A Good Testimony

"This is the testimony of all the good books, sermons, hymns, and memoirs I read--that God's ways are infinitely perfect; that we are to love Him for what He is and therefore equally as much when He afflicts as when He prospers us; that there is no real happiness but in doing and suffering His will; and that this life is but a scene of probation through which we pass to the real life above." ~ May 26, 1846 entry, Stepping Heavenward

The New Song

(Photo by Andrew Neufeld) 

 

There is a song I want to sing--

Or want to learn to sing;

It is a song of praise to Thee,

Jesus, my Lord and King.

Oh teach me all its varied notes,

Its hidden melody,

Till I have learned to sing by heart,

This song of praise to Thee.

I want to sing, while yet on earth, 

The tender, thankful strain

Of saints, who gladly near Thy throne,

Make Thee their song's refrain.

For though I am not yet a saint,

And though my praises ring

From an encumbered earthly soul,

I love the strains to sing. 

And well I love, I know I love,

Though truly not as they,

Thee, blessed Jesus whom I praise

Feebly on earth to--day;

While there's a song I want to sing--

Or want to learn to sing;

A blessed song of love to Thee,

Jesus, my Lord and King.

~ from Golden Hours: Heart-Hymns 

   of the Christian Life

Four Steps to Peace

I have just been to see Mrs. Campbell. In answer to my routine lamentations, she took up a book and read me what was called, as nearly as I can remember, "Four steps that lead to peace."
 
"Be desirous of doing the will of another, rather than thine own."
 
"Choose always to have less, rather than more."

"Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one."

"Wish always, and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee."

[Stepping Heavenward, June 15, 1838 entry.]

Sorrow and Joy Contended Together

"Sorrow and joy contended together in the two hearts where Aunt Jane's memory was enshrined. Their wondrous delight in their child needed to be tempered and subdued, and God gave the long-delayed gift at a moment when joy tempered grief. So he was cradled in the sanctity of days of mourning, yet welcomed with smiles that chased away tears." ~ from Aunt Jane's Hero

[For me, this is one of the most beautifully written paragraph in this wonderful book and if you've read it and know the circumstances, you understand it's beauty all the more.]

And speaking of sorrow and joy, yesterday's homegoing of a suffering saint brought similar emotions, happy indeed to see his suffering over, but sorrow at our loss.

Also, the news of the ordered execution of Christians in North Korea brought many tears, much sorrow, but surely there will be joy in heaven at their arrival. Read about that here if you wish.

Something for Christ

Something for Thee! What shall it be?

Speak, Lord, Thy waiting servant hears,

Is it to do some mighty deed?

Is it some multitude to feed?

Is it to do mid pains and fears,

Something for Thee?

~ "Something for Christ" from Golden Hours: Heart-Hymns for the Christian Life.

Beautiful Loss

Amen.

Faithful First in Little Things

"Then, dear Katy, suppose your first act of heroism tomorrow should be gratifying your mother in these little things, little though they are. Surely your first duty, next to pleasing God, is to please your mother and in every possible way to sweeten and beautify her life. You may depend upon it that a life of real heroism and self-sacrifice must begin and lay its foundation in this little world wherein it learns its first lesson and takes its first steps."

"And do you really think that God notices such little things?

"My dear child, what a question! If there is any one truth I would gladly impress on the mind of a young Christian, it is just this, that God notices the most trivial , accepts the poorest, most threadbare little service, listens to the coldest, feeblest petition, and gathers up with parental fondness all our fragmentary desires and attempts at good works. Oh, if we would only begin to conceive how He loves us, what different creatures we should be!" ~ entry for March 17, 1834, Stepping Heavenward.

[These words of wisdom from Mrs. Cabot to Katy are important words for any young lady of any time period.]