Inside Israel

 

Once again, it’s time to hear from our sister in Jerusalem about what she is witnessing there as a believer in Yeshua. Put your prayer shawls on and pray for Israel and Sister J. Now here she is —

Dear Brothers and Sisters along the path,

I greet you in The Precious Name of Yeshua, Jesus Christ, and risen Lord.  May He Alone be blessed and glorified and may we be blessed and edified in Him.

 

I have something big to share.  Yes, I do.

Acts 12 has always been an enigma chapter for me. It begins with “…Herod killed James the brother of John with the sword…” in verse 2.  It’s a short sentence, and with the rest of the chapter so jam-packed with His wondrous goodness, I have never heard this event spoken about.

Another sentence that is curious to me that I have never heard mentioned is v.19 :

“But when Herod had searched for him [Peter] and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.” 

The REST of the chapter about the amazing and encouraging recount of Peter’s arrest and miraculous release from jail by the angel, along with the humorous, but human unbelief of Rhoda and the praying body, is meat for us, familiar and encouraging.  But I always wonder about James.  Was he less loved by The Lord so that he wasn’t protected?  Was he out of God’s will?  Is God a respecter of persons that favored Peter?  And what about the guards?  Why one and not the other?  And then I always hearken back to Job and remember that we INDEED still see through a glass darkly and it does ME good to remember that unless I hear from Him I know NOTHING about anyone else.

That’s why it’s so humbling to share the astounding answer to prayer that I just had right now, especially as we are still mourning along with my friend the horrible death of her Grandson.  We don’t understand fully, but I dare not be embarrassed to rejoice over the amazing thing that God has done:

REJOICE WITH ME.  I came home from work yesterday and there was a moving truck in front of my building and it SEEMED that my upstairs neighbor was MOVING OUT!  By the time I came home from prayer meeting last night, SHE WAS GONE!  This is the neighbor who has tormented us for the past 2 years, calling the police on us in the middle of the night SIX times that we were making noise when we were sleeping. She was so filled with anger and rage that I have not had a good night sleep in years until last night.

The oppression has been great, but it did cause me to pray for her daily, and perhaps no one ever has.  I am sorry that she didn’t come to Him and become my sister and friend, but I did ask Him that if she didn’t respond, would He please remove her.  Like Rhoda, though, when Peter was knocking, she didn’t get it.  I am in WONDER of it all!!

AND THERE IS MORE.  Our pregnant daughter and family (2.5 year old Granddaughter too J) have tickets to move back home here: NEXT WED!  They are in need of an apartment and this one the one upstairs couldn’t be closer.  IS IT YOUR WILL LORD?  I called the landlady this evening and she was THRILLED.  She EVEN said that the upstairs neighbor had refused to allow her to show the apartment for the past 2 months even though she was the owner and had many people interested.  She said, “Maybe it was held for your daughter?”

She said that she won’t show it to anyone until they have seen it.  BUT IS IT HIS WILL?  I don’t know.  I know circumstances and my emotions and thoughts, but I DO ask for prayer about this. Please?

So many emotions.  Ah Lord, please give me your Balance and Stability and PEACE.  YOUR WILL BE DONE.  That is NOT a benign non-Spirit filled prayer. It is the prayer that HE prayed.  And I do agree with Him from the heart.

My husband is set to return home late Saturday night (motzi Shabat – or “the going out of the Shabat”) from his epic journey.  It has been wonderful for them.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  Prayers make a difference, yes they do.  The body is His way and His gift and Himself.  We can’t get around it.  Even when our prayers go on and on and we don’t see the answer yet.  Even when our Grandson dies.  Even when Jobs trials rained down on him and when Joseph was in prison and Jeremiah was in the dungeon.  But SOMETIMES, the tormenting neighbor moves out.  And SOMETIMES the man is delivered from the Legion of demons and SOMETIMES the dead are raised. Some plant, some sow, but it is GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE.

Summer (Kii-itz) is quickly giving way to Autumn here and the weather is wonderful.  The summer fruits are being replaced with grapes of all colors and sizes and pomegranates. We have been told that there is or WILL BE another tomato blight. An agreement has been made to import TOMATOES from JORDAN. This is an affront to most Israelis because there is NOTHING more Israeli then the Israeli tomato, unless it is the Israeli cucumber.

Prices for tomatoes at the shuk today had already tripled and the comments abounded. ‘Well, I guess THIS is my last tomato for the winter!” one lady commented.

Sigh.  We all know that tomatoes are an Israeli staple, so she’ll finally give in and pay and eat Jordanian tomatoes.

And like many of you, our school year began today, with shiny excited faces and brand new backpacks. Armed security guards everywhere, the next generation learns and may they get knowledge WISDOM.

With some mocking loudly, but many of us also grateful, our Prime Minister announced that there will be a new and intensified emphasis placed on the Bible and Zionism (the love of the land of Israel) in schools from Kindergarten up.  He reminded us that the Bible is not only our history book, but our reason for being and who we are and that this generation needed to understand our roots.

I’ve heard a number of the youngsters who are believers tell us that their teachers who teach the Bible − a required subject for K-12 − are totally secular and teach it as myth only. BUT THE WORD IS SHARPER THAN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD and WILL perform what it is sent to do. It IS Alive and Quick and we can pray (as we are) that THE WORD will LIVE AND RISE in the hearts of all.

As our nation continues to walk the tight rope which often seems to be a noose in this hyper-connected brave new world, the fall feasts are again approaching: Rosh h’shana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot − the ancient pictures brought to life again and again, faithfully reminding us that HE IS FAITHFUL.  The holidays (hagim) arelate this year (being that we go according to the ancient Hebrew calendar and this has been a leap year) and will be in October.  Although the next couple of weeks may be way too busy to write, and although this is more of a personal letter then the regular kind, I do very much love you and it encourages ME when I touch bases with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read these and to pray as The Holy Spirit leads.  Your prayers for this nation and people ARE according to His Word and His Heart as we see the day approaching.

Lovingly,

your sister J