As we journey through Holy Week, this daily scriptural guide might be a meaningful way to journey through a week of enormous love and passion of our Lord and Savior.

 

Sunday:

The Triumphal Entry On the first day of the week Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling an ancient prophecy (Zec 9:9). The crowd welcomed him with “Hosanna” and the words of Psalm 118:25-26, thus ascribing to him a Messianic title as the agent of the Lord, the coming King of Israel.

Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-19

 

Monday:

Jesus curses the fig tree

Matthew 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14

Jesus cleanses the temple When Jesus returned to the temple and found the court of the Gentiles full of traders and money changers making a large profit as they gave out Jewish coins in exchange for “pagan” money. Jesus drove them out and overturned their tables.

Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18

 

Tuesday:

Jesus teaches in the temple Jesus taught parables and warned the people against the Pharisees. He predicted the destruction of Herod’s great temple and told his disciples about future events, including his own return.

Matthew 21:28-23:39, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4

Jesus anointed

Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:2-11

 

Wednesday:

The plot against Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6

 

Thursday

The Last Supper In an upper room Jesus prepared both himself and his disciples for his death. He gave the Passover meal a new meaning. The loaf of bread and cup of wine represented his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood soon to be shed. And so he instituted the “Lord’s Supper.”

Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-20, John 13:1-38

Jesus comforts the disciples

John 14:1-16:33

Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:40-46

 

Friday

Jesus arrest and trial

Matthew 26:47-27:26, Mark 14:43-15:15, Luke 22:47-23:25, John 18:2-19:16

Jesus crucifixion and death Following betrayal, arrest, desertion, false trials, denial, condemnation, beatings and mockery, Jesus was required to carry his cross to “The Place of the Skull,” where he was crucified with two other prisoners.

Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:16-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:17-30

The burial of Jesus

Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:31-42

 

EASTER Sunday:

The resurrection Early in the morning, women went to the tomb and found that the stone closing the tomb’s entrance had been rolled back. An angel told them Jesus was live and gave them a message. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden, to Peter, to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and later that day to all the disciples but Thomas. HE IS ALIVE!

Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1-31

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Simply put, if we store up good things in our life, the outflow of our life will be good as well. Matthew 12:34 says, “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” What an enormous responsibility we have to guard ourselves. I pray that our fortress, our resolve to stay pure, would be unwavering. I want to store up some good stuff. I want the outflow of my life to be good. Don't you? So I say to you, store up all that God has for you today: His presence, His grace, His goodness. Store up, stockpile, then open up the floodgate and share that which has been given to you with others.

On a personal note, those of you that are giving yourselves to Bow the Knee, I just want to honor you and am praying with you that we will get to see great fruit from our efforts.

To God Be the Glory!

Pastor Larry

 

Don’t forget to share your comments!

Eleven times in Jesus’ final words to His disciples, He calls us to remain. What does it mean to remain, or to abide? It’s all about connection! Jesus, in His own words, said “I am the vine, you are the branches” and apart from Him, we can do nothing. So how can we maintain this connection? It has to be about making our relationship with Him a priority. Jesus had to have known all that the disciples would endure. He knew how desperately they would need His life, power and love flowing into their lives. And He knows now, how desperately you and I need these same things.

With all this being said, this past Sunday, I issued a 7-day challenge for us to read a Psalm and a Proverb each day. Today, we are into day 2. My hope is that as you read these verses at least one word, verse or perspective speaks to your heart. This morning, as I tried to strengthen that connection, Proverbs 2:3-5 spoke to me. It reads:

 3 and if you call out for insight
       and cry aloud for understanding,

 4 and if you look for it as for silver
       and search for it as for hidden treasure,

 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
       and find the knowledge of God.

Now listen to Him say to you that word: remain. And hear it even echo up to 11 times, for this is how important it is for us to stay connected to The Vine. We are surrounded by branches here in the Northwest. Let them serve as a daily reminder to you to stay connected!

Please feel free to share a thought and how the daily reading spoke to you by clicking the post a comment link at the bottom of this post.

Praying for you!

Pastor Larry

Rule #5  Never forget what’s sensitive. We all have areas or issues that are sensitive, things that are harder for us to talk about. You have them and so does your spouse. If you spend any time listening and studying your spouse you likely know what the sensitive areas are. It doesn’t mean they should be ignored, but they should be treated differently. Here’s the rule: the more sensitive the issues, the more sensitive the language. When your spouse senses that you are expressing sensitivity by being gentle with your words, they will likely give themselves to you and the conversation. Yes you can talk about the hard stuff, you just have to use soft words. Spirit and tone is everything! Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Rule #6 Never forget to serve. We live in a world of rights and entitlement and when we bring this attitude into our marriage, we miss out on the freedom of losing ourselves. In marriage, it’s not all about you, it’s about serving and doing for each other. Sacrifice is life-giving. Couples that care for each other serve each other. So go on a serving kick; give it time and see if you don’t enjoy being married even more. Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Rule #7  Never become a slave to debt. Financial pressure is a marriage killer. Remember the borrower is the servant to the lender; so beware. Worth Magazine did a detailed survey and found that the number one thing American couples fight about is money. Here are more details: Citibank did a study that showed that 57 percent of divorces are caused by money problems. If you have money problems, you don’t need a divorce, you need to learn to manage your money and avoid debt. Opportunity is knocking: you can improve your current and future relationship by staying out of debt and working together on money matters. I believe every couple should go through Financial Peace University taught by Dave Ramsey. Don’t make light of this issue – we are surrounded by consumerism. You have to learn the word “no”. If you don’t take control of your money, money will control you.

Rule #8  Never live by emotions alone. Love is a choice, not a feeling. Sure we feel deep emotions from time to time but love is not dependent upon feelings and emotions. Real and deep love is a decision of the heart. Feelings are awesome but they are not to be lived by. If you embrace every feeling or desire you have, you would drive your spouse crazy. Life is not meant to be a roller coaster ride. Don’t get me wrong – your feelings are important and so are those of your spouse, however they need to be considered and thought about. We have to evaluate feelings against the timeless truths and commands of God’s Word. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Rule #9 Never embrace sinful habits.  Sin is a killer to the health of a marriage.  Sure sin affects the person but more than that it affects the couple.  There are dark days where desire, temptation and opportunity collide, so be prepared; review what’s at stake.  When we fail to count the cost of sin and compromise we can fall.  The hurt and heartache associated with sin is an altogether different kind of pain.  What kind of person do you want to be and what kind of family and life do you what to have?  You and I answer these questions everyday by the life choices we make.  Be courageous now and let God make your life and family a legacy for others to see the blessings of simple obedience.  Let your life honor the Lord in all things and He will bless you beyond what you can imagine. Joshua 24:15  But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Rule #10 Never overlook the heart.  Your spouse wants to know and feel your heart.  But for this to happen you’ve got to share it.  Expression may seem risky but living a cold, distant, detached life is far more relationally hazardous.  Men, when was the last time you touched your wife’s heart and expressed your love and feelings for her?  It may start by telling her again what you love about her.  It may involve revisiting some fond memories.  It does require you to talk to her and speak to her heart about life, love and feelings.  Yes, feelings, you’ve got them you just have to let them out.  Flowers, cards, gifts and dinner dates are great places to start but are no substitute for sharing, and she wants to know your heart.  Ladies, know that this is not always easy for guys so don’t give up on him.  Men are prone to talk more about money, work and sports, so getting him to talk about matters of heart takes patience and good questions.  So practice relational safety, this is when you make it safe for your spouse to share with you without getting criticized or rejected.  When we feel safe to talk we are far more likely to talk: that’s relational safety.  Without question the book of Song of Songs expresses the heart and passion of a Man and a Woman’s heart and love.

Song of Solomon 4:6-7 The sweet, fragrant curves of your body,
   the soft, spiced contours of your flesh
Invite me, and I come. I stay
   until dawn breathes its light and night slips away.
You're beautiful from head to toe, my dear love,
   beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.