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Each month the Glen Park Gospel Church produce a one page newsletter called the Green Leaf. It's available from the chapel each Sunday. Anything that may be of mild interest will be published here.

Learning from Life

“Jesus said to them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”
Matthew 21:16

Rummaging through the book shelves of an ‘Op Shop’ I found a chest of treasure; Streams in the Desert by Mrs Cowman. It was old and only a few dollars, but gems glittered from every page. And, nostalgia too. For in it were some old newspaper cuttings, the photo of a freshly filled double grave and a list of six reading dates. These in particular were interesting. There was a simple notation. “These have been a help to me.” Each tell of insights to the life of faith. Here is a part of someone’s pilgrimage. It is holy ground, but we too will walk some of it. Let's just take one which was for February 18th:

When my little son was almost ten years of age his Grandmother promised him a stamp album for Christmas. Christmas came, but no stamp album; and no word from Grandmother. His playmates came over and they told each other of their gifts.

“. . . and a stamp album from Grandmother!”

He said it several times, so I called him over.

“But, Son, you didn’t receive an album from grandmother!”

“Well Mummy, she said, so it’s the same as!”

I could not say a word to check his faith. A month went by. Nothing from Grandmother, and it was a test to my faith.

“Well Georgie, I really think Grandmother has forgotten.”

“Oh, no Mummy, she hasn’t.”

He was very sober.

“Do you think I should write to her, thanking her for the album?”

“I don’t know, but you might try.”

It did not take long for the letter to get into the post. A spiritual truth began to dawn on me. And in a short while a letter came:

My dear Georgie, I have not forgotten my promise to you. I have not been able to get the one you wanted, try as I might, and I am still waiting for it to turn up. I meanwhile send you the money, and perhaps you can make the purchase direct.

His face was that of a victor,

“See Mummy, didn’t I tell you.”

While he was trusting, Grandma was working and in due season faith became sight.

(Precised of the quotation from a Mrs. Rounds p57.)

Paul summarises his response to our experience of delayed prayer in these words: ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.’ Colossians 4:2. Giving thanks for what we have already received is a gracious response, but giving thanks for that which has not come is an act of faith. It is a lesson we need to learn. This is the faith that God respects and it is the faith that God expects from His people.

For a list of this month's readings, click on the above link for Quick Verse

The Three Year Bible readings will continue to cycle on this site as usual, click here.

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