The Hour of Decision

Our day started with our first stop at the Mount of Olives.  As Pastor Glen opened up the Word, we were remained that this is the great cosmic launching pad!  Throughout Scripture, God has used this mountain and connected it to His presence coming to and leaving Jerusalem.  The Mount of Olives is where Jesus will made His triumphal entry according to Matthew 21:1-11.  He also ascended from this place according to Acts 1:4-14.  Jesus will one day return to this place.  We see this mountain showing up again in Zechariah 12 – 14:3,4.

From the mountain top, we came to Dominus Flevit where Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept.  The we made our way to the Garden of Gethsemane.  We opened up the Scripture to Matthew 26:36-56.  It was hear that we learned what our Lord experienced from His friends during the darkest hours of His life.  We were exhorted to how important it is to watch and pray, for if we don’t we can yield to temptation.  This was the hour of decision where Jesus’ holy nature revolted at the prospect of being made sin; but new that there was no other way.  We also understood that doing the will of God isn’t always easy.  Jesus went form celebration at the Passover Meal to suffering in the Garden, from Passover to prayer.  God’s wants us to do His will and He will provide the means for it to get done if we surrender to Him.

Then it was through the Dung Gate and on to the Western Wall.  This was the passage way we had to take to get to the Rabbinical Tunnel.  After our undergound tour...we then came up for air.

It was then time to head to the Pools of Bethesda, where we opened to John 5:1-9.  Here we had an amazing teaching with many points of application.  Pastor Glen closed the teaching opening up our understanding at just how often we can remain sick, blind, lame and paralyzed spiritually because we decide in our minds how God has to work.  Instead of being open to Him, trusting Him, laying out our situation and saying, “However you want to deal with this Lord, have your way!” we line in our rut, with our arms crossed, our teeth quenched, and just wait.  The question we have to ask ourselves is , “Do you want to be made well?”  How we need Jesus!  How we need to receive His words to rise, take up our bed and walk!  We can make the choice.  Corrie Ten Boom said, “You will never discover Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have.”  We need to simply trust Him!

Our time continued as we went to the Sister of Zion Convent to see the pavement where Jesus stood as He was being tried by Pilate.  Our walk then took us along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

It was lots of walking today but so much learning!  Our hearts have been flooded with the Word of God and our senses have been overloaded with our surrounds.  Oh Lord, help us to receive all that You want us to remember!  This is our hour of decision!

Thank you for your prayers!

Visual Highlights of the Mountains and Valley

Leaving Ramot, on the Sea of Galilee

The Church at Nazareth came with a surprise...

Pastor Glen in a skirt because he was showing too much knee. :)

Church of the Synagogue in Nazarath

Dried Papaya at the sweet shop!

Look out point at Haifa

Paula taking it all in!

Avi (our guide) & Tariq (our driver)

Giving thanks for our food!

Worshipping on Mount Carmel

Lifting our voices to the King!

Teaching on Mount Carmel

Mike's not making a call...his Bible is on his phone.

Rich is emailing...his Bible is on his computer.

Truly seeing the Bible come alive!

The sun is setting on Megiddo

It's time to head to Jerusalem!

The Mountains & The Valley

After a good night sleep and another delicious breakfast, the team loaded up their suitcases to depart from one of the most beautiful places on our pilgrimage.  Many wished they could stay another day or two, but those thoughts were overshadowed by the anticipation of what lies ahead.  Once boarded on the bus, we left our hotel – Ramot, and travelled to the home of Jesus. 

Nazareth was teaming with people and traffic.  It is a city that exceeds 70,000 people with two-thirds being Muslim and one-third Christian.  Our first stop was the Church of the Enunciation.  Then it was on to the Church of the Synagogue.  Here Pastor Glen shared briefly from Luke 4:16-20. 

From there, we made our way to the bus but not without a stop at Pastor Glen’s favorite sweet shop in Nazareth.  There many enjoyed some amazing pastry, dried fruit and coffee. 

Once on the bus and out of the traffic, we then made our way to Haifa.  This was an unexpected blessing.   Avi and our Bus Driver, lead us to one of the highest points of Haifa, that enabled us to see not only the city but also the blue Mediterranean Sea.  It was a spectacular view!

From there we drove a short distance to the Druze Village.  The team enjoyed lunch at our favorite restaurant, were we were served up Falafels and Shawarmas.  Then at the end to top off the experience, the owner came out and served us all some Druze’s pastry.  Unbelievably satisfying!  After a little shopping, we were then on our way to our next stop.

Through some windy roads and up the mountain, we came to Mount Carmel.  After a bit of singing in the church, we then gathered on the mountain for another teaching by Pastor Glen.  We opened our Bibles to 1 Kings 18 to recount the story of Elijah.  What a time of teaching.  The Scriptures in our hands and the actual location before our eyes.  Wow! 

In this passage of study, we were exhorted about the importance of making sure we are willing to choose between right and wrong and not just sit of the fence.  We also learned the importance of honoring the Lord and how He in turn will honor us.  And of course, our hearts were drawn to the truth that when our prayers are offered up to God, the power of God comes down.  As God moves, we respond!  What a blessed time!

From there we quickly packed up and drove another few minutes to Megiddo.  Our timing was slightly off and when we arrived we were told the site was closed.  After a brief discussion, the management decided to let us in to purchase a few National Park Books and watch the movie of Megiddo.  Our hearts were disappointed that we would not be able to tour the site.  Instead of letting the heaviness of disappointment reign, the Lord initiated further discussion through Avi and the management which result in the opportunity to tour the site for 20 minutes.  We took the open door and headed in.  It was amazing to walk this ancient site but more amazing to be able to look at to the Valley of Armageddon and visualize the final battle on these plains as the enemies gather to destroy Israel.  It was breath taking.  20 minutes was too short but it was such a blessing from the Lord!

From this site, we loaded up again and started to making our way to Jerusalem.  This will be our base for the next few days.  What an full and exciting day!

Thank you for your prayers!  And thank You, Jesus, for Your provision and protection!

Visual Highlights of A Day Around Water

The Morning at the Sea of Galilee

Joel shares for a moment at Gideon Springs

Our hearts are filled with the Word of God!

Frank is all about reading and relaxing!

Katrina shares in the reading of God's Word!

Drinking deep from the Word at Gideon Springs!

Taking notes as Pastor Glen is teaching.

Shirely, enjoying the living water!

Following the teaching, the team explored Gideon Springs!

Sachne was a beautiful swimming experience!

Blue water, fish nibbling at your toes and the crowds!

Lunch at McDonalds

Wow...baptism in the Jordan

Avi shared and Pastor Glen taught at Capernaum

The team enjoyed visiting the synagogue in Capernaum

On the Sea of Galilee

Lyndee & Karen

The team is loving the Sea!

The team is loving one another!

The team is loving Jesus!

What at time of celebration!

The Sea of Galilee...an unforgettable experience!

On The Sea of Galilee - Special Edition: So You Think You Can Dance

 

Some of the team embraced the moment!

Water Baptism at the Jordan River

Blair steps into the water!

Eva follows the Lord!

Jim takes a step of obedience!

What a blessing it was to share in this wondeful time with these disciples of Jesus Christ! 

Their testimonies were precious and their witness of the Lord's faithfulness was beautiful!

Before and after the services we had a blessed time of worship!

Praise the Lord!

A Day Around Water

(Sachne National Park)

After another wonderful sunrise on the Galilee and a delicious breakfast, the team loaded the bus and headed to the Springs of Gideon.  There Pastor Glen opened up the Word of God to our hearts as he lead us through the amazing story of Gideon from Judges 6 & 7.  We were reminded of two very important things from this teaching.  First, the God uses the week things to pour out His power thru and secondly, we are crackpots that God wants to use.  There was so much to absorb from this time from God’s Word!  After the teaching, the team explored the Springs and some even bent down like Gideon’s men to taste of the water…but none drank it.

After the Springs, the team were invite to participate in a wonderful but unexpected  at – Sachne National Park.  This is one of the most beautiful places to swim and it really is an extension of Gideon Springs.  The team enjoyed a refreshing swim in what some would call the “Blue Lagoon”.  While many enjoyed the water, there were also some who were taken back by the little fish that would make their presence known by nibbling at your feet.  Much laughter and comments turned this experience into a very memorable moment.

Once dried off, it was now time for lunch.  Our travels this time took back to the memories of home as we pulled up to McDonalds in Beth Shan.  There were not Cheese Burgers but the menu was enjoyed by many.

From McDonalds it was on to the River Jordan, where the team was absolutely blessed to participate in a life changing moment for three of our very own.  Blair, Eva and Jim followed Jesus in the waters of baptism.  After sharing their testimonies, it was into the Jordan River to be prayed for and immersed in the water.  What a glorious time and incredible witness of the grace and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Our next Biblical stop would lead us to the home town of Peter and Jesus Ministry headquarters – Capernaum .  It was hear that Pastor Glen brought another challenging teaching for our hearts to consider.  He opened up to Luke 6:6-11, and through the story of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, he challenge us to “STEP OUT IN FAITH”.  Is there something in our lives that is withered that we are to stretch out to Jesus and let Him heal?  Faith reaches out when reaching out is impossible!  What an awesome time!

When you think you just can’t fit another thing in or experience anything better…the explanation mark to an already remarkable day takes place.  A short drive took us to the Jesus Boat site where we boarded our own boat and set sail on the Galilee.  There was such an excitement and overwhelming sense of the Lord’s presence as we worshipped Him and then opened up His Word to Mark 4:35-41.  What we were taught at this amazing location was simply that, when Jesus is in the boat – it’s not going down!  Pastor Glen emphasized to our hearts  that the opposite of faith is fear and at the core of fear is unbelief or a lack of trust in the Lord.  The Lord will sometimes allow us to go through a test to see if what we have learned in our heads has made its root in our hearts.

Then to top it all off…through the age of technology, we were able to join our family back home in Calgary at Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel for our worship service!  Oh my, what an incredible time that was to worship, have communion, be blessed by a loud “Shalom” and to be fed the word of God!

What a day!  One person said, that if the trip was to come to an end right now, they would be more than blessed.  It is hard to believe but it only gets better!

Bless you and thank you for all your prayers!  We love you all!