Sunday, April 14, 2019

Palm Sunday Lessons by Lillian Duncan


PALM SUNDAY LESSONS



Matthew 21: 8-11

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna, to the Son of David!
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!
1When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

When we see this Palm Sunday scene in the movies, Jesus is seated on the donkey smiling and waving to the crowds. It’s a happy scene that warms the heart.

But consider this, Jesus knew that less than a week later those adoring crowds would turn on him and call for his death. Not only that, but his beloved disciples would all run away, hide in fear, and some even deny him.

But knowing that didn’t stop him from enjoying this triumphant moment—in spite of the difficult situation that lay ahead.

We can take a lesson from Jesus here.

Life can be difficult, filled with disappointments and struggles as well as tragedies. Some of us get so stuck in the difficult situation. We refuse to move forward. We refuse to enjoy the life we have. In our sadness and maybe even anger, we miss the happy moments—even the triumphant moments.

As a woman who lives with bilateral brain tumors, I struggle with a variety of health issues on a daily basis. I could choose to stay stuck in the difficult circumstances or I can choose to keep my eyes on Jesus. I can remember his triumphant entrance on that Palm Sunday—in spite of the difficulties that he knew he would soon experience.
So this Palm Sunday,let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and do as he did. Enjoy the good moments and rely on the Father during the difficult moments.

Happy Easter!





Lillian Duncan… turning faith into fiction.

Lillian is a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with her husband and a menagerie of pets. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist for children, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

Her goal is to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about her, visit www.lillian-duncan.com. I also have a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com.


PUZZLE HOUSE
LILLIAN DUNCAN




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PUZZLE HOUSE BLURB:

Life isn’t a box of candy—it’s a puzzle!

Rachel Summers is all about Rachel Summers…until the day she crashes headlong into a semi-truck. As her life hangs in the balance, she has a visitor who asks a very simple question.

Does she want to be healed or to be a healer?

She makes her choice, but the journey doesn’t go quite the way she expected.

And so Rachel now runs Puzzle House. Every guest is different and yet the same. They all come to the Puzzle House for one reason and one reason only—to be healed, usually from a life-threatening illness. Sometimes they receive their miracle, and sometimes they discover there’s more than one kind of healing.

Nia is a fifteen-year-old African-American girl who is dying. The doctors have told her there is nothing else to be done. No more treatments. No more hope. No more life. And she’s angry about that. Very angry. Against her wishes, Nia’s aunt brings her to The Puzzle House.

Together, Nia and Rachel will take a journey that will change both their lives.





         

2 comments:

Marilyn R. said...

Lillian, thank you for this encouraging word to keep our eye on Jesus despite the circumstances we may be experiencing. God bless.

Lillian Duncan said...

Thanks for your kind words.

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