En Gedi: Finding rest in the wilderness!

  

Hope you are enjoying the new site design.  We have attempted to give you and us more flexibility and ease of finding articles and topics.  We are always trying to inhance the site to make it more user joyuful…not like a user friendly church by the way.  It is our desire to offer you opportunities to partner with us in this ministry and provide products from time to time that may be an asset to you in your writing, publishing, research, and ultimate quest to serve the Lord with gladness!

Hello Everyone, I want to welcome you to the En Gedi site.  A place of rest, restoration, equipping, and also a stronghold for God’s mighty people.  This is a blog site that was designed for parents, spiritual warriors and anyone wanting to take their relationship with Christ deeper as a go to for resources, websites, recommended books, encouragement in our daily lives and walk, or to just rest for a moment to concentrate on God’s vastness. 

The two pictures you see above are actual photos taken at En Gedi (Engedi) in the mountain regions of Israel.  En Gedi was a place that David used high in the mountains to rest, hide from his enemy, and hear from God.  This place is surrounded by The Wilderness of Judah to the west, the Dead Sea to the east and barren rocky terrain and then you come upon this seemingly “oasis” where waterfalls of fresh water flow and greenery abounds with caves carved out in the side of the mountain.  What a place God had made just for David in his time of need.  So, I called this site Engedi as we men need a place to rest, sometimes hide from our enemies, and above all to hear from God.

Have you ever just sat down and gazed off into a sunrise or sunset or listened to the sound of a mighty waterfall?  Take your thoughts from daily life and place them on the God that created the heavens and the earth and praise Him for it.  Here on this blog a number of topics are covered, recommendations made, tips for daily living, messages from a man, dad of 10 kids, and husband’s heart, etc.  This site is designed so you can pour yourselves into topics of theological subjects, gather encouragement from life experiences, resources to do your own research, and so on. 

  I encourage each person that has stumbled upon this site to read, go to the other links and read, and pass this site along.  You can simply refer it to other as www.DadsDevoted.com and it will bring them right back here.  I encourage each one of you to seek out what they really believe in their heart about God and pass that on to your children.  I encourage each husband and/or wife to dig into the word of God and challenge your spouse to do the same….share your findings, questions, and thoughts with them.  Allow your spouse the opportunity to listen to something from your heart  that is more than football, cars, and other secular events…these are important areas of life, but our spouses would like to see a deeper side of us on occassion.  Grow deeper together glorifying God and furthering His kingdom.  For the person that may not have kids or be married yet you can certainly challenge your walk with Christ and feed that desire to know God deeper.  If this blog can do nothing else, I would hope it at least prompts us all to a facination with God, to grow deeper in our walk with Him, and to discover what life really is all about!  

UPDATE:  My first book “A Pilgrimage through the Wilderness” will be out soon.  Contact me for updates on the books progress.  The goal would be to have it available for purchase early 2010!

We have readers from all over the world.  Here is where some of the most recent readers are from:  Novaya, Khanty-Mansiy, Russian Federation/ Denton Cheshire, UK/ Gurgaon, Haryana India/ Dublin, Ireland/ Beijing, China/ Leiden, Netherlands/ Victoria, British Columbia, Canada/ Toronto, Ontario Canada/ Riyahl, Ar Riyah Saudi Arabia/ Brazil/ Romania/ Australia/ Singapore/ Manila, Phillipines/ Johannesburg, Gauteny South Africa & Parow, Western Cape South Africa/ Sesimbra, Setubal Portugal/ Dallas-Katy-Frisco-McKinney-Houston-Irving-Prosper, Texas/ States of Florida, Virginia, California, Massachusets, Florida, Iowa, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.  Lots of other cities, countries, and states not mentioned, but the readership is International.  Thanks and keep coming back.  We hope you are blessed and God touches your heart in a mighty way. 

  Enjoy the site and I hope you will stay a while, make comments if you wish and by all means start your own blog.  Writing is great therapy!

 Scott Bailey

**I have found En Gedi or Engedi spelled both ways in the Bible depending on what translation.  Some maps show it both ways as well.  Just to let you know that it is still the same place no matter the spelling of the place.

***If you would like a woman’s perspective please refer them to http://www.livingstones4moms.com/.  My wife is a terrific writer and listener to what God conveys through His holy word.

****To keep this blogsite up and running it cost not only in time, but money.  If you have been blessed by this blogsite, please, consider making a contribution to: Livingstones Ministry, C/O Dana Bailey, PO Box 213, Prosper, Texas  75078.  Only make a contribution if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior…also, only make a contribution as the Holy Spirit prompts you to do so.  Otherwise, enjoy the blog topics, articles and resources and may the Lord bless your life for His glory and honor.  Furthermore, continue to comment and contribute to the blog in other ways.  Thanks!