Legend has it that a German baron made a great Aeolian harp by stretching wires from tower to tower of his castle. When the harp was ready, he eagerly listened for the music. But it was the calm of summer, and in the still air the wires hung silent. Autumn came with its gentle breezes, and there were faint whispers of song. At length the winter winds swept over the castle, and now the harp answered in majestic music. This is a very good illustration of what our Lord meant when He said, “Blessed are the mourners.” Their blessedness is more apparent at times when adversity and sorrow strike. If as a Christian you can laugh and be jovial when everything goes well, the world will think nothing of it. But they will be deeply impressed if you can sing in the time of storm. This is why the Lord associates blessedness with mourning and sorrow in this life.

Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck a hard blow with his instrument and—lo!—the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in two. Did he do this out of recklessness, wastefulness, and criminal carelessness? Indeed not! For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world. Was that blow a mistake? No! It was the climax of the lapidary’s skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jeweled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. From those two halves were wrought two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine. Sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts; the nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Let us beware of questioning the methods and approaches of almighty God. We lie in His hands, and He knows just how to deal with us.

When the ties of this earth life have been severed, And the family chain has been broken in twain, Our greatest comfort comes in ever knowing That it may be welded again In that land where all is love and gladness, Where there is no loss, but all is gain, Where there can come no thought of pain or sadness, We may all be reunited once again. Yet we must remember that this life Is only a place to prepare For that land where all is beauty And love and pleasures rare. But there comes a note of sadness Whene’er we stop to think, If our life should prove unfaithful And there be a missing link. When the chain here once is broken, And the links drop one by one, The new chain up in heaven Is only just begun. So let us each be careful In all we do and think That in the permanent chain There may be no missing link.

First, plant five rows of peas: Preparedness, Promptness, Perseverance, Politeness, and Prayer. Next to them plant three rows of squash: Squash Gossip, Squash Criticism, Squash Indifference. Then five rows of lettuce: Let Us Be Faithful, Let Us Be Unselfish, Let Us Be Loyal, Let Us Love One Another, and Let Us Be Truthful. No garden is complete without turnips: Turn Up for Church, Turn Up With a Smile, Turn Up With a New Idea, Turn Up With Real Determination!

Once while riding in the country, I noticed an unusual weather vane on a farmer’s barn. Inscribed on the arrow were these words: “God is love.” I turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that? Do you think God’s love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds?” “Oh, no,” replied the farmer, “I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.”

Isaiah 54:2—The text that gave William Carey a world vision. John 17:8—The text to which John Knox anchored his soul. 1 John 5:4—The text that made William Penn a conqueror. Romans 8:24, 25—The text that saved William Cowper from suicide. Matthew 28:19, 20—The text that made David Livingstone a missionary. 2 Timothy 1:12—The text on which Michael Farady staked everything. John 6:37—The text from which John Bunyan preached to multitudes. Romans 1:17—The text that made Martin Luther the hero of the Reformation. What is your text, and  what is your story?

Once upon a time there were four men named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. But Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it. But Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about it, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, and Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody and Nobody did the job that Anybody could have done in the first place.

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared the 13 American colonies free and independent from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence is the only major national document of the United States that actually mentions the name of God. He is called “Nature’s God,” “The Creator,” and “The Supreme Judge of the World.” The fathers of our American freedom recognized that God’s hand was at work in the affairs of the new nation. But far more important than the political liberty that we enjoy is the spiritual liberty we have in Christ. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”

1. God—the greatest lover. 2. So loved—the greatest degree. 3. The world—the greatest company. 4. That He gave—the greatest act. 5. His only begotten Son—the greatest gift. 6. That whosoever—the greatest opportunity. 7. Believeth—the greatest simplicity. 8. In Him—the greatest attraction. 9. Should not perish—the greatest promise. 10. But—the greatest difference. 11. Have—the greatest certainty. 12. Everlasting life—the greatest possession.

 

 

Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city that has no end. Yet days go by and weeks rush on, And before I know it a year is gone, And I never see my old friend’s face; For life is a swift and terrible race. He knows I like him just as well As in the days when I rang his bell And he rang mine. We were younger then… And now we are busy, tired men… Tired with playing a foolish game; Tired with trying to make a name. “Tomorrow,” I say, “I will call on Jim, “Just to show that I’m thinking of him.