Category Archives: America

March 5, 2017 · 8:40 am

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

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 —

“And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36

I greet you with love dear sisters and brothers and with the prayer that this letter will bring glory and attention to The Lord only, and by His mercy, also edify and bless you.

PURIM is NOT one of my favorite holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I love the book of Esther, which is full of direction and wisdom for all of us who seek to walk with Him. It is wonderful to focus on the blessed place before the throne and the humility and obedience in God’s chosen vessels. The book is rich with history as well. A history that repeats itself and so we can learn about the faithfulness of our God, Whose precious Name isn’t even mentioned in the small book, although His Presence and faithfulness is so clearly evident.

It’s also lovely to remember the things that impressed me when we first made aliyah, immigrate to Israel, and to recall the way that the day was celebrated. Although EVERYONE did not take part in the Esther-fast even back then, it WAS still a big part of the time period.

There was the gathering for the reading of the scroll of Esther (‘magillot Esther’) and the giving of baskets of goodies and fruits. And living in the Ancient Walled City – or at least in the new part of Jerusalem – made it even more special as WE got to celebrate ‘Shushan Purim’ (the second day of Purim celebrated by walled cities as directed in the book of Esther). There were children decked out in mostly homemade costumes. So many little Esthers and Mordachais, carrying baskets to give to others.

These things are still here, but not to the extent that they were some 22 years ago. Costumes of all sorts, cheap shiny costumes designed to make one into super heroes and super NOT heroes, seem to look sexier and grosser with each passing year. Painted faces begin appearing as people practice for what? I don’t know! Oh, sort of a Halloween type of exhibition. I have heard a number of people say, “Purim! A time to get drunk,” as if this was what it was all about. Yes, drunkenness was part of the tradition handed down with the holiday, but it has become central now. I see far fewer Purim baskets for sale, and I am NOT looking forward to Purim this year.

Of course there will STILL be the reading of magillot Esther and there will STILL be some fasting and there will STILL be some baskets given out, but that intangible something has changed. The “party spirit” has replaced the sense of the Holy and it makes me sad.

Perhaps I’m being too hard, critical, judgmental. Nonetheless, this is what I see building up, even more this year than in past years. Perhaps next Saturday night (and here in Jerusalem next Sunday night) will usher in a reversal and I will have to eat my words. I hope so. I really do. I will pray to that end, especially as new Haman’s rise up around the world in modern form as such a REAL and PRESENT threat.

Perhaps that will sober us and remind us that it REALLY took an Esther and a Mordechai to prevail with God. It WASN’T and ISN’T a given now. If my observations turn out to be a wrong call, I will HAPPILY let you know! I am sure that it brings JOY to The Lord to know that many Christians around the world have taken up the mantle of Esther and Mordechai, and WILL be interceding for God’s purposes to be fulfilled!

Purim marks something else on our calendar as well and it’s already in the air. When Purim comes, Pesach (Passover) is NOT FAR BEHIND.

“And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2

You all know well that Scripture tells us that GOD hardened Pharaohs heart, and that indeed, he was raised up for the purposes that he fulfilled: that God would display His Mighty power and glory, and that He would have an instrument with which to judge the gods of Egypt. God’s ways surely aren’t ours.

So over the next month, the entire nation will prepare for Pesach – the CENTERPIECE of who we are as a people and nation. I read this morning in Acts 2:36:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

and a thrill ran through me! “…LET ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL KNOW ASSUREDLY THAT GOD HAS MADE JESUS, WHOM YOU CRUCIFIED, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.!”

ALL the house of Israel! What a revelation that will be (according to Zech. 12 and so many other places!). It is really the revelation that the entire Passover Seder is about and represents and perhaps THIS YEAR will be the year for removing the blinders from the eyes of my people to SEE our Messiah. To LOOK upon Him Whom we pierced and respond with hearts prepared through two thousand years of wanderings. May it be! true this year.

While I waited for the bus the other morning, I was listening to the Church bells in the Old City ringing in the early morning sunrise. I had the opportunity to be in the Old City one night as I got to meet a new friend there. While I listened to the bells, I recalled a conversation that I overheard.

The Old City is FULL of tourists, and maps and information signs are posted everywhere. A local tour guide led a small group (3 men) to the entrance of the Muslim Quarter. I heard one of the tourists ask, ‘Why is there so much fighting over the Old City? Why is it SO important to these 3 religious groups?’

The tour guide pointed to Temple Mount and said, “Well, this area is holy to the Muslims because Mohammed went to heaven on the winged horse from here. To the Jews, the holy Temple was built here not once but twice. The Christians…well…it is not so important to them. They have a few buildings, but it is really only the Church of the holy Sepulcher that is important to them.”

I was taken by surprise. My mind ran to the promises, the history, the battles, the depth and width and length of the meaning of this tiny area that has seen so much bloodshed. The three men shook their heads. Ok. They were satisfied, now they “knew.” They walked on. I took a breath.

My older daughter said something that, to me is profound. She said, “The stones in Israel are covered with flowers. That is the definition of Grace.”

It truly IS impressive to see the stones of Jerusalem, some massive, some not so, but all compacted together, pressed in tightly, dignifying Jerusalem with a uniqueness that can only speak loudly and clearly of GOD. For He uses stones to teach us so much. And, yes, coming out of these stones, which will be dry and hot all summer, flowers grow out of seemingly IMPOSSIBLE places.

I was shocked when we arrived in July of 1994 and saw what appeared to be strings of a sort of orchid pressing through the stone, standing alone, not in groups or even two plants together. Each a sentinel of sorts, here and there. Other flowers, tiny, fragile, breaking through the hard Jerusalem stone, alone, beautiful in their shout of David defeating Goliath all over again. She was right. They SHOUT ‘GRACE!’

I think that I need a double portion of GRACE as I see Purim approaching this year.

Probably when I see my little 3 year-old granddaughter dressed as Queen Elsa. I will tell her that she is the PERFECT QUEEN ESTHER and melt like a flower pushing through the rock. GRACE, GRACE, to this mountain too!

Shalom with love from Jerusalem. Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and patience.

Your sister in Jerusalem,

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March 3, 2017 · 8:44 pm

Mountains Melt at the Presence of God (Part 2)

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My life really began on May 20, 1985, when I gave my life to the Lord. The following morning became Day #1 of my new life.

It all began with me jumping out of bed before 6 a.m. – a record for me. I brushed my teeth and went into the family room. I didn’t know what a new believer should do, but I felt I needed to do something. There was too much energy whirling inside me, which needed to be released. So, I sat on the sofa and began praying.

Don’t go thinking that I instantly became a prayer warrior because I certainly was not even close to being a person of prayer. You see, we can never move ahead of the revelations we have of God. We must begin where we are at the time, which is not a problem for our heavenly Father because He looks at our hearts. He rewards us according to the light we have at any moment in our lives and encourages us to grow toward maturity.

Thus, I prayed something like this:

“Lord bless my wife. Bless my son. Bless my daughter. Bless my dad. Bless my mom…” and so forth.

Within ten minutes, I had prayed for everyone that I knew, but even with such low level prayers, I felt His peace, love, and joy rise up inside me during this period of praying.

Along with a few small petitions scattered here and there, this is how I prayed for the first fifty days of my walk with the Lord. Also, I studied the Bible.

But on the fiftieth day – my personal Pentecost – I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18 NLT)

I took the above verse to heart, praying for everyone in tongues. I also worshipped the Lord by praying and singing in tongues. So, my prayer life was basically praying in tongues for about an hour.

Then one morning, the Holy Spirit enveloped me with His presence and I was gone. Gone? I don’t know a better way of explaining it then to say one moment I was praying and the next one I was in a place so wonderful that I never wanted to leave it. Did I see anything? Not really, but time seemed to stand still.

Afterward I checked my wristwatch and noticed that approximately thirty minutes had passed while I was gone. That first experience hooked me. I sought being gone in my prayer life every morning from then on.

(Continued in Part 3)

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February 28, 2017 · 10:10 am

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (2/28/2017)

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Over the last 31 years, I’ve listened to hundreds of believers praying for the sick and the ailing. The prayers have generally been sincere and filled with faith, but with the exception of maybe two or three instances, I have noticed one thing lacking: prayers for deliverance from demons.

If we study the four Gospels, we will learn that Jesus sometimes prayed for the sick or used a gift of miracles or spoke a healing word, but about a third of the time, our Lord cast out a demon, which had caused the person’s infirmity.

So, why is it that we believers don’t follow our Lord’s example by casting out more demons to heal sick people?

Is it fear on our parts? Or are we so spiritually blind that we can no longer discern the work of demons in sick people?

My prayer today:

Lord, deliver us from bad teachings and remove the spiritual blinders from our eyes so we can see with Your eyes when we pray for the sick.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

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February 25, 2017 · 8:26 am

Geezer Up (Part 13)

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Every part of me trembled from a fear so overpowering that my teeth chattered aloud. All I could think about was Kyle’s death grip on my neck and how the next time, he would finish the task. I didn’t know what else to do so I climbed into the top bunk and curled up in a ball, resigning myself to the fate soon awaiting me in Cell 27 at County Jail #4.

My exhaustion and fears struggled with each other for a few minutes, before exhaustion won out. I fell into a deep sleep.

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in his memoir, Stride Toward Freedom, about his receiving forty or more death threats per day during the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956. One particular phone call late at night pushed him over the edge. He walked into the kitchen, made a pot of coffee, and sat down in a chair at the kitchen table. He tried to think of a way to quit his leadership position without appearing to be a coward. Finally, he prayed and asked God to help him because he was too afraid to continue. The presence of the Lord cloaked King, assuring him that He would always be with him in the days ahead and forever. King never again doubted or feared for his life again.

What the Lord did for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the kitchen table, he did for me in that top bunk.

Was it a dream? Was it a vision? Or did I really ascend into the second heaven? I don’t know for sure, but you can judge it for yourself.

In my sleep, I heard my voice echoing the earlier prayer: “Lord, thanks for giving a seventy-three year old geezer, like me, a second chance to be a part of the action and not allowing me to retire from Your kingdom work. And Lord, use me even more in the days ahead.”

My words came out of an intense darkness without shadows. Yet, peace, love, and joy filled the same darkness. A spotlight then came on, shining on Reverend Morgan Churchill, the most godly man I had ever met and father of one of our closest friends, Faye Strawmeier. He was the founding pastor of Jedidiah Smith Community Church, which Jane and I attended for thirty years.

“Dylan, give me your hand,” said Reverend Churchill.

I sat up and offered my right hand to him. He grabbed it and we took off, up through the ceiling of Cell 27, through the roof of the Hall of Justice Building, and up into the heavenly realms. Even though I figured we were traveling at the speed of light, my eyes had no problem adjusting to the speed. I could focus on images as we zoomed past them.

We stopped thousands of miles above San Francisco.

“Today, you are going to begin learning about your enemy and how to battle him in the days ahead,” Reverend Churchill. “Pay close attention to what you see, okay?”

I nodded my head, but my mouth itched to blurt out questions.

Reverend Churchill had been an easy-going leader with an infectious sense of humor when he pastored. His blue eyes always looked ready to smile and enjoy a good time with people around him. But on this day, his manner mirrored the solemnity of the occasion, as did his dark suit, starched white shirt, and red-stripped tie. His chronic back problems seemed no longer an issue for him because he stood tall and erect before me.

“Look over there,” he pointed toward a radiant being sitting on what appeared to be a golden throne covered with jewels located in the realm next to us. “What do you see?”

“It looks like a god. I almost feel like worshipping it.”

“What you’re viewing with your eyes is the ruling principality over San Francisco −”

“But he’s beautiful!”

“The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, ‘For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.’ That is the spirit of depravity and how you’re seeing it right now is how most San Franciscans − believers and unbelievers alike − view this principality, as something good, and not evil.”

Reverend Churchill reached over with his right hand and covered my eyes. He then removed his hand.

“Now look again at the creature now that your spiritual eyes are opened up two levels.”

The being changed in one nano-second into a grotesque creature, much like a King Kong-sized gargoyle. His body parts appeared to be a surreal mixture of wolf, reptile, and goat parts with a stubby tail, talons for feet, scale-covered wings, paw-like hands, and misshapen goat-like face with two outlandish ram’s horns covering his wolf-shaped ears. His open mouth was filled with hideous teeth. There was nothing beautiful about him at all.

On closer inspection, the principlity’s throne was not made of gold, but rather out of worthless pyritic minerals or fool’s gold. The jewels decorating the throne were nothing more than worthless colored glass.

“In the days ahead, you will expose the spirit of depravity to the people of San Francsisco,” said Reverend Churchill.

“How?”

“By revealing God’s goodness to the city because it is through His goodness that people’s eyes will be opened to repentance.”

Before I could say another word, he held up his hand in a stop sign manner.

“Your first teaching on spiritual warfare is over for today, but from now on, you will walk in His peace. Nothing will faze or upset you in the days ahead because His presence within your heart will be a roaring fire, burning all doubts and fears that may confront you.”

Seconds later, I returned to my bunk a changed man.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 14…the full series to date can be read here.)

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February 23, 2017 · 9:12 am

Prayers for America (2/23/2017)

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Paul never glamorized the gospel! It is not success, but sacrifice! It’s not a glamour gospel, but a bloody gospel, a gory gospel, and a sacrificial gospel! 5 minutes inside eternity and we will wish that we had sacrificed more! Wept more, bled more, grieved more, loved more, prayed more, given more! (Leonard Ravenhill)

My prayer today:

Lord, help us American believers to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, trusting that it truly is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. (Based on Romans 1:16)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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February 21, 2017 · 9:26 am

Prayers for Healing and Deliverance (2/21/2017)

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If we go to a doctor and learn we have a terminal illness, what would we do next? Call City of Hope? Call Mayo Clinic? Book a flight to a Benny Hinn Crusade? Drive to the closest healing room? Call for a prayer meeting? What?

No one wants to consider these questions, but the odds are that many of us will face such situations during our lifetimes. Shouldn’t we at least prepare ourselves ahead of time?

Just so you know: I’m not against doctors, nurses, and hospitals. I’m not against Benny Hinn nor am I against the healing room ministries nor am I against prayer meetings.

In those days, King Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'” (2 Kings 20:2)

King Hezekiah was thirty-nine years old at the time, had been king of Judah for fourteen years, and according to scripture “had done what was right in the sight of the Lord.” So, what did Hezekiah do after he heard the bad news?

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (2 Kings 20:3)

Hezekiah turned away from Isaiah and the other people in his room at the time and sought the Lord. He knew he had standing before the Lord because to the best of his ability he had walked in faithfulness to Him.

The result: the Lord added fifteen years to King Hezekiah’s life.

My prayer today:

O Lord, help us American believers to trust in You with all of our hearts, to not trust in our own understanding, to acknowledge You in all of our journeys, to not be wise in our own eyes, to fear You, and depart from evil so that we will have healing for our bodies and strength for our bones. (Based on Proverbs 3:5-8)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for new revelations on healing and deliverance for Americans NOW.

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February 20, 2017 · 8:34 am

Geezer Up (Part 12)

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One moment, I felt ten feet tall, full of faith, defying the judge, announcing my fast, and the next moment, which happened as soon as I stepped out of the courtroom, I was weak old Dylan again. A seventy-three year old, bald, fifteen pounds over weight geezer who needed afternoon naps to stay awake until 9:30 at night. Not only that, I craved blueberry pie, ice cream, chocolate covered peanuts, pizza, and would have robbed a bank to get them if I had a gun or a knife. What’s my problem, I thought.

The young guard marched me up to the seventh floor to County Jail #4, a maximum-security facility for murderers, rapists, drug dealers, gang leaders, and now, a geezer with a big mouth.

After signing in, I went to a room where a soft-spoken guard ordered me to strip off my clothing so he could thoroughly search me. He then handed me my orange county jail outfit, white t-shirt, white underwear, white socks, pair of black slide sandals, and a bag containing toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and a locker key.

I finally arrived at my cell just before lunchtime. My cellmate sat at the small built-in desk, reading a thick book and taking notes on a legal pad. He looked up and shook his head.

“I was hoping for a cute young guy, but instead, I get an old, worn-out coot like you. What are the odds?” he said with a smile. Then, he stood up and offered his hand. “My name is Kyle Bogart. I’m the gay terminator on this wing.”

Even though he wore an orange uniform like mine, Kyle looked like he had stepped out of GQ Magazine with his stylish cut blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled good looks, and muscular six-foot frame.

I shook his firm hand. “My name’s Dylan Matthews. I’m a retired cute guy.”

Kyle laughed. “Okay, that’s funny, but because seniority has its benefits in here, you get the top bunk, and the little locker on the right.”

“That works for me.”

I pointed at his thick book. “What are you studying?”

“Law.”

“That sounds boring to me.”

“Yeah, it is, but I’m accused of murder and thought it would be a good idea to understand what the lawyers are talking about.”

“Murder? You look like a successful businessman.”

“Good guess! I am a part owner of a successful restaurant, but my partner was recently bludgeoned to death.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Well, things happen. Plus, he was my husband and cheated on me. By the way, what are you in here for? Robbing a bank or something exciting like that?”

It’s funny how at that moment I remembered his words “gay terminator” and how he didn’t elaborate on that title. My imagination kicked into gear with all kinds of hypothetical possibilities.

I blew out a deep breath and plunged into the deep end. “I spoke a short message to some men watching the parade down in the Castro District. All I said was, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.’ My words caused a small riot and ended up with me being arrested for a hate crime.”

His facial expression changed from normal to deranged in a San Francisco second. His blue eyes glazed over and the vein on the side his neck popped out, looking like it was ready to explode. He hurdled the distance between us and grabbed my neck with his huge hands and began choking me. I tried to protect myself, but he was too strong. His hate-filled eyes slashed my heart as I stared into them. I figured his face would be the last one I’d see before meeting Jesus in heaven.

The lunch chime sounded.

He released his chokehold on me, much like the dogs had responded to ringing bells in Pavlov’s experiments. He looked at me and then down at his hands, flexing both of them.

“My mom preached this crap to me until I finally left home. So, don’t ever mention Jesus or God to me again because I don’t know if I can contain myself from ripping you apart!” he proclaimed. Then, he lowered his voice. “Let’s go eat lunch now, okay?”

I struggled for breath and shook my head. “No! Go ahead without me. I’m going to rest a little bit.”

“Suit yourself, but today’s lunch is pastrami on rye with lentil soup. It’s really good.”

And just like that, the gay terminator left.

(A new sequel to Unhitched Geeser, which can be checked out here.)

(Continued in Part 13…the full series to date can be read here.)

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February 19, 2017 · 9:55 am

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Greetings dear brothers and sisters,

May The Lord, The One True God, The Creator of heaven and earth, and His only begotten Son, Messiah Yeshua, Jesus Christ Who IS God, be blessed and glorified and may you be edified and blessed in Him by the power of His Holy Spirit.

God surely answers prayer and glorifies His Name. He will not be mocked and it never grows old, seeing His Hand move in such evident, direct answers to prayer.

I am able to write now because I CAN’T be at the IFI prayer conference except for the mornings that I don’t work, and I am LONGING to write because I was BLESSED to be able to attend yesterday morning. The morning sessions at the conference are WORK and my favorite part. They are given to active, directed prayer. Once again, hats off to you British prayer warriors. Not only did you see your answers in the Brexit move, but to the surprise of the participants in the peace gathering at Paris France, Britain boldly stood up and refused to sign the statement presented to the 72 nations participating. Wow! The Balkan states followed her lead. It was dramatic, unexpected, but prayed for. There is no doubt that God is on the move amongst the nations.

Midmorning yesterday we heard a fine-tuned and impassioned plea for prayer concerning E.U. elections that were to take place throughout the day with a clear explanation of the background. The plea was to pray for the fear of the Lord to stop governments from standing against Israel and thus being cursed. “Fine-tuned” and “sharpened” would be how I would describe the calls. I was honored to be there and to pray among polished prayers. I wish I could attend all week.

After a fashion, YOU CAN BE. Just go to “Intercessors for Israel,” which can be checked out here. May you be blessed.

At the same time, while God works at this conference, He is also at work in the streets around us. Before Britain’s bold move to remove the sting of the Paris talks, our streets were quite tense with anticipation. The same chord was sounded wherever I listened. As I waited for the train at the shuk, an older lady had her packages strewn across the bench while she slowly brushed her hair out and wrapped it into a thick, neat roll piled atop her head. Another older woman wanted to sit and motioned her to move her packages, which she did. Still brushing, she shook her head, “With all that is going on in Syria, in Iraq, with the Kurds, with the Turks, with the Sudanese…all the 72 nations can think about condemning is us!”

The two nodded their heads in unison. Mine nodded, too. “What will happen now?” the second woman asked. ‘

“Oh, we will keep on going but it will be harder. America’s new President…what’s his name? Trumpet? He seems to like us, but will it last?” she replied.

They shook their heads again. That was the body language seen all over, the shaking of heads. “How can it be that there is this much hatred toward us and that no one seems to understand what is happening? Or even CAREs about the TRUTH.”

Oh how much lighter the air was the following morning. Eyebrows were raised when people learned that Britain stood up for us. “Maybe their new leader WILL prove to be straight and strong?” people stated aloud.

Maybe some of you remember Mali, one of the secretaries that I work with, whom I love, and whom I have shared my love for Him. Many of you have prayed for her. Today as I read about the shocking upset in the E.U. elections yesterday and how TOTALLY unexpected the defeat of the left wing social democrat was and how upset everyone is with the win by the conservative candidate and how the polls were all wrong, I burst out laughing.

“I can barely believe it, but here it is. Look Mali. God answers prayer.” I explained to her a bit about the IFI conference.

“It only meets once a year? Why doesn’t it meet every day?” she nearly yelled.

“Oh Mali, we meet several times a week but the people come from the nations to pray once a year,” I explained.

She is amazed to find out that people PAY THEIR WITH THE OWN MONEY to come here to pray for us. She became full of questions as I shared about the answers to prayer and the urgency to pray for the nations at this moment in history.

“They KNOW that God (she says ‘h’shem – or The Name and I say “Elohim” or God Almighty and it doesn’t offend her) promised to Avraham that He would bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us. Do you see the way that the storms hit them EVERY TIME they do these terrible things?” I told her. “Sadly, so many don’t believe in God, or The Bible.”

She turned and shook her head. “I can’t understand that,” she said. “How can someone not believe GOD?”

We have to get back to work but I see that she HEARD me and she is wondering. Because her Rabbi told her not to listen to me, I have had to be very careful to not say anything without His leading, but He Who knows the heart is also The One Who makes the key to each heart.

It was a different response when I took a taxi to the conference. I don’t often take taxis, but I have had some strong leg pain and the walk up to the hotel from the train seemed like a foolish move. My taxi driver was an Arab man and we exchanged a few pleasantries, asking about one another’s families, health, and the weather. “What are you going to do at the hotel?” he asked.

That was an unusual question. “I’m visiting some friends and we are meeting together to pray.”

His eyes turned hard and immediately the atmosphere turned icy and then silent. I realized that he must have known that it was a prayer for Israel conference. Most people here know that God hears and answers prayer, not everyone is happy with that.

Our son in law is also being touched by a new view on the reality of God. It is such a blessing having them here and we have had ample opportunity to sow into their lives. Thank you for praying for my son in law to be able to make ends meet with his work as a locksmith. It is a challenge to establish a new business and he does not yet grasp the necessity of constantly working at advertising his services. The other night he shocked us by giving up and saying that he wants to move back to America! Yes, it was probably frustration speaking, but I continue to ask for prayer for them to be established and rooted in the land. Even though he was born and lived most of his life here and our daughter has also been here for nearly 2/3 of her life, it is not easy here. Comparing it to America, where they have just spent the past 4 years, the enemy loves to throw everyone discouraging thoughts, which leads away from God’s will.

Many of you pray regularly for aliyah, and you know that one of the main prayers is that those who come will also be rooted and blessed in the land. Thank you for continuing to pray for them to be established here. I have given Yitzhak’s card to many people whom I meet at work and several have called him for work, but he needs a steady stream of callers. Mostly, they need to come to HIM, to find HIM Who is our Peace and our Wisdom in EVERY situation. Thank you for praying.

Finally, before I fall into bed, one of the side blessings of the Prayer conference is once again getting to hug and have my heart stirred by old friends, and meeting and making new ones. There is never enough TIME, because GOD must be the center and purpose, but oh what a joy to be with such a body! I am overwhelmed by the love, the reflection of Him, shown in each of His sheep.

Thank you for your prayers for this nation and people, for the body here, and for our family. God bless you.

Your sister here in Jereusalem,

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Filed under America, Israel, Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as Christianity, Church, Israel, Prayer

February 16, 2017 · 12:09 pm

Prayers for America (2/16/2017)

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“Son you have been deceived.”

This short message came to me after praying for hours in the early morning of July 8, 1994. I knelt on the floor next to my bed in an upstairs bedroom of my two-bedroom townhouse apartment in Ames, Iowa.

The words were not the ones I longed to hear from the Lord at that particular moment. I hoped to hear about a miraculous deliverance, much like the Lone Ranger arriving on his white stallion, Silver, with the U. S. Cavalry riding alongside.

Those five words could have just as well been etched on my gravestone. They ripped my life to shreds. My prophetic calling, ministry, and finances died right then and there. Rigor mortis settled upon my dreams as I knelt on the carpet.

If the Apostle Peter’s worst day occurred when he denied Jesus three times, then this was my all-time worst day. Every bad day since then has been, at best, a little speed bump on the road of life compared to that day.

I know what it’s like to be deceived. It’s painful and costly to relationships and finances. I wouldn’t want anyone to ever suffer through such agonizing experiences. But most of all, if I fell under the spell of deception again, I’d want someone crying to the Lord and praying for me.

My prayer today:

Lord, I cry out to You and stand in the gap for all of the protesters who are filled with anger and outrage at Your servant President Donald Trump. Lord have mercy upon them as You did for me and open their hearts up to the love of the truth.

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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Filed under America, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Kingdom of God, Prayer, President Trump, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as America, Christianity, Church, Prayer, President Trump

February 15, 2017 · 2:03 pm