Counsel and Help

CHOICE EXCERPTS

A living, loving, personal Savior

We are in the habit of saying that Christ saved

us by dying for us on the Cross. In an important

sense this is true. We never could have been

saved, if He had not died for us.

But we are actually saved by our relationship to

a living, loving, personal Savior--into whose

hands we commit all the interests of our lives;

and who becomes our friend, our helper, our

keeper, our burden bearer--our all in all.

Christian faith is not merely laying our sins on

the Lamb of God and trusting to His one great

sacrifice; it is the laying of ourselves on the living,

loving heart of one whose friendship becomes

thenceforward the sweetest joy of our lives!

"The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith

in the Son of God, who loved me and gave

Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inspirations to beautiful living

The beauty of Christ in a human life--is not merely

a heavenly yearning. It is intensely practical. It is . . .

more than religious sentimentality,

more than devout feeling,

more than holy aspiration.

True spiritual longing draws the whole life upward

with it. True holiness does not unfit people for living

well in this world. It has its visions of Christ--but it

brings them down to brighten its daily path and to

become inspirations to beautiful living. It has its

joyful emotions--but they become impulses to self

denial and patient work for the Master.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The divine philosophy for peaceful living

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Genesis 18:14

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of

Yours can be thwarted!" Job 42:2

Everything which threatens to give us anxiety--is to be

taken at once to God. Nothing is too great to carry to

Him. Does not He bear up all worlds? Does not He rule

over all the affairs of the universe? Is there any matter

in our life, however great it may seem to us--too hard

for Him to manage? Is any perplexity too difficult for

Him to resolve? Is any human despair too dark for Him

to illumine with hope? Is there any tangle or confusion

out of which He cannot extricate us?

Nothing is too small to carry to Him. Is He not our

Father, and is He not sincerely interested in whatever

concerns us? There is not one of the countless things

which fly like specks of dust all through our daily life,

tending to vex and fret us--that we may not take to God.

The Scriptures prescribe a cure for anxious care. The

divine philosophy for peaceful living says: "Do not

be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer

and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests

to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus!" Philippians 4:6-7

Refer every disturbing thing to Him--that He may bear

the burden of it. "Cast your burden on the Lord, and

He will support you!" Psalms 55:22. "Casting all your

care upon Him; for He cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Life is hard for most people

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

We should train ourselves to such regard, to such

respect for others, that we shall never hurt the heart

of one of God's creatures, even by a disdainful look!

Our love ought also to be patient. Our neighbor may

have his faults. But we are taught to bear with one

another's infirmities. If we knew the story of men's

lives, the hidden loads and burdens which they are

often carrying, the unhealed sore in their heart--we

would have most gentle patience with them. Life is

hard for most people; certainly hard enough without

our adding to its burdens by our censoriousness, our

uncharity, our jeering and contempt. "Therefore, as

God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe

yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,

gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You will have many trials and sorrows

"You may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will

have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33

There is no life into which do not come many things

calculated to cause anxiety and disturbance of mind:

there are great sorrows;

there are perplexities as to duty;

there are disappointments and losses;

there are annoyances and hindrances;

there are chafings and irritations in ordinary life;

there are countless petty cares and frets.

All of these tend to break the hearts' peace and to

disturb its quiet. Yet there is no lesson which is urged

more continuously or more earnestly in the Scriptures,

than that a Christian should never worry, or let anxious

care oppress his heart. He is to live without disturbance

and with unbroken peace--even in the midst of the most

trying experiences. "The peace of God, which transcends

all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7. "Let the peace of Christ

rule in your hearts." Colossians 3:15.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Blue glasses

One way to train ourselves to true and cheerful views

of life, is resolutely to refuse to be frightened at shadows,

or to see trouble where there is none. Half or more of the

things which most worry us have no existence, except in

a disordered imagination. Many things which in the dim

distance look like shapes of peril, when we draw near to

them, melt into harmless shadows, or even change into

forms of friendliness!

Much of the gloomy tinge which many people see on

everything, is caused by the color of the glasses through

which they look. We put on our blue glasses, and then

wonder what makes everything blue and dismal. The

greater part of our discontent is caused by some imaginary

trouble, which never really comes. "Fix your thoughts on

what is true and honorable and right. Think about things

that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things

that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

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His treasured possession!

"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep." John 10:14

When we think of the millions who are in Christ's flock,

it seems strange to us that He knows and calls each one

by name. Yet the truth is made very clear in Scripture.

Every mother knows her own children by name, and it

is as easy for the Good Shepherd to know each of His

millions by name, as for any human mother to know

each of her little children.

There is comfort in this teaching. We are not lost in

the crowd. Each one of of God's children, is the special

object of His love and thought and care!

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have

called you by name; you are Mine!" Isaiah 43:1

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the

peoples on the face of the earth to be His people,

His treasured possession!" Deuteronomy 7:6

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Truly beautiful and truly happy

Only Christ can make any life, young or old--truly

beautiful and truly happy. Only He can cure the

heart's restless fever and give quietness and calmness.

Only He can purify that sinful fountain within us--our

corrupt nature, and make us holy. To have a peaceful

and blessed ending to life--we must live it with Christ.

Such a life grows brighter even to its close. Its last

days are the sunniest and the sweetest. The more

earth's joys fail--the nearer and the more satisfying

do the spiritual comforts become.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Christian peace

"The peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:7

Christian peace is the calm of the heart which is not

dependent on any external circumstances--and which

no circumstances, however full of danger or alarm, can

break. Its secret is--perfect trust in God. The lesson of

peace, is one that has to be learned in the school of life.

Christian peace is not gotten by the changing of life's

conditions, so as to hide one away beyond the reach of

storm. Nor is it gained through the deadening of the

feelings and sensibilities--so that life's pains and trials

will no longer hurt the heart. Christian peace is a fruit

of the Holy Spirit.

"You may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will

have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Col. 3:15

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God often seems to be destroying His children

"We also rejoice in our sufferings." Romans 5:3

We may learn to bear troubles submissively--but to

rejoice in them is something which to many seems

impossible. But the grace of Christ is equal even to this

strange task--enabling us to rejoice in our tribulations.

Thousands of Christians have done it.

The secret of rejoicing in suffering--is perfect trust

in the will and love of God. None can rejoice in pain

or loss, who have not a settled confidence in the

rightness of God's ways.

Someone tells how a flute is made. Here is a piece

of wood. It is solid and hard, and makes no sound.

Then a craftsman takes it and cuts holes in it and

makes a rift through it. It is by thus cutting as if

destroying it, that it is made into a flute which

gives forth sweet music.

Just so, God often seems to be destroying His

children by tribulations--but He is really preparing

them to give forth sweet music.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The tongue's power

"The tongue has the power of life and death!"

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue's power to do good is simply incalculable.

It can impart valuable knowledge; it can speak words

which will shine like lamps in darkened hearts; it can

pronounce kind sentences which will comfort sorrow,

or cheer despondency; it can breathe thoughts which

will arouse, inspire, and quicken heedless souls, and

even whisper the divine secret of the life-giving Gospel,

to those who are dead. What good we could do with our

tongues, if we would use them to the full limit of their

power for good, no one can compute!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How to wear chains for Christ

"I am in chains for Christ." Philippians 1:13

Paul teaches us by example--how to wear

chains for Christ. He counted it a glory. It

was that chained hand which wrote the Epistle

to the Philippians--the most cheerful and joyous

of the Apostle's letters. Paul's sweetest songs

came from his prison!

We shall not likely have the privilege of wearing

literal chains for Christ--but there are many

hindrances and limitations and hardships in every

Christian life, which are really chains upon us:

Sickness sometimes shuts us in.

Poverty binds the hands of many.

Household cares keep many a woman in chains.

Few Christians are absolutely free to do what

their hearts prompt them to do for Christ. We

should study Paul, and gather the lessons . . .

of rejoicing,

of cheerfulness,

of contentment,

of usefulness.

Paul's prison life was not idle. He continually

sent out blessings, from his place of captivity.

The influence poured out into all the world.

"I want you to know, brothers, that what has

happened to me has actually resulted in the

advancement of the gospel!" Philippians 1:12

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Love, the Sweetener

Love walks along life's ways with gentle step. Fragrant

flowers grow in its path, and the air is always sweeter

when it has passed by. Love is kindly, thoughtful, full

of pity, and compassionate. It has patience with human

faults, and looks with an eye of tender love on those

who have fallen. It is tolerant of others who, through

weakness, err or turn aside. It is forbearing and long

suffering. It meekly endures injury and wrong, giving

sweet love in return for the hurts of unkindness. It sees

eagerly and joyfully the good things in others, and has

a wide cloak of charity for their failings and sins. It is

merciful, forgiving not seven times only--but seventy

times seven. Conscious of its own faults and evils, it

is lenient toward the blemishes it sees in others.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You say you want to be like Christ

You say you want to be like Christ. You pray

to Him to imprint His own image on your heart.

The monks thought that they were like Christ,

when they went into the wilderness, away from

men, to live in cold cells or caves.

But "to serve"--that is the Christ-like thing.

Instead of fleeing away from men--we are to

live among men, to serve them, to live for them,

or seek to bless them, to do good, to give our

lives. "The Son of Man did not come to be served,

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for

many." Matthew 20:28

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Choosing Amusements

Christ does not frown upon pure and innocent pleasures.

He Himself went, when He was on the earth--to places of

enjoyment and festivity. He attended a marriage feast,

and contributed to the gladness of the guests. He accepted

invitations to family feasts. There is not a trace of asceticism

in all the story of His life. And He would do the same if He

were here now. Pleasures which are pure, innocent, and

helpful, or which contribute to the joy and good of others

--He would enjoy. And what He would do if He were in our

place--we, as His followers, may do.

But there are amusements in which we may be sure He

would not indulge. A tender spiritual instinct will readily

discriminate between those in which He would engage--

and those in which He would not engage. This seems a

reasonable and legitimate test for us, His followers--

What Would Jesus Do?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Love doing little things

"Love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4

Kindness is love doing little things, things that

seem scarcely worth doing, and yet which mean

much to those for whom they are wrought.

Kindness lends a hand when another is burdened.

Kindness speaks the cheerful word when a heart

is discouraged. Kindness gives a cup of cold water

when one is thirsty. It is always doing good to

somebody. Kindness goes about performing almost

unconsciously its loving ministries, with a touch of

blessing for everybody. It scatters its small nameless

favors everywhere. Few qualities do more to make

a life bright and beautiful. "Be kind and compassionate

to one another." Ephesians 4:32

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His love alone; His hand alone

"The Father of compassion and the God

of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

If we creep into God's bosom, and nestle there

like a tired child in the mother's arms, and let

God's love enfold and embrace us, and flow into

our heart--however deep the sorrow may be--we

shall be comforted and satisfied. Even if every

source of human joy has been cut off, and we

are left utterly bereft, we can still find in God,

that which will suffice. His love alone--is great

enough to fill our heart, and His hand alone--

has skill to bind up our wounds.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The best use we can make of our life,

is to live so that we shall be a blessing to

everyone we meet.

"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha,

who was always doing good and helping the

poor." Acts 9:36

"Jesus went around doing good." Acts 10:38

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at

the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do

not give up." Galatians 6:9

"For it is God's will that by doing good you

should silence the ignorant talk of foolish

men." 1 Peter 2:15

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The arms of God

Wherever we see Christ in Scripture, He is imparting

blessing as the sun imparts light and warmth. While

He was here on the earth, He was always reaching

out His hand to give a blessing to some life that sorely

needed it. Now it was on the children's heads, now on

the leper, now on the blind eyes, now on the sick, now

on the dead--that He laid those gracious hands, and

always He left some rich gift of blessing.

We remember that one day when those gentle hands

were drawn out by cruel enemies, and with iron nails

fastened to the Cross; yet even then it was in blessing

that they were extended, for it was for our sins they

were transfixed on the cruel cross. As we see them

thus stretched out as wide as they could reach--the

posture suggests the wideness of the divine mercy.

Thus, the arms of God are open to the utmost to

receive all who will come to seek refuge. There is

room for the worst sinners.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

True self-denial

True self-denial is the renouncing of self and the

yielding of the whole life to the will of Christ. It

is self coming down from the life's throne, laying

crown and scepter at the Master's feet and thence

forth submitting the whole life to His sway. It is

living all the while, not to please ourselves, not to

advance our own personal interests--but to please

our Lord and do His work. It is denying to ourselves

anything that is sinful in His sight. It is the glad

making of any sacrifice that loyalty to Him requires.

It is the giving up of any pleasure or comfort for

the good of others, which Christ may demand. The

essential thing is that SELF gives way altogether

to Christ, as the motive of life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other people have feelings

Our neighbors are about us all the time, needing

our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually,

that we must guard our every look, word, and act--

lest we hurt some sensitive spirit. Some people seem

to forget that other people have feelings. They

are constantly saying words and doing things which

give pain.

True love is thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts

to the most delicate sense of kindness, that we may

never even in jest give pain to any other human being.

Our neighbors have hearts, and we owe to everyone of

them--the beggar we meet on the street, the poor

wretch we find crawling in the mire of sin's debasement,

and the enemy who flings his insults in our face--to

everyone we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle,

and gives no hurt.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If earthly homes were perfect

One reason, no doubt, why our lives are so full

of experiences of need, is that we may learn to

walk with Christ. If earth's human companionships

satisfied us, and if we never lost them, we might

not care for Christ's. If earthly homes were

perfect, and if they never crumbled, we might

not grow homesick for heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The school of adversity and hardship

The tree which grows where tempests toss its boughs

and bend its trunk, often almost to breaking--is more

firmly rooted than the tree which grows in sequestered

valley where no storm ever brings stress or strain.

The same is true in life. The grandest character is grown

in hardship. Softness springs out of luxury. The best men

the world ever reared have been brought up in the school

of adversity and hardship. Besides, it is no heroism to

live patiently where there is no provocation, bravely where

there is no danger, calmly where there is nothing to

perturb. Not the hermit's cave--but the heart of busy life,

tests character, as well as makes character. If we can live

patiently, lovingly, and cheerfully amid all our frets and

irritations day after day, year after year, that is grander

heroism than the farthest famed military exploits, for he

who rules his own spirit is better than he who takes a city!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The secret of happiness

Why should I hide my one talent in the earth,

because it is not ten? Why should I make my

life a failure in the place allotted to me, while

I sit down and dream over unattainable things?

Why should I miss my one golden opportunity,

however small--while I envy some other person,

what seems his greater opportunity?

Countless people make themselves wretched--by

vainly trying to grasp far away joys; while they

leave untouched and despised--the numberless

little joys and bright bits of happiness which lie

close to their hand. As one has written:

"Stretching out his hand to catch the stars above

--man forgets the flowers at his feet, so beautiful,

so fragrant, and so multitudinous and so various."

The secret of happiness lies in extracting pleasure

from the things we have--while we enter no mad,

vain chase after impossible dreams.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wrought only in tears and suffering

Nothing beautiful or worthy in any department of

life, was ever achieved or attained without toil.

"Wherever a great is done, there also has been

Gethsemane." The lovely works of human creation

which people linger before with admiring wonder,

have all cost a great price. Someone's heart's blood

has gone into every great picture, into every stanza

of sweet song, into every paragraph which inspires

men. It has been noted that the root of the word

bless, is the word for blood. We can bless another in

deep and true ways--only by giving of our life-blood.

Anything which will do real good, can be wrought

only in tears and suffering.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Getting alone with God

There are some people who claim that they can pray

and commune with God just as well in one, place as

in another. They do their praying while they walk about

and while they work. They see no use in getting alone

with God, to pray. Surely, if anyone could pray well in

a crowd, or while engaged in work--Jesus could.

No doubt He did hold communion with His Father even

in His busiest hours--but this did not meet all the needs

and longings of His soul. He left the crowd, left even His

own disciples, and retired into places where no eye but

God's could see Him, where no human footfall or voice

could interrupt the quiet of His soul, and where He would

be absolutely alone. Surely if Jesus required such conditions

in praying--we do too. We need to find a place for prayer,

in which nothing can intrude to break the continuity of

though or devotion. "But when you pray, go into your

private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father

who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret

will reward you." Matthew 6:6

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See Christ in each event

We ought to learn that Jesus is in every providence

which comes to us. He does not come in the sunshine

only. Quite as frequently it is in the storm that He draws

near. It is our duty as Christians to train ourselves to see

Christ in each event. Then whether it is sorrow or joy

which knocks at our door--we shall give it like loving

welcome, knowing that Jesus Himself is veiled in whatever

form it is, which enters. Then we shall find that when we

welcome Him in the somber garments of pain--He has

always a rich blessing for our lives!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another's heart is breaking

Sometimes it is poverty which stands begging at our

gate--and financial help is needed. But a thousand

times more frequently, it is not money--but something

else more precious, which we must give. It may be

loving sympathy.

Sorrow is before us. Another's heart is breaking.

Money would be of no use; it would be only a bitter

mockery. But we can hold to the sufferer's lips a cup

filled out of our own heart, which will give new strength.

Or it is the anguish of a life struggle, a human

Gethsemane, beside which we are called to watch.

We can give no actual aid--the soul must fight its

battles alone; but we can be as the angel who

ministered in our Lord's Gethsemane--imparting

strength and helping the weary struggler to win

the victory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sacred duties

It is possible to live a very laborious life filled

with intense activities--and yet never, from

youth to old age, do one deed which Christ

accepts as service. It is possible even to live

a life of what is called religious service, full of

what are regarded as sacred duties, and yet

never in one thing, truly serve Christ.

The heart may never have been given to Him at

all. Or the motives may have been wrong. That

which makes any act distinctively a Christian act

--is that it is done in the name of Christ, and to

please Him!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The impression of a holy and separate life

"I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer

your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to

God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not

conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but

be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Romans 12:1-2

If we are Christians, we are not of this world--we

belong to the kingdom of heaven. It is very easy for

us, being in the world, to become of it--to let our

lives grow like the world. But this is not the way to

make ourselves a living sacrifice to God. "It is not

conformity that we need," says Bushnell; "it is not

being able to beat the world in its own way; but it

is to stand apart and above it, and to produce the

impression of a holy and separate life. This

alone is safety and success."

Instead, then, of conforming to the world, taking the

world's color--our duty is to seek to be transformed

into the heavenly life. The word "transformed" means

to be transfigured, that is, to become bright and shining

in our life. The secret of it is given in the words, "the

renewing of your minds." The candle is to be lighted

within our hearts and minds--that its beams may shine

out through our life, making it glow!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The joy which the Holy Spirit gives

"The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy" Galatians 5:22

Joyfulness is everywhere commanded as a Christian

duty. Discontent is a most detestable fault. Morbidness

is a sin. Fretfulness grieves God. It tells of unbelief

within the heart. It destroys the soul's peace. It

disfigures the beauty of Christian character. It not

only makes us soured and unhappy in our own hearts

--but its influence on others is harmful. We have no

right to project the gloom of our discontent over any

other life. Our ministry is to be ever toward joy. There

is nothing so depressing in its effect upon others, as

morbidness. Hence, for the sake of those among whom

we live, and upon whose lives we are forever unconsciously

either casting shadows or pouring sunshine, we should

seek to learn this Christian art of contentment.

Joy brightens a life. It shines in the face like sunlight.

It makes the eyes sparkle.

But what is this joy--which is a fruit of the Spirit?

Anybody can be joyous when all things go well,

when health is good, and business is prosperous,

and the cup of love runs over, and the circle of

friends is unbroken. The joy which the Holy

Spirit gives, lives on in the heart when all earthly

sources of gladness have failed. It hides like a

rainbow in the midst of the darkest cloud.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Happiness or wretchedness?

Everyone carries in himself, the sources of his own

happiness or wretchedness. Circumstances have

really very little to do with our felicity. It matters little

in the determination of one's degree of enjoyment,

whether he lives in a cottage or a palace. It is the

state of the heart, after all, which in largest measure

gives the color to our skies, and the tone to the music

we hear.

A happy heart sees rainbows and brilliance everywhere,

even in darkest clouds, and hears sweet strains of song

even amid the loudest wailing of the storm. But a sad

heart, unhappy and discontented, sees spots in the

brightest day, specks in the rarest fruits, and hears

discords and jarring notes in the heavenliest music,

and something with which to find fault in the most

perfect of God's works.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The meekness and gentleness of Christ

(J. R. Miller, "A Gentle Heart" 1896)

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart." Matthew 11:29

"By the meekness and gentleness of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:1

For thirty-three years Jesus went about among men--doing kindly things. He had a gentle heart, and gentleness flowed out in his speech. He spoke words which throbbed with tenderness. There was never any uncertainty about the heart-beat in the words which fell from the lips of Jesus. They throbbed with sympathy and tenderness.

The people knew always, that Jesus was their friend. His life was full of rich helpfulness. No wrong or cruelty ever made him ungentle. He scattered kindness wherever he moved.

One day they nailed those gentle hands to a cross! It was a sore loss to the poor and the sad, and there must have been grief in many a household. But while the personal ministry of Jesus was ended by his death, the influence of his life went on. He had set the world a new example of love. He had taught lessons of patience and meekness which no other teacher had ever given. He had imparted new meaning to human affection. He had made love the law of his kingdom. These teachings of Jesus fell into the world's unloving, unkindly life, and at once began to change it into gentleness. Wherever the gospel has gone, these saying of the great Teacher have been carried, and have fallen into people's hearts, leaving there their blessings of gentleness.

The influence of the death of Jesus on this world's life is immeasurable. The cross is like a great heart of love beating at the center of the world, sending its pulsings of tenderness into all lands. The life of Christ beats in the hearts of his followers, and all who love him have something of his gentleness. The love of Jesus, kindles love in every believing heart. That is the lesson set for all of us in the New Testament. We are taught that we should love as Jesus loved, that we should be kind as he was kind, that his meekness, patience, thoughtfulness, selflessness, should be reproduced in us.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A little like heaven!

(J. R. Miller, "A Gentle Heart" 1896)

There is need for the lesson of gentleness in homes. There love's sweetest flowers should bloom. There we should always carry our purest and best affections. No matter how heavy the burdens of the day have been, when we gather home at nightfall we should bring only cheer and gentleness. No one has any right to be ungentle in his own home. If he finds himself in such a mood, he should go to his room--until it has vanished.

We should all try to learn the lesson of gentleness in our homes. It is the lesson that is needed to make the home-happiness a little like heaven! Home is meant to be a place to grow in. It is a school in which we should learn love in all its branches. It is not a place for selfishness or for self indulgence. It should never be a place where a man can work off his annoyances, after trying to keep polite and courteous to others, all the day. It is not a place for the opening of doors of heart and lips to let ugly tempers fly out at will. It is not a place where people can act as they feel, however unchristian their feelings may be, withdrawing the guards of self control, relaxing all restraints, and letting their worse tempers have sway.

We should be gentle above all--to those we love the best. There is an inner circle of affection to which each heart has a right, without robbing others. While we are to be gentle unto all men--never ungentle to any--there are those to whom we owe special tenderness. Those within our own home belong to this sacred inner circle.

We must make sure that our home piety is true and real, that it is of the spirit and life, and not merely in form. It must be love--love wrought out in thought, in word, in disposition, in act. It must show itself not only in patience, forbearance, and self control, and in sweetness under provocation; but also in all gentle thoughtfulness, and in little tender ways in all the family interactions.

No amount of good religious teaching will ever make up for the lack of affectionateness in parents toward children. A gentleman said the other day, "My mother was a good woman. She insisted on her boys going to church and Sunday-school, and taught us to pray. But I do not remember that she ever kissed me. She was a woman of lofty principles--but cold and reserved--lacking in tenderness."

It does not matter how much Bible reading, and prayer, and catechism-saying, and godly teaching, there may be in a home. If gentleness is lacking, that is lacking which most of all, the children need in the life of their home. A child must have love. Love is to its life, what sunshine is to plants and flowers. No young life can ever grow to its best--in a home without gentleness.

"So Abraham called that place Jehovah-Jireh--

The Lord Will Provide!" Genesis 22:14

Write deep in your heart this New Year's day, this word

of sublime confidence, Jehovah-Jireh. It tells you that

you can trust God always; that no promise of His ever

fails; that He does all things well; that out of all seeming

loss and destruction of human hopes, He brings blessing.

"You have never traveled this way before." Joshua 3:4.

There will be sorrows and joys, failures and successes,

this year, just as there were last year. You cannot forecast

individual experiences. You cannot see a step before your

feet! Yet Jehovah-Jireh calls you to enter the new year

with calm trust. It bids you put away all anxieties and

forebodings--"The Lord will provide!"