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
