abOut me…aBouT uS!

He who buries his talent is making a grave mistake.

Biblical text: Do not neglect your gift, wihch was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. (1 Timothy 4:14 NIV).

A man named Luigi Tarisio loved violins and began collecting them. He took great pride in scouting out rare finds and purchasing only those instruments that he knew to be of the finest quality. No one realy knew about his passion, however, until after he died. It was while his estate was being appraised that some 246 valuable violins were discovered in his attic!

One of the most expensive violins had been hidden in the drawer of an old dresser. It was a Stradivarius he had purchased from someone who had also bought it solely as a collector’s item. In commenting on this, W.Y. Fullerton noted that in preserving the instrument, Tarisio had robbed the world of beautiful music all the time he treasured his violins. Others before him had done the same. In fact, by the time the greatest Stradivarius violin in his collection was finally played, 147 years had passed!

The gifts, talents, abilities, and aptitudes that you have been given by the Creator are intended for you to discover, and then use until they become perfect. We are to uncover who we were created to be…. not cover up what we fear we are. Give expression to your inner self today. It is not only God’s gift to you, but the very best you can ever give to others.

© Australasian Conference Association Limited

MALACHI 3:10 ICB
10 Bring to the storehouse a tenth of what you gain. Then there
will be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord of
heaven’s armies. "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I
will pour out more blessings than you have room for.

Tithing is giving ten percent of your income to God.

While tithing is not a command given in the New Testament, what
we do with our money is a test of our love and commitment to
the Lord.

In truth, all we have as believers really belongs to the Lord.
Ten percent is a low figure, yet it is a starting point. Sadly,
one which many Christians have never reached.

I practice tithing to God because:

* Tithing is a way of expressing my worship in a tangible way.

God is worthy of my all — my best — and so much more. Nothing
I could ever give would be sufficient, but that is no reason to
do nothing. The money I give is tangible evidence that I do
value God.

* The Lord promised blessing to those who tithe.

There are books full of testimonies from people — even non-
Christians — who put God to the test, as He challenges us in
Malachi 3:10, and found God faithful to prosper them, as He
promised.

* Tithing is an act of faith, which pleases God.

It takes faith to give when you don’t have enough. Many people
do not tithe for this very reason; they are afraid God will not
come through and take care of them.

I have experienced miraculous provision many times. I can
testify that God is faithful, and will always, somehow, take
care of His children who trust Him.

SAY THIS: Giving money to God is an act of worship.

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Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.

Biblical text: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

On a summer morning as he was fixing his breakfast, Ray Blankenship looked out his window to see a young girl being swept along in the rain flooded drainage ditch beside his Ohio home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with a roar underneath the road and then emptied into the main culvert.

Ray dashed from his home and raced along the ditch, trying to get ahead of the flailing child. Finally, he hurled himself into the deep, churning water. When he surfaced, he was able to grab the girl’s arm. The two tumbled end over end and then, within about three feet of the yawning culvert, Ray’s free hand felt something protrude from the bank. He clung to it desperately, the tremendous force of the water trying to tear him and the child away.

By the time fire department rescuers arrived, Blankenship amazingly had pulled the girl to safety. Both were treated for shock. In that heroic moment, Ray Blankenship was at even greater risk than most people knew … since … Ray couldn’t swim.

Today, let your courage respond to needs that you see, not to the fear you may feel.

© Australasian Conference Association Limited

MATTHEW 5:44 NKJ
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you,

Most people believe in force: guns and armies.

Most people believe in money: "financial power."

Many people believe in education, that "If we just educate
people enough we can change the world."

Hardly anyone seems to believe in the power of love to change
things. No one seems to think it would do any good to "turn the
other cheek."

Jesus didn’t tell us to "turn the other cheek" just so we could
get beat up more. Jesus believes in the power of love. Jesus
believes that evil can be overcome with good.

ROMANS 12:20-21 NKJ
20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is
thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals
of fire on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God still believes in the power of love. He believes that if
you love enough, and for long enough, people will finally come
to their senses and respond to that love.

JOHN 13:34-35 NIV
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved
you, so you must love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another."

Jesus said the mark of His believers would be their love. Where
did we go wrong?

SAY THIS: Lord, help me to believe in love, and to act in love.

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A man is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.

Biblical text: One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. (Proverbs 13:7 NIV).

Fulton Oursler told a story of an old nurse who was born a slave on the eastern shore of Maryland. She had not only attended Fulton’s birth, but that of his mother. He credits her for teaching him the greatest lesson he ever learned about giving thanks and finding contentment.

Recalls Oursler: I remember her as she sat at the kitchen table in our house; the hard, old, brown hands folded across her starched apron, the glistening eyes, and the husky old whispering voice, saying, "Much obliged, Lord, for my vittles."

"Anna," I asked, "what’s a vittle?"
"It’s what I’ve got to eat and drink - that’s vittles," the old nurse replied.
"But you’d get your vittles whether you thanked the Lord or not."
"Sure", said Anna, "but it makes everything taste better to be thankful." Poverty is not a state of the pocketbook for many people, but a state of mind.

Do you think of yourself as being rich or poor today? What is it that you truly count as "wealth" in your life? If you list things that are not material in nature, you are likely very wealthy indeed!

© Australasian Conference Association Limited

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not…. My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path. Prov. 1:10-15 

     Amusements are doing more to counteract the working of the Holy Spirit than anything else, and the Lord is grieved. 

     Those who are artificial in character and religious experience too readily gather for pleasure and amusement, and their influence attracts others. Sometimes young men and women who are trying to be Bible Christians are persuaded to join the party. Unwilling to be thought singular, and naturally inclined to follow the example of others, they place themselves under the influence of those who, perhaps, have never felt the divine touch on mind and heart. Had they prayerfully consulted the divine standard, to learn what Christ has said in regard to the fruit to be borne on the Christian tree, they would have discerned that these entertainments were really banquets prepared to keep souls from accepting the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

     It sometimes happens that by frequenting places of amusement, youth who have been carefully instructed in the way of the Lord are carried away by the glamor of human influence, and form attachments for those whose education and training have been of a worldly character. They sell themselves into lifelong bondage by uniting with persons who have not the ornament of a Christlike spirit. 

     You will be invited to attend places of amusement. . . . If you are true to Christ then, you will not try to form excuses for your nonattendance, but will plainly and modestly declare that you are a child of God, and your principles would not allow you to be in a place, even for one occasion, where you could not invite the presence of your Lord. 

     God desires His people to show by their lives the advantage of Christianity over worldliness; to show that they are working on a high, holy plane.

From My Life Today - Page 215

Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

Bible text: We live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV).

During his two years in the army, David Brenner made the most of his posting to Europe by travelling at every opportunity. To heighten his sense of excitement, he often showed up at a train station and bought a ticket to wherever the next train was going.

One day he bought a ticket for Rome and since the train was scheduled to leave immediately, he raced across the station, but still arrived at the track just as the train was pulling away. He chased after it as fast as he could run! Standing on the platform of the last car was a well dressed man who motioned for him to hand him his bags. He quickly tossed him his smaller bag and then his larger suitcase. By this time, he was growing weary from running, but then he looked into the man’s face! The smirk he saw quickly told him that the man had offered his help not altruistically, but criminally. If Brenner didn’t make it on board, this man had brand new clothes and gear!

Brenner kicked up his heels and running as never before, he managed to grab the railing by the entrance to the last car. With all the strength he could muster, he swung himself aboard.

Adversity sometimes comes to rob you. Instead, let it motivate your faith to be even more daring!

by:south pacific SDA daily devotional

1 CORINTHIANS 14:18 NIV
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Speaking in tongues is speaking in a language you have never
learned. It is a supernatural act possible only by the help of
the indwelling Holy Spirit.

MARK 16:17 NKJ
17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name
they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

It is estimated that today over 500 million Christians, in
every country on earth, do speak in tongues. It started on the
day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:4.

ACTS 2:4 NKJ
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Every believer can speak in tongues, if they desire. It is a
free gift available to all believers.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:5 NKJ
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues . . . .

I think this doctrine has been so controversial because the
devil is against it, knowing how helpful it is to believers.

I have no desire to argue with anyone. I do desire to see
everyone enjoy all the benefits God has freely provided for us.

I speak in tongues because:

* It allows me to communicate with God better. There are things
my mind just cannot put into words which I can express through
the spirit by praying in tongues.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:2 NKJ
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to
God . . . .

* It builds me up spiritually and refreshes me.

1 CORINTHIANS 14:4 NKJ
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself . . . .

There are other benefits. I hope you are enjoying them, too.

SAY THIS: Thank you Lord that I can speak in tongues.

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Walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. Prov. 2:20 

     There are modes of recreation which are highly beneficial to both mind and body. An enlightened, discriminating mind will find abundant means for entertainment and diversion, from sources not only innocent, but instructive. Recreation in the open air, the contemplation of the works of God in nature, will be of the highest benefit. 

     While we are seeking to refresh our spirits and invigorate our bodies, we are required of God to use all our powers at all times to the best purpose. We may associate together as we do here today, [FROM AN ADDRESS GIVEN AT AN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL GATHERING AT GOGUAC LAKE, MICHIGAN.] and do all to the glory of God. We can and should conduct our recreations in such a manner that we shall be fitted for the more successful discharge of the duties devolving upon us, and that our influence shall be more beneficial upon those with whom we associate. Especially should it be the case upon an occasion like this, which should be of good cheer to us all. We can return to our homes improved in mind and refreshed in body, and prepared to engage in the work anew, with better hope and better courage. 

     We believe that it is our privilege every day of our lives to glorify God upon the earth; that we are not to live in this world merely for our own amusement, merely to please ourselves. We are here to benefit humanity, to be a blessing to society…. 

     We here behold the beauties of nature…. As we behold these works of nature we should let the mind be carried up higher, to nature’s God; let it be elevated to the Creator of the universe, and then adore the Creator who has made all these beautiful things for our benefit and happiness. 

     We must take periods of rest, periods of recreation, periods for contemplation.

From My Life Today - Page 214

If a care is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be made into a burden.

Biblical text: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).

Shortly after Mary Manachi’s second child, Marylou, was born, she was diagnosed with Cooley’s anemia, which requires a blood transfusion every two weeks and is usually fatal before the age of twenty. Assured by physicians that the genetic disorder was very rare, Mary and her husband had another baby. At six months, Rosemarie was also diagnosed with the disorder, and later, her son, George, was also born with Cooley’s. Sadness gripped Mary and her husband.

One day, Mary walked into Rosemarie’s room and found her making a beautiful pin to sell at a craft show. "I’m going to earn all I can toward college," she said. Then a teacher phoned to report what Rosemarie had written as the thing she was most thankful for: "good health!" Mary took another look at her children and found them all embracing life. George was talking about becoming a geologist. Marylou was earning a place on the honour roll and practicing her piano diligently. Mary finally concluded, "If they love life so much… am I to love life less?"

Sometimes our burdens seem great. It helps at those times to remember those with great burdens who carry them as "being too small" even to become worries.

By: SDA South Pacific Daily Devotional