Payne - My Journey to the Holy Land: A Devotional Photo Journal

What Others are Saying about My Journey tothe Holy Land:

"If readers know of anyone planning on takinga trip to the Holy Land then make sure to give them a copy ofKimberley Paynes 'My Journey to the Holy Land'. It is a greatpreview to help their excitement mount as to what liesahead."
~ A. Anderson

The photos and descriptionsof the places visited did, indeed, remind me of my own journey tothe Holy Land. Some of the thoughts Kimberley described echoed mythoughts. The photos in the journal show the stunning landscape ofthe country. They draw one into the written pages.

~ M. Hosmar

Bonus Gift: At the back of the book you will find a link to a videophoto show of my journey to Israel

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A Devotional Photo J ournal

View ofJerusalem

2014Kimberley Payne

Scripturetaken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission ofZondervan Publishing House.

All inquiriesshould be addressed to:

KimberleyPayne

www.kimberleypayne.com

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V iewof Haifa and Mediterranean Sea from Mt. Carmel

Table ofContents

View ofMediterranean Sea

View of TelAviv and Mediterranean Sea from Jaffa

InNovember 2013 , I visitedIsrael with my mother and other pilgrims from Ontario, Canada. Welearned of the organized trip by Christian Journeys through aChristian radio station (Life 100.3 in Barrie) and travelledtogether for ten days.

Thisshort book is adevotional photo journal inspired by my 10-day trip. Ive writtenthe itinerary in italics and my devotional meditations in regularfont. All the pictures (including the cover photo) were taken byme. Enjoy!

View of streetin Jaffa

I travelled with my mom and thirty-threeother pilgrims from all over Ontario. We left on Wednesday,November 6, and arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 7. It wasa long flight (eleven hours), but Air Canada made itcomfortable.

When we landed, we immediately metour tour guide, Rafi, who took us by bus to the seaside town ofJaffa. Jaffa is one of the oldest towns in Israel with one of theoldest ports. Cedars of Lebanon destined for Solomons Temple wereunloaded there.

Its here that Peter broughtTabitha back from the dead. Also, Peter prophesied the vision ofthe pure and impure animals.

View of treacherous rocks along theMediterranean shore in Jaffa

The first evening we stayed at theSeasons Hotel in Netanya on the shores of the MediterraneanSea.

We started our second daywith a wake-up call at 6:30 a.m., followed by a buffet breakfast.After we all loaded on the bus, ourleader led us in a devotional on theshores of the Mediterranean.

We drove north to Caesarea, theancient seaport capital of Israel where Pontius Pilate had hisbase. Both the remains of the stadium and the palace where they putPaul on trial amazed me.

We continued north to MountCarmel, overlooking the city of Haifa, where the prophet Elijahperformed his miracle and called upon the fire of God to conquerthe prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18:16-45)

We then continued to Megiddo(Hebrew for Armageddon). Here King Solomon built a giant fortressand city. We walked down to, through, and back up the water systemthats been there since the time of Solomon, 3,000 yearsago!

We drove past Mount Tabor, the traditional site of thetransfiguration of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. We arrived at Kibbutz Hagoshrim, Upper Galilee, where we planned to stay for twonights.

Flora at KibbutzHagoshrim

Buffet foodsat hotel in Israel

Friends warnedme before going to Israel that I could expect to gain weightbecause the food would be plentiful and delicious. Dailycafeteria-style breakfasts and suppers offered a variety ofappetizing delicacies. With all the options, I wanted to use a trayso I wouldnt drop any food on my way back to the table.

My youthpastor reminded me of these daily indulgences when he spoke on God being thefoundation of our life. He compared it to a cafeteria tray. He saidthat many people allocate God to a certain spot or day much liketheyd do with a food group on a tray. We may place a drink,entree, appetizer, and dessert on the tray. In our life, we mayconsider God, education, career, family, and health as separateareas. But the youth pastor pointed out that God does not want tobe added to the mix on top of the tray, but rather He is the tray. God is the foundationto which everything else is added. We need God as the underlyingfactor upon which everything else depends and rests.

Where were youwhen I laid the earths foundation? Tell me, if you understand(Job 38:4 NIV).

Flora along steps inCapernaum

Ancient gateway at TelDan

We were allowed to sleepin on Saturday because of Shabbat(the Jewish day of rest).

After breakfast we took a short ride to our first stop, TelDan. They uncovered an incredible archaeological site of walls, thegateway, and the temple area dating back 3,000 years.

At the same place, we saw a dig thatrevealed the first archway ever built, probably from the time ofAbraham.