Picture This

Picture this with me… 

You are surrounded by ruins from centuries before now. You have traveled hours on train to get to this historic location along with many other travelers. You walk around and are marveled at the rich meaning of walking the streets of Ephesus. You have the unbelievable honor of having the word of the Living God on your phone. You pull it out and click on Ephesians, one of your favorite books in the New Testament. In the background, you can hear rumbles of thunder, but as you move about the sun continues to shine. You are with people you have served beside the last month painting a church building in a place that has never had a Christian church within its bounds. Your teammates gather round and one of you begins reading powerful words of Paul’s letter to a church that was also pioneering a new religion in their region during that time. These words still ring true today. It hits a little different standing in the place it was meant to be read when it was sent.

Stay with me… 

You now have jumped on a little plane with your team and traveled to a small town in Turkey with gorgeous views of natural rock formations. You have been dreaming (and even watercoloring) the idea of this adventure that you believe God wants to experience with you. You wake up before the sun even shines and enter a van that takes you to a valley. You approach a wicker basket that is tied to an enormous balloon that is being filled with helium as the sun begins to peak over the rocks surrounding you. You are beside yourself with the reality of this dream coming true as you ascend from the ground. As you reach the highest the balloon can go safely, you are overwhelmed with the glory of God and how He created everything you can see, which is a lot from this high up. It is not scary being this far off the ground like you expected it to be, its exhilarating and gives you a new perspective and appreciation for what yours eyes can take in. 

This is the journey I got to have at the end of my time in Turkey. God is so cool. He created this world to be explored and to blow our minds. He wants to adventure with us and gives us opportunities to have our breath taken away. He wants to give us glimpses of eternity walking streets of gold with Him giving Him glory and praise with every step. He is like a good Father who plans surprise excursions and elaborate vacations for His children. He desires intimacy and trust as He holds our hands and gives us gifts of time to be amazed. If this is only earth, can you imagine Heaven’s glory and beauty?!?!