January 2021 Signs of the Times Newsletter

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January 2021 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues of Signs and These Times. ***************************      When a Russian artist asked Tolstoy for his impressions of the central figure in a painting of the Last Supper, the great man said, "You do not love Him or you would paint Him better."      If we loved Him more there would be a greater steadfastness to principle, a higher standard of morality, and a greater zeal in service. It has been truly said that to the spiritually discerning, the face of Jesus is seen in every page of Holy Writ. Said Jesus, "They are they which testify of Me." John 5 :39.      The Bible becomes an art gallery where we can study the portraits of Jesus. I am sure the art galleries of the world contain no true pictures of Jesus. But the men and women who looked into His face in the long ago held in their memory pictures never to be forgotten.—By Julius L. Tucker, Signs of the Times, January 27, 1942. Quote: “I have lived to know that the secret of happiness is never to allow your energies to stagnate.”—By Adam Clarke, Signs of the Times, January 8, 1908. *************************** Don't miss the February 2021 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or CLICK HERE to online. ***************************      Think of that Scottish boy, Robert Moffat, trudging the highway with his mother years ago. He was going out into the world. At last his mother stopped because she could go no further.      “Robert,” she said, “promise me something!”      “What?” asked the boy.      “Promise me something!” said the mother again.      The boy was thoroughly Scottish like his mother. “You will have to tell me before I will promise.”      She said, “Robert, it is something you can easily do. Promise your mother?”      He looked into her face and said, “Very well, Mother, I will do anything you wish.”      She clasped her hands behind his head, pulled his face down close to hers, and said, “Robert, you are going out into a wicked world. Begin every day with God. Close every day with God.” Then she kissed him.      It was that kiss, says Moffat, which made him a missionary.      Joseph Parker says this: “When Robert Moffat was added to the kingdom of God, a whole continent was added with him.”—By G. Ray Jordan, These Times, February 1960. Quote: “Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time.”—German motto, These Times, November 1970. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—What We Believe for Guide Readers has 28 true stories that teach the Adventist Church’s 28 fundamental beliefs. Get to know Jesus—and your Church—better than ever before! Use the stories for family worship—juniors will love them—and adults will also. Read a FREE sample chapter online. CLICK HERE. Order ONLINE or from your local Adventist Book Center—1-800-765-6955. ***************************      The story is told of a girl who was sitting upon her mother's knee one day, admiring her mother's hair and face. Stroking her mother's hair, she said, "I do love that beautiful hair of yours, mother; it is so soft." Then she looked into her mother's eyes and told her how she loved those blue eyes. But gazing from her mother's eyes to her hands, the little one recoiled, for the mother had ugly, scarred, twisted, deformed hands. They were very repulsive to look at, and whenever the dear lady was in public, her hands were always hidden. But somehow for the first time the awfulness of those hands gripped the child's heart.      So, the mother said: "Now that you are old enough, I shall tell you the story of my hands, and then perhaps you will love them as well as you love my hair and my eyes.      "When you were still a baby, I put you on the rug in front of the fireplace and went away to attend to something in another part of the house. I was not absent more than two or three minutes when I heard a scream. Rushing in, I found that a piece of live coal had fallen out of the fireplace and had set on fire the rug and your clothing, and you were in danger of being burned to death. I rushed forward and battled with the flames until they were extinguished and your life was saved. There was hardly a burn upon your body, but—well, that is why I have these terrible hands which you do not like."      As the story of the hands was told, a lump rose in Mary's throat, and she said, "Mother, of course I still love your hair and your eyes, but best of all I love your hands, because I know they were scarred for me."      As we look back to Calvary's hill and see the Son of God receive the wounds that we might escape the fires of eternal destruction, shall we not cry out, "I love those scarred hands of my Saviour"?—By Julius L. Tucker, Signs of the Times, February 17, 1942. “Two persons will not be friends long if they cannot forgive each other's failings."—By La Bruyere, Signs of the Times, February 17, 1942. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: A new year brings new opportunities to share your faith. Why not use Signs of the Times® to help your friends and neighbors find hope and meaning? Each monthly issue takes on a broken world and directs hearts to Jesus for relevant answers. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. Order from your Adventist Book Center. Call 1-800-765-6955 or go online at https://adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine.html ***************************      In the gorgeous gardens of the Royal Castle at Sandringham, England, is a grave. A younger brother of the king slipped into the shadows of death when he was but a boy. His father, although the ruler of an empire that spanned the globe, could find no help in the hour of tragedy. The young prince who had never known the full vigor of youth had spent much of his short life in pain. The skill of the greatest physicians was of no avail, and at the tender age of fourteen he passed away. On the modest tombstone nestled among the blossoms are these appropriate words, "In Thy kingdom he shall have peace."      His earthly father, with all the riches of an empire at his call, could not bring him peace; but felt assured that in the kingdom of his Heavenly Father he would find peace, for the Prince of Peace will be its Ruler. "The Lord shall be King over all the earth" in that day. (Zechariah 14: 9.)—By R. A. Anderson, Our Times, February 15, 1946. Quote: "Lamps do not talk, but they shine. A lighthouse beats no gong, it sounds no drum; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner; so let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main service of your life be illustrated by your conduct."—Author Unknown, The Watchman Magazine, January 1943. *************************** A tract is the easiest thing to share—there are many ways, and many places where you have the opportunity to give a tract. CLICK HERE to see the large selection of Pocket Signs. ***************************      Someone was listening to that great oratorio "The Messiah" with great delight. The music had been going on for about two hours when a friend who sat next to him inquired, "How long do you think this will continue?”      He answered, "About five minutes."      "But," the man said, "how could that be? It's in full swing—it has been going for two hours. I see no reason why it shouldn't continue for two hours longer. How do you know it will be over in five minutes?"      The first man answered, "Because I have the score. Don't you remember that solo?"      "Yes."      "And that chorus?"      "Yes."      "I know it will be over in about five minutes because I have the score. They are singing the last chorus."      It's a wonderful thing to have the score. Open the great Book of God and read the score. The interim world has about finished its course of discord and sorrow. Soon the people of God will join the hallelujah chorus of the world to come. That new world will be ushered in by the coming of the King Himself. He said, "I will come again" (John 14:3), and He will. He said, "My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.—By H. M. S. Richards, These Times, July 1951. Quote: "Let us keep fresh in our memories all the tender mercies God has shown us."—Unknown, Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald, January 1, 1901. *************************** Looking for a booklet to share with a friend? CLICK HERE to see the largest selection of Adventist sharing books available. ***************************      During the War Between the States, a young soldier in the Union Army lost his older brother and his father in the battle of Gettysburg. The soldier decided to go to Washington, D.C., to see President Lincoln to ask for an exemption from military service so that he could go back and help his sister and mother with the spring planting on the farm. When he arrived in Washington, after having received a furlough from the military to go and plead his case, he went to the White House, approached the front gate, and asked to see the president.      The guard on duty told him, “You can’t see the president, young man! Don’t you know there’s a war going on? The president is a very busy man! Now go away, son! Get back out there on the battle lines, where you belong!”      So the young soldier left, very disheartened, and was sitting on a park bench not far from the White House when a little boy came up to him. The lad said, “Soldier, you look unhappy. What’s wrong?” The soldier looked at the little boy and began to spill his heart to him. He told of his father and his brother being killed in the war, and of the desperate situation at home. He explained that his mother and sister had no one to help them with the farm. The little boy listened and said, “I can help you, soldier.” He took the soldier by the hand and led him back to the front gate of the White House. Apparently, the guard didn’t notice them, because they weren’t stopped. They walked straight to the front door of the White House and walked right in. After they got inside, they walked right past generals and high-ranking officials, and no one said a word. The soldier couldn’t understand this. Why didn’t anyone try to stop them?      Finally, they reached the Oval Office—where the president was working—and the little boy didn’t even knock on the door. He just walked right in and led the soldier in with him. There behind the desk was Abraham Lincoln and his secretary of state, looking over battle plans that were laid out on his desk. The president looked at the boy and then at the soldier and said, “Good afternoon, Tad. Can you introduce me to your friend?”      And Tad Lincoln, the son of the president, said, “Daddy, this soldier needs to talk to you.” The soldier pleaded his case before Mr. Lincoln, and right then and there he received the exemption that he desired. Tad Lincoln, the president’s son, did not have to beg or plead to see his father. He didn’t have to knock on the door. He walked right in, and his father was happy to see him. Jesus has immediate access to His Father and takes us by the hand and leads us directly into His presence.      Looking to Jesus, we are secure.—By Mark Finley, Hope for Troubled Times. Quote: “The first freedom is freedom from sin.”—Martin Luther, These Times, May, 1951. *************************** CLICK HERE to see the largest selection of Adventist eBooks—Kindle, Nook, iBooks. *************************** This Year Have You Gained. . . A Bible better loved because better known? A new experience of communion with God? A wider outlook over the field of Christian service? A new conviction and a new interest in missions? A better notion of your stewardship over your possessions? A larger knowledge of the truths of your religion? A truer appreciation of the value of a soul? A sincere love for the kingdom of God? A wiser use of your opportunities for personal evangelism? A greater willingness to be taught in the things of God? A keener sense of the sinfulness of sin? A more intense love for Him who has saved you? A surer hope of heaven? A more definite acceptance of God’s leading in your life? A warmer love for the church in which you labor? If not:  Will you not make this day the time when you will begin to seek all these things, and all else which God is seeking to give you?—Selected, Signs of the Times. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.