The Countdown Begins: Day 1

The countdown has started for my trip to Israel. Not only is this a tour, but this will be an academic and spiritual event for the group and even myself.

Alan has provided us with a Scriptural and Spiritual Guide as we get ready to embark. As I do my post I would like you to also be aware that I will be using the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) Bible to cite verses.

Today I will be writing about Week #1 of prepping and also what we will focus on today.

Week #1: Focus on the Land through this week we will be praying for the group

Day 1 which we will do today.

Deuteronomy 8:6-20

6Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7For the Lord your God is bring you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. 10You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you. 11Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. 12When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, 13and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, 14then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, 16and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. 17Do not say to yourself, "My power and might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth." 18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to his ancestors, as he is doing today. 19If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20Like the nations that the Lord is destroying before you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

***Today specifically we have been praying for safety of the group!***

I will continue to post updates on this blog on bible readings and also specific prayer items to pray for. I hope you are looking forward to this adventure as much as I am!
-Praying for the group as we prepare to go.
-Pray for safety for our group.
-For myself I have a little bit of time off from school. I have been prepping junior high lessons for the coming weeks.
-I will also be doing some more in depth research on places in Israel and on the trip -I will be making a presentation on a specific site to the group (I have 2, lucky me).
-Pray for decisions that need to be made for myself and applications that need to be done.
-Also, I am thankful for all your prayers through the holiday season!