On the Threshold of Sunday

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18785, 19 May 1923, Page 12

On the Threshold of Sunday

(Column Contribute,] 1-y the Ministers’ Association) FAILURE. (By Margaret Louise Anderson). i I said I failed to day; Missed the high mark I set myself At dawn: Turned off in devious byways J'roni the path 'I hat led to my ideal of to-day.” Ere half the day was gone I stumbled—caught myself— Stumbled again, but did not fall And huried on. -ves blinded with re- ' pentant tears. And so I said “ I failed to-day.” That was a year ago To-day I met a man T scarcely knew. He grasped my hand and smiling said to me. “On such ami such a day you gave me , strong! h To do rhe thing I would but did not da re. God hle>s yo.i for it.” And he hurried on. Baek through the pages of the mind, W’th quickened pulse 1 'ought the Golden Day r l he dav I’d been of ecrvice 'Io 3 man. Ami with Imiw d head, and burning ’ »heek 1 found The dav «>n whi< h I said That I liad failed. I TH E PI?A Y E R K)R TH E WEE K. “(> Lord. give us grace, we beseech Thee, to hear and ol»ey Thy voice w hich . saith to every one of us. ‘This is the way. walk ye in it.' Nevertheless, let us not hear it behind is saying. Fol- : low me. When Thou pultest us forth, go before us; when the way is 100 1 great for us. r.nrv us: in the darkness ' <4 death, comfort us; in the day of ; resurrection. satiety us. Amen.”— / Christina G. Rossetti. THE VERSE FOR THE WEEK. .< “Thy wind v a lamp unto my feet’; and a light, unto mv path. ‘Psalm;, -six. 105. HOW TO Bl ILD A HAPPY HOME A good friend sends me a recipe for k the building of a happy home. Space!, will not pernut me to give it in full, Lui ’u.' worthy of perusal A deep and sure foundation must be,* laid —the fear ui God Then we must have four walls—l s honesty industry, frugality, content- J ment. ;* We need two windows—faith and p hope ♦ i f Next we want a door active useful-]] i ess. [ I And a waterproof iGof—the blessing h of Gud. For the furniture of the house we!] want : An easy chiir - good temper. A footstool—humility. A hospitable table —unselfishness. i A soft carpet- mutual forbear.:.’. < A soft elastic lied for rest—a thank-/ ful spirit. i‘ Then we want a glowing fire—love. And a brilliant lamp—unruffled J 1 < heerfulness. A musical instrument to beguile the. 1 weary hours— th»- voices of holy song, i A library on the shelf containing a ; history of the world, a book of Jaw. a'j general directory, a medical guide. : { etc., the whole bound up in one volui-ie,. the Word of God. Lastly, we want a small chamber nil, the wall for private use—the chamber H of prayer, and a window to it—rhe ’ window of praise. When you have finished the house.- 1 »sk the Lord to conic- and live with i you. He will take up no room, and ( yet fill the house with the sweet fr.ig-|i rance of His presence which is peace. ] *’ Except the Ixird built the house.! they lalxnir in vain that build” 1L • Psalm cxxvii. I. THE (.RAVING TOOL. ” Did yon ever . tup to think that no 1 cm* else can really t.*ake or unm-ike x«ni? Parents am 1 teachers may do > their best, companions may do their i worst, precept ami example, good a«<l| bad. may be forced upon you. but it is i»i the quiet iiimr chamber of y >ur own soul that the shaping cf your ikiravUT is really done. Your own hand holes the graving tool. That is the moaning of manv i.h i inomi'ortable Lour w hen you < annul make the verdict of the careless crowd have any weight with the inner monitor that questions :*nd judges sc relentks-ly Never mind Tin* others: they : re out.*ide: to tl. >r n master they _A:ii»d or fall. V:u> are you. What are you going to do with yourself? It is 1 ecause you must; v.er this question in one way or an-’ ether, because no one el>e can answer, ir for you. that God has put these : ...:ict times of self-judgment into your i-ic. Jf you listen to the voice limt r-»- aks then, and accept itfi verdict, it' g 5 u.s will gum : ii« in-til. imhperni- :.te, i a clearer view «>i right and wroiijr. ami I y».u will become one to lead others in-I . ■ id of one wpikiv ’. i bling to ;di the . liter voices. You v. ill no longer dr., ad tiic iudg.nent a the quite hour.” I ‘ - I TESTED by THE GAUGE. j Tn an it i. impo-sibh-to look into i.:,- great i <; : ler and see: imv iniw.ii uatr r it <-Gnt;.;ns: but rm - j ning up beside it is a tiny gh'< tide ' which serve s as .< gauge; a« the water | ctands in th. iitth* take, so it stands m the hug. boil, i Winn the tub* i»i i.alt fail . the tube is rmpt’ . t‘ e boik r i., empt . . 1 Do you a*k. “ Hew do 1 know 1 ’ove God? I Inhere 1 iove Him, but j want to know.” Look at the gauge. Your love forj your brother «s the measure of vour Jove for God. Do you love men ? " Bv this you may know your relation to’ God. Tliere .s not one love with which you love God and another with which ] you love men. Love is one. As itl rtands towards man in the gauge, so it, stam.’s toward God in the great reservoir into which you cannot see. —P. M. IN GOD S PRESENCE. Those who live in God’s I ear themselves as His true sonants! crer must. It needs no voice of thuu- j •.*er t-o keep them humble or (omniaicl their reverence ; His presence is enough! Consider what it is to the soul to be conscious of the presence of th** living; God. How hushed for ever are all the ! Blasphemous thoughts, the rash, fool- • ish. and impious words, that once so' defiled our hearts and lips even as Christians!—Dr. A. T. Schofield.