Circumstances that test us

EGW ~ Review & Herald magazine, May 20, 1884

"God permits us to be placed under circumstances that will test us, to increase our love and to perfect our trust in Him. Through self-denial and suffering with Christ, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth. Trials will come, but they are an evidence that we are children of God. Paul passed through great trials, but he did not despair as though his Father in heaven were dead. He rejoiced in tribulation; for he desired, through participation in the sufferings of Christ, to be conformed to His image. Let this hero of faith speak for himself. He says, 'I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ sake.'"

Learning lessons from Christ

EGW~ The Ministry of Healing, pp. 156-158

"Naturally we are self-centered and opinionated. But when we learn the lessons that Christ desires to teach us, we become partakers of His nature; henceforth we live His life. The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet."

Discovering...Christ in me!

Poem by Bonnie Hain, Lakewood, Colorado

Discovering daily who God really is.

Thanking Him daily He's mine and I'm His.

Discovering daily God's great love for me;

Such mercy, forgiveness, amazingly free.

Discovering daily that God really cares.

Discovering daily He does answer prayers.

Discovering daily what grace really means;

Unmerited favor beyond all my dreams.

Discovering daily God speaking to me

He speaks through the Bible; Once blind, now I see.

Discovering, discovering each day that I live

That all that I need, He freely will give.

Discovering daily Christ working through me,

Accomplishing daily what never could be.

Discovering daily I can't, but He can.

Thanking Him daily for my place in His plan.

Discovering daily how real life can be

When I'm living in Christ, and He's living in me.

Discovering daily a song in my heart

With anticipation for each day to start.
Delighting and basking in love so divine,

Secure in the knowledge I'm His and He's mine.

Besides mere contentment; excitement I see!

A daily adventure: Christ living in me!

Denominational Squirrels

From Dennis Norwood
Originally printed in Chattanooga Times Free Press 11/22/02

In a little East Texas town, the Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches were located one after the other along a beautiful tree-lined street. Squirrels occupied the attics of all the churches, chewing up the insulation, cutting the wires and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Nothing seemed to budge the bushy-tailed rodents, and in exasperation each congregation called a meeting to deal with the menace.

The Presbyterians met first but soon adjourned after an elder pointed out that the squirrel invasion was preordained, and from a theological standpoint there was nothing they could do.

Next to meet were the Methodists. A dear old soul pleaded with the congregation to handle the problem in the gentle spirit of John Wesley, so the church bought a bunch of humane traps and turned the squirrels loose at the edge of town. by morning all the Methodist squirrels were back in their attic.

Finally the Baptists convened their business meeting. In short order the squirrels were voted into the membership of the church and now they come around only on Easter and Christmas.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

A Life Filled with Blessings

"I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing." ~ Ezekiel 34:26

Receiving Your Heart's Desire
"Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart." ~ Psalm 37:4

Guilt-free: Experiencing Forgiveness
"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." ~ Romans 5:15-17

Abundant Life in Christ

Joy by Request
"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." ~ John 16:24

A Meaningful Spiritual Life

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." ~ Ephesians 1:3-14