In the way that He shall choose Not a lesson we shall lose, Strange and difficult indeed But the blessing that we need All the lessons He shall send Are the sweetest, And His training, in the end, Is completest. FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL. Our Father, we thank Thee for the heavens above us, and for the world Thou hast made beautiful about us. We thank Thee for Thy life within us, for the love that Thou hast placed in our hearts. We wait upon Thee to renew our strength. Draw us through joy and pain close to Thy fatherly heart. As little children holding a parent's hand, we look up to say, "Father, we love Thee, lead us where Thou wilt." Be it by the way of gain or loss, we will ever walk with Thee. Teach us to appreciate all good, to forget all evil, and to make the best of all things. Bless all Thy children everywhere as Thou alone knowest they have need. Help us to be like Jesus. Amen. MERRILL C. WARD. How close to Heav'n earth seems to lie So luminous and calm! ANONYMOUS. Thy spirit has led us to prepare for the storm and the cloud so that in life's trials we have not been overwhelmed. May the dawn of the bright days find us prepared for such achievement as is worthy of Thy followers. Grant unto us, O God, an appreciation of the majestic splendor and the eternal supremacy of the realities that come from Thee. As the full-orbed day floods earth with resplendent light, so impart a sense of the beauty of Thy Perfect Order; let not earth's chaos and confusions mar nor detract from our sense of the symmetry and completeness more than do the broken branches of the trees of a forest. And give us strength to accomplish our task. Amen. BURDETTE B. BROWN. And I must work thro' months of toil, ALFRED TENNYSON. Almighty God, we recognize Thine hand that opens to us the morning. Stir within us, we pray Thee, the sources of our divine life. Speak to our thoughts and our feelings that they may awake to the glories of life and the consciousness of Thy presence in the affairs of men. May we rest assured that if Thou dost call us this day to perform great tasks, Thou wilt give us sufficient strength to meet them. If Thou dost cause us to pass through dangers, Thou wilt not leave us without courage. May we remember that however much of Thy bounty we may have received, the end is not yet. Thy treasure house is far from empty, Thy goodness is infinite. Thy love is eternal. Amen. ALBERT J. LORD. A little tree, short, but self-satisfied, 66 Glanced toward the ground, then tossed its head, and cried, Behold how tall I am, how far the earth!" And boasting thus, it swayed in scornful mirth. The tallest pine tree in the forest raised 66 Its head toward heaven, and sighed the while it gazed; Alas, how small I am, and the great skies how far, Our height depends on what we measure by: We thank Thee, O Father, for the cycle of eternal change, which is the life of nature. Thou hast so planned that at some time each leaf on every tree should be washed by the rain and also have its glow of sunshine; that each blossom should be tinted by the sun and kissed by the dew; that in due time each fruit should receive its own coloring. Help us to understand that what the sun is to nature, Jesus Christ is to our souls, and that we are now within Thy love and care. In the joy of Thy glory make us to radiate Thy beautifying light unto all whom we meet. Keep us strong to retain our cheerfulness while we may pass among other moods, and let the permanent joy of our Lord become constant in our life. Amen. RALPH N. BIRDSALL. If I ever feel like envying any one, it is not the worldfamous author, but some serene, devout soul who has made the life of Christ his own and whose will is the divine will. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. The true calling of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. The most trivial tasks can be accomplished in a noble, gentle, regal spirit, which overrides and puts aside all petty, paltry feelings, which elevates all things. Help Our Father, for a new day we thank Thee. us attain the mind of Christ, his spirit, his motives, his desires. May our friendship with the Master be so sincere and complete that even in doing the ordinary duties and in the commonplace relations others may take knowledge of us that we have been with Him. Help us so to trust that we are empowered to do all things Thou layest upon us through Him that strengtheneth us. Help us to rise above the irritating and the petty, to be serene, unafraid and unexcited because we know Thou wilt supply every need of ours according to the riches of Thy grace in Christ Jesus. Amen. WILLIAM HORACE DAY. |