Easter Week Devotional - Surely not I, Lord?

It’s never us. He can’t be talking to us. His Words. His commandments. He asks. But He’s not asking us, right? Because we’re over here doing our best. We know we curse our neighbor. We know we watch that show. We know we post those words. But it’s not that deep. It’s not that serious. He can’t really mean to forgive our enemies. That’s impossible! He can’t really mean to never speak careless words. He can’t really mean to take up our cross. To think of Him first. Before we speak. Before we act. Before we take a step. He can’t possibly mean us. It must be someone else He’s talking to. It must be someone else He asks to do these things. We’re supposed to be set apart. When people see us, they should see something different. We shouldn’t look how the world looks. We shouldn’t act how the world acts. We’re not here to honor ourselves. We’re here to honor Him. All the awards. All the recognition. All the applause. Means nothing. It’s not about us. It never has been. But we live and breathe as if it is. This week, as we focus on Jesus heading to the Cross, may we reflect on our motives. May we turn from our ways. May we consider His cost. And may we stop believing that when He asks, that He’s not asking us. 

REFLECTION:

What is God asking us to do that we keep putting off?

Who is He asking us to forgive?

How can we put our focus on Him today?

PRAYER:

Dear God, 

We thank you for this day. We thank you for another chance to do Your Will. Forgive us our sins. Forgive our transgressions. Forgive all the moments when we make it about us. What we want. What we need. What we should have. We say we want to honor You, Lord, and then our actions show the truth. We want to honor ourselves more. We want the recognition. And the awards. And the applause. We want people to see how great we are. And we want them to celebrate us for it. We say our hearts are with you, but it's so obvious they are with the world. Help us today, Lord. Help us to look within ourselves. To admit our shortcomings. To see our wrongdoings. To repent of our sins. And to turn from all the ways that do not honor You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

2026

Easter Week Devotional - What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?

Judas. We hear his name and we wince.

We know what he did. And we can’t believe it.

Jesus’ own disciple. Selling Him out.

The chief priests didn’t go to Judas. Judas went to them.

He approached them. He opened the door for the betrayal. He sought them out.

It had to happen. Jesus had to be betrayed. Had to suffer. Had to die.

It was the only way.

But to have someone who walked with you every day. Who heard your words.

Who saw the miracles. To have that person willingly go and look for a way to hurt you. It seems unfathomable to us. We would never.

Except we do. Every day.

We hear about Judas and it shocks us. But it shouldn’t.

Because we openly betray Jesus too.

We run to hand Jesus over for our pleasure.

We want to walk with Him. We want to stay in the company of His Word. We want to witness the miracles. But we are drawn by the pull of the world.

We desire to know what it can give us. We want to know our options.

So, we hand Jesus over.

And act as if our sin is not even close to being like Judas.

Except it is.

God sees what we say. God sees what we do. God sees how we act.

Around those we love. And those we don’t.

We can argue. And justify. And disagree. But God knows our heart.

He sees how our pride won’t let us forgive. He sees how our arrogance won’t allow us to believe we are wrong. He sees how we puff ourselves up. How we choose to honor ourselves first. He is not fooled by the facade.

And He longs for us to turn back.

We cannot live for the world and live for Him too. There is no middle ground.

And so, like Judas, we have a choice.

Will we willingly hand Jesus over, so that we can please ourselves?

Or will we choose to put His desires above our own?

This Easter Week, we see Jesus headed to the Cross.

Willingly.

So that we might have life.

May we see this sacrifice. May we allow it to change us.

And may we choose, always, to live that life for Him.

REFLECTION: 

In what ways have you chosen the world over the Lord?

How has Jesus' sacrifice changed your life?

Who in your life is drawn closer to Christ by your example?

Dear God,

We thank you for this day and for this Easter Week. We thank you for another opportunity to do Your will. Forgive us our sins, Lord. Forgive every time we choose the world over choosing You. Forgive us Lord, for seeing Judas' betrayal and not seeing our own. Forgive our arrogant hearts. May we seek to draw closer to You. Not just this week, but a permanent change. A lasting closeness. May temptations not overcome us. May we stand strong in the face of adversity. And have the courage to remain standing when others grow weak. May we live a life that brings You honor. May we always seek Your glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

2026

Denying Jesus

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. He knew before the day ended, when it most mattered, Peter would not stand up for Him. He knew Peter would choose comfort over compassion. His own safety over his Savior. Peter told Jesus he was willing to go with Him to prison. That he was ready to go with Him to death. But Jesus already knew. He knew what had to be fulfilled. “Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.” How hard that must have been for Jesus. To know He was about to be seized. To be taken away. To be falsely accused. And His very disciples. The ones who saw the miracles. The ones who should have had the most faith. The ones who had just argued about which of them was considered the greatest. Would in their next breath, deny Him. Scripture says, once Jesus was led away by the guards, that Peter followed at a distance. Far enough away, I guess, so no one would associate him with Jesus. Just hours before, Peter was adamant that he would be there. Right next to Jesus. Standing up. Being bold. But when faced with reality, he couldn’t do it. “This man was with him”, they said when they saw Peter following. “I don’t know Him,” Peter replied. “You also are one of them,” they whispered. “I am not!” Peter yelled. “Certainly this fellow was with them!” they continued. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Peter exclaimed. Three opportunities to stand up. To be bold. To be courageous. And all three times, he denied Him. The rooster crowed. Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter was filled with regret. How often this is us! Saying we love Jesus. But only with those who love Him too. We are not bold. We don’t bring up His Name with strangers. Or at work. Or in our social circles. Because bringing up His Name isn’t allowed. Or accepted. We might be considered strange. Or too religious. Talking about Him could make people uncomfortable. Because it’s not “normal” to say His Name in casual conversations. To talk about His promises. To bring up His sacrifice. And so we get nervous. And timid. And consider our comfort over His Cross. “You will deny me too,” Jesus says. “No we won’t,” we assure Him. And then, like Peter, we do.

Today she will be a princess

Some might say a princess dress should only be worn on special occasions. But my five-year-old granddaughter would disagree with you.

To her, EVERY day is a special occasion. 

She puts on a princess dress to make breakfast. And to check the mail. And to walk the dog. She wears one while doing puzzles. And painting pictures. And playing games. In her mind, there are no instances or destinations, where a princess dress isn't the most perfect choice. 

Over her short life, she has amassed a small collection of these dresses. From simple nightgowns to fancy ball gowns, each one brings her an immeasurable amount of joy. She loves being able to choose "just the right one" to wear on her next adventure.  

And at her age, everything is an adventure. From the simple to the mundane, she finds awe in things grownups so easily overlook. There may be no one on earth who gets more delight from scanning groceries than she does. It takes us twice as long, but the happiness it brings, makes it all worthwhile.

Grandchildren are amazing because they remind us of what we missed with our own children. And it gives us a second chance to slow down. To enjoy the moment. To not care what other people think.

As parents, it's easy to be impatient. We grab little hands and pull them along. We're always in a hurry. Always running late. We rush around, worried about the dirty dishes. And the pile of laundry that has to be put away. We prioritize things we think are important. Like outfits that match. And taking perfect pictures. 

And before we know it, it's gone. And all those things we thought should matter, really didn't matter at all. 

We naively rushed through their childhood. Thinking it would last forever. Wasting time fighting battles we didn't need to fight.  

And when it's gone, and they're grown, we miss it. We miss those moments when we could have stopped to play, to listen, to hold little hands that just wanted to show us how they see the world.  

It was within our grasp, and we took it for granted. 

And then God gives us a grandchild. And suddenly we get the chance to do it all again. Rarely in life do we get a "do-over", an opportunity to re-live those precious moments. But here I am, blessed with this chance, and I'm determined not to waste it.  

I love the freedom this wisdom has brought me. How it allows me to postpone dishes to be washed and rooms to be cleaned. How I can overlook things that don't matter. 

Like the creative clothing choices of a child. 

And so, my granddaughter has worn princess dresses in unlikely places. She has gone to Church in a princess dress. And to the grocery store. And to the playground. She's worn a princess dress on walks. And at picnics. And on hikes. She's worn a princess dress in a creek. And to a waterfall. And to pet a goat. And when the mood strikes, she puts on a crown. And proudly wears it the entire day without a care in the world.

I long to save these moments for her. I want her to cherish the joy that comes from living a life that allows her to be a curious dreamer. I want her to always believe that finding happiness in small things is as simple at the age of 50, as it is at the age of 5. 

I know the day will come when she won't want to wear princess dresses every day anymore. She will have moved on to different clothing choices. Different dreams. 

And if experience has taught me anything, it's that this day will come sooner than I'd like.

So, when my granddaughter asks if she can wear a princess dress, I don't hesitate. I let her pull out all the options. I let her decide which dress fits the occasion. And I never question her choice.

Later today we're going to a butterfly farm. She has decided the butterflies will like her purple one the best. I was hoping she would pick the pink one. It's fancier and I think it will look better in pictures. But she has her heart set on the purple one. 

The same one she wore yesterday.

I remind myself it doesn't matter. Her choice doesn't need to be a battle. And so we shake off the purple one and she puts it on. And she couldn't be happier. 

Childhood is short.

You blink and it's gone.

Like most parents, I learned that the hard way.

As a grandparent, I don't want to make that mistake again.

Tomorrow, and all its changes, will be here too quickly. 

I can already see them creeping in.

But for now, we still have today.

And if wearing her purple princess dress to the butterfly farm will bring her joy, then today, by all means, she will be a purple princess.

                                     www.thegiftofmondays.com

Do you get the credit? Or does God?

Do you give God credit for what He has done for you? 

Do you speak of Him and let others know how He rescued you. 

How he saved you.

How He lifted you up out of that pit. 

When people see your life, and all that you have. 

Do you tell them it is God who has blessed you. 

It is because of Him you are alive.

It is through Him you have anything at all. 

When you speak, is it Him that you honor. 

That you mention. 

That you hold up in high esteem. 

Are you constantly thankful. 

Constantly bringing to mind. 

Constantly aware that He has a plan and a purpose for your life. 

When you consider your talents. 

And your gifts. 

And your abilities. 

Do you remember Him. 

Do you thank Him. 

Do you use them for His glory. 

Does your heart stay in a place of knowing. 

Stay in a place of believing. 

Stay in a place of trusting. 

That the Lord deserves the credit. 

And deserves the reverence. 

And deserves to be remembered. 

For all that He has done for you.

It is finished