Leaving Galilee.

July 4

First off, I’d like to add a few tidbits of things I forgot to add in the past few days.

1. I ate cow tongue.
2. Long bus rides are tons of fun. Gabby and I performed the Bohemian Rhapsody for everyone. (We were the only ones who knew it!)
3. Jewish Cowboys exist.

But anyway… Today was definitely my favorite Fourth of July! Even if it wasn’t spent in America… First we went through Tiberius to Mt. Arbel. We got another amazing view, and had a really fun hike down! (Pictures on facebook, of course.) It is just truly amazing to be in a place where Yeshua may have walked. And even if He never walked in the same place I did, the typography is the same!! We are seeing the same things that Yeshua saw!! It’s so awesome!!

The hike was fun, and I got the nickname “Boots” because apparently I have the best boots here and are really intense… I mean, they were only from Wal-Mart! But hey, I’ll take it. ;)

When we finished hiking, we went to a museum where the “Jesus Boat” was and also had some lunch and ice cream. We got to see the actual boat that was found years ago. The story of it is really a miracle. I mean, this boat is WOODEN and it managed to stay in tact, under the water for 2,000 years!! Eventually, it was found and it took a lot of work to dig it up while keeping it in tact and then moving it. They had to put it in this water solution stuff for fifteen years before they could display it so it wouldn’t fall apart!! It was really cool being able to see a boat that Yeshua may have used!! I mean, it was hard just to picture Him sitting in there, fishing with His disciples… It’s pretty crazy stuff. We also got to go to a gift shop where I was able to get a good deal on some Dead Sea lotion. That stuff works wonders!!

From the museum we went to Capernaum which was absolutely wonderful. I mean, this was Yeshua’s headquarters!! In John 6 it talks about Yeshua preaching the sermon about being the bread of life in the synagogue in Capernaum! And we were there!! Another thing we talked about while in Capernaum is not only the surrealism that we were experiencing, but we were able to talk about the story of the Centurion. The Centurion didn’t require Yeshua to give a sign or His presence for His healing; He believed He could heal with just a command. And we were able to ask ourselves, in order to believe what Yeshua can do in life, do we require a sign?? I mean, God has given us a text!! “Shema”: HEAR oh Israel… This word means hear and obey. Whether God gives us a sign or not! We have His WORD which should be enough. And if that wasn’t enough, He gave us His SPIRIT. He lives in us and is guiding us for our whole lives as believers!  But is that all we require in order to trust God?

I have been challenged by something new every day on this trip. I have a lot of work to do! 

After Capernaum, we were able to go on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee!! This was just an amazing experience. We learned Hava Nagila! A very fun Jewish dance. Bruce also read the story of when Yeshua calmed the sea during the storm. The disciples had little faith and they were afraid, but Yeshua stopped the storm at His command. Through Him, there was peace. This was very convicting because as he was talking, I was filled with worry and stress because I realized my wallet wasn’t in my backpack and I didn’t know where it was. He’s talking about how even in times of trouble, we must have faith that in Yeshua, there is peace. It wasn’t until they started playing, “It is Well” that I started to calm down. I knew that Yeshua was taking care of me, no matter what kind of trouble I get myself into. In Yeshua, there is peace!! And guess what, my wallet was on the bus.

We came back for the last night in this beautiful hotel by the sea and we were able to go swimming and watch the sunset. I seriously love swimming. And sunsets. So it was a good night even though I am totally exhausted!! We also talked more about Philippians and we read the passage that says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” Wow. Paul got me after the first sentence! Do everything without grumbling and complaining!! Obviously, this is an extremely hard command to do perfectly, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to be the best. If we find ourselves grumbling or complaining, we need to catch ourselves and take on the attitude of Christ because it is only then that we will shine like the stars in the sky. Across the sea, we see Tiberius and it is filled with lights. That is us! We need to shine so that we don’t look like the rest of the world and it is through that, that people will be able to see Yeshua. It is a part of working through our salvation. And when we die, we will be able to stand before God and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

It’s about sharing God’s love with a servant’s heart. Take on the attitude of our Messiah. We need to be the pink camouflage in a green world!

PS: My runny nose was OK this morning, but as they day went on it got worse, so your prayers would still be much appreciated!! Thank you all, I love you and good night!