Hannah More
Born in 1745 in Bristol, England, Hannah More was to become a champion of the disenfranchised of the world. Instead of quiet domesticity, in obscurity, Hannah blazed a trail for women. As a powerful writer she earned a fortune which she used to set up a cottage industry that printed millions of moral tracts that were distributed around the world. She became friends with John Newton, the ex-slave trader, who became her mentor. She joined in with William Wilberforce in the battle against slave trade.
She has the honor of making English ladies the foremost agent in the education of the poor. The intensity of her love for the Lord Jesus was reflected in a life given for His people.
What an example of balance: the hearts of Mary and Martha beating within the same bosom. Hannah More proves that you can be passionate about His presence and at the same time be a servant to fellow man.
Do We Really Love God?
Our love to God arises out of our emptiness; God's love to us out of His fulness. Our impoverishment draws us to that power which can relieve and to that goodness which can bless us. His overflowing love delights to make us partakers of the bounties He graciously imparts. We can only be said to love God when we endeavour to glorify Him, when we desire a participation of His nature, when we study to imitate His perfections.
We are sometimes inclined to suspect the love of God to us, while we too little suspect our own lack of love to Him. When the heart is devoted to God, we do not need to be perpetually reminded of our obligations to obey Him. They present themselves spontaneously and we fulfill them readily. We think not so much of the service as of the One served. [The motivation which suggests the work inspires the pleasure.] The performance is the gratification, and the omission is both a pain to the conscience and wound to the affections....
Though we cannot be always thinking of God, we may be always employed in His service. There must be intervals of our communion with Him, but there must be not intermission of our attachment to Him.
Our love to God arises out of our emptiness; God's love to us out of His fulness.
There is a certain joy you feel when you do something selfless. Whether it be donating money to a worthy cause, watching someones kids free of charge, helping someone move, making a meal for someone in need, giving someone a ride...whatever it is that you can do to help lighten someones load. That warm fuzzy feeling you get from doing something good is like no other.
God has given us all gifts. How selfish is it of us when we hoard these gifts rather than using them to help others and spread His love. What will you do to get the warm fuzzies this week?
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