At the some time, it’s easy to get caught observing them, celebrating them in a macro sense: “For God so loved the world…”

I pray that we also observe and celebrate them just as much in a micro sense: “For God so loved <insert your name here>…”

Christ suffered, died, and rose for the world and for each person personally at the same time.

Don’t miss that.

Do not miss that.

A friend used the song below in the Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday services at his church.

Since hearing the song last week, I can’t seem to get it out of my mind…which is certainly not a bad thing.

Check out this great song & great video by Rend Collective Experiment!

(Youtube link)

oh How Marvelous
How Boundless
Is your love
Is your Love
How Wonderful
Sacrificial
Is your Love for me

“I Know that my Redeemer lives,”
What comfort that sweet sentence gives !
He lives ! He lives ! who once was dead :
He lives, my everlasting Head !
He lives, triumphant from the grave ;
He lives, eternally to save.

He lives, all glorious in the sky;
He lives, exalted there on high;
He lives, to bless me with his love;
He lives, to plead my cause above;
He lives, to upbind and make me whole ;
He lives, to calm my troubled soul.

He lives, to grant me rich supply;
He lives, to guard me with his eye;
He lives, my hungry soul to feed;
He lives, to help in time of need;
He lives, that He may in me dwell;
He lives, to crush the powers of hell.

He lives, to silence all my fears;
He lives, to stop and dry my tears;
He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly friend ;
He lives, and loves me to the end;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing.

He lives, to grant me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives, my mansion to prepare;
He lives, to bring me safely there.
0 the sweet joy this sentence gives—
” I know that my Redeemer lives !”

from Lyra Consolationis: or, Hymns for the day of sorrow & weariness
By Horatius Bonar

Jesus, our head, once crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now;
Heaven’s royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

Delight of all who dwell above,
The joy of saints below;
To us still manifest thy love,
That we its depths may know.

To us thy cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, be given !
Though earth disowns thy lowly name,
All worship it in heaven.

Who suffer with Thee, Lord, below,
Will reign with Thee above;
Then let it be our joy to know
This way of peace and love.

To us thy cross is life and health,
Though shame and death to Thee,
Our present glory, joy, and wealth,
Our everlasting stay.

from Lyra Consolationis: or, Hymns for the day of sorrow & weariness
By Horatius Bonar

Sometime, I think we disconnect the events of Jesus’ final week on earth because we don’t always see or have a complete narrative in one place (one must read and associate the recorded stories in the four Gospels.)  Jesus and His disciples weren’t just sitting around waiting for Thursday, Friday…or Sunday(!).

I was looking around at lunch and found several Passion Week timelines online, but this one from BibleGateway.com was pretty cool.

I like how it shows the different events, participants, times, places, etc.

(image link @biblegateway.com)

This is an amazing week – why not prayerfully consider and reflect upon all that Christ did, endured, and accomplished each day rather then just one or two!

It’s Tuesday…but Sunday’s comin’!

ps: having written this post and now reflecting on Christ’s week, my post from yesterday seems wimpy and whiny…

It was a day of rejoicing.  A day of proclaiming Jesus’ victory over Satan, sin, and death.  A day of innumerable “He is risen / He is risen indeed!” exchanges with “Marco?  Polo!” precision.

You know, all the things that we appropriately do on Easter to give praise, honor, and glory to our amazing God and risen Savior.

It’s Tuesday.  Now what?

We read that after Jesus’ death, the disciples hid at first, then waited for the Holy Spirit to come as Jesus told them to.  Hopefully you are not in hiding today and we receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Christ as Savior…no waiting.

So, now what?

Well, similar to the catch phrase of a certain fruit-named company:

“There’s a verse for that!”

Actually there are many verses…but here are few that come to mind:

“…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1 [MSG]

“Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:17 [The Message]

“Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” 2 Timothy 2:15 [MSG]

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15 [ESV]

Just to clear up any confusion we might have:

[Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:14 (NLT)

Ummm, and just to bring this home for you and me:

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 (NLT)

So, CHRIST IS RISEN!  Now what?

LET’S WORSHIP!

READY.  SET.  GO!