A PERIODICAL FOR YOUNG AND OLD

A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear young friends, by the time this issue is in your hands you will have crossed the border of another year. At your time of life the years do not seem to pass so swiftly as with us who are older. Man’s days are not long at the longest, and what after all though a hundred years be granted - a very rare thing — how short is that in comparison with the eternal ages stretching on before. In thinking of some suitable word on which to address you, the words of Joshua to the children of Israel as they were about to pass over the Jordan into the promised land came before my mind: “Ye have not passed this way heretofore.” The future, though known to God, is all unknown to you. You have your plans what you are to be and what you are to do. Some of you will have dreams of wealth and honour. The whole of your future is bright with hope. We have no desire to discourage any of you, but experience has taught us that the path of life is not paved with the material of dreams. Seek that God would guide you and lead you in the paths of truth and let your prayer ever be that His Holy Spirit would teach you to see your need of Christ, and may the Saviour that came to seek and save the lost be your Saviour. If this be so, the lines will fall to you in pleasant places, and your inheritance will excel in beauty. Don’t forget when pleasures are wooing your young heart that there are pleasures at God’s right hand one moment’s enjoyment of which will swallow up all the pleasures that the world had to offer from the beginning of time. Your days are cast in troublous times, and we who are farther on in the journey of life are deeply concerned for you all, and our prayer is that the Lord would gather you into His own fold so that you may be numbered among His people. We wish you all a Happy New Year and a Happy Eternity.

(Young People’s Magazine)

BIBLE QUIZ

Dear Boys and Girls:

Again we begin another new year with the Bible quiz. It is our wish and prayer for all of you that it may be a year of many blessings. We know that there will be sicknesses, accidents, and sadness also in this year, for that is what sin brought into the world and that is what we deserve. But the Lord yet blesses also, calling to you, “Boys and girls, give Me your hearts. Do not give your hearts to Satan, the world, and its pleasures, but bring them unto Me.” We are never too young to do this, nor too old either, but should ask the Lord every day for a heart to seek Him.

Each year we find some of our friends have stopped answering the quiz because they have “grown-up”, and we can understand this. But we hope this does not mean that you have put aside the Bible and no longer study God’s Word. It has in it more than we can learn in our entire life time, even though we become very old. Read and study it much. It has been a light upon the way for many, and we hope that it may be this also for you.

This month our quiz is based on the third article of the Apostles’ Creed, and the first letters of the answers will spell out five words of that article.

As they watched Jesus, certain scribes reasoned in their hearts, “Why doth this man thus speak__________ who can forgive sins but God only?”

In the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit cried out,”I know thee who thou art, the Holy _____________of God.”

Simeon said to Mary, “This child is set for the fall and _________ again of many in Israel.”

Who said to Philip, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

The disciples of Jesus said, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea _________ him?”

In Isaiah is written, “Unto us a son is given: .... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The everlasting___________”

Nicodemus said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a ___________ come from God.”

Jesus said, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his___________”

Joseph was instructed by an angel in a dream, saying, “Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into___________”

Herod slew the children of Bethlehem, fulfilling the word of the prophet, “In Rama was there a__________ heard, lamentation, and weeping.”

In Isaiah, Ahaz was given a sign by the Lord that a virgin should bear a son, who should be called _________.

The Lord Jesus said that those who heard his sayings and do them are like a wise man who built his house upon a____________

The wise men presented unto him __________: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The scribes told Herod that Christ should be born in Bethlehem, for it was written, “Out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people_____________”

Jesus and his parents dwelt in Nazareth, fulfilling that which was spoken by the prophet, “He shall be called a____________”

When Mary brought forth her first born son, she “wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a__________.”

Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem because of a decree made by Caesar___________

Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the ____________ of custom and said to him, “Follow me.”

When Jesus was twelve__________ old, Joseph and Mary took him with them to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

(Send your answers to Garret J. Moerdyk, 1104 Roseland Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.)

Answers to the quiz of December are as follows:

“His Only Begotten Son”

Hear — Mark 9:2–7

Increase — Isaiah 9:6–7

Sins — Matthew 1:20–21

Others — Luke 23:34–35

Name — Acts 4:5–12

Lamb — John 1:29

Young — Luke 2:22–24

Bread — Matthew 4:1–3

Eyes — Luke 2:25–30

Gabriel — Luke 1:26–32

Overshadow — Luke 2:34–35

Tidings — Luke 2:8–10

Thomas — John 20:26–27

Earth — Luke 2:13–14

Nicodemus — John 3:1–2

Samaria — John 4:1–25

Only — Matthew 4:10

Nathanael — John 1:48–49

Answers to the Bible quiz have again been received from the following -

Lisa Carlson

Amy Mieras

Betty Pols

Bill Pols

Marilyn Pols

Dave Verhey

John Verhey

Ruth Meeuwse

Kay Meeuwse

Sandy Westrate

Brian Westrate

Randy Van Giessen

Gary Van Giessen

Sandy Van Giessen

Mary Vander Male

Lilly Ann Vander Male

Marilyn Van Ravenswaay

Jo Ann Van Ravenswaay

Esther Van Ravenswaay

Harlan Rozeboom

Larry Rozeboom

Richard Rozeboom

Cindy Hoogendoorn

Gail Hoogendoorn

Donna Klarenbeek

Barbara Klarenbeek

Pamela Klarenbeek

Denise Zaremba

Donna Zaremba

Marilyn De Maagd

Tammy Koedam

Trudy Van Veldhuizen

George Van Strien

Nancy Spaans

Ella Kieboom

Arline Kieboom

Janet Bouma

Mary De Meester

Kathie De Meester

Ruth Van Grouw

Ruth Ann Van Dalen

Jacob Van Dalen

Gary Kwekel

Nancy Kwekel

David Kwekel

Daniel Ymker

Mineva Ymker

Tim Van Stelle

Andy Van Stelle

Priscilla Van Ree

Steve Boluyt

Gordon Boluyt

Ken Noorlander

Patricia Noorlander

Gretta Noorlander

Jannie Slingerland

Nellie Slingerland

Carla Van Grootheest

Maria C. Boonzaayer

Janice Polderman

Bruce Blok

John Blok

John Goeman

Karen Goeman

Dave M. Goeman

Susan Van Ess

Richard Van Ess

John Van Zweden

Joan Van Zweden

Janet Van Zweden

Mark Van Zweden

Mary Ellen Van Zweden

Ralph Van Zweden

Amy Lou Kaat

Joan Lugthart

Val Lugthart

Carol Van Bemdcn

Deanna Lynn Wynia

Linda Kamp

Betty Kamp

Henry Kamp

Mary Kamp

Cheryl Kalee

Debbie Kalee

Karel Kalee

Kaye VandeBerg

Mark VandeBerg

Rose Pluim

Jerry Pluim

Gloria Pluim

Tammy Kaat

Karl Van Oostenbrugge

Mary Van Oostenbrugge

Henry Rosendall

Laura Rosendall

Jimmy Rosendall

Juli Frens

Sharon Frens

Mary Frens

Denise Van Ravenswaay (2)

Alane Van Ravenswaay (2)

Gladys Van Bochove

Gary Blok

Elise Polderman

Tammy Troff

Randy Teunissen

Margaret Den Boer

Willem Den Boer

Ellen Polderman

Teresa Vander Meulen

Frances Vander Meulen

Joyce Vander Meulen

Harmen Vander Meulen

Sidney Vander Meulen

Billy Van Wingerden

Kenny Van Wingerden

Robert Mol

Carol Mol

Todd Vande Stouwe

Nancy Vande Stouwe

Mariene Van Veldhuizen

Joanne Vande Waerdt

Linda Vande Waerdt

Wayne Vande Waerdt

Ruth Boerkoel

Neal Boerkoel

Richard Rosendall

John Rosendall

Nanette Mast

Margot Mast

Sue Vander Boon

John Vander Boon

Gloria Rus

Melvin Jay Rus

Harlan Rus

Karl Boonzaayer

Marilyn Kamp

Debbie Kamp

Bill Kamp

Tom Kamp

Ellen Van Ginkel (2)

Roy Vanden Brink

Delia Vanden Brink

Gerda Vanden Brink

Stephan Vanden Brink

Jeanette Slingerland

Marinus Slingerland

Judy Slingerland

William Slingerland

Nelly Koppert

Alice Koppert

Peter Koppert

Elizabeth Koppert

Christine Koppert

Diane Oudshoorn

Martin Oudshoorn

John Oudshoorn

Wilma Oudshoorn

Billy Oudshoorn

Mark Heystek

Andy Korevaar

Adrian Korevaar

John Korevaar

Abraham Korevaar

Albert Bouma

Cordy Vandenbcrg

Henry Vandenbcrg

Jeanette Vandenbcrg

Paul Vandenbcrg

John Vandenbcrg

Jane Derksen

Cindy Erickson

Debbie Erickson (2)

Deanna Erickson

Rita F’rickson

Robert Vanderknyft

Jeff Roskam

Gloria Roskam

Alvin Roskam

Carl Moore

Anna Moore

Leah Moore

Jenny Lee Sweetman

Daniel John Sweetman

Janet Arlene Sweetman

Judy Sweetman

Tunis Sweetman, Jr.

Tammy Kaat

Jeff Kaat

Nicky Bush

Adrian Bush

Wendy Grisnich

Cheryl Grisnich

Rhonda Grisnich

Gerarda Grisnich

Sheryl Spaans

Marcia Spaans

Ken Spaans

( ? ) Erickson

Peter F’eyter

Hermina Faye Hubers

Donna Marie Hubers

Helen Hubers

Marcia D. Hubers

Harriet J. Hubers

Jenny Overeem

Evelyn Jane Korevaar

Wilhelmina Korevaar

Jane Marie Korevaar

Joanne Overeem

Kathy Overeem

Casey Overeem

Gywen Hoogendoorn

LaRae Hoogendoorn

Delia Vanden Brink

Gerda Vanden Brink

Stephan Vanden Brink

Roy Vanden Brink

Gary Roozenboom

Arie Van Vugt

Beverly Southway

Barbara Southway

Janny Van Wingerden

Jim Van Giessen (2)

Kathy Van Giessen (2)

Dan Meeuwse

Mark Meeuwse

Robert Kamp

Barbara Kamp

Richard Kamp

Janice Vlietstra

Martin Peter Vlietstra

David Vlietstra

Henrietta Stapel

John Stapel

Janice Stapel

Brian Van Grouw

Sharon Van Grouw

Ruth Van Grouw

Albert Van Grouw

Rhonda Van Voorst

And now we shall reply to the letters received —

GARY ROOZENBOOM — I assume that one-hundred bushel per acre is a very good crop. Is that correct? How much seed is used in planting an acre in the spring, Gary? You may send the stamps at any time; we hope to send some away again after the first of January.

GERDA VANDEN BRINK — It doesn’t seem possible that you have already had a temperature of 25 degrees below zero and winter isn’t even here yet. You certainly live in cold country, Gerda. Your report card was very good; keep it up.

JANE MARIE KOREVAAR — We hope your sore arm wasn’t any more than a bad bruise, Jane. This is again the time of the year when it is so easy to slip and fall, and usually when we least expect it. How are you getting along in school?

RICHARD ROSENDALL — Yes, we have had quite a lot of snow, Richard. I suppose you like to see the snow come again. We don’t have any hills in our neighborhood, so have to go about two miles to find a good hill on which to slide.

TAMMY TROFF — I suppose you are learning to play some tunes on the piano, Tammy. Do you like to practice every day? Do you think you would work harder in school if your grandmother were your teacher? The other boys and girls might think you were the teacher’s “pet.”

NELLIE AND JANNIE SLINGERLAND — We were happy to have you join with the other boys and girls in answering the quiz, girls. There will be times you will need some help, but don’t give up too quickly. We hope to hear from you again next month.

RUTH ANN VAN DALEN — Another good report card! If your mother were to give you a report card for what you do at home — helpful? cheerful? willing? obedient? — we hope it would be just as good. Did your grandparents return safely from Holland, Ruth?

MARY ELLEN VAN ZWEDEN — We are all quite well, Mary. Our congratulations to your cousin Ruth for the new baby boy. Have you been to see him? The Bible tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord. Do you know where you can find that text? I’m sure you have sung it in one of the psalter numbers.

JEANETTE VANDENBERG — So you are looking for a pen-pal. It has been some time since we had a request for a pen-pal, so I am sure there are some who would like one, too. (Jeanette is thirteen years old, and her address is R.R. No. 3, Norwich, Ontario, Canada). Let me know the results, Jeanette.

PETER FEYTER — Did your father enjoy his trip to the Netherlands, Peter? Do you have many relatives there? Our congratulations on your birthday, even though we are quite late. We hope that you may have many more of- them, but also may have a birthday such as Nicodemus learned about from the Lord Jesus.

ELLA KIEBOOM — If Sheboygan were much closer, Ella, we certainly would come more often. And, of course, there are many other places we would also like to visit if we had the time. Be sure to say Hello to your parents for us.

WILHELMINA KOREVAAR — Thank you for the card, Wilhelmina. Congratulations with your birthday. That is quite unusual that you have it on the same day as your sister, and then right on Christmas Day. We hope that you may both have many more of them.

TAMMY KOEDAM — It was nice to hear from you for the first time, Tammy. Do you live right in the city of Canton? Is it a very large city? We hope that we will be hearing from you every month now. Did you find the questions were quite difficult?

ROY VANDEN BRINK — Your answers were all correct, Roy. I am glad to see that you caught my mistake. I don’t make them on purpose, but it shows that you are reading carefully. You certainly made good use of the typewriter.

JOAN VAN ZWEDEN — How many rooms will you have in the basement, Joan? We hope that there may also be found room in your home and in your heart for the Lord Jesus. That is something we cannot build, but it must be given us. That we may pray much for this.

AMY KAAT — Are you having lots of snow now, Amy? We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground. Since your father has trouble with his back, you will have to help shovel the sidewalk this year. I am sure the sun won’t always melt it away so quickly.

EVELYN JANE KOREVAAR — Did you get over the flu alright, Evelyn? We certainly hope so. How old was the boy in your sister’s class who was killed by a horse? Again we see how necessary it is to seek the Lord early, as we do not know when the end of our life will come.

JANET VAN ZWEDEN — Again we have reached the end of our letters, Janet. We hope everyone is also better again at your house. At this time of the year the flu and bad colds are quite common. Did you have some time off from school at Christmas?

And to all the boys and girls, many thanks for your letters, answers, and cards received during the year 1972. It is our wish and prayer that the Lord might bless His Word to your young hearts. He has said, “Those that seek Me early shall find Me,” and the Lord is true to His word.

We have also heard of a boy of six years old in our Sheboygan congregation, who fell from the hay loft in the barn and died the following day in the hospital. We wish to express our sympathy to his family, especially to those brothers and sisters who have been answering the quiz so regularly each month. We feel it most when it is someone near and dear to us, but to each of us it is a call, a voice speaking, “Seek the Lord today!”

With love, and best wishes,

Your friend,

“Uncle Garret”

THOUGH RICH, HE BECAME POOR

As a poor but godly man was sitting by his fire one cold evening with his wife and children, he said to them, “I have been thinking a great deal today about that part of Scripture: ‘The Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.’ (Matthew 8:20). How wonderful it is that we who are so sinful, unworthy and helpless should be more favored than He was!” “It is wonderful indeed, father,” said the oldest daughter, “for though our house is mean and our food scanty in comparison with the houses and way of living of many, yet it seems that Jesus Christ was not so well provided for as we are.”

“I am glad to hear you speak in that way, Sarah,” said the mother. “How happy we all are in our little dwelling this cold night, and as soon as we wish, we have beds to rest ourselves upon, where, sharp and piercing as the frost is and bleak and stormy as the wind blows, we shall be comfortable and warm; and yet the Son of Man, as your father has just told us, ‘had not where to lay His head.’ O, that this thought may make us thankful for our many mercies!” “Tommy,” said the father, “reach that hymn which our minister gave you last Sabbath at the Sabbath school; and, as our hearts are in a good frame, let us try to keep them so by singing it.” The whole company, father, mother, and children then sang with a glow of sacred ardour and pleasure the hymn entitled, “The Son of Man had not where to lay His head.”

JESUS ANSWERS PRAYER

Quickly do the moments pass;
Soon the sand runs through the glass.
Time, ere long, will cease to be;
Then! O then! Eternity!

O what trifles we pursue;
Something’s set before us new;
After it we vainly fly,
Little thinking, “I must die.”

O that boys and girls were wise.
Open, Lord, their closed eyes;
Bring with power this Scripture home:
“Flee from wrath, the wrath to come.”

O how bless’d is he or she,
Who to Jesus longs to flee.
He’s the Hope of Israel still;
He to save has power and will.

Children! Jesus answers prayer;
May you on him cast your care.
If you truly feel your need,
He will prove a Friend indeed.

Gadsby Selection

OUR WISH FOR YOU!

Dear friends, we wish you well indeed,
We wish you well for earth;
We wish for you, above all things,
A new, a heavenly birth.

Remember, though you prosper here,
Except you’re born again,
The kingdom of eternal bliss
You never can obtain.

Oh, may you feel you have a soul,
And in your days of youth
Be led to seek, to know, the Lord,
The LIFE, the WAY, the TRUTH.

You cannot live the Christian’s life,
Nor die as Christians die,
Unless, by God the Spirit taught,
To Jesus Christ you fly.

(Christian Stories for Young Children)

COUNSELS OF THE AGED TO THE YOUNG

(continued)

17. My next counsel is that you set a high value upon your time. Time is short and its flight is rapid. The swiftness of the lapse of time is proverbial in all languages. In Scripture the life of man is compared to a multitude of things which quickly pass away after making their appearance — to a post, a weaver’s shuttle, a vapor, a shadow, etc. All the works of man must be performed in time, and whatever acquisition is made of any good, it must be obtained in time. Time, therefore, is not only short, but precious. Everything is suspended on its improvement, and it can only be improved when present; and it is no sooner present than it is gone; so that whatever we do must be done quickly. The precious gift is sparingly parcelled out by moments, but the succession of these is rapid and uninterrupted. Nothing can impede or retard the current of this stream.

Whether we are awake or asleep, whether occupied or idle, whether we attend to the fact or not, we are borne along by a silent but irresistable force. Our progressive motion in time may be compared to the motion of the planet on which we dwell, of which we are entirely insensible; or to that of a swift-sailing ship, which produces the illusion that all other objects are in motion, while we seem to be stationary. So in the journey of life, we pass from stage to stage, from infancy to childhood, from childhood to youth, from youth to mature age, and finally, ere we are aware of it, we find ourselves declining towards the last stage of earthly existence. The freshness and buoyancy of youth soon pass away: the autumn of life, with its ‘sere leaf,’ soon arrives; and next, and last, if disease or accident do not cut short our days, old age with its grey hairs, its wrinkles, its debility and pains, comes on apace. This period is described by the wise man as one in which men are commonly disposed to be querulous, and to acknowledge that the days draw nigh in which they have no pleasure. “The keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened. When men rise up at the noise of the bird — when all the daughters of musicare brought low, and there shall be fears. And the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper be a burden.”

Time wasted can never be recovered. No man ever possessed the same moment twice. We are, indeed, exhorted ‘to redeem the time,’ but this relates to a right improvement of that which is to come, for this is the only possible way by which we can redeem what is irrevocably past. The counsels which I would offer to the young on this subject are: Think frequently and seriously on the inestimable value of time. Never forget that all that is dear and worthy of pursuit must be accomplished in the short span of time allotted to us here. Meditate also profoundly and often on the celerity of the flight of time. Now you are in the midst of youthful bloom, but soon this season will only exist in the dim shades of recollection, and unless it has been well improved, of bitter regret.

If you will make a wise improvement of your time, you must be prompt. Seize the fugitive moments as they fly; for otherwise they will pass away before you have commenced the work which is appropriated to them.

Diligence and constancy are essential to the right improvement of time. “Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” “Work while it is called today.” Walk while you have the light, for the dark night rapidly approaches when no work can be done.

Let everything be done in its season. There is a time for all things; and let all things be done in order. The true order of things may be determined by their relative importance, and by the urgency of the case, or the loss which would probably be sustained by neglect.

If you would make the most of your time, learn to do one thing at once, and endeavor so to perform every work as to accomplish it in the best possible manner. As you receive but one moment at once, it is a vain thing to think of doing more than one thing at one time; and if any work deserves your attention at all, it deserves to be well done. Confusion, hurry, and heedlessness often so mar a business that it would have been better to omit it altogether.

Beware of devolving the duty of today on tomorrow. This is called procrastination, which is said, justly, to be ‘the thief of time.’ Remember that every day and every hour has its own appropriate work; but if that which should be done this day is deferred until a future time, to say the least, there must be an inconvenient accumulation of duties in the future. But as tomorrow is to everybody uncertain, to suspend the acquisition of an important object on such a contingency may be the occasion of losing for ever the opportunity of receiving it. The rule of sound discretion is, never to put off till tomorrow what ought to be done today. (A. Alexander)

(to be continued)

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9).

WHAT IS TIME?

‘Tis a handbreath; ‘tis a tale,

‘Tis a vessel under sail.

‘Tis an eagle on its way
Darting down to take its prey.

‘Tis an arrow in its flight,
Mocking the pursuing sight;

‘Tis a short-lived, fading flower;

‘Tis a rainbow on a shower;

‘Tis a momentary ray
Shining on a winters day.

‘Tis a torrents rapid stream;

‘Tis a shadow, ‘tis a dream;

‘Tis a closing watch of night,
Dying at the rise of light;

‘Tis a bubble, ‘tis a sigh,
Be prepared, O man to die.

The Friendly Companion

THE BAKER’S BILL

A poor godly woman living in the East End of London was so impoverished that her baker’s bill had run up to four pounds. She had four children and had been deserted by her husband. Despite all her efforts to provide for her family this one item had proved beyond her. Often she prayed, “Lord, help me; Lord, undertake for me.” The strange thing was that the baker never pressed her for payment, and still called every day. But it became too great a burden for her, and she said to herself, “how can I take this man’s bread any more.” When it reached the enormous sum of six pounds she told him her decision. “What” he exclaimed, “Are you going to live without bread then?” “No” she replied in tears, “I cannot, but I am unable to pay”. “Here, come, take your bread” said he, “You’ll pay me some day”, and leaving the bread went on his way.

She was astonished, for this was not the first time she had had to wonder at those who had allowed her credit.

In the Lord’s providence, and through the kindness of a friend, she had obtained the promise of a present of four pounds a year from a lady well known for her kindness to the poor. It was to be paid every three months, and, being so concerned over her baker’s bill and the payment being due, she decided to go and see the friend who had spoken for her, and who paid her the money. She had saved one pound, and felt that with another it would be the better worth paying. But so the Lord would have it, her friend was away from London for three weeks. “Three weeks” she exclaimed to herself, “Dear Lord, what shall I do?” Fatigued with her journey, she turned for home, when suddenly it came to her to go to the lady herself. “But perhaps she will be greatly offended,” she thought, “and I shall lose my four pounds altogether. Lord, direct me what to do”.

Turning to the West End of the city with a heavy heart, she reached the house but walked up and down several times, fearing to go in. But necessity pressed and she rang the bell. A kindly servant listened to her story, and bid her sit for a time and compose herself, saying she felt sure her mistress would understand and not be offended. Having asked the Lord on the doorstep to give her favour, this comforted her not a little, and it was not long before she was taken into the room where the lady was seated.

“I beg pardon, ma’am” said the poor woman, “I hope it’s no offence, but as Mrs ____________was out of town, I thought I would take the liberty of …” “Oh, you did quite right in coming”, said the lady, “sit here by me, and tell me your story, but before you begin take this pound”. The poor woman then told her of her heavy trials and how the Lord had appeared for her in so many of her matters. “Well, well,” said the lady, “I try to do all I can, especially for the poor, and as often as health permits I go to church and take the Sacrament — once a month at least. We ought not to be remiss in these things, and then, Mrs. ___________, we may hope for the best”.

This made the poor woman feel very uncomfortable, and anything but satisfied with the lady’s account of herself. “At one time,” she said, “I thought as you do now, but the Lord has opened my eyes to see I was building on a sandy foundation, and not on the Rock, Christ Jesus, ma’am”. There was a pause. “Give me back that pound”, exclaimed the lady. “Give me back that pound”. “Yes ma’am,” continued the poor woman, nothing daunted, “you see, nothing short of Christ will do to trust to”. “Here, take two pounds”, said the lady, to her astonishment, “I see I am building on a sandy foundation too”. “Ah, ma’am”, said the poor woman, “if I had died in that state I should have gone to hell.” “Here” exclaimed the lady, “Here, take five pounds, the Lord has sent you here to open my eyes. God bless you, you dear soul”, and getting up she sent for some food, and retired to her room upstairs. Returning after a while with a large bundle of flannel and linen, the two then spoke further of Christ the one Foundation. Having thanked the lady, the poor woman took her leave, and nothing could she say but, “Bless the Lord, Bless the Lord”.

Needless to say the baker’s bill was paid in full.

“What” said he, “I never expected to have a penny of it, and I had made up my mind that as long as I had a loaf in the shop you should have it”. “Take a guinea of it back, and here is your receipted bill”.

Submitted

TIME

The following was written by John Berridge and pasted on his clock.

Here my master bids me stand,

And mark the time with faithful hand.

What is His will is my delight,

To tell the hours by day, by night.

Master, be wise and learn of me,

To serve thy God as I serve thee.

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