Day 21 of Writing It Out

Today I found myself of service in a way that was surprising. I didn't get the news I expected, but I had joy. Why? Because I found that I was able to smile and sing, bringing joy. When I noticed the joy I brought, regardless of the outcome, I was pleased. I thank you God for always showing a better way, a kinder way, a more fulfilling way.

As the day progressed, I was happy things didn't go as I thought they would. What resulted was a grounding that would have not been possible otherwise. LOOK at GOD!!! Showing out.

As we move out of Lent into Easter, be bold and leave the mess in the tomb.

Day 20 of Writing It Out

Today, Palm Sunday, found me at Faith Community MB Church preaching. Using the scripture Mathew 21:1-11, my sermon title was  

Who You Shoutin' About? 

When I started preparing this sermon, I couldn’t get pass, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” This is probably because it is so like the song we sing in Catholic Masses, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” I got stuck here, because I often wondered why we sing this in the Mass. And all was revealed when I focused on the word, hosanna.

Hosanna comes from two Hebrew words Hebrew words yasha and anna
yasha which means save, rescue, deliver
anna which means beg, beseech
combining the two words we get ‘Please save’

Going back to the Catholic Mass, this song is sung right before the priest begins the prayers that change ordinary bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus the Christ. And so the song, called the Sanctus, is a song of praise and a song for deliverance.

As a song of praise, the people were acknowledging that Jesus is THE king in the line of David. As a king, they were asking for help from the oppressions they were experiencing. They were shouting, “we are depending on you to save us, protect us. To make it clear what they were asking, people started waving palms and laying their coats on the road —laying out the “red” carpet for Jesus. If we give you praise and honor, you will do right by us. We are desperate—so desperate that I lay my coat on the ground for you to trod upon. I am willing to give up what is important to me.

Who You Shoutin’ About? Who are you laying out the red carpet for? As a culture, we lay out the red carpet for celebrities, people we hold in high esteem because of some talent/gift that they have. We lift them up, placing them on pedestals and then we want them to do stuff for us, to take away our problems. We think that they should take notice of us because we elevated them to that status. And because of this, companies/individuals trying to sell their products, like door-to-door salesmen, use celebrities to do it —Celebrity Endorsements. By laying down the red carpet for celebrities we throw up our hands. We give over our own power. 

• We shout Hallelujah, but we don’t want to be on the committee.
• We shout Hallelujah, but we don’t want to make a commitment.
• We shout Hallelujah, but we don’t want to be a witness.
• We shout Hallelujah, but we don’t want to step out of our comfort zone.
• We shout Hallelujah, but we don’t want to get involved.

When we shout Hallelujah for anyone other than God, we get into trouble. But there is good news. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” This phrase comes out of Psalm 118, a psalm of thanksgiving. [Go to the psalm.]
By using this verse of the psalmist, Matthew is calling us to

• thanksgiving in the midst of sorrow;
• thanksgiving in the midst of pain;
• thanksgiving in the midst of oppression.

To remember what God had done so long ago. 

To me, Palm Sunday reminds us to wave palms around and give testimony to what Jesus has done already in our lives and to ask Jesus to continue to save us, rescue us, deliver us. Hosanna in the highest. Save us O Lord we pray in the highest way.

Day 19 of Writing It Out

A good friend (Julie W.) and I facilitated a Women's Retreat: Rest, Reflect, Restore this past weekend. Many of the women left that retreat FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Me? I too was FILLED with God. I really needed this retreat. It helped me slow down and fully receive and embrace God. We asked ourselves several questions which I share here with you.

Proverbs 4:23 - How is your heart?

Who are you spending your time with?

What is your narrative? Who are you sharing it with?

What truths do you need to address?

How have you been transfigured?

At least once a year, make a retreat. Allow yourself to let go of the norm and enter Kairos.

Day 18 of Writing It Out

Last week I had a busy week. I preached my first Parish Mission at St. Benedict's/St. Andrews. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to share my love of God with new family. What a GREAT! group. When we follow God, we discover joy, unspeakable joy.

I ended the week co-facilitating a women's retreat with Julie Welborn at the Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center in Donaldson IN. What a wonderful group of women. These women opened their hearts and minds to Julie and I and we were all transformed.

Now I need to get ready for Sunday when I return to monthly preaching at Faith Community MB Church.

Thank You LORD for getting me back to writing. I am feeling so much better. My heart is opening more and more to the mysterious ways of God. Who knew that you could open yourself MORE to God. AMAZING!!

What amazing thing is happening for you this Lent? How is Jesus satisfying your thirst?