Because I lift my head above the mist, Where the sun shines and the broad breezes blow, By every ray and every raindrop kissed That God's love doth bestow; Think you I find no bitterness at all, No burden to be borne like Christian's pack? Think you there are no ready tears to fall Because I keep them back? Dark skies must clear, and when the clouds are past, CELIA THAXter. Heavenly Father, we seek Thee early for our hearts are burdened. Forgive us if we have borne the load alone until our souls are paralyzed, and we idly wait the better day. O God, how many there are this day more tried than we, friends untrue, poverty withering the soul, ideals unrealized, loved ones snatched away. Grant us this morning a new vision of Thy love. Help us to see Thy purpose when the hour is darkest. Upon Thee we cast all our care. We yoke ourselves with Thee to-day. Send us forth with courage and gladness to meet the day and its tasks. Amen. H. BLUNT. Would'st learn to know one little flower, As He hath set his garden; be JOAQUIN MILler. O Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we, Thy children, claim Thee as our Father. We thank Thee that Thou art more to us than our Creator. Thou didst create the bird, the flower and the star, but Thou art not the Father of bird and flower and star. When Thou dost call Thyself our Father, it means more than that Thou didst make us; it means that we may enter into sacred and intimate relations with Thee, as a child with an earthly father. Thou hast promised to take up Thine abode with those who love Thee, and find in Thee the home of our souls. Amen. HARRY H. BEATTYS. No backward glance shall hinder or appall me: And better hopes and better motives call me; LILLIAN KNAPP. This is a grand day. The crocuses are peeping up just as pert and pretty. The little brown buds on the trees have turned green and getting bigger every day, and even the air feels like it's had a bath. I just love the spring. Everything says to you: "Good-morning! Here we are again. Let's begin all over." And inside I say "All right," and I mean it. KATE LANGLEY BOSHER. O Lord most merciful, who bringest the morning and the evening to us all, hear us, we beseech Thee, as once more we seek Thy favor. Thou hast given to each a new chance with the coming of the new day; Thou hast opened before us another page unspoiled as yet by sin or folly. Help us not only to believe that this is the best day the world has ever known, but to make it the fairest day in all the record we have written. To love as we live, to be merciful, kind and free from guile, make this our ambition, we humbly pray Thee. FRANCIS H. ROWLEY. Amen. ༣:༥༦ I have been tried, And I say this, As the result of dire distress, And tribulation sore That a man's happiness does not consist And trust in God's great love Nought else is worth consideration. For the peace a man may find In perfect trust in God The only possible foundation JOHN OXENHAM. O Thou, who causeth the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice, fill our hearts with the very joy of the Lord. Thou who turnest the shadow of death into the morning and lightenest the face of the earth, do Thou quicken our souls with the light of life. Amid the tumult of this day may our souls be silent before Thee. Empty our hearts of useless care, we beseech Thee. May ours be the perfect peace of those whose minds are stayed on Thee, because we trust Thee. And in the end, whether on stormy sea or calm, do Thou bring us to Thy haven of peace. Amen. WILBUR P. THIRKIELD. Seek not afar for beauty. Lo! it glows In birds, in sunshine, childish faces sweet, In wonder workings, or some bush aflame Reveal Thyself unto us in love this day, O God, our God, that in the light of Thy presence we may look upon our lives. Open Thou our eyes that we may see Thy goodness, and in Thy goodness live. Create in us a pure heart that in the purity of our hearts we may contemplate Thee and think of all Thy works. Teach us Thy ways that we may keep Thy law. Give us understanding that we may know Thy truth and wisdom that we may learn the meaning of our lives. Make Thyself real to us this day, O God, our God, that in the strength of Thy presence we may fulfil Thy purpose for us in life and in the fullness of Thy love we may find our love and joy complete. Amen. WILSON EZRA VANDERMARK. |