. . . again!
Please know that I am being both sincere and vulnerable when I confess that I do not possess some previously acquired wisdom or insight that I call upon on any given Sunday. Rather, I listen again and again and again to what God wants to say even (and especially) through readings that are most familiar to me. It is often the case that what I’ve heard through listening (praying) does not make applicable sense (thought/understanding) to me personally until two or three days after I have shared with the congregation what I heard while listening. I recognize that wisdom from God is both universally and particularly relevant, but it is the latter that often takes time for me to recognize, i.e., how the message is particularly relevant for me. It took me more than a week to understand the personal relevance of a recent message.
Someone who was visiting from out of town joined us for worship a couple of weeks ago and found Paul’s exhortation to “Pray . . . think . . . do” so meaningful that she created the design above. She informed me that she has since saved it as her “wallpaper” to serve as a reminder to do just that — pray, think, do, in that order.
Earlier today (Tuesday, April 8), while discussing a challenge I am facing, someone asked me without a hint of pretense or a holier-than-thou tone, “Have your prayed about it?”
The truth? No, I had not.
Sometimes we get so accustomed to thinking that we know what God’s will is on any given matter that we forget to ask for God’s direction.
With that in mind, I encourage you to read Mark’s account of what we remember as “Palm Sunday” several times in a spirit of prayer while listening for what new insight God may be eager to communicate to you and, quite possibly, through you to others.
I look forward to seeing you Wednesday morning! — Jacob
The Scripture Reading is below and Zoom information is at the bottom
Mark 11:1-11
1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Zoom Info:
Link for Men’s Bible Study at 7:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85610681954?pwd=lbwwfzdUbAtlK7OVMswSP8uDvRsyA2.1
Meeting ID: 856 1068 1954 Passcode: 200461
Link for Women’s Bible Study at 10:30 a.m. Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83582289022?pwd=F0kOsaeGRTTnaoaL12rx7rIzjy89nJ.1
Meeting ID: 835 8228 9022 Passcode: 130287