We are on Trial

We should never forget that we are placed on trial in this world, to determine our fitness for (Heaven).  None can enter Heaven whose characters are defiled by the foul blot of selfishness.

Therefore, God tests us here, by committing to us (earthly) possessions, that our
use of these may show whether we can be trusted with eternal riches.

Counsels on Stewardship, 22, e g white

Salvation - The Father Suffered Too

The Father Himself suffered with the Son; for “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 

Man, with his human, finite judgment, cannot safely question the wisdom of God.  Hence it is unbecoming for him to criticize the plan of salvation. 

 Before the theme of redemption, let man lay his wisdom in the dust, and accept the plans of Him whose wisdom is infinite.

The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him [the devil] who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. 

Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889, e g white

Our Plans are not always God's Plans

Our plans are not always God’s plans.  … He will bless and use in the advancement of His cause those who sincerely devote themselves and all they have to His glory. 

If He sees it best not to grant their desires He will counterbalance the refusal by giving them tokens of His love and entrusting to them another service.

 ....In the future life [Heaven] the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain.  We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings.

 Ministry of Healing, 473, 474, e g white

A Promise

Do not dishonor God by words of repining, but praise Him with heart and soul and voice.  Look on the bright side of everything.  Do not bring a cloud or shadow into your home.  Praise Him who is the light of your countenance and your God.  Do this, and see how smoothly everything will go. 

Selected Messages Vol. 2 p 267, e g white

A Person of Power - the Secret of Success

The secret of success is the union of the divine power with human effort. 

Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon God's strength.

The man who commanded the sun to stand still ....is the man who for hours lay prostrate upon the earth in prayer in the camp of Gilgal.

The man [or woman] of prayer is the man [woman] of power!

Patriarchs & Prophets, 509, e g white

CATHOLIC

LAUX, John.  A COURSE IN RELIGION FOR CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES  Vol. 1  p 51    1936  

 "If we consulted the Bible only, we should still have to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is Saturday."

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSE BULLETIN  August 14, 1942  p 4  Official paper of the Cleveland Roman Catholic Diocese

 "Q.  By what authority did the Church change the observance of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday?

 "A.  The Church changed the observance of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday by right of the divine, infallible authority given to her by her Founder, Jesus Christ. The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday.  In this matter the Seventh-day Adventist is the only consistent Protestant."

THE CATHOLIC VIRGINIAN,  Richmond, Virginia, October 3, 1947

         "All of us believe many things in regard to religion that we do not find in the Bible.  For example, nowhere in the Bible do we find that Christ or the Apostles ordered that the Sabbath be changed to Sunday.  We have the commandment of God given to Moses to keep holy the Sabbath day, that is the seventh day of the week, Saturday.  Today most Christians keep Sunday because it has been revealed to us by the [Catholic] Church outside the Bible."

Even if You're A Really Bad Person

Even if you are a really bad, evil person - God still loves you.  Just go to God, confess your sins, and He will forgive you completely! And He will give you a new clean slate!

If you fall again, God still loves you!  Repent and Ask Him to help you, and God will forgive you and help you and give you another clean slate.

However, God expects you to turn away from sin.
He expects to see improvement in your life.
He wants you to exercise faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

 It is not "once saved always saved".  Because, "faith without works is dead!". James 2:17-20.

- Holy Scriptures Only

God will have a people to maintain the Scriptures, and the Holy Scriptures only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms....

Before accepting any doctrine or teaching, we should demand a plain, "thus says the Lord" in it's support.

Satan is constantly trying to attract attention to Man in the place of God.  The devil leads people to look to church leaders, pastors and theology professors, as their guides, instead of searching Holy 

Scripture to learn their duty for themselves.  

The Great Controversy, 595, e g white (paraphrased)

Obtaining Knowledge

Gods people are directed to Holy Scripture as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of demons. Satan uses every possible method to prevent people from obtaining a knowledge of Holy Scripture, for its plain writings reveal the devil's deceptions.

The Great Controversy, 593, E G White (paraphrased)

I thank God for you

I have not stopped thanking God for you (the reader), I pray for you daily.
Ephesians 1:16

Even before God created the world, He loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  God decided back then to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself thru Christ Jesus.  It gave Him great happiness to do this!
God is so rich in love and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son Jesus and forgave our sins!
Ephesians 1:4-7

Tomatoes and What a Night!

At our new home I decided to grow tomatoes. 

Being a city-girl I decided one tomato plant produced only two tomatoes a year so planted twenty-four plants!  We had hundreds of tomatoes! We canned and canned and gave tomatoes away and sold the surplus to the market!      

Shortly after moving in, at about 2 a.m., we heard unearthly sounds outside the bedroom window. Andy said he would investigate.  After waiting thirty minutes, and no sign of Andy, I made a search of the house then stepped outside, but could not locate him anywhere!  I feared the worse.

The horrible noises continued so after calling the police and telling them the situation I closed the bedroom door.  Moments later the phone rang.  Rushing to the kitchen phone I ran into a man in the hall!  He grabbed me as I hit him over and over in the chest!  The raspy voice said, "it's me!" but he did not sound like anyone I knew! 

Finally the voice sounded coherent, it was Andy!  Seems he fell asleep in the spare room and the phone woke him up.  He had never gone outside! 

The call was from the police verifying my earlier call.  Andy’s explanation that no one called did not convince the officers and they came immediately.  They checked our property for signs of an intruder, but could find nothing. 

What a night!!!

         

The coming of the Anti-christ

 The coming of the Anti-christ: For satan himself masquerades as an angel of light! So is it any wonder if his followers pretend to be holy and righteous? Their end will be what they deserve.. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

God Believes in You!

God is so powerful that He could force us to love Him, but

God doesn’t use force, because He loves us and wants us to love Him back.  Even if you hate God – He still loves you.

Bad things happen to good people – it’s because of sin,

not  because God hates you.  

God loves everyone.   The devil hates everyone. 

You don’t believe in God?  He believes in you!

Trust yourself to God – He will care for you.