SUNDAY . . . Have I Mentioned I'm Overwhelmed?

From my journal: Today . . . the Temple Mount. The Threshing Floor that David purchased to have the Temple built on. "Legend" is that this is where God began creating the world . . . Abraham climbed up this mountain to sacrifice Isaac . . . The Holy of Holies where the curtain was ripped in two from top to bottom. The Eastern Gate that has been sealed as if that would stop HIM. As if! What will I feel? What will my emotions be like? What do You have for me today? This whole trip has been building to this moment in time. I don't want to miss it.


Today, we started with tour of the Temple Mount. I really had no idea what to expect because it looks so different from what the Temple would have been. And then there's the gaudy Dome of the Rock. But then God caught me by surprise and wrapped the bow on the whole journey.


Let me back up a ways. Back when I thought God telling me it was my time to go, I pretty much said right back, "Ok, God. You know where I am financially. There is absolutely no way I can do this on my own. If I am going, it will HAVE to be You." His response . . . "I Am. I will give it to you. Trust me." And at every crossroad, He was faithful in crazy, creative ways and provided every dime.


Then, while on this trip, Shahe (my friend from church) told me there was a shop in Jerusalem next to our hotel that would make personalized rings in Hebrew of whatever you want . . . a verse or your name or whatever. I had decided that I wanted "My soul follows after You, my Lord" but I had no idea where in Psalms it was. So we arrive in Jerusalem early evening. It had been a really really long day. I was tired mentally, physically, emotionally . . . in every way. I just wanted to get into bed and sleep. but Shabbot was coming and if we wanted a ring we had to go that night. Otherwise Shabbot would mess up the timing (because everybody closes on Shabbot) and the jeweler wouldn't have enough time to make them. So off we go. The store is small and there had to have been a BILLION people in that place. I was shutting down. So I pick out the style ring I wanted. But they had to have the reference for the verse so they could see the Hebrew characters to determine if it would fit. I, of course, didn't know the reference. Just that it's in Psalms. So they give me an English-Hebrew Parallel Bible (which by the way, to my surprise when I looked at the publisher, is done where I work [insert small world theme song here]. So I start skimming the pages looking for it. I mean there are only 150 Psalms. Surely I can find it relatively quick. I get to 90 and still no verse. Then Pslam 91. This is one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible. I love the visual it paints. Again, I am beyond tired and finally tell the sales lady, fine, just use this one. It's a recurring theme in my life. I'll be fine with it. I was quite flippant with my decision to be honest. Little did I know God would bring this back to me full circle just 2 days later. The verse I have put on my ring is "under the Shadow of Almighty" and pick it up Saturday night.


So, back to the Temple Mount. We head "up". As we approach the inside of the Eastern Gate, I find myself completely overwhelmed . . . I know, I'm over-using this word. But I realize as I approach the Eastern Gate from inside the Temple Mount, that my whole trip has been leading up to this moment. As we walk from the gate (which I later find out is the gate where the gentiles and handicap would have entered the temple from . . . somehow seems approriate since I have strained my knee so bad that I walked around Jerusalem with the aid of crutches the whole time) anyway, we walk up a set of steps on we are on the Mount. As I watch as our group approaches the the Threshing Floor and the "traditional" site of where the Holy of Holies would have been, I am in absolute awe. He did it. He said He would bring me to His homeland and He did. I am almost unable to move forward I am so in awe. At this moment, I am very thankful for these crutches. Were it not for them holding me up, I probably would have collapsed. That's how ovewhelmed I am at this moment. My friend, Shahe, comes up next to me and instantly recognizes the look. Then she quietly whispers in my ear, "I know. I felt the same way last year when we came for the first time."


From there, to be honest, I don't remember where we go. I feel like I am just walking through the motions of walking. That moment of being on the Temple Mount will forever be engrained in my mind. I will be able to close my eyes and instantly hear, smell, and see that moment.


At some point, we meet up with Baruch (who by Jewish law, is not allowed on the Temple Mount because we don't know where exactly the Holy Place is and it is forbidden to walk on the Temple Mount). he begins to teach us. Again, sadly, I don't remember much of what he said except for one thing. And this is where is it gets really, really cool! He starts talking about Shaddai. Well, since that's what's on my ring, my ears (and soul) zone in to see what our friendly Rabbi has to share on the subject. Boiled down . . . Almighty = Shaddai = God who is sufficient = the God who is enough!!! Did you get that?? He is enough. He is enough to give what is needed for my every need. THIS is what He's been telling me all along since I sent my deposit in to secure my place on this trip. He is enough to give me what I needed on every step of this journey. And now, as I go home, that is what will be staring up at me from this ring that is my hand. I am under the shadow of the One who is enough!! Do you see why I've just walked around this country overwhelmed???