Simple, Sweet Reminders

It has been a pretty uneventful, but in the exciting kind of way, week. I came down with a slight fever mid-way through my first week of senior year and got better a couple days later, only to come down with a high fever out of the blue on Sunday. I fell in and out of sleep with my pastor's voice in the background during service and had to leave early because of all the feverish symptoms that seemed to hack at me all at once... Since then, I've been home having consumed numerous bowls of soup daily, breezed through several tissue boxes and rolls, and drank six bottles of Gatorade (and not the small ones). Oh, and sleeping 12++ hours each day. Praise the Lord that I am fully recovered now! I'm praying and hoping that sickness won't decide to visit me anymore throughout the quarter.

But anyway, while I was at home, I had a lot of time to evaluate my heart and where it is before God. Suffice to say, the condition of my heart has left me pretty discouraged. It has been this way for a while, but the reality of it didn't fully hit me until this week. I'm thinking maybe that's why God allowed for me to be sick -- to pause all the other activities that clutter my life and check my heart before Him. In doing all this, I'm reminded of a poem by CT Studd (CT stands for Charles Thomas, in case you were wondering) that I came across in my sophomore year of college and has been one of my favorites ever since simply because it reminds me that my one ephemeral life exists for the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ.

It's quite long (in addition to my two-paragraph introduction above, I apologize), but I hope you'll read it to the last period. Be blessed! (:

"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 whate'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-- 

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]

Honduras 2013: to remember that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.