Understanding the Word

The Temple Mount, as seen from the top of the Citadel. The Dome of the Rock stands on the former site of the Temple. In the background you can see the Mount of Olives.

I am constantly amazed at how you can learn more from Scripture every time you read it. In the past two days, I have listened to Psalm 48 being explained by two very godly men, and then I have walked in the very city talked about in the psalm. Along with that, the students are memorizing the psalm for class and I want to memorize it as well, so wherever I go, I hear it being recited. I can't imagine a better way to "study" God's Word.

"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled, they passsed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, and pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, as when You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindnesses, in the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments. Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death." Psalm 48 NKJV

This is my buddy, Eitan, and I at the airport picking up the students.

My friends, Yuma and Yerimiah.

Galatians 6:10

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

I have never seen this verse more clearing and consistantly followed than here in Israel with those I live around. It is constantly amazing to me the different lives that are lived here, yet with people still being people. The three families I am working for are always thinking of others. Schedules are put aside, for people. Dishes are left undone in order to meet the needs of people. Food and toys are freely shared so that people feel loved and cared for, even when the time to share them is not always convenient. Now this may not sound like much, and you may think, "I do that too, sometimes." But I am serious when I say that these amazing friends live this way all the time. They have learned more than I have about the joy found in living for the Lord first, then others, then themselves. As my Mama likes to say, "True joy is spelled J-O-Y. Jesus - Others - You. Always put the Lord and others before yourself and you will find true joy, living like Jesus." Last night I was once again included in a family dinner. Afterwards, when I went back to my room and checked my phone messages, one of the other families had invited me over for dinner as well. I want to learn to care for others like these families do.

Jesus said, in John 13:15, "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Jesus has just washed the disciples' feet and was illustrating what true servanthood really looks like, but this verse, I think, applies to all that Jesus said and did. He is our perfect example. What a lot of learning and change I have left to do!

Our God is Great

"The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name -- He is holy." Psalm 99

Our God is great and mighty. He has done great things for His people in the past and His people, us, today. Today as we were driving to have some fun in Israel, this question kept coming up every few minutes. Bill would ask, "What in the Bible happened here?" What an awesome experience to recall God's people and His faithfulness to them as you drive to swim and play?

At lunch we had a very "Israeli" discussion about Creation and Genesis 1 and 2. What an encouragement to always be talking, thinking about or looking at parts of Scripture. I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I am being given.

A Small World

Life in Israel is wonderful simply because it is where the Lord has me right now. I'm so thankful for the chance to be here and I'm enjoying all of the different things I've been able to do so far. I've painted and weeded and trimmed bushes in the hot weather. I've had meals where I can hear a minimum of 4 different languages being spoken, I've helped prepare an Arabic dish for dinner, I've done dishes Israeli style (hard to picture until you've seen it). I've walked through the new shopping center just outside the Old City gates, tasted Aroma coffee (Israel's Starbucks...very good!), and walked through the streets of the Old City. I've wandered around an Israeli mall with a 10 year old to translate for me, watched a 6 or 7 year old Sudanese girl (who doesn't speak a lick of Hebrew or English) make herself at home in the Schlegels house, and helped change a tire on the side of a busy Jerusalem road. And how can I forget the morning hug from 3 year old Eitan, or drink the fresh squeezed grape juice 7 year old Isaiah made for me (he went to the vineyards, pulled off some grapes, washed his hands and the grapes and then squeezed them into a glass...delicious!)? Life is good. Our Lord is better. May I never forget to give Him the glory for each and every day.