Summary of My Israel Trip: Experiences, Pictures, and Devotionals

This month at Pasture Living, I'm sharing what I learned during my Israel trip. I believe being physically healthy is important, but being mentally, psychologically, and spiritually healthy is also extremely important for a fulfilling and joyful life.

Lessons From the Desert Summary

This page will be updated daily as we go in the series.

1. Walk Not Only With Our Eyes, But With Our Feet

2. Obedience

3. Tamarisk Tree Living

4. Use the Talents God Gives Us

5. The Weight of Sin

6. Shepherding

7. Living Water

8. God's Protection (City Gate)

9. Bedouin (Desert) Hospitality

10. God is Faithful and He Provides

11. God is My Rock and Fortress

12. Intentional Living

13. God is Gracious and Merciful

14. To Have Feet Like A Deer

15. To Be Keepers of the Word

16. Discipleship and the Importance of Community

17. Action Speaks Louder Than Words

18. The Language of Culture

19. The Grass is Greener Where You Water It

20. To Be Zealous For God

21. Worldly Gain Versus Eternal Life Perspective

22. Don't Rush Through Life

23. Building For God Versus Ourselves

24. Appreciation For Life

25. Giving Our All Because God Gives Good Exchange Rates!

So, What Now? 

As I've already shared here, there are more to our lives than just our physical beings. We can live as healthily as we can, work as hard as we can, earn money as much as we want, master all languages and skills as fast as we can, and attain all fame and power as much as we want, but at the end of the day, when we are all set and done, when we lie in bed waiting to leave this earth, what meaning do they hold? Sure, maybe you will be known as the greatest artist or businessman or builder, just like Herod the Great, but the Bible says if we don't learn to love, we are like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. We may be happy, but we have no joy. We may be full, but never satisfied. We may be rich, but no contentment. We may be surrounded by many people, but still feel lonely. 

The Sadducees and the Pharisees asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment in the Law and Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. We are instructed to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. Building a legacy, sharing God's blessings with other people, being hospitable, loving others, living purposefully, appreciating life - those were some lessons I want to remember doing. This is a question that is in my mind: when all is set and done and if God were to call our lives today, can we say that we have made use of this life purposefully, for His glory, and finished this race well? 

"Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made?" - Francis Chan

What spoke to you the most in this series?