Most goodbyes have been said. Bags are packed. The countdown of my final 24 hours in Israel for this trip commences. I am so ready to be home. Yet it is always a bittersweet experience when I prepare to depart from any country I visit, especially this Holy Land. In those quiet, seemingly insignificant moments that pass by without extravagant pomp and circumstance my heart is taken captive. In those sacred moments when I find myself overwhelmed by the holiness and awe, my heart discovers a new home. The land, people, and atmosphere burrow their way deep into my soul. Each bus ride, meal, and every single step is forever laced into my being. I find myself intertwined with this ancient land and the covenant people who have been called home from among the nations. A precious friend of mine from Israel a few weeks ago described the yearning to make Aliyah as a calling of the Holy Spirit. I understand that pull so very well. There is such a mighty and supernatural Presence that hovers over the mountains, valleys, coastlines, and deserts of this land. It impregnates me with such a profound sense of calling and covenant with each encounter. I am so grateful for this experience. I have been blessed with the opportunity to live in Israel for the past two months. From the moment our plane landed at Ben Gurion airport outside of Tel Aviv, I felt the relief of coming home. From the beginning of all the booking and planning in preparations for this trip, I knew that I was walking in ordered steps. Each day has left a mark. I have heard the whispers of the ancient stones and the stories that are embedded in every inch of this ground. I have been in this place since before the beginning of Operation Protective Edge and have now seen this particular operation’s conclusion. I have grieved with this nation at the loss of loved ones and soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom. I have watched as military equipment was moved to borders. I have heard the seemingly endless sounds of military helicopters and jets flying overhead. I have crossed paths with the powerful military presence every day. I have personally encountered glimpses into the supernatural hatred and prejudice that threatens to destroy this country with a never-ending tenacity. I sincerely wish I could put into words the gravity of this trip. I have been grown and stretched. I will never be the same. I don’t know where the Lord will call me in this life. I don’t know. But I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel is a part of my life and my assignment. I know that I will return to this land. My supernatural bond with this place and people is still in its seeding season. I trust my God and all the plans He put in place before the founding of the world. I endeavor to follow the voice of God and where He leads me. Baruch Hashem.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 08:30:03 +0000
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