Author: Melissa Lynne

via City Church USA website

LOVE creates -> Desire gives us a -> “Want To Attitude”

FAITH creates -> Confidence gives us an -> “I Can Attitude”

HOPE creates -> Expectancy gives us an -> “I See Attitude”

(–Any one of these laws is very powerful in and of itself, but if you combine all three together, they are EXTREMELY powerful!!!)

I will never forget the first time I heard about a Maundy Thursday service. I was in my late 20s and although I had grown up in church and even in the denomination observing this special time, it was pretty much all new to me. I wondered about the meaning of this word “Maundy” which I couldn’t find in my Webster’s dictionary. Was I the only one that had never heard of this?

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Thursday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known to us as the Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday.

First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples.

The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

From what I have read, I don’t think the Bible commands or forbids the observation of this particular day but I believe the events are to be remembered. It is a good thing to remember the Last Supper and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It is a good thing to remember His beautiful example of humility. Not in such a way that is only a ritual or legal observance though, as a personal and corporate remembrance. Some may do that today and some may do that on other days. As in footwashing…some may observe it literally and some may observe and remember what it represents in other ways. Maybe different days, maybe different ways. We should probably remember every day.

Remember! There is that word again. (earlier this year…first step to revival– REMEMBER…hmmmm). I want to remember and I believe God wants me to remember His Son and these things. I believe this even more so because of Jesus’ own words immediately following some of the events and actions of that Thursday in His life. In John 13:17 Jesus said….”If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Now I know.

Have a blessed Maundy Thursday!

This is sometimes how I feel:

“And then the time came that the risk it took to remain tightly in a bud became more painful than the risk it took to blossom” – Anais Nin

“Heaven is a place and state of perfect rest, yet it is not the rest of silence and stagnation! In one sense, they rest not day nor night, yet they serve God continually—and that is perfect rest!”— Charles Spurgeon

When I read this quote today I immediately heard in my spirit the wonderful words of Jesus in Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

May this be a day of perfect rest!
.

What is a distraction for me may not be for you and vice versa. I am finding that one of the hardest tests that I must pass if I am going to fulfill my ultimate calling is to not get distracted by all the other things that God is doing. God is doing many wonderful things today, but it is not possible for me to be involved in all of them. It is often difficult to resist joining another successful move of God, especially when well-meaning people often try to make you think that you are missing God if you do not join that movement. I have to learn to give myself only to what God has called me to do.

The white sheep are gathered all in a line,

How nice–so many alike; how sublime!

A few different have wandered in . . . a spotted or two,

all ringstraked and speckled, what should we do?

We could try to corral them; tie them with knots,

but ringstraked and speckled don’t stay in one spot!

They each have their calling and are determined to go,

Oh, ringstraked and speckled, oh why won’t you flow?

Well– Jacob, you take them; you’ll know what to do,

‘Cause you’re one of those quite different ones, too!

We’ll stay with the white sheep all in a row,

Go with these new ones?– oh no!! Don’t think so.

Though it isn’t exciting here, we are at ease.

Just let us stay safe in our little world, please.

We may never see Canaan or God face to face;

Still you go ahead, Jacob, and run this new race!!

“I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant has thou
been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful. . .” (2 Samuel 1:26)

Oh, my soul, what do you long for —
Rising, Soaring, Looking?

While others contented be, you need much more —
Rising, Soaring, Looking?

And now you have found such a wonderful treasure.
Another to fly with brings joy without measure.

But for a moment and then it is gone —
Grieving, Saddened, Lonely.

Would it have been better to have only longed?
Rising, Soaring, Looking?