Meriden Seventh-day Adventist Church

I Thessalonians 5: 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who are sanctified through the truth will show that the truth has worked a reformation in their lives, that it is preparing them for translation into the heavenly world. But so long as pride and envy and evil surmising predominate in the life, Christ does not rule in the heart. His love is not in the soul.
In the lives of those who are partakers of the divine nature there is a crucifixion of the haughty, self-sufficient spirit that leads to self-exaltation. In its place the Spirit of Christ abides, and in the life the fruits of the Spirit appear. Having the mind of Christ, His followers reveal the graces of His character.
Nothing short of this will make men acceptable to God. Nothing short of this will give them the pure, holy character that those must have who are admitted to heaven. As soon as a man puts on Christ, an evidence of the change wrought in him is seen in spirit and word and act. A heavenly atmosphere surrounds his soul, for Christ is abiding within.—This Day With God

Good morning. Happy Wednesday. Father in heaven thank you for waking us up this morning to a blessing of a new day of life and this assurance of a sanctified life. Praying for God’s continuous leading and blessings in our lives my dearest family

Fear of Failure

There’s an old African proverb that says, “He who wants to cross a river must not be afraid of getting wet.” Too many times, people don’t accomplish their dreams and goals because of fear of failure or fear of what they’ll encounter. That kind of fear keeps you from going on a diet to lose weight, changing jobs, exploring a relationship, or even accepting a promotion. But being locked in a prison of fear will destroy you. Author Paulo Coelho once said, “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right. Not once does the Bible say to worry about it, stress over it, or figure it out. But over and over again, it clearly says, “Fear not.” Plain and simple, God doesn’t want His children to live in fear! He wants you to trust Him and go forward with faith that He knows what He is doing and will lead and guide you every step. Fear paralyzes your dreams, steals your happiness, and limits your relationship with God. When you start thinking, “I can’t do this. I’m just an idiot - everyone is going to laugh at me. Look at how many times I’ve failed. Everyone else can do it - I’m clearly the problem,” don’t listen to any of that nonsense and push those negative thoughts from your mind. That’s just the kind of weapon the devil loves to use against you, but don’t let fear keep you from going where God wants to take you. Claim God’s promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Christ was the only sinless one who ever dwelt on earth; yet for nearly thirty years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of Nazareth. This fact is a rebuke to those who think themselves dependent upon place, fortune, or prosperity, in order to live a blameless life. Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness.

Jesus lived in a peasant's home, and faithfully and cheerfully acted His part in bearing the burdens of the household. He had been the Commander of heaven, and angels had delighted to fulfill His word; now He was a willing servant, a loving, obedient son. He learned a trade, and with His own hands worked in the carpenter's shop with Joseph. In the simple garb of a common laborer He walked the streets of the little town, going to and returning from His humble work. He did not employ His divine power to lessen His burdens or to lighten His toil.

As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, mind and body were developed. He did not use His physical powers recklessly, but in such a way as to keep them in health, that He might do the best work in every line. He was not willing to be defective, even in the handling of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character. By His own example He taught that it is our duty to be industrious, that our work should be performed with exactness and thoroughness, and that such labor is honorable. The exercise that teaches the hands to be useful and trains the young to bear their share of life's burdens gives physical strength, and develops every faculty. All should find something to do that will be beneficial to themselves and helpful to others. God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent worker finds the true glory and joy of life. The approval of God rests with loving assurance upon children and youth who cheerfully take their part in the duties of the household, sharing the burdens of father and mother. Such children will go out from the home to be useful members of society.
Good morning. Happy Tuesday. Father in heaven, thank you for the blessing of a new day of life and for this reminder to be diligent in everything that we do. Thank you also for the blessing of our jobs. Please help us to do what is expected of us to do today. Praying for God’s continuous blessings and leading in our lives my dearest family and friends.

In Job 42, Job’s true greatness is found in humility. After encountering God, he recognizes his limitations and repents. A personal experience with Christ is what truly transforms the heart.

Praying for all our young people starting school! God hold them keep them in your shadow! Protect them guide them is our prayer

is in 1 week! We can’t wait to see new and returning at registration and dorm move-in. There’s still time to apply and join us for the 2026-2027 school year—apply today! www.shenandoahvalleyacademy.org Contact: [email protected]

Lord, You promise that one day You will wipe every tear from our eyes, that there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, but You're not waiting until then to be near me, You're here now, wiping tears as they fall.

Right now the tears are real, the loss is real, the pain does not let up, and it would be easy to imagine You far off, watching from heaven until the future You promised finally comes.

But You are not a distant God, You came all the way down, close enough to touch a face, close enough to be here in the middle of it with me.

Teach me that You do not save all Your comfort for eternity, that You are already here, meeting today's tears with today's tenderness.

Help me, when grief feels like it will never lift, when pain seems endless, when death takes someone I love, to know that You see every tear that falls, that You hold each one, and that You are sitting with me in it while I wait for the day it all ends.

You will wipe every tear completely someday, but You're also wiping them now, gently, personally, present in my grief, close in my pain, holding me through what still hurts.

Remind me that You're not indifferent to my tears today, that You see every one that falls, hold them tenderly, and sit with me in the pain while I wait for the day when pain finally ends.

Give me hope in what is coming and comfort in how near You are right now, and let me feel Your hand close today, the same God who will wipe away the last tear already wiping the ones I cry now.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.