"Reflection"

Happy Palm Sunday - I pray everyone had a beautiful service this morning, or this afternoon, if you had a second service. Growing up as a child, Palm Sunday, if I can be honest, meant nothing more to me, than going to church and receiving those Palms that they handed out at the end of service to wave in the air, when the Pastor instructed us to. I would be like okay, I'll do it because you say so Pastor, and because every one else was doing it too; didn't bit more know, what it really symbolized, because to me, the real holiday, was Easter Sunday - people came from out of town to come to church with their parents and loved ones, the chuch was packed with people you had never seen before, and after church, they gave us jelly beans, marshallow Peeps in all kinds of colors, and chocolate candy in colorful foil, in the form of an egg. Plus for saints, it was the most sacred time of the year. In preparation of this holiday, I remember my mother used to take me and my sister out to buy a special dress (I can still see my sister's knit cape and my lace gloves...lol), new shoes, a cute little purse to match, and a Easter basket loaded with all kinds of toys and goodies for us to feast on. Then late Saturday evening, she would press and curl our hair, and tie it up tight, so that we wouldn't mess it up while we slept. The next morning, when we arose from our bed, we would be super excited, because now we had the chance to show off our new outfit, rip into that basket of goodies, and eat until we couldn't eat no more, from the dinner that was prepared for after church. But that was then though, when we fully didn't understand what Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection truly meant; but now I know better, even though I still have those great memories. This morning, as I sat in service today, I began to reflect on the purpose of Christ coming, and this scripture came to my mind: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4:18) As you read and meditate on this scripture or any other scripture, that may best represent what Easter means to you, ask yourself, what part of it, best describes me; I can testify to all of it, but whatever your part is, take time this week to thank Him for staying on the Cross so that you can experience what it feels like to be delivered, set free, have your broken heart healed, and your eyes opened, to the tactics of the enemy. This week, I will be setting time aside to reflect on all that He has done, and continues to do in each of our lives. And as you prepare this week, I pray that you make His sacrifice personal, and that you have a full understanding of His purpose. In closing, I leave you with these three words: "Thank you Lord." Be blessed sistahs. Peace & Love...