Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WOYWW: Only One Life!


 I have been going through the Instagram feeds
of people who do calligraphy
and this is me, starting to practice!

 And I am doing it on my lap, because my desk is full.
I am packing as we are going off to the beach
for a family vacation and planning meeting
to start the year right.

 "No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed Him." John 1:18

There are a lot of arguments about this passage.  One group of people claim it contradicts other bible passages. Another group insists it proves Jesus is not God because people of His time saw Him.  

To me, this passage just means what God said to Moses in Exodus 33:20, "No man can see God and live."  Man is in such a fallen, unholy condition that we cannot possibly be near enough to "see" a holy, mighty, righteous, immortal God and live!  We would be burned, consumed, destroyed!  

But God does make a way for us to see Him.  He allowed Job to experience Him in a whirlwind, Moses through a burning bush, and there are many instances when God spoke to men through angels. After Jacob wrestled with an angel, He claimed, "I have seen God face to face and lived!"  

God is so unlimited in His creativity that He comes to us in many forms.  Do we want to see God? Then we must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit prisoners and the sick...

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:35-40


 "The world and its enticement is passing away." 1 John 2:17

Enticement. What a deliciously wicked word! Yes, the world has a plenitude of enticements! Why, just using an innocent photography app invites me to adultery with a foreign man! Window shopping can incite envy and covetuousness. A visit to my Facebook or Instagram feed can make me lust for a calligraphy nib or a new exciting book!

I like putting money in the stock market. For just P 5,000 pesos, I can "own" a really profitable company. What if I got a tip from a so-called "expert" that this particular company's stocks would go through the roof, and I sold my whole portfolio to buy it? And then the value went down, down, down? If I knew beforehand that I would have lost all my money, I NEVER would have done it!

The thing is, THIS world is passing away. To invest heavily in THIS world is a poor proposition! But our old enemy uses the enticements of this world to lure us ever deeper into loving the ephemera and detritus of this world.

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.

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.



Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 
peek at desks and projects!
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting my friends here:



Blessings!
Patsy

15 comments:

  1. Pretty paintings and happy new year hugs Nikki 4

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  2. Superb calligraphy there Patsy excellent work andgreat verse to choose to think over into 2015.
    Love the enticement image and most of all the poem byt C T Studd:

    "ONLY one life will soon be past,
    ONLY what is done for Jesus will last..."

    Something to remember each moment of each day!

    every blessing on your 2015 and happy WOYWW!
    Shaz in Oz.x #15 I think

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  3. Love your writing. Happy New Year and God bless.

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  4. Wishing you a joyful new year.
    Sandra de @31

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  5. Good luck with the calligraphy....it's looking amazing already.
    Wishing you a very happy New year filled with many creatived times and lets hope it's a happy and healthy one for us all.
    Hugs,
    Annie x # 22

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  6. Hi Patsy and may tomorrow be the start of a wonderful year. Lovely artwork Cheers RobynO#35

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  7. Thanks for a good yearful of snooping round your crafty activities on your desk. All the best for 2015! x Jo

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  8. Your calligraphy and paintings are stunning. Love the scriptures. Have a Happy New Year. #37

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  9. I love your calligraphy. I need to learn it too as my writing in my art journals always look terrible. Also love reading your take on the word enticement...such a thought provoking word! Happy 2015 :) #39

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  10. Beautiful work. Happy New Year. X Anne #28

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  11. Wonderful work, Patsy. Look at all the creative tools on your desk! Happy New Year! :)

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  12. Nice calligraphy work and I love the lady with the pearls.
    Many blessings to you and yours in 2015.
    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  13. Those calligraphy works just look fabulous! I love the way you write the words!

    I like how you said we are not worthy to see God face to face. We are all born as sinners and definitely do not deserve to see him! Thank you for the message and have a happy new year!

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  14. When I look at the calligraphy on Pinterest I shall now be thinking of you, what wonderful additions to your art...I love how you can just decide to do these things and start straight away...your art confidence is really a lesson to me.
    Enjoy your family time at the beach, and Happy New Year!

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  15. What a beautiful message for today, Patsy, especially in the light of the fact that every year that passes, Christmas becomes more and more commercialised, with more temptations to spend money on worthless stuff. Your calligraphy is beautiful, and I adore the background - so gorgeous!

    The poem is beautiful and so true. I was familiar with the couplet at the end of each verse, but not the poem in its entirety. Thanks for sharing.

    Happy New Year and happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi #58

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I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy