Friend,

Over the years, with help from social media, I’ve followed several others to Israel, refreshing my feed, clicking early in the morning to see what they posted while I slept. I know the path before me the next two weeks has been taken by many fellow Christians, those of other faiths, and remarkably, those recorded in Scripture. I’ve been pinching myself when I’m not writing, packing, or working on a google doc for Ben and the kids.

I don’t know why you’re walking with me, though I’ve heard from some. Know that I am grateful for you. Humbled that you would come with me. And I’m praying even now, that God will open our eyes and speak to us in sweet and intimate ways.

Before I close, I have three things for you:

On our morning ride to school, I asked our kids, “what’s your favorite story in the Bible?”

Gideon and Deborah.

Everything about Moses.

Esther!

I’m a fan of the stories of the early Church.

What’s yours? I know it’s a simple question, yet, us older folks don’t often stop to ask ourselves. Perhaps have a marked place in your journal where you write this down. Take some time and reread this story.

Here are some Scriptures I’ve been reading to prepare for the journey. 

I share them with you if you need some guidance to get into God’s Word and to see where I’m physically going to be in the “Holy Land.” I’ve marked a few of my favorites.

Israel:

‘Deuteronomy 8:6-20

*Deuteronomy 11:8-21

*Psalm 42

Psalm 121

Proverbs 24:30-34

Isaiah 40:1-11

Luke 8:4-15

Galilee:

Isaiah 9:1-7

Luke 4:14-30

*Matthew 4:18-5:12

John 2:1-11

*Matthew 8:5-17

Mark 5:35-43

Matthew 16:13-28

Hill Country:

Joshua 10:1-15

Joshua 24:1-15

*1 Samuel 17:1-50

*1 Kings 18:16-46

2 Kings 17:5-23

Nehemiah 4:1-15

John 4:1-42

Jerusalem:

*Psalm 122

Psalm 125

Matthew 21:1-17

Mark 14:12-52

Luke 24

*Acts 2

Zechariah 14:1-9

(taken from book: The Christian Traveler’s Guide to the Holy Land, Dyer and Hatteberg)

And here’s where we’re going:

March 3

Caesarea

Mount Carmel

Megiddo

March 4-5

Mount of Beatitudes

Capernaum

Nazareth

Caesarea Philippi

Tel Dan

Mount Bental overlook

Valley of Tears

Magdala

Sea of Galilee

March 6

Beth-shan

Traditional Baptismal Site of Jesus

Jericho Tel

Model City

Haas Promenade

March 7-9

Jerusalem:

Southern Steps

Garden Tomb

Western Wall

Mount of Olives

Palm Sunday Road

Garden of Gethsemane

Via Dolorosa

Pool of Bethesda

Mount Zion

Upper Room

Dead Sea

March 10

Herodium

Peace be within you as written in Psalm 122,

Shauna

P.S. You can follow the hashtag #letterstoisrael on Instagram, as well as, @shaunapilgreen and @shaunapilgreenstory on Facebook.