What Seventh Day Adventists Believe.....#22

Fundamental Belief # 22

(Please see what I have to say at the end of this post. Thanks)

Christian Behavior:

We are called to be a godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with the principles of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness.

    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   

Romans 12:1, 2

 

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:6

 

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:1-21

 

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:8

 

    casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,   

2 Corinthians 10:5

 

      Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty."      

1. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.      

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

 

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.   

1 Peter 3:1-4

 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

 

 

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.   

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

    Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: 3 Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud--that you may eat. 4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 7 and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you. 9 'These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers--that you may eat. 10 But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. 11 They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. 12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales--that shall be an abomination to you. 13 'And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, 14 the kite, and the falcon after its kind; 15 every raven after its kind, 16 the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; 17 the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; 18 the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; 19 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20 'All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. 21 Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. 22 These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. 23 But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. 24 'By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening; 25 whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening: 26 The carcass of any animal which divides the foot, but is not cloven-hoofed or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches it shall be unclean. 27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening. 28 Whoever carries any such carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. It is unclean to you. 29 'These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the mole, the mouse, and the large lizard after its kind; 30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the sand reptile, the sand lizard, and the chameleon. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening. 32 Anything on which any of them falls, when they are dead shall be unclean, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack, whatever item it is, in which any work is done, it must be put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening; then it shall be clean. 33 Any earthen vessel into which any of them falls you shall break; and whatever is in it shall be unclean: 34 in such a vessel, any edible food upon which water falls becomes unclean, and any drink that may be drunk from it becomes unclean. 35 And everything on which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean; whether it is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down; for they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean. 37 And if a part of any such carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean. 38 But if water is put on the seed, and if a part of any such carcass falls on it, it becomes unclean to you. 39 'And if any animal which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until evening. 40 He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. 41 'And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth--these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. 44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 'This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47 to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.' "   

Leviticus 11:1-47

 

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

3 John 2

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I just wanted to check in and let you know that we are nearing the end of this series. I believe we have 6 Fundamental Beliefs left. I have decided when this series is finished that I will have a series on "Bible Marking" something that I learned when I was in High School and I would like to share them with you all. I really enjoyed doing them and I hope you will as well. Have a Happy Sabbath! :O)

Drawing Nigh to God....series

"Drawing Nigh to God"

by Minnie E. Dauphinee

Supreme Love...The Supreme Question

 

A young man who excelled in mathematics liked to challenge his fellow students with hard problems. One day a classmate who was a Christian said to him, "John, I have a very important problem for you to solve." He handed him a folded paper, then left the room. Instead of the expected question in mathematics, John read-

 

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

 

This unexpected problem was finally solved by his conversion. The necessity of every individual's answering this supreme question is sorely urgent. O that all would answer it as did that student! But they do not.

 

"How much is that estate worth?" asked a man of his friend as they passed a beautiful mansion with extensive grounds.

I do not know how much it is worth," was the reply. "But I know what it cost its owner."

"How much?"

"It cost him his soul," was the startling response. Then he proceeded to tell how the owner had lived exclusively for one purpose- to built himself a home on earth-and had died suddenly with no hope of eternal life.

 

Esau bartered his soul for a mess of pottage; Gehazi, for "2 talents of silver..., with two changes of garments"; Achan, for a "Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of sliver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight"; Judas, for "thirty pieces of silver." We are amazed at the folly of the uncivilized natives who accepts some worthless trinket in exchange for priceless jewels that would grace a royal crown. Yet what is that compared with the folly of him who exchanges the pearl of great price for the worthless things of this earth? Even if it were possible for him to gain  "the whole world," what would that profit him in comparison with the loss of his own soul?

 

"One soul is of more value to heaven than a whole world of property, houses, lands, money."

 

Many have been converted by the solemn appeal. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" John Williams was one of these. He was an ungodly young man when he heard a sermon on this text. He gave up the world, took up his cross, and followed Christ. Later he lost his life at the hand of savages in one of the islands of the New Hebrides, where





Update On Us...

Since some of you have been wondering how things were going - I thought I would do an update post.
I am on my last day of antibiotics. I am praising the Lord that I have not gotten a yeast infection this round. I have made sure to eat yogurt at least ever other day or so. I am feeling better. I am still coughing some stuff up- so not totally cleared up. This is a really tough bug. But I have heard of other really rough stuff going around -like the flu, and a virus which causes vomiting and diarrhea so I am thankful for what I have instead of having any of those things. I am trying what ever I can to keep from getting those things.

I read that Vitamin D3 is suppose to really help the immune system. A lady I know who works at a hospital and is constantly around sick people says that she takes 1,000 - what ever they come in a day and that she does get sick hardly at all. So it is something that I want to look more into. I love learning new tidbits like this.

My husband got the same stuff I have been fighting. He is on his second round of antibiotics. He is not as willing to try natural remedies as what I am. His did the same thing mine did- once he got off the first round - he felt better for a couple of days and then bam - fever and lots of congestion. He had to do a lung xray yesterday - Dr called within 30 minutes of the xrays. Scared me to death. The only time we have ever heard from a Dr that soon after having a test done - it was bad news. I was happy to hear that his lungs were clear. He had coughed some phlegm up a couple of times that had blood in them. That did not sound good.

My oldest son worked a temp. job the last two days. It is really bad work environment - the place wants people to work 12-14 hour days - 7 days a week. That is not good. Even the Bible tells us that - that is why "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."
(Gen 2:2-3) But at least he was able to make some money to cover a couple of his bills. Still praying for a Full time job for him. His divorce hearing was postponed - it was suppose to be the 4th of February - now it is suppose to be the 18th. Please keep that in your prayers. It has been a tough and ugly 3-4 months or so. They even falsely accused my husband of something bad - he has since been cleared. But they used this false accusation to keep us or our son from seeing our granddaughter over the last 3 months. It has been very rough on all of us. We hope and pray that once the divorce is final that they will abide by the judges orders and at least let my son have his visitation.

It has been so beautiful around these parts of the country this week. My windows are open and I even have our quilt and blanket off of our bed - washed and they are now hanging on the clothes line - enjoying the sunshine. I sure with I could get out and enjoy it more- but the meds I am on say its best to avoid a lot of sunlight. So I have just gone out and did little odd jobs here and there - like move a bird feeder to a new spot so I could see it better from my window. Picked up a few odds and ends to help clean up the yard more, and put the cover back on the grill. I love days like these. You know - I can really tell that I am feeling better just by the extra jobs that I have been able to get done lately, for example, yesterday I vacuumed our carpets really well and then I steam cleaned our carpets. They had gotten pretty dirty. We have light blue carpet so it gets dirty easily. Not the carpet that my husband and I would pick. We love a mutli-brown shag carpet - it is something that has been around a long time. And if it is around when we are able to get new carpet - I am sure that is what we would go with. It is great carpet - does not show the wear as easily. Anyway there for a few months or so I felt like I was in survivor mode - just doing what had to be done and forcing myself to do what I did do. God is good and he heals the hurts that we get in this life time and when there are situations in which we have not control and they cause us great pain - He is ever present to give us what ever we need. I want to thank him for that today.

I hope you all are having a great day!

What a Promise!

 

Isn't this a great promise?! I just love it.

This was one of the photo's floating around Facebook. Not sure who created it but I think they did an awesome job!

Have a great day! :O) 

Little Changes= Big Savings

After so unexpectantly losing my job, I have learned a lot. I had already been looking at ways to save my family money, but now I am finding new ways. And I've also found that some attitudes have changed a lot.

I have shared in the past about making laundry detergent and also dish washing powder. Well I had kind of let those things go - for one thing I don't use my dishwasher very much any more and so I just let that go. The laundry detergent - well I ran out of what I had made and then life got in the way. 

This past week end my husband had to fix our kitchen sink on Saturday evening - it had begun to leak. Well the next morning we realized that the knob that turns the water off and on had gotten damaged - I think he said because it does not get used much and then once it got moved some damage was done. Anyway, there had been a leak ALL night long and when we woke up there was water up under our wood panel floor in the kitchen and in the dining room.

So I had to pull everything out from under the sink. This ended up being a great thing because there was some stuff that I was able to get rid of and was able to organize things much better and make it much easier to see what we had under there. Anyway when I pulled everything out I realized I still had the ingredients to make the laundry detergent. So I went to look in my folder for the directions of how to make it. I ended up making two batches of laundry detergent, and one batch of the dish washing powder - since I don't use the dishwasher very much.

Another thing I did this week end was make up a new batch of Taco Seasoning. It's quick and easy to make and saves money as well.

When I had a job- if I were out running around and I wanted a sweet tea from Chicken Express - I would just swing by there and get myself one($1.00) or if I ended up running errands and I got hungry in the middle of them - I would stop by Taco Bell and grab something - (usually less than $4.00). Now- before I leave the house - I make sure I have something to drink with me so that I don't have to stop. And I plan my errands so that I am home or will get home for or around meal times so I do not have to buy lunch out. Little changes - but they help out our finances a lot.

Another change that I have been able to do to save a few dollars a month. When we got our Boys several years ago- since I fed my cats canned food in the morning and in the afternoon - I found that it worked best because we have 3-4 that will eat on the food, that it worked best to put food on 3 plates. So I had one larger plate and would put food on it and then put food on two small disposable plates. So I would have to buy a package of those plate about once a month. I finally realized that if I just looked at Goodwill - I could find a couple of small plates and get them and then I could wash and reuse. So last week I found 2 plates - $.50 each and bought them. Now I don't have to pay the couple of dollars for the disposable plates. Little changes can equal into big savings.

My son is taking some classes and on his way to class he was stopping and getting himself a Sunny Delight. Well the last time that I went to get groceries, I picked up an 8 pack of 8oz bottles of Sunny Delight- this way it would save him some money. And yesterday I stopped by Krogers and picked up a large bottle of Sunny Delight. I have told my son to save his bottles and I am refilling them. The large bottle - only a dollar. That helps save money too. And get more vitamin C down him. And that is always good.

I will be posting how I do the powdered laundry detergent and the dishwasher powder. I learned something new that helps make it much easier to make the powdered laundry detergent and I will be sharing that as well. See ya soon! :O)

Stand Still

Another devotional from my book "Streams in the Desert" for February 5th

I love this poem and thought I would share it, so you too could enjoy! :o)

“Ye shall not go out with haste” (Isa. 52:12).

I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry–we must be doing–so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us, “Stand still,” or “Sit still,” or “Be still,” unless He is going to do something.
This is our trouble in regard to our Christian life; we want to do something to be Christians when we need to let Him work in us. Do you know how still you have to be when your likeness is being taken?
Now God has one eternal purpose concerning us, and that is that we should be like His Son; and in order that this may be so, we must be passive. We hear so much about activity, may be we need to know what it is to be quiet. –Crumbs

 

Sit Still, My Daughter!

J. Danson Smith

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor deem these days—these waiting days—as ill!
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
And if He waits, ’tis sure He waits to prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart’s deep love.

 

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord’s will!
While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way,
Corrodingly within, because of His delay—
Persuade thyself in simply faith to rest,
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

 

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor move a step, not even one, until
His way hath opened. Then, ah, then, how sweet!
How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet!
Thy inner being then, ah, then, how strong!
And waiting days not counted then too long.

 

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
What higher service could’st thou for Him fill?
’Tis hard! Ah, yes! But choicest things must cost!
For lack of losing all how much is lost!
’Tis hard, ’tis true! But then—He giveth grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

Obstacles

So it looks like the court date has been postponed. Hopefully we will find out something this afternoon as to when the new date will be. But since we feel like this is just another obstacle that we are facing - I felt that today's reading in my devotional book would be very appropriate to share today. Hoping it will encourage others also.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!

 

 

From "Streams in the Desert" Devotional book:

For February 4th

 

“I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth”

Isaiah 58:14

 

Those who fly through the air in airships tell us that one of the first rules they learn is to turn their ship toward the wind, and fly against it. The wind lifts the ship up to higher heights. Where did they learn that? They learned it from the birds. If a bird is flying for pleasure, it goes with the wind. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher; and it flies away towards the very sun.

Sufferings are God’s winds, His contrary winds, sometimes His strong winds. They are God’s hurricanes, but, they take human life and lift it to higher levels and toward God’s heavens.

You have seen in the summer time a day when the atmosphere was so oppressive that you could hardly breathe? But a cloud appeared on the western horizon and that cloud grew larger and threw out rich blessing for the world. The storm rose, lightning flashed and thunder pealed. The storm covered the world, and the atmosphere was cleansed; new life was in the air, and the world was changed.

Human life is worked out according to exactly the same principle. When the storm breaks the atmosphere is changed, clarified, filled with new life; and a part of heaven is brought down to earth. –Selected

 

Obstacles ought to set us singing. The wind finds voice, not when rushing across the open sea, but when hindered by the outstretched arms of the pine trees, or broken by the fine strings of an Aeolian harp. Then it has songs of power and beauty. Set your freed soul sweeping across the obstacles of life, through grim forests of pain, against even the tiny hindrances and frets that love uses, and it, too, will find its singing voice. –Selected

 

“Be like a bird that, halting in its flight,

Rests on a bough too slight.

And feeling it give way beneath him sings,

Knowing he hath wings.”