Celeste Zepponi: BLOG:Hour with Jesus

Hour with Jesus, Day 25, I see Jesus

I woke up this morning with an image of a basket weave pattern in my thoughts. The design was the most basic weave, about an inch wide, tight and strong. The weave represented my relationship with Jesus over the past 25 days of spending an hour in prayer daily. Like the strengthening of a strong woven pattern, my faith and knowledge of Jesus is developing.

 I used to think of Jesus as being way off in Heaven waiting for me to join Him when I died.  Jesus seemed separated from the events of my ordinary daily life. I mostly thought of Jesus when I went to church on Sunday, was in need, or when I was especially thankful.

 Setting aside a specific time of prayer each day, I have come to realize that Jesus is intimately woven into every detail of my life.  Through prayer and reflection, I also recognize Him more clearly in other people. I see Him in their smiles and laughter, I see Him in their kindnesses, love, and hospitalities offered. I see His care and His provision for my elderly art students, and I see His energy and joyful creativity in my younger students. I see the love of Jesus working in the lives of my own family members and close friends.  I experience affirmations of His eternal presence through such moments as my three-year-old grandson announcing boldly, “ Jesus is the Lord”, and my three granddaughters filling canvases with paintings of angels in worship. I also see Jesus in those who suffer and in those who serve the suffering. I see Jesus in the homeless person on the side of the road waiting for a donation, I see Jesus in the families that morn the loss of a loved one, or battle terminal illnesses. I also see Jesus in those who struggle and are unhappy.

 Jesus desires to be woven into the fibers of every heart, every need, every emotion.

 Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9-13