A calendrical savant — or calendar savant — is someone who has the special skill of being able to name the day of the week that any date lands on.

When my son David began driving buses two years ago, one of his regular riders was "Jennifer". When she first met him, she asked when his birthday was. This fall, he hadn't been driving as much because of a teacher-training course that he was taking. However, he decided to take a shift one day just before Christmas. He hadn't seen Jennifer since the summer, but that day, she got on his bus with her social worker. When she was getting off the bus, she said to him, "Can you remind me what your name is?" David told her, and she immediately replied, "Your birthday is today! You are 40 years old today! Happy birthday!" She then broke out into a full chorus of "Happy birthday to you!" David was ecstatic that she had remembered. Five and ten minutes later, departing passengers each wished him, "Happy birthday!" — a gift that kept on giving! At his birthday party that evening, David was excited to tell us the whole story in detail.

What are the chances that such a person would remember such details and then get on one particular bus, out of a hundred that David could have driven, on the exact day when those details were so significant for a milestone birthday? I'd say that the chances are so remote that the simplest explanation is the existence of a loving God with a great sense of humour, Who is just waiting to bless us with random acts of kindness on occasion!

People who are neurodivergent have different strengths and challenges than those whose brains don't have those differences. Such people are often not valued highly. But God is able to use all of us to fulfil His purposes on earth, such as encouraging my son with a minor miracle. Regardless of our skills and abilities, God loves us all equally.

Does the love of God seem real in your life?

1 John 4:9-11 – This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (NIV)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for showing Your love for us through our Lord Jesus. Help us to experience that love in its fullest measure. Amen.

A number of years ago, our family went there with my oldest sister, Ethel, and her husband, Charles, who was asked to speak at the Sunday worship service. Before he got in behind the pulpit, two men placed a platform to raise him up so that he would be seen by the congregation. The pulpit was high due to the fact that the regular minister was very tall. On the riser, Charles was able to rest his Bible on the pulpit and see the people, and the people were able to see him.

I remember this because it helped me to understand the lesson that we learn in Romans chapter three:

Romans 3:22b-23 – There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (NIV)

In myself, I cannot please God, because I fall short of His glory. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to procure the righteousness needed for us to enter His presence. Jesus went to Calvary to pay the penalty of death for the sin of all mankind. We accept His substitution on our behalf by faith.

Romans 3:22a – This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (NIV)

We all fall short of God's glory, so what platform do you stand on? Let us never take Jesus' sacrifice for granted, especially on this Palm Sunday as we enter Holy Week and approach Good Friday!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask that we may live showing by word and deed that we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. Help us to show love and kindness to others. We also pray for government officials at this time of making decisions that have impact worldwide. Amen.

I remember a favourite saying of a friend of ours: "Lord, I'll climb the highest mountain, I'll swim the deepest sea, I'll be over next Tuesday … if it don't rain."

Why is it that every good intention is so often accompanied by a greater excuse?

Excuses: Who is there among us who has never given the Lord an excuse as to why we can't serve Him?

When we take into account the suffering that Jesus went through on our behalf because of His love for us, we really shouldn't have any excuse why we can't be fully committed to Him.

I often ask myself where we would be if Jesus had succumbed to any one of the following seven excuses that I have so often given.

Excuse #1: "I Want To Do Something Else."
Jesus prayed, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matthew 26:39b KJV)

Excuse #2: "I'm Too Tired."
Before Jesus went to be crucified, He had four trials: before Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, and Pilate.

Excuse #3: "I Might Be Persecuted."
Jesus was spit upon, struck, and slapped.

Excuse #4: "I Have A Headache."
Jesus wore a crown of thorns. Now that's a headache!

Excuse #5: "I Have A Backache."
Jesus' back was scourged with a leaded whip.

Excuse #6: "My Legs Ache."
Carrying the cross, Jesus fell beneath the weight of it.

Excuse #7: "I Have A Sore Throat."
On the cross, Jesus cried out, "I thirst", and was offered vinegar to drink.

How thankful to God we must be that Jesus did not succumb to excuses when it came to our salvation, but rather that He set His face like a flint and went to the cross so that our sin might be forgiven.

Prayer: Father, we pray that You would help us to be more committed in our service and dedication to You. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen.

Great excitement filled the air: the parade was coming. The little Mexican village of Ajijic on the shores of Lake Chapala was in an excited buzz. We were sitting at a roadside cafe, looking out on the local square with front row seats. Our location was great for taking pictures, but I hadn't counted on getting ashes all over my video camera! It was Ash Wednesday and the people were celebrating with a parade like no other. It was eclectic, covering every event of Passion Week.

Here it comes! Following the band is an old truck decorated with an Easter bunny and presents. Here is another truck with the crucified head of Jesus on the hood. Then some beautiful girls in native dress come riding their horses gently by us, and here comes what looks like King Neptune, of all things! But where was the donkey? Not in this parade. But a devilish figure came by, harassing those watching: a fierce image with straw hair and mask, tempting everyone to throw ashes on him. The highlight is now upon us — dancing horses! Amazing to watch, but I found myself wondering who really understood the meaning of it all.

Parades! Here comes another. This road leads into Jerusalem and a crowd gathers. The focus now is on a man riding by on a donkey! Surely the main theme is unmistakable, or is it? What a powerful statement is being made with such deep conviction. Was Jesus doing it deliberately, making a quiet statement about the focus of his earthly mission? He has come as a gentle, lowly King, bringing, not victory over the surrounding nations, but salvation before their God! Did they really get it that day, as the crowds shouted their hosannas? "Lord, save us," they called out to Jesus, waving their palm branches in the air. Others even laid down their cloaks, giving Jesus a softer ride! The One who comes to us from God comes gently. That is very reassuring as we struggle with our confusion.

The One who comes to us rides on a borrowed colt, a beast of burden, not yet broken in. This was not a rich man. And no one was silent that day, and that was a good thing, for Scripture reminds us of Jesus' comment to the disapproving Pharisees: "If [the disciples] keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19:40 NIV) I wonder if earth is crying out today because of our silence?

Did the crowd get Jesus' meaning? The word went about quickly: this is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. But I don't think the crowds, or even the disciples, got the real message of that parade. Do we? How do we respond to Jesus when he comes to us? Do we receive Him as a lowly prophet of God? As an awesome King? As a suffering Servant? Crucified Lord? Victorious Saviour?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we look forward to Your gentle coming to us along this parade we call life. Today, may we not remain silent, but tell another how much You mean to us. We journey with You this week through a pall of suffering, watching and wondering. Allow us, by Your mercy, to accompany You and explain to passers-by what it means to walk the road to Calvary and to participate in Your resurrection. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Mark 11:1-3 – As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just 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 doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'" (NIV)

People engaged in any type of Christian ministry are constantly called upon to spend much time and effort in things unrelated to their real purpose and interest. One missionary said she sometimes felt as if she were "God's donkey", getting stuck with all the hum-drum routine tasks that are necessary, but not necessarily fulfilling. The idea of being God's donkey fascinated me. What did the donkey do, really? I went to the concordance to find out. In the history of Israel, donkeys carried kings. The heir to the throne rode the king's own donkey. It was a symbol of sovereignty. In the New Testament, the donkey carried the Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Gracious God, may we carry the Lord Jesus with us, in every situation and every challenge we may face this day. May we each be your donkey with grace and joy. Amen.