No man has hurt his eyesight by looking on the bright side of things. fk * * QUIET ENOUGH TO LISTEN No doubt there are many of our listeners old enough to remember the old ice houses from which families would purchase 25, 50 or 100 pound blocks to be used in the coolers and ice boxes of the home. Sawdust was often put on the floor as an insula tion, keeping out the warm car. A man, who owned one of these places, lost a good pocket watch in the sawdust. Offering a substantial reward his men began going through the substance with rakes, but they still were not able to find it. When they left the building for lunch a small boy went into the ice house, coming out in a very few min utes with the watch. Asked how he found it, he replied simply, “Well, 1 just laid down on the sawdust and listened until 1 heard the watch tick ing.” You know, I’ve often thought, in these busy lives all of us live, we con tinually rake across the pathway of day by day existence, unable to hear the voice of God because we have never taken the time to listen. May the Lord help us to be quiet enough so that He may speak to us, showing His perfect w ill for our spiritual power and vic tory. As the Psalmist exhorted, “Be still and know that l am God.” * * * Faults arethick, where love is thin! * * * FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL Living in areas where suburbs blend together one w ith the other, we miss much of what used to be true in the little villages and communities across the country. In some of the smaller towns of our nation one of the most important means of summoning peo ple has beenthrough the power of the huge old bell located in the church- steeple. In an area such as this, one preacher, discouraged because of the complacency of his people regarding the ministry, started tolling the bell; letting the word peal out. Shortly, sev eral people came running to the church and breathlessly asked, “Who’s dead? 20
Parables and Pearls (continued) truth when a whole truth can be won. Endow us with the courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, and scorns to compromise with vice and injustice, knowing no fear when right and truth are in jepardy.” We need to choose Gods very best even though it may bring trials. It is said that the best wood used in making violins is taken from the north side of a tree because this is the side which has withstood all of the w intry blasts and ravages of nature. God, too, gives us the opportunity of bearing trials and testings that we might be brought forth as vessels to His honor, glory and praise. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake i” (Philippians 1:29). * * * Prayer must mean something to us if it's to mean anything to God. * * * JOY AMID SORROW The Word of God teaches us that it is possible to have joy even while suf fering manifold temptations and test ings. Far beneath the ocean’s surface there is an area known as “the cushion of the sea.” This is never disturbed by any of the m ighty storms that sweep the face of the deep. Here below, every thing is always at peace. Those who have gone far down have brought back animal and vegetable life which gives no evidence of ever having been dis turbed. A perpetual calm seems to pre vail, regardless of how tumultous the upper layers of sea water may be. This is the same type of peace the Lord lesus Christ waits to give you. You may find it necessary to set aside a loved one, a little child, a husband, a wife, a mother or father. Sorrow may wring tears from your eyes and tragedy break your heart but, by faith in the Lord lesus Christ, there is a joy, not conditioned by outward circumstances, which finds an abiding presence with the Saviour. The Bible tells us, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ lesus.”
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