"A Blessed Palm Sunday Healing Message For You" From Rev. Barbara Sexton Dear Ones Healing Ministry

above courtesy http://www.praytherosaryapostolate.com/palmsunday.htm

Dear Ones:
     I relay to you a most heartfelt Palm Sunday greeting with a message of healing for you during this Holy Week.
     Palm Sunday is, traditionally, a day of 'triumph'.  It heralds a joyous reception of our Savior Jesus, replete with cheers and shouts of joy as he passes by the crowd.
     But, even with all the happiness this day brings, there is an undercurrent of not only sadness, but of anticipation and even 'dread', as well.
     Those who know this Gospel story, know that Jesus will soon be arrested, sentenced and crucified before long.
     So, too, do our modern day Christian celebrations sometimes become 'marred' and mired in sadness as relatives and friends, of different denominations (or of no denomination at all, meaning agnostics and atheists) gather for holidays like Easter and Christmas.
     We know that no matter how much 'joyous fun' we are supposed to have, there is bound to be a 'thing or two' that sets our loved ones 'on edge' and causes strife during the holidays.
     Sometimes, the controversial subject causing discord is interpersonal in nature.
     But, sometimes, religious and denominational differences also rear their heads and this is where my message comes in.
     It is this:  when loved ones debate about 'interdenominational differences', remember that, in Christ, there is only one way.
     And that is the Way of Jesus!
¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil."   1Thessalonians 5:19-22  (NIV)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+5&version=NIV 
     So my suggestion for you this Easter, however you choose, as a Christian, to celebrate it with family and friends is this:
     Celebrate that which you hold sacred in common.  Cast aside that which divides you.  And, above all, remember to 'celebrate the good' this Easter.
     Yes, Holy Week is rift with agonizing sadness.
     But, like a spring bulb hunkering just below the surface of sweet dirt, we know that we are on the brink of 'witnessing' the amazing Resurrection of Christ.
     It's spectacular, it's a wonderment and we stand in awe of spring life, and in awe of eternal life.
With Love in Christ,
Rev. Barbara Sexton
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

courtesy www.GospelGifs.com

"Blue Pointe Shoes" By Rev. Barbara Sexton Dear Ones Healing Ministry

These ballet photos are for your personal, non-commercial use.  COLLECT THEM ALL--as wallpapers, for crafts, for slide shows on your pc, etc.  A LINK-BACK to www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com would be greatly appreciated!  All Lenten Blessings to you, Love-Rev. Barb       Questions/comments: email BarbaraKSexton@aol.com

"A Blessed Good Friday To You" From Reverend Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

 God Bless You This Good Friday and Always!

With Love in Christ

Rev. Barbara Sexton

http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com 

"A Blessed Palm Sunday 'Prayer Poem' For You" By Reverend Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

 

courtesy http://moms4missions.blogspot.com/2011/03/childrens-easter-devotion-praise-him.html

'The Carpenter's Carpenter'

A Palm Sunday 'Prayer Poem' 

For You

By Reverend Barbara Sexton   

'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

Palm Sunday was a happy day,

As Jesus rode along the road,

With joyful shouting 'long the way,

The humble beast bore her full load.

So through the crowd, our Savior sailed,

A joyful group by then amassed,

Without a thought that he'd be nailed,

They laughed and shouted as he passed.

'Goodwill to all', his message stood,

Reflecting Heaven up above,

No man yet knowing of the 'Wood',

That instrument of death and Love.

Great in their zeal the crowd did cheer,

Delighted to be near their man,

They realized not what soon they'd fear,

Oblivious to Sacred Plan.

But Jesus showed no fear that day,

And here's the reason for it,

He taught us to believe in Him,

His Father and the Spirit.

We don't know which carpenter made,

The Cross for our dear Lord,

Was he amongst the crowd that day,

Amid the throng that roared?

Someday, perhaps, we'll know of this,

In attitude most humble,

Remembering that the Lord is good,

And wants no man to stumble.

AMEN.

Reverend Barbara Sexton

4/20/11

This poem may be used and freely distributed.

God Bless You

Reverend Barbara Sexton

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

 http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com

"An Ash Wednesday Remembrance For You" By Reverend Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

courtesy www.GospelGifs.com  Jim Sutton

Dear Ones:

Remember on this Ash Wednesday, that "it is from dust you came and it is to dust you shall return."

These are the words you pastor will say to you as he anoints your forehead with ashes, making the sign of the cross.

There are two Scripture passages for you to reflect upon today, whether you have literal ashes on your forehead or not.

If you are unable to get to a church or other place to receive ashes, consider this:

Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint your 'spirit-body forehead' and let this be your Ash Wednesday observance.

Let scoffers 'scoff'.  But even the most-hardened atheist/agnostic acknowledges what the medical community calls 'phantom limb pain' after an amputation.

Pray God these nay-sayers expand their minds to understand that 'phantom limbs' are nothing more than an amputee's 'spirit leg'!

No matter how you honor this day, here are two Scripture passages for you to reflect upon.  Please take the time to use the link provided to read the extended readings which will help you to understand the concept of 'dust-to-dust'.

"5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."    Genesis 2:5-7 (NIV)

"17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Genesis 3:17-19  (NIV)
LINK: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202-3&version=NIV 

Your pastor anoints your forehead with ashes as an 'outward sign' to the world and to yourself that you dedicate your life to our Lord Jesus Christ.

You realize that your life--all life--is precious and is 'fast-fleeting'.

The 'ashes' used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning 'last years' dried palm fronds from Palm Sunday which are saved, burned and blessed especially for this purpose.

No 'common' ashes here!

Everything in liturgical use is special in origin and utilization.

In fact, Good Christians have a sacred reverence for ALL that God has given us in the natural world...or we should have anyway.

So on this day, dear ones, take the time to reflect upon your own mortality and ask yourself the question: "If I die right now, what state of 'grace' will I be found to be in?

Is my life one which is pleasing to God, our Father and our Creator?

My prayer for all of you is that you enjoy peace-of-heart with the Lord on this solemn day, Ash Wednesday, free of doubt...and full of faith.

With Love in Christ
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

courtesy www.GospelGifs.com  Jim Sutton

all animated dividers courtesy www.free-animations.co.uk