I walk down the stairs like a contestant for “Miss America.” I look straight ahead and smile. I’m practicing for an exciting, slightly scary adventure.

I will be visiting a place that can only be accessed by walking down “see-through” stairs. I’m not a fan of heights and have nightmares about stairs with no banisters. But I will face my fears because I don’t want to miss a thing.

I met with my doctor and we went over the precautions needed. He’s excited for me. David’s excited, too, because…

…we’re going to Israel!

After the shootings last weekend in El Paso and Dayton, you would think I would not want to visit the Middle East. But God gave me these verses.

Ezekiel 11:16-17, “…I’ve provided you a temporary sanctuary in the countries where you’ve gone. (17) I will gather you back from those countries…” The Message

We’ve prayed for this opportunity for 25 years. We saved and lived simply. We sacrificed replacing the truck. That cut the gas, insurance, license, and maintenance bills in half. We canceled satellite TV – goodbye, Hallmark Christmas movies.

Our last vacation was in 2012. I stopped coloring my hair 13 years ago and only cut it twice a year. We gave up soda pop. I make my own cleaners and laundry soap. (I never joined a gym or paid for a manicure. We don’t drink or smoke.)

All of those little things moved us closer to our goal. We’ve cut back to the bare necessities. Packing will be easy!

Ezekiel 12:4, “You’ll take up your baggage while they watch, a bundle of the bare necessities…” The Message

Not only does God promise to take care of us, and bring us back safely, He promises to change us.

Ezekiel 11:19, “I’ll give you a new heart. I’ll put a new spirit in you.” The Message

Before writing this post, I hit the youtube.com app to listen to worship music. The song, “Bigger Than I Thought” by Sean Curran of Passion came up. Before he sang the song, he sang…

“…It’s time to find your freedom. It’s time to let go!”

I will find my freedom and let go of my fears. I never believed we could go to Israel – but God is bigger than I thought!