The Blood

Leviticus 17.10-12(Message)
"If any Israelite or foreigner living among them eats blood, I will disown that person and cut him off from his people, for the life of an animal is in the blood. I have provided the blood for you to make atonement for your lives on the Altar; it is the blood, the life, that makes atonement. That's why I tell the People of Israel, 'Don't eat blood.' The same goes for the foreigner who lives among you, 'Don't eat blood.'

Yesterday was such a good day! Well the whole week-end for sure! But yesterday I read these verses from my Bible and also about the crusifiction in Matthew. We ended up going to the 11 am service at church. We arrived just in time to go to the communion service. We were late and were served just as we walked in. Pastor Matthews was leading the taking of the bread as we joined the service. He spoke about our families, and our life, believing for whatever the problems we are experiencing, to be fixed, because of the Blood. Tears just came, I couldn't stop them. Unexpected, but I knew it was the Holy Spirit. What I thought of was that I was taking the Blood! Back in Leviticus it was wrong to take the blood, and anyone who did was cut off! But now it is because of the Blood of Jesus we have our covenant! After that, I was seeing all kinds of things. If this is true than the opposite is true! It was totally wonderful!
In the main service Pastor Mac talked about tithing. How the tithe was the "devoted" thing, set apart. How at Jericho the Israelites were instructed.


Joshua 6.17 And the city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the Lord... It was a tithe.

Then when one person made the decision to "take" of the spoils. He and his family were "stoned".


Joshua 7.24 "And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them to the Valley of Achor."


He went on to say, we are not under the law, but grace and covenant. We won't be stoned if we don't tithe, but when we don't tithe, we choose cursing in our life. And there are consequences to our choices. And, it affects not only us personally, but also our family and church!

The message was really good! It was a hard message, but delivered in love. My take on it was this, that if "taking" the tithe brought a curse, then "giving" the tithe brings a blessing, and not only to us personally but to our family and our church! I know it might be obvious, but to me it was the "cord" through the day. From beginning to end.
We haven't always tithed ( I say with sorrow), but we have been faithful since being taught the principles, and have committed to continue to be faithful. God has been so merciful to us, and I will thank Him all my days, for how good He has been to us.
But now, I know what is ahead for us, and it's GOOD!