Today’s post is dedicated to those of you who have faithfully joined the Looking for the Blessed Hope journey. The ministry actually launched in 2011 as a Bible study writing/teaching ministry, but gained its online presence on February 1, 2014…10 years ago today! Little did I know where that was headed!

In that year, while preparing for my fourth trip to Israel, hundreds of people asked me to share photos of the trip while we were there. How was I supposed to do that!?! Friends encouraged me to launch a blog so I could post pictures for all to see. All I knew about blogs was I didn’t want to do it! But at their persistence, I agreed to launch something simple and temporary for those who wanted to see Israel pictures. Then, it would be done, I would turn it off, and that would be that!

But something happened along the way! People asked questions about the pictures and the teacher in me couldn’t stop talking about Israel, the Jewish roots of our Christian faith, the importance of standing with Israel, and Bible prophecy (which is so dependent upon Israel). Ultimately, Bible studies written throughout the years have all, in one form or another, shown up in blog posts (often tiny bites at a time). So, the blog serves as a continuing resource for those who took classes but couldn’t get enough, studied things I wrote, or just wanted to keep up with the latest regarding Israel.

Today, I continue to write about those things, and there is never a lack of material as God’s Word applies to all the twists and turns of our everyday lives! Along the way, God has blessed me with friends from around the world. I hear from you, either in blog comments, via email (Looking4theBlessedHope@gmail.com) or Facebook, and it is pure joy to know so many of you! Thank you for joining me on the journey!

What began as a place to simply post pictures became a daily blog. My favorite posts are those I write live from Israel, with the prayer that, in some meaningful way, I can “take you there” with me! However, when I’m not in Israel, I still long to provide honest, straight forward teaching or commentary on things related to Israel. During elections seasons, my passion bleeds into exhorting Christians to engage civically, knowing that if Christians do not take a stand in our own country, America will cease to stand with Israel. So, if you are put off by the “politics” of posts occasionally, please know the underlying desire is to see Christians regain prominence in our government so we can fulfill our command to bless, pray for, comfort, and support Israel!

What a wonderful 10-year ride it has been, and I am so grateful you have hopped aboard! Your words of encouragement keep me going in times it seems the well has run dry, or the purpose is finished. Lord willing, we will continue to share the journey together until Jesus returns…or until this blog is no longer relevant. 

Meanwhile…

¹⁶ [I] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

~Ephesians 1:16-21

May the wisdom of God above guide us all as we travel this road together! Many thanks for our first 10 years together!