Long Travel Day - Blessed different from expected.

I love it that I have friends who pray for me and expect BIG things to happen.  God likes that too; I know He does and He delights to surprise me with how creatively He answers. This has been an amazing day - Just to know that I'm realizing a life long desire is amazing enough. But there are surprising pieces that bring me huge joy.

My friend Terry, told me last week that she had already praying for the people I would sit with.  I was going to be smart and ask "Am I that bad?"  But I know how she prays and I started anticipating opportunities to help not-yet-believers put their faith in Christ. I love those conversations, but today I've had some crazy, wonderful connections with believers.

Today's scenery

I was "wired" and chatty the first flight. Sat next to a woman from Southern MN who works for the WNBA, but she was mostly into the WonderWoman movie. At check in,  I helped take a family picture for folks who ended up on my plane to the front and side of me.  15 min into the flight, I discovered he's Children's Pastor at a Bible Church in Topeka. We had ministry connections and common friends to talk about. And I about flipped, Terry, when she dug into her Young Living Essential Oils. Did you send her?

The long flight was Toronto to Brussels.  I sat next to a woman from Ghana flying there to visit family. She immediately asked me what I do and said, "Oh, you're a pastor! I'm honored!" Africans honor pastors above how I'm comfortable, but as I asked about her, she pulled out her book titled, "Discover Your Spiritual Gifts" a rewrite of a book by Dr Peter Wagner, who was my faculty advisor in my advanced degree at Fuller.  I could almost quote her the first chapter.  I was kind of talked out by my last flight.

Gorgeous Ben Gurion Airport

Flying across Greece and Turkey probably had amazing scenery but I was in the middle seat.  I caught glimpses of snowy peaks and an occasional bay on the Mediterranean below.  I napped for 10 minutes before we landed.  Taxied to my hotel amazed how modern and beautiful TelAviv is.

Hotel Gilgal

OK so, I just looked at booking websites a month ago and picked a decent, moderate priced hotel near the beach and where I will link up with my Tour group Friday. I had no idea till I arrived  that I had booked into a hotel run by Messianic Jews who are faithful followers of Yeshua (that's Jesus in Hebrew).  Became aware only when I perused their lobby library - many by Christian authors.  Some books are also in my library.

Dr Doug Bookman and his tour group

Then returning from my walk to the beach, I recognized a guy in the lobby I couldn't place, but I knew him. Dr. Doug Bookman is twin brother to Crystal Livesay from my church in Owatonna.  Doug and I did a wedding together years ago.  He's an amazing Bible Teacher, College and Seminary professor. He's leading a study tour booked into my hotel.  What a surprise!  Ate dinner with their team and had great conversation about their tour and our common friends.

It was a tiring travel day.  But being attentive to what God's hand is creating brings huge delight. Tired but pleased and blest. Headed to bed.