In a vain attempt to dispose of books that haven't been cracked open in years, I've decided to re-read them. The first one I chose, Kept for the Master's Use, was copyrighted in 1895 and first published after the authors death. My copy was published by Moody Press (Chicago) but does not contain a publication date. It's tiny compared to many others on the shelf but it's one of the last I'd toss.
Author, Frances Ridley Havergal, died a agonizing death from peritonitis at age forty-six but during her few short years she learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew and memorized the book of Psalms, Isaiah and most of the New Testament. In total she wrote four books and composed more than eighty hymns, including the one upon which this book is based and titled.
This will be my third read of Kept for the Master's Use because within those one hundred twenty-one musty brown pages resides a wealth of wisdom. This morning's read centred around the power of hands to reflect our inner attitudes. I found myself asking questions: does the way I close (or slam) a door display anger or graciousness? How about the "attitude" of my hands in carrying out my daily responsibilities?
Other people's wisdom:
"You shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back." (Maya Angelou)
"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." (Audrey Hepburn)
"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." (Martin Luther)
God's Amen!
"You shall open wide your hands to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land." (Deuteronomy 15:11)
