שָׁלוֹם (Shalom), blogworld.
That was too predictable, wasn’t it?
😉
I just wanted to say hello.
My mind is still a bit muddled from the jet lag but the tiny fact that I can’t seem to make out a single coherent thought has never stopped me from talking heretofore so I shall proceed.
And besides, y’all are forgiving and this should help:
Just another thing I love about Atlanta: Octane cappuccinos. By the way, what is the best cappuccino you’ve ever had? That is a random but profound question for a Friday, don’t you think? It just makes my entire week when the barista makes the little intricate designs with the foam.
Have I mentioned that I keep waking up at 4:00 in the morning hungry for hummus?
Yesterday I spent hours on end making this very basic video slideshow from my pictures from Israel. My new hobby as of late is photography (and yes–it has taken the place of cooking for now). Israel is quite a location for the photo enthusiast, let me tell you. Please understand several things before you watch the slideshow:
- 1) I am not Rich Kalonick, though he did walk me through several things via text message yesterday. For the first time I think I fully respect the work he does when he creates the slideshows for the LPL events. It takes more time and work than you might imagine. So thanks, Rich!
- 2) The slideshow is quite long, running about twelve minutes. By no means should you watch the whole thing if you are bored to tears. You have complete control and you can’t say I didn’t warn you! 😉
- 3) This slideshow reflects about 5% of the people and places on our trip to Israel. I literally whittled down 2,000 photos to about 200. Sadly, there was just no way to include them all here. But on the bright side, if I had included all 2,000 the video would have been about six hours.
Having made this disclaimer, I do so much hope you enjoy it!
Israel Trip from Melissa Fitzpatrick on Vimeo.
Music added: “Beautiful” by Shawn McDonald & “I Stand Amazed” by Chris Tomlin.
Our trip was truly incredible. I have some more substantial thoughts that I would like to share but I will get back to you with those ponderings when I am not in such a fog–hopefully sometime next week.
Have a wonderful weekend, Siestas! We sure love you!
Warmly,
Melissa
I enjoyed the slideshow. Wish I had been there with you. Maybe I will make it one day.
Exquisite!! Thank you!
Pam
I do not have the right words, I had the holy goose bumps watching this video. And where you showed the place where His beaten battered crusified body lay… with the sign that read He is not there… Thank you so much. And for the record if you used all your photos I would have sat for the whole thing even if it was 3 solid days. (grin)
May God bless you and keep you safe always.
Melissa, your slide show was absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed it. Your music selection was great too…it enabled me to worship our Father while viewing your beautiful pictures. Thank-you.
Melissa ~ Thanks so much for sharing the pic’s. It brings tears to my eyes. Great music selection! Thanks again.
Stephanie
Melissa.
I loved it. Thank you.
Susan
WOW! Amen.
Melissa,
Thanks for the video. It is truly moving and I can only imaging how special it was to see in person where Jesus lived, died and arose. I am a regular blog reader, but not a commenter. As I watched and listened to the music I cried. Kind of silly – but maybe not….Jesus is real and alive – thats not silly, is it?
Lynn
Girl, I was right there with you…I don’t think it’s silly either!
Thank you So much for sharing this with us. Looking forward to hearing a study is coming from it. 😉
Thank you for sharing your photo talent with us, Melissa! WOW! I truly enjoyed ALL 12 minutes of it! 😉
Julie B in Virginia
Thank you. So enjoyed every second of it!
Thank you, Melissa, for taking the time to create that beautiful slide show for us to live vicariously through your trip to Israel. Makes me long to go myself. God Bless everyone involved in Living Proof Ministries for all of your dedication and hard work as you spread the Good News!
Thank you <3 <3 <3
Thank you for taking the time to share the photos. I’ve never been there and enjoyed every minute. I too had tears coming to my eyes. Just to think my Savior walked there and suffered there and died there for me and will one day return there. What love He has for us!
Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful, beautiful.
It certainly did not seem like 12 min. I think I would have sat here for the full 6 hours to absorb the beauty, the awe, the blessing. Thank you.
Not I’m going to get some coffee – which look and taste nothing like what you have pictured/
Many blessings to you.
Kim
What an amazing trip. I hope someday to be able to go to Isreal.
Beth, I can’t to see you at Deeper Still in CO this coming weekend!!! My sister-n-law is coming who is beginning to show an interest in Christ for the first time in her 32 years. I’m praying like crazy for all the speakers and for God to work and witness straight into her heart through you all.
So amazing! How beautiful to walk where He walked. I hope to do that someday.
On a much lighter note….Melissa, your hair is ridiculous…and by ridiculous I mean can I have it please?
Oh Melissa- how marvelous, how beautiful! This is my dream trip! Thanks for your beautiful preview. Your vimeo is breathtaking.
that was incredible. I wanna go!
Loved the pictures and it was not too long at all. Thank you for sharing.
(This is my first time to share, I hope I did this right.)
I want to know how Beth made it without Starbucks?!?!
I live in Mobile and on Saturday we could smell oil. On Saturday I traveled to a friend’s house on Pensacola Beach and it was not good. This I ask be a matter of urgent prayer. Thanks! Shalom Siestas
P.S. Thanks for the video. It has been over 15 years since I have been to Isreal – not much has changed. I would love to go again and it would be great to go with such a godly teacher as Beth.
CAthy
The pictures are beautiful and the music was great too.
Thank you!!!! Simply amazing.
Yes, I do want to see ALL 2,000!!!!!
THANKS MELISSA……..I REALLY ENJOYED MY VIRTUAL VISIT TO THE HOLY LAND…..HONESTLY, I CAN ALMOST FEEL IT ALL AS I WATCHED THE VIDEO…..I KNOW THAT ONE DAY I WILL WALK THERE WHETHER IN THIS LIFE ON EARTH OR NOT….M
Thank you so much for sharing the pictures with us. I can’t imagine what it’s like being there… just looking at the pictures is amazing! I wish we knew what yall were doing in some of them 🙂 I’m so glad yall got to go and had such a wonderful time.
It looks like your trip was absolutely phenomenal. Maybe one day I’ll get to see it in person–look forward to hearing all about it.
What an awesome task to whittle down your selection and still give us such a taste of your trip, to the point I too like many others who commented was brought to tears. Each picture brought such vivid beauty.
I am praying that God will tarry until I too can walk the street where His Son walked, and see the sights that were seen through the eyes of my Lord and Savior, but until that miracle occurs, I am ever so grateful for your generousity of time, talent and thought of us, to share with us your cyber-family.
Thank you Melissa for bringing Isreal to our hearts. May we remember to pray for them all during the difficult time.
Melissa,
I loved the pictures, and as I was looking at them my husband walked by the table and asked, “what are you crying about? I showed him the video and he just said, “WOW” a man of few words.
I know now I just have to see your Mom in Denver this week! Can’t wait!!
thanks for sharing your beautiful photo’s
… you made me miss the divine pastries & chocolate croissants we bought from the vendors in Jerusalem… mmm delicious!!
the Holy Land is such an amazing, precious place… we continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem
xxx
Melissa–what a stunning overview of your trip! Thank you for putting it together. It gives me chills just thinking about what it must have been like to be in the places Jesus walked, taught, suffered, died, AROSE and ascended…how glorious!
Thank you for taking me back through your eyes (was reviewing my 600 photos just last night…I think I’m the only one in our group who has gotten them together, I understand :)). Beautiful, thank you!
Wow, what can I say…AWESOME…Thank you so much Melissa, for making this video to share with us!
Looking forward to hearing from you after the fog : )
Love, Tammy
I vote for the 12 hour slide show… anyone else??? I watched the entire video twice and immediately began praying to God in thanksgiving and repentance. amazing pictures…
Amazing! Thanks for sharing those with us.
Wow! This is awesome, I felt like I was there as I watched and listen to the music! I am so thankful I serve a risen Savior! Maybe one day I will have this awesome opporunity to go. Great video and music! You done a great job! Very touching!
I have to be honest…at first when you said it was 12 minutes long I thought, OH MY, I can’t possibly sit that long and watch all of it. BUT…I did! It was AMAZING! Even Abigail (my 8 yr. old) LOVED it as well. We both loved seeing where Jesus has been and esp. the tomb. She wants to go and me too some day. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. You definitely have a photographer eye! They were amazing pictures!!
Dear Sisters, What a treat to see your pictures and hear of God’s faithfulness and blessing for you on the trip and for Amanda walking with Curt’s family during their transition. I sure appreciated the reassurance about how we can trust the Lord for our children’s faith no matter what where God leads them or what they face.
You asked what was going on for us in Siestaville June 3rd. It happened to be my mother’s 95th birhday and we were comforting her after a fall and later intestinal complications. She’s still hospitalized and we’re not sure where she’ll be next but her faith is strong. During some of the hardest times she was singing old hymns to herself or quoting a Bible verse.
As I had to leave to drive back home she asked for prayer that she’ll be a good witness to the nurses and not complain too much… :0( We’d appreciate your prayers for her and that we can leave her in God’s hands and wait for His “good, acceptable and perfect” will.
Love always,
Yes, it was an amazing trip! And I’m seriously missing Israel and my 99 new bff’s!! And the food, and Arie, and the Blue Bus!!
Julie
PS – LOVED your slideshow! *tear*
Twelve minutes of worship. This truly turned my heart to the Lord and caused me to ponder His time on this earth. It was a beautiful presentation; wonderful job Melissa. I will being watching it again at my lunch break.
So far, my favorite cappucino is from Olive Garden. I’ve only had two because I’m a Latte or frappucino fanatic. Even though I limit myself to one Starbucks a week; I have never had their cappucino. I am a creature that finds something I love and then I never venture for a new favorite. My Starbuck’s fav is a Cinnamon Dolce Latte or a Java Chip Frappucino!!!! Can’t wait for Thursday night…my Starbuck’s stop.
Thank you so much for the 12 minute trip with you to Israel…truly a blessing!!!!
Completely breathtaking! Thank you for sharing LPM’s journey with us all!!
Its Living Proof of His existence. (Pun not intended) The emotions that arise during just the viewing of the pictures of the places our Savior walked, are proof that He walked with us and that He is still with us. To think, that you walked where Our Lord and Savior walked…..thank you for sharing with us what some of us may never get to experience in person.
Melissa,
Thanks so much for sharing a little piece of our Lord’s history with us. How amazingly powerful it must have been to walk where Jesus once walked. I felt the power and longing within my spirit just from looking at your photos. My favorite pictures were of the tomb. This may be as close as I’ll ever get to laying my eyes on the very place our Savior overcame death…so again, thank you! By the way, I don’t know anything about photography but this “uneducated eye” thinks you have a real knack for it! ~Shannon
Melissa, The pics were beautiful you did a great job, :)very encouraging… I would love to go and see Isreal…
Wonderful, Thanks for sharing. When you mentioned that it was long I thought I’d watch half now and then the last half another time, but was so taken with it all I just sat through the whole thing. Blessings. :)_
Never had a cappuccino and never been to Israel. Would love to do both. Can you make your own drink at home and what are the ingredients? What are the best tasting ones?
No one brave enough to answer you yet? Well, I’ll take a stab at it:
You actually need some specialized equipment:
Espresso machine–comes in many varieties and price ranges. It makes a much more concentrated coffee that traditional machines.
Frother–usually attached to or combined with your espresso machine. It froths (or foams) milk that you add to the coffee taking it from straight espresso to our beloved cappaccino.
Additives–here’s where some real fun comes in. I’d guess that Melissa’s picture is swirled with caramel syrup. But many options are open to you. There’s cocoa, raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, almond, etc. I personally add Splenda. Voila’ you’ve got cappaccino.
Lest I misrepresent myself as an authority, no, I have never done this professionally.
Surely I should be commenting on something more life changing than this. But your cry for help was more than my caffienated heart could resist.
Actually, sweetie, drive up to your nearest Starbucks, say, “I’ll have a grande cappaccino, extra foam,” and Have a Nice Day! 🙂
Melissa, I cannot help but wonder with all your study of Biblical history and the ancient text….are you not swept away by the Hebrew roots of our faith, and are you not curiously drawn to Judaism. Now I know that Judaism is far from what our Lord intended it to be…. but isn’t Christianity as well? I am not a critical person….. I am in love with God’s people….. and passionately in love with finding the truth in God’s Word. I have found Leviticus to suprisingly be one of the most liberating books of them all. God bless you…..cannot help but be a little jealous of your recent trip home. Shalom.