Sanctify Your Heart

Importance of Fiber!!

Love Your Neighbor!

Who Is Our Neighbor?

The Protein Myth!!!

Our Conquering Hero!

Worthwhile Words!!!

Judgement Has Passed!!

All Jesting Aside...

A Star Witness - Resolutions

A Star Witness - The Truth About Halloween

A Star Witness - Celebrating Christmas

A Star Witness - Christmas Is It Pagan?

A Star Witness - The Sin Of Gluttony

A Star Witness - Sports

A Star Witness - The Truth About Halloween

A Star Witness

Podcast Links
Here are all the links that you can listen to my Podcast:

It is available on iTunes:

My other blog: https://astarwitness.wordpress.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-star-witness/id1456692846?mt=2

If you go to this link it will tell you most of the places that it is available to listen on,

https://getredcircle.com/shows/e647303f-052d-45ca-95c4-d68bffa08e90

You can also listen to on Google Play Music/ Google Podcasts:

https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihpsk27yclkd7liian5biznic2u?t=A_Star_Witness

You can listen to it on PodBean:

https://astarwitness.podbean.com/e/a-new-adventure/

A Star Witness logo by Jessica Baker

The Greatest Gift Given

This is the time of year that most people get super crazy with gift shopping and decorations for their homes. All the time they are getting more stressed out day by day, and as the days get closer and closer to the day we call Christmas the people seemed to get more crazed. So crazed that they lose sight of what it is really all about. The world is trying to make us forget what it is all about, they make the sales and they put the fairy tales in place so that the people are deceived.The gift shopping, the presents, the meal, or even the time that you spend with your family… that is not what Christmas is about.

The real reason for Christmas, the reason why we celebrate it in the first place is because of one reason and one reason only is the fact that One very special person who gave up everything to come to this place save us.

It was the greatest gift that was given; it was for our sake that the God of heaven put His son into the form of a baby. He came down so that He could eventually come back again.

While it is good to look back to the occasion of His birth I believe it is an even better idea to look forward to the future and what the Lord is going to do! He made the sacrifice of all time just so that we could have a future with Him and to live forever if we choose.

So instead of seeing how we can benefit ourselves, why don’t we see if we can help those less fortunate this year? We need to consider others before we consider ourselves. By giving of ourselves it is a sacrifice and it is the greatest gift that we can give! When we give our heart to God it is the greatest gift that we can give!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone and may God bless you this New Year that is coming! May we all be found worthy to stand in the New Earth with Him!

A Hidden Virtue

I was recently studying in my Bible about Patience and so I decided to write up all the texts that it gave me at the back of my Bible. I also took a few quotes from Sister White’s writing and I hope you enjoy them! I learned a lot from it and I hope you will too…

2 Peter 1:6 - And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

Luke 21:19 - In your patience possess ye your souls.

Romans 5:4 - And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 8:25 - But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

James 1:3 - Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Romans 5:3 - And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

2 Corinthians 6:4 - But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

2 Corinthians 12:12 - Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Colossians 1:11 - Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

2 Thessalonians 1:4 - So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Titus 2:2 - That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Hebrews 10:36 - For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

James 1:4 - But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 5:10 - Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Revelation 2:3 - And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Matthew 18:26 - The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Matthew 18:29 - And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Luke 8:15 - But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:5 - Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Timothy 6:11 - But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2 Timothy 3:10 - But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

James 5:11 - Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Revelation 2:19 - I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Revelation 13:10 - He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

James 5:7 - Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Revelation 1:9 - I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:2 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Revelation 3:10 - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Patience as well as courage has its victories. By meekness under trial, no less than by boldness in enterprise, souls may be won to Christ. The Christian who manifests patience and cheerfulness under bereavement and suffering, who meets even death itself with the peace and calmness of an unwavering faith, may accomplish for the gospel more than he could have effected by a long life of faithful labor. Often when the servant of God is withdrawn from active duty, the mysterious providence which our shortsighted vision would lament is designed by God to accomplish a work that otherwise would never have been done. AA 465.1

Not in freedom from trial, but in the midst of it, is Christian character developed. Exposure to rebuffs and opposition leads the follower of Christ to greater watchfulness and more earnest prayer to the mighty Helper. Severe trial endured by the grace of God develops patience, vigilance, fortitude, and a deep and abiding trust in God. It is the triumph of the Christian faith that it enables its followers to suffer and be strong; to submit, and thus to conquer; to be killed all the day long, and yet to live; to bear the cross, and thus to win the crown of glory. AA 467.3

These words are full of instruction, and strike the keynote of victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the height of Christ’s ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. AA 530.1

In the life of the disciple John true sanctification is exemplified. During the years of his close association with Christ, he was often warned and cautioned by the Saviour; and these reproofs he accepted. As the character of the Divine One was manifested to him, John saw his own deficiencies, and was humbled by the revelation. Day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. Day by day his heart was drawn out to Christ, until he lost sight of self in love for his Master. The power and tenderness, the majesty and meekness, the strength and patience, that he saw in the daily life of the Son of God, filled his soul with admiration. He yielded his resentful, ambitious temper to the molding power of Christ, and divine love wrought in him a transformation of character. AA 557.1

Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the meaning of self-sacrifice. The cross of Christ is the central pillar on which hangs the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” “If any man will come after Me,” Christ says, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” 2 Corinthians 4:17; Matthew 16:24. It is the fragrance of our love for our fellow men that reveals our love for God. It is patience in service that brings rest to the soul. It is through humble, diligent, faithful toil that the welfare of Israel is promoted. God upholds and strengthens the one who is willing to follow in Christ’s way. AA 560.2

All should cultivate patience by practicing patience. By being kind and forbearing, true love may be kept warm in the heart, and qualities will be developed that Heaven will approve. AH 106.2

Through all of this I have learned that patience is truly a hidden virtue, one in which I am striving for and hope to achieve. It isn’t always easy but with the Lord’s help I know that we can make it through and gain the blessing that God had in store for us! 

Communication

I was reading in my Bible and the story of Elijah, the prophet, (found in 1 Kings). And I came to the part where God had told Elijah to go and hide and then it said something very interesting, it said, “And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” 1 Kings 17:4

Notice particularly that Lord said that He had commanded the ravens. The new thought struck me, one that I had never even thought of before and to me it was amazing! God communicates with animals, and there are many instances in the Bible where it talks about such.

There are even stories that didn’t happen too long ago where it talks about God using the animals to reach us human beings.

I believe that the reason why God communicates with the animals is to send a message across to us, different messages, but sometimes God has to communicate with us that way for us to listen and obey.

God’s message to Elijah was that no matter what would happen, God would take care of him, and that he didn’t need to be worried or afraid. God has given us the same message through the story of Elijah; we don’t need to worry about the situations that we are in, because if necessary God will command the birds in heaven to feed us.

There are other instances in the Bible where God spoke to the animal; one of them is the story of Jonah.

When Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction. The Lord sent a storm so violent that the men of the ship finally agreed to throw him overboard. Well, once they did and Jonah was in the water and God commanded a very great fish to swallow Jonah up.

God was showing mercy to Jonah, He communicated to the fish to swallow Jonah up so that Jonah’s life could be preserved. Then three days later God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah up on dry land and it just so happened to be near the place where God wanted Jonah to go in the first place.

The animals are wiser than us in the fact that they listen to the voice of God speaking to them the first time that He speaks to them.

There is another instance in the Bible where God spoke through an animal. The story of Balaam and the donkey, Balaam was going in direct opposition to the will of God. Balaam was offered a lot of money if he would come and put a curse on the Israelites, and he agreed and went with the messengers even after the Lord had told him not to go.

On the way, God sent an angel to stand in his way and to slay him, but the donkey that Balaam was riding on sensed and knew, he maybe even saw the angel standing in the pathway, and three times he avoided the angel and the more he did it the more upset Balaam became.

So he struck at the donkey, the Bible then tells us the Lord opened the voice of the donkey and the donkey was able to speak to Balaam and tell him why he avoided the road three times.

God is able to speak to and through these animals and the animals listen and obey their Creator’s voice. How much more should we as human beings obey the voice of the Lord?

There are even stories nowadays that take place where God speaks to the animals to do certain things and He has even let the animals speak so His message will be heard and so we will listen and obey. It is sad to think that we are so unwilling to listen and obey the voice of the Lord on our own, but it also reveals the wonderful love of our heavenly Father, that He does not give up on us but that He will, if He needs to, communicate with and through the animals to get the message across to us.

Though sometimes it is to strengthen our faith and trust in God, such as was the case with Elijah and in the case of all those out there who have experienced the power of God through animals bringing them food because they trusted in God and God supplied their needs.

I will close with a story that took place not so long ago, about how the Lord spoke through an animal to give a very special message.

There was a man in a certain village; he was the local pastor to his people. Well, to make a long story short, he heard about the Sabbath somehow and heard that it was the right and true day to worship on. He was confused however and didn’t know what he should do.

So not believing the things that were told to him, he went out the next Saturday to work in his garden. And he and all his family were with him, started on the little path that leads to their garden. They reached the clearing, where there was a field and low and behold and much to their surprise was their cattle all in a line, with the bull in the front.

All of a sudden the huge bull cow spoke up and asked the pastor why he was going to go and work on the Lord’s Day, and the pastor much to his great surprise answered back.

I can’t remember how the full conversation went, but I know that the pastor and his family did not end up working in their garden that day, and from then on they kept the true Sabbath day. And as for their cow, it never spoke again; it didn’t have to, the pastor could speak to his village himself.

I think that it is amazing that God will work in our lives in that way; He loves us so much and wants us to know about His truth and love that He will use every means possible to get that message across to us. But wouldn’t it be even better if we listened to Him the first time? I think it would be! :)

Do you want God to communicate with you like He does the animals? He will if you allow Him to and if you are willing to listen to and obey His voice!

I want the Lord to communicate with me, don’t you?