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About the Book
"Waiting for Morning" follows the story of Hannah Ryan, a young widow who must navigate grief and loss while raising her two young children. Amidst her struggles, Hannah finds hope and healing through unexpected friendships and the power of faith. The novel explores themes of love, forgiveness, and the strength that comes from trusting in God's plan.
Henry Alline
Henry Allineās early years
He was born and received his early education in Newport, Rhode Island and his family moved to Nova Scotia in 1760, when he was 12 years old. When he was nine he began to read theological works and became somewhat mystical, but after years of soul-searching and spiritual conflict he was powerfully converted in 1775, simultaneously receiving a call to the ministry.
Alone and desperate he prayed untilā¦āredeeming love broke into my soulā¦ with such power that my whole soul seemed to be melted down with loveā¦and my will turned of choice after the infinite God. A year later he began to preach.
His preaching career
His preaching career lasted until his death eight years later. He was an itinerant preacher in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in an ever-widening circuit, beginning what became known as the āNew Lightā movement and which is still the greatest revival that Canada has ever seen. He preached the new birth powerfully and effectively and his admirers compared him to George Whitefield and John the Baptist.
Considered an emotional and dangerous fanatic by some and a āravager of congregations,ā the Congregationalists withdrew his right to preach in their churches, so he spoke in barns, houses and the open air. In all he began eight āNew Lightā Congregational churches based on his non-Arminian but anti-Calvinist views of free-will and predestination, and his strong rejection of outward religious form.
Ironically, despite his indifference regarding baptism, his major 19th century influence was amongst the Baptists of eastern Canada, many of whom were his converts.
Despite possibly unorthodox views and methods, his ministry was without doubt that of an extraordinary revivalist.
Allineās sermon style was always simple and extemporary, using a few simple, understandable points to help the unchurched to grasp the simple truths of the gospel. As with other itinerant revivalists, his objective was to lead the hearers to a point of decision ā to accept or reject Christ as Saviour and Lord, which opened the door to the ānew birth.ā
Doubtless, his sermons were repeated over time, but he was never in one place long enough for his listeners to notice.
Alline also employed the ministry of prayer and of singing, writing many hymns which were helpful in communicating the gospel. A collection was gathered after his death and was reprinted at least four times in the United States, and several were included in the standard hymnals of the 19th century.
How God Impacts Our Money and Stuff
The love of money is more than dangerous ā itās spiritual suicide. The consistent warning of Scripture is that the people of God better watch their backs when it comes to the allure of financial gain (Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:10). Earning a stout salary can be a good thing, but what we do with those earnings is all important ā and the writer to the Hebrews can help us. In a list of practical exhortations, he writes, Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, āI will never leave you nor forsake you.ā (Hebrews 13:5) This is a simple verse, but the line of argument is astounding. Notice the first two lines. The commands parallel one another: keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Contentment and Freedom The commands look like different angles on the same posture. We are exhorted to free ourselves from the love of money (and its siren call to acquire more), and then, in the same spirit, weāre exhorted to be content with what we currently have. This latter command (ābe contentā) functions as a sort of development from the former. In order to really keep ourselves free from the love of money, we have to sincerely believe that what we already have is enough. Thereās food on the table and clothes on our back. Weāre going to be all right (1 Timothy 6:8). If we lack contentment ā if we are always thinking about what we want next ā then our orientation on money creeps along from value to veneration. Money becomes our ticket to more. It becomes our gateway to that thing that will give us what we think weāre missing, which means it becomes a hero. And anytime we attribute savior-like qualities to something, however subtle it might be, our affections are sure to follow. If we keep dreaming about what we donāt have, weāll soon be doing an adulterous rendezvous with the revenue. The most vehement traction against this slippery slope is too simply be okay with what you have. The writer to the Hebrews says to be content. Weāre good. Weāll be okay. We can pause our panting for more. And then he tells us why. He Is There Keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have, for [God] has said, āI will never leave you nor forsake you.ā The command for us to be free and content is grounded in Godās promise to always be there. The quotation here is taken from Joshua 1:5, but now carries an amplified meaning after the ascension of Jesus. In the Commission to his disciples, Jesus says clearly, āI am with you always, to the end of the ageā (Matthew 28:20). And as he told us about the Holy Spirit, āI will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you foreverā (John 14:16). We have the Trinitarian surety that wherever we are, God is there. Whatever circumstance, whether we have abundance or want (Philippians 4:11ā12), God is there and heās not leaving us. This might seem like a strange influence on our financial situation, but itās really not. The presence of God, as with so many other things, drastically alters our perspective on money and stuff. We donāt love money, and we are content with what we have, because we have God. We donāt love money, and we are content with what we have, because we have God. We can always say, no matter the state of our earthly assets, that āwe have a better possession and an abiding oneā (Hebrews 10:34). God is our portion (Psalm 73:26). He is a feast for our souls (Psalm 63:5). āI will never leave you nor forsake you,ā he says. Our treasure ā the most desirable Being in the universe ā is irreversibly committed to keeping us close forever. So yeah, money is just money, and what we already have is plenty. Article by Jonathan Parnell
