tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44712031763813051252024-02-08T11:03:09.555-08:00His Victorious Indwelling BlogJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.comBlogger1388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-81395895933879642262019-03-16T15:26:00.000-07:002019-03-16T15:26:39.399-07:00Four Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There are four main gardens in scripture. First we<br />
see the Garden of Eden where Satan deceived the<br />
woman and from that point on, all were born sinners.<br />
The second garden was Gethsemane where Jesus<br />
made the decision to go to the cross to become the<br />
second Adam. The second Adam took care of the<br />
sin problem so that all could now fellowship with<br />
the living God if they so chose. The third garden,<br />
oh, the third garden, contains an empty tomb today.<br />
Paul said that if Jesus did not rise from the dead then<br />
we are the most miserable among men. Our Savior<br />
conquered death in that third garden. Now the fourth<br />
garden, drum roll, will arrive when the Tree of Life<br />
comes down from heaven upon the new earth:<br />
<br />
<b>And he showed me a pure river of water of life, </b><br />
<b>clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of</b><br />
<b>God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street</b><br />
<b>and on either side of the river was the tree of life</b><br />
<b>which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its</b><br />
<b>fruit every month. The leaves of which were for</b><br />
<b>the healing of the nations.</b><br />
<b>Revelation 22:1,2</b><br />
<br />
Reader, I started to ponder the gardens in the Bible<br />
when we were in the Garden of Gethsemane. It<br />
would seem that the first and fourth gardens are<br />
the same garden. Remember Adam and Eve lived<br />
there before they sinned and afterward the garden<br />
was taken up to heaven. Read the last chapter of<br />
Revelation and see if you don't get very excited!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-73087081897751582272019-03-14T12:02:00.000-07:002019-03-14T12:02:22.273-07:00The Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is an awesome thing to walk into the Garden where an<br />
empty tomb is found. We were taken first to a place where<br />
a Scottish gentleman introduced us to what had happened<br />
here 2,000 years ago. Why is it believed that this is the<br />
tomb where it all happened? Well, first of all it is outside<br />
the city; secondly it is near a road that is believed to be the<br />
road where Jesus was crucified and the cross had to be near<br />
the garden where Jesus was buried; thirdly, the skull is still<br />
visible today. This is also the place where Abraham offered<br />
up his son, Isaac, where Abraham said to Isaac,<b> "God will </b><br />
<b>provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering."</b><br />
Then Abraham called the name of the place, <b>"The-Lord-</b><br />
<b>Will-</b><b>Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the mount of </b><br />
<b>the </b><b>Lord </b><b>it shall be provided."</b> (Genesis 22:8,14.) It was<br />
amazing to me that we were in the place where these events<br />
are connected. Shadows and patterns are found all through<br />
scripture. <br />
<br />
We walked through this beautifully kept garden to the tomb.<br />
When you walk in, there is a vestibule where the body would<br />
be prepared for burial with spices and then wrapped. We<br />
know that the job was not finished for the women came the<br />
third day with the spices--and found an empty tomb! Then<br />
we went into the inner room where the body of Jesus had<br />
been laid. In every other religion there is a tomb and a body.<br />
We worship a risen Lord who gives life to the dead!<br />
<br />
Our time there was ended with a sermon and communion<br />
which was so precious as we had become a close group.<br />
<br />
I will post some pictures on my FB page. One of the pictures<br />
will be a picture taken at the tomb in the late19th century. I<br />
found it in the bookshop.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-5362373372728666812019-03-10T16:12:00.000-07:002019-03-10T16:12:03.856-07:00The Old City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We continued to explore the old city of Jerusalem. The<br />
overview of the city and the Temple Mount is at the top<br />
of the Mount of Olives and it was from there that we<br />
walked down the path that Jesus took when he came into<br />
Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey. When we were<br />
at the top, Glen and I both saw a camel lying down. He<br />
looked stuffed, but then I saw him blink. Glen is so thank-<br />
ful he didn't kick him! We were looking at the city from<br />
the east and between us and the city was a large number<br />
of graves--all of them facing east in order to be the first<br />
to resurrect when the Messiah arrived. Unfortunately, they<br />
all missed Him...<br />
<br />
On our way down we came to the gate of a garden called<br />
Gethsemane. The olive trees are old. The Romans had cut<br />
down all the trees in AD 70, but Olive trees grow from the<br />
roots left and so the trees we saw were 2,000 years old. It is<br />
interesting to me that within the Garden was an olive press<br />
where the olives are crushed to make the oil. Our Savior<br />
was crushed also, to give us life, eternal life. It was in this<br />
garden that Jesus said to His Father,<br />
<i>"Not my will but Yours be done." </i><br />
The battle was won in that moment.<br />
<br />
We spent some time overlooking a wall built by the Cru-<br />
saders which is16 large stones above the foundation stones<br />
of the temple wall. Jesus told his disciples that not one stone<br />
of the Temple would be left intact. I have a picture of giant<br />
stones, disconnected, and lying in a heap. You see, all of the<br />
200 prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Jesus' first<br />
coming were fulfilled, and so everything that Jesus spoke<br />
about His Second Coming in Matt 24, will also be fulfilled.<br />
<br />
Our last stop that day was at the steps where the Jews en-<br />
tered with their lambs and goats, in their arms to be sacri-<br />
ficed in a designated area of the Temple. It is on these steps<br />
that the teachers of the law would sit so that people could<br />
ask them questions. It is thought that this is where His par-<br />
ents found Jesus at the age of twelve. These teachers<br />
marveled at His wisdom. Great story in Luke 2:41-50!<br />
<br />
Reader, in the next blog I will go into the Resurrection.<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-21213126778838053012019-03-07T18:13:00.000-08:002019-03-07T18:13:32.587-08:00From the Mountains to The Mountain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We left the Golan Heights and traveled to Jerusalem through<br />
the Decapolis to the largest of the ten cities where the man<br />
who had been full of demons, brought many to Christ. The<br />
ruins of Scythopolis were Roman. A 9.1 earthquake brought<br />
the city down many years ago. It was quite a large city with<br />
shops, falling water, pillars, and both a theater and an amphi-<br />
theater. The hill behind it was a "Tell," which means there<br />
were treasures under there and the time was probably during<br />
the days of David and Solomon. Evidently Jewish Antiquities<br />
did not want to disturb the hill....<br />
<br />
We entered Jerusalem at dusk and my first impression was<br />
the many very tall <i>modern</i> apartment buildings on the hills<br />
around us. Perhaps it was the ruins we had witnessed which<br />
made me think of the predicted earthquake in Revelation in<br />
which a tenth of the city will collapse! (Rev 11:13).<br />
<br />
The old city is seems small and is about 30 feet above where<br />
it was in 33AD, as Jerusalem has been leveled many times<br />
in the last 2,000 years. The walls now standing are from the<br />
Crusaders who built so many of the structures in Israel, which<br />
have recently been uncovered. The city is divided into 4 parts--<br />
Christians, Muslims, Armenians, and then the Jewish quarter.<br />
We came into the Armenian quarter and then into the Jewish<br />
quarter where we had lunch. I have to say that we found joy in<br />
the adults we met and enjoyed the laughter of children playing<br />
in the streets of Jerusalem. We came to a large Menorah that<br />
was made in the image of the Menorah which Moses construc-<br />
ted and which was taken to Rome by Titus. It can be seen in the<br />
Arch of Triumph in Rome and it now is thought to reside in the<br />
Vatican archives. The Menorah we saw will be placed in the<br />
Third Temple--the tribulation Temple--which is almost ready to<br />
be set up. It just needs a place. So, you see, in a very small part<br />
of Jerusalem, we saw the past, present and future--all in one day!<br />
<br />
Reader, I think I will stop here. There is much more to say about<br />
this beautiful city--where our tall modern hotel was built next to<br />
the wall of the old city. We were very well fed everywhere we<br />
landed--including all of our lunches. And, I did not gain a pound!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-43909496969934411852019-03-01T09:31:00.001-08:002019-03-01T09:31:11.882-08:00From the Sea to the Mountains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We headed up to the Golan Heights and found our-<br />
selves 35 miles from Damascus. It was another beau-<br />
tiful day, though chilly, as we walked out to look at<br />
the valley where Israel meets the Syrian border, as<br />
well as the border of Lebanon and Israel. Everything<br />
is so compact. We warmed up in the cafe sipping on<br />
Latte's and enjoyed the warmth. Hard to believe that<br />
a conflict exists. We felt perfectly safe that day. Such<br />
a beautiful view of the snowy peak of Mt Hermon.<br />
<br />
From there we drove to the bottom of Mt Hermon<br />
where spring flowers were in bloom and where three<br />
rivers form from the mountain snows. Each of them<br />
goes underground for 3 or 4 years and then springs<br />
forth from the ground, each flowing into the Jordan<br />
River. We saw the remains of the city of Dan and then<br />
the Gate of the Kings, put there by one of the Northern<br />
Kings of Israel. The most interesting thing was that<br />
in Genesis 14:14 the scripture says that Abraham<br />
came there when he was chasing the five kings to<br />
get Lot back! It was a long way on foot!<br />
<br />
At the foot of Mt Hermon is a cave and was a place of<br />
worship to Pan which is connected to goats. The path<br />
we took passes live goats so maybe it is still a place of<br />
worship to this false god. Water was gushing and early<br />
spring flowers were out. When I think back to this part<br />
of the trip it is a time drenched in sunshine and every-<br />
thing is bright green with flowers dotted here and there.<br />
<br />
At one point we were a half mile from the Lebanon border<br />
and saw Apache Helicopters that were re-turning from<br />
Lebanon--just "doing business" says our guide. One thing<br />
I had not realized was that the River JorDAN is connected<br />
to the tribe of Dan.<br />
<br />
Last year Israel hosted 4 million tourists and it is expec-<br />
ted to be 5 million this year. I actually felt safer walking<br />
around Israel than I felt living in Washington DC!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-24651382980113549782019-02-27T11:06:00.003-08:002019-02-27T11:06:40.946-08:00A Police Boat?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We were able to watch the colors changing over the<br />
Sea of Galilee as day went into evening. So much<br />
happened nearby as was posted in the last two blogs.<br />
I grew up summers on Chautauqua Lake in NY<br />
state and the lakes are similar in size and both have<br />
hills on the other side of the lake. The hills in this<br />
body of water are the Golan Heights which are cur-<br />
rently being contested by Syria. We had a boat<br />
ride on a beautiful afternoon, a peaceful afternoon--<br />
until the Police boat showed up and boarded us to<br />
see if papers were in order. Not ours but the captain.<br />
One of the crew said that it was fine, he knew the guy,<br />
and everything was in order. It was.<br />
<br />
You see, reader, we had various and unexpected e-<br />
vents on this tour that made it that much more inter-<br />
esting. And, so far every day was cloudless and the<br />
temperatures were higher than usual in February.</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-23729309508375953442019-02-25T19:07:00.001-08:002019-02-25T19:07:17.150-08:00In the Footsteps of Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Capernaum is in the Galilee region where Jesus spent<br />
much of his time. The synagogue was very familiar to<br />
him and it is in this town that Jesus prayed for Peter's<br />
mother-in-law. These are some things that took place<br />
there:<br />
<br />
<i>When John was put in prison, Jesus left Nazareth and</i><br />
<i> dwelt in Capernaum </i><br />
<i>He healed the paralytic who entered the house by roof</i><br />
<i>They left their nets and followed Him</i><br />
<i>The Centurion came and asked Jesus to heal his servant</i><br />
<i>The Temple tax that was found in the fishes' mouth</i><br />
<i>The Boat was headed to Capernaum when Jesus walked </i><br />
<i> on water to them.</i><br />
<br />
In Matthew Jesus says this of Capernaum:<br />
<b>And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?</b><br />
<b>You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty</b><br />
<b>works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would</b><br />
<b>have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will</b><br />
<b>be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the </b><br />
<b>land of Sodom than for you. Matt 11:23,24</b><br />
<br />
I can tell you that we only saw ruins in the city of<br />
Capernaum. That is true also of Magdala from which<br />
a woman named Mary was relieved of seven demons.<br />
It has only recently been discovered and the ruins of<br />
the market place, the synagogue, the houses of the<br />
priests showed that it was the town of Magdala.<br />
<br />
The last place we saw in 'The footsteps of Jesus in the<br />
Gallilee" is the Mount of Beatitudes. I didn't realize<br />
that it was so close to the Sea. It is a hill that forms a<br />
bowl--not a mountain just an elevation--and the people<br />
sat on the side of the hill while Jesus talked below. Be-<br />
cause of the the bowl terrain everyone heard him easily.<br />
<br />
Well, reader, I will post pictures on Face Book, but know<br />
the readers of the blog are not missing much, for the places<br />
we went to were just ruins that were dug up from the past!<br />
I am so impressed with the accuracy of all the prophetic<br />
from Old to New Testament, as well as what has been pro-<br />
phesied by Jesus and the apostles that we are now seeing<br />
come to pass. It helps me to believe for all the prophecies<br />
in both the Old and New Testament that have not yet been<br />
fulfilled. One third of the Bible is prophetic.<br />
God's Word is truth!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-76864678858698885672019-02-24T13:26:00.000-08:002019-02-24T13:26:14.294-08:00The Jesus Boat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the last blog I added a picture of a 2,000 year old<br />
boat that had been taken from the Sea of Galilee in the<br />
1980's by two brothers who kept looking for things of<br />
value. Since those who are not on FB cannot see the pic-<br />
tures I will post the site that both gives information but<br />
also has a picture of the boat. (Think stormy weather.)<br />
It was tricky getting the boat out of the mud intact and<br />
they put styrofoam around it and then removed that be-<br />
fore putting the boat into water as it would deteriorate<br />
in air. Much to their surprise bugs, worm like creatures,<br />
came out of the boat and began to eat it. What to do?<br />
Well, a fisherman told them he would bring something<br />
the next day that would fix the problem but not hurt the<br />
environment. Can anyone guess? Well, the next day he<br />
carried in some goldfish and let them loose. Within 24<br />
hours the boat was saved and now resides in a museum<br />
that protects it with all kinds of sensors. This museum<br />
sold ice cream much to the delight of the three children<br />
who toured with us. They were great kids!<br />
<br />
Reader, I keep pondering the last blog and how Jesus<br />
fed His disciples. It must have been a very special meal<br />
for all of them. Did they talk about the past three years<br />
together? We don't know. But, the picture I get is that<br />
this is their last meal together and Jesus prepared it as<br />
part of His going away. He knew that these disciples<br />
would not have an easy time of it as they spread the<br />
good news of His death and resurrection. New ventures<br />
are never easy. Or have you not discovered that yet?<br />
<br />
When we were driving to the airport on that last day,<br />
we went through sunshine and showers--and we saw<br />
multiple rainbows. Such a gift as we returned to a nor-<br />
mal life with new energy and wonderful memories.<br />
<br />
This is a detailed site of how they saved the boat intact.<br />
However, no gold fish were mentioned...but that is a<br />
true story!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.jesusboat.com/the-Jesus-Boat-Conservation/" target="_blank">https://www.jesusboat.com/the-Jesus-Boat-Conservation/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-11185143154788629742019-02-21T19:39:00.000-08:002019-02-21T19:39:41.882-08:00The Sea of Galilee <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We stayed at the beautiful Scots Hotel where we<br />
worshiped outside as the sun rose in another clear<br />
sky. We could even see Mt Herman dressed in pink<br />
behind the Golan Heights which came down to the<br />
sea on the other side. After an incredible breakfast<br />
we boarded the bus where we began our day at a<br />
walking path that connected Nazareth to Galilee.<br />
Two thousand years ago it was the road that took<br />
Jesus from Nazareth to His ministry around the Sea<br />
of Galilee. We could see caves in the hills above us<br />
where the Zealots lived. Remember Peter's title was<br />
"Simon the Zealot!" (No, we did not walk toNazareth<br />
that day.)<br />
<br />
Amir took us to a wide beach and explained that we<br />
were standing on the bottom of the Sea 2,000 years<br />
ago. Several springs of warm water flowed into this<br />
area and attracted the fish. Luke 5:1-11 is an amaz-<br />
ing story where Jesus addresses the multitude from<br />
Simon Peter's boat. When He finished speaking He<br />
asked the fisherman how the fishing was. Peter said<br />
it was terrible. Jesus told Peter to go out into the<br />
deep and let down the nets. A skeptical Peter did so<br />
and his nets began to break from the number of fish<br />
that rushed in. Peter fell down before Jesus and said,<br />
"Depart from me for I am a sinful man."<br />
<br />
Now fast forward past the crucifixion and the resur-<br />
rection to this same place. The heart broken disciples<br />
had returned to the Sea of Galilee and went back to<br />
fishing--they just didn't get it! In the early dawn a man<br />
called out from the beach,<br />
<br />
"Have you caught any fish?"<br />
"No!"<br />
"Cast your nets on the other side and you will find<br />
some."<br />
<br />
Nets were filled with fish but did not break. It was a<br />
scene that melts my heart. John recognized Jesus and<br />
they hurried to shore with their catch only to find that<br />
Jesus had a fire going and fish simmering with bread<br />
on the side. The resurrected Lord, the King of Kings,<br />
had prepared breakfast for His disciples!!!!<br />
(John 21)<br />
<br />
So you see, reader, these two stories bookend the<br />
ministry of Jesus--it is all about fishing for men.<br />
Secondly, not only was there no scolding regarding<br />
their lack of faith, but Jesus had a hot meal ready<br />
for them. He ate with them and they fellowshipped<br />
together.<br />
<br />
What will it be like when we are with Him in our<br />
resurrected bodies, feasting at His table???<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-10542502185683894932019-02-19T19:04:00.001-08:002019-02-19T19:04:16.641-08:00By The Sea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We went from Jaffa north to Caesarea Maritima which<br />
means "by the sea." We saw a Fig tree, which represents<br />
Israel, standing full of dead looking limbs with little<br />
knobs. Those knobs are tiny figs and those figs will<br />
mature when the leaves come out and cover the figs.<br />
Jesus, therefore, expected to find mature figs when He<br />
saw the leaves, but He didn't because the tree was<br />
"faking it." Matt 21:18,19<br />
<br />
Caesarea is so close to the Sea that it will flood in the<br />
winter storms and sure enough we saw sea shells piled<br />
up. Herod built things he enjoyed such as chariot races--<br />
the Hippodrome was two foot ball fields in length--. He<br />
even fixed up a swimming area for his pleasure! Herod<br />
also set up a theater for plays which was also used for<br />
judgement. It is thought that Paul may have been<br />
brought to the stage area below the box set aside for the<br />
dignitaries when he spoke to King Agrippa. Acts 25:1-13.<br />
It could be representative of the Bema Seat where Christ-<br />
ians will be rewarded.<br />
<br />
From the sea we went up to Mt. Carmel which overlooks<br />
the Jezreel Valley known as Megido or Armageddon.<br />
About 3,000 years ago Elijah defeated the prophets of<br />
Baal at the top of this mountain. (1Kings18) When we<br />
looked over the valley we could see Mt Tabor, Nazareth,<br />
and much of the Galilee spread out at our feet. Everything<br />
was various shades of green and brown in the bright sun-<br />
shine. Mt Carmel is a good place to ponder the past and<br />
the future where the 'Battle of Armageddon' will be fought<br />
at the end of the tribulation.<br />
<br />
Reader, I see so much as I write this summary and I hope<br />
that it will give you a taste of the past, the present and the<br />
future!<br />
<br />
(hopefully the pictures will land close to the blog!)</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-66738441146361883702019-02-18T20:01:00.001-08:002019-02-18T20:01:09.916-08:00Jaffa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So many of you are interested in an overview of our tour,<br />
that I want to hit some highlights in the next few days. I<br />
will be posting the blog on Face Book with pictures--if<br />
I can make it work.<br />
<br />
Our first night was spent in Tel Aviv in a beautiful hotel<br />
near the Mediterranean Sea. The sound of the surf com-<br />
ing in rocked me to sleep. After a huge breakfast we took<br />
off to explore Jaffa which was formerly known as Joppa.<br />
Originally it was a large city where ships came and went<br />
and Tel Aviv was considered a suburb! Jonah fled from<br />
God in a ship that sailed from Joppa (Jonah 1:3). It was<br />
in Joppa that Peter prayed for Dorcas and she was raised<br />
from the dead. (Acts 9:36-43) There is another story in<br />
Acts 10 where Peter was a guest of Simon the Tanner and<br />
he went up to the roof to pray while lunch was being fixed.<br />
Suddenly he saw a vision of a white sheet filled with un-<br />
clean animals and a voice said, "Rise Peter, kill and eat."<br />
God was setting up Peter to go to the Gentiles and preach<br />
the Gospel. While he was pondering the vision, men<br />
came to the house to beg him to come with them. Well,<br />
this trip ended with the beginning of gentiles finding<br />
Jesus as their Savior. It is a good read.<br />
<br />
That first day was cool and sunny with vivid blue skies.<br />
The skyscrapers of Tel Aviv were not far off as we<br />
walked the cobblestone streets of Jaffa. We came into<br />
a cuddle-sac and found a doorway that said, "The house<br />
of Simon the Tanner." It was my first shock of just how<br />
real history can be, but just the beginning of coming in-<br />
to contact with the past, present and future in a land the<br />
size of New Jersey.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-66823301063145776402019-02-17T14:44:00.004-08:002019-02-17T14:44:56.440-08:00What a Wonderful Vacation!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Israel<br />
with Amir Tsarfati, a man born in Jerusalem and of the<br />
tribe of Judah. It was a multi-layered tour as we saw sites<br />
that were 4,000 years old, 2,000 years old as well as what<br />
will take place in the future. We visited Israel in 1972 at<br />
a time when the whole country, including the Temple area<br />
was available to any tourist. We were able to get into the<br />
caves in Hebron, wander around Bethlehem, sit on Jacobs<br />
Well in Shechem, now called Nablas. We saw some agri-<br />
culture, some new buildings, and winding roads through<br />
the center of the country. This time we were overwhelmed<br />
by the highways, the green fields everywhere, the tall<br />
buildings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It is a prosperous<br />
country which feels secure, which is not at all what we<br />
were cautioned about before leaving! At one point we were<br />
on the Golan Heights 35 miles from Damacus; at another<br />
point we were within a half mile of Lebanon, but in neither<br />
case were we searching the skies for incoming missiles.<br />
The weather was almost perfect with sunny skies in the<br />
daytime and temperatures in the low 70's. We did experi-<br />
hence some showers as we toured Jerusalem, but that did<br />
not slow us down. We were a company of 48, with three<br />
delightful children, from five nations. I am still processing<br />
and will share later some of the meaningful sites visited.<br />
<br />
Amir gives updates on the Middle East each week and has<br />
a website sharing who he is and what is available. The site<br />
address to Behold Israel is below:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://beholdisrael.org/behold-israel-has-a-new-website/" target="_blank">https://beholdisrael.org/behold-israel-has-a-new-website/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-58090394448097296792019-01-30T07:19:00.002-08:002019-01-30T07:19:33.624-08:00OOPS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reader, I failed to post the website for last<br />
evening's blog. So sorry, but yesterday was<br />
a day that matched, in some small ways, the<br />
journey of the Israelites as they came to the<br />
Red Sea and the Egyptians showed up. We<br />
experienced one unexpected event after ano-<br />
there, beginning with a car that simply shut<br />
down and would not release the key...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs3fOjJAeZE&t=11s" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs3fOjJAeZE&t=11s</a><br />
<br />
Will be back in a couple of weeks!!!!</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-26287784307701509272019-01-29T16:31:00.001-08:002019-01-29T16:31:09.958-08:00Fear Not<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reader I found a wonderful encouraging video by<br />
Malcolm Smith for those of you who find yourself<br />
intimidated by the news of the day. He is in Ex 14<br />
where the Israelites are between the Red Sea and<br />
Pharaoh's army with no where to turn. Some days<br />
I feel that way! It was the perfect thing for me to<br />
watch as we go into a new adventure.<br />
<br />
I will be not be blogging for a couple of weeks.</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-28119425879914741522019-01-25T07:12:00.000-08:002019-01-25T07:12:22.787-08:00Our Deeds; Our Motives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Except your righteousness shall exceed the </b><br />
<b>righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,</b><br />
<b>you shall in no case enter the kingdom of</b><br />
<b>heaven. Matthew 5:20</b><br />
<br />
<i>The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good </i><br />
<i>things, but that he is good in motive because he has been </i><br />
<i>made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only </i><br />
<i>thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ </i><br />
<i>came to put into any man who would let Him a new here-</i><br />
<i>dity which would exceed the righteousness of the scribes </i><br />
<i>and Pharisees. Jesus says--If you are my disciple you </i><br />
<i>must be right not only in your living, but your motives, </i><br />
<i>in your dreams, in the recesses of your mind. You must </i><br />
<i>be so pure in your motives that God Almighty can see </i><br />
<i>nothing to censure. Who can stand in the Eternal Light of </i><br />
<i>God and have nothing for God to censure? Only the Son </i><br />
<i>of God, and Jesus Christ claims that by His Redemption </i><br />
<i>He can put into any man His own disposition, and make </i><br />
<i>him as unsullied and as simple as a child. The purity </i><br />
<i>which </i><i>God demands is impossible unless I can be remade </i><br />
<i>within, </i><i>and that is what Jesus has undertaken to do by His </i><br />
<i>Re</i><i>demp</i><i>tion.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>No man can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus </i><br />
<i>Christ does not give us rules and regulations; His teachings </i><br />
<i>are truths that can only be interpreted by the disposition </i><br />
<i>He </i><i>puts in. The great marvel of Jesus Christ's salvation is </i><br />
<i>that </i><i>He alters heredity. He does not alter human nature; </i><br />
<i>He </i><i>alters </i><i>its mainspring. Oswald Chambers</i><br />
<br />
Reader, if you can grasp this message, it will set you free!</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-44790879327846071372019-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:002019-01-24T09:29:22.860-08:00 He Is Our Refuge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present</b><br />
<div>
<b>help in trouble. Psalm 46:1</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>I once heard the following statement from a simple</i></div>
<div>
<i>old man, and I have never forgotten it: "When God</i></div>
<div>
<i>tests you, it is a good time to test Him by putting</i></div>
<div>
<i>His promises to the test and then claiming from </i></div>
<div>
<i>Him exactly what your trials have made necessary.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is </i></div>
<div>
<i>simply to try to get rid of the trial, and then to be </i></div>
<div>
<i>thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize</i></div>
<div>
<i>the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger</i></div>
<div>
<i>blessing than we have ever before experienced, and</i></div>
<div>
<i>to accept it with delight as an opportunity of receiv-</i></div>
<div>
<i>ing a greater measure of God's divine grace.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>In this way, even the Adversary becomes a help to </i></div>
<div>
<i>us, and all things that seem to be against us turn out </i></div>
<div>
<i>to assist us along our way. Surely this is what is </i></div>
<div>
<i>meant by the words "In all these things we are more </i></div>
<div>
<i>than conquerors through Him who loved us. Rom 8:37</i></div>
<div>
<i>A B Simpson</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Not always OUT of our troubled times,</i></div>
<div>
<i> And the struggles fierce and grim,</i></div>
<div>
<i>But IN--deeper in--to our sure rest,</i></div>
<div>
<i> The place of our peace, IN Him.</i></div>
<div>
<i>Annie Johnson Flint</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Reader, after I go through deep waters and God</div>
<div>
has showed up, it is then I believe His promises. </div>
<div>
Ahhh, to grasp them in the going would be so </div>
<div>
much better. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-62432079644835780332019-01-23T07:58:00.000-08:002019-01-23T07:58:07.510-08:00It is a Walk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>They that wait upon the Lord...shall walk and not</b><br />
<b>faint. Isaiah 40:31</b><br />
<br />
<i>There is no thrill in walking; it is the test of all the sta-</i><br />
<i>ble qualities. To :Walk and not faint" is the highest</i><br />
<i>reach possible for strength. The word "walk" is used</i><br />
<i>in the Bible to express the character--"John looking</i><br />
<i>on Jesus as He walked, said, 'Behold the Lamb of</i><br />
<i>God!'" There is never anything abstract in the Bible,</i><br />
<i>it is always vivid and real. God does not say--"Be</i><br />
<i>spiritual," but--<u>"Walk before Me."</u></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>When we are in an unhealthy state physically or emo-</i><br />
<i>tionally, we always want thrills. In the physical domain </i><br />
<i>this will lead to counterfeiting the Holy Ghost; in the</i><br />
<i>emotional life it leads to inordinate affection and the </i><br />
<i>destruction of morality; and in the spiritual domain if</i><br />
<i>we insist on getting thrills, on mounting up with wings,</i><br />
<i>it will end in the destruction of spirituality.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The reality of God's presence is not dependent on any</i><br />
<i>place, but only dependent upon the determination to set </i><br />
<i>the Lord always before us. Our problems come when </i><br />
<i>we refuse to bank on the reality of His presence. The ex-</i><br />
<i>perience the Psalmist speaks of--"Therefore will we not </i><br />
<i>fear, though..." will be ours when one we are based on </i><br />
<i>Reality, not the consciousness of God's presence but the </i><br />
<i>reality of it--Why, He has been here all the time!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>At critical moments it is necessary to ask guidance, but</i><br />
<i>it ought to be unnecessary to be saying always--"O </i><br />
<i>Lord, direct me here, and there." Of course He will! If</i><br />
<i>our commonsense decisions are not His order, He will</i><br />
<i>press through them and check; then we must be quiet</i><br />
<i>and wait for the direction of His presence. </i><br />
<i>Oswald Chambers</i><br />
<br />
Reader, I so appreciate the final sentences. God has given<br />
us understanding as to the normal day to day things. He<br />
will let us know if we are getting off the track. Oh, yes,<br />
He will let you know! The second thing I appreciate is<br />
that life is not really a marathon, but a walk.<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-43580566352546235282019-01-21T18:10:00.002-08:002019-01-21T18:10:39.882-08:00He Remains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>You remain. Hebrews 1:11</b><br />
<br />
<i>There are so many people who sit by their fireplace</i><br />
<i>all alone! They sit by another chair, once filled, and</i><br />
<i>cannot restrain the tears that flow. They sit alone so</i><br />
<i>much, but there is someone who is unseen and just</i><br />
<i>within reach. But for some reason, they don't realize</i><br />
<i>His presence. Realizing it is blessed yet quite rare. </i><br />
<i>It is dependent upon their mood, their feelings, their</i><br />
<i>physical condition, and the weather. The rain or thick</i><br />
<i>fog outside, the lack of sleep and the intense pain, </i><br />
<i>seem to affect their mood and blur their vision, so</i><br />
<i>they do not realize His presence...So recognize the</i><br />
<i>presence of the Master. He is here, close to you, and</i><br />
<i>His presence is real. More so, the truth is a presence,</i><br />
<i>not a thing, a fact, or statement. Some <u>One</u> is present,</i><br />
<i>and He is a warmhearted Friend and the all-powerful</i><br />
<i>Lord. This is a joyful truth for weeping hearts every-</i><br />
<i>where, no matter the reason for the tears, or whatever </i><br />
<i>stream their weeping willow is planted beside.</i><br />
<i>Samuel Dickey Gordon </i><br />
<br />
Reader, many of you are discouraged, lonely, and close<br />
to despair. But near to you, in you, is a Presence who is<br />
<i>for</i> you, regardless of what you feel, your lack of faith,<br />
your faithlessness. He declares that He will NEVER<br />
leave you nor FORSAKE you. <i>He remains true.</i></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-32450736528591840402019-01-18T11:57:00.000-08:002019-01-18T11:57:06.444-08:00Sow in Tears<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Those who sow in tears will reap with songs </b><br />
<b>of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying</b><br />
<b>seed to sow, will return with songs of joy,</b><br />
<b>carry sheaves with him. Ps 126:5,6</b><br />
<br />
<i>None who loves the Lord does not weep. Weep</i><br />
<i>with sympathy for sinners, weep with desire for</i><br />
<i>the glory of God, and weep with eagerness to </i><br />
<i>overcome the enemy. Of course, those who have</i><br />
<i>no heart to please the Lord do not have such ex-</i><br />
<i>perience. But all whose hearts on the Lord's work</i><br />
<i>are bound to weep. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Without a doubt tears are something we must have,</i><br />
<i>because this world is in great need of much tears </i><br />
<i>by which to wash her. Many young believers need</i><br />
<i>to be nurtured and disciplined with tears. Spiritual</i><br />
<i>life needs to be maintained with tears. Numerous</i><br />
<i>sinners need to have the seed of the gospel sown in</i><br />
<i>their hearts with tears. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>If we shed tears for the work, what will be the out-</i><br />
<i>come? Do be aware of this, that tears will not be</i><br />
<i>shed forever, because there is a time for it to cease.</i><br />
<i>For please note this verse: "Thus saith Jehovah: </i><br />
<i>Refrain they voice from weeping, and thine eyes</i><br />
<i>from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith</i><br />
<i>Jehovah; and they shall come again from the land </i><br />
<i>of the enemy" (Jer 31:16) Watchman Nee</i><br />
<br />
Reader, turn your sorrowing tears into a plea to the<br />
Lord for men and women to be saved. He will save<br />
those tears to pour out upon the hurting sinners, for<br />
He would have none to perish. </div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-11066884738594829242019-01-16T15:46:00.001-08:002019-01-16T15:46:13.983-08:00The Line is Obliterated<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>"Therefore come out from them and be separate,"</b><br />
<b>says the Lord. "Touch no unclean thing, and I</b><br />
<b>will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and</b><br />
<b>you will be my sons and daughters," says the</b><br />
<b>Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:17,18</b><br />
<br />
<i>I do not believe that there is any doctrine more</i><br />
<i>needed today in the Christian church in America</i><br />
<i>than the doctrine of separation.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We have lost power because the line between the</i><br />
<i>church and the world has been almost obliterated.</i><br />
<i>A good many people profess Christianity, but their</i><br />
<i>profession does not mean much; the result is that</i><br />
<i>the world does not know what Christians really</i><br />
<i>believe.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>For every unconverted man that reads the Bible, a</i><br />
<i>hundred read you and me; and if they see us hand-</i><br />
<i>in-glove with the ungodly they are not going to</i><br />
<i>have confidence in our professions...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I believe that the cause of Christ is suffering more</i><br />
<i>from this one thing than any other ten things put</i><br />
<i>together. God cannot give us power because we</i><br />
<i>are allied with the ungodly. The mirth that satisfies</i><br />
<i>the world will not satisfy the true child of God,</i><br />
<i>and yet how many of us are just looking to the</i><br />
<i>world for our pleasure. </i><br />
<i>Dwight L Moody 1837-1899</i><br />
<br />
Wow, reader, if it was bad two centuries ago, what<br />
is the condition of the church today? We are adapt-<br />
ing to the world instead of influencing the world. </div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-52683417765064698612019-01-15T15:30:00.000-08:002019-01-15T15:30:53.559-08:00His Seal of Ownership<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Now it is God who makes both us and you stand</b><br />
<b>firm in Christ. He appointed us, set his seal of</b><br />
<b>ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts</b><br />
<b>as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.</b><br />
<b>1 Corinthians 1:22</b><br />
<br />
Now what is a Christian? He is a man clear of death<br />
and judgement, brought to God, his sins forgiven:<br />
one who has a new nature, who has received the<br />
Holy Ghost, and who has a new place before God<br />
in Christ, of whose body he is a member; one who<br />
knows he is a child of God, an heir of God, and a<br />
joint-heir with Christ; who has nothing but glory<br />
now before him, and is looking for the coming of<br />
our Lord Jesus Christ, to take him home to the rest<br />
and glory of the Father's house. It is therefore a<br />
wonderful thing to be a Christian: an unspeakably<br />
blessed thing! WTP Wolston 1840-1917<br />
<br />
Reader, what a description of all God is to us and<br />
all God is giving us! A saved Life from the moment<br />
we exchange our poor sinful life for His! An eternal<br />
life that has no beginning and no end for we are now<br />
IN the eternal Son. He is our dwelling place.</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-64129517986806312222019-01-14T08:24:00.002-08:002019-01-14T08:24:59.435-08:00If We are Faithless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>If we are faithless, he remains faithful--</b><br />
<b>for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13</b><br />
<br />
<u><i>Jesus Christ does not want to be our helper; He wants </i></u><br />
<i><u>to be our life. He does not want us to work for Him</u>. <u>He </u></i><br />
<i><u>wants us to let Him do His work through us,</u> using us </i><br />
<i>as we use a pencil to write with--better still, using us as </i><br />
<i>one of the fingers on His hand.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>When our life is not only Christ's but Christ, our life will </i><br />
<i>be a winning life; for He cannot fail. And a winning life </i><br />
<i>is a fruit-bearing life, a serving life. It is after all only a </i><br />
<i>small part of life, and a wholly negative part to overcome; </i><br />
<i>we must also bear fruit in character and in service if Christ </i><br />
<i>is our life. "He cannot deny himself;" He "came not to be</i><br />
<i>ministered unto, but to minister." An utterly new kind of</i><br />
<i>service will be ours now, as we let Christ serve others</i><br />
<i>through us, using us. And this fruit-bearing and service,</i><br />
<i>habitual and constant, must all be by faith in Him; <u>our</u></i><br />
<u><i>works are the result of His Life in us, not the condition,</i></u><br />
<u><i>or the secret, or the cause of life. </i></u><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The conditions of thus receiving Christ as the fulness of</i><br />
<i>our life are:</i><br />
<br />
<i>1 Surrender absolutely and unconditionally to Christ as</i><br />
<i>Master of all that we are and all that we have, telling</i><br />
<i>God that we are now ready to have His whole will done</i><br />
<i>in our entire life, at every point, no matter what the cost.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>2 Believe God has set us wholly free from the law of sin--</i><br />
<i>not will to do this, but has done it. Upon this second step,</i><br />
<i>the quiet act of faith, all now depends. Faith must believe</i><br />
<i>God in entire absence of any feeling or evidence. For </i><br />
<i>God's word is safer, better, and surer than any evidence </i><br />
<i>of His word. We are to say, in blind, cold faith if need be,</i><br />
<i>"I know that my Jesus is meeting al my needs now (even</i><br />
<i>my need of faith), because His grace is sufficient for me."</i><br />
<br />
<i>And remember that Christ Himself is better than any of </i><br />
<i>His blessings: better than the power,</i><i> or the victory, or </i><i>the </i><br />
<i>service that He grants. Christ creates spiritual power; but</i><br />
<i>Christ is better than that power. We may have Christ, </i><br />
<i>yield</i><i>ing to Him in such completeness and abandonment</i><br />
<i>of self that is no longer we that live, but Christ that lives</i><br />
<i>in us. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Will you thus take Him? Charles Trumbull 1872-1941</i><br />
<br />
Reader, this concise explanation of what brings victory<br />
in the Christian life, is what changed my Christian life<br />
about 13 years ago. I never want to go back into "oughts"<br />
and "shoulds." There is such a freedom in serving if the<br />
Lord is doing the work--through me! ( and I need to be<br />
reminded periodically. :) )<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-58079025668978211362019-01-11T20:30:00.001-08:002019-01-11T20:30:03.937-08:00How Great is Our God!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>In the beginning God created the heavens and</b><br />
<b>the earth. Genesis 1:1</b><br />
<br />
Reader, I watched a video this week that was<br />
breathtaking. The speaker is Louie Giglio and<br />
the topic is the greatness of God. Giglio takes<br />
us into the far reaches of the universe and then<br />
into the tiniest part of the body--the cells. A<br />
surprise tranfixes at the end of the film. Watch<br />
it, be filled with wonder, and then share it!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/search?chn=1000&cmpgn=vela&ctype=videos&doi=2018-11-5&geo=&guid=1130b45b-9dd8-4e66-840a-4d939e15a3f0&o=APN11957&p2=%5EEQ%5Evela%5E&page=1&prt=nfm&q=How+Great+is+Our+God+with+Louie+Giglio+full+video+YouTube&tpr=sbt&trackId=&ver=8.1.0f230" target="_blank">http://nortonsafe.search.ask.com/search?chn=1000&cmpgn=vela&ctype=videos&doi=2018-11-5&geo=&guid=1130b45b-9dd8-4e66-840a-4d939e15a3f0&o=APN11957&p2=%5EEQ%5Evela%5E&page=1&prt=nfm&q=How+Great+is+Our+God+with+Louie+Giglio+full+video+YouTube&tpr=sbt&trackId=&ver=8.1.0f230</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Chris Tomlin sings How Great is Our God<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLQ1td3MbE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLQ1td3MbE</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-63643493406457272622019-01-09T20:10:00.003-08:002019-01-09T20:10:49.058-08:00Surpassing Greatness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing </b><br />
<b>greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose </b><br />
<b>sake I have lost all things. Philippians 3:8</b><br />
<br />
<i>Are there sorrows that sorely test our heart? Be assured</i><br />
<i>that our Father intends every one of them to be a road </i><br />
<i>for us to Christ; so that we may reach Him and know </i><br />
<i>Him in some character of His love and power, that other-</i><br />
<i>wise our souls had not known. C A Coates</i><br />
<br />
Reader, we are going through this verse in our women's<br />
Bible study and it is so rich. I would encourage you to<br />
spend time pondering Philippians 3:7-10 in the coming<br />
months. Such awesome words!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4471203176381305125.post-27399444714430428472019-01-08T16:15:00.001-08:002019-01-08T16:15:31.427-08:00Where You Stand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>...the place you are standing is holy ground.</b><br />
<b>Exodus 3:5</b><br />
<br />
<i>I was chatting one day with a dear friend who asked me, </i><br />
<i>"Have you ever heard about Nat's sandpile?" When I </i><br />
<i>answered in the negative he told me this story.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Nat was a building contractor. It so happened that in his </i><br />
<i>city was a huge sandpile. To everyone else but Nat it was </i><br />
<i>merely an unsightly, worthless sandpile. But Nat had a </i><br />
<i>vision about this sandpile. He saw that every truckload he </i><br />
<i>sold would bring him a dollar. And when the sandpile was </i><br />
<i>gone the leveled ground would make a fine site for a busi-</i><br />
<i>ness block. So Nat bought the sandpile.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As word spread, many of his friends laughed at the idea</i><br />
<i>of his buying a worthless sandpile. But soon Nat's vision</i><br />
<i>began to come true. Week after week he sold sand. Soon </i><br />
<i>the sand was gone, the ground leveled off, replaced by</i><br />
<i>a handsome business block. Before the year was over, </i><br />
<i>a good part of the wholesale trade of the city had moved</i><br />
<i>into that block, and soon after he sold out, making a lot</i><br />
<i>of money on the enterprise.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Friend, your life may be obscure, untalented, and as </i><br />
<i>worthless in your sight as that sandpile. But if you will</i><br />
<i>treat the spot in everyday life, as holy ground and give</i><br />
<i>that life to God in consecration, God will make of it </i><br />
<i>a beautiful structure enduring for His glory through all </i><br />
<i>time and eternity. James McConkey</i><br />
<br />
Reader, God sees the treasure in each one of us. If we turn<br />
the "sandpile" over to Him, He can make concrete! :)<br />
Or something else that is lasting and valuable to Him and<br />
to us. The place you are standing on right now is "holy<br />
ground."</div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03989224408218871097noreply@blogger.com0