For a man to argue, 'I don't go to church; I pray alone,' is no wiser than if he should say, 'I have no use for symphonies; I believe only in solo music.' George Arthur Buttrick More Quotes by George Arthur Buttrick More Quotes From George Arthur Buttrick God's providence is not in baskets lowered from the sky, but through the hands and hearts of those who love him. The lad without food and without shoes made the proper answer to the cruel-minded woman who asked, "But if God loved you wouldn't he send you food and shoes?" The boy replied, "God told someone, but he forgot." George Arthur Buttrick spiritual heart boys Intercession is more than specific: it is pondered: it requires us to bear on our heart the burden of those for whom we pray. George Arthur Buttrick praying bears heart Prayer is not a substitute for work, thinking, watching, suffering, or giving; prayer is a support for all other efforts. George Arthur Buttrick prayer giving thinking Prayer is not a vain attempt to change God's will; it is a filial desire to learn God's will and to share it. Prayer is not a substitute for work: it is the secret spring and indispensable ally of all true work. George Arthur Buttrick secret prayer spring Prayer is listening as well as speaking, receiving as well as asking; and its deepest mood is friendship held in reverence. So the daily prayer should end as it begins - in adoration. George Arthur Buttrick receiving prayer listening It appears that when life is broken by tragedy God shines through the breach. George Arthur Buttrick adversity shining broken Life is essentially a series of events to be lived through rather than intellectual riddles to be played with and solved. George Arthur Buttrick events intellectual life-is Faith is the response of our spirits to beckonings of the eternal. George Arthur Buttrick beckoning response spirit We need deliberately to call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world. George Arthur Buttrick gratitude journey writing