Welcoming Jesus into Zagreb

Today was a big holiday for Croatians. (Most Croatians are Catholic by tradition...their ethnicity and "religion" go together. Unfortunately, it means nothing to many of their hearts). It was Palm Sunday. I love Palm Sunday generally because the citizens of Jerusalem gave Jesus the welcome and praise He deserves. It inspires me to grab my own "tree branch" and lay it down on the ground so that Jesus has a paved path into my heart and into my city. The Croatians have a beautiful way of celebrating this day. They sell at the markets olive tree branches for people to carry around on Palm Sunday. So, as Laura and I drove to church this morning we saw people walking around coming to and from church or the market holding their olive tree branch. It was as though the citizens of Zagreb were saying, "Welcome Jesus! Welcome to our city!" As we saw them, Laura and I began to intercede and pray telling Jesus He is welcome in this city. Unfortunately, this beautiful tradition is meaningless to many Croatians. For years, as long as they can remember many of them had olive branches on Palm Sunday. Why? Not real sure. That's just what we do. Laura and I instead see this as a bridge to the Gospel. It is a sign to us that eternity is in their hearts (see Don Richardson's books "Eternity in their Hearts" & "Peace Child").

I'm not exactly sure why I'm telling you all this except for the fact that this tradition is so beautiful and stirring to us. It stirs us to pray this week and we ask that you pray together with us...for this city, for this nation. God is doing something right now in this country. Churches are people planted. People are being stirred to pray. Workers are being raised up. Unfortunately, the ground is still so hard. The Gospel is being sown, but there is little harvest being reaped. So, we go back to first things...pray. We must pray with passion and the fire of the Holy Spirit. We must see the strategy of God in taking this nation. If we pray, He will prepare a great harvest. So, please pray with us. Pray Zagreb and Croatia will welcome their King!