We’re headed to Israel Monday morning and arriving early evening Tuesday making our way straight to Jerusalem!
Once arriving we’ll walk to the old city and behold the Temple Mt.
I’ve been preparing for this trip for sometime because one of the objectives is to do some filming on sight in Israel and bring back some blessings to the church.
I’m particularly looking forward to visiting the excavations south of the Temple Mt. at the pool of Siloam. Do you remember what took place at the pool?
It’s recorded in John 9 when Jesus took mud and put it in the eyes of a blind man instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam.
To be physically handicapped in the ancient world was a particular hardship and challenge. In effect your life was relegated to begging and dependency upon others. This was a man who had been blind since birth, having never seen the light of the day, the brilliance of a flower, not even his mother’s face!
What made the difference?
Obviously he could not see — BUT, he could HEAR and RESPOND to the WORD of Jesus! When you add God’s truth to be, heard, and God’s truth, to be responded to, the sky is the limit!
You might be in a place where you are unable to “see” or understand what’s taking place — but you can HEAR the truth of God’s Word and respond! Jesus said, “if you continue in my word you will be my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free!”
“Faith” is like a “lens” thru which we see reality more accurately. Do you know everything? No. Can you see everything? No. The lens of faith provides “illumination” to what we can’t see with our eyes and grasp with our minds.
Did Noah see something through the “lens of faith?” Yes! A need for a big boat!
Did Abraham see something through the lens of faith?” Yes! A son, a nation, and a future Kingdom!
Did Moses see something through the lens of faith? Moses saw the greatest reality, the reality of God, an “invisible God!” He also saw that God would cover his sin with the application of “Lamb’s blood!”
What does God want you to “see” today?”
For the man born blind, Jesus opened his eyes demonstrating that the MOST IMPORTANT reality is that we see the truth of God: the Lord Jesus!
Blessings! 🙂
We will be praying for you! We are looking forward to reading your blog this week! Blessings, Paul & Cathy
I pray you have a super blessed trip..
Looking forward to updates!! Enjoy
You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Can’t wait to see and hear what the Lord has in store for all of you going! God bless!
The Whigams
Have a great trip Greg and Lily, Gracie already said how much she will miss Lily, her neighbor in class. Something you told me on one of our trips to Israel together when I was dreading the long flight from JFK….you said, “it’s just time, It’ll pass”…remember that and blog lots bro.
Pastor Greg – I look forward to “experiencing” Israel thru your words and pictures. Praying for a wonderfully blessed time for you and Lily. Also keeping Stephanie, Greg, Sarah and Pete in prayer.
Beth
Blessings and God’s protection on you as you travel the Holy Land. Thank you for adding me to your mailing list. I’ll be looking forward to reading of your experiences.
Love in Christ,
Barb
Praying that you and Lily have a blessed time!
I am praying for you both as you walk on “holy ground.” May each step be blessed and may God show you many things from very big to quite small that you will hold dear in your hearts. Looking forward to reading about your journey.
I am so excited that you get to share this very special time daddy/daughter together. Enjoy every minute and rest assured, many people are covering you in prayer!
Can’t wait to hear all about your trip!! What a blessing! You will all be in our prayers! God Bless!
We are praying for your trip daiy. Blessings, Timothy
I just read your blog and I am picturing you and sweet Lilly together there, in Israel having a blessed time. I miss you already. I along with countless others am praying for you both. I too am looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing your stories.
Yes I see, and Yes I believe- but Lord- Open the eyes of my heartI want to see you and Lord- Help my un belief…..
Thoughts on John 9:1-12
1. Maybe today someone in your life is going through some trial?
2. Maybe things haven’t worked out in ytheir life the way they’d have liked?
3. So; we all ask “Lord Why?”
Somebody once wisely said:
1. We are either IN A TRIAL
2. COMING OUT of a trail
3. Or about ready to GO INTO a trail
TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS are a COMMON PART of life;
1. And MY JOB as your FELLOW BOND SLAVE F CHRIST is not to –
a) TEACH you how to ESCAPE or RUN FROM your problems;
2. But RATHER, my job is to-
a) Teach you how to SUFFER WELL
b) To learn to LIVE VICTORIOUSLY, even IN TRIALS
I. ‘God sees and cares’
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
There are numerous PRINCIPLES here that we need to remember
As we go through TRIALS and HARDSHIPS and We can be CONFIDENT that JESUS sees and cares because-
#1. GOD IS PRESENT
God takes GREAT INTEREST in YOUR LIFE
1. It says, ‘Jesus passed by’—————— He wasn’t somewhere else
This BLIND MAN wasn’t ALONE
1. JESUS was RIGHT THERE with him
a) JESUS was INTIMATELY acquainted with this MAN’S LIFE
TODAY in our life, someone we know feels like this POOR BLIND MAN;
1. Laying on the STREETS of LIFE as they ENDURE this TRIAL that they are in;
YET, we can see here that – JESUS is WITH US- Emmanuel
#2. GOD is INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED
#3. GOD CARES
#4. NO PROBLEM too GREAT
#5. GOD HAS A PURPOSE
II. WHY AM I GOING THROUGH THIS?
If you ask the PROSPERITY GOSPEL GROUP;
They’ll tell you that the REASON for this TRIAL is:
#1. Because there is SIN IN YOUR LIFE – OR-
#2. LACK FAITH
Sometimes we SUFFER for our SINFUL CHOICES;
But QUITE OFTEN, a SIN has NOTHING to do with our TRIALS
The world is FILLED with people like JOB’S FRIENDS;
And QUITE OFTEN they will BLAME others for their TRIALS
‘We’ll, there’s just got to be sin in your life…’ they will say, as matter of fact…
1. ‘Because God wouldn’t let you go through that otherwise’
Statements like that come from one of 3 GROUPS:
1. HIGHLY IMMATURE (spiritually)
2. UNEDUCATED (biblically)
3. SELF-RIGHTEOUS (lack understanding)
TYPICALLY, people who are CRITICAL of others in their TRIALS –
Have NEVER SUFFERED a DAY in their life
And they FOOLISHLY BELIEVE that there is –
Something SPIRITUALLY WRONG with those who DO suffer
Why do we SO OFTEN go through TRIALS?
What is GOD’S PURPOSE?
III. For the GLORY of GOD
IV. TIME IS LIMITED
V. GOD WORKS in DIVERSE WAYS
VI. HUMILITY REQUIRED
VII. OTHERS ARE WATCHING
The world may be able to ARGUE with your DOCTRINE
But they CANNOT argue with your TESTIMONY
One of the GREATEST PROOFS that JESUS CHRIST is Who He claims to be
1. Is OUR TESTIMONY
The world is DESPERATELY SEEKING for something that is REAL
1. Are we living it?
CONCLUSION:
1. God sees and cares
2. WHY AM I GOING THROUGH THIS?
3. For the GLORY of GOD
4. TIME IS LIMITED
5. GOD WORKS in DIVERSE WAYS
6. HUMILITY REQUIRED
7. OTHERS ARE WATCHING
In 1895 Andrew Murray was in England suffering from a terribly painful back, the result of an injury he had incurred years before. He was staying with some dear friends. One morning while he was eating his breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Just give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
In time of trouble, say, “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.” And last, say, “In His good time He can bring me out again. How, and when, He knows.” Therefore say, “I am here (1 ) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.”
Jim, I was excited to read what you wrote about trials. It’s really hard, in the middle of a trial, to stop and think these things. Thank you for the reminder in writing. It should be posted in everyones house as a reminder that God is ALWAYS with us and going through the trial with us. God bless you and thank you.
Barb