Available…for His glory.

You may be able to click on photos to see them bigger and zoom in as you wish to view details…. just heads up on that. 

I haven’t been to Jerusalem in like 10 days…so on my day off Thursday I planned to go up to the Mount of Olives and the Israel Museum (Has the Dead Sea Scrolls). I got to Jerusalem early and it was raining off and on so I sat in a café and enjoyed some tea and a marvelous Phyllo Apple thing. Walking in the Old City is dangerous when wet…it gets really slick because the walkway stones are so smooth. AND I had forgotten my umbrella. 

I walked through the Muslim Quarter on the way to the Lions Gate. I got a little lost and a touch bit concerned… I felt very conspicuous alone so early in the Muslim quarter…on the side alleys if you will. Good thing is there are police or military about every 10 yards in the area I was in. It is really neat to just wander around and take in the area without the crowds and the tour groups and all the people blocking up things.

I got to the Lion gate- the gate that Stephen is said to be taken out of to be stoned. So you know what that means? Saul/ Paul was also there!

Down the steep hill to the Garden of Gethsemane/ Basilica/ Church of the Nations. I have already been here but since I had my actual camera I went back. Walking past olive trees that have been dated to the time of Christ…and thinking about the Olive press lesson I got the other day in our biblical garden.  Just amazing that Jesus was here and his disciples. That they were often in this garden gathering.  

I sat down inside the church (I try to just take time when I go places, read scripture, and not just take pictures and leave). While there a group that was there sang When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. I am not sure what language it was, but it was beautiful.  

Download When I survey     (sorry I can't get the video to embed here… erggg) 

I looked up and the mosaic above me was donated by the church in Spain…. Each square dome area is different and paid for by a different country…hence the Church of All Nations. This one said Obedient unto Death around the cross in the center. 

Not sure why it struck me like it did. I think because in the past year I have had quite a few people tell me that when they think of me they think of Obedience. And as I read that I just couldn’t help but think “Father may I be obedient…even unto death.” I can’t imagine not being any other way. His way is the best way, and He saved me…why wouldn’t I give my life to what He has? I had just texted a friend earlier about how grateful I was…just that He had saved me, that would be enough, but He keeps giving each day. It’s overwhelming.

There are mosaics on every bit of the ceiling, and three beautiful ones up front. The flames on the torch were just especially beautiful. And since blue is my favorite color I was in love with the roof. 

After leaving the church I went up the road to the Mount of Olives. The church of Mary Magdelene is on this road and the church that Jesus is said to have wept over the city. Since I didn’t want to deal with the crowds and paying some muslim guy 5 shekels to get in I skipped them both. And for those of you who ask if it is safe here…in the Lions gate photo you can see a grey pole sticking out the top of it…camera. And cameras pointing down every alley. And all up this road. One right behind me and one down the hill. If something happens to me, I can almost guarantee that there will be a video of what happened. Just FYI. 

The Mount of Olives is mostly Jewish Graves. Jews pay big money to be buried there so they can be the first to be resurrected when the Messiah comes. The gates were open and people were going in and taking photos from an overview type area. I somehow missed the sign that said private area, for visitors to cemetery only. So I ended up wandering around and up the mount through the cemetery.

There was a rather large building with graves inside- Rabbi someone and his family. I went behind it and stood up there for at least an hour and a half looking at the city. The building blocked me from the people up on the top of the Mount and I kind of felt alone. 

In order for you to understand how I felt standing there you have to understand I had my ipod playing in my ears and on shuffle. I often joke that God is in charge of my ipod because there are so many times the perfect song comes on the perfect time. And sometimes its a song I could swear I never heard will come on.

So here’s the ones I took note of (literally took notes)

How deep the Saviors love for us

How deep the Father's love for us?
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure?

How great the pain of searing loss?
The Father turned His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
How deep?

Grace to Grace- Hillsong

Life Means so much – Chris Rice

Though I feel alone- Enter the worship circle

Though I feel alone
I am never alone
You are with me
Oh, my Lord

In the night-time while I'm on my bed
I will let every thought be of You
For you are good
You take all those who will come to You

In the morning as I face the day
I will let every thought be of You
For you are good
You take all those who will come to You 

Forever- Hillsong

I'll Worship at Your Throne
Whisper my own love song
With all my heart I'll sing
For You my Dad and King
I'll live for all my days
To Put a smile on Your face
And when we finally meet
It'll be for eternity

And Oh how wide You open up Your arms
When I need Your love
And how far You would come
If ever I was lost
And You said that all You feel for me
Is undying love
That You showed me through the cross

I'll worship You my God
I'll worship You my God
I love You
I love You
Forever I will sing
Forever I will be with You
Be with You

 Those Clouds!! 

Sorry they are out of order… I don't know why the ol blog is giving me issues. 

I stood there and wept. Wept at the opportunity to be here, for the love of my Savior I will spend eternity with, for the lost and broken who don’t know Him or have rejected Him.

keepin it real there… but really this was just a touch of it. You know the you are about to lose it, but you are trying not to? yeah give it about 30 seconds….   I was boo hooing…. 

I could hear the drums and singing from down at the Western Wall area of a Bar Mitzpah. I could hear car horns honking from the Dung Gate. I could even at times hear people laughing from down below. It’s amazing how on a mountain side you can hear from so far away…even here at Yad Hashmona when I am in my hammock I can hear people from the hill on the other side of the valley. So it is easy to understand how Jesus would teach to the multitudes on hillsides/mounts. It is so easy to hear!

The Muslim call to prayer started up when I was up there.

Download Muslim Call

Mulitple speakers in multiple locations from the Temple mount to the Arab neighborhoods south of the city and possibly from the mosque just up behind me. If you have never heard it. It is one of the spookiest sounding things to me. I remember hearing it in Uganda for the first time. It hurts my heart.

It is hard to put into words how overwhelmed I was. I think that is why I spent so long up there…I just wasn’t ready to leave. 

As I walked back down there was a little sitting area off a different walkway that lead down to the main road. I sat down and read through Luke 19.

I won’t say much but I will say it summed up how my heart felt standing up on that Mount. This country is such a complicated place. The whole world is. I was texting my friend about a situation she encountered that seemed to relate to what I had been thinking— the only way we will EVER have peace is in Christ. There is too much pride and brokenness for anyone ever to even try to get along without Him. He instills in us Humility Peace and Love that we can never find in ourselves. I am grateful for the hope I have because of Him… I cannot imagine life without it. My prayer is to live in such a way that hope would be evident to others and they will come to know Him.

I walked down in front of the Church of All Nations, with the Kidron Valley on my left and the Old City on the other side.  

I saw behind St. Stephens Monastary there is a protestant cemetery. I thought what a cool place to be buried. In the Garden of Gethsemane area just below the Mercy/Golden Gate. Not that they are enjoying the location their body is in…but a cool spot. 

I walked on the road opposite the churches and the Mt. of Olives to see if the Mercy Gate cemetery gates were open.  As I walked I took photos…and I saw a guy in the middle of the "Valley of Kings Walkway" praying.  You may have to click on the photo and make it bigger to see him.I think he had been working in the cemetery under that blue tarp.  I don't know if he was still praying since the call to prayer earlier or had just started.  But the whole time I could see him he was praying.  Standing, down on his face, standing, down on his face.  I have to give serious props to him… just doing it out with his mat there in the walkway.  Also broke my heart…. You can see him standing in the photo about middle of the frame.

 
 Just before I saw him the bells on the churches broke out… so fun to hear echo in the valley against the city wall! 

The gates were open into the cemetery at the Mercy Gate. I found out there is a pathway from the Lion gate around toward the south side of the temple Mount which is great if you don't want to walk down the killer hill around and take the short cut.  Last week I was afraid I was in some sacred territory but there were tour groups I could see from the Mt. of Olives earlier so I figured it isn't.  And I found the grounds run down, trashy and quite sad. I kept thinking about eternity as I walked past those graves and how the people all around me are choosing today who they will serve…

Finally Free- Nichole Nordeman comes on my ipod  UNDONE. again.

No chain is strong enough
No choice is wrong enough
No mountain high enough that He
can't climb

No shadow dark enough
No night is black enough
No road is lost enough that He can't find

And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be, free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free

No pain is deep enough
No heart could bleed enough
Nothing but Jesus' love can make a way

And if the Son has set us free
Then we must be, free indeed
Let the chains fall away, starting today
Everything has changed
I'm finally free 

Interesting thing was I saw several of these green coffins along the way.  One of them even had the white pillow still in it propped standing up next to a grave. 

I don't know any arabic but am interested to find out what they say.  I was stopped by a couple from Canada to take a photo of them and they asked what they should see in their last 2 days there.  I gave them a couple stellar ideas 😉 and loved talking to them.  

As I am walking up to the Mercy Gate and standing there staring at it and thinking lots of thoughts about the folks just above, the trash hanging down from it, I am also thinking about when Christ returns… Returns into this City to Reign…and the NEW comes…New everything! 

And Dennis Jernigan Come as a Bridegroom is playing in my ear.

Here in the glory of Your light
I will bow while purify me pure as holy white
Cleansed by the blood that freely flow from Your side
I will wait in Your presence till You take me as Your bride

(Won't You)
Come as a bridegroom for Your bride
Come and take me tou Your side
I surrender Lord to Your arms open wide

Won't You
Come in the glory of a King
While I worship You and sing
You alone are worthy
Take Your bride
Lord Jesus Christ, my King 

I cannot make this up if I tried.  I could not manage to make a more fitting playlist as I went through this day if I thought about it for a week.  

As I walked back through the Lions Gate I could have floated back to Yad Hashmona.  My heart was so full from what I had experienced and getting to text my friend and how God is working out details for her I could literally have fallen down dead and been fine with it.  Straight to heaven.  

Instead I decided to wander around the Shuk- the market that is crazy booth after booth for alleys and alleys and find the Bama Store.  I met the brother of the Owner and gave him a good War Eagle in response to his greeting.  Checked it out and said I would come back after consulting with my Bama friends.  He gave me his card! haha Such a nice guy… and hopefully not just because he was trying to sell me somethings.  haha

On the way to Jerusalem this morning I got so motion sick which is unusual.  I get a little not feeling good, but I was full on sweating and hoping I could make it to the city without losing my breakfast. I think it was the strong Rose scent someone around me had on.  When I got off I literally was rejoicing for the stinky streets of Jerusalem.  I am reminded of my times walking around NYC or NOLA… the smell of buses and cars, and the aroma of urine and trash.  That's how Jerusalem smells at the bus station and from time to time as I walk around.  It is a huge city and because of that the smells happen.  As I walked through the muslim quarter I found one reason….these boys playing some peeing game. 

I think they were trying to get it in the hole in the middle of the manhole cover.  When I saw them there were 2 at once taking their turns.  Just laughing it up…boys.  I have yet to understand them.  hahaha

 I walked down Jaffa street like I had in the morning instead of taking the light rail.  Partly to look for some boots I can wear when it rains since I have tennis shoes and my canvas crocs.  Partly just because I wasn't in a hurry, my legs weren't aching, and I wanted to see stuff.  I found myself taking photos of graffiti and trash.  Just felt beautiful to me… I find the strangest things just so beautiful…the colors usually just do it for me! 

As I passed Jaffa Center rail stop there was an asian guy with a speaker and mic set up.  He was playing a harmonica to The sweet by and by.  I have seen him just outside the old city reading scripture or something evangelistic in the mornings.  It's in his mother language so I am not sure what it is, but it is Christian I do know for sure from what they have displayed on their podium.  I have never seen him doing the harmonica thing.  But it was fun! 

Download Sweet Bye and Bye

I will end my day with a shot I took on the Via Dolorosa. 

I just loved the jumble of the arch and the stones and I am sure what is different eras of building remains.  The actual road that Jesus would have walked is 6-12 feet down below the current road.  Centuries of war and rubble will do that…

What I found out today is that this wall is part of the Antonia Fortress that Herod built onto the Temple Mount.  Pontious Pilot put Jesus on trial inside this wall.  It is now a school. Back then it was barracks and prison.  I had no idea until I looked up on google map what was on the inside of this wall.  It is actually the first station of the cross.  I haven't been inside, and don't need to.  I feel like a photo online and my wall photo is memorable to my heart.  And some how this wall patchwork through the years feels very symbolic to my time here.  To my life. 

This is what this country does…it hold significance in what I feel like is every step.  My friend Sarah said it well when she said "Israel forever ruins you on the significance of the “history” of other countries."  Yep.  When basically everywhere you go there is something significant from the Bible that happened there…. What other history in any other country is so rich and meaningful?

Then in my reading on the 12 disciples I am doing I found out Nathaneal went to India…and Thomas was martyred there.  My Sister in Christ is right now staying right near the church that is the supposed sight of that IN INDIA…. well.  Maybe I have a few more countries to cover for Biblical history ;) 

I don't know how to close a post like this.  So I won't.  I will let it hang and sit and stir and settle in you hopefully like it is still doing in me.  

Love you all.  Miss you.  Grateful for each  of you.  My life is indeed Richer because of you.  Sad that I have 26 more days here, but grateful for each moment to squeeze in what I can.  Praying He will provide some extra funds for  the getting there and entrance fees stuff. Prayers appreciated as I look for a job in Auburn (sort of temporary 6-8 weeks thing…I will explain more on that another day)

Be His. 

And sorry for lack of scripture in this…It's taken me two days to get it posted…figured I won't delay nor make this longer…