Crossroads: Celebrate the Lord!

This week’s Crossroads is taken from Jessica Asbell’s newest book, Where Faith & Family Meet: A Book of Weekly Devotions.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Your Story

Have you ever taken time to celebrate what God has done for you? How did you do that? Alternatively, how might you celebrate what God has done for you?

My Story and the Bible Story

I loved to make up songs as a child. Most of my songs were songs of praise to God. They were celebrating what God was doing in my life. Sometimes, it’s easy to celebrate what God is doing. But other times, it can be hard to see what God is doing in our lives. The Psalmist reminds us that God uses things and people who are unexpected. God does things in all kinds of ways that we don’t think of. And the Psalmist reminds us to give thanks, because God’s love endures forever.

Read Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29.

Today is Palm Sunday. It is a day of celebration, when Jesus entered Jerusalem in the midst of a procession. The people waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” We, too, give thanks and say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” We give thanks because God answers us. He creates our days and He creates each of us. He has made his light to shine upon us. When we feel as if we are all alone, the Lord is there. God is our Creator, our Redeemer, our Savior, and our Friend. He reminds us of His presence, and He promises to love us no matter what. His love endures forever. When we move, God’s love endures. When we change schools or change jobs, God’s love endures. When our hearts are breaking, God’s love endures. When we are angry, even if we are angry with God, God’s love endures. When we think we can’t keep going, God’s love endures. We give thanks because God is our salvation. He hears us when we call. On Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. But everyday should be a celebration of what the Lord has done for us. So today, find ways to celebrate! Celebrate the day the Lord has created. Celebrate the ways that the Lord has blessed you. Celebrate that God has saved you. Celebrate!

Discussion and Prayer

1. Talk about things the Lord has done for your family that you can celebrate.

2. As a family, decide how to celebrate these things (i.e. have a party, go get ice cream, write a song to God, send praise and worship music together).

3. Talk about ways to celebrate each week what God is doing.

4. Pray, thanking God for all that He has done for your family and for who He is. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever!

Rev. Jessica Asbell is the Minister to Children and Families at First Baptist Roswell, where she has been serving since 2012. She has written the children’s curriculum for Smyth & Helwys’s Annual Bible Study for the books of Daniel; Ezekiel; Luke; Jonah; 1 Corinthians; 1, 2, 3 John and Jude; Colossians; The Story of Israel’s Ancestors: Living toward a Promise; and Where Faith & Family Meet: A Book of Weekly Devotions. She has also written for CBF’s Spark and Form and for Affect in CBF’s fellowship! magazine. Married to Jonathan Oravec, Jessica reads every chance she gets.