Give me Jesus

I sit here alone in the MAC (Mercer Atlanta Cafeteria) reading for my preaching class. I had 9 hours of class. I am tired. I am ready to be home to play with dog and then in get in my bed. But, as I sit, weary, worn out, not wanting to be sitting on an uncomfortable chair by myself. I plugged in my headphones to listen my computer to the Mt Hermon Baptist Church Adult Choir (my mom's former church choir). "Give me Jesus" played. I have heard this song 100 times and the simple promise rang through, "you can have all this world, but give me Jesus." This song, with its simple, yet powerful lyrics, can move people. But what really moved me was the way my mom conducted the choir and pulled them through tension into a promise of peace. The unison parts speak of a great and powerful united body of Christ longing daily for the grace and love of Jesus. Out of one voice comes a flowering beauty in the music. All through life give me Jesus. At the end of life, it is with a triumphal voice that shouts to the world "GIVE ME JESUS!"

I am eternally grateful to my mom! She knows the right way to allow God's words to whisper through the quiet phrases of a piece of music with the perfect amount of grace. She knows how to conduct the crescendos and fermatas so that the power of musical harmonies shine through expressing with great power the exclamations of the music. She taught me to love music and the power in what is played and sung. Moreover, my parents taught me to love Jesus Christ with my whole being and at all times. When I rise, when I am alone, just before the break of day, and even when I come to die..."Give me Jesus."