Sunday Sabbath  April 3 2016  A WALK ON THE BEACH…IMPENDING DOOM

I survived the walk on the beach.  Well, not really the beach, because we were actually on the Intracoastal Waterway.  The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000 mile inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts in the United States.  In this area it separates West Palm Beach from Palm Beach Island.  The water is brackish because it is where the Okeechobee Lake’s fresh water overflows into the ocean water. 

Rebecca and Neil take our two grand-dogs there for their walks.  They also take us there for our walks.  It is about a mile away from their house.  We drive through residential streets to get there and then walk about a mile or so while we are there.  There are homes that back up to the coastal water; big, beautiful, grand, and expensive homes.  The beach area ends where the houses begin.  The homes then have private beaches.  There is a walkway that goes in front of the homes, lined with beautiful yards which have a myriad of palm and coconut trees, and gorgeous plants and flowers.  There is a wide grassy area between the yards and the street.  The berms are planted with tall, mature coconut trees along the sidewalk where pedestrians walk.

Coconuts grow in large clusters at the base of the coconut fronds.  They are large and numerous and weigh about one and a half pounds or more.  They are in the “drupe” family and belong to the seed fruit category.  The danger of walking on that path underneath the clusters of the coconuts is a clear and present danger.  If the hard fruit landed on a person’s head it might possibly become a lethal weapon due to the distance of falling from 30 feet or more.  I was very aware of the coconut laden trees and made certain I avoided walking under them.  When I was here previously, such a coconut fell just a few feet ahead of me on that same path.  I doubt if many people would survive a coconut falling on top of their head.  I took a few pictures of the beautiful trees with the fruit in various stages of ripening.  I wish you could see the size of just how big some of them really are.  I’ll include some at the end of the blog.

The temperature has dropped into the mid 70’s.  It feels wonderful outside with the scattered clouds and ocean breeze.  Now I would love to take a nap, but I have been told that it is card playing time.  Will continue this blog later!  Sighing off at 3:56 p.m. 

5:54 p.m. and I am back.  THE LADIES ARE THE VICTORS.  At least for this game.  We have played three card games called HAND AND FOOT, and the men have two wins and we have one.  Well, at least we will not be shut out from winning at least one game.  One year we played thirteen games and the men won every single game.  And wouldn’t you know it, they still maintain the bragging rights and have never let us forget it!

We visited an awesome church on this beautiful Sunday Sabbath.  Neil and Rebecca have been watching the broadcast of the church online and decided to take us there.  It is Faith Church in West Palm Beach.  It has been meeting in a high school auditorium for the past 30 weeks.  I don’t know where they met before.  There was quite a crowd present and the praise and worship time was awesome.  I cannot remember the songs now but they were songs that I have never heard before and the words of praise and worship were awesome.  There was a sweet spirit among the musicians, and unbeknownst to us, they were the very ones who welcomed us as we entered the sanctuary.  I was far back from the front and the stage was quite dark so I didn’t even realize they were the musicians.  After the service I went back to these young men and told them how much I appreciated their warm welcome they gave us on the way in.  That is when I found out that they were the singers and band.  They had such a welcoming spirit and it made me want to come back.  After talking with them I was introduced to the music director, who was one of the guys who had greeted me.  We also met a friend of Rebecca and Neil whose business sets up the sound system and all the electronics needed to make a Sunday Service doable.  Before we knew it we had a complete tour of backstage and all the workings of setting up all the needed paraphernalia that is put in place each Sunday morning.  It was unbelievably orchestrated.  It was another gift that God bestowed upon me today.  I love having new experiences and seeing and learning about new things.  I think the rest of my group enjoyed it too, but maybe not quite as much as I did.  It so reminded me of the assortment of things I was able to do last year on my trip when time and circumstances allowed. 

The sermon was also amazing.  The Senior Pastors are a husband and wife team.  The wife spoke this morning and the sermon was well worth hearing.  I know it might not seem exciting to some to have an awesome church to attend when you are away from home, but for me it is always a highlight of any trip I take.  I enjoy taking time for new experiences.

TAKE A CHANCE

By Kathleen Martens

April 3, 2016

Every day is the day of a lifetime

So grab it by the horns.

Do what you can to use it up,

Let new experiences be born.

Take a chance to sing and dance

If opportunity does arrive.

Do everything possible

Before tomorrow’s sunrise.

You never know who you’ll meet

Or the opportunities that are inviting.

Purposely seek to connect

It makes life is so exciting.

Just a hug or just a smile

Can go quite a way

Adding sunshine to your hours

Of an otherwise gloomy day.

Today Lord I thank You for the opportunity of experiencing Faith Church and all the wonderful music.

Thank You Lord for my feet that can take me on walks.

Thank You Father for Your amazing love.

Thank You Jesus for Your amazing grace.

Thank You for the beautiful sky You paint for me each hour.

Thank You for the awesome beauty in the world You created for man to enjoy.

Thank You for today’s sermon.

Thank You for allowing me to meet the people I met today. 

Thank You Lord for all the wonderful experiences I enjoy that you place before me.

Thank You Lord that my brain still works!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU FROM BEAUTIFUL SUNNY FLORIDA.  You see, Florida really does have a beauty all its own.  Even though I would not choose to live here, I am enjoying every single moment I have while I am here!

P.S.  When you look at the pictures below be sure and click on “OLDER POSTS” a few times to make certain you see all the pictures I uploaded tonight.  The last group of photos uploaded all on on page so be sure to click or tap on them to see them full size.