Thanks, God, for the beautiful fall colors…..
I experienced God with some thankful reflection as I jogged along a trail recently, enjoying the beautiful fall scenery. The autumn leaves provided an amazing vista of colors. It is a wonderful season. The colorful trees declare God’s glory as they display shades of transformation. Soon they will do something definitive and profound…..they will finish the process of death and fall to the ground to become mulch that helps resource new life.
What a beautiful picture this is of Christ followers, colorful transformation, like a snapshot of mixed colors portraying death to self. The process of self denial brings forth an attractive panorama that beautifies our landscape and facilitates new life for others.
Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matt 16:24-26). Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…..” (Colossians 3:5). Self denial and self sacrifice, dying to our own selfish desires, is a beautiful thing. We are invited to die to ourselves and put others first. In God’s economy, that process is very colorful and attractive. When people put others first and deny themselves, that is greater than the colors of fall foliage. Self sacrifice is a contagious resource for abundant life.
When a mom sacrifices her own schedule to take care of her children, that is a striking color that multiplies life. When a husband gives up something he wants to do in order to get interested in something his wife likes, that is more than a colorful bouquet. When an elderly woman sings a contemporary song in church that she doesn’t necessarily like, but she joins in enthusiastically for the encouragement of community, that is stunning. When a grieving person reaches out to others who are hurting, the colors dazzle the heart. When a teen helps with the ministry of the church rather than expecting to be entertained, that is eye-catching. When someone going through a rough time shows up at church even though they don’t feel like being there, others are encouraged by those colors of personal sacrifice. When a busy couple gives a Sunday morning in the nursery or Children’s church, the gratitude of parents adds to the array of living art. When people step into the grace of giving, giving even beyond what they are able, the colors of God’s glory sparkle with His radiant presence.
Even greater than the colors of trees in the fall are the colors of the selfless life……..declaring the glory of God!
THANK YOU, Lord, for colorful people !
I experienced God with some thankful reflection as I jogged along a trail recently, enjoying the beautiful fall scenery. The autumn leaves provided an amazing vista of colors. It is a wonderful season. The colorful trees declare God’s glory as they display shades of transformation. Soon they will do something definitive and profound…..they will finish the process of death and fall to the ground to become mulch that helps resource new life.
What a beautiful picture this is of Christ followers, colorful transformation, like a snapshot of mixed colors portraying death to self. The process of self denial brings forth an attractive panorama that beautifies our landscape and facilitates new life for others.
Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matt 16:24-26). Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…..” (Colossians 3:5). Self denial and self sacrifice, dying to our own selfish desires, is a beautiful thing. We are invited to die to ourselves and put others first. In God’s economy, that process is very colorful and attractive. When people put others first and deny themselves, that is greater than the colors of fall foliage. Self sacrifice is a contagious resource for abundant life.
When a mom sacrifices her own schedule to take care of her children, that is a striking color that multiplies life. When a husband gives up something he wants to do in order to get interested in something his wife likes, that is more than a colorful bouquet. When an elderly woman sings a contemporary song in church that she doesn’t necessarily like, but she joins in enthusiastically for the encouragement of community, that is stunning. When a grieving person reaches out to others who are hurting, the colors dazzle the heart. When a teen helps with the ministry of the church rather than expecting to be entertained, that is eye-catching. When someone going through a rough time shows up at church even though they don’t feel like being there, others are encouraged by those colors of personal sacrifice. When a busy couple gives a Sunday morning in the nursery or Children’s church, the gratitude of parents adds to the array of living art. When people step into the grace of giving, giving even beyond what they are able, the colors of God’s glory sparkle with His radiant presence.
Even greater than the colors of trees in the fall are the colors of the selfless life……..declaring the glory of God!
THANK YOU, Lord, for colorful people !
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