Author: Wick

“As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Luke 19:33-34

Imagine that was your donkey.  Your “beast of burden”.  In other places we learn that no one had yet ridden this donkey.  (Luke 19:30)  So not only were the followers of Jesus taking a donkey, they were taking a young donkey – one with many more years left.  And what was the response of the owners?

“They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.” Mark 11:6

It’s difficult for me to let go of a “first”, especially when it’s last minute.  The first bite of a freshly opened bag of chips.  The first bite of a steaming hot piece of pizza.  The first bite of a newly unwrapped candy bar.  But these are all nothing compared to what the owner of this donkey is giving up.  We don’t know a lot about the owners here, or if this was all worked out ahead of time.   But based on what we read, it’s a simple and last minute “Hey, the Lord needs this”….”and they allowed them to take it.”

Imagine the pride later on, if this owner was a follower of Jesus.  Watching Jesus make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the shouts of “Savior!  Save us!!” (Hosanna!)  The King arriving to the shouts and adoration of his people, and riding on the donkey that was willingly given over for the needs of Jesus.  Seeing their donkey, carrying Jesus to his people.

Now bear with me – because this is a stretch.

I believe this story is an important reminder to us as parents.  Our children are so much more to us than donkeys, obviously.  But no matter what we’re referring to, the story above reminds us to hold whatever we hold – loosely for the sake of Jesus.  This is not as simple as God asking us to let our children become pastors or missionaries either.  This is as complicated as letting our children become the kind of people who experience suffering, unpopularity, and even death.

It’s not about preparing ourselves to offer them to Jesus “in case” He approaches us and asks.  God has already sent His Word to our homes, saying “The Lord needs them”.  Whatever they end up doing, wherever they end up going; our children are needed by God for the purposes of His Kingdom.

But how amazing are those moments – even at our children’s young ages – when you see them carrying Jesus into their world?  When you hear their words of love and forgiveness.   When we see them offer grace that might be undeserved.  When they come to you, suggesting a response to life that comes from a heart purely wanting to respond to Jesus.  As we smile and our hearts are warmed, we understand even more than the owner of that donkey – the blessing of something we’ve offered to God, bringing Jesus into the world…and we pray they grow daily into their identities as “Christ-bearers”.

Palm Sunday is tomorrow, the first hill of the roller coaster that is Holy Week….culminating in the celebration of Easter next Sunday. Most of the thoughts I could post about Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, and even Easter itself…you’ve probably already heard.

So what to post? It definitely deserves something. I think a memory would serve it well.

When I was in high school, I was able to visit Israel, and see many of the sights talked about throughout scripture. Although I was young, the memories are still with me, and I have pictures to remind me of this trip.

The picture above is the “Church of All Nations” (stolen from a website, cause it’s better than mine). Surrounding this church are well-kept gardens of Olive Trees, where it is believed to be the Garden of Gethsemane. Inside the church, there is an altar above what is believed to be the rock where Christ possibly prayed the infamous “let this cup pass from me” prayer. Bearing the weight of suffering for all of creation’s redemption, he was moved to tears.

I think pursuing whatever moved Christ to tears in those hours, would be a good one, especially this week. To have our hearts broken by that which breaks the heart of God. To experience that much of a yearning…with the understanding that if we’re to be a part of what God’s doing, it will take us putting our selves (our families, our desires, our stuff, our plans, our lives) on the altar.

Not that our sacrifice is anywhere near Christ’s….but I think it’s in the same direction.

Aligning our heart with God’s….looks like a dangerous thing. Cause when/if we actually do it…

I suppose we should make sure we’re ready. And let go of “trying to have God’s heart”, allowing God to do GOD’S work IN us. I don’t think I can even reach for that kinda thing on my own. Or something like that.

In any case…I think praying for God to give me that kind of burden for the restoration of His Kingdom…..is a good place to start. And this is a good week for that kind of prayer…

We’re doing a new fund-raiser to bring home Phoebe from Africa, and it’s a Children’s book!  The story takes place in “A Land Full Of Stuff”, and this one involves a young girl who lives a more “simple” life on purpose….which leads to some pretty cool things happening.  I had written this story, and 2 more that go with it a while back, thinking maybe someday I’d get Dave Ramsey or Max Lucado to help me publish it.  But I figure if that happens eventually on accident – cool…until then, this is a great way to let my daughters be involved, and maintain total control/profits!

I simply gave my daughters a list of what each page was about, and they produced and colored all of the pictures for the book!  I’m proud of them, and now they’re addicted to bringing me everything they color saying, “Here dad, we can sell this to help bring Phoebe home!”

Here’s a picture of what they look like:

The first page of the story reads:

“In a Land Full of Stuff,

there was a girl who had little.

While they had tall cakes,

she had cakes off the griddle.”

It’s a great story to discuss with your children and grand-children, why we might make choices to live with less on purpose – both in the moment, and on a grandeur scale.  It doesn’t come out and say anything about Jesus – which you may love, or hate…but I felt like it definitely would be a book He’d smile on.  Just click here to get your copy today!!!