Hello. I know it has been a while since I have written. I was busy finishing a Clinical Pastoral Education unit at the Presbyterian Hospital here in Albuquerque. It was a great experience. And along the Way, God opened my eyes to the greatest gift we have to offer our family, friends, and neighbors: prayer.
Prayer is the greatest gift we have to offer because in prayer we rely on God to do things we can only dream. God is able to heal. God is able to forgive. God is able to restore and completely transform lives, our communities, and even our city.
So today I want to bring our attention to Jeremiah 29:4-7.
This is a letter God wrote and shared via the prophet Jeremiah with His people. It is God's marching orders for His people in exile in Babylon awaiting deliverance. And for us who follow the Way (who is Jesus), it is marching orders as we wait for Jesus to return and make all things new.
Look at the list of activities that God blesses.
Build houses ... settle down ... plant gardens and eat what they produce ... marry ... have sons and daughters ... find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage ... that they too may have sons and daughters ...
This is the stuff of life. This is life together. This is why we work. It is why we pray. We work to live, not the other way around. And God is saying that this is all good!
Then come the marching orders ...
"seek the peace and prosperity of the city" ...
"Pray to the LORD for it"...
"because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
So our marching orders are simple: seek peace and prosperity (for all) and pray to the LORD.
Simple, but how often do we do it?
Well, I would like to give us a chance to pray about these things. For those in our area, Chelwood Church is sponsoring the first of many "Neighborhood Prayer Walks" this Wednesday evening, April 20 at 6pm.
We are going to reflect on Jeremiah 29:4-7, as we walk through our neighborhood being mindful of what we see, hear, and smell; listening to God as He shares His dreams for this community. If you would like to join us, meet near the front entrance and we will go from there.
These are our marching orders, and we will obey as together we journey along the Way ...
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