Writing

Here is a sample of one of Cheri’s articles, this one based on her experiences in Israel. For photos from this trip, see the Photo Gallery under the About Cheri tab. And if you wish to receive information on the Guided Tour of the Holy Land Cheri is planning, add your email address in the yellow box on the Home page and when prompted, check the box next to Holy Land Trip.

Breakfast on the Sea of Galilee

I froze. My senses heightened. The Sea of Galilee spread out before me like the Mensa Christi, or Table of Christ, as the rock is called. The quaint chapel we’d just exited was literally built over it with part of the rock inside and part extending outside to the edge of the Sea. From this rocky shore Jesus called out to the Disciples, “Have you caught anything?” “No,” they replied. “Throw your nets on the other side of the boat,” they heard the man on the shore shout. Peter and the other men had gone back to what they’d known before the ground-shaking events of the last several weeks—they’d returned to fishing. Yes, they’d been with the resurrected Lord several times. They’d placed their fingers in his pierced side; touched his nail scarred hands, and listened as he’d opened the Scriptures to them. Yet, when it came down to living their everyday lives, not much had changed.

For three days now I’d traveled with a contingent of Christian journalists to some of Israel’s holiest of sites. With every stop we made, I’d reached into the pages of the Bible and touched history. I knew it would be a moving experience to tour the land upon which biblical history was written, but what I wasn’t prepared for is how the Author of that history would touch me.

The First Encounter

As I stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, I was still struggling to process what had happened to me the day before. We’d just left Masada, the winter palace of King Herod, and the final stronghold for Jewish freedom fighters against the Romans in 73 AD. We’d learned about the 960 men, women, and children who committed mass suicide there, rather than become enslaved to the Romans. Before that we’d been in En Gedi and saw the caves where David secretly snipped the edge of Saul’s robe, instead of killing “God’s anointed.”

Now we were traveling by military escort through the militarized zone between Israel and Jordan to the place called Kaser El Yehud. It is the site where Joshua led the children of Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land, and it is also the historic location on the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. This is not the usual tourist site where people in white robes are baptized, no. One day soon, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to open this place, but for now only those receiving permission are allowed.

As the van bumbled along the dirt road past barbed wire with signs warning of land mines, my mind raced. I sensed God was speaking to me, but what was it? What was God saying to me through these juxtaposing images? When the van stopped, we piled out—our military escorts, sporting AK47’s, stood at a respectful distance. One by one we walked down the mud covered steps into the rushing waters of the Jordan. Without a hint of what was to come, I stepped into the water. Then it happened—the Holy Spirit overcame me. Swoosh! I nearly fell as my knees buckled; a warm current pulsated through my body taking my breath away. My colleagues could see I was having “my moment” as it later became known, but what they didn’t know was a healing was taking place. For years I’d strived to serve God in everything I’d done. I’d served on church staffs, taught Bible studies, and even now was attending seminary. I knew God intimately, and never doubted his love for me. Yet, something was missing.

In You I AM Well Pleased

As the waters of the Jordan swirled around me, the world closed in and in my mind’s eye I saw the descending dove and heard in my spirit the words, “In you I am well pleased.” Tears poured from my closed eyes as the reality of those words soaked my spirit. Although they were spoken more than 2000 years ago for his beloved Son whom John was baptizing in these waters, I now heard them spoken for me. My heavenly Father was pleased in me. Not because of anything I’d done or would do, but because I am his. And although I’d continue to encounter danger as I sought to faithfully serve him, there is nothing I could do, no mountain I could climb or desert I could cross, that would cause him to love me more. In fact, all of my striving was for naught. Just as God spoke these words over Jesus before he’d performed even a single miracle or said, “yes” to the cross, God was saying the same to me.

I must admit, I am a doer. I’m a take the situation by the driver’s seat kind-of-gal, but my “doer” had just been snipped. It was a feeling I was unfamiliar with. In Bible studies I’d taught the difference between doing and being for God, but never had I experienced the feeling of not needing to “do.”

The Second Encounter

In the following twenty-four hours I wrestled with my new reality. That next day, as we toured the ancient tels at Dan and Hazor and touched the ancient stones, a battle raged within me. How am I to simply “be” and accomplish anything for the Lord? What are you saying to me, Lord?

As I walked out of the Church of Peter’s Primacy that afternoon, it was happening again, but this time, instead of the world closing in, it was opening up. All of my senses grew keen—I heard the Galilean water lapping upon the rock-strewn shore, a whisper of wind kissed my skin as it blew across the Sea, and I almost smelled the fish frying as my Lord cooked breakfast. “It is the Lord,” Peter cried out as he leapt from the small fishing boat weighted down with a huge haul of fish. I felt a presence near me, like we do when someone familiar enters a room unaware. Then, as clearly as Peter had heard the words himself, I heard Jesus say to me, “Cheri, just feed my sheep.” I smiled. “Yes, Lord, I can do that.”

I had gone to Israel to see the places where biblical history had been written. I had gone to tour the ancient sites, and touch the ancient stones. Instead, there amongst the ruins of history, the Living Cornerstone touched me.

Because I love you…

After the resurrection, Peter and the Disciples had gone back to what they knew. They’d gone back to fishing, even after they’d been with the Risen Lord. I’d fallen into that same trap; perhaps you have, too. It happens to all of us who continually give all that we have. I needed a fresh encounter with the Living Lord to breath new life into my daily witness. In the Holy Land, I received that encounter.

Though I still have too many things on my to-do list, there is an overarching peace permeating my days, and a burning desire urges me on to deliver “food” to God’s people. So, let me encourage you with these words—just as Jesus said to Peter, he’s saying to you and to me, “In you I am well pleased, so feed my sheep. Because I love you, go feed those who are hungry for what only I can give. Because you are loved just because you are mine, go now and feed others with that same love.”

©CheriCowell 2010, You may use this article if you link back to this website and include this copyright notice.