January Calendar Story - I Didn’t Want to Go to the Temple Mount
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Time to read 4 min
I Didn’t Want to Go to the Temple Mount… But God Had Other Plans
I didn’t want to go to the Temple Mount—until Jesus sent His grandfather David to talk to us.
When we designed the January page of the He & Me Creatives Israel Calendar, the image chosen was from a place I almost didn’t go to. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is one of the most historically and spiritually significant sites in the world, yet at the time, I wasn’t interested in visiting. For days, we have walked through the Old City, exploring its ancient streets, but something in me resisted going up to the Temple Mount. But God has a way of moving us to places we never plan on being.
Saving Jerusalem for Last
We spent 23 days in Israel at the end of 2024. Most people start their trip in Jerusalem, but we saved it for the end. Just five days in this golden city. We filled our time well:
- Two visits to Succat Hallel, the 24-hour prayer house
- Israel National Museum
- Tower of David Museum
- The light show at the Tower of David
- A full day wandering the Mahaneh Yehudah Market and more.......
But the Temple Mount? Not on the list.
Why Skip the Temple Mount?
I know what you’re thinking: “How could you possibly skip the Temple Mount?! Here were my reasons:
- We couldn’t get the tour guide we wanted.
- Without a guide, I figured we’d just wander around clueless.
- And honestly? I thought, “What’s the point of just looking at mosques?”
Enter David.
A Chance Encounter at Jaffa Gate
On our second-to-last night in Jerusalem, we met a man at a juice stall near Jaffa Gate. Warm, chatty, and—get this—a Christian filmmaker from the U.S. named David Helling. (Yes, David. You see where this is going.)
He’d been to Israel many times. But this time, he came to scouting inspirations and materials for his new film project. David has a big heart for Arabs and is interested in exploring the possibility of making a story. After swapping stories, he asked:
“Have you been to the Temple Mount? That’s my favorite place in Jerusalem.”
I gave him all my excuses. He just smiled and said:
“It’s still our Father’s house. You can pray there and listen to His voice. Without visiting the Temple Mount, you haven’t really come to Israel.”
Okay, fine. Convicted.
A Divine Invitation
That night, before bedtime, something hit me: “Jesus, You literally sent Your grandfather David to invite us to Your house. Of course, YOU didn’t want us to miss it!”
So the next morning, we grabbed a taxi and headed straight for the Temple Mount when the gates opened. And here’s the miracle—it was almost empty. No tour buses. No long lines. No selfie sticks. Just us, in the quiet.
Layers of Holy History
We stood on the very ground where Jesus flipped the tables of the money changers, where Pentecost erupted and 3,000 were saved, and where the Early Church was born. Also, this is the site of Solomon’s Temple, later Herod’s Temple, a place of sacrifice, prayer, and God’s dwelling with His people. Pilgrims travelled from every direction to bring their offerings here, and festivals filled the courtyards with song and devotion. Prophets declared God’s word within these walls, and generations considered it the very heart of worship. Today, it is home to the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and though the stones have changed, the significance hasn’t faded. Centuries of holy history under our feet — and yet in that moment, only stillness. A knowing that I was standing where countless prayers had been lifted, where God’s presence had once filled the temple. The photo was a gift. But the experience was the greater gift.
And right there, God gave us the perfect January calendar shot: the eastern arches framing the Dome of the Rock and the Dome of the Chain in the soft morning light. The best thing is, I didn’t have to Photoshop anything out. It was just us. (Okay, besides, there was a tourist who was doing FaceTime with his wife in China.)
Why This Photo for January?
“For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land the entire house of Israel will serve Me, and there I will accept them.”
— Ezekiel 20:40
That’s why it opens the 2026 Israel Wall Calendar. Not just because it’s beautiful, but because it tells a story of zeal for God’s house, stillness in His presence, and hope for His return.
When we began designing the faith-based Israel calendar, we wanted each month to tell more than just a story about a place. We wanted it to carry meaning.
January is the start of a new year, the beginning of new rhythms and new prayers. Choosing an image from the Temple Mount for January was intentional. For me, it represents the unexpected journeys God calls us into. It reminds us that even when we resist, even when we say, “I don’t want to go,” He gently leads us to where He wants us to be.
The Dome of the Rock in morning light became a symbol of that. It set the tone for the year: start with openness, start with surrender, start with the willingness to let God rewrite your plans.
Final Reflection
So yes, I didn’t want to go to the Temple Mount. But I’m so grateful I did.
Because sometimes the places we resist are the very places God uses to shape us, remind us, and send us forward.
And that’s why this photograph — simple, quiet, yet powerful — was chosen for the beginning of the calendar. It isn’t just a picture of Jerusalem. It’s a reminder that the start of the year can be filled with surrender and unexpected journey.
May January’s story be a blessing as you step into your own year of unplanned but divinely guided moments.
A Calendar With a Heartbeat
This is the heartbeat of the Israel Wall Calendar—twelve original photos woven with festivals, prayers, and stories that point you back to Him. Hang it where you’ll see it every day. Let it stir your heart to pray for Israel. Celebrate its festivals. Anchor yourself in God’s promises.
Because this isn’t just about tracking dates. It’s about tracking His faithfulness.