handful of Jesus

The church I attended as a little girl was very formal in how they celebrated communion…
Although it was a sacred time it was somber…
The lights were dimmed and everyone seemed to know how “it” was to be done.
You prayed silently before you took the bread or the cup…
You prayed again silently after you held the bread or the cup…
And then everyone ate and drank together…
Then bowed their heads and prayed silently again…
All while soft music played in the background.

I can understand the value of tradition and formality taking it’s part in how we experience some of these sacraments…
At the same time, I also have learned that I can get caught up in the “doing” as a tradition rather than obedience based on my own need to remember what my King has done for me.

The church I currently am attending has been practicing communion in a very different way. There are rustic tables set up around the sanctuary and at some point during the worship service the congregation is encouraged to make their way to the communion tables and take the elements back to their seat.
It’s a bit like popcorn…
once one person gets up…
then pretty soon there are lines formed at the communion tables.
Each person carefully taking just one little square of bread and one small cup of ‘wine’.

A week or so ago, I was sitting by myself during the worship service. After everyone had gotten up and taken the elements to their seats – each person was encouraged to eat the bread and drink from the cup on their own when they were ready. During this time, worship and praise songs were played and some sang… while others prayed… It really was a beautiful time of remembering what our Lord Jesus chose to do for us… for me.

This particular Sunday, after the communion time, everyone was singing and I noticed a lady in the front row. I’ve often seen her dancing to the music… she always puts a smile on my face.

Slowly she danced her way over to the communion table and I was thinking to myself…
“How precious that she waited until she was ready to come to the table…”
I found myself being thankful for the way people at our church can just do that…
there is a freedom to come when you are ready.

But…
then as I watched this elderly lady dance her way closer to the table…

I saw her reach out her hand and not just take a single piece of the bread but a whole handful!

No one does that… right?!
After the shock wore off, I smiled.

And it was as if Jesus said to me…
“I am a generous God.
You take just a bit –
but I have so much more for you!
I want to give you abundant life…
not just little joys here and there!”

Made me think of that child-like faith… not worrying about what anyone else thinks – just holding onto Jesus with everything I have.

If only I had the guts to grab as much as my hands will hold of Jesus ~ instead of fingering a small, perfectly square piece of Him.

Our God is a generous God… He came to the cross because He loves me so… and He loves you so… and He died to give us abundant LIFE.

“Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it,
and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body, given for you.
Eat it in my memory.”
He did the same with the cup
after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant
written in my blood,
blood poured out for you.“
Luke 22:19-20 MSG

It is all for me… for you…

How can you grab a handful of Jesus today?