One Beautiful Life

Holy Ground

We are walking through the Holiest week of the all time... and that week comes around once a year.  It is the final week before the greatest sacrifice was ever made and the largest and most loving gift given.
I am somewhat saddened that I have not been as mindful as I had hoped.  Last year, as we celebrated Passover and taught our children how the Passover of the Old Testament mirrors Christ as our Passover Lamb to every infinite detail, I had high hopes to be more prepared this year and walk each day with purpose and reflection.  And here it is, the day before the Passover, and days have slipped by filled with our normal.

And this week is anything but "normal".  It defies "normal".  It offers "normal" something real, deep, transforming, and everlasting.  It offers "normal" Jesus.

 But isn't every day of our walk supposed to be outside "normal".   Isn't it supposed to be more loving, deeper, clearer, holier, cleaner, purposeful, more Christ like?  Yes.  Yes it is.  Every single day we are to die.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20~

We are to welcome our death and allow Him to live... fully... fully... fully.  Not just on Sundays.  Not just on a holiday.  Not just when people are looking.  Not when we feel like it.  But fully... totally and fully.  Daily.

According to the biblical calendar, tomorrow, at sunset, starts Passover.  Friday night is the night that Christ sat with his disciples and revealed Himself as the bread and the cup.  It is the night He cried so deeply in the Garden of Gethsemane that the ground itself had to weep with Him as His creation held it's breath and prepared for the unthinkable.  The spotless lamb, the perfect and sinless Christ was about to enter the ultimate darkness and separation from God for three days and three nights.  Demons danced and Judas fulfilled scripture and betrayed Him.  Darkness drew in it's breath in joy and delight as they prepared to receive what they perceived to be victory.

Saturday is the day Christ endures what every one of us deserves.  Saturday is the day man mocked the very one dying to save him.  Saturday is the day nails were driven into the only perfect hands and feet every to walk this earth.  Saturday is the day when hell had a party... a celebration... and the soul of creation wept.  Saturday is the day when God could not take it anymore... and the very earth trembled and the veil was torn apart.

I pray you and your family are saturated this weekend with the LOVE that saves us.  I pray you are saturated in the Presence of the One who loves you that much... that very much... to die that way... for you.  And for me.

Much love...
Dawn

P.S.  I was reading one of my favorite blogs ever, http://www.aholyexperience.com and Ann communicated far more beautifully than I ever could have, in her grace filled way.  How I adore this woman, this sister with her burning desire to be saturated in Him.  You can read her words here... http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/03/the-best-easter-dinner-with-a-free-printable-start-a-christian-tradition-messianic-seder/

 *For those interested: Passover begins on the 14th of Nissan which is at sundown on Friday, April 6th.  Christ was sacrificed on Passover (during daylight hours as their day starts at night) which would be the day of Saturday, April 7th.  He was in the tomb for three days and three nights.  He was placed in the tomb before sundown on the Passover day on which He died.  Don't really know if the hours before sundown were counted as day one.  But at sundown, the next "day" began although it was His first night in the tomb. Saturday night (1) Sunday night (2) and Monday night (3)  This makes His resurrection on Tuesday, April 10th.  Monday night from sundown to Tuesday night sundown is the 17th of Nissan.  So Resurrection Day, this year, as it changes every year according to the New Moon, (as the Bible commands) is Tuesday (before sundown) the 17th of Nissan.  A calendar will show you that April 10 is the 18th of Nissan... since that starts at sundown. Can be confusing. :0)