1990 September/October issue Part 1

Training a child to self-control

Shall I brace myself for the inevitable charge of ancestor-worship which is bound to come? This is not the first I’ve quoted my forebears, and probably won’t be the last, but it’s worth the risk of a taunt or two! Henry Clay Trumbull, a chaplain in the Civil War, was my great-grandfather, and only recently I found that his book, Hints on Child Training, has been brought back into print. His reason for writing it was His friend’s having asked for his theory of child training. “Theory?” he responded, “I have no theory in that matter. I had lots of theories before I had any children [he had eight] but now I do, with fear and trembling, in every case just that which seems to be the better thing for the hour, whether it agrees with any of my old theories or not.”
   A book written one hundred years ago which a publisher now deems worthy of reprint must be good. The publisher is Wolgemuth and Hyatt, Brentwood TN; price $8.95. Here’s an excerpt from chapter 10:

1990 July/August issue Part 4

A "Hard Time"

   Following a talk I gave on what older women are to teach younger, according to Titus 2:3-5, someone raised this objection during the question period:

“I have a hard time with that verse about staying home!”

   It’s an expression we often hear-“I have a hard time with that.” Usually the tone is one of argument, and the words are a euphemism for “I don’t like that,” or “surely that doesn’t apply to my case.” If the speaker were convinced that the verse did not apply to is case, he would not be having a hard time with it. He could dismiss it at once. But if the person really means he or she is having difficulty, what is the exact nature of the difficulty? I can think of four possibilities:

1. Does this apply to me?

2. I want to do it but I can’t.

3. I ought to do it but I don’t want to.

4. I wish God hadn’t said it.

   What shall we do with the difficulties? To the first I would say that if we come to God with an empty cup, asking Him to reveal His will and help us to do the right thing, no matter what it costs, He will certainly show us. For the second we have the promise, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God never gave a command for which He will not supply the power to obey. For the third we know we have been created with the will to choose. We may choose to do what we ought to do, and God will help us. If the last describes our “hard time” let’s be straightforward with God, confess the truth, and submit to His Word as an obedient servant. Obedience always finally leads to joy.

1990 July/August issue Part 3

Spiritual opposition

When Lars and I returned from a fortnight in Scotland and England there was the expected pile-up of work awaiting us, and the usual temptation to feel overwhelmed by it. The suitcase had to be unpacked, clothes washed, mail opened, read and answered. The house had been partially cleaned by the students living with us, but up stairs I had to deal with the dust. There were phone messages waiting, and phone calls we needed to make to family members. Do you know the feeling of utter inadequacy to cope? I’m sure you do. But I believe the enemy of our souls is specially alert at such times, seeking to use them to turn us in ourselves rather than upwards to the One who stands ready to be our Refuge and Helper.

1990 July/August issue Part 2

Prayer

“When Thou rememberest what relates to me, think of me only in the light of Thy mercy- forget all else, O Thou, my injured and justly offended God, my unspeakable gracious Benefactor. Put out of sight all that has severed between me and Thee.” (William Kay’s note on Psalm 25:7)

1990 July/August issue Part 1

Taking Care of my Little Sister

(Reprinted by permission by The Home Sweet Home Newspaper of the Shepherd Family, Vol. I, No.1. The writer is my granddaughter, Christiana, age eight.)

Last night my mother and father were gone and i had to put Evangeline* down for bed. My mom had put on her diapers and i had to put on her pajamas. This is how it started. I put Evangeline on Colleens bed and I said, ‘Evangeline, stay here!’ and of course she went off the bed, crawled down the stairs, and of course I went after her and said, ‘Evangeline, come here!’ Finally I got her and put her on the kitchen table and put her pajamas on and she saw her bottle on the kitchen counter and I gave it to her and took her back upstairs. Then I prayed with her and wound up the ‘Hark, the Herald Angels Sing’ music box and said good night. Whew!”

*(aged sixteen months when this was written).

1990 May/June issue Part 2

Chronicle of a Soul
I kept a five year diary from high school through college, and began spiritual journals during my senior year in college (1848) which I continue to keep. These are chronicles of growth, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is astounding to go back through them and learn things I had completely forgotten. It is wonderfully faith-strengthening to see that indeed “all the way my Saviour leads me,” hears my prayers, supplies my prayers, teaches me of Himself. As God said to Israel, “Thou shallt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led these forty years in the wilderness.” My memory is poor. A journal is a record of His faithfulness (and my own faithfulness too- which teaches me to value His grace and mercy). If you decide to begin recording your pilgrimage, buy yourself a notebook (one of those pretty flowered clothbound blank books available in gift and stationary stores) and begin to put down (not necessarily everyday):

1990 May/June issue Part 1

The Absence of Feeling in the Devotional Life

"I am sporadic in my devotions,” writes a Newsletter reader (who happens to be my daughter!), “though I am up pretty early regularly by 5.30am there are many mornings when my mind and heart are too dull and cold to learn of Him.”