Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-30

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engulfed MS. The greatest struggle
of rcpentant man is to avoid falling
back into his former sins. New
temptations may be easier resisted
than the lure of the old life
Again are we reminded of the par
allel between. the psalmst's song and
our own experiences. All of us have
much to be thankful for There are
three phases for this gratitude. First
we are deeply stirred by the gracious
mess Of God to As In the past. Every
one of us can look back to episodes in
our lives that give us shame and re-
gret, hut in relief to this self-crimina-
ton comes the mercy Of God which
has forgiven our shortcomings, lent
us new strength. Tended ms from many
OF the legitimate results Of our own
folly, and has made what we es-
teemed great tribulation turn out for
best welfare for MS and the glory Of
his name. Lot no one chafe at chas- |
tiscment. None OF us get what we de- |
serve at the hands OF an OUTRAGED !
Lord. His Justice is tempered with !
mercy and every one OF our souls is !
stronger and more stalwart for the |
battles we have fought with the evil |
within us and conquered with Gods !
help.
In the second place we are over |
whelmed in the contemplation OF our !
present mercics. II we had our deserts |
MS rebels against Jehovah. we would |
have been doomed long ago. Instead |
of that his mercics follow us every |
day we live and many come IN ouch |
n way that no othc~ agency but divin- |
lty can be credited with tho favor. II !
Is idle and really blasphemous TO try |
TO credit our blessings TO any other |
source except n bcneficcnt God. We
do not accomplish our own blessed !
ness. II Is not in human power 10
do so. Every man must do his part
constientiousv. but the harvest is |
vanity and failure unless Gods bloss;- |
ing goes with II. We cannot attain
happiness by our own cfforts-tho the
greater part of humanity spend their
lives In the attcmpt-but must look
To higher than human power to ap-
prove and bless the undertaking..
Good luck" is an ignls fatuus that
over leads us deeper in the swamp OF
disappointment. Gods grace ever
/ lifts us higher and brings us nearer
the happiness that involves no sting.
I Thirdly, gratitude looks forward to
D wv ANAhAt anu NullN upon 10 10
. bless the coming years. Some pessl-
mist has said that gratitude was
lively sense OF favors to come. In
many hearts the definition is made
true, but to the child OF Cod II is
/ false. Yet there Is no such thing as
an absolute separation OF hope for
the future from gratitude for the past.
We know that God has been good 10
us, that he is good now. and we
gather from that n healthier faith
that he will be good 10 us again
/ surely goodness and mercy shall fol-
low me nil the days OF my life" But
tho soul who conditions his gratitude
for the past upon his expectation OF
/ tho future has put selfishness ahead
/ OF loyalty and God has no Joy In such
The day has Eono forever when pi-
| etv was associated In the popular
| mind with a long face and a sorrow
, ful demeanor All Of MS have enough
/ TO be sorry for. and we should prop
! erlv regret the failures Of the past:
/ hut the Christian must not allow that
sorrow TO so ohsoSs his consciousness
/ that he Is blind 70 the blessed priv
/ ilcgcs 20 which he is heir and which
| should make him the most joyous
person In the world. Yes. a Christian
has right TO shout: yea, II IL his
duty TO show his Joy IN his face, in
I his words. In his daily walk. IL
there rs any genuineness In picty. Il
should make its possessor not only
| suprcmeN happy but he will be pos
| sessod with n fury 10 make this hap
I pinecs catching and spread 10Y In n
world that has been made miserable
/ by Sin Tho long-fdced man is
I fraud. Cheerful Christians are the
ones who serve the Lord best and 10
whom is promised the crown OF vic
/ tory
Sorrow and trouble comes 10 all OF
lis II we choose we may lose our
selves I'm contemplation OF our misera-
/ bic condition and get 20 feeling that
! God has turned his face away from us.
/ People with the blues" are not any
more the victims OF misfortune Nnn,
the man with the sunny smile. They
are simply troubled with an In.
growing crouch that keeps them from
seeing the bright side Of things. There
is Cody sorrow for sin. n righteous
regret for misspent opportunities, q
! proper determination for dolng
what we knew was wrong-yet thess
are but the door thru which we eu.
ter the sanctuary Of repentance and
/ forgiveness. The man who has been |
forgiven and strengthened FOR future
ondeavor must be full Of 10Y and
peace; the man who remains IN the |
Slough Of despond Is an enemy 20 HIM. |
self and an improbable servant OF |
the Most High.
But let us not deceive ourselves
There Is neither peace nor joy with.
out Righteousness The very con-
seriousness Of guilt, whether actual or