The hymn, “Take Time To Be Holy”, written by William Longstaff, is a call to holiness, yet not in any vague way. The words of this song are full of wisdom and practical advice for the believer. This one verse by itself encourages us to be holy, to pray, to abide in Him, to read […]
In Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Claudius, now king, reflects on his guilt in the murder of the late king, Hamlet’s father. Claudius offers a prayer of repentance which he soon recognizes as being half-hearted. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
In Act 1, scene 3 of William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, the king’s counselor, Polonius, advises his son, Laertes, and his daughter, Ophelia, on issues of virtue and wisdom. Polonius recommends introspection and truthful self-assessment as the basis for honesty with others. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as […]
Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn, “It Is Well with My Soul,” after suffering a number of extreme personal trials including the death of all four of his daughters in a collision at sea. Despite this terrible tragedy and while visiting the site of this unbearable loss, he was still able to pen the lyrics to […]
In her poem, Not Waving But Drowning, Stevie Smith depicts a man, dead or dying from drowning, whom others thought was simply waving to them. The poem can be used as an illustrated warning regarding the possible results of our failure to reach out to the lost. Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still […]
In Dag Hammarskjöld’s book, Markings, the author writes of taking a humble view of our own works. Mr. Hammarskjöld’s comment is a modern-day take on John 3:30 in which John the Baptist declares, “He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease.” Be grateful as your deeds become less and less associated with your name, as […]
Adelaide Pollard, a saintly woman and Christian mystic, deeply desired to minister in Africa. Frustrated by an inability to raise the required funds, her own plans failed to materialize. However, inspired by the selfless prayer of an elderly woman she had met, Adelaide gave up her own will in submission to God’s and wrote the […]
In Act 1, scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the king’s counselor, Polonius, advises his son, Laertes, and his daughter, Ophelia, on issues of virtue and wisdom. Here Polonius explains to his children the dangers of becoming indebted, including the possibility of damage to relationships and stewardship. Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan […]