Adventures in Israel #5-

I am so grateful for the people I got to know better and experience Israel. Everyone was kind, helpful and enjoyable. When you get twenty-five people together on a bus (mostly women) it can get messy...but it never did!  This trip was a God ordained, God orchestrated trip for sure. We all meshed. We were all there for one purpose, we wanted whatever God had for us; and we wanted the same for others. 

Today, we continue to some sights that were my favorites, though in reality they were all my favorites. However, many of you that have heard me speak know that I am infested with the Book of Kings and the Book of Ruth--okay and maybe Ezekiel too. But here are some highlights from the day I got to see the Field of Boaz.

Here are the fields of Boaz. Oh, how Ruth must have loved these fields. Of course we were not there in the gleaning season and weather and rain change everything.

This is the Fountain at the Shepherds Field.

What you are seeing above is the Chapel at the Shepherd's field.

Here above is art depicting the announcement to the shepherds that is locating inside the Chapel of the Shepherds Field.

As we traveled along inside the Chapel of the Shepherd's Field we came upon this painting of the Nativity. I love this one. You could actually feel peace surrounding this artwork.

This is the outside of the Church of the Nativity.

This is the Church of the Nativity, where my friend Crystal Edwards says, "It's always Christmas and never winter." Many of these photos are her's as she had a much better camera than my phone.

Here is the entrance to the Church of the Nativity. Today it requires bowing to enter which I think is so appropriate. Historic entrances include the arched door that has been filled in and a much larger flat door at the top of the photo that has also been filled in.

Once inside the main Church of the Nativity you can see the Byzantine Mosaics which once covered all the walls.

Here are the walls that are being restored inside the Church of the Nativity.

More of the mosaics that are being restored. The colors are magnificent.

Here is the last one for today, the art depicting the Nativity at the entrance to the lower level where Jesus was born.

I pray you are enjoying this week of travels with me. I want everyone to go to Israel now. It will forever change my preaching and teaching, as well as my heart. 

Things that happened so long ago are often forgotten. I am grateful for generations that have preserved what remains. May we all, "...tell the story of our Jesus who came from glory,"  as the ole song says.

I am off to catch a plane to go preach a conference in PA so that's all for today.

ACTION STEP: Please pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. Pray for those that live there and their loved ones. Pray for me that I might preach the word with new boldness and clarity and bring sous into the Kingdom of God. Amen.