Today was a busy day. I wish I was feeling better than I am, but that didn't stop me from the amazing things that happened today. We left the house at 7am and I'm pretty sure once I stepped on the bus I fell asleep. When I woke up I looked right to a beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee. It was amazing. Out of all the things I have seen, this is the only one that fit the image in my mind of what I thought it looked like. We went to the Mount of Beatitudes where a beautiful Catholic church sat and right below it was the spot where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. This place is a "Grade B+/A-" Place, meaning they are fairly certain this was the exact spot where it happened. We then went to a museum that held the 'Jesus Boat.' This boat was found in the late 80's (I believe) and it is said to have been Simon Peter's boat that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount in, but again, there is no way to prove that for sure. Even so, it was breathtaking. We then took a boat ride across the Galilee to Caperneum. This boat ride was phenominal. It was cool to think that out of all the places that they tell us "we believe this was the spot," the Sea of Galilee is IT!! It's the same sea, with the same water, with the same sand. I sat and looked out over the boat and thought to myself "This is what Jesus saw..." We got off at Caperneum and then went around to see Simon Peter's Mother-in-law's house. This is where they had house churches, and other things and also where Jesus was at some point. We sat inside the synagogue that Jesus was at and Dr. Paul van der Laan gave an amazing message about Jesus' reading from the Torah in Isaiah that is written in the gospels. We then went to the place where Jesus returned to the disciples and found Peter fishing and expanded on the Great Comission for him. It was just amazing to stand on the beach where I knew Jesus was... this was the spot. It was like I could feel the guilt and anxiety of Peter and the compassion in Jesus' voice. Oh how I wish I could have been there for that conversation. From there we got on the bus and drove to the Jordan River. Today, March 22, 2009 I was baptized in the Jordan River. What an unforgetable experience!!!!!! While we were on our way over there, I was praying and thinking about what this meant and when I got there it all hit me at once. I can't believe that I was baptized in the same river of the one I've committed my life to. The one that I've said I am willing to lose my family, my finances and my reputation for. I've given it all. It was a great feeling to be baptized. I was baptized when I was 2mo old, but this is the first time where I made a public confession of my faith. I have been going through a time in my life when I'm realizing who I really am. I've always struggled, as most do, with finding my own identity and clinging to that no matter who is around me. The 5 weeks that I spent back at Southeastern before this trip was something that God definitely wanted me to do. The girls I was around have really taught me that it's OK to be me and only me. (If you girls are reading this you are probably laughing with how much ourselves we really are haha but it's very true in every way). I tend to conform with those who are around me and never really find myself... today when I rose out of the water I realized that God has called me a NEW creation one that is not like the rest. He formed me in my mothers womb to be fearfully and wonderfully made in his image. An image that is not duplicated or repeated but is all its own. My prayer is that I realize this.
Please be praying for the people on this trip; one of my roommates is very sick and I'm not sure what to do for her! I too am getting sick but am fighting it with every part of me.
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