Lately I have been struggling with understanding how God can send his Son as a substitute for my sins. Even though I know I have been born again. I sometimes slip out a curse word, I am often impatient with my family, and I still have fears and pride in my heart. I promise not to do something and I do that exact same thing within days sometimes within hours. "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good." (Romans 7:21) Therefore I was very confused as to how Jesus had saved someone like me. The first thing I received from God as a direct answer to this was to read the book of Galatians. The second thing happened this morning. I was driving past a hospital and the last speed limit I had seen said "50 mph". The next thing I saw was blue lights. The officer told me I was going almost 60 in a 35 mph zone. I gave him my license and he came back and said "I am going to let you go this time". My mind immediately went towards the concept of grace and mercy. In short I have been stopped by police officers in traffic about 4 times and each time I have received mercy. I began to put two and two together. I realized that 1.) The wages of sin is death. (speeding, running a red light, etc=a ticket!) 2.) I have earned death (I have clearly earned a speeding ticket, I was speeding!) 3.) Grace and Mercy took my place- I have received an indescribable gift ( I didn't ask for the officer to let me go, I didn't cry, I couldn't come up with a reason for him to let me off. I just accepted that I didn't get a ticket). WOW!! All I have to do is accept it. "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15) I found this quote on a blog today.

What is the difference between grace and mercy?

Driving to work today, I heard a sermonette on what is the difference between grace and mercy. Grace is what God gives that we don't deserve. Mercy is what God doesn't give that we do deserve.

For example. Suppose I was speeding on the highway and a policeman pulls me over. If he doesn't give me a ticket, then he gave me mercy. If he gives me a $100 bill, then he gave me grace.

As sinners, we deserve punishment. But, by God's mercy, He withholds judgment.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

We don't deserve God's goodness, but instead He has lavished grace upon us.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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Grace is often distinguished from mercy in that mercy is seen as not receiving punishment that one deserves to receive, whereas grace is the receipt of a positive benefit that one does not deserve to receive.
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Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto HIM that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.- Revelation 5:13

Hallelujah we have a Saviour that LOVES us :)

by FULGENCIO CHALUFOIA

I was a drunkard, and my drinking robbed me of everything. But a humble tailor helped me find my way back from the edge of hell.

I live in Mozambique. I kept my drinking a secret until I was married, hoping that I could stop. But I was powerless to stop. After we were married, my drinking only got worse. Sometimes I was so drunk I beat my wife, and she threatened to leave me.

I went to a witch doctor, but he could not help me conquer my addiction. Finally my wife had enough; she left me.

Desperate to stop drinking, 1 bought a Bible and began attending church. One Sunday on my way to church, I met a tailor working in his roadside shop. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"To church," I replied.

"Why are you going today?" he asked. "Yesterday was God's Sabbath day." Curious, I stopped. The tailor told me that God had the answer to my drinking problem and offered to teach me the Bible. The tailor could not read, but he knew the Bible. He sat down beside me, opened a notebook filled with Bible references, and pointed to one. "Look up this verse," he said. I found the Bible verses and read them. Then he explained what they meant.

We read many Bible texts, and the tailor explained each one to me. Finally he told me to read Exodus 20. I read the Ten Commandments, and suddenly I realized that the Bible was filled with new truths that I had never read before.

I asked the tailor what church he belonged to, and he told me the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He invited me to worship there the following Sabbath. I promised to be there as I continued on to my church to tell my friends what I had just learned.

The next Sabbath I found the Adventist church and worshiped there. In that church I found God's grace and the power to overcome alcohol and tobacco. It took some time, but with God's help, I never smoked or drank again.

My drinking had cost me everything-my job, my wife, my home. But God has given me my life back. I am happy in Jesus, and I have invited my friends to find Jesus as well. So far at least 15 of my friends have discovered God's truth and joined the Adventist church because I shared with them what God has done for me.

Actual Song

by SATURNINO SABALLA JR.

I am a SULAD, a student missionary, teaching in a newly opened village in Mindanao, Philippines. These villagers found God through a dream.

One night the datu (chief) dreamed that a Man dressed in white and carrying a big black book came to him. "Whoever obeys the commands written in this book will be my people," the Man said. Then he explained the importance of the Sabbath.

The datu called the villagers together and shared his dream. The people agreed that they would worship the creator God on His sacred day. On Saturday they gathered to worship in the only way they knew-chewing betel nut and talking to an unseen spirit.

Then a villager met an Adventist tailor while visiting town. The villager told the tailor about their new religion, which required them to worship on Saturday and related the chief's dream about the Man with a black book.

"I also am a Sabbath keeper!" the tailor said. "May I visit your village and worship with you?" The villager eagerly agreed.

The tailor and a lay worker set out on Friday for the six-hour hike to the village. They carried a large Bible. When they reached the village, they met the datu, who stared at the Bible. "This is the book I saw in my dream!" he said. "You must be Sabbath keepers too!"

The next morning the villagers gathered for worship followed by a feast of roasted pig and vegetables. Then the datu invited the visitors to speak at the afternoon meeting.

The lay worker read the Sabbath commandment from the Bible and explained how God wanted them to worship. The chief and villagers cheered in agreement. Then the lay worker explained God's other laws, laws of good health. He explained that the pig is a scavenger and is not fit for food, and that betel nut is a drug that God does not want His followers to use.

The datu again responded. "My dear people," he said. "This black book tells us many important things. We shall eat pig flesh no more. We shall use betel nut no more." The datu turned to the two men and invited them to teach them more. "We will gladly obey," he said.

In time every villager was baptized. Today SULAD missionaries are teaching the villagers to read the black book for themselves.

by HADJILYN PRECIADO

SULADS, student missionaries from Mountain View College, are assigned to teach and minister throughout southern Philippines. My assignment as a student missionary was to teach in a Manobo village in northeastern Mindanao. The village is a challenging climb up mountains and through thick jungle. Life is difficult in these places, but God encour-ages us as we spend a year serving Him.

At first teaching was difficult because many of our students were bigger and stronger than we were. But soon they realized that we meant business and cared about them. Soon the once-empty church came alive with young people who had strayed during the time that no teacher worked here. Many agreed to take Bible studies.

Datu Daging, the chief, wanted his people to learn to read, but he wanted nothing to do with God. Often he jeered as we studied the Bible with people. "This is nonsense!" he would say. "I have an abyan (a spirit who the people believe gives power to heal or protection from enemies). My abyan gives me all the help I need, so I don't need God in my life!" While others worshiped with us, the datu scoffed and boasted that his abyan, his god, was more powerful than God.

Then one night the datu told us he had a dream. A big man in white appeared to him. His face radiated calm and love. But the datu couldn't understand him and was about to talk to the being when he awoke. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the being stood before him. He pinched himself to wake up, and still the stranger stood looking at him.

Then the stranger spoke. "If you want to be saved in God's kingdom, you must worship God with the Sabbath keepers. They're God's true people who worship on His Sabbath. God is coming soon to take His children to heaven. So hurry! Your soul is precious to God."

Datu Daging bowed his head and considered the message he had heard. When he looked up, the stranger was gone.

That Sabbath Datu Daging was in church with his wife and children. He asked for Bible studies and was baptized recently in a regional rally. Datu Daging now is an active member of our little village church. Though we SULADS don't often see them, we know that angels have appeared to many who live in the mountains of the Philippines, assisting the SULADS missionaries in their work.

Your mission offerings support Adventist colleges and universities in the Philippines, which send missionaries throughout the Philippines and beyond to share God's love with those who have never heard. Thank you.

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by SAMUEL LABAG

When we pray we know that sometimes God answers Yes, sometimes No, and sometimes Wait. Recently God's answer to my urgent prayer was an instant Yes!

I work in Zamboanga, on the western edge of Mindanao, Philippines. One day I took a boat to a nearby island to deliver health magazines to stu-dents at a parochial high school. I visit schools, talk about the dangers of drugs, how to stop smoking, and other health-related topics; then I take orders for magazines that talk about these topics.

My visit to the school completed, I rushed to catch the last boat of the day. I hailed a tricycle taxi for the 10-minute ride to the dock, praying that the boat would not leave without me. But we arrived at the pier only to watch the boat sail away. The porters were sympathetic, but they suggested I find a place to stay overnight.

I can't stay overnight, I thought. I promised some money to another colporteur who must leave tonight for a distant island. He can't go without the money, and his next boat doesn't leave for a week. How will I get the money to him? And where will I stay tonight? As I stood on the pier and prayed fervently for a solution to my problems, I felt a calm assurance.

I opened my eyes to see the boat veer from its course. It made a huge U-turn and returned to the pier. The crew threw a rope down and called to me to grab onto the old tire tied to the end. I clutched the rope in one hand and my case in the other while the sailors pulled me onto the boat. Safely aboard, I realized that God had turned the boat around—for me. The engine roared, and we started out into the open sea just as another tricycle taxi loaded with passengers arrived at the pier. The occupants jumped out shouting and waving for the boat to stop. But the boat kept going.

As we sped toward the mainland, I thanked God for helping me keep my promise to my friend and for allowing me to be a part of His army, bringing truth to searching hearts.

I told my friend what had happened, and we rejoiced together in God's providence. Then I saw him off for his trip to the distant island to take God's word to another needy part of His kingdom.

Your mission offerings help support the literature work, bringing God's message of love to every corner of the world. Thank you for giving so that others can find Jesus.


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Helping the homeless, hungry and hurting in Jesus' name since 1944. The Jimme Hale Mission is a 65-year-old non-profit organization here in Birmingham, AL.

Mission statement “to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the poor and hurting in Jesus’ name”

Their services are comprised of the following 5 centers:


Shepura Men’s Center
160-bed men’s shelter and recovery program. Downtown Birmingham since 1954.

Royal Pines Recovery Center
16-week, 28-bed men’s 12-step recovery program. Blount County, founded 1995.

Jessie's Place for Women and Children
Women and children’s intermediate shelter. Downtown Birmingham, founded 1998.

Stewart Learning Centers
Computer-based education remediation and job readiness centers. Downtown Birmingham with a satellite in Blount County, founded 2001.

Mission Possible Bargain Centers
Fundraising thrift stores with client work therapy. Eastwood, Pinson, Hanceville


WOW!! So many areas to get involved in. Please email us at fig.coffee@gmail.com to get all the information about our volunteer placement program. This month we do plan on participating by volunteering with the Jimmie Hale Mission. Please Follow this Link to get dates and the contact person for this month's group activities.

God Bless You!!!

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Isreal:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name you are Mine.

~Isaiah 43:1~

There are those who for a lifetime have professed to be acquainted with Christ, yet have never made a personal effort to bring even one soul to the Saviour. They leave all the work for the minister. He may be well qualified for his calling, but he cannot do that which God has left for the members of the church.

There are many who need the ministration of loving Christian hearts. Many have gone down to ruin who might have been saved if their neighbors, common men and women, had put forth personal effort for them. Many are waiting to be personally addressed. In the very family, the neighborhood, the town, where we live, there is work for us to do as missionaries for Christ. If we are Christians, this work will be our delight. No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus. The saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart.

All who are consecrated to God will be channels of light. God makes them His agents to communicate to others the riches of His grace. His promise is, "I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing." Ezek. 34:26.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves." 2 Cor. 4:7, R. V. This is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to erring men rather than to the angels. It is manifest that the power which works through the weakness of humanity is the power of God; and thus we are encouraged to believe that the power which can help others as weak as ourselves can help us. And those who are themselves "compassed with infirmity" should be able to "have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." Heb. 5:2. Having been in peril themselves, they are acquainted with the dangers and difficulties of the way, and for this reason are called to reach out for others in like peril.

There are souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they can see, coming to them in Christ's stead, can be a connecting link to fasten their trembling faith upon Christ.

We are to be laborers together with the heavenly angels in presenting Jesus to the world. With almost impatient eagerness the angels wait for our co-operation; for man must be the channel to communicate with man. And when we give ourselves to Christ in wholehearted devotion, angels rejoice that they may speak through our voices to reveal God's love.

~Desire of Ages, Ellen G. White~