October 17th, 2022 – 11:32am – Hostel In German Colony, Haifa, Israel:

A story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. For us as humans we are born, we live, and then we die. Our story is written in time by our choices moment by moment. We are trained, taught, learn, grow, love, grieve, experience, thrive, and struggle… all the days we are given on this earth. So today, I am writing an update to my story…

Today marks two weeks since I landed in Israel… and since then I have met well over 50 travelers and locals in Haifa. I have heard their stories and shared mine. I have listened… listened to the heartbeat of Haifa itself and also the heartbeat of this country and it’s people. And, as with all paths the Lord leads His children down, it has not be as I had expected.

I had ideas… ideas of Israel… of being Jewish… of living in this land, learning the language, and working among these people. But as all twists in the great stories of all times, things here are not as they are seen from without. Being here… feeling these people and this place… has changed everything in how I see the world.

Before I came God told me to throw out all my expectations and thoughts of what this journey would be… and so for the most part I tried… but so much of my pre-conceived ideas remained as I set foot on this land. But time has changed all that.

I am here. And don’t you see? That has changed everything. A titanic shift in all I know or understood. I am seeing the whole world new today… because I have sat with people from all over the world and listened to their hearts poured out. I’ve watched with my spiritual eyes… these people in this land… and God has shown me so much… to much to document… many things I cannot share.

And also I have been assaulted spiritually since the moment I set foot on this land. The battle has raged around me… heavy and thick and difficult… and still rages. But it’s not just spiritual… it’s a testing of all I am really. The deepest parts of me are laid bare. My story told and retold over and over and I see it all a bit differently now.

Never before in all my 40 years have I been more unsure of who I am and what I am called to do. How funny? That this journey would unravel me further. And my understanding of even the basics of revival and evangelism has been shaken.

Consider… God has walked with me alone for four and half years. He has trained me Himself… apart from the organizations and religious structures of this world. Man relating to God… no, for me He wanted what He originally intended… God relating to man.

He begin this relationship in His own way and in His own time with me. He chose me and chose my path. He told me to listen and obey… with all the love of a Father… and I have for the most part done just that. Unexpected… yes. But His ways are not our ways. And understanding is not required… only faith and obedience.

I have $70 to my name. I have clothes enough for a week. I have my iPhone and an Israeli android phone. This is all I own. I am in a foreign country without the ability to work or make money. I am booked in the hostel until this coming Friday the 21st… and after that I will be on the street if God does not provide for me. Faith.

Am I scared, worried, or anxious?… not in the least. I know my Father… He provides for me. It’s been a journey of four and half years walking with Him all over the world. I have been rich and had everything I could ever want and I have been homeless and slept behind dumpsters. And the constant is Him. He is with me. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again. And I know with all my heart and soul that my faith pleases Him.

Four years ago when I was in Kansas City and I had just given everything away… I was walking in just my socks along the canals in the pouring rain and God showed me the most powerful vision I have ever seen. I was suddenly in the throne room of heaven… in the very center… put on display… and God was standing and He was pointing to me and announcing to all of heaven and earth, “This one is mine. Don’t you see? This one belongs to me.” This vision was imprinted in my mind… and to this day I cannot remember that moment without tears forming in my eyes. God has claimed me as His own. I belong to Him. Whom shall I fear?

So whatever comes in the next days here in Israel I know the One to whom I belong and I know He is faithful. And so this is my witness to the world of who He is. And so will the rest of my life be. One day at a time… a witness of the faithfulness of God.

If you feel lead by God would you consider supporting me in prayer? Would you share this blog with others? Would you consider giving financially to support the work God is doing in and through my life and so become a part of my story?

You can best give financially through my GoFundMe… the money reaches me in a few days.

https://gofund.me/953f0d99

I received my class assignment for the Hebrew Course at the University Of Haifa. I start October 25th. Before then I have the following financial needs:

⁃ a laptop to do my school work on

⁃ Two Hebrew language books

⁃ Living expenses (food, lodging)

Thank you again for traveling this journey with me! I pray that God will speak to you through my life and encourage you on your own individual journey by it!