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

The Eye of A Needle

             While on a recent trip to Israel I learn that the eye of a needle can also be referring to the small door inside of the larger door to the city gates. The small door was used to keep the city secure, opening only the smaller door made it so only one person and his donkey could get through. 

           The door in the photo is the Jaffa gate with a perfect example of the eye of a needle!

         As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
         
        “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

       “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

         Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

        At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

        Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

        The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

        The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

        Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

       Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

       “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Middle East Part 1:

Israel

How do you describe the simplicity and yet amazing feeling of walking a path that Jesus walked. The feel of the cold stone of the Western Wall, listening to the people around you praying and singing. Watching as people slide their prayer requests into a tight space in the wall. I wanted to take one out and read the  earnest prayer of a Jewish worshiper. I wondered how different their prayers are then mine. I watched as the Jewish women walked backward away from the wall, as a symbol of not turning their back to God.  Do I have as much reverence and respect for God in my life?

How do you describe looking out over Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Seeing the paths that Jesus walked the night he was betrayed.  Walking the streets of the Old City Jerusalem. David Street and Delarosa.  Seeing the remains of the pool of Siloam, where the blind man in faith did what Jesus told him to do and washed his eyes in the pool, which restored his site. Standing inside an olive press, hearing how Jesus stayed in a place called Gethsemane the night of his betrayel–an olive press. Walking beside, swimming in, and sitting out on a boat, at the Sea of Galilee, imagining what it would have been like to hear Jesus teach. Looking out over the wilderness where Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying.   

How do you describe seeing the detail and care that went into the writing of the Dead Sea Scrolls? Each piece written with such precision and care that the lines drawn on the page to keep the writing straight were also done with exact measurements. Each writing was penned with perfection and accuracy. Not only did the people just right them, they studied and believed in what they were writing, and knew the significance of preserving it. Do I, in my own life have such dedication and perseverance in my walk with God on a daily basis?   

There is so much more I can say about each place. It would very quickly become an endless list of all the incredible things we saw and learned while here. It was an amazing trip filled with the places of the Bible and challenging lessons from the lives of the people who walked the paths before us.  

I’m not sure I could do any of it justice when putting my thoughts from the trip into words. So here are some pictures that will hopefully help you to see some of what I saw!

The Western Wall

Olive Press much like the one Jesus stayed at the night of his betrayal.

A garden tomb

David Street

The Pool of Siloam 

Mount of Olives Overlooking Jerusalem 

David Street Markets

The wilderness that Jesus spent 40 days in fasting and prayer

The caves and mountains of Kidron Valley where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Sea of Galilee 

Morning Devotions on the Sea of Galilee 

Shalom

Rose

Stay tuned to hear about Jordan and Egypt!