I apologize for not posting updates on our trip to Israel sooner. The past week has been a bit of a whirlwind as I’ve been getting past the jet lag and packing for the next 6 months, in addition to connecting with as many friends and family as possible before heading out.

The trip to Israel was amazing! Thank you for all of you who prayed and contributed! I think most of you were probably able to keep track of our itinerary that we posted on the other blog site (arrows4israel.wordpress.com). So I won’t go through detail by detail. I’ll just write about a few highlights and things that the LORD did and revealed. And I am sure that I will continue to blog about the trip into the future since this trip seems to be much like an onion – many layers thick. As soon as I peal one layer, a new one is revealed.

IDF Visit…
Shortly before we left for our trip I was surprised to learn that many Jewish Israelis are actually not religious, but rather secular and even atheist. The LORD began to help me understand this and perhaps some of its roots during our time in the land and especially during our visit to one of the Israeli Defense Force bases. It was such a privilege getting to meet with, talk to, and bring goodie bags to the troops on one of the bases.

As we visited and talked (in addition to our tour of Yad Vashem – the holocaust museum) I realized just how raw the wounds of the holocaust still are for the Jewish people, even among the younger generation. Though the holocaust occurred before their time, many have grown up hearing at very early ages the horror stories of what happened to their family members and relatives. I knew that wounds still existed, but I guess I did not realize just how raw these wounds still are. And I realized that perhaps there is a connection between this reality and the secularism/atheism that exists in many.

It comes back to the age-old question that I’ve heard people ask my whole life. How can there be a good God with so many horrific things that go on in this world? And of course the response that many have chosen is to therefore conclude that this is evidence that God does not exist. This argument is not a rational response, but rather a window into a heart that has been wounded and embittered and is in need of great healing.

When we become wounded it is very natural for us to become disappointed with God. And when we do not deal with that disappointment rightly by bringing our disappointment to Him and allowing Him to deal with it and root it out of us, it becomes a wedge between us and God that leads to bitterness and hardness of heart.

I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how He intends to heal an entire nation. In my own mind it seems overwhelming and nearly impossible. But I believe that God can and absolutely will do a wondrous work of healing in this people unto the fulfillment of His promises for her and Romans 11:26 – “that all Israel will be saved.”

This is definitely something that can fuel our prayers for this people.

A Song…
Before we left, the LORD gave me a song. At first it seemed to be for myself and I did not expect to share it in Israel. But I brought it just in case. During one of our meetings with a messianic pastor in Tiberius, at the end of worship, the LORD made it very clear that I was supposed to sing it over him and his family. Jim was prompted that there was still something more to be sung and so between his stare and Holy Spirit hounding me I decided to play it for the first time in front of people. The whole time, I was praying that God would confirm that I was supposed to play it – that I was, in fact, truly hearing Him correctly. I’m not a songwriter, but thankfully Jesus is. And afterwards the pastor said it was a real prophetic word that they really had needed to hear in that moment. Praise God!

It’s not a song specifically about Israel, and at first, as I mentioned, I didn’t think it was for Israel. But after our time with the pastor that night, and after sensing a lot of weariness from the people in the land, I can see that it was absolutely not only for myself but also for them as well.

“Not Over Yet”
Just rest, just rest
Lay your head on My chest
Just rest

Don’t fear and don’t fret
The story’s not over
I’m not finished yet

Just hold on, be still
This is not where it ends
I’m the Author, the Finisher
I see it all through an eternal lens

Fix your eyes, on things above
Look to another age
My beloved, the one I love
Let Me be where you glance where you gaze

It ends better than you think
Beyond your wildest dreams
No eyes has ever seen
What I have for the redeemed

Thanks Benjamin for praying that the Lord would send forth His new songs!

The Golden Gate…
We got to go on the Temple Mount. Seeing the Dome up close was interesting. Seeing the trash yard just a few meters in front of it was even more interesting. But my favorite part was being up close to the Golden Gate (the Eastern Gate). This is the gate that it is prophesied the Messiah would and will come through (Neh 3 and Ezek 44). The Muslims have done everything possible to prevent the prophecies from coming to pass (even though “they don’t believe them”???!!!!!!). They have walled it up and put a grave yard in front (which according to Jewish law, is unclean and unfit for a messiah to tread upon). Funny how they’d go to such great lengths to prevent something “they don’t believe in!”

I actually started exploring and tried to get up near it. Some Muslim guy started railing at me. I backed off, but I did a little dancing near it (though my preference would have been ON TOP) before I left! I was hoping the wall would crumble, just like the walls of Jericho! LOL! One day!!!

For more info on the Golden Gate go here: http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEThe_Golden_Gate.htm.

Some other neat moments…
My favorite site that we visited was the waterfalls at En Gedi. They were absolutely beautiful! And we got to jump into them. Whitney has the pics. Hopefully I’ll be able to share a really neat one that she got of me jumping soon.

We got to meet with the Ortiz family while we were in Ariel. If you are not familiar with their story, I would highly encourage you to visit the website and watch the videos: http://www.amiortiz.com/.

Another highlight was our visit to the Temple Institute when we were in Jerusalem. It was fascinating to learn that the Rabbis believe when the time comes, the Temple will be rebuilt very suddenly. They therefore have made around 70 out of around 90 of the needed instruments, articles, and equipment that will be used to carry out all the functions, rituals, and offerings of the temple. They are getting all ready to go so that when there is finally the open door for the rebuilding of the temple to take place, they are all ready to go! Visit their site here: http://www.templeinstitute.org/

As I mentioned, there is much more to tell. I am sure much more will come out in the weeks to come. The majority of the pictures are up on Facebook.