Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 281, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1910 — All Blessings Bestowed in God’s Good Time [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

All Blessings Bestowed in God’s Good Time

|OR WEEKS no rain fell on the village in which I reside, and the consequence was that the leaves fell from the. trees and the green grass

turned brown. In the adjacent villages slight rains relieved the situation, but Rockville Center was not blessed witih showers that amounted to much. But in a few days, towards evening, little drops began to come down, and by night copious showers came rattling on the roofs to the great joy of the inhabitants. What a change was brought about by the storm. It tickled the earth, and once again the grass became green and the plants and shrubbery that were not dead responded to the showers. God had not forgotten the village in which I reside. The drought •was broken, a change took place in the atmosphere, and my neighbors looked themselves again. It was long delayed, but it came at last with healing in its wings. It was more than welcome. When God broke the clouds every heart should have sent up praises to him from whom all blessings flow. The thought that came to my mind how often are disappointed white watching and waiting for desired blessings. Uptakes grace and patience to wait until*God’s time to bestow them upon us. Lesson in Long Drought. If there was as much anxiety felt In my neighborhood for spiritual showers as was exhibited for rain from the heavens during the recent dry spell, the hearts of the people would he refreshed and their love for God would be made manifest in works of faith and love. Too much unbelief and too little trust in the goodness of God. How mean the flowers and plants looked while thirsting for the water that would give them life; and how dejected Christians appear while waiting for spiritual springs wherewith to slake their parched souls. Dried up Christians and dried up plants are twins—both dying for want of nourishment that can be only had by the opening of the heavens.

But the difference is that Christians can always obtain relief by asking and Relieving. The wells of salvation are accessible to all those who thirst for the water of life. God sent down rain for the benefit of the bad as well as of the good. He has no pleasure in the death of the sinner; but would rather that he would turn from the error of his ways. How mean must those who murmured at the drought have felt when the rain came down in showers! If they do not feel so they ought to. But some are only interested in enjoying themselves the best they know how, and no thanks to God are offered up by them. Man's inhumanity to man is only equaled by >his ingratitude to God. Even the best of us are prone to forget from whom our blessings flow. There is no reason why Christians should famish for want of the waters that are ever flowing from the throne of God; for we are all invited to drink and be filled. The waters of life are flowing freely for all those whose hearts are open to receive them. No such a thing as a Christian needing to be in want of the water of salvation. An all-sufficiency can be had without money and without price. True Christians. Christians, drink freely of the waters that will give you strength and power. Stop singing about the peaceful hours you once enjoyed and more about “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord.” There is nothing so deplorable to look upon as a sickly Christian; dried up and ready to be blown away by any fitful breeze that may strike them. The only Christian to be admired is the one who has slaked his spiritual thirst and is ready for all the duties that he may be called i upon to perform, one who is stripped for battle and who is ready at any hour to help win battles for his Lord. Half-starved Christians are of very little account; but the useful ones are those who partake daily of solid meat that comes to them in answer to prayer and who drink freely from the wells of salvation. 8 When I think of what 1 might have been if I had only lived up to all my privileges I feel like hiding my head in shame. To be a practical Christian is worthy of the efforts of all men" and wojnen who feel as if they want to live in the Promised Land. It will pay to be spiritually fat. Do not go about with your heads hanging down, but keep looking up. Browsing upon the pleasures of this life will have a tendency to make you spiritually lean. —George R. Scott in the Preacher’s Helper.