Have you ever been so overcome in corporate worship that you wanted to jump from your seat, raise your hands and do a little twirl in the aisle?

It was only the fear of being carted off by a watchful usher that kept you in your seat.

Maybe the power of God’s Word being read aloud swept through you—challenging, probing, and magnifying every thought and intent. 

Or the blend of voices in a choir lifted you ever so gently and brought you to the very Throne of Grace.

This past weekend, our church family, like so many others around the world, celebrated Palm Sunday. We worshipped, praised, and remembered. We raised our ordinary voices to honor our extraordinary God—the One, True, Holy, Righteous Father.

We reminded ourselves and each other—we are resurrection people.

The world is tough, hard, and unforgiving. But we serve a tender, compassionate, and merciful God.

A God so full of mercy that He gave His only Son to take the punishment for our sin.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Makes no sense whatsoever.

In fact, a love like that has the capacity to turn a life upside down.

These next few days are called Passion Week—the time when Christians remember the path our Savior walked the last week of His life on this earth.

What began with Hosanna! and palm branches,

…changed to Crucify Him! and an old rugged Cross.

And Jesus walked the length and breadth of every moment of that week. Because He so loved the world.

This week, may we pray and remember. May we weep with hearts of thanksgiving.

May we live our moments glorifying and honoring the One Who paid the ultimate price to give us new life.

Because, guess what? The story doesn’t end on the Cross…

Sunday’s coming!

 

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13 NIV)

***

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” (John 19:1-6a)
How does your family mark the events of Passion Week?

 

Praying you have a blessed week, full of worship and thanksgiving!

Joyfully,

Leigh Ann