Only One Life

By C.T. Studd

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.

When God called me to preach and teach at 6 years of age, I thought it was the greatest privilege anyone could ever know. When God sanctified my heart by faith at age 16, I was surrendering with joy to the Lover of my soul, who knew best for my life. The surrender was natural, easy, and delightful. When I was 18 years old I was seeking God's direction about dating Beth, with hopes for eventual marriage. God blessed His Word to me, encouraging me to delight myself in Him and in the joyful future that He had before me. 

When God blessed our lives with Katie and Nathan, we prayed the same joyful surrender and delight in our living Lord for their lives. 

When God directed our steps to Kentucky Mountain Bible College for 23 years of service, it was with delight, joy, and purpose that we embraced His divine call and investment into Kingdom work.

When God suddenly called us to leave everything and follow Jesus to Wesley Biblical Seminary in 2013, it was with trembling joy that we obeyed. 

I want the watchword of my life to be that of living to hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into my joys I have prepared for you."

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

MORE

The devil came to me disguised as more,
One more good thing I could do,
Should do,
And then another,
And another.
I was seduced and misguided.
The more sapped my energy, my joy, my delight.
There was more  harshness and impatience
In my voice and my presence.
And the devil grinned,
While God sighed patiently
Knowing that when I get worn down enough,
I'll come home to my true self,
To being my true self in God.

"More" by Clarence Heller

New Life

Genesis 1:26-31, 3, 9:1

Creator God,

I just held new life in my arms.  My grand child is beautiful.  Life, hope, and potential await, opportune and inviting.  I thank You for the joy and beauty of a brand new life.  Thank You that I can feel, touch, and love this little one.

As I look upon my grand child, I try to imagine whom he looks like.  I look for family features, hair, chin, eyes, nose, and ears.  I look for both mother and father in my grand child’s face.   I think about the generations of our family.  I ponder salvation, transformation, a trajectory of hope, and I pray that it will continue in this little one and his progeny.

I think about Your gift of creation and new life.  I am in awesome wonder at the miracle of sex, conception, pregnancy, and child birth.  I am amazed as I ponder the crowning glory of Your creative work–humanity.  Your creative Word proclaimed “Let us make man in our image.”  The image of God imprinted upon humanity in Creation persists in each new baby born into Your world.  This precious little one I hold in my arms is a carrier of Your image!

I ponder the far-reaching effects of the Fall.  I pray for my grand child’s battle with sin and temptation.  What about inherited sin in this child’s life?  Grant this little one victory over the faults of moral character that have become his spiritual inheritance.  May this child grow to allow Your image to dispel the spiritual inheritance of the Fall.  I pray for salvation and a life well-lived for You.

I think about the world my grand child will inhabit, its sin, its brokenness, and the challenges this little one will soon face.  Temptations will assault this child.  Protect, defend, nurture and draw this little one toward You.

I think about the legacy of grace that You introduced to our family generations ago.  I pray that this precious child will early come to faith in You, and live a life of worth, value, faith and blessing that counts for Eternity.  May this little one be a link in an unbroken chain of grace, hope, and faith that will bless future generations of our family line with a spiritual inheritance.

Lord God, may Your blessing, Presence, and grace protect, prosper, and defend this little one.  May my grand child grow up to love and serve You with a whole and eager heart.  I pray not for wealth, power, prestige, or greatness, but for a life well-lived for You.  May this child advance Your name and reputation through our family line for Your glory and praise.

In the Name of our faithful Creator God,
Amen.

A SLAVE’S SONG

by John E. Neihof, Jr.
May 30, 2006

I once was a slave to sin, enchained without and within.

My bondage was great, make no mistake, I was lost in sin and shame.

My darkness turned to despair–I found no hope there.

Jesus came by and He  heard my sad cry, and He answered my prayer.

My newfound joy was such; I love Jesus so much!

I praised His dear name and I shared the same with my friends at home and church.

But then some despair, I sensed something there–

A double-mind, and inward bind, a conflict was at work.

I struggled with this divide.  I needed Christ’s new mind.

I saw in the Word hope for my need; the Spirit in fulness could come.

He called me to give my all in answer to His call.

I surrendered my part, He cleansed my heart, and the Holy Ghost did fall.

No longer a slave to sin.  I said, “Jesus, come in.”

He saved my soul and He made me whole–No longer a slave to sin.

He asked me to be His love slave.  My all to Him I then gave.

Surrender complete.  His Presence is sweet.  I’ll be a love slave to Him.  

I’ll be a love slave to Him.

I’ll be a love slave to Him.

Seeking God's Direction

I wrote this personal essay/testimony on April 17, 2013.  I sensed God drawing me toward Wesley Biblical Seminary about two weeks later.  Perhaps my testimony will help you discern God's direction for your life.

I am prayerfully seeking God’s direction for the next step of obedience in my life. For some time, I have had a growing awareness and sense that God has another avenue of ministry and service for me that will allow me to make a stronger, deeper, and wider impact for Christ and for eternity in the last 15-20 years of my ministry. This awareness has been clarified since the death of my friend, Pastor David Mercer, December 9, 2012.

I found myself at Hillside Wesleyan Church, Port Huron, Michigan, watching as hundreds of people passed David’s casket. I stood among 1500 mourners at his homegoing service. I grieved with them. I found myself praying, "Lord Jesus, help me to maximize the impact of my life for your glory in the closing years of work and ministry."

The Lord has allowed me a breadth of experience that I believe he wants to draw upon. My passion is preaching holiness. I love pulpit ministry and evangelism. I also have skills and a wealth of experience in working with people, administration, counseling, accreditation, planning and assessment, development, fund-raising, public relations, and teaching. I have written countless policies, procedures, assessment documents, and evaluations. God has gifted me to see through complex situations rather quickly and reach some kind of evaluative assessment, and construct or direct others in creating a path forward. People respond to my leadership. I enjoy bringing people together to find solutions and accomplish tasks.

Beth and I have raised our children. Nathan and Melissa are happily married and in ministry together at Hillside Wesleyan Church, Port Huron, Michigan. Katie and Peter are enjoying raising a young family and pastoring a small congregation in Monticello, Mississippi. Beth can retire with full benefits in August, 2014, but have a flexible timetable. I am ready, willing, and able to mind God and do whatever I can to advance His Kingdom. My precious wife is my helpmate and friend. She supports whatever direction God has for us as we are seeking His leadership.

My life and ministry at Kentucky Mountain Bible College has been full and rewarding. We have invested in eternity, and do not want to stop doing so. I have lived without a living wage salary, living by faith in God and faith in Beth to provide for our material needs. God has done so abundantly. We have blessings that rich folks cannot afford, for which we are thankful; however, we hold all the material resources loosely and seek to use them to advance Christ’s Kingdom. But in these latter years of work and ministry, I would like an opportunity to work in a capacity that I can be a good provider for my wife. I feel as if it is my turn. I have been a full-time volunteer at KMBC for 21 years, starting here fresh out of Graduate School. To do so, I have nearly taken a vow of poverty, although God has seen to it that our family has never done without necessities, often providing extra blessings! Our cabin in the woods, good cars, lovely home furnishings, retirement accounts... all have come as a blessing from HIM! We are blessed. I praise the Lord for His provision! I will continue to praise Him with investing of my time, talent, and treasure in Kingdom building!

I am seeking God’s direction. John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer speaks profoundly to me.

I am no longer my own, but Thine.

Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee,

exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thou art mine, and I am Thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

I think that I can pray most of Wesley’s prayer sincerely. I stumble over being "laid aside for thee." I do not sense called to being "laid aside" at this season, nor do I relish that thought when the time comes. I have lived the prayer "Let me have all things, let me have nothing." I consider a major life change only because of a deep stirring in my soul, which I believe to be ordered by the Holy Spirit, as best as I understand His leading.

I have enjoyed the years of work at KMBC. I have enjoyed working with Dr. Speas, Mr. Lorimer and my colleagues here. I have been conscious that I am investing in eternity in the lives of our students. I have played a good second and even third fiddle in the orchestra of ministry here. Personal growth opportunities have been many. Dr. Speas has allowed me tremendous latitude of opportunities in ministry with evangelism and accreditation work with ABHE. For that, I am grateful. Now, these years of ministry appear to be coming to a season of completion. I have done my part. I have completed this phase of eternal investment. A sense of fulfillment and release is upon me.

I am looking forward with a sense of hope and anticipation. I believe that God has something fresh, new, challenging, fulfilling, and eternal ahead for Beth and me. I face the unknown future with faith and confidence in God, and wholehearted desire to do His Will. I want the remainder of my effective years of service to be spent maximally for Him. I want to live with maximum eternal impact for Christ. My sense is that God is calling me to some change of service and ministry in order to effect the fulfillment of this God-given desire in my heart.

I will obey. I just don’t know the path. I don’t know if this path is pastoral, a university chaplaincy, evangelism, consultancy, denominational administration, or a mission agency. My passion is to preach holiness and to help people to get established in that grace. I don’t want to pursue this path of change with secular self-promotion. I want to pursue this path of change with trust in God and obedience to His direction. I purpose to seek Him and His direction. I will obey.