"Sitting in Sunshine"

A couple of weeks ago, Titus and I were driving into town. It was a beautiful day. The beauty of our surroundings, however, was lost on me. We were on a long, winding, country road and my mind was full; racing with all the things on my "to do" list.

"Mommy?" 

I heard his voice from the back seat. I shook my head in hopes to clear my thoughts, and glanced in the rearview mirror. His head was turned towards the window. His eyes were squinted and his eyebrows were crinkled in thought. 

"Mommy?" 

He said it again. This time, I answered.

"Yeah, babe?"

I glanced again at the rearview and realized that his face hadn't turned. He was still looking out the window with a crinkled brow and with squinted eyes.  

"I think the sun knows God." 

Before I could respond, I let out a little laugh. I couldn't help myself. 

"The sun knows God, huh? And why do you think that?"

He answered. His eyes still fixed out the window. 

"I think the sun knows God because God made the sun." 

I smiled and even chuckled a little at his comment. I turned to look out the window myself, pondering his words. Finally, with crinkled brows that matched his, I  responded. 

"I think you're right, Titus." 

The sun. It rises everyday at God's command. It brings joy. It brings life. It warms the body, soul, and mind. It provides consistency in our ever-changing world. It brings peace after the fiercest storms and light after the darkest nights. It rises and it sets. It dries and it heals. Without it, we wouldn't survive. 

The sun. 

"The sun knows God because God made the sun." 

Creation knows its Creator. And the Creator knows and holds His creation. From beginning to the end. 

He knows and holds us, far differently than he knows and holds the sun. "For he created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him." (Genesis 1:27)

He knows our past.

He holds our future.

And He provides...

"My heart is ok because He covered it." These words will resonate in my soul all of my days. They gave me peace in my darkest moments and hope in the face of fear. They comforted me then and they comfort me now. 

We serve a great God, who sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. That in life and in death, we may have hope. 

The sun may know God because God made the sun...

but we know God because He not only made us, but sent His Son to die for us. 

He loves us, holds us, covers our hearts, makes us new...

and gives us a future. 

"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:10-11

"All to You"

To trust Him; fully and completely in all things. That is my prayer; has been my prayer for so long.

But, how does one do that?  I asked myself this question as I was driving into work this morning. Soon, a familiar song came to mind, and as the lyrics made their way from my brain to my heart, my soul was refreshed and my question was answered...

I'm giving You my heart, all that is within 
I lay it all down, for the sake of You my King

To trust Him; fully and completely... 

I'm giving You my dreams, laying down my rights 
I'm giving up my pride, for the promise of new life

in all things.

And I surrender all to You,

Every area of my life. Every sorrow. Every joy.

all to You

The tears. The laughter. The pain. The peace.

And I surrender all to You, 

all to You

In order for one to trust, one must first surrender.

I'm singing You this song, I'm waiting at the cross 
All the world holds dear, I count it all as loss

Jesus 

For the sake of knowing You, for the glory of Your name 
To know the lasting joy, even sharing in Your pain

I trust You. 

And I surrender it all to you,

all to You

Bolded lyrics: "Surrender"

A Trip of a Lifetime! (March 20)

Sitting on our last flight home, my mind and heart were full. 

Both filled with sweet (and very crazy!) memories from the last 10 days...

Riding a camel in Jerusalem!

"It's fun to play at the..."

Walking on water?!

My eyes, a hit among the Jericho boys, got me some flowers and "dates!" (LOL!)

Drinking chocolate milk from a bag in the Jerusalem market...SO GOOD!

Enjoying the sunshine!

Baklava! (Yum!)

My mom and I, livin' it up in the Holy Land!

A fresh banana...picked straight off the tree!

Pizza Hut pizza at the Tel Aviv airport!

Walking where Jesus walked!

My uncle recently shared this hymn with my mom and I, and it brought tears to my eyes. In closing, I want to share it with you...

I walked today where Jesus walked, in days of long ago, 

I wandered down each path he knew, with reverent step and slow. 

Those little lanes they have not changed, a sweet peace fills the air,

I walked today where Jesus walked, and felt His Presence there.

My pathway led through Bethlehem, ah memories ever sweet, 

The little hills of Galilee, that knew those childish feet.

The Mount of Olives, hallowed Scenes, that jesus knew before,

I saw the might Jordan roll, as in the days of yore.

I knelt today where Jesus knelt, where all alone he prayed,

The Garden of Gethsemane, my heart felt unafraid.

I picked my heavy burden up, and with him at my side, 

I climbed the Hill of Calvary, where on the cross He died.

I walked today where Jesus walked, and felt Him close to me.

I am forever changed because of this trip. Thank you for your love, prayers, votes, support, and encouragement. They are what allowed me to go on this adventure in the first place and are what sustained me while I was there. What a blessing you all are to me! I am also so very thankful for the KSBJ and NGEN staff and for Educational Opportunity Tours. The whole experience was more than I could ever have imagined. It truly was, a trip of a lifetime!

Home sweet home!

"He Has Risen!" (March 19)

It is our last day in Israel, and as we walked back to the hotel from the Jerusalem market this evening, Bryan (from NGEN radio) asked the following question, “What experience has hit home for you the most?” It didn’t take me long to respond, because in that moment, my heart was still recovering from the exact experience that he was referring to. 

That experience being, our visit to the Garden Tomb. 

Standing outside the tomb, I was overcome with emotion. The fact that Jesus died and rose again is the only reason that I have hope today. 

Standing inside the tomb, I couldn’t keep the smile from my face, the joy from my heart! “Then the angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:5-6

He defeated the grave! He conquered death, and because He did, so many years ago, I no longer have to fear it. What hope the empty tomb has given believers! What hope the empty tomb has given me! Has given my family! Has given my son!

The Garden was full of people today, but I didn’t even notice. As we sat with our entire group for the Lord’s Supper, it felt like we were the only ones there. We sang, we prayed, we recited the Lord’s Prayer together, and we took communion as one. (Oh, what a blessing it is to be a part of the family of God!) 

I walked from the Garden and into the gift shop and it was then that I saw it. An olive wood carving of Jesus holding a little lamb in his arms. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 

Because He lives, my fears are stilled. He shepherds my heart and He holds me close. Today, tomorrow, and forever. 

And this realization, this beautiful truth, is what has hit home for me the most.

Praise God!...“He has risen!”

"Don't Forget" (March 18)

Kneeling on the original stones of where Jesus's journey of carrying the cross began is what sticks out to me the most today. When Jess (from NGEN radio) began singing "Oh the blood of Jesus," I was overcome with emotion. We had just read, as a group, the account of Christ's unjust trial and of the horrific suffering that He had endured leading up to this point, and when her angelic voice filled the walls of the chamber, I started to tremble.

We began our symbolic climb, following what is believed to be the path that Jesus took to His crucifixion.

The street was busy, with money changers and market shops on both sides. People were everywhere! Often, caught up in the hustle and bustle and in people watching, I would completely lose sight of what it was we were doing. And then, out of nowhere, something would remind me. Stopping at one of the 14 stations, I looked down, and there in the stone I was standing on, was the shape of a cross. A simple marking in the stone. A beautiful gift from our Father, gently reminding me "don't forget."

I smiled and breathed up a prayer of thanksgiving. We started moving again, distractions everywhere. We stopped at another station and this time, my mom gently touched my arm and whispered, "look." There in the stone at her feet was the shape of a heart. Another sweet reminder from our gracious Savior, "don't forget."

The climb ended and we lunched on the rooftop of a restaurant located in the heart of Old Jerusalem. Looking out, we could see the city and even make out the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane. I was awestruck. (We were eating lunch on a rooftop in Jerusalem! Really?!)

We made it to the Western Wall soon after we ate. The fact that this magnificent place is still standing today, after the destruction of Jerusalem time and time again, amazes me. As if it stands to say "don't forget."

We had the opportunity to pray at the Wall...

and as we were walking away, I almost ran into two little boys. Jewish boys, walking the streets alone. The older leading the younger. The reason that I almost ran into them was not because I wasn't looking where I was going, but because they were not looking where they were headed. You see, the older little boy was completely lost in the book he was reading. The book, I noticed after a second glance, was the Holy Scriptures. I couldn't believe it! I ran back to snap a picture and couldn't get the imagine out of my head for the rest of the day.

Oh, to love the Bible like that!

To love it and to teach my son to love it, that is my prayer!

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Deuteronomy 6:4-7

What sweet reminders the Lord gave us today in the city of Jerusalem. The city that He wept over. How many times has my heart strayed away and how many times has He wept over me? Countless. Yet, because of His sacrifice on the cross, there is grace. I am forgiven. You are forgiven. And in His mercy, he gently whispers. He gently convicts and He gently reminds. "Dear child of mine, don't forget."

"The Lowest Place on Earth" (March 17)

Until today, I had never heard of Masada, "the highest point on the lowest place on earth."To reach this peek, we traveled by cable car.

Once we arrived at the top of the rocky cliff, I was captivated. The view was spectacular!

Although it was warm as we journeyed through the ruins of King Herod's "vaca" home, the sunshine was welcomed! Saad filled us in on the history of the place, and I was amazed. The architecture was simply marvelous, state of the art for that time period, and the details that ran all through the palace were immaculate. What a beautiful structure it must have been back in the day!

 

Even still, what intrigued me the most, was the story of the jews who sought refuge in the abandoned palace, years after Herod's reign.

Unfortunately though, their location was discovered by the roman armies, and once the mountain was surrounded, the jews had a choice to make. Looking out at the armies below, they saw their own people, jewish slaves, standing as human "shields" in front of the soldiers. If they chose to fight, they would have killed their own. If they had chosen to do nothing, then all of them, including the women and children, would have been taken as slaves. And so, they decided to defy the romans one last time and take their own lives. Men were chosen, by casting lots, to do the unthinkable. They had to kill their wives, their children, their friends, and lastly, themselves. (I can't even imagine!) According to history, only two women and two children escaped by hiding themselves in the crevices of the rocks.

 What the romans stumbled upon, as they entered the hollow walls on that frightful day, was no doubt, an unimaginable sight.

Selfishness and sacrifice were the words that were pumping through the veins of those ruins today. As I looked out over the Dead Sea ("the lowest place on earth") from the top of Masada, my thoughts were filled with wonder. Who would have thought, that the beautiful palace Herod had built for himself so many years ago, would be remembered more for the selfless sacrifice of a humble people devoted to the Lord, than for it's temporary grandeur?

We took the cable car back down the mountain, enjoyed some ice cream, and ended our day floating in the Dead Sea. SO MUCH FUN! We were all amazed that we could literally sit with our legs crossed and bob on top of the water, effortlessly. We lathered mud all over us and were amazed at how silky our skin felt after we rinsed. It was DISGUSTING and AWESOME all at the same time!

Today was indeed an adventure! An impacting ascent to the top of a mountain followed by a relaxing float in a memorable sea. Lessons were learned and memories were definitely made at "the lowest place on earth."