Church guide

Thought for the Day: "He knows just what we need, just what we can bear, and He will give us grace to endure every trial and test that He brings upon us. My constant prayer is for a greater nearness to God." SD 19. Deeper Look: 1 Corinthians 10:13 GNB Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Thought for the Day: "The Lord desires us to rest in Him without a question as to our measure of reward. When Christ abides in the soul, the thought of reward is not uppermost. This is not the motive that actuates our service." COL 398. A Deeper Look: Proverbs 21:2-3 GNB "You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the Lord judges your motives. Do what is right and fair; that pleases the Lord more than bringing him sacrifices."

Thought for the Day: Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. Nothing can pluck us out of His hand. SC 72. A Deeper Look: Psalms 91:7-11 GNB A thousand may fall dead beside you, 10,000 all round you, but you will not be harmed. You will look and see how the wicked are punished. You have made the Lord your defender, the Most High your protector, and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home. God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go.

Thought for the Day: "Fallen man is to learn that our Heavenly Father cannot be satisfied until His love embraces the repentant sinner, transformed through the merits of the spotless Lamb of God." OFC 204. A Deeper Look: Jeremiah 31:1-3 GNB The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they will be my people. In the desert I showed mercy to those people who had escaped death. When the people of Israel longed for rest, I appeared to them from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love.

Thought for the Day: "I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption,-the Son of God uplifted on the cross of Calvary." OFC 33. A Deeper Look: John 12:32 GNB "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”

Thought for the Day: "Live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold you firmly by a hand that will never let go." MB 119. A Deeper Look: Psalms 94:14 GNB "The Lord will not abandon his people; he will not desert those who belong to him."

Thought for the Day: "We shall trust God as a child trusts a loving parent." MB 101. A Deeper Look: Mark 10:13-16 GNB Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.

Thought for the Day: "If you have given yourself to God, to do His work, you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow." MB 100. A Deeper Look: Matthew 6:31-33 GNB “So do not start worrying: ‘Where will my food come f?oom? or my drink? or my clothes?’ (These are the things the pagans are always concerned about.) Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things."

"The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it." COL 342. A Deeper Look: Colossians 4:5 GNB "Be wise in the way you act towards those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have."

Thought for the Day: "When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions." COL 341, 342. A Deeper Look: Proverbs 3:5-7 GNB "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong."

Thought for the Day: "The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life carries an almost irresistible influence." COL 340. A Deeper Look : 2 Kings 5:2-4, 9-10, 14-15 GNB In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl, who became a servant of Naaman's wife. One day she said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease.” When Naaman heard of this, he went to the king and told him what the girl had said. So Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. Elisha sent a servant out to tell him to go and wash himself seven times in the River Jordan, and he would be completely cured of his disease. So Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed, and he was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy, like that of a child. He returned to Elisha with all his men and said, “Now I know that there is no god but the God of Israel...”

Thought for the Day: "By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected.… Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence." COL 339. A Deeper Look: Matthew 5:13-16 GNB “You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless, so it is thrown out and people trample on it. “You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Thought for the Day: "Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation." COL 338. A Deeper Look: Matthew 15:18 GNB "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these are the things that make a person ritually unclean." Psalms 34:1 KJV "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Thought for the Day: "Under all circumstances reproof should be spoken in love. Then our words will reform, but not exasperate." COL 337. A Deeper Look: Proverbs 25:15 GNB "Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers." Proverbs 15:1 GNB "A gentle answer quietens anger, but a harsh one stirs it up."

Thought for the Day: "We should accustom ourselves to speak in pleasant tones, to use pure and correct language, and words that are kind and courteous." COL 336. A Deeper Look: Ephesians 4:29 KJV "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Thought for the Day: "By diligent effort all may acquire the power to read intelligibly, and to speak in a full, clear, round tone, in a distinct and impressive manner. By doing this we may greatly increase our efficiency as workers for Christ." COL 335, 336. A Deeper Look: Nehemiah 8:8 GNB "They gave an oral translation of God's Law and explained it so that the people could understand it."

Thought for the Day: "The Lord desires us to obtain all the education possible, with the object in view of imparting our knowledge to others. None can know where or how they may be called to labor or to speak for God. Our heavenly Father alone sees what He can make of men. There are before us possibilities which our feeble faith does not discern. Our minds should be so trained that if necessary we can present the truths of His word before the highest earthly authorities in such a way as to glorify His name. We should not let slip even one opportunity of qualifying ourselves intellectually to work for God." COL 333. A Deeper Look: Daniel 1:17, 19-20 KJV As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. Daniel 2:48 KJV Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel 4:37 KJV Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Thought for the Day: "If placed under the control of His Spirit, the more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated, the more effectively it can be used in the service of God." COL 333. A Deeper Look: Galatians 5:19, 22-24 GNB "What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itself in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions; But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires."

Thought forthe Day: "If you have made mistakes, you certainly gain a victory if you see these mistakes, and regard them as beacons of warning." COL 332. A Deeper Look: Proverbs 15:10 KJV "Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die."

Thought for the Day: "A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self." COL 331. A Deeper Look: 2 Peter 1:4-8 GNB "In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature. For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love. These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."