St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-02-28
The Gift That is in Thee.

THE Gift That IS IN Tnee.
Stir ND the gift that is in Thee" for,
you may be sure you have one. Find out
what it is, and use it for Him who gave
it. To some is given the power of lead
ership, of organizing and planning Tor
ilers, an unconscious possession, per-
haps, until the press of circumstances
g, the cOnstraining love of Christ stlrs
up the gift that is in them. We have
seen, with surprise, the sudden growth
of his power where it was little sus-
pe.ted; for in this hurrying age, when
steam is mans servant and the light
ming his plaything, it seems as If God
developed souls and fitted them for their
work with marvellous rapidity.
The gift of wealth is, perhaps, that
which is bestowed on you to hold for the
Masier-a precious boon, so it is held
tor Him. If the gold and the silver be
put at exchange, and turned into Bibles
:nd churches and school houses and
missionary teachers, the hour is coming
when you can say, "BehOld, Lord, the
fortune thou gaVest me has gained many
precious souls for thee" and those with
them shall enter into the joy of the
Lord. .u.s.. ..... ....t 80.
Perhaps yours is the gift of enthusi-
;sm-a magnetic power of influencing
others; thankfully use it in the service
Of the King; inspire Others with it;
bring in new recruits to the army; it is
(; fire that will kindle new fires in other
Iearts. Some one has said, sit is bet
ter to set ten men at work, than to do
the work of ten men,"
You may hold the pen of a ready
writer; shake the napkin, if the gift is
folded away there. You would rather
hide it; but the blessing is not promised
10 the hidden, but to the used, talent.
A gracious presence and power OF
winning hearts may be your gift. Win
them for Your Master and his work as
well us for yourself.
A power of interesting the little ones
is, perhaps, the gift that is in thee. Stir
it up in His service who said, 'Sufer
little children TO come unto me-" Gath
er them into mission circles, and train
them early in Christ's work. But yOu
say you have no special gift-you can-
not lead, nor speak, nor write, MOI in
terest children, nor improve others
you can only be Il common soldier Ill
the army. Be not too sure. Many gift
lies dormant, waiting only for the STIR
ring up; and people often surprise
themselves and others by finding out
what they can do if they try.
But your hands are so full OF home
duties, that you have no time fol- this
missionary work in which the church is
engaged. Thank God, who setteth the
solitary in families, that most of us have
homes where our life work is to be done.
BY all means, let us fill them with sun
shine and gladness, making them to the
children fit types of the Fathers home
above but can we not let part of our
sunshine send its rays to those who sit
in darkness-give something of our joy
10 the homeless "No gifts!" Oh, moth
ers of little children! God has given
you the sweetest of earthly gifts. Be it
yours to teach these little ones that
they are part of His great family
that they have brothers and sisters at
their own doors and far away, whom
they can love and help. Widen their
sympathies until they take In all the
world.
But you are an invalid-poor, it may
be, and alone-yOu eau do nothing. Ii
you bad il rich friend, to whose purse
you were welcome, whom you could in
ierest i'll this work, you would not urge
Ibis plea. Have you not Friend, in
linitely rich, already interested in
this work far beyond our power to con-
ceive-one who says, "Ask and We shall
receiver" Be yours the priceless gift o.
! prayer and let your sick-room be the
unseen, unknown fountain from which
shall flow many life giving stream
that shall gladden. the waste places.
Or the sands of your life may be al
most run and as you look back owe
lost opportunities, you may think sor
rowfully of the good you might hav,
done. Even at the eleventh hour tn,
Lord came into the market-place, an,
i:aye the lingerers work to do for Him
Il He has helped you with money, can
not you now take your pen and writ
quickly, giving back as legacy some
'hing that shall work for you long afte
you are gone?
But besides our prayers, our money
our enthusiasm, our work with tongn
''r pen, we cannot forget there is anotb
er gift required, more costly than al
From the weary but joyful worker
abroad we hear the cry, "Come owe
and help US )" and from the missionar,
boards at home comes the RESPONSE
"Who will go for us ~ Are there No
some OF us who can give ourselves. an,
reply, "Here am L; send me.n Or