Inspiration

A Plentiful Rain

Just when the ground is driest . . .

Comes a full and plenteous rain,

Made of many tiny droplets

Which revive the earth again.

Just when the night is darkest . . .

Comes the turning of the sun,

And the morning breaks in beauty,

Built of rays sent one by one.

Just when our faith is smallest . . .

Comes a token of God’s care,

Adding one more precious memory

To confirm that He is there.

Just when our hearts are weary . . .

Comes a view of things not seen—

Just a glimpse of things eternal,

And our spirits soar again!

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby Thou didst confirm Thine inheritance when it was weary. Psalm 67:9

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light. O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18

Just a Crumb

Just a crumb from Jesus’ table—just a crumb’s enough for me.

If a crumb makes such a sumptuous feast, what must the table be!

Just a glimpse of Jesus’ glory—just a glimpse is all I see.

If a glimpse so overwhelms my soul, how great His majesty!

Just a drop of His compassion—just a drop I comprehend.

It will take eternity to know His love that has no end!

Just a fraction of His fullness—just a fraction I behold.

Yet my joy is overflowing! Oh! What rapture Heav’n must hold!

And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus answered and said

unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Matthew 15:22, 25-28

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 5:18

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. I Corinthians 2:9

One Small Candle

The darkness hung so thick and black, I scarcely could believe—

My very hand before my face, my eyes could not perceive!

I groped and found a candle that was lying by the way.

I struck a match and lit it, and the darkness fled away!

‘Twas such a little candle to dispel such heavy gloom!

And yet, its tiny flame sent forth its rays throughout the room!

And as I watched it burn, a simple prayer arose within:

Lord, let me be a candle in a world that’s dark with sin!

Oh, may my tiny Gospel-light, ablaze with love and care,

Illumine those around me, lost in darkness and despair.

And when a shadow falls upon a child of Your own,

May my small light remind him of the brightness of Your throne.

Lord, let my light burn steadily, wherever I may be—

In darkness great or small, may Your great glory shine through me!

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men

light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that

are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify

your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life . . . . Philippians 2:15-16a