Everyone who knows me, knows I love the Holy Land. But it's not just the land, we've got family there, too. Through the night my mind of prayer has been interceding for Jerusalem and our brothers and sisters there. Please join me in praying the prayer of the Psalmist:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
May those who love you prosper.
-- Psalm 122:6 (GWT)
Peace to Jerusalem and prosperity to you.
Grateful
Showing posts with label The Holy Land. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Holy Land. Show all posts
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Monday, October 24, 2011
Hearts Aflame Discipleship Journey
Today, I, along with one of my partners in ministry, Pastor Vic, baptized 20 people in the Jordan River. Tonight, I am lost in wonder, love, and praise.
One of the ladies on this discipleship journey, Dara, read these words from Mark, Chapter 1, from God's Holy Word just before the sacred moments of baptism began:
(9) One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. (10) As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. (11) And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and You bring me great joy.” (12) The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, (13) where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of Him. (14) Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where He preached God’s Good News. (15) “The time promised by God has come at last!” He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
It was a powerful day to say the least.
Now, as I post this blog content, I can hear the waves of The Sea of Galilee lapping along the seashore about 20 feet outside my hotel room window. In the morning we, like Jesus, will steadfastly set our faces to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).
Our guide in The Holy Land, Johnny, said this to us earlier in the week: "Every believer should desire to visit the Holy Land of our Lord Jesus at least once in their lifetime." Indeed, being here lives up to the reputation that comes along with journeying through the Holy Land -- Yes, it most surely is like living within what has been called The 5th Gospel of The Bible.
I pray that wherever you are, the presence of the Man from Galilee will speak "Peace be still to your soul" and that your heart will be aflame with the beauty of His Holiness.
Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful
One of the ladies on this discipleship journey, Dara, read these words from Mark, Chapter 1, from God's Holy Word just before the sacred moments of baptism began:
(9) One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. (10) As Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove. (11) And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and You bring me great joy.” (12) The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, (13) where He was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of Him. (14) Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where He preached God’s Good News. (15) “The time promised by God has come at last!” He announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
It was a powerful day to say the least.
Now, as I post this blog content, I can hear the waves of The Sea of Galilee lapping along the seashore about 20 feet outside my hotel room window. In the morning we, like Jesus, will steadfastly set our faces to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).
Our guide in The Holy Land, Johnny, said this to us earlier in the week: "Every believer should desire to visit the Holy Land of our Lord Jesus at least once in their lifetime." Indeed, being here lives up to the reputation that comes along with journeying through the Holy Land -- Yes, it most surely is like living within what has been called The 5th Gospel of The Bible.
I pray that wherever you are, the presence of the Man from Galilee will speak "Peace be still to your soul" and that your heart will be aflame with the beauty of His Holiness.
Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful
Friday, February 11, 2011
The "Good" Shepherd Disciplines His Own
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
-- David, The Shepherd-boy King's Words in Psalm 119:67 (NIV)
Roy Gustafson, who has led many parties to The Holy Land, tells in his book "In His Hand" (p.46) that on one of his visits, on the road down from Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness to Jericho, they met a shepherd carrying one of his sheep with a splint and a bandage on its leg. Said their guide, who'd lived nearly fifty years in that area, "The shepherd broke that sheep's leg himself."
And it was true! It was explained that this was a sheep that was always wandering off, and in the process leading other sheep astray. Membership in the flock carries certain responsibilities, and as much as the shepherd feels a real affection for his animals, discipline is the only thing that will keep them together, as they must be kept together for their well-being and their safety. So to cure this sheep of its self-willed ways, the shepherd had broken its leg, and then hand fed and carried it till the bone was mended ... and (hopefully) its waywardness.
The Twenty-Third Psalm (KJV)
(1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Baa. Baa.
Grateful
-- David, The Shepherd-boy King's Words in Psalm 119:67 (NIV)
(5b) “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. (6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.” (7) As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? (8) If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. -- Hebrews 12:5b-8 (NLT)
Roy Gustafson, who has led many parties to The Holy Land, tells in his book "In His Hand" (p.46) that on one of his visits, on the road down from Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness to Jericho, they met a shepherd carrying one of his sheep with a splint and a bandage on its leg. Said their guide, who'd lived nearly fifty years in that area, "The shepherd broke that sheep's leg himself."
And it was true! It was explained that this was a sheep that was always wandering off, and in the process leading other sheep astray. Membership in the flock carries certain responsibilities, and as much as the shepherd feels a real affection for his animals, discipline is the only thing that will keep them together, as they must be kept together for their well-being and their safety. So to cure this sheep of its self-willed ways, the shepherd had broken its leg, and then hand fed and carried it till the bone was mended ... and (hopefully) its waywardness.
The Twenty-Third Psalm (KJV)
(1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Grateful
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