"THE WORKINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: John 16:8-11(And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.)
PUT THINE HEAD UPON HIS BREAST
Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast!
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And he has made me glad.
Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink, and live!
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
Horatius Bonar, 1808-89
THE ANGEL OF THE FLOWERS
A beautiful legend says that one day the angel of the flowers, whose duty was to care for the adorning of the flowers, lay and slept beneath the shade of a rose-bush. Awaking from his sleep refreshed, he whispered to the rose:
O fondest object of my care,
Still farest found where all are fair;
For the sweet shade thou gavest me
Ask what thou wilt, it is granted thee.
The rose requested for more grace. The angel wondered what other grace could be added to the rose that it did not already have. Then the angel threw a veil of moss over the queen of flowers, and a moss-rose hung its head before him, most beautiful of all roses.
If any Christian would pray for a new charm, an added grace of character, it may well be for gentleness. This is the crown of all loveliness, the christiliest of all Christly qualities.
It is in gentleness of character that we can serve others and be effective in the household of God “Who then is that faithful and wise steward. Whom his Master will make ruler over His household … Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when He comes – Lk 12:42-43.
J.R. Miller
Streams in the Desert – Vol. 2
SERVING GOD IN HIS TEMPLE
To serve the Lord with filial fear,
With loving gratitude;
Superior sense may I display,
By shunning every evil way,
And walking in the good.
A wise and understanding heart,
Jesus, to me be given;
And let me through Thy spirit know
To glorify my God below,
And find my way to heaven. Amen.
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple – Psalm 27:4.
ANIMA CHRISTI
Body of Christ, be Thou my saving guest,
Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in Thy tide,
Wash me with water flowing from Thy side.
O Blessed Jesus, hear and answer me;
Deep in Thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me;
So shall I never, never part from Thee.
In death’s dread moments make me only Thine;
Call me, and bid me come to Thee on high;
When I may praise Thee with Thy saints for aye
