We must make our homes happy. Fine or luxurious they may not, need not be, but happy they must be at whatever cost. Gold, nor power, nor fame, can buy or command a substitute for this. If home-happiness could be bought like estates, the gold of all the Rothschilds would be a poor price to pay for this blessing. The lack of it is sorrow upon sorrow. The lack of it makes aching hearts that all the pleasures and riches and honors in the world cannot soothe. It is mockery, delusion, shame and madness when husbands and fathers turn from their homes to seek satisfaction in the glitter of gold, the charms of power, the fascinations of strange and unholy pleasures; when wives and mothers, ignorant of the true glory of their lives, forgetful of the holiest of all duties of womanhood, leave the delights that make every true home a "Paradise Regained," and seek contentment in the whirl of capricious living; when sons and daughters find in the outside world, attractions that outbid the endearments of home.

Passing through the streets of a Southern city one day we saw a poor laboring man lift up his little girl as he passed out of the gate, and kiss her a kind good-bye. That was the best thing in his whole day's work, although he knew it not.

We parents should labor and pray to make the "father's house" the last place our children wish to leave, and the place where they would like to die. Let it be to our children so happy a place that its sweet tones sound in their hearts when they are away at school, or gone out from us into the wide world beyond; that its memories, following them through prosperity or adversity, shall bring them back to us when sorrow has bowed them down, or temptation overtaken them. He whose heart is stayed in the love and holy faith of a happy Christian home may have many sorrows and disappointments, but he cannot be wholly crushed by adversity. He may be "troubled on every side," yet he will not "be distressed;" he may be "perplexed," but he will not be "in despair;" he may be "persecuted," yet he cannot be "forsaken;" he may be "cast down," yet he cannot be "destroyed."

Advancing our argument to a higher place, we must make our homes sacred. That they are cultivated and happy is not enough; to be perfect they must be sacred. And a Christian home is sacred, for it is a dwelling place of God. If we dig among the ruins of the dead and buried cities of the ancients, we will find memorials of their household worship. Even they had their household gods-even they had some sort of religion. But we do not want such homes as these, or the modern substitutes which are proposed in the place of true Christian homes. Christianity only, but Christianity fully, meets the highest and deepest wants of our nature. All the evil that is in us, it can take away; all the good we are capable of, it can implant and nurture. The Gospel plan of life is divinely perfect, for it provides for all the wants of our race in this world and in the world to come. And this blessed Gospel of Christ must be the law of life to the family, as well as to the individual. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, must learn from Christ the duties of their place, and receive from Him grace to discharge them.

All the truth in the world, outside the Word of God, cannot substitute one truth that is peculiar to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is not too much truth in the Gospel, as there is not too much light and heat in the sun. We can spare none of it, and yet there is enough for every duty, every relation, every condition of life. Every virtue and every grace that can establish and adorn the family life finds its root and support in the Gospel of Christ. The family that would live by another than the law of Christ robs itself of the most exalted privilege possible to humanity. And the home, where Jesus is most truly the Lord of all hearts, and the pattern of all lives, is most like heaven-of all places in the world.

If in making our homes happy we also make them sacred, we will have achieved for our households the utmost that is possible to us in this world. We will make them types of the heavenly homes that await the good.

And this feeling, that heaven is home, has its roots deep in our hearts. Our Redeemer sanctions the sentiment, and makes an appeal to our instinctive faith in its truthfulness: "Let not your hearts be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also."

OH-Bro. Murphey: I'm back home. I had a nice visit with the children, but it feels good to be home.

I am doing fine. There isn't any place here where I can go to church, so I get cassette tapes and play them. The Lord is taking care of my church at home, and for this I humbly praise Him. I really enjoy my tapes and the Faith and Victory paper.

Time for this world is running short, so may God bless all who are at the Print Shop, and in Guthrie also.

-Mary Vice

FL-Greetings in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord: First of all, I want to thank the Lord for His mercy, grace, love and longsuffering. I thank the Lord for restoring my soul to Him. On March 3, 1997, at 9:00 p.m., the Lord miraculously saved me.

The devil tricked me out of my salvation the last time, but by the grace of the living God, never again. The Lord helped me to understand that I could have lost my precious soul forever, never to be able to repent, but the prayers of the saints are the reason I am still here.

I want to ask forgiveness of all the saints of God, and anyone else that I have offended.

I would like for the saints to continue to pray for me and my family. It is good to be back with the precious Lord. I missed this peace and joy, and the songs of Zion.

Your brother in Christ Jesus, -Jackie Riley

TX-Dear Saints everywhere: Greetings of holy love in the magnificent name of Jesus. I would like to share a testimony for the glory and honor of God.

On March 24, Sis. Heather Reed called and asked us if we would be able to do her a favor. She was on the job, but was in need of a ride home. The Lord had blessed her to get to work, but her car was out of commission after she got there. We took her home and visited with her for a good while before we felt we needed to go home. But we had forgotten to go and get the part that she needed for her car to be fixed. She was going to go to the auto parts store by walking but we told her that we would take her there....

We had left our home about 4:30 p.m. and didn't return until about 7:45 or 8:00 p.m. When we got to our driveway, we noticed that our garage door was wide open. We had been gone over three hours and had left our garage door wide open. There have been some crimes committed in our neighborhood.

We went into our home and walked through it to see if anything was missing. Our door leading to the garage from the house only needs to be pushed and you are in. Our God whom we serve continually had sent His holy angels to watch over and protect our home while we were away.

We know that if we are faithful to Him He will be faithful to us.

Yours in the Kingdom of Peace,

-Sis. Melanie Francisco and children

KS-Dear Bro. Wayne and saints: Just a note to say that I am still pressing on the upward way. It is the only way to go. I am still on the winning side and I am very much encouraged to press the battle on and not sit down until I have won my crown. Living for God is such a sensible and intelligent way to live, and I wish all men everywhere would live a godly life. The world would certainly be a different place to live in, but alas, the Lord wants us to wish for and long for Heaven, and if it was too good down here we might get too contented with earth. Well, let us keep our eyes on the prize and our hand in the hand of Jesus.

-Sis. Shirley Knight

AL-Dear Bro. Wayne and co-workers: I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting everyone is well and happy.

Although I miss my husband very much, I know he is with Jesus. I want to meet him in Heaven some day.

Pray the Lord will help me to be strong to do and be what He wants me to be.

Remember my eyes in prayer. They are getting worse. I still have pain in my legs and back.

I want to thank everyone who has sent me comforting words of sympathy, called and prayed for me.

I love each one of you. Yours in Christ, -Sis. Pearlene Gerald

IN-Dear Bro. Murphey and others: Greetings in the name of the Lord. It is so great to be able to serve Him....

I have been through trying times lately, but I have learned one thing-it is best to lay our burdens at the feet of the Lord.

Please pray for me. My left knee has been giving me much trouble.

May you all be blessed.

Yours in Christ,

-Christopher Rothbauer

OR-Dear Bro. Wayne and all at the Print Shop: Once again we send you greetings in Jesus' name. We trust all there are well and prospering in your service to the Lord. We receive a blessing each month when we receive the Faith and Victory and pray for all the needs that are expressed in it.

Ruby Fern Johnson and I were married in Martinez, California, on March 10th. We will be living here in Oregon for four or five months more, and then we plan to move to California to the retirement complex where Ruby has been living. We surely thank the dear Lord for His love for us, and the love we have for each other.

We pray God's richest blessings on all there.

"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." Psa. 40:3.

It is a real puzzle how that sadness and gloom is often associated with religion, especially since a record of singing is scattered throughout all of the Bible.

For instance, Solomon wrote one thousand and five songs. (I Kings 4:32.) In the temple worship, many of the Levites were set apart for nothing else save the singing of the Lord's song. Even in the book of judgment, Revelation, the quality of joy in salvation is not overlooked, for there are ten songs sung by eight different groups. (Rev. 4:8-11; 5:8-14; 7:9-12.)

The "new song" begins with redemption, (Rev. 14:3) and is enriched when we consecrate ourselves to the Lord. "And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel." II Chronicles 29:27. The burnt offering was an emblem of consecration. There is no way to describe the feeling of grace which flows through your soul when your longings, dreams and all that you possess are consumed in consecration to God.

Have you ever considered that it is only the small birds that sing? Crows, turkeys, eagles, etc., produce an obnoxious sound that contains not a note of music. Likewise, we must remain small in our own estimation if we are to sing a song that is pleasant to the Lord.

We were blessed to be at the singspiration held at the Shawnee, OK chapel on April 12. A good number of the saints gathered in, and along with the special singing, many inspired impromptu songs were sung. God's name was truly glorified and there was present a real spirit of joy in the Lord.

Don't let May 11 pass without considering Mother's Day and being thankful for the positive influence your mother had on you.

How our culture fares depends a great deal on those who fill the role of motherhood well. Those mothers who give their children a strong sense of self-worth and security by taking time to love them and make them feel special, are engaged in a godly calling that is just as valuable as any other pursuit.

April 4 was marked with sadness at the passing of Sis. Cornelia Williams of Wichita, KS. Her humble devotion to the Lord will be greatly missed by the saints. It seemed that she was a link to her husband, Bro. Louis Williams, who went to be with the Lord several years ago, and whose shining countenance brightened the camp of the saints many times. Our condolences are extended to Sis. Cornelia's family.

It is nearing one year since we started building the new Print Shop. On May 21,1996, we poured the footing for the foundation. It is amazing in our eyes what God has enabled to be accomplished in the past 12 months, and it gives us confidence that He will complete what He has begun. In next month's Faith and Victory, we hope to be able to offer the saints an idea of what it will take to finish this project.

We would like to remind our readers that there are hundreds of different books and tracts available at this publishing house. If you are unfamiliar with what we print, please write and request a book and tract list. A free sample of tracts is also available.

Although we mail out many books and tracts, we still carry a burden that more might be done for our Lord. There are many souls who have yet to be challenged by the Word of God. We ask each of you who love the truth to pray with us for God's guidance in our labors and for us to be effective in reaching hungry hearts. -Wayne Murphey