Welcome to Rose's Devotional

Notice: Some of the information written in the Maranatha book might be new to some of you. You can find more information at www.sabbathtruth.com and www.thetruthaboutdeath.com

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The Early and the Latter Rain

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23.

There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of their heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work. "Why," they say, "should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?" Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing."

Talent, long experience, will not make men channels of light unless they place themselves under the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and are called, and chosen, and prepared by the endowment of the Holy Spirit. When men who handle sacred things will humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, the Lord will lift them up. He will make them men of discernment--men rich in the grace of His Spirit. Their strong, selfish traits of character and their stubbornness will be seen in the light shining from the Light of the world. "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." If you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will be found of you.

There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.

Maranatha p. 219

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Prayer Requests

July 3---update---I have a praise for the prayer that were sent up last week for Melissa's uncle who had TB. he is in his 40's. well he is on the mend and home. now Melissa had some lumps in her breast. and they are going to do some biopsies .on her. she is scared as cancer runs in their family. her mother in law goes to our church. thanks. M

July 3---Please pray for Daniel and Ed who were struck by lightning. Daniel is still in a coma and Ed is having problems with his memory, is very sore, and it is hard for him to get around. Pray for their families as well. M

July 3---We are going to drive up to Brian and Esther's tonight after work so we can spend the holiday with them. Please pray that we will have a safe and happy time. Rose

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Dear Friends,

When Ronnie Jay was about four, we lived in a small trailer park next door to our pastor's house. Whenever Pastor Earnhardt would mow his large lawn, do some repair work, or anything else he did outside of his house, Ronnie Jay would follow him around, talking constantly, and often getting in the way. Sometimes the pastor would send him home because he was afraid that our son would get hurt, but most of the time he let him stay. They developed quite a bond.

One of Ronnie Jay's fondest childhood memories is of a church camp out we went to when he was seven. Having the habit of awaking shortly after the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, he unzipped the tent and quietly crept outside. He was used to this quiet time before anyone else awakened, so he contented himself with exploring the campsite. Before long, he noticed that he was not alone. Pastor Earnhardt was sitting against a tree and reading his Bible. Soon Ronnie Jay was quietly sitting beside him. Before long, they were in whispered conversation.

When we finally awakened and looked out of the tent's window, we had to smile at what we saw. A short distance away was our pastor with his arms around Ronnie Jay, teaching him how to swing a bat. Then Pastor Earnhardt walked a short distance away and tossed the ball toward our son. Ronnie Jay was so happy when he actually hit it. The pastor was nearly as excited as he was.

Just as our son watched for Pastor Earnhardt to come out of the house, so he could be with him; so our focus is to be upon our Dear Saviour. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us." Psa 123:1,2 As we behold our Loving Creator, we will be "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor 3:18

Just as Ronnie Jay loved to spend time with our pastor, so we should love to spend time with our Loving Redeemer by meditating upon His Holy Word and praying without ceasing. (1 Thes 5:17) "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes." Psa 119:9-12 "Paul advises, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15 David declared, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." "O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Ps 5:3; 55:17; 30:12 Praise God! As we study and pray, He answers us! He promises, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Jer 33:3; Isa 30:21; Ps 32:8

May we open our heart's door to our Great Redeemer, keep our focus upon Him, and "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth" is my prayer. Rev 14:4

Rose

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