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Devotions & Stickers for 40 Days of Lent

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ThursdayMatthew 21:4-7 .............. Jesus Rides A DonkeyA donkey, Lord Jesus? That doesn’t fit you! You’re GOD, after all. You should be riding something IMPRESSIVE ... something POWERFUL. Not something humble, like a silly donkey. But that’s the kind of God you are, isn’t it? A HUMBLE God. And since I’m following you this Lent ... well, Lord, please help me to be humble, too.

FridayMatthew 21:8-11 ............ People Praise Jesus

I want to remember this scene, Lord Jesus—remem-ber it all of the way through this long season of Lent. Because I know things will get tough for you—even DEADLY. So I want to remember the happy praises of these happy people. I praise you, Lord!

SaturdayMatthew 21:12-13 ......... Jesus Cleans The TempleYour actions in the temple are harsh, Lord Jesus. And your words are hard, too. But they are the TRUTH. For people were bringing into the temple something other than what your Father desires. Your Father wants only our hearts. I bring mine to you. Drive my sin out of it.

Jerusalem JourneyFollowing Jesus is an important thing to do during Lent ...

not just following ... but watching, and listening, and waiting to see what Jesus is doing.

Because what Jesus is doing is nothing less than showing God’s great love for you ... and for me ... and for all of God’s beloved children. In fact, that’s the reason Jesus came.

This sticker book will help you follow Jesus on his Jerusalem Journey this Lent ... follow him right up to Easter morning. Each day of Lent (except Sundays) read the Bible reading and prayer. Then place the sticker on the Lenten centerpiece. And follow Jesus on his Jerusalem Journey and always!

Ash WednesdayMatthew 21:1-3 .............. Jesus Sends Two DisciplesWere those two disciples scared, Lord Jesus (they could have been

accused of burglary, after all)? Did they think your instructions made no sense—to borrow a donkey? Regardless, they did what you said, Lord. They fol-lowed your instructions. I will follow, too, Lord Jesus. I will follow you this Lent ... even if it’s scary ... even if I don’t always see the sense in what you’re doing.

I will follow you.

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ThursdayMatthew 22:1-14 ... Jesus Talks About the KingdomJesus, your story says that your Father’s kingdom is like a wedding banquet! A wedding banquet to which I am invited! I think I like your Father’s kingdom, Lord. I’m glad that what you’re doing this Lent is opening up your Father’s kingdom to ME.

FridayMatthew 22:15-46 ....... Tricksters Try To Trap Jesus

What tricky tricksters, Lord! They’re trying to trap you ... to make you give a wrong answer ... to humili-ate you. They’re doing it because they don’t believe that you are God’s own Son. But their traps won’t work ... because you ARE!

SaturdayMatthew 23 ........... Jesus Condemns The TrickstersYou use a big word, Lord Jesus. You use the word “HYPOCRITE” to describe the evil tricksters who tried to trap you. A hypocrite is someone who SAYS one thing, but DOES another. Those tricksters SAY they love God. But they don’t ACT like they do. They don’t love you. Help me always to act out all of my “I Love Yous,” Lord.

MondayMatthew 21:17-22 ......... Jesus Curses A Fig TreeThe problem with the fig tree was that it didn’t do what your Father made it to do, right, Lord Jesus? It was made to produce fruit. When it didn’t, you weren’t happy. Help me to do what your Father made me to do—to be his fruitful child. I want to make you (and him, too) happy.

TuesdayMatthew 21:14-16, 23-27 ... Officials Criticize Jesus

These aren’t just regular officials, Lord Jesus—like mayors or police officers. These are the RELIGIOUS officials—the chief priests. They should have known better than to criticize you! They should have WOR-SHIPED you! I worship you, Lord Jesus.

WednesdayMatthew 21:28-46 ...................... Jesus Tells StoriesYour stories aren’t really about two sons ... or a farmer and his vineyard ... or even evil tenants. Your stories are about YOU ... and your Father ... and the evil officials who criticized you. Your stories are making those officials angry. Very angry. What might those angry, evil officials do, Lord Jesus? I think I know. Watch out!

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ThursdayMatthew 25:31-46 ... Jesus Talks About His ReturnIn your story about the sheep and the goats, Lord Jesus, you really

come to earth TWICE, don’t you? You come at the end of time, of course, to judge the world and take your Father’s children home. But you also come to earth RIGHT NOW, don’t you? YOU ARE HERE in every thirsty, hungry, needy person. Help me to greet you ... here and now. And lead me to meet you, too, at the end of time!

FridayMatthew 26:1-2 ....... Jesus Predicts His Own DeathYou knew something that I know, too, Lord Jesus. You knew that you would suffer and die. But you still went through with it anyway. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for suffering and dying for me ... even though you knew it would happen.

SaturdayMatthew 26:3-5 ............. Evil Men Plan To Kill Jesus

You were right, Lord Jesus. You are going to die! Evil men are plotting your death. But they are not the reason you are going to die. You are going to die ... because that’s what you came to earth to do.

MondayMatthew 24 .................... Jesus Predicts The FutureYour words scare me, Lord Jesus. For in the world around me I

hear about “wars and rumors of wars.” And I have seen pictures of once proud buildings where “not one stone is left upon another.” I realize the future you’re talking about is NOW. Scary! Please remind me, Lord, that the reason you said the things you did about the future was to tell your followers that

you are coming back to this earth to take us all to heaven. And I am one of your followers! Take away my fear.

TuesdayMatthew 25:1-13 ... Jesus Tells A StoryI know the story about the bridesmaids is about being ready. Help me to always be ready for you, Lord Jesus. I look forward to your return!

WednesdayMatthew 25:14-30 ......... Jesus Tells Another Story

Your Father has made an investment in me, hasn’t he, Lord Jesus? He has given me everything that makes me special. And he wants me to DO SOMETHING with it. Give me the happiness of discovering what my special gifts are, Lord Jesus. And then help me USE them!

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1. Jesus Sends Two Disciples

2. Jesus RidesA Donkey 3. People

Praise Jesus

4. Jesus CleansThe Temple

5. Jesus CursesA Fig Tree

6. OfficialsCriticize Jesus

7. Jesus TellsStories

8. Jesus Talks About

God’s Kingdom

9. Tricksters Try To Trap

Jesus

10. Jesus Condemns

The Tricksters

11. Jesus Predicts

The Future12. Jesus Tells

A Story

13. Jesus TellsAnother Story

14. Jesus Talks About

His Return

15. Jesus PredictsHis Own

Death

16. Evil Men Plan

To Kill Jesus

17. Woman Anoints

Jesus’ Head 18. Judas Plots To

Betray Jesus

19. Jesus Sends Two Disciples

20. Jesus CelebratesPassover

21. Jesus TalksTo Peter

22. Jesus Prays

23. Judas Betrays

Jesus WithA Kiss

24. Jesus Stands

Before The Chief Priest

25. Peter Denies

Knowing Jesus

26. JesusIs Bound

27. Judas Realizes

What He Has Done

28. Jesus Stands Before The Governor

29. Barabbas Is Chosen

30. Pilate Washes

His Hands

31. Jesus Is Flogged

32. Soldiers Make

Fun Of Jesus

33. Simon Helps Jesus

34. Jesus Refuses

To Drink

35. Jesus Is Nailed

To The Cross

36. Bandits Are Crucified

With Jesus37. CrowdsMake FunOf Jesus

38. More Make

Fun of Jesus39. Jesus

Dies

40. Jesus Is Buried

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EasterMatthew 28 .................... Jesus Is Alive!There is no sticker for today, Lord Jesus ... and that’s a GOOD THING! There is no sticker because YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR TOMB! You have risen from the grave! You have killed death! You have opened the way to heaven for ME! Hooray, Lord Jesus! You are STILL leading me! I am still following ... all the way to HEAVEN!

Art by Tom Dineen. © 2002, 2018 Creative Communications for the Parish, a Division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. SVG

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