Trip of a Life Time - Israel - Nazareth, more Galilee, more insight - Chapter 10

Day 11 was not quite as packed full as the previous day, thank goodness, but it made up for it in my learning and growing, in fact it became more of a "be still my soul" kind of day.

Started the day by climbing Mt Carmel where Elijah had his confrontation with the priest of Baal.  This is also a mountain similar to the kind that Jesus would teach from.

Carob trees

A carob seed.  These were used as units of measurement.  Lining up the carob seeds and counting how many it took to reach a length.  For example, if your foot measured 36 carob seeds, then your shoe size was 36 carob seeds.  That it still used today.  You'll see in European sizing

It was a beautiful morning

 

A beautiful little cafe that we rested in and had breakfast.  It was run by a lovely sister and it was her only source of income.  The old mormon folk, including me, stoked up on our Coke products and since we had been given sack breakfast's from the hotel with entirely too much food, we left the rest for her.  She will feed her family for days.

And as much as I would LOVE not having any people in some of my pictures, I have learned by now that it is impossible.  Now looking at them though, I am glad I caught all my friends in my memories!

Across the street from the cafe, was a Catholic synagogue

It is beautiful inside

Some have professed that this is the Rock that Jesus was using as a reference when he told Peter that he would be the rock of the church.

Luke 11:11-12

If you read the verses in Luke,  you understand how our God blesses us.  Sometimes we immediately see and understand a blessing and other times, things in life feel like a curse.  But knowing how much God loves us, do we really think He would deliver a stone, a serpent or a scorpion to us?  Of course not.  Instead of looking at challenges that way, perhaps we need to look at everything in our life as bread, fish and eggs.  I know we hear all the time that He never gives us more than we can handle, but do we acknowledge that all He gives us are blessings for our own growth?  What seems like a stone to us, is really bread and so on with the serpent and the scorpion.  I know that I oftentimes lose sight of this.  I need to remember that our God is a God of bread, fish and egg.  Always.

John 2: 1 - 11
We also had a view of Cana where Jesus performed His first recorded miracle.  I love the fact as it was pointed out that the first time He ever performed a miracle it was for His mother.  He loved her so much and in seeing her need, would do anything to make her happy and serve her.  To His mother, He gave the privilege of being His first miracle.  Think about that one and perhaps your relationship with your own mother.

1st Kings 18-19
This was a lesson on understanding that even the most righteous - or trying to be righteous -  have bouts of depression and sit "under the juniper tree" or "lodged in a cave" as did Elijah after defeating the priests of Baal.  It's okay to have those moments under the junipers or in a cave, and take those times to pray sincerely to our  Father and pour your heart out to Him.  Our God is a "still, small voice" God and hears and answers prayers.  Not always in the time line we want, but he hears and comforts.  Also, the scriptures often deal in extreme's, such as Elijah's story, but the lesson is always this:  What the Lord does on that exaggerated scale He will do for us on our scale..

We also talked about Jonathon and his armor bearer.  Wait - wha?  Jonathan?   Armor bearer?
Who dat?  So if you read 1st Samuel 14:1-23, we see that Jonathan saved Israel.  He slipped away with just his armor bearer and calling upon God, he and his armor bearer kill 20 men of the garrison of the Philistines , the battle begins and even the Hebrews who are with the Philistines at this time turned on them and joined Jonathon.  They save Israel.  Jonathan gets credit for the win, but what about the armor bearer?  We don't even know his name, yet without him, Jonathan couldn't have been successful.  He plays a key part in the story but never really gets any of the credit.  The lesson is this:  Too often we confuse "progress with approval and position" (Michael Wilcox).  Sadly, this is particularly true of members of my LDS faith.  How often do we introduce someone or talk about someone and we are quick to note their positions of leadership.  Jack here serves as a Stake President, or my son is a bishop, or my sister is a Relief Society President.  As if their calling validates their worthiness and their progress in the gospel.  We gotta stop it!  The underlying hero of Jonathan's story is a lowly armor bearer.  He and Jonathan, quietly left, telling no one their plans, they save Israel and quietly return.  The armor bearer is just as righteous as Jonathan.  So you serve as a nursery leader, or in the library or currently you have no calling and are just serving as home teacher or visiting teacher; that is no reflection of your worthiness, your level of righteousness, your testimony, or the Lord's acceptance of your offering to Him.  It's simply where the Lord needs YOUR help at the time.  I truly loved this lesson.  I have issues with some of the culture of my church, especially in Utah, and we can be so much better at many things, this is a great place to start.
 "Don't confuse progress with approval and position"


We then traveled to Mt Precipce.  From there we had an excellent view of Nazareth on one side and the Jezreel Valley on the other side with Mt Tabor in the distance to the east we and talked about Deborah and Barak as well as noting that this was the place that Jesus came to after his rejection in Nazareth and where He came and the transfiguration took place.
Scripture reference: :Judges 4:1-6 and then 17-24

over looking the Jezreel valley to the east

Jezreel valley looking north

Mt Tabor

the roads between the valley's.  Many miracles were performed in this area.

The lesson is this.  Women play a pivotal part in the Lord's kingdom and in His plan.  Barak wouldn't go to battle unless Deborah went with him.  Her influence must have been pretty powerful, because he needed her to be with him.  Jael is then the other heroine of the story with her killing Sisera.  All in saving Israel again.  We as women oftentimes beat ourselves to oblivion with all of our perceived failings.  We yelled at the kids too much today,  I picked a fight with my husband, I didn't get this done or that delivered, etetera ad nauseum.  Seriously.  Some women, in my church particularly, are vying for the Priesthood when they don't even realize that they already have it in their divine roles.  Women's rights this, women's rights that, but really women have been playing a pivotal role since the beginning of time.  Do we as women realize our divine potential?  It doesn't matter what religion you affiliate it with, women are revered.  As Muslims', as Christians, and Jews.  Mother.  Women.  Daughters of God.  Do we understand our roles as leaders in the grand scheme of humankind?  Sitting there overlooking the valley and Mt Tabor in the distance, I felt so much love from God for me as a person, His creation and the fact that He created ON PURPOSE to be a woman.  The love I felt was real, powerful and life changing.  I'll never forget my time sitting on that mountain, and I'm grateful to be a woman of God.


We then drove to the Arabel Cliff and had an awesome view of the Sea of Galilee

Of course mom and I had to put our feet in!

That evening, we loaded a boat and went out onto the Sea of Galilee and talked about the tempest and Jesus appearing to His disciples by walking on the water towards them, and Peter's faith.
Scripture reference: Matthew 14: 22-31

Again, I wanted to get a shot of just the water with the city lights in the distance, but of course, not having any people in the shot is impossible.  This is Diane, one of our tour guides.

We went out on the water and then dropped anchor.  Michael then read the scriptures above and pointed out a couple of things.  First, the lesson that is usually the main one from this story is Peter's faith or lack thereof when walking on the water.  However, a new point was brought.  Jesus didn't appear until the 4th watch.  If you know the times of "watches", the 4th watch is the last one of the night.  Generally, early morning.  How often do you pray, even plead with the Lord for something and it isn't until the "4th watch" that we receive an answer? Or guidance?  Or respite?  Maybe the bigger act of faith is not walking on water, but patience to wait until the 4th watch.  I think of so many challenges that myself and members of my family struggle with, and even with righteous desires, we feel like we get no answer.  However, the Lord will come.  It might not be until the 4th watch but He will come.  Our God is a 4th watch God.  I love this so much!  And nothing cooler than the the captain turning off the lights of the boat while we sang hymns and had time with our quiet thoughts and with the Spirit teaching each us what He knew we needed to know.  I needed to understand about the 4 watch for some of my specific needs.

As I mentioned, it was a day of learning, being taught by the Spirit, and growing my testimony.  In all ways, it was a "be still my soul" kind of day

At some point in Israel I treated myself to another souvenir.  A Jewish man came and took orders for custom jewelry.  Some days later, he delivered them to our hotel at dinner.

I got this beauty.  CTR (Choose The Right or Current Temple Recommend depending on how you want to look at it - or both!) in Hebrew

I love it!! Sized perfectly for my finger with what I ordered on it.  Did I mention that I love it?

Tomorrow we are going to turn toward the Mediterranean sea and check out Caesarea!