[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0612":3},"JUNE 12\r\nIn everything ye are enriched by him (1 Cor. 1:5).\r\nHave you ever seen men and women whom some disaster drove to a great act of prayer, and by and by the disaster was forgotten, but\r\nthe sweetness of religion remained and warmed their souls?\r\nSo have I seen a storm in later spring; and all was black, save where the lightning tore the cloud with thundering rent.\r\nThe winds blew and the rains fell, as though heaven had opened its   windows. What a devastation there was! Not a spider's web that was\r\nout of doors escaped the storm, which tore up even the strong-branched oak.\r\nBut ere long the lightning had gone by, the thunder was spent and\r\nsilent the rain was over, the western wind came up with its sweet\r\nbreath, the clouds were chased away, and the retreating storm threw a scarf of rainbows over her fair shoulders and resplendent neck,\r\nand looked back and smiled, and so withdrew and passed out of sight\r\nBut for weeks long the fields held up their hands full of ambrosial flowers, and all the summer through the grass was greener,' the\r\nbrooks were fuller, and the trees cast a more umbrageous shade,  because the storm passed by --though all the rest of the earth had long ago forgotten the storm, its rainbows and its rain. --Theodore  Parker.\r\nGod may not give us an easy journey to the Promised Land, but He will give us a safe one. --Bonar.\r\nIt was a storm that occasioned the discovery of the gold mines of India. Hath not a storm driven some to the discovery of the richer mines of the love of God in Christ?\r\n\r\nIs it raining, little flower? Be glad of rain;\r\nToo much sun would wither thee; 'Twill shine again.\r\nThe clouds are very black, 'tis true;\r\nBut just behind them shines the blue.\r\nArt thou weary, tender heart? Be glad of pain:\r\nIn sorrow sweetest virtues grow, As flowers in rain.\r\nGod watches, and thou wilt have sun,\r\nWhen clouds their perfect work have done. --Lucy Larcom.",1783499793111]