|
Jesus asks us to go fishing Our first lesson is to learn the will of God, even though we pass through trying circumstances, and then, knowing His will, to obey unquestioningly. Such obedience will always be rewarded. What was the result of Simon's obedience? "And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their nets brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink" (verses 6, 7). Jesus designed this experience to be an encouragement to these fishermen in their future efforts in fishing for souls. . . . What a powerful influence this wonderful transaction produced upon the minds of these humble fishermen! Christ's power had drawn the fish into Simon's net, but these honest-hearted men were themselves completely caught in the net that Christ has prepared for them. "They forsook all, and followed him" (verse 11). Upward Look p. 288 |
| A conscience void of offense toward God and man, a heart that feels the tenderest sympathy for human beings, especially that they may be won for Christ, will have the attributes that Christ had. All such will be imbued with His Spirit. They will have a reservoir of persuasion and a storehouse of simple eloquence. {TM 120.2} |
 As the stars for ever and ever: what does
it mean?
"They that turn many to righteousness" shall shine "as the stars for ever and
ever" (Dan. 12:3). That is how we shall shine. The glory of God will rest upon you. You cannot become interested in a soul but that an
angel of God will be close at your side and will move that soul. {2SAT 18.2} |
| Battle Promises for God's soldiers. Count the cost, soldier, your path is not possible to survive with out the direct strength from Jesus, Your Captain. Here are promises which have special meaning to us after 13 trips into dangerous situations while sharing the gospel with the hungry. |
 Angels
from the world of light are near to those who in humility seek for divine
guidance. DA 141-2
|
 Luke10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
This one was found dead in the path we took the night before in the dark. AT that very spot I was claiming the above promise as I thought about what could be lurking in the dark at my feet as in faith I walked home after preaching the gospel. Jesus did that to reassure me of numerous other events HE shielded me from. It might be fun to know about all of them someday. |
   Isaiah
40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint. |
  When
terrified by the terrible fevers that laid two sons near death in a motel
in India, God reminded me not to fear. He gave me wisdom to run IV's for
hydration and IV antibiotics. Just a couple hours before the long flight,
God helped them stand up. God reminded me to trust by reminding me of
Mathew 6 where Jesus said, consider the lilies. Just in front of my path
this gorgeous flower dropped from the tree and floated in a puddle.
It's beauty reminded me of: Mathew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: As a doctor and mother, I had done all I could possibly do and prayed for the two sons. I had emailed friends back home to pray and to doctor husband for medical opinions on what next to do. Now it was time to just relax in God's love knowing He had all things in His control. God helped me relax by dropping this perfect blossom right in front of me. Oh, thank God for His reminders! "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; But verily God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which has not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me." Psalms 121:18-20 |
|
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:22. I am instructed to point those who are in need of wisdom to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. . . . "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:5-8, 12). "Ask, and it shall be given you," the Saviour declared; "seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matt. 7:7, 8). . . . Never should a worker encourage one who is in need of instruction and help to go first to human agencies for an understanding of his duty. . . . It is a wrong education to teach our people to lean on human aids, instead of going to the Lord in prayer. The enemy of souls has been the instigator of this, that minds might become obscured. . . . Those who bear responsibilities in the work are to cooperate with heavenly angels in teaching men and women to look to God as the source of their strength. . . . Consecrate yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Seek the One who understands your every weakness, and who never makes a mistake. He is able to impart to you His rich grace. Looking unto Jesus, studying His Word, learn to humble your soul before God and to wrestle in prayer with Him. . . . Upward Look p. 290 |
  India
Temperature record high in Nuzvid May 2002, at 130 degrees kills bats and
birds. They fall panting to the ground and die. Thousands die of heat
stroke. Yet only we felt it with our skin on our faces like looking into
an open oven.
Psalms 121:2 My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. |
 When we have asked for His blessing, we should believe
that we receive it, and thank Him that we HAVE received
it. Then
we are to go about our duties, assured that the blessing will be realized
when we need it most. When we have learned to do this, we
shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding
abundantly," "according to the riches of His glory,"
and "the working of His mighty power."
Ephesians 3:20, 16, and 1:19. Desire of Ages 200 |
| If their minds were properly disciplined, and were stored with the precious lessons of Christ, then at any time and in any emergency they could draw from the treasure house of knowledge things both new and old, to feed the church of God, giving to every man his portion of meat in due season. If Christ is abiding in the soul, He will be as living fountain, "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." {TM 148.3}
May God help you remember what you stored up. May He touch those memory cells and bring to mind these precious promises in any emergency. |
| Pray, and sing, and speak the word.. . . Spiritual freedom will come to those who consecrate themselves unreservedly, and the quickening grace of Christ will bring light and peace and joy. The saving influence of truth will sanctify the soul of the receiver. Upward Look p.91 |
| Surrender will and depend on God for
wisdom and power
|
 Armies
Defend Workers
Elisha beheld the nearer hill slopes covered with the armies of God--horses and chariots of fire round about the servant of the Lord. So, in all ages, angels have been near to Christ's faithful followers. The vast confederacy of evil is arrayed against all who would overcome; but Christ would have us look to the things which are not seen, to the armies of heaven encamped about all who love God, to deliver them. From what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been preserved through the interposition of the angels, we shall never know, until in the light of eternity we see the providences of God. Then we shall know that the whole family of heaven was interested in the family here below, and that messengers from the throne of God attended our steps from day to day. {DA 240.3} |
 Angels
Work in Co-op
We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love. {DA 297.3} |
| Life Secure in God's
hands till your work is completed
Jesus remained with His disciples forty days, causing them joy and gladness of heart as He opened to them more fully the realities of the kingdom of God. He commissioned them to bear testimony to the things which they had seen and heard concerning His sufferings, death, and resurrection, that He had made a sacrifice for sin, and that all who would might come unto Him and find life. With faithful tenderness He told them that they would be persecuted and distressed; but they would find relief in recalling their experience and remembering the words which He had spoken to them. He told them that He had overcome the temptations of Satan and obtained the victory through trials and suffering. Satan could have no more power over Him, but would bring his temptations to bear more directly upon them and upon all who should believe in His name. But they could overcome as He had overcome. Jesus endowed His disciples with power to work miracles, and told them that although they should be persecuted by wicked men, He would from time to time send His angels to deliver them; their
|
| The Savior has not promised His followers the luxuries of the world; their fare may be plain, and even scanty; their lot may be shut in by poverty; but His word is pledged that their need shall be supplied and He has promised that is far better...the abiding comfort of His won presence. DA 367 |
| How often our hearts sink, and faith fails us, as we see how great is the need, and how small the means in our hands. ...Give them to eat...In the command is a promise; and behind it is the same power that fed the multitude beside the sea. DA 369...food multiplied in His hands...bring your barley loaves to Jesus .If the work be of God, He himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance upon Him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting....with our hands of faith outstretched to receive, we will be sustained in our work, even under the most forbidding circumstances, and shall be enabled to give to others the bread of life. DA 371......"And He that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God." Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-11, RV margin |
Those who are called to suffer for Christ's sake, who have to endure misapprehension and distrust, even in their own home, may find comfort in the thought that Jesus has endured the same. He is moved with compassion for them. He bids them find companionship in Him, and relief where He found it, in communion with the Father. {DA 327.1}Those who accept Christ as their personal Savior are not left as orphans, to bear the trials of life alone. He receives them as members of the heavenly family; He bids them call His Father their Father. They are His "little ones," dear to the heart of God, bound to Him by the most tender and abiding ties. |
 Care for Orphans Until death shall be swallowed up in victory, there will be orphans to be cared for, who will suffer in more ways than one if the tender compassion and loving-kindness of our church members are not exercised in their behalf. The Lord bids us, "Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house." Christianity must supply fathers and mothers for these homeless ones. The compassion for the widow and the orphan manifested in prayers and deeds, will come up in remembrance before God, to be rewarded by and by.--Review and Herald, June 27, 1893. {ChS 215.5} |
He [Enoch] was of one mind with God. . . . If we are of one mind with God, our will will be swallowed up in God's will, and we shall follow wherever God leads the way. As a loving child places his hand in that of his father, and walks with him in perfect trust whether it is dark or bright, so the sons and daughters of God are to walk with Jesus through joy or sorrow. {CC 28.4} |
  Those who are brought in controversy with the enemies of truth have to meet, not only men, but Satan and his agents. Let them remember the
Savior's words, "Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:3. Let them rest in the love of God, and the spirit will be kept calm, even under personal abuse. The Lord will clothe them with a divine panoply. His Holy Spirit will influence the mind and heart,
so that their voices shall not catch the notes of the baying of the wolves. {DA 353.3}
The disciples failed in casting out demons at the foot of the mountain because they lacked faith. "The carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them, had caused their failure ... In order to succeed...their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. ...The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand of faith. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you." Mathew 17:20; DA 429-431 Your energy and efficiency in the upbuilding of My kingdom, Jesus says, depend upon your receiving of My Spirit...and by beholding, he becomes changed. His fear is turned to JOY, his doubts to HOPE. Gratitude springs up. The stony heart is broken. A tide of love sweeps into the soul. Christ is in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. DA 438-439 "It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. .. we shall be changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18; DA 83 |
 God's
grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency. ..It shall
be given to you in that same hour...Mt. 10:19
I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. . .But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:18-27 Even hairs of your head are numbered, fear not, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Mt. 10:30-31 The disciples were not endowed with the courage and fortitude of the martyrs until such grace was needed. Then the ...promise was fulfilled... Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious truths of God's word...His servants were not to be discouraged by persecution, but to seek a place where they could still labor for the salvation of souls. " DA 353-355 The Saviour bade His disciples not to hope that the world's enmity to the gospel would be overcome, and that after a time its opposition would cease. He said, " I am not come to send peace, but a sword. This creating of strife is not the effect of the gospel, but the result of opposition to it. Of all persecution the hardest to bear is varieance in the home, the estrangement of the dearest earthly friends. But Jesus declares, "He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after ME, is not worthy of ME." Remember Elijah was accused of troubling Israel? Beware when all men speak well of you. (Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.) Elijah responded by saying, I am not he that troubles Israel and boldly told the king Ahab, leader of God's people he himself was the one troubling Israel. I Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel? Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1:29 "And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor." DA 225 |
 The
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
HIMSELF strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. 2
Chron. 16:9
He looks at everyone as personally as though they were the only one on this earth. Each has a work He could assign if they were willing. |
 I will bring you back from the
foreign country. Ps. 107:1-3 Good News |
| Walk by faith not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7 |
| Be not afraid nor dismayed by the reason of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. 1 Chron 20:15 |
| ...we speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 2 Chron. 20:15 |
 Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse...and prove ME...says the LORD OF
HOSTS, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. I will rebuke
the devourer for your sakes...And all
nations will call you blessed. Malachi 3: 10-12 |
|
|
| The mission of Christ's servants is a high honor, and a sacred trust, "He that receiveth you," He says, "receiveth ME, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me." No act of kindness shown to them in His name will fail to be recognized and rewarded. DA 354-358. |
| And whether we sow or reap, we are working for God. One scatters the seed; another gathers in the harvest; and both the sower and the reaper receive wages. They rejoice together in the reward of their labor. {DA 191.5} |
| The lives of the workers may be endangered by those who are controlled by Satan. It is then their privilege to follow the example of their Master, and go to another place.
"Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel," Christ said, "till the Son of man be come." [MATT. 10:23.] Let the messengers of truth pass on to another field. Here may be a more favorable opportunity for work, and they may successfully sow the seed of truth and reap the harvest. The report of their success will find its way to the place where the work was apparently unsuccessful, and the next messenger of truth who goes there will be more favorably received. {GW 410.1} The seed sown in trial and discouragement will be seen to have life and vitality. Adversity, sorrow, loss of property, the changes of God's providence, recall with vivid distinctness the words spoken years before by the faithful servant of God. The seed sown springs up and bears fruit. {GW 410.2} God has need of wise men and women who will labor earnestly to accomplish the work committed to them. He will use them as His instruments in the conversion of souls. Some will sow, and some will reap the harvest of the seed sown. Let every one do his best to improve his talents, that God may use him either as a sower or as a reaper. {GW 410.3} |
| When work is harder hearts more hardened.
At the eleventh hour, when the work grows harder and the people are more hardened, there will be a variety of talent brought in. These workers will prove faithful and receive their penny. Sacrificing men will step into the places made vacant by those who would not be fitted for a place in the heavenly temple. These resources will continue to come in. The Lord will provide openings and facilities. He will call upon the youth to fill up the places made vacant by deaths and apostasies. He will give young men and women, as well as those who are older, the cooperation of the heavenly intelligences. They will have converted characters, converted minds, converted hands, converted feet, and converted tongues. Their lips will be touched with a living coal from the divine altar. If they will learn the lesson of walking humbly before God, if they will not seek to invent new plans, but will do that which the Lord has appointed them to do, they will be enabled to carry God's plan onward and upward without narrowing it. . {10MR 170.3}(This is fulfilled by the talent gifted to children to design graphics, do web sites, and help with illustrating Bible stories.) |
|
Angels present prayers to God; also record them: "Those who look unto Jesus day by day and hour by hour, who watch unto prayer, are drawing nigh to Jesus. Angels with wings outspread wait to bear their contrite prayers to God, and to register them in the books of heaven."---Ellen G. White Comments, S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1184 Appointed to answer: "Heavenly beings are appointed to answer the prayers of those who are working unselfishly for the interests of the cause of God. The very highest angels in the heavenly courts are appointed to work out the prayers which ascend to God for the advancement of the cause of God. Each angel has his particular post of duty, which he is not permitted to leave for any other place."---Ibid., p. 1173 Obey instantly: "Ministering angels are waiting about the throne to instantly obey the mandate of Jesus Christ to answer every prayer offered in earnest, living faith."---Selected Messages, b.2, p. 377 Will come to our help: "We may through the exercise of faith and prayer, call to our side a retinue of heavenly angels, who will guard us from every corrupting influence."---Our High Calling, page 23 Bring many blessings: "Angels are constantly . . . bringing blessing and hope, courage and help, to the children of men."---The Acts of the Apostles, page 153 "Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul."---Steps to Christ page 53 Choose our words; influence our actions: "When you rise in the morning, do you feel your helplessness and your need of strength from God? . . . If so, angels mark your prayers, and if these prayers have not hone forth out of feigned lips, when you are in danger of unconsciously doing wrong and exerting an influence which will lead others to do wrong, your guardian angel will be by your side, prompting you to a better course, choosing your words for you and influencing your actions."---Testimonies, vol. 3, pp. 363,364
These flat rocks are gathered each time we pray for the cabin. They are laid out by our little apricot tree. These rocks are our own evidence of the many times we prayed. The snow did not stick on these, showing me that God can't forget my prayers. It was like these rocks were warmed by heaven to show my prayers were never forgotten. Nov 2002
|
|
Results of Holy Spirit 
 God
can breathe new life into every soul that sincerely desires to serve Him,
and can touch the lips with a live coal from off the altar, and cause them
to become eloquent with His
praise. Thousands of voices will be imbued with the power to speak forth
the wonderful truths of God's Word. The stammering tongue will be
unloosed, and the timid will be
made strong to bear courageous testimony to the truth. May the
Lord help His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and
to maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be partakers of
the latter rain when it shall be poured out (RH July 20, 1886).
{6BC 1055.6}
Jesus did that for us as we timid moms spoke to thousands. I was preaching the everlasting gospel and nurse Barbara giving health talks to 7,000 in Tenali area and into 18 cities of India. God has made my timid heart strong to give the gospel in Borneo, in Russia, and in Mexico. I could never have enough courage to speak in class throughout my 28 years of schooling. I would feel like I was going to faint. Jesus gave me courage to even travel to preach the gospel without even my husband along. I leaned only on Jesus. He gave the power promised.
|
 Email
Rose if you want to help with project returning to India for more
gospel meetings.. Email an encouraging promise.
Pray for us. Thanks.
or
|
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 
"The
words of Christ teach that we should regard ourselves as inseparably bound
to our Father in heaven. Whatever our position, we are dependent upon God,
who holds all destinies in His hands. He has appointed us our work, and
has endowed us with faculties and means for that work. So long as we
surrender the will to God, and trust in His strength and wisdom, we shall
be guided in safe paths, to fulfill our appointed part in His great plan.
But the one who depends upon His own wisdom and power is separating
himself from God. Instead of working in unison with Christ, he is
fulfilling the purpose of the enemy of God and man." DA 209
Angels
record all our prayers to increase the knowledge of God among children.
Angels know the obstacles and opposition we face from those who pretend to
love God. God has promised and He appointed