Category Archives: Gifts of the Spirit

February 10, 2014 · 4:32 pm

Lord, Help me Love Democrats (Part 3)

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The landmark Roe vs. Wade decision by the Supreme Court on January 22, 1973, blindsided Christianity. Confused Christians jumped into foxholes and hid from the wicked aftermath of the decision.

Rev. Jerry Falwell, the pastor of the largest independent Baptist church in America and the founder of Liberty University, realized Roe vs. Wade undermined the moral fabric of America. He had long held the belief that politics and Christianity should not be mixed and had often stated, “Preachers are not called to be politicians, but soul winners.”

But two things eventually changed his mind.

First, Falwell was influenced by the writings of Francis Schaeffer, who blamed society’s downfall on secular humanism. Schaeffer urged Christians, especially pastors, to become political activists, stating, “Christians had a moral duty to step into political arenas to change nations…”

Second, Falwell studied the success of the Civil Rights movement. He noted how America was forever changed because King and the other leaders forced governments to grant equal rights to all Americans, not just whites.

So, in 1976, Rev. Falwell held “I Love America” rallies across America. Large crowds gathered to hear him preach against the Equal Rights Amendment, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, the family breakdown, and communism.

These rallies catapulted Falwell into the forefront of the Christian political movement.

In 1979, conservative leaders and Republican operatives convinced Rev. Falwell to co-found, along with Paul Weyrich, the Moral Majority. Weyrich was the founder of the Heritage Foundation and also coined the term −moral majority. It was Weyrich’s knowledge of grassroots politics which helped set up Moral Majority chapters in states, especially the South.

Rev. Falwell barnstormed America during the 1980 presidential campaign giving speeches, holding seminars, and preaching sermons in every major city. President Ronald Reagan won the election and became America’s 40th president. Many credited Moral Majority and Falwell’s preaching for the victory.

The popularity of Moral Majority lessened in the late 1980’s and was disbanded in 1989.

Now, I believe Rev. Jerry Falwell was a good man who had good intentions, but I believe America is still burdened by his and other leaders’  decisions during the 1970’s. We will look at what I consider were their mistakes in future articles.

(Continued in Part 4)

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February 8, 2014 · 10:15 am

Announcing: “The Hunt for Larry Who”

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To think that I would ever write a memoir would have been preposterous a few years ago. After all, I don’t rub shoulders with the famous and have done little of value in my life. If I died today, my eulogy would simply be: “Larry loved God.” Who knows? Maybe that’s enough.

Amazon Book Description:

Although the author’s surname is Nevenhoven, few can pronounce it. So what do they do? They wrinkle their noses and say, “Larry who?”

The actual hunt for Larry Who began on a farm in the 1950’s surrounded by loving parents and country churches. It continued down a winding path through the 1960’s and the University of Illinois, ending up with Larry being an agnostic.  Then, it was off to Detroit, Louisville, and Fort Dodge, Iowa, where Jesus blasted Larry’s agnosticism to pieces on the day of his planned suicide.

From his salvation day onward, life should have been one triumph after another, but that was not the case. He trudged through deep valleys of loneliness, poverty, rejection, firings from jobs, climbing into dumpsters, homelessness, divorce, and failures.

But it was during Larry’s worst disappointments and deepest valleys when the Lord revealed Himself as a loving Father with unlimited grace to soothe the pain in His child.

“The Hunt for Larry Who” is a series of snapshot experiences about a farm boy from small-town America who desired to be wealthy, as in stinking rich, but ended up falling in love with Jesus. Paul the Apostle described Larry to a tee:

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16 New Living Translation).”

If you are looking to read another vanilla flavored story about a Christian that does everything right,  “The Hunt for Larry Who” is not that book. It is a down in the trenches account of an ordinary man who struggles to serve an extraordinary God.

300 pages          $3.99          Author & Publisher: Larry Nevenhoven

Available on Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Apps

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February 7, 2014 · 4:01 pm

Friday’s Prayers for Prisoners (2/7/2014)

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Jesus sat in His home in Capernaum, teaching a crowd of people. Four men carried a paralytic on a stretcher to His home, but they could not move through the throng. They carried the paralytic up the stairs to the roof and proceeded to rip apart the roof tiles. Then, they lowered the stretcher, with the paralytic on it, down through the hole in the roof to the floor below.

Because of the noise and the falling debris from the roof tiles, every eye focused on the paralytic as he was lowered down in front of Jesus. The Lord recognized the men’s faith and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

The scribes and Pharisees got all bent out of shape because Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins, but then Jesus said something amazing:

“Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk?'” (Luke 5:23)

Most of us probably believe that it’s easier to be forgiven by God than to be healed by Him, but Jesus did not answer like that. He forgave and healed the paralytic.

Because of this story in Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5, I am convinced that if we have enough faith to believe the Father will forgive our sins then we have enough faith to believe God will heal us or others when we pray for them.

Okay, if this is true, then why aren’t more people being healed in America? And why are people being healed in Third World nations?

Sadly, we Americans have so complicated the gospel with teachings, books, seminars, and religious rigamorole that we can no longer see the simplicity of Jesus’ message. But the people in Third World countries are not burdened by all of this and simply believe His Word.

We need to change!

Today, I prayed for us American believers:

“Lord, open the blind eyes of us Americans to bring us out of our prisons of unbelief.” (Based on Isaiah 42:7)

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

Join with me on Fridays to fast and pray for prisoners, according to Hebrews 13:3. 

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February 5, 2014 · 11:48 am

Lord, Help me Love Democrats (Part 2)

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In the late 1940’s, Ja-shil Choi had her spiritual eyes opened by the Lord to the ungodly direction South Korea was heading. Her heart was broken by the nation’s sin and knew something had to be done.

At the time, 3% of South Koreans were Christians. These believers were poor and powerless, mainly because of Japan’s occupation of South Korea from 1910 until the end of WWII. Japan banned Christianity during the occupation. Those  believers who ignored the ban and were caught by the Japanese were thrown into prison or executed.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3) 

The “prayer mountain movement” began during Japan’s occupation. Believers climbed up mountains during the late night hours and prayed until sunrise. They then climbed down to put in a full day’s work before returning again that night.

Ja-shil Choi followed the examples of the “prayer mountain movement” believers and began fasting and praying for her nation, even though she was finishing up Bible school and had three children. She often prayed through the night for ten hours or so. She continued this routine for almost ten years before she met David Yonggi Cho.

The two then began a church in Ja-Shil Choi’s house. The two fasted and prayed 5 to 6 hours per day in what they referred to as a prayer tent.

Their first church eventually grew to one thousand members. David Yonggi Cho then started a second church, which grew to ten thousand members. Along the way, David Yonggi Cho married Ja-shil Choi’s daughter.

A third church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, was built in 1973. Today, Yoido has over 800,000 members with weekly prayer meetings numbering in the hundreds of thousands. A Christian retreat, Prayer Mountain, has facilities for 10,000 believers to spend time in secluded prayer and fasting.

South Korea is now home to six of the world’s largest churches, ranging in size from 47,000 to 800,000. Christianity has grown to 30% and South Korea’s economy is one of the strongest in the world.

How much of this came about because of Ja-Shil Choi’s faithfulness?

We won’t know for sure until we arrive in heaven, but my guess would be: a large percentage of it.

(Continued in Part 3) 

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January 29, 2014 · 1:25 pm

Lord, Help me Love Democrats (Part 1)

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What national leader do you trust? President Obama? Vice President Biden? Senate Majority Leader Reid? Senate Minority Leader McConnell? Speaker of the House Boehner? House Majority Leader Cantor? House Minority Leader Pelosi? Any senator? Any congressional representative? Or even the Republican Party or Democratic Party? Can you believe much of anything these leaders ever say?

If you have the common sense of an amoeba, your answer has to be “NO.”

But maybe you think your favorite politicians and favorite political parties are better than the opposition because your favorites lie less than the other political side. Okay, maybe you are correct with your assumptions, but a liar who prevaricates fewer times than another politician is still what? That’s right! That politician is still a liar.

Good golly Miss Molly!

How did America end up with shameless liars for leaders who have not an ounce of remorse in them, even when they are caught in their lies?

“We have met the enemy and he is us.” (Pogo Comic Strip poster, Walt Kelly, Earth Day, 1970)

Most of us Christians are quick to point our fingers at politicians, judges, attorneys, the media, talk show hosts, or whoever and blame them for America’s downfall. But that is foolish because we believers are the ones who should be wearing sackcloth and ashes, bowing down before everyone in our shame for allowing America to undergo such a horrendous transformation on our watch. We are the blame! Repeat: we are the blame!

It won’t be long before both political parties will be labeling the 2014 Midterm Elections as “the most important elections” in the history of America. So to be ahead of the curve, let’s look at what I consider some bad choices we believers have made over the last sixty years which need to be handled now.

(Continued in Part 2)

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September 10, 2013 · 7:43 am

Why Should We Prepare And Plan Now?

 

Here’s a prophetic video for America, which none of us ever want to watch because once we do, we’re forced to make decisions.

Do we believe what Dean Odle says in the video?

If we don’t believe him, then there are no problems. We can continue on with our lives, believing Odle is another Harold Camping, deserving of having verbal rocks thrown at him.

Yet, if we do believe him, then what will we do? Just add the info to our mental archives, waiting for one of those rainy days which never seem to come. Or do we begin acting right now?

The choice is ours to make.

As for me, it’s a no-brainer. My books listed on the right sidebar− Jonah, Prophecy 101, Planning + Preparation = Survival, What’s In It For Me? − were especially written for the scenarios described by Dean Odle in the above video.

Like so many times in the past, my British friend, Mercedes, at Believe, alerted me to this video by posting it on her site. Thanks Mercedes and God bless you for your hearing heart. 

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September 1, 2013 · 9:19 am

Inside Israel

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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 the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:  2 Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps. 3 When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you. 5When you sound the advance, the camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey. 6 When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys.7 And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God. (Numbers 10:1-10)

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. (Numbers 29:1)

There is not a great deal of scripture concerning the Feast of the Blowing of Trumpets, but there has evolved a great deal of tradition.  Through tradition, we Jews celebrate the New Year on this day − although scripture tells us that Passover is the New Year − and call it Rosh h’shana, or “the head (rosh) of the(h) year (shana).”

We were told to make two silver trumpets, but traditionally rams horns, or shofarim have been blown. Although I’m sure that silver horns were used in temple times, and perhaps still are by some, many beautiful rams horns today have silver work encircling them.  Many of you, I know, have a shofar of your own and blow it at significant times.

It is a most beautiful and even haunting sound, for those of you who have not heard it.  When Israel found that she was once again, in possession of the Old City and Jerusalem was reunited after 2,000 years, the sound of the blowing of this rams horn at the Western Wall by the Chief Rabbi still sends chills through all of us. (You can hear it here, around the 39 second point in the video.)

So, although we celebrate with assembling together, the giving of gifts, sharing apples and honey, and traditional meals, the commandment stands for it to be a day of “the blowing of trumpets.” It seems to awake the spirit within us when we hear the blowing of the shofar throughout the neighborhood.

My father died on the second day of Rosh h’shana, and although he was so very ill and in the hospital at the time, he determined that he must hear the rabbi blow the shofar…and he did.  The rabbi came into the hospital, blew the shofar, and my natural father heeded the call that will come to all flesh.

The trumpet was to be blown when the congregation was being called to move.  It was to be blown one way to call all of the people together and another way to call the leadership together.  It was to be blown when we were going to war against an enemy and it was to be blown when we rejoice before our God.  It was always a call to attention, and always a call to change where we are looking − whether to war, to move, or to rejoice.  Actually, all THREE of these things speak to my situation right now.

What a wonderful commandment!  How beautifully The Lord does things, caring about small details, and orchestrating our lives according to His score − if we have ears to hear.

So we as a nation are preparing for the feast that will begin at sundown on Wednesday evening.  But it is a very subdued preparation this year as the uncertainty of the situation around us has many people on edge.  The shops are much emptier then usual.  Part of this, of course, is due to the economic situation, but even those of us who will skimp on meals will prepare.  There is a tension underlying everything.  It is easily perceived, but not being much spoken of.

For myself, I also stand against it as well.  As I prepare dinner tonight there is a knock on the door and a young religious family comes to look at our apartment.  Daily people are coming over to see the apartment which we have lived in for 19 years, now up for sale for nearly half a million US dollars.  “Where do they get the money?” my husband asks. I don’t know.  They are not immigrants.

They are also far younger then us and have bank loans available or families or whatever.  We have better.  We have GOD Who IS Our Provider and Who will lead us in the way that we should go to the right place to live.  The main battle for me is to keep my heart in faith which equals peace.  It is still a battle.

For those of you who have joined us in prayer, our younger pregnant daughter and husband have happily arrived at the home of our older daughter − surprising them.  Thank you for praying that he will find work and that they will be able to settle into a place of their own SOON…also for her health and for her to find the right care that she needs. Thank you so much for your concern for our family amidst your prayers for the fulfillment of God’s purposes , His HEART for this nation and the Church in relation.

I must go and get dinner on the table, but I greet you all in His Love from the heart of Jerusalem, His crucible. May HE be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed.  May we each have ears to hear His trumpet sound.

Lovingly,

your sis J

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August 11, 2013 · 8:38 am

Inside Israel

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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 …

Our computers went out while I was at work today, meaning that neither Molly (her name is actually ‘Mali’ – short for ‘Malcha’ or ‘queen’) nor I could bury our faces in news or email during our quieter moments.  Some of you grabbed ahold of ‘Mali’ when I wrote about her and have prayed for her.  She is one of the two young secretaries that I work with from time to time.  She has been very depressed since her father died suddenly.

“I started taking an antidepressant drug 2 weeks ago.” She said, with a still-depressed expression. “Do you think that would hinder my job opportunities?”

The conversation turned several corners and I shared a bit more about my past with her and how Yeshua flooded me with His Joy.  I didn’t expect what came next (be instant in season and out of season).

“So Who exactly IS this ‘Yeshu’ anyway?” she asked.

“I don’t know who ‘Yeshu’ is (that means “false messiah” and is how He is called by not-yet-believers here) but I can tell you Who YESHUA is.” I said.

To my surprise she began asking me how to pronounce His Name – and then… she said “Who was He?  Where was He born?  Why did He come?”

Where was He born??  Didn’t she know?  I asked her what she had heard about Him and she said “I know NOTHING about Him at all.  I have never heard about Him.”

I prayed.  Mali does NOT speak English and I was going to have to share with her in Hebrew.  I prayed for anointing from Him alone and that my poor language ability would not hinder her or stand in the way.  “Why, Mali, He was born right here.  He is a sabra and He was circumcised in Jerusalem in our Temple before the second destruction.”

She was so surprised! “What?  He was Israeli?  What happened?”

I told her that He had never left Israel but spent His full life here – how He preached the way to Life and how He rebuked the rabbis for teaching what was NOT written in the Tenach, but the traditions of men.  Then I asked “Mali…do you believe that there is a Moshiach (Messiah or Christ)?”

She answered “Yes, but it ISN’T ‘Yeshu’ because the rabbis say it isn’t.”

I grabbed my small Bible and said “But Mali, the SCRIPTURES describe Moshiach perfectly.”

As I told her about Isaiah 53 she wanted to know if it was “our” prophet or “theirs.”  I told her that all of the prophecies about Messiah are ours, just as Messiah is ours and that what the Christians read in the Old Testament is our scriptures.  Then He opened the door for me to share my testimony with her.  She was glued to every (poorly spoken but I trust anointed) word.

When I met Him, He showed me, also someone who knew nothing of Him, why He came.  I told her – “Mali, read it yourself.  Take the Tenach, and read, but do this: pray first and ask God IF HE SENT HIS MESSIAH AND IF WE KNOW HIS NAME.  Pray that every time you read.  DON’T read the commentaries, the Mishna and the like, but read the SCRIPTURES.  It is NOT hard to understand and you do NOT need a rabbi to lead you. Ask God’s Spirit to lead you.  Don’t take my word for it.”

I told her how when I met Him I really thought that I was the only Jew to believe, but now I know so many, and I told her of the many, many sabras (born here) who believe.

Our time of sharing was almost undisturbed and long enough.  I was surprised and blessed by this opportunity and have no doubt that He is answering prayer because He Is The I Am.

My time with you to write is so short and I have only a million or two things that I wanted to share.  I began writing what is below 9 days ago and left it to finish, but that has not happened, so I will share it and see if I can add on to it:

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I greet you dear brothers and sisters on this first of August.  May The Lord be blessed and glorified in all of us and may you be blessed.

Sizzling summer is here and so is our Little GRANDDAUGHTER, so thank you for all of your prayers.  (I will share about her more at the bottom) She is scheduled to be with us through the 22nd   of Aug, so this will be a quick update as so much is happening here, but at the same time I have really so many observations that may have to wait until after our visit.

I am sure that you all know that we have, once again, been pressed into the compromising position that is opposed to God’s Word: to give up the land that He promised and He restored, in exchange for peace.  A friend of mine here, the wife of a pastor, shared a Word that she had received from The Lord (this is NOT a sister who says that much) and it bore such witness to my soul that I asked her to write it out and I would like to share it with you:

“As I shared with you on the phone today how I was troubled by the wording of these negotiations being called “The Final Peace Agreement”  and that it does not fit the Jewish people. The Lord spoke to me early this morning and said, “The Jewish people are not the people of ‘THE FINAL’  – THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE THE PEOPLE OF ‘THE ETERNAL!'”  Isn’t that amazing

I looked up in the Webster dictionary for the word “Final” as (an adjective), and look what it says,

1.  Not to be altered or undone

2.  Relating to a conclusion

3.  Being the last in a series, process or progress

4.  Relating to the ultimate purpose or result of a process

5.  Relating to or occurring at the end or conclusion

The word “Final” as (a noun) is as follows:

1.  Something that is final

2.  A deciding match, game, heat or trial

3.  The last examination in a course.

Then of course, I looked up the Webster dictionary’s definition of “The Eternal”,  (as an adjective) and look what it says:

1.  Having Infinite duration – Everlasting

2.  Relating to Eternity

3.  Characterized by abiding Fellowship with God

4.  Continued without intermission – Perpetual, seemingly endless

5.  Valid or existing at all times; timeless

The word “Eternal” (as a noun) is as follows:

1.  GOD

Thank you for allowing me to share all this with you today.

While we spoke on the phone she had shared with me that the word ‘’final’’ brought to mind the nazi ‘’final solution’’ and she had begun to pray, “Lord, this word ‘final’ – it makes my blood chill.  What is this ‘final?’  You have the ‘final Word’ so please tell me how to pray. What you see above was spoken into her heart to her great surprise.  (This is where I stopped writing)

By now we understand that our Prime Minister took what he believed to be the best of 3 evils that the international community was forcing upon us:  we are scheduled to release 104 terrorists.  NOT the ‘usual terrorists’ but terrorists with blood on their hands, in other words, they have been directly involved in the murder of non military civilians.  We have not done this before.  It would be as if we told America they had a choice: agree to give up Texas and California before negotiating with the Mexicans, or agree to stop ALL building, or release the Boston Marathon bombers. (Proportion wise?  Thousands of them.)

I am afraid that we are not being led by God, but that once again we are bowing to the pressure of the world instead of bowing low before our God and casting ourselves upon Him.  God open our eyes.

It is time for me to prepare dinner but I want to tell you that our younger pregnant daughter is responding to the home care that she is receiving and is stable on anti- nausea drugs which she administers by I.V. herself, checked every 3 days by a home visit nurse.  Oh thank you for your prayers for them.  And also for our Granddaughter Ana.  I ask you to continue both. Ana is just 7 and is finally settling in after the ‘l..o..n..g’ trip with El Al’s unaccompanied minor program.  We are having quite an intensive little Bible camp, she and I, and I am praying for her to truly come to Know Him and claim Him as her own to love and to follow, and to have fullness of His Joy.  She has battled the same deep sadness that I had from infancy, and our family has known, but HE IS THE VICTOR.  Thank you.

I am sorry for this truncated letter.  I look forward to a portion of time to really write.  It does come with much love.  His WORD has been so alive and I long to share.

LOVINGLY,

your sis J

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July 28, 2013 · 6:12 am

Inside Israel

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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 …

Answered prayer is always for His glory and I want to update you on how our younger daughter is doing, as so many of you have been praying for the situation and it has indeed stabilized.  Thank you SO very much.

I told you she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum.  She is now in a ‘home care’ situation with a nurse visiting every other day.  The nurse first arrived with boxes of medical supplies, an I.V. (intravenous hydration bag with the water solution balanced with electrolytes to keep people hydrated, like those given in hospitals), an IV pole, boxes of IV saline solution bags, syringes, and anti nausea meds to insert into the IV 6 times daily. Plus a course to teach her how to administer the IV with the meds by herself, etc.

This was the most ‘exciting’ part to her because from the time that she was a tiny child she wanted to be a doctor.  Finding out that she was profoundly dyslexic dashed that dream for her and now, here she is, being given a real hospital to play with at home.  That was her response when she FINALLY skyped us the other night.

She was weak and puffy but felt encouraged, and even happy.  There are standing orders at the hospital to admit her immediately if she comes to the emergency room.  She has seen a doctor, dietician, and psychiatrist and heard the Baby’s heartbeat.  She is not fearful anymore and is convinced the Baby is healthy and that this will all pass, at least by the end of 9 months. She has even felt the Baby move.

I located an organization dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum and have learned a great deal for myself.  They were very supportive and sent a local volunteer to encourage her and loan her a baby heart monitor. They gave her a $100 gift certificate for Baby needs.  Wow!  The head of the organization explained that they do this because women are so ill they often opt to kill their babies. They need to meet others who have endured and let them know it is truly worth it and that it does eventually end with the joy of having a child.  I am impressed and thankful and know this is TRULY an answer to your prayers.  I even believe that she will NOT be this ill for the full 9 months.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, several of you have contacted me to tell me that either you live in the area or know someone who does  and who would be willing to go and encourage her and or do some meal preparation.  This was my main prayer − outreach ministry through believers.

Our daughter truly has known The Lord and loved Him.  Her husband has not yet known Him as I explained. He was brought up in a Jewish ultra-orthodox (Haradi) family (the oldest of 15 children).  They are both backslidden, but both from different places. Both are really tender ‘Truth seekers’ so I believe with all of my heart that The Truth, The Face of Yeshua, will and IS pursuing them.  Our daughter knows who my friends are. Yet she was so happy when I offered for each one to contact her and to come and visit.  (She is alone in bed everyday.)  THANK YOU DEAREST BODY OF MESSIAH.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND WALK.

A brief update from our ever volatile front row center seat is called for right now:

Unless you have been enjoying a wonderful remote vacation, you likely know by now the Americans have succeeded in announcing the re-start (yet again) of ‘peace, peace, where there is no peace’ talks.  The talks are scheduled to begin next week and already the rhetoric is heating up.  Here are two quotes:

“The collapse of the upcoming round of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians may lead to the eruption of another intifada,” Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al) warned on Monday.  Tibi, who served as an advisor to deceased Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat and remains close to the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah, said he has sensed the “bottled-up rage on the Palestinian street over the occupation and the missing of the opportunity.”  (Please understand: Ahmad Tibi is a member of our Israeli Knesset (Parliament).  He is not part of ‘Palestine,’ part of the ‘other side,’ he is Israeli.)

While Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas said: “While Netanyahu declares any agreement will be brought to referendum, Jordanian paper releases interview with PA chairman conducted immediately after renewed talks statement. Abbas says ‘any solution must remove Israel permanently from Palestinian land’

When we arrived in 1994, the first ‘peace agreement’ had just been signed on the White House lawn by Arafat and Rabin.  It was signed amidst pools of blood and further negotiations continued as the pools widened and deepened.  Oh, that is Israeli blood that I am talking about.  There were bombings, terror attacks, kidnappings.  Through it all, the world kept telling us ‘Israel, be patient!  It is ‘only’ a few frustrated extremists trying to kill the fragile peace.’  ‘Peace’ became a holy word- a god – where human blood became a sacrifice upon the alter to the god of peace.

As a front row viewer, I believe that I am being honest when I say that there is NO ONE IN THE WORLD who longs for peace more then the Israeli people, but it is NOT peace at any price.  We know this land is not ours and it has been taken away from us before by The Owner because of our disobedience.  It is not ours to give away, that would be stealing what is His and despising our birthright.

Speaking the Hebrew language has opened up an honest window to see into the Israeli heart.  As I listen to the songs on the buses and even in the liturgy, ‘peace’ is possibly the main longing of the soul and subject of the songs.

I have been so very grateful for the MANY opportunities I have to ‘make peace’ one on one with Palestinians, to sit and talk and open hearts and allow them to see into mine.  That one on one honesty opens REAL doors of peace.  But even that is not the Real Peace which ONLY comes clothed in Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ.  Aside from Him there just IS no peace.

My prayer is that He will anoint me and all of my beloved sisters and brothers here to EFFECTIVELY share Him – to freely give as we have received, to plant into fertile ground that which will produce kingdom FRUIT, 100 fold and make way for The Prince of Peace again. This time I pray He is recognized and embraced by all.

As I close, I would like to ask prayer for a 41 year old Mother of 4 (?) who is in home hospice care, dealing with great pain in the last stages of breast cancer which has overtaken most of her body.  She had initially refused treatment for the cancer until it was too late.  Her name is Ayella Weitzman.  I have loved this dear woman.  I told her husband, Daniel, I would be praying for them.  Thank you.

May His Peace rule in your hearts (and mine) through the knowledge of Him and as we gaze at Him face to Face.

Lovingly,

your sis J in Jerusalem

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July 21, 2013 · 1:12 pm

Inside Israel

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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 …

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  (Matthew 6:16-18)

Blessings to you from quiet, subdued Jerusalem.  May The Lord give us His Light into all that will glorify Him.

We had incurred some ‘city hall’ issues that needed to be attended to, and being my day off I needed to go down to city hall to see if they were open during their usual hours or if they were closed for the tisha b’av fast.

Things like that change every year. One year it will be open, and another close. One year everyone will seem to be fasting, and another not. One year I will hear weeping and prayer through the night and another not.  This year, our city hall was closed and, interestingly, so were most of the shops on Jaffa Road.

The law states that restaurants and places of entertainment should be closed but other stores do as they wish, so in the past I had only seen restaurants or stores with religious owners closed.  Being that so many were closed, I did not have to maneuver the crowds and had ample opportunity to observe.  It surprised me how many cafes were open. I understand that there must be service for tourists, but this year I did not see many closed.  Many tourists were, in fact, on the streets and some of them were obviously wondering what had happened.

Grocery stores, the shuk, public transportation, and so forth all function as normal on tisha b’av and it has been an individual choice for the 19 years that we have been here: to work or not to work.  The train was blissfully, well, not ‘empty’, but there were some seats at times and no pushing.  So it struck my funny bone to watch a family of tourists from Europe, armed with maps and plenty of food, having succeeded (with the help of passerby) at buying tickets in the automated booth, observe the bright yellow ‘IN-OUT ‘arrows painted on the sidewalks.  I told you about our unsuccessful campaign to teach locals to ‘let the crowds off of the train BEFORE you rush on’.

I was reminded just how different life is here as I watched the dad of the visiting family observe the arrows, instruct his family where to stand, push one of the teenagers further back on the arrow, and wait for the train.  It was so, well, ‘neat, orderly, and EASY’.  Why can’t we do that?  Cultural differences can be glaring and humerous and I have found that my response is a test of my walk with The Lord, one I don’t always pass. Yet, He is patient to help me learn.

There are other interesting things.  Since it is also Ramadan, Moslems are also fasting during the day hours, and Jaffa Road was full of Moslem Arabs, as well as Jews, strolling along the street.  The religious or observant men who are fasting today are obvious.  The tradition is not to cut your hair or shave from Shavuot (Pentecost, the feast of weeks) to lag b’omer (the ‘bon fire’ night) when you can cut your hair and shave for one day. Then it begins again until tisha b’av, so, by now the fasting men are obvious not only because they look quite ‘holy’, serious, hungry and sad, but because they are also very shaggy.

It started me thinking even more about fasting and what it is for and WHO it is for.

Probably many of you have read the old book,  God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis, but even if you haven’t, or if you have read others, my favorite text simply came from the scripture mentioned above in Matthew 6, which I interpreted this way:

‘Fast unto ME…secretly…tell only ME…and I will search your heart’s motives and either set them straight (my heart’s motives) or change them.  Do NOT appear unto men to fast.’

To me, that seemed simple enough.  So in my life, and maybe yours, there have been ‘seasons of fasting’ and ‘choices to fast’, times of regularly scheduled fasting and other times when it seems woefully impossible to fast and even failed attempts.  Among the faces that I see around me today there are some whom I am sure are really seeking God.  I heard that there were many many thousands at the western wall last night for prayer and reading of the book of Lamentations as well as full synagogues all over the city.

During the news broadcasts there is time given to a rabbi to share a devotional explaining tisha b’av, and since I listen to the news in English I can only hope that what is shared on the Hebrew news is deeper, somehow more meaningful.  In my readings of the prophets the reason for the fast rings loud and clear. It is NOT to mourn the destruction of the temples and the dispersion, NOR hatred between brothers, but to REPENT FOR THE SIN that turns our faces away from our God toward other things and other gods and causes our hearts to harden and REQUIRES punishment.  The fast itself accomplishes nothing without the heart, eh?  And I’m thankful that God can turn our hearts and open the eyes of every hungry heart. I am praying that He will appear to hungry hearts today.

But the grave events that have historically impacted the Jewish people on tisha b’av did not stop today.  We were shocked to receive today’s news (article below is part of an article from ynet just now):

EU bans contracts between member states, settlements

New decree restricts any Israeli entity beyond 1967 lines from EU funding, prizes, grants. Housing Minister Ariel: Decision reminiscent of Holocaust

The European Union has decreed that contracts between EU member states and Israel must include a clause stating that east Jerusalem and the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) are not part of the State of Israel and therefore not part of the contract, it was reported on Tuesday.  (*Please note that they also included the Golan Heights)

The decree, which will go into effect Friday, will forbid any cooperation, awarding of grants, prizes and funding for any Israeli entity in the specified areas.

The EU’s funding, direct and indirect, of Israel bodies which operate in the settlements has long drawn fire from various organizations within the Union. The EU is severely opposed to Israeli construction beyond the 1967 lines and has acted repeatedly to draw a clear line between Israel and its settlements in the West Bank.

The latest decree resulted from the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s directives of December 2012, which stated that “all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.”

However, the directive will not harm funding for research institutes, such as the Hebrew University, which employs settlers in their staff. Government ministries, which have offices in east Jerusalem, such as the Justice Ministry, will still enjoy the EU’s cooperation as well.

An EU official said on Tuesday that Israel should not be surprised with the directive, as the issue has been repeatedly addressed and forewarned by EU officials.

The new directive, said the official, is in line with opinions in the EU which have been prevalent for several years.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office MK Ofir Akunis said in response: “It’s a wrong and regrettable decision. Such steps – even before the Palestinians announced they are even ready to return to the negotiation table – are pushing the peace talks away, not drawing them closer.”

“Let them know even in Europe – Judea and Samaria are not ‘occupied,’ they’re the homeland of the Jewish nation.”

Housing Minister Uri Ariel said in response to the decree: “This decision is tainted by racism and discrimination against the Jewish people which is reminiscent of the bans against Jews in Europe over 66 years ago,”

Minister Ariel added, “The Israeli government must not, under any condition, be a part of any future agreement which includes a clause that Judea and Samaria are not a part of the sovereign State of Israel.”

The Yesha Council stated that “To our regret, in Tisha B’av Europe has returned to a policy of boycott and segregation against the State of Israel. Europe’s unrestrained support of the Palestinian Authority has turned it into a non-neutral element.

“The Israeli government must instruct the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry to immediately halt all European projects in Judea and Samaria until this unilateral decision is aborted.”

So, the day is drawing toward a close and our landlord just came and told us that she is looking into selling the apartment that we live in and asked if we want to buy it.  Thankfully, she told us that we would be able to sign another one-year lease so I have another ‘issue’ to help learn the stance of faith vs. doubt (fear, worry, sin) Again I have not heard more from our younger daughter but I have been overwhelmed with the loving prayerful response on her behalf.  God bless you!

I must go so will sign off quickly.

Loving blessings,

your sis J

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