Limping or Leaping

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2: 5-11 

Happy Holy Week!  As we stand with our feet just a few hours past Psalm Sunday, the question of the day is; are you gonna leap or limp into this spectacular week on the christian calendar?  The choice is yours and the blessings and benefits of the week will be proportional to your choice.

Why might we limp? Sometimes it’s as simple as recognizing our “inner toddler”.  We may be headed into Holy Week limping with a  pouty heart because Lent didn’t finish as spectacularly as we had envisioned it on Ash Wednesday.  Maybe we fell short, maybe all Lent did was make us more aware of our sinfulness and our stubbornness.  Yeah…so what…join the club!  The limpers probably tried to do Lent their way and wanted to feel great because of what they had done.  Having a spotlight thrown on our flaws, weaknesses and flub-ups isn’t anything we’d purposefully sign up for but sometimes it’s exactly where Jesus needs us to park and stare.  The other guess I’m willing to make is that the limpers are feeling like they didn’t “get” anything out of Lent.  Everyone wants the “sparkle -farkle”  “warm and fuzzy” holy feelings, and if we’re not feelin’ it we throw up our hands and think we’ll just give it a go next Ash Wednesday.  Uhhh….that’s us trying to be the boss again…that’s us trying to tell Jesus what we need instead of considering the fact that he’s shown us some things he needs us to see and if we’ll just hang with him and give him everything during this Holy Week, he’s got a miracle to blow our minds on Sunday.  Lent is about change, growing and journeying, so take a minute, stand up straight, quit limping and start leaping because the amazing love of the Father is about to bust out and amaze us this week if we’re looking.

So why leap?  Because this week we’ll re-live the events done out of the most magnificent and spectacular love imaginable… it’s all for love…every last tiny detail of this week illustrates his love for us.  Nobody has ever or will ever do something so incredible for us, so we need to leap into it head first and soak it up; the story, the people, the details, the celebrations, the sorrow but mostly the LOVE.  Here are some things you can do  to make sure you’re leaping and not limping.

First, since this was all done out of love, that’s the place for us to start.  Love Jesus a little more this week. The best way to show love it so be present, that’s exactly what we need to do.  Spend more time with Jesus this week.  Read Scripture, pray, soak up a pod-cast, video, song or article about Holy Week each day so you can appreciate the love and leap into the happy ending on Sunday.

Second, share some love.  Pick one act of love you can offer the week.  Make it a tough one…consider that whole “love those who  can’t love you back” or “love your neighbor” thing.  Do a great act of love simply because Jesus did a big one for you.

Third, read the story!  Go through the Gospel stories of the passion, death and resurrection this week.   Read them slowly and let the love in the story wash over you like a warm, healing rain.

Last, focus and just be his! Steer away from the TV and the Screens this week…just be with him.  Imagine each day that you are walking with him, living the story with him and experiencing his love first hand.  Give him that gift and the blessings he will return to you on Easter Sunday will leave you changed.

Now; ready, set. LEAP! Have a blessed and truly HOLY Week!
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A Seed To Plant: Write down and actually DO the four things above to make this a wonderful Holy Week.​

Blessings on your day!