Evening star., 1907-05-04
Christian Endeavor Hour
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill-Lutz.

For Sunday. May 3. 1907.
Topic: THE Power of a Contented Life" (Conse-
Grafton Meeting) Philippians. v 1920.
From the Twentieth Century New Testament.
I must say, too, that. as a Christian, ]
was exceedingly glad that after SO long an
interval your interest in me had revived.
Not that you had not taken any interest in
me, but you had had no opportunity Of
showing it. Do not think that I am say
ing this under pressure Of want. For, how
ever am placed, 1. ut least. have learnt
to be Independent Of circumstances. know
how to face humble circumstances. and
know how to face prosperity. Into every
human experience 1 have been initiated
into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and
want. Nothing is beyond my power in the
strength Of him who makes me strong! Yet
you have acted nobly in sharing my trou-
bles. And you at Philippi know as well as
l that in the early days of the Good News
at the time when I had just left Mace
domaine church, with the one exception
OF yourselves, had anything to do with me in
the matter of giving and receiving. Indeed,
even while was still in Thessalonica, you
sent more than once to relieve my wants.
1t Is not that I am eager for your gifts,
but 1 am eager for the. abundant return
enough Of everything, and to spare. Ny
wants are fully satisfied, now that have
received from Epaphroditus the gifts which
you sent me. They are like the sweet fra
and pleasing to God. And my God-so
great is his wealth-will. in glory, fully sat-
isfy your every need, through your union
with Christ Jesus. To him. our God and
Father, be given all the glory forever and
ever. Amen.
"Contentment Is not satisfaction. It is
the grateful. faithful, fruitful use Of what
how 10 xalr 81
cup of Providence and call upon the name
of the Lord. What the cup contains is its
contents. To get all there is in the cup Is
the act Of contentment: Not to drink be-
one does not like its flavor, or because
some one else has silver to ones glass; Is
to lose the contents, and that Is the penal
ty, If not the meaning of discomfort No
one Is discontented who employs and en-
joys to the utmost what he has. 1t Is high
philosophy to say, We can have just what
we like. II we like what we have; but this
much at least can be done, and this Is con-
by making the most and best Of what we
have."-Maltbie D. Babcock.
Paul had learned to be so minded that,
In trying circumstances. he did not anxious
ly cast about for help, but was sufficed;
his desires were brought down to the facts
of his condition. In that state he counted
himself to have enough. He knew how to
suit hin.-elf to abasement, that common
experience Of the INDECENT and friendless;
and he knew how to suit himself to abund
miliar state in which he made himself at
home-not overgrieved or overjoyed, not
greatly elevated or greatly depressed. I
have been instructed or initiated (the
word used by the heather Of introduction
to the mysteries), not only into the ex-
perience of those conditions, but into the
way of taking kindly with them BOTH
Mark how his words follow one another:
1earuad'-heon a
of teaching and have had teacher; 7
know-it has become familiar to me,
| understand 1t: I am initiated'-if there is
a secret in 1t, something hidden from the
natural man. have been led into that, out
| and In, through and through."-Robert
Rainy, d. d.
"To live content with small means: to
seek elegance rather than luxury and re-
finement rather than fashion; to be worthy.
not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to
listen to stars and birds. babes and sages
with open heart; to study hard: to think
quietly. act frankly. talk gently. await oc-
casions. hurry never; In a word, to let the
spiritual. unbidden and unconscious grow
up through the common-this Is my SYM
phony."-William Henry Claiming.
ITO be glad Of life because It gives YOU
the chance to love and to work and to
| contented with your possessions, but not
satisfied with yourself until you have made
| the best of them; to despise nothing in the
world except falsehood and meanness and
to fear nothing except cowardice; to be
governed by your cdmirations rather than
by your disgusts; to covet nothing that Is
your neighbor's. except his kindness Of
heart and gentleness Of manners; to think
friends, and every day of Christ; and to
spend as much time as you can. with
body and with spirit, in Gods out-of-doors
these are little guide posts on the foot
path to peace."-Henry Van Dyke.
, LET us be content. In worl&s to do the
thing we can and not to prestSne to fret
because It's iittie.".E b. Browning.
eff you ever find happiness by hunting
| for 1t, you will hnd II as the old woman
did her lost spectacles, safe on her own
nose all the time."-Josh Billings.