Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Walking Bibles

Determine to practice whatever you read. Christians should be walking Bibles, living the truths written. The Word is not only a guide to knowledge, but a guide to obedience. A holy reading of God’s Word, results in our fleeing from sins, and practicing the duties commanded. - Thomas Watson

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

O Thou Who Dry’st The Mourner’s Tear!

Oh, Thou, who dry'st the mourner's tear,
How dark this world would be,
If, when deceived and wounded here,
We could not fly to Thee!
The friends, who in our sunshine live,
When winter comes, are flown;
And he who has but tears to give,
Must weep those tears alone.
But Thou wilt heal that broken heart,
Which, like the plants that throw
Their fragrance from the wounded part,
Breathes sweetness out of woe.

When joy no longer soothes or cheers,
And e'en the hope that threw
A moment's sparkle o'er our tears
Is dimmed and vanished, too,
Oh, who would bear life's stormy doom,
Did not Thy wing of Love
Come, brightly wafting through the gloom
Our Peace-branch from above?
Then sorrow, touched by Thee, grows bright
With more than rapture's ray
As darkness shows us worlds of light
We never saw by day.
 
--Thomas Moore

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Whatever Is - Is Best

I know, as my life grows older,
And mine eyes have clearer sight,
That under each rank wrong somewhere
There lies the root of Right;
That each sorrow has its purpose,
By the sorrowing oft unguessed;
But as sure as the sun brings morning,
Whatever is - is best.

I know that each sinful action,
As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, sometime punished,
Tho’ the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is aided
Sometimes by the heart’s unrest,
And to grow means often to suffer-
But whatever is - is best.

I know there are no errors,
In the great Eternal plan,
And all things work together
For the final good of man.
And I know when my soul speeds onward,
In its grand Eternal quest,
I shall say as I look back earthward,
Whatever is - is best.

- Ella wheeler Wilcox

Monday, July 12, 2010

Life’s Scars

They say the world is round, and yet
I often think its square,
So many little hurts we get
From corners here and there.
But one great truth in life I’ve found,
While journeying to the West-
The only folks who really wound
Are those we love the best.

The man you thoroughly despise
Can rouse your wrath, ‘tis true;
Annoyance in your heart will rise
At things mere strangers do;
But those are only passing ills;
This rule all lives will prove;
The rankling wound which aches and thrills
Is dealt by hands we love.

The choicest garb, the sweetest grace,
Are oft to strangers shown;
The careless mien, the frowning face,
Are given to our own.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.

Love does not grow on every tree,
Nor true hearts yearly bloom.
Alas for those who only see
This cut across a tomb!
But, soon or late, the fact grows plain
To all through sorrow’s test:
The only folks who give us pain
Are those we love the best.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Friday, July 9, 2010

He takes away our props

Oh, what a mercy to have a throne of grace, and a tender, compassionate, loving Christ to go to at all times, and under all circumstances! A genuine welcome; no frown to fear; no distant look. Oh that we all might live upon Him, moment by moment! For this reason He takes away our props, that we might lean fully upon Himself. - Mary Winslow

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Clothing bag

A friend requested I make her a clothing bag with lace and bows. She likes things pretty and fancy. Her room is hunter green and white. I had a piece of fancy green jacquard satin cloth left from a previous project. It was just the right width, but not quite long enough. I had some scraps of green calico left from another dress which would match and I had some lace as well. To dress up and hide the plain calico, I covered it in lace and then sewed it to the bottom of the satin. The hanger cover of calico on the back was also covered in lace. Some ribbon from my ribbon box and a jacquard cloth bow completed the bag. All the inside seams were finished so that no ravels of thread would rub off onto the clothes. This was a fun project to make, a nice break from clothing and other tedious things which must fit and be made just right. It was also very nice not to have to purchase anything for the bag, it being made entirely from scraps or things on hand. Despite this, I do not think I could have went and purchased more suitable cloth as my friend says it goes “splendidly” with her room décor.

Friday, July 2, 2010

An amazing and humbling difference

“There is an amazing and humbling difference between the conviction we have of the beauty and excellence of Divine truths--and our actual experience of their power ruling in our hearts. We are poor inconsistent creatures, and find we can do nothing as we ought--but only as we are enabled by God's grace.”- John Newton’s letters