Here We Go Again

As I was having a conversation with someone the other day I mentioned how Palm Sunday was approaching and her response was that it came quick this year.  I don't believe she meant that it was early this year.  Last year it came about as early as it can come on the calendar.  What I believe she meant is that she was looking forward to this day happening so it kind of caught her off guard.

How often does this happen to most Evangelical (protestant, non roman catholic) believers.  In my opinion it happens way to often.  The reason is that we spend an entire month preparing for the celebration of the birth of Christ.  However, when it comes to the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ we only spend a week.  Sometimes less if we ignore Palm Sunday.  

So tell me...which is more important to our faith: His birth or His death & resurrection?  While the former is important to get the latter I believe that we should spend more time preparing to celebrate His death & resurrection than we do His birth.  It is the cornerstone of our faith!  It is the reason that we have hope!

So my encouragement is that this year you take at least this full week to prepare your heart to celebrate what Christ has done.  This means a lot of reading!  Read the different accounts of trial, execution, and resurrection this week.  You can even watch two of them.  Both Matthew and John are on DVD.  

The second this is praying.  Talk to God.  Let the Father know how thankful you are for sending down His Son to take your rightful place on that cross.  Ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and ask the Holy Spirit to point out an area of sin and weakness that He will help you start to overcome.

Third, take time to fast this week.  Even if it is just a single meal.  Take that time and the time until the next meal to really seek God.  Deny self for a short while to seek God and His Kingdom first.  Ask Him to show you where He is at work around you.  Then ask Him how you can join Him in His work.  

Lastly, look for opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus.  Be intentional this week.  If the hope in you is real than let your light shine before all that are around you.  Announce the goodness of God!

Don't let this Easter slip away like others by attending Church hearing a similar sermon and going home with family to eat ham and hard boiled eggs.  Instead, use this week to build your relationship with Christ our LORD and Savior. Make this a week of contemplation and celebration capped off with a big party at your church with your brothers and sisters on April 20th. 

God be with you!