Edges of His Ways, November 5

Gather my thoughts, good Lord, they fitful roam
Like children bent on foolish wandering,
Or vanity of fruitless wayfaring--
O call them home.

See them, they drift like the wind-scattered foam;
Like wild sea-birds, the hither, thither fly,
And some sink low, and others soar too high--
O call them home.

Wherever, Lord, beneath the wide blue dome
They wander, in Thy patience find them there:
That undistracted I may go to prayer--
O call them home.

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Edges of His Ways, November 4

In St. Augustine's words: "To Him Who is everywhere, men come, not by traveling, but by loving."

And Amy Carmichael writes:

It is not far to go for Thou art near,
It is not far to go for Thou art here;

And not by traveling, Lord, men come to Thee,
But by the way of love, and we love Thee.

August 6: Edges of His Ways

"One night in a dream someone seemed to ask me, 'If you were writing your last note to your children, what would it be about'? And I said, 'It would begin with these words, "Beloved, let us love" (1 John 4:7). And the voice said, 'Write it now'; so I began to write that note, but cannot remember a word of what I wrote except these four words, "Beloved, let us love".

This is not, I think, anywhere near my last note, but even so, I am writing these words for you to-day. Are there any of you out of love? Have any a feeling of unlove about any? Has anyone said anything about another which would hinder prayer, if you and that one were alone together? Is there any least thought of unlove anywhere? O Love of God, search us and see. O Love of God, Thou art Light, search us and see. Cleanse us, prepare us to draw near to Thee, alone or together, unhindered by the least unlove. 'Beloved, let us love'."

August 1: Edges of His Ways

Love through me, Love of God,
There is no love in me;
O Fire of love, light Thou the love
That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God,
Calm river flow until
No wind can blow, no current stir
A ripple of self-will.

Shine through me, Joy of God,
Make me like Thy clear air
That Thou dost pour Thy colours through,
As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,
That all may taste and see
How good Thou art, once more I pray,
Love through me, even me.

by: Amy Carmichael

July 3, Edges of His Ways by: Amy Carmichael

Exodus 24:12 : Come up to me...and be there.

When Moses went up, a cloud enfolded him. In that cool darkness he heard words which afterwards he spoke to the people in the heat and glaring light of the plain. So, day by day, as we look forward into the hours which seem to rush upon us, we see not clearness but a cloud. Then a Voice that we know calls softly, Come up to Me, and be here; the Cloud of the Unknown becomes for us then the very over-shadowing of the wings of the Lord; we sit down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit is sweet to our taste. And this fruit, tasted first in the dark alone with Him, will be ours for others. "What I tell you in darkness", He says to us still, "that speak ye in light."

July 2, Edges of His Ways by: Amy Carmichael

Exodus 13:21 : The Lord went before them...in cloud and in fire.

So cloud and fire are bound up with thoughts of guidance. Each day for each Israelite began with the sight of the impenetrable Cloud. What was the day to bring of journeying or of waiting? He did not know. He saw the Cloud, that was all. So do our days begin. We may have a time-table, even so, we face the Unknown. We know not what a day may bring forth, but if we are following our Leader we know that we shall be led. The symbol of that leading is a Cloud, through which we cannot see.

Great Leader, guide me by cloud or fire,
Let me be loyal to Thy heart's desire.
And lest I falter if the way be long,
O let Thy joy be strength to me and song.