Hello Friends,
It's been a while since I last wrote a blog, but I promise you that from this day onward, I will resume writing. Hope you are blessed :)
As Christians, it is a strong desire to reach the promised land. However, many factors can cause this desire to wane, one of which is the cost. I want to testify to God's goodness and His faithfulness in fulfilling everything He has promised.
On August 16, 2012, God allowed me to visit the Promised Land, Jerusalem, with my second family (Coolers). Before I embarked on this journey, God taught me many things. I'm not referring to the amount of money I possessed; honestly, as a college student, $2500 was a significant sum for me.
A few months prior to my trip, God gave me a verse to meditate on:
"But for now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 The Message)
In this verse, three things are emphasized: trusting steadily in God, unwavering hope, and extravagant love. Developing unwavering faith, maintaining hope, and practicing unconditional love were indeed challenging for me, especially when faced with circumstances contradicting my faith. Yet, through prayer, praise, and worship, my faith was strengthened, enabling me to embark on this journey to the promised land.
God continually teaches me the importance of unwavering hope. He reminds me daily to cling steadfastly to Him, making me acutely aware that every moment is incomplete without His presence.
Regarding unconditional love, the Lord Jesus has taught me the essence of giving. While sometimes the desire to receive more arises when I give, I've come to understand that true giving is selfless, devoid of any expectation. I give simply because I love the Lord.
After undergoing these three processes, on August 9, 2012, I received a letter confirming that God had provided for my trip to Israel. Though I may not comprehend the means, one thing is certain: the Lord Jesus never fails to fulfill His promises.
Visiting Israel transcends mere financial capacity; it is about our longing and our relationship with God, which transforms the impossible into reality. I firmly believe that just as God graciously afforded me this opportunity, He will also provide and open doors for you.
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9 NIV)
Below are some pictures from my journey:
(I will provide a review of each place I visited in Israel, so stay tuned. Catch you very soon :D)
- Dome of the Rock's view from Dominus Flevit
- Garden of Gethsemane
- Church at Cana
- Front view at the City of David
- The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River
- Sea of Galilee
- Hill at Tiberias