I week ago, on Saturday 10/7/2023 I had a lovely day filled with peace and joy. The weather was beautiful, and I started my day out early. I had to be at an appointment around 9AM and then I went into Franklin & Brentwood. I found a really good pair of walking shoes and at that establishment in Franklin they actually did a 3-dimensional foot measurement. Amazing. They showed me how to tie the shoes a certain way so as to not let the shoe be loose around the ankle area. I followed their example when I got home and tied my other pair of walking shoes like they did. It really works.
I went to Trader Joes to get some fresh flowers and fresh eucalyptus. I went to Brentwood to an exercise equipment store to inquire about a certain type of exercise equipment. The manager was so knowledgeable and actually showed me a few tips when using a particular piece of exercise equipment. The model they carry is much more expensive than what I am looking for. They actually are supposed to carry the piece of equipment I want. Not on display though so I will have to go directly to the maker of the equipment to place an order. Oh, the entire day I had the song by Cody Carnes & Kari Jobe "Blessing" on repeat mode all day long.
I get home and never did I realize what was going on in the world. Israel to be exact. I began to watch the news and I kept thinking this is like 9/11 all over again. I cried, cried and cried some more. As it was unfolding, I kept thinking how other human beings could do this to another human being. Including innocent children, babies and the elderly amongst all that they destroyed. Never in my lifetime did I ever think I would be seeing something like this actually happen.
I eventually fell asleep on the couch and then woke up to go to bed. Well, I could not sleep, and I think I then fell asleep around 3AM or so. You know when King Xerxes in the book of Esther and he could not sleep, he asked to see the daily records/journals? That is what I felt to do, and I began to read my journals. So many dreams and prophetic promises yet to be fulfilled. It was sweet re-visiting prophetic dreams and words Holy Spirit spoke to me about. One of those writings in a journal of mine I read about waking up from a dream and it was May 15, 2021. Holy Spirit was speaking to me about Hamas back then. Imagine That! It sort of shook me then and even now since what is actually taking place in 2023.
I had days this past week in which I would just begin to cry with thinking about the horror of one group of people having so much hatred for another group of people that they would actually go forth and destroy the lives of them. I prayed. I cannot imagine the sheer horror in the homes of these families as they were slaughtered. There were times when I just could not watch more news and news updates and had to watch something pleasant like Paula Deen cooking or the yankeeinthesouth videos of their travels. Maybe tonight I need to watch a Doris Day movie or something like that.
October 3rd was the anniversary of my father going to heaven. On that same very day was the first day I noticed the hummingbirds were no longer partaking in the nectar. I still kept up the feeders a few days beyond that in the event there was one that did not begin their journey down south for the Winter months. I cleaned the feeders and began to prune my outdoor plants and it was time to pull out the tomato plants and discard them. Getting ready for Fall & Winter. I am thankful for being able to sit in the sun a few more times this past week. I did put the wind chimes away for the winter also.
A few weeks ago, I went through a powerful deliverance and that was a prayer answered since about 2009. God is faithful and He knew the time and connection I needed to fulfill this.
Today, I was sitting on my back porch and realized the great importance of the tree in the backyard. I wanted it gone in the beginning of the Spring but there is great purpose in this tree. There are berries on this tree and not only are the squirrels enjoying them, but I see birds eating of the berries also. The hummingbirds would rest in that tree while they were here.
I keep praying for the mighty angel army of God releasing His mighty angels watching over and protecting Israel so the testimonies will come forth like they did in other times of need in Israel. I have great faith to wait with expectancy to hear these great testimonies of the enemy not advancing because they saw the mighty angels there and they then backed off or saw the hand of God. That is called holy fear.
I found a beautiful blue colored hummingbird-stained glass type of wind chime today and I will save it for next year. I am keeping 1 or 2 outside through the winter so I can hear the winds when storms or snow stuff might happen.
Do you think I should make some challah bread this week to bless others. I am getting pretty good at making this. Well, it is so similar to the recipe my grandmother used to make. A braided bread but the only difference in the recipes is grandma used sugar and challah uses honey and then sprinkling sesame seed or poppyseed on top before baking it.
I composed this on 10/14/2023 because it took me that many days to feel I was able to write and share about what took place in Israel. I did make challah bread last week and created a braided round loaf to take and bless a ministry @ a conference I attended. I also made the 2nd loaf and put that one in the freezer. This conference in which I attended was one of the most timely and powerful conference I had been to in quite a while. I knew I was supposed to be there, and it was a true time of refreshing and encouragement for my life.
My daughter flew in and spent time with me at the 2 different hotels I booked. She wanted to come and relax and didn't mind at all that I was attending the conference. I did sneak away Thursday night and we went to dinner together and visited. That one church they were holding a few evening services at was way too many steps here there and everywhere it seemed like, I did it the first night but not that 2nd night. I did also meet a few friends, (and my daughter) and we always wanted to go on a particular tour of Nashville probably since 2019 and we did just that Friday morning. We all went on the tour, and I must admit my favorite place to stop on the tour was seeing the old train station. How beautiful, how beautiful the stained glass is. It actually matches the pattern in the floor tiles. My one friend remembered coming to the train station years ago when it was just that and she gave us a few insights about it. I think the tour guide stated the rooms at that hotel are around 300.00 a night. There was also the Hermitage Hotel in which the room rates range anywhere from 500.00-800.00 a night to stay there. When the tour started in the morning hardly anyone was on the streets of Nashville. When we returned from the tour going into Brentwood & Franklin those same streets were then filled with people. They were on those crazy peddling bars; how and why would people even want to drink that time of the day let alone on a peddling bar? Do people have such little regard for their lives that they think drinking alcohol is the in thing to do. Did you ever wonder why some bars refer to the term of liquor as "spirits?" Why would you even want to knowingly partake in drinking something referenced as "spirits?"
Well, that is the update for now.