Twelve Things I Love About Jerusalem

Why twelve, you ask?  I don’t know.  I was looking at pictures of our year in Israel this morning and started thinking about how I love that place. For those of you who don’t know, we spent last year living in Israel and serving on the leadership team of Succat Hallel, a 24/7 house of prayer in Jerusalem. It was one of the best years of my life but also one of the hardest years of my life. I know that sounds strange, but it’s really true. The difficult times refined my walk with God in a way that nothing else could, so I treasure even the hardest days.

These twelve things are in no particular order. I couldn’t put them in order even if I had to. I love every one of them. Ok…here goes….

1. Looking out my living room window at the Jordanian mountains  of Moab. The security fence that borders the West Bank is visible also.

2. Visiting my 2 favorite places on the Temple Mount. This was the location of Solomon’s temple & possible site of the third temple.

And this is the inside of the Eastern (Golden) Gate where Yeshua will enter the city when He returns. (Who is that handsome man standing there?!)

3. Worshiping with the community at Succat Hallel

4. Watching Bar Mitzvah ceremonies at the Western Wall on Thursday mornings

5. Jillienne, our friend and intercessor who lived with us. (This is our last day, and I was very emotional!)

6. John and Una Gere, a precious couple who taught me so much about Israel. They are my heroes.

7. Listening to these guys lead worship in the prayer room:  Steve Carpenter, Adam Rosenfeld, Gary Benjamin, and Scott Phillips (not pictured)

8. My favorite tree in the Old City. This was street level when Yeshua walked these streets.

9. Rick and Patti Ridings who have poured out their lives to see an expression of 24/7 worship & prayer once again be established in the City of the King

10. Looking at the southern wall of the Old City and meditating on how much God loves this city

11. My apartment across the Hinnom Valley from the Old City

12. Waking up the dawn every morning

Through all that I have learned over the last two decades, I can say in all sincerity that Israel is the most important country on this planet.  It would be wise to learn all you can about her and what God says about her.  This tiny little country is the secondhand on God’s timepiece for the end of the age. If you think Israel is the center of world media attention now….just wait until things REALLY start heating up!

“If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither away. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I fail to count Jerusalem the greatest of all my joys.“   Psa. 137:5-6