Palm Sunday Weekend '11

Like the rest of the year so far, this was a busy weekend.  With all that has been going on, Palm Sunday has come around, and I wasn't quite ready for the start of this Easter week.   However, as I spent time Sunday morning reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus' Triumphal Entry, I was reminded that, unlike the crowd that day, we now see what "Hosanna!" ("Save!") really entailed - that Jesus had to die on the cross in order to save us.   And riding on the donkey, He was showing that He is the King of Kings, the prophesized One from the line of David to reign forever.  Amen!

In taking some moments to stop and ponder, I am a little more focused now on the true meaning of Easter:  "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith....But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep....Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?....But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. " (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20, 54b, 55, 57)

 May Easter Sunday be glorious, as we celebrate His Resurrection!

Last night, as I shared with my friend all that has been going on, I was encouraged that God is at work.  While I have felt challenged, criticized, stretched, and sometimes overwhelmed; I recognize that because I feel this way, it causes me to turn to God and rely upon Him.  That's a good thing!  

Some things I've been reminded this weekend are to make time to spend with those I need to witness to; to try to be an encouragement; for it is so easy to be discouraged, especially by the criticism that is so readily thrown about; and that just as things of priceless value are gently restored with care when they get damaged, so too should those who have fallen be gently lifted from the pit.