Isaiah 31:1, New International Version

“See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.”

I was beginning the assigned reading for my discipleship course in my practical ministry program when a friend told me the author of my book put his sermons on YouTube. I immediately jumped onto his YouTube channel. They were starting a series on the book of Revelation. They had a guest speaker that brought a fresh light to Revelation. My same friend told me, after we both watched this sermon, that this speaker had his own podcast. I jumped onto the podcast, which examined the Bible, thin slice by thin slice. When they finally reached Revelation, I was so enamored by it and the cities of Turkey, I asked God that if there was a way I could go there—please make it happen. I later found out that this speaker led study tours every two years. I applied for a seat on the study trip to Turkey in June 2025. I found out in September that I had been accepted and was elated! I do believe that God gave me the desire to go and learn even more!

We left for Turkey on May 29^th 2026. We had to prepare in many ways. Hiking, memorizing Hebrew prayers and scripture were just a few. We landed in Istanbul and caught a connection to Izmir on the west coast of Turkey. It was beautiful. Every morning we started with a devotion and prayers. Our first day devotion was titled, “Who are you and why are you here?” It stuck with me. We walked through many Roman cities and colonies.

Our first day was Miletus, Priene and the temple of Apollo at Didyma. Day two we walked the streets of Ephesus. The third day we visited Pergamum and Thyatira.  Day four found us in the city of Aphrodesius and Sardis. Thankfully we arrived at our hotel that night and had the following day as a Sabbath. Day six we visited Hieropolis, Colossae and Laodicea. Day seven was spent in Pisidian Antioch. Day eight we visited Lystra and day nine was spent touring Cappadocia. The last day was spent sharing final thoughts and soaking in the last of our trip together.

While we toured, we read and contemplated scripture. We encountered the Kingdom as it overtook the empire. I was undone by the cost of what following Jesus looks like in the midst of the Roman empire. Things are tattooed on my heart forever. I don’t know if I could ever fully explain or demonstrate all that God showed me on this trip. But I am changed by knowing that God’s word never returns void and I was shown that through John and Paul’s writings. Isaiah 32:1-4 (NIV) has profoundly impacted me.

“See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. I can absolutely see that there is more travel in my future.”

I know what it means to have someone meet you in the middle of your personal desert and bring you refreshment. If I can give that away, then the eyes will see and the ears will hear Jesus.