Fall Into Love
With Jesus
Thursday,
October 18, 2012
One of the
prevailing habits characteristic of my prayer life is what I sometimes refer to
as "drive-by prayers". Having lived in semi-suburban neighborhoods
not too far from inner-city urban U.S. metropolitan areas during my childhood,
I grew up hearing reports of "drive-by shootings" in places such as
greater L.A. and other densely populated sections of our nation. Rather than
dwelling on the negative images associated with those incidents of violence,
promoting a positive [re]appropriation of the term(s) became for me a way of
participating in the spiritual transformation and ministry of reconciliation
that I am called to as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Just
recently, I again found myself praying (with my eyes wide open, of course)
while driving on the highway as I passed by a number of different residences,
businesses and churches along the way into town. As I lifted them up to the
Lord, asking for God's blessings upon one place of work, home and/or
congregation after another, I came across a sign that caught my eye as the
Spirit stirred my heart and soul. It read, "Fall into Love with
Jesus".
With the
leaves on the trees turning in this season of transition toward winter, the
lush foliage of autumn colors spreading across the luscious landscape of the
midwest is filled with opportunity for experiencing the wonder and awe of God's
creation. It is a time in which we can indeed once more for the first time fall
into love with Jesus all over and over again and again. Visions of children
brushing upon mounds of fallen frond-like laden unfallowed ground come to mind,
covering the once greener grass of the past spring into summer last.
We are
blessed beloved to be able to behold and appreciate the grandeur of our Lord in
the splendor of God's majesty attested to by the entire universe and in nature
all around us. The very heavens and earth surrounding us elicit a response of
gratitude and praise to Almighty God Who is worthy above all to receive
blessing, glory, honor and power. As David proclaimed in the Psalms (19:1a),
"The heavens declare the glory of God!"
As we approach
the celebration of Thanksgiving dinners and other holiday festivities in this
season of harvest time, we remember the blessed inheritance bestowed upon us in
Christ through generations of saints before us. Members of the body of
believers throughout all time and space remain in our collective memories as we
may observe All Hallows' Evening on the eve of All Saints' Day. And we
commemorate our continued traditions by re-appropriating them in service and
sharing the blessings of our communal bounty in the spirit of God's love for
others among us in time of need.
In this
regard, we give thanks and praise to God once again for the mission and
ministry of members effected through the efforts expended in holding our recent
semiannual community rummage sale. Would you join me along with others also
called by grace through faith in "shouting out" "drive-by
prayers" of blessings of God's love showered upon nearby neighbors for the
common good of all in our community? Will you prayerfully consider serving in a
soup kitchen or helping stock up a food pantry in the coming weeks? Might each
of us greet and pay a friendly visit with our neighbor's household or invite
another family into our home for some refreshment and conversation? Could we in
the process discover ourselves falling into love with Jesus in one another's
lives all over again?
May it be
so in this season of faith in Christ's love for the world, without end, Amen.
Pastor Rex
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