Glittering Unrealities

People are badly cheated in this world. They often imagine that gold, silver, houses, lands, and stocks are the real treasures. So, they toil for these things and gather them into their possession and pile up what they supposed to be wealth. Thus, they live like princes in their fine houses and call themselves rich.

But one day their supposed riches take to themselves wings and fly away like eagles to the skies. Or they may keep their wealth, perhaps, and die in the midst of it, and have a fine funeral. But then they find that they cannot carry a penny of it with them!

"How much did he leave?" was asked about a rich man who had recently died.

"He left all of it!" was the answer.

If men only knew that there are other things far more worth setting their eyes and hearts upon things which will never fly away, they would pass by these glittering unrealities, to lay hold of the true riches!

[J. R. Miller]

 ✞  ✞   ✞ 

Proverbs 23:5 ... Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Proverbs 8:18-19 ... Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. ❤

Certain Distinguishing Marks

The Jewish shepherds had certain marks by which they knew their own sheep. Even in this country, the farmers put "brands" on their sheep their own initial, or an "earmark," or some other particular sign by which they will know them anywhere. Christ knows His people by certain distinguishing marks.

He knows them by their faces. There is something in every true child of God, which shows to whom he belongs some family likeness, some feature of the Divine image shining out. The prodigal's father knew his son when he saw him a long way off. In his rags, in his beggary the eye of love recognized the child. Just so, Christ knows His own people, however dim the likeness by their faces. The crowds do not recognize heaven's princes, in the humble Christians they meet; but Jesus does!

Not only does Christ know His own by their faces but also by their voice. The mother knows her child's voice anywhere, even in the darkness, and can distinguish it among a thousand voices. Christ knows the voices of His own people, wherever He hears them speak or cry.

He knows them also by their character. Even if the outside is rough and uncouth, it does not hide from His eye, the inner life the spirit, the heart. He saw the future Peter with all his grandeur of character in the crude Simon who was brought to Him.

He knows His friends by their obedience. He knows His disciples by their following where He leads. 

He also knows the white garments of righteousness which His redeemed one's wear.

He knows the penitent heart by the fragrance it puts forth. It is an altar of incense. It is a box of ointment broken open. Just as we find out the hiding-places of flowers by their fragrances, so God knows the home of the penitent heart by the sweetness that wafts up from it.

[J.R. Miller]

John 10:14 ... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.❤

A Little Nook in The Very Heart of God

God's plan for every marriage is happiness. Marriage is meant to be a miniature of Heaven-a fragment of the celestial blessedness, let down into this world. Marriage is meant to be a little sanctuary, into which husband and wife may flee from earth's storms and dangers, where in love's shelter, their hearts fed with affection's daily bread-they may dwell in quiet peace. 

Marriage is meant to be a shelter in which, covered from the frosts of the world and shielded from its cold and tempests-two lives may grow together into richest beauty, realizing their sweetest dreams of happiness, blending in whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, and attaining the finest possibilities of godly character. 

Marriage is meant to be a holy ark, floating on the wild floods of human life-like Noah's ark on the deluge, bearing to Heaven's gates, to the harbor of glory-the lives which God has shut within its doors. A godly marriage is a little nook in the very heart of God, where faithful souls are held close to the Father's heart, and carried safely, amid dangers and sorrows, to the home above!

[J.R. Miller]

Ephesians 5:21-28 ...  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Divine Discontent!

The ideal Christian life is one of unquenchable thirst, of bottomless yearning, of divine discontent wooed ever on by visions of holier living, higher joy, and new attainments. The trouble with too many of us, is that we are too satisfied with ourselves as we are. We have attained a small measure of peace, of holiness, of faith, of joy, of knowledge of Christ and we are not hungering for the larger possible rewards. 

Pray for discontent with your spiritual state! With all the infinite possibilities of spiritual life before you, do not sit down on a little patch of dusty ground at the foot of the mountain, in restful contentment. Do not be content until you reach the mountain's summit! 

[J. R. Miller] 

Matthew 5:6 ... Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Under God's Wings

Some of the most expressive illustrations of the divine love and care employed in the Bible, are taken from the ways of birds. For example, this beautiful figure of a bird sheltering her young under her wings, runs through all the Scriptures, as a picture of God's sheltering love.

We find it often. Boaz welcomed Ruth from her heathen home to the land of Israel, "The Lord recompense your work, and a full reward be given you of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you are come to trust." (Ruth 2:12)

In one of the Psalms we find the words, "My soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." (Psalm 57:1) In another Psalm is the prayer, "Hide me under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked that oppress me." (Psalm 17:8-9) In still another Psalm is this word of confidence, "He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust." (Psalm 91:4)

Then, in the New Testament, our Lord gives the picture yet added beauty and sweeter and more sacred meaning, by His wonderful adaptation of it to Himself. Addressing those who had resisted His love, He said, with a great pain at His heart," O Jerusalem, Jerusalem how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings!" (Matthew 23:37)

Thus, the image is a favorite one in the Bible. Here it is expressed in words of great beauty: How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge under the shadow of Your wings!

While a picture of a bird sheltering her young beneath her wings is before us, let us think of the wings of God and what is beneath them.

[J.R. Miller]

Psalm 36:7 ... How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. ❤

Practical Kindness

Kindness must be practical not merely emotional and sentimental. It will not be satisfied merely with good wishes, with sympathetic words, or even with prayers. It should be put into some form that will do practical good. 

There are times when even prayer is a mockery. At times it is our duty to answer our own prayers; to be the messengers we ask God to send to help others. We are God's messengers, when we find ourselves in the presence of human needs and sorrows, which we can supply or comfort. 

Expressions of pity or sympathy are mockeries when we do nothing to relieve the distress. 

[J.R. Miller] 

 ✞  ✞  ✞ 

1 Peter 1:22 ... Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Romans 12:9 ... Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Ephesians 4:32 ... And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. ❤

The Hidden Life

This message is to some who are striving to live near the heart of Christ. It is the hidden life which makes the character. What we are in the depths of our being, where no human eye can penetrate, that we are actually, as God sees us. 

Then this inner life will ultimately work its way through to the surface, transforming the character into its own quality. Nothing can be more important, therefore, than that the hidden life be true, pure, beautiful, and Christ-like.

[J. R. Miller]

 

1 Samuel 16:7 ... But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

1 Peter 3:3-4 ... Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  ❤

Seeds of Light!!

The figure of the seed is very common in the Scriptures. All-natural life begins in germs and develops into fullness of form and strength. The same law prevails in the spiritual world. The kingdom of heaven begins in a heart as a very little seed and grows until it fills all the life. Every Word of God is a seed which encloses a living germ; plant it in the soil of faith and prayer and it will grow. 

There is one passage, however, in which the figure of the seed is very striking: "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." "Light" stands for all spiritual blessing, and the thought is that our blessings are sown for us just as wheat-grains and flower-seeds are sown and that we gather the harvest from this sowing as we pluck flowers from garden or field or reap the wheat from the fields. God gives us our blessings not full formed but as seeds. 

We may think of the divine sowing of the light we are now harvesting. We may say that before the world began, God sowed seeds of light in his thoughts and purposes of redemption. There are trees on the earth which are many centuries old; one who sits in their shadow is lost in thought as he tries to think of the day when the seeds were dropped from which these ancient trees sprang. But the blessings of divine life in whose shade we sit these days in our homes and sanctuaries, are older than the hoary mountains; they were thoughts and purposes of love in the heart of God in the immeasurable past and are but growing to ripeness in these later days. Then we may say that our blessed Lord sowed seeds of light for us in his incarnation, in his obedience, in his sufferings and in his atoning death. 

The tears that fell at Bethany and again on Mount Olive's brow, the blood-drops of anguish that stained the dewy grass in Gethsemane and those other life-drops that trickled down from the cross on Golgotha these were all seeds of light sown to yield peace, joy, comfort and eternal life to human souls along these centuries of Christian faith. Who can ever count up the blessings that the world has reaped from Christ's sowing? Then we may say that God has sown light for us in his holy promises. 

All divine Words are seeds; wherever they fall, beauty springs up. Deserts are made to blossom as the rose, wherever the Sower goes forth to sow. The promises were spoken ages since, and put down in the inspired book, and have been preserved, and now in these late times they bring cheer and hope to weary men who without them would perish in the darkness. But there are more practical uses of the figure. A seed is a germ. When, therefore, we say that God has sown the light for us, we mean that he gives us our blessings in germ, not in full form that they come to us, not developed into completeness of beauty but as seeds which we must plant, waiting, sometimes waiting long for them to grow into loveliness. 

A seed does not manifest all the beauty of the life that is folded up within it. We see only a little, brown and unsightly hull which gives no prophecy of anything so beautiful as springs from it when it has been planted. These facts in nature have their analogies in the seeds of spiritual blessing which God sows for us. The blessing does not appear; what does appear is often unlovely in its form, giving in itself no promise of good. Yet it is a seed carrying in it the potency of life, and the possibilities of great blessing. 

[J. R. Miller] 

Psalm 97:11 ... Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Personal Influence!!

There is a silent personal influence, like a shadow, which goes out from everyone, and this influence is always leaving results and impressions wherever it touches. You cannot live a day and not touch some other life. Wherever you go your shadow falls on others, and they are either better or worse for your presence. Our influence depends upon what we are more than upon what we do. It is by living a beautiful life that we bless the world. I do not under-estimate holy activities. Good deeds must characterize every true life. Our hands must do holy works. But if the life itself is noble, beautiful, holy, Christ-like, one that is itself a blessing and an inspiration the worth of the influence is many times multiplied. 

 [J. R. Miller]

✞✞✞

Hebrews 12:1 ... Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Matthew 7:12 ... Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. ❤

Good, Old Couple!

It is a beautiful thing which we read of this good, old couple, Zacharias and Elisabeth that they were righteous before God. Some people appear to men to be righteous who before God have no such record. Real character is what our hearts are our hearts make us. We ought not to be satisfied only doing well, the things which men can see. We ought to work and live ever for God's eye. 

Sometimes we say that it is does not matter how we do certain things, because nobody will see them. But we should remember that God will see them and surely, we should never do careless, faulty work for His eye. The word "commandments" suggests that the holiness of these people was of a very practical kind. Some people's religion is chiefly emotional. They talk about loving God, but they pay little heed to His commandments. God is pleased with ardent devotions, but He wants us to prove our religion by obedience doing the things which He gives us to do. 

[J. R. Miller] 

Luke 1:6 ...  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Prayer is Talking to Jesus!!

The firm believing of this promise will give new meaning and reality to prayer. Many people are perplexed at times, as they think about prayer. Is there really an ear to hear the words we speak when we bow in prayer? How can God hear us so far away? Then suppose ten thousand of God's children, in different parts of the world, are praying at the same moment how can He hear them all, and disentangle the confusion of the words as they come up to Him, and distinguish the supplications of each? Who has not at times been puzzled and even perplexed by such questions? 

But the promise of Christ's abiding presence makes it all plain. He is not way off in any imagined central Heaven, up to which all prayers of earth must fly through the air before they can be heard or answered. He is close beside each one of us! We remember how it was when Jesus was on the earth in human form. The people came to Him with their needs and sorrows. Those who sinned came with their confessions, bathing His feet with their penitential tears. Those who were in trouble came with their burdens. 

That is what prayer is now, only now Christ can be with millions at the same moment of time, as He could not be when in the flesh. Prayer is just talking to Jesus weeping at His dear feet, if we have sinned; leaning upon His bosom, if we are weary or in sorrow; breathing our heart's longings into His ear; telling Him our needs, whatever they may be. Does not the realization of this truth of the Lord's presence with us, take from prayer all its mystery? 

[J. R. Miller]

Psalm 145:18-20 ... The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.  The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. ❤

Harder To Tame Than Wild Beasts!

The tongue is a very troublesome member! It is a very important member, however and with it we can do great good. Our words, if they are true and loving carry blessings wherever they are heard. But the tongue is hard to control. When we have really gotten our tongue under control, we are almost perfect. One who can govern his speech can govern every other part of his life.  A small bit keeps a spirited horse in check and a little rudder turns a great ship in its course. 

Just so the tongue, though so small a member, controls the whole life! The tongue is harder to tame than wild beasts! There has been but one Man who never spoke foolishly, rashly, bitterly. Jesus never did His words were always pure, sweet, helpful, and inspiring. We ought to set ourselves the task of mastering our tongues for then we can do untold good with them. Only Christ can help us to do it. He mastered everything demons, diseases, winds, waves, death itself. He alone can help us to master the unruliest tongue! 

[J. R. Miller] 

 ✞  ✞  ✞ 

Proverbs 18:21 ... Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

James 3:6-8 ... And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ❤

Some of Us Like That Eagle!!

A gentleman had an eagle which had been caught when young and brought up in a cage like a domestic bird. At length the owner was going away over the sea and decided to give the eagle its freedom. So, he brought it out of its cage, and it walked about, but seemed to have no thought whatever of flying away. 

The gentleman was disappointed. At length he lifted the great bird to the garden wall. It stood there a moment and then looked up toward the sun. It seemed suddenly to remember that it was an eagle, whose home was amid the crags and the cliffs. A moment more and it lifted one wing, then the other, and was gone soaring away into the blue of the sky! 

Some of us like that eagle, shut up in the cage, using only its feet, not knowing it had wings, and that its true home was in the heavens. Let us lift up our eyes to the heavens there is our home. We were made for God. Let us try our soul's wings; we were made to fly! It is a desecration of life to live amid the dust when we were created for flights in the blue heavens! 

[J.R. Miller]

Isaiah 40:31 ... But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Colossians 3:1-3 ... If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  ❤

Prove It!!

It is related that the famous French artist Gustave Dore was once wandering in the mountains of Switzerland, when some officials met him and demanded his passport. "I do not have it with me," he replied, "but my name is Gustave Dore." "Prove it, if you are," replied the officers, knowing who Dore was but not believing that this was he. Taking a piece of paper, the artist hastily sketched a group of peasants who were standing near and did it with such grace and skill that the officials exclaimed, "Enough, you are Dore!" 

In the same way, the world cares little for a mere profession. We say we are Christians, and the challenge is, "Prove it!" If we are of Christ, then we must do the works of Christ, live the life of Christ, and show the spirit of Christ. The artist's skillful drawing proved his identity. Just so, we must prove that we are the followers of our Master by the love, the grace, the beauty, the holiness of our life. Religion is not merely a matter of creed and profession, or of church-going and public worship; it is far more a matter of daily life. It is not how we behave on Sundays, nor the kind of creed we hold, nor the devoutness of our worship it is the way we act at home, in school, in business, in society, in our associations with others. 

It is vitally important that all who profess Christ shall manifest Christ's beauty in their life and character. It is not enough to preach the gospel in words alone; others must also read it in our daily life.

[J.R. Miller]

 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ... That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

 1 John 2:6 ... He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Colossians 2:6 ... As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:❤

The Making of a Patriot

Times of peace and prosperity are not the best times to make patriots. It is when a nation is in peril, that love of country is developed. A call to arms to defend home, altar and flag awakens loyalty in every true heart. This is one of the compensations of national danger or adversity. Yet patriotism is no less a duty in the days of national security and happiness, than in times of peril or distress. Every young person should grow up a patriot. Love of country is one of the great cardinal virtues, one of the essential elements of manliness. A country needs true-hearted men quite as much in its times of prosperity, as when assailed by armed enemies. 

There are important battles to fight in times of peace. But every boy, however young, is looking forward to the day when he can vote. Battles are fought with ballots instead of bullets. Great principles are settled oft-times on election days. A distinguished artist explained his way of preparing his paints so as to produce such wonderful effects, by saying that he mixed them with brains. There is need that the young voters who come up to the polls year by year shall learn to use their brains in voting. A great mass of citizens merely attaches themselves to a party and vote invariably as their party votes. 

Many men known to be unworthy are carried into office on the party ticket. They are the regular nominees, and even those who know them to be bad men vote for them, rather than fall out of line with their party. One lesson in patriotism which everyone should learn is to vote only for worthy candidates. "My party, right or wrong," may be practical politics but it is not good patriotism, and it is bad morals. Brain and conscience should unite in deciding how men shall vote. The young men who are looking forward to casting their first ballot should be training themselves so as to be patriotic citizens at the polls, and not the slaves of partisanship. 

Another thing in the making of a patriot is to take the right side upon every question of morals and reform. A country without God is doomed. A nation has the divine favor, just in the measure in which God's truth is wrought into all its life. The countries which have the gospel, are the ones which lead in civilization. Someone says, "No nation without the truth of God has been able to invent so much as a four-wheeled wagon, let alone build railroads, launch fleets of steel ships, and hold mammoth expositions of arts and industries." No nation can be great in any true way, whose men are not strong in character and faithful to duty at whatever cost. Wherever there is disregard of law, there decay is at work. 

The greatest thing the young men soon to be citizens can do for their country, will be to become men of truth and noble principle, who will always be found on the right side. Let no one suppose that opportunity is lacking in these days of splendid service to one's country. The present days are the very best days the world ever saw. Not all the heroisms are exhibited on battlefields. There is wide room for heroes these common days in life's common ways. Another way to be sure of making patriots, is to be sure to make men of ourselves. Really, this is most important of all. It is men that are needed to give a country strength, security and stability. If the citizens of a country are men of noble character, men who live worthily, loving God and their fellow men, striving after whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely then the country will be great. 

If men learn to live for the things that are unseen, for right, for truth, for God, instead of for this world, for gain or for personal honor then they will soon lift their country to enduring honor. In an ancient fable, an angel was permitted, on one occasion, to visit this earth. From a lofty mountain top he looked down upon the cities and palaces and works of men. As he went away, he said: "All these people are spending their time in just building birds' nests. No wonder they fail and are ashamed." They were building birds' nests to be swept away in the floods when they might be erecting palaces of immortal beauty to dwell in forever. Thus, indeed, must much of the best of our life and work in this world appear to the angels who look down upon us in Heaven, and see things as they are. Let the young men so live that they will build, not birds' nests but something that shall abide when earthly things have been swept away! 

[J.R. Miller]

Psalm 33:12 ... Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Stand Alone!!

Elijah at a certain great crisis, thought he was the only one left to stand for God. There were others but he did not know of them. He was indeed the only one in the field for God. He stood alone, one man against and evil king and false priests and sinful people. It was a splendid heroism. 

There will come times in the lives of all who are Christians when they must stand alone for God, without companionship, perhaps without sympathy or encouragement. Here is a young person, the only one of his family who has confessed Christ. He takes Him as His Savior and then stands up before the world and vows to be His and to follow Him. He goes back to his home. The members of his home circle are very dear to him but none of them are Christians, and he must stand alone for Christ among them. Perhaps they oppose him in his following Christ. 

In varying degrees, this many times is the actual experience. Perhaps they are only indifferent, making no opposition, only quietly watching his life to see if he is consistent. In any case, however, he must stand alone for Christ, without the help that comes from companionship. 

[J.R. Miller]

1 Kings 19:10 ...  And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ... Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.❤

Matthew 6:10

"As it is in heaven" is the standard which the Lord's Prayer sets for us in doing God's will on earth. It is a high ideal, and yet it cannot be no lower. The petition is a prayer that heaven may begin in our hearts here on the earth.

[J. R. Miller]

Matthew 6:9-13 ... After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.  ❤

"Work"

Nothing helps more to develop the transfigured life in us, than work. Some people chafe because they have so much to do. Their days are filled from morning to night with dreary, monotonous task-work. With men it is the never-ending work of the farm, the office, the store, the shop, the mill. With women it is the thousand duties of the household, the care of the home, the tending of children, the weary chores of domestic life. 

There are many people who think their greatest obstacle in the way of spiritual growth and transformed character is in the drudgeries to which they are indentured by their condition. They imagine that if they could be freed from these and could have leisure for reading, for study, and for fellowship then they would grow into far more radiant beauty of character. But this is a mistaken impression. The only one perfect life the world has ever known, was not spent with a book but with a hammer and a saw! 

The school of common task-work, with its perpetual round of dreary duties is the best place in the world in which to attain noble spiritual culture. There is no other way in which one's life will be so surely, and so quickly transfigured as in the faithful, cheerful doing of every-day tasks. We need to remember that this world is not so much a place for doing things as for developing character. 

Household life is not primarily a sphere for good cooking, tidy keeping of rooms, thorough sweeping and dusting, careful nursing and training of children, hospitable entertainment of friends, and the thousand things that must be done each day. It is a sphere for transforming women's souls into radiant beauty. The shop, the mill, the factory, the store, the office, the farm are not primarily places for making machines, selling goods, weaving cloths, building engines, and growing crops. They are, first of all, places for making men, building character, growing souls. 

Right in the midst of what some people call drudgery is the very best place to get the transformed, transfigured life! The doing of common tasks patiently, promptly, faithfully, cheerfully makes the character beautiful and bright! 

[J.R. Miller]

Colossians 3:23-24 ... And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Power of Habit

A stagecoach driver had held the leather reins for so many years, that when he began to grow old, his hands were crooked into hooks, and his fingers were so stiffened into that shape that they could not be straightened out.  There is a similar process that goes on in men's minds and souls, when they continue to do the same things over and over. 

If you are trained, and train yourself, from childhood to be gentle and patient, to control your temper, to resist all wrong then your life will grow into moral beauty, and the peacefulness of your heart will at length shine upon your very face! 

If, on the other hand, you give way from childhood to all ugly tempers, to resentful feelings, to all bitterness and anger then your life will grow into permanent moral disfigurement. 

One who accustoms himself to think of pure and holy things, who sets his affections on things above, and strives to reach for things which are true, things which are honorable, things which are lovely will grow heavenward toward the things which he loves and thinks upon! But one who lets his mind turn habitually to debasing things, to unholy things, to impure things, to earthly things will find his whole soul bending downward and growing sinful, corrupt, and evil! 

[J. R. Miller] 

Philippians 4:8 ... Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

The Man Who Never Smiles ...

The Wise Man says that there is "a time to laugh." That is, there is a time when laughter is right, when it is a duty and when it would be wrong not to laugh. Perhaps we have not been accustomed to think of laughter in this way. We regard it as an agreeable exercise but are not apt to class it among duties, like honesty or kindness. It would be a sad thing, however, if laughter would be altogether crowded out of life. 

Think of a world of human beings with no laughter men and women always wearing grave, serious, solemn faces. Think of the laughter of childhood departing from the world how dull and dreary life would be!  Nothing on earth is more beautiful, than the merry laugh of childhood. Laughter has its place in every wholesome, healthy, holy life. 

The man who never smiles is morbid! He has lost the joy-chords out of his life. He has trained himself to think only of unpleasant things, to look only and always at the dark side. He has accustomed himself so long to sadness that the muscles of his face have become set in hard, fixed lines and cannot relax themselves. His thoughts of life are gloomy, and the gloom has entered his soul and darkened his eyes! Where there is no laughter all evils nest. Demons do not laugh! 

The man who never laughs, must not blame his fellows if they think there is something wrong with his life something dark within. If the streams which flow out are only bitter the fountain cannot be sweet! 

[J.R. Miller]

 ✞  ✞  ✞ 

Acts 13:52 ...  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Proverbs 15:13 ... A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Philippians 4:4 ... Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. ❤