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The Jewish Sabbath, Shabot, begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and runs through 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening. We watched several Jews come in for dinner that evening and it was unique because before they would be seated, they stood behind their chairs, read from the Torrah and offered prayer. The father or head of the household would read and the others would follow suit, always aloud and always prayerful. But the most unique was when a Jewish family came in and instead of reading and praying aloud, they stood and sang around the table in the most beautiful Jewish music I have ever heard. After singing several songs, the father began to pray aloud and then proceeded to pray for each of his children as they stood before him, kissing them on the forehead as he went from first one to the other. It was a blessed unique experience to witness; and as I did, I couldn't help but think how much different things would be in America if we as families took the time to pray for and bless our children... what amazing love and what an awesome gift to be treasured.

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The Valley of Megiddo is where the battle of Armageddon will be fought. As I stood at the top of the mountain looking down upon the valley, the words of Revelation and what is to come weighed heavy on my heart... " The blood will run to the horses bridle".

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My trip to Israel was amazing from beginning to end, but the highlight of my trip was when I was baptized in the Jordan River. To walk where Jesus walked... to see the things He saw, and to be baptized in the very same water that He was baptized in years ago. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with emotion, and when I came up out of the water, the poor guy who baptized me was as soaked in my tears as I was from the water I had just been immersed in.

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There is no better word to describe the Sea of Galilee than Breathtaking !!! As I looked into the Sea of Galilee my first thought was of how Jesus calmed the Sea in the midst of the storm and how even today He says "Peace Be Still".

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The Mount of Beatitudes is devoted to the Beatitudes of Christ. Each one is engraved in individual statues that are seen throughout the park. Surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, the Church shows the same Roman influence that is seen throughout the churches in Jerusalem. It was a beautiful place to visit and another highlight of our trip.

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The Healing Pools of Bethesda is a place where Christ invited all to come be healed, and particularly one man who is told about in John 5, a paralytic who after his encounter with Christ at the pool was told to take up his bed and walk.

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The Church of St. Anne is located right beside the pools of Bethesda. As we entered the doors, we were immediately overwhelmed by the beautiful music that filled its walls. As I sat there, overwhelmed by the presence of God, I was so thankful that He had given me the opportunity to make this pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to retrace the steps of Jesus and to feel the awesome wonder that filled my heart at that moment.

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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a church dedicated to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It bears no resemblance to the churches here in America and is made up of several rooms or areas devoted to different aspects of Christ and the resurrection story.  It is said to be one of the most complex buildings in existence and is believed to be the spot where Jesus was buried.

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The Wailing Wall is separated into two sections. Men go to the left side of the fence and women to the right. People go to the wall to pray and place written prayers within the crevices of the wall and once finished walk backwards to the entrance so as not to turn their back to God. It is the most holy place accessible to the Jewish people because of the Muslim control of the Temple Mount.