New Life

my baby love, jak,  was baptized this weekend. he was so alive and playful. he even gave everyone a sneak peak at what he had learned earlier in the week - his scream. as the small children ran around and the fragile babies were held in the arms of their moms and dads nothing seemed more beautiful and precious as new life. as we've been surrounded by death and the raw reality of the human life in the past few weeks, it was rejuvenating to be surrounded by and reminded of the joy in new life.

last night at the gathering, sam pedigo led the song give me jesus. this song has always been something that has made the presence of God so tangible for me. but sam didn't only use her very big voice to lead the song, but she also so humbly and with her face to God pressed the importance of not only being willing to die, but being willing to live. 

so often we talk about dying for God -- it's easy to wrap our minds around giving things up, but we don't often embrace the idea and the mandate to pick ourselves up and live. maybe to others this seems so second nature, but last night, what sam said was so relevant in my life. as we sang when i come to die, give me jesus it made me remember that in the meantime there's more; there's a life that i need to live that is full of jesus. 

in the morning when i rise, in the morning when i rise

in the morning when i rise give me jesus

give me jesus, give me jesus

you can have all this world,

but give me jesus.

when i am alone, when i am alone

when i am alone, give me jesus

when i come to die, when i come to die

when i come to die give me jesus

give me jesus, give me jesus

you can have all this world

you can have all this world

but give me jesus