Musings from Israel

The hotel has been teaming with life since shortly before Sabbat began. It appears that many people take their families here for the Sabbath.
It is not uncommon to hear young voices calling down the hallways followed by matching running feet.
Sabbat is a joyful time for the families.
Right now the lobby is filled with families; children singing and playing, adults playing cards and chatting, very lively I might add!

Today is low key for our group. We enjoyed a Sabbat celebration with a Messianic congregation followed by lunch in an Armenian restaurant.
The man at the restaurant knew he had a captured audience, as all other places were shut for Sabbat.
Unfortunately he took advantage of us by overcharging us, as well as reneging regarding the use of credit cards. I felt badly for Amal, our leader, who handled the whole thing.
After we left there the instruction of Jesus to His disciples regarding shaking the dust of a place that did not receive them in peace from their feet came to mind!
This did not ruin our day.
We are in Jerusalem!  What could overshadow this fact?!

Sitting here in the lobby looking out the window one sees many sights.  Those who are orthodox pass by in their black coats and hats, sporting their long sideburns. One very somber fellow passing by had what looked like a black mushroom riding on his head!  Many men have their heads covered, yet
many do not. The women range from those donning wigs and long dresses to those with their hair uncovered and slacks on instead of a dress or skirt. Even those who are not particularly religious seem to dress conservatively. Something we could benefit from in the US!

Traffic is light today. This reminds me of Sunday traffic as a child, when most stores were closed as they are here.
A day of rest and celebration!
Yet, what is it most are celebrating?
Tradition for most.

They have a long history of tradition and much of it originated with their God.  Yet, they have carried on with the traditions and left the Living God behind.
I am sure that they would argue vehemently with me over that last statement.
Oh, how I pray that their hearts would be turned from stone to flesh so they could discover their
Messiah.
Then they would discover what true celebration is all about!

Psalm 145:7 will come to life in a new way for them:

"Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness."

Overload

Every single day of this trip has been beyond amazing! If I could, I would transport each and everyone of you here!

Upon returning to our hotel we usually head right to dinner. After that I sit in the lobby to check my email, etc. fully intending to write a post.
The problem is that I don't get time to process all that I have seen and heard, which makes it very difficult to share here.

Then there is the fatigue factor.
I began a posting yesterday and got as far as saying that it would be a short one as I was very tired. Then I realized I could not form any more coherent sentences....The camel ride did me in!

There is so much I could tell you.
I could tell you about the temple foundation where they are preparing all they can to be ready to rebuild the temple. They have the menorah and laver, as well as the altar ready.
It is their hope that they will be able to rebuild and then be used to being peace and unity to the world.
Truth be told, that is what their God had called them to from the beginning, but they failed.

The sad thing, which our guide, Sahad, pointed out is that without their Messiah, Yeshua, their is no peace and no unity.

They forget their own history.
The first temple did not bring peace or unity and neither did the second. Why would they think this one would be different?

Then there is the Wailing Wall where many repeat many rote prayers in hope that they will be heard for their many words....their right words.

I went to that wall and worshipped. And I pled for those who are blind to who their Messiah is.
Following tradition I wrote out a few prayers that weighed upon my heart  and added my paper to the many already their.  I knew my God hears me without any paper, but felt woo moved to do so.

Many back away from the wall and I had wondered about that until I was there myself.  There is something about this place in the heart of Jerusalem, which stirs reverence.  How could one present their worship and petitions and then turn their back and walk away?

Yes, I am seeing much and learning even more. It will be a while until I sort through all of it.
Truly I am on overload!

Yet, there is one thing that I am more convinced of than ever before...
Our God is Holy and ever so good and wise.
And....

Jesus is LORD!

Come LORD Jesus they and we need You!p

Blessed!

Today took a different turn.
We began our day in the middle of the Sea of Galilee on a simple boat worshipping our LORD and Savior!
We had to walk through the huge gift shop to get to the boat and I was a little leery, but pleasantly surprised. The boat is run by a messianic Jew with a wonderful singing voice. Sigh....

As I looked around I was overwhelmed as I envisioned Jesus on a similar boat, or walking on the sea itself.  I could have stayed right there all day.....
So blessed!

Across the sea you see the Golan Heights and I imagine that it looked very similar two thousand years ago.   This aids one's imaginings.

The Mount where Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount needs much more help picturing the scene, as it has been adopted by the church to protect it, yet the protecting came in the form of an ornate church and other buildings, such as a convent.
It definitely didn't look anything like what it must have when Jesus physically climbed to the top of that mount to teach His disciples.
There was a gift shop to finish off the scene.

Another highlight was planting trees in memory of a loved as a blessing on Israel. I planted a cypress tree in my niece, Sara's memory. A sweet time of remembrance.  A blessing to be sure!

Capernum was no more impressive.  Much development interspersed with the old.
Yes, there was the synagogue dating from the fourth century, which was built on top of the one Jesus would have spent time in , but you had to pay for the privilege of seeing it. Peter lived in this town, and Jesus made it His home quite often, but it was hard to imagine with all the modern buildings.

But all that quickly faded away as I waded into the Jordan to be baptized.
Tears came to my eyes as I reflected upon the fact that my previous Savior also had been baptized in this same river. What a Savior!!

The teaching today focused on The Beatitudes.
Jesus taught what it meant to be blessed.
The first blessed was....

                  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

Poor in spirit...
Recognizing and mourning our sin...
Turning away from it...
And turning to Him.

What could be more blessed?!

True History

The plane that I boarded on Saturday was bound for Tel-Aviv, Israel. It took to the air at 9PM and landed approximately eleven hours later, which was 3PM Israeli time.  My seat mate had been a Jewish woman who was moving to Israel with her husband to be near her family. She informed me that she was a secular Jew. Carmen prided herself in being tolerant of others and accepting of those of faith.
At the end of our flight, after some good discussion, we wished one another well. My wish, desire, prayer that I bade her goodbye with was that she would encounter the One who is the reason for this people and nation of Israel that she is part of and loves so dearly.

The tour I am on is called "Discover Your Jewish Roots".
The past two days have been laying a good foundation for us. They have been filled with all things Jewish, of course.
The history, religion, politics and even cults of this place have been the focus.

As I reflect on all that we have seen and heard with our view being through the lens of Scripture, I cannot help but think of my seat mate, Carmen.

All history is best seen as His story. There would be no story without Him. He is the source of our life, whether we acknowledge this or not.
It is the story of His faithfulness contrasted with our unfaithfulness.

How can anyone examine Israel's history without taking their God into account?
What sense does it make without Him?
What sense does our own history make apart from our God?

Politics fall away when we take Him at His Word.
The world views this land from a purely secular lens. That is a very distorted view, to say the least!

It all breaks down to what and who we choose to believe and honor.
Man or God?

When we embrace the God of the Bible as the One True God then our religion is pure and simple and does not have man's fingerprints superseded over God's. Isn't it amazing that we dare to even think of doing such a thing, as elevating our thoughts and opinions above God's?
Enter the cults.

It all comes down to the struggle for power, if we are unwilling to admit our powerlessness without Him.

I will end with the words spoken by Nebuchadnezzar once he came to his senses in the book of Daniel,

"and at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me , I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay His hand or say to Him, 'What do You do?'"

Love Without Measure

At the moment I am preparing for a trip to Israel.*
If anyone had asked me where I would like to go, if I had to choose just one place, I would have responded immediately with "Israel!".
If they had then asked when I would most like to be there my answer would have been "Passover!".

Well, no one asked, but Papa knew and amazingly He had decided now is the time for me to do so!
I often shake my head in wonder. 
How can this be?
Why is my God so good to me?

I could easily fill this page with line after line listing all the ways He blesses me.
My God is so very gracious!!

As I pack I can hardly grasp that I will be boarding a plane bound for Tel Aviv in less than a week!
It does not seem real to me, yet I do what needs doing in preparation because all the indications are telling me it is in deed a fact.  :)

Still I wonder over such blessings...

Papa knows our hearts and thoughts; He knows my heart and thoughts and He knows that I am just in wonder over Him.

He loves to send us into deeper wonder over Him and His ways.

I begin my day in a number of different ways as I try to let the Spirit lead me.  So after writing for a bit there are a selection of devotional thoughts to choose from.
Most often I do not consider opening up anything with too many words from man, but prefer something that offers a few thought-stirring words to accompany Words from God.
Yesterday morning I felt strongly prompted to open an offering from Frances Frangipane though he is rarely brief.

It was a love note from Papa to me.  One that spoke to my wonder.
Frances called his readers to consider the passage in the Old Testament found in Song of Solomon 3:1-4 .
He said we find there and throughout the book "a bride and bridegroom, both of whom are intolerant of the distance between them."

The bride is restless for her bridegroom and not willing to allow anything to keep her from him.  She is willing to go without sleep and venture out in unfamiliar places; willing to leave her comfort zone.
Let me share the verses with you below:

^"On my bed night after night I sought him
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.
I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the square
I must seek him whom my soul loves.
I sought him but did not find him. 
The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’
Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the room of her who conceived me.”
 

When we seek Him with all our hearts we are promised that we will find Him.
Why?  Because He wants to be found!  He is eager to be found!
Such a love story!

Frances spoke of Mary at the empty tomb weeping.  She was seeking Jesus with all her heart.
Jesus met her there, interrupting going to the Father, because He never ignores the heart longing for Him.

I have been longing for more of Him, yet life affords me but bits and pieces of time to enjoy just Him.
As I read these thoughts, which He had prompted Frances Frangipane to pen, my heart was stirred with the thought that the Lover of my soul was answering my heart's longing with time to be with Him without all the normal distractions of life.
And not just time, but such a setting for this intimate time with Him!

Papa loves to underscore His messages to me, so when I opened up Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning I received yet more words of the same.
Brennan reminded me that Jesus "love is welcoming, unconditional acceptance, a relentless and eternal affection that so far exceeds our human experience that even the Passion and death of Jesus is only a hint of it."  He called it "love without measure."

Ah, Papa, Your love humbles and astounds me!

The chorus to the song 10,000 Reasons  comes to my heart and mind....

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

*I will be sharing my experiences in Israel here as time and the Spirit allow.

Dance!

Those of you who are not new to this blog know that I am fond of dancing.
Papa is aware of this also.
Actually, He is my favorite Dance Partner!

So what I am about to share here isn't really very surprising, but it truly is beautiful!  At least to me!!

Many mornings I open my journal and write whatever comes to mind before I have read anything that might get my thoughts going in one direction or another. 
I find it very enlightening and often freeing.  The days that I listen and wait for the Spirit's prompting are especially sweet.  Whether it is correction or simply words of love they always encourage my heart.

This morning was one of those mornings.  :)

As I sat poised with my pen and pad the word Dance popped into my head,  With it came a flow of words that delighted me.

I am in a dance with my LORD. 
Jesus and I are developing more moves and becoming more fluid as time goes on.

Yet time has little to do with our dance.
It is not one which is limited by a season or even this mortal life, but is one that will continue for all eternity!

One day I will see my perfect Dance Partner face-to-face and there will be no more missteps on my part.
I will be able to follow His lead perfectly!

His leading is perfect.  It is Debbie who causes the dance to less than flow at all times.  Yet even when I becomes distracted or try to anticipate where He is leading me, somehow He incorporates all of it into something that is beautiful.

When I watch a couple that are practiced, dance I am drawn into the romance that the fluid movements create.  The movements flow out of the unity of the pair and reflects the pleasure they take in one another and the dance.

I so enjoy being lead by Jesus and how effortless it is when I rest in His arms and trust His leading.

Years ago I took some dance lessons and on one particular night we were practicing the waltz. 
It is such a graceful, lovely dance.

As my partner and I took to the floor I sensed that he was capable of leading well.
I could rest in His arms and simply follow his lead.
After a few moments we took flight(!), which is what it is called when you are in sync and glide across the floor.
It feels as if your feet are not touching the ground and that you are floating.
I felt like I was in the "King and I" and I could have Danced, Danced, Danced!

That is how it is with Papa and me at times.

If life were truly a dance floor then for many years you would have seen me flat against the wall.
At other times, after being coaxed or dragged out onto the floor, you would have witnessed me as one of those who crashed into others trying to navigate their way.  I felt clumsy and awkward, thus never comfortable in some one's arms.  I also felt much safer leading!

The only time you will find me against the wall now will be when my Partner takes me there for a breather!

Papa wasn't done with the subject and so brought me to the Book of 2 Samuel.
In the Sixth Chapter we read of King David dancing before the LORD with all his might.

The occasion was worthy of celebration.
They had just brought the Ark of the LORD into Jerusalem.
The King wasn't alone in his joy.

"So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet."

I think his joy affected the people.

David danced and leaped before his LORD.
I am with him!
May my joy affect others also!

Now to break out those worship flags!!

Drugs Anyone?

Have you noticed how many commercials these daysare related to the pharmaceutical industry?
I have.

Commercials, in general, annoy me.  Some more than others.
Some are simply ridiculous, though some are entertaining.
One that keeps popping up on Pandora steams me.

It is for a drug trial to help children with ADHD and/or dyslexia.
Could it be possible that there might be another way to treat these issues?
Is it possible that some of the observed behavior is not as much a condition as a symptom of one's environment?

When we were raising our boys, two of them were diagnosed as with ADD.  There were many issues to deal with in our family at the time and so I accepted the labels and the prescriptions.  This would not be my response today..

It seems to me that we are awfully quick to label.  Of course, if one is labeled then we can more easily find a drug to address their problem!
Please do not misunderstand me.  I am not saying that drugs never help or should never be used, but just that we are so quick to dispense them.

A few years ago I was in my doctor’s office for my annual physical.  It was just over a year since my honey’s accident and he, as well as my life, had dramatically changed.
At that time I had been feeling a bit blue.  I do not recall what my doctor said, but I responded by bursting into tears.  He immediately wanted to prescribe an anti-depressant for me.

What was wrong with me feeling my feelings and working through them?  Was masking them more important??  I assured him that I would rather deal with my feelings,which were legitimate, but if it became too much, I would let him know.
Papa and I, with help from my friends, worked through it.

So what is the point of this post?
Our society is in the midst of a drug epidemic.
The majority of those in our jails and prisons are there for drug related crimes.
On a regular basis we are burying our young due to an overdose.
Rehabs and the like are flourishing businesses.

The majority have been weaned on the philosophy of drugs being the answer or at least a good part of the answer.
It seems easier to drug our young than to address their real needs.  

What are their needs?
A stable home.
A sense of their value in our eyes and even more so in the eyes of their Creator.

We are a broken society.

I spend time volunteering at a drug/alcohol rehab.  For the majority, who pass through that place, they have been given little in the way of a foundation.

Addiction is a family disease.
Yet, many family members do not see that their loved one who struggles with addiction is not the only one who needs recovery.

I grew up in a dysfunctional home.  Who didn't?
We are all broken and our God recognizes this fact.
That is why He sent His Son.
We need fixing.
He says that He makes all things new!

Papa makes available all the tools we need for wholeness.
Those tools often come in the form of relationships, first with Him and then with one another.
He reached out to us and we are called ot reach out to one another.
In love.

Karl Marx is quoted as saying that

 "Religion is the opiate of the masses."

 In James we can read,

"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Now, Mr. Marx,  that is a drug that makes sense!