Lessons From Israel

Introduction

Although I had been to Israel before in 2005 with my church group and son Judah; this trip 5 years later was almost as if I had never been there before! Tracee and I learned so much and the experience was so full of the Holy Spirit’s presence I have not been able to let go of it. It comes up in conversations daily, in my Bible reading, on FaceBook, with my patients and my journal grows with thoughts and notes. After reading my friend Bob Hamp’s blog I felt the Holy Spirit say something like “you can do this with your trip to Israel…I want you to do this with your trip to Israel just like you did the 70 day Nazirite study guide”. It is that simple. I don’t know how long it is going to last because I don’t know all that the Holy Spirit is going to pull and write.

Day 1- April 10 2010-“Be Prepared” (be prepared in season and in out)

There is a Scripture that basically says “you don’t build a building without knowing what your supply requirements will be…” and going on a trip is no different. Prepare, keep preparing and be prepared the whole trip was pretty much what we heard during the orientation meetings prior to leaving. Passport requirements, money payments, dates were the early things to prepare for then came knowing about the electricity in Israel, adaptors, special needs for curling irons and hairdryers…”they tend to blow more easily there”; exchange rates , baggage limitation and finally departure and airline information! “Hey Tracee we get to go on a 777!” That probably meant more to me than Tracee but hey…be prepared right?

However, the most important preparation was getting to know everyone and going from 45 individuals to one group with one heart for Israel. Our initial worship times seemed artificial at first and as Tracee and I were late add-ons, getting to know names was initially hard. Renee Booe and Tammy Fogle stood out but “what was that guys’ name that is an elder at New Hope and also a police officer? No, I don’t think his wife is going but…” I would soon see that Holy Spirit was moving to bring the group so close that the very first time we worshipped in Israel, on the walls of Akko with some folks named Bill and Patty, God’s presence was thick and heavy and beautiful…! We had been prepared well by our pastors in the group!

It seemed to come down to this: 1)listen to others that have traveled the journey before me, 2)read, learn, ask as much as I could before embarking on the trip; 3) know the itinerary well but be ready for changes; 4) when I have done all I can do, give the journey to the LORD. “Works for life”, God seemed to tell me… I guess it really does.

Oh my God, I really want to be prepared for the next season in my life…LORD; I really want to trust you completely! Help me bridge the gap from where I am to total trust in You!