The Island-Fish

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  “O ye passengers, whom may God preserve! come up quickly in to the ship, hasten to embark, and leave your merchandise, and flee with your lives, and save yourselves from destruction; for this apparent island, upon which ye are, is not really an island, but it is a great fish that hath become stationary in the midst of the sea, and the sand hath accumulated upon it, so that it hath become like an island, and trees have grown upon it since times of old; and when ye lighted the fire upon it, the fish felt the heat, and put itself in motion, and now it will descend with you into the sea, and ye will all be drowned: then seek for yourselves escape before destruction, and leave the merchandise.—The passengers, therefore, hearing the words of the master of the ship, hastened to go up into the vessel, leaving the merchandise, and their other goods, and their copper cooking-pots, and their fire-pots; and some reached the ship, and others reached it not. The island had moved, and descended...

Another Year is Dawning

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“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

“I with Thee would begin, O my Savior so dear, on the way that I still must pursue; I with Thee would begin every day granted here, as my earnest resolve I renew—To be and remain Thine forever.” (A Swedish prayer)

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“Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
in working or in waiting
another year with Thee;
another year of progress,
another year of praise,
another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,
of faithfulness and grace;
another year of gladness
in the shining of Thy face;
another year of leaning
upon Thy loving breast;
another year of trusting,
of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,
of witness for Thy love;
another year of training
for holier work above.
Another year of dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
on earth, or else in heaven,
another year for Thee. Amen.”

(Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836–1879)