They knew. As soon as Jesus gave up His Spirit, they knew. The curtains of the temple tore in two. The earth shook. The rocks split. And they knew. The centurion and those who were guarding Jesus became terrified. They had been wrong. It doesn’t say if this knowing changed them. We don’t know if realizing they were wrong changed their hearts. Because we can know and then do nothing with the knowledge. We can see miracles and still doubt. We can be convicted and refuse to change. We know Jesus was beaten. We know he was battered. We know He was tortured. We know He did it for us. But does knowing that, change us? Do we live as if that sacrifice means something to us? Or do we knowingly sin. Knowingly refuse to give up our pleasures. Knowingly choose friendship with the world over a relationship with Him. Only we can answer those questions. He gave us a way, but He won’t force us to take it. As we continue into Easter Week, let us consider our hearts. Let us consider our words. Let us consider our actions. And as we consider them, let us ask ourselves what Jesus means to us. And if knowing what He did - for us - was enough to change us.

REFLECTION:

In what ways has knowing about the death of Jesus changed you?

What circumstances/relationships have you choosing them over Him?

What has God convicted you of and you still refuse to change?

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for this day. Thank You for another opportunity to do Your will. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Help me Lord, as I try to draw closer to You. Help me to give up my fleshly desires. Help me to consider Your needs above my own. Help me to choose ways that honor You. I fail time and time again. But my heart Lord, longs to be the one You can trust. I want to be the one who listens and obeys You. Thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for providing a way. I see the sacrifice, Lord. I see it and want to be someone who is changed by it. Give me the courage to speak Your Name when others don't. Give me the boldness to stand up for You, when others mock. May my words and my actions be ones that show Your love. May my life be a witness to Your light. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen. 

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

www.thegiftofmondays.com

2026

Easter Week Devotional - They crucified Him

Jesus was innocent. But it didn’t matter. They did what they came to do. They mocked Him. And ridiculed Him. And insulted Him. We hear the story and we are shocked at their behavior. “How could they do this to Him?” we wonder. “How could they not see how wrong they were?” Good questions. And questions we should turn and ask ourselves. We mock Jesus too. We ridicule Him. We insult Him. We know the scriptures. We’ve seen our own miracles. We’ve felt His goodness in our hearts. But we still rush to watch those evil movies. We still run to read those scandalous books. We still make excuses for our behaviors. We justify our weaknesses instead of working to change them. We tell ourselves we deserve those moments. Even when those moments don’t honor God. Jesus came to give us life. And we live it as if it’s all about us. The very sins He came to save us from, we brag about. We celebrate. We publicize and promote. His death should have changed us. His sacrifice should have meant more to us than it does. We talk about Easter but spend more time on the bunny. And the presents. And the eggs. Jesus is an afterthought. We squeeze Him in between brunch and family pictures. We see Him on the Cross. We acknowledge what He did. And it doesn’t change us. Not lasting change. Not change that makes people wonder about the Jesus we talk about. Today is the day we remember that Jesus was crucified as payment for OUR sins. May this remembrance be more than a casting glance at the Cross. May it be more than just a social media post. May we look at our lives. May we consider His cost. And may we make a permanent change for Him.

REFLECTION:

What are things I do that mock Jesus?

Is there a habit I need to get rid of because it doesn't honor God?

Will I commit to spending more time with Him this year?

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day and another opportunity to do Your will. Forgive us our sins, Lord. We know they are many. Thank you Lord, for Your sacrifice. Thank you for Your willingness to save us. Thank you for loving us enough to know we needed a Savior. Thank you for seeing beyond what we could see and making a way where there was no way. Thank you for the gift of Jesus. Help us Lord to have the boldness and courage to walk away from people and things that do not honor You. Help us to have the determination and conviction to live lives that give You glory. May we not live and breathe as if Jesus' death meant nothing to us. May You see us and know that it meant everything. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

www.thegiftofmondays.

2026

Easter Week Devotional - Drink from it, all of you

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. He knew what was about to take place. And He still ate with him. He still washed his feet. He still gave His Father thanks. Jesus still offered Judas a place at the table. Still offered him the first Eucharist. When Jesus offered His body, when He offered His blood, He said “all of you”. And that meant Judas too. The disciple who had become His enemy was still offered the very best Jesus had to offer. But it wasn’t enough for Judas. The call of the world had become too great. The desire for his own pleasure too much. As we continue into Easter Week, may we realize how much the world influences us. How much the world wants to separate us from God. May we cut out the things in our lives that don’t bring Him glory. May we consider His life. May we honor His sacrifice. And may we remember that everything He did, He did for us.

REFLECTION:

In what ways does the world influence you in a negative way?

What things/connections in your life draws you away from Jesus?

What habit/hobby can you cut out of your life to draw closer to Him?

PRAYER:

Dear God,

We thank You for another day and another opportunity to do Your will. We thank You for Your sacrifice. For Your willingness to offer us Your best. We don't deserve it, Lord, and yet you give it freely. You don't want any to be lost. Forgive us our failings. Forgive our distractions. Forgive all the ways we choose to honor ourselves instead of You. May we go out into the world and not become like it. May we live lives that reflect Your love. When we sin, may we be quick to repent. May we have the courage to walk away from people and things that do not honor You. May the call of the world never be so great that it overcomes us. And may our greatest desire be to bring You glory. In Jesus' Name we pray.

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

2026

Easter Week Devotional - Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?

It seemed like a simple ask. To stay watch as Jesus went off to pray. He had become sorrowful and troubled. He confided in them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” He asked them to stay. He asked them to watch. And they fell asleep. Jesus came back from praying and found them like that. “Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked. But they couldn’t. And they didn’t. He left and came back two more times and found them the same way. Sound asleep. Jesus was about to endure death on the Cross, and the disciples acted like they didn’t have a care in the world. Maybe they didn’t really believe He was going to die. Maybe they thought it wouldn’t happen. Maybe they were just bone tired. But He asked them to stay awake and they didn’t stay awake. They had followed Him. They had left their families and their homes. They had witnessed the miracles. They believed He was the Son of God. They had done the hard things. But when it came to the small. When it came to the easy. When it came to the simple. They didn’t do it. Jesus was about to endure suffering beyond belief, and He found them sleeping. That would never be us, we tell ourselves. We would never do that. Except we do. We can easily spend hours watching movies, scrolling social media, reading books, but spending time with God? We may have 5 minutes. Maybe even 30. But an hour? We can stay up late for football games, or concerts or parties. But get up for Church? We’d rather sleep. It’s not always the hard things that trip us up. It’s not always the obvious obstacles. Sometimes it’s the little things. The ones we don’t think matter. But it all matters. Everything we say. Everything we do. It all matters to God. During this Easter Week, as Jesus heads to the Cross, let us be mindful of what He asks. Let us call to mind what He needs. Let us remember the suffering He endured for us.  And let us have the strength to stand watch for Him

REFLECTION: 

How much time do you spend on social media every day? How much do you spend with God? 

What small things cause you to slip up in your walk with God?

What is God asking you to do today?

PRAYER:

Dear God,

We thank you for this day, for this moment, for this time spent with You. Forgive us, Lord, for falling asleep. Forgive us for not standing watch. We spend so much time on things that don't matter. We are easily distracted. Easily influenced. Easily convinced to choose the world over You. We know we need to change. We know we need to do better. We know You're waiting for us to step into our calling. You stand waiting for us to be who You need us to be. As we continue into this Easter Week, may we reflect on Your suffering. May we remember Your sacrifice. May we see Jesus on the Cross and not continue to live as if His death meant nothing. We pray Lord, for the desire to stay awake. We pray for the determination to stand watch. We pray that when You ask something of us, we do it. When You call, we come running. When you search for hearts that are loyal to You, that You find us. We pray Lord, that You always find us. In Jesus' Name we pray. 

Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk

2026

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

Scripture says the devil led Jesus up to a high place to tempt Him. And Jesus countered the temptation with the Word of God. Then the devil led Him to another high place to try again. But this time, he used the Word of God too. Because the devil knows the promises God has given us. And he will do anything to get power over our lives. The devil wanted Jesus to test God. And Jesus refused to do it. How many times have we been led to high places? Promises of power or money or prestige? How many times have we been blinded by the desire of worldly things? Or allowed the Word to be twisted to fit our wants? How many times has the devil come into our lives and asked us to test God? How many times has he convinced us to use the Word of God to justify our wrongdoing? There’s nothing more the devil wants, then to see us in hell. And there’s nothing more Jesus wants, then to make sure we don’t go there. But the choice is ours. Neither can make it for us. The devil may have led us to temptation. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay there.