QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

"This is our life-work, we emptying ourselves of self, and Christ filling in the gaps...Now we cannot do this of ourselves, any more than in the physical world the invalid can perform her own operation. The surgeon must do it. In the spiritual life these operations are almost continual. They are not always done by the Head Surgeon, Jesus Christ. No; He gives the instruments to His apprentices, who do the work rather awkwardly at times, who perhaps make mistakes, but if we are in good disposition the wounds heal and do not fester.

Provided there be room made for Christ, what matter? Disappointments, separations, uncongenial surroundings, seeming injustice, painful remarks, want of consideration, loneliness, and a thousand other things are the instruments that cut away, little by little, this I, in order that Christ may increase. The more Christ increases in us, the less importance we attach to the irksomeness of affairs, the more beauty we find in individuals, and the more loving and kind are we in our interpretation of everything around us.

Let Christ, therefore increase in us.

Let us become attractive through the superabundance of Christ's indwelling.

Let us show the world what a beautiful thing is goodness.

Let us live so gracefully the noble, true, and virtuous life that those with whom we come in contact may be eager to follow after Christ.

Let us decrease that our beautiful Lord may shine forth in us."

(From "Spiritual Pastels" by J.S.E., c. 1918)

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