Ann Preston was a simple Irish lady who lived nearly 100 years ago. Her education began and ended in little more than a week, but in that time she exhausted the patience of her teacher. After many vain attempts to teach Ann the first letters of the alphabet, he gave her a tap upon the head as he remarked before the class, "Poor Ann! She can never learn anything." With this he sent her home in disgrace. 

After we began Women Alive! magazine, I would go to the post office each day, eager to see what was in our mail box. I began to notice that on the days many subscriptions arrived it was easier to rejoice than on the days when there were few. This bothered me. If I were really trusting the Lord, if this were His work and not mine, should it matter what came in the mail?

Rees Howells founded a mission in which many were brought to Christ. After three years, Satan tempted his co-worker, "Unless you leave Rees Howells, you'll never be at your best. You need to have a work of your own."

One night during devotions when I was a high school student living in a Bible school dorm, a strong insistent voice began throwing accusations into my mind. I was so troubled that the next morning I told a teacher about the experience. 

A theologian once said that the greatest mystery, second only to the mystery of the Trinity, is the mystery of God's Spirit living within us who have invited Jesus into our hearts. The apostle Paul states the possibility again and again: "Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). "We are the temple of the living God" (2 Corinthians 6:16). "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Some years ago, my husband and I had opportunity to see if doing God's will was enough to make us happy. We had lived in the same house for over 26 years. One week we decided that we need more space and perhaps it was time to move. Within five days we had signed a contract for a house. We were so excited to find this home that appeared to match our needs perfectly. 

While reading comments on Psalm 149 in Spurgeon's Treasury of David, I gained a new perspective on why the Lord so frequently calls us to praise Him--or rather an old perspective. Spurgeon had included a sermon preached by Samuel Fairclough in 1650, so the insight was hardly new. The sermon was titled "The Prisoner's Praise:"