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The Passover is a significant event in Jewish history that commemorates God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Passover lamb was sacrificed, and its blood was placed on the doorposts to protect the Israelites from the angel of death. The Passover meal is observed annually as a reminder of this miraculous event. (Read more on the Passover in the book of Exodus).

But the Passover has a deeper meaning as well. It points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave his life on the cross to save and provide hope for humanity from sin and death. He was God’s plan for salvation from the beginning of time. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the Passover in a way that no other sacrifice could.

First, Jesus was the perfect Passover Lamb. In John 1:29, John the Baptist calls Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Jesus was without blemish, just as the Passover lamb had to be. His blood was shed to provide redemption for all who trust in him, just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected the Israelites.

Second, Jesus' death on the cross occurred during the Passover celebration. He was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover, the same day that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered in the temple. This was not a coincidence; it was a divine appointment that God had orchestrated to show that Jesus was the ultimate Passover sacrifice.

Finally, Jesus' death on the cross inaugurated a new covenant between God and us. In Luke 22:20, Jesus tells his disciples that the cup of wine he shares with them represents "the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." This new covenant fulfills the promise that God made to Abraham, that through him all nations of the world would be blessed.

Through his death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled the Passover in a way that no other sacrifice could. It also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness, redemption, and provision. He provided blessings and deliverance to the Israelites as He does for us now through Jesus Christ. As we remember the Passover, let’s also celebrate the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us and praise him for the redemption he’s provided.

 

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to live a life of love and forgiveness toward all people, including our enemies. It can be challenging to love those who have hurt us or treated us unfairly, but Jesus taught us to love and pray for our enemies.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:43-45).This is a radical statement, and it challenges our natural inclination to seek revenge or hold a grudge. But Jesus asks us to rise above and not to become a slave to our emotions, but rather to respond with love instead.

When we choose to love our enemies, we are reflecting the character of God, who loves all people, regardless of their actions or beliefs (even when some may not love him in return). Jesus himself washed the feet of Judas, fed him, and taught him as he did his other disciples even though he knew Judas would one day betray him. As we follow Jesus' example, we become more like Him and are able to show His love to others, even to those we may not feel deserve it.

Loving our enemies also has practical benefits. It can lead to reconciliation and healing, both for ourselves and for those we have conflicts with. It can also break down barriers and promote understanding, creating opportunities for dialogue and peaceful resolution.But loving our enemies doesn’t mean condoning their actions or excusing their behavior. It means recognizing their humanity, that they were made in the image of God, and choosing to respond with compassion and forgiveness, even in the face of injustice or harm.

At GiveSendGo, we understand that learning to love our enemies isn’t an easy journey. As a faith-based freedom-loving crowdfunding platform, we’ve faced our fair share of criticism and opposition over the years. However, we choose to respond with kindness and respect, seeking to understand and address concerns in a positive manner. Our commitment to love and forgiveness is rooted in our faith in Jesus, and we strive to reflect His character in all that we do. We remain steadfast in our mission to help people come together in times of need and share the love and hope of Jesus with all who come our way.

So let’s obey and practice Jesus' call to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Let’s trust in His grace and mercy to guide us as we seek to follow His example of love and forgiveness in our daily lives.

8 Creative Christmas Activities to do with your Kids! 

From children's ministries to being creative with our own kids, the GiveSendGo creative team has come up with a few ideas for your family to spend some quality time in a creative way 

Make a popcorn garland 
A Christmas family favorite in our house! It’s simple, all you need is 2 day old popcorn, fishing wire, and a needle ( you can buy plastic ones for the kids! ) This will be an hour or so of the little people stringin’, maybe a little bit of singin’, and of course eating way too much stale popcorn!

Write a letter to santa and ‘send it’
Your kids may have written to Santa already, but here is an idea to make memories out of it! Once your kids have written a letter to the big man in red, place the letter in your mailbox. Later before the mail comes to be picked up, grab the letters and put them in a box somewhere you won't lose them. When your kids are older, maybe even when they have their own kids, you can pull out these timecaples and share with your grandkids what their parents wanted when they were younger!

Decorate their room with paper snowflakes!
This time of year, the common areas of your house will usually have Christmas decorations, but why stop there! I remember decorating my room as a kid was THE BEST feeling!  Grab a pair of scissors a white piece of paper and, of course, the tried and true, watch a ‘how to’ video on YouTube. 

Create, with salt dough
When I first saw this idea, I was amazed how simple, yet creative it was! You can create playdough using only 3 ingredients: water, salt and flour! With this you can build the nativity scene with the animals, a manger, baby Jesus, and so much more! You can also create ornaments with the playdoh, just poke a hole through the top, bake at 225F for 90 minutes, wait to cool down and hang-up!

Go see christmas lights 
Going to see the houses and cities participating in putting up Christmas lights to spread holiday cheer is the perfect recipe for memories in the making! The stunning and creative Christmas light displays are a special treat for all ages. Add 1 cup of hot chocolate to make the night even more special!

Bake Christmas cookies
There are tons of quick and easy cookie recipes to help you with this one! To make them more festive you can add red and green sprinkles! Gingerbread men cookies are fun to bake and decorate too! 

Gingerbread houses
If you made gingerbread men, might as well give them a good place to live! A fun, festive and sweet way to get your kids creativity flowing! 

Be generous
We might be biased, but here at GiveSendGo we think giving is a GREAT activity to do as a family. Take a look at our campaigns on GiveSendGo with your family and choose someone in need who could use your families help. 

May this season be filled with so many special memories for your family that will be remembered for a lifetime! Lastly, remember, the reason for the season! Our King, the Saviour of the world was born!