The Strong Man

"Physically, Samson was the strongest man upon the earth; but in self-control, integrity, and firmness (character), he was one of the weakest of men.".

The real greatness of a man is "measured by the power of the feelings that he controls."

Patriarchs and Prophets, pp 567,568,Ellen G White

ENCOURAGEMENT !!!: Satan can't read our Thoughts

ENCOURAGEMENT !!!: Satan can't read our Thoughts: “Satan is not permitted to read our thoughts; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words, and actions, and skillfully adapts his tem...

Beware!

The devil can cause the lost to feel saved, and the saved to feel lost.  He loves to mess up your mind.  Beware!  Study Holy Scripture, pray to God. Keep close to Jesus!

Faith and Feelings

Faith and feelings should not be confused.  Faith is ours to exercise in the Word of God, regardless of our feelings, and often in opposition to our feelings.

Many fail to accept the pardon and assurance of the acceptance of Heaven, because they do not take God at His word, but instead turn their attention to changing moods and feelings.

Faith always precedes the joyful feelings which naturally result from the assurance of forgiveness and acceptance. The order is never reversed.


From Bible Readings for the Home, p 86, 1958
Note - column 2,
 Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California and Omaha, Nebraska

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

A Sympathizing Friend

Whatever our situation, if we are doers of His word, we have a Guide to direct our way;
whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor;
whatever our sorrow, bereavement or loneliness, we have a Sympathizing Friend (His name is Jesus Christ).

Ministry of Healing 249 E G White

One thing Satan loves...

Give your whole life to Jesus, not just parts here and there. God can only forgive the sins which you confess and give to Him.

One thing Satan loves is when people say they belong to God but continue living how they want.

“Pay attention, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Mark 13:33.

Be ready for Jesus’ coming at any time. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it is in 20 years or even in 3 years from now. You might not live that long! Nobody knows - so be ready now!

In Answer to the Prayer of Faith

It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.

The Great Controversy 525 E G White

Love of Money...

Now the Spirit explicitly states that in the last days some will depart from the faith by listening to corrupt spirits and demonic doctrines. 1 Timothy 4:1

If any one … does not believe the words of Jesus Christ … that person is conceited, and understands nothing. They are doting on controversies and semantics, resulting in envy, strife, and evil thoughts. They think godliness is only a path to monetary gain - for the love of money (greed) is the cause of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 10

But you, O child of God, run away from evil and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and humbleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

In regards to our faith and trials – Gold is not afraid of fire!

PRAY !

The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate on themselves. Desire of Ages 668

Prayer is Heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. Acts of the Apostles 564

When we come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. 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. Desire of Ages 200

When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. Desire of Ages 363

Make every effort to keep the communion between Jesus and your own soul. Steps to Christ 98


all quotes by E G White

Listen to the Lord!

"I will hear what God the Lord will speak...."
Psalms 85:8 [KJV]

I fully believe the Lord can and will impress people; if He does not then why does the Bible say to "test the spirits, whether they are from God" (See 1 John 4:1).

At work I was strongly impressed by God to leave my office desk and go to the other side of the room, I thought, "How strange!" When reaching the opposite wall a large ceiling fixture fell down where I had been sitting, breaking my chair and smashing the window next to my desk. It pays to listen to God!
*****

Andy was lying under the car doing engine work with the motor running. While moving a linkage an audible voice called out, "Don't touch!" Getting out from under the car he looked to see who was standing next to him. There was no one. Crawling back under the car he moved the linkage again when the voice called out, “Don’t touch!” Andy did a double take of what he was doing; he was moving the gearshift linkage to the reverse position. Since the engine was running another move on the linkage would have caused the car to run over Andy’s chest!

We are Never Abandoned

Christ will never abandon those for whom He has died. We may leave Him and be overwhelmed with temptation, but Christ can never turn from one for whom He has paid the ransom of His own life.

Prophets & Kings 176 E G White

Feel the pain - Cry if you want

Go ahead, feel the pain - Cry if you want. Acknowledge something has died even if it is just a dream of how your life was supposed to go. Tears have a way of cleansing the soul and refreshing the spirit. As you release all that is bottled up inside, God collects those precious tears in a bottle, and does not disregard them. See Psalm 56:8.

Unveiling the Diva Mystique p 82, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Harvest House Publishers, 2005

What is Love?

If I had the gift of speaking in foreign languages without learning them, and even if I could speak every heavenly language, but did not love others, I would only be making noise.

If I had the gift of prophecy and knew the future, but did not love others, what good would it do?

Even if I had the gift of faith and could move mountains, I still would be worth nothing without love.

If I gave all my worldly possessions to the poor, and even if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel, but did not have love, it would be of no value.

Love* is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty, selfish or rude.

Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable or grouchy. Love does not hold grudges, and will not keep score against friend or enemy.

Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. Love is loyal, and has faith in God under all circumstances.

Someday prophecy, foreign languages and special knowledge will disappear, but Love goes on forever.

Now we know so little even with our special gifts, but when Jesus comes and we have been made perfect and complete at His coming, then those special gifts will come to an end, for they are no longer needed.

It is like this: when I was a child, I spoke and thought as a child. But when I reached adulthood my thoughts were far above childish ways.

 In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were looking at His reflection in a poor mirror. But someday we are going to see Him as He is, face to Face! What I see now is blurry, but later I will see everything as clearly as God sees now!

There are three great things: FAITH - HOPE - LOVE. And the greatest is LOVE!

*God is Love. In this paragraph substitute your name wherever the word "Love" appears.

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

Beware! of Self-pity

We need to beware of self-pity. Never indulge the feeling that you are not esteemed as you should be, that your efforts are not appreciated, that your work is too difficult.

Let the memory of what Christ has endured for us silence every murmuring thought.

The Lord has no place in His work for those who have a greater desire to win the crown than to bear the cross.

Ministry of Healing 476, E G White

Satan is Not Permitted...

Satan is not permitted to read our thoughts; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words and actions, and skillfully adapts his temptations to meet the cases of those who place themselves in his power.

If we would work to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or actions, Satan would be defeated, for he could not prepare his temptations to meet our case.


True Revival, p 10, E G White

Mysteries Explained

All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation.

The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that Infinite Love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying.

As we realize the tender care of God who makes all things work together for our good, (Romans 8:28), we shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of Heaven. In the Home of the redeemed, there will be no tears, no funerals...no mourning. ...One rich tide of happiness will flow and deepen as eternity rolls on.

Christian Experiences and Teachings, p 235, E G White (See Revelation 21:3-4)

I've had too many mysteries in my life, this quote gives me assurance that someday they will be explained. Deb M