ON THE THRESHOLD OF SUNDAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19846, 21 May 1927, Page 16 (Supplement)

ON THE THRESHOLD OF SUNDAY

(Contributed by the Wanganui Ministers’ Association.) PRAYER. O Lord, Thou art not worshipped with men’s hands as though didst need anything. Thou art the giving God, and dost delight to bestow. Thou hast taught us that we know Thee most when we lift up empty hands to Thy fulpess, and bring craving hearts to Thy bounty, and let ourselves be filled by Thee and receive that which is given to us of God. O Lord, help us to take Thy gift which is Thyself, and ever to feel, happily and trustfully, our entire dependence upen Thee and Thine entire desire to enrich us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. “THOU SHALT FIND IT!” Thou shalt find it! He hath said it, He whose word hath never erred. Hast thou never heard or read it? Dost thou not believe His word? Thou shalt find it! Wherefore doubt I it? i God is not a man, to lie. Though thou hear’st no more about it, Yet it cannot, cannot dip. Thou shalt find it! Thou hast sown it Now, perchance, with many tears. Yet, although thou hast not known it, God hath seen thy faithless fears; And He says that thou shaft find it After many days arc past, And in hafvest sheaves shalt bind it, It shall come to life at last. Thou shalt find it! Wherefore weary Of thy work ere it be done? Let this thought at all times cheer thee, That of all He loscth none; From each tiny seed there springeth Mighty harvests which shall bloom When the day dawn which in-bringeth Light to chase all earthly gloom. Thou shalt find it! On, then, pressing, Sow the seeds which He shall give. Each contains a germ of blessing. Which is bound to grow and live. Soon shall come the glorious reaping, When the lost shall all be found; Meantime, God account is keeping Of each seed beneath the ground. —Fairelie Thornton. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER. Has it ever occurred to you that God is often disappointed that we arc so busy doing things for Him that we have no time to talk to Him? I feel that is true of my life. I feel increasingly that 1 have to guard against being so busy for God that I have no time for God Himself. For what does a man really exist? That he may enter into the secrets of God, and be the friend of God. If God’s friends never visit Him, never talk to Him, even though they are busily occupied in His work, they are robbing Him. Let.us see to it that we attempt more fully to enter the fulness of opr privilege of fellowship. Presently wo, shall be. facing problems and perplexities, doing that piece of work we laid down for a moment. When we face these problems and perplexities, let us remember God is as interested in them as in the song we sing in worship. If we live in the power of this truth, every piece of work —even though it appear so poor, so commonplace, that we almost desire not to do it —will become transfigured; and we shall find that the least thing of every day is part of God’s method for building the city, winning the world, and bringing in His kingdom. May it be ours, therefore, not only to hold the doctrine of fellowship with God, but to practise it, and thus to enter into all the fulness of the blesing. —Campbell Morgan, D.D.

THE PRODIGAL SON. A Scottish newspaper has published what it says is a sermon plan of a negro Methodist minister setting forth the parable of the Prodigals. 1. —Madness. A. Cavilled—he cavilled with his father. B. Travelled travelled to a far country. C. R-.vclled—ravelled out his character. 2. —Sadness. A*. Hogs—he fed the hogs. B. Togs—he wore out his togs. C. Dogs—he went to the dogs. 3. —Gladness. A. Sealed —he was sealed by his father ’s ring. B. Vealed—he got the fatted calf. C. Healed —by his father’s love. WAITING UPON GOD. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.—Ps. 130:5. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.—Prov. 20.22. I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. —Psa. 40:1. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.—Lam. 3:25. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord.—Psa. 27:1.4. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the, Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. —Isa. 25:9. The Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for Him. —Isa. 30:16.