Please! Just Give Me Jesus!

 Please! Just Give Me Jesus!! ~ Listen to Fernado Ortega “Just Give Me Jesus”
          The word for today is “Consumed.”

            In the morning when I rise…Give me Jesus! You can have all this world but give me Jesus! “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; GREAT is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22,23).  “Consumed” in the Bible means wasted, burnt up, destroyed, dissipated, squandered or expended.

            This is the Scripture that stirs my spirit to speak “Good Morning” as a greeting any time of the day! As Jeremiah states God IS faithful. His love IS so great, that He GAVE us (that is anyone and everyone) Jesus!

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves there is hope in the midst of sin and sorrow around us. God willingly responds with help when we ask. Sometimes we need to repent of sin in our lives and sometimes we need to forgive others of their sin done unto us.

God can and does use every “mess up” in our lives, IF we allow Him to do so! But He is a loving God that allows us to make the choice to choose Jesus, to choose His love, forgiveness, and help, and to choose to forgive and to love in spite of the sin against us.

Your life is not a waste or wasted by failures. Turn your failures, challenges, or trials into successes, smoothness, or delights.

King David calls us to take delight in the Lord and commit everything we have or do to Him, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4). If you want to know true joy, seek after Jesus! When you delight in the Lord it is not about a feeling of love, it is about knowing you are loved! There is no one like the Lord Jesus!

King Solomon says it this way, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). Give your life totally to Jesus. Take time to get alone with Jesus to hear His voice and know His love. The world only offers you false or misleading actions of gratitude or feelings of accomplishments, but God, by the demonstration of Jesus’ love on the cross at Calvary, and the training and teaching by the Holy Spirit will truly lead you to win the prize God has set out for you to receive! He created you with a plan and a purpose. Seek Jesus and win!!

Father, thank you for loving us and showing us the way. We say, “Just give me Jesus!” Forgive us for seeking after things that will not satisfy our longing. It is a longing that You created in us to be “one” with You, that is what we desire. We delight in You and commit our lives for Your plan and purpose. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
November 1, 2024

Confident!

 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

The Dandelion reminds me of the characteristics of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

This week the word to focus on is “confident.” There are many scholars in every subject that can be so knowledgeable, yet they do not use the knowledge in their everyday life. What they know is not being taught to people watching and listening by their everyday talk or walk.

You are a role model to someone or many whether you are aware of it or not. And what people are copying from you, they are passing it on to others. If you look at the community in which you live, what kind of role model do you see has been passed on? In many areas, it is not a very good sight to see or a positive place to reside!

In America there are so many church buildings that once held many people who came to worship God. But today, many have closed, and many others have few attenders compared to those of years past.

There are many who say they are Christian, but really look more like the world. In Jesus’ day they looked more like Pharisees. I much rather see “followers of Christ,” those who read and study the “Living Word,” the Bible, so they can practice discipleship as they walk with the “Living God,” Jesus Christ.

Jesus lived out His calling on earth, then He went back to the Father. He took the disciples by the hand and taught them everything the Father taught Him, by word and action. When He accomplished what He was to do on earth, He went back to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit to be our guide, our counselor, or indwelling of God. But many have not accepted the Holy Spirit in the fullness God has willingly given.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.” (John 14:16, 17). And “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Tuesday, I had the privilege to attend the Stark County band show at the Stark County fairgrounds in Canton, Ohio. The show was good, but the band that I would give the highest rating was Central Catholic High School band.

I have never been a band director or am I trying to say I know all the requirements of each performance, but what I can say of this band is “Bravo” and “Well done!”

Since many missed this exceptional display of what confidence looks like, I will describe it briefly. It was part way through the second part of the show, on the track marched on a small band of six members, two flag ladies, and a majorette!

They could have said, “We cannot do this, we are too small. People are going to laugh at us. Or whatever people who cannot see or know the abilities God has given them. But instead, led by a young man, a director that has sown seeds of confidence into his students, each one had a solo/duet part in every piece they played, because the only duplicate instrument was a saxophone!

There was dance, there was movement around the track, there were smiles, the marching was coordinated, rhythmic, and fun! Even the auxiliary flag line (2) and majorette from what I saw had a near perfect performance. What fun!!!

What I saw was a director led by the confidence of the gifts God gave him, teaching by example. The confident seeds then sown into his students, blossomed into their gifts and talents that were sharpened, and a fragrant aroma filled the atmosphere for others to enjoy. And like a white dandelion sent forth more seeds that will encourage others to be confident with who they are, how God designed them, and to use the gifts God has given them! Well done Central Catholic Band!!
August 29, 2024