Paying the price to praise.
We leave on the tour bus, in about an hour, to head to the Temple Mount. The place David bought from Aruanah, 2 Samuel 24, as a place to worship God.
Aruanah offered to give it to David, all of it, lock stock and barrell--but David would have none of it. In my words, David wouldn`t take it because only by paying for it, by giving of what he had, by investing in this piece of property, only then would he truly feel a part of it. Like it was his.
Worship is like that.
We can watch from the sidelines.
We can have it going on all around us.
We can see how others participate in it.
But until we give a part of ourselves to it, it is not ours.
We have to pay the price to praise.
We have to make the effort.
We have to offer to expend ourselves.
 

If you were here and had walked/experienced all we have today, well, your tail would be dragging!
Our morning started with a 1-1/2 hour bus ride to Masada--neat place. Intriguing. Its story bolsters your faith. Google it, or watch Roman Downey`s movie, The Dove, which we were told is the closest re-enactment Hollywood has done in a Christian movie.
After walking all over the mountain top fortress we drove to Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul and where forces gathered to defeat Jehosaphat--but was defeated when prayer and praise ushered in God`s power. It was quite a trek up the trail. Our tour guide is a former Israeli soldier, so he really put us through our paces taking the more able of us up farther than most go. But when we reached the spring, saw the waterfall and heard the account standing there, it was worth the walk. Well worth the walk. It was probably the high light of my day. This is the place where David probably wrote the 57th and 142nd psalms.
On to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered by a little shepherd boy searching for his lost goat.
And then the Dead Sea. I am not a water person, so I was tickled to say I dipped my feet in the water and picked up a few rocks to take home as souvenirs. Everyone seemed to have a blast with the floating. My new dear friends, Mr Bob and Mrs Jean joined in and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They are a real encouragement to me!
After we toweled off, we were back on the bus and heading up into Jerusalem and our hotel again. We were given the news of tomorrow`s itinerary and that we would have to be on the bus by 7am...the Temple Mount, the Rabbinical Tunnels, the Temple Institute and a worship service for our group tomorrow evening in one of the hotel conference rooms.
We have been observing Shabbat with our fellow Jews. Maybe not with, but our lives are affected by it. Shabbat has ended now so tomorrow we will see what Jerusalem really looks like.
What new thing did I eat today? A chicken schnitzel sandwich.
What was the weather like? Cool, may low 50`s in Jerusalem, but mid 70`s in the desert where we spent the day. I have a sunburn, something this Southern Illinois gal doesn`t often get in February!
What do I miss from home? My guys, ice in water and Mackie`s pizza!
The Scripture really came alive to me today as we talked about David and Saul in Ein Gedi. I have taken a few pics and cannot wait to share what I have learned, little by little.
Got to hit the sack, the alarm will be going off early tomorrow and I need to be ready to go, go, go!