No Fear.

June 23

Saturdays for Israelis are like Sundays in America. We got to sleep in a little bit today, we had Kehila at 11am. We had Sunday School first and then the regular service. It’s really interesting having a translator! They speak in Hebrew and then have Russian and English translators. The people at the Kehila are so encouraging. I mean, part of our purpose of being here is to encourage the people in the Kehila, but I can only hope that I encourage them as much as they encourage me! Their testimonies are absolutely amazing. They are such joyful people and as we are learning more and more about what joy is, I see that these people have it! Their love for God is outstanding and they have huge hearts. Wonderful, wonderful people.

After Kehila, we got to hang out at home for a bit and then went back to the Kibbutz to play volleyball and fellowship! I’m probably better at softball than volleyball (and that’s saying a LOT) but, it was fun! Just being able to spend time with another is awesome (even if that means getting wacked in the head with a volleyball by Charity with such force that it makes you fall over… which totally wasn’t me… ha…). I also learned an Israeli card game! It’s called Yoniv and Sonya said it’s a very popular game to play in the army. It blows my mind that every Israeli citizen is required to join the army once they turn 18. Boys for three years and girls for two. I can’t even imagine being required to be in the army! But we had a lot of fun with that before heading back home for devotions.

Devotions tonight totally convicted me. We furthered into the book of Philippians and we studied the passage, “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Chris. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” When Paul was writing this he was in the Roman prison! Paul knew what true joy was really about. Despite his circumstances, he was able to have joy in which he knew God was in control and would use him for His glory. You’re not always going to have the answers. You’re not always going to know why. Through all circumstances, God is in control and that is why we can have joy. And guess what, he was able to spread the gospel! This is what his life is about! In the book of Acts he says that it doesn’t matter what happens to him in this life as long as he is constantly living for the glory of God. And what really convicted me is that he does not live in fear. And when he proclaimed the gospel to his brothers and sisters in the prison, they were able to “proclaim the gospel without fear.” Without fear! It didn’t matter what other people thought about him. It didn’t matter what they did to him. They proclaimed the gospel without fear. They had no fear in life or death because they had complete faith in God.

It make me think of the song, “In Christ Alone.”

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life’s first cry to final breath, Yeshua commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand. Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I stand.

This is what I’ll end with because it needs no more explanation. Just let these words give you a slap in the face because we don’t need to live in fear! OUR GOD IS THAT GREAT.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I can only hope that as you read this blog, you’re not only reading about my experiences and growth, but that you can experience it with me. Love you very much.