We visited numerous sights in the Galilee area. This was one of the most powerful days of our trip. Our first stop was the Annunciation church in Nazareth built to commemorate the angels announcement to Mary that she was going to give birth to a son our Savior, Jesus Christ. After boarding the bus we proceeded to the mount of the Beatitudes. Again there was a beautiful church built and gardens to commemorate the sermon on the mount and the beatitudes. We sat in the grove and read from Matthew 5 and prayed. We visited the church of multiplication in the area where Jesus fed the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. We found a quiet spot and read that great miracle. It was time for lunch at St Peter’s restaurant by the
Sea of Galilee. Our deep fried fish came to us head and all. It was very good tasting but there wasn’t much fish on them bon es.
It was time for perhaps the best part of the day. We boarded a boat, our group alone on the boat and headed across the Sea of Galilee. What a powerful time it was as we sang, read Scriptures and prayed. Let me just say the Spirit fell on that boat and our guide said that he had never seen such a powerful Spiritual experience in any of the groups he had ever taken. Before we left the sea we took our shoes off and walked in the sea for a bit. No none of us walked on the water. Our Lord spent much time in and around the sea.
Our last stop of the day wasn’t any less blessed. We visited the Jordan river stepping in the water that our Lord was baptized in by John The Baptist. We watched many being baptized. It was a great time to reflect.
The Holy Spirit certainly descended on us today. What a great blessing it is to walk in the power and blessing of the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit today and allow him to calm the storms that you may be facing in life today.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Journey North
We checked out of our hotel in Bethlehem this morning and will return to the hotel there on Wednesday evening. We began a journey north along the coastal plains and along the Mediterranean Sea. We stopped at many interesting places.
Our first stop was Jaffa, the Biblical city of Joppa. It was a beautiful picture out across the sea. We reflected on Peter raising Tabitha from the dead as well as Peter’s vision while at the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa by the sea. That vision opened the door of his heart to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Our next stop was Caesarea Martima where Herod the great had built a palace, and fortress by the Sea. We walked along the sea and saw the ruins of this massive complex.
We visited Mount Carmel where we had lunch at a small shop. We reflected on the prophet Elijah’s fleeing to the cave from Jezebel and Ahab. We visited a church built onto a cave on Mount Carmel that tradition says was the cave that Elijah hid in. We looked from the top of Mount Carmel over the city of Haifa again out into the sea. That was a breath taking view.
We finished our journey for the day into Nazareth for our stay at the Hamayan Hotel. We checked into our rooms, had dinner, and spent some down time chatting and relaxing.
My reflection today is on the refreshing and the strength for the journey that God provided for the prophet Elijah while hiding out in that cave. Don’t let the battles you face wear you down. Daily allow the Lord to refresh and strengthen you.
Our first stop was Jaffa, the Biblical city of Joppa. It was a beautiful picture out across the sea. We reflected on Peter raising Tabitha from the dead as well as Peter’s vision while at the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa by the sea. That vision opened the door of his heart to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Our next stop was Caesarea Martima where Herod the great had built a palace, and fortress by the Sea. We walked along the sea and saw the ruins of this massive complex.
We visited Mount Carmel where we had lunch at a small shop. We reflected on the prophet Elijah’s fleeing to the cave from Jezebel and Ahab. We visited a church built onto a cave on Mount Carmel that tradition says was the cave that Elijah hid in. We looked from the top of Mount Carmel over the city of Haifa again out into the sea. That was a breath taking view.
We finished our journey for the day into Nazareth for our stay at the Hamayan Hotel. We checked into our rooms, had dinner, and spent some down time chatting and relaxing.
My reflection today is on the refreshing and the strength for the journey that God provided for the prophet Elijah while hiding out in that cave. Don’t let the battles you face wear you down. Daily allow the Lord to refresh and strengthen you.
What a beautiful Lord's Day
Our day began a little latter than most days. We had a leisure breakfast then went to church at 11:00 AM in Ben Jalla, the church that Julie attended most of the time that she lived here. That was a very precious and powerful experience worshiping with this small group of Palestine believers. I had an opportunity to great the church and share briefly with them. The political situation between Israel and Palestine makes life so very hard for these believers. Pray for these brothers and sisters in Christ. We enjoyed dinner with them at a local restaurant. Our worshipping with them touched their hearts because very few pilgrims worship with the local believers.
We spent the afternoon visiting Herodion, the remains of the palace of Herod the great on Herodion mountain. We also visited what they call Solomon’s pools. They have nothing to do with King Solomon but are a part of the water system.
This is a quick morning because we are leaving this area at 8:00 am for the Sea of Galilee area staying in Nazareth the next two nights.
We spent the afternoon visiting Herodion, the remains of the palace of Herod the great on Herodion mountain. We also visited what they call Solomon’s pools. They have nothing to do with King Solomon but are a part of the water system.
This is a quick morning because we are leaving this area at 8:00 am for the Sea of Galilee area staying in Nazareth the next two nights.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Israel Trip Day 3
We had an amazing day for our first full day in Bethlehem. It was long and tiring but worth every step. We jumped in our bus and traveled about 6 miles to the Mount of Olives. We looked across the Kidron valley to the other hillside at the city of Jerusalem. What an amazing view. Then our journey began. We began our decent at an angle to the right. We stopped at the tear drop church commemorating the place where Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. We read from Luke 19 about Jesus weeping about Jerusalem, and Revelation 21 about the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem. Proceeding down the hill we visited the Garden of Gethsemane, the garden grove where Jesus prayed Lord if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Walking onto the city of Jerusalem. We visited the pool of Bethesada. We walked the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering stopping at all of the stations of the cross. visited Mount Calvary and the church of the Holy Sepulcher. We visited the upper room before we left Jerusalem.
We returned to our hotel, freshened up a bit then went and did a little shopping. Ate a late dinner at the hotel and called it a day.
I sense in my heart at so many of these sights much religion and tradition. Large church complexes have been built at so many of these sights. They are very old and very large but also hold so much tradition. I pray Lord let there be a relationship here with the one we are honoring at these places.
Today we are visiting the Palestinian church to worship with them. This is the church that Julie was a part of during her stay here in Bethlehem. It is small church but the people are so excited to be meeting us. Pray for me because I have been invited to share a brief thought, testimony with them. Psalms 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”
Be blessed this Lord’s day.
We returned to our hotel, freshened up a bit then went and did a little shopping. Ate a late dinner at the hotel and called it a day.
I sense in my heart at so many of these sights much religion and tradition. Large church complexes have been built at so many of these sights. They are very old and very large but also hold so much tradition. I pray Lord let there be a relationship here with the one we are honoring at these places.
Today we are visiting the Palestinian church to worship with them. This is the church that Julie was a part of during her stay here in Bethlehem. It is small church but the people are so excited to be meeting us. Pray for me because I have been invited to share a brief thought, testimony with them. Psalms 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”
Be blessed this Lord’s day.
Friday, September 4, 2009
A journey to the Holy Land days 1 &2
Wow! We are here. We had a very long but safe and uneventful journey. I didn't sleep much Wed. before we left and just a few minutes on the plane so I am about spent. It is noon at home and 7:00 pm here. We are about to have dinner here at the hotel then call it a day. We have a very long day planned for tomorrow.
My heart is so wide open to receive from the Lord on this trip. Julie our host encouraged us to ask God to open our hearts to what He desires to teach us. My openness is from two sides. I want to walk where Jesus walked and learn what the Lord desires to teach me. It is going to be so amazing to see where so much of the Bible unfolded. My heart is open to the missions aspect of this trip as well. There is such a mission field in the Holy Land. Our guide told us today that there is only 1.4 % of the Palestinians that are believers. What a mission field. Where will my greatest inspiration come from walking where Jesus walked or seeing a whitened harvest field? Lord Bless I pray.
My heart is so wide open to receive from the Lord on this trip. Julie our host encouraged us to ask God to open our hearts to what He desires to teach us. My openness is from two sides. I want to walk where Jesus walked and learn what the Lord desires to teach me. It is going to be so amazing to see where so much of the Bible unfolded. My heart is open to the missions aspect of this trip as well. There is such a mission field in the Holy Land. Our guide told us today that there is only 1.4 % of the Palestinians that are believers. What a mission field. Where will my greatest inspiration come from walking where Jesus walked or seeing a whitened harvest field? Lord Bless I pray.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Anticipation
All that I can say is that today is a day of anticipation. I will be taking care of a few small errands. The majority of the day will be packing and checking lists. Trusting God for a wonderful Bible Study tonight at the church with the folks who were so kind and generous to us by helping us with the cost of this trip. About 40 hours from now we will be landing in Tel Aviv, Israel. Lord this amazing trip is in your hands.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Lord's Supper
I am still rejoicing because of the powerful presence of the Lord in our communion service yesterday. It is such a joy to celebrate the Lord’s Supper remembering the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for my sins. I am so glad that He was nailed to the cross for me, that He was willing to die that I might live.
Julie, our tour host has ask me to lead our group in communion when we visit the upper room. Wow! I am getting so excited to be a part of such an awesome experience. "I know He rescued my soul, His blood has covered my sin, I believe.... My Redeemer lives."
Julie, our tour host has ask me to lead our group in communion when we visit the upper room. Wow! I am getting so excited to be a part of such an awesome experience. "I know He rescued my soul, His blood has covered my sin, I believe.... My Redeemer lives."
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