Heart Of Praises

Golan Heights (Bashan) The Golan Heights belonged to Syria before 1967, after the Six Day Way, Israel reclaimed this piece of strategic territory. This area was known for its cattle and its oak trees in biblical times (Amos4:1-2, Isaiah 2:13). These metal figures are made from the defeated Syrian armies. Picture of our tour group with Israeli soldiers, take note that females will have to serve in the army too. Korazim (Chorazin) The Jews of the thriving town of Korazin refused to allow Jesus to preach there and Luke 10:13-15 recalls the curse laid upon the unrepentant cities. Korazin seems to have been destroyed by an earthquake in the third cenutry and was never rebuilt. A typical Galilean-style synagogue. Seat (Cathedra of Moses. It is a decorated basalt chair with an Aramaic inscription which mentions Yudan, son of Yishmael who donated of his wealth to the building of the synagogue. The seat was probably intended for dignitaries. Picture of Medusa, in Greek mytholoy, Medusa was one ...

Sea Of Galilee The Sea of Galilee is the catchment basin for the Jordan River and is fed primarily by the melting snow of Mount Hermon in the north. Small streams also flow down from the surrounding mountains. It is 685 feets below sea level. Here Jesus rebuked the winds and sea, walked on water (Mark 6:45-52) and created a miracle of 'boat-sinking, net-breaking' catch(Luke5:3-10). Peter also walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and sink because of the storms (Matthew 14:28-32) On a boat, quite a symbolic sight with 2 flags side by side, given Singapore and Israel's relatively similar position and situation. Sea gulls flying to get bits of bread from us. Mount of Beatitudes Jesus delivered the famous sermon (Matt 5,6 and 7) on the Mount. The hill has a hollowed slope that forms as a natural amphitheatre, amplifying any speaker's voice. WAy Cool...that's how Jesus spoke to the crowds. Robe donated by Pope John Paul II. Tabgha (Heptapegon) Location along...

Caesarea Maritima At Caesarea Maritima, below is a picture of an ancient theatre built by King Herod. At this great harbour city, is where Cornelius heard the good news from Peter (Acts 10). Apostle Paul was also held captive for 2 years (Acts 22:23) before being taken to Rome. The great Aquaduct of Caesarea. ( http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/caesareaaqueduct.html ) Some more pictures of Caesarea Mount Carmel The battle between 1 man of God, Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). This classical battle always reminds me that with God, numbers are not a problem. What seems impossible to defeat or conquer in the natural is possible with God. Imagine the faith that Elijah had in God, to stand before the tauntings and ridicule of 450. I believe Elijah had detailed instructions from the Lord in regards to building the altar of sacrifice/the trenches/water over the offering. Every step and way is from the Lord. I believe also that if we will to see God-given results in our lives in wh...

5am in changi airport, met with group of 50, prayed and off we go. Transit: HongKong - 4hr Security checks were conducted by Israelis at the transit. Questions were asked and bags are thoroughly checked. Given the political situation and history of Israel (1948 Arab-Israeli War, 1967 Six Day War, 1972 Munich Massacre, 1973 Yom Kippur, 1982 First Lebanon War, 1991 Gulf War, 2002 Waves Of Suicide Bombings, 2006 Second Lebanon War), I guess this is understandable. Hong Kong to Tel Aviv, Israel - 12hr Small blessings, through the few empty Boeing 777 economy seats on the 12hr flight for me to stretch legs and all...=)

Going to Israel-THE holy land from the 3rd to 13th Dec this year which starts from tomorrow..mood: excited/expectant/apprehensive. Honestly I need a fresh touch from God, this trip to me is something that I am looking for not just in a tourism manner but one which my faith can reach another level experiencially. To go to the places that Jesus walked, to see and experience the places in the Bible...man this will be cool.... 'And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.' Zech 14:16

In recent preparations of my school college day as well as my own church Worship Night, I realised there are parallel truths reflected in Man's behaviour and God. Tremendous amount of efforts are placed in terms of preparing the school and the people in receiving the guest-of-honor. Every minute detail is looked into to ensure that the guest-of-honor received the best form of welcome and recognition. Every Sunday, we prepare ourselves to meet God, the Creator of the heavens and the earths, who uphold everything by the power of His spoken word. I sometimes wonder are we more meticulous in our own work and place in giving some other humans the honor compared to our God. Do we desire to please more the Lord rather than our own boss? Do we seek to provide the best form of welcome for our Lord compared to some other VeryVIP? Nothing wrong with honoring a fellow human being, but just sometimes I feel that more efforts seem to be placed in that rather than pleasing our Lord...

Lord, forgive me for the times when I grew complacent and away from Your love. The times where my heart is stirred by other things apart from You. Set my feet on Your unwavering love and my faith on Your eternal grace that nothing, absolutely nothing can rock me of the peace that I have in You. Set my heart ablaze with Your consuming fire and my mind with the Word of God so that I become a living and powerful testimony unto Your name. I pray all in Jesus's most precious name, Amen.

Extracted from 'Man Of Valor', Richard Exley. 'Books will minister to you in ways nothing else can. They will introduce you to people you will never meet any other way. They will take you to places to which you will never travel. They will enlarge your thinking and expand your vision. They will renew your mind and refresh your soul. In truth, reading a book by an author whose heart and mind are steeped in God's eternal truth is like sitting at the feet of a truly wise man. His writings are a foundation of life (Porverbs 13:14)

We have several major junctions in our lives and where we choose to go will decide the rest of the journey. Or are we simply rushing through life like a stream of traffic, where the lights are green and the journey is smooth, till we come across a red light, stopping us in our tracks, forcing us to make yet another decision at another junction..