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.

Previous Posts

For my growing collection of prompts, 

inspirations, creative pursuits,

courageous artists and their art, join me here!

or on Facebook and Instagram

Joining the lovely Julia Dunnit for a 

peek at desks and projects!

 

I find a lot of inspiration

visiting my friends here:

Testimony Tuesday,  Titus 2 Tuesdays, 
Count Your Blessings, Word Art Wednesday, 

Whatever You Want Wednesday,Winsome Wednesdays, Share the Joy, 

What's It Wednesdays, Unite, WholeHearted Home,

 Rubie Tuesday Link Up, Be Inspired

 A Little R and R,  No Rules Weekend Blog Party

What We Accomplished, Wow Us Wednesdays
The Weekly Creative, Three Word Wednesday
Great Blog Train Bloghop

Thoughtful Thursday,  Hearts4Home Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday

Thriving Thursdays with Serving Joyfully

Thursday Favorites, Desire to Inspire Legacy Leaver Thursday

Creative Things, Bloom! Soul Survival, Inspiration Gallery
Family Fun Friday, Hearts for Home Thursday

Blessings!

Patsy