Friday, February 24, 2012

Middle East part 2


How do you describe the feeling of walking through hundreds of gallons of water crashing over your head as you trying to stay standing, the powerful waterfall pounding you to the ground  under the water. Thanking God for this is small example of his all out, unconditional, unchangeable Love for me.  The love that drove him to the cross. The love that doesn’t know any better way to love then with all heart, soul, mind and strength, and the love that calls us to do the same in return. ALL OUT NO HOLDING BACK!




How do you descried the steady climb to the top of Mt. Sinai? The very same mountain that Moses climbed to meet God. The beautiful night sky lit up with uncountable stars and a bright moon that gave us enough light to see mountains around us and the path before our feet. Sleeping under the open sky as a falling star streaked by.  Waking up to see the sunrise over a magnificent view of the mountain ranges surrounding us on every side!  






How do you share the feeling of the hot sand under your feet and while the burning sun beat down on your head drying sweat before it reached your clothes. Standing there looking out over the vast desert with nothing to see but more desert. It was easy to understand why the Israelites were upset. To understand a little bit why they complained and grumbled so much during the 40 years. The desert valley all around me seemed barren of any living plant or animal. The ground unusable for growing anything. Not even a cloud in sight for shade or rain. Why would God bring his chosen people from the land of Egypt, the bread basket of the world to such a wasteland, and not only to bring them here but to keep them  here for 40 years?



How many things God had to teach them in the desert before they could enter the promised land. Through it all God was steady and faithful to his people, providing every need the entire time they were there.

How do you describe the detail and care that went into the writing of the dead sea scrolls? Each piece written with such precision and care that even the lines drawn on the page keeping the writing straight were done with exact measurements. Each work penned with perfection and accuracy. Looking over them not being able to actually read what was written on the page, but knowing what it meant. Knowing that not only did the people just right them, they studied them and knew the meaning of what they were writing. Do I, in my own life have such dedication and perseverance in my walk with God?


How do you share the understanding that comes when you see the places you read about, and hear the stories with a glimpse into the writers perspective or from the perception of Jesus’s disciples. To see and understand some of the history in the stories, learning that what you thought it meant wasn't at all what it was saying, finding that what it was really saying made so much more sense then what you actually thought it said in the first place. 






Everyday of the trip we were challenged.  Challenged by what we saw. Challenged by what we were taught. Challenged by the lives of Moses, David, Jesus and many more.
There was always something different and unique to learn and see.  














Shema, 

Rose







No comments:

Post a Comment