ISRAEL: T-9 DAYS

Several of you have asked about the itinerary I will have while overseas...here it is:

Day 1 2/15-Early morning flight out of St Louis to Newark, NJ. Late afternoon flight out of Newark to Tel Aviv. Length on overseas flight: 10.5 hours

Day 2 2/16-Arrive in Tel Aviv approximately mid-late morning , go through customs and begin tour. We should visit places like Caeserea, Mt Carmel, the Jezreel Valley and Nazareth on this day.

Day 3 2/17-Sea of Galilee, boat ride on the Sea, Mt of Beatitudes, Capernaum and have an opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Day 4 2/18-Tel Dan Nature Preserve and Golan Heights.

Day 5 2/19-Gideon`s Springs and begin our ascent into Jerusalem.

Day 6 2/20-Dead Sea, Masada, Qumran, Wadi Kelt.

Days 7-9 2/21-2/23-Jerusalem, Mt of Olives, Calvary, the Tomb, possibly the Holocaust Museum and the Temple Museum, Garden of Gethsemane. The Dome of the Rock, Western Wall, go to a street market, Palm Sunday Road and several other things are mentioned on our tour packet. Will depart Tel Aviv late this evening for a flight back to Newark. Length of overseas flight: 12.5 hours

Day 10 2/24-Arrive in Newark, change planes and fly to St Louis. Arrive in St Louis around 9:30am.

Keep me in your prayers as I experience all of this. I want to soak it all in like a sponge. I want to experience it so deeply that I can share with those God allows me to share with. I want to come back a different person after having been given this God-sent opportunity!

BRING THEM HERE
Today`s reading: Matthew 14-16

``Bring them here, he said.`` Matthew 14:18 NLT

I`ll set the scene...

The crowds were gathered. The disciples were nervous. Everyone was hungry.

We know how it eventually ends, the little boy`s lunch blessed by Jesus fed the multitude, but this morning my eyes are on the disciples and how very much I am like them. And not in a good way.

The problem loomed ahead of them. Big. Impossible. A common need needing fulfilled.

They were wringing their hands in worry. They were fretting over what to do. They were pacing the ground. They were arguing among themselves as they brainstormed. They were attempting to ask themselves, What would Jesus have us do? They were, down deep, wanting to impress.

And Jesus` response?

Bring them to me, He said.

He tells me that often. About heartaches. About problems. About people who I am ready to wash my hands of. About souls I`m wanting to see saved. About burdens weighing heavy on my heart.

Bring them to me.

And when I do, and when they did--miracles happen!