It seems to me I'd like to go
Where the bells don't ring, nor whistles blow, Nor clocks don't strike, nor gongs sound, And I'd have stillness all around. Not real stillness, but just the trees, Low whispering, or the hum of bees, Or brooks faint babbling over stones, In strangely, softly tangled tones. Or maybe a cricket or katydid, Or the songs of birds in the hedges hid, Or just some such sweet sound as these, To fill a tired heart with ease. If 'tweren't for sight and sound and smell, I'd like the city pretty well, But when it comes to getting rest, I like the country lots the best. Sometimes it seems to me I must Just quit the city's din and dust, And get out where the sky is blue, And say, now, how does it seem to you? -Nixon Waterman
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The practice of the presence of God strengthens us in hope. Our hope grows in proportion as our knowledge; and in measure as our faith by this holy practice penetrates into the hidden mysteries of God, in like measure it finds in Him a beauty beyond compare, surpassing infinitely that of earth, and of the most holy souls and angels. Our hope grows and waxes ever stronger, sustained and enheartened by the fullness of the bliss, which it aspires to and even already tastes in part.
-The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence The first benefit which the soul receives from the presence of God is that faith grows more alive and active in all the events of life, particularly when we feel our need, since it obtains for us the succor of His grace when we are tempted, and in every time of trial. Accustomed by this practice to take faith as guide, the soul, by a simple remembrance, sees and feels God present, and calls upon Him freely and with assurance of response, receiving the supply of all its needs. By faith, it would seem, the soul draws very near to the state of the Blessed-the higher it advances, the more living does faith grow, until at last so piercing does the eye of faith become, that the soul can almost say-faith is swallowed up in sight, I see and I experience.
-The Practice of The Presence of God, Brother Lawrence Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV Mr. H and the Steward.
Mr. H. Ha! Steward, how are you, my old boy? How do things go on at home? Steward. Bad enough, your honor; the magpie's dead. H. Poor Mag! So he's gone. How came he to die? S. Overeat himself, sir. H. Did he? A greedy dog; why, what did he get he liked so well? S. Horseflesh, sir; he died of eating horseflesh. H. How came he to get so much horseflesh? S. All your father's horses, sir. H. What! Are they dead, too? S. Ay, sir; they died of overwork. H. And why were they overworked, pray? S. To carry water, sir. H. To carry water! And what were they carrying water for? S. Sure, sir, to put out the fire. H. Fire! What fire? S. O, sir, your father's house is burned to the ground. H. My father's house burned down! And how came it set on fire? S. I think, sir, it must have been the torches. H. Torches! What torches? S. At your mother's funeral. H. My mother dead! S. Ah, poor lady! She never looked up, after it. H. After what? S. The loss of your father. H. My father gone, too? S. Yes, poor gentleman! He took to his bed as soon as he heard of it. H. Heard of what? S. The bad news, sir, and please your honor. H. What! More miseries! More bad news! S. Yes, sir; your bank has failed, and your credit is lost, and you are not worth a shilling in the world. I made bold, sir, to wait on you about it, for I thought you would like to hear the news. -McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader Be Strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle-face it; 'tis God's gift. Be Strong! Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?" And fold the hands and acquiesce-oh shame! Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name. Be Strong! It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day how long; Faint not-fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. -Maltbie Davenport Babcock That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind; that the worst that could happen to him was to lose that sense of God which he had enjoyed so long; but that the goodness of God assured him He would not forsake him utterly, and that He would give Him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him; and therefore that he feared nothing, and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his state. That when he had attempted to do it, he had always come away more perplexed; and that as he was conscience of his readiness to lay down his life for the love of God, he had no apprehension of danger. That perfect resignation to God was a sure way to heaven, a way in which we had always sufficient light for our conduct.
That in the beginning of the spiritual life, we ought to be faithful in doing our duty and denying ourselves; but after that, unspeakable pleasures followed. That in difficulties we need only have recourse to Jesus Christ, and beg His grace; with which everything became easy. That many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in penances and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of God, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue. That there needed neither art nor science for going to God, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only. The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) Third Conversation That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of God, his soul being at that time insesible to everything but Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with God, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; yet hoped that God would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should grow stronger.
That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in God, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us. That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning, we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without care, and to our exceeding great delight. The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) That the whole substance of religion was faith, hope, and charity; by the practice of which we become united to the will of God; that all besides is indifferent and to be used as a means that we may arrive at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity.
That all things are possible to him who believes, that they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues. That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity. The Practice of The Presence of God, Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) O God, the Rock of Ages,
Who evermore hast been, What time the tempest rages, Our dwelling-place serene: Before Thy first creations, O Lord, the same as now, To endless generations, The Everlasting Thou! Our years are like the shadows On sunny hills that lie, Or grasses in the meadows That blossom but to die: A sleep, a dream, a story, By strangers quickly told, An unremaining glory Of things that soon are old. O Thou who canst not slumber, Whose light grows never pale, Teach us aright to number Our years before they fail! On us Thy mercy lighten, On us Thy goodness rest, And let Thy Spirit brighten The hearts Thyself hast blessed! -Edward H. Bickersteth Sometime, when all life's lessons have been learned,
And sun and stars forevermore have set, The things which our weak judgments here have spurned, The things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet, Will flash before us out of life's dark night, As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue; And we shall see how all God's plans are right, And how what seemed reproof was love most true. And we shall see how, while we frown and sigh, God's plans go on as best for you and me; How, when we called, He heeded not our cry, Because His wisdom to the end could see. And e'en as prudent parents disallow Too much of sweet to craving babyhood, So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now Life's sweetest things, because it seemeth good. And if, sometimes, commingled with life's wine, We find the wormwood, and rebel and shrink, Be sure a wiser hand than yours or mine Pours out the potion for our lips to drink; And if some friend you love is lying low, Where human kisses cannot reach his face, Oh, do not blame the loving Father so, But wear your sorrow with obedient grace! And you shall shortly know that lengthened breath Is not the sweetest gift God sends His friend, And that, sometimes, the sable pall of death Conceals the fairest boon His love can send; If we could push ajar the gates of life, And stand within, and all God's workings see, We could interpret all this doubt and strife, And for each mystery could find a key. But not today. Then be content, poor heart; God's plans, like lilies pure and white, unfold; We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart,- Time will reveal the chalices of gold. And it, through patient toil, we reach the land Where tired feet, with sandals loosed, may rest, When we shall clearly see and understand, I think that we will say, "God knew the best!" -May Riley Smith |
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