Mount of Olives & Solomon’s Quarry
Sunday dawned bright and beautiful in Jerusalem.
After spending some time in the Word and praying with Kristie in her room, the team headed off to the Mount of Olives, including Nurse Mikki (who, of course, made sure our invalid had everything she needed as well as a liquid lunch served to her room should she desire to eat).
Because Friday’s holy to the Muslims and Saturday’s sacred to the Jews, Sunday in Israel is business as usual. The streets were busy as Frank guided the van up the twisting narrow road that runs up Mount Olive’s spine.
Already the hilltop was filled with the sound of tour buses and happy tourists viewing the Holy City for the first time. It was going to be difficult to find a place to park let alone a quiet place to film. [Read about the previous shoot at Day Three: En Gedi & Masada]
Here’s a short video of my first day on the Mount of Olives with my husband John three years ago…
Divine Intersections
With a line of traffic behind the van and massive tour buses coming toward us, Frank made a split second decision and veered right down a side road.
“The parking lot’s up on top,” I protested. But it was too late. Surrounded by cement tombs on either side, the road was so narrow we were committed to follow it to the end.
However, it soon became clear that what I had thought was a mistake, was actually divine intervention in our choice of intersections. As the road widened, we rolled into a level lot that had a couple of cars. Surprisingly, the soldiers on patrol allowed us to park, unload our equipment and film for several hours in a secluded spot just down the hill.
Overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem and far from the busy, noisy crowds above, there honestly couldn’t have been a better spot. There was even a spot of partial shade that we could step into when the blazing sun grew too hot.
Once again, the Lord had guided then provided.
Oh, to have a heart to trust Him when life seems to take a wrong turn. When things go in a different direction than I think they should. Imagine how different life would be if we really trusted that:
- God has our best in mind (Jeremiah 29:11)
- All things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)
A New Point of View
As Frank adjusted the cameras for the next segment shoot, I stood at the rail and looked out over the Kidron Valley, marveling at the gift God had given us. The vista was just as good, and perhaps better, than the view I’d wanted to film from on top.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Whatever you are facing today – detours, roadblocks, even outright wrong turns – may I encourage you, dear friend… surrender the steering wheel to God. Get out of the driver’s seat and let Him take over. For He will take you to better places than you ever dreamed.
P.S. After the Mount of Olives we went to a little-known spot in Jerusalem called Solomon’s Quarries or Zedekiah’s Cave. I’d love to tell you about it, but you’ll just have to watch Session Four in the DVD study to learn more about being “Shaped in the Quarry” 🙂
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<<See Filming Lazarus Awakening – Day Three See Filming Lazarus Awakening Day Five>>
I’d love to hear from you…
Which “steering wheel” do you have a hard time surrendering to God?
What one thing could you do today to relinquish control in that area?