BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
(words shouted by the people of Jerusalem to Jesus, Mark 11:9)
Celebration!
It’s called Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry, the time in history where Jesus has arrived from Jericho, entering the gates of Jerusalem on a donkey! The crowds explode with praise! Coats, tunics, palm branches are being thrown down in front of this procession, while Old Testament prophecies are fulfilling and popping like fireworks. This is perhaps the best reception Jesus has seen in His 33 years on earth.
But it’s difficult. It’s hard to know what to do…
I struggle, because I don’t know how to celebrate Palm Sunday. I could easily become a face in the crowd, running to tear down palms and throw my jacket on the road… but what does it imply about the days to come? Will I return with the crowd when Jesus is on trial? Will I put up my fist with the others and cry “Crucify!”? Will I stand and watch Him hang, gasping, dying, crying out to God?
I struggle, because I can not think I’m that much different from those in the crowd. They gave sincere Hosannas, and they had high expectations of what Jesus would do – just as I do. But somehow, somewhere within the walls of Jerusalem, the expectations of Jesus collided with the reality of Jesus and they suddenly had to decide: Would they still welcome Him? Would they choose to follow Him?
Twenty-four days ago you decided to walk with Jesus for the final month of His life. You decided to live your own life as if you had one month to live. You have shown devotion in various ways, shown your love and dedication. You may have even “cut some palms” and celebrated His journey through your life.
But will you continue to walk with Jesus when His road becomes too dangerous, too difficult, too uncomfortable? Will you still follow Him when His road parts from the road you want to go? Where are those in-between places for you – the places where your expectations of Jesus collide with what you actually experience of Him?
Challenge #25: How far will you walk with Jesus? How long will you lay palms on the ground, welcoming Him into your life? Describe the difficult places where you have trouble continuing to follow Him. Perhaps there are situations that you have not yet experienced that you dread, knowing that it may be difficult – write about them. Maybe you feel a calling, but resist – write about it. How long will you lay palms?
Remember that you are not alone in your journey. God’s mercies are there, ready to help you through. May that grace give you the strength to leave the crowd when the road is hard.
Monday’s Challenge: PRAISE
In the past I've had hard situations that now seem so trivial where I turned my back on God. My parents divorce being the one screamig from my mind right now. I had a seemingly perfect childhood with loving parents and then was blind sided with a divorce. Divorce is so prevalent these day and such a normal part of moat kids lives, but no child wants their parents to split. I hated God for "turning his back on me". I was ugly and hateful and said some things to Him that took me a really long time to get over.
ReplyDeleteMore recently I've struggled with going and taking my talents where he wants me, where He has called me... Atleast where I think he is calling me. It was a hard decision but o ja many great people around me praying for me and I finally gave in. Now I wait and pray to see if it is really my calling. Oh and the waiting game sucks
I struggle with following God as I watch my parents fade away. First Dad to Alzheimer's and now Mom to Lewy Body Disease. It's so hard when Mom is here, but not here. I wonder how God could let this happen to a woman who has lived her entire life trying to be His faithful servant. Sometimes when Mom is having really bad days and I think of God as a parent, it makes me wonder if He'll leave me too, and retreat into His world the way she has into hers.
ReplyDeleteBut then I remember how God comforted me when Daddy died. How, after days of silence broken only by occasional senseless ramblings, Daddy recognized me at the end. Daddy's last words were, "I love you, Lynn." And when I think of that, I am humbled to remember that, by His actions, Christ's last words were just the same ones. That loving goodbye gives me hope for a future together that will not end, and will not be marred by disease, suffering, sadness, or fear.
Dylon
ReplyDeleteWhenever me and my school friends argue about christ they lead me to believe something else sometimes.
When I read this challenge, I immediately thought of Jenny Owens’ song, “If You Want Me To” (see below). I have actually considered this question many times. I wonder if I were to face real persecution like the early Christians or like the Christians in today’s Middle East, would I follow. Would I still be faithful? I hope that I would be faithful even to the point of death. The more I read Scripture and study, the more convinced I am of His desire to have my whole heart, no matter where He leads. My prayer is that I will lay palms all the days of my life, no matter what valley or fire the Lord asks me to walk through.
ReplyDeleteThe pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to
Chorus:
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to
It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone
So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley If You want me to
~Natalie
Well, I'm a very controlling person. Not all the time but when it comes to my own life, I don't like to be told what to do or when to do it or who to listen to. This has, of course, made me have a lot of trouble with my relationship with God because I have trouble trusting him. I feel like if I wait for him to show me what he wants from me, It'll take too long so I'll just do everything myself. So, I have trouble following Him and His plan for me a lot. It's clearly something I need to continue to work on.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, Tracie's grandmother's husband passed away at a ripe, old age. He lived a good life and it was sad to see him go. You see, when we went to Kentucky to see "Nanny", it really wasn't her we went to see, it was Pop Ray. Ray was a good Christian man who was a delightful person that quickly had a special place in everyone's heart.
ReplyDeleteAs arrangements for his funeral were made, I was asked to read a special "something" of my choosing that was appropriate and fitting of the way everyone felt about Pop Ray. I can't remember what I read, but it was warmly received and many among the ones gathered there shared their thoughts and feelings.
I felt that this simple service for Nanny would allow me to begin growing closer to her. We knew that we had an uphill battle for her to want to spend time with our children, that was just the way she was.
Before long, she decided to move back to Georgia and settle in the home of one of her children. Tracie and I were excited that she was no longer a day's drive away and looked forward to building a relationship with her and helping our children get to know her.
Over the next several months, we slowly began to realize that the relationships we dreamed would happen didn't materialize. This was a very difficult pill to swallow. Over the past twenty years, we have tried from time to time to reconnect with Nanny, to no avail.
On Sunday, Tracie found out Nanny had a heart attack and her health was failing, fast.
After work today, we went to the hospital to visit with Nanny and family gathered there. Here's where the laying of the palms became impossible for me. I love to pray, I pray several times everyday, always with a purpose. I look for opportunities to lift prayers for others who are facing challenges, or have just had a jubilant experience! This comes very naturally for me. In most cases, but not this one... I'm stuck between the frustration of Nanny not being there as the Great-Grandmother of our children and wanting to serve a God of comfort during this difficult time. What a loss this was that she didn't want to spend time with her great grandchildren. Her life is almost over, and I am challenged to lift prayers for her among the small gathering of her family that was afforded the opportunity to be part of her life in these last twenty years. I felt embarrassed to offer a prayer for comfort in this time of sadness. Yes, that's me keeping my palms to myself. Keeping my jacket on and not spreading it before Christ as He makes his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. This is so awkward...
this reminds me of a song called "Cassie" by Flyleaf. the song is about the columbine school shooting about ten years ago, and a girl named cassie who, when asked by the gunman if she believed in God, said yes. she was shot.
ReplyDeletei think about the extreme amount of fear and pressure the girl experienced. i cannot imagine the thoughts going through her head as she answered. she knew she was going to die.
i honestly don't know what i'd do in a situation like that. i want to say i would stand for my beliefs, and say that i am a christian. but, i'm just not sure what i would say. as much as i want to say i'd stand strong, the pressure of a moment like that might throw me.. this is probably a sign that i need to work with my relationship with Him to make it strong, to guarantee that i would say "yes, i am a christian."
well, I cant name names but sombody really hurt my family all the stuff they have done to us woulden't fit on this page
ReplyDeleteIn a situation like this I'd probably go all the way. Although I've never been in a tortuous situation, I'd have to say whatever is GOD's will I will do.
ReplyDelete(leslie)
ReplyDeletei remember, when i was in the youth group, one time we were asked if we were totally sold on Jesus. we were even asked to rate our devotion on a scale from a-z. i believe in GOD. i believe in the promises. i believe that Jesus gave HIS life and pure self up for me- and i do NOT deserve it. when you think about it...it's like: "silly Jesus! why would YOU do that for us? for US???" the answer:
love.
agape.
i'll never ever understand it...but my daily life is a decision. to choose HIM or not to choose HIM.
...HE chose me....still-everyday even...
how can i say no??? like others this reminds me of a song:
Thorns on his head spear in his side
Yet it was a heartache that made him cry
He gave his life so you would understand
Is there any way you could say no to this man
If Christ himself were standing here
Face full of glory and eyes full of tears
And he held out his arms and his nail printed hands
Is there any way you could say no to this man
How could you look in his tear stained eyes
Knowing it's you he's thinking of
Could you tell him you're not ready to give him your life
Could you say you don't think you need his love
Jesus is here with his arms open wide
You can see him with your heart if you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, he's done all that he can
Is there any way you could say no to this man
How could you look in his tear stained eyes
Knowing it's you he's thinking of
Could you tell him you're not ready to give him your life
Could you say you don't think you need his love
Thorns on his head your life in his hands
Is there any way you could say no to this man
Is there any way you could say no to this man
forever. the answer is forever. why? because HE loves me so.
(leslie)
ReplyDeletei forgot. i struggle any time things are hard. ridiculous right? we should draw near to GOD when times are hard...i don't even get mad at HIM...i just stop trying...i turn from HIM. silly humans.
So it used to be pretty hard for me to go to school and talk about Jesus and all about my religion and church and my youth group and stuff to people because I thought they would think that I was wierd or a "Jesus Freak" or something. But now I just don't care at all. I mean, yeah, I have my moments, but who doesn't? It just has gotten a lot easier for me to talk about all of those things to people that I would used to be scared to talk to about those sorts of things.
ReplyDeleteI really don't want to know, by personal experience, hardship, harrassment, or ugliness, the "end of my rope" of faith....
ReplyDeleteBut I do want to "walk on water"!!!
I profess faith, but ask for a HUGE hedge of protection.....
Somewhere in there, HE KNOWS!
"Oh no, You never let go! In every high and every low..... Lord, you never let go of me!"
I'm kind of scared about when I get a boyfriend... most girls my age already have one, and I don't want one yet. Most boys my age are acting like idiots at my school, anyway. You should hear their conversations in the hallway! But boys interperit girls in the same way. Sigh... But when that DOES happen, I would have no clue what would happen. When I was younger, I looked at the book/movie/TV portrayal of middle school and think, "Oh, I won't turn in my homework late!" Done that a million times this year. "I won't yell at Mom and Dad on a tough night!" Done that, too. "Will NEVER, in a MILLION YEARS almost have a nervous breakdown!" I've been there. I guess I assumed that adolescence would be effortless, like academics was in grade school. I also saw things like teen pregnancy, weird relationships, etc., and giving the very same response. I wonder if I should be doubting myself on that, too. The unit we had in 56X made me feel better, but didn't cure it. I will have to work on that...
ReplyDeletei would die for God and my christian beliefs but sometimes when i compare my life to others i feel like i'm not as good as them and i could be if i wasn't christain like them, or i feel like im not and will never be as good as them so i should just give up.
ReplyDelete