Easter reflection

I'm sure all of you know that this past Sunday was Palm Sunday. I enjoy this day because Palm Sunday was the day that I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was 5 years old. I remember being in Sunday school with the felt board talking about Palm Sunday and what that all meant. I don't remember if there was an invitation given by the teacher or if everything just clicked in my head. But none the less, as a 5 year old I asked Jesus to come into my heart. I also asked on the way home from church and then again later that day while I was watching TV. I don't know why I remember this day so clearly, but I'm glad that I do. So Palm Sunday holds a special place in my heart.

This past Sunday, Josh had to take prayer requests and pray for the offering (a normal Sunday job for him) but before he did that He shared something that was on his heart that I have been thinking about ever since. He talked about how amazing it would have been to be there, in the crowd, watching Jesus humbly entering the city on the donkey and how we would be able to shout "Hosanna!!!!!!!" and be so joyful that He was there. But then.... fast forward just a few days.

You have Jesus being beaten and mocked, slowly dying. Would you be in that crowd as well? I think most of us would say I wouldn't want to be... but probably... yes I would be in that crowd. Why? because we are sinners. Even his disciples chose to say that they didn't know Him and watched. There was only a hand full that stood at a distance weeping because of what was happening. It really makes me upset to think that we can so easily change what "crowd" we are in. Church people we say "Hosanna Hosanna" others or in temptation we say "Crucify Crucify!"
Jesus died because I cry out crucify. He is glorified when I shout Hosanna. I hope and pray that Hosanna is more pronounced in my life. I thank God for his grace and mercy over me. I do not deserve it, but I am thankful for it and I will continue to use it to better my relationship with Him and to help further HIS kingdom. I wish all of you a happy Easter. Enjoy spending time with your family celebrating the greatest gift that was ever given.
Acts 1:4-10
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."