Thankful Thursday - August in Paradise

I'm thankful for the beauty in Florida, my home state.  Most weekends, my husband and I take a ride through the wildlife preserve near our home.  He drives while I take pictures, and we listen to the radio, mostly to a radio station that plays the oldies from the fifties and sixties.  Sometimes, if we go early on a Sunday, we listen to the Prairie Home Companion.  It is such a sweet time together and with the L-rd, because we praise Him for the beauty we see around us and that we get to live in paradise.

On our drive last week, we saw several  pairs of sand hill cranes.  They are usually seen in pairs, and sometimes with baby chicks.  We saw this couple and noted that both had a missing foot.  They came really close to the window, so I was able to get some great close up photos.  You can't tell from the photos, but these birds stand about three to four feet tall. 

That day, we also saw a raccoon.  Doesn't it have the cutest little face?  This one was large -- probably about three feet long from his nose to his tail. 

We also saw signs of fall.  My mother always said, "When you see the goldenrod bloom, that means cool weather is coming."

We don't get much cooler weather here, but I'm looking forward to a little relief from the consistent ninety degree temps we've been having through August.  


I'd love to hear what you are thankful for today.

 Thankful Thursday is my day to focus on and be thankful for the good things in my life. 
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  I'm linking up today with:

 Spiritual Sunday

GRAND Social

All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up
 The Gathering Spot Link-Up

Modest Mom Monday Link-up 
Share Your Stuff Tuesday
Jenny's Monday Meet-Up

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up   

 Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday 
Wake Up Wednesday

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things 

Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday 
Freedom Friday

Wisdom Wednesdays # - Are you seeking the Truth?

I am so grateful for my Bible.  It helps me see the good and the beautiful in my life.  The Scriptures have led me to wisdom, which is more valuable than any amount of money.  A billion dollar lottery is tiny compared to the wealth of wisdom. 

In my reading of the Scriptures today, I was impressed with this passage in Proverbs 3, and I highlighted the benefits of following G-d's ways:

¹³ Happy the person who finds wisdom,
the person who acquires understanding;
¹⁴ for her profit exceeds that of silver,
gaining her is better than gold,
¹⁵ she is more precious than pearls —
nothing you want can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand,
riches and honor in her left.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who grasp her;
whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.

And there is even more.  I encourage you to read the whole chapter and write down the many gifts of wisdom.  

True wisdom is not just reading the Scripture.  Wisdom is obedience to G-d's ways...not the ways of men, churches, religions, or denominations.  

I can't tell you how many times I've heard teachers and preachers say, "The Old Testament is not relevant to today."  And yet, those same teachers pick and choose the parts of the Old Testament they like.  A good example is tithing.  Yes, they love that one.

Beloved, these are false teachers.  Yeshua said they are ravenous wolves who have come to kill, steal and destroy the sheep (Matthew 7:15-20)  Don't follow a teacher who disregards the Torah** and the Old Testament.  Yeshua embraced it and obeyed it.  After all, He is the author.  He is the G-d of the entire Old Testament.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)

Yeshua also said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."  (John 14:15)  Remember, the New Testament had not been written at that time.  Also keep in mind, Yeshua is G-d in the flesh, the author of Torah.  

Until I began to study Torah, I puzzled over some of the sayings of Yeshua.  Now I understand them.  I encourage you to study the Torah.  It is the basis of all understanding of Scripture.  It is the source of wisdom (Truth).

One day we'll stand before G-d and answer to Him alone. So, don't look to a man, a religion, a denomination, or a teacher. Get on your knees with your Bible and seek Him alone. If you are sincerely seeking, you will find the Truth. Then, it's up to you to obey it.  

Remember the Ethiopian eunuch - he was reading the scroll of Isaiah, and seeking to understand.  G-d sent His messenger, Phillip,  to guide him to the Truth (Acts 8:26-40).  If you seek, you will find:

Matthew 7:7

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

2 Chronicles 15:2

He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Y’hudah and Binyamin! Adonai is with you, as long as you are with him; if you seek him, you will find him; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you!

I believe our lives, families, country, and the world can find peace if wisdom is found and applied.  The chapter quoted in Chronicles above is a good example.  Wisdom (obedience to ADONAI) has been replaced with un-truths and half-truths (lies), and society is bearing the consequences.

I encourage you to read 2 Chronicles 15, Matthew 7, and Proverbs 3.  They are all related.  The common theme is "wisdom equals obedience to G-d's ways".

Here is what the Bible says about Truth:  "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law (Torah) is Truth."  (Psalm 119:142)   The whole chapter is compelling if your are sincerely seeking the Truth.


** The Torah includes the first five books of the Bible:  Genesis, Exodux, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
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  I'm linking up today with:

 Spiritual Sunday

GRAND Social

All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up
 The Gathering Spot Link-Up

Modest Mom Monday Link-up 
Share Your Stuff Tuesday
Jenny's Monday Meet-Up

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up   

 Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday 
Wake Up Wednesday

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things 

Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday 
Freedom Friday

Israel Trip - Jerusalem, the Old City

We came into the Old City of Jerusalem in the late afternoon, and headed for our hotel in the Jewish Quarter. I enjoyed seeing the sights on the way. 

The wall in the picture above is the one built by Suleiman in 1537.  This is the long sidewalk / ramp leading to the Jaffa gate.  Lots of hustle and bustle and traffic here, both people and cars. At sundown, the Sabbath begins, so people were rushing about. 

Above is the Tower of David, aka the Jerusalem Tower.  The site was named for King David because he prayed at this location.

Excitement built for me as we began to see more and more Jewish influence.  The photo above is one of my favorites.  I love this young mother herding her children along, probably on the way to the synagogue, or home to prepare for the Sabbath.  The Chassidic Jewish men wear black suits with white shirts, and black hats.  We began to see more yarmulkes (the hats on the little boys above) and women with head coverings. 

We passed a hotel, and saw a wedding party departing.  I thought you might enjoy seeing how the cars were decorated.  Jews believe the Sabbath is a favored time to conceive children, so I guess starting your honeymoon on the Sabbath is even more favored.  

This bike shop (below) caught my eye.  I enjoyed trying to read signs in Hebrew.  I could read some, but not all. Hebrew is a difficult language because it doesn't relate to English at all.   I've had a hard time learning it.

The photo above shows one of the many large Chanukah menorahs throughout the Jerusalem Quarter.  Below is one lit at night.  I loved being there for the Festival of Lights.

When we arrived at our hotel, we had to make a quick trip to the neighborhood grocery store because, in the Jewish Quarter, everything closes at sundown.  I was fascinated by the dragon fruit (on the right).  I'd heard of it, but never seen it before.  The fruit on the left are persimmons, I believe.
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As we crossed the street back to the hotel, I was struck by the empty streets.   Everything stops on Shabbat, including traffic. It did my heart good to see couples and families strolling along the streets after dark that evening.

I was also thankful for the decorations related to the holiday, unlike the Christmas decorations in America.  By that, I mean decorations of Santa and reindeer, etc. which have nothing to do with the birth of our Messiah.  But that's a whole 'nother post.  (Y'all bear with me...I'm Southern)

At the entrance to the hotel dining room, we saw this beautiful display of Chanukah menorahs.  There were matches, candles and prayer sheets for our use.  Also, each evening of the holiday, a rabbi led in the prayers, and free jelly doughnuts were available for the hotel guests.  FUN!

After dinner, we hit the bed.  Our schedule on the trip was quite hectic. We were up at 5:00 am and going till 10:00 at night.  Sleep was sweet that night because I felt at home, and at peace, in the city that has captured my heart.

My next post will be about the Garden of Gethsemane, so please stop by next week. 

Blessings to you Gail-Friends.

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  I'm linking up today with:

 Spiritual Sunday

GRAND Social

All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up
 The Gathering Spot Link-Up

Modest Mom Monday Link-up 
Share Your Stuff Tuesday
Jenny's Monday Meet-Up

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up   

 Wordless Wednesdays 

Winsome Wednesday A Wise Woman Builds
Whole Hearted Wednesday 
Wake Up Wednesday

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things 

Fab Creative Friday
Friendship Friday 
Freedom Friday