THE SACRIFICIAL RED OF LIFE

Against the Bane of Worry...

• —2nd Timothy 1: 6-7: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

  —Leviticus 17:11: “ For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.”

• The Bible says “life is in the blood...”

  That is a pretty blunt statement and true, the inner liquid that anoints, lubricates and gives utter life to our physical self, it is impossible to live without. God, the Creator, doesn’t fool around. He gave us this life-emollient to sustain our bodies.

• I am currently reading the book of Leviticus, which to me, reflects centuries before, the life of Christ, Who shed His very blood as the atonement for humanity. Leviticus speaks of the sacrifice of animals, not only as a food source but also acting as an intermediary for the atoning of the sins of the people. This is an overwhelming concept when many of us just get our food from the grocery store and have no frontline effort to gather things to eat, animal or plant, much less concern about atonement for our sins!

• I have only one time, had a primal experience with my own blood...and it taught me a few very humbling things.

  I discovered awhile back, I was the beneficiary of a bleeding ulcer, like internal bleeding. Not a paper cut nor a hangnail nor a scraped knee...but an actual internal part in distress and telling me in no uncertain terms, change your actions!

  Back in late September of 2021, I had symptoms of weakness, fatigue and finally the direct message of tarry stools, which indicate bleeding from within. After high discussions with my Cabinet (fellow Elders who were also sisters in Christ who strongly suggested I get my behind to the Emergency room), I did so, at 11:30 PM on a Friday night. As it ended up, I rode in an ambulance and everything... Once the ER nurses did a blood test, they were rather upset to see my hemoglobin was less than satisfactory. (aghast)

• I was immediately treated to several hours of an IV dripping bags of blood into my arm…plus another batch later during the Saturday evening. Nothing like this, I had ever experienced. NO food, NO water (ice chips OK...) but that was it, after already not eating for a handful of days. The staff were nice people, even when I calmly advised them I had NOT had the covid shot and was not intending to do so (this was still in covid time.) They did a covid test and I tested negative, as I knew I was already ( one of my mottos, ”bugs don’t like me, I’m too mean”). If the ER staff had nagged me to get the covid shot, I was prepared to stand up, put on my shoes and stumble out the door of the ER at midnight and crawl on all fours if needed, all the way back home in the dark or die trying. Fortunately, I did not have to resort to that desperate action.

• Long story short, I did have treatment that discovered the duodenal ulcer. Two endoscopies later, I was diagnosed and treated. I also discovered the likelihood that my taking a type of headache pill daily for YEARS, was a contributing factor to the intensifying duodenal distress. After 2 1/2 days, I came back home, with a lovely liquid diet for a few days and no more aspirin pills!

  The point being, blood saved my life.

  I cannot discount the power of this liquid...

• As per the striking color red...

  I’m generally a “cool girl” , drawn to more subdued colors like blue and grey and black. This is a bit familiar...given both my mostly introvert temperament. I do have my short hops of “ visiting“ with other people, but after which, I must take a nap!

• Recently I received a gift of a “sangria” red pullover sweater, with the exhortation to “wear this for Christmas!”

  First reaction...I seldom wear warm colors, too hot. This sweater, however, was such a sumptuous cooler shade of red and with a clear nudge of approval and blessing from Holy Spirit, I wore it to church on Sunday. It felt right.

  Then during service, I heard Holy Spirit’s still small voice. I grabbed pen and notebook and began to write...that God is leading me to sometimes wear more red, as in dynamic, energetic, vibrant, intense…and hence my idea for this week’s Substack piece!

• WHEW....

  I have been subterranean for DECADES.

  How is this going to work??

• I know Papa God is not shoving me out front as some kind of W.E.W. power player....like the formidable RED power suits worn by some female politicians in CONGRESS. Nope...not me at all...but God assured me His tactic was not to force me to something I am not...but to stir up the gift of God within me (see verse above!)

  God’s transforming power is also relentless...undaunted by our flops and failures. He has seen it all...and is not convinced that failure is some permanent thing.

  I mean, we need both cool and hot, yes? I do not think Papa is asking me to suddenly become a flaming extrovert, running after fame and influence. I seek solitude, deep thinking, fellowship and not “influencing”! I am not a “church lady”, I’m still a rebel to some degree...but I have seen the rawness of my 35 years of Prodigal recalcitrant hiding and the repercussion results...not good, not happy, not beneficial.I am here to bluntly tell that tale of NO.

• I have dealt with the bane of worry all my life and parents had it as well. I think, to some degree, it just may be a side current of dark and moody colors. As I said, I am not going to suddenly turn into Miss Blazing Red, USA...but I can at the very least, put some more vibrant on my personal self. The Sangria sweater is wonderful, a cool and yet lively red that does not overwhelm or overheat me. I used to frequently and literally get overheated on my head a lot. I was headache prone, people sometimes commented on how hot my head was. Perhaps this again is the headache prone person, thinking-thinking-thinking...and hence my years of headache pill taking and contributing to a duodenal ulcer…no more headache pills with aspirin!

• Blood...as we plead the blood of Jesus on ourselves, is a protective and holy force that “flows from Immanuel’s side”, says the old hymn. See hymn information below, “There is a Fountain”.

  Practical Christianity, hmm?

• I plead the Blood of Jesus over me, which means I claim His protection, His covering, His substance that is the most powerful substance in the Universe.

  After my 35 years of Prodigal rebellion and wandering away from God and seeing the unpleasant results , I have learned a stern lesson...don’t carry your emotional weight, share sorrows with God and His Son and sit down and fellowship with Them!

  You are INVITED! “BYOB” (bring your own burdens!)

  Wendy Elizabeth Williams Friday, December 19, 2025

• On Youtube, from The Selah Videos, is a wonderful version of “There is a Fountain”, with a heartfelt lady singing it, and a simple piece of parchment paper that says “Selah, Greatest Hymns” on it. I recommend it heartily, the lyrics tell the story of the power of the blood of Jesus to help each of us. Hyperlink would not work…but hopefully you can locate this hymn, it is worth the search.

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