“The eyes of all wait upon Thee; (Creator) And Thou givest them Their meat in due season. (Giver) Thou openest Thine hand, (Provider) And satisfies the desire of every living thing.” (Satisfier) (Psalm 145:15, 16)
Satisfier, that’s an uncommon title for God. Few recognize in Him “the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy,” (SC 9). The language of David’s heart, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God,” “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,” (Ps. 42:1, 2) is actually the heart-cry of humanity. “All men seek for Thee,” (Mark 1:37) was the declaration of the disciples as they interrupted their Master’s devotions. How true those words were (and are) but how limited was there application to the disciples. Jesus came to satisfy the soul-hunger of humanity—to bring the “kingdom of heaven”—the kingdom of grace—to humanity. He is the embodiment of the fruit of the tree of life—“the bread of life,” (John 6:35). We are, “complete in Him,” (Col. 2:10) and He alone can quench our soul’s thirst in this “dry and thirsty land, where no water is,” (Ps. 63:1). He is the “fountain of living waters” but humanity, like Solomon, hew “them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” by vainly pursuing in the world that which is found alone in Christ, (Jer. 2:13). And so Christ came and expressed the language of the heart of the Father for His wayward children in the Great Invitation, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” (Matt. 11: 28, 29).
Friday, February 25, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Language of the Flowers
“The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator’s love,” (SC 9).
(Employ your fertile imaginations on this one) Do you know the language of the flowers? Can you interpret their messages aright? Are you cognizant of the gentle tones of their voices? Creation knows but one language and that is love. The question I posed to my students at this point was (personalized), “Am I listening?” When we walk encompassed in the loving arms of nature do we listen to perceive her lessons, her messages of love, of the Father’s love, for us? The mountains may shout of His majesty but to hear the delicate whisper of the flowers we must bring them close.
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine, We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing, With glad adoration a song let us raise, ‘Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving To God in the highest, hosanna and praise. (Katherine K. Davis)
(Employ your fertile imaginations on this one) Do you know the language of the flowers? Can you interpret their messages aright? Are you cognizant of the gentle tones of their voices? Creation knows but one language and that is love. The question I posed to my students at this point was (personalized), “Am I listening?” When we walk encompassed in the loving arms of nature do we listen to perceive her lessons, her messages of love, of the Father’s love, for us? The mountains may shout of His majesty but to hear the delicate whisper of the flowers we must bring them close.
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine, We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing, With glad adoration a song let us raise, ‘Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving To God in the highest, hosanna and praise. (Katherine K. Davis)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Our Joy
Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy, (SC 9).
Of Joy.—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Gal. 5:22, 23). This is a tremendously profound reality. Joy is a gift and is a manifestation of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I dare say that true joy cannot be experienced outside of Christ--mirth, fleeting happiness yes, but not joy. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy,” (Ps. 16:11). We experience His joy as we follow in His footsteps, in His life of self-sacrifice. “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Heb. 12:2). It was His joy to lay down His life so that we might live and be reunited to Him forever. The greatest, purest joy is found in selfless service for others alone. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy,” (1 Thes. 2:19, 20).
Our Saviour's joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do. (Steps to Christ 77)
Of Joy.—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Gal. 5:22, 23). This is a tremendously profound reality. Joy is a gift and is a manifestation of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I dare say that true joy cannot be experienced outside of Christ--mirth, fleeting happiness yes, but not joy. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy,” (Ps. 16:11). We experience His joy as we follow in His footsteps, in His life of self-sacrifice. “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Heb. 12:2). It was His joy to lay down His life so that we might live and be reunited to Him forever. The greatest, purest joy is found in selfless service for others alone. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy,” (1 Thes. 2:19, 20).
Our Saviour's joy was in the uplifting and redemption of fallen men. For this He counted not His life dear unto Himself, but endured the cross, despising the shame. So angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ's self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ's followers will possess, the work that they will do. (Steps to Christ 77)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Our Wisdom
“Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy,” (SC 9).
Of wisdom.—“In whom (Jesus) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” (Col. 2:3—One of my favorite texts in academy). “Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect is from the light of the world,” (Ed 14). Jesus, Himself is Wisdom. “The LORD by Wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens,” (Pr. 3:19), “In the beginning was the Word… all things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made,” (John 1:1, 3). He is also “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace,” (Isaiah 9:6), and to us “a Teacher come from God,” (John 3:2)—Master Teacher. With this in mind the following quotation is especially profound and applicable to us students:
In the presence of such a Teacher, with such opportunity for divine education, what worse than folly is to seek an education apart from Him,--to seek to be wise apart from Wisdom; to be true while rejecting Truth; to seek illumination apart from Light, and existence without the Life; to turn from the Fountain of living waters, and hew out broken cisterns, that can hold no water! (Education 83)
Of wisdom.—“In whom (Jesus) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” (Col. 2:3—One of my favorite texts in academy). “Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect is from the light of the world,” (Ed 14). Jesus, Himself is Wisdom. “The LORD by Wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens,” (Pr. 3:19), “In the beginning was the Word… all things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made,” (John 1:1, 3). He is also “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace,” (Isaiah 9:6), and to us “a Teacher come from God,” (John 3:2)—Master Teacher. With this in mind the following quotation is especially profound and applicable to us students:
In the presence of such a Teacher, with such opportunity for divine education, what worse than folly is to seek an education apart from Him,--to seek to be wise apart from Wisdom; to be true while rejecting Truth; to seek illumination apart from Light, and existence without the Life; to turn from the Fountain of living waters, and hew out broken cisterns, that can hold no water! (Education 83)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Our Source of Life
“Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy,” (SC 9).
Of Life.--“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men,” (John 1:4). “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6). “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” (1 John 5:12). I have often said that before I came to know Christ it is was as though I had not lived, as though I never breathed before, as though I had never laughed before. His life is a tangible reality now, it is the Christians pleasure—“In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more,” (Ps. 16:11). “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived,” (DA 530). To know Him is to have life, abundant, eternal. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10). “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent,” (John 17:3). A knowledge of God, eternal life, heaven—begin today.
As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. (Desire of Ages 331)
Of Life.--“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men,” (John 1:4). “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6). “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” (1 John 5:12). I have often said that before I came to know Christ it is was as though I had not lived, as though I never breathed before, as though I had never laughed before. His life is a tangible reality now, it is the Christians pleasure—“In Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures forever more,” (Ps. 16:11). “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived,” (DA 530). To know Him is to have life, abundant, eternal. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10). “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent,” (John 17:3). A knowledge of God, eternal life, heaven—begin today.
As through Jesus we enter into rest, heaven begins here. We respond to His invitation, Come, learn of Me, and in thus coming we begin the life eternal. Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God through Christ. The longer we are in the heaven of bliss, the more and still more of glory will be opened to us; and the more we know of God, the more intense will be our happiness. As we walk with Jesus in this life, we may be filled with His love, satisfied with His presence. (Desire of Ages 331)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God's Love For Man
God’s Love for Man (9-15)
The first chapter in Steps to Christ is my favorite chapter in the book. The first paragraph brings to light the wonders and wisdom locked up in the "fifth gospel," nature. It repeats the thought found in the second paragraph of the first chapter of PP, "Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love," (PP 33) but also reveals that within His creation are infinite lessons of His character and His love. (When I quote I'll be using the standard pagination).
"Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love," (SC 9). There's so much packed into this sentence! Just as the Bible reveals the infinite nature and wonder of God’s love so also nature declares His love as unconditional—“for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,” (Mat. 5:45). Though Adam (representing mankind) forfeited the dominion of the earth by his transgression of the expressed will of the Father and, “the prince of the power of the air,” (Eph. 2:2) claimed his territory and “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” (Gen. 6:11), yet “nature still speaks of God’s goodness,” (Ed 101), and “in nature itself are messages of hope and comfort,” (SC 10). We need to be ever cognizant of the fact that God through His wondrous creations sends us messages, distinct messages to inspire hope and to comfort us in specific trials we encounter.
The first chapter in Steps to Christ is my favorite chapter in the book. The first paragraph brings to light the wonders and wisdom locked up in the "fifth gospel," nature. It repeats the thought found in the second paragraph of the first chapter of PP, "Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love," (PP 33) but also reveals that within His creation are infinite lessons of His character and His love. (When I quote I'll be using the standard pagination).
"Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love," (SC 9). There's so much packed into this sentence! Just as the Bible reveals the infinite nature and wonder of God’s love so also nature declares His love as unconditional—“for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust,” (Mat. 5:45). Though Adam (representing mankind) forfeited the dominion of the earth by his transgression of the expressed will of the Father and, “the prince of the power of the air,” (Eph. 2:2) claimed his territory and “the earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence,” (Gen. 6:11), yet “nature still speaks of God’s goodness,” (Ed 101), and “in nature itself are messages of hope and comfort,” (SC 10). We need to be ever cognizant of the fact that God through His wondrous creations sends us messages, distinct messages to inspire hope and to comfort us in specific trials we encounter.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
A Letter To You
Hello!
It's wonderful to hear from you! I am currently at Hartland and will be majoring in Pastoral Evangelism with a minor in Agriculture. Actually, I flew out to India the day after graduation and was there for about two months. I had planned on studying Theology there and then working in northern India perhaps in Meghalaya near Shillong where there is a college of ours filling shoes and relieving burdens. Unfortunately, this was on the assumption that I could receive a sound foundation in true education, that being a holistic one providing practical training with the essential element of vocational training(esp. agriculture, this is a necessity in our time and God has specifically blessed such toil. Such an education is also advocated beautifully in the Spirit of Prophesy). This requisite foundation I could not, unfortunately, procure in India. I was stuck as we would say between a rock and an hard place. I could not allow myself to receive an inferior, questionable, mere theory based education at "Battlecreek," when there are in fact schools of the prophets available. I must be fit for God's service and I must inform you if you are not aware that not all of our institutions are synonymous. Nor do all unabashedly support and emphasize and practically apply, implement, and incorporate the Spirit of Prophesy into the institution. This is what has led me to Hartland college. And I have not been disappointed! I urge you if you have any ill notions or anything of that ilk to visit the institution for yourself. You must observe for yourself before you can accurately judge the efficacy of the program and the standards here which are wholly biblical and of course emphasized in the writings of Sister White. After reading the testimonies I was pained deeply to behold such flagrant repudiation for such sound counsel and to see leaders and pastors, watchmen, not only asleep at there post regarding their solemn duties but also endorsing, condoning, and encouraging vanity, frivolity, and a low-standard. God is not mocked, He Who laid down His very Son for the lives of ungrateful men will reward them according to there works. We are to feed not pet the lambs. I say this as sincerely and carefully as I know how, we are in fact living in the last days, Daniel's prophesies clearly declare and we should expect all that Paul has earnestly penned to warn and admonish us in these last days to be not only prevalent but even encouraged among those with itching ears. Please pray for our institutions and for our leaders for they desperately need courage now to remain steadfast and to uphold the standard, that is Christ, His law, and His character as alone is our safe example. If you would like to learn more about the gradual, deviation and repudiation of clearly established principles founded by our living, loving Father for our protection please look into the following books:
Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns - By E. A. Sutherland
The Broken Blueprint - By Vance Farrel
Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students(here the standard is clearly established) - E. G. White
Education - E. G. White
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. (Philippians 1:3)
And rest assured that you are loved and tenderly protected in the Father's hands for I have placed you there through prayer to our most benevolent Father. May the God of all peace keep your hearts abounding in His love. Remember, He will keep him who's mind is stayed on Him in perfect peace(Isaiah 26:3). And His peace passeth all understanding(Philippians 4:6).
It's wonderful to hear from you! I am currently at Hartland and will be majoring in Pastoral Evangelism with a minor in Agriculture. Actually, I flew out to India the day after graduation and was there for about two months. I had planned on studying Theology there and then working in northern India perhaps in Meghalaya near Shillong where there is a college of ours filling shoes and relieving burdens. Unfortunately, this was on the assumption that I could receive a sound foundation in true education, that being a holistic one providing practical training with the essential element of vocational training(esp. agriculture, this is a necessity in our time and God has specifically blessed such toil. Such an education is also advocated beautifully in the Spirit of Prophesy). This requisite foundation I could not, unfortunately, procure in India. I was stuck as we would say between a rock and an hard place. I could not allow myself to receive an inferior, questionable, mere theory based education at "Battlecreek," when there are in fact schools of the prophets available. I must be fit for God's service and I must inform you if you are not aware that not all of our institutions are synonymous. Nor do all unabashedly support and emphasize and practically apply, implement, and incorporate the Spirit of Prophesy into the institution. This is what has led me to Hartland college. And I have not been disappointed! I urge you if you have any ill notions or anything of that ilk to visit the institution for yourself. You must observe for yourself before you can accurately judge the efficacy of the program and the standards here which are wholly biblical and of course emphasized in the writings of Sister White. After reading the testimonies I was pained deeply to behold such flagrant repudiation for such sound counsel and to see leaders and pastors, watchmen, not only asleep at there post regarding their solemn duties but also endorsing, condoning, and encouraging vanity, frivolity, and a low-standard. God is not mocked, He Who laid down His very Son for the lives of ungrateful men will reward them according to there works. We are to feed not pet the lambs. I say this as sincerely and carefully as I know how, we are in fact living in the last days, Daniel's prophesies clearly declare and we should expect all that Paul has earnestly penned to warn and admonish us in these last days to be not only prevalent but even encouraged among those with itching ears. Please pray for our institutions and for our leaders for they desperately need courage now to remain steadfast and to uphold the standard, that is Christ, His law, and His character as alone is our safe example. If you would like to learn more about the gradual, deviation and repudiation of clearly established principles founded by our living, loving Father for our protection please look into the following books:
Living Fountains or Broken Cisterns - By E. A. Sutherland
The Broken Blueprint - By Vance Farrel
Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students(here the standard is clearly established) - E. G. White
Education - E. G. White
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. (Philippians 1:3)
And rest assured that you are loved and tenderly protected in the Father's hands for I have placed you there through prayer to our most benevolent Father. May the God of all peace keep your hearts abounding in His love. Remember, He will keep him who's mind is stayed on Him in perfect peace(Isaiah 26:3). And His peace passeth all understanding(Philippians 4:6).
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