Something tells me that you, like me, may have been facing into an "east wind" recently. I did learn something, that when the suggestion comes, "Life is too hard", the response "To live is Christ and to die is gain," clears the field marvelously. "It is written" is still victorious strategy.
We are looking into purchasing an apartment in a beautiful mountain area in the suburbs.... an area we drove through for the first time yesterday. Prayer appreciated!
I hope all of you have read about John and Betty Stam, who were martyred not so far from here on December 8, 1934. The story of how their baby girl miraculously survived has always thrilled me; and I admit I am partial to Betty's poetry. The inspiration of their lives and death was a legacy from my youth, which is worth sharing .... maybe through this song Will Houghton wrote "in loving memory of John and Betty Stam": (Sorry, regardless of how I arrange lines, they are always thrown on the page willy-nilly. I am helpless before machines.... Any ideas?)
BY LIFE OR BY DEATH
So this is life, this world with all its pleasures,
Struggles and tear, a smile, a frown, a sigh,
Friendship so true, and love of kin and neighbor?
Sometimes 'tis hard to live--always to die!
The world moves on, so rapidly the living
The forms of those who disappear replace,
And each one dreams that he will be enduring--
How soon that one becomes the missing face!
In life or death--and life is surely flying,
The crib and coffin carved from the self-same tree.
In life or death--and death so soon is coming--
Escape I cannot, there's no place to flee--
But Thou , O God, hast life that is eternal;
That life is mine, a gift through Thy dear Son.
Help me to feel its flush and pulse supernal,
Assurance of the morn when life is done.
Help me to know the value of these hours,
Help me the folly of all waste to see;
Help me to trust the Christ who bore my sorrows,
And thus to yield for life or death to Thee.
In all my days be glorified, Lord Jesus,
In all my ways guide me with Thine own eye;
Just when and as Thou wilt, use me, Lord Jesus,
And then for me 'tis Christ to live or die. W. H. Houghton
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