Category Archives: God

How Not to be Vulnerable

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To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell. (C.S.Lewis)

Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope offers love and hope to the most vulnerable humans in the world − children − through sponsors like you and me. If you’re interested, check it out here.

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Filed under Christianity, God, Gospel For Asia, India, Kingdom of God, Poverty, Prayer

God Does Nothing But…

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“God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” (John Wesley)

When Americans hear about needy children, we think about doing one thing: giving money. Then, our minds run through all the options. Can we afford to do so? What financial obligations do we have right now? Are there other priorities for our money right now? What if I don’t give? Will I feel guilty? And so forth. And so forth.

Relax. Take it easy today.

You see, I understand that not all Christians can or will sponsor a child for $35 a month through Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program. There are many other avenues to help build the Kingdom of God and it’s up to each person to decide for himself.

Yet, we can all pray, right?

So, take a moment and agree with me on the following simple prayer:

“Lord, I ask You to provide 50,000 new sponsors for Bridge of Hope children this year. Amen.”

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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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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 …

Apples and Honey – “Shana Tova oobrakha oometookha” (Good and blessed and sweet New Year.)

The time is winding down and the air is fragrant with food preparations as the streets begin to clear, with only an occasional car whizzing by to make it home before sundown.  Soon the shabat horn will sound and the blasts of the shofar will begin.  The streets are rapidly emptying and the very air is changing, quieting, and anticipating change in a new year.

I wrote the above last night before we left for the home of dear friends who live in a lovely apartment, across town with a spectacular view of the Eastern Jerusalem hills into the desert.  We celebrated together, looking into The Word, blowing the shofar, partaking of the traditional foods and wondering again at the symbolism, so deep and delightful, surrounding every word and every food.  GOD, and His SON YESHUA, revealed in the simplest things − take… eat… this is My body broken for you. He is seen everywhere, and was wonderfully present in the fellowship of the body. 

Taf shin ayin dalet (looks like this in Hebrew: תשע”ד) – or the year 5,774 – arrived with the setting of the sun. Jewish tradition says that it is now 5,774 years since the 6th day of creation and the birth of Adam.  

As we drove over to our friends apartment, my eyes were drawn to a bearded father and his two sons. A joyful formally dressed little group.  Each boy cradled a package larger then himself.  Each one had a long beautiful shofar wrapped in a soft shawl held with such a sense of importance and awe.  It was delightful to watch them and to hear their father speaking to them, teaching them of the honor and dignity with which they should treat the shofar, as an instrument of worship, and as an instrument of war.  

Our internet news had an excellent story for the new year about one of the only 3 shofar makers in Israel.  It shows how a shofar is made and the short video is really worth watching.  It is delightful and I encourage you to watch it. You can watch it here.  

Although we discussed what the New Year might hold, there was a shabat rest which we all settled into, trusting Him to see us through whatever lies ahead as we keep our eyes fixed on Him and our hearts tender to hear Him and do His will. 

Traditionally, today is the day that the Book of Life is opened in heaven and is said to remain open until the sundown on Yom Kippur, in about 8 more days.  Yom Kippur is the most solemn fast day in the year −the day of repentance.  From now until then (actually the entire month) are called “the days of awe” and deep soul searching is taking place. Restoration is made, relationships which have been broken seek to be healed, people examine their actions, responses and motives.  It is taken quite seriously (obviously not by everybody but by those who care…and there are many) and it is said that whether we live or die this year will be sealed on Yom Kippur as our hearts are searched.  

My earthly father died on the second day of Rosh h’shana.  He longed to hear the shofar blown.  So a rabbi came to his hospital and blew the shofar for him.  There was such relief on my father’s face and then he left.  

The day is lovely today with perfect weather and a refreshing cool breeze.  We enjoyed the silence of the city and listened to the birds while we sat outside drinking our morning coffee out behind our apartment, surrounded by trees and flowers.  I heard a dove’s wings and looked over to watch it fly up to the branch above me. As I watched, it dropped a large feather.  I got up, retrieved it, and examined with wonder its intricate beauty and design.  And I delighted at the fact that I have never actually seen a bird dropping a feather before, watching it float from the bird to the ground. I was thankful that even now I can enjoy new experiences.  

This life is such a wonder, isn’t it.  Such a gift we have to be called to serve Him, The King of kings . Yet, in the midst of everything, He gives us things which so personally speak to us and delight our hearts.  We really can do nothing but worship Him. 

May each of you be BLESSED in this new year with more of Him.  I am thankful for you and send much love.

 

Your sis in Jerusalem, J

 
 
 

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I Want This Girl On My Prayer Team. What About You?

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Obviously, the photographer helped set up the above photo and probably said something like, “Put your hands together and pray.”

The two Dalit children on the left side of the photo obeyed the directions, but still kept their dark eyes on the photographer. Their curiosity was too big a hurdle to overcome, and to be honest, I would have done the same at their ages.

The Dalit girl in blue seemed to care little about the activity around her and took the opportunity to pray. Maybe she’s praying for her parents. Or her grandparents. Or her brothers and sisters. Or her neighbors. Or whatever.

Do you think God listens to her prayers?

After all, God has a lot of problems to handle right now, with Israel and Syria most likely topping the list. And the girl is just another Dalit child who is dirt poor, an untouchable in India’s caste system, and the least of the least in the world’s largest democracy.

Yet, when she prays, I believe all of heaven is poised to move on her behalf.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)

This photo reminds me of the six children Carol and I sponsor in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program. Every letter we receive from our kids tells how much they enjoy praying for us.

So, when you think of Larry Who, think about Team Larry Who and our six kids praying for us.

If you want, you can start building your own team today by going here. Your team can be as large as you want…that’s up to you.

 

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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:  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. When they blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 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. 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.And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not sound the advance. The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. 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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When It Comes To Kids, I’m Easy Pickings

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It had been a long financial wilderness for my painting company with no letup in sight. Yes, I had plenty of ladders, brushes, rollers, truck, supplies, and a sprayer, but there was no money for advertising or needed insurances to tackle commercial jobs.

What should I do?

I came up with the idea to give my equipment away to a friend who hoped to start his own painting business. Rick was a hard worker and maybe he could make something happen where I could not. Plus, it seemed biblical to give and not ask anything in return.

Yet, as I readied myself to tell Rick about my plans, the Lord spoke to my heart. “I did not give the burden to Rick. I gave it to you.”

You see, the painting company was started to help feed starving kids in foreign lands, but somehow, in the midst of the agonizing financial trials, I loss sight of the reasons for the company. And if I turned my back on the painting company and all of its problems, I’d be walking away from the burden the Lord placed on my heart.

I made up my mind that day to struggle onward, no matter what it cost me.

So, when I ask you to consider helping the children in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program, I am not handing you my burden. It’s mine. I paid a price for it by eating out of dumpsters and sleeping in cars because of no money. I paid a price for it in prayer and fasting. The burden for these children is mine and it’s too precious to give away.

But if the Holy Spirit touches your heart for these children, consider it a privilege to help them. This is how I now view my burden for these beautiful children.

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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 …

Dear Brothers and sisters, beloved in Him Who is above all, I greet you, thankful for a moment to write and to update you on certain things…well…perhaps it is selfish as it is I who need to reach out and touch the body and receive the stability that comes through His people. It has been in intense time.

Ana and I just returned from the hospital, my second trip for the day.  I share this just to give an impression of the intensity.

Yesterday I got up at 4:30 and had a good time with Him before leaving for work . My boss has been away and I needed to be there for one of my ‘vacation’ weeks.  My husband was going to take Ana to her day camp (kaytina) at 8am and I would pick her up at 3:30 on my way home.  I arrived at work at 7 and was surprised by a phone call from my husband at 7:40.

“I am having severe chest pain and my blood pressure is high. What should I do?” he asked.

“Where is Ana?” I asked.

He had set her up with some play tasks and she was fine.  I caught a cab home, committing the calculations to The Lord in a battle to walk in all that I believe.  Although the drive home seemed to take forever, we arrived behind the ambulance which I was able to direct to our door.  I supplied necessary information while trying to reassure Ana that all was fine and “would she like to play ‘doctor’’.

Husband was packed off into intensive care ambulance and  Ana and I found another taxi to her kaytina.  The driver gasped when I told him that I needed to go the congested center of town and then way off to the far west side. I again tried to block all calculations and take on His yoke.  The rides seemed to take forever and I finally arrived at the emergency room at 10, having been moving at top speed since 7:40.

Husband was diagnosed with unstable angina. I was so thankful that he hadn’t had another heart attack incurring further damage. He was going to be sent up to cardiology.  Ana went home with a friend at 3:30 but by 5 I left to pick her up.  One of my husband’s clients is a young almost-doctor – fifth year medical student – and she stayed with us the whole time.  When she heard that Ana’s friend lived at the farthest part of town possible, she said that she would drive me there and then take us home.  The only catch was that she didn’t know where this address was and neither did I.

I kissed my husband goodbye and asked that he call when he knew what room he would be in and we took off.  About an hour later I took a deep breath and said, “Shay’nee, would it be ok if I pray and ask for The Lord in Whom I believe to guide us? And that would be Yeshua.”

We had been driving in circles asking directions every few blocks.  “Sure,” she said.

So I took a DEEP breath and prayed a simple prayer, ending In The Name of Yeshua.

She looked at me. “I thought that you were Jewish,” she said.

“Oh.  I am.  But I believe that Yeshua IS our savior and I am His disciple.”

Hmm!”she answered and the questions began, just like with Mali.

However, almost IMMEDIATELY we found our way and she said, “Wow.  I think He answered your prayer!”

Well, I KNEW He did, so we hadn’t much more time to share, but I could only stand thankful that He had opened TWO strong doors this week.

My husband had a tsentur (heart catheterization) this morning. After I dropped Ana at kaytina, and I was able to establish him back comfortably in his room before going to pick her up.  He is doing well. They found no new blockages and are putting him on blood thinners. He can come home tomorrow.  I didn’t think I could add ONE MORE EVENT into this very special, intense time, but God, in His mercy, enlarges our capacity for Him and prepares us for things to come. He must have apparently said, “Pour it on.”  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

In my last letter I did NOT include a request directly from my husband.  In my conviction that I am NOT to mention such things, I would not have, but he directly asked me to ask all of you if: if there is ANYONE who might consider at this time investing in buying a flat – this one – in Jerusalem.”

There.  I asked.  I know that many many of you would LIKE to, but he is asking if someone feels led and is ABLE to.  And I am being obedient to my husband and asking.  I believe that I told you that our landlord IS putting this place that we have lived in for the past 19 years up for sale.

A dear friend who is also a writer, gave me her books this past week and as I was reading I thought to share part of something that she wrote.  This is from Why Care About Israel by Sandra Teplinsky. I share it as I KNOW that when you take on His heart for Israel, you are part of the battle, and MANY of you have already experienced this:

“Why does Israel draw out the best and the worst in us? The Jewish nation is designed to test and expose the hearts of humanity.  Like a threshing floor, she sifts our souls. 

Long ago God picked a spot on earth to “put [His] Name forever” (2 Chronicles 33:7; see also 1 Kings9:3).  That spot-Jerusalem’s Mount Moriah – originally served for centuries as a threshing floor. (A threshing floor, as you may know, is a place where wheat is sifted from chaff by repeatedly tossing both up in the air.) It was there that God halted a plague sent in judgment against Israel.  King David purchased the threshing floor and, at God’s instruction, built an alter on it (see 2 Samuel 24:15-25). Later, on this precise plot of real estate, David’s son Solomon constructed Israel’s Holy Temple.  There God’s Gory dwelt, unequaled in grandeur anywhere else on earth.  This place is now known as the Temple Mount. 

Is the Temple Mount any less a threshing floor in our day then it was when David bought it three thousand years ago?  This dry and dusty hilltop sifts nations’ souls through their contests over its control.  And little wonder, for here our Jesus will return in splendor to rule and reign – something His enemies are scrambling to prevent.  The Temple Mount will prove the ultimate testing ground, the place where Messiah and anti-Messiah, and the followers of both, will someday be exposed.  The site could be called Spiritual Testing Ground Zero, rendering Jerusalem and the rest of Israel a test zone surrounding it.  A test God wants you to pass – because it is a test of love.

 Does this mean everything Israel does is right?  Of course not; the test would prove less genuine if issues involving Israel were so simple.  Though matters are complex, Israel is ultimately about Him, and if you know Him as the God of Israel, your heart beating with His, you know the Answer…”

I just thought that might confirm some of your thinking during these critical times that we are in.  The “peace process” is again underway with its vitriolic humanism setting the agenda and Israel’s God being mocked with nearly every word.  Right now, the release of the murders is underway and there are sporadic riots around the city, while the western countries are chastening us sore for building in the country that He gave us.  Will we serve man or God?  May we all say, “As for me and my house, we WILL serve The Lord!”

Off to bed.  May we be strengthened in one another for His Glory.  Lovingly, and THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS (younger daughter has been quite sick again and also in hospital for another brief stay).

your sis in the midst,

J

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What Can One Child Do?

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Here’s the story of one family that was changed because of their son’s involvement in a Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope center. The boy’s father, Rajiv, relates what happened:

After attending the Bridge of Hope center, my son used to come home and say, “This is what my sir said, and this is what our teacher taught us.” Regarding our way of living, regarding our health and hygiene, he would come and tell us. It was kind of exciting! So, when my son says something to me, for example, about hygiene, I am changing.

Some of the things he says about prayer and about Jesus really touch me. Slowly by slowly, I am changing according to what he says to us.

The Bridge of Hope really brought a kind of revival in me spiritually. Basically, I’m an illiterate person. I do not know how to read and write. Many times my son would come and say words he learned at the Bridge of Hope center. “This is what the Word of God says.” So many times when we would do wrong things, the Word of God would speak to us. And because it was the Word of God speaking, we changed a lot.

We have prayer every day in our home for 15 to 20 minutes. My son reads the Bible, and we sing some songs. Now Jesus is the main focus of our life. We cannot leave Jesus and go anywhere, because Jesus is with us and He guides us every day. This kind of spiritual awareness, through my son, I got through Bridge of Hope.

(No Longer A Slumdog by K. P. Yohannan, GFA Publishing, © 2011, page 110-111)

So far, Gospel For Asia has over 65,000 children in their Bridge of Hope ministry. Each child is a bridge to his family, to his neighbors, and to his community, bringing hope to the millions of lost people in India and Asia.

And it all begins with a person, like you or me, sponsoring one child, for $35 per month.

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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:

______________________________________

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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