Everything I Do...

I was reading this morning for my worship time in Patriarchs and Prophets; and what I read made me really start to think. I was reading about Samuel when he was a little boy and how he went about so cheerfully in the little duties. Ellen White says that if we were to look at our work as if Jesus commissioned us to do it, we would do it with more faithfulness (paraphrasing). Here is what she actually says.

It was not customary for the Levites to enter upon their peculiar services until they were twenty-five years of age, but Samuel had been an exception to this rule. Every year saw more important trusts committed to him; and while he was yet a child, a linen ephod was placed upon him as a token of his consecration to the work of the sanctuary. Young as he was when brought to minister in the tabernacle, Samuel had even then duties to perform in the service of God, according to his capacity. These were at first very humble, and not always pleasant; but they were performed to the best of his ability, and with a willing heart. His religion was carried into every duty of life. He regarded himself as God’s servant, and his work as God’s work. His efforts were accepted, because they were prompted by love to God and a sincere desire to do His will. It was thus that Samuel became a co-worker with the Lord of heaven and earth. And God fitted him to accomplish a great work for Israel. {PP 573.3}


If children were taught to regard the humble round of everyday duties as the course marked out for them by the Lord, as a school in which they were to be trained to render faithful and efficient service, how much more pleasant and honorable would their work appear. To perform every duty as unto the Lord, throws a charm around the humblest employment and links the workers on earth with the holy beings who do God’s will in heaven. {PP 574.1}


We should do everything, even dishes, dusting, and whatever else you might do throughout the day, as you would do it for Jesus. And I especially don't like dusting! : ) Dishes are alright but you have to admit they're a job that never ends! But if I were to view as, "This is a job that Jesus gave me to do right now." Then maybe those chores wouldn't seem so bad after all.

And maybe if I turn the time I do them into a prayer time, spending it with Jesus, it would make it even more special! Hmm, I have to try that today! : )

But there is something more to just seeing it as a job, it is seeing it through spiritual eye salve. Seeing it in a way you never thought of before. Not only should we keep in mind that we are doing the job for Jesus, but also that other worlds are looking on to see how we will act, or how well of a job we will do. Faithfulness in the little things.

And another thing is, I believe the Lord is testing us. I mean if He gives us these little jobs to do and we can't do them nice and clean and right the first time, how can we expect the Lord to give us bigger responsibilities? It is in the little things that we are tested, and once we have overcome those, we get bigger challenges, bigger testing, but if we can't keep up with the footman how can we expect to run with the chariots? Did you know that is a verse in the Bible?

You know that is a verse in the Bible that says, "Well done good and faithful servant." How can we expect the Lord to say that to us, when we aren't faithful in the little things. Ouch! That hurt, because I know that I'm not always careful about the little things!

But if we put Christ into everything that we or should I say everything that I do, maybe we will do the job with a new determination. After all we are looking on the job as if Jesus Himself told us to do that job! And if He asks us to do it, we know for sure that it is important!

I know it won't be easy for me, but I am going to pray about it and try with Jesus help to be more faithful, even in the tiny things!

I want to be faithful in the little things, don't you?

The White Stone...

When we finally do get to heaven and see Jesus face to face, what a day that will be! When we shall see the King, our King in His glory!! He will give us crowns, and a mansion in which to live, and white robes to wear, and a harp for us to praise Him with. He will wipe away our tears, and there will be no death there! But that is not all that Jesus will give and do for us.

To each one of us will be given a small white stone, and on each of them is written something different, not one stone says the same thing. This white stone is signifying several things, first its color, it is white which stands for purity, those who are pure when sins abounds around them. And another thing is that it is a rock, which represents Jesus the chief cornerstone on whom we can safely build.

Would you like to know what will be written on that rock, well first of all like I said before, each one of us will be given a rock and on that rock is written a name. The name that you will be called throughout eternity! A new name with a new life!

I think it is wonderful that Jesus is going to give each one of us a new name! We won't know it until we get there, let us pray that we all make it there!

God wrote it in stone to remind us that it will last forever! Once you write something in stone, you can not erase it! And some stones are so heavy you couldn't break them. That is why God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone, but those stones were blue. Blue representing the law.

The world had tried to take God's law out of it's system, it still is for that matter. But God's laws always rule over man's law!

When we build our house on sand and if a big storm were to arise, our house and everything we own, especially our lives could and would be lost. But we should build, no, we need to build our house on the rock but not just any rock but the Rock of Ages, Jesus. He is the chief cornerstone.

Now for those of you who might not know what a cornerstone is let me try and explain. When building anything a house, church, store, etc. People need a good foundation. The cornerstone was used as a main object to hold whatever they were building in place. So they needed a big, strong, and heavy stone for the foundation to be solid!

Throughout the Bible we find many mentions of stones and rocks and other things like that. A rock or pebble killed Goliath the giant. Moses was told to strike the rock for water and then another time he was instructed to speak to the rock. Thus symbolizing what would happen to Christ, first He must be stricken and killed, but when He rose all we need to do is go to Him and speak what we need and He will rescue us from the storm of life!

As you can see there are many instances in the Bible where it speaks of rocks. There are many more than I mentioned, why don't you read about it? And then maybe tell your favorite story to someone!

Let us always have our future goal in mind, to be with Jesus forever! :) And let us build our hearts upon the rock, Jesus. I want one of those white stones someday, don't you?

Filthy Rags...

I looked at the old rags, you know the type, you use them for cleaning and wiping things off the floor. These rags were filthy, they needed to be washed terribly bad!! As I looked at them it made me remember my other filthy rags. No, they weren't ones that I used to wipe things off with, but they were ones that I tried to hide my "nakedness" with.

Every person has had filthy rags at one point in time or another. And that is both physically and spiritually. But I am not going to dwell on the physical rags, but on the spiritual rags, the ones we try to look "normal" in.

We must all come to the point in our lives when we need to make a choice. We can continue wearing our filthy rags or we can accept Jesus' robe of Righteousness. Sometimes we are so busy dwelling on the things of the earth that we don't look up and behold what God has in store for us.

By the way in case you were wondering the filthy rags that I'm talking about is - sin. And what is worse, when we do bad things or say bad things ect. we put on the "rags" once more. I often wonder to myself, "Will I ever just accept Jesus so fully that I will no longer put on those rags again?" But it isn't easy...

I mean the day could be going wonderful and you think that you might make it through the day without doing some little sin, when out of nowhere, someone says something or does something to irritate you! I have had that happen many times before. Or thoughts come into your mind that you don't want in there!

But no matter what we do, if we continue to look up to Jesus, we can always wear the robe He holds out for us, the problem is, when we learn to always look up. For me it is hard, very hard. It is easier said than done, believe me! It sound so easy, but the very minute you go about trying to do right, the devil comes out of nowhere!

Sometimes with some people, they like their filthy rags, I mean they are broken in right? So they keep washing them and using them, and the longer they use them the more filthy they get! Instead of washing them with the river of life they wash them with the mud of this world. I am sure we probably have all done that before! That secret sin that nobody but you and God knows about....

Like I have said before, we must constantly watch and pray and look to Jesus. Otherwise we will fall time and again. But hopefully when we fall we will pick ourselves back up again, and learn from that fall so as not to make it again. Just like when a little baby is learning to walk, it doesn't get it right, right away, it still has to experience the falling down.

We must not think that our righteousness is good enough, we must take on Jesus' righteousness, then when the Father looks at us, He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." I want to hear those words, don't you?

I am going to try by God's grace and help to put on Jesus' robe of Righteousness, and give up my filthy rags, won't you?

P.S. It is ok to have old rags to clean with here on this earth. :)

Eden Restored

Today I am going to just let you read a writing of Ellen White's. I can hardly wait until we get to heaven to see this! It struck me as beautiful, I hope it will be a blessing to you as well, it is from the book Heavenly. I got it from the online books. :)

Restored More Gloriously—The Garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an outcast from its pleasant paths. The fallen race were long permitted to gaze upon the home of innocence, their entrance barred only by the watching angels. At the cherubim-guarded gate of Paradise the divine glory was revealed. Hither came Adam and his sons to worship God. Here they renewed their vows of obedience to that law the transgression of which had banished them from Eden. When the tide of iniquity overspread the world, and the wickedness of men determined their destruction by a flood of waters, the hand that had planted Eden withdrew it from the earth. But in the final restitution, when there shall be “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning. {Hvn 77.1}

Then they that have kept God’s commandments shall breathe in immortal vigor beneath the tree of life; and through unending ages the inhabitants of sinless worlds shall behold, in that garden of delight, a sample of the perfect work of God’s creation, untouched by the curse of sin—a sample of what the whole earth would have become, had man but fulfilled the Creator’s glorious plan.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 62. {Hvn 78.1}

A Vision Given to Moses—He saw the second coming of Christ in glory, the righteous dead raised to immortal life, and the living saints translated without seeing death, and together ascending with songs of gladness to the City of God. {Hvn 78.2}

Still another scene opens to his view—the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him. There is no sin, and death cannot enter. There the nations of the saved find their eternal home. With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scene—the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have ever pictured. Their earthly wanderings forever past, the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 477. {Hvn 78.3}

Eden Shall Bloom Again—When Eden shall bloom on earth again, God’s law of love will be obeyed by all beneath the sun.—Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 51. {Hvn 78.4}

The Earth Redeemed—The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. “The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Daniel 7:18. {Hvn 78.5}

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3. “In that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” “And Jehovah shall be king over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9. Says the Scripture, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever.” Psalm 119:89; 111:7, 8. The sacred statutes which Satan has hated and sought to destroy, will be honored throughout a sinless universe. And “as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.” Isaiah 61:11.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 342. {Hvn 79.1}

When Adam Sees Eden Again—When the faithful dead shall be resurrected, and the king of glory shall open before them the gates of the city of God, and the nations who have kept the truth enter in, what beauty and glory will meet the astonished sight of those who have seen no greater beauties in the earth than that which they beheld in decaying nature after the threefold curse was upon the earth. {Hvn 79.2}
It is impossible to describe Adam’s transports of joy as he again beholds Paradise, the Garden of Eden, his once happy home, from which, because of his transgression, he had been so long separated. He beholds the lovely flowers and trees, of every description for fruit and beauty, every one of which to designate them he had named while in his innocence. He sees the luxuriant vines, which had once been his delight to train upon bowers and trees. {Hvn 79.3}

But when he again beholds the widespread tree of life with its extended branches and glowing fruit, and to him again is granted access to its fruit and leaves, his gratitude is boundless. He first in adoration bows at the feet of the King of glory, and then with the redeemed host swells the song, Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Adam had lost Eden by disobeying the commandments of God. He has now regained that lovely garden by repentance and faithful obedience. The curse rested upon him for disobedience, the blessing now for his obedience.—Spiritual Gifts 3:88, 89. {Hvn 80.1}

A Lesson From Penguins...

The Adelie stand only about 18 inches tall. They gather to make their nests on the rookeries scattered along the Antarctic coast. The olds males go right to the same spots where their old nests were located from last year. They then start to collect small rocks, which will be used to line the nests. A week or two later, the younger males and females arrive at the rookery. The female penguins who have mated before look for their mates from last year. The young males and females who have never mated have to find partners before they can start building nests. 

Their space is about one square yard. While the place is crowded with thousands of penguins, it is important that each nest have its own private space. The pairs of penguins try to defend their territories against intruders, but quarrels often break out when neighbors refuse to obey the rules.  Just like the penguins, sometimes we Christians, fight with one another.

How do Adelie penguins build their nests? They first make a hollow in the ground. This is not easy because the ground in the rookery may still be frozen hard. The male and female lie down on the ground and use the warmth of their bodies to thaw a spot for their nest. Next they hollow it out by scratching with their feet. Now they need to line the nest with rocks to keep it dry. This is not an easy task. The penguins often try to steal them from each other’s nests. This causes fights to take place before all the penguin couples have their nests lined and ready for eggs. 

After the nests are finished, then comes the courtship and mating which lasts a month. In November, the female penguins begin to lay their eggs. Each female usually lays two eggs about two or three days apart. It takes 35 days for babies to hatch. During this time the parents keep the eggs warm by sharing the job. The males take the first turn on the nests after the females have laid their eggs. 

The new mothers go to sea to eat. Penguins only eat when in the water. They take turns eating and then resting on the nest. When the Adelie chicks break out of their eggs. They do not look much like their parents. Their bodies are covered with soft, gray, fluffy feathers of down while the parents have sleek black and white feathers. Baby Christians don't always look like the parents, the parents of Christianity must help train the babies to know what is right and what is wrong.

They stay in the nest 2 or 3 weeks, keeping warm under one of their parent’s bodies. After this time, they leave the nests but are still dependent on the parents for their food, which is carried to them in the parent’s special pouches in their throats where undigested food is stored. The baby puts it head right inside its parent’s mouth to eat. Now both parents go to sea to find enough food for themselves and their chicks. 

The chicks in the rookey gather together in groups of 50 or 60 which are called a crèche or day nursery. It is thought that some adult penguins serve as nurses for the chicks in the group. They huddle together to keep warm and are less likely to be attacked by their worst enemies on land the skuas. These gull-like birds will kill and eat any chick that wanders off by itself. There are many enemies around for the Christian, we must stay close to Jesus otherwise we will be lunch, not literally, Satan the arch enemy will eventually destroy us.

These babies cannot go into the water to get their own food until they have waterproof coats of feathers like their parents. At one month they begin to lose their fluffy gray down. The next 3 months, they grow the smooth black and white feathers. Their old feathers fall out, and bright new ones will take their place. This is called molting. Finally they are ready to go to sea. They do not need swimming lessons. From the beginning, they are as much at home in the sea as the adult penguins. 

After the chicks have grown up on land, the whole pack goes back to sea. When they come to the edge of the ice they are reluctant to jump in the water. Now, the leopard seal is often waiting for a meal under the water. These animals are the main enemies of the adult Adelie penguins. The pack all seem to be pushing and shoving until one falls into the water. Just like those penguins, Jesus was the first one to go into the water, and when He resurrected and sent the Holy Spirit, then the "other penguins" disciples knew it was safe to go and preach!

They all wait to see if a leopard seal is lurking under the surface. If the penguin comes up it means the water is safe and they all plunge into it. The penguin that went into the water first, risked his life. The others wait until there is less danger to enter the water. We must be always watching for danger, for we don't know when the devil will next attack us. He is waiting right by us, to tempt us into doing wrong. We must send Jesus before us to see if the way is safe, and once He gives us permission to go, we know for sure that the way is safe!

Remember the lessons from the penguins, and see if you can think of any more, I am sure there is plenty that you might dig up! Search for the treasure. There is always something to learn from God's second book, Nature.

Dear Mother,

How can I put into words what a blessing you are? How can I express into language how much you mean to me? How is it that you can love me no matter what I do? The only thing I can think of, is to say that I love you!

You mean so much to me, words can't express, I can't understand how you do so many things and still have patience. Really I am amazed at all that you do! You cook my food, you have cleaned my clothes, you have taught me so many things.

You were the one that I went to when I got scrapes and scratches. You are the one that holds all my precious secrets, which only you know :). You are the one who tells me right from wrong. You are the one who encourages me when times get tough.

God made you with special love for all of your children! Each of us is unique to you, and you love us each the same! God gave you arms with which to hug and make those tasty dishes of yours! :) God made you with the ability to understand what I am going through, and still be there in the end. Yes, I have to say, that I am glad that God made you!

Because you care, because you are near, because you love me, I am still here, and I am still active in this church. Your words of advice are stored in my mind, and when I am in trouble, you tell me that God is still near. There is so many little things, so many little acts of love.

Today is the day that the world has set aside to express their special thanks to you and all mother's. And yet each day I thank the Lord for you and all that you do! I thank you for your comfort and help, for teaching me what no one else could!

I don't have a lot of money in the world, so that I can give lots of gifts. But I can express with my words what a treasure you are to me! You are a mirror of heaven's radiant love! Yes, I have to say again, that I love you! And thank you for all that you do!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!!!!!!!!

A special note to my mother, but Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there, and also all the future mother's to be! Remember that you are God's, and He made you, and we your children look up to you, so what you want to impress upon our minds count! Don't think that your influence doesn't matter, sometimes we are silent about these things, but we are silent observers! So anyway, have a Happy Mother's Day, once again!