'Tis in the rose, 'tis in the thorn, 'Tis in the rushlight, and the star, ROBERT LOVEMAN. Our Father, we thank Thee for this morning hour, so full of blessings. We thank Thee for power to see Thee in the flowers that bloom, and to hear Thee by the still small voice in the midnight hour. We thank and praise Thy name for the many lessons our dear Saviour taught, how we should live in the largest possible to-day, with its grand possibilities, and golden opportunities. We pray that we may be so lifted into a strong, trustful, joyous life that we may glorify Thy name, and be a help to others. Amen. CHARLES L. FOWLER. O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother! Talk not of wasted affection, If it enrich not the heart of another Back to their springs like the rain, HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW. O Lord, we cannot think of Thee without feeling that Thou art a God of Love. "Thy nature and Thy name is Love." Thou hast loved us with an everlasting love. Hear us, O Lord, as we pray for the fulness of Thy love in our hearts that our lives may be testimonies of Thy power which enables us to be lovers of mankind. Make our lives so like the life of Jesus Christ that we may render faithful service with manifold expressions of love for our Lord. Thy love never fails, may our devotion to Thee be constant and pure as Thy love is supremely divine. Amen. GEORGE ADAMS. Let one thought guide you through the livelong day, "Lo, I am with you always." Steadfast, bold Unfearing shall you cross the widest seas, When in your heart you carry words like these: "Lo, I am with you always" writ in gold! ROSE HENNIKER HEATON. O Lord, whose parting from Thy disciples on earth was a parting from outward vision and not from inward presence, let us know in our hearts to-day that Thou art ever with us. Let the rod of Thy Word and the staff of Thy Grace be to-day and ever with us to comfort us and to lead us in the paths of righteousness; for Thy Name's sake, O Blessed Jesus, our Saviour! Amen. FRANK SEWALL. "Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose, by and by." Life is like that one stitch at a time taken patiently, and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. Remember you are to go the road which you see to be the straight one; carrying whatever you find is given you to carry, as well and as stoutly as you can; without making faces, or calling people to come and look at you. You are neither to load, nor unload yourself; nor to cut your cross to your own liking. All you have really to do is to keep your back as straight as you can, and not think about what is upon it above all not to boast of what is upon it. RUSKIN. O Thou Giver of Light and Life, we praise Thee for the gift of a new day and of our new birth into it. By its light may we walk in the path of the just man, who fed the hungry, gave shelter to the poor and garments to the needy. May our light shine forth to-day, even as His in whom was life and the life was the light of men. Let His patience and His peace be ours forever. Amen. R. H. ALDRICH. It pays to wear a smiling face Our laughter or our frown. It pays to help a worthy cause It pays to comfort heavy hearts FANNIE E. EMMIS. Our Father, we thank Thee for the joy of living in the sunlight of Thy Love. O, help us to carry gladness and love to sad and weary hearts about us today. Inspire us with higher ideals of living. By close companionship with Jesus may we keep our own hearts free from the stain of sin and our lives clear of the shadow of faulty living, to the end that the world shall be better and brighter for our having walked its streets to-day. O Father of Light, flood our souls with the radiance of Thine Own Presence, filling our lives with the highest service and bliss. Amen. J. FRANKLIN FORREST. |