Gems for the Week
May 15
"For who hath despised the day of small things?"
(Zechariah 4:10)
Little masteries achieved,
Little wants with care relieved,
Little words in love expressed
Little wrongs at once confessed,
Little graces meekly worn,
Little sights with patience borne,
These are treasures that shall rise
Far beyond the shining skies.
(Unknown)
It is the little words you speak, the little thoughts you think, the little things you do or leave undone, the little moments you waste or use wisely, the little temptations which you yield to or overcome - the little things of every day that are making or marring your future life. (Thoughts for the Quiet Hour)
Be not dismayed what're betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
(Civilla D. Martin)
All through the Bible there is a wonderful care of little things. God noticing them and bringing them to perfectness of meaning. "He putteth my tears in His bottle"; that is condescension. "None of His steps shall slide," as if He numbered step by step all the going of His people. One of those people said, "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising," and "Thou hast beset me behind and before." (Joseph Parker)
If the firefly's lamp and the cricket's chirp and the sparrow's fall are of interest to Thee, help us to learn from these, Thy creatures, their lesson of trust and service. (Unknown)
N.J. Hiebert # 3340
May 16
"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against
the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 37:1)
The first exhortation is to peacefulness of spirit, and it is general and applies to the state of the mind. "Fret not thyself." When self-will and the desire of present satisfaction mingles itself with the love of righteousness, when one desires righteousness (and partly sometimes, through fear of the power of evil), and is selfish through peace-loving interests, one is apt to fret oneself because evil has its way. All this is the same spirit of unbelief with other desires. But it is unbelief and self-will. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. We are neither to fret, which is distrust, nor be envious, which is even worse and self-interest. Then comes the positive direction in what spirit we are to walk. What is the resource against the power of evil? "Trust in the Lord and do good." You will reap the fruit of it according to promise. (J.N. Darby - Practical Reflections on the Psalms)
N.J. Hiebert # 3341
