Egypt/Jordan/Israel trip was a highlight of my summer. I want to add it is a wonderful place to visit and I never felt unsafe or afraid, so worthwhile to visit. It was a trip filled with God lessons and was shared with 25 members of the church we attend. There were also 20 some from other churches around the U.S. We swam in the Nile, the Sea of Galilee, the Arnon Gorge River, the Dead Sea, we rode camels and donkeys, and hiked in many places Jesus walked and taught, as well as slept on top of the Sinai mountain range (where Israelites wandered around and Moses received God's 10 commandments). We slept under the stars, and we were taken care of by Bedouins. We learned that when a Bedouin takes you under his care he will lay down his life for you if you are in any danger! I did notice they stayed awake all night while we slept on the mountain top. How do I know this you may ask? I was awake too. I was able to see a wonderful display of God's starry universe but did not appreciate it the way I should have as I would have rather slept with everyone else who was snoring! What a chorus they made!
Have you ever walked under a water fall and then come back through it? I never did before this trip. It was a little frightening at first since my head hurt a bit from the force of the water and my eyes were blinded. A rock helped us find our way to the other side where our hands were grabbed by our leader - so good to hear his voice and know we made it! When we made it to the back side we were told now we had to go back through this time in the middle no rock, no hand! Okay ---- we could see the other side so I just decided hurry up and do this! My surprise was the knockdown a group of us girls experienced by the water fall smashing our heads. We all swam to safety laughing and glad we had survived. The special part of this was the lesson taught which was this is like God's living water poured out on us so forcefully that it can't help but overflow in our hearts and well up to eternal life! (John 6:14) God has so much love for us it makes us fall over - we cannot realize how much God loves us! I loved this picture of living water falling from heaven knocking me down! I will never forget the feel of that and how it is almost frightening yet so awesome when you make it to the other side! What a beautiful picture of how much God loves us and fills us with His living water!
We enjoyed so many visual faith lessons in Egypt by the pyramids, by the Nile and seeing how it is a country with a distinct line of lush green and wilderness - you are either in or you are out. It seems very close to who we are with God. We either are in or we are out. We either go God's way or the world's way - either in or out. God took his people to the wilderness to trust Him. Sometimes we need deserts to help us lean on God more. In my life I know I learned the most from hard times and leaned heavily on God to help me when I was needy or hurting. Looking back they bring so much comfort as I can see how God was so very close at those times. It isn't that He is closer, I just notice Him more. How about you?
We need to understand our God stories so we can share but also so we can glorify God with our lives and be ready for the biggest thrill of all - meeting one day in the temple of God! I was in the lands of the Bible which is amazing but I think the most wonderful thought is I was able to stand on the hill Jesus said he was coming again to. The Mount of Olives overlooking the temple area and the city of Jerusalem. Are you expecting Him to return? I certainly am!!!
