"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) One of the things that struck me about the pastors accompanying us on this Israel trip was their joy, prayer, and thankfulness. These are things that are easy to read but extremely difficult to practice. I can manage seventy to eighty percent joy at best. Can I pray without ceasing, anytime and anywhere? And I absolutely cannot give thanks in all circumstances. This is a great lesson to learn! "In all circumstances" refers to everything that happens to us – good things, bad things, discouraging things, sad things. It's easy to thank God when we are happy and blessed. But when negative things come, we forget God. Yet God asks us to "give thanks in all circumstances" because He truly wants to use everything that happens around us to remind and awaken His children: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." What you now think is punishment is actually necessary for your good. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance." (Romans 5:3) "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered." (Hebrews 5:8) Amen!
Only those who have the Holy Spirit living within them can rejoice always. Otherwise, humans are truly accustomed to toil and sorrow, because the "earth" is full of evil. After Adam and Eve sinned, "sin" entered humanity, God's Spirit was separated from man, and man lost dominion over the "earth." Satan ruled the "earth" where humanity dwells and also governed all of mankind. Thus, from birth, people are born into "sin" and "punishment," and "death" began to enter humanity. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10, KJV)
The Son of God came. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus saved all humanity. Not only did He save us from toil and sorrow, but He also enables us to be resurrected with Him and receive eternal life. Having the Spirit of God enter us allows us to be on earth as in heaven, cutting off the control of "evil spirits," and bringing us into a supernatural state: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances"!
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) Amen!
Above: Beautiful Israeli girls.
On the way to the Sea of Galilee, we encountered Israeli girls on an outing. Every one of them was joyful, beautiful, and very friendly. When I raised my camera, they instantly blossomed with lovely, charming smiles, filling my Israel trip with warmth and joy. May God bless you, chosen people, beautiful angels. 🌹
Above: Dark yellow is Israel; light yellow is Palestine. The Sea of Galilee borders the Golan Heights.
Along the way – the vast grasslands of the Jordan, herds of cattle and sheep, fields of mustard flowers 🌾🌾🌼🌼
The fertile Jordan Valley. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake." (Psalm 23) "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46) If a person does not have the habit of daily stillness, meditation, spiritual devotion, and waiting on God, then they can never "abide in Christ." One must cultivate the habit of spiritual devotion, so that even in the midst of the world's turmoil, the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds. Only in such a calm and steady soul can the roots of a life of faith go deep, can the Holy Spirit give blessings and teachings, and can the Father accomplish His glorious work. The path to abiding in Christ is to cultivate a peaceful heart; a deep spiritual tranquility and heavenly calm are the natural results of abiding in Christ.
Along this stretch of the journey are places such as where John the Baptist baptized, and where Elijah threw his cloak to Elisha, and so on.
Above: Jesus chose this place as the capital of His gospel ministry. The Jewish gathering place (synagogue). Jesus preached the gospel to tax collectors and officials. The place where Jesus appeared to the crowds and cast out demons. John 6:59; Luke 10:5.
The Sea of Galilee, near the Golan Heights, is Israel's largest freshwater lake. It lies 209 meters below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake overall (after the saltwater Dead Sea). In the New Testament, it is called the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tiberias, or the Lake of Gennesaret.
2018 Israel
Deborah Blessings