Dear Friends in Christ,
Hello! I hope you are all doing well!! :) I am! :) I have been still pretty busy, but I did manage to get out a newsletter in a little shorter time than last time. =) I'm sorry it's still been over a week though. Oh well. ;)
Actually, this study might be a little different, because I didn't make it just for the newsletter, it's actually an essay I had to write for school. I'm not sure how good of an essay it is, but I thought that to save time, I'd put it in here... I hope you don't mind!!! :) I thought it'd do. =)
I hope you are all enjoying the beginnings of spring!!
Have a most blessed day! God bless.
Happy Sabbath!!!!!!!!!!
Much love,
your sister in Christ,
Heather :)
March 14, 2008
Theme Verse~
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, godly,
in this present world,
looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ,
Who gave Himself for us, that He might
purify us and redeem unto Himself
a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:11-14
~Jesus Understands~
Even though we live in a world that is filled with sorrow, suffering, and death, we can know that we have a loving and understanding Friend who will help us through. Jesus understands every sorrow, every trial we must go through, every temptation Satan throws in our path. Jesus came to Earth in humble human form; He lived with pain, sadness, and temptation just like we have to.
Mark 15:29-32 tells us Jesus was ridiculed, mocked, reviled. His own people rejected Him, abused Him, and, finally, killed Him.
We also read that Jesus was tempted by Satan (Hebrews 4:15). He was tempted like we are, but He overcame the devil. Jesus knows what it is like to be weak, but He trusted God for strength and it was granted.
Jesus had sorrows while He was on Earth. He wept with grief over the faithlessness and unbelief of His disciples (John 11:32-40). He was touched by the pain and suffering of humanity.
Jesus went through incredible agony as He suffered and died on the cross for our sins. Most of us cannot even comprehend the physical anguish of the cross, much less the mental anguish of bearing every sin ever commited by all mankind! But He bore it for US. :)
Jesus even knows what it is like to feel forsaken, totally abandoned by the only One who cares about you. Mark 15: 34 says He 'cried... saying, ... 'My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?'' Jesus felt forsaken by God. We don't even have to go through that! We may, in our doubt and unbelief, feel like God has left us, but He HAS promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Yes, Jesus can truly understand every trial, sorrow, and temptation we must face. He does know what it is like, because He has experienced the same thing Himself! But not only does He understand, He can help us with our problems, sorrows, and temptations!
Romans 8:1 tells us there is 'no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit'. And verse 2 says 'the law of the Spirit of life' sets us 'free from the law of sin and death'! Jesus sets us free.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us about Jesus' 'throne of grace', where we will find 'mercy, and... grace to help in time of need'.
Jesus understands! And He will help us too, if we will only let Him. :)
Prayer Requests:
1. Please pray for Katie's evangelistic series that is coming up! She's going to preach every other night. :)
2. Please pray for Aaron, an agressive guy in Jessica's class.
3. Please pray for Stacey's cousins. :)
4. Please pray for Nick - I'm sure some of you know about him - he was in a car accident and he's still in a coma. It's been 6 weeks or more. So please pray! (Request from Katie.)
5. Please pray for a friend of Brenna's - her parents are going through a divorce and she's hurting right now! Thanks!
I liked this quote from Review & Herald! Hahna sent it out and I thought I would add it to the newsletter. :)
'It is essential to live by every word of God, else our old nature willconstantly reassert itself. It is the Holy Spirit, the redeeming graceof truth in the soul, that makes the followers of Christ one with oneanother, and one with God. He alone can expel enmity, envy, andunbelief. He sanctifies the entire affections. He restores thewilling, desirous soul from the power of Satan unto God. This is thepower of grace. It is a divine power. Under its influence there is achange from the old habits, customs, and practices which, whencherished, separate the soul from God; and the work of sanctificationgoes on in the soul, constantly progressing and enlarging.'
Until next time, may God bless each of you abundantly!!!!!!
Much love,
Heather
(posted by R)
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