Living in the Bible

Just two days ago, last year, I returned from a field trip to Jericho. Jericho is mentioned several times in the Bible. According to Deuteronomy, it is "the city of palm trees". It is indeed a city of palm trees. 

This was the first trip where the Bible really started to come to life for me. It is where we wandered around the Judean Wilderness, across the desert land. The hills, the dirt. I could see the people, Israel, lost for 40 years. I watched Christ make the 8 hour walk from Jerusalem. I saw him meet Zacchaeus there (Luke 19:1-10). I lived there, with the tribe of Benjamin. Being there, it just felt... real. I became apart of the stories of old.

Not only that, but that is what marked the true beginning of my journey. I often wonder when Jesus realized he was the literal son of God. And then, when did he realize all that it entailed? We know that Christ learned grace by grace, just as we do. The weeks prior to this trip, I was being introduced to my call. As I allowed myself to be filled with the spirit of the stories of Jericho, I began to write my own story. 

Returning from the Holy Land, I came back with my own history, my own mission, recorded for my posterity, and recorded on here, for all those that might benefit. It is a small thing for me, to testify of Christ in a place that few people but those who know me visit. But, it is grace by grace, that I do so. Here first, and then other avenues will open up, and they will continue for the rest of my life.

For some people, it is hard to make the Bible real to them. It is dense, especially in the Old Testament, and can be hard to get through. As I visited the sights of the Bible in my four months abroad, I wasn't just there, seeing them. I was absorbed in them, their history, their stories. I was living in the Bible.

Peace, Be Still

I speak often of my experiences in Galilee, as that is where I grew close to Christ. Though I did not need to travel the thousands of miles to increase spiritually, there are some things that you just don't know unless you're there. You can't understand a New York ice storm unless you've experienced it. Likewise, you don't understand the sea of Galilee unless you've been there.

Most often the sea of Galilee is depicted as very placid and calm. And during the day it is a true depiction. It is serene and undisturbed. That is, unless there is wind. After class on the fourth day in Galilee, my class had a free afternoon. Most of us ran outside to swim after lunch, however, it was a rather windy day. The waves came up in great swells. A few friends and I were brave enough to wade into this threatening water. There were ropes that prevented us from going too far out, the water didn't even go above my head. But, as we swam to the edge, attempting to body surf, the waves would scoop us up, tossing us about until we reached the shoreline. So close to the shore, but so powerful were the waves.

In Mark 4 we read about Christ calming the sea.

 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

The apostles are often chastised for their lack of faith. But the reality of the storm was daunting. For the sea, so calm under the protection of day, begins to change as the sun sinks below the horizon. 

As I sat on the beach late at night, the waves were far greater than during the windy day I swam. Each night, great whitecaps would crash across the water; a sound that could be heard all through the night. And that is a calm night in Galilee. How terrifying must it have been?

But so, as Christ calmed the water, does he not calm our lives as he whispers to us in the midst of despair "peace, be still". When we lack faith, does he not remind us that he is ever near us, guiding us as we walk through the trials of life? Just as he did with the apostles, he calms the storms in our life.

Fiery Furnace

It’s strange to think that a year today I boarded a plane to  Israel. I knew I wouldn’t come back the same. But I never anticipated how much I would change. Going to Israel turned into one of the greatest blessings of my life. But, it was one of the most trying times I have experienced. Everyone has trials in their life, for me, they started the day I got there. Starting out simple at first, but ever increasing. 

As I studied in Jerusalem, I increased in knowledge and strength. The more I learned the more I tried to act upon that knowledge. I created goals. I sought to align my will with God’s. I spent many hours on my knees counseling with the Lord as to how I should proceed each day. The blessings that came were great. I grew closer to my Father in Heaven and Savior than I ever had before. I was guided and directed each day. My eyes were opened to the hand of God in my life and I was spiritually strengthened. But, there is opposition in all things.

While I continued to become stronger in God I began to feel the power of the adversary trying to shake my faith. With each blessing came a trial. And, with each lesson from God came greater accountability and expectation to continue growing in my faith. I had entered the Lord’s fiery furnace as he began to shape me and perfect me. 

In my study of the scriptures I have learned that God is constantly stretching us. As we stretch to our limit we grow. We never stay stretched out, but the next time, we can stretch a little more. That was my experience. I was stretched until the hand of God was the only thing that kept me going. I learned what it felt like to be carried by the savior until I could stand on my own again. When that time came, I was not left at the spiritual peak that broke me, but I was left far better than where I started from.  And then I came home.

It is a constant uphill battle for me as I try to regain the spiritual high that I came to know. I long for something better than what I have; knowing the possibilities.

But I can feel the gentle hand of the Lord telling me I am not ready yet, that I am still recovering. Still, I know, that when we face the fiery furnace of the Lord we are strengthened in all things. We may not always understand the trials of our faith, but they are for our benefit and what great blessings they truly are!