Carpe Diem!

This past Sunday I encouraged us all to “seize the day”, doing all we can in this life to prepare for the next one.  The challenge was two-fold:  1) Get yourself right with God, and 2) Give yourself fully to His work.

Two songs I listened to this week reinforced these themes and challenges in my own life.  The first was Steve Fee’s “Glory to God Forever”.  In it he sings,  

Creator God you gave me breath so I could praise
Your great and matchless name
All my days, all my days
So let my whole life be
A blazing offering
A life that shouts and sings
The greatness of the King.

The second song was one by Sara Groves called “When the Saints”.  At one point she sings these words,

I see the long, quiet, walk along the Underground Railroad
I see the slave awakening to the value of her soul

I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear

I see the long hard shadows of Calcutta nights
I see the sister standing by the dying man’s side

I see the young girl huddled on the brothel floor
I see the man with a passion come and kicking down the door

I see the man of sorrows and his long troubled road
I see the world on his shoulders and my easy load

And when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them
and when the Saints go marching in
I want to be one of them

Both of these songs speak powerfully to the challenge to “seize the day!”  Let our lives be a “blazing offering” shouting and singing the greatness of God!  Let the faithful examples of those who have come before us compel us to even greater sacrifice. 

I’m praying for you!  Carpe Diem!  What would Jesus have you do today, still today, that would bring glory to his name?  Post your stories here of how God is leading you to seize the day.

View an acoustic version of “Glory to God” by Steve Fee below.