In case anyone has not heard, my volunteer visa in Israel was not renewed at the end of February. After two and a half privileged years of being able to serve the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem, I am now back in Texas. Currently, Israel is not renewing visas after two full years. My last weekend in Israel, Feb 26-28, I took one more trip up north to Sea of Galilee. It was a weekend full of thunderstorms and much needed rain in Israel. However, there were occasional breaks in the weather which allowed some time for driving around and photos. My last weekend in Israel was a quiet but very enjoyable one. For me, there is nothing like serving in Jerusalem and Israel. I will miss it. Below are storm clouds over the Sea of Galilee with a touch of sunshine beginning to break through. Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain--The LORD who makes the storm clouds;And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man. Zechariah 10:1.
Driving through the Jezreel Valley, the Valley of Armageddon, Friday afternoon on the way to the Galilee. "On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel." Hosea 1:5
A road sign in the Jezreel Valley showing how many kilometers to Nazareth, in Hebrew, English, and Arabic. Nazareth-Illit (Upper Nazareth) is a newer, separate town higher up the mountain. "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." Matthew 21:11
Nazareth on the hilltop in the Jezreel Valley. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth ... Luke 1:26
Mount Tabor in Jezreel Valley. Deborah said to Barak, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. Judges 4:14
From the highway, on the road to Tiberias.
Rainbow at the Horns of Hittin, where the Muslims and the Crusaders fought several hundred years ago.
Same rainbow just barely visible over the Sea of Galilee. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.Ezekiel 1:28
Tiberias. After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. John 21:1
Slight rainbow on the left.
Little cabin where I stayed at Vered HaGalil. It is actually 3 cabins in one.
Good winter rains have the Jordan river flowing full picking up dirt along the way to give it the brownish color.
The Jordan River flowing into the Sea of Galilee.
Horses grazing by the Jordan.
Pathway at Kursi. Saturday afternoon, there was a short break in the weather and I went to a National Park located at a ruined city named Kursi. Traditionally, it is the site of Gergasa, where the Lord Jesus commanded the legion of demons into the herd of swine. They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.Mark 5:1
Ruins of a Byzantine Church at Kursi.
Pathway leading to the chapel at Kursi located higher up the side of the mountain.
The Golan Heights showing early green colors after winter rains. "But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven ... Deuteronomy 11:11
Yardenit is a kibbutz that operates a Christian baptismal site at the Jordan River on the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee.
John the Baptist was much further south on the Jordan River down by Jericho and Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. Matthew 3:5-6
Jewish Cemetery by the Jordan.
Southern end of the Sea of Galilee.
The beginning of the fertile Jordan Valley south of the Sea of Galilee.
The top of Mount Tabor in the distance.
Moon at sunset.
Where I stayed at Vered HaGalil, the "Rose of the Galilee".
Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley on my way back to Jerusalem on Sunday.
The beginning of the fertile Jordan Valley south of the Sea of Galilee.
The top of Mount Tabor in the distance.
Moon at sunset.
Where I stayed at Vered HaGalil, the "Rose of the Galilee".
Tel Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley on my way back to Jerusalem on Sunday.
The road to Haifa and Mt. Carmel where Elijah out ran Ahab's chariot. And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.'" In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel. 1st Kings 18:44-46
