December 2006

Week One

"The home is the basic institution of our society. Where it fails, the church fails..., and, indeed, all institutions of...society fails. It is in the home, particularly during the early formative years of life, that the foundations for wholesome attitudes, ideals, habits and appreciations, which so vividly affect mental and emotional balance, are laid."
~ Garland Godfrey

Week Two

"Much as I dislike hypocrisy and much as I advocate the theory of being yourself, I submit it is far better to feign good nature than to be a natural grouch. This is on the theory that the chap who acts as though he were agreeable may some day get the habit!"
~ George C. Hubbs

Week Three

I got up one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't take time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task;
"Why doesn't God help me," I wondered.
He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty--
But the day toiled on gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me,
He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence,
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.

~ Author Unknown

Week Four

Uncle Jake's Legacy

~ Charles M. Davis (an excerpt from Daily Guideposts, 1981)

Although Uncle Jake, who did yard work for me, was an uneducated man by our standards, his Scriptural knowledge was amazing. On one occasion he and I were working in my yard. As usual, Uncle Jake was whistling softly as he worked--a gospel hymn. At a pause, I asked what he considered his favorite Bible passage.

He leaned on his spading fork, pushed his sweat-stained hat back and scratched his chin. "Well, sir, I've lots of favorites, but there's one that helped me the most. It's found all through the Good Book, but it's just five ordinary words."

"And what," I asked, "are those five little words?"

"Well, sir, those Bible words are, 'And it came to pass.'" I looked puzzled, so he continued. "Don't you see? It came to pass. It didn't come to stay. I've known a heap of troubles, but they came to pass. They didn't come to stay."

Uncle Jake's homely wisdom has been a lifeline for me when things looked bleak. If trouble singles you out and skies are dark, think about it a bit. It comes to pass, it doesn't come to stay.

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