Every day in Israel started EARLY in the morning, so we could fit everything in! But, every wake-up call before dawn was worth it for the beautiful sunrise we saw every day. This was especially true for the Sea of Galilee. (Can you imagine being that guy in the kayak? WOW.)
We would watch the calm waters begin to change from deep blue to orange, as the sun began to crest over the mountain ranges and shine over the sea.
It took me right back to the morning long ago, when Jesus built himself a fire and fried up some fish for his friends, on a beach just a stone's throw away, at this exact time of day. (John 21) Oh, to be there for that breakfast of champions. :)
Truly, the waters of Galilee is something I still haven't found words for. I tear up every time I think about it. There was such a powerful peaceful presence there.
And, I am just going to interject this, as I post a picture of my hubby and me...that there are some times when you just need a picture of the two of you, to remember that "just the two of you" still does exist. We have been in a really long season of "alot of us", so along with the Sea, there was also a powerful peaceful thing about just renewing that relationship between us, in such a significant place.
As we drove to our first stop of this day, we passed by Magdala, which was where Mary "Magdalene" was from! Another example of recent discovery, this little town is being carefully unearthed and all kinds of treasures are being found. For example, as they were beginning the construction for a shopping center there, they discovered a synagogue from Jesus' day as they dug, and all building was stopped! It's amazing to think how much more will be discovered as they continue to dig!
We also saw more beautiful countryside, including small herds of cattle, sheep, and even storks, migrating from Africa to Europe!
Another one of my favorite views: the fields of fruit trees! In these pictures, there are rows and rows of citrus and mango trees.
Our first official stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.
What a beautiful place! Again, every turn we made, we were again in awe at the nature surrounding us!
This is a new thing for us as a family, but we have become "collectors of birds" in recent months. Not actual birds. But, their pictures, and their descriptions, from our travels (or from our backyard!). We have logged them and keep photos of them. The man who started it all (Mark) was very excited to add some new very unique birds to our collection on this trip! So, he was a man on a mission.
On this bright morning, we found the Ring-Necked Parakeet! Wild and flitting about, as we worshipped and listened to Max, I thought of the very sermon Jesus preached here, about how even the birds have what they need, and the lilies are dressed in royal robes, so why do we worry about what we will eat or drink? Our Heavenly Father knows our every need. (Matthew 6)
Those are the kind of flitting thoughts that I love about our God. He is always ready to send us a lesson or two, to remind us of Whose we are and how He cares for us!
Max preached in a small amphitheater overlooking the mountain, about what "blessed" really is: a surety and conviction that God is still God regardless of circumstances, and He is always and forever in control. Believing this leads to
Happiness + Joy + Peace + Contentment. Also known, Max says, as "hapjoypeacement". :)
We enjoyed worship time, and then walked through the gardens. Then, it was off to the village of Nazareth!
This is such an interesting town!
The Nazareth of today has Christians, Jewish, and Muslim believers all living within its quarters. There is a Baptist church there that is growing and has a well-renowned school, which even Muslim children attend. And, it is much more commercialized than I expected!
I was so thankful that in the middle of the noise of a now busy city, Israeli archaeologists decided to build a historically accurate town just like Jesus grew up in.
Now there is a fully-functioning ancient farm.
There is a typical home like Jesus would have lived in with his family, as well as an "upper room" and the usual 1st century supplies for a home, like oil lamps, food stores, and kitchen supplies.
Everything from picking rosemary and weeding the gardens...
To carpentry...
...or weaving.
And some really cute Jewish children! :)
There was even an old shepherd with his sheep grazing on the hillside. It certainly made everything come alive from the time Jesus was a small boy.
There was an accurate reconstruction of the synagogue that Jesus Himself read the scroll of Isaiah in, which was fascinating to stand in and imagine life long ago.
As they were digging for this very town, knowing they were exactly where the original town of Nazareth was, they discovered an original winepress (chiseled out of the stone where the guide is standing) from Jesus' time, along with the terraced farmland that stretched above it.
So, all of these things were restored, but not changed at all. This makes parables like Mark 12 literally jump of the page. And, our guide shared that this winepress could have certainly been the one Jesus was referring to, as he taught!
The next stop was the ancient village of Capernaum.
This was such a significant place in the ministry of Jesus, and the very place where Jesus called many of his disciples, healed the man lowered through the roof by friends, and brought Jairus' daughter to life again. This is also where the woman touched the hem of Jesus' robe and was healed. In fact, I have read that more of Jesus' healing miracles happened in Capernaum than in anywhere else! As I walked the streets, I silently prayed that old familiar prayer of healing for our sweet boy, Gabe, as well as other friends we have with cancer and other ailments---and thanked Jesus that on these very places, people's lives were radically changed in every way---physically and spiritually, when He touched them!
Can't you just imagine Him walking these streets and teaching and healing every day and night?
Can't you just see Peter, Andrew, James, and John in their fishing boats among these reeds, walking away from their nets and becoming Jesus' most trusted companions?
I love knowing the history of this place...the fact that it was a "customs" stop along the way from Mesopotamia and Damascus to Egypt (which explains why Matthew was a tax collector here!), and that it was along a major highway of the times. Yet, at the same time, it was right beside the Sea of Galilee, and a place many fisherman called home.
I can see it just bustling with activity. People always coming and going. Always with an agenda.
And, then Jesus steps in the picture and everything changes. People start coming, but not for taxes or fishing or trade. Instead, they come to sit at His feet or ask for healing or in an attempt to figure out what they believe about this man who is called Jesus.
You can see here how close we were to the water...and why Jesus often decided a quick escape by boat sounded like a great idea! :)
And you can see here how amazing the ruins of the White Synagogue are!
Although the original synagogue where Jesus often preached was rebuilt in the 4th century, you are able to see layers of both, and it is obvious that the 4th century synagogue carefully replaced the older one.
Here we are standing at the front of the synagogue!
We actually took time to sit in the synagogue and soak as much in as we could of this quick visit. Naftali, our faithful and crazy-intelligent guide, was always giving us information to think about during our days. I've rarely met someone who knows as much of the Bible as this man did, and was so humble, JOYFUL, and kind.
Capernaum is also the city where Peter, his wife, and his mother-in-law lived, and it is believed to be on the very site where this huge spaceship church has now been built!
I have no idea why that was allowed to be constructed, but I was at least thankful they exposed the ruins underneath so we can see!
This has also been a number of church and synagogue sites over the years, to remember and celebrate where Peter lived and began to follow Jesus.
And, now we come to another "favorite moment" of mine: The Jordan River.
This is a rather personal story, but since this is for my own memories and really nothing more, I'm telling it anyway.
I had heard even before we came, that an event you don't want to miss was the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River. As it came time for a decision to be made the day before, I still had no idea if I wanted to. Not that I didn't think this was an AWESOME thing to get to do...it was just that this was my one time at the Jordan River, and I wanted to spend it exactly the way the Lord wanted me to.
So, that night I prayed. I asked God if being baptized again in this significant spot was what He knew I needed most (because I definitely did NOT want to go home and regret that decision!), and IMMEDIATELY. I mean IMMEDIATELY....a story that He gave me a couple of years ago just popped in my head and I knew His answer.
For years, I have always loved the story of Joshua crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land with the Israelites. First of all, it's the fulfillment of a promise that took YEARS of waiting before anyone could see it actually happen. (Encouraging when you're waiting for the fulfillment of promises, right?!) But, even more so, I love the way the story plays out.
Joshua tells the people to get ready and consecrate themselves because big things are about to happen. They are crossing into their Promised Land!
As God instructs him to do, Joshua tells the Levites that they will be carrying the Ark of the Covenant before the people "because the people do not know the way to go". And, this is the kicker that has changed me.
They weren't instructed to wait for the waters to dry up before they took the first step into the riverbed. There was no staff waved over the water like when Moses did this!
They were supposed to enter the deep waters (that were beyond the Jordan's banks!) FIRST. And, then after their feet touched the water, THEN God would do His miraculous work of parting the waters.
As Mark and I oftentimes feel like we stumble through ministry to the children we love in Rwanda, this story has kept me afloat many a time. Knowing that I have to step where He tells me to "because I don't know the way I am going". And, that once I take a step, He WILL provide the power of the miracle.
But, I'll be honest. It's been a TOUGH season in ministry. And, before this trip, we knew and expected God to speak up in big ways. Because there wasn't much else to hold on to. And, He certainly has done it again.
We knew that He didn't necessarily want us baptized that day in the usual way.
He wanted us to take a step into the water and be baptized by His promises, His power, His ability to do the impossible, if we just take the first step.
So, I instantly knew this is what we would do.
We found a place further down the river to "get our feet wet", and then we sat on a rock with our feet in the crystal clear water, and prayed and cried and gave this all back to Him again, believing Him for the miracles He promises.
It was amazing. And, so needed. It was a moment of renewal. Of quiet. Of trust.
And, now we plan to just watch as He parts the waters and has every single ONE of these kids we serve crossing the riverbed on dry ground, into the land of His promises and His provision.
Meanwhile, many of our new precious friends from this trip (shout out to BEST BUS #3!!) were baptized by Max Lucado, as husband and wife, as friends, as sisters, as mom and daughter. It was absolutely awesome.
So, we spent the last little while cheering on our friends and praising God that so many believers were gathered together in a significant place like this one!
Oh, and we also took more pictures of birds. :)
This time, we were able to capture TWO different kinds of Kingfishers! AMAZING.
And, it is astounding to think this has been dated to exactly Jesus' day and is exactly like the boat Jesus would have used with his disciples. It even seats 12-14. :)
You who know me KNOW that I will be blogging more about these three later. I am still pinching myself that I was not only in Israel, but touring with one of my favorite families on this earth: The Chapmans. On this very night, we were able to meet Steven and his kids, and share our story of loss, healing, and ministry. I told Steven how MUCH his songs have always ministered to my heart, but that Beauty Will Rise had especially perfect timing in my life, to bring hope and understanding to such a dark and sad time for me, as we grieved the loss of our sweet Chase. It was wonderful to get to visit with them for a while, and all share our hearts for our children who live in heaven, as well as the children we each serve across the world...both break our hearts and warm our hearts at the same time in the same ways.
Wow. Even as I write that, I am in awe of the God we serve. This was the trip of a lifetime in every way. As I said before, may I not waste a minute of the gift He gave me.
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