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!
"God's way of working, therefore, is to get possession of the inside of a man, to take the control and management of his will, and to work it for him. Then obedience is easy and a delight, and service becomes perfect freedom...
It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him. He turns hard things into easy, and bitter things into sweet. It is not that He puts easy things in the place of the hard, but He actually changes the hard thing into an easy one, and makes us love to do the thing we before so hated.
While we rebel against the yoke, and try to avoid it, we find it hard and galling. But when we "take the yoke upon us" with a consenting will, we find it easy and comfortable...
The Lord is our burden-bearer, and upon Him we must lay off every care...
Then too, if the work is His, the responsibility is His, also, and we have no room left for worrying about results. Everything in reference to it is known to Him, and He can manage it all..."
(From "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith, c. 1888)
(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Oh--I soooo need to read this book. It's been on my list forever, but I just haven't gotten to it yet. Thanks for sharing the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon I need to read this tonight and believe it. I feel a bit overwhelmed by worries again, mostly things I can do nothing at all about. I write these blogs about God being God of the impossible, now I just have to believe it.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless - Nita
I especially loved the second quote! I remember telling God, "But I don't enjoy writing." It was really hard for me to learn to sit in one place for several hours weaving together thoughts. Now, though, I love it. Nothing better than getting some time alone with my thoughts and keyboard. God is so faithful and good!!!
ReplyDeleteBTW - Crissy doing very well!
Oh! Sharon, this is one of my favorite books. It blessed me through some of the hardest days of my life. I also found many good quotes in Hannah Hurnard's book, "Hearing Heart." Excellent encouragement.
ReplyDeleteWell, now that I have been reminded of the Christian's Secret to a Happy Life, I will trust Him to make the difficult things easy, and to be responsible for those things that concern me.
Blessings to you, Sharon. I will be in touch.
Janis
Janet - You're welcome. It's a great little book - I have been very inspired by it! Hannah has such a way of profoundly saying simple things. And the simplicity goes straight to the heart.
ReplyDeleteNita - Oh, I can so relate to what you said. There's a big gap sometimes between what I believe and how I behave. Worries overwhelm me, too, on a regular basis. And it's always about the things I can do nothing about. He is the God of the impossible - and He will take care of things without our worries!
Alisa - Yup, I loved that second thought, too. I loved the idea that it wasn't the task that changed, it was the heart of the one doing the task. That's what I'm seeking - not for different things to do, but to be transformed in the doing. (YAY Crissy!)
Janis - Making the difficult things easy - yes, that's what God's work can do in our hearts. Why do I make the easy work of trusting Him so difficult?! :) (I'll look forward to hearing from you).
GOD BLESS!