Israel Ladies Tour 2009

"WOMEN OF THE BIBLE"

Ladies Tour of Israel Nov. 28-Dec. 12, 2009

Ladies!! I am organizing an amazing and incredible womens tour of the Holy Land for the end of November 2009. The cost is approximately $4,000/person (CANADIAN) - that covers all hotels, the bus and driver, entrance fees to all sites, a personal tour guide, a huge buffet breakfast and supper each day, and return airfare from Saskatoon. Signup with a $100.00 deposit which is fully refundable. The complete fees for the tour do need to be paid in full in US funds by the end of September.

You will thoroughly enjoy many wonderful experiences and amazing sites such as:

having an excellent Jewish Tour Guide by the name of Arie Harel, who served many years as a Lt. Colonel in the Israel Defense Force, and doing a fabulous job of making sure that we are comfortable and safe at all times. Looking up into the heights of the Sycamore trees like the one that Zacchaeas (Luke 19:1-10) climbed so many years ago to see Jesus passing by. Visiting the town of Capernaum, a place where Jesus moved to (Matt. 4:12-13), the hometown of the Apostle Peter and the centre for tax collectors and Roman troops (Mark 2:14).




Towards the end of the tour, taking a day trip into the land of Jordan, to visit Petra, one of the wonders of the world...the site of the most recent Indiana Jones movie....walking through the caverns of the city built into the rock. Some also believe that this will be the place of refuge for Christians and Jews, a place they will flee to during the Great Tribulation.....if you've been reading the Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, they write about Petra a lot in their books - one of the references that they use is Rev. 12:14 "But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. There she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for a time, times, and half a time." Petra is also the home of the Edomites - descendants of Esau (Genesis 14:6, 36:20-30; Deut. 2:12) and is the most likely place of the city of Sela that is mentioned in Judges 1:36; Isaiah 16:1, 42:11; Obad. 3; 2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chr. 25:12. Petra is in the land of Edom where the Israelites tried to pass through but were not allowed to so, this was before they crossed over the River Jordan and overtook Jericho.




Covering yourself with mud full of minerals before enjoying a very relaxing float in the Dead Sea. Visiting the Ahava Factory, sampling their many samples of creams and lotions. Spending a night at a spa on the shores of the Dead Sea.




The last two nights will be spent in Eilat, the resort city of Israel, on the shores of the Red Sea.....how about taking a sail on the Red Sea or lounging in the sun and relaxing before leaving Israel on the long flight heading home. Eilat, named Ezion-Gaber in the Bible, is the location of where the Israelites last camped before the came into the "wilderness of Zin" (Numbers 33:35,36; Deuteronomy 2:8). It is also the place where the ships of Jehoshaphat were wrecked (1 Kings 22:48). King Solomon also built a navy at Eilat (1 Kings 9:26) and Jehoshaphat built a navy here too (2 Chronicles 20:36). King Solomon also visited Ezion-Gaber (Eilat) in 2 Chronicles 8:17.



Hill of Golgotha, next to a main road traveling into the City of Jerusalem and seeing the sign in the tomb where Jesus is no longer buried, because He rose again and is living in Heaven - preparing an eternal home for us. (Matt. 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19)



Walking through the marketplace in the old city of Jerusalem, taking the same route along the Via Dolorosa that Jesus took so many years ago as he walked by the stores carrying his cross to his death by crucifixion. (Matt. 27, Mark 15)



Walking down the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:3, and being in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22), with the 2,000 year old Olive trees, seeing where Jesus prayed with his disciples before his crucifixion.



Standing at the Wailing Wall, hearing the prayers and cries of women in many different languages and cultures....watching the people as they come to pray several times a day. Many feel that this is the closest that they can be to God, here at the wall - on the other side of this wall are the grounds where the Temple of Jerusalem stood. In Matthew, we read of Mary & Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple to be dedicated, years later Jesus was in the Temple, and when He died on the cross, the Temple curtain tore from top to bottom - signifying that the people could now go directly to God in their prayers - Jesus was now the High Priest.



A terrifying ride on a camel.....my first experience was one I will never forget. :-)
The town of Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding he attended (John 2:1-12).



Walking through the fascinating ruins of Bet'Shean, seeing the marble and mosaic floors of centuries ago....sitting by the pillars that are still standing today. King Saul and Jonathan were killed by the Philistines in the mountains of Gilboa near here and King Saul's body was hung on the walls of Beth-shan (1 Sam. 31). It is an ancient Scythopolis, lies at a main crossroads leading to Jerusalem (across the Jordan Valley).

Taking a jeep ride along the Jordan River, up into the cliffs of the Golan Heights near the Syrian border, overlooking the fertile land of Israel with it's vineyards and many Kibbutz communities, and an opportunity to tour through one of the many wineries in the area. Up on the cliffs, the terrain is so rocky and dry. The Bible talks about the Israelites turning this land into such fertile soil....which they have definitely done.

Taking a calm sail on the Sea of Galilee with Daniel Carmel and his Galilee Worship Boat ministry singing our modern worship praise songs that we sing in English and he translates them into Hebrew, creating beautiful worship CD's. Being on this sea, knowing that Jesus walked on the water here, as well as the Apostle Peter (Matt. 14). Jesus also lit a campfire and cooked fish on it for his disciples (John 21) after He had risen from the dead....wow. What an experience to be here.

Visiting Caesarea, the place where the Apostle Paul (Acts 26) began his missionary journey, standing on the shores of the Meditarranean Sea....seeing the sunset over the sea.



Staying in wonderful hotels such as the above hotel in Tiberias along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and touring around each day in comfort in a bus specially chosen just for us. Jesus never went to Tiberias and in Bible times, the Jews stayed away from here as it was considered unclean.



Standing on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5) and overlooking the Sea of Galilee across the hillsides of the Judean Hills.



Standing on the height of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. This was King Herod's fortress that he built in 30BC as a summer home, a refuge and hideaway - it was his mountain castle with all the luxuries of the Roman world. But from 70-73, the Jewish Zealots sought refuge here from the Romans. After a year of building a ramp to overtake this fortress, the Romans broke through the walls and found these 960 Jewish Zealots had committed suicide - they chose to die rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans so they killed themselves...all but a woman with 2 small children survived. To the east, it looks out over the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 1,400 feet below sea level...Masada is at sea level. It was quite a climb for the few guys and 1 gal from our team that hiked up Masada rather than taking the tramp up.
Seeing the magnificent ruins of the synagogue in Capernaun where Jesus taught and read from the Scriptures. Jesus began his ministry in Capernaun (Matt. 4).



The Garden Tomb where Jesus may have been buried (Matt. 27:57-61) and walking the streets of Nazareth - the hometown of Jesus when he was a child (Matt.2:19-23).



Crossing over the Jordan River - the river that Jesus was baptized in (Matt. 3:13-17) and enjoying the sunrises in Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

All of these incredible experiences, as well as many others wonderful sites to see such as the the home area of Queen Jezebel, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, the place where Deborah asked Barak to fight the Canaanites and so much more will all be included in this tour of a lifetime.

Contact me soon by email lisaspics@sasktel.net - deadline is May 25/09 to sign up with your $100.00 deposit.

Walk through Israel at Easter

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Being in Israel has just changed my perspective so much and has really made the Bible come to life. Walking where Jesus walked and walking down the road that He took that cross and seeing the hill where He died and going into a grave that said "He is not here, He is risen" - WOW! It's so hard to put into words what I experienced there. It's impossible to read the Bible in the same way now - I 'see' all these places in my mind as I'm reading God's Word. It has impacted my life in such a profound way.....I want to go back. Stepping off the plane was liking coming home...it literally felt like I was home. My heart has always yearned to go there and now I was there. It has been so special to me to be able to share these photos with you of where I walked. God bless you greatly this Easter season.

What Do I Value?

This morning, a friend sent me an email showing me this photo of a sunset at the North Pole with the moon at it's closest point. WOW! What an incredible photo! How incredible the handiwork of God in the skies - I just love it when He paints me such wonderful pictures! How I would love to capture a moment like that. But, it's most likely something that I'll never get to see in person...I'll only be able to enjoy it through a photo or story captured by someone else. I wasn't there when the photo was taken but I can choose to believe that it's real, and that the person who took this picture really witnessed this event. It's an amazing photo and not one that could be duplicated. At the end of the email, was a Chinese proverb:

"When someones shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others."






That statement made me think of something else that I value. I highly value the work that Jesus performed on the Cross on Calvary so many years ago just outside of Jerusalem, on the hill of the skull. I was not there so many years ago to capture the moment, but I believe with all my heart that it happened as the Bible records it did. I believe it, and I value it, and thus I am obligated to share it with others. As we're approaching Easter, and as the precious precious time that I spent in Israel is still so dear to my heart, this email made me think of that which I value and is what I value so precious to me that I am obligated to share it with someone else. Hmmmm. Yes, it most definitely is. Jesus died on that cross so many years ago. Why? To save me from my sins, to save me from eternal hell, to give me the gift of eternal life....if only I am to receive it. This is what I value! I was there, just a few short months ago, seeing the place firsthand of where it all happened, where that event took place. I believe! Feeling the presence of God so strongly as I stood there looking up at that hill where He was crucified, as many people stood around and mocked Him while his own mother wept silently for her Son. How could a mother go through what Mary went through on that dark day long ago? But was it a dark day?? Yes, God turned His back and allowed His Son to die....BUT what a divine purpose He had in mind....to defeat evil and death! Do give us the gift of Eternal Life!! Amazing! What a magnificent eternal plan!





The time in Israel was life changing. As I stood there with my own son, Brandon, I was overcome with emotion. What an incredible experience we shared together. I walked in the Garden, gazing upon a tomb that very well could have been the same tomb that my Savior was buried in, I was so struck by the fact that it is empty...EMPTY. Many years ago, the stone had been rolled away and an angel had sat on it

"He is not here, He is risen, just as He said He would"

I silently wept. My Lord, My God, who loves me so much, sent His Son, His One and only Son, to die a brutal death on a cross, and rose again and now lives in Heaven preparing a home for me - He did this for me, so that I could be saved and given the gift of eternal life...to spend eternity in Heaven with My Savior.

I walked through the Garden, in this quiet, serene place, listening to the many people who were praying and singing - in different languages, in tongues unknown to me - how beautiful! How incredibly beautiful the praises, songs and prayers that Our God hears from Heaven, that are offered up to Him. What a beautiful glimpse He gave me there in that Garden to hear the beauty of the tongues that lift praises to Him.



"How beautiful, how beautiful, what thou hast done for me Lord. My heart sings with thanksgiving and praise to You, My God, My Savior. How beautiful are the hands that were nailed to that cross, and the side that was pierced by my wounds. How wonderful You are My Lord and King, to have done such a deed for me. How incredible the amazing moment You defeated death and came out of that grave! "He is not here, He is risen!" YES LORD, You are risen indeed!! Amazing Love, how can it be, that thou My God shouldst die for me! Thank You Jesus!"