Hello!

After years of earnest effort to gather and prepare for publication the Complete Works of Frances Ridley Havergal, the edition is virtually finished, ready for printers to make the books. Now we are proceeding to seek to make people aware of the true, great treasure in Havergal's works, and to bring out into the world the edition that is ready to publish. This is the first e-mail (except for a preliminary one before Easter) to be sent to the list of people interested in the Havergal project. (If a mistake has been made, or if you want to be removed from this list, an “unsubscribe” link is provided below for that.)

   We need the Lord's help, His grace, His wisdom, His strength. We need Him to do this work. Would you please pray for that?

   With each e-mail, there is to be a piece by F.R.H., a poem, a quotation from her correspondence, or a prose piece. For this first one, her poem “God the Provider” is given.
      God the Provider

“My God shall supply all your need, according
to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Who shall tell our untold need,
   Deeply felt, though scarcely known!
Who the hungering soul can feed,
   Guard, and guide, but God alone?
Blessèd promise! while we see
Earthly friends must powerless be,
Earthly fountains quickly dry:
“God” shall all your need supply.

He hath said it! so we know
   Nothing less can we receive.
Oh that thankful love may glow
   While we restfully believe,—
Ask not how, but trust Him still;
Ask not when, but wait His will:
Simply on His word rely,
God “shall” all your need supply.

Through the whole of life's long way,
   Outward, inward need we trace;
Need arising day by day,
   Patience, wisdom, strength, and grace.
Needing Jesus most of all,
Full of need, on Him we call;
Then how gracious His reply,
God shall “all” your need supply.

Great our need, but greater far
   Is our Father's loving power;
He upholds each mighty star,
   He unfolds each tiny flower.
He who numbers every hair,
Earnest of His faithful care,
Gave His Son for us to die;
God shall all “your” need supply.

Yet we often vainly plead
   For a fancied good denied,
What we deemed a pressing need
   Still remaining unsupplied.
Yet from dangers all concealed,
Thus our wisest Friend doth shield;
No good thing will He deny,
God shall all your “need” supply.

Can we count redemptions's treasure,
   Scan the glory of God's love?
Such shall be the boundless measure
   Of His blessings from above.
All we ask or think, and more,
He will give in bounteous store,—
He can fill and satisfy!
God shall all your need “supply.” 1

One the channel, deep and broad,
   From the Fountain of the Throne,
Christ the Saviour, Son of God,
   Blessings flow though Him alone.
He, the Faithful and the True,
Brings us mercies ever new:
Till we reach His home on high,
“God shall all your need supply.”

   1 The Greek word is much stronger than the English,—“will supply to the full,” “fill up,” “satisfy.”

Frances Ridley Havergal, January, 1866
“Frances Ridley Havergal, was one of the most gifted poets ever to write for the Christian church. To this day some of her hymns are sung and loved all over the world yet much of her no-less valuable writing and poetry has long been scarce and little known. I am thankful that the Havergal Trust has been founded to remedy this lack and the Havergal books that they have already so attractively brought back into circulation deserve to be widely known. They show unusual natural gifts wedded to a strong evangelical theology, and like all the foremost Christian writers she speaks to the heart as well as to the mind.”  Rev. Iain H. Murray

Rev. Iain H. Murray found this in a biography: In Reminiscences of C. H. Spurgeon (London: Religious Tract Society, 1895, pages 80-81), the author, William Williams, says that Spurgeon's eyes “sparkled with delight” as he read Havergal’s verse, “From glory unto glory” and S said of her;

“There is a centre to every storm where perfect calm reigns. There is a point within the circle of the most consuming flame where life is possible without any danger to its being consumed. Miss Havergal seems to me to have got into the very centre of the storms that are disturbing others, and abides in perfect peace. She seems to have penetrated to the very heart of God who is a consuming fire, and rests absolutely in His love. She could never have written as she has except for an extraordinary intimacy with God.”


This is a copy of a painted piece that Frances wanted to be hung on the wall near her bed, in her final illness at the end of her life. Her sister, Maria, wrote, “In the afternoon Frances said, ‘Fetch me Mary Fay’s card, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever,” and bring a nail. I can see those nice large letters, and put it quite straight under Helga’s “Glacier” [another painting by her friend, the Baroness Helga von Cramm].’” This was found in The Last Week by Maria Vernon Graham Havergal (London: James Nisbet & Co., 1879), an account of Frances’ final illness and death.
At the top Maria wrote “F.R.H.’s life motto!” and at the right end “the original designed & painted by Mary Kay, F.R.H.’s Irish friend.”

For this first e-mail, you are invited to download a high-resolution photograph of this plaque, either a PDF or a TIF file.
Sincerely, 
David Chalkley
editor of the Havergal edition

Much work has been done by a number of people to make F.R.H.’s works available to many. There is life in these pages, and the reality of Jesus Christ. These works truly glorify the Lord, and help, encourage, enrich His people. There are also parts of this that are very clear, compassionate, powerful presentations of the truth to people who have not yet been saved. If you see the value in these works, please tell others who might be interested in this. We have no desire to become rich or famous from this, not a trace. Our desire is that these works be widely disseminated, for the Lord's glory and the good of His people.

We would be glad to hear from you. Please write to us by hitting reply to this email or via our website.


(If a mistake has been made, or if you want to be removed from this list, an “unsubscribe” link is provided below for that.)
Havergal Trust | Website