On the very mountain!

First experience of the day is a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee just as Jesus and the Twelve did in Mark 4:35. Our LORD refers to this lake as “The Sea of HIS Delight”. This body of water was the epicenter of our Savior’s ministry during his time walking the earth with us. Here he taught, performed miracles, and loved on His people. I selfishly believed I deserved to have the same experience as some did 2000 years ago. This is the letter I wrote to our Messiah about what took place within just a few minute’s time.

[We have been aboard the boat for about 15 minutes and each person is having their own individual quiet time…. Surely, He should have showed up by now.]

“JESUS! I looked around the entire lake! Longing for you, EXPECTING you to walk to me. I am desperate to be with you. I was ready to jump out and RUN on the water to meet you. I was disappointed with you because you won’t reveal yourself as you have for others. I was getting angry with myself that my faith wasn’t enough for even a glimpse or a vision…. then You squeezed a little harder…. I couldn’t see you on the water because you were on the boat…. holding me, embracing me, comforting me the entire time.”

The rest of the boat ride was AMAZING! I was being surrounded by my Jesus! He HAD revealed Himself to me, and in a much better way than I ever could have imagined.

God, you are so wonderful and awesome and perfect! You know what we need more than we do. I love you and I thank you!

Written by David Fasig

Today, we got to go on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee where Jesus asked Peter to step out on the waters and trust in Him. This is a story that has been on my heart for the past month because of some personal things that God has been doing to calm my anxieties about my future. As we continued across the lake, they asked us to spend some alone time with Jesus which is one of my favorite things to do! While soaking in God’s presence and staring into the clear glassy waters, I visualized Jesus standing across from me on top of the water.

Then He began to break my heart for His people in Israel. God has heard the cries of generation after generation that longs and desires for a savior, and He doesn’t want that separation from them either. The very water we were looking out on was the water that The Answer (Jesus) looked out on many times! He is the Revival they were searching for, and the one that I am longing for too. It struck me what an honor and privilege it is to actually know the One who thousands upon thousands of people cried out to God for before He came. If I keep in mind that I get to talk to Jesus and be with Him all of the time, then stepping out onto the waves of my current circumstances won’t be as scary because they pale in comparison to the reality of who He is.

Written by Karina McKaughan

The sea was calm as we all climbed aboard a boat in the Sea of Galilee. As we rode across the sea, we all pictured the chaos of the storm as Matt read the book of Mark. They called out to Jesus and their cries woke Him up. This experience awoke my heart while I listened to the song Oceans playing in the background and prayed. I reflected on all the stories that happened in the very sea I was traveling in! This boat ride was a pivotal encounter for me turning this amazing intellectual trip into an emotional encounter with God.

We then traveled to Mount Arbel to have some time with God and hike down the treacherous path. This was a mountaintop experience for me as well. My heart was already softened and focused on spending time with God from the boat ride. Jesus could have sat on the very same rock I sat on and prayed to God. I prayed to God and sat in silence listening to hear His voice. His voice came through Rachel. She read aloud what she heard God tell her. I again felt myself well up with tears. God was speaking to many of us on the very mountain he spoke to Jesus. I am so thankful for this amazing experience and meeting all of these Godly people.

Written by Rachelle Leonard