Sorry for the picture-less post, but I wanted to share this with everyone before Sunday.
For the past several years we have been really trying to focus on the true meanings of holidays. We have started observing Advent during Christmas and eating a Passover dinner/lunch on Easter.
It really is not very hard to do if you take just a little extra time to do the research ahead of time. There are several sites out there that can be of help, but I thought I`d lay out a few of the basics here. You can do a full blown Seder, being very ceremonial, or just read a few verses for each food and explain what it represents, which is what we do. We take a bite of each food, while the verses are read, then we eat the meal. These are a bit out of order and you may choose to use different verses, but this just gives you the idea.
Bitter Herbs- Bitterness of sin and slavery Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.(bitter herbs celery dipped in horseradish sauce)
Karpas- Leafy greens represent the hyssop dipped in Lambs blood to mark the doorways in preparation for Exodus. Exodus12:22 Take a brush of Hyssop, dip into the blood in a basin, and put some of the blood on top and sides of the door frames. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. Exodus12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Life is often full of bitter endings and lovely new beginnings, this is exactly what we see in Christ`s Resurrection.
Charoset -Hebrew word for clay, serves to sweeten the bitter herbs of slavery and sin, which is made bearable by the hope we have in Christ.( 2 apples, peeled and cored, chopped finely. 3Tbl. passover wine/or grape juice, chopped almonds,raisins etc.,honey/sugar to taste)
Unleavened bread- In their haste to leave Egypt, God said be ready do not let the dough rise.1Corinthians5:7-8 Get rid of the old yeast,that you may be a new batch without yeast, as you really are. For Christ, our passover Lamb has been sacrificed. There for, let us keep the festival not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. John6:35 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. For Christians this may also represent the body of Christ broken for us.( I`m doing a gluten-free recipe this year, so please look up a recipe on line if you plan to do this, or some families use crackers. You may be able to buy it at specialty stores)
Salt water- represents tears of Hebrew slaves. job31:38 If my land cries out against me and all it`s furrows are wet with tears.Psalm42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "where is your God?". As Christians we can remember the days of darkness and sadness we all knew before we found the Joy of Christ.
Wine- Represents Jesus` blood shed for us and the redemption it has brought us. We are strengthened and renewed through Him and His sacrifice for us. We can also look with Joy and Excitement to His return. Luke 22:15 He is our hope.( you may also use grape juice and seltzer water for this or sparkling grape juice)
Roasted Lamb- Represents the roasted lamb that was sacrificed at the temple of Jerusalem the night before the exodus, or exit. For us it also represents the Lamb of God,Jesus, who so lovingly, took each of our places. ( this year I`m roasting a leg of lamb with herbs and veggies, potatoes, carrots, honey, olives, onions, You get the idea) Still need to find just the right verses for this one
Preparing our Bodies
As we are preparing our hearts and meals, let us not forget our bodies. Here is a simple little thing you can do that will really help you to feel renewed, and can help to get your mind in a positive place.
Take about 4tbl. of raw honey, place it in a bowl-(the best is local, and can be found at your local farmers market or whole foods store, but you can find it at Wally World. It should really be raw because it has the most healing properties, but if you can`t find it just make sure it`s real honey, not honey flavoring.)
Now add about 3-5 tbl. Turbinado sugar-(turbinado is best because it has more vitamins and the crystals are larger)
Mix together with a spoon, making a paste. Take this to the shower/bath with you and really scrub your entire body, even your face. It can be used several times a week, so you can keep it in a jar with a spoon, in the shower. When ever you are ready to use it, just give it a little stir and scoop it out.
Now if you really want to feel refreshed before taking your scrub to the shower/bath, fill a jar with a good quality olive oil, add a little orange essence, a few drops is all you need. After your shower, BEFORE drying off, rub down with the oil and then towel off. You will feel like you just stepped out of the spa, I promise you.
This is a nice thing for you to do for your better half as well. I don`t mean in a romantical way, (although that`s nice too) but more like in a washing each others feet sort of way. Run a bath for the other person and bathe then. I have done this in the past for Wade(minus the oil), when he has come home dog tired, and it made us both feel good. I feed him, bathe him and put him to bed, and in the morning he feels well rested and is refreshed. It`s just a small thing that doesn`t really cost much, except a little time.
OK, I`ve been on here way too long, but just wanted to share this with you all. I will post pics of our meal later- wish we could be having Passover together, miss and love you all-K
