Day 16: Smyrna

Our next stop on our virtual journey through Asia Minor is Smyrna.  This is present day Izmir.  Smyrna was a prosperous city with a fine port.  A temple to the goddess of Rome was built in 195BC and a temple to the Emperor Tiberias was built in 26AD.  It is thought that the early church here was probably founded by Paul whilst he was at Ephesus just 35 miles away.

Access to the town is through narrow streets, only just wide enough for a coach, past poor housing and on to the castle.   The castle grounds have been turned into a park.  However when I visited there was a community of people apparently living out in the open there.  The trees were festooned with the rugs they had made and some of the women sat at looms.

The children hustled us for money.  It was a very uncomfortable place – some of us felt persecuted by the attentions of the children, they were so demanding.   Climbing to the top of the castle wall you can look down on the remains of the Roman church of Smyrna.

Quote

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.   Lewis B. Smedes

Bible Verse

Smyrna     Revelation 2:8-11

v11     The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Inspiration

Journaling

Have you ever felt persecuted or bullied?  How did you deal with the situation?

Technique Challenge

Use stripes on your page.  You could draw them or use cut up patterned paper.  Or use washi tape.

Today's PDF can be downloaded here.

Please share your page or blog post using the linky.  It is so encouraging for all of us to see what other people do with the prompts and the techniques.