GOD WILL MAKE A PLAIN PATH FOR YOU

Today's pictures are from Hurricane Ernesto which races through the Atlantic Ocean not long after it made landfall in Bermuda on Saturday (Aug. 17), where it dumped seven to nine inches (18 to 23 centimeters) of rain on the ground, downed trees, and caused island-wide power outages.

Now let's get into the message for the day. 

Good day, family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Today is a great day to praise the Lord. No matter where you may live or work in Bermuda of the world, I pray that all is well with you. On behalf of the people of Bermuda, we take this moment to thank God for the Government of Bermuda, the EMO, all Essential Services, grocery stores, gas stations, those involved in the transportation industry, and restaurants for the great work you have done in helping to pull Bermuda back together after hurricane Ernesto.

We still have some way to go. Whereby I encourage all to continue having patience as we all work together to restore our beautiful island. This could apply to wherever you may be living in the world.

Things may look or feel different for a time. But if we allow nature to take its course and work along with her and God, we would be a better people in the long run.

For myself and my family, we are all doing the best we can and still offering help to others as needed. God will work out our needs as we continue to serve Him and His people.

I am reminded, "It may seem stressful to surrender our plans and follow His leading, but when we do that, we will never regret it. If God gave Jesus for us, how much more will He give us all other things that are necessary for our needs? Romans 8:32.

If today we would take time to go to God and tell Him our needs, we should not be disappointed; He would be at our right hand to help us in His time.

As they said of old, “God will help His believing children in every emergency if they will place their entire confidence in Him and faithfully obey Him."

Whether it is from the beach of Bermuda or one of the gardens of the world, it is good to give God thanks in all circumstances.

A close friend sent me this thought this morning, "Our happiness isn’t shaped by our circumstances; it’s shaped by how we respond to them. And that response begins with the thoughts we nurture. Starting the day with positive thoughts is like planting seeds in fertile soil—what we plant, we grow.

Our outer world often mirrors our inner thoughts. When we fill our minds with joy, we invite joyful experiences into our lives.

Take a moment to set your mind for a perfect day. Build a foundation of emotional stability that guides your responses. While situations and people may be imperfect, your state of mind can remain perfect—calm, happy, and peaceful.

Let your thoughts, words, and actions radiate positivity, and in return, you’ll attract even more peace and happiness." Writer unknown.

On the other hand, if your heart is aching under a load of care because you seek to reach the world's standard. If you have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, and adopted its customs. You have put yourself in the way of accepting your character to be marred, and your life filled with weariness. This continual worry is wearing out your life forces.

Yet, our Lord desires you to lay aside your yoke of bondage. He invites you to accept His yoke; because His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Today, it is time to put aside worry. Because "worry is blinding your discernment of the future; only God sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty, He has His way prepared to bring relief. The Bible says, "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Matthew 11:30; Psalm 84:11.

"Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet."

Today, I encourage you to make the service of God supreme in your life and watch how God makes a plain path before your feet. HAVE A HAPPY DAY! BLESSINGS, BLESSINGS, BLESSINGS.

By GARDEN MINISTRY.

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WE SAW THE HAND OF GOD

The word of the Lord reminds us, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25.

For the past twenty-four hours, people living in Bermuda have seen the hand of God, moving the damaging effects of a hurricane away from the island. But may I warn you, the word of tje Lord is, "We are only safe as we trust in God. We have a vigilant foe to contend against.... He [Christ] saw that it was not possible for man to overcome the powerful foe in his own strength, therefore He came in person from the courts of heaven and bore in behalf of man the test that Adam failed to endure.... Christ overcame Satan, making it possible for man to overcome on his own behalf in the name of Christ. But the victory can only be gained in Christ's name, through His grace. 

When burdened, when pressed with temptation, when the feelings and desires of the natural heart are clamoring for the victory. It is earnest, fervent, importunate prayer in the name of Jesus that brings help to your side to overcome all things, even Satan.

I implore you to trust wholly in God. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” James 4:7, 8."

This hurricane is a lesson  for all of us. Let us learn the lesson and trust God!

Let us learn to follow orders in small things. Let us learn to be obedient to God in every act. The pathway may be rough and thorny, and the ascents steep, requiring toil on our part. You may have to press on a little longer at times when weary, when you long for rest. 

You may have to get up early to fight on when you feel faint. Gather hope by “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2, and be not discouraged. Trust in your Redeemer, and you will be safe.

As for me and my house, we will keep our hands in God and trust Him to see us through. May God bless all of us to do the same. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings 

By GARDEN MINISTRY

PUT AWAY YOUR EGO AND PRIDE

Hello Friends, at 4:00 am this morning, I was awakened by a voice calling my name. My wife awoke and I told her that someone called my name. I quickly got up and went to the bathroom and realized it was the voice of God. So I sat down and started writing. This is the message. "Of all the things we must ask God to help us overcome are pride and our ego. Biblical, history recalls it was these two things in Satan that caused his downfall.

When people are full of pride, as time goes on, they eventually crash if they don't get help. The bigger the ego, the harder the fall. The word of God is clear in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred; for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven through wise counsel.

To you who are full of hatred and revenge. Before you seek to air someone's dirty laundry out, remember, you have dirty laundry of your own. "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 1:16-20.

"The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan, and it led him to put to death the Son of God. Whoever cherishes malice or unkindness is cherishing the same spirit, and its fruit will be unto death. In the revengeful thought, the evil deed lies enfolded as the plant in the seed." “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” 1 John 3:15."

In Romans 12:19 it says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

"The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion on earth... Reproof of sin still arouses the spirit of hatred and resistance. When God's messages of warning are brought home to the conscience, Satan leads men to justify themselves and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin. Instead of correcting their errors, they excite indignation against the reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty. From the days of righteous Abel to our own time, such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin."

When Jesus was on earth. Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God and employed men as his agents to fill the Saviour's life with suffering and sorrow. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge. The pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary against the Son of God, while all heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror."

"Pride of heart is a fearful trait of character. “Pride goeth before destruction.” This is true in the family, the church, and the nation."

The world today is filled with so much anger. This has led to an increase in people fussing, cussing, abusing each other, violence, murder, mistrust, and mistreatment of one another without forgiveness.

The question is asked, “What is leading to mankind's downfall?

The answer is, "It is pride, ignorance, and folly."

History is filled with examples of people who were filled with pride and lost their way. Take for example, one that ended in sudden death, is the account of Haman in Esther 3:7. A glory-hungry self-worshipper, Haman was never satisfied, no matter how much praise he received. The same could be said of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:30-37, who had to learn a long lesson in humility after exalting himself beyond his actual standing.

The core lesson we can take from each of these stories is this: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11; Matthew 23:12.

How does a person with excessive pride behave?

They get defensive so easily.

They can't stand the idea that they might not be right or that they don't know the answer. 

They may make up an answer or lie instead of saying, "I don't know."

They are resentful when someone else wins or succeeds, or is right.

They can't stand it when someone has dominion over them.

They don't like being told what to do.

Having enough isn't good enough for them, they want to have more than the next person all the time.

They have resentment and hatred for others. 

They stir trouble for others.

The love of God doesn't dwell in their heart. 

In the world, one should expect the spirit of pride and ego to go before the children of man, because they are under the control of the devil. But this Spirit should not be seen among the professed children of GOD!

Today, the Lord is displeased with the pride manifested among His professed people. His will is:

1. They should be subject to one another.

2. They should counsel with each other, that the lack of one be supplied by the sufficiency of the other.

My friend, God hates pride, Proverbs 6:16-19, and ... all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up. Malachi 4:1-3.

To those of you who have hot heads and cannot control your temper.  To you who refuse to move away from your pride and ego. The warning to you today is, to repent before you fall! If you would like to overcome these evil traits. The word of the Lord is, “Learn of me,” said Christ; “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29.

It is said by them of old, "Before honor is humility. To fill a high place before men, Heaven chooses the worker who ... takes a lowly place before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labor for God. The heavenly intelligences can cooperate with him who is seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls... From communion with Christ, he will go forth to work for those who are perishing in their sins. He is anointed for his mission, and he succeeds where many of the learned and intellectually wise would fail....

"The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness."

"Solomon was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed, “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.”

May we find it in our hearts today to humble ourselves before GOD, and let's put away our ego, and pride, and respect one another. May you have a wonderful day. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY 

SABBATH FACTS - What Day is the Sabbath? (Part 3)

Have you ever wondered why people keep Saturday as the Sabbath day to worship God? How about, what is the object of the Sabbath? Which day is the Sabbath, is it the first day of the week, Sunday, or the seventh day of the week, Saturday?

Here is what the Bible says.

God rested on the seventh day after working the first six days of the week in creating this earth. Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:4.

The seventh day is the Sabbath. Sabbath means “rest.” Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:10.

The Creator blessed the seventh day. Genesis 2:3.

He set apart (sanctified) the seventh day. Exodus 20:11.

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. We commemorate that grand event every time we rest upon the seventh day, as God did at creation. Exodus 20:11.

The Sabbath is a sign between God and His people that He sets them apart as His special people. Ezekiel 20:12; Revelation 12:17.

“And Jesus said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28, that is, for the whole human race. Therefore, the SABBATH was not given to the Jews only, but to everyone. Long before there was a Jew on earth by name, all mankind and creation was celebrating the Sabbath.

God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai on books of stone. Exodus 19:20. The fourth commandment in that book, God reminds His people that He established the Sabbath thousands of years before. Exodus 19:20; 20:8-11.

According to the Metropolitan Cantor Institute, “For Jews and Christians, the observance of a repeating cycle of seven days, with one day set aside and dedicated to God, is extremely ancient, going back to Genesis: "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation" (Genesis 2:3).”

This weekly Sabbath with the weekly cycle of the week originated at creation. The Bible indicates continued unbroken through the centuries from creation Genesis 2:1-3 to apostolic times. Acts 13:13, 44, even to our day.

God commanded by His voice the observance of the Sabbath. Deuteronomy 4:12, 13.

God wrote the Ten Commandments on tables of stone with His own finger. Exodus 31:18.

God preserved the commandments in the ark in the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. Deuteronomy 10:1-5.

God commanded His people to rest on the Sabbath, even in extra busy times. Exodus 34:21.

God promised that Jerusalem would stand forever if His people kept the Sabbath. Jeremiah 17:24, 25.

One of the reasons why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed was His people’s desecration of the Sabbath. Jeremiah 17:27.

God sent His people into Babylonian captivity for breaking the Sabbath. Nehemiah 13:18; Daniel 1:1-2.

God has pronounced a special blessing on all His people who will keep the Sabbath. Isaiah 56:6, 7.

The Lord encourages us to think of the Sabbath as a delight, and honorable. Isaiah 58:13.

When Jesus came, He worshiped on the seventh day. Luke 4:16; John 15:10.

The seventh day of the week, (Saturday) is the Lord’s day. Revelation 1:10; Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13; Exodus 20:10.

Jesus vindicated the Sabbath as a merciful institution designed for man’s good. Mark 2:23-28.

Instead of abolishing the Sabbath, Jesus carefully taught how it should be observed, and we should do the same. Matthew 12:1-13; Matthew 28:19-20.

Jesus admonished His disciples to pray that they would not have to flee from the coming destruction of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. Matthew 24:20.

After His death, the women who were followers of Jesus “Rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” We should do the same in our day if we are not an essential worker. Luke 23:56: (Exodus 20:8-11.

There is no record in the Bible that God has ever removed His blessing or sanctification from the seventh day.

The Sabbath remains forever. Hebrews 4:9.

Is there any Biblical evidence for Sunday worship?

No! There is clearly no New Testament evidence for a change of the Sabbath from Saturday, the seventh day of the week, to Sunday, the first day of the week. The change came after the days of Jesus and the apostles, so we must turn to history to see when and how this change came about.

Evidence in history

The change from Sabbath observance to Sunday observance took place after the New Testament was completed and all the apostles had died. History records that Christians eventually shifted from worshipping and resting on the seventh day to the first day of the week.

“A history of the problem shows that in some places, it was really only after some centuries that the Sabbath rest really was entirely abolished, and by that time the practice of observing a bodily rest on the Sunday had taken its place” Vincent J. Kelly, Forbidden Sunday and Feast-Day Occupations, p. 15.

Constantine the Great changed the Sabbath to Sunday

“On March 7, A.D. 321, Constantine the Great issued the first civil Sunday law, compelling all the people in the Roman Empire, except farmers, to rest on Sunday. This with five other civil laws decreed by Constantine concerning Sunday, set the legal precedent for all civil Sunday legislation from that time to the present.

In the 4th century, the Council of Laodicea urged Christians to honor Sunday by abstaining from work on that day if at all possible, and prohibited them from abstaining from work on the Sabbath.”

It is the prayer of Garden Ministry that God would help us all put Him and His Word first in all that we do. Enjoy your day. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY

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