From Our Founder
From Our Founder...J. Harold Smith:
Smith Sayings
· Some folks only listen in order to take a deep breath and start talking again.
· God help me to never close the gates of the cemetery where I bury the faults of my friends.
· A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
· Minds are like parachutes, they only function when they are open.
· Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.
· Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occur while we are climbing it.
· We lie to God in prayer if we do not rely on Him after our prayers are said.
· Prayer is the voice of faith.
· Nothing fits better in a tight place than the truth.
· Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
The Praising Habit
A life of praise is the ideal life. No other life is as beautiful. In God's Word there are more calls to praise than to prayer. Everything is called upon to praise the Lord, and to join in the universal songs of praise and joy.
In my opinion, praise is the rarest of all sentiments. Listen any day to the voices that fill the air. All too often there are voices of complaining and murmuring, of discontent and fault-finding. I have stood and listened to the birds in the branches of the trees near my home, and truly enjoyed the music God has put in a little bird's throat. But it not so in the human world. It is not because the world is empty of beauty and good that praise is so rare...the trouble is with the people themselves. They just don't seem to see and hear the lovely things of this earth. Rather, they have keen vision for flaws and quick, sensitive ears for discord. They fail to discover the causes for gladness in their life, but focus on the unpleasant things. I believe there are a thousand good and beautiful things to see and hear to each unpleasant thing. We should be able to overlook the thorn in such a mass of roses. "Forget not all His benefits," the Psalmist tells us in Psalm 103:2, but this is the very thing we do. We forget God's wonderful mercies, the countless blessings that flood our days with brightness and fill our nights with stars. An hour's discomfort or a single moment's twinge of pain blots out the memory of a whole year of good health.
A person who does not praise can never see anything beautiful. Only a cheerful saint can really do good work. "The joy of the Lord is your strength," said Nehemiah to his people when they were discouraged. He knew if he could not get them to sing, they would faint. The best thing we can do for anyone whose burden is heavy is to inspire them to be grateful and joyous. As we read in God's Word, joy is designated as one of the fruits of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
Have we learned to praise the Lord in all circumstances? Paul said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11) He also prayed for the Colossians, that they would be "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:11)
These blessings of contentment and joyfulness are not for just a select few; they are available to all of us. They are ours to appreciate. Joy shines. It is fragrant. It makes the air sweeter. It is inspiring. Joy develops praise. You can do more good when you are glad and praising. Is your cup full and running over with praise and joy? If not, why not give the praising habit a try. I believe you will notice a great change come over you in a very short time. My dear friends, it is my prayer that the Lord may bless us all with the "praising habit." (JHS/YGN - February, 1987)
