Only one life

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.

~ Written by:  C.T. Studd ~

Lord, I need You

Lord, I come, I confess:
Bowing, here I find my rest…
Without You I fall apart;
You’re the One that guides my heart.

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You…
Every hour I need You!
My one defense, my righteousness:
Oh God, how I need You!

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more;
Where grace is found, is where You are;
And where You are, Lord, I am free –
Holiness is Christ in me!

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You…
Every hour I need You!
My one defense, my righteousness:
Oh God, how I need You!

Teach my song to rise to You
when temptation comes my way.
And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on You:
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay!

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You…
Every hour I need You!
My one defense, my righteousness:
Oh God, how I need You!

You’re my one defense, my righteousness;
Oh God, how I need You!
My one defense, my righteousness:
Oh God, how I need You!

~ Written by:  Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher
Performed by:  Matt Maher ~

Don’t Quit

Romans 5:3-6 
“… we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Don’t quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
and the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.
When funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh.

When things are pressing you down a bit,
rest if you must, but don’t you quit!
Life is strange with its twists and turns,
as every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about,
when he might have won if he’d stuck it out.
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow –
you might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
it seems, to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up,
when he might have captured the victor’s cup.

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out –
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

You never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
it’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

~ Author unknown ~

1 Corinthians 10:13 
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Mark 13:13
“And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Hebrews: Our humble, loving High Priest

Hebrews 2

9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;  that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10  For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

16  For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels;  but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
17  Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18  For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 3

1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2  Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

6  But Christ as a son over his own house;  whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (Psalm 95:8)
14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

17  But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18  And to whom sware He that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4

1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:  but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, “As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest”:  (Psalm 95:11) although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4  For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, “And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.”  (Genesis 2:2)
5  And in this place again, “If they shall enter into my rest.”
6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7  Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, “To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm 95:8)
8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day.
9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.
14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16  Let us therefore come boldly (with open hands) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Picture obtained from:  https://gracestories.wordpress.com/tag/did-jesus-choose-to-die/

A Worthy Vessel

Since time immemorial the waves have roared
lashing and forming the sandy shores,
Then still, then storm, then high, then low;
Breaking where seawater ebb and flow.

In perfect rhythm the tides come in –
High and low and neap and spring,
Ceaselessly moving and shaping the land;
Breaking the shells into soft, white sand.

So too with us – with you and with me;
Throughout our lives we unceasingly see
God’s Hand within our calm and our storm
shaping us from the day we are born.

When things get tough we should not despair;
The LORD is in our trials and our prayers,
We need only look upon Jesus’ face
to know He is our only safe hiding place.

God cares so much for each one of us
So do not panic and do not fuss –
Allow God to break, to heal and remake
you for the part He wants you to take.

A vessel so fine it is fit for the King
Wondrously beautiful;  sealed with His ring –
Blood-bought and pure;  the Potter’s pride
Dressed in white linen;  the High King’s bride.

~ Written by:  Belinda van Rensburg ~

1 Peter 1:6-9
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

2 Timothy 2:20-21
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Revelation 19:7-8
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Does Jesus care

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

~ Lyrics:  Frank E. Graeff
Music: Joseph Lincoln Hall ~

Scripture reference:

1 Peter 5:7  “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Hebrews 4:15-16
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Watch and Pray

(Matthew 26:41)
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

(Mark 13:33)
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

(Mark 14:38)
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

(Luke 21:36)
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

(Ephesians 6:18)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

(Colossians 4:2)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

(1 Peter 4:7)
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.