#208: SARA’S TRIP TO ISRAEL
Trip of a lifetime! That is exactly what I would call the 12 day trip my husband, Chris, and I experienced just a few weeks ago. We were not even supposed to go on this trip, but 3 weeks before it’s scheduled departure, we were invited to attend.
First of all, can I just thank God for this opportunity? Too often we do not pause and just say thank you. But God opened this door and we ran through it! If you asked me to break down this experience into my top 3 takeaways, these would be them:
- I felt like the felt board Sunday school lessons of my childhood became real life. It was if the stores of the Bible jumped off the pages into my life. Seeing where Paul pleaded with King Agrippa for his freedom so he could go to Rome, sitting on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee and thinking that is the very body of water Jesus walked on, sobbing in the Garden of Gethsemane just imagining that this is where Jesus wept, gazing over the valley where David defeated Goliath, and worshipping in the garden of the tomb just imagining what it was like to see that stone rolled away. I was living in the stories that I had learned my entire childhood. What a humbling experience. May moments I felt as if I was in awe of the even the possibility that all of this was real. Just last night Chris and I were talking with some friends, and he told them that any believer should go visit Israel if given the opportunity. It will only grow your belief in the Word, broaden your scope of the reality of its contents, and deepen your passion and faith.
- I have great respect for the Jewish nation and its deep-rooted faith and traditions. This nation is rich in tradition and beliefs. I might not agree with all of them, but I could not help but admire how deeply devoted they are to what the believe. They are not flippant about such things or the story of their heritage. Our tour guide was one of the most passionate people I have ever met. He was just at taste of how most of them feel. And what was even more invigorating was to see the broad age range of those that celebrated their beliefs. If only I could bring an ounce of this dedication home with me. To remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, to so desire to be close to God that I set aside Friday evenings for prayer and meditation, to tell my story when ever the opportunity arises and not be ashamed or afraid. We don’t need some huge concert or event to celebrate our Lord and Savior. We don’t need some sensational gathering or building. We just need to decide that we are going to be dedicated to worshiping Him regularly.
- John Maxwell and I were talking one evening while at the Western Wall. He said something to me that put the entire trip into perspective. As believers, Christians, we believe that God is everywhere and not just in the Holy of Holies right? So, he said, “Sara, I believe that God is everywhere, yes, but I also believe His presence is stronger in some places.” Well nothing could be more true than that of the presence of God felt so strongly in Israel. It was if the spirit of God inside of me was dancing and celebrating and the core of my insides were awakened. There was just something different; the way the sun rays shown down on the mountains, the remnants of the old city, there was a glory that I had never experience before. And when you hear the stories of this nation and of its survival and unity, you cannot help but say that the presence of God is in that place.
My prayer is that your love of God and all that he is will be prompted in this podcast to ignite and be on fire for Him. The Bible is real. The God we serve is real, he is risen and will return.
Will you be ready?
Sara