Recap

Well we are home!!! After a half a day of traveling I unpacked, organized my room for my life in Winter Haven this summer, slept for a while and now I cant sleep. So I will finish up this blog in regards to Israel.

Our guide Jossi was such a highlight to the trip. He was a wealth of knowledge into the land, history and culture. He was also Jewish. Meaning he does not believe Jesus to be Lord... which was fascinating. He knew so much about Jesus and was better versed in the New Testament than I am but did not have the belief and faith. It is still difficult for Jewish people to accept that Jesus was Messiah. I met a guy who said it was like breaking one of the 10 Commandments " You shall have no other Gods before me." Interesting. I just loved talking to Jossi. He was incredibly in shape for being 70 years old. Just a peach of a man. So proud. So full of life. So thankful he was our guide.

Not sure if I wrote about Caesarea. It is right on the Mediterranean Sea and was built as a port city which really grew in the 3rd century in the Byzantine era. Amazing. Roman style. Was like we stepped back in time again. Those are the pics of all of us at the beach near the water. The theatre was incredible as well. I loved seeing the old old old old theatres! The one in Caesarea is the one where Paul gave his testimony to Felix in Acts 24. We were there. WHOA.


Here is the passage

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea
24:1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

That happened.

ok moving on....

to Mt Carmel

1 Kings 18- look it up...

where He "turned their hearts back to Him"
Where Elijiah asked God to show himself to the pagan believers by sending fire from heaven and He did. Powerful. I ask God to show himself to us as well.

We also stopped at a bunker in the Golan Heights near Syria where the 6 day war in 67 was fought. God protected His people. Neat walking down in the army bunkers understanding that the Israelis fought for their country with the same pride as our soldiers did and do to defend their land.

We went to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We actually saw them in Jerusalem. Proof.

We seriously did so much. Im still processing all of it.

I have seen a different side to my God. He transcends time. I am stil blown over by how we were seeing sites and buildings from 3000 years ago. And God was God then too. The same yesterday, today, and forever.

I loved being awakened to the Jewish culture and religion. I am going to study up on the Feasts.
I want to understand my Hebraic roots better. I think it is worth it for all of us to explore what that means to us. Just because Christianity started with Jesus being born, dying and rising doesn't mean He wasn't present (through the Trinity) in all of the time before that.

It will also be interesting to watch what happens with the politics in the Middle East. Lets pray for the leadership of our country to make wise decisions and to live with honesty and integrity.

I was so thankful to have been there with mom!! and Aunt Susan, Aunt Cathy, and Catie Claire. It was quite an adventure. Each of these women have such a special place in my heart and purpose in my life. So blessed by them. Just so blessed to have had that experience. And at a young age. I feel covered in such grace.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"

Mark 13:32-33 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. "

I am sure I have left something out but I tried my best to recall all the wonderful things we did and experienced.

Oh here is a quote I wrote down from the Holocaust Museum.

" We became aware that our language lacks words to express this offense. The demolition of man. We had reached the bottom"

Heavy.
It wasnt just Jews either. Gypsies, homosexuals, handicapped people, Polish people.

The art in the museum was almost better than the actual photographs. Captured feelings as well as what it looked like. I can't say enough about this museum.

another quote
"ones need for art, music, theatre, grows when times are miserable."
There was a whole section about theatre and the arts in this horrible time and how it lifted the spirits, as much as it could.

I could write a whole blog on the notes I took in the museum. I saw a young boy walking around the museum with his parents. Maybe 10 years old. What must that be like to be introduced to this at such a young age? How do you take it in? I appreciate the parents teaching him though.

psm 129
They have greatly oppressed me from my youth—
let Israel say-
they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.



When we sat on the southern steps of the temple we read the Psalms of Ascent. (psalm 120-134) Those are also worth a read. The steps were constructed so you had to walk slowly into the temple. Couldn't rush. God as the designer wanted His people to come into his presence in meditation.
Psalm 122
I rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."
Our feet are standing
in your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.
There the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."
For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

psm 125
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.

Well I thank you for your prayers and interest in our journey. I am thinking about carrying on this blog for other adventures so stay updated!

Mom and I are going to do a raw food detox experiment for a week or so... I am going to attempt to keep a journal of it and recipes if you are interested. I have found such passion and joy in health and live, beneficial foods and I am going to love sharing it with my mom this coming week.

Be blessed. Draw close to God. Eat well. Seek. Dream. Love. Listen. Explore.

Shalom!

sarah claire