laughter should mingle with the songs of birds and with the
melody of flowing streams. But man is too often a discord in creation. The
flowers put him to shame. The birds make him sound harsh and jarring. He
is "out of tune."

What then? "Tune my heart to sing Thy praise." We must bring the broken
strings, the rusted strings, the jarring strings to the Repairer and Tuner
of the soul. It is the glad ministry of His grace to re-awaken silent
chords, to restore broken harps, to "put new songs" in our mouths. He will
make us the kinsfolk of all things bright and beautiful. We shall "go
forth with joy," and "all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

OCTOBER The Sixth

_HE KNOWETH OUR FRAME_

PSALM ciii. 13-22.

"He knoweth our frame." The Bible abounds in such gracious and tender
words. "He remembereth us in our low estate." "I have many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." "He will not permit you to be
tempted above that ye are able." The burden is suited to our strength. The
revelation is determined by our experience. The pace is regulated by our
years. "He carrieth the lambs in His arms." He "leads on softly." Nothing
is done in ignorance. "The Lord is mindful of His own. He remembereth His
children."

And so I must practise the belief in God's compassionate nearness. In my
childhood I used to sing "There's a Friend for little children, Above the
bright blue sky." I know better now. He is nearer to me than I can dream.
I used to sing "There is a happy land, Far, far away." Now I sing, "There
is a happy land, _Not_ far away." The good Father and His home are not in
some remote realm. They are very, very near to me, and He knows all about
me. "He knoweth our frame."

OCTOBER The Seventh

_NEEDING AND WANTING_

ACTS xvii. 22-31.

"As though He needed anything." "He may not need us; but does He want us?"
Such is the question I heard Dr. Parker ask as he preached upon these
words. And he took up a handful of flowers which he had upon the pulpit,
and said: "These flowers were gathered for me by little hands in a
Devonshire lane. Did I need them? No. Did I want them?... Your little girl
kissed you before you left for business this morning. Did you need it?...
Did you want it?"

And so Almightiness may not need our weakness, but the loving Father wants
His children. "We are His offspring." Our Father delights in the love of
His children. The Saviour said to a Samaritan wo