M A RTH A S. HOOKER, Editor Associate Professor of Christian Education, Biola Bible College
Then Joan prayed, for the very first time in her life, except for memo rized bedtime prayers. She knew that she meant this prayer as she had never meant any other prayer be fore. “ Dear Lord Jesus, I believe on Thee. I thank Thee for coming into my heart and making it clean. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” Just as Joan finished, Mrs. Grant spoke. “Help us Lord,” she prayed, “ to look to Thee to keep our hearts clean all through the coming new year. In Thy name, Amen.” Joan raised her head and smiled at Mrs. Grant, Marcia and Peter in turn. There was a new light on her face. “The Lord Jesus came into my heart and into Peter’s two years ago,” Marcia said softly, squeezing her friend’s hand tightly. “ And now He lives in your heart, too?” “ I’m glad,” Joan said simply. “ The tree is ready,” Peter ex claimed abruptly. “Help me drag it out,” he shouted. The two girls scram bled to their feet and eagerly joined him, pushing and shoving until the tree was pulled through the door. Peter began to saw the tree-trunk into nice smooth logs ready to put into the wood-basket by the fireplace. Mrs. Grant appeared with choco late and cookies. “ The house is clean and ready for the new year,” she said. “ And our hearts are clean and ready, too,” Joan replied soberly. “ This will be a real new year, won’t W ho Owns Your Face ? W e read that a father once told his 12-year-old boy that he did not own his own face. The boy was very puzzled. He had come to breakfast looking cross and disagreeable. He was sulky as he ate. Everyone felt the shadow of his ill nature. His father’s telling him he did not own his own face surprised him and he half-brightened up although he did not know what his father meant. His father added: “No, you do not own your own face. Remember that. It belongs to other people. They, not you, have to look at it. You have no right to compel others to look at a sour, gloomy, crabbed face.” The boy had never thought of this,- but he understood and remembered. A ll of us will do well to remember this too, and to notice how a happy face will help others to be happy also. it?” END.
Tom’s Life-Book T om was very glad when a letter arrived saying that Uncle Tom was coming to visit the Manning household. His uncle and he were the best of pals, and there were sure to be good times ahead. One day while they were out for a walk, Uncle Tom remarked, “ Tom, I notice that you visit the library quite often these days, and I’m glad you do.” “Yes, Uncle Tom, I’ve been read ing a good many books since vaca tion started.” “ How do you know just what books to choose?” continued Uncle Tom. “ Oh, I read over the titles,” Tom replied. “And do the contents of the books measure up to the titles?” “ Oh, yes, most of the time. Some times, though, I’m a bit disappoint ed.” “Well, I was just thinking,” con tinued Uncle Tom, “ that if it is im portant for books to measure up to their titles, how much more impor tant it is for folks to live up to the titles they bear.”< “What do you mean?” Tom asked. “Why, all who have received the Lord Jesus as Saviour bear the name ‘Christian;’ and, like the books you read, their lives should measure up to the title, don’t you think? You and I ère both Christians, and we are glad to be called by that name, but do our lives measure up? Are folks disappointed as they turn the pages of our lives and come to know us in the home and at school?” Uncle Tom was silent for a few minutes as they walked on through the fields. And Tom was too busy thinking to care to talk. Then Uncle Tdm c on tin u ed : “ There are pictures in’ books, too. We Pen Pals-------------------- *^rhese are the new members of ™ our Junior King’s Business pen pal club. Richard West, 1024 W. Newgrove St., Lancaster, Calif., age 13, interests: writing, arts and crafts. Marvin West, 1024 W. Newgrove St., Lancas ter, Calif., age 12, interests: base ball, art, swimming and Bible study. Barbara Cavaness, Rt. 1, Box 112, Goble, Ore., interests:
always enjoy books with pictures. Our actions day by day make the pictures in our life-book. I have seen people’s life-books so filled with generous acts and friendly courtesies that I like to watch the pictures in those books.” Glancing sidewise, Uncle Tom saw that his nephew looked embarrassed and troubled. Then he saw him straighten his shoulders as if he were resolving that things should be dif ferent. “ But we find again and again that we can’t measure up to our title of Christian in our own strength, Tom; that only ends in failure,” continued Uncle Tom, “ But He, whose name we bear, will help us. Did you ever learn this verse: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?’ It is found in Philippians 4:13.” “Why, yes, I know that verse, but I never thought before of what it really meant,” replied Tom. “ Let’s ask Him to help us, Tom, so that the pages and pictures of our lifebooks will be beautiful and help ful to all of our friends,” said Uncle Tom, as they started home. Tom’s mother noticed a change. His friends discovered a different Tom, too. But no one knew the secret except Tom and Uncle Tom. — M . S. H . cooking, sewing and collecting dolls. Phyllis Graves, 931 Sum mer St., Eau Claire, Wis., teen age, interests: reading, Scripture memorization and stamp-collect ing. If you would like to join this club address your letters to Jun ior King’s Business, Pen Pal Club, 558 So. Hope St., Los An geles 17. Include age & interests.
*
27
J A N U A R Y , 1 9 5 5
Made with FlippingBook HTML5