a lesson in canning

Last week I canned a bunch of grape jelly from grapes my parents grew.  I had already packed away all my  "real" canning stuff that most people use, so I had to kinda wing it.  After you fill your jars up and put the tops on you have to put them back in boiling water and let them set for a few min. They should be covered in 1-2 inches of hot water.  Well, I did not have a boiler that large so my jars needed about 5 more inches of water to be 2 inches under water!  I stood over them and constantly scooped hot water out of the pot and poured it over them....for like 5-10 minutes a batch.  I did this because this is what makes your cans seal so they won't spoil.  I was so hoping my cans would seal.  Sure enough about 30 minutes after being out of the pot I could hear little pops going off in the kitchen.  And I let out a great big, "woo hoo...they sealed!"  I was so worried they jars wouldn't seal and I would have a bunch of nasty spoiled jelly.  Thankfully they sealed....they are protected...

The Lord gave me a word of encouragement right there in my kitchen as I waited for my jelly to seal.

The Greek word for Seal is sphragizo (verb):  indicates security, permanency, ownership, authentication by God in sealing the Son as the Giver of eternal life.


He reminded me that I am sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit!

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. -Eph. 1:13,14

I love that....what a beautiful reminder....I am sealed in Him! He owns me!  My present life and my eternal life and secure in my Savior!  His Son received a horrific, humiliating death so that He could authenticate me as His very own!  No one or nothing can snatch me from His hand!

I'm sealed in Him!

Thank you Lord!