September 4, 2023

In preparation for the hurricane season, I decided to empty our freezers of all the meat. Suppose our electricity is cut off for a while. In that case, we don't want the food to go to waste or have to run an extension cord to the generator for more than one refrigeration unit, so I decided to can all of it so it's shelf stable. Also, with our government's and the economy's instability, you never know when a food stash might come in handy. Now, we have heat and eat food in the pantry. I never knew how valuable learning canning could be. 

One thing I learned was that cleanliness is vital. After thawing the meat and preparing it, there were drippings in the wrappers, on towels, and on countertops. Even though I rinsed everything before putting it in the trash and the washing machine, after sitting a day, they spoiled and stunk. 

Imagine what it must have been like to make the daily sacrifices to God and the slaughtering of the bulls and rams on the altar. They burned it right away, but to sanctify Aaron and his son, a lot of blood splattering and anointing with oil was required by God. It seems so messy! All this was necessary so the people didn't take their sins lightly. When Jesus shed his blood for us, it was messy, and his blood poured out upon the ground beneath the cross as an offering for our sins. Don't take for granted what he did for us to set us free and replace the priests and the daily sacrificial rituals. After reading this portion of scripture, I'm more than grateful for what he did for us; it made my head spin just thinking about it! 

And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle itupon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. Exodus 29:21