Thursday, April 4, 2013

Seeking Inner Transformation

The signs around tell us that Christ is about to come. Let us therefore, seek personal and inner transformation as we prepare for the Lord’s return. Richard Foster states, “We must come to the place in our lives where we can lay down the everlasting burden of always needing to manage others. . . . Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself. . . . When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight. . . .  Let us be among those who believe that the inner transformation of our lives is a goal worthy of our best effort” (p.10-11).

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Keep fast hold on Jesus

After a week of trials and victories, our gathering in God’s house of worship is a testimony of God’s goodness toward us. Let us therefore continue to trust in God and keep our eyes on our heavenly home as we face the new week. E.G. White encourages us to, “Keep fast hold on Jesus. Look up to the haven of rest and the home of the blest. Keep your soul in the love of God whatever may betide and you will grow spiritually strong. Jesus is your loving Friend; He will take your hand and help you over every hard and trying place. A grateful, trustful, habitual recognition of God lies at the very foundation of all right conduct, all true character. You must never lose confidence in God.”--Letter 22, {UL 276.5}

Friday, March 22, 2013

Recommit Your Life!

We gather in the house of the Lord in remembrance of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ; and with the spirit of thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. Let us through the power of the Holy Spirit sincerely worship and recommit our lives to the Lord. E.G. White says, “The service of Jesus does not consist in outward show simply. It is not a matter of form and ceremonies, of parade, exclamation, gestures, noise, and a display of the commonplace passions. Pure religion consists in keeping the heart and mind in communion with the great Leader, Jesus Christ. It consists in having the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit will give life and tone and style that will not be after the inventions of men, not in imitation of any earthly, human leader, but after the Pattern, Christ. {ST, August 27, 1894 par. 8},

Friday, March 1, 2013

Working To Remove The Stumbling Blocks

Brothers and sisters, God has been continually gracious to us. Let us strive to serve him by faith and honor him by living holy and consecrated lives. E.G. White states, “The great deceiver has prepared his wiles for every soul that is not braced for trial and guarded by constant prayer and living faith. As ministers, as Christians, we must work to take the stumbling blocks out of the way. We must remove every obstacle. Let us confess and forsake every sin, that the way of the Lord may be prepared, that He may come into our assemblies and impart His rich grace. The world, the flesh, and the devil must be overcome. We cannot prepare the way by gaining the friendship of the world, which is enmity with God; but by His help we can break its seductive influence upon ourselves and upon others. We cannot individually or as a body secure ourselves from the constant temptations of a relentless and determined foe; but in the strength of Jesus we can resist them”. {1SM 123.4} Amen!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Your Church Family:Preparing For Home


As we await the Lord’s return, God has entrusted on parents the responsibility of preparing the family for our heavenly home. E.G. White states, “every family is a church, over which the parents preside. The first consideration of the parents should be to work for the salvation of their children. When the father and mother as priest and teacher of the family take their position fully on the side of Christ, a good influence will be exerted in the home. And this sanctified influence will be felt in the church and will be recognized by every believer. . . . No man can bring into the church an influence that he does not exert in his home life and in his business relations” (CG 549)