Monday Motivation: Church Family

Friends

It’s Holy Week! Even in the midst of this pandemic, we can still rejoice that we know a risen Lord! He is with us, and He is for us! All Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ!

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Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 – NIV

I miss my church family. I miss Sunday mornings standing beside my dear friends. I miss hugs and handshakes and heartfelt smiles. I miss the music, the singing, the voices. I miss the joyful sound of our congregation passing the peace.

Our pastor, staff and volunteers have done an amazing job with online worship services. I am so thankful that we have that option in the midst of this pandemic. But here it is Holy Week, and the body of Christ cannot gather as one to worship the risen Lord.

I guess this is a lament, a longing for what we cannot have right now. We cannot watch the children wave their palm branches as they process down the aisle. We cannot join our voices together in a chorus of praise. We cannot decorate the altar with spring flowers.

But we can still worship. We can still encourage one another. We can help those in need. We can pray and sing and praise, maybe not side by side, but collectively across our neighborhoods, our towns, our cities, our nations, our world.

We can love and laugh. We can thank our Lord for this day, for our blessings, for our health and safety. We can remember His faithfulness and rest in the promise that He will see us through this.

No matter the social distances or physical isolation, we are One in the Spirit. We are united in Christ. Covid-19 cannot take that from us.

As we remember the final week of Jesus’ earthly life, let our hearts be lifted with hope. Think of the sadness and loss He endured during that last week, and yet, that was not the end of His story. His suffering was turned to joy, His death into new life. From the depths of despair, hope arose, and that hope remains with us.

We will get through this. We will worship together once more, side by side, voices lifted in thankful praise. Friends, on that Sunday morning, what a joyful noise that will be!

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Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96:2-4 – NIV

PRAYER

O Lord Jesus, we are weary and worried, burdened and isolated. You know every one of our struggles. You know our concerns. You know how hard this life can be for You walked these earthly roads with us. You suffered and died on a cross so that we could have hope, the hope of eternity with You. You suffered torture and despair to give us new life. You loved us that much. As we walk through this present darkness, let us remember that You are with us always. Our hope lies in You. Nothing, absolutely nothing, on this earth can ever separate us from Your love. The victory is Yours!

In the Victorious Name of Jesus, we pray,

Amen

Blessings,

Anita

-APS 4/6/2020