The Pleasant Sunshine of Kind Words

sunny-dayAdminister the rules of the home in wisdom and love, not with a rod of iron. Children will respond with willing obedience to the rule of love. Commend your children whenever you can. Make their lives as happy as possible…. Keep the soil of the heart mellow by the manifestation of love and affection, thus preparing it for the seed of truth. Remember that the Lord gives the earth not only clouds and rain, but the beautiful, smiling sunshine, causing the seed to germinate and the blossom to appear. Remember that children need not only reproof and correction, but encouragement and commendation, the pleasant sunshine of kind words.”

Counsels to Teachers, Parents and Students  p 114

Motivation Monday

The youth may receive grace from Christ daily, and find their light growing brighter and brighter as they follow in the path of holiness. The psalmist says, “The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

Growth in grace will not lead you to be proud, self-confident, and boastful, but will make you more conscious of your own nothingness, of your entire dependence upon the Lord. He who is growing in grace will be ever reaching heavenward, obtaining clearer views of the fullness of the provisions of the gospel.

The youth may be free in Christ; they may be the children of light, and not of darkness. God calls upon every young man and young woman to renounce every evil habit, to be diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Jesus will help you, so that you need not remain in indolence, making no effort to correct your wrongs or improve your conduct. The sincerity of your prayers will be proved by the vigor of the effort you make to obey all of God’s commandments. You may move intelligently, and at every step renounce evil habits and associations, believing that the Lord will renovate your heart by the power of his Spirit.

excerpt from The Youth’s Instructor,  Aug. 11, 1892

Scripture Pictures | Psalms 73:26

 

Source: Psalms 73:26 | Scripture Pictures by Verse | Amazing Facts

Choose Your Path

“I once read of an “old man who stood upon the border of the closing year, and looked forth from his window upon the blue heavens bright with stars, and upon the cold earth white with snow, and he thought no heart could be so hopeless and joyless as his. He saw the open grave before him, and behind him the sins and sorrows of a wasted life. He had followed the path of his own choosing for happiness, and he found it not. He was wasted in body, and his soul was filled with remorse.
“The days of his youth came back to his memory like reproachful specters, and he saw himself again at the point where two paths met,—the one leading to the heavenly home of peace, and the other leading to darkness and despair. He saw, he felt, the fearful mistake he had made in choosing the dark path, and following the leading of Satan, when angels of God were waiting and anxious to show him the path of light. Life to him was a failure. Distracted with grief and disappointment, he cried in agony, ‘O my Father, give me back the choose-pathdays of my youth! Let me stand once more at the dividing ways, that I may choose the path of light.’ But there was no Father’s voice to answer, and the days of youth would not come back at his call. He thought of the companions of his youth who had chosen the better path, and he wished that he had gone with them. He wished that he had died in his infancy rather than to have lived a wasted life as he had done. With bitter remorse and blinding tears, he bowed his head and cried again, ‘Oh that the days of my youth would come back! oh for a touch from the guiding angel’s hand that once was put forth to lead me in the path of peace and holiness.
“And his youth did come back; for all that he had seen and said and felt was only the prophetic dream of one who was still young in years, yet had been rapidly growing old in sin. In an hour of sadness and weariness with the world, he had seen, by anticipation, the remorse and disappointment to which he was hastening in his wanderings from God; and he awoke with joy to find that there was yet time for him to choose the path of peace, of happiness, and of Heaven.”
I hope that the youth who read this will reflect in regard to the past, the present, and the future. Decide now, at the commencement of the new year, that you will choose the path of righteousness, that you will be earnest and true-hearted, and that life with you shall not prove a mistake. Go forward, guided by the heavenly angels; be courageous; be enterprising; let your light shine; and may the words of inspiration be applicable to you,—“I write unto you, young men, because ye are strong and have overcome the wicked one.” Listen to the words of the great apostle, echoing down the ages: “Quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13. Men who are in the battle against falsity and wickedness, are found true and noble. They are men who will fight to the last rather than yield the contest. I close by wishing you a Happy New Year.”
Youth’s Instructor, Jan. 5, 1881

Sabbath Playlist: Hymns of Christ’s Birth

Coupled with a reading of Luke 2 in the Bible  or one of the first six chapters of the book,  Desire of Ages, this peaceful hymn playlist makes a lovely family worship.

High Schoolers – Weimar Insititute wants to hear from you!

Weimar Institute, a self supporting Seventh-day Adventist college in California, is in the process of evaluating new degree program options for strategic planning purposes.  Weimar Institute would like to survey Adventist homeschool high school students to find out if any of the programs they are considering would be of interest to them.

weimar Adventist homeschool high school students are of particular importance to Weimar because a very large percentage of our college students were homeschooled for much or all of their education before coming to college at Weimar.

All Adventist homeschoolers in grades 9-12 are invited to participate in Weimar’s online survey found HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/T9H9B2M   The questionnaire takes 5-7 minutes to complete and is confidential.

online-survey-icon-or-logoThis is an excellent opportunity for high schoolers to let their voice be heard!  Please share with the Adventist homeschool high schoolers you know and encourage them to participate.

 

 

Lunch and Learn Q&A – Tomorrow @ Noon EST

Need help getting started with Sonlight Education Ministry materials?  Join Sonlight counselor Yolanda on Periscope for a Lunch and Learn  Q&A – Friday, December 9th at 12:00 noon Eastern Time.   The focus for this lunch and learn will be on the Road Map and Route– have your questions ready!  If you are not able to participate in tomorrow’s lunch and learn, you may leave a question for Yolanda on the Sonlight Education Ministry Facebook page and watch the replay at your convenience.

lunch-and-learn-12-9

You can find Yolanda’s Periscope page HERE as well as download the app to able to participate.

Link to the Road Map and Route

Another lunch and learn Periscope session is scheduled for December 30th.

See you tomorrow!