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Foreword
Beginning in 1945, the Review and Herald Publishing Association has pub-
lished a yearly devotional book for our morning meditation. With
The Upward
Look
, thirteen of these have been compiled from the writings of Ellen G. White.
For many years an article from her pen appeared almost weekly in the
Review and
Herald
, and many hundreds of articles were printed in the
Signs of the Times
and
other church periodicals. Her manuscript and letter files are rich in materials on
practical Christian living and counsels given to aid a people in preparing to meet
the Lord when He comes. Though her pen has been still since her passing in 1915,
this valuable counsel in books, periodicals, letters, and manuscripts has continued
to guide God’s people heavenward
.
Through the years many new compilations from her writings have been made
on various subjects. Usually these have focused on a specific theme, and most of
the volumes for our morning inspiration have followed this format. However, as
in
This Day With God
, the devotional book for 1980, which had the largest sale of
any SDA devotional book, selections for
The Upward Look
have been made from
letters and manuscripts written or orally presented by her on the same calendar
day designated for our reading of it. For instance, the reading for January 1 was
written on January 1, 1886
.
No central theme has been followed in the selection of these messages except
that whenever possible the excerpts are intended to bring encouragement. The
material in this volume either has never been published before or has appeared
in journals transitory in their nature. Though written many years ago, all is
appropriate admonition for God’s children in the 1980s
.
Mrs. White’s seventy years of public ministry were also seventy years of
personal ministry. Her writings to her family and friends were messages of
comfort, encouragement, and sometimes correction and reproof. Her testimonies
to those for whom a message was given her by God were sent on their way as
heaven guided, but always with her love and concern. Her very being was filled
with affection and consideration, not only for her immediate family but for the
entire family of God, and her writings bear a silent but unmistakable witness to
the dedication that controlled her life
.
The names of people to whom these letters were directed appear here and
there: James White, her husband; Edson and Emma White, her older
[14]
son and his wife; Dr. J. H. Kellogg, medical superintendent of the Battle
Creek Sanitarium; J. A. Burden, sanitarium manager in Australia and California;
Dr. J. H. Kress, medical superintendent of sanitariums in Australia and the United
States; S. N. Haskell and A. G. Daniells, who both occupied various leadership
positions in denominational work. Sometimes excerpts have been drawn from her
daily writings in her journals, as well as from other manuscripts and sermons
.
v