Gems worth pondering
April 9
"Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out!" (Song of Solomon 4:16)
Look at the meaning of this prayer a moment. Its root is found in the fact that, as delicious odours may lie latent in a spice tree, so graces may lie unexercised and undeveloped in a Christian's heart. There is many a plant of profession; but from the ground there breathes forth no fragrance of holy affections or of godly deeds. The same winds blow on the thistle bush and on the spice tree, but it is only one of them which gives out rich odours.
Sometimes God sends severe blasts of trial upon His children to develop their graces. Just as torches burn most brightly when swung to and fro; just as the juniper plant smells sweetest when flung into the flames; so the richest qualities of a Christian often come out under the north wind of suffering and adversity. Bruised hearts often emit the fragrance that God loves to smell. (Streams in the Desert)
N.J. Hiebert # 3669
April 10
"Then were there brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:13,14)
When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that their very frequency may indicate the valuableness of your life. Only the people who are full of help and strength are burdened by other people's need. The interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our indispensibility. The greatest condemnation that anyone could incur - and it is a danger to guard against - is to be too independent, so unhelpful, that nobody ever interrupts us and we are left uncomfortably alone. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3670
