The Condition of the Heart - (Updated 9/29/13)

(Originally written 2/27/10...one of my very first blog posts)

Proverbs 12:25: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad."

Proverbs 14:30: "A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones."

Proverbs 15:13: "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22: "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."

Nowadays the grocery stores are full of "heart-smart" foods, and there is much emphasis on being "heart-smart"....in other words, eliminate cholesterol and fat from your diet, eat properly, exercise regularly, and take care of your heart! I recently had my cholesterol checked, and discovered that is was much higher than it ought to be. Of course, when we get over the age of fifty, nearly everything is higher than it ought to be...weight, blood pressure, body-fat composition, our unpaid bills...etc. About the only thing that isn't as high as it ought to be is our bank balance!

This is me with my oldest son, off on a morning walk to try and get back in
shape!  (9/28/2013)  The blaze orange vests are because hunting
season is starting and we don't want to be mistaken for deer. 

But back to the heart...as I read over the above Proverbs, I had to agree with the writer in every situation...the condition of my heart has a lot to do with the attitude of my heart. If we have anxiety in our hearts, we will become depressed...but when someone shares a word of encouragement with us, or we read in God's Word His encouraging words, it helps to dispel our anxieties and depression. Our fears are taken away, and our countenance changes to joy. Likewise, if we have envy or jealousy in our hearts, we become bitter and critical of others. We begin to complain about the "breaks" that others seem to get, while we suffer away, stuck in our little mundane world of mediocrity. It does become like rottenness inside of us, eating away at our hearts and making us very unpleasant people to be around. A broken spirit is not really a positive thing in this particular instance. Certainly we are not to have a haughty and proud spirit either, but what I believe is being referred to here is a spirit that is so defeated and cast down that the person just cannot or will not overcome it. We begin to literally dry up, shrivel up, if you please, and are no longer able to maintain a cheerful countenance. Our faces become permanently fixed into a frown, and it looks as if the whole face would crack if we tried to smile!

Have you truly looked at yourself in the mirror lately? What did you see? A cheerful face? A person ready to face the new day with joyous anticipation...or with dread and anxiety? Is it easy to smile at yourself in the mirror and laugh at your crows' feet that are appearing...or is there a frown that just won't go away, even with a concerted effort? Often when I am going through some difficult trials, I find that my face actually beings to hurt. The jaws become sore and painful from clenching my teeth and grinding them in my sleep. My jowls begin to droop, and my lips turn downward in a tight frown. The space between my eyebrows becomes tightly furrowed and compressed, and my eyes tend to squint and tighten. Then when I even try to smile, it actually is painful. The muscles won't cooperate because they have been forced in the other direction too long. By the sorrow of my heart, my spirit is broken. By the envy I feel for others, my bones begin to ache and rot. They actually feel like they are dry and cracking. My heart becomes heavy with depression because of my anxiety, and I no longer feel the joy of living. It's quite an ugly picture, I agree.

What can be done to bring back the joy...the merry heart, and the cheerful countenance? Must I just wait until the trial is over, or can I experience joy in the midst of sorrow? First, I must determine the source of the sorrow...is it self-induced by envy, needless anxiety, bitterness, fear? If so, I need to get to the root of the trouble. If there is unconfessed sin, confess it. If there is unforgiveness, forgive. But if the trial is brought on by the fact that you are who you are, a servant of God, then cast your care upon the Lord...know that He cares for you (I Peter 5:7) "Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."(I Peter 4:13)

And SMILE!  :)

Let your heart become a good medicine to bring back the cheerful countenance and dispel the gloom! Remember, God is able!

"I Will NEVER Leave You Nor Forsake You!" Recycled

I just re-read this and felt like it needed to be said again...someone out there needs to hear this. I needed to hear it too.  Maybe this is for you today.

(Originally posted on 4/7/10 - when we had just learned that our son Matthew was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer.  Thankfully, 3 1/2 yrs. later he is still hanging in there, fighting this battle valiantly...but still in need of our prayers. Thank you to many of you who have been those prayer warriors, standing in the gap for us over these years. We thank God for you.)

Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you."  Verse 6 says, "So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will NOT FEAR; What can man do to me?'" 

Then skip down to verse 8:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

I could probably just stop right there and not write another word.  There really isn't anything better that I can add to that.  Jesus Christ is the same as He was 2000 years ago, when He walked upon the earth and went about doing good, giving sight to the blind, healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, and the deaf to hear. (See Matthew 11:5 and Isaiah 35:5-6) 

We may not be able to see Him physically, but we sure know He's here working...We see Him in the faces of many friends and even strangers, doctors and nurses, pastors and teachers, neighbors and co-workers, faces on facebook, and messengers on email...bringing comfort and hope and words of encouragement and answers to questions; bringing a cup of cold water to a dry and thirsty soul, sending hugs and kisses and saying prayers, and even having "little chats" with Jesus...these are the ways that God is blessing us through YOU!  That's how Jesus works today...through the people He has encouraged and motivated to be His ambassadors of hope and love...some may even be unwilling vessels, at least in their own minds, and yet God has chosen them to be a vessel of His love and grace and mercy to those of us who are hurting and uncertain of what lies ahead.

Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us...He sent His comforter, The Holy Spirit, to indwell us and teach us and carry us when we can't keep going in our own strength. And He sent YOU. 

Thank you, dear friends, for your love. It means the world to us.

"We give thanks to God always for you, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father."  Amen.

(I Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Matt and his sweet family

"Morning Has Broken"

Thought you'd enjoy hearing the birds singing from my morning walk today.

"Morning has broken like the first morning,

Blackbird has spoken

Like the first bird

Praise for the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing

Fresh from the Word!"

"Sweet the rain's new fall

Sunlit from heaven,

Like the first dew-fall

On the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness 

Of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness

Where His feet pass."

"Mine is the sunlight!

Mine is the morning

Born of the one Light

Eden saw play!

Praise with elation,

Praise every morning,

God's re-creation of the new day!"

Song written by Eleanor Farjeon, Mursic: Traditional Gaelic Melody

Morning Glory

"My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up."

Psalm 5:3

Sing along with me as I give glory to God during my

early Sunday morning walk:

"When Morning Gilds the Skies"

"When morning gilds the skies,

My heart awaking cries,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Alike at work and prayer,

To Jesus I repair;

May Jesus Christ be praised!"

"To Thee, O God above,

I cry with glowing love,

May Jesus Christ be praised:

The song of sacred joy,

It never seems to cloy;

May Jesus Christ be praised!"

"Does sadness fill my mind,

A solace here I find;

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Or fades my earthly bliss,

My comfort still is this;

May Jesus Christ be praised!"

"Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine;

May Jesus Christ be praised:

Be this th' eternal song,

Through all the ages long:

May Jesus Christ be praised!"

Amen.

Edward Caswall, 1814-1878 ~ Joseph Barnby, 1838-1896

"

Update on It's Harvest Time...Reposted for RJD

Today is Random Journal Day, which means that many of my blogging friends are digging into old journals and posting their personal "blasts from the past" for you to enjoy.  This particular post I have already had on here before, but the content is drawn largely from my old journal writings from many years ago, so I believe it qualifies for "Random Journal Day".

I just noticed that the leaves are starting fall from my sycamore trees in the front of our house, so even though it isn't autumn yet technically, it has started.

This is a repost just for the "Fall Lovers" out there... like me...who are stuck in Florida where true autumn doesn't really exist except in our minds and hearts!!


Nothing like being buried in the Autumn leaves!
My three sons... (Scott, Benton, and Matthew)...many moons ago...How I wish I could go back there again...
 (Nova, Ohio, 1979...wow...where did the years go?)

My Youngest Son (Scott) now...planting fall mums for his "Mum" (me) on my birthday! (this picture was from 2011..another time, another house)

Proverbs 31:16: "She considers a field and buys it. From her profits she plants a vineyard."

I must say I've considered lots of fields and have often wished to buy them, but, alas, right now our field is of a different form. It can't be bought and sold. It's the field of the Lord, and it is "already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)

Quite a few years ago when we lived up north, our favorite thing to do on a fall Saturday morning was to get up early and get a cup of coffee and tea and a bite of breakfast at the local drive-thru, and take a nice slow ride out into the country. After a hectic week of planning sermons, visiting the sick, elderly, and newcomers, (my husband's job); preparing the bulletin, typing letters, and attending ladies' meetings, taking care of the family at home and the church family, etc....(my job), it was so refreshing to just get away from the phone, the traffic, and hustle bustle of our modern suburban living and get out into the country where people really know how to live! Our favorite route passed by many small farmsteads with fields of corn or hay or soybeans ready for the harvest. We usually wound up at one of the many local apple orchards for a cup of hot cider and fresh warm donuts and a brisk walk through the orchard. The apple farmers were just as busy as the grain farmers gathering in their crops before the winter. It's such a joyful time of year. People are excited about gathering pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn, and other fall decorations to bring the beautiful fall colors into their homes. The big thing in that area was for kids to take a wagon ride out to the "pumpkin patch" and pick their very own pumpkins. I saw a lot of adults rather enjoyed it as well.  Here in Florida we don't see the real live pumpkin patch like you do up north, but we do have pumpkin patches where the pumpkins have been trucked in from other places so the kids can still have that fun experience.

Deep in my heart I longed to just linger on the farm and become a part of it. I guess because I was born on a farm I've never gotten it out of my system. The sounds, smells, and activities of farm life really make me hunger for that kind of life. But God has called me to a different kind of farm, and a different harvest field. The crop is far greater than corn or wheat or apples. It is the souls of men and women and children. Although I don't think that my particular spiritual gift is "soul-winning", there are many steps that must be taken before the harvest can be reaped. Someone must plow the field, others must plant the seed, still more are needed to water the seed and yet others must pull the weeds and watch for pests who come to destroy. All are an integral part of God's plan, and none are more important than the others.

Christ said in John 4:36-38 that "he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."

Maybe someday I'll be able to buy that field and plant a vineyard, and even though we are no longer in "the ministry" in the same way as we were in years before, I still remain in God's  harvest field and must do my part to prepare the way for His return. Perhaps someday you and I will rejoice together as sowers and reapers who have seen the fruit gathered in for eternal life! That will be a glorious day!

Matthew 9:37-38 "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

 

Isaiah 6:8 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"

 

Are you willing to go out into God's harvest field today? He may be calling you!

This was on my Grandpa's farm back in the early 1940's. My Grandma Tedlie is on the far right. The other people are some of my cousins and my Aunt Belle. It was harvest time. Most of these people are already enjoying their eternal reward in heaven.

Now That's What I Call Autumn Leaves!

I hope you enjoyed these gleanings from the memories of my past. May your harvest days be full of joy and blessings and peace.

Now skip on over to my friends at http://beneaththesurface-dawn.blogspot.com/2013/09/random-journal-day-link-up-september.html and see what memories they have stirred up.

Just Dance

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth.”

 Quote by: William_W_Purkey

Photos by Pamela M. Steiner, all rights reserved

Have a blessed and Happy Labor Day

and 

Just dance!!!

Walk Away

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

'This is the way, walk in it,'

Whenever you turn to the right hand 

or whenever you turn to the left."

Isaiah 30:21

As seen recently on Facebook.com

If you regularly follow this blog, you may remember that I recently wrote a post about a new possibility  for our lives...a possibility of an "open window" of ministry opportunity primarily for my husband, but one that would affect our family as well.  I was expressing my own concerns and a bit of anxiety over the added "commitment of time, energy and love" that this would involve as I learned to "stretch my loving" beyond my present sphere of life. I also stated, "I just have to learn to listen to HIS VOICE...and know when it is God calling me as opposed to when it is the expectation of others calling me."

Well, God spoke, and we listened. I say "we", meaning my husband and I. And when God spoke, He did not encourage us to move forward with this "opportunity", but to "walk away".  I want you to know that it took courage to do that. However, we both realized that not to walk away would have caused more than just some "concern and trepidation".  It could have meant disaster for us in more ways than one.  The day we made this decision to "walk away" I saw this little sign on Facebook.com that I have inserted here to my right. This message was a word of confirmation to me that we had made the right decision, even though it was difficult to do so.

Having served for many years in one kind of ministry or other, we are people who take these commitments seriously.  We don't just move from one thing to another without much prayer and a type of "fasting"...fasting of the soul, fasting of the heart, fasting of the mind.  We search our hearts to be sure we are listening to the right voice...not the voices of others' expectations, guilt laden thoughts, desires to further our own little kingdom here on earth...but THE VOICE of God,  that "word behind you, saying, 'THIS IS THE WAY, WALK IN IT...' "     and if we can't hear that voice clearly, then we need to stop, look, and listen a little more closely. To not heed that voice could mean imminent disaster.  I speak from experience. 

I think this is good advice even if the possible "opportunity" is not especially a ministry...but perhaps any kind of new employment, relationship, activity or other event that may have the potential to lead you in a different direction other than your present situation. Take the time to count the cost of any new venture, whether the cost be regarding finances, time, energy, or physical/emotional involvement.  If you are not certain you will have the resources available that are necessary to complete the task before you...and it is not really a matter of "faith" that God will provide, but a matter of recognizing possible danger signs that to move ahead could be perilous to your health and home, then wisdom says it is better to "walk away".  

I really like what that little sign above says, "walking away, with  your head held high is dignity."  There is no shame in walking away from a situation that you know would only cause serious hurt or sorrow to you in one way or another. Yes, I know there are many situations that we ought to hang tough and stick it out...but in this case, I am speaking about reading the danger signs ahead, and listening to the VOICE of reason...i.e., GOD'S VOICE, and trusting Him to guide you in the right path. It does take courage, and a lot of faith that you are making the right choice, but when you have any doubts at all about moving forward, it is better to wait and take time to listen for that still small voice telling you which way to go. It could save you and possibly others a whole lot of heartache later.

So, sometimes those "Closed Doors" are not all bad.  And not every window should be opened. But when it is right, you will know it, if you are listening to the right "voice".

What do YOU need to walk away from today? Be sure to pray and give God a chance to speak to you before you make any decisions...and then, if that is what you believe God is saying to your heart, "Walk Away"....with your head held high.

May you have God's peace and blessing in your heart and life today. Amen.

Stretching My Love

"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left..." Isaiah 54:2-3a  

Illustration showing the successive stages in the erection of a tent.  The tent would be made of goatshair cloth.

(Ralph Gower, The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times)

In this morning's devotional reading at home before breakfast I read the following verse from Luke 13:29:

"They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, 

and sit down in the kingdom of God."

And after that my husband had the opportunity to preach at a little country church not too far from our home with the possibility that he may be extended a call to become their pastor.  It's been a few years since he has served in that capacity; as a matter of fact, it has been so long that his favorite suit did not fit when he tried to get into it this morning...and I didn't even have a pair of pantyhose without runs in them, so we went "casual"...which was actually fine, since everyone else was "casual" as well. Do you know that some stores don't even carry pantyhose anymore? Whatever happened to the racks of  "L'eggs" in every store? And when did they stop putting them in those neat little egg shell containers?

Remember them? I don't wear dresses very often these days, and I don't have the kind of legs that should be seen bare in church. When you work indoors all the time and don't get out in the sun much, people have to put on sunglasses to look at my white legs. But, I digress...this is not sounding very spiritual for a potential pastor's wife.

In thinking about this possibility of entering back into the arena of full time ministry, I do so with some concern and "trepidation".  Not fear so much as careful consideration. There are many things to consider. It is a commitment of time, energy, and love.  Yes, love.  If you don't have love for the people you are serving, it will be a very difficult place to be. I know that not everyone is always easy to love. Sometimes, believe it or not dear friends, even I am not easy to love! Just ask my family. If they are honest, they will say that's true.  (Okay, hubby and kids, you don't have to be so quick to agree!)  But I want to be honest myself...I know that I do not always love others the way I should. There are times that I can be too quick to judge by appearance or circumstances and think unlovely thoughts about others. I can be selfish with my time and my energies and gifts. I can withhold my acts of involvement because I just don't want to get involved...or I am too tired, too busy, or too "I just don't want to do that today".  I am human. I need God's help to be all that HE wants me to be.

Guess what?  I believe God just wants me to be me.  I really don't have to perform a certain way or do things that I really am not qualified or trained to do. But I do have to let God love through me. If He has called me to this place...He will give me the grace and strength and energy I need to do whatever it is He asks me to do. I just have to learn to listen to HIS VOICE...and know when it is God calling me as opposed to when it is the expectation of others calling me.  I will need a lot of discernment...and love.

The closing "prayer" of the little devotional I was reading this morning was actually written by a "Sister" Melannie Svoboda...yes, a "Sister" as in a "Nun", one who has committed her life to service for Christ. (No, I am not a Catholic, but that doesn't matter. We are sisters in Christ.) This is what she prayed:

"Inclusive God, stretch my loving beyond where it is today."

I like that. I need that. Even if we don't receive the call to serve in this ministry, I still need to learn to "stretch my loving beyond where it is today."  Trust me, I really do need that.  I need to be prepared to "Enlarge the place of my tent..." because things just might be getting busier and fuller in the days to come. And I need to get a new pair of "L'eggs" really soon.

How about you? What might God be calling YOU to do today?

For more about our history in the ministry click here

Miry Clay

Does anyone else remember singing this old Spiritual, "He Took My Feet From the Miry Clay"?

"He took my feet from the miry clay,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

And placed them on the rock to stay,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

I can tell the world about this,

I can tell the nations I’m blest,

Tell them that Jesus made me whole,

And He brought joy, joy to my soul!

O my Lord did just what He said,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

He healed the sick and He raised the dead,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

O Jesus washed my sins away,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

And made me happy all the day,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

Refrain

He died on the cross to save my soul,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!

He ransomed me and made me whole,

Yes, He did! Yes, He did!"

Refrain

I was reminded of this today as I read my early morning devotions from Psalm 40:1-5 

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay, 

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth--

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,

and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us 

cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered."

"I can tell the world about this, I can tell the nations I'm blest. Tell them that Jesus made me whole, and He brought JOY, JOY to my soul!"

That's all for tonight folks. Just wanted to tell you that Jesus has brought JOY, JOY to my soul! Amen, and good night!

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

The "Leaning" Pine Trees in our woods before...

and after

"If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth;

And if a tree falls to the south or the north,

In the place where the tree falls, there shall it lie."

Ecclesiastes 11:3

For those of you who have followed my story for the past year and a half, you know that we moved out to the forest and have been living quite the adventure ever since.  From wild bears and snakes, birds and lizards to clapping and dancing trees...and now, falling trees, we never know from one day to the next what new excitement might develop.  The past few weeks we have had pretty much daily thunderstorms, which is normal for August in this part of Florida.  However, it appears to me that the tall pine trees that grow in the national forest surrounding our home seem to be saturated, and suddenly they are starting to crack and fall...three in the past 24 hours, rather astonishingly close to our home.


Obviously this makes me a bit nervous.  Although the majority of the trees are far enough away from our house and leaning in the opposite direction so we do not have too much fear that they will land on the house, but there is no guarantee of that.  Since the trees are not actually on our property, but on government land, we do not have the right to cut them down.  So we are pretty much at their mercy.

I don't like the way this one is leaning toward our house...

I've been trying to pull some kind of spiritual lesson out of all this today...there are plenty of Bible verses about trees, but I couldn't find anything in particular that "spoke to me" today.

Except this thought:  In looking at the pictures above of the trees in the before and after shots, taken about one week apart...I can't help but notice the big bare spot where those two leaning trees once stood.  When I go outside and look in that direction, I am struck by the sheer emptiness of that space, and even though those particular trees were not exactly beautiful or even useful for providing shade in my yard, I notice their loss, and in a way, I even grieve for them.  (Yes, I am a tree hugger...That's why I came to live in the woods).    But I realize this is a natural event...

"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."  Isaiah 40:6-8

Please don't misunderstand...yes, we will all fade and wither away someday.  But our place here on earth will be missed.  There will be a huge void in the hearts of those who love us...an empty space that cannot be filled by anyone else. Those of us who have already lost loved ones understand this all too well.  The empty chair at the table, the loss of that precious voice and laughter and smiling face.


Sure, we can always plant new trees.  And it seems as though in the course of life, new lives come along to fill the void left by those who have gone on before...life goes on somehow.


Here's an old poem I heard once.. (Actually, my husband's grandmother had an old fashioned plaque on her wall that had the refrain of "Only one life, 'twill soon be past...Only what's done for Christ will last" written on it).  It speaks to the purpose of our life here on this earth.  Just like in the verse above that says, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever",   I believe this poem expresses the truth of what our life is really all about:

“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 Judgement 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. ”

— extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, 
Only what’s done for Christ will last. 
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, 
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.”

C.T Studd

How will you be remembered?

How will I be remembered?

Something to think about.