This week is about to become very busy. Now busy isn't necessarily bad and busy in this case is filled with tradition which is also Not really a bad thing neither. Traditions give roots to childhood memories. And we have a lot of roots and a lot of children!

This week-end will find us enjoying a Play at our church Sunday morning and that evening Heatherly and Sam were asked to PLEASE come and be a part of the Seder at the CMA church and to bring some of their people so at least someone at each table will have an idea of what is going on. This will be the second seder in area churches they have been asked to come too. You know you live in a small town when the Pastor at the Community Church asks the Pastor at the Messianic Congregation to lend him children for the church play! Poor Pastor Wes has a very elderly congregation, and puts on the most dynamic Easter and Christmas Plays. So Sam and Heatherly have five of their six children in the "He's Alive" Pageant. Zemeira is the most excited. When asked who she is in the play she says" I am the DEAD girl!" (She plays Jiarus' Daughter :) The play is the full life of Jesus and they will do four performances, Friday Night, Twice Saturday and on Resurrection Sunday. Since Sam and Heatherly have services on Fridays we will be doing the Friday Night Play with the Grandkids.

Tuesday will be Harei Yeshua's First Congregational Seder and they are expecting around 100-150 people. So Monday and Tuesday will be spent cooking. Tirzah and Kezzi will be helping me with the Matzah ball soup and Charoset. Heatherly and her ladies will be roasting chicken. Did I mention 100-150 people?

In the midst of all of this, the Family Passover will take place.

I love the prepartions. The hunt for the leaven that must be removed from the home and any bits found (and there are always bits found, just like sin) are ceremoniously burned up! Spring cleaning in its truest form begins here. Psalm 139:23,24 says Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.This is the thought as you go through the house flashlight in hand looking in every nook and Cranny for the last crumb of leaven. Deep searching, the places you keep for yourself, you know the places..... Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves says 2 Cor 13:5 And Just as Jesus removes our sins as far as the East is from the West, the children gather up that last bread crumbs and turn them to ashes.

The Seder Connects the Old and the New Testaments at the cross. Slavery to Egypt or Slavery to Sin, the standing slave or the reclining freeman, Pharoah as master or satan, these truths become real as the bitterness of the herbs translate into the bitterness of sin. The Joy when you find that which has been wrapped in linen and hidden away to be searched for and found, is the joy of the empty tomb. The ransomed afikoman becomes sweet communion.The cup of Redemption redeems. The youngest child finds not only honor in asking the four questions, but joy in understanding the answers. Lightbulb moments shine brightly at the seder table.

I love that that fulfillment for the Passover in the Sacrificial Lamb brings me to an empty tomb.

The Hebrew Women did everything in haste, can I be surprised that I am asked to do the same? Yes, busyness does have its place. And we are about to become very busy. Blessed busyness and precious moments of preparation to you all.

Because of Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, Bobbie