Joe Amaral

  • Celebrating Passover & Communion

    Today’s Devotion is talking about the power of celebrating Passover & Communion Together.

    “This day is to be a memorial for you,
    and you must celebrate it
    as a festival to the LORD.
    You are to celebrate it
    throughout your generations
    as a permanent statute.
    ~Exodus 12:14 NIV

    TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF PASSOVER

    Celebrating Passover & Communion

    When you sit down to have lunch today at 12noon Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, April 8, 2020; people in Israel will start their Passover celebrations and continue until Thursday, April 16th. Hebrew people living outside of Jerusalem will start their celebrations the next day.  Every year the Jewish people set aside 12 days to remember how God delivered their nation out of Egyptian bondage and how the angel of death passed-over their homes after the 10 plagues when they applied the blood to the doorframes of their homes.

    This Year Is Monumental

    This year’s Passover celebrations have much more in common with the first Passover experience than most as Jewish people and others join in to pray and ask God to stop the spread of this corona virus and let it pass-over our homes.

    TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF PASSOVER! Learn about joining Passover & Communion.

    When I was growing up in church there wasn’t a whole lot of talk about Jewish traditions.  It wasn’t until I was a late teen that I heard the term Seder meal when our pastor brought in a special speaker in to show and explain this Jewish Passover meal; revealing Christ as the sacrifice of Passover.

    I remember being awed at the parallels of Jesus’ life and the Passover traditions. Jewish people were instructed to take a 1-year old sheep or goat (sorry to my vegan/vegetarian friends) without any blemish.  They had to shelter it for 5 days and then they would roast it in bitter herbs, serving it with bread that has no yeast.

    How Passover Is Celebrated Today

    Today, the Seder meal is most often lamb served with bitter herbs and vegetables dipped in salt-water to remind them of the bitter sufferings they experienced in Egypt or that life brings.

    They eat matzah bread, breaking the middle piece in half to remind them of how God parted the Red Sea for them to crossover. Half of the broken matzah bread is wrapped in a cloth and hidden for children to find later.

    At one point in the meal, the children ask four questions that lead into a retelling of Israel’s history, the difficulties they’ve faced and how God miraculously set them free! They tell the stories in a way that connects them to their ancestors experience.  The Jewish website Chabad.org gives direction that…

    “At the Seder, every person should feel as if he or she were going out of Egypt… We are with them as G‑d sends the ten plagues to punish Pharaoh and his nation, and follow along as they leave Egypt and cross the Sea of Reeds. We witness the miraculous hand of G‑d as the waters part, allowing the Israelites to pass, then return to inundate the Egyptian legions… As we eat bitter foods of affliction and poverty, the Exodus becomes a reality—as real as the festive meal and celebratory toasts that follow.”1

    With thankfulness they drink four glasses of wine to pronounce blessings with (something we might call a toast), that end in pronouncing their faith in a coming Messiah. They end the Seder with songs of worship.

    Passover & Communion Connected

    It’s with the broken bread and glasses of wine where the connection with Jesus work on the cross powerfully connects the celebration of Passover and the observance of Communion. Jesus makes this clear during the last supper with His disciples in Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26 & Luke 22:14-23.Jesus explains how He is the promised Messiah and how Christians are to take communion to remember the freedom He brought us through His shed blood on the cross.

    It’s only in the past few years where I’m coming to understand the importance of commemorating Passover and Communion combined. I feel strongly that this year is more important than ever for us to take part in Passover celebrations and take communion, asking God to have Covid-19 pass-over our homes, our countries, our globe.

    Prayer

    Father… I thank You for your heart that hears your children in their distress. You hear our cries for health and healing in the midst of Covid-19. I join my voice together with believers around the globe in thankfulness for Your saving grace. Jesus I’m so thankful for your willingness to come down to earth and die on a cross for my sin.  I plead the blood of Jesus over my life… my household and the nations… may You cause Covid-19 to pass-over our homes, our countries, our globe. In Jesus Name…Amen

    Joe amaral on 100 huntley street
    Joe Amaral on 100 Huntley Street with Ron & Ann Mainse explaining the Seder Meal
    Joe Amaral Good Friday

    Joe is sharing a special Good Friday message on Facebook Live that you’re all invited to watch. Click HERE

    Drawing from the well

    1. Exodus 12:14
    2. Exodus 12:17
    3. Matthew 26:26-30/Mk 14:22-26/Lk 22:14-23
    4. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

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  • Finding God’s Story In The Stars by My Friend Joe

    FINDING GOD’S STORY IN THE STARS

    STORY IN THE STARSLast November I did a Facebook Live Author Interview with my friend Joe Amaral when he released his newest book, Story In The Stars. Joe became a person of interest for me when I found out he was the band ‘pastor’ for Stryper. Yes, I love Christian Heavy Metal music, Screamo bands, and Hillsong United.

    I know… my music likes are eclectic but back to the interview, it’s my most watched video to date with over 3.8 thousand views! And there’s a reason why… It’s an awesome book and if you don’t believe me, you can take Amazon’s word for it. Yesterday, Joe’s book was the #1 book on Amazon in four categories!!!! Say what? I didn’t even know that was possible!

    YOU’LL NEVER LOOK AT THE CONSTELLATIONS THE SAME AGAIN!

    Story in the stars Amazon ranking #1AMAZON BEST SELLER RANKINGS

    I’m so proud to have friends who truly do reach for the stars and grab hold of them. Ranking #1 Best Seller in one category is impressive but in four categories… that’s stupendous!

    #1 BEST SELLER IN:
    Astronomy, Theology, Science & Religion, Christian Prophecy

    WATCH THE FACEBOOK LIVE AND SEE WHAT ALL THE HYPE IS ABOUT
    Watch by clicking the image below and don’t forget to grab your copy!  It’s one of my favorite reads of all-time! See below the Facebook Live image for details on the book.

    Joe Amaral Story in The Stars Facebook Live

    Story In The Stars:
    Discovering God’s Design and Plan for Our Universe

    An in-depth look at the powerful story and symbolism behind God’s unique design of our universe.

    Thousands of words have been written about the first 10 words in the Bible: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” a simple and profound statement that has ignited a firestorm of debate and controversy. People often only focus on the “how” and “when” of creation, but Story in the Stars explores the “why”.

    Why did God…
    Create such a vast universe?
    Choose the sun and moon to light our paths?
    Design images with stars in the night sky?

    The Bible is very clear when it states that God created, named, and positioned all of the stars of the universe in their place in a very specific way – a way that tells us the greatest story ever to be told.

    In Luke 21:25 Jesus says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.” Signs are meant to point us toward something: Jesus. Story in the Stars takes an in-depth look at the Bible and all the signs God mapped out through constellations, planets, and even the way the Earth is tilted. We are uniquely designed by God, and he loves us so much that he ensured a way for all inhabitants of the Earth, through all of time, to see the messages of salvation and redemption that he painted in the stars.

    If you want to learn more about my friend Joe, you can check him out here: CHRISTIAN RESEARCH GROUP

    [tweetthis]Finding God’s Story In The Stars ✨🌟💫 by my friend @joeamaraltweet [/tweetthis]

    Happy Reading!

    In His Grip, Sherry

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