Comments on: Unexpected Surprises from the Holy Lands https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/ Nurturing a vibrant healthy spirituality Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 By: Nancy Ruegg https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5651 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 20:00:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5651 In reply to Jean Wise.

Me, too, Jean! Me, too! Your posts are refreshing my memory of our trip. Love that!

]]> By: Jean Wise https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5647 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:52:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5647 In reply to Nancy Ruegg.

Nancy that was my reaction exactly. And that hillside by the Sea of Galilee was wonderful. As I hear the Bible stories now I certainly visualize them differently. Am looking forward to hearing the Christmas story this year with new ears. So glad we can share this together

]]> By: Jean Wise https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5648 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:52:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5648 In reply to Dolly @ Soulstops.com.

I took the photos while the other floated in the Dead Sea, Dolly. It is an amazing place isn’t it?

]]> By: Dolly @ Soulstops.com https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5645 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:04:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5645 Jean,
I’m so glad you got to experience Israel and to ponder and wonder at Jesus’ life in new ways…The Dead Sea is amazing…we actually got to float in it back in 2000 when my husband and I went with a tour group. Thanks for sharing your pics 🙂

]]> By: Nancy Ruegg https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5644 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 21:26:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5644 Oh, yes! My heart was also drawn to the more natural places in Israel. In fact, I was wishing that churches had NOT been built on so many sights. One of my favorite spots on our tour was the hillside by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus may have preached his Sermon on the Mount. (Since then, I’ve heard that those chapters in Matthew may very well be a composite of numerous teachings on numerous occasions.) Yes, there’s a church there, but when I turned my back on the church, and limited my view to the trees and the sea, I could put myself back in New Testament times. I felt as if Jesus might walk out from the behind the trees at any moment! Such a thrill to “walk where Jesus walked!”

]]> By: Jean Wise https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5643 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 19:13:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5643 In reply to Ceil.

That church at St Anne’s was wonderful. We sang there and the acoustics were great. Your last sentence resonated with me – God is working on both of us – end of the year is a good time to assess what isn’t working well any more – what we need to let go or as you wrote pry off the covers. Great image. A time to shed so we can grow!! Blessing on you, good friend.

]]> By: Jean Wise https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5642 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 19:11:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5642 In reply to marthaorlando.

I forgot that was your subtitle. how appropriate. I think God really delights in peeking out from the shadows of the ordinary to surprise us. That makes me smile to think of that in that way. Thanks for stopping by today and may you have a great Advent finding God everywhere

]]> By: Ceil https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5636 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 16:45:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5636 Hi Jean! I have such a tender place in my heart for St. Anne. That would have been a wonderfully holy place for me.
Love those photos! It really brings home your descriptions. What a rocky, barren place that desert is. So easy to tempt there with food and power. Wow.
I am learning a lot about myself lately. Not all really great stuff, mind you, but still important. I am common and ordinary to myself, but I find there’s a lot of silly stuff hanging around. Advent is a great time to pry off the cover to my soul and let out the dead stuff!
Mystical in the nature settings. I can really relate to that!
Ceil

]]> By: marthaorlando https://healthyspirituality.org/unexpected-surprises-from-the-holy-lands/#comment-5635 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:26:00 +0000 http://healthyspirituality.org/?p=3191#comment-5635 The subtitle for my blog is “finding the miraculous in the mundane.” I’m always keeping my eyes peeled and my heart open to see God in the most everyday of things. Beautiful photos and reflection, Jean! Blessings!

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