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Today's reading: Job 15-16

Ten days, twelve thousand miles, 4 planes, 1 very nice tour bus, a boat, 2 air trains, miles walked, seven hour time difference, living out of a suitcase for a long length of time and a snowstorm to drive home the remaining 2 hours--and I wonder why I am up at 3:00am?

What a ride I have been on! I apologize for not being able to share everything I have seen, it has been overwhelming to say the least. I think the words of Job, which I found this morning put it all into perspective for me...

"I was living quietly until he broke me apart..." Job 16:12 NLT

I was reading the Word, studying the Word, trusting in the Word, attempting with the best of my abilities to live out the Word--until He showed me the land the Word was written in, for and through.

I was satisfied to believe, settled in my faith and striving to do what I believe He has called me to do.

Now I am broken apart.

He has re-arranged my thoughts. He has deepened my beliefs. He has placed pictures in my head where there once were only typed words. He has given me a glimpse into the reality of His Word. He has made me fully aware of how little of the surface I have scratched. He has planted a seed in my heart that has grown just since leaving the Holy Land.

And I like it!

The maps in the back of my Bible won't ever mean the same again. The accounts of where He walked, taught and healed won't ever again just be a random town on a dirt road. The historical facts among the pages of my Holy Bible won't ever just be facts, but road signs pointing to His coming, His reign, His love, His promises and His desire for His people.

I am back home, but I am different. I see things through a different set of lenses now. I hear through 'cleaned out' ears. I love through a heart that has been stretched, emptied and re-filled.

I was living quietly and comfortably and contentedly, until He broke my heart apart with this trip.

What we did before getting on the plane: We visited the Mount of Olives, viewed the Eastern (Golden) Gate, walked into the Church of All Nations, stood for a short time in the Garden of Gethsemane, had another opportunity to see a panoramic view of Jerusalem, walked through the Lion's Gate, visited St Anne's church and sang 'How Great Thou Art'--what acoustics, walked to the area of the Pools of Bethsaida, strolled along the Via Dolorosa, stood on, touched with my own hands and walked on with the soles of my shoes the area of Gabbatha--where Jesus was used as a game pawn, scourged and beaten by the soldiers. We saw the area where they believe Jesus was crucified, stepped inside an EMPTY tomb and had communion as a group of Jesus followers within feet of where the stone was rolled away and He came back to life.

Do you see why I am broken? Why I cannot sleep at 3:00am? Why just telling you what we did/saw/experienced feels inappropriate and inadequate?

What a whirlwind this past 10 days have been!

Thanks for the prayers. Thanks for the support. Thanks for understanding why this is probably not the last time you'll hear about my trip!