[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIp1DT1YI_E&rel=0] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nGHbUK20sI&rel=0]
Palm Sunday in Ayacucho, Peru
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Newsletter
In life’s darkest valleys, when hope seems distant and trials overwhelming, God specializes in dramatic reversals. Like Joseph’s sudden elevation from prison to palace, or David’s transformation from fugitive to king, our Father delights in turning mourning into dancing. These pivotal moments aren’t just historical accounts — they’re promises of God’s faithfulness that echo through time into our present circumstances. Consider Joseph, who languished in prison on false charges, yet in a single day was elevated to become second only to Pharaoh. “The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all his possessions.” — Psalm 105:20–21. This dramatic reversal wasn’t just about Joseph’s personal vindication — it was God’s master plan to save nations. Similarly, David’s journey from cave-dwelling fugitive to celebrated king demonstrates God’s perfect timing. “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” — Psalm 40:2. Even in his darkest moments, hiding from Saul in the caves of Adullam, David was being prepared for his destiny. Consider Job, who lost everything yet witnessed God restore double what was taken. His story reminds us that our lowest point isn’t our final chapter — it’s often the precise moment God chooses to demonstrate His power. “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.” — Job 42:12. As the psalmist declares, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5.
Newsletter
The Urgency of Now: Life moves with relentless speed, like an arrow released from its bow. David understood this temporal nature when he prayed, "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." — Psalm 39:4. We often live as if we have an endless supply of tomorrows, but in the Word we are soberly reminded that our life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." — James 4:14. This isn't meant to discourage us but to instill a holy urgency in our hearts. When Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." — John 9:4. This wisdom isn't just about acknowledging life's brevity—it's about making each moment count for eternity. The ancient Romans had a saying, "Carpe diem" (seize the day), but as believers, we're called to something greater: to redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Don’t let days, months, or years slip by without acting on God’s call—use this brief life to make an eternal impact.
Newsletter
Throughout Scripture, we see God calling His chosen servants into periods of solitude. These aren't merely moments of rest, but crucibles of transformation where the unseen work of the Spirit takes place. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading the Israelites. David, though anointed as king, spent years in caves and wild places, penning psalms that would echo through eternity. Even Jesus, the Son of God, "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). Consider Elijah's experience on Mount Horeb. After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear and discouragement. God didn't rebuke him but invited him to "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord" (1 Kings 19:11). In the silence that followed the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah heard the "gentle whisper" of God, restoring his soul and redirecting his mission. These moments of solitude aren't about escaping responsibility, but about encountering God in the depths of our being. It's in these unseen places that we're stripped of pretense, faced with our true selves, and molded by the Master's hands. As the Psalmist declares, “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10. In our hyper-connected world, do we dare to disconnect, to seek the face of God in the quiet places? It's there, in the unseen, that our greatest victories are won.
Newsletter
In this fallen world, adversity is not just a possibility — it’s an inevitability. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, and trials come to all who draw breath. As we read in Ecclesiastes 9:2, “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean.” This truth may seem disheartening at first glance, but it carries within it a profound lesson.
Newsletter
How often do we find ourselves caught in the web of procrastination, pushing off tasks that weigh on our minds? This delay isn't just about missed deadlines or unfinished chores; it's a spiritual battle that robs us of our God-given purpose. The stress that gnaws at us isn't from the work itself, but from our inaction in the face of responsibility. Consider how swiftly our anxiety dissipates when we finally take that first step, make that call, or begin that project we've been avoiding. It's as if a burden lifts from our shoulders. This isn't coincidence; it's a reminder of our calling to be good stewards of our time and talents. The Bible speaks clearly about the dangers of procrastination. Proverbs 13:4 tells us, "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
