FRIDAY November 30

Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, "Jehoshaphat," pp. 190-203, in Prophets and Kings; "The Fall of Jericho," pp. 487-498, in Patriarchs and Prophets. "Then let us educate our hearts and lips to speak the praise of God for His matchless love. Let us educate our souls to be hopeful and to abide in the light shining from the cross of Calvary. Never should we forget that we are children of the heavenly King, sons and daughters of the Lord of hosts. It is our privilege to maintain a calm repose in God."—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 253.

"And while I adore and magnify Him, I want you to magnify Him with me. Praise the Lord even when you fall into darkness. Praise Him even in temptation. 'Rejoice in the Lord alway,' says the apostle; 'and again I say, Rejoice.' Will that bring gloom and darkness into your families? No, indeed; it will bring a sunbeam. You will thus gather rays of eternal light from the throne of glory and scatter them around you. Let me exhort you to engage in this work, scatter this light and life around you, not only in your own path, but in the paths of those with whom you associate. Let it be your object to make those around you better, to elevate them, to point them to heaven and glory, and lead them to seek, above all earthly things, the eternal substance, the immortal inheritance, the riches which are imperishable."—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 593,594.

Discussion Questions:

* What role does community praise have in the life of the Christian? How would you describe the praise in your Sabbath services? Is it uplifting? Does it encourage members to maintain faithfulness amid trial and trauma? If not, what can be done?

* What does it mean to "praise the Lord even when you fall into darkness" or to "praise Him even in temptation"? How can praise help us through these situations?

Let members give testimonies on how praise has affected their lives. What can you learn from each other's experiences?

As a class, pick a psalm of praise and spend time reading it. What does it teach you about praise? What impact does praise have on your faith? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I N S I D E Story


When God Calls by SAROJINI CHEDALAWADA

Seetharathnam once sang chants to idols in a temple in India. She was a medicine woman, treating people with sicknesses to devil possession by tying strings on their arms and chanting healing mantras.

One day she received a New Testament. She was curious about this Christian God named Jesus. So one night she locked the doors and closed the windows of her home and started to read the New Testament. She laid the New Testament next to her pillow and went to sleep.

Suddenly she was awakened by a bright light flooding her room. She did not know where the light came from. Then she saw a man dressed in bright white Indian garb standing in the light. He said, "Seetharathnam, will you believe in Me completely?"

She asked, "Who are You that I should believe in You?" As the Man stood before her, she realized that this was Jesus. "Yes, Lord, I will believe in You," she said.

The next day Seetharathnam visited her niece, who was a Christian. "I saw Jesus in a dream last night. I would like to talk to your pastor." Seetharathnam began attending her niece's church.

One day Pastor Prasada Rao, an Adventist pastor, visited Seetharathnam. She did not want to speak with another pastor, so Pastor Rao gave her some Bible texts to read and invited her to contact him if she had any questions. Soon Seetharathnam contacted the pastor to ask about the Sabbath. Pastor Prasada Rao explained the Sabbath and other Bible truths.

Seetharathnam wanted to know more, so the pastor arranged to hold meetings in her village. Following the meetings Seetharathnam was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Filled with the Spirit of God, Seetharathnam is a powerful witness for the Lord, ministering to the poor and sick, praying for them and nursing the sick back to health. She has raised up a church of more than thirty believers. Fearlessly she tells others about her Jesus, who called her out of idol worship.

Now when people come to Seetharathnam for healing, she tells them that she is a Christian and does not chant the mantras anymore. "But I will pray for you," she says.

Many people in Seetharathnam's village have found the joy that Jesus brings. Their transformation shows on their faces as they worship God each Sabbath.

Mission offerings make it possible for thousands in India and around the world to hear the gospel and come to Christ.



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SAROJINI CHEDALAWADA lives near Seattle, Washington. She and her husband actively support ministry in India.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission