Activated Magazine Online - English Text Reference 2005-08 issue

Activated Magazine 2005 / 08

(Traditional Chinese Activated mag 7 of volume 2--text mostly from English issues February 2003, February 2002, August 2002, April 2003)

Cover:
LOVE IS THE ANSWER
The best motivation

MARRIAGE IS…
Secrets of a successful union

WHAT TO DO
When You Don't Know What to Do

page 2

This is Activated magazine volume 2 issue 8. If you are interested in receiving more issues or ordering some of our inspiring and strengthening Bible-based publications, please write, phone or e-mail us today! Thank you!

(address of various Activated desk around the world)

(credits)

Golden Sunrise Production
(address)
e-mail: info@goldensp.com
Website：www.goldensp.com
PO Account：19610600
Name of Account：Golden Sunrise Production

Unless indicated otherwise, all
Scripture quotations in Activated! are
from the Chinese Union Bible, Chinese Living Bible,
Modern Chinese Bible and new Chinese Bible.
Personally Speaking
This issue of Activated is on the all-time favorite subjects of love, romance and family. Why say more about those, you may wonder, when already they're everywhere, from movies, romance novels and music to self-help books, magazines, and Internet sites galore. What more needs to be said? Indeed, what more can be said? We hope to cover these subjects from a different angle--one that you may have never considered.
Some years ago there was a popular song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love." It went on to say that there was plenty of just about everything else--mountains, hillsides, oceans, rivers, and so on--but that there never seemed to be enough love in the world. It was an ostensibly sweet and idealistic song, but the implication, at least to me, was that God was at fault for not having created enough love. That's sad, because it's simply not true. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). He is both the very essence of love and the Creator of love in all its wonderful forms, it’s ALL from Him! And since God fills the earth, the universe, and Heaven itself, there's always plenty of love to go around. In other words, the problem is not with Him.
The hitch is that when most people seek love, especially romantic love, they fail to include Him the Lord/God. Perhaps they think He's too holy or too busy running the universe to involve Himself with such petty and carnal matters as the emotional needs or family affairs of His creations. And so they try to muddle through, when in fact He wants to be involved and His help is right there for the asking.
So if you're looking to give and receive real love, go to the Source. He's got all the advice, answers, and love you need. This issue of Activated is dedicated to one of God's most wonderful earthly creations, love and the family. We hope that you find these testimonials, tips, and other articles informative and inspiring.

Hsu Ling
For the Activated family.

Page 3

Love As Seen Through the Eyes Of Children

A group of social scientists asked this question to a group of four- to eight-year-olds: "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think.

"Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
"Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad but you don't yell at them because you know it would hurt their feelings."

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that."

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

"When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."

"There are two kinds of love, our love and God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

"Love is when your puppy is so glad to see you even though you left him alone all day."

"Love cards say stuff on them that we'd like to say ourselves, but we wouldn't be caught dead saying."

"You really shouldn't say I love you unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

"When they crucified Jesus, God could have said magic words to make the nails fall off the cross, but He didn't. That's love."

-Compiler unknown

Pages 4-5

Marriage is…
By David Brandt Berg

       What is marriage? It's a union, first of all. It's a uniting, two hearts becoming one. Marriage is companionship and friendship. It's being together, acting together, doing things together, and not wanting it any other way.
       Marriage is understanding. It's being blind to the faults of the other. It's being considerate in every way-considerate of the other's time, feelings, and desires.
       Marriage is caring. It's being concerned. It's going out of your way to make sure the other person is well cared for.
       Marriage is kindness. It's saying kind words and putting those words into action.
Marriage is support. It's supporting your mate in their endeavors, in their projects, in good times and bad. It's giving them moral support, physical support, prayer support, all-around support. It's cheering them on and encouraging them when they feel down. Marriage is stooping to lift the other. It's being strong when the other is weak.
       Marriage is protecting your mate from harm, physical and emotional.
       Marriage is provision. It's doing your part to make sure the other has their needs met. It's pulling your share of the load. Marriage is hard work day after day. It's going out of your way to meet the needs of your mate in whatever way you can, even if you don't feel like it. Marriage is lending a helping hand.
       Marriage is sacrifice. It's giving of yourself for the one you love. It's being ready to give up your own ideas or desires to make your mate happy. It's giving and giving and giving again. Marriage is yielding, bending, melting together. Marriage is going the extra mile. Marriage is compassion. It's preferring the happiness of another to your own.
       Marriage is give and take. Marriage is taking turns; it's not one sided. Marriage is submission. It's giving the other person a chance. Marriage is living and loving and helping one another. Marriage is learning from one another. Marriage is humbling.
       Marriage is being open minded. Marriage is walking a mile in another's shoes. Marriage is listening and understanding.
       Marriage is being there for the other in bad times as well as the good. Married love stands through thick and thin, no matter how hot the trials or how hard the test. Married love never loses hope. It's always there, always dependable, always ready with outstretched hands and open arms to take the other in-to love, to comfort, to hold, and to cherish. Marriage is learning to let the little things pass.
       Marriage is communicating honestly and openly. It's being willing to humbly share your heart and deepest thoughts. Marriage is talking, praying, discussing, and agreeing together. Marriage does not let things build up between you by ignoring the other, but rather finds a way; it creates solutions. Marriage is joining hand in hand, heart to heart.
       Marriage is discovery. It's discovering each other, learning about each other and all the funny things you say and do. Marriage is a good sense of humor. It's relaxing together, enjoying each other.
       Marriage is respect. Marriage is having faith in each other. Marriage is accepting another for what they are. Marriage is coming to the realization that you are not complete without your other half.
       Marriage can be the most satisfying and strengthening experience you will ever have.

Pull quote: ”Marriage is coming to the realization that you are not complete without your other half.”

Page 6

THE JUDGMENT

       A woman once enumerated her husband's faults to a divorce court judge. She simply couldn't live with "that man" one day more, she said. On and on she went.
       Finally she paused to catch her breath, and the judge asked, "Well, why did you marry him in the first place? You must have liked something about him then. What was it?"
       "Well," the wife said, "he was a good man, a hard worker, and a faithful provider. He was also kind to children, and he was loyal."
       "Isn't he still all those things?" asked the judge.
       "Well, yes," the wife replied in a huff, "but..." And she started to repeat her grievances. "He's terrible! He throws his clothes on the floor. He never puts anything away. He's always late for dinner. He's hard to get up in the morning. He picks his nose in public. He fusses if I burn the toast. …" All were relatively insignificant offenses.
       "Very well then," said the judge. "Here's my preliminary ruling: Go home and think about those good qualities for which you first loved him, and try not to think about the things he does that peeve you. If after 30 days you still want the divorce, come back."
       The judge never saw the woman again.
-Adapted from D.B.B.

Pages 7, 8, 9a

Love is the Answer
By Maria Fontaine

       The primary factor in raising children is love. If parents can just learn to treat their children with love and consideration, the children will feel loved and secure.
       Most parents can't be with their children all the time, but it's difficult for small children to understand that. Children think they should be the most important things in the world to their parents, so when the parents can't show them constant attention because of other obligations, it hurts the children-and of course, the more children you have, the less individual time and attention you can give each one. That's why it's so important for parents to tune in to their children and give them love and attention when they do have the opportunity.
       The first step is to pray for understanding of your children. Ask the Lord to show you what each child needs in each situation, and then do the little things that can mean so much.
       Everybody needs to feel special to somebody, to have a personal sense of belonging. No matter how many children you have, you can still give each one something special-either special attention or a special something that means a lot to them-and you should try to do this consistently so none of them think they're just one more child in the line-up.
       Give each one lots of love and encouragement, because words have the power to build them up and help them feel loved. "Look what a big boy you are! We're so proud of you. You've learned so much!" Say things that will let them know they really are special to you.
       Small children, especially, don't yet have a concept of time, so if you give one child something and tell the others that theirs will come next time, "next time" will probably seem a long way away and very nebulous. So in most cases when you give one something, you should try to do a little something special for the others too.
       You can't and shouldn't treat all of your children the same all the time. Each needs to know they are special in their own way. And when one needs something that the others don't, they have to be taught that it's according to need, not because one is more loved. If you take one out to get a needed pair of shoes, for example, and you bring the others back a little toy or something that may cost only a few cents, this shows that you love them and remembered them too.
       A lot of adults don't realize how important it is to explain things to children. You can't just assume that they understand. How can they understand hardly anything unless you explain it to them? Most adults don't take things without some kind of explanation, and children have as much right to an explanation as anybody. If you think there could be any question in their minds or hurt feelings, explain. Even if they can't understand everything you say, just the fact that you try to explain it conveys to them that you're concerned about their feelings, and that will help.
       It's nearly always a problem when somebody else comes along, like a new baby, who they think is going to take their place. Children's feelings are just the same as adults', only difficult situations can be even more traumatic for children when they haven't experienced those things before and therefore don't have the assurance that things usually work out in the end. That's why children are so much more vulnerable than adults, because of their very limited experience. So you have to treat children even more carefully and tenderly and considerately than adults.
       It breaks my heart when I see parents in public places cuff their child on the head or lash out over something that the poor child probably didn't understand in the first place. It's tragic! Children are more sensitive and more easily hurt than adults. They instinctively love and trust their parents, and to destroy that is really sad!
       Children aren't that hard to understand if you just put yourself in their position. The experiences they go through are very similar to the things we adults go through, only harder for them to understand and harder for them to take. When we go through difficulties, even though we know that if we pray the Lord will work things out and see us through, it's still often difficult. But when children go through these things, they're sort of lost unless we do everything possible to reassure them with love.
       I once heard a true story about a boy who went to a banquet and found he was the only male guest. He was so nervous that he knocked over his glass of water. The hostess saw his embarrassment and immediately knocked over her glass to draw everyone's attention away from the boy and spare his feelings. Without saying a word, she reassured him that it was okay; everyone makes mistakes.
       A little love goes a long way! Children are bound to have problems, but no matter what the problem stems from, love can correct it. Even if you don't understand what the problem is, the Lord understands-and the answer is love! "Love covers over all wrongs" (Proverbs 10:12 NIV). Just a little love and concern can make up for a lot of mistakes and failures, no matter who or what is to blame. Anybody-child or adult-can be helped by love! Love is the answer! u

[Callout:] Everybody needs to feel special to somebody, to have a personal sense of belonging.

Page 9b

Feeding reading-Real love

Love is the best motive-and the best motivator.
2 Corinthians 5:14a

Genuine love has these qualities.
Song of Solomon 8:7a
1 Corinthians 8:1b
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
1 John 4:18

God's love unifies believers.
Colossians 2:2a
Ephesians 4:2-3
Hebrews 13:1

Love is humble, not pushy.
Romans 12:10
Galatians 5:13
Philippians 2:1-7
Philemon 8-9a

Love is considerate of others' weaknesses.
Romans 14:21
Romans 15:1-2

Love will not hurt or do wrong to others.
Romans 13:9-10

Love is kind and courteous.
Ephesians 4:15
Ephesians 4:32
1 Peter 3:8

Special chapters on love in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 13
1 John 4

Pages 10, 11

It Happened to Me
Friendship, marriage, children, travels, lessons-love and happiness!
By Katie Roselle, USA

       Dan and I have been married for over 30 years. We met when I was 18 and Dan 19, and we'd both just begun what would become lifetime careers as Christian volunteers with The Family. I was a full-time teacher for 17 preschoolers at the time. Completely immersed in my work with the children, I hadn't given much thought to marriage.
       Then Dan volunteered to drive the children on Sunday outings. We lived quite far from the city, so I would read the Bible to him on the long drive. When it got too dark to read on the way home, we would sing. As our friendship grew, so did our respect for each other. A mutual love for the Lord and His Word brought us together and has kept us together all these years.
       As soon as I got to know Dan, I knew he was the man I wanted to marry! I was attracted to him because of his enthusiasm and friendly manner, and because of all of the attention he showed to the children. He was very generous and seemed to always be giving to others.
       Several months later, I relocated in another state where a new school was opening, while Dan stayed back. I had told God (but not Dan) that Dan was the one I wanted to marry; suddenly I didn't know if I would ever see him again.
       Three months later, on Christmas Day, Dan came to where I was. We began working together again, helped set up the school, and finally talked about getting married. When we told our friends, they seemed to heave a collective sigh of relief and said, "Finally!"
       The night before our wedding, we stayed up all night working on classrooms for the new school. While we took a nap the next morning, the children made cards to surprise us. One of the most outstanding things about our wedding turned out to be a message from the Lord that one of our friends received for us, in which He said He had called us to serve Him together in these Last Days. That prophecy has since helped us through many troubles and difficulties.

Heartbreaks and Healings
       Then we hit some hard times. When I became pregnant for the first time, I didn't know how to take care of myself, so I overworked myself and practically stopped eating when I had morning sickness. Our first baby was born in the sixth month of pregnancy and didn't survive-a very difficult experience for such a young couple!
       Shortly thereafter, we prayed about where the Lord wanted us next. As we learned more about hearing from God together and finding His will, opportunity knocked. God led us to move to Latin America, where we helped set up several small schools for the children of other Christian workers like ourselves.
       I became pregnant again, and again our hearts were broken when the twins I was carrying were also born too early and passed on to be with the Lord. During these very difficult times, only the Lord and our faith in Him kept our marriage together. We learned to not give up, and also to not take the children that surrounded us for granted; each little life was a miracle.
       In time the Lord blessed us with a baby who stayed here with us. I needed extra strength and faith during that pregnancy, and God's Word became my greatest resource. I learned to live closer to Him, and He saw me through. Now Dan and I have seven wonderful children on Earth, and three in Heaven. The Lord has helped us through a lot!

Investing in a Marriage
       We found that success in marriage depends largely on how much each partner is willing to give to make his or her spouse happy. We also found that problems entered in when pressures and responsibilities grew and we didn't make opportunities to keep up our communication. The work was inevitable, but we finally realized that we needed to organize our days to include special times together, to communicate and show that we cared about and appreciated one another.
       Some things that helped us greatly were reserving an evening to go out together, to talk and pray and relax together; saying words of appreciation during "ordinary" days and activities; finding little things the other liked and doing them; banning discussions of the business of the day from bed, in favor of deeper and more intimate conversations; agreeing to talk out differences as they came up; helping each other see and correct mistakes we had made, while remaining respectful and loving.
       Dan and I continue to work and travel together in our ministry for the Lord, but besides being married and working together, we're very good friends. It's taken a lot of love and good hard work on both sides, but the Lord has helped us to nurture and enjoy a very special and loving relationship-and that, of course, makes us love Him all the more!_

Photo captions (top to bottom): 1. Fall of 1999, Southern California, USA: Dan and Katie Roselle. 2. Fall, 1973, Burlington, Washington, USA: Dan chopping wood for the winter. The building on the left is the school building where we taught. 3. Spring 1976, Caracas, Venezuela: Dan, Katie and first son, Daniel. First time to South America. 4. 2000, Colorado, USA: Dan, Katie, their seven children, and granddaughter. 5. November 1999, Tijuana, Mexico: Dan and Katie with a group of teenagers getting ready to paint an orphanage.

       There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer. No disease that enough love will not heal. No door that enough love will not open. No gulf that enough love will not bridge. No wall that enough love will not throw down. No sin that enough love will not redeem. It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. Sufficient love will dissolve it all.
-Emmett Fox

Page 12

ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

       My husband and I have very different personalities. One way this is manifested is in how we show affection to each another. I like to express my love by giving little presents or cards. I secretly wish he would do the same for me, but it seems that's just not "him." This is only a small part of our lives, but these little gestures of affection mean a lot to me. What should I do?-Try to change my husband by encouraging him to be more like that, or ask the Lord to change me so I don't desire those things so much?
       A: Your husband's personality is probably one of the things that attracted you to him in the first place, so you wouldn't want to change that in a big way. Of course, there are probably some things about his personality that you didn't realize when you married him, and this may be one of them.
       Couples whose marriages have stood the test of time often credit their success to three things: respect, acceptance, and communication. Marriage partners who genuinely respect each other find it much easier to accept their mates as they are, blemishes and all. If you don't feel this type of love, ask God to give it to you. His love is great enough to overlook shortcomings, and keeps on loving even when we fail.
       Also remember that just because people are a certain way doesn't mean they need to stay that way-and love is a great catalyst for change! People who are in love are willing to do almost anything in order to please the ones they love. Here is where communication comes in. Too often mates rely on hints or suffer in silence, when just a little honest and open communication about their likes and dislikes, needs and desires would solve the problem.
       Here are some practical steps that you could take to get more of the kind of affection you would like from your husband and to give him more of what he would like from you:
       * Each make a list of the other's admirable qualities-all the things you most love and respect about your mate.
       * Think about the ways your mate expresses affection. (Hint: Women tend to be more sentimental and to express their love in the form of notes, cards, and gifts; men tend to be more practical and to express their love through actions that say, "I want to protect and provide for you.") When you stop to appreciate your mate's expressions of love, it helps you overlook his or her "lacks" in that area.
       * Take some time together in a relaxed setting to talk about your favorite ways to be shown love, affection, and appreciation. Listen and learn.
       * Once your mate has explained how he or she likes to be shown love, make a point of doing at least one of those things within the next day or two, then do them regularly until doing them becomes more natural.

What to Do when You Don't Know What to Do

       Q: My eldest son has become rebellious to just about every rule in our home. This has been going on for months now, and it's getting harder and harder to communicate with him or to get to the bottom of his bad behavior. I'm exasperated! What can I do to straighten out my son?
       A: When children seriously misbehave, there is usually an underlying cause. Maybe they feel insecure, so they act up to get more of your time and attention, reassurance, and love. Maybe they're upset about something that happened at school. Maybe they're testing the boundaries you've set, to see if you mean what you said. Maybe they think they're old enough to make their own decisions and don't understand the reason behind some of your rules. Maybe it's time to change some rules in order to give them more room to grow.
       Whatever the case, it's important to find out why they're misbehaving, and how you can help them get back on track. Most problems don't just go away by themselves, nor are children usually equipped to handle them on their own. Many times the children themselves don't even know what is wrong. They need a parent's love and guidance.
       The best way to know what your children need and how to help them-the only way, really-is to ask the Lord to show you. Next to having the Lord's love, the most important key to successful parenting is learning to ask the Lord for the answers. Jesus always has just the answer you need. Having Him as a parenting partner lifts a great deal of the load off of you. You know you can always go to Him in prayer, and He will speak to your heart and mind with the guidance and solutions you need.
       If your child has been going through a difficult phase that is trying your patience, ask Jesus for help. Share your burden with Him; He has lots of patience. He has had a great deal of patience with your faults and failings, so you can be sure that He will help you be patient with your children's. When you feel at the end of your rope, ask Him for His love and patience. His Spirit will calm your own spirit, bring solutions to your mind, help you to ride out the storm of difficulties that may arise, and help you be the kind of love and support to your children that He is to you.

Pages 14- 15a

14 major points of the endtime
AN OVERVIEW OF ENDTIME BIBLE PROPHECY - PART 1
Compiled by Joseph Candel
from the writings of David Brandt Berg

       The Bible not only tells us about yesterday, it also tells us about tomorrow. It is full of thousands of detailed prophecies that describe specific people, places, times, situations, and events. Many of these prophecies are about the final period of man's kingdoms on earth, a period known as the Endtime-the time in which we are now living.

1. Signs of the times
       The Bible gives us numerous "signs of the times," signs and signals that we are to watch for so we can know exactly how close we are to Jesus' return. These signs include drastic upsurges in the number and severity of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7); the Gospel being preached in all the world (Matthew 24:14); dramatic increases in international travel and scientific knowledge (Daniel 12:4); a great "falling away" from the true God as "evil men and seducers grow worse and worse" and deceive many (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:13 KJV); unprecedented selfishness and lack of natural affection (Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-4). All this results in "distress of nations," with "men's hearts failing them from fear" (Luke 21:25-26)-signs that are all obviously being fulfilled today more than ever before.

2. Rise of the Antichrist
       One of the most important signs of the Endtime is the rise of a totally godless anti-Christ world government led by a demonic dictator who will actually be fully possessed by Satan himself, the world leader known as the Antichrist. In desperation, the world will turn to this political superman, hoping that he will be able to solve pressing problems, cure economic ills, unite international politics, end religious squabbles, and defuse the nuclear time bomb (Daniel 8:23-25; 11:21,24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

3. Signing of the covenant
       The Antichrist will sign a seven-year covenant, or agreement, by which he will bring a measure of world peace by reconciling the world's major religions (Daniel 9:27a). Through this covenant he will also somehow settle the current crisis in the Middle East by working out a compromise between the Arabs and the Jews, enabling the Jews to rebuild their Temple and resume their religious animal sacrifices (Daniel 8:11; 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
       During the first half of the Antichrist's seven-year reign, people are going to think that he is wonderful because he will have brought some peace, restored the world's economy, redistributed the wealth, helped the poor, solved the Middle East crisis, and promised religious liberty (Daniel 11:21-24,39).

4. Breaking of the covenant
       But suddenly, halfway through his seven-year reign, the Antichrist will break the covenant (Daniel 9:27b), invade Israel from the north (Daniel 11:28-31), abolish all traditional religious worship (Revelation 13:7-8), declare that he himself is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4), and demand that all the world worship him and his "image," which could be some kind of computerized robot.
       The false prophet-the Antichrist's chief aide, who deceives the world-will make this image to the Antichrist (Revelation 13:11-14) and place it at the site of the rebuilt Jewish Temple (Daniel 11:31). This image, which the prophet Daniel referred to as the "abomination of desolation," will "speak" and somehow have power to cause those who refuse to worship it to be killed (Revelation 13:14-15). Jesus said that when we see this abomination of desolation standing at the Temple, we will know that the last three and a half years of man's rule on earth has begun-a time of "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:15,21).

5. Great tribulation
       During this final three-and a-half-year period, the Antichrist will enact a mandatory one-world credit system, creating a cashless society. The Antichrist government will use this new credit system to try to force everybody to submit to and worship the Antichrist, because no one will be able to buy or sell without a personal credit number, the "mark of the Beast," in their hands or foreheads (Revelation 13:16-18). But God's children and many others will refuse to worship the Antichrist or receive his mark, and the Lord will take care of them (Revelation 12:6,14).
       While the Antichrist and his followers are persecuting and trying to kill their enemies, God is going to let loose pestilences and plagues that will attack the followers of the Antichrist (Revelation chapter 8; 9:1-11; 11:3-6). The Tribulation will be like the last days of the children of Israel in Egypt, before Moses led them out. God's prophets will do mighty signs, wonders, and miracles to defend the Gospel and God's children, while God sends plague after plague on their enemies (Revelation 11:3,5-6).
       A number of wars and the Antichrist's worldwide persecution of all who refuse to worship him will make the Tribulation a time of trouble "such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). But the Bible also tells us in several places and in several corroborating ways exactly how long the Tribulation will last-three and a half years, or 42 months, or 1,260 days1 from when the Antichrist sets up his image at the Temple. God revealed this to encourage us to hang on and keep going for Jesus during what will be a very difficult period for Christians (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 13:5; 12:6,14; 11:3).
       During this time, "the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many" (Daniel 11:32-33). The people of the world are going to be more desperate for the truth than ever, and those who know God's Word and are faithful witnesses for the Lord are going to teach and encourage millions. In spite of all that the Devil's forces will do to try to stop them, millions of God's children will keep going for God till the very end.

Page 15b

Coming Next…

Besides our loved ones next to us involve our personal lives, what else affect us but our friends, co-workers, lovers, classmates, people we meet everyday? What’s life consist of but with other people? Someone has said, people are the biggest resource a company or work can have. There’s a saying, “friendship doubles your joy and divides your grief.” We all need friends—true friends so much! How to find or better yet, be the true friend for others, bring love and joy for others and make others happy! It’s quite a big subject, isn’t it? How to get along with others and become good friends for lifelong. Well, in our next Activated magazine, we’ll touch on this important subject on interacting, loving and forgiving, which we sincerely hope that will be very helpful to you personally, the love of Jesus will have the answer to all of that our questions!

Page 16

FROM JESUS WITH LOVE

Each step of the way

       The road I have for you two to walk together is a road of love. It's a road I want you to embark on with thanksgiving and joy, but also with the understanding that it can only be safely traveled with Me. I must be your focal point, that tie that binds, that living link, the channel through which My life and My love can freely flow between you.
       I love you and delight to travel this road with you, but you also need to remember to hold on to Me. This road will not always be smooth. It will have its costs, its tests, its difficulties, its sacrifices, but these are designed by Me to help you mature and grow in love, in depth, in giving, and in learning what real love is. They are designed to draw you closer to My heart.
       Sometimes you won't be able to see the road ahead, but I want you to trust Me anyway. Always give Me first place in your lives, and I will greatly bless, protect, and keep you. The road will take some turns you're not expecting or prepared for, but I will be with you each step of the way.

ENGLISH TEXT FOR REFERENCE