Birthday Breakfast

I'm so grateful that 36 years ago today, God brought a very special man into this world!  God knew, even then, that he would be the one for me and I wasn't even born yet!  I love how God's plans are always perfect. So today, I want to wish the love of my life a Happy Birthday!

This past weekend was very busy with two performances of our Easter Musical and I didn't plan very well for his birthday celebration so Claire and Levi sprang into action to make their daddy's birthday breakfast one to remember!  Levi suggested we make pancakes and put a candle in them, but there wasn't enough time before they had to leave for school.  He then came up with the genius idea to put one in a piece of bread.  His daddy was gonna have a candle by all means!!  We whipped up his instant grits (and added some cheese to make them special) and we put that candle in a piece of bread.  The kids ushered him in for the Birthday song and wish. It might not have been a grand breakfast but the love that was put into it will always be remembered.

      

He's a character!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Trip of a LIfetime - Day 4

We woke up to another rainy day but were excited to spend the day where Jesus had lived in Nazareth!  On our way to Nazareth we passed through the Arabic town of Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning the water to wine (John 2:1-11).  

Nazareth
 

Nazareth was the home of Mary and Joseph and the boyhood home of Jesus (Luke 2:4, 51; Matthew 2:23).

Once we arrived in Nazareth, we visited Nazareth Village. This is a recreation of a Galilean village as it was 2,000 years ago.  Stories of Jesus' childhood, ministry and teaching are retold with elements of everyday life re-enacted.  We know that on the occasion of Jesus beginning His ministry, He preached in the synagogue at Nazareth.  He unrolled the Old Testament Scroll and read from Isaiah 61.  After this is when Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in His hometown." Luke 4:24 

As Jesus continued to preach to them about their unbelief, they were filled with anger and threatened to throw Jesus over the cliff. (Luke 4:28-29)  We visited this cliff called Mt. Precipice which has an amazing view of the valley below.

 

Mt. Tabor -Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera from this mount (Judges 4)

Hills of Moreh from which Gideon defeated the Midianites (Judges 6). Jezreel and Valley of Jezreel, location of Naboth's Vineyard and site of demise of Ahab & Jezebel (1 Kings 21; 2 Kings 9).

Jezreel Valley and Village of Nain (Luke 7:11) in distance.

Valley of Armageddon

Valley of Armageddon with Meggido in the distance

Our second stop was St. Gabriel's Church for a visit to Mary's Well.  Mary's Well is a free flowing spring and is undoubtedly an authentic site.  This spring was the only water source at the time of Jesus. Mary would have come to this well daily to draw water and the little boy Jesus would have most certainly been at her side.  

Front of St. Gabriel's Church

Walking into St. Gabriel's Church

Mosaic leading to Mary's Well

Tourists visiting Mary's Well

Mary's Well

We also visited the Synagogue Church, a Crusader church built on top of the remains of the Synagogue where Jesus grew up and then preached upon his return to Nazareth during His ministry.

 

The Church of the Annunciation was our next stop.  This is the traditional location of the home of Mary and Joseph and where they believe the Archangel Gabriel spoke to Mary.

The door behind the table is what is believed to be the house of Mary and Joseph.

We ended our day at one of my favorite places, the Jordan River.  I had determined that I would be re-baptized in the same river my Lord was baptized in by my sweet husband.  At the age of seven, I realized I was a sinner and in need of a Savior.  My daddy was my pastor and I confessed my need to him and my mother and we knelt by their bed and I prayed to ask Jesus to come into my heart.  My daddy baptized me at Hebron Baptist Church as I proclaimed to everyone that I was following Jesus for the rest of my life.  At the Jordan River, I was proclaiming that I will continue to follow Jesus as long as I live!  I will always remember both of these important events in my life and am blessed that my daddy and my husband played a part!  

Keep in mind that it was rainy and VERY cold as we were going to be baptized.  The Jordan River is fed from the snows of Mount Hermon and the water was freezing!  Matt was privileged to baptize 11 of our people who were on this journey with us.  His feet were numb when he left the water!  

 

Another beautiful rainbow as we were entering the baptismal site.

 

Tears were flowing at this moment.

Matt's brother, Paul, baptized him.

Another great day has come to an end and we are trying to soak up every moment of our time in the Holy Land!