Rejoicing in Holy Week!

Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Luke 19:28-40
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I have been quietly reflecting on what this week means to me as a Christian. I have been feeling, for a while now, a sort of stirring within, and I needed to take a little time away to refresh my spirit. How sweet and gentle it is in the presence of God, and yet how powerful and moving. I feel like our relationship has just blossomed. And I feel closer to Him than I've allowed myself to be in a long time. I long for Him, and I'm excited about our time together. I can't say that it has always been that way. I mean I love Him because He is God, and I'm so grateful to have Him in my life. I am in awe of His acceptance, forgiveness, and His great love for me. That in itself makes me want to serve Him- to honor and reverence Him. But it's been a long time since I've been caught up in who He is.
I've been praying about sharing my testimony. I don't have a dramatic conversion story. I think my testimony lies in all that the Lord has done in my life- and brought me through. I could have been like the seed scattered among the thorny weeds- and let life strangle my faith right out of me. Instead, I chose to cling more tightly to Him. If my circumstances have taught me anything, it is that Jesus is the only unchangeable, unmovable thing in my life. I don't just know about Him- I Know Him! and that has made all the difference in my faith.He has changed my life and captured my heart.
I hope that everyone is having a blessed holiday.