by battzion12

As I finished packing tonight (can you believe it–all done two days before I leave!), Julianna called to me from her computer, “Hey, you know, at least you were in the Land for 83 days.” 83 days is certainly longer than I’d ever expected to spend here in Israel.  What a blessing to be here for that amount of time!

“Wow,” I replied, then realized, “Does that count Tuesday when I leave?”

“Hmm…no it doesn’t,” Julianna answered, “I guess that makes it 84 days.”

84 days.  Wow.  Just like the 84th Psalm.  Let me tell you a story of God’s faithfulness.

In the beginning of August when I was really wrestling with the opportunity to come here to Israel (it would be awesome!! can I afford it? am I crazy to leave my career? hellooo–it’s Jerusalem! yes, but not everyone gets to go there… [to name but a few of the conflicting thoughts in my head...]), I decided to dedicate a day to fasting and praying, asking God for clarity and wisdom.  Soon, I found myself led to the 84th Psalm.  Here is an excerpt:

“How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts.
I long, I yearn, for the courts of the LORD; my body and my soul shout for joy to the living God….
Happy is the man who finds refuge in You, whose mind is on the pilgrim highways….
They go from strength to strength, appearing before God in Zion….”

Friends, here I am; God has allowed me to come and dwell in the city of Zion, appearing before Him in what Scripture declares the “abode of His glory” (see Psalms 2, 102, and 132). Wow.  After reading Psalm 84 back in August, the decision to come to Israel became more clear.  I realized that I’d received an invitation to come here, and began putting steps into place for the trip that has lasted until now.  Though I’ve thought in recent days that my plans were getting cut short, ironically, I will leave the land on the 84th day of my trip.  This is no accident.  God used Psalm 84 to confirm His leading me here.  And now, He’s taking me out of the Land on the 84th day of that trip.  Just as He invited me in, now He invites me out. And He almost declared this from the beginning!  Ooh, I hope this swoons your heart as much as it does mine.   He is a good God and even when we do not understand His ways, He gives us little surprises like Psalm 84 to remind us that, ”He who began a good work in you will perfect it [all the way] until the day of Messiah Yeshua” (Philippians 1:6).  I look forward to what He has next!

Julianna and I have had a great last couple days together (we’ve gone to our favorite coffee shop Aroma every day this past week and she surprised me today with an Aroma shirt!  How much cooler do roommates get?  No, but seriously, we’ve hiked the Mount of Olives, toured the Israel Museum (which holds the Dead Sea Scrolls!), watched the sunrise over the Temple Mount, and enjoyed some seriously entertaining and enlightening conversation as we recount our time here.  Julianna–I really treasure the time we’ve spent here in Jerusalem together.  I have learned a great deal from you (did I mention that I’m completely packed two days before I leave?!? .  I am glad we could be like “sisters” here and I look forward with great anticipation to see what God will do in you and through you as you spend the last month and a half with Him as your companion.  He is faithful and He will complete what He has begun in you.  I will miss you tremendously, but look forward to a reunion again soon, as God wills.

I look forward to updating you all soon on my safe arrival! Until then, here is a final “Shalom” from Jerusalem in the love of Messiah, King of Israel,

Lori