IMAGINE THE PICTURE

I can't seem to get a picture of my sister, Jo, on here, so you'll have to imagine it.
Here, I'll leave a space for it on our regular top right position. She's looks like me, or
I should say, I look like her, since she's bunches older. However, she is thinner.
That's why I didn't have to leave much space. Moving right along.

I want to introduce you to her blog,
www.jbandcompany.com

I think you'll find it interesting and easy to read, and it will make you want to live life on purpose.

By the way, watch for "Pizza on the Sea of Galilee" coming out in Ebenezer and Ninety-Eight Friends about the end of October. Order from www.lighthouseebooks.com

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Blest Be the TieThat Binds, John Fawcett.

Jesus said to them, come and have breakfast.
John 21:12

IT'S NOT THE PLACE

I went to great lengths to sit sideways on the side of this hill. Click on picture to enlarge--and see me holding on for dear life.

Our trip to Colorado last week made me think of our land, which made me think of David's wise words:

IT’S NOT THE PLACE


There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God.
Near to the Heart of God
Cleland B. McAfee, 1866-1944


We’re sitting in the Granite Café. At the table across from us I see a group of earthy-looking people. On the far wall is a couple from Los Angles. Surrounded by the Colorado Rocky Mountains, we’re all trying to realize our dreams. David and I hope to locate the land his father gave him years ago. Though undeveloped and unfound, it belongs to us. Tomorrow may be the day we reach this our promised land.

We spent our first thirty-some years in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, but we had to see the other enchanting places out there. We raised our children in the Pacific Northwest, what many call “God’s Country.” We lived a while in the Mojave Desert. We’re now empty nesters in the San Joaquin Valley, abounding with its food from the earth. We admit we’d rather live in Colorado or Oregon than in the desert or even in California’s cornucopia.
As we drove the winding highway this afternoon, David broke the silence: “It’s not the place.”

David has taken vacation time to try to locate our little spot of wilderness. He has paid taxes to retain it. He has hired surveyors to determine the outline of the property.

Nevertheless, he knows where his joy comes from. We don’t trust in the streams and rivers, but in the Living Water. Our hope does not stand on the Rockies, but on the Rock of Ages. Our wisdom doesn’t come from the meadows, but from the Master.

We don’t know when or if we’ll develop this raw land and realize our dream. But we both are learning about the happiest place to be—It’s a secret place.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (KJV)

The above article will appear in Ebenezer and Ninety-Eight Friends, coming out sometime next month.

JASON

Jason followed our group at the Temple Mount. A little skeptical, Ido asked him to show his passport. Jason readily complied. He found Jason was Kosher--or at least had a legal passport. With the group's permission, Ido asked him to join us. We struck up a conversation and learned he was a Christian from Brisbane, Australia--where we'd visited our kids a couple years earlier.

One of these days, we'll be striking up all kinds of conversations with Jason and people from all over the globe in the New Jerusalem. There will be few similarities in all of us. But we'll all have our passports. We'll be accepted because at some point in each of our lives, we asked God to come into this empty temple.

Click on the picture and you'll see the handsome young man who was willing to get his picture with me. Sad thing, we didn't even get his address, but we'll find each other one day.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:2A

I saw the Holy City beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
the gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter and no one was denied...
It was then new Jerusalem that would not pass away.
Jerusalem