California by Walter Harper

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 20, 1903

California

By Walter Harper

I LEFT Healdsburg, Cal., May 31, for Willits, and in spite of sadness of heart and bodily affliction (I was suffering from an accident), my soul was cheered by the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. I experienced joy in grief, hope in sorrow, and the cheer and sweetness of God's sustaining presence amid darkness and perplexity. The first day at or near Willits, I did not begin work until about 4 P. M., yet it was manifest that the Lord was working in my behalf. By about eight o'clock I had been favored with seventeen orders, or thirty dollars' worth.

The next day grand success followed. O how precious, in all these long weeks intervening, God has been to me! It seems as if the glory of his countenance was lifted upon me, and the light of heaven, the blessed companionship of holy angels, marked my path. How good it is to seek the Lord, and draw near to him! See James 4:8-10, also I Peter 5:6, 7.

I will pass over happy experiences, as the numerous tokens of God's tender love, care, and keeping power, to my work this past week. This morning found me several miles from Westport, Cal., my stopping place at present. It being Friday, the preparation day, I started for home, on the way taking orders to the amount of thirty dollars. Yesterday I was favored with twenty-eight orders for books, helps, etc., amounting to fifty-five or sixty dollars in value. During the day I called at a small cabin, where several men were assembled at the noon hour, and inside of forty minutes the Lord gave me eight orders in that one room for books, helps, etc., or $17.75 worth. Three of the orders were for Swedish “Patriarchs and Prophets.” My orders for the entire week amount to $230.

I can only exalt and honor my Father above for it all. His is all the glory and praise. God only can crown our efforts with success. Without him all would be a failure in this work. I am impressed more and more that all our success depends wholly upon the Lord. It is true that we must do all that we can, yet apart from the Lord our efforts would avail nothing. In trying and difficult positions, when brought into strait places, and when sorely distressed in body, soul, and spirit, I go to God in prayer and fasting, and wrestle with him earnestly for victory; and he does hear and answer, and bring glorious victories and triumphs; my soul is refreshed; I am fed with the heavenly manna. His grace is precious to the human heart. When Satan would plot and plan to crush, dishearten, and discourage by bringing in trials, troubles, and heartaches, it is then I find that the Lord, by his Spirit, lifts up a standard against the enemy, and puts him to flight, and our God triumphs gloriously. O praise the Lord for his great goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! WALTER HARPER.