Tuesday 31 May 2011

(It's not a song! It's a poem!) Only One Life.

Only One Life
By Charles Thomas Studd, Missionary to China, India, and Africa

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all”;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

I'd heard some of it before reading it today, but it's really challenging so I thought it was worth repeating!!

Saturday 21 May 2011

Another song (surprise surprise)!

Here's a song I've heard and sung a few times and I really like. It's by Flora Visser and it is to the tune of How Great Thou Art (it's quite challenging too!).

Oh, when I think of Thy dear people, Israel
Who have not heard the sound of Thy sweet name
Who know not of Thy wondrous work at Calvary
And know not how Thy saving grace to claim
Then cries my heart, "oh, teach me Lord to care
Until they know how great Thou art"
Then cries my heart, "oh, teach me Lord to care
Until they know how great Thou art."

Oh, when I think of empty strict traditions
Which brings no life nor hope of Thy dear love
Still they are blind and do not hear Thee calling
Thy Word alone can bring men sight and hope
Then cries my heart, "oh, make us go and tell
Of Jesus whom we love so well"
Then cries my heart, "oh, make us go and tell
Of Jesus whom we love so well."

Oh, when they come to knowledge of Messiah
And they believe that Jesus died to save
And as they feel His grace imparted to them
Then His great love will fill their hearts with praise
Then they will sing with us Thy glorious praise
"How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!"
Then they will sing with us Thy glorious praise
"How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!"



Hope you enjoy it too!

Monday 16 May 2011

Corrie Ten Boom

http://www.sandagerpresentations.com
I've been greatly blessed watching Susie Sandager presenting a one-woman dramatization of the life of Corrie Ten Boom in Morecambe, Kendal and Preston and they're really fantastic! I even got to help "steward" and be on the "CD (etc) stall".
If you haven't heard her story, (she wrote "the Hiding Place") it's well worth a read (or you could watch the film!) and extremely challenging.
Enjoy!

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Evening by Evening for May 10th

"The only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
- John_1:14
Believer, you can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, "He is divine to me, if he be human to all the world beside. He has done that for me which none but a God could do. He has subdued my stubborn will, melted a heart of adamant, opened gates of brass, and snapped bars of iron. He hath turned for me my mourning into laughter, and my desolation into joy; he hath led my captivity captive, and made my heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Let others think as they will of him, to me he must be the only begotten of the Father: blessed be his name. And he is full of grace. Ah! had he not been I should never have been saved. He drew me when I struggled to escape from his grace; and when at last I came all trembling like a condemned culprit to his mercy-seat he said, ‘Thy sins which are many are all forgiven thee: be of good cheer.’ And he is full of truth. True have his promises been, not one has failed. I bear witness that never servant had such a master as I have; never brother such a kinsman as he has been to me; never spouse such a husband as Christ has been to my soul; never sinner a better Saviour; never mourner a better comforter than Christ hath been to my spirit. I want none beside him. In life he is my life, and in death he shall be the death of death; in poverty Christ is my riches; in sickness he makes my bed; in darkness he is my star, and in brightness he is my sun; he is the manna of the camp in the wilderness, and he shall be the new corn of the host when they come to Canaan. Jesus is to me all grace and no wrath, all truth and no falsehood: and of truth and grace he is full, infinitely full. My soul, this night, bless with all thy might ‘the only Begotten.’"
These evening devotionals have really blessed me these last few days and weeks. I hope you find them a blessing too.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

A very present help

I read this yesterday and wanted to share it with you. It's from Charles Spurgeon's devotional, Evening by Evening.
“A very present help.”
- Psalm_46:1
Covenant blessings are not meant to be looked at only, but to be appropriated. Even our Lord Jesus is given to us for our present use. Believer, thou dost not make use of Christ as thou oughtest to do. When thou art in trouble, why dost thou not tell him all thy grief? Has he not a sympathizing heart, and can he not comfort and relieve thee? No, thou art going about to all thy friends, save thy best Friend, and telling thy tale everywhere except into the bosom of thy Lord. Art thou burdened with this day’s sins? Here is a fountain filled with blood: use it, saint, use it. Has a sense of guilt returned upon thee? The pardoning grace of Jesus may be proved again and again. Come to him at once for cleansing. Dost thou deplore thy weakness? He is thy strength: why not lean upon him? Dost thou feel naked? Come hither, soul; put on the robe of Jesus’ righteousness. Stand not looking at it, but wear it. Strip off thine own righteousness, and thine own fears too: put on the fair white linen, for it was meant to wear. Dost thou feel thyself sick? Pull the night-bell of prayer, and call up the Beloved Physician! He will give the cordial that will revive thee. Thou art poor, but then thou hast “a kinsman, a mighty man of wealth.” What! wilt thou not go to him, and ask him to give thee of his abundance, when he has given thee this promise, that thou shalt be joint heir with him, and has made over all that he is and all that he has to be thine? There is nothing Christ dislikes more than for his people to make a show-thing of him, and not to use him. He loves to be employed by us. The more burdens we put on his shoulders, the more precious will he be to us.
How true and how precious He is!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.