Why, traumatic? The answer lies in the words of a lab tech during one visit. “Your veins are itty bitty, Mrs. Friday.” Gee…yay for me. 

And to add more apprehension, the veins on my arms refuse to come out of hiding. Like a game of hide-and-seek, lab techs armed with needles make several attempts to seek an appropriate candidate—but to no avail. Although I’m already bruised and lightheaded.

Then, the lab employee enlists support from other techs, and sure-fire methods to raise a vein. Such as trying to warm up the vein with heat packs or squeezing a round object with my hand. Any success, now? Nope.

Finally, one brave and innovative gal not only used a butterfly needle—the smallest option—but she also decided to use a visible vein on the top of my hand. She expressed one concern. This particular vein may not yield enough blood.

Drum roll, please. It worked! Hooray!

Ever since that day, I share my tiny-veins-and-hard-to-get-blood story with my lab person. So I kindly ask for a butterfly needle and to stick the vein in my hand. This makes my experience a little more pleasant.

It amazes me what our blood shows about us: type, heart-health, overall health, and often diagnoses a medical condition, disease, or illness. Life is in the blood.

Life in the Blood

Look at what the Lord told Moses:

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Leviticus 17:11 NIV).

God set up the sacrificial system and Levitical priests. Because only the shedding of blood made atonement for sins. These sacrifices pointed to the coming of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest and final sacrifice for sins as noted in Hebrews.

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12 NIV).

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11-12 NIV).

As the ultimate High Priest, Jesus became the final sacrifice and atonement for sins with the shedding of His blood. #Blood #JesusSaves @FridayKaren
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Power in the Blood

Maybe like me, you remember singing about this power. The bloodshed of Jesus:

• canceled our sin debt
• provided salvation
• purchased eternal life
• reconciled us to God
• recovered everything the enemy stole from us

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV).

The blood of Jesus canceled our sin debt, purchased eternal life, reconciled us to God, and recovered everything the enemy stole from us. #Blood #JesusSaves @FridayKaren
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Plead the Blood

But let’s not forget our lives right now in the present. Mentors, teachers, and pastors encourage us to plead the blood of Jesus. Or to bring it between us and the enemy. Or as a covering for spiritual warfare in our lives including difficult circumstances and people.

The blood that flowed through Immanuel’s veins spilled out on a cross. It cleanses our sins and gives us new life.

It redeems us, sets us free, and secures our adoption into God’s family.

Oh the saving power of the blood!

@FridayKaren shares how our hearts need triple bypass by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; a transfusion with the blood that never loses its power! Link-up is open. Share your #blog #Blood #RechargeWednesday
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The post The Life and Power in Jesus’ Blood {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

This article was published on Patricia’s column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – April 15, 2017.

The small family of Jewish slaves sat on the floor of their small hut, eating the lamb that was slain.

Their sandals were on their feet and they were dressed for the journey. Their sparse belongings were tied inside small sacks that each family member would carry when their leader, Moses, sent word that it was time to go.

Screams could be heard throughout the land. Mothers sobbed uncontrollably. Fathers howled as wild animals. The young boy knew what was happening and was afraid.

He lifted his head and stared at his father for a while.

“Am I going to die tonight, Father?”

“No, Son. You’re not.”

“Why not, Father?”

The father gently pulled his son up by the hand, and took him to the hut’s door.

“You see this, son? The lamb that you eat tonight was sacrificed for you. The blood of the lamb on our door posts is your protection. The Angel of Death shall not get to you. You are safe.”

April 4, 2017, marked the fifth anniversary of the day doctors removed one of the most aggressive types of cancer from my body. It was a small shadow of death that was growing, ready to possibly claim my life at a fairly young age.

As I get ready to visit my doctor this week for my fifth annual checkup, I still feel overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s grace toward me five years ago. The type of cancer I had is a silent killer and it would not have been caught were it not for an ovarian cyst that burst, sending me to the ER in excruciating pain.

I was spared, and trust that tomorrow I will receive the news that I am still in remission.

As much as that chapter of my life fills me with joy and gratitude, it pales in contrast to a different time, many years ago.

It started on the same month of April, 22 years ago, when a confused and depressed young adult started searching for answers inside the walls of Central Presbyterian church in one of Brazil’s capital cities.

My world was falling apart.

A long-term relationship had ended in betrayal. A close friend had deserted me. My business was failing.

Lost in the middle of my crisis, I remembered a friend from college who had once invited me to attend her church. At the time, I dismissed her. I was on top of the world! I didn’t need God!

But as my world started to crumble down, her quiet demeanor and caring attitude seemed to call me out from the pages of my college graduation’s photo album: “Would you like to join me for church this Sunday?

I attended the services for five months before I surrendered my life to Christ. It was Sept. 7, 1995, Brazil’s Independence Day, when my heart was set free. The blood of the Lamb was put on the door posts of my heart that day, and I was never the same.

Easter is my favorite holiday and the most anticipated celebration for Christians all around the world.

We dress on our Sunday best and head to church, where we sing our song of redemption, deliverance and victory. Our Hallelujah song.

The song that proclaims that we may certainly go through the same trials as everyone else – cancer, divorce, financial loss, death – but our hope is steady, unwavering and alive.

That same song which, I pray, will remain in my heart, even when doctors shake their head and my end on this earth draws near. It’s the song that warms the heart of all believers who have received the Savior’s blood on the door posts of their hearts.

It’s the song that proclaims: “Even when you die, you will certainly live.”

Easter proclaims the Believers' victory song that declares: 'Even when we die, we'll live!'
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The post Easter – Celebration of Hope for All Christians {Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.