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Worship: For Heaven’s Sake Sometimes the greatest faith is not in those you would expect to have it. Wise philosophers from the East, called magi, studied and followed the prophetic word and the signs. They found a barn and the infant Messiah–God. The priests had heard of shepherds being visited by angels announcing the birth of the Messiah, but they “treated it as unworthy of their notice.” There is never safety in following man, even if it’s your pastor, says Pastor Flemons. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, shared an article describing ten natural remedies for treating acne. (Read more below.)
(NOTE: Before following any advice given here, please read our disclaimer on this page.)
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Worship: If Your Pastor Keeps You in Darkness, Reach for the Stars!
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Wellness: Natural Remedies for Acne
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TOPICS THIS WEEK – May 21 – 27
Worship Sunday – The Dedication; Monday – “We Have Seen His Star”; Tuesday – As a Child; Wednesday – The Passover Visit; Thursday – Days of Conflict; Friday – The Voice in the Wilderness; Saturday, the Sabbath – The Baptism [All topics per Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White.]
Wellness Sunday – How Your Diet Is Putting a Hole in Your Head! Monday – Natural Remedies for Acne
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Words of Encouragement
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.
For Heaven’s Sake…
The magi had traveled far with mounting excitement at finding the Messiah. They had seen the light in the heavens. It was the evening of the angels’ visit to the shepherds to announce the Savior’s arrival. When the mysterious light faded, a star appeared. The star of heavenly angels led them to Jerusalem and disappeared above the temple. The magi had expected Jerusalem to be filled with the joy of the Messiah’s birth. But to their amazement, there was none. They only found surprise and fear, mingled with contempt.
Pride and envy had closed the door against the light of the Savior’s coming. Had the reports brought by the shepherds and wise men been “credited, they would place the priests and rabbis in a most unenviable position, disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God.” There was no way that the learned teachers would stoop to be taught by those they termed heathen. There was no way, so they thought, that God passed by them to reveal such wonderful messages to “ignorant shepherds or uncircumcised Gentiles. They determined to show their contempt for the reports that were exciting King Herod and all Jerusalem. They would not even go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so. And they led the people to regard the interest in Jesus as a fanatical excitement. Here began the rejection of Christ by the priests and rabbis. From this point their pride and stubbornness grew into a settled hatred of the Saviour. While God was opening the door to the Gentiles, the Jewish leaders were closing the door to themselves.” DA 62.5
The same is true today. Those who are seeking present truth are often disappointed with the indifference of church leaders about the second coming of Jesus. They are often forced to turn aside, sometimes feeling less confident than when they entered the Christian community, who only see them as unbelievers or fanatics.
The magi were not empty-handed, neither inwardly nor outwardly. As they hungered and thirsted for present truth, they were filled with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. They were prepared to see the King. Also, they were bearing gifts of the richest and most precious things found in the East. Unlike the shepherds, the magi had no idea of the lowly estate of Jesus. They arrived in Bethlehem, but “found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King. None of the world’s honored men were in attendance. Jesus was cradled in a manger. His parents, uneducated peasants, were His only guardians. Could this be He of whom it was written, that He should ‘raise up the tribes of Jacob,’ and ‘restore the preserved of Israel;’ that He should be ‘a light to the Gentiles,’ and for ‘salvation unto the end of the earth’? Isaiah 49:6. DA 63.1
“‘When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.’ Beneath the lowly guise of Jesus, they recognized the presence of Divinity. They gave their hearts to Him as their Saviour, and then poured out their gifts,–‘gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.’ What a faith was theirs! It might have been said of the wise men from the East, as afterward of the Roman centurion, ‘I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’ Matthew 8:10. DA 63.2
(This study is based on Matthew 2 and feature selected sentences from chapter 6, “We Have Seen His Star” in The Desire of Ages (DA), by Ellen G. White.)
For Health’s Sake…
- 1. A mixture of honey and cinnamon to form a paste, with freshly grated nutmeg added, applied to the problem areas as soon as they appear “has helped many acne sufferers find relief.” The mixture should be left on for a few hours for best results. Between uses, store the mixture in a closed container.
- 2. Lemon juice and salt (1/2 tsp) will release the oil from blemishes and quickly dry out the acne. Rub the mixture on the acne and leave it on for about 10 minutes. During the treatment, avoid the sun. “Lemons have bleaching power and can alter the color of your skin when exposed to the sun.”
- 3. Making ice cubes from green tea and rubbing the affected area will provide relief. The cooling powers of the ice will reduce swelling.
- 4. Baking soda has the ability to dry out acne and give the skin an even tone. Mix baking soda with water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it on for a few minutes. This is best done just prior to showers or baths.
- 5. Try on an egg white facial mask for an overnight treatment. Just be sure to remove the yolk before making the mask. Whip the egg whites and brush the liquid onto the spotty areas with a Q-tip.
- 6. A warm olive oil face wash at night has been a “go-to treatment option for acne sufferers for many years.”
- 7. The morning after the olive oil face wash should include a honey face wash. “Simply massage about 1/2 tsp of raw honey over your face and rinse.” The antibacterial properties in honey will inhibit outbreaks and remove excess oil in the skin.
- 8. Crushed, moist cabbage leaves will dry up problem areas and soothe the skin. The juice from the crushed cabbage leaves should be left on for about 30 minutes and followed by a rinse.
- 9. Apple cider vinegar, regardless of skin types, will calm and soothe and gently exfoliate the skin, while balancing the skin’s pH. “Once in the morning and once in the evening, spray your face with a mixture of 2/3 alcohol free witch hazel and 1/3 raw apple cider vinegar.”
- 10. Aloe gel, “one of the most effective skin condition treatments available,” has amazing skin healing properties. Simply break open an aloe leaf and apply the gel to the affected area, or purchase a 100 percent natural aloe cream or gel for the treatment.
These suggestions were provided by Angela Ayles at ActiveBeat.com.