The Sea of Galilee

We stayed at the beautiful Scots Hotel where we
worshiped outside as the sun rose in another clear
sky. We could even see Mt Herman dressed in pink
behind the Golan Heights which came down to the
sea on the other side. After an incredible breakfast
we boarded the bus where we began our day at a
walking path that connected Nazareth to Galilee.
Two thousand years ago it was the road that took
Jesus from Nazareth to His ministry around the Sea
of Galilee. We could see caves in the hills above us
where the Zealots lived. Remember Peter's title was
"Simon the Zealot!" (No, we did not walk toNazareth
that day.)

Amir took us to a wide beach and explained that we
were standing on the bottom of the Sea 2,000 years
ago. Several springs of warm water flowed into this
area and attracted the fish. Luke 5:1-11 is an amaz-
ing story where Jesus addresses the multitude from
Simon Peter's boat. When He finished speaking He
asked the fisherman how the fishing was. Peter said
it was terrible. Jesus told Peter to go out into the
deep and let down the nets. A skeptical Peter did so
and his nets began to break from the number of fish
that rushed in. Peter fell down before Jesus and said,
"Depart from me for I am a sinful man."

Now fast forward past the crucifixion and the resur-
rection to this same place. The heart broken disciples
had returned to the Sea of Galilee and went back to
fishing--they just didn't get it! In the early dawn a man
called out from the beach,

"Have you caught any fish?"
"No!"
"Cast your nets on the other side and you will find
some."

Nets were filled with fish but did not break. It was a
scene that melts my heart. John recognized Jesus and
they hurried to shore with their catch only to find that
Jesus had a fire going and fish simmering with bread
on the side. The resurrected Lord, the King of Kings,
had prepared breakfast for His disciples!!!!
(John 21)

So you see, reader, these two stories bookend the
ministry of Jesus--it is all about fishing for men.
Secondly, not only was there no scolding regarding
their lack of faith, but Jesus had a hot meal ready
for them. He ate with them and they fellowshipped
together.

What will it be like when we are with Him in our
resurrected bodies, feasting at His table???

By The Sea

We went from Jaffa north to Caesarea Maritima which
means "by the sea." We saw a Fig tree, which represents
Israel, standing full of dead looking limbs with little
knobs. Those knobs are tiny figs and those figs will
mature when the leaves come out and cover the figs.
Jesus, therefore, expected to find mature figs when He
saw the leaves, but He didn't because the tree was
"faking it." Matt 21:18,19

Caesarea is so close to the Sea that it will flood in the
winter storms and sure enough we saw sea shells piled
up. Herod built things he enjoyed such as chariot races--
the Hippodrome was two foot ball fields in length--. He
even fixed up a swimming area for his pleasure! Herod
also set up a theater for plays which was also used for
judgement. It is thought that Paul may have been
brought to the stage area below the box set aside for the
dignitaries when he spoke to King Agrippa. Acts 25:1-13.
It could be representative of the Bema Seat where Christ-
ians will be rewarded.

From the sea we went up to Mt. Carmel which overlooks
the Jezreel Valley known as Megido or Armageddon.
About 3,000 years ago Elijah defeated the prophets of
Baal at the top of this mountain. (1Kings18) When we
looked over the valley we could see Mt Tabor, Nazareth,
and much of the Galilee spread out at our feet. Everything
was various shades of green and brown in the bright sun-
shine. Mt Carmel is a good place to ponder the past and
the future where the 'Battle of Armageddon' will be fought
at the end of the tribulation.

Reader, I see so much as I write this summary and I hope
that it will give you a taste of the past, the present and the
future!

(hopefully the pictures will land close to the blog!)

Jaffa

So many of you are interested in an overview of our tour,
that I want to hit some highlights in the next few days. I
will be posting the blog on Face Book with pictures--if
I can make it work.

Our first night was spent in Tel Aviv in a beautiful hotel
near the Mediterranean Sea. The sound of the surf com-
ing in rocked me to sleep. After a huge breakfast we took
off to explore Jaffa which was formerly known as Joppa.
Originally it was a large city where ships came and went
and Tel Aviv was considered a suburb! Jonah fled from
God in a ship that sailed from Joppa (Jonah 1:3). It was
in Joppa that Peter prayed for Dorcas and she was raised
from the dead. (Acts 9:36-43) There is another story in
Acts 10 where Peter was a guest of Simon the Tanner and
he went up to the roof to pray while lunch was being fixed.
Suddenly he saw a vision of a white sheet filled with un-
clean animals and a voice said, "Rise Peter, kill and eat."
God was setting up Peter to go to the Gentiles and preach
the Gospel. While he was pondering the vision, men
came to the house to beg him to come with them. Well,
this trip ended with the beginning of gentiles finding
Jesus as their Savior. It is a good read.

That first day was cool and sunny with vivid blue skies.
The skyscrapers of Tel Aviv were not far off as we
walked the cobblestone streets of Jaffa. We came into
a cuddle-sac and found a doorway that said, "The house
of Simon the Tanner." It was my first shock of just how
real history can be, but just the beginning of coming in-
to contact with the past, present and future in a land the
size of New Jersey.

What a Wonderful Vacation!

My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Israel
with Amir Tsarfati, a man born in Jerusalem and of the
tribe of Judah. It was a multi-layered tour as we saw sites
that were 4,000 years old, 2,000 years old as well as what
will take place in the future.  We visited Israel in 1972 at
a time when the whole country, including the Temple area
was available to any tourist. We were able to get into the
caves in Hebron, wander around Bethlehem, sit on Jacobs
Well in Shechem, now called Nablas. We saw some agri-
culture, some new buildings, and winding roads through
the center of the country. This time we were overwhelmed
by the highways, the green fields everywhere, the tall
buildings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It is a prosperous
country which feels secure, which is not at all what we
were cautioned about before leaving! At one point we were
on the Golan Heights 35 miles from Damacus; at another
point we were within a half mile of Lebanon, but in neither
case were we searching the skies for incoming missiles.
The weather was almost perfect with sunny skies in the
daytime and temperatures in the low 70's. We did experi-
hence some showers as we toured Jerusalem, but that did
not slow us down. We were a company of 48, with three
delightful children, from five nations. I am still processing
and will share later some of the meaningful sites visited.

Amir gives updates on the Middle East each week and has
a website sharing who he is and what is available. The site
address to Behold Israel is below:

https://beholdisrael.org/behold-israel-has-a-new-website/

OOPS

Reader, I failed to post the website for last
evening's blog. So sorry, but yesterday was
a day that matched, in some small ways, the
journey of the Israelites as they came to the
Red Sea and the Egyptians showed up. We
experienced one unexpected event after ano-
there, beginning with a car that simply shut
down and would not release the key...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs3fOjJAeZE&t=11s

Will be back in a couple of weeks!!!!

Fear Not

Reader I found a wonderful encouraging video by
Malcolm Smith for those of you who find yourself
intimidated by the news of the day. He is in Ex 14
where the Israelites are between the Red Sea and
Pharaoh's army with no where to turn. Some days
I feel that way! It was the perfect thing for me to
watch as we go into a new adventure.

I will be not be blogging for a couple of weeks.

Our Deeds; Our Motives

Except your righteousness shall exceed the 
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
you shall in no case enter the kingdom of
heaven.  Matthew 5:20

The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good 
things, but that he is good in motive because he has been 
made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only 
thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ 
came to put into any man who would let Him a new here-
dity which would exceed the righteousness of the scribes 
and Pharisees. Jesus says--If you are my disciple you 
must be right not only in your living, but your motives, 
in your dreams, in the recesses of your mind. You must 
be so pure in your motives that God Almighty can see 
nothing to censure. Who can stand in the Eternal Light of 
God and have nothing for God to censure? Only the Son 
of God, and Jesus Christ claims that by His Redemption 
He can put into any man His own disposition, and make 
him as unsullied and as simple as a child. The purity 
which God demands is impossible unless I can be remade 
within, and that is what Jesus has undertaken to do by His 
Redemption.

No man can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus 
Christ does not give us rules and regulations; His teachings 
are truths that can only be interpreted by the disposition 
He puts in. The great marvel of Jesus Christ's salvation is 
that He alters heredity. He does not alter human nature; 
He alters its mainspring. Oswald Chambers

Reader, if you can grasp this message, it will set you free!