All About That Hummus

by Amy
Israel Series: Part Two

It doesn't matter how much you prepare. Watching out the window from the airplane as hours of water turned into Israeli land was nothing short of fascinating. I've had the pleasure of traveling internationally a few times, but this was beyond my dreams. Let me preface - it wasn't seeing the land  itself from the plane that was fascinating - from above it looked much like land from any country. It was the knowing and understanding of WHERE I was landing. This was the Middle East  - filled with unknowns, high expectations, and that over-talked topic of debatable fear. However, flying into Tel Aviv I was expecting all of the above notions and feelings and, instead, I found peace and excitement filling my spirit. I didn't arrive with any preconceived expectations. While I didn't feel prepared in many ways (i.e., filling up on all the Biblical readings), the one thing I did prepare was my mind regarding all those warnings and comments about Israel. I prepared to dismiss them all. I wasn't going to let anything stand in the way of hearing the Holy Spirit's voice. 

My expectations were joyfully exceeded. Israel is peace and I never felt more safe. 

We arrived on a Wednesday and directly after getting off a twelve hour flight we were met by our tour guide. Our hosts from Israel Collective (our friends who invited us) greeted him like he was one of the family. Yoav has been assisting tours with Israel Collective for many trips and being a local native there was no one better suited for the task. He was nothing short of fantastic. 

Our group loaded the bus and we were off to Caesarea. Yes, that Caesarea - where Cornelius, one of the first known converts to Christianity, prayed and was visited by angel to send for Peter. Acts 10 recounts this event:

In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore...Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all...And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name...Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

Standing by the Mediterranean Sea in Caesarea I knew there was greatness that happened thousands of years ago. Maybe it was the long journey I had just completed, but in the moment I didn't have an overwhelming sense of emotion - rather a simple peace and thankfulness. Jesus came for everyone and it was in Caesarea that Peter came to that same conclusion. What a beautiful moment for him to see the goodness of God. Again, peace. Glorious peace.

We stopped at a restaurant near the shore to eat. I was tired and ready for bed but there was one thing keeping me from shutting my eyes. 

Hummus.

Everyone who had been to Israel - and I mean everyone - talked and talked about the hummus. On and on they went saying how it is unlike any hummus you've ever tasted. "You'll be prejudiced against all other types of hummus...You'll never be the same." Even at our first meal in New York the guys from Israel Collective went crazy talking about it. Miracle-working it is!  Okay, maybe not that far, but when the hummus talk never ends your expectations rise to that beyond heaven. 

So by the time we had reached Caesarea and our first meal, my palette was beyond ready. What happened just seconds after sitting down? Hummus was, indeed, served. I took some fresh pita and scooped up a hearty portion and savored the moment. I waited...and waited...and it did not disappoint.  Jesus' words describe it best when He said, "and it was good." This must be that land of milk and honey we read about...

What was this taste of heaven? Rich yet smooth? Heavy yet light? I knew we had blessed the food so I had my fingers crossed that I wouldn't gain anything if I ate more than I should. 

The hummus was incredible. Expectations met. Let's just say I'm afraid to buy some at my local grocery store. I have a feeling my face will indicate my dissatisfaction.

From lunch we took our time walking by the sea and learning more about the area. 

It becomes clearer now, the more that I have seen these places, just how real and wondrous the words of the Bible are. It is one thing to read and put your faith out there - it is another to see the proof up close. Still, the element of faith is even more profound. One may think by seeing the evidence up close faith is less active - I believe it to be all the more vital. After all, for centuries people of the Old Testament had God's miracles appear in front of them. Jesus came to the people in the New Testament and they still had trouble believing. 

Seeing is not believing. Seeing pushes us to choose. Standing on the stone steps at Caesarea I knew I had to chose to believe what I was seeing was truth. Truth with a capital "T" as one of our friends from Israel Collective liked to say. I believe in Truth. Absolute Truth. Stepping foot in the areas where Cornelius' faith was lived and Peter's testimony was heard and accepted was an honor to behold. 

Here is where salvation opened to everyone - the spiritual lineage of every follower of Christ began!

And this was all before I had found my place to sleep. All I could think was, "If this is the beginning, what more do you have in store, God?" 

On our way to Tiberius

To find out more about Israel Collective, and their efforts to unite for peace visit their website at wwwisraelcollective.org. 

Israel

by Amy

I went to bed around 3am last night. Preparing for an international trip can do that to you. It wasn't my plan to be up that late but as weeks turned into days, days turned into hours and, as per usual, I found myself trying to "get it all done" in a hurry. 

There were all kinds of preparing I was trying to accomplish before this trip. Why is it when you are leaving home for a while everything seems to get in the way and random stuff pops out of nowhere? Things that shouldn't come up do. Projects at work become stressful. One errand turns into twenty. _____. At a certain point you start asking if somehow you are being spiritually attacked!

This past week it seems like there was something at every corner of my life that was in pure disaster. Due dates, banks accounts, health, relationships, family, pets, etc...you name it, something was not working as normal. Even my emotions have been off balance. I finally asked God the question, "Is the devil trying to attack me before going on this trip?" I did get an answer. Just not one I expected. 

Yes....and no.

I was invited this year to go to Israel with a group of people and I joyfully said yes. Israel has been a dream of mine for many years. I can't say all my life because it wasn't until I moved to DC that I started thinking about it. That was eight years ago. I guess you say that's when Israel really became a dream of mine to accomplish. This year I am seeing this dream come to fruition. To say I'm excited is...well, an understatement. 

The progression of preparing myself to go has been slow. I thought I would be read up on the Word, noting every place we will visit in the scriptures - ready to grab a tissue just reading passages where I know I will be visiting. None of that. I didn't do one bit of spiritual preparing. 

To be honest, I've spent the majority worrying, being afraid, going through anxiety, and allowing the devil to steal my joy. That's where he won. He stole my joy. 

The worry, fear, anxiety and sadness has not stemmed from me going on the trip. It stemmed from every other trifle thing around me. The devil is not attacking me by giving me the problem of fraudulent charges on my bank account this week. That's someone else. That's the world around me. The devil starts where he always does - my mind. By allowing him to plant seeds of worry and fear I allowed him to steal my joy in getting ready to fulfill a dream of mine. By allowing myself to listen to  him I have taken my mind, one of the most powerful parts of me, and laid it at his feet. 

In all the preparing I forgot my helmet of salvation. But all wasn't lost. I won the battle in my mind. It may have been this last week but I won. 

God has an amazing way of revealing Himself, His love and His faithfulness. This week I took control of my thoughts, my fears, and anxiety, and I laid them where I should have weeks ago - at the feet of my Heavenly Father. Isn't that where I'm supposed to lay them? 

Matthew 11:28-30, " Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." 

1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Things happen in life that we can't control. It doesn't always mean it is the devil attacking you. Personally, I have seen that I get attacked more with my thoughts than anything else. Knowing this - admitting this has been the start to overcoming it. 

I may not have had the spiritual preparation that I wanted, but I did start with what I already know of God's Word. I used it to combat what the devil was trying to steal. I took scriptures, prayer, wisdom from those closest to me, and courage to tackle it. 

Why let the devil steal your joy? Why let him get away with it? The Word says we are to put on the full armor of God. It starts with the helmet of salvation - to guard our minds and thoughts. I know who I am in Christ and nothing will change that. As I've said before - I know it. Now I'll own it. 

I hope Israel is ready for me as much as I am ready for Israel!

Speak to me Lord, now and when I am there. Reveal your secrets to me as You say in Your Word you want to. My heart, mind, and spirit are open to what you have for me. I am completely vulnerable to Your Spirit. Teach me, mold me, and show me how to be more like You. Let's go!