More Love To Thee

Posted on by josiahkagin

Love-Jesus.png

The daily focus of our lives ought to be our love relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many things the world calls us to love. Jesus asks that we would Continue in the identical love that He demonstrated to us. That love was sacrificial.

To love Christ more is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul … out in the woods, and on my bed, and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!
—Elizabeth Prentiss

 

This was the heart cry of Elizabeth Prentiss, the wife of a Presbyterian minister. She lived from 1818-1878. Though strong in spirit, she was weak in body. It was a very rare day that she was not in physical pain. Yet, she was known for her bright personality and sense of humor. The key to the joy she possessed was her relationship with Jesus Christ. She found that as she love Him and others sacrificially, Jesus gave her His joy. May this be our prayer today and everyday going forward.

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee;
this is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee …

Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now Thee alone I seek—give what is best;
this all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee …

Let sorrow do its work, send grief and pain;
sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
when they can sing with me, more love, O Christ, to Thee …

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
this be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
this still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee.

 

Someone Cared

Posted on by josiahkagin

TYPE DESIGN

Can you think back to the day you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior from sin? Can you remember the person God used to point you to Christ? Maybe it was your mom or dad, your pastor, a faithful soul winner at your door or maybe it was an unknown person who left a tract in a public place. Whoever it was, they cared for you!

Today, you and I will have opportunities to connect with people. People who are doomed to spend eternity in the fires of hell. Would you care enough to give the truth to them? Would you care enough to tell them of what Jesus did for you? Would you care enough to invite them to attend church with you?

Would you be someone who cares?

John 5:7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Let’s Seek God for Revival

Posted on by josiahkagin

Untitled designIf my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. —2 Chronicles 7:14

Nothing warms the heart of a parent more than to have their son or daughter come to them and talk openly; to come on their own and make a wrong right. So it is with God. When I read 2 Chronicles 7:14 I hear the heart of our Heavenly Father being poured out. I hear the earnest desire to bless and help. I also see what stands in the way of His blessing. Let’s think about it.

We live in a country that is running from God. From the highest office in the land to the lowest citizen, we see the marks and mindset of  lives lived in rejection of the one true God. However, believers cannot point all the fingers out at the people and leaders of our nation. The church is running from God. The evidences of this fact are seen in the instability of believers, the lack of unity, the forsaking of basic Christian doctrines and duties, the acceptance of many worldly philosophies and ideals, the casual approach to a daily relationship with Jesus and the fear to stand for His name. Many scoff at the desire and prayer revival. They say it is not possible, we are in the last days. I believe that there has never been a day in which we need to see the God of Heaven to revive His people. I believe He longs to do just that but we must humble ourselves and seek His face. This means we must turn from seeking many other things and seek Him.

Would you take sometime to pray, humble yourself and seek God’s face? Would you pause and give God your attention? Would you ask Him to revive your heart, to give you a fresh awareness of who He is and what He desires to in your life? Would you let God have control of your life? If you will God has promised in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“

I Love Seeing God Work!

Posted on by josiahkagin

Cola-Clash

This past week we had the Cola-Clash team come to help us reach Kettering teens for Jesus Christ. I was blessed by the zeal of the team members to recruit as many teens as possible to the three days of carbonated competition. The Lord blessed with record number of recruits and we entered the evening rallies anticipating God to work. He did work.  Each night teens came back to receive Jesus as their Savior. Friday night (the final night of Cola-Clash) we gave the teens who received Christ the opportunity to stand and make their decision public. All of them did and what a blessing it was to see them stand unashamed of Jesus Christ. Over the three days we saw ten come to Christ along with 4 other assurance related decisions. I am looking forward to helping these young people grow in their new Christian life.

We prayed that God would save teens in Kettering. It was our heart to bring hope into their lives. God did answer our prayer! While we were busy with the Cola-Clash, God allowed a local tragedy to bring many more teens to Jesus. Austin Rife was a 15-year-old young man who was killed by a drunk driver on August 8th. His funeral was on August 15 and while praying with the Cola-Clash team that morning, I felt impressed of the Lord to attend the Funeral. I am glad I did! We had prayed that God would help the preacher to give the Gospel clearly, but I did not anticipate what happened. The preacher, Jeff Rose, stood and gave one of the clearest, timely Gospel messages I have ever heard as well as extended an invitation to receive Christ. The first ones to respond were three High-School young men and then many more teenagers began to respond. They made their way to the front where several personal workers helped them know what to do. I counted around 31 people who responded, most of them teenagers.

It amazes me to see how God is able to work and bring people to salvation. He uses even tragic situations to bring hope to many.  I am praying that God will continue to work in our city to draw the lost to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Please join me in praying for the Rife family as they continue to grieve for Austin.

If you have recently received Jesus and desire to grow in your relationship with Him, consider joining our Student Journey Class.