Last week as we were sitting in the middle east some of these verses came to life for me. We were in a northern city where we had evangelistic services 3 times through out the day. Each time the gathering place we were in was filled. Many women especially filled the room and as the music began to play they sang unfamiliar songs with some struggle. You could tell they liked the music but it was not a tune they knew. Then the pastor began to preach. The entire service was in Arabic with no translator, but by gestures, motions, and little bible knowledge it became apparent to me that he was asking them about the 10 commandments. The audience was participating in helping pastor recount the commandments. You could see sometimes he would say “so close” and someone else would fill in the missing part. He would smile big when they got them right and sorrowfully shake his head a little when the answer was not quite right. The audience laughed and smiled as they “won the game of naming the commandments. Then he preached using the commandments as his subject. It dawned on me about half way through the day that most of the congregation that was women had never been in the same room as the one teaching a lesson. In the Muslim world women are not honored and they cannot be in the worship room with the men in the Mosques. They must over hear the gospel in the next room. Many women are not taught to read or write so to have words handed to them on a page to sing by or even a bible put in their hands was an honor but not a helpful tool. One lady was asked to read a verse out loud. She was so proud of herself and the others were as well as she read. There are so many things I take for granted. My education and being able to read and write is one of them. Having my own copy of God’s word and being able to read it for myself daily and ask God about it myself are treasures I hope I never take for granted. Even to gather with fellow believers and sing and study without fear is a gift. Having no other God, worshiping Him only, Honoring His name, Making nothing in my life an idol, treating my parents and others with love and respect should all be not just things done because they are right, but things done daily in honor of My King. Our question for the day is do you obey the commands and if so, do you do it out of honor or compulsion. My challenge to you and me is to look around you and see what you may be taking for granted that are gifts from God. Thank Him for them today. Then take a few minutes to pray for people all over the world who do not have the freedoms you enjoy. Pray for those God is sending to bring them the Light of the Gospel.

Les and I talked often over the past few days about how the diet of the people of the Middle East is anchored around flour. They eat bread like many other cultures eat rice or corn. As I read about the feasts that took place it made the offering of flour and the food they ate of unleavened bread that much more meaningful. God was saying to give to Him of what was life sustaining on a physical level to them. God had given them the flour and oil and it was an act of love and worship to give it back to God.
What in your life and mind is life sustaining? God did not require their whole, but a portion. It was a reminder that what they had was a gift from Him. What in our lives is God asking us to give? Time, money, labor, or maybe some of each of these to help us remember that what we have is a gift from Him and is to be used for His glory. For His provision, strength, and love, we too should party!

What in your life right now will last for thousands of years? I know. Me too. I have no idea and can’t even fathom what that might be. Today we walked streets built before Jesus birth. We walked on bleachers set up to watch horse races and Olympic Games from early Roman days. We walked ruins from a church from the time of the Crusades. We saw open graves from literally over a thousand years ago. Ruins is what we call them today, but in those ruins on just a few acres were at least three early churches. On the walls of one were crosses etched in stone. The building might be in pieces, but the cross was still in tact. What in my life will last thousands of years and even more? My relationship with Jesus and pouring into others who put their faith in Him lasts. Nothing else including church buildings will remain, but our faith in the Eternal One will. The ruins we saw today were in the front yard of one of our workers from the states. Gene’ asked him if he ever just came out and journaled or spent time with God. He said as a matter of fact I do. When I get overwhelmed with all that is going on around me I come to this road where Jesus probably walked to enter the ancient city and I just pray. Wow, what a great reminder to me that our friends need constant encouragement no matter where they serve. Christian leaders can and do become overwhelmed when the family may not be at peace or church demands remove the leader from the home night after night. They sometimes just need to come to the path of Christ and center up again. If you know friends who are workers in the field, take time today to lift them and their families up. Send them a note of encouragement. Let them know you are behind them lifting them up. Consider your own life right now, are you investing in eternal things? If not reconsider your investments of time and money. Set your eyes on things above. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. If there is one thing our walk in antiquities showed us today it was that once great civilizations will pass and fade away. Rocks and stones will cover what we may worship. But investments in the eternal things truly will last forever. Choose wisely my friend.
We leave at 3:00 in the morning to start our trek home. Your prayers are appreciated. Thank you for joining us on our adventure. There will be more to come. To the glory of His Name!

Our trip to the mountains was wearying but encouraging. We traveled on some of the bumpiest roads I have traveled in years, but the views were breath taking. One of our stops were at a mountain top high above the valley that overlooks Mt. Carmel and a valley Jesus walked when he healed one of His disciple’s mother in law. The mountain top had a crusade castle on top that at one time served as a bunker for warring countries even in modern days. Our trip then took us to a valley many mountains away that held many refugee camps. We were invited to be a guest in one of the homes. It was a one room home made from a tarp and very beautiful purple fabric covered the inside. On the floor were 3 rugs that covered all exposed ground. In the center was a small stove where the woman of the domain prepared and served hot tea. We lounged on pillows on her floor and drank from small glass cups. The tea was sweet and the fellowship even sweeter. The home held a 10 day old baby girl in a small basket. She was bundled up though the stove kept it toasty inside. She was covered by a soft thin net to keep flying pests away. I wondered if in some way that was how Mary and Joseph felt when visitors came to see their Child. Did their home feel warm and inviting like this home was? Were they discouraged as well because they had traveled from their home town? Did Mary miss her parents as this sweet lady and her friends did? Did Mary have fond memories of her hometown? Our visit was brief but my heart captured many memories. I wrestled and played with a small boy about 9 months old. He played with my necklace and teethed on my hand. I prayed silently for him as we visited with the adults. I was praying that he would be saved.
At one time today we could see three nations who seem to always have conflict. As we drove I prayed for them. Please join me in praying for their leaders. Pray for peace, but most of all pray that they will come to know The Prince of Peace. Tomorrow is our last day of ministry. Please pray that G and Z will get all of their questions asked and see what they need to see so they can come back home and focus on what remains stateside to do. They will be raising funds and preparing to return here to work with refugees and the Muslim people in this area. There is MUCH work to be done and so few workers. If you can’t go please consider supporting our kids as they go. Please consider making them your personal missionaries that you will pray for, encourage, and when possible give. To the ends of the Earth with our kids!

Ministry takes many forms here. There are ministry events daily not to mention home visits and one on one time. Today we worshipped with the church family who makes all of the ministry possible. We studied James 1:2-4 in Sunday School. The Syrian gentleman who taught was teaching on trials and counting it all joy when you encounter them. The trials these people face make my daily bumps look ridiculous. He used the example of a young man hit by a bomb while in the shower. This week we have heard about homes destroyed, family killed or missing, going from being a middle class family to living in a home made out of anything they could scrounge and find including cardboard, plastic, bits of tin, pieces of wood in a foreign country. My trials look super small even the large ones compared to what many of these people face. The teacher reminded us that these things produce patience and in the end maturity. What a challenge to me to endure with joy no matter what I face. As Les often says”it could be worse.” Indeed!
We spent the afternoon seeing a ruin the people here believe was the place where Jesus’ first miracle took place. Like many things there are stories that Jesus spent time in this area. Even if it is not the exact place it was easy to see how the Messiah took time walking the mountain sides, spending time with people He cared for and teaching about things they were experiencing along the way. Goats were on the mountainside, lilies where in the fields, rocks were everywhere, and a brook ran through the valley. So many stories came to mind. As I touched the leaves of an olive tree it was so easy to see Jesus in such a setting. We did not sample any wine or drink any water there? but we reflected once again on the rich history that surrounds these wonderful people and yet they are blind to it. Please pray as tomorrow we will journey to a ministry camp further inland. Pray for safety and for God to be glorified as we work and minister. He is good and loves these people. May they see that and long for Him.

N is a lady who works for the church in a city in the north. Daily she sees refugees and takes request for aid as well as counsels with them. We participated in ministry with her today giving out food portions, milk, diapers and gospel literature. She told us of a lady who came today desiring food. N took time to talk to the refugee about Jesus. Her knowledge of Jesus was limited to what she had been taught. She was taught to hate Christians and those who love Jesus. As she talked with N she said “you are not as they said”. N spoke to her asking what did she know that Jesus did. Muslims know about Jesus and believe Him to be a great teacher. They know He did miracles and helped people. They deny His death and resurrection as well as His deity. N asked her if there was a church leader who cheated on his wife and killed others would he be a good teacher or bad. The lady replied “He would be wicked.” N agreed. Then she said “think about what you know of your prophet and what he did. Jesus did good. That is what Christians teach. Why would you fear us?” The old lady shook her head in I acknowledgement. The church here provides portions so that when the time is right the Message of eternal life can be shared. Please pray for N and her safety. She lives in a very dangerous place. Keep praying for the laborer a in the city we are staying in. They too proclaim the gospel with boldness. They take the scripture seriously, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” We will be praying for you our American church friends as you worship tomorrow. Please pray for Les before you go to bed. He will be preaching before you wake up in the morning. We love and miss you guys.

I wish you were here with me right now. There are the sounds of about 125 children laughing, talking and singing. We are at the end of a children’s event for the children of the community and refugee camp. The children started by singing “This Is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” What a great song to sing for all of us. Those who are in a foreign land because of war, those of us here to share the good news of Jesus and those who are sharing their city with the hurting. God has indeed given us this day and this time. It is our choice to rejoice and be glad! The bible story was about 3 young men in a foreign land who refused to bow to anyone but the One true God. Their actions caused them to be thrown into a hot fire yet God was with them and took care of them. Amen! What a great message for us all. God is with us through the fire when we stand fast in His Righteousness. That is not just a good message for war torn refugees, but also for America and other nations choosing to bow to other gods. May we keep sharing Jesus at home as well as here in this distant land. Our travels today took us to the center of what some would consider the most dangerous places. We saw where violence and hatred has taken place. We were safe in our travels, but we were reminded that evil wears no specific color of face. Evil is in the heart of man and only the love of Jesus changes this. That is why we would even consider allowing our children to come and live here. The bible says it well when it says “The love of Christ compels”. Yes it does! With out Jesus we will all spend eternity in the most evil place. So it is imperative that we go and send. Please consider supporting our kids as they come here to live. If not them then someone called to the dark places. Without them coming to tell evil spreads and has a greater voice. Even if you don’t financially give PLEASE pray. The battle is real and our warrior children will be front line for His glory. To the ends of the earth… As I wrap this up the evening call to prayer is sounding. Please stop what you are doing now and pray for peace for the cease fire that goes into effect at sundown. God is at work among the people who are in darkness

I have thought many times today about what I would write because SO much is going on. We spent the day worshiping with many people from a war torn area. Many heard about Jesus for the first time ever. We heard several stories of people seeing dreams and coming to the ministry center. One of the Pastor’s that joined us told us of his hatred for the people he now serves. There are just so many God size stories! The thing that has broke. My heart over and over is each person we talked to who had lost a husband, a family member, but the one that brings tears to my eyes is the small girl with beautiful brown eyes whose mom and home were lost to a bomb. So much hatred, killing, chaos and yet these people are finding love, life and hope in Jesus! Glory to God. He is so faithful!!! Please pray that the cease fire that is supposed to start tomorrow will hold and that soon our friends will get to go home. Pray as we visit a University tomorrow and work with children tomorrow afternoon. God is working here and we are seeing the difference He makes all around us. One last blessing, we saw the mountain today where Jesus was transfigured. It was far in the distance but it was there. I am blown away that we have seen places Jesus walked. WOW! I will give you more stories when we return home.

We have literally been to the mountaintop today as we walked and prayed for new property here that could hold hundreds of children for sports camps. The mountainside overlooks the city and the Mediterranean coastline. We were blown away to realize the former Kings of this area that provided timber to build the Temple of Solomon is possibly had a summer residence in the area. The children will learn about The King as they walk where kings of the past walked. This afternoon we walked the city. Tonight one of our friends preached and shared Jesus with a room filled with men, women and children. I wept as I saw so many women with their heads covered praying and singing to God. My favorite song was “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”. Wow. “No turning back, no turning back.” The future here is so bright. Many of these new friends are refugees from a war torn area. They hope to get to go home when peace returns. When they do they will take The King home with them. Oh how blessed we are to serve our great King. Thank you all for praying please keep it up. Tomorrow we go to another part of the country that has camps. We will do ministry again with people who will hopefully return home one day. Pray that they will take Jesus home in their hearts. Pray we will be His Light. To the glory of One!

Just wanted to let our FB family know we made it to our destination safely. We ate some wonderful hummus and unleavened bread. After our meal we were asked to give to a needy family standing outside the place we ate. Not only did we give physical bread but we also prayed for them and gave spiritual nourishment as well. Thank you for your prayers. Our flights were uneventful. We are good but tired.