Gail-Friends

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Thankful Thursday #3 - Living in Paradise

That's not a smudge - it's a love bug!

I love where I live so much, even the creepy, crawley critters don't bother me....even the love bugs, which can get pretty bad this time of year.

Yes, I am thankful to live in the land where people love to vacation. Florida is wonderful, and central Florida on the coast is my kind of paradise.

I am thankful to live by the water. Both the river and the beach are just a short distance from my home.

The weather can't be beat. Our winter is usually very short. This year, it was only about a month or so if you add the days together. The temps got down in the 40's a few times. I can live with that.

I love wearing flip-flops all year long. When it gets cold, I just put on my socks.

I am thankful that Hashem heard my prayers. For most of my life, I lived in north Florida where it is COLD. I prayed to be able to move south where it was warmer, and was blessed to move to central Florida about twenty years ago. I love it here, because I love warm weather.

In paradise...it's ALL GOOD! Thank You, Father! (Great Big Smile on My Face)
~~~~~~~~~

I'm sharing this post at:
Spiritual Sunday
Let's Get Social Sunday

Modest Mom Monday Link-up

Growing Homemakers Link-Up

Titus 2 Tuesday

Tuesdays with a Twist

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up
Wordless Wednesdays

Winsome Wednesday

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

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things

Faith Filled Friday
Friendship Friday
Freedom Friday

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Wisdom Wednesday #20 - The Evil Tongue

In all Jewish synagogues, the Torah is read yearly. In this week's Torah parashas (portion) we studied about the Hebrew term lashon hara (or loshon hora) ( לשון הרע; "evil tongue"). Leviticus 19:16 says:

“‘Do not go around spreading slander (lashon hara) among your people, but also don’t stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake; I am Adonai."

As many times as I have read this passage, I am always struck by how seriously Adonai takes negative speech. Once again, I am examining myself about this sin.

In traditional Jewish thinking, lashon hara is one of the worst sins. It has been said that lashon hara (disparaging speech) kills three: the person who speaks it, the person who hears it, and the person about whom it is told. In this context, we think of gossip, or talking about someone else's business. I think most of us understand how detrimental gossip is.

I will never forget a lesson learned on this point. I worked as a librarian for a large church, and made an off-hand, unkind comment about one of the staff member's late library books. Someone overheard me, and reported my words to the person I'd mentioned. The staff member came to me, confronted me, and I realized my sin against her. I asked forgiveness. It was a good thing. It taught me a lesson, even though it was very embarrassing. I learned to watch my tongue.

Lashon hara covers more than gossip, though. It covers a negative attitude. It covers snarkiness, which has become very popular lately. It cover cynicism. It covers making fun or ridiculing someone. In other words, it is any type of speech that is not positive and up-lifting. I am reminded of Facebook postings and "likes" of snarky pics or comments made by others. Ouch! I am convicted. I repent with sorrow, and ask Hashem for forgiveness for that.

But wait...there is more. Complaining is lashon hara. Ouch! That one stings, because lately I've been complaining quite often. (I won't elaborate). I have repented and asked Hashem's forgiveness for this sin.

This morning in my readings, I received a reminder to be vigilant in this area when I read: "whining and complaining result from ingratitude." This is so true. When I stay focused on my abundant blessings, I have no room for ingratitude. I confess, lately I had neglected to pray my daily gratitude prayer:

"Father, I thank You that I can see, and hear, and walk, and talk, and think, and that I have strength to work for Your Kingdom."

On Shabbat, Rabbi Jem revealed to us the secret formula for a happy life:

"Who is the man who desires life and loves to see days of good? Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech! (Psalm 34:13-14)

King Solomon agrees, as many of his proverbs attest:

"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue guards his soul from troubles." (Proverb 13:3)

Yeshua warns us against the unthinking use of our words:

"For the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart. The good person brings forth good things from his store of good, and the evil person brings forth evil things from his store of evil. Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned.”

Filling my mind and heart with the Holy Scriptures by memorizing them and meditating on them, as well as keeping an attitude of gratitude daily are the antidotes for lashon hara. I'm embracing those instead of whining and complaining.

I am thankful to Hashem for the reminder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm sharing this post at:
Spiritual Sunday
Let's Get Social Sunday

Modest Mom Monday Link-up

All Things Bright ad Beautiful LInk-Up

Growing Homemakers Link-Up

Titus 2 Tuesday

Tuesdays with a Twist

A Hope in Every Season Homemaking Link-Up
Wordless Wednesdays

Winsome Wednesday

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

Hearts for Home
Favorite Things

Faith Filled Friday
Friendship Friday
Freedom Friday

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Israel Trip #4 - Megiddo

Our next stop was for lunch, and then on to Tel Megiddo. A tel is a large mound or hill, usually with several level of ruins of cities. In ancient times, when a city was captured, the victors would raze the buildings, cover them with dirt, and then build another city on top of that.

This is a model of the ancient city built by King David.

Model of the city gate and the road leading up to the city

The climb to Megiddo is steep, so Shelby and I did not make the trek. I did, however, climb to the top on my first trip to Israel in 1996. The view from the top is spectacular. The area around Megiddo is very flat, which is unusual in Israel.


photo courtesy of Wikipedia

As I stood looking over the valley, with the breeze cooling me from the long climb, I remembered the passage from the Scriptures about the end-time battle of Armaggeddon. According to the book of Revelation, thousands of men and horses will fill the valley and fight until the blood reaches the bridles of the horses.

There is a spring within the tel, and a 70 meter tunnel with steps that run from the top of the hill to the spring. I walked down on my last trip, and remember how cool it was inside after being in the hot sun.

The palace at Megiddo is called the Ivory Palace because a great treasure trove of ivory items and jewelry was discovered there. It is
the richest Canaanite treasure ever discovered.

We toured the museum and gift shop and then boarded the bus and took off for the Galilee.

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