MY FATHER'S CARE When o'er my life the storms of sor row sweep W ith blinding force— to God's kind arms I creep; And mid the darkness I can hear Him say: Fear not M y child, for I have planned your way; All shall be well. Then with fresh courage on my way • go, Sure that H e'll lead me all my days below; Knowing I'm kept each day by love divine And soon again for me the sun will shine If 'tis His will. THE SET OF THE SAIL I stood on the shore beside the sea; The wind from the West blew fresh and free, W hile past the rocks at the harbor's mouth The ships went North and the ships went South, And some sailed out on an unknown quest, And some sailed in to the harbor's rest; Y et ever the wind blew out of the West. I said to one who had sailed the sea That this was a marvel unto me; For how can the ships go safely forth, Some to the South and some to the North, Far out to sea on their golden quest, Or in to the harbor's calm and rest, And ever the wind blew out of the West? The sailor smiled as he answered me, "Go where you will when you're on the sea, Though head winds baffle and flaws delay, You can keep the course by night and day, Drive with the breeze or against the gale; It will not matter what winds prevail, For all depends on the set of the sail."
Voyager soul on the sea of life, O'er waves of sorrow and sin and strife, When fogs bewilder and foes betray, Steer straight on your course from day to day; Though unseen currents run deep and swift Where rocks are hidden and sandbars shift, A ll helpless and aimless, you need not drift. Oh, set your sail to the heavenly gale, And then, no matter what winds pre vail, No reef shall wreck you, no calm delay, No mist shall hinder, no storm shall stay; Though far you wonder and long you roam, Through salt sea-spray and o'er white sea-foam, No wind that can blow but shall speed you home. — Annie Johnson Flint THE GREATEST TEST Lord, help me to walk so close to Thee That those who know me best can see I live as godly as I pray And Christ is real from day to day. I see some once a day, or year, To them I blameless m ight appear; 'Tis easy to be kind and sweet To people whom we seldom meet; But in my home are those who see Too many times the worst of me. M y hymns of praise were best unsung If He does not control my tongue. When I am vexed and sorely tried And my impatience cannot hide May no one stumble over me Because Thy love they failed to see; But give me, Lord, a life that sings And victory over little things. Give me Thy calm for every fear; Thy peace for every falling tear; Make mine, O Lord, through calm and strife A gracious and unselfish life: Help me with those who know me best For Jesus' sake, to stand the test. — Barbara C. Ryberg
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