So a few days later, I realize that I’ve been using the hashtag #HolyWeek…a week early.
But really, isn’t mindfulness and awareness of God’s presence and gratitude for the sacrifice of His Son Jesus the entire point of the Lenten season?
It’s not about a specific date on the calendar…after all, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)
And shouldn’t we reverence, hallow, and deem significant EVERY day as holy unto God?
It’s about our heart condition.
This week. Next week. Every week.
Grateful to be growing in faith, Kayren
“…This day is holy unto the Lord your God…”
(Nehemiah 8:9)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
A popular group once sang, “What about your friends?”
I wonder how Jesus felt knowing that those He called friends – and was about to willingly lay down His life for – would turn on Him by the end of the week.
Then I thought about how I respond when a friend of mine – one I certainly don’t expect to physically die for – does something that hurts me.
The responses are miles apart. The difference is like night and day.
But I’m working on it – every day.
I believe the walk of a believer is to consistently allow God to develop our character until we’re conformed to the image of Christ.
We cannot measure ourselves against any other standard but Him.
We can’t even compare our progress with our old selves.
Unconditional love is unspeakably powerful. It’s unending and unchanging.
Amazing love…#HolyWeek
Blessings, Kayren
“12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
(John 15:12-14)
“9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
No, that wasn’t a typo. This post is definitely NOT about being made comfortable!
Sometimes when we know a person on a surface level and they wanna bring us into closer relationship, they may show us a scar or wound we’ve never seen before, or that we’re unaware they even had.
While some of these are grimace-worthy and might catch us off-guard (did I really need to see that?!), it does connect us on another level.
They’re inviting us to know them in a way most folks don’t and aren’t privy to.
Because it’s challenging to know something or someone intimately without firsthand knowledge or fellowship.
This #HolyWeek, let us be intentional about committing to know Christ more – as the Amplified Bible puts it in Philippians 3:10, “experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely.”
In this way, we are “being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even]to His death.”
Whew.
I’m beginning to comprehend the weightiness of drinking of the same cup as Christ – and the depth of His great love that was demonstrated through His sacrifice (Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:39).
Blessings as we enter Holy Week with open hearts, Kayren
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
(Philippians 3:10, KJV)
“And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];”
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