Palm Sunday

What a great Sunday!

This morning was my first Palm Sunday in nine years.  The kids were so happy bringing in and waving the palms and saying, "Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!"  Such a blessing to see them!

A great sermon this morning as well.  The topic was on grace using the scripture about the woman who had committed adultery and Jesus said that whoever is without sin could cast the first stone at her and the scripture about Jesus eating with the tax collectors and his message that it is not the healthy who need a doctor... Fantastic!  And so of course by the end of the sermon, I'm in tears.  One thing about reading through the New Testament is having the message of salvation drilled into my brain.  I'm so grateful for the work of Paul and his letters that state repetitively the promise of forgiveness through grace and the acceptance of Christ as my King.  I'm grateful for the cross.  I'm grateful that he was good and strong and pure enough to withstand temptation and endure the pain and wrath that came with the crucifixion.  I'm overjoyed that because I claim him, he will claim me.

I ordered two books today from Amazon:  The Lost World of Genesis One and Traveling Mercies.  I should have them by the end of the week so hopefully I'll be done with the one I'm reading now.

I've officially finished all the Pauline letters in the Bible.  The next book is James.

I've got more dimes in my dime jar.  It's nice to have something I'm working towards.  I can't wait to go to Uganda.  I'm so excited for the opportunity to share my knowledge and story with the people there.  I'm so excited to meet others there who share my passion for the Lord and live in such a vastly different context.  In a way, I feel that it will be easier to share the gospel there than it is over here.  It's my own anxiety I'm sure.

In Bible study tonight, we discussed the baptism and temptation of Jesus in preparing him for his earthly mission.  I love when scripture I've read before takes on new meaning for me.  For instance, John the Baptist's sermon to the crowds coming for baptism in the Jordan:
"And the crowds asked him, 'What then shall we do?' And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."  Luke 3:10

As I'm preparing my heart for life as a Christian in new contexts (first in urban Nashville and then in Uganda),  I'm so excited for the opportunity to be a light to others.  I want God to use me as a blessing to others.  I will happily give what I have if God can use me to change someone else's outlook on Christianity.  I will happily share my story with others if it can change someone's outlook on Christians.  I want others to look at me and know that I live through Christ's redemptive love and God's unwavering grace.  I want it to be written on my heart and on my face and in my voice and in my eyes.

Amen and amen. <3