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By Nicole Delaney

By Nicole Delaney

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Month: May 2023

For those who are feeling weary

nicole.m.delaney

It’s been awhile since I’ve written. It always

It’s been awhile since I’ve written. It always feels like such a vulnerable task. This time I’m sharing a personal story related to dreams.
https://nicoledelaney.com/2024/05/14/god-speaks-through-dreams/

I’m a little late posting.. Day 7 (out of 7) of

I’m a little late posting..

Day 7 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Rebecca Darga! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This is a photo I took at Banias Falls, Israel.

Day 6 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 6 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Bree Blum! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This photo was taken at Ein Avdat (Wadi Zin) in Israel.

Day 5 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 5 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Kelsey McAllister! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This is the Jabbock River in Jordan.

Day 4 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 4 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Suzanne James! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

I took this photo at sunrise on the Sea of Galilee. It’s one I have framed in my home too. 😊

Day 3 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 3 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Maria Tomé ! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This photo of an olive branch was taken in the city of Magdala in Israel.

Day 2 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 2 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Ian Gélinas! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This picture was taken at the Garden of Gethsemane located at The Church of All Nations in Jerusalem.

Day 1 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge. Toda

Day 1 (out of 7) of Nature Photo Challenge.

Today I nominate Crystal Renee! ☀️

7 days, 1 photo a day, all of which you have taken with a cell phone or camera, Keep the fun going with a nomination of your own each day!

This picture is from Makhtesh Ramon in Israel.

The first night of Hanukkah (The Feast of Dedicati

The first night of Hanukkah (The Feast of Dedication)
Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends and my Christian friends who also like to celebrate!
I think of all of you as I light my candles tonight.

The New Testament scriptures record that Yeshua also celebrated this festival that remembers victory over darkness, the miracle that happened during the rededication of the temple after it had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus banned Jewish practice and tried to force the Jewish people into pagan worship of his Greek gods. However, the Maccabees revolted and overthrew Antiochus’ armies. The priests could only find one jar of pure oil with which to light the menorah in the temple upon its rededication and miraculously that oil lasted eight days.

May you be encouraged as you remember God’s faithfulness!

Tonight I’m reminded that today even in the darkness that seems to be all around we can be the light! Darkness flees when the light comes.

I’m reminded of these words of Yeshua…
Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

My heart is heavy for Israel. I continue to pray f

My heart is heavy for Israel. I continue to pray for all involved and that my friends in the land are protected. Pray for all those taken captive. Pray for those that have lost loved ones. Pray for all the soldiers that have been called to fight. Pray for wisdom for government officials. Pray that Israel is protected from the north from further attack. 🇮🇱❤️🙏🏼

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭121‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.121.1-8.ESV

Isaiah ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Isaiah ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So something that kept happening when I was in Isr

So something that kept happening when I was in Israel was that often there was a glitch in instagram where instead of the pictures I selected to post, the same image would be duplicated. Unfortunately as far as I know there’s no fix in instagram to go back and add the pictures that were missed.
One of the posts that was affected most was the sunset on the Galilee post. It’s too beautiful not to share again.

Day 34 Today on my last day I spent the morning an

Day 34
Today on my last day I spent the morning and early afternoon in the Old City. I went to the Garden Tomb site that remembers Jesus’ resurrection.
After spending time in the garden I went to my favorite falafel stand one last time to grab a falafel pita for lunch.
The owner invited me in to sit down and we chatted for a bit. I had heard all about middle eastern hospitality before coming here but it’s something I’ve gotten to experience over and over since being here. It’s been a very beautiful experience.
Afterwards I purchased some spices I wanted to pick up before I headed back to the states.
I had an exam this afternoon to wrap up the course and then had a departure meeting where we received our certificates and said our goodbyes.
It’s been a wonderful five weeks. It was much harder to leave than I expected but I’m also excited to get home to my husband and our pups.
My heart felt like it swelled big for this country since being here. This trip has forever marked me and I’m so grateful.

Day 33 Yesterday was the completion of our field

Day 33

Yesterday was the completion of our field studies. We spent time talking about the journey to the cross that Jesus took, what he endured and everything that happened after the resurrection. We talked about the methods of crucifixion based on textual evidence and also the archaeological find of a nail through a heel bone found in an ossuary. I never knew this but often people were crucified with their heels in the front of the cross so that their limbs were splayed open or turned sideways with both knees together. I also wasn’t aware that the flesh of victims was often taken by vultures and dogs while they were still alive. Many times by the time of removal from the cross most of the body would be missing. The victims were crucified at eye level just outside of the city gate so they could be in clear view and so others could spit on them, throw rocks at them or mock them. The timing of the Passover made it so that Jesus’ body was fully intact when removed from the cross and he was placed in a tomb where he raised from the dead on the third day. I know the detail is hard to hear but it’s important to understand that the cost Jesus’ paid was a very high one. He did this to pay the penalty for the sins of anyone that would choose to believe on Him and follow Him. He did this so we can be reconciled back to the Father, be in relationship with Him and experience the peace that only comes with knowing Him.
Jesus said before he died “In my fathers house are many rooms….I go to prepare a place for you that where I am you may be also.” The home he was describing is called an Insula. It was a communal form of housing where as a family grew the Father would add a room to the house. When the son married the father built the house and added a room for them to live. Living in an Insula meant community, belonging, security, identity and the love of a family. What Jesus had to endure was temporary but it would pave the path for us to be connected back to God. He was saying to those that believed on him and those that believe today in essence….You are my family and there’s a room for you in my fathers house.

Day 32 continued Mount of Olives We returned in t

Day 32 continued

Mount of Olives
We returned in the afternoon to Jerusalem and went to the Mount of Olives to discuss Jesus’ triumphal entry and the connection this story had to the book of Ezekiel. It’s a lot to unpack here. We visited Dominus Flevit, the church that remembers Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. This time there wasn’t a service so I was able to see inside.
We also went to The Church of All Nations that remembers Jesus’ decent time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene before his arrest.
While I was on the Mount of Olives I saw Rabbi Jason Sobel again and got the chance to thank him for the things that I’ve learned from him. He asked about my program and future plans and he was so kind to pray a prayer of blessing for the ministry God has called me to. It was a special moment for me.
Thank you Rabbi Sobel for praying for me and for all the contributions you’ve made to the body of Christ.

#mountofolives #churchofallnations #dominusflevit #jerusalem

Day 32 continued Judean Wilderness Our second sto

Day 32 continued

Judean Wilderness
Our second stop of the day was to the Judean Wilderness. We talked about the parable of the Good Samaritan since we were on the actual path where the story unfolds. There’s a strange dichotomy in the wilderness where there’s tranquility but also discomfort.
We discussed the temptations Jesus endured in the Wilderness when satan tempted him. He was in the wilderness 40 days looking back to the Israelites journey in the wilderness 40 years.
He was tempted first in his identity…”if you’re the Son of God command these stones to become bread.” He was challenged as to whether he would take matters into his own hands or allow the Father to sustain him. He was taken to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem to the most visible place where satan challenged him to throw himself down in front of everyone telling him God can save him. The idea is that everyone would be in aww and wonder to see it. His third temptation was to bow down to satan to take all the kingdoms of the world essentially taking a shortcut. He could have it all without going through the suffering of the cross. As I was listening I couldn’t help but see parallels in the temptations we face and reflect on them. The Israelites while they were in the wilderness failed to trust and obey the Lord. Jesus accomplished what they couldn’t do. He fully trusted the Father and did only what He asked.

Day 32 Baptism site I began the day by the Gali

Day 32

Baptism site
I began the day by the Galilee as it was my last day to enjoy the sea before leaving that area. I spent some time in quiet reflection and took a few pictures to remember the moment.

Our first stop was to the baptism site at the Jordan river. This is in close proximity to the location where Jesus was baptized although the Jordan river is only 2% of what it was in antiquity.
We discussed the importance of this baptism from John and how it reflects back to Old Testament stories.
Transference if leadership happened here. Moses transferred his leadership to Joshua before he crossed the Jordan river. Elisha was commissioned by Elijah around the area of the Jordan river. Those in the 1st century would have seen a connection upon John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan. John was a prominent leader in that day with a great following but he knew he was there to usher in Jesus as messiah. In essence this event was pointing John’s disciples to recognize that Jesus was the one that they should now look too.

Instagram post 18005635525725739

Instagram post 18005635525725739

Day 31 continued After our visit to Hippos we wen

Day 31 continued

After our visit to Hippos we went to Gamla Nature Reserve. We were planning to hike down to the 1st century synogogue but we were implored by the park rangers not to due to the heat expected as the day went on.
We stood at a lookout where we could see it and Becca gave a lecture on the different levels of schooling for a jewish person in the time of Jesus and who would advance to eventually become a rabbi. When you understand the level of study needed to become a disciple of a rabbi it helps you to see how unusual it was for Jesus to select the men he did to be his Talmidim (disciples). Many of the men he chose hadn’t gone through all the levels of study yet he equipped them to become leaders to build the kingdom of God.
We went to Caesarea Philippi for this study which I had previously visited. We talked about how Peter recognized Jesus as the messiah but he didn’t yet perceive his mission as it was to be. It was hard for the disciples to understand that Jesus would have to die because they would have seen that as a failure for the messiah to die. They didn’t yet have the whole picture. After this we visited Mount Har Bental to see a clear view of Mount Hermon and talk about Jesus appearing transfigured with Moses and Elijah before the disciples. Moses and Elijah both has experienced theophanies in the Old Testament. They had each met with God on the mountain. The disciples would have remembered this and made the connection to Jesus being God in human flesh.
Our final stop was the Sea of Galilee for a boat ride. I was taking it all in because I knew this was my last day on the Galilee until the next time I return to Israel. There’s something so beautiful about being on the Galilee.
I can see Jesus here on the water in my minds eye.

Day 31 I started the early morning with a dip in

Day 31

I started the early morning with a dip in the Sea of Galilee. The waters are so still in the morning. One of the ladies in our group asked another person to baptize her. I happened to be standing nearby and captured a picture for her. She was so surprised. She didn’t know I was there so that was kind of neat to be a part of that.
Our first stop today was Hippus, a decapolis city on the eastern side of the Galilee. This may have been the city Jesus referenced when he was referring to a city on a hill in his sermon on the mount. It would be in clear view from where he stood in the north.
We stopped at an archaeological dig that we were invited to view where they’re uncovering some things that are pretty exciting including a church. I’m not allowed to share details since they haven’t been published yet but it was neat to see the process of excavating and preserving.

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© 2023 Nicole Delaney

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