SINGING IN THE FIRE
Robert Walker
II CORINTIANS 4:7
INTRODUCTION
Mrs. C.H. Spurgeon, wife of the famous Victorian
preacher, was for many years afflicted with illness
that at times was acutely distressing.
One wintry evening, as the deeper darkness drew on,
she lay on her couch, much discouraged, and wondered
again why such lingering affliction should be allowed
to frustrate the service she would fain have been
rendering to the Lord's servants.
Suddenly, she heard a clear, musical sound like the
trill of a robin; but no, surely no robin could be
singing out there in such wintry darkness.
Again the plaintive, melodious notes stole into her
room; and hen she found to her surprise that they came
from the fireplace.
The fire was letting loose the imprisoned music from
the heart of an old oak log which was burning there.
The old oak had garnered up merrily on his braches,
and the soft sunlight flecked his leaves with gold.
But since then he had grown old and hardened; ring
after ring of knotted growth had sealed up the long-
forgotten melody, until at last the fierce tongues of
flames consumed his callousness, and enabled him to
sing his sweetest song amid self sacrifice.
"Singing in the fire!" says Mrs. Spurgeon, "if that is
the only way to get a song of praise from these
apathetic, then let the furnace be heated seven times
hotter than before!"
It is my understanding that John Wesley wanted to be a
missionary. He went to the U.S. to preach to the
Indians, but was a miserable failure. He went back to
England a defeated man, but that turned him even more
to the Lord and he started a great revival in England
that resulted in Methodism.
It is said that Whistler, the artist, wanted to be a
soldier, but he failed at West Point, and had to
become an artist.
If you're going to make it in life, you must learn to
bounce back from defeat. You must turn your defeats
into some kind ...
Robert Walker
II CORINTIANS 4:7
INTRODUCTION
Mrs. C.H. Spurgeon, wife of the famous Victorian
preacher, was for many years afflicted with illness
that at times was acutely distressing.
One wintry evening, as the deeper darkness drew on,
she lay on her couch, much discouraged, and wondered
again why such lingering affliction should be allowed
to frustrate the service she would fain have been
rendering to the Lord's servants.
Suddenly, she heard a clear, musical sound like the
trill of a robin; but no, surely no robin could be
singing out there in such wintry darkness.
Again the plaintive, melodious notes stole into her
room; and hen she found to her surprise that they came
from the fireplace.
The fire was letting loose the imprisoned music from
the heart of an old oak log which was burning there.
The old oak had garnered up merrily on his braches,
and the soft sunlight flecked his leaves with gold.
But since then he had grown old and hardened; ring
after ring of knotted growth had sealed up the long-
forgotten melody, until at last the fierce tongues of
flames consumed his callousness, and enabled him to
sing his sweetest song amid self sacrifice.
"Singing in the fire!" says Mrs. Spurgeon, "if that is
the only way to get a song of praise from these
apathetic, then let the furnace be heated seven times
hotter than before!"
It is my understanding that John Wesley wanted to be a
missionary. He went to the U.S. to preach to the
Indians, but was a miserable failure. He went back to
England a defeated man, but that turned him even more
to the Lord and he started a great revival in England
that resulted in Methodism.
It is said that Whistler, the artist, wanted to be a
soldier, but he failed at West Point, and had to
become an artist.
If you're going to make it in life, you must learn to
bounce back from defeat. You must turn your defeats
into some kind ...
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