THE WRENS

For you familiar blog readers, you might recall I have a pottery wren house on my porch that is used often by the wrens.  I've actually watched the birds fly away one time but often have watched the mother bird bring in the food and I just simply stand amazed at the process.  ("They're baacckkk..."  June 6, 2015)

I had noticed the mother bringing in food again and knew there were babies.  This morning there were 5-6 spots of twigs from the nest scattered on the porch so I figured those little birds had flown.  I missed it.  :(  The good news is that there were not little birds among the twigs so I'm assuming they all had successful first flights.  The Husband checked the nest for any little ones and it's empty so I will clean it out today and get it ready for the next wren family.  

This process always reminds me of an important fact:

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?"          Matthew 6:26

Consider....

THE DUMPSTER

 The Husband began a home improvement project two or three weeks ago.  He demolished our 42 year old bathtub and prepared the bathroom for a tiled shower, fully equipped with multiple handicap bars and a hand held portion of the shower head.  Never knowing what is ahead but expectant of slower moving parts of our bodies, this seemed like the wisest improvement to make.  He did all except the tile and the plumbing.  I will say that The Husband does a really good job with his work and the shower is nice.

I will interject here that we did again see my favorite Romans 8:28 in action as when the demo was done, a water leak in the washer that sits in the back side of that tub wall was revealed.  We never would have known until major damage was done so I was thankful.  I was doubly thankful as that 16 year old front loading washer was going to be gone and replaced with an easy dial top loading washer.  I had disliked that washer for 15 of those 16 years but endured.  There's a sermon in that for another day.

Doing this bit of remodeling merited that we rent a dumpster to dump all the trash.  We determined that during those ten days, we would go through much of our goods and dump what needed to be dumped.  That dumpster became quite a friend and a great convenience for ridding of trash.  The Husband and I found we had grown a lot alike as we both tend to hold on to things as "we might use that someday".  We both had to look at the item, think that, then rethink that.  When the dumpster was full, the stuff in it was not attractive and for the most part had very little good use.  The dumpster was delivered AND picked up in the wee hours of the morning so was gone when we got up the other morning.  

As I lay awake the other morning as I usually do, I was thinking about that dumpster and that trash we put in it.  I wonder how my mental and spiritual life would be if I just trashed all the goods that I don't need or that are not beneficial to me.  Emotions such as fear, dread, anxiety, distrust, and so many more would be wonderful just to dump in that dumpster of no good emotions and be carted off in the wee hours of the morning.  I haven't missed anything I put in that dumpster in my yard.  I'm betting I wouldn't miss any of those emotions either. 

I will give it my best shot to dump all those negative emotions and fill my heart and mind with faith, love, longsuffering, mercy, grace, and so many more.  I think a good cleaning out of the heart and mind is a perfect way to move on forward to whatever life has.  Don't you?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."                   Galatians 5:22

Consider....

THE STRUGGLES ARE REAL

The past couple of weeks have been somewhat of a challenge to me.  I will readily admit to you, my faithful blog readers, that I'm not always happy and confident.  Really, you say?  Duh.  

The struggles are real.

I note the changes in my life since the pandemic.  We can call it BC (before covid), DC (during covid) and AC (after covid--or at least after being vaccinated).  Am I the only one who's life changed?  I learned contentment in staying home regularly.  Now granted, I've always enjoyed being home but I would also enjoy a restaurant cooking my meal on occasion AND cleaning up my dishes.  Covid taught me that I can cook every meal....and survive.  BC, we ate out Sunday lunch after church every Sunday.  DC we didn't even go to church!  So of course, we ate at home.  Now, AC, we are slipping a bit back into that groove but not totally all the way.  And I have learned to enjoy the eating at home and have a routine of sorts.   BC I actually dressed up on occasion.  DC I became very comfortable in jeans and t-shirts.  AC I'm still comfortable in jeans and t-shirts.  :)  As I tell The Husband, nobody cares how old people look anyways.  

Anyways, back to the last couple of weeks.  I found myself very stressed and had to sit down and take a good look at myself and the order of importance of the things of life.  I actually did that and without elaborating (No, I don't have family problems.), I learned that I just tend to be anxious and let that anxiety take over my thought process and my normal life.  Maybe some things I expect are not as I expected them to be, maybe my hip and back will just hurt, and maybe I'm in a time of trial OR maybe I'm just in a learning time.  Either way, the struggles are real.

I had what I call a "come to Jesus meeting" with Jesus the latter part of last week.  I sat down with the scriptures and just had a little talk with HIM.  I am here to tell you that even though the struggles are very real, just a little talk with Jesus surely is a good remedy for the stress.  And then not only that, but after 59 weeks of no Sunday School, our church began Sunday School back last Sunday with the adults all meeting together and taught by The Son-In-Law.  Now I will say The Girl had given me some scriptures to read last week as I struggled and she had not shared my struggles or the scriptures with The Son-In-Law.  Can you guess what scriptures he taught from?  "His" choice from that whole Bible.  Uh huh.  A couple of THOSE scriptures.  Then The Pastor followed with a sermon that hit me square in the face and the heart so I actually left church rejoicing in the Lord and have done my best to continue that.  

After receiving requests the past couple of days from more than two friends for prayers for their current struggles, I have been reminded that everybody has struggles.  We are either coming out of a struggle, in a struggle, or going into a struggle.  That could be discouraging for some to know, but I have learned that if I never experienced the struggles, how can I have compassion for others in their struggles?  One can't see a rainbow unless there has been some rain.

My thoughts are drawn to the scripture in one of the gospels where Jesus is having a conversation with Peter.  You know Peter?  The one who said he would never deny Christ...yeah right....and Jesus says to him something like this, "Satan desires to have you and sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you....."  I take that scripture to heart during struggles and I want avoid to being sifted.  :-)

Today also was a day when I was able to watch the live preschool "graduation" for The Grandbaby.  I found as I watched her walk across the stage, so grown up, that my heart was so filled with gratitude.  With that said, I think that one good remedy for struggles is gratitude.  

So the point of this post is ___?  Good question but I sure enjoyed sharing these thoughts.  Maybe somebody is in the midst of a struggle and the thoughts will help you along.  Remember, don't just have a "come to Jesus meeting" but just COME TO JESUS!

Consider....

NINE

 Today marks the ninth anniversary of The Girl and The Son-in-Law's marriage.  I was recalling the day early this morning and remembering those little things.  It was while I went to have my hair done that The Girl and The Husband went to shoot baskets.  Yes, that's with a basketball with the wedding manicure already done.  It was a time for just them as they often would do the same thing after suppers.

The Son-In-Law came to The Girl via eharmony....yes, the online dating site.  Don't tell me the Lord can't answer prayers even via eharmony.  

So today seemed a normal day with life carrying on with doctor's appointments, preschool, laundry, and Wednesday night supper as usual.  But in our hearts, it's a day of gratitude for happy times, answered prayers, and joy.

So happy ninth anniversary to The Girl and The Son-in-Law with much love attached!

FIVE

It was five, yes count 'em, five years ago today that The Grandbaby made her official appearance into this world to change it forever for our family.  I remember so well the fear and joy of that particular day and all I asked for was safety for mama and baby and that the baby would be kind and love Jesus.  Really, that was it and seemed to cover it all.  I'm so grateful to the Lord for answering those prayers in the way we wanted.  Granted, no road of life is smooth all the time but the Lord has shown his provision in ways we could never have imagined.

The Grandbaby has grown so quickly.  Sure, she's skinny but tall.  She has a slight element of fear with a sense of adventure thrown in.  She loves to play but loves to snuggle also.  While she has been pretty picky in her food choices, she has begun to venture out and at least try new foods, liking some and not liking others.  In fact I hear that this morning she was told she could have anything she wanted for breakfast, even candy.  She replied, "I'll just have the usual."  Duh.  

She loves her mommy and her daddy (and thankfully all her other "people").  She loves her cats and her dolls.  The other day she remarked that she was the "Cat Mom" and she "speaks CAT".  When she sleeps over here and we do night prayers, she calls everybody's name, even the cats.  :)

I could say so much more but instead I will do a little current pictorial.  To see older photos, I am sure you can find in my archive posts on this particular day every year since she was born.  That at least gives you readers a choice to not have to scroll through TOO many photos.

The Grandbaby is blessed with a Grandaddy, a Nana, a Poppa, and a Neema who love her with great love....

She loves Science.

The Grandbaby loves to shop so part of her gift was a girls' shopping trip.  She's quite the fashion diva.

She loves playing with small things.  Those long fingers can manage those well.

The Grandbaby LOVES brownies so yes, her request for a birthday "cake" was a brownie cake and a rainbow cake.  

She also has great grands who think she surely helped the Lord hang the moon...

...and she has a loving supporting close family.  

She loves unicorns.

The blessing of The Grandbaby is much greater than I could ever say or show on paper.  It is with so much daily gratitude to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I find the joy of HER.

So Happy Birthday to the one who made us The Neema and The Poppa!  

"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."   Psalm 126:3

HALLELUJAH! CHRIST AROSE!

Very early in the morning on the third day after Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb of Jesus.  They had plans to use spices and such on the dead as was the custom of the day.  They were a tad concerned about how they would move the heavy stone from the entrance.  Imagine their surprise when they found the stone rolled away and Jesus gone, leaving his grave clothes in the tomb.  And angel told them that Jesus was not there but had risen!  

After some commotion of notifying the disciples and such, it was realized that Jesus had risen, just as he said he would do!   One disciple, Thomas, wouldn't believe without seeing...said until he saw the nail prints and his pierced side,  he would not believe.   After Jesus was seen by Thomas, Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because thou has seen me, thou hast believed:  blessed  are they that have not seen, yet have believed."   He would be talking about me, you, and all those who believe by faith.  Yes!  I believe it ALL.

On a personal note to share, my parents, The Husband and I joined The Girl, The Son-in-Law, and The Grandbaby late yesterday in their back yard for a cookout.  It was a fun time with The Grandbaby hunting Easter eggs and a delicious meal of hot dogs and hamburgers.  I had noticed on the table was The Girl's carton of Resurrection Eggs.   For many years she has enjoyed sharing the story of her Jesus with others using those eggs near Easter time.  

After all had eaten, The Girl and The Grandbaby sat on the quilt with that carton of eggs.  The rest of us settled in our chairs to listen also.  I watched and listened as The Girl patiently directed and allowed The Grandbaby to open each egg when needed as The Girl shared the story of Jesus' death on the cross.  I was amazed at how many correct answers The Grandbaby knew to various questions.  

After the last white egg was opened and found empty, The Girl asked why it was empty.   The Grandbaby said that Jesus was not there because he had risen!  I listened as my girl told her little girl that Jesus died on the cross for all our sins and that included the sins of the two of them and that one day when Jesus speaks to her little heart she will come to him and be saved!

By this time, other than The Girl's and The Grandbaby's voices, all that could be heard were a few tearful sniffles in that back yard.   It was one of those moments you feel will be forever in your heart and mind.

In the yard sat two eighty-year-olds, two sixty-year-olds, two forty-year-olds, and one almost five year old.  This Jesus I have talked about all week loved us all and died for us so that all of us may believe on him--from eighty year olds down to that almost five year old and all of us in between, below, and above.  Salvation comes to us from the Lord by grace through faith, believing that Jesus came, died on the cross for all our sins, and rose again!  It's simply that simple.

Psalm 78:4, 6, 7:

"We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.  

That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.."

So thanks be to Jesus who suffered and died for us and praise him that he arose on that third day and lives in my heart all these years later!  I love him so!  I hope that you know HIM and love HIM, too!

Hallelujah, Christ arose!  Let's rejoice!  It's Easter Sunday!

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD!

Crucifixion day has passed.  Jesus has been placed in a new tomb.  I always wonder how people felt that day.  Did they whisper to themselves about the events?  Did they mourn the passing of the Jesus who was their friend and healer?   Was it a day of gossiping about the events?  Did they just treat the day like another day?   I always think of the lives changed by Jesus while he walked on earth--the ones I mentioned in earlier posts--the woman healed of her issue of blood, the lame man, the blind man, even Barabbas who now walked free.  I wonder if Barabbas made a change in his life or if he continued in sin.  I like to think he made a change.

Today I wanted us to reflect on the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  

Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem.  I learned in my study that it was in the fields outside of Bethlehem that many of the Passover sacrificial lambs were raised.   So it's fitting that the final Passover Lamb would be born in a stable in Bethlehem--Mary's Little Lamb. 

Moving back to Exodus, God's plan to redeem and save the Israelites in bondage was a lamb.  On the contrary, the symbol of Egypt was a coiled snake.   There's a big example there of the war between the good and the evil.

A lamb is one of the most gentle and meek animals on earth.  A lamb is defenseless, has no fangs or claws, cannot run or fight, and is not scary to anything.  A lamb is quite a picture of Jesus!  He was made only of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance--fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

The lamb was to be set apart four days.  Jesus was crucified at the Passover and he entered Jerusalem four days prior.  Coincidence that the lamb was set apart four days and that Jesus entered Jerusalem four days prior to crucifixion?  Nah.

The Israelites were told to roast the whole lamb and eat it all.  We are to accept all of Jesus and the substance his Word and love provides will fill us and equip us for the battle of sin.  We can be filled and strengthened for days ahead that are good and the ones that are bad.  We will be equipped through eternity!   We need ALL of and Jesus is ALL we need.

I did think on eating the lamb with bitter herbs and thought of the correlation to the bitterness of bondage.  The bondage of sin is great and bitter.  We have to know that Christ is sweetness to our soul if sin be bitter to us.    Eating the lamb with loins girded, shoes on your feet, and staff in your hand represents to me always being ready to do the Lord's bidding and letting nothing hinder.

The blood was applied on the doorpost of each Israelite house so it was visible and when the angel came and saw the blood applied, it passed over that house.  It wouldn't have worked for them just to have a lamb outside, there would have been no blood involved.  Hebrews 9:22 says "...without shedding of blood there is no remission."    Salvation in our lives is the belief of the work of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.  

Just as that Passover lamb in Egypt, Jesus is our special lamb, our sacrificial lamb, our slain lamb and our saving lamb.

Just as the Israelites did back in Egypt, let us bow our heads and hearts in worship!

Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 5:7...

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us..."

Today, let us in our hearts "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world" and rejoice!

Sunday's coming!

Consider....

THE DARKNESS OF THE DAY

Good Friday.  The day we recognize as the day Jesus was crucified--an act and crucifixion that would change the world of all who trust and believe in Jesus.  As I study and type this post, I realize there are some who might say this is just a story and who could ever believe such?  Well, I will tell you that I could and I do!  I believe it ALL!

The Bible says that as soon as it was day, The Sanhedrin courts tried Jesus.  They were accusing him of declaring to be the Son of God and blasphemy.  Then he was led to Pilate and accused the same....perverting the nation, forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying he is Christ the King.  When Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus but the chief priests, elders and the people were more fierce with their accusations stemming from Galilee until that time.  When Pilate heard Galilee, and decided that his opportunity to "pass the buck" had presented itself so Pilate sent Jesus to Herod.  Herod had heard of Jesus and was happy to see the man who was so popular. Herod questioned Jesus who answered nothing.  Three "trials".  What a court system!

Herod and his men of war mocked Jesus, put on him a gorgeous robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

Pilate said again that he found no fault in Jesus and that Herod also found no fault guilty of death.  He said he would chastise him and release him.  (Tradition at the Passover feast was for one prisoner to be released.)  The people were stirred up and said, "Away with this man, give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas was a murderer.)  Pilate again sought to release Jesus, but the people said, "Crucify him!  Crucify him!"   So Pilate released Barabbas and delivered Jesus to their will.

Jesus was whipped.

Jesus was clothed with purple and wore a crown of thorns on his head while being mocked, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Jesus was smote on the head with a reed.

Jesus was spit upon and mocked. 

After this he was led out to be crucified.  Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross to Golgotha, a place of a skull.  There, Jesus was raised on the cross between two thieves.  One of those thieves found a belief in Jesus at that hour.  

Still on the cross, he was mocked.  Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

A sponge was filled with vinegar and gave him to drink.  The soldiers cast lots for his garments.

His mother, Mary, stood watching.  My heart breaks for Mary.  This man on the cross was the same baby in swaddling clothes that she held in the stable long ago.  He had a childhood.  She loved him.  He was her child, too.  Now he was on the cross, dying for your sins and for mine and the sins of the whole world.  A humble hero, that's MY Jesus!

And then, Jesus died. 

Scriptures say the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple rent in two.  Life changed that day.

The soldiers broke no bones of Jesus but pierced his side and out came blood and water. 

The body of Jesus was requested by Joseph of Arimathaea who took it to his tomb in a garden.  They wrapped him in linen clothes as was the tradition.  The chief priests and scribes approached Pilate and said that  the tomb needed security so a stone was rolled in the door.

But wait, a lot can happen in three days!

I know this post has been long but I have song lyrics I'd like to share that touched me and gave a real look at this day....so read on if you will and consider.  If you have a chance, google the song and hear it sang.  I can never hear it without humbleness, chills, and tears, but it speaks to me.  (Forgive my writing it like a story instead of lyrics.)

WATCH THE LAMB (sang by Ray Boltz)

Walking on the road to Jerusalem, the time had come to sacrifice again.  My two small sons, they walked beside me on the road.  The reason that they came was to watch the lamb.

"Daddy, Daddy, what will we see there?  There's so much that we don't understand.  So I told them of Moses and Father Abraham, then I said, "Dear children, watch the lamb.  There will be so many in Jerusalem today.  We must be sure the lamb doesn't run away."  And I told them of Moses and Father Abraham.  Then I said, "Dear Children, watch the lamb."

When we reached the city, I knew something must be wrong.  There were no joyful worshipers, no joyful worship songs.  I stood there with my children in the midst of angry men.  Then I heard the crowd cry out, "Crucify Him!"

We tried to leave the city but we could not get away.  Forced to play in this drama a part I did not wish to play.  "Why upon this day were men condemned to die?  Why were we standing here where they soon would pass by?"

I looked and said, "Even now they come."  The first one cried for mercy, the people gave him none.  The second one was violent, he was arrogant and loud.  I still can hear his angry voice screaming at the crowd.  Then someone said, "there's Jesus".  I could scarce believe my eyes.  A man so badly beaten, he barely looked alive.  Blood poured from his body from thorns upon his brow.  Running down the cross, falling to the ground.

I watched him as he struggled, I watched him as he fell.  The cross came down upon his back.  The crowd began to yell.  In that moment I felt such agony.  In that moment I felt such loss.  Till a soldier grabbed my arm and said, "You!  Carry his cross."  At first I tried to resist him, then his hand reached for his sword.  So I knelt and took the cross from the Lord.  I placed it on my shoulder and started down the street.  The blood that he'd been shedding was running down my cheek.

They led us to Golgotha.  They drove nails in his feet and hands.  Yet upon the cross I heard him pray, "Father forgive them."  Oh never have I seen such love in any other eyes.  "Into thy hands I commit my spirit", he prayed and then he died.

I stood for what seemed like years.  I'd lost all sense of time until I felt two tiny hands holding tight to mine.  My children stood there weeping and I heard the oldest say, "Father, please forgive us.  The lamb ran away."

"Daddy, Daddy, what have we seen here?  There's so much that we don't understand."  So I took them in my arms, and we turned and faced the cross, then I said, "Dear Children, watch the Lamb."

********

And as the song says, I say to you, "On this day with your heart and soul, Watch the Lamb!"

ON THE EVE

According to Scripture, much happened on Crucifixion Day Eve.   There's so much in this, I encourage you to read it from the list I published on Saturday.  Something I always think about is how Jesus felt.  Did he experience sadness or anticipation?  Was he weary or scared of what was to come?  After all, at this time, Jesus was a human body just like you and me, walking on an earth that was full of sin.  A lot has probably changed during the time since then but sin remains and our world is in turmoil.  The remedy for this sin and turmoil is the same.  Jesus. 

Jesus gave his disciples instructions to prepare the upper room as he wished to celebrate Passover with them.  Just as he gave instruction to the disciples to get the donkey for his entry into Jerusalem, he gave instructions about the upper room.  Just as cooperation was perfect for acquiring the donkey, so was the cooperation of the preparation of the upper room.

Judas began his agreement to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Ah, Judas!  So many thoughts always in my mind and heart about Judas.  Greedy?  It would seem so.  Willing to sell out one who loved him and considered him a friend and disciple?  It would seem so.  The Gospel of John even says that "the devil had put in Judas' heart to betray Jesus".

Jesus and his disciples have communion together with unleavened bread and fruit of the vine.  It was at this event that Jesus spoke that one of the disciples there would betray him.  They had unleavened bread and fruit of the vine.  Jesus told the disciples to take the bread as it was his body and drink the fruit of the vine as it was his blood.  "This do in remembrance of me,"  he said.  I can never go through a communion service without a heart full of thanks as I remember what Jesus did for ME.  

Peter vows he will never leave Jesus but Jesus predicts that before the rooster crows, Peter will have denied him three times.  Ah, Peter!  Such a strong personality of a disciple was Peter.  He had good intentions that he would always stay by Jesus' side but he also was human, as we are.  A scripture that is embedded in my mind is one I've kept since I first heard or read it from Luke 22:31.  Jesus says to Peter, "...behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not..."   I vow I will always serve Jesus, but oftentimes I fall short of what Jesus deserves from me.  I am humbled that Jesus has prayed for me, as he did for Peter, that my faith fail not.  Oh, for a faith that fails not!

After the communion and Passover celebration, Jesus takes maybe three disciples with him to the garden.  It's there that he prays "if it be thy will, Father, let this cup pass from me....but not my will but thine be done."  The human disciples fall asleep and are unable to retain a watch.  Again, much like me when I fall asleep on Jesus.  Guilty.  

I am uncertain of the prayer in John 17 and whether it was part of the prayer in the garden then but the chapter is one well worth your reading.  In it, Jesus prays for himself, he prays for his disciples, and he prays for all believers.  Praise Jesus!  I am counted in those believers.  What a blessing that Jesus intercedes for us!  I love the last two verses of this chapter and prayer for us:

"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."   John 17:25, 26

The Scriptures say that after Jesus had prayed in the garden, he was betrayed by Judas with a kiss and arrested, bound, and taken away to trail.  One of the darkest days in time was coming....

Consider....

A PASSOVER LAMB

Today I want us to go back to the Old Testament and the time that the Israelites were in captivity.  Moses had been called to lead them out from Pharaoh and the Egyptian bondage.  Pharaoh had refused to let them go....600,000 of them.  Plagues had been sent by God--nasty plagues--frogs, locusts, blood.  As bad as these affected the Egyptians (see, the Israelites were not affected by these), still Pharaoh would not allow their release.  Finally, it was time for the tenth plague--the plague of death of the firstborn. 

To me, when I consider this, I can't imagine the horror or living in this time. Trying to comprehend this is right up there of my trying to comprehend how Abraham could have carried Isaac to the mountain to sacrifice.   I read in awe of the instructions given from the Lord to Moses to the Israelite people.  They were to prepare the sacrifice just as he instructed.  

On the tenth day of that month, each household was to take a lamb to sacrifice.  If the household was too little for the lamb, he and his neighbor were to take it.   It was to be a lamb without blemish, a first year male taken from the sheep or from the goats.  Each house was to keep it till the fourteenth day of that same month.   On the evening of that day, they were instructed to kill the lamb.

Instructions were clear that the family were to take the blood from the lamb and strike it on the side posts and the upper door post of their house where the lamb would be eaten.

The Israelites were instructed to roast the whole lamb with fire and eat it all that night, eating it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Nothing was to remain from the lamb until morning and if it was, it was to be burned with fire.

It was to be eaten by the people with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staffs in their hands.  They were instructed to eat it quickly.  It was the Lord's Passover.

The blood on the doorposts was to be a token on the houses where it was put and when the God saw the blood, he would pass over that house.

The Scriptures go on to say that "When your children say to you, What mean you by this service?"  And it says you should say,  "It is the blood of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses."

One thing stood out to me in this reading in Exodus.  It says, "and the people bowed their heads and worshipped."  

At midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn of the Egyptians and a loud cry was heard in that land.

This event was the reason for  the celebration of Passover.  It was a celebration of the Lord's deliverance from Egyptian bondage of the Israelites.  

Consider Passover....