Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - When I Said Chew On It...

When I suggested that readers of my book, “Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct” take their time to ponder and “chew on” the wealth of spiritual inspiration contained in it, I never thought someone would take me literally.

Today (March 22, 2013) Is Your Last Chance

To receive a free Kindle copy of "Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct" just click HERE.

Free Copy of "Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire!" - Time Is Running Out!

Just a reminder - today and tomorrow (March 21 and March 22, 2013) are the last two days to get a free Kindle copy of Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct by clicking here. Let your family and friends know of this great offer!

 

Take a quick look at the back cover:

 

 

 

Help make this the number one Free Kindle Christian Inspiration Book on Amazon this week! Put it on your Kindle, your tablet, your laptop, your android or i-phone. Have spiritual nourishment at your fingertips wherever you may be.

This is not a one-time read. This is a book that you can draw inspriation from for years to come.

Do not pass up this opportunity to let God touch your heart and stir your soul!

FOR FIVE DAYS GET FREE KINDLE COPY OF "FORGOTTEN TRUTHS TO SET FAITH AFIRE! WORDS TO CHALLENGE, INSPIRE AND INSTRUCT

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR FREE KINDLE COPY OF - Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.

GO TO AMAZON.COM BETWEEN MARCH 18 AND MARCH 22, 2013  to get a free Kindle version. It is a perfect companion for this "Year of Faith" and recipient of the Catholic Writers' Guild's Seal of Approval.

If you do not have a Kindle, you can simply download the appropriate and free Kindle Book App and put Forgotten Truths on your desktop, laptop, tablet, android or I-phone - making spiritual inspiration and nourishment instantly available to you any time you can steal a few minutes away from your daily routines.

May God use this book to touch hearts and stir souls!

Please tell you family, friends and fellow parishioners and bloggers of this offer in time for them to obtain their free copy as well.

Got $.99? Be Part of the New Evangelization and Help Save Souls! Get Copy of "Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire"

There is no mystery – far too many Catholics do not know, have forgotten and/or have never been taught the fundamental truths of their Faith. The Pope’s call for the New Evangelization demands that this tragic state of affairs ends - and it must begin with each one of us. We must learn or re-learn our Faith and then help others to do likewise.

Now there is a great tool that allows you to easily reignite your Faith and to evangelize family and friends.

For $.99 you can purchase a Kindle copy of Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct and have the wisdom of more than 1200 quotations at your fingertips – words that will touch your heart and stir your soul – and in a format easy to use. If you do not have a Kindle, you can download the free Kindle Book reader and put Forgotten Truths on your desktop, laptop, tablet, android or i-phone.

 

Be challenged, inspired and instructed in the Catholic Faith one quotation at a time, at a pace you choose!

Certainly you can give God five minutes of your time each day to read and ponder these essential Truths, can’t you?

You have only $.99 to lose. You can’t go wrong. This is a lifetime spiritual resource.

This is also the Year of Faith. So let's think big! Imagine the evangelization possibilities - if everyone who bought a copy, gave a gift copy to say four other family members and/or friends and they in turn did likewise, look how many thousands of souls might be saved for less than $1.00 a soul. Think how many more you can touch by simply sharing this post! Where else could you possibly get more eternal value out of a buck?

Get your copy here today!

 

Free Copy of "Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct" - Today and Tomorrow Only!

Just a reminder - today and tomorrow you can get a free Kindle copy of Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct by clicking here.

Do not pass up this opportunity to let God touch your heart and stir your soul!

GET FREE COPY OF "FORGOTTEN TRUTHS TO SET FAITH AFIRE!"

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR FREE KINDLE COPY OF  -  Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.

GO TO AMAZON.COM ON NOVEMBER 23 or 24 to get a free Kindle version. It is a perfect companion for this "Year of Faith" and recipient of the Catholic Writers' Guild's Seal of Approval. 

If you do not have a Kindle, you can simply download the appropriate and free Kindle Book App and put Forgotten Truths on your desktop, laptop, tablet, android or I-phone - making spiritual inspiration and nourishment instantly available to you any time you can steal a few minutes away from your daily routines.

May God use this book to touch hearts and stir souls!

Please tell you family, friends and fellow parishioners and bloggers of this offer in time for them to obtain their free copy as well.
 

Perfect Companion for this "Year of Faith"

Spiritual inspiration and nourishment instantly available to you any time you can steal a few minutes away from your daily routines.

Travels well on your Kindle, Tablet, Android or I-phone - and only $2.99!

 

 Your "Year of Faith" partner is just a click away.

Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! and Its Author Are Subject of This Month's Profile in the CWG Newsletter

Pardon the self-promotion but there is only one way to sell a book - let as many people and groups know about it!

I was privileged to be profiled in  this month's issue of the Catholic Writers' Guild (CWG) Member Newsletter. In the event you have not seen it or are not yet a CWG member, the Profile follows:

(Excerpted from CWG Member Newsletter Issue #52- July 2012)

MEMBER PROFILE – MICHAEL SEAGRIFF
Author and Lay Dominican

Maria: Michael, you recently had a book published “Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire: Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.” Congratulations! When did you feel receive God’s inspiration to write this book? How did it “come to you,” as they say?

Michael: Over the past fifteen years, God placed a tremendous hunger in my heart to study the Truths of our Catholic Faith. During that time, I highlighted and made photocopies of thousands of passages from various articles and books that had opened my eyes, stirred my soul and spoke to my heart. Much of what I have read, I had written on index cards and stored them in my desk drawer.

Periodically re-reading this collection of timeless truths from Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as from the spiritual insight of Popes, Church Doctors, Saints, bishops, priests, sinners and regular folk has had a significant impact on my life and spiritual journey. Although I did not gather these quotations with the intent of compiling them into a book, I came to realize that many Catholics do not hear, know or live the fundamental truths of their Faith. Others are prompted to learn more but feel they do not have the time to do so. I also knew as a Lay Dominican, that I should not hoard these “Forgotten Truths” in my desk drawer for my exclusive reflection.

God kept after me to share these truths with others, knowing they would be a fruitful source of contemplation. That is the purpose of this book, its twelve hundred quotations, seventeen chapters and one hundred and fifteen topics.

Maria: You are a member of a Lay Dominican order, and a retired lawyer. I mean, it’s like you were meant to write a book! Lawyers are great debaters and Dominicans are known for being great at apologetics. How did your past life experiences help you in writing your book?

Book Trailer: Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words To Challenge, Inspire and Instruct



The Catholic Writers' Guild has awarded its "Seal of Approval" to Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.

Recent Review of "Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire!"

Thought I would share the most recent review posted on Amazon.com:

In Company with the Saints, May 6, 2012

By

  J. Stutmann "voracious reader" (Rome, NY)

This review is from: Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire!: Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct (Paperback)

When I sit down to read passages from this book, I feel as if I am sitting in company with the saints! Each saint quote is like conversing with that saint because their thoughts and what they have said is meant for all people to hear, see,and know for our spiritual benefit. I in turn am spurred to think in response to what was said and that leads to the deepening of knowledge from my head to my heart. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints! I love reading this book in company with the Lord in adoration..the words just jump off the page to me! I have often longed for a book such as this, having quotes of so many saints at my fingertips and now I have one! Thank you Michael, for this labor of love that WILL produce much fruit!

The Catholic Writer's Guild awards its "Seal of Approval" to "Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct".

I was humbled and honored to be notified last week that the Catholic Writer's Guild has awarded its "Seal of Approval" to Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.

"The SoA is not a critique of a work, but rather an assurance of its Catholicity and that neither the work nor its author go against the Mageristerium authority of the Catholic Church." CWG "evaluates for Catholicity, not for writing style or quality."

Other individuals who have read the book have offered their view on its content. Here are excerpts from what four readers have shared:

“I am very impressed with this book and the author's commitment to writing about the Catholic Faith in a very informational and inspirational manner. I have no doubt that this book will help others on their Faith journeys.” Donna M. Cooper O’Boyle, EWTN host and author of numerous books, including Mother Teresa and Me.

 “The volume is a generous compilation of some of the most impactful and challenging quotes and passages from saints and theologians throughout Catholic history. Each page is filled with powerful words to affirm, inspire and encourage Catholics and Christians in their faith.”  Anne Costa, author of Refresh Me, Lord and Lord I Hurt!

“One thing I like about the book is that you can open it anywhere, read a passage and ponder on what you have read for either a few minutes or for however long you want.” Catherine Vallier, Lay Dominican

“This book is easy to read and difficult to put down…I am not a Catholic, but as a Christian I thoroughly enjoyed the book's treasure of Biblical quotes and those of religious leaders and others dating back centuries. It enhanced my own faith, as I'm sure it would that of any Christian.” Bernie Conklin, author of A Potpourri of Poetry

Have you read the book yet? What did you think of it? Would you recommend it to family and friends? If so, why? If something you have read in this book has touched your heart, or stirred your soul or reignited your faith, I would love to hear from you.

IN APPRECIATION FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS ON THIS ENDEAVOR, I HAVE MADE THE KINDLE VERSION AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $2.99!

Are We Comatose or Just Suffering From Amnesia?

(From the Introduction to Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct)

“After 20 centuries of miracles from Cana to Fatima, after 20 centuries of martyrs, after 20 centuries of sanctity in every walk of life, after centuries of intellectual brilliance (Augustine, Aquinas, Bonaventure, Scotus), after all the truth that has been poured out by the Fathers, Doctors and ecclesiastical writers, by the 20 Ecumenical Councils of the Church, the infallible pronouncements of our Pontiff…after all this, the world is as pagan today as when Christ was born and had to flee.  Perhaps more so... God, in his world today, is as hidden to most people as he was when in Egypt's exile.” 

            Father M. Raymond, O.C.S.O. made these observations in a 1954 book entitled, “God, A Woman and the Way”.  This gifted Cistercian priest warned us then that we Catholics were suffering from amnesia – that we had forgotten the purpose of our lives and much of what it means to be Catholic.

           Sadly, the same comments can be made as I write this introduction more than fifty-seven years later. One might even argue that we Catholics are now comatose. We are not living as we should.  We have forgotten that we were made in the image of God, that as a result of original sin we are prone to sin ourselves, and that without God’s grace we will never overcome our sinful propensities.  We do not know basic fundamental truths of our Faith.  We are not taught our Faith.  We do not live our Faith. 

            Too many reject major teachings of the Church.  Much of what we hear is only partially true and therefore evilly deceptive. There is no objective moral good or evil, some voices shout.  One church is just as good as another goes the refrain.  And frequently, the invisible devilish forces whisper in our ears: “You don’t need God!” We substitute lies for the Truth!

            We no longer value marriage and procreation. Our children, we are told, do not need both a father and mother – any one will do.  We see children as a punishment and an unwanted burden instead of a priceless treasure. We have a great sense of outrage over the abuse of animals or the intrusion upon their natural habitats – but little umbrage over the more than fifty million children in this nation who have been killed in their mothers’ wombs. Schools cannot give our children an aspirin without our written permission, but they can give contraceptive assistance and take them for an abortion without our knowledge.

            Many do not know, accept or follow the Ten Commandments.  We have banned them and prayer from our schools and our Courthouses. Where once cohabitation and out-of-wedlock births were a source of embarrassment, we now ridicule and scorn marriage and sexual abstinence. We confuse sexual deviancy with human freedom. We glorify sexual activity outside of marriage and between individuals of the same sex and deem such conduct a right. Cleavage and sexually provocative dress are in; chastity and purity are rarely esteemed. Some of our children cannot read or write but can recite verbatim the lyrics of songs so vile and offensive as to turn one’s face red. We have lost any sense of guilt, shame or sin.

            Since we have been told that we can not “judge” anyone, we tolerate unspeakable conduct and behaviors lest we “offend” others.  We no longer consider the immoral public conduct of our elected officials a valid measure of their integrity and trustworthiness.

           Crime and lack of respect permeates every level of our society.  We infrequently see random acts of kindness.  Our society spends more money per capita to house inmates in our jails and prisons than we spend on the education of our children.  Everyone succeeds; no one fails.  Self-esteem is more important than learning and growing from our mistakes. Mediocrity rather than excellence is our goal.

            We have little or no time or inclination to help the less fortunate, but limitless hours to spend on the computer, in front of the TV, on our cell-phone or listening to our MP3 players or I-Pods.  

            War and ghastly weapons of destruction proliferate, as millions of children die from malnutrition, lack of clean water, disease, and basic medical care.

            Despite the clear and unambiguous teachings of our Lord and His Catholic Church, many who profess to be “Catholic” are as supportive of abortion, pre-marital sex, co-habitation, contraception, sterilization, in-vitro fertilization, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, the active homosexual life style, and homosexual marriage as their non-Catholic neighbors.

            In the early days of the Church, Christians risked their lives just to attend Mass and to receive Holy Communion. Today, the majority does not attend Sunday Mass.  Rarely do they or the thousands who only come on Christmas and/or Easter hear of the eternal consequences for skipping Mass.  In some places, it is more important not to offend their “feelings” than to evidence zeal for the salvation of their souls. 

            Among those Catholics who do attend Sunday Mass, a majority no longer believes in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist they receive or in the Sacred hosts reserved in their Church’s tabernacles. The prayerful and reverent silence evidencing such a belief is often missing. Many ignore He Who is Love to engage in inane chatter on topics more appropriately discussed at social and sporting events. Some remove our Lord out of bowls as if He were a potato chip and not the Son of God. The actions and demeanor of these individuals are inconsistent with one who professes to believe that Jesus Christ is really and truly present on the altar and in their hands.

            Given this current state of confusion and the reluctance of many to invest any time in spiritual reading, I have sorted through my personal collection of timeless truths from Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as from the spiritual insight of Popes, Church Doctors, Saints, sinners, and regular folk. I have assembled all of this material by topic in Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct .

            While recognizing how overly simplistic this approach is, one must begin somewhere.  May this small effort help penetrate the amnesia and forgetfulness that Father Raymond wrote of so many years ago. It is my hope that something you read here will awaken a hunger in you to know, study and live more fully the Truths of the Catholic Faith.

(Soft cover copies of this book can be purchased here. A Kindle version is available here.)

Who Is St. Claude de la Colombiere?

St. Claude de la Colombiere was a 17th century Jesuit whose life we recall today. He believed that one of "the most firmly established and consoling of the truths that have been revealed to us" is "that (apart from sin) nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so." St. Claude became the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He encouraged, supported and promoted her call to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The saint was also a gifted spiritual writer, who has left a number of gems, including one of my favorite books, Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence (TSTDP). Blessed John Paul II canonized him in 1992.

Read and ponder what he has to say about earthly happiness and prayer:

Let me show you a good way to ask for happiness, even in this world. It is a way that will oblige God to listen to you. Say to Him earnestly: either give me so much money that my heart will be satisfied, or inspire me with such contempt for it that I no longer want it. Either free me from poverty, or make it so pleasant for me that I would not exchange it for all the wealth in the world. Either take away my suffering, or – which would be to Your greater glory – change it into delight for me, and instead of causing me affliction, let it become a source of joy. You can take away the burden of my cross, or You can leave it with me without my feeling its weight. You can extinguish the fire that burns me, or You can let it burn in such a way that it refreshes me as it did the three youths in the fiery furnace. I ask for either one thing or the other. What does it matter in what way I am happy? If I am happy through the possession of worldly goods, it is You I have to thank. If I am happy when deprived of them, it gives You greater glory and my thanks are all the greater.

This is the kind of prayer worthy of being offered to God by a true Christian. When you pray in this way, do you know what the effect of your prayers will be? First, you will be satisfied, whatever happens; and what else do those who most desire this world's goods want except to be satisfied? Secondly, you will not only obtain without fail, one of the two things you have asked for, but, as a rule, you will obtain both of them. – TSTDP (122-124)

You will find more of his wisdom and that of countless Popes, Bishops, priests, saints and regular folk in my recently released book, Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct, about which EWTN hostess and well-known, author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, had this to say: "I am very impressed with this book and the author's commitment to writing about the Catholic Faith in a very informational and inspirational manner. I have no doubt that this book will help others on their Faith journeys."

Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! - A Bold Request

Would you indulge me in some selfish self-promotion?

I have been led to publish a book that I think you and those you know and love would appreciate. It’s called: Forgotten Truths to Set Faith Afire! – Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct.

May I ask you to do five simple things? First, go here and read a brief synopsis of the book. Second take a look at the reviews that have been posted on Amazon.com to date (more to follow) Third, Look Inside the book and see what it is all about. Fourth, consider purchasing a copy for yourself, a loved one or friend. Fifth, even if you chose not to purchase a copy, please pass this request onto your family, friends and business associates via your e-mail contacts, Facebook, Tweeter, LinkedIn and other social media networks and ask them to do exactly what I am asking of you.

If everyone who receives this bold request did as I am so selfishly requesting, thousands of people who might not otherwise have ever heard of this humble little effort will be aware of it and some, if it be God’s will, may read something in it that will touch their hearts and stir their souls. And isn’t that a goal worth pursuing?

Unless one asks, one never knows.

Thank you and God bless you for considering this request.

The Wisdom of St. Francis de Sales

Today we commemorate the life of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of our Church. His Introduction to the Devout Life is a timeless spiritual treasure that has had a profound impact on many a searching soul - including myself. I am indebted to my first spiritual director for having given me his personal copy of this classic and for putting me on a solid spiritual path. I consider this one of the most important and life changing spiritual books that I have ever read. 

 To wet your appetite, take a reflective look-see at how Saint Francis so exquisitely puts our ability to accept suffering in its proper perspective:

“The Everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you is considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands, to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last look at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.”

He is just as clear about our need to be ever mindful of eternity:

“Oh my soul, you must one day part with this body, but when shall that day be?  Shall it be in the winter, or in the summer?  In the city, or in the country?  By day, or by night? Shall it be suddenly, or on notice given you?  Shall you have leisure to make your Confession?  Shall you have the assistance of your spiritual father?  Alas, of all this, you know nothing at all!  Only certain it is that you must die.  In fact, as it almost always happens, much sooner than you imagine.”

Read this and let me know if the good Bishop believes we are much too casual with our speech and the impact it has on people’s reputations and lives:

“Whenever I speak of my neighbor, the tongue in my mouth is like a scalpel in the hands of a surgeon who wishes to cut between the nerves and the tendons. The stroke I give must be neither more nor less than the truth.”

Even this cursory view of his writings should help you understand how it upsets me  whenever I hear anyone suggest Introduction to the Devout Life is too antiquated and of little value to the contemporary, post-Vatican II Catholic. Hogwash! Nothing could be further from the truth!

Today’s feast day of this great saint would be a perfectly good day to find out for yourself. If you have never read it, get a copy and dive right into it. If it has been awhile since you had your nose in between its pages, dust it off and get back into it.

And while you are at it, consider taking a look at Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! –Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct – another treasure trove of sound tidbits of spiritual nourishment.

He Had A Way With Words!

Yes, I’ll admit it. I love everything I ever read that was written by the late Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. You will find more than two dozen of his gems included in my book, Forgotten Truths To Stir Faith Afire! –Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct”. 

The following, however, is one that got away. I don’t know how I overlooked it:

"America is suffering not so much from intolerance, which is bigotry, as it is from tolerance, which is indifference to truth and error, and a philosophical nonchalance that has been interpreted as broad-mindedness."

(Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

 

Have We Forgotten?

We marvel at the physical miracles, big and small, that Jesus performed during His time here on earth – for example raising Lazarus from the dead and healing St. Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever. And well we should.

But what we often overlook is the frequency with which Jesus spoke to and expelled demons – as is mentioned in today’s Gospel. Isn’t it foolish to think that there is less demonic presence in our current times then when Jesus walked this earth?

The reality of Satan and the never ending spiritual battle to which we are subjected during our earthly lives are two topics rarely discussed or considered these days. Too few among us recognize that we are engaged in spiritual combat with the unseen demons roaming the world in search of our souls.

This is not, according to Father George P. Schommer, O.P., a good thing:

“The devil is real.  We fail to recognize the reality of his existence and power and therefore we often fall prey to his many tricks.  Satan’s goal is to lead us away from God and to separate us from Him for all eternity…Satan wants us to despair, to give up, to separate us from God and lead us to hopelessness.  We cannot fight this spiritual battle on our own.  We fail because we rely on our own resources.  We fail to grasp that a missile is coming in from the enemy.  We try on our own to defeat Satan.  We cannot succeed on our own.”

This good Dominican is not alone. The late Servant of God, Archbishop J. Sheen, insisted that many seeking the assistance of psychologists and psychiatrists suffer not from mental illness, but from their failure to recognize and repent of the sin in their lives. They would be better served by spending less time on the couch and more time at the foot of Jesus’ Cross, on their knees in front of His tabernacle and in the confessional from which flows the spiritual cleansing and healing graces they seek and which our loving and merciful Lord offers in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Let’s be clear then. Satan and his cohorts are real. Just look around you. There is abundant and irrefutable evidence.

We don’t. Consequently, evil often roams unimpeded and countless souls are lost.

(Rediscover many more truths and treasures in Forgotten TruthsTo Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct)

Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct-Update

Great news!

The Kindle version of Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct just became available on Kindle. It will take a few days for it to appear along side the soft copy currently available on Amazon.com.

You don't have to wait for Amazon to merge the two, You can go right here and buy your Kindle copy right now.

Would you help pass the word?

Pondering The Purpose of Our Lives

One of the many pearls you will find in Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct is this beautiful prayer  attributed to  Blessed John Cardinal Newman:

God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it in this life, but I should be told it in the next. Somehow, I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his – if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet, I have a part in this great work; I am a link in the chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about; He may take away my friends; He may throw me among strangers; He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me - still He knows what He is about.