holy-week

Your Time

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Each Wednesday, I gather with church friends to go through this devotional book based on the scriptures of Jesus’s speaking directly to us. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. April 11th has like my favorite devotional, it is TIMELESS talking about time… One day at a time!!!

Timeless advice remembering Jesus did not shy back nor go boldly into each day, but stayed humble at the approach to a day that He KNEW what would happen. Jesus was not just recruited into being Jesus, He fully God was before time. So yeah, the Lord knew how to approach the time humbly, living within that days boundaries. The Lord lived in earthly boundaries but with a spirit of forever. We could too. 

We should too. We need to forgive the past, realizing we are here in the present by God’s Mercy, and in His Forever by His Grace. So many times we must remind ourselves to stay in the present, as praying for tomorrow is fine, but worrying about it is not.

A poem:

We are human and complained yesterday, worried, wallowed, and whined. 

But fresh today prayerfully leaves that all behind. 

Jesus please give us today’s rhythm and today’s rhyme.

“This IS the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

For today Lord, we live in and for YOUR TIME. 

Amen

Amen – and may you continue to feel the peace and pace of Jesus this Holy Week.

Jesus Calling: April 11 by Sarah Young:

     “This is the day that I have made. Rejoice and be glad in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. BE CAREFUL NOT TO COMPLAIN about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The way to handle unwanted situations is to THANK ME FOR THEM. This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation, so that good emerges from it. 

     “To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries. I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments. I understand human frailty, and I KNOW THAT YOU CAN BEAR THE WEIGHT OF ONLY ONE DAY AT A TIME. Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in My Presence today. “

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hebrews 3:7- 15 Be Faithful
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

A Palm Sunday Services Prayer to Share

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Lord we are entering Holy Week.

Greater Love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Today Palm Sunday, we are waving our palms and saying Hosanna, seeing You Jesus as a great king. May we see You Jesus as OUR King, a Heavenly king and not just an earthly king. May we be walking with You this whole week, still saying Hosanna as we want to grow – grow from the sheep being fed – to disciples being led.

May our Hosannas come with hope everlasting and a willingness to believe. Oh Jesus, Lord, please keep us from becoming that crowd that scorns You, denies You, and leaves You hanging by Friday. We ask Lord to remain walking step by step and be a witness as we all get to Thursday, Your last supper on earth, Your Passover feast, to break bread with You. We want to try to stay awake with You in the garden. We WANT to be Your friend, but our sleepiness is shown in Your tears. And please console us on Friday, Lord, open our eyes to see why such darkness was necessary in death and then truly allow us to see the Light overcoming darkness, by GLORIOUS Sunday.  Let us not remain those wondering Saturday people, lost and hopeless. Bring us Lord to Easter and understanding, Jesus let us taste in Your resurrection and Life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who-so-ever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So today Lord, we are Your people who lay down their coats and palms, may we continue all week and for all of our days to lay down our plans for Yours, lay down our expectations for Your enrichment. Kneel at Your cross and tomb then keep walking and share your Good News:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Please Lord send your Holy Spirit. As we receive Your Word today may we be filled with Your Spirit to open our ears and hearts to hear Your Voice as Shephard, know You as Prince of Peace, and to understand You and Your plan for us.

And Sweet Jesus, may we continue this Holy Week being led in praise and in measured steps, one day at a time.

We love You Lord because You loved us first.

Amen