Get Your Jesus Jeans On

I’ve had a couple busy weeks recently.  In the midst, I met Jesus in jeans — refreshing and soul gratifying.  In the midst of preparing to be out of town, I paused on a Thursday with Nancy Schaefer and attended worship at CHCA (Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) where Nancy teaches.  The worship was led by high school students.  And, yes, they were wearing their jeans.  One of the most moving moments of our time of worship was when we were singing Hosanna by Hillsong.  In the midst of the song surrounded by teenagers we sang,

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

 

 

Standing in the midst of a new generation, my heart swelled with God’s love and awe as I experienced the Holy Spirit through the pure faith of the generation surrounding me singing to their Lord, Jesus Christ.  They sang with selfless faith, and led me into the midst of holy presence.  All while dressed in jeans.

The next day, we headed to Athens for Parents’ Weekend at OU to visit with Collin.  He’s settled and doing very well.  I left Athens for Davidson, NC for a week at the Davidson Clergy Center.  I will share more about this divine time with you later.  I will say this about my week there… I met Jesus in my jeans, in my workout clothes, on my bicycle, alongside a horse, and on a comfy couch in my khakis.  You will be hearing much more about this week in the months to come.  I thank you for the incredible opportunity.

On Sunday, September 29, Mark and I went to Legacy Christian Church in Harrison, OH.  Some of Elders may remember this church from a conference we attended there several years ago.  One of the greatest gifts Legacy offers to those attending worship is hospitality — come as you are, be who you are.  So, with this in mind, I got up Sunday morning and put on my jeans and went to worship God and Jesus Christ.  When we arrived we were greeted with the love and hospitality God intends.  Throughout worship there were moments filled with grace, light and love.  Rev. Mark Garrett (Lead Pastor), Rev. Willisa Redford (Children and Family Pastor), the praise band and Elders led us into the presence of God through song, message, prayer and the breaking of bread.  Our time of worship concluded with a grand celebration of four baptisms!  Truly divine moments.  And, yes, they were wearing their jeans!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the baptisms, all those participating and the pastors put on t-shirts and shorts.  The t-shirts read, “I made a spectacular splash!  Legacy Christian Church”   The baptismal was portable and sat in the center of the worship space.  As we witnessed new believers making a “spectacular splash” into a new life with Jesus Christ, I heard God singing in my heart, “I see a generation, rising up to take their place, with selfless faith.”  These were indeed rising up to take their place alongside others of the faith.  In our jeans, we were celebrating the revival of spirit, light and love in Christ’s name.

As followers of Christ Jesus, we are called to share the Good News with those who do not know Jesus.  In our world today, that means putting on our jeans.  What I mean by this is that whatever you do in your jeans plan on meeting someone who needs the Good News.  Most of the time we do not meet those who need the love of God and Jesus Christ when we are dressed in our Sunday best.  We meet them in our jeans, in our everyday clothes, doing our everyday tasks (shopping for groceries, cheering on the sidelines of a game, sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, etc.).  In your jeans, you are called to meet someone new, someone outside your social circle, someone lonely, someone busy, someone much like you (or not).

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, ¹⁹For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. ²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. ²³I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Who are you — who will you become in order to share the Gospel.  Will you set aside your comfortable/preconceived ways of what is a proper Christian?  Will you sing a new song accompanied by guitars and drums?  Paul did not change who he was.  He simply used all aspects of himself to reach the lost.  Paul didn’t hide his past, he didn’t put on pretty clothes and cover up.  He allowed God to use all of him to be witness to the the Good News of Jesus Christ.

People need to know God.  They need to see Jesus in you.  This means putting your Jesus jeans on and being a part of the world that is not pretty.  Being part of the the world that is broken.  How do you do this?  By putting on our Jesus jeans and allowing God to use us as witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ, we become part of the generation that is going to bring about a revival.  Whether you are 9 months old or 90+ years old, you are called.  Set aside your Sunday clothes, put on your Jesus jeans, sing a new song and share!  Our community, our city, our country, our world is in need of a revival!

Let me know where you and your jeans are going, what song you are singing, and who you meet!

with love, Laureen 🙂