Good morning,
Thanks be to Jesus for this new day. The Lord blessed us with a bountiful weekend of worship, fellowship, and celebration. The Saturday Evening worship, led by the "Binghamton House of Prayer " was a great blessing. Yesterday, Palm Sunday, the time of worship at Union Center and Wesley was a great blessing. We had a special time for children and an Easter banquet after the worship time. The Gospel Reading for yesterday was taken from Mark 11: 1-11, the account of our Lord's entry to Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday.
Christian author Philip Yancey, in his book "The Jesus I Never Knew", described Palm Sunday this way, “The triumphal entry has about it an aura of ambivalence, and as I read all the accounts together, what stands out to me now is the slapstick nature of the affair. I imagine a Roman officer galloping up to check on the disturbance. He has attended processions in Rome, where they do it right. The conquering general sits in a chariot of gold, with stallions straining at the reins and wheel spikes flashing in the sunlight. Behind him officers in polished armor display banners captured from vanquished armies. At the rear comes a ragtag procession of slaves and prisoners in chains, living proof of what happens to those who defy Rome.
“In Jesus’ triumphal entry, the adoring crowd makes up the ragtag procession: the lame, the blind, the children, the peasants from Galilee and Bethany. When the officer looks for the object of their attention he spies a forlorn figure, weeping, riding on no stallion or chariot but on the back of a baby donkey, a borrowed coat draped across its backbone serving as his saddle.”
I have been reflecting on the owner of the donkey. The Lord needed the donkey that belonged to this unknown man. Jesus asked for the use of the donkey. God does not always ask for big things. God will not ask us to give what we don’t have. We may not feel we have anything significant to give, but God sometimes takes simple things and uses them in great ways, as He did with the donkey.
Moses was asked to give his walking stick. Rahab gave a corner of her roof to hide the spies. David gave his sling shot. The widow at Zarephath gave the last of her oil and flour to make a meal for Elijah. The Shunammite woman gave a room of her home to Elisha. The widow that Jesus praised gave her two cents. The young boy gave his five loaves and two fish. The early church shared their possessions with those who had a need. The Bible is full of people who gave what they had, to be used by the Lord.
Everything we have has been given to us as a gift from the Lord. I wonder what God thinks when He sees us wasting what He has given us, or worse, when He sees us squandering the good gifts He has entrusted to us? Max Lucado’s wrote, “Sometimes I get the impression that God wants me to give him something and sometimes I don’t give it because I don’t know for sure, and then I feel bad because I’ve missed my chance. Other times I know he wants something but I don’t give it because I’m too selfish. And other times, too few times, I hear him and I obey him and feel honored that a gift of mine would be used to carry Jesus to another place. And still other times I wonder if my little deeds today will make a difference in the long haul.”
Each of us has a donkey. You and I each have something in our lives which, if given back to God, could, like the donkey, move Jesus and his story further down the road. Our gifts are his and the donkey was his. God has given us many things: our talents, our resources, our time, our children, our jobs, and our interests. They belong to Him. God has given them to us as a gift. They are ours to use, but He can ask for them back at any time. At any time He can request that what He has given be returned in some fashion. He can do this because He is the true owner; we are trustees.
The true believer knows that the value of what we have is multiplied when it is placed in the Lord’s hands. The man gave his donkey, even though it was valuable to him. Consider, however, how much more valuable it became when placed in the hands of Jesus. His donkey played a role in the fulfillment of a prophecy. His donkey transported the Lord of All Creation. The donkey and its owner have been remembered for over two thousand years because of this simple act. None of this would have been possible if the man had refused to give what he had. If we talked to the man he might very well have said, "Hey, it was no big deal." Yet, it really was a very big deal. What we place in the Lord’s hands is used is remarkable ways.
The person who gives his time to read to or visit with people in a nursing home may feel like he is doing little, but he will be surprised when he gets to Heaven. The Sunday School teacher who labors week after week faithfully giving of herself to her students while no one notices will be surprised at how God has used her service to mold the next generation of believers. The person who gets alone with God and fervently prays for the saints may feel like his prayers accomplish nothing, not seeing how God is changing hearts and circumstances in response to those prayers. The persons who faithfully puts their check in the plate week after week may feel that their tithe is insignificant. They may not see that God is using their faithfulness to make it possible not only to have good facilities in which to teach and worship, but God is using those funds to reach people in our community and literally around the world.
The persons who takes the time to jot a note, to make a call, or to stop by and visit may feel that they don’t have much to offer, but by then they give what they have God may be using their efforts to encourage someone who is weary, to comfort someone who thought they were alone, or to reach someone who was drifting away.
What we have is never more valuable than when we place these things in the capable and strong hands of Jesus. Jesus declares Himself to be the long-awaited King that will redeem those who trust Him. The declaration remains the same and so does the choice. Will we receive Him as King and Savior or will we simply stand on the sidelines? As we can see, it is really not about a man’s donkey at all, but it is about a person’s heart.
“In Jesus’ triumphal entry, the adoring crowd makes up the ragtag procession: the lame, the blind, the children, the peasants from Galilee and Bethany. When the officer looks for the object of their attention he spies a forlorn figure, weeping, riding on no stallion or chariot but on the back of a baby donkey, a borrowed coat draped across its backbone serving as his saddle.”
I have been reflecting on the owner of the donkey. The Lord needed the donkey that belonged to this unknown man. Jesus asked for the use of the donkey. God does not always ask for big things. God will not ask us to give what we don’t have. We may not feel we have anything significant to give, but God sometimes takes simple things and uses them in great ways, as He did with the donkey.
Moses was asked to give his walking stick. Rahab gave a corner of her roof to hide the spies. David gave his sling shot. The widow at Zarephath gave the last of her oil and flour to make a meal for Elijah. The Shunammite woman gave a room of her home to Elisha. The widow that Jesus praised gave her two cents. The young boy gave his five loaves and two fish. The early church shared their possessions with those who had a need. The Bible is full of people who gave what they had, to be used by the Lord.
Everything we have has been given to us as a gift from the Lord. I wonder what God thinks when He sees us wasting what He has given us, or worse, when He sees us squandering the good gifts He has entrusted to us? Max Lucado’s wrote, “Sometimes I get the impression that God wants me to give him something and sometimes I don’t give it because I don’t know for sure, and then I feel bad because I’ve missed my chance. Other times I know he wants something but I don’t give it because I’m too selfish. And other times, too few times, I hear him and I obey him and feel honored that a gift of mine would be used to carry Jesus to another place. And still other times I wonder if my little deeds today will make a difference in the long haul.”
Each of us has a donkey. You and I each have something in our lives which, if given back to God, could, like the donkey, move Jesus and his story further down the road. Our gifts are his and the donkey was his. God has given us many things: our talents, our resources, our time, our children, our jobs, and our interests. They belong to Him. God has given them to us as a gift. They are ours to use, but He can ask for them back at any time. At any time He can request that what He has given be returned in some fashion. He can do this because He is the true owner; we are trustees.
The true believer knows that the value of what we have is multiplied when it is placed in the Lord’s hands. The man gave his donkey, even though it was valuable to him. Consider, however, how much more valuable it became when placed in the hands of Jesus. His donkey played a role in the fulfillment of a prophecy. His donkey transported the Lord of All Creation. The donkey and its owner have been remembered for over two thousand years because of this simple act. None of this would have been possible if the man had refused to give what he had. If we talked to the man he might very well have said, "Hey, it was no big deal." Yet, it really was a very big deal. What we place in the Lord’s hands is used is remarkable ways.
The person who gives his time to read to or visit with people in a nursing home may feel like he is doing little, but he will be surprised when he gets to Heaven. The Sunday School teacher who labors week after week faithfully giving of herself to her students while no one notices will be surprised at how God has used her service to mold the next generation of believers. The person who gets alone with God and fervently prays for the saints may feel like his prayers accomplish nothing, not seeing how God is changing hearts and circumstances in response to those prayers. The persons who faithfully puts their check in the plate week after week may feel that their tithe is insignificant. They may not see that God is using their faithfulness to make it possible not only to have good facilities in which to teach and worship, but God is using those funds to reach people in our community and literally around the world.
The persons who takes the time to jot a note, to make a call, or to stop by and visit may feel that they don’t have much to offer, but by then they give what they have God may be using their efforts to encourage someone who is weary, to comfort someone who thought they were alone, or to reach someone who was drifting away.
What we have is never more valuable than when we place these things in the capable and strong hands of Jesus. Jesus declares Himself to be the long-awaited King that will redeem those who trust Him. The declaration remains the same and so does the choice. Will we receive Him as King and Savior or will we simply stand on the sidelines? As we can see, it is really not about a man’s donkey at all, but it is about a person’s heart.
In Christ,
Brown
Join us for our weekly television outreach On Good Friday , April 6,2012 on Time Warner Cable Channel 4, at 7 PM.
Saturday Evening Worship Service:
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, NY
Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church
Time: 6:00 PM gathering for Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2012
will be a very special Easter Eve celebration. This will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Endicott. The service of worship and praise will include Hymns and songs both classic and contemporary. We are blessed to have Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano, and Yancey Moore at the Pipe Organ, Dave Berry as the song leader and soloist, along with special musicians Winnie Allen and Emma Brunson. Come, Share, and Rejoice.
APRIL 5 at 6:30 PM there will be a Maundy Thursday foot washing and communion service. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for this special service.
APRIL 6 at 6:30 PM there will be a Good Friday Service at Union Center UMC –
"Simon Peter" will be presented by our brother Jim Geer and the team. Join us for this very special presentation on the life and witness of Simon Peter.
APRIL 7 at 6:30 PM APRIL 8 at 6:30 AM A Sunrise service will be held at the pavilion at Union Center
Christian Church, 950 Boswell Hill Road. Rev. Marshall Sorber will be preaching. We will have special music. Mr. Katchudurian will be presenting special Easter Music on his trumpet.
APRIL 6 at 6:30 PM there will be a Good Friday Service at Union Center UMC –
"Simon Peter" will be presented by our brother Jim Geer and the team. Join us for this very special presentation on the life and witness of Simon Peter.
APRIL 7 at 6:30 PM APRIL 8 at 6:30 AM A Sunrise service will be held at the pavilion at Union Center
Christian Church, 950 Boswell Hill Road. Rev. Marshall Sorber will be preaching. We will have special music. Mr. Katchudurian will be presenting special Easter Music on his trumpet.
You are all welcome back to the Union Center Church Fellowship Hall for a special Easter Morning breakfast prepared and served by Jim Holmes and the team.
We will gather for Special Easter Celebration and worship at 8:30 and 11:00 AM
at the Union Center UMC. The Youth and children will be presenting a very special song for Easter morning at both services. The Adult Choir will also be singing at both services. Sunday School will meet at 9:50 AM. We will gather for Easter Morning Worship At Wesley at 9:30 AM. We have so much to celebrate. We have so much to sing about. We have so much to rejoice in. It is all About Jesus, who came, who saw, and who conquered. He is upon the Throne.
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