This week, let us use the palm as an olive branch, a peace offering and a palm of blessing to those who have done us wrong? As we go through this Holy Week of Lent, let us lay aside all envy and malice, greed and filthy lusts. Let us lay aside past hurts, old grudges, bruised hearts, and hurt feelings. Let us forget those who have done us wrong, and those who set out to put stumbling blocks in our path. Let us lay aside pent up anger, frustrations and confusion. We must lay these down at the feet of Jesus, he has borne the cross for us at Calvary so that we could be free. As we look forward to this glorious Easter, let us do so with renewed feelings, new thoughts, and new aspirations of spending eternity the God. “Blessed is HE who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!” John 12:12

Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord, and keep his testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, they also do no iniquity, they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes, then, I would not be ashamed. Oh, let me not wander from your commandments, let your word be hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you, therefore I will meditate on your precepts oh God, and contemplate your ways. Psalm 119.

Thank you Lord, for covering, for guidance and protection as we walk the lonesome valley, as we walk through the storms in our lives. Lord, you promised to be a shelter for us in times of storm if we dwell in your secret place, you promised that if we make You our refuge that no evil shall befall us nor shall any plague come near our dwelling, that you will give your angels charge over us, to keep us in all your ways. Lord, you promised that when we call upon you, that you will answer, that you will be with us in times of trouble, but that we must serve you faithfully. Lord, we know that your promises are true, keep us Lord in your way we pray, that you will always be a covering for us. Thank you, Lord!

Now is not the time for us to act proudly, now is our time to encourage those who are weak in the faith, to help strengthen feeble knees, for we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God. I welcome all of you this morning into the household of God. Praise the Lord! Many of us who have been saved sometimes act as though we are so righteous, but I am here to remind you this morning, that we all have a testimony to share, because of where God brought us from. Hallelujah! We are reminded in Ephesians chapter 2, “And you, He made alive who were dead in trespasses, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom we also conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath.” But, now that you have been given a second chance, you condemn those who are walking as you once did. But know this, “For by grace you have been saved by faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, lest any man should boast.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, remember that you were once Gentiles in the flesh, that you were at one time without Christ, an alien having no hope, but now through Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, and through Him, we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Let us encourage one another, let us use our testimonies to draw others closer to God, so that they too will no longer be strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God. Praise the Lord!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, how many more times will you doubt God after seeing his footprints in the sand; how many times must you doubt God after he leads you with his guiding hands; how many times must he feed you, clothe you, deliver you, rescue you, comfort you and heal you, before you believe? Jesus stood and cried out saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink, for he who believes in Me, out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters.” So, why are you still thirsty, how long will you continue to drink from wells which cannot satisfy you?  How long will you hear God’s pleading voice and harden your heart? Are you not tired of being hungry and thirsty? I don’t know about you, but I was hungry and thirsty and when He offered me His life-giving water, I drank, and I was refreshed, I received my sight, and I have seen God at work in my life too many times not to believe. He lift me up out of the miry clay, when everyone said go, he said stay, when I was weary, tired and lonely, he said come, rest a while, and like a gentle father he bid me drink from the fountain that will never run dry. Since then, I run and don’t get weary, I walk but never faint, because I know how to get to the well with my bucket and I never come up empty. My brothers and sisters in Christ, you have been travelling this parched road of life for so long, you must be hungry and thirsty and tired. Won’t you come to Jesus and receive your share of life giving food?

Who else could love us so much to give his only son, as a Light to the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved? But, He came to His own and His own received him not. My brothers and sisters in Christ, we keep turning away from the Light, because we love the darkness in our lives which hides our evil deeds. Scripture reminds us, that all those who love the darkness condemn themselves, because everyone practicing evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds may be exposed, but he who does the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in name of God. He who walks in the Light and believes in the Light, is not condemned, but he who does not believe in the Light and walks in the darkness is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, sent, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Walk in the Light, accept the Light which is Christ, and be saved.

“For indeed, those who are far from you shall perish, for you have destroyed all those who deserted you for harlotry, but I will continually draw closer to you. “Lord, whom have I in heaven but you? There is none upon earth that I desire besides you, my heart and my flesh may fail, but God, you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. When my heart was grieved and I was vexed in my spirit, I was foolish and ignorant like a beast before you, blaming you, but now, I am continually with you, for you hold my right hand and guide me with your counsel, and I know that one day you will receive me to glory; so therefore, I will continually draw near to you and put my trust in you, that I may declare your wonderful works.” Thank you Lord

“Therefore, purge out the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ the Passover was sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Therefore, put away from yourselves the evil person, and be renewed with the mind of Christ.” Lord, show us how to lay aside all past hurts, all envy, malice, jealousy, pride and the evil way which corrupts us, and draw us further away from you, and instead be purged of the old leaven and become a new lump, filled with the goodness of God. Praise the Lord!

Lord, you are a God who makes no mistakes, all your works are wonderful, all your ways are sure, and therefore, we are trusting you for all our needs this morning. Heavenly Father, we remember before you this day, all those who are broken in mind, body, or spirit, we remember those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work, we remember those who are lost and can’t find their way, we remember the poor, the needy and the afflicted, we remember and pray for our children in this confused and troubled world, and we ask you oh God, to guide, provide, deliver, heal, restore and pardon, individually work through our struggles and confusions oh God, to show us the plans and purposes you predestined for our lives. Lord, we are confident this morning that as we lift up our needs and concerns before you, that they have not gone unheard, that you are able to do more than we desire or pray for, and therefore we are thanking you in advance for the answer to our prayers, in Jesus name we pray. Amen!

“Oh God, you are more awesome than your holy places, yes, you give strength to your people. Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you, and let those who love you continually say, “Let God be magnified!” I will hope continually and praise you yet more and more, my mouth shall tell of your righteousness and your salvation all the day long, for I do not know your limits.” Oh God, there is none like you, you are matchless in mercy and grace and power, therefore, my heart will sing your glory, and my lips shall proclaim your praise, because you are worthy. “Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who only does wondrous things.” Praise Him!