Grandma's Books

My Grandmother was a great and godly woman who passed away almost two decades ago.  As I wrote that sentence, I was startled at how quickly the time has passed since that day!  

Grandma had collected a number of books during her lifetime and a few of them fell into my hands.  Most of them are in a box in the basement and are not the type of books I would readily read or use when doing research.  Recently, however, I came across one that I wanted to read -- "The Weapon of Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. 

E.M. Bounds lived from 1835-1913.  He was trained an apprenticed as an attorney, but entered the ministry in his twenties.  He was ordained in 1859 in the Methodist Church and he served as a chaplain during the Civil War.  During his life he wrote extensively on prayer. 

This little book has been slow reading for me because I have had precious little free time lately and when I do I tend to fall asleep in mid sentence!  Further, his writing style and language is dated and therefore a bit more difficult to access. Another challenge has been that Grandma marked up the book extensively in some spots.  Now, if you know me, you know that I mark my books up to, so it may seem that this is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.  But I have actually found it interesting to see what my Grandmother found interesting.  Grandma was a woman of prayer.  She was passionate and persistent in the pursuit of prayer.  I could learn a lot from her in this area and I wish she were with us today so that I could learn this discipline from her.  

Today while reading the Bounds book I noticed this notation on the side of the page written in the shaky cursive of her later years: "My Prayer".  What exactly was the paragraph that she highlighted?  It was a quote from
William Carvosso:

Oh, I long to be filled more with God!  Lord, stir me up more in earnest.  I want to be more like Jesus.  I see that nothing will do but being continually filled with the divine presence and glory.  I know all that Thou hast is mine, but I want to feel a close union.  Lord, increase my faith."

 Concerning Carvosso E.M. Bounds wrote: "Continual prayer and turning all conversation toward Christ in every company and in every home, was the inexorable law he followed, until he was gathered home."  That was my Grandmother to a "T."  No matter where you started with her, it always ended with Jesus.  And it usually started with Jesus too!  Jesus was everything to her and she spent hours in prayer with him -- until she too was gathered home.  

You did exceedingly well, Grandma.  I love you and I miss you. 

Soli Deo Gloria!