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

Unpardonable Sin

No one need to look upon the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit as mysterious. The unpardonable sin is the persistent refusal to repent.

In the Bible book of Acts, the apostle Paul pleaded with Governor Felix twice to repent, but Felix told Paul to go away and that he might call for Paul at a more convenient time. But Felix never called for Paul again.

Felix slighted his last offer of mercy; never was he to receive another call from God.

If we are honest with ourselves, we can count many calls from God to repent and be saved.
 How many calls will God give us? Felix had only two!

Based on writing of G Edward Reid

Your Past Experience

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are: weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Savior will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness.

  Jesus presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me.

           Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing 21, E G White

Limit to satan's Power

Satan… knows better than we do the limit of his power, and how easily he can be overcome if we resist him and face him. Through Divine strength, the weakest saint is more than a match for satan and all his [demons].

Testimonies Vol. 5, 293, E G White

Our Plans May Fail, but...

If we plan according to our own ideas, the Lord will leave us to our own mistakes. But, when, after following His directions, we are brought into tight places, God will deliver us.

We are not to give up in discouragement, but in every emergency we are to seek help from God who has infinite resources at His command.

Desire of Ages, 369, E G White

Help for Anxiety

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9

When I said, “my foot is slipping,” God’s love supported me. When anxiety was great within me, God’s love brought joy to my soul.  Psalm 94:18-19

For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:13

My body and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.  Psalm 73:26

Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled, Trust in God, trust also in Me.”  John 14:1

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and thankfulness, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which is higher than all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-8

Depression

The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you.  Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Do not be afraid!  For it is your [heavenly] Father’s desire to give you the kingdom of Heaven.  Luke 12:32

In the day of trouble I will call to God, and He will answer me. Psalm 86:7

Cast your worries on the Lord and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22

God heard my cry for mercy when I called to Him for help…Be strong and take courage all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31: 22, 24

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry.  Psalm 34:15

God always hears Our Cries

Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being.

 We pour out our heart’s desire in our closets, we breathe a prayer as we walk by the way, and our words reach the throne of the Monarch of the Universe

. [Our prayers] may be inaudible to any human ear, but they cannot die away into silence, nor can they be lost through the activities of business that are going on.

   Nothing can drown the soul’s desire. 

  Christ’s Object Lessons 177, E G White

Always Room for One More

God never downsizes His kingdom. There is always room for one more.

The remainder of our life...

Let us look to the monumental pillars, reminders of what the Lord has done to comfort us and to save us from the hand of the destroyer.

Let us keep fresh in our memory all the tender mercies that God has shown us:
the tears He has wiped away,
the pains He has soothed,
the anxieties removed,
the fears dispelled,
the wants supplied,
the blessings bestowed -
thus strengthening ourselves for all that is before us through the remainder of our [life]...

Steps to Christ 89, E G White

Complaints? - Really?!

The children of Israel were led into difficult circumstances, like at Marah, where they were practically dying of thirst and found that the water was bitter. Angrily they reproached Moses for leading them into such a terrible spot, forgetting that the Lord Himself had led them there.


"Many look back to the Israelites, and marvel at their unbelief and murmuring, feeling that they themselves would not have been so ungrateful; but when their faith is tested, even by little trials, they manifest no more faith and patience than did ancient Israel. When brought into [tight] places, they murmur at the process by which God has chosen to purify them."
Patriarchs and Prophets, p 293 by E G White

However Feeble

Never a prayer is offered, however faltering;
never a tear is shed, however secret;
 never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble,
but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it.

Christ's Object Lessons, p 208-209, E G White

BFF - Best Friend Forever

Jesus is eager to be your BFF. He has not changed with the years. His love is as strong, His understanding as perfect, His sympathy as deep, as He was in Bible days.

 Jesus is just as helpful today as at any time past.

Sometimes we are called to pass through periods of trial and hardship. Our future seems hedged with difficulties. Our faith and loyalty are tested to the limit. But God never deserts us. He waits for just the right moment to come to our rescue.

Jesus is "our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1.

Take Jesus at His word and go boldly, with confidence, and tell Him all that is on your heart.

A Reward

You should not look upon present appearances, but keep the eye [focused] to your duty, single on God's glory, and follow in God's opening providence, and the path shall brighten before you.

Every self-denial, every sacrifice, is faithfully recorded, and will bring its reward.

Christian Experience & Teachings, p 134, E G White

The Christian Life

While the Christian's life will be characterized by humility, it should not be marked with sadness and self-depreciation.

...It is not the will of our heavenly Father that we should be ever under condemnation and darkness.

There is no evidence in true humility in going with the head bowed down and the heart filled with thoughts of self.

 We may go to Jesus and be cleansed, and stand before the law without shame and remorse.

"There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1

From The Great Controversy p 477, E G White

Angels are Ever Present

Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging.

  Desire of Ages 440, E G White

COMFORT for the Sorrowing

Not now, but in the coming years,
It will be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there we will understand.

We’ll catch the broken thread again,
And finish what here we began;
Heaven will the mysteries explain,
And then, ah then, we will understand.

Then trust in God through all thy days;
Fear not, for God does hold thy hand;
Though dark thy way, still sing and praise,
For in Heaven we will understand.
By Julius L. Tucker, in Comfort for the Sorrowing


We are on the verge of entering the Home that the Master referred to when He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in Me. In My Father’s kingdom are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…. I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  John 14:1-3.

Perfect Peace

God will keep you in perfect peace, when your mind is focused on God, because you trust in God.” Isaiah 26:3

Its Been a Rough 3 Weeks

I’ve been going thru a rough 3 weeks. Unfortunately, I was going by feeling and not by faith. Satan was getting a strong hold on my emotions, and I was confused and felt lost. I felt desperate to get back to God! How did I get to this place where I felt I had lost all faith or God had lost hold of me!? I remembered the verse that says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” but even this did not seem to help my feelings of despair.

Calling my friend she counseled me with prayer and Scripture and logic. I’m glad she is a retired Christian educator – she knows how to handle situations and people. She promised me that God had not forgotten me, that He was right there and had been all the time.

I read the Gospel of Matthew on my iPad and highlighted and made copious notes. I read Scripture exclusively and am being greatly benefited.

If ever you find yourself getting depressed - that God doesn’t care about you or love you - remember to read Scripture exclusively. Start reading in the Bible where you think you’ll gain the most good. (After Matthew I started reading Exodus!)

Please guard your mind against Satan’s attacks, pray always and read Holy Scripture.

By deb m

Whatever Your Past Experience

Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness.

He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. He pleads before God in our behalf, saying: I have taken the sinner’s place. Look not upon this wayward child, but look on Me.

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing page 21 E G White