elmshaven

New Beginnings

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:32:53 GMT

New Beginnings

Throughout the winter flower bulbs lay dormant, deciduous trees have no leaves, and the promise of vegetables lies hidden in seed packets. But then Spring appears, flowers bloom, the rain is gone, and the singing of birds has come.

As Christians, we often focus on the challenges of winter in our lives. We forget the promise of Spring in God's blessings. One night, Mrs. White dreamed she and a friend were walking through a lovely garden. During the walk, the friend kept pointing out the weeds and thorns beside the path. Their Guide spoke, saying to Ellen White, “do not wander off the path among the thorns and thistles. Admire the lilies and pinks instead.”

Ellen later wrote to her friend observing, “haven't there been some bright spots in your life? Think about the blessings of God.”

Mrs. White's own life was often hard. She admitted that daily she fought discouragement. However, a sterling comment she made would serve each of us well to memorize.

“Every morning I rejoice in Him. I know I have committed the keeping of my soul to Him as unto a faithful Creator, and I know He has never failed me. If you place your trust in Him, the Lord will also give to every one of you His strength, His grace, His Salvation.”

Perhaps Ellen White's inspiration for this statement came from the Psalms:

“Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning for in thee do I trust,

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Psalm 143:8

The Garden at Elmshaven

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:32:51 GMT

The Garden At Elmshaven

Throughout her life, Ellen White enjoyed gardening. She loved growing flowers. And she was equally pleased with her flourishing vegetable garden and fruit orchards at Elmshaven. On discovering this beautiful property for sale, just right for the needs of her family and staff, she wrote:

This is a most beautiful location. The surroundings are lovely. Ornamental trees from various parts of the world, flowers, mostly roses of a large variety, an orchard containing a thousand prune trees which are bearing, another orchard nearer the house, and still another orchard of olive trees, are growing on the place.

Almost immediately after Elmshaven was purchased, Mrs. White cabled her former farmer in Cooranbong, Australia, Iram James, asking him to come with his family and be the manager of her farm at Elmshaven.

Remarking on the amazing providence of God to provide Elmshaven for Sister White, as she was called by friends and church members, she said,

The Lord planned for me, and I found that I could buy this place here for less than I received for my house in Cooranbong and all its belongings. This includes two horses, one rather old, four cariages and a platform wagon.

Two years later, and well-established in her new home, Sister White put down her pen on day, weary from pressing writing duties. At the invitation of a friend, she and her assistant, Sara McEnterfer, drove with Iram James and two of his children, seven miles up the mountain to a cherry orchard. Their goal was to pick cherries for the Elmshaven family and staff.

She later wrote to a friend,

The platform wagon was drawn under the trees, and Sara and I stood up on the seat and in this way reached the cherries. I picked eight quarts. We took home a large box of the fruit and put up thirty-seven quarts. So you see, Sister White is not decrepit yet.

…. I had been writing so continuously that I feared for my brain. This is the reason I went cherry-picking, and the change did me good.

Letters and records show that the Elmshaven family, as Mrs. White called her staff in residence, all worked together from time to time to dry tons of prunes. These were sent to needy missionaries overseas, and to the group of workers that her son, Edson, led in educating the poor black of the southern states.

Demonstrating a feeling of deep gratitude to God, Mrs. White penned,

This place (Elmshaven) was none of my seeking. It has come to me without a thought or purpose of mine. The Lord is so kind and gracious to me. I can trust my interests with Him who is too wise to err and too good to do me harm.

Hope for a Broken World

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 22:12:15 GMT

Hope for a Broken World

The end of a year brings time for reflection. In the new year, we look forward to better times, better health, better relationships, better finances, and a better understanding of who we are and why we're here.

Elmshaven, a historical residence built in the 1880's has been designated by the Department of the Interior as a National Historical Landmark. Though built by Robert Pratt, a railroad magnate from San Francisco, the home is best known as the final residence of Ellen Gould Harmon White. She named her home “Elmshaven” after the magnificent elm trees surrounding the property when she purchased "Elmshaven" in 1900..

Born in 1827, Ellen Harmon dropped out of school after the third grade. An older girl from school, in a fit of anger, threw a rock at Ellen, striking her on the face and breaking her nose. As a result, Ellen remained sickly for years and had to abandon her hopes for an education.

However,Ellen's love and trust in God deepened because of her accident, Her life became a series of miracles. God strengthened and guided Ellen, impressing her to write of His love and her own experience of His loving care. Ellen wrote, writing forty books during her lifetime. She became known as “God's Messenger.”

In one of her best-known books, The Desire of Ages, Ellen said, “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.” She lived what she wrote. The author of 100,000 pages of manuscript, Mrs. White became a highly regarded Christian speaker as well as writer.

Though she died in 1915, Mrs. White's writings live on. Her books are currently published in 160 languages. She is known in the United States as the number one author of non-fictional books. Those who visit Elmshaven, and read her books, continue to be blessed with God's message of hope

The Tie that Binds

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 21:35:29 GMT

The Tie that Bind s

“In times like these” starts the gospel song, “we need a Savior. In times like these
we need an anchor.” Ruth Caye Jones, a pastor's wife living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, read the newspaper headlines with a feeling of despair. The year 1943 saw Allied troops in Europe struggling, hardships multiplying at home as well as the war zone, and ration cards a way of life.

Turning to her Bible, Ruth Jones read II Timothy 3:1, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” Thinking of these words, plus those of Hebrews 6:19, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast....”, she began to jot down words on a piece of paper from her apron pocket.

In times like these we need a Savior;
In times like these we need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, yes, He's the One.
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these we need the Bible.
In times like these O be not idle.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, the One.
This Rock is Jesus, God's only Son!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chimes from the old clock on the mantel prompted a simple tune. And a beloved gospel song of comfort and cheer emerged. These times of 2020 are no less troublesome than those of 1943. But the reassurance of God's Word reflected in this gospel hymn reminds us of our Anchor, our Solid Rock.

Only weeks ago, a small group of Seventh-day Adventist believers met on the lawn of Elmshaven to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Sundown on Sabbath evening found these Christians, hungry for fellowship, participating in this solemn event together. They met under COVID restrictions, undaunted by masks and distancing, grateful to
worship together for this remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

Elmshaven, a special home built in the late 1800's, named by it's owner, Mrs. Ellen G. White, provided a haven for her to rest and write beneath the elm trees. Here Mrs. White spent the last 15 years of her singularly productive life