Powerful

No Greater Love

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

My Good Friday tradition is to watch The Passion of the Christ after the kids are sleeping. It really gives the holiday meaning. Makes you really think and get into the scriptures...preparing for the Joy that comes on Sunday morning.

Passover

We observe Passover. Not in the orthodox sense, but in a modern Christian way. WHY? Well, read more HERE.

What we do

• cook a Lamb
• have a discussion/lesson about Passover in the Old Testament
• discuss why Jesus is our Passover
• praise the Lord for the blood of Christ that saves us from our sin

Sad Day

This is why I don't watch the news, or let my children. Such sad sad things reported. I had so much hope for this family. What a sad story. But, I know that there is nothing new under the sun and that God remains on the throne. His call is for all to repent and come to Him for salvation. I'm praying the King family finds joy in the Lord amidst their sorrow and grief.

New Mantra

My friend at work shared this with me and I love it. It is applicable for kids and adults alike!

"YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON'T THROW A FIT"

• I will say this at dinner time to the kids
  
• I will say this (to myself) at 4:30am when my 2 year old is ready to face the day, loudly
• I will say this (to myself) when I am grumpy about work, with husband, with the state of the economy, the elected President of the U.S. etc. etc. etc.

Don't you just LOVE it?! Why have I never heard it before? It must be in the Bible somewhere...

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Phil 4:6-7

God is good...all the time. And I love my new mantra!

Rain

I LOVE the rain. Especially after we've gone through a horrible dry season. My spirit cried out and jumped for joy when I heard the drops on the roof last night...and then woke to a beautifully wet morning. There is something about rain that is just so....heavenly. Spiritual really. So this started me on a little Bible word search/study =) Here are some of my favorite findings.

You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. (Psalm 68:9)
Wow, isn't He good? In our times of need He will provide for our weary souls. I need that!

He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers [that] water the earth.(Psalm 72:6)

Matthew Henry's Concise CommentaryPsalm 72:2-17 This is a prophecy of the kingdom of Christ; many passages in it cannot be applied to the reign of Solomon. There were righteousness and peace at first in the administration of his government; but, before the end of his reign, there were troubles and unrighteousness. The kingdom here spoken of is to last as long as the sun, but Solomon's was soon at an end. Even the Jewish expositors understood it of the kingdom of the Messiah. Observe many great and precious promises here made, which were to have full accomplishment only in the kingdom of Christ. As far as his kingdom is set up, discord and contentions cease, in families, churches, and nations. The law of Christ, written in the heart, disposes men to be honest and just, and to render to all their due; it likewise disposes men to live in love, and so produces abundance of peace. Holiness and love shall be lasting in Christ's kingdom. Through all the changes of the world, and all the changes of life, Christ's kingdom will support itself. And he shall, by the graces and comforts of his Spirit, come down like rain upon the mown grass; not on that cut down, but that which is left growing, that it may spring again. His gospel has been, or shall be, preached to all nations. Though he needs not the services of any, yet he must be served with the best. Those that have the wealth of this world, must serve Christ with it, do good with it. Prayer shall be made through him, or for his sake; whatever we ask of the Father, should be in his name. Praises shall be offered to him: we are under the highest obligations to him. Christ only shall be feared throughout all generations. To the end of time, and to eternity, his name shall be praised. All nations shall call HIM blessed.

Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD, have created it. (Isaiah 45:8)

Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.(Acts 14:17)

MH Commentary. God, having not left himself without witness, has not left us without a guide, and so has left us without excuse; for whatever is a witness for God is a witness against us, if we give that glory to any other which is due to him only. 1. The bounties of common providence witness to us that there is a God, for they are all dispensed wisely and with design. The rain and fruitful seasons could not come by chance, nor are there any of the vanities of the heathen that can give rain, neither can the heavens of themselves give showers, Jer. 14:22. All the powers of nature witness to us a sovereign power in the God of nature, from whom they are derived, and on whom they depend. It is not the heaven that gives us rain, but God that gives us rain from heaven, he is the Father of the rain, Job 38:28. 2. The benefits we have by these bounties witness to us that we ought to make our acknowledgments not to the creatures who are made serviceable to us, but to the Creator who makes them so. He left not himself without witness, in that he did good. God seems to reckon the instances of his goodness to be more pregnant, cogent proofs of his title to our homage and adoration than the evidences of his greatness; for his goodness is his glory. The earth is full of his goodness; his tender mercies are over all his works; and therefore they praise him, Ps. 145:9, 10. God does us good, in preserving to us his air to breathe in, his ground to go upon, the light of his sun to see by; but, because the most sensible instance of the goodness of Providence to each of us in particular is that of the daily provision made by it of meat and drink for us, the apostle chooses to insist upon that, and shows how God does us good.

I hope you are enjoying the rain!

God is good...all the time

God is good all the time
He put a song of praise in this heart of mine
God is good all the time
Through the darkest night, His light will shine
God is good, God is good all the time

If you're walking through the valley
And there are shadows all around
Do not fear, He will guide you
He will keep you safe and sound
'Cause He's promised to never leave you
Nor forsake you and His Word is true

We were sinners - so unworthy
Still for us He chose to die
Filled us with His Holy Spirit
Now we can stand and testify
That His love is everlasting
And His mercies - they will never end

Lord I may not understand
All the plans He left for me
My life is in your hands
And through the eyes of Him I can clearly see

loving this song this week

He is Risen!

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)

He is risen, INDEED! Praise the Lord, MY Redeemer LIVES!

Romans 1:4-5
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)

Good Friday

I was fortunate to have my coworker's daughter come over and babysit on Good Friday afternoon so I could attend my church service from 12-1pm. I haven't been since I was pregnant with Jackson due to babysitting issues. Thanks Kelly, Rachel, and Lauren! The boys LOVE visitors and had a blast...especially b/c they were girls.
My old roomie and BFF from Orange County is now living in RB, so I recruited her to come with me. We are old Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa church buddies, so it was fun to reunite at my little Escondido Calvary.
While pondering, studying, and downloading bible studies on the death and resurrection of Jesus this week, I came across this website called Isaiah 53. Check it out.

13 Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.

14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men.

15 Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.

1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

One of Jackson's favorite stories in his Bible.

He says, "mommy, let's read the cross story again. Jesus loves us!"

Coloring with my boys and teaching them why the death of Jesus was so good, hence the term "Good Friday." We are so thankful He died for us.

Want to know more about Jesus? Check out this website.

Seder meal

Traditionally the Seder meal is prepared on the first day of Passover, and in some traditions the second. I couldn't get it together in time, but better late than never. We had our Seder meal tonight, on Good Friday. I bought our lamb at Henry's and prepared the crock pot before taking off to Church. Owen helped me =)

Mike got us unleavened bread from Jerusalem, and very yummy kosher Kedem grape juice (instead of wine) from the Jewish section of Vons. Yeah Vons!

Here is my Seder meal: Lamb stew, matzo, and kosher grape juice. Mmmmmm
I told the kids it was special lamb meat and flat bread just like Jesus ate.

Owen was curious about this new tasting meat...

....and decided, "it's good mommy!"
Jackson devoured his so fast I didn't even get a picture.

What is the Seder meal?
(answer from www.christianseder.com)
Seder is the traditional Passover Week Dinner celebrated by the Hebrews since the Exodus. It is the Hebrew Thanksgiving, giving thanks to God for deliverance and redemption.

Seder is also called the Passover Dinner, commemorating the protection of God as the Angel of Death passed over every family protected by the Blood of the Paschal Lamb.

Seder is Bible Study. It is in this family setting that Jewish children were first introduced to the Book of Exodus as the adults gained further insight. We refer to this kind of instruction as multimedia, as all five senses are involved to make this study an unforgettable event.

Seder is that famous Dinner called The Last Supper, hosted by Jesus for His disciples. It is probable, based on The Gospels, to assume that Jesus celebrated every Seder of His life in Jerusalem. Seder, as the setting for Jesus' Last Supper, was the event Jesus choose to announce The New Covenant. And it was at this Seder that Jesus asked all of us to do this in remembrance of Him. Many of us have done part of the Seder at our various Communion Services, but the entire ceremony will bring us a profound sense of meaning.

Seder is the Feast of Unleavened Bread mentioned twice in Luke's Acts of the Apostles (12:3 and 20:6). The days of Unleavened Bread were mentioned in connection with Peter in Jerusalem and Paul in Greece, and both citations are followed by great miracles. I think that it is safe to say that both Peter and Paul celebrated Seder and encouraged others, both Jews and Gentiles, to do this also.

Seder was the basis of the early Church's Lord's Day worship service. It was referred to as the Agape Feast and Eucharist. Agape is the Greek word for Christian Love, that Love we have for one another. Eucharist is a transliteration of the Greek word which means to give thanks to God, implying that Thanksgiving is an obligation for the works of God. Our early Church experienced miracles and miraculous movements of the Holy Spirit. Our Christian ancestors were united in One Love, One Christ, and One Mind as they grew from obscurity to a Worldwide Church.

The Seder dinner is as Christian as it is Jewish. It is the focal point where we bring together our common heritage. We, as Christians, are heirs of Abraham through Faith and children of God through Christ.

Passover

Passsover 2009 is from April 8th (sundown) to April 16th (sundown)

The Passover Feast: A prophetic picture of the atoning death of Christ
(article from this website)
The coming of the Messiah is the central theme of the Old Testament. From the very beginning, right after the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, God speaks of the One who is coming that will bruise the serpents’ head (Genesis 3:15). In the book of Psalms we read where King David prophesies about the death of Christ saying, “They pierced my hands and my feet… And for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:16-18). The prophet Isaiah foretells the atoning death of the Messiah and compares Him to “a lamb that is led to slaughter” (Isaiah 53:5-7). And John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testaments prophets, when he saw Jesus coming toward him declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
The record of the Old Testament makes it clear that the Messiah was born to die. The
Father sent Him from heaven for this purpose. It wasn’t plan B. It wasn’t because something went terribly wrong. At exactly the right time in history, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born, became a man and in obedience to His heavenly Father’s will; died on a cross to take away the sin of the world (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Shortly after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples as they were traveling on the road to Emmaus and “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). Jesus did indeed fulfill all that was written and prophesied about Him in the Old Testament.
The Passover Feast is one of these amazing prophetic pictures that Christ has fulfilled.
The apostle Paul calls these Old Testament events “shadows of things to come.” And goes on to explain that “the reality, the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it, belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17 Amplified Bible).
Messiah means Christ or the anointed one
Just as the Passover was the first feast that the people of Israel were commanded to
observe; so is Christ‘s atoning death on the cross the first truth we must believe if we are
to be free from slavery to sin, saved from the judgment it deserves and recipients of eternal life (John 3:16-19, Romans 6:23, 10:9-10). It is not enough to just know and understand that Christ has fulfilled all these things; we must believe in our hearts that Christ is truly our Passover Lamb.
Your Lamb Shall Be Unblemished
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household. Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb. Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. (Exodus 12:3-5)
At the beginning of Passover week, on the tenth of the month, Jesus entered Jerusalem to
the sound of the multitudes shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-40). Jesus then entered the temple and with authority drove out those who were buying and selling! “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” he proclaimed. These events correspond with taking the Passover lamb into the house on the tenth of the month (Exodus 12:3). The Israelites were to take a year old, male lamb into their households until the fourteenth day of the month in order to inspect it for flaws. It had to be a lamb without blemish (Exodus 12:5). Jesus, the Lamb of God, had come into the house and over the next few days the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees would all confront and question Him, but they would find no flaw (Luke 20:1-8, 19-26; Matthew 15:22-40, 21:23-27). Even after they arrested Jesus and brought him into the house of the high priest, they could only bring false witnesses against Him (Mark 14:53-59). And finally, when they brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate to have Him condemned to death, Pilate could only state the truth saying,
“I find no guilt in Him” (John 18:38). The Lamb was indeed unblemished (Hebrews 4:15). Atoning or atone means to appease, reconcile or propitiate (1 John 2:2, 4:9-10)
Also during this time, while in the house of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Jesus and
anointed Him with a very costly perfume. This beautiful and extravagant act of worship reveals many truths about Jesus. In the context of this study, it shows us that the Christ, the anointed one, was being prepared for His burial after becoming the sacrificial Lamb (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9).
A New Covenant
Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails. And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire. (Exodus 12:7-10)
Not long before Jesus and His disciples were gathered for the last meal they would have
together before His death, Judas Iscariot had already plotted to betray Him (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6). Knowing that He could not be able partake of the actual Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus shared a meal with them that explained that He was about to become the Passover meal. The New Covenant was about to be instituted and Jesus was expressing this through what we call the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:1-20). Just as the Passover lamb’s blood was shed and put on the doorpost and lintel to save the Israelites from the last plague, so Jesus’ blood was about to be shed and His body broken for the salvation of the whole world.
Kill it at Twilight
You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. (Exodus 12:6) At the very time that the Passover lambs were being killed, Jesus was being crucified (Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:44). While all of Jerusalem was busy preparing the Passover meal with the lambs that were being sacrificed, Jesus was uttering His last words, “It is finished” (John 19:30). What was finished was God’s plan for the salvation of all people through the death of His Son. All that the Passover represents had been fulfilled in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Blood of the Lamb For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)

Just as the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from the judgments of God and
redeemed them from slavery, so does the blood of Christ save all who believe from the judgment of God and redeem them from slavery to sin (1 Peter 1:18-20). The blood of the Lamb cleanses us, gives us a brand new start and frees us from a guilty conscience (Hebrews 10:22).
Feast of Unleavened Bread
In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born. Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:18-20)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread began the night of the Passover meal. Leaven represents
sin. During Passover week the Israelites would search their houses to make sure there was no leaven anywhere in their homes. They would then make bread for the feast without any leaven. The unleavened bread represents how Christ has made us free of sin and how he wants us to continue to live and celebrate our new life, “with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).Feast of the Firstfruits
Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. (Exodus 23:16) The day that Jesus was resurrected was actually the day that the Feast of the Firstfruits was celebrated (Exodus 23:16). The Israelites would bring the first fruits of their harvest to the temple as an offering. Jesus fulfills this on that very day by being the first of those to be resurrected from the dead (1Corinthians 15:20-23). Jesus also keeps His own words when he said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). We can follow the sequence of events described in the New Testament that lead us through these three days. The day after Christ was crucified was the High Sabbath or the Passover Sabbath (Mark 15:42). Being a Sabbath day, the Israelites were commanded to cease from all labor. They would have prepared all the unleavened bread before this day. The following day, being a normal workday, we are told that some of the women who followed Jesus bought spices to take to His tomb to anoint Him (Mark 16:1). The next day they rested on the regular weekly Sabbath, the last day of the week (Luke 23:56). Then the following day, the first day of the week, they came to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance and when they went in they saw a young man dressed in a white robe who said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” (Matthew 28:16; Mark 16:2-6; Luke 24:1-2; John 20:12).
Christ indeed had risen from the dead having fulfilled the true meaning of the Passover Feast, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of the Firstfruits!

Silly boys havin' a good time reading their Bible stories

Are Jewish Holidays for Christians?

To fully comprehend our Christian faith, we should know about this fascinating heritage. We study a Hebrew book-written by Hebrews; we serve a Hebrew Lord-who had Hebrew disciples; we desire to follow the first century church-which was first predominately Hebrew; and through Christ, we are grafted into a Hebrew family! It makes sense to study the Hebrew culture.

This is a refreshing, new, exciting way to view the Bible! Much of the Bible is mysterious to most Americans. The perplexing phrases, puzzling actions, the sometimes difficult-to-understand words of Jesus, unconventional holidays, and parables are only understood with an awareness of the Hebrew culture. A Christian's roots are deep in Judaism through Christ, all the way back to Abraham! And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29).

Paul wrote to the Gentile believers in Colossians 2:16-17 that the holidays are a shadow of things to come. Each of the spring holidays is a picture of Christ's first coming. Jesus was sacrificed for our sins on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, and arose on Firstfruits. The fall holidays are a picture of His second coming and the beginning of the Messianic reign.

Each of the biblical Jewish holidays teaches us about our wonderful relationship with God. His whole redemption story is portrayed for us in these festivals. Passover pictures salvation or deliverance from Egypt (flesh or sin). Unleavened Bread shows us that God saved us in order that we may be holy and set apart for Him by putting off the old sin nature. Firstfruits teaches us the purpose of salvation: fruitfulness in the Kingdom of God (John 15:1-5) and putting on the new man, the nature of God (Eph. 4:24). The Feast of Weeks instructs us further concerning the kind of fruit we must bear spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Each Holy Day Reveals Something About Christ

Passover Pesach Nisan 14	Purpose: Remembering the deliverance from Egyptian bondage. An unblemished firstborn male lamb was sacrificed and its blood poured on the altar. A lamb was selected for each family, and four days before the lamb was to be slain it was brought into the home for a four-day examination period. Messianic Significance: Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins. On Nisan 14 at the exact time the lamb was to be slain, Jesus was slain. Jesus also had a four-day examination period before the religious leaders and was found without blemish.
Unleavened Bread Nisan 15	Purpose: Leaven symbolizes sin. Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. God told the Jews to cleanse all leaven from their homes and eat only unleavened bread, matzah, for seven days, symbolizing a holy walk with Him. Messianic Significance: Jesus is the "Bread of Life" without sin. Born in Bethlehem. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means house of bread. Just as matzah is striped and pierced, so was the Messiah. This Feast falls on the day Jesus was buried.
Day of Firstfruits Nisan 17	Purpose: The first of the barley harvest was brought as an offering to the priest in the Tabernacle/Temple. The priest would present the first of the harvest unto the Lord by waving them back and forth. This reminded the Hebrews that God gave them the land, and the harvest belonged to Him. Messianic Significance: Jesus is the Firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20-23). Jesus' resurrection marked the beginning of the harvest of souls. John 12:23-24,32 shows Jesus was likened to a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying to produce a great harvest. Jesus arose on Firstfruits.
Feast Of Weeks Pentecost Shavuot	Purpose: Fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits, two loaves of leavened bread are presented to God. Also a reminder that the Jews were slaves to Egypt (Deut. 16:9-17). The giving of the Torah to Moses on Sinai took place this day. Three thousand were killed that day. Messianic Significance: Fifty days after Jesus arose, a group of Messianic Jews received the Holy Spirit. Jesus said "Unless I go, the Holy Spirit will not come. But when I go (Firstfruits- His resurrection) I will send the Holy Spirit unto you." God wrote the law (Torah) on the hearts of the believers. Three thousand souls were saved.
Feast of Trumpets Rosh Hashanah Tishri 1	Purpose: The Jewish New Year begins the high Holy Days in the Jewish month of Tishri (corresponding to September or October.) A celebration of the spiritual birthday of the world or creation. Blowing of the trumpets and coronation of the King. Messianic Significance: Possibly depicts the rapture of the church, a regathering of believers at the sound of the trumpet (1 Thess. 4:16-18; Rev. 19) and judgment of the wicked, or possibility is that this is the day of the second coming. Jesus will be King of earth.
Day of Atonement Yom Kippur Tishri 10	Purpose: The holiest day in the Jewish year is spent in fasting, prayer, and confession. This was one gracious day a year given by God that each individual could receive forgiveness. The high priest entered the holy of holies to make atonement for the nation by sacrificing animals including two goats. Messianic Significance: Christ our Messiah was displayed as our sacrifice. We can use this as a time of self-searching, repentance, and recommitment to God. The goats represent Jews and Gentiles. Possibly points to the day of the Messiah's physically returning to earth. Or it is possible this is the Judgment Day.
Feast of Tabernacles Sukkoth Tishri 15	Purpose: God told the people they should live in booths for seven days so that the generations would know that His people lived in booths when He brought them out of Egypt. Each Sukkoth, the Jews build and dwell or eat in booths or temporary dwellings for seven days. A joyful celebration! Messianic Significance: Christ is our tabernacle or dwelling place (John 14:14). May represent the 1000-year reign of Christ on earth. Many believe Jesus was born during this Feast because He was born in the late fall in a "booth". Or this is possibly when we tabernacle (dwell) with God in heaven.

NOTE: Replacement Theology teaches that the Church has replaced the Jewish people and is now the "new Israel." Those promoting this theory believe God rejected the Jewish people because of their rejection of Christ. This doctrine is imbedded in many Christian denominations.

It is critical for Christians to understand that we do not replace natural Israel in God's plan. God did not made a mistake in creating Judaism and then in utter exasperation send His son to correct it 4,000 years later.

This doctrine has been at the forefront of anti-Semitism, Judeo-phobia, and has fully provided fuel for catastrophic historical events such as the Spanish Inquisition, the Catholic Crusades, and the holocaust.

READ MORE ABOUT THAT HERE.

INTERESTED TO READ/STUDY MORE ABOUT THIS? CHECK OUT THIS FABULOUS WEBSITE BiblicalHolidays.com

Christmas 2008

Yes, it's the middle of January and I'm just posting our Christmas pictures. We were having too much fun in December to blog about it =)

I had this bright idea (if I do say so myself!) to wrap the boys presents in all the same paper - green for Jackson and tan reindeers for Owen. They loved it and easily picked out their presents w/out having to ask us which was which or accidentally opening the wrong gift. It was relaxing for us and very fun for them. Jackson had a great time sorting through the gifts and delivering presents to Owen. 3 year old OCD at it's best! We were all finished and relaxing at 9:30pm on Christmas eve!

Christmas morning the boys came down the hall with daddy to see the surprise under the tree

they had a great time ripping open the packages and immediately asking us to A. OPEN IT and B. put BATTERIES in! This was at 6:30am... so we were all a little groggy - except those excited little men

Owen's favorite gifts - a train from Grandpa Ed

and the couch from Auntie Erika.... and don't forget his baby from mom and dad.

We saved the best for last for Jackson - his Spiderman costume from Grandpa Ed.

Mike got a bunch of skate stuff - shoes, a belt, and a hat. Now he's a cool skateboarder and not just an old skateboarder. Ha!

I scored and got a new computer! Well, we were due for one and I think Mike felt bad because he got a new laptop for work while I was frustrated on our 6 year old PC everyday. So not cute at 6:30 am when Mike forbid me to 'clean up' before opening.

Dad got me my first pair of UGGs (that I recall). LOVE THEM!

For brunch we visited Mike's parents, Spiderman in tow. They loved their framed pictures - we gave them 3 Christmas ornaments that were labeled with '2008' and had pictures of all us in them. Lee loved it so much she said she wanted to start a new tradition of getting these every year as their grandparent gift. I was so happy - the gift giver is always pleased with a good reaction!
After nap we headed to Temecula (anyone tired yet?) to go to my sister's house...

Erika, Steve, Robin

My teenage niece and nephews: Emily, Lance, Shane, Sebastian

me and Dad

Auntie Erika and her favorite little boys - Spiderman and Owen

The best gift of all is of course our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The miracle of God becomming a man to reconcile sinners to Himself is something I ponder all year - but it's so neat to set apart an entire month to talk about it and celebrate it with others every year. We spent a lot of time during december discussing the nativity with the boys and singing worship Christmas songs. I gave them a children's nativity play set on Christmas eve and they loved it. Played with it for hours! Owen was kissing all the characters and making them kiss eachother - so sweet.We love to receive your cards and family updates every year, thank you and keep them coming! Hope you had a very blessed Christmas!