I know it’s Holy Week.
Today is Maundy Thursday. Also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, Thursday of Mysteries among other names.
Sandwiched between Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, today is the day that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ.
I should be solemn.
I should be preparing my heart for the crucifixion.
I should be imagining my place at the Last Supper.
The only problem is I’m turning cartwheels inside.
The best way I can describe it: I feel like the girl who shows up inappropriately dressed at a funeral. Instead of black, I’m wearing a sparkly red ruby dress with four-inch heels, sitting in the back row giggling. I imagine the scouring looks, the hard-pressed index finger shushes, the funeral director coming over and announcing, “Ma’am, I think you need to leave.”
But the problem is that I know the box is empty and the party is about to begin. [Tweet this]
Since Valentine’s Day, myself and a crazypants group of thousands of online friends from around the world took up a challenge to read through the entire Bible during the 40 days of Lent. (Read about that adventure, here). We’ve been gulping around 30 chapters of Scripture every day. And I’m so spiritually full, I feel like the buttons of my jacket are popping off. [Tweet this]
Reading through The Great Big Book has awakened my heart to power, majesty, severity, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and goodness of God anew. [Tweet this]
But it’s also grounded me in the truth that God’s got this.
From beginning to end, Alpha to Omega, Aleph to Tav, God’s triumphs. That triumph is exhibited throughout the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That triumph is promised to us in Revelation.
There will come a day when you and I will spend afternoons swimming in the river of life and snacking on fruit from the tree of life (Revelation 22:1-5). [Tweet this] We’ll share stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness—the aha! moments of how He had been working in and through our lives all along. And when you’re not looking, I’m going to sneak away, find a water balloon launcher, and get you good! That will be me giggling from the riverbank.
We will play and delight and rejoice and worship in the presence of God—with unabashed gratitude for all Christ has done for us.
I feel like I know too much this Holy Week. Not just that it ends well come Sunday. But it ends well when this is all over… and we discover that it’s really all just beginning.
And that makes me want to do back flips and dance and get my boogie-woogie on.
Yep. I’m party crashing Holy Week. And loving every minute of it! Will you party crash Holy Week with me? [Tweet this]
How has reading the Bible during Lent prepared your heart for Resurrection Sunday?
It has been an amazing amazing journey….I feel it too…..a great joy welling up inside me….I really think it will be weeks or months for all the treasures mined over the the Lenten season to be fully realized. Margaret, thanks so much for inviting us on this adventure….I would have never thought I could do something like this…pure grace…pure grace!
Ro,
I agree…much grace..and this joy..it’s bubbling, swirling, bouncing inside of me. The great big story of God has indeed left me wonderstruck..in awe..in anticipation…and I coudn’t help but shed off my funeral clothes a little early :).
I find myself praying over and over what Paul is enjoining Christians to do. “Lord I want this in my life. I’ve tried. I can’t. Please do this in me.” I don’t think I will ever be the same.
Elisa, amen! What a beautiful prayer!
Thank-you Margaret for these refreshing words! In the distracting wake of the marriage equality debate, I so appreciate your focus towards the savior.
Karlee, so glad you enjoyed them!
Thank you, Margaret, for inviting/challenging us to join you on this adventure. I am just about crying everytime I pick up my Bible and realize how close I am to the BACK of it from where I started 38 days ago. WOW!! The WORD has and continues to CHANGE me. It IS a double-edged sword. I have felt it all through this Lenten season. God has used it to cut away, prune and refine me. I’m SO in love with HIM…<3
Kari, it brings to joy to me to hear this! So thrilled you are enjoying the word!
Yes! Lets party crash Holy Week. 🙂
Woohoo, Dan!
Crash Holy Week . . . I think it Crashed ME!!! Have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Bible with y’all. Plan on doing it again. So, Let’s Party – Pentecost is right around the corner.
Lorna, so thrilled you have enjoyed the challenge!
I’m not reading the Bible through in 40 days, but I’ve been working through multiple Easter/Lent Bible plans on YouVersion and it’s just put me in a place of awe and gratitude. Jesus Christ was completely in control of his fate and yet he chose the ultimate sacrifice for us. For me. Yes, happy thoughts indeed!
Dawn, so glad to hear that God was working through you last week, and pray he continues to do so in the upcoming weeks as well!
Oh, and the tulips? So beautiful.
Joyful anticipation of Easter as never before. As I finished reading Revelation all I could think of was VICTORY in Jesus!!!!!
Amen, amen, amen!
Oh I so agree Margaret,
I can’t get black – I am in technicolour with all that He is showing me. I am excited. I am enthused.
Happy Easter to you,
Blessings,
Janis
PS I am thinking butterflies – freedom in Christ – transformation.
Love it, Janis!
I agree, Margaret! Reading the entire book (one day left) in 40 days has been an exciting adventure filling with a new anticipation at how I will feel and experience the Trinity this Sunday!
Steph, so thrilled that God has been revealing himself to you during the past 40 days!
love it, margaret! we know the end of the story & hallelujah, it. is. GOOD!!
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
~ 1 Cor. 15:55