Satan was laying plans to destroy them….
Satan commenced his work with Eve, to cause her to disobey. She first erred in wandering from her husband, next, in lingering around the forbidden tree, and next in listening to the voice of the tempter, and even daring to doubt what God had said—In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. She thought, Perhaps it does not mean just as the Lord said. She ventured to disobey. She put forth her hand, took of the fruit, and ate…. She offered the fruit to her husband, thereby tempting him….
I saw a sadness come over Adam’s countenance. He appeared afraid and astonished. A struggle appeared to be going on in his mind. He felt … that his wife must die. They must be separated. His love for Eve was strong. And in utter discouragement he resolved to share her fate. He seized the fruit, and quickly ate it. Then Satan exulted….
Adam, through his love for Eve, disobeyed the command of God, and fell with her.
Notwithstanding the sophistry of Satan to the contrary, it is always disastrous to disobey God. We must set our hearts to know what is truth. All the lessons which God has caused to be placed on record in His Word are for our warning and instruction. They are given to save us from deception. Their neglect will result in ruin to ourselves. Whatever contradicts God’s Word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan.
The Faith I Live By p. 73
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Prayer Requests
—-I have several unspoken prayer requests. Please pray for them. L
—-Please pray for my younger sister Sue. Today she told me that she has been to see a cardiologist because she has been having heart problems. She needs to have more tests done. She is a single mom in her 40s who has gone back to school and has major stress in her life. Thank you. Mary
—-My daughter-in-law who is into the occult got in a big argument with my son and left with my 8-year-old granddaughter. Please pray for my granddaughter’s protection and that she will continue to love Jesus. Connie
—-The devil is trying to destroy my son Darin. He called me last Sabbath morning and told me he was attacked from behind, by some mean hombres down in _____. They beat him up, reinjured his ribs, which were already broken, and cut him up. They stole his wallet with all his I.D, credit cards, drivers license, and all his money. He asked me, “Please pray for me Mom, I’m lost.” He is all alone down there in _____. Please pray that God sends someone to rescue him, a Christian friend who will help lead him back to Jesus, and into a rehab program. Caryl
—-My friend’s 4 month old niece was flown to Seattle last night with a terrible respiratory infection and pneumonia. She is not stable, not breathing on her own and is in very critical condition. Please pray for this beautiful little baby girl and her family. Lori
—-I need prayers for my husband Carlos. We went to get his last test to clear him for surgery and his ekg was abnormal. His primary doctor kept asking him is he had been having chest pains. So, I’m praying it’s not serious but, only God knows. I’m praying the first ekg was incorrect since it’s done by a nurse/helper. Connie R
—-Please to pray little peter Jr he has symptoms of malaria including high fever. Jervis
—-Raven has a long road to recovery and needs prayer. The 24 yr old slipped off a cliff and fell nearly 100 feet. She had surgery on both ankles/wrist, had several spine/neck fractures, and a punctured lung. Loved ones call it miracle she survived. Jenny
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Dear Friends,
The recent train derailment made me think of the time when Ron and Eileen went to town and heard that a several square block area was blocked off because of a train derailment. When they returned, we decided to watch the news to find out more information. (Thankfully, it was relatively minor compared to the recent one.) The train was on an elevated track and one car had even fallen off and crushed part of our cable company’s roof. Cable service to part of the city was interrupted. An eyewitness told the news reporter that he believed an axle broke as he saw sparks coming from a certain part of the train. Almost immediately, the boxcars began to derail.
How often we feel as derailed as that train. One cherished sin is like that broken axle. It causes the rest of our “train” to get off track. Our sins, like a heavy boxcar, rise up to crush us. We cannot save ourselves from the derailment that our iniquities have caused. We are as helpless to get back on track as were those boxcars. We are in despair. Isaiah explains our situation, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isa 64:6;1:5,6;59:1,2 Yet our Loving Redeemer is anxiously listening for our prayer of repentance. He is longing for us to return to Him. He, alone, can get us back on track! With great desire, He pleads with us, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 “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 “Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” Joel 2:12 “Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zec 1:3 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13
Thank God! He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 Praise God! He has provided a way of cleansing! “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 Solomon tells us, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov 28:13 John assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness….My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1John 1:9-2:3
May we daily pray as did David, “Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.” Ps 38:21,22 May we daily confess and forsake our sins clinging to God’s mercy, declaring as did Jacob, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Gen 32:26 May we continually accept of His grace, which He so freely offers, allowing Him to take control of our derailed situation and set us back onto the track that leads to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose