Sunday Words of Encouragement April 17, 2011

Today is Palm Sunday. Our church is not a liturgical church so we do not celebrate the Church Holy days or feast days like some of the more formal churches. I was raised in the Episcopal church and remember receiving palm fronds to wave in celebration and to use making crosses. I feel some of our young people miss that reminder that was a focus for our Holy week leading up to Good Friday and Easter.

Our Pastor did preach a message entitled "Expectations." The bottom-line questions I got from the message are: (1) are we looking for God? and (2) who do we perceive Jesus to be?  There were different perceptions of Jesus as he made the triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Pharisees wanted a high priest to keep the law and balance. They were not looking for the Son of God.  The Disciples and followers were looking for a powerful King to lead them in prosperity.  The Zealots were looking for a strong leader to bring in new law and order. Merchants were looking for big crowds and sales. Soldiers were perhaps looking for trouble or maybe for a peace bringer.

Since we have the hindsight of the history of the Bible who do we look for? We can anticipate (expect) a Savior, a liberator, a healer, a comforter, a redeemer. What a joy and blessing to have these expectations.

This isn't a song video but

it matches the message so well I have chosen this today.

Verses for today:

Luke 19:37-40 (NIV)

 ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 ³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

   ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

I pray that you appreciate Palm Sunday, and the rest of this week, in God's way.