So all week I have been down with a sinus infection after pulling up some old rug upstairs 🙁. It's a different way the LORD "makes you lie down", Psalm 23:2a. But the lying down was necessary as He began the week telling me to "slow down". You heard that if you listened to Tuesday's podcast. In the lying down to get better, I started reflecting on healing waters that I got to soak in at the end of June. And in that, I realized I hadn't really shared the experience with you the way I wanted to yet! So today is that post, complete with 2 videos and some pictures with captions for context.... If you've been getting the email blogs for last couple of months, you know that at the end of June, I went on a road trip that was part vacation, part ministry. I've referenced it a few times in email blogs I've sent and in some podcast episodes, but haven't shared many pictures or videos of the first part which was the "restoring my soul part". I've wanted to give the LORD public thanks for it. He was so kind to refresh me with natural beauty of His making, with quiet, still waters to restore my soul! Be encouraged as you read, that it is His nature to bless and restore His servants! First how did this "restore my soul" trip come about? It came about as I started dreaming about "what if"... "What if" I could go on a "healing waters" type of vacation within a reasonable budget? This made me remember that I always wanted to visit a place with natural healing springs. So I got on the internet and found a place within driving distance called Warm Springs, VA. Turns out they have a natural hot springs, one with a facility that was under renovation, but was recently opened in Spring of 2023. So I booked a bed and breakfast nearby, and hoped it would be a refreshing part of my get-a-way. God answered big time!!! Right below this post, is a video of one of the natural hot springs that I experienced! This is a natural stone basin whose octagonal facility recently underwent a $4M renovation. This place was established way back in 1761! It was the first spa structure in America! It was not covered by a bath house until the mid-1820s, at which point it was covered by an octagonal frame building. A second structure, the Ladies’ Bath House, was built in the mid-1870s. As you will see in my video, there are changing stations, as well as pool noodles so you can float easily and relax in the mineral rich waters! It was an amazing experience and soooooo relaxing! Float times are one hour and cost just $35. One the day I went, it was an unusually cool and rainy summer day. Normally rain ruins a vacation, but for this experience it added to the refreshing! I was glad it was not a hot, sunny day because when your body is immersed in 99 degree water for one hour, I wouldn't want to be sweltering in sweat, sun beating down on me. It was wonderful to have a cool breeze to refresh me and living water from the sky (rain drops) gently falling. There is also a generous white noise experience from the sound of the spring waters tumbling out of the basin, and into the natural creek outside. I did a women-only soak, and it was just 8 of us ladies. And while they didn't have to do so, everyone stayed silent and simply floated in the water. It was absolute bliss for this introvert! I was able to experience a second hot spring through a tip from the bed and breakfast owner where I stayed. He told me to make sure to visit Omni Homestead to just walk the grounds to enjoy it. He said that I wouldn't be able to use the facility since I was not a guest, but he said they let people walk the grounds. So after the warm springs experience, I realized I had enough time to visit the Omni before sunset. I walked as much of the grounds and indoor areas as was accessible to me. It was amazing! During my wanderings, I grabbed the hotel activities brochure and noted there was a guest experience of pool and sulphur spring for hotel guests. Initially, I was bummed that it was for hotel guests only, seeing priority first given to hotel guests also getting spa services like a massage. I saw the hotel was packed, so I figured with the number of rooms and the number of spa services, there was no chance of getting in. But then next morning I felt stirred again to say, "What if?" "What if they don't have a lot people booked because it is cool again and forecasted to rain all day? What if they let me in? What if God steps in and gets me in?" So I prayed and told the LORD that nothing is impossible with Him and and asked Him to help me. Then I called and told them, "I'm not a guest; and I do not have any spa services booked, but I would like to use the pool and spring facilities for the day. Will you let me do that?" The guy immediately says "Yes, what is your name? I'll reserve your spot right now." I squealed with delight upon hanging up! I knew my KING was in every part of that! It did rain gently ALL DAY. And that was fine with me. I reveled in it. I realized because of the sprinkling, it kept people away! There WERE hardly any people enjoying the facilities! I had a blast! And typically I am not one to be in water for very long! I can't remember the last time I was in a pool for more than 30 minutes. But I spent 6.5 hours in and out of all of the water experiences! I cannot explain how truly refreshing it was to my soul! The idea of the set up was that you are to go from hot waters to cold waters. It's a therapeutic activity called "contrast bathing". Blood rushes to your skin to help you cool down in the hot water and then blood reverses course and rushes to your organs to protect them from the cold. It strengthen your immune system and helps your parasympathetic nervous system engage for deep relaxation! It was so awesome! It makes me want to go back as I review these memories within this post! I figured out a circuit and spent most of my time outside. I went from the hot tub to the eternal springs pool (cold water) to the natural sulphur springs (99 degrees) to the natural cold spring shower, to the dry sauna, then back to the natural sulphur spring, then the cold pool, to sauna, to pool, to sulphur spring, to natural shower, to sauna, etc. Over and over and over again. 5 hours went by in a flash! Then I finished up in the women's facilities! They have a steam room with essential oils being released and little stone cubicles that you tuck yourself into and do not have to see anyone else! It feels like you are in it by yourself. Your skin sweats out toxins. After that you are encouraged to head to the cold shower experience where you push a button to release ice into a bowl to rub on your face and body, then press another button for cool air, then another button for a cool rain shower. To warm up, you lay down in heated chairs contoured to your body and rest. Those chairs were amazing! So peaceful!!! I didn't do the sensory shower which included a thunder storm audible experience. I finished up by taking a shower, putting on a fresh comfy robe and heading up one floor to the relaxation room and brought my bible. I read and praised Him, and ate fruit and drank herb tea. I felt so pampered by the LORD. Truly it was all more than I ever expected! The LORD was so kind to me to surprise and delight and refresh my soul in this way! So thankful! As a servant of God, this experience was rest I truly needed! He saw. He knew. He provided and encouraged me to dream a little and think "What if..." So consider, are you pouring yourself out in service for ministry? To others? He promises to refresh the weary! Ask! Pray! Seek Him! Pursue the rest HE promises! He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul, Psalm 23:2b-3a. Now take time to watch the videos and scroll through the photos! All glory to God! His handiwork! His provision! His goodness! Believe! The LORD is your Shepherd! You lack nothing! This video shows you the Warm Springs, VA hot springs pool. You are immersed in a natural mineral rich spring that is always at 99 degrees, as it releases from the earth! This spring is magnesium rich, while the one at Omni Homestead is sulphur rich! This is a video from the horse stables down through a road that leads to the Omni Homestead resort. The resort dates back to 1766! There are many areas within the hotel that highlight George Washington! At the time he was a Colonel, and he gave a 300-acre land grant to Captain Thomas Bullitt to reward him for his services. Bullitt brought his militia to the hot springs in what is now Bath County, Virginia. In 1766, the Homestead hotel was constructed and named for the homesteaders who camped out in the area and built the hotel. The hotel was brought into national recognition in 1818 when Thomas Jefferson spent three weeks soaking in these pools to help alleviate his rheumatism. This area became an area known for its healing waters. These are just a few snapshots from my travels which includes 1 night in a NY state park and then the rest are from Warm Springs/Hot Springs, VA. There are captions for each for a little context! Click to see full picture! Enjoy!
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Are you stuck? Below is some personal testimony of my recent frustration with being stuck, plus 4 practical ideas (with resource links) on how to get “unstuck"!
We talked about being stuck last Friday in our private Facebook group! Myself and Cheryl Wells held a LIVE broadcast and talked about some tell-tale signs of being spiritually “stuck”, i.e. not moving forward in our faith! We each presented 3 ways we've been stuck or seen others get stuck, and then we prayed for each area for breakthrough! Interestingly, before the broadcast, the LORD had me add 2 more words to consider in evaluating being spiritually stuck. He added the words “stagnant” and “stubborn”. 🧐 Good additions, especially when you consider each definition. Be willing to evaluate how you may be stuck. Consider each word. Ponder what the LORD is asking His people to observe about their spiritual state. Stuck- unable to move, or set in a particular position, place, or way of thinking Stagnant- not flowing or moving, and smelling unpleasant Stubborn- unreasonably or perversely unyielding; difficult to handle, manage or treat; obstinate in a persistent manner. God does not want us to be "stuck" in these positions! He intends this input be helpful and motivate us to turn! To pursue healing and supernatural transformation! 😬 Do you see yourself in any of them? I took them to heart because I’ve definitely been feeling restless and stuck in routine and "sameness". What have I realized? I’ve been missing passionate pursuit! I've been wanting something fresh and new with God! Yes, I have lots of sweet fellowship time with Him, but my routine is more about peace in His presence, more so than experiencing something new and challenging. I’ve felt a type of wall in this area that is maybe hard to explain or put into words. All I know is I’ve felt "stuck", i.e. the same. Do you feel this way in your relationship with God? Are you longing for something fresh and new? I decided (important phrase) that I needed to do something spontaneous in fresh pursuit of God! As example, last Thursday night, I found a healing room service (prayer service) in Buffalo that started at 7pm. I haven't been to a healing prayer service since my early 40's! I figured it was time to open myself up to it again! But it meant several hours of driving and returning home quite late with a very early morning to prepare for Friend Friday. I pushed past the INTENSE feeling to stay home, quickly grabbed my keys and headed to Buffalo. So....... I take the 1 hour drive. I get to the church, and there are hardly any cars in the parking lot, maybe 6. The church looks locked and dark. I’m immediately disappointed. Grasping for hope I think, "Well maybe they are in there, and I just can’t tell." So I get out of my vehicle and yank at the front doors which are locked of course. Then I'm knocking, ringing the security camera, with no answer. It starts to rain, so I head back to my Jeep. After a few minutes of feeling dumbfounded as to why I drove all the way out for nothing, I decide to double check the website. I’m there on the wrong night! Their service is Sunday night! The Thursday night service is at a different church another 20 minutes into the city! Ugghhhh! What would you do in these circumstances? Thunder and lightning starts, and I take that as my cue to drive back home. As I get on the toll road, my attitude is an immediate mental and spiritual test. Should I beat myself up for making this mistake and lament for on the long drive home? Should I think God was punishing me and rejecting my efforts? Should I tell myself that God must not have been in this? No. I firmly decide I will not do that to myself. Here is something along the lines of what I said, “Lord I know you see my heart and I know you see why I did this. So, it didn’t work out. Oh well. That’s a bummer. But I’m going to enjoy this time with you anyways. I’m going to take this long drive home and loudly worship, pressing in for more of you.” And that is what I did. And it was a joy-filled drive home! I landed on a radio station that had a great playlist happening. I sang the familiar worship loudly and passionately. In the process, I realized long drives with loud worship was something I used to do quite frequently, but haven't. It's something I desperately missed, but wasn't connecting with because I've been "stubborn" in this area. I admit to not responding to many whispers from the LORD telling me to "sing". In the mistake, God's mercy was redirecting me to something that I love to do. Drive and worship! It made me realize I DID NOT do it on my recent ministry road trip down to Virginia, through DC, and back home! That was a long trip not to spend time in worship while driving! I spent the drive time listening to directions and keeping the rest of the time silent! God blessed that worship filled drive home from Buffalo. As I woke the next morning, I got fresh words from the LORD. He contributed those 2 extra words of "stagnant and stubborn" to add to the broadcast. And... normally I hate going LIVE, because it is just not a natural thing for me to enjoy being on camera, but I had a great time sharing and praying with Cheryl and pouring into the group! I felt a new sense of His life flowing through me! Yayyyy! Breakthrough! Then this past Sunday I went to breakfast after church with a friend. She shared she was attending a multi-day Christian worship conference happening from July 24-26. It’s called Kingdom Bound; and is hosted by Darien Lake out towards Buffalo. So late on Monday, I considered again what I should do to break out of the norm and pursue God. I decided to spend all of Tuesday in extended worship at Kingdom Bound. Another drive out towards Buffalo! I got up at 4:45am Tuesday morning (yesterday) to do the podcast, and to get some other ministry things done for the day. Then, I headed out, getting to the event by 11am. I returned home at 11:42 pm last night! It was a worship filled day and night! In today’s Worship Wednesday podcast, you hear some reflections of how I was invigorated in my worship experiences while there. It was holy fellowship I didn’t know I needed to get "unstuck"! Do you get a sense of what I am sharing? Do you see I'm taking myself out of my normal routine and finding fresh ways to pursue God? To get "unstuck"? If you are stuck, stagnant, or stubbornly resisting spiritual growth; what can you do to stretch yourself and pursue God in fresh and perhaps spontaneous ways? I know for a fact that some of you are wanting to know what to do! You've sent me messages and made comments on the broadcast post. On Saturday. I got an email from a podcast listener who admitted being stuck and wanting prayer. Along with praying for her, I suggested a few things. Consider some of these things and see where the adventure may begin!
I hope some of these ideas inspire you to press in for more of God! Stir up your gifts! Fan them into flame! Seek His face! He rewards those who DILIGENTLY pursue Him! Hebrews 11:6- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him! Are our resources helpful to you? Consider giving to the ministry! As example, a one-time gift of just $40+ could help us cover one or more of the following monthly expenses we pay service providers for: LIVE video conferencing, Zoom fees, social media marketing, video production, monthly internet, extra bandwidth for posting, post office box fees, social media ads, etc. Give and it will come back to you, Luke 6:38! For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you! Do you have difficult relationships and often put in a position where you have to take the blame in order for there to be resolution? If so, follow along as led in this prayer time above. Ask God for help. Ask for His intervention in your thoughts and feelings.
Also, today I sent out a blog that included this video plus 2 other reflections for meditation and prayer. Are you signed up to receive the blog? If not, sign up! If you are a Christian, there is a groan within. It will not go away. Do you know what it is, why it is there? Let’s pray about it today. Discontentment is a problem for humanity. We always want more. Nothing truly satisfies. Maybe momentarily and for seasons we have contentment, but for the most part it doesn’t last. This is true even for Christians. But our groaning (Christians) within is different, and is set apart from the lusty groaning for worldly things. At least it should be. If not, we need to check ourself, before we wreck ourself. For us, the groaning within is to be revelation of holy longing. We are to know that it means we long to be set free from our flesh life, and earnestly desire to be clothed eternally with our glorified state. We long to be set free from shame, from feeling exposed and vulnerable, from feeling lonely and dissatisfied. We groan and are burdened because we eagerly await the moment when our mortality will be swallowed up by life!
How does this hit you? Does that resonate within? Can you see why you groan? You long for the flesh-based life to be destroyed. You long for the eternity God has promised. You long for the glorified state of eternal life free from sin, sickness, sorrow. The discontentment burdens and creates the groaning within. Connect with it. This will help you turn from thinking that "if my life only looked like this..." type of thoughts. Connect it is your spirit that will not be satisfied in this sin-sick world. You long for Jesus. ❤️ Direct your thoughts into the Spirit within you longing for holiness, for being set free from your flesh and being swallowed up by the life of God. MEDITATE- How would your life look different if you redirected the groaning away from flesh and into the Spirit life God calls us to? Does it add more rushing around, or can you sense the Spirit of God calling you to slow down... and just enjoy a walk with worship music... talking to God as friend? Can you sense Him calling you away from worldly pursuits? Getting up early and journaling your reaction to a section of scripture? Would you take time to write a letter of thanks to God for your right now season? What is He teaching you? How do you need Him? Tell Him! Turn your eyes off your own pursuits... Consider things like helping a neighbor or serving in a ministry at church. Be content in the now... You have everything you need. You have Jesus. A time is coming to be released from the groaning, the dissatisfaction. Take heart! It is coming! In the waiting, let’s stay faithful to Him. Let’s press in and ask for His life now through us! Be content and thankful! Follow along as I pray and respond where prompted... Lord, thank you. Thank you so much for holy counsel in your word. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 tells us why we feel so restless. You t;ell us why we struggle with discontentment. We are groaning. Yes we agree with your word! We long to be set free from the flesh. Open yourself up now and say, ..."Yes, Lord I long to be set free from my flesh." Lord we are burdened within, we feel the strain. Set us free from traps and lusts and acts of disobedience. Are we substituting holiness for pursuit of worldly things? Ask the LORD. "Reveal to me any area I am pursuing worldly things instead of saying no to temptation." Wait. (Does anything come to mind?) In the Name of Jesus, I bind up acts of the flesh in this one. Agree with that. I declare your promise, that you Lord, are faithful to provide a way out of temptation. Agree. "Lord I agree that you are faithful to provide a way out of temptation." Are you willing to say to Him right now... "Jesus, in the next moment of temptation, I will cry out and ask for you to deliver me from temptation and turn away from my flesh." LORD satisfy this one. Fill them. Direct their time and energies and life into Spirit-filled life. Grant them joy in discovering creative talents given by the Spirit, holy purpose that brings joy and peace. Quiet their flesh to wait with you, and lose time in your presence. May this one take You on walks and talk with you as best friend, lover of their soul, the One who is preparing a mansion with a room just for them. Life that is truly life awaits, a new body, eternal life away from the strain of this sin-sick world! Strengthen them to wait in the groaning, protect them as they earnestly wait for their mortality to be swallowed up by life! Thank you Jesus! 🎯👉🏼 Visit the home page for more detail, and be sure to sign up to receive our email blog, if you don't receive it!!! Blog content is not fully published on the site! #christianmeditation #biblemeditation #healingprayer #godeeperwithJesus #seekHim
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL! TRY THE EXERCISES!Do you have any confusion? Are you wondering about anything? Do you need to know the truth? In this video based prayer exercise, you'll position and say "Lord, reveal truth to me. Spirit of Truth, speak to me." You'll ask Him. "What lies do I believe Lord? Where does my mind need to be renewed? God, speak to me. Jesus, teach me the truth. Open my eyes to see truth within Your Word." And I come into agreement that the Spirit of the Living God will speak to you, that the Spirit of Christ will teach you, bringing refreshing, new beginnings, connecting you deeper with the love of God! ✨👉🏼 Last week I sent out an email that started like this...
Resolve these 2 scriptures from the crucifixion account: Mark 16:1- When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Luke 23:54-56 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Which is true? Mary, Jesus' mother, and Salome bought the spices to anoint Jesus' body AFTER Sabbath or BEFORE? Is this an error? Have you noticed this contradiction before? Before today, I had not... ----- 🙏 ✨ The answer to the question is that the seemingly contradictory scriptures are NOT contradictory! Mark and Luke spoke of the same day! How is this so? Mark describes the women's activity AFTER the special "High Sabbath" mentioned by John in 19:31- Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The special Sabbath here is the Sabbath that occurs the day after Passover which is to be celebrated on the SAME day every year, Leviticus 23:5-
That day landed on a different day every year. The week Jesus was crucified, that 14th day apparently landed on a Wednesday. Jewish days BEGAN when the sun was setting, which is very different than our Western mindset of the day beginning when the sun rises. Both times can be known as twilight, but we know from God's instructions that the Passover meal is eaten at night, and in haste, Exodus 12:10-11. Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples, Matthew 26:18 & Mark 26:12-15- It was the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, and the Passover lambs were being killed. Jesus' disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?” Jesus said to two of the disciples, “Go into the city, where you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him, and when he goes into a house, say to the owner, ‘Our teacher wants to know if you have a room where he can eat the Passover meal with his disciples.’ The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room furnished and ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there.” This would have been Tuesday night to us, but the beginning of Wednesday to the Jew. That evening Jesus is arrested in the garden. The next morning into day (Wednesday in the day), He suffers and dies upon the cross. The following day (Thursday), is a special Sabbath for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:7. Friday would be one day after the Special Sabbath of Feast of Unleavened bread, but ALSO one day before the regular Sabbath that would begin at sunset on Friday and go until Saturday at sunset! Mark says the women went to get spices after the Special Sabbath, whereas Luke says they go get spices before Sabbath. Both are talking about Friday! Jesus was already crucified! This is how we can see Jesus' words of being in the belly of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights is true! So, when the women went to His tomb very early on the first day of the week (Sunday), Jesus had already risen! It's so important that we see that scripture is without error! It is God-breathed, 2 Timothy 3:16! What we may perceive as inconsistency or confusing is opportunity to go deeper! The Bible is an ancient Eastern culture book written by our Hebrew Messiah, so we must approach the Word in His language! I share this for those of you that want to have assurance of the scriptures! ✨HIS WORD IS TRUE! ✨This strengthens our conviction and deepens our dependence on His promises! ✨It affects our prayer language and blesses our time with Him! ✨When we meditate on the word of God and study it, our soul prospers and is set on success, Joshua 1:8! (Final note- Of course there are others who have known that the timing of Jesus' death was not a Friday. If you are interested in a couple of articles, here are 2 for reference...) http://thewayofthemessiah.org/tsp.html https://www.eaec.org/bibleanswers/passover-week-two-sabbaths.htm ❤️🔥💯 We serve a LIVING God! Luke 24: 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Spend time with Him using the exercises in the podcast! Find the podcast here or your phone app!! Blessings in His presence! You were in the heart of God.
He’s had His eye on you for eternity. He formed you in your mother’s womb. You are not a mistake. He formed you for His glory. He alone knows the Way. He has the answers. Trust and obey. He'll do it... in His strength. Let go. He’s calling you to draw near. Who? You who wants to be held. You who wants to stop processing. You who wants a new beginning at any moment, every day. You who needs healing and hope. You who longs for affirmation and acceptance and a safe place. You who will let go... and let Him. He doesn’t abandon. He doesn’t lie. He suffered to save. You suffer to identify... ... to become like Him. Turn from processing. His promises fail not. Believe little one. Rush into His arms. Tell Him everything. Speak His life and promises! You are not alone! Call on His name and be still. Listen for the whispers. “I rescue. I save.” “I know the way.” “Turn." "Look up little one." "You are the apple of my eye." "I am near." "I am alive." "Joy in my presence." "You are mine." Bible errors? Or wrong assumptions?
Challenge what you "know"... Resolve these 2 scriptures from the crucifixion account: Mark 16:1- When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Luke 23:54-56 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Which is true? Mary, Jesus' mother, and Salome bought the spices to anoint Jesus' body AFTER Sabbath or BEFORE? Is this an error? Have you noticed this contradiction before? Before today, I had not. It came up in the process of reading through the CHRONOLOGICAL account of the walk to the cross over the last 2 weeks. In the last couple of emails, I've shared I've been going LIVE on our Youtube channel and Facebook pages (main page and Peace Be Still private group) to read a chronological account of Jesus' walk to the cross and resurrection. Today I finished up the 10th day. Not many people have watched 😌. But it hasn't discouraged me, because I've grown in ways I could not have imagined! And the joy has been amazing! The LORD has led me over the last month to discover things I have not seen and dig deeper for hidden treasure! Did you know that Jesus satisfied the requirement of being both the morning and twilight sacrifice? Did you know there was a morning and twilight sacrifice? Exodus 29:38-41 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. Last month I found those scriptures when I wondered about the 9th hour of prayer mentioned in Acts 3:1- Acts 3:1- Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. I wondered. What is the 9th hour of prayer? I discovered the morning sacrifice in Exodus 29 is 9am and the twilight sacrifice is at 3pm. In this process I remembered Jesus died at 3pm. Mark 15:34- And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). So Jesus satisfied the final daily requirement of being the perfect twilight sacrifice!!! And He was also satisfied the final daily requirement of being the perfect morning sacrifice!!! He was crucified (nailed to the cross) at 9am! Mark 15:25-26 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. Now go back up and re-read Exodus 29:38-41. What do you see? How many different offerings do you see? (TRY NOT TO SCROLL FURTHER UNTIL YOU CONSIDER YOUR ANSWER! 😊) . . . . . . . There is a sacrificial lamb offering. There is a grain offering of flour mixed with pressed oil. There is a drink offering made with wine. Do you see Jesus in all 3? The perfect lamb? The unleavened bread of Heaven pressed out like pressed oil in the suffering? His blood as the precious wine of the new covenant? DO YOU SEE THAT HE ALSO PRAYED?! HE HONORED THE HOUR OF PRAYER AT 3PM!!! He prayed at 3pm- Mark 15:34- And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) AND 9AM! Luke 23:34- Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Now back to the seeming contradiction of when the women bought the spices to anoint Jesus' body. It is not a contradiction of a Friday (before Sabbath of Saturday) vs after Sabbath (after Saturday). It all becomes clear when you realize the detail of there being a "Special Sabbath" that week! Hint: It is a part of the Feast of Unleavened bread instituted by the LORD. The special Sabbath is mentioned in John's account of the crucifixion (scripture below). From the scriptures below, you'd be able to see that the women bought spices to anoint Jesus' body BETWEEN the Sabbaths that week! So both scriptures above are true! Mark references them getting spices after the first Passover Sabbath that week, whereas Luke references them getting spices before the regular Saturday Sabbath! This is a detail I had not noticed before. Have you? Looking more closely at the Special Sabbath John mentions, brought great revelation! (All this from reading the chronological account of Jesus' walk to the cross!). And I realized through the deeper dive that scripture doesn't show that Jesus was crucified on Friday, but earlier in the week! Jesus was not crucified on a Friday! I have never heard this prior! Have you? When I slowed down and looked more closely, I realized the 2 Sabbaths gave clarity to there being 2 days of preparation; and, an early timeline of Jesus' death on the cross! And when you factor important detail in, you see that Jesus was not crucified on a Friday! JOHN 19:31- BEREAN TRANSLATION- 31. It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed. JOHN 19:31- NIV TRANSLATION- Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. John 19:31- NLT- It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. For Him to be crucified on a Friday and risen on Sunday makes it hard to calculate His words that He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth. But if He was crucified before the 1st Sabbath that happened earlier in the week, the math computes! Matthew 12:40- For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. He really was in the grave for 3 full days and 3 full nights! And I'll send the detail of that in the next blog next week! But before then, are you curious enough on your own to research it and find the answer on your own? Take time to dig into scripture and discover which day He was crucified! May you and yours go deeper with the King of all this weekend! May He be lifted up in your hearts and homes and worship at church services you attend! He alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise! IT IS FINISHED! He is RISEN! HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 24:6-8- He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL TO GET TODAY'S FULL BLOG! AND VISIT THE HOME PAGE FOR MORE DETAIL ON THESE LIVE BIBLE READINGS AS WE APPROACH EASTER!
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