We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1.
We are to be partners in the work of God throughout the world; wherever there are souls to be saved, we are to lend our help, that many sons and daughters may be brought to God. The end is near, and for this reason we are to make the most of every entrusted ability and every agency that shall offer help to the work. . . .
How the angels must feel as they see the end approaching, and see so many of those entrusted with the last message of mercy huddling together, attending meetings for the sake of benefit to their own souls, and feeling dissatisfied if there is not much preaching, while they have little burden and are doing little for the salvation of others. All who are indeed united to Christ by living faith will be partakers of the divine nature. They will be constantly receiving from Him spiritual life, and they cannot be silent.
Life always shows itself in action. If the heart is living, it will send the lifeblood to every part of the body. Those whose hearts are filled with spiritual life will not need to be urged to reveal it. The divine life will flow forth from them in rich currents of grace. As they pray, as they speak, and as they labor, God is glorified. . . .
It is not the most brilliant or the most talented whose work produces the greatest and most lasting results. Who are the most efficient laborers? Those who will respond to the invitation: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
If men to whom God has entrusted talents of intellect refuse to use these gifts to His glory, after test and trial He will leave them to their own imaginings and will take men who do not appear to be so richly endowed, who have not large self-confidence, and He will make the weak strong because they trust in God to do for them those things which they cannot do for themselves. God will accept the wholehearted service, and will Himself make up the deficiencies.
Angels are listening to hear what kind of report you are bearing to the world about your heavenly Master.
Marantha p. 115
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Sherri needs prayers. Her doctor has told her that she needs surgery to repair her aortic valve, but at this point she is not good enough to have one. Her doctor says the odds of her surviving the surgery are not good. RJ
—-Please pray for Leisa whose cancer has returned and she will soon be on hospice. Pray for her family during this time of distress. Rose
—– A very urgent prayer request for Emily…Tristan and Rami. Emily told Heidi that she and the boys are moving to Washington DC with her boyfriend the middle of December. This will be devastating for the boys but especially for Rami. The only stability they have ever known has been with Heidi. I am BEGGING God to intervene and prevent this move. Penni—–update—Ivan’s surgery went well. The tumor was not wrapped around the diaphragm or any organs as the doctor had old us after reading the CT scan. The pathology report has come back and it is not cancer!!! Ivan was anointed by his pastor the Friday night before his surgery and we are sure that God gave us a miracle! Jeannie—–Please pray for Bryce who is hospitalized with a small bowel obstruction. The doctor has decided that he does not need surgery and should be out of the hospital in a couple of days. Please pray that whatever treatment the doctor decides on will be effective. Rose —– Picked mom up yesterday to go grocery shopping. Not an hour after I picked her up and half way through the store she started feeling poorly. Took her to the ER around 8, severe belly pain etc. Today (Sunday)has been a day of tests and doctors. She will be on antibiotics for the next 24 hours to see if they will clear up the infection. May need surgery. LORD willing that won’t be the case. Prayers for wisdom, healing and patience please. Susan
Please pray for A and D as they are looking for work. L
——I want to put my husband in prayers . He is looking for a job for some time but nothing yet. We need your help in prayer. God knows him by name. EL
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Dear Friends,
When Esther Marie was a little girl, her playmates were her brother and Travis, the little boy down the road. Because of this, she was very much a “tomboy.” The three children roamed the fields and woods together for hours nearly every day. They tracked animals, watched them interact with one another, played catch, climbed trees, etc. For the most part, they had a happy time.
Esther and Travis did not always get along well, however. They had their times when they would fight. One such time was when our church was having a campout, a nice time of fellowship together out in the woods on the bank of the Columbia River. Just what started the tussle between the two children this time, I never found out, but to put it mildly, they were not too happy with one another and decided to play separately for awhile.
During the time when Travis and Ronnie Jay were playing without her, Esther found a bull snake to be her friend. When she showed me, I told her to find a safe place to put it down as there were quite a few ladies who did not share her love for snakes. She found a very safe place to deposit that snake—in Travis’ sleeping bag. When he crawled into the sleeping bag an hour or two later, the whole camp heard his loud yell. The snake had been discovered! Of course that did not help their friendship much. He was not too happy with her at that moment.
The next day all was forgiven. They were playing happily together and all thoughts of the ordeal of the night before were forgotten. That is the beauty of little children. They see the best in others and are trusting and loving naturally. They might not always get along all of the time, but they do not hold a grudge. Tears turn into smiles within a few moments.
When Jesus was upon this earth, his disciples often fought over who would be the greatest. One day “Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:2-4 Of course, He was speaking of the loving, trusting, forgiving spirit of a little child and not one of the spoiled ones that we so often see.
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.” Matt 18:21,22 A loving, forgiving spirit is very important to Jesus. It is something that He longs to help us develop. He counsels us, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25, 26 Whether we have a tender and forgiving heart or not affects our relationship with the Great Giver of Forgiveness.
May we ask our Heavenly Father to give us a loving, tender, forgiving spirit for we do not possess it naturally. May we see others through our Saviour’s eyes and love them as does He. May we forgive as we have been forgiven for He bids us, “love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:35, 36
Rose