During my morning devotionals I’ve been reading Kept for the Masters Use by Frances Ridley Havergal, the hymn writer.  If you purchase this book and only read the last few chapters it would be worth every penny.  Each chapter in the book talks about keeping the different parts of ourselves (our lives, moments, hands, feet, voice, wills, etc.) for the Master’s use. In the chapter Our Selves Kept for Jesus she writes how we must trust in God and in so doing we will find rest, "a relief from all strain and effort".  When we do place our trust in Him then God can take a very average life and do great things. "He will…

Just for today do not look at your child as something needing molding or pruning.  Look at him/her with "beginner’s eyes" – new eyes.  Look at your child as already a person with all the seeds of "being" already there.  Respect the intelligence/creativity/sense of humor of YOUR very own child.  Respect his thoughts. Spend a few minutes alone with each child this week, giving him your undivided attention during that time. Make sustained, loving eye contact with your child.  So often we use this important means of communication as a tool of discipline.  (THE LOOK!)  Today, use your eyes to communicate unconditional love. (Taken from a note posted on a…

"… pray one for another, that ye may be healed."  James 5:16 So many times at church I would hear a prayer request but just wouldn’t remember it later.  To help me in this area I’ve recently started a prayer journal. George Mueller, the great philanthropist and evangelist kept a prayer journal.  In his journal he would write any needs or prayer requests, the date he started praying for it and then in another column record the date the prayer was answered and how it was answered.  He never stopped praying for a request until it was answered. George Mueller prayed for one man over 20 years.  That man received Christ as his Saviour at…

I’ve been reading the book Kept for the Master’s Use by Frances Ridley Havergal.  She wrote the well-loved song Take My Life and Let It Be.  She wrote Take My Life and Let It Be while staying at a friends house for five days.  In the house there were people who had been much prayed for but were unconverted and then there were those who were converted but not rejoicing Christians.  God gave her the prayer, "Lord, give me all in this house."  The Lord answered her prayer.  One night in her rejoicing, the verses to Take My Life and Let It Be kept running over and over in her head. This…

Just wanted to let you know I’ll not be posting for about a week.  In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this quote my son read in one of his geography readings A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland by Samuel Johnson. "Misery is caused for the most part, not by a heavy crush of disaster, but by the corrosion of less visible evils, which canker enjoyment, and undermine security."