Sixteen Sojourning Servants

We are sixteen sojourning servants worshipping our way through the Galilee and Samaria.

This morning began with an awesome worship service in Nazareth at a site that overlooked the Jezreel Valley. This high place is known to be where Jesus own neighbors; family, (friends?) took him to throw him off the cliff. We can see so much from here, Mount Carmel, the heights of Manasseh, Mount Gilboah, the Spring of Gideon, the Gilead Mountains, the village of Deborah... yet those closest to Jesus could not see who He was. As we sat on this hillside, Pastor talked about Jesus childhood and the trouble he must have had growing up here in Nazareth, and right on queue, almost as if it was planned, four small children came running down a path, chasing each other through our group shouting Shalom. This experience reminds us that we will have trouble, we will always be pursued by what seems to be an unlikely enemy at times, yet we are told to forgive as Jesus forgives us. We are reminded, because at times, keeping our focus on the what matters is so hard to do.


This truth is apparent in the next Tel we went to, Megiddo. 25 different civilization have lived here and have been destroyed. People lived here who lost focus and worshiped other gods. There is an alter here where Baal worship and child sacrifices took place. Megiddo is where the final battle of life will be fought, and the blood will rise as high as the horses bridle and doom will come to those who worship the beast. (Rev 14)


We then went on to Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 18 we read the story about Elijah calling on the power of the Lord. Elijah stood on the promises of God even when he stood opposed by 450 men. He challenged the enemy to see who's god was sovereign. Elijah worshiped here, and God was faithful to show His power.


We continued east to the Mediterranean Sea to the old city of Caesarea. An impressive place that was one of the most important cities in the Roman world. The city was complete with a theater, amphitheater, hippodrome, palace, and aqueducts.  Paul worshiped here as he reveals his willingness to die to proclaim the good news of Jesus.


We finished our day in worship at the Jordan River where 9 of our group were baptized and rededicated their lives to Christ!


We've had a great stay in Tiberias. We check out tomorrow morning and head for Jerusalem!

Sixteen Sojourning Servants

Today we were sixteen sojourning servants who had a surreal day. It's always hard to believe we are actually here, walking in the footsteps of Jesus!

Our first day of touring the Holy Land was a busy day. It started on a boat as we sailed across the Sea of Galilee. We spent time at the Old Boat Museum where we saw a boat similar to one Jesus' disciples would have used for fishing.

We then went to the northern tip of Israel to the ancient city of Dan. Here we walked the ruins of the temple built by Jeroboam after Israel and Judah split. The temple was built around 1000 BC to discourage the people of Israel from going to worship in Jerusalem. A "Golden Calf" of sorts, that was eventually destroyed. It was a tough climb but worth every step. Another short walk from Tel Dan and we saw a mud gate that dates back before Abraham. Wow!

From there we went to Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banis. This place is where the people of Jesus day went to worship the god Pan, and many other gods. Jesus came here and reminded the people that He is the "rock" that the church would be built on.

As we headed back to Tiberias through the Golan Heights, Israel showed a personal face as we stood just a few thousand feet from Syria looking at the UN buildings. We heard of the fear the Jews experience daily as their enemy sits in plain site just across a small valley.

We finished our day with a visit to the olive oil store for a little shopping.

Today reminded us of our "true" enemy. The one sitting, waiting, and crouched at the door, ready to destroy. The places we went today reminded us that God wants our full attention, our companionship. We are not to worship any Golden Calfs of the North but rather are to stand firm dressed in the full armor of God!

Sixteen Sojourning Servants

Sixteen Sojourning Servants about to embark on the journey of a lifetime! In 24 hours, we will be on our way, walking in the footsteps of Jesus!

A Different Kind of Christmas
I certainly didn’t think I needed a reminder of what Christmas is all about. It is, after all, my favorite time of year. My home comes to life with tinsel and Nativity scenes. Cookies, pies, and of course, home-made Lefsa is all part of my busy schedule centered around the birth of the one who found me worthy to Save. It's also my favorite time of the year to be downtown at work every day. Festive decorations and music fill the skyways and the Crystal Court as the secular world oozes with Christianity.  Nothing can get me discouraged this time of year!
Then it happened, my husband and I both elected to have surgery before the end of the year that we might be in great shape for our vacation tour through Israel in March.
We now find ourselves having a different kind of Christmas. The big day is only two weeks away! Roger, now 12 weeks post-foot-surgery, is still on crutches and I'm still using a cane. Honestly, it's quite comical as we look like a couple escape inmates from the local nursing home!
We are finding new ways of throwing things to each other, only because it’s more efficient than manipulating the new body parts and sticks across the room. I haven’t done any baking, or cooking this year because standing around for hours on the new knee just isn’t working for me yet. We have no decorations put up because, really, which one of us is going to get the tubs out of the storage pit? And who will climb the step latter to hang the garland over the windows? Not to mention that everything is already cluttered and in need of a good cleaning, I just can’t see adding to it at this point. I’m also missing out on the downtown glitter as I work a little from my recliner at home. I always thought that would be a great concept. Up until yesterday, that is. Yesterday I found myself grumbling about the convenience of Amazon wish list shopping and wishing I had not “blown my holiday” on surgery as if this season was all about me and my festivities. You could say – I was getting discouraged.
But today is a new day. I think my husband and I are being challenged this year to look past ourselves and every secular aspect of what Christmas could ever be, to focus on the “real healing” of Christs birth. Christmas is so much more than celebrating the birth of our Messiah. It is also celebrating what Jesus has done for us, as well as what He has left to do. When I keep that in focus, I feel grateful instead of frustrated, and instead of feeling like I’m missing out, I only feel the blessing of family and friends. I haven’t had to cook for three weeks because I serve the Lord with an amazing Church and family, who have filled that need for me. The beauty and decoration of the season is their love as they become the hands and feet of Christ! Yes, the decorating, baking, and parties give reason to gather but they can also distract from the Passion of Jesus. His love is so great for us that He chose to die for us before we even acknowledged Him. That’s passion, and that's my kind of Christmas!
This year, in the quiet slowness of physical therapy, I'm not distracted by the typical lights and glitter. I only see the two greatest gifts this life has to offer; the love and commitment of my Lord and my family and Church. I will never be able to compose the words adequate to express my gratitude, but suffice it to say, I will never take them granted.
I only wish I could learn these things without the real life lessons!

What is Yom Kippur and where does it come from?

Yom Kippur is the Second of the Fall Feasts and the Holiest day of the year for most Jews. Yom Kippur (meaning “atonement”) is a Jewish holiday that begins at sundown, 10 Tishrei on the Jewish calendar or September 22 in the year 2015. We find scripture reference to Yom Kippur in Leviticus 23:26-28: 

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord. You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God.”

We also learn that

“Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.” (Exodus 30:10)

This observance was to be performed once a year.

“Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel, for all their sins once every year.”  (Leviticus 16:34)

Historically - Before the first Yom Kippur was celebrated, the children of Israel committed a grave sin. They knew it was prohibited to have any other gods before the one true God, yet they grew impatient for Moses to return from Mount Sinai so they pooled their resources (and their gold) and, with Aaron’s help, they made a golden calf to worship. When Moses came down from the mountain, in his anger, he threw the tablets that contained the Ten Commandments. Despite his anger, Moses pleaded with God to forgive the people. After the month of Elul had passed, he ascended Mount Sinai again, and on Yom Kippur, Moses brought down the second set of tablets and atonement was achieved.

For the Jew - Yom Kippur was the one day of the year that the high priest (Kohen Gadol) would enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. This was the inner court of the temple where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God resided. Entrance into the Holy of Holies was forbidden any other day of the year, but this day was set aside to make special sacrifices to purify the temple and the people. To purify the temple, blood would be sprinkled around the sanctuary. To purify the people, blood would be put on a goat called the scapegoat, and it would be led outside the camp to be released into the wilderness.

This is the most solemn day of the Jewish Year as the Jews practice teshuva (repentance). The Jewish belief is that on Rosh Hashanah (ten days earlier on 1 Tishrei), the Book of Life and Death is opened and God will write the names of those who will be granted another year of life. For many, this decision is uncertain until Yom Kippur, when the final decision is sealed. Many fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. These ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are known as “the Days of Awe.” This is the reason the prayers of Yom Kippur are designed to inspire one to mend one’s ways.

Yom Kippur is the pinnacle of the Jewish high holy days and has prophetic significance regarding the restoration of Israel, the second coming of Christ, and the final judgment of the world. It is also the day that reveals the high-priestly work of Jesus as our Kohen Gadol (“High Priest”) after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10, 6:20). Yom Kippur prophetically pictures the “Day of the Lord,” also known as “the Day of Judgment.” During the tribulation to follow the day of judgment, the New Testament insists that all of Israel will be saved, Jesus will physically return to Israel to establish His kingdom on earth, and all the promises given to ethnic Israel through the prophets will be fulfilled.

For the Christians - The New Testament teaches that those who trust in Jesus (messianic Jews included) have complete access to the throne of God and have a permanent “sealing” by the grace and love of God, given through the life and shed blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22). Leviticus 17:11 describes the sacrificial blood that was offered by the High Priest on the altar to make atonement for the souls of all God’s children - whosoever believes! 

 

The Freedom of Family

In Moses’ day, God freed the people from Egypt. In David’s day, God freed them from the Philistines. Two thousand years ago, God made a way to free all of humankind—not just the Jew but the Gentile as well. Paul argued, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus” 

Persevere my friend...

Did you know, that a newspaper editor fired Walt Disney for a “lack of good ideas” (I guess his boss didn't think he had much creativity)? He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland?

Did you know, that Babe Ruth set the record for the most home runs? He also held the record for the most strikeouts.

Did you know that Elvis Presley was fired from the Grand Old Opry in 1954 after just one performance because the manager said he wasn't going anywhere?

Did you know Beethoven lost his hearing at age 46? He was deaf when he composed his greatest work, including 5 of his symphonies.

Did you know that it took Thomas Edison more than 2000 experiments before he invented the light bulb? When interviewed and asked how he stuck with it after so much failure, his reply was something like, "I never failed… Inventing the light bulb was a 2000 step process…."

What was it about these people that enabled them to endure such discouragement. Failure after failure and the ridicule that must have gone along with that had to be immense. It seems to me that the heartbreak of that failure would kill such  a dream long before it came true. I don't know about you, but my tendency is to believe that if it's God's will for me, it will be easy. Yet, why would God want to send us somewhere that we don't need to wholly rely on His strength and power? If all you wanted was to spend time with a loved one, would you send them away? No, you wouldn't. All God wants from us is a relationship and He won't send us away from Him either.

Persevere my friend, because being determined, does bring honor to God, and when we let pleasing God drive our desires, our dreams will come true!