St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-09-17

fully. humbly Waiting within the CIT
I Gle Of the Divine will, there to be maze
i glorious. and beautiful Whetne u -
sunshine or storm, whether 1t is the chill
and darkness Of the hight orsthe scorcn-
ing heat of the day. And If God oot !,
80 clothe the grass of the field, wnlcn
| to-day is, and tomorrow is cast INTO
the oven, shall He not much more CLONE
,your Q We Of little faith?" There is vltal
and intimate relationship between you
and the lilies Of the field, but between
God and man there is the barrier OF I'M
belief, of disobedience, of willful 1mpa-
thence. Between God and nature there
| is cordial fellowship, but between Goo
and man that fellowship has been sew
| cred through mans forgetfulness OF
God and his mad, eager rush after tne
things of this life. And do not think
the lilies are speaking to your heart
Gods message as you think beautllui
and sentimental thoughts Of God ana
nature and prate about Gods care anu
love universal. The lilies speak heart
searching message. It IS one man does
not like to hear, it is one which his heart
is not sensitive to understand. Think
you that you have heard the message
when you rush back to the city ana
plunge with greater eagerness than De-
fore after the material things OF this
life, and worry and fret because they
do not come faster, or become discour-
aged and morose because of the misfor-
tunes and priyations of life? Think YOU
that you have heard the message when.
the fields behind you and the pavement
of the city's streets beneath your feet,
you forget God and the lilies and seek
first man and mammon, and care not so
much about method as that the coveted
goal is reached?
T HE proof that the message has
l been heard and understood Is
found in the seeking first the Kingdom
of God and His righteousness, and prov
ing the truth of Gods assertion that
all else needed for this life shall be AIDA
ed. And as the@beautiful dress and
fragrance of the lily which God so free
ly gives it make it creation of exqui-
site perfection, so man in character and |
life would be as beautifully clothed |
and provided for as the lily if he put |
God and His Righteousness first and |
mans desires and seeming interests |
second Man robs himself day after |
day because he, does not learn the mes
sage of the lilies OF the field. Our lily |
of the field might, il her will and pur-
pose were not so firmly rooted in the
place where God had planted her, roam
the world over seeking the softest of
silks and satins, choosing the daintiest
of colors which man could obtain, living
to crafty every selfish wish and am
bition, and she would fail, miserably
fail There would be no admiring
chances at her beauty, there would be
rob the world and God! And man is
doing that very thing. He talks OF
Gods care and love and yet he does not
know what It means, because unlike
the lily he is not willing to abide in
Gods will; he is not willing to fill. the
place God intended; he is rebellious at
conditions and priyations; he is bound I
IL nave HIS OWA w III anu SCCh LILO OwA /
way The lily speaks of sweet, simple
faith in God of obedient surrender to
all the forces which will make for splen-
lid growth and glorious fruitage, of pa
tient waiting through every experience
IN life, whether it is the heat of tempta-
ion. or the darkness and chill of priva-
ion8 hour; whether it is the glad sun
shine and refreshing shower of prospect
ty OF the prostrating wind and hailof
diversity. 1t is the sweet, abiding trust
n God which brings that peace and JOY
which passeth all understanding.
THE bright-faced lily is the fruitage
l. of that faithful plant from which
t sprung. We behold the lily and for
get all about the patient growth Of the
parent plant, Of Its Hfe-giving energy
which was put forth and made possible
he stalk and. bud and flower. The lily
S evidence CT, the life and growth be-
lind it. The flower stands for the
beauty of Christian graces in the
lpman life-qf Christ-liks love. Of pa
fence, OF unselfish service, of truthful
,nossass ~ r,,rifv re heart and EfoS of i