it's all about the timing

Following a "day off" in Galilee, our last full day here...

This morning during my Galilee sunrise, I prayed that God would lead me to someone to talk to about Jesus. That's not as easy as it might sound, since "proselytizing" people (Jews, in particular) is considered an illegal activity in Israel. Nevertheless, I asked God for the opportunity and went about my day.

I decided to do lunch at the local McD's (yeah, I know, but I usually try it once in any country, just to see what it's like!). I went with two friends, Mike and Ruben. Afterward, we decided to get coffee at a little place where Ruben had made friends with the young lady working there. 

We went in, met Ruben's friend, Chen, and as we were the only customers we asked her to sit and talk with us. We asked her about Jewish culture, tensions with the Muslim community, political issues and the like. She asked us about America and things she didn't understand about our culture. 

Eventually, the conversation turned to spiritual matters. We asked her what it's like to live in the place where Jesus lived and what she as a Jew thought of Him. She told us that she loved Jesus because she thought the little she knew about His teachings and lifestyle was beautiful. More than that, she has a Jewish friend who recently chose to follow Jesus as her Messiah. Her friend's life has so changed for the good that there is no mistake in Chen's mind that this new commitment is responsible for it.

We were talking about Jesus being called the Lamb of God, the ultimate Passover Lamb who restores our relationship with God, when a Korean woman entered the shop and gave Ruben and Chen a booklet. She left as quickly as she came, and as we looked at the book, we saw it was Christian (written in Hebrew) and contained a drawing of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, the very subject we were talking about!

We continued to dialogue, each of us sharing our hearts, and Chen talking about her journey toward God...and Jesus. At one point she asked me if we believe in signs (something her friend had told her about), and we all agreed that some might consider the timing of that Korean woman's gift a certain sign. She heartily agreed and was extremely open to the possibility of God revealing Himself to her in ways like this.

As we concluded our nearly 2-hour conversation, we encouraged her to continue in her journey and to seek God with all her heart. And to take the New Testament that she happens to have at home and read of the life of Jesus. It was plain to see that Chen was grateful for the time to talk, and her journey's door was opening ever wider in her life.

We walked out giddy and excited, knowing that God chose to use us this day (my prayer answered!), but even more, that He has His people already here living their lives in such a way that their example and influence are impacting their friends, who then bump into three goofy Americans who were simply watering seeds that He had already planted. How great is that?!

Please pray for Chen and her courageous journey to the heart of God- and for her allegiance to her Messiah, Yeshua.

Ruben teaching Chen and Ben to throw an LA sign!