Lessons from Israel!

"I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! (Ps 122)


I hope you all have enjoyed this time together, learning and living in the land of Israel with me! Since it is my last Israel post... I made it long to not disappoint! =)

In Israel, lessons are taught by images and pictures (every word has an image/story behind it!). Jesus himself, being a Jew, taught this way through the use of parables and stories. So i figured, why not tell you what i learned the Israeli way?

Sometimes in life, you just have to climb. "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" Jn 16:33. Israel isn't the easiest place live, so sometimes, you just have to buck up and start climbing! Christianity is much the same way. It isn't always easy - but Christ has promised us that He will give us peace in the climb!

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" Psalm 23. The hill country of Judah where Jerusalem is located is full of shepherds watching over their sheep, even to this day. When Jesus spoke of His role as a Shepherd, He was using images that were familiar to His audience. "My sheep know my voice" - it is true. We watched as two folds separated as both shepherds called to their sheep. Do you know the sound of His voice? Can you distinguish it amidst the calls of this world?

"As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for You, O God" Psalm 42:1. Israel is, for the most part, a dry and weary land. They depend on God and cry out to Him for water to sustain their lives. This picture is in the Judean wilderness, where David hid from Saul as he waited 9 YEARS for the Lord to fulfill His promise to make him king. Do we long for our Savior as a weary man longs for water in the middle of a desert? Do we need Him as much as the body needs water? How much more should we! "Apart from Me, you can do NOTHING" Jn 15:5

A beautiful picture of the Dead Sea with the mountians of Moab and Edom behind it. God came to the lowest part of the earth to proclaim His good news to the world! What makes Israel special and set apart? God chose them. Nothing of their own merit or the land's bounty - only that God set His favor and name upon this land and people. In this do we boast "only in the corss of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14) because we as Christians were chosen in the same way! Not of our own merit but because He chose to demonstrate His love toward us while we were still sinners.  

The Pass of Michmash and Geba where Jonathan charged with his armorbearer and routed the Philistines. Two men that believed God and his promises, enough to stake their lives on it. His courage speaks to us today "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised (Philistines); it may be that the Lord will work for us. For NOTHING restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few" Our God is an awesome God. He is looking for those who will trust and obey!

"My sould, wait in silence for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved" (Psalm 62:5-6). What a picture of God as our rock! On the mountaintop of Masada, 300 Jews held off thousands of Romans for 3 years on a rock. But God was against them, wanting to punish them so they died. Physical rocks can never save, but God on high as our Rock is a foundation that will never be shaken. Put your trust in Him!

Remember Samson killing a 1000 men with a Jawbone near Timnah? Picture enactment is the best! The Lord is our strength!

The Temple Mount with the Mount of Olives in the background. So much religious fascination with the city of Jerusalem. Almost every religion has a place in this city. Yet the true God does not dwell in cities made with m\en's hands, but in our spirits. We yearn to be nearer to Him - people pray at the Wailing Wall for that purpose - but He is not to be found in physical objects. "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves those with a contrite spirit" (Ps 34:18)

The Sea of Galilee - the place of Jesus the Messiah's ministry. He came not to the strong, powerful, and important; but to those who recognized their need for a Savior. For most of His ministry, He stayed around the Sea of Galilee - Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazim, Magdala, and the place of the Sermon on the Mount are all only a couple miles from each other. I love this picture because it reminds me of His sovereignty "For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". To Him be the glory for the things He has done!

And so the journey has ceased. Yet the lessons He has taught me and continues to teach me through my time in Israel will never end. His faithfulness is beautiful and overwhelmingly good!

As I start my summer here at camp in North Carolina, I will continue to blog. So if you would like to keep reading, you are welcome! Otherwise... Shalom! May God bless you and keep you, as you strive to know and serve Him more!

Culture SHOCK

Yep. It's officially hit me. I'm no longer in Israel. I knew the change would be strange "Woah, that cup is HUGE! You mean I can refill it as many times as I want???" or absentmindedly sticking my gum in the flight safety manuel... and cutting off at least 50 people to get on the plane (Israelis don't stand in line.. they smush).

But i wasn't prepared for the differences in me. I laughed to myself as both my parents whipped out their GPS's just in case we got lost, even though i basically knew where we were going. At IBEX, if we got lost it didn't matter, we'd find it somehow.. so enjoy the scenery along the way! Israelis have little care for time and so I find myself dillydallying the day away, in no hurry at all, watching as my family scurries to make the most of it.

The biggest struggle, however, is learning to transfer what I've learned from Israel to America. The lessons God has taught me in the last 3 1/2 months are so valuable to life, I don't ever want to forget! Yet, it is so different here, and therefore the application of those lessons has been different too. For those 3 1/2 months, I lived and breathed with 28 other students who lived life solely in that moment to learn and talk about Christ.
Oh how i miss that fellowship.

And yet, God has been so good and faithful. The same God that brought me through the land of Israel lives in my heart here in America. He has ordained my steps, and taught me that wherever I am, is exactly where He wants me to be. So though it may feel strange for a time, He has promised to go before me!

As my 16-yr-old Israeli friend told me, "wherever you are, be ALL there". As much as I miss Israel, it is so good to be home. Life moves us from place to place and the the choice is always in front of us, "will you make the most of THIS moment? Or waste it reminiscing on the last?"

I thank the Lord for Israel. The memories I will never forget. He brought me and taught me in a way that I never dreamed was possible.. but for now, my place is here. Truth be told, I am getting so excited about what He has in store for the future!

So before this blog post fun ends, I want to share with you what Israel has taught me.. so look for "lessons from Israel"  in the next couple of days!

Shalom till then!

Shalom to Israel

Yesterday was my last day in Israel. What a blessing it has been! A time to remember that God is faithful, and to see His hand in the land and in the lives of the students with me. I shall love them forever =)

What a week it has been! Lots of goodbyes, tears, and "last times". Rachel and I hopped on a bus and went shopping in Jerusalem! Our prayer group had a sharing/tell Ellen goodbye time at the Schlegels - fudge, homemade ice cream and brownies - a woman's dream. We shared our hearts and the things He has taught us. Movie night, sleepovers, and a final goodbye breakfast will remain in my heart forever.

Main lesson from all of us? God is faithful.. so REMEMBER. Israelis have learned not to forget. Even today, sitting in the airport, the siren for the Holocaust Remembrance Day sounded. We all stood to remember, as tears coursed down many cheeks. Their history must not be forgotten.

In the same way, should not we remember the things the Lord has done in our lives? He has been so faithful and true, and brought us each to a place so we will know and glorify Him better. Israel was my time to remember, to be in a land that screamed of His work. Every place we visited cried for us to remember that God is involved in the dealings of men.

So I challenge you to do the same. As I sat overlooking the Judean hills for the last time, i was struck by the land and the people once again. "Never forget" it seemed to say, "What God has done in your life this semester!"

He has opened my eyes to see anew the beauty of the Scriptures! And He gave me a family to grow with while I was there.. to see His goodness in my life and theirs.

Do i have an idea what the future holds? Not a clue. But I do know that my God is faithful to keep me so in this I rejoice! Oh friends! "Taste and see that the Lord is good! There is no want to those who fear Him. Therefore, I will bless the Lord AT ALL TIMES, His praise will continuously be on my lips" Ps. 34.

Shalom Israel.. Toda Abba, Hodu la Adonai Ki Tov! (Peace Israel.. Thank you Father... Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good!