Israel
Hmm why is it that when there's a lot going on in my life there seems to be a greater loss for words? Let's have a recap of what's happened in the last few weeks.
- We sold our house and my mom, sister, and myself have moved (almost everything) into my sisters house.
- I took the last part of my state board test and applied for my Master Cosmetologist license.
- I started to write my first song ever.
- I found out I have LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease).
I guess those are the biggest things. It's funny how writing them in simple list form makes them seem so commonplace. I guess they kind of are.
I was going to write this long, riveting post about all the different aspects of the above mentioned events, but now that seems kind of unimportant. I find myself just wanting to write about Israel. I miss it so much. Everything that's beautiful and good reminds me of Israel. I can't wait to go back. It's weird how you can visit a place that was never your home, that most likely never will be your home, and yet you feel homesick for it. This is a little embarrassing to admit but my cheeks are running with tears as I write this. Israel has half my heart. And I hope so much that I'll be able to go back.
{The above picture was taken on the way to Caesarea Philippi. I believe that is Lebanon and Syria in the distance to the right.}
{This is part of an aqueduct that Herod installed at Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean. Herod had also built a palace right next to where this photo was taken and the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in this area toward the later part of his life.}
{Mediterranean Sea.}
{Portion of the Jezreel Valley, also known as the Valley of Armageddon. Taken from outside of Nazareth, on Mt. Precipice.}
{The Decapolis at Bet Sha'an. Most likely the place Jesus was referring to when he spoke of the wide and narrow gates.}
{Ruins of the Decapolis.}
{Beautiful architecture at the Decapolis.}
{Omrit. 1st century temple built by Herod for Caesar Augustus on the road to Damascus. Jesus would have passed by this with his disciples.}
{View of the Sea of Galilee from a walkway at our Kibbutz.}
{View from Mt. Arbel, from which you can see 80% of the ministry of Jesus. The Sea of Galilee is what's pictured.}
{Masada. Incredible story surrounding this place. Dead sea in the distance and just past that, the mountains of Moab, I believe.}
{Sun directly over the Dead Sea, taken from a wadi in the Judean Wilderness.}
{Another view from a walkway near our Kibbutz in Galilee.}
{Caesarea Maritima.}
Those aren't even the half of it ;)
Goal for the next 24 days: Be Awesome. Not just write about it. If I feel like throwing out a little update, I will :) Wish me luck. But prayers would be more appreciated haha.
START
Well, it hasn't exactly been a few months, but I have something important to document so I am breaking my rule.
A few days ago I joined a group of people who are about to START something. We're all somewhat confused about where we'll end up and some of us, including myself, don't even know exactly what we're starting. When I first joined, I was super pumped. Then when I got a few more details, I was ready to quit. I didn't want to have to break out of ordinary or do anything requiring effort, plus I'm not good with only having tiny details and having to come up with my own plan. But then I remembered how I want to grow up and that I've been miserable with this lack of vision and activity and want to change. Change doesn't usually happen on it's own. We have to take the steps to initiate it.
So, though I do not possess much motivation right now and the fear of failure is looming over my head, I'm choosing to START anyway, and punch fear in the face.
I don't really know how to start this post except to say that I think I'm going to abstain from blogging for a while. I just feel like...sometimes we put all of ourselves on display for everyone to see (not that everyone sees this blog. In fact, most people don't. The point is, I'm putting it out into cyberspace where literally anyone could see it and draw an opinion about me.) and we forget about who we really are. I know I haven't been blogging a lot lately, but I'm not only referring to blogging. I'm referring to Social Media in general.
I noticed something disturbing about myself just a few moments ago. I had a word from Scripture pop into my head about something relevant to what I was doing. And do you know what my immediate thought was? It wasn't, "Oh, I should do that. I should put that into practice. I should do what God's Word says." My immediate thought was, "That would make a good blog post." I know at first glance that doesn't seem like a problem. But it is. I was going to write a post about that particular idea, instead of putting it into practice right away. And I've found myself doing that more and more lately. And as a result, put a wall between my heart and God's. Because, unlike ourselves and unlike the people around us, we can't fool God. He knows when things aren't quite right, more so than we ourselves know.
So I've decided that for a while, I'm going to abstain from writing anything I'm learning on this blog or on any social media. It's going to stay between me and God for a while. He has some refining to do in my heart. I'll be back in a few months.
I noticed something disturbing about myself just a few moments ago. I had a word from Scripture pop into my head about something relevant to what I was doing. And do you know what my immediate thought was? It wasn't, "Oh, I should do that. I should put that into practice. I should do what God's Word says." My immediate thought was, "That would make a good blog post." I know at first glance that doesn't seem like a problem. But it is. I was going to write a post about that particular idea, instead of putting it into practice right away. And I've found myself doing that more and more lately. And as a result, put a wall between my heart and God's. Because, unlike ourselves and unlike the people around us, we can't fool God. He knows when things aren't quite right, more so than we ourselves know.
So I've decided that for a while, I'm going to abstain from writing anything I'm learning on this blog or on any social media. It's going to stay between me and God for a while. He has some refining to do in my heart. I'll be back in a few months.
Paint me with Your purity,
That I'd attract Your majesty.
When others boast in fame and gold,
The purest place is where I'll go.
The purest place I will draw near.
Do what it takes to keep me here,
In the center of Your heart.
The purest place is where You are
It's not with masses, not with kings,
Not in these songs or offerings,
Not in this life or what it brings.
The purest place is is You my King.
The purest place I will draw near.
Do what it takes to keep me here,
In the center of Your heart.
The purest place is where You are
If there's such thing as too beautiful,
If there's such thing as too wonderful,
If there's such thing as too marvelous,
Jesus it's You, Jesus it's You.
The purest place I will draw near.
Do what it takes to keep me here,
In the center of Your heart.
The purest place is where You are.
The purest place is You my King.
{The Purest Place:Watermark}
Stronghold
Stronghold - A place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack
The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. Psalm 27:1,3Fortify means to protect against, and also to defend. God is not only a Shelter, but He is a Defender. Two things going on simultaneously. So while He is sheltering me, He is also fighting for me. Comforting truth in the midst of uncertainty.
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