Pearl Of The East

You Are Now
On The Damascus Road
Which Brings You
The Pearl of the East

Unlike the Pearl Of The Orient (Penang Island), Damascus (The Pearl of the East) is a pearl of great price because within a vast, dry and unforgiving desert, lies 60,000 acres of the richest and most fertile oases in the world—a plateau 2200 feet above sea level. Damascus is said to be the oldest city in the world with a continuous history dating back to the time of Uz (Noah's grandson). Two rivers, the Barada and the Awaj are the life givers to this rich land. The Barada river spreads out into seven quiet branches which, in turn, subdivide into many life-giving streams distributing their blessings to homes, gardens, orchards and vineyards to some 400,000 people, then at last, sink into the desert sands 18 miles to the East.

The Awaj river flows from the foothills of Mount Hermon giving its entire life to the surrounding orchard country about seven miles South of Damascus.
Damascus has been considered the head of Syria and the Metropolis of the desert peoples. A trip into this blessed land makes you want to stay and breath in the nurturing, fulfilling and fully rewarding table spread before you. Not unlike the life giving waters that flow from the heart of the Lord Jesus! Jeremiah 17:13 If you stay under His guidance and learn from Him, you will be nurtured, fulfilled and rewarded continually. However, the time must come to venture forth and give the same blessings to others.

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Consider this, if the waters of the rivers went into the area and nurtured the land and the vegetation grew and flourished, to what value is either the water or the growth of food if no one ever received the blessing of the food? Somewhere in all this process the food must be received

and consumed to have any value to the recepient. In like manner the Word of God must also be received and consumed to have value to the sinner. The thought comes to mind how much this relates to the 23rd Psalm:

    1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
    3. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
    4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
    5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
    6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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The following is a poem I have written that is not intended to translate the 23rd Psalm but it does move, in my words and understanding, to explain how the 23rd Psalm reads to my heart. This poem was written just after I had quadruple bypass surgery in 1986.

Song One Lord Jesus, you are my Shepherd, therefore I shall never want.
You direct me to take rest in green, cool passages of love.
You go before me through the still, quiet depth of Your Word.
You refill and replenish my Soul.
You guide me in the way of righteousness so our Father receives the GLORY.
Oh Yes, even though my way is through the valley of death,
I will not fear - for You, Lord Jesus, have me in Your hand.
Your Word and Your staff of correction bring peace and repose to me.
Lord, You set before me an abundance of blessings -
Under the eyes of those that would dare to destroy Your GLORY.
You cover my head with the Word of your Spirit,
Your Blessings upon me always overflow this vessel.
There will not be a diminishment of Your goodness and mercy,
For as long as I live and I will abide in my Saviour eternally.

If you do not feel you have that personal contact with your Lord Jesus, you can. All it takes is wanting to. Jesus is always knocking at your heart's door to come in and bring you this peace and love. When you do want what He has for you, tell Him so. Then as a guide you can read the prayer below.

Father, I know that I have sinned and I turn from those ways and ask you to come into my heart and cleanse me. I know that I cannot do this on my own and I need your help. Fill my soul, Lord, and make me whole. I want your will for my life to be preeminent. Help me to grow in your way.
Amen