Let one thought guide you through the livelong day, "Lo, I am with you always." Steadfast, bold Unfearing shall you cross the widest seas, When in your heart you carry words like these: "Lo, I am with you always" writ in gold! ROSE HENNIKER HEATON. O Lord, whose parting from Thy disciples on earth was a parting from outward vision and not from inward presence, let us know in our hearts to-day that Thou art ever with us. Let the rod of Thy Word and the staff of Thy Grace be to-day and ever with us to comfort us and to lead us in the paths of righteousness; for Thy Name's sake, O Blessed Jesus, our Saviour! Amen. FRANK SEWALL. "Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose, by and by." Life is like that one stitch at a time taken patiently, and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. Remember you are to go the road which you see to be the straight one; carrying whatever you find is given you to carry, as well and as stoutly as you can; without making faces, or calling people to come and look at you. You are neither to load, nor unload yourself; nor to cut your cross to your own liking. All you have really to do is to keep your back as straight as you can, and not think about what is upon above all not to boast of what is upon it. it RUSKIN. O Thou Giver of Light and Life, we praise Thee for the gift of a new day and of our new birth into it. By its light may we walk in the path of the just man, who fed the hungry, gave shelter to the poor and garments to the needy. May our light shine forth to-day, even as His in whom was life and the life was the light of men. Let His patience and His peace be ours forever. Amen. R. H. ALDRICH. It pays to wear a smiling face Our laughter or our frown. It pays to help a worthy cause It pays to comfort heavy hearts FANNIE E. EMMIS. Our Father, we thank Thee for the joy of living in the sunlight of Thy Love. O, help us to carry gladness and love to sad and weary hearts about us today. Inspire us with higher ideals of living. By close companionship with Jesus may we keep our own hearts free from the stain of sin and our lives clear of the shadow of faulty living, to the end that the world shall be better and brighter for our having walked its streets to-day. O Father of Light, flood our souls with the radiance of Thine Own Presence, filling our lives with the highest service and bliss. Amen. J. FRANKLIN FORREST. When darkling clouds are o'er thy pathway hov'ring, "Hold fast, my child, and, patient, bide my time!" Only be sure to scatter love, not hate! * That turned thy feet from sunny, waving meadows Almighty God, our Father, who hast made us to dwell in safety through the hours of darkness, be Thou the light of our eyes, the strength of our thoughts and the joy of our souls through another day. Grant that no dark thought may enter or be cherished in our hearts this day. May love of Thee and all human kind control our actions and make our lives fruitful. May our footmarks this day point to all who observe them the way of goodness, mercy and truth. Amen. NATHANIEL J. SPROUL. I bear no ill to any hill, I'm brother to the trees, My mind doth melt to mountains, With a friendly, loving nod; To me a star is not afar, Throbs the heart of God. ROBERT LOVEMAN. Almighty Father, unto Thee we direct our prayers in the morning. We thank Thee for the light and blessing of a new day. Gracious as Thy daily sun, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us, and grant us peace. As the mountains round about, so dost Thou encompass us. We lift up our eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh our help. At eventime, we shall with the heavens declare Thy glory, whose firmament sheweth Thy handiwork. May the words of our mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our Strength, and our Redeemer. We will both lay us down in peace, and sleep! for Thou, Lord, only makest us dwell in safety. Amen. ARTHUR S. BURROWS. |