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Monday: LIGHT IN DARKNESS

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.-I Corinthians 10: 13.

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.-Isaiah 9: 1-7.

O God, Thou art wise and great, patient and true. No good word of Thine has ever failed. There have been times when we could not understand Thy ways, and we were tempted to question instead of to submit. But in

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the sequel of events, we have found out that we were mistaken, and that if we had had our way, it would have been grievous unto us. As Thou didst lead Thy people of old by a roundabout course for their own good, and finally brought them to their desired haven, so hast Thou done with us. Forgive our fretfulness and our ways of discord. Increase our faith and strengthen our trust in Thee. May we remember the years of the right hand of the Most High and consider Thy doings, and take courage for the days to come, in the confident assurance that this God is our God for ever, and He will be our guide even to the end. Accept our thanks as a family, and lead us in the pathway of those to whom Thou hast been gracious, in the name of Jesus Christ.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Tuesday: GRATITUDE AND OBEDIENCE

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.-I Corinthians 10: 13.

All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

A land of wheat, and barley, and wines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;

A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.-Deuteronomy 8: 1-10.

O Lord God of mercy and grace, give us the seeing

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eye that we may understand aright our experiences through the years. Give us the listening ear that we may obey Thy precepts. Grant to us the responsive spirit that we may walk in Thy truth. Let us look with wonder at that which is behind us and be grateful for Thy remembrances. Teach us to see that all things work together for good to them that love God. May we rely on the all-varied wisdom of God, and, encouraged by what we have received in the past, may we look with wonder at that which is before us. Give us the endurance of faith and the patience of hope to follow the straight way, in spite of discomfort and difficulty. Let us go forward in the confidence that Thou wilt supply our needs, and that, whatever our condition, we shall be able to erect Ebenezer, our Stone of Help. May this be the experience of all who call upon Thee. May they abide and abound in Thy love, through Jesus Christ, assured that all things work together for good to them that love God.

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Wednesday]

Wednesday: THE WAY OF HOLINESS

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.-I Corinthians 10: 13.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-Isaiah 35: 1-10.

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God;