Category Archives: Israel

July 12, 2015 · 7:49 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 …

Greetings dear brothers and sisters,

May each of you be finding His joy and His peace in the midst of whatever you are walking through. (Thinking of the scripture to “Count it all joy…”) May The Lord be blessed and glorified in and through you, and may you be blessed and encouraged today.

I was hoping to write sooner then this concerning a Holocaust survivor named Ruth who is in her 90s. I wrote to you a number of years ago about a unique problem that some here. I first ran across it when it so suddenly afflicted another of our survivor patients. It seems that there is a syndrome among this dear group.

So many of them who survived such terrible things during the World War II were able to make their way to Israel afterward and amazingly begin new and very productive lives. So many who had lost everyone married, started families, and went on to leave a legacy that is a true wonder. But a hidden horror lurked unknown inside them until they began to reach an advanced age. Many of them who seemed to be fine and had much to show for their productive lives, very suddenly were plunged back into the horrors that lived in the recesses of their minds.

I once wrote to you about this when Kala came to the Doctor’s office looking unusually tired and stressed. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, “All of Noah’s family visited me all night…his parents, aunts and uncles, children…”

But you see, they had all been slain in the Holocaust camps. I was horrified as I watched this lovely, well-respected dentist retreat into a closet of horrors. That was when I found out more about the nature of the Holocaust. Some horrors results lie dormant for a lifetime.

Now Ruth is suffering and I ask for prayer for her. Her story is different.

Whereas Kala and Noah believed in God, I have actually asked for prayer for her husband, Ya’akov. He is the survivor who is so bitter toward God and claims, not to be an atheist, but to be a “hater of God” and a mocker as well. “Where was HE during the holocaust?” he spit at me.

Yet I hear his crying heart. I do not know the ways of God well enough to say more, but I do know HIM well enough to know that He is big and merciful enough to do more then I could imagine.

Ya’akov’s wife Ruth has been special to me over the years. There was just something about her. When we went through our breast cancers together (even meeting at the hospital), I was able to encourage her and was endeared to her.

She has recently become severely clinically depressed. I did my best to reach out to her but did not realize that she is also suffering from the “Holocaust syndrome.”

On Friday, I asked about her and Ya’akov told me that she is just inconsolable. “She tells him again and again ‘I am ALONE! I have NO one! They are all murdered!” he said. “And she also visits with them all night.”

Ya’akov tells her, “Ruth! You have me! You have the children and grandchildren. WE ARE YOUR FAMILY.”

But she just weeps and says, “No, you are not my REAL family!” And that breaks his heart as well. He is 94.

I did not know their story as well as others (because of his bitterness) but he told me a few things. When she was young, she was on a train with her entire family, heading to the gas chambers. As the train rounded a corner at high speed, she alone jumped out, surviving somehow. The rest of her family perished. Eventually she was taken in by a Polish Christian family who then cared for her. Undoubtedly she has heard of Him. I would like to send her a copy of the Gospel of John in Hebrew. Will you pray that this is done and received as well? How deeply she needs His Love and healing and freedom and PEACE!

People seem more edgy again as we come down to the last 10 days of Ramadan. Perhaps you heard of the major Islamic state attack in Sinai, the area relinquished to Egypt when the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was signed. The area is a hotbed of terrorism and extremism and now ISIS is working at staking a claim there, just as it has been doing on our northern border and in Gaza. At the beginning of Ramadan there was a spate of 6 terror attacks, two resulting in Israeli deaths, and although that appears to have quieted down, people are alert. Particularly since our schools are now out for summer vacation and our children are longing for fun.

This morning I heard a HUGE ruckus outside. The air was FILLED with the voices of children. I went to the merepeset (balcony) and looked over at perhaps 150 or more little ones, probably 6 and 7 year olds. They skipped along behind leaders, and followed by security guards there to protect them. They look so bright and sweet, all in little hats and backpacks with water bottles. The girls all pinky and the boys all…well…boys.

The “day-camp” program here is very different then it was back in the states. Called khoog (the “kh” is like the sound you would make when you say an “h” and clear your throat at the same time. It used to be represented by “ch” but is too easily confused with the “ch” combination in English).

These programs are often subsidized and can be really wonderful. They are very creative and active and it was so much fun to see this gaggle of little ones bursting with joy, expecting to have fun. It was a great opportunity to pray for them, an illustrated prayer request of sorts.

I had more to share but my husband has just called and said that he would be coming home early. He is a barber/hairdresser and we have just entered the 3 weeks of mourning leading up to tisha b’av’ (the 9^th of the month of Av on the Hebrew calendar). These are the days on which both the first and second temples were destroyed and many catastrophic events befell the tribes of Israel, both historically and in modern times. It is the custom of some not to have their hair cut during this period. Thus, I will go and prepare for my husband’s earlier then usual arrival.

God bless you. Thank you for prayers. May His body continue to be built into His temple and may He be glorified.

Lovingly,

your sis J

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June 28, 2015 · 7:17 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 …

Blessings to you this day dear brothers and sisters. May His glory be in your midst.

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go unto the house of The Lord. Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together. Where the tribes go up, the tribes of The Lord, to the Testimony of Israel to give thanks to the Name of the Lord for throes are set there for judgment. The thrones of the house of David. ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brethren and companions I will now say ‘Peace be in You.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.” Psalm 122 A song of Ascents.

The “songs of Ascents” are literally the songs that were sung as the tribes made their way up to Jerusalem for the 3 feasts (Passover, Shavuot or weeks or Pentecost, and Sukkot or feast of tabernacles) that contain the command for all of the men of Israel to come up and worship here. They were to bring their offerings and to give thanks and be blessed. These songs are STILL sung today, both traditionally and even in music heard on the radio. And yes, as people still make their way up to Jerusalem during the feasts.

As I read this Psalm this morning as part of my regular devotions I thought first about Jerusalem being built as a “city that is compacted together.” I blurted out, “Why, Lord, did you bring me of all people to a city so compacted together when You made me one who longs for the quiet places?”

Yep, feeling low today. I still haven’t been feeling well and even missed kehila (our fellowship) last night. Indeed a rare event for me.

But His answer came quickly and without rebuke: “Write…tell them…see, hear, tell them…for I’m building My temple even here…My body is being built into a holy temple fit for My Presence…be My eyes and ears and witness for what I AM doing.”

“For the sake of my brethren and companions I will now say ‘Peace be in You.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”

I thought about His body here (His house according to scripture), thinking of each face and of each one’s struggles. It isn’t easy being part of His body here and it can be lonely, although we are “a city compacted together,” we are also busy busy bees and very much spread out one from another.

Then I thought of each of you and those who I am NOT in contact with, but whom I have loved over the years, parts of His body, being built together for His glory into heavenly Jerusalem. Never an easy walk. For if we are truly being built together, we are being chiseled away and dropped deep into the Refiners fire.

So, enough of feeling low! Repent, brush it off and get busy doing what He told me to do and leave the rest to Him.

What DO my eyes and ears see here in Jerusalem at this time?

I imagine that most of you are pretty caught up in your own rapidly moving events during this world changing time. Well, yesterday a 25 year old Israeli was killed and another wounded as they returned from a hike. A Palestinian stopped them to ask for help, but after asking if they were Jewish he fired at point blank range. And just now a soldier was stabbed in the neck at the Old City’s Damascus Gate not too far from here. He is reported as fighting for his life.

The Iranian deal that our government has cried out against (to the irritation of the rest of the world) is looming before us. The boycott, divest, sanction movement against Israel has also forced itself into our daily reality as it is growing as an aggressive cancer worldwide. It really has become rather alarming in that it somehow legitimized the ugliest forms of anti-semitism, seemingly dead or at least stifled since WWII.

We are again inundated with weighty dignitaries from all over Europe seeking to and threatening to apply all sorts of pressure to impose a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, restoring the indefensible ’67 borders, releasing prisoners, dividing Jerusalem and so forth. The Syrian war – so sad! – inches ever closer to us and the tension between the US leadership and the Israeli leadership continues to approach freezing levels. Plus, it’s Ramadan.

Not the most encouraging news.

I was thinking of that as I read a different portion in the scriptures this morning: John 7:42-53.

At one point the Pharisees quote the scriptures concerning the place of Messiah’s birth, but they did not apparently know that He had been born in Bethlehem. Later, they said, with Nicodemus present, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed on Him?” Although in several places as I read John it has already said that some of the leaders believed, but kept it quiet.

It made me think, really with trembling, that WE KNOW NOTHING except by THE DISCERNMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! It seems to me that The Lord has made us in a way that we CAN not discern His way BUT by The Spirit AND The Word working TOGETHER in our lives.

I’m saying this because as The Lord reminds me to be a witness to what I see, even that has to be weighed in the Light of His Word by His Spirit. The more I read The Word I wonder how I could have missed for so many years the centrality of His plans and purposes concerning the Jews and Israel in His heart. I DID miss it however, until He, by His Spirit, began planting a God-given hunger in me until He could speak more and more clearly and make me a better follower of Him.

But even in that, I don’t claim to have the entire picture: just the part that He has given me. Part of my part is to beg anyone who listens to me to SEEK HIS SPIRIT WITH HIS WORD. I’m pretty sure that you all know this and do it, and I’m probably as annoying as Netanyahu is when constantly says that the Iranian deal is a bad one. But it just seems to me that as the days get more and more dangerous, we need His discernment more and more. I hear so many who seem to be off on bunny-trails. May we major in Knowing Him and trust Him to lead us by His Spirit into all Truth; AND TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE.

So, Jerusalem is compacted together. Ha!

I came home from work on Thursday to see that the city had, for some reason TOTALLY unknown to me, lobbed off the large leafy limbs of the one tree in front of our apartment that thankfully had blocked my view (and somewhat muffled the noise) of the train, the traffic and the buildings. I was NOT happy!

There at the foot of the trunk laid a huge pile of greenery that I had DELIGHTED in. Possibly the thing that I enjoyed most about our apartment. I loved watching the birds right in front of my face as I looked out of the window or the balcony (merapeset), and they enjoyed me. Now there it was: our apartment, naked to the sight of everyone as the train stopped in front. My mouth fell open.

I wailed to my husband when I walked in the house, “WHY DID THEY DO THAT TO ME?”

“Huh?” he answered. “Who did what to you?” He hadn’t noticed. Different priorities.

‘Oh Lord, You have my attention! It’s noisy! It’s even LESS pretty here! So, here I am…Your servant… Yours to do with as You wish. Get glory…and HELP ME TO MEAN THAT”

As if to mock my prayer the dying branches laid in an ugly pile below my window. He answers prayer, but in His time. He brought us here for His purposes, and not for my comfort.

So, enough thoughts and comments. God bless you and encourage you in Him. I send my love,

Your sister J

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June 21, 2015 · 7:35 am

Inside Israel

The Shuk in Jerusalem

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Shalom with blessing to you, with thanks to Him for the privilege of being made one with you by His Precious Blood. May Yeshua be glorified and blessed and may we be encouraged to hunger for Him more and more.

As loud music blares from huge loud speakers in front of my apartment I will try to share some of what is happening here for you who can’t be here to see for yourselves. Israel is family oriented and our many street parties are an extension of that: celebrate summer with loud sounds. Sigh.

Putting that aside for now…

As we do gather together, so do our enemies. There were sirens heard today on our northern border, the Golan Heights, where the Syrian war rages daily and is getting closer and closer. Although no rockets seem to have landed in our territory today, the war is now less then 4 kilometers from the border which is within easy eye view.

I have spoken to you before about our Druze communities, which are split, half here and half in Syria. Right now it is the Christian and Druze villages on the border that are under attack. Many gather on our side of the border to pray for them while watching the war, and our defense forces have been directed to care for the refugees that are crossing over. It is touchy and painful. It is also a dangerous situation for Israel, which has thus far been able to steer clear of being sucked into this particular war. (see attached news update below)

As this issue is fresh in our sights, the month long Moslem holiday of Ramadan begins tonight with feasting, prayer and studying of Koran, followed by daily fasting and evening feasts.

Refugees from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya − all countries ravaged by the so-called “Arab Spring” and its resulting jihad revolutions. These revolutions include ISIS and Hamas in Gaza.

I have received a number of emails predicting upcoming wars and turbulence. None of that surprises us here…it is a given.

IN THE MEANTIME, I continue to ride the bus, train and walk around the shuk after serving many people daily in the doctor’s office where I work. Last week, at the shuk, I made note to myself to share with you a story or two.

Big groups of what I call puppy soldiers (young new recruits who still jump around together like a litter of puppies) have been in the shuk. These new recruits take numerous trips, learning history, geography, and culture, while they learn to function as a unit. They are let loose in the shuk to organize various charity events, such as buying food for needy or handicapped groups of children perhaps or just to wander around.

As I’ve told you before, about half of the vendors at the shuk are Jewish and the other half Arab (as opposed to the Arab souk in the Old City, which is completely Arab owned). Even in the worst of times, the shuk has maintained a brotherly air about it, which makes it a unique place.

Being late spring, the bins are piled high with tempting summer fruits − peaches, plums, apricots, cherries, and more, which replace the winter apples, oranges, pears and bananas. I gave in and bought a kilo of cherries to surprise my husband.

While I was making my purchase a loud group of puppy-soldiers were tumbling around enjoying the sights and smells (obviously not from Jerusalem) and one said “Oh, I would love to get some cherries.”

He came over to the Arab vendor from whom I was buying and asked for 5 shekels worth of cherries, not a lot. As his bag was being filled, the soldier said, “Less, less,” but the vendor added more. “How much?” he asked.

The vendor waved his hand and replied, “Nothing my brother.”

“No please, I insist.”

“No, please take it, a gift,” said the vendor.

I was deeply touched and I’m sure that the soldier was too because his face and attitude showed it. I’m sure that he will remember it when he is faced with stone throwing, brainwashed youngsters.

I think of the intimate dance that our two people have embraced through the ages, locked together in such a complicated relationship, one so complicated that it will take God Himself to resolve. I think of all of the failed marriages that I have seen Him miraculously work His love and healing into their midst and others that await His touch. It’s quite similar − the Arab and Jew locked in a destiny that does not appear to have a resolution and yet He is in it and so we must look forward to His resolution.

On the train again I witness a different but similar scene. As I sit down and adjust to my surroundings I notice that a number of young people on this train are blind and deformed in different ways. They also seem mentally different, a mixed group of Arab and Jewish. In front of me are three special police − kind of a compassion force that we have.

They came to our office recently when a mentally ill woman was in need of help and I watched them work with her, so kindly and patiently. They appeared to be guarding this group that I soon noticed also had a madrikeem or leader guides. These were young people, patient and gentle, perhaps 1 young leader for every 3 kids. It seemed that the group was making its way to the blind school for some outing, but the train (as usual) had been held up by a hefetz ha’shood (unidentified package – this requires the bomb squad and results in delays and overcrowding).

The young charges (perhaps 12-15 years old) were NOT happy about the delay and were making their discontent known as they became more and more agitated. “When will we get there? I don’t like this!” they proclaimed in loud shrieks.

Passengers joined in with their leaders to try to comfort them. “We will be there soon…just one more stop, over the bridge now.”

I thought about how lovely it is that NO one is embarrassed by them or made uncomfortable by their different and demanding behavior. I like that about Israel. Israelis are not politically correct or neat or even presentable sometimes, but we take responsibility for one another in a way that family members do or should do.

I even like the fact that the awful noise outside of my apartment this evening is for a reason. The neighborhood assembled together to present all of the summer activities available for all ages of young people this year − a place to register, to come together, to encourage one another, exchange ideas and even entertain. These are not hired professionals but kids themselves performing. Some are performing children’s songs, engaging the children in Israeli folk songs and dancing.

I’m closing with an update on the Druze villages just to the north of us that just popped up on the news:

I have not been well and have needed to rest more; some yet not pinpointed heart changes, likely due to stress according to the doctor. Period. I’m encouraging myself by re-reading Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. What a challenge to deeper faith!

As usual, I hesitate to close…it has been good visiting with you, even one-sided-virtually; you seem near. I send you much love and thank you for your prayers for the people of Israel and for our family.

Lovingly,

your sister J

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May 31, 2015 · 9:59 am

Inside Israel

“Bear not a single care thyself,

One is too much for thee;

The work is Mine, and Mine alone;

Thy work-to rest in Me”

(From Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret)

Greetings DEAREST sisters and brothers. I have missed you. I greet you in The Name of Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus Christ, Lord and Messiah in Whom we are one. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed and encouraged. This comes with much love.

Mounted on the floor near the doors of our trains, there are central holding-on areas with space for 4 people (although there are usually around 8 or so hanging on at any given time) to a sort of handled pole. I found myself as the 4^th in a group of ladies even older then I am on one afternoon. They didn’t seem to know one another to begin with, but as it is with us, every stranger is only a new friend waiting to happen.

Apparently I boarded the train very soon after the conversation had started. Two of the women were dati (religious as identified by their clothing) and the third, in a pants outfit, was not. It is such a blessing to be able to understand Hebrew for these precious conversations would pass me by otherwise.

This group was talking about life in Jerusalem during the war of the liberation of Jerusalem in 1967, when Jerusalem’s Jews were cut off from food and water supplies by the surrounding Arab countries that were fighting with Jordan against us. They were talking about having many children and how it is a blessing, but not always an easy one to accept.

“I remember that my neighbor had twins and everyone was so happy but she wept and said, ‘How will I feed two more mouths?'”

One woman said, “Ah,” and another sighed.

“But then we would find a woman who was longing for a child and give THEM the blessing. We knew they would be loved. We had too many and some one else had too few.”

The others nodded, remembering.

“Yes. And when there was no water and the thirst was overwhelming, some of us didn’t have milk, but others did, so we fed one another’s children.”

Again they nodded. A woman got on the train with a stroller and we all looked over and smiled.

“Yes, that is how we did it back then. We just filled the need. Some with too many, some with not enough…the needs were met. Yes. Children are a blessing.”

They all nodded again, each with a sad smile, a smile of knowing and having walked a long hard path.

The two religious women got off the train and said their goodbye’s while the secular lady and I began to talk, not saying much really. It was one of those moments when a trickle of history dropped into my heart.

Another frozen moment in time posed before my eyes several days ago, also on the train. Crowded trains bring lots of different sized people into close contact. So it was as a young mother with a little boy perhaps nearly two years old, found themselves pressed against a strikingly handsome soldier, his Uzi machine gun slung over his shoulder, pointed down as he read things on his smart phone.

This time it was 4 of us older ones sitting in the seats and watching as the little guy stared up at the soldier in wonder and let his eyes slip down over the Uzi. He tentatively reached up one tiny finger and ran it along the gun barrel, again looking up at the soldier who was engrossed in his phone. We all stared at this unfolding scene and at the young mother who wasn’t quite sure what her response should be.

The little one’s adoring stare finally broke the soldier’s concentration and his handsome face embraced the little guy with a big gentle smile. Down the finger went and up again, all the while staring at the soldier while patting the weapon. We all sat chilled and warmed alternately by the sad irony of the scene and also the pathos of it. The baby, so open and simple, the soldier so handsome, strong and also open-faced, the mother, young and loving and the 4 of us older crows, weighing the picture in front of us.

To my left the man said to the little boy, “Just wait. It won’t be too long. You too will have one before you know it!”

Immediately, the woman on my right piped, “Halavai!! Oo lai, lo! (or I hope not…how sad! What a shame.) Oh that it would be that he will never need to see one and that there will be no more war!”

Another sighed and added, “Ha! And we all wish, but his time will also come.”

The young mother looked around and so did I. Each one in this tiny play sat with some pretty deep thoughts, fears and memories. The little guy, tiny, and innocent, looked up again at the soldier and the soldier saluted him and left the train for his post. This group also scattered, but not without an imprint in my heart.

Again, I am only a translator in the gap for those of you who don’t know Hebrew and may not find yourself on the Jerusalem trains. These small vignettes are for me true tastes of life here, small windows through which I am able to catch a glimpse of the past.

The older I get, the more I wonder about life. What a gift we have been given. Whether we are blessed with material blessings or health or natural talents or NONE of these, it doesn’t so much matter as what we DO with what we HAVE been given. The more I observe and listen to those around me the more I see how important my moment by moment choices are in our daily walk with Him. Each choice really IS crucial on all levels. We dare not make them alone. How good He has been to us to give us His Holy Spirit!

Some of you know it’s generally crisis to crisis here and the current news is no different. Today is the beginning of week-long home front command tests, simulating attacks on 3 fronts, from land, sea and air, with the entire country participating. “Readiness drills” – they are called. The group called ISIS is camped on all of our borders, with known cells already within. Since Israel is the chief prize, the “pot of gold,” we are not surprised.

Our poor fledgling government is being attacked from within and without as leaders from more countries then most people can name are waiting in line to make their stands known to our leaders. The economy? Oy! We are engraved IN STONE as a stiff-necked people who grumble. If you have any doubt, read the Old Testament. That’s why I had to laugh at our sizzling sha’rav heat wave that blew in off of the Sahara desert causing temperatures to soar into the high 40s Celsius (100s Fahrenheit).

As is often stated in other countries, “It isn’t so much the temperature, but the HUMIDITY,” was true here, but in a different way. Our humidity was below 2% meaning that deadly dehydration became a serious threat to those walking around in the sun.

“OH THE HEAT! THIS IS AWFUL!” exclaimed one patient walking through the door of the doctor’s office where I work. Suddenly I burst out laughing.

“I think that God sends us sha’ravs and blizzards just so we will give Him a rest from all of our other complaints and just focus them all on the weather.”

It really tickled my funny bone.

So as I was riding home on the bus I caught my breath as I saw that since 6:30 a.m. when I went to work, all of the flowering trees had broken open into their full glory of color. It is truly a canvas fit for The King: the array of huge purple flowering trees, blues, bright reds and yellows.

I realized that the intense HEAT had accomplished this in one morning. Whereas my little plants on my merepeset (balcony) were withering, but the trees, with their roots running deep, prospered.

Was there a lesson here? Oh yes. When He turns the heat on, we find out whether our roots run deep and drink from The Rock or whether our little flowers are in shallow earth. Anyway, for me it was a beautiful visual aid to think about the kingdom of God and to remember His ways.

I began this email with a quote from Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, a book that has greatly blessed me over the years and that I am again re-reading. Being reminded that He OWNS us is such a relief to me: under the ownership of One so faithful…He is fully able to complete that which He has begun.

Lovingly,

your sister J

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Tagged as Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Israel, Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Spiritual warfare

May 24, 2015 · 8:08 am

Inside Israel

Loving greetings to each of you, precious to Him Who is Lord of lords and King of kings. THANKFULLY, He is really ABLE to keep us and present us safe in Him unto that day. Thank You Lord for Your grace, mercy and the provision of the Precious Blood!

I thought about you much on Jerusalem Day and wrote many things in my head. There is not much like a WONDERFUL one year old Granddaughter who is severely jet lagged to disrupt your life, unless it is an earthquake or a tornado. She’s such a joy and gift, but when she’s up at 2a.m., she has the power of all sorts of natural disasters, so we are all tired (and the older ones of us perhaps a bit more).

Yom Yerushalaym (Jerusalem Day) was this past Sunday. It is one of my favorite days, but I was surprised that already on Thursday, very large groups of youth were walking into Jerusalem singing and waving flags, dancing in the streets. They walk here from all over the country to celebrate the miraculous reunification of Jerusalem after 2,000 years of Jewish exile from her capital. This celebration marks the 48^th year since her return in 1967. It definitely had some unique characteristics.

I frankly wondered what would happen at all. Since our elections and the establishment of a markedly right wing religious government, the left wing secular segments of our society, greatly supported by the network of social media world wide, have been waging a distortion, smear and hate campaign against every move they make. That included the usual Jerusalem Day activities. They called it a provocation and staged counter rallies calling for the cancellation of all celebrations and events and for the re-dividing of Jerusalem.

I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to take place, but to my delight the Jerusalem songs began to play and people began to wish one another “Joyous Jerusalem Day” and hang out Jerusalem flags. It was nice to turn away from the news media and look into the faces of the people, thankful faces of people who wanted to bless Jerusalem and The God Who said that He would put His Name here.

One of the more interesting chance observations that I made, was in the shuk – my favorite observation post.

I was passing two Arabs, one a vendor and another delivering something or other. The one spoke in Arabic but the vendor turned and answered him in Arabic accented Hebrew and from his answer I was able to gather the point of the conversation. Thanks to social media and many other instigators, there is active recruitment for ISIS here as in other countries. The gist of the Hebrew answer was, “What! YOU can go to Syria under Asad or those clowns if you want! I’m staying here! My life is far better then any of theirs!”

I love the shuk where Arab and Jew are together day in and day out and share a unique bond. When the intifada saw bombings at the shuk, both Arab and Jew suffered, and helped one another.

This morning I was meditating in Rev 6:4 –

“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”

And I began to thank The Lord for the OTHER PEACE that He has been speaking to my heart about: the Peace that is NOT as the world gives. Nothing in this world can take that Peace away. Hallelujah! Walking through…Looking away unto Him…letting the Peace that passes all understanding keep my heart and mind IN HIM. These seem to be my major focus as I live here on the rapidly changing front lines of things about to come. Funny how a snow ball gathers speed as it rolls downhill and grows bigger and heavier. So these days seem to be speeding up into a blur. I have thought about the horrors of the earthquake and avalanches in Nepal and how suddenly those were caught in it. When the disciples asked Yeshua, as recorded in Matthew 24

“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? It says: “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.“

In other words…take heed to yourself…not to what is going on around you. Be sure that you are walking in The Truth and anchored in The Rock. Yes, we see the signs of the times all around us.

Jerusalem Day passed with no major disturbances, although many tried. The celebrations were joyful and again the promise went forth that “Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel.”

Oh well. Both the European Union chief and UN representatives are meeting here today to challenge that. They do keep increasing the pressure but they don’t honor the Word of God or The God of the Word. May He open their eyes in His mercy. With Him ALL things are possible.

And so we are now getting ready for Shavout (Pentecost). This marks the end of the Passover time and the end of the counting of the omer. It was the second of the 3 holidays where God commanded all Israeli men to come up to Jerusalem and make specific offerings at the temple. This is the FIRST FRUITS offering, the time of the early harvest of the grain, barley, wheat and the first of the bread to be offered in Thanksgiving. That is why all of the people were gathered at the temple on Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover of the crucifixion and the resurrection, when He poured His Spirit out upon the people in Jerusalem as described in Acts 2. The New Bread broken among the people – now able to offer true Thanksgiving from the heart.

Deut 26:1-10 is my favorite of the many shadow descriptions of Shavout…I say shadow’ because we know it now as a “shadow of things to come.”

Deut. 26:1-10 “And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, ²that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lordyour God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. ³And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the country which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’

⁴“Then the priest shall take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of the Lord your God. ⁵And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God: ‘My father was a Syrian, about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. ⁶But the Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and laid hard bondage on us. ⁷Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. ⁸So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. ⁹He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, “a land flowing with milk and honey”; ¹⁰and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me.’

“Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God.

Today, for some reason that I STILL don’t understand fully, Shavout is celebrated with the eating of milk products and everyone dressing in white. It has to do with The Word of The Lord being pure and people stay up all night in large groups studying The Word and/or particular topics and subjects to be wrestled with until the understanding comes from God. Many do this before the Western Wall (considered the last standing wall of the original temple and the holiest place in Judaism aside from Temple Mount itself).

Thank you for baring with me through these rather poor offerings. And THANK YOU for your prayers for us, for my people by blood and for The Lord’s plans. May we be found standing in agreement with His Heart.

Lovingly,

your sis J in Jerusalem

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May 17, 2015 · 8:31 am

Inside Israel

Greetings Dear Sisters and Brothers in The precious Name of Yeshua h’meshiach, Jesus Christ. May He be blessed and glorified, and may you be blessed and edified.

John 14:27 is such a familiar verse. Many of us embraced it in the very beginnings of our walk with Him…a great and precious promise it reads:

”Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,

give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

And John 16:33:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

But just because it is familiar, it is no less profound. As a matter of fact, it has taken front and center stage in my heart lately. The fact that He was speaking these words as He was ALSO telling the disciples of VERY HARD things to come has been a great comfort to me as I confront the enemies of Peace in my heart, from both within and without. His Peace has become more real then ever to me (as in attainable) and I find myself running after it and thirsting for it moment by moment. There are SO many WONDERFUL promises for His Peace all through the Word…I want them all!

I thought about that as I looked around the train the other morning on the way to work. I guess it was Friday morning as I catch the 5:55 a.m. train then to stop at the shuk for some fresh produce before Shabat and then run over to IFI prayer meeting to join in on the first half hour before again running off to work.

On Friday morning at that hour the train is pretty empty and so I was looking around at the car. Just such a short time ago these train cars were brand new, and they HAVE been kept up well, especially considering how many PEOPLE they transport daily, except for the windows. The windows are large, shatter-proof, possibly bullet-proof, glass. Yet nearly every one has been shattered by stones thrown regularly as it passes through the eastern side of our capital, Jerusalem. Some of the windows sport a sign in Hebrew, Arabic and English that says: “We are sorry for the inconvenience. This window will be replaced as soon as possible.”

Others sport a star in the corner made by a marker pointing out that, yes, it is cracked and needs to be replaced. As I counted, I saw that probably 70% of the windows were marked for replacing. I ran my fingers over the one that I was sitting beside. It had obviously been hit by a large rock. I could feel the disruption in the glass and was thankful for the technology that enabled the use of such a strong substance, none the less, some HAVE been injured in these regular incidents.

I thought about the peace of God again, and am thankful that I can honestly say that I do not have fear about these things. I trust The Holy Spirit to lead me in the path that He has for me – either way He chooses. I also see that one of the major aims of terror is to inflict fear and wear down the heart and will of people. Thank You, Lord, for The PEACE of God that passes all understanding and that keeps our hearts and minds in YOU.

I think of His Peace too as my poor, tortured neighbor stomps out her rage at us over our heads. What a GIFT His PEACE is for us.

AND I think about His Peace again as I see the great divide forming across the earth, country to country. The hatred and rage between the left and the right politically and the way it is working itself out. It was very interesting to see a replay of our elections in the UK. It does seem as if a strange, but apparently failing, manipulation of the media, particularly the press, has been going on. It appears to me that the rage and abuse of one side only drove the other side into a place quiet enough so that the pollsters couldn’t get a view of what people were REALLY thinking.

I know that I heard that over and again here from those who planned to vote for Netanyahu for well thought out and real reasons. They did not want to take the verbal abuse and mockery thrown at them by the opposing side and so said nothing. Apparently the UK has seen something similar. Whatever it is, it is embarrassing to hear our opposition working overtime, fueled by pure rage, to already bring down our newly forming government. It is exhausting and sad, BUT FOR HIS PEACE.

And in the midst…in the midst of war on each of our borders, and in the midst of awful things being spoken about us and to us, THE LORD IS BUILDING HIS TEMPLE, HIS BODY IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL! Yes He is…and it is glorious! I guess it is because His ways really ARE far about our ways and His thoughts also so much higher!

It will be JERUSALEM DAY next Sunday: a day that I love. Knowing the Scriptures makes this day all the more special. Each year there are threats of hatred by those who hate that Jerusalem is again Israel, but this is God’s work and God’s hand. And we know that God is not beloved by the world nor are His plans. So it is a great privilege to be able to choose to stand with His plans and purposes for this land and people.

It may NOT appeal to our flesh always, but isn’t that what walking with Him is all about: choosing His way, His Word, His Heart, His choices. And so this city will celebrate the GIFT of Jerusalem! There will be dancing in the streets and all the way down to the Western Wall. Perhaps some of you remember the day that once again, after 2,000 years, the entire people were allowed to enter her gates, to come into her midst and to go to the Western Wall of the temple to pray. One day HE will be revealed as Who He IS to the entire people…maybe today!

To see the story of the reunification of Jerusalem, click here.

God bless you,

your sis J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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April 26, 2015 · 6:54 am

Inside Israel

May THE LORD be glorified and blessed as I greet you on this extraordinary day that yearly brings me to my knees.

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13)

“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 *also ofcourse, spoken as fulfillment by The Lord)

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Yom h’zikeron, memorial day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and those killed by terror attacks is a deeply emotional day. It touches, sadly, nearly every Israeli family personally. It is not a story or someone else’s experience, but the collective experience of a family, a nation, who sends all of it’s sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers and friends off to guard one another and it’s homes within its small borders. All fight the many battles that remain in spite of high aspirations for a still elusive peace.

Amidst the battles have come the terror attacks, claiming the infants and small children and the aged who have served and survived. Truly there is barely a family in this nation that is not carrying the burden of the violent loss of deeply loved ones. The raw emotion is heart wrenching.

By nature and design, we are not a people ashamed or used to hiding away our hearts. As I got on the bus to go to work this morning, I couldn’t hold back the tears as I heard the song on the radio: “Achi” – My brother. I am now able to understand the words and I almost wished that I couldn’t. My brother. You took my hand and with such pride and such a smile led me to my first day at school. You watched me and side-by-side we learned. We played together as best friends. We told secrets and shared our room and our heart…and you were so proud to go just ahead of me to serve our country…how beautiful you were my brother…I will see you again in heaven.

The two-minute siren this morning that brought the entire nation to a standstill settled the shared mantle of grief across the nation. That mantle was lowered with the first siren last night at 8 p.m. But this morning it actively settled across our shoulders. Mount Hertzl cemetery, our national cemetery where our Prime Ministers, leaders and a large percentage of our soldiers are buried, is walking distance from where I live. The streams of many thousands upon thousands who spent the day there continued all day. Soldiers came from all over to be comforted and to comfort the mourners.

Whoever was not mourning afresh, was comforting someone who was, a relative, friend or stranger. Young widows holding babies who would never meet their fathers joined with elderly parents bereft of children or grandchildren. An entire country grieving over personal losses. Letters written by children or other loved ones were printed in the media. Here is a taste:

Dear Dad,

How to sum up in a few words a Dad so strong, so great and powerful?

It’s already been a month without you.

We stayed by your side after your injury. We saw your endless struggle, and we parted from your physical being, but not from your presence. And then, when the worst happened, we joined the families of bereavement, unwillingly, but with great faith that this was G-d’s will. We chose to cope, using your beliefs. You left us no room for indecision about how to live without a father. Even without you, without discussing it with you, I know how you want us to live. You didn’t talk much, talking is Mom’s great quality, but when you spoke you were clear, focused, strong, and sent a message, which reached further than the issue in question, to future principles. We have chosen to find strengths in this difficult trial, to focus on success and not failure, to always try to keep our heads high. To keep smiling even when it is hard, and always keep a positive view, even when our hearts are aching and wounded.

Mom always says we were blessed to have lived in your shadow.

Dad, you weren’t at home much, but you were always there.

I don’t deserve concessions that my Dad is not at home, I have the positives that, even if he is not here, I should work hard, make an effort, share, give, and keep doing things for myself and for others.

Dad, you went, but you are still with us, in the little things and the great ones. You left behind many people who can testify to who you were, can support us and comfort us, hold us and remind us of you, what you contributed, and how lucky we are to be your children.

Dad, at times missing you overcomes us; we have a long way to go, for me, for Mom, brothers and friends, but the path is clear.

I promise to follow in your way; it will always guide us and give us strength; to continue the mission of leading a meaningful life. To look after Mom, Yossiel, Maor and Ami-ad. Together we will succeed, you will be proud of us from up there. I am sure you will protect us and show us the way.

My Dad, you will always be with me, no matter where you are, you are always by my side.

I’m so proud to be your daughter. Always be with us.

May your soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.

I Love you,

Hallel

(Hallel Kachlon, aged 15, from Hadera, is the daughter of Sergeant Major Rami Kachlon, who was injured in an incident on the Gaza border during Operation Protective Edge, and died of his wounds several days later.)

And the question that I had is now answered: HOW IN THE WORLD WILL THEY PULL IT OFF AGAIN THIS YEAR? HOW CAN WE GO FROM MOURNING TO JOY IN A BRIEF BRIDGE? How can a ceremony, the changing of the key of the trumpet from minor to major and the raising of the flag from half mast to full, how can that stop the weeping and give hope to our broken hearts? They did it for 66 years, but now, the 67^th year, can they do it again? Won’t the mourning be so deep that the joy won’t dawn this year?

But it DID!

And it was, again, or perhaps more so, amazing to behold this year! Yes, the mourners prayer (the Kadesh) was prayed by the most recently bereaved father with a broken and faltering voice. The last pieces were still bleeding in the aisles of the Mount Hertzl meeting place as the trumpets blew their mournful sound and then in one note changed to a major key as everyone stood. Solemnly the flag was raised and the colors of the lights also changed and the words from Genesis began to be spoken, sung, displayed on the walls and danced to. All of this, while a scribe wrote them in a scroll and our eyes were turned to the hugeness of God’s creation and the work of His Hands. He was declared from the beginning of the ceremony until the end tonight. His triumph over all, built to a crescendo with a theme of HOPE dancing in and out.

Our Independence (yom h’atz’maoot) is celebrated in this way. Beauty from ashes…the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Yearly 12 torches are lit, one for each tribe of Israel, chosen with a particular theme in mind and trying to represent the diversity of the population.

This year’s torch lighters represented very diverse innovators who bettered the lives of the general public and in many cases, the world. They included Rami Levi, a very down to earth man who used to have a stall in our shuk. It bothered him that prices were so high and that people scuffled to feed their families, so he developed the Rami Levi food chain to SERVE THE PEOPLE and it is both the least expensive, most fair, AND STILL PROSPEROUS food chain in the country. PLUS he employs Jews and Arabs, religious and non religious.

Another torch was lit by the man who developed the iron dome defense system. Another was lit by a female Israeli Arab TV anchorwoman who has been a vanguard in anti-racism and is very brave… she even sang our national anthem tonight.

Then there was a 17 year old girl scientist who has begun a company which is pioneering brain research successfully. AND, there is the young autistic man who started a program for mentally challenged young people to successfully volunteer for the IDF and serve the nation. This is just a sample. Each one gave a short but very inspiring speech. Songs, flags, presentations, a huge embrace of love infused with hope, looking up to God, with a belief in the God-Who-Sees-and-Will-Be-Seen, replacing the mantle of grief. The joy will continue (including wonderful bar-b-ques called mangle) through tomorrow evening.

Amazing!

They pulled it off!

And I think it was because they looked up.

Thank you for caring and praying. May The Lord be KNOWN and GLORIFIED, even here among His ancient people Israel.

Lovingly,

your sis J

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April 19, 2015 · 6:20 am

Inside Israel

Greetings dear sisters and brothers in Yeshua. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed and encouraged. May we all let the peace of God RULE in our hearts.

This is perhaps the most emotional roller coaster time of the year here in Israel. It is a good example of what life here is like, and also this season acts as a training ground to those of us here, training to remain steady and keep walking through great upheavals.

We have walked a bit through the preparations for Passover and the Passover season itself. The week of celebrations are tempered by the siren that covered us with the memory of the Holocaust. Now we are running toward Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen, which begins on Tuesday night until Wednesday night. THEN comes the dramatic (sometimes controversial but ALWAYS dramatic) change-over from grief to joy, like the sudden dawn after a grievously dark night. Our Independence Day begins at the closing ceremony for Memorial Day, as the lowered flag is raised.

And just as the modern state was raised from the ashes of the war of Independence in 1948, when the grief turned to sudden wonder and joy. Then again the dancing and singing begins. Jerusalem Day follows close behind on the 17th of May. AND THEN as if that were not enough, we celebrate SHAVUOT (celebrated as Pentecost in the Church, and that wonderful day in Acts when The Holy Spirit fell in Jerusalem) is on the 24^th. Phew!

Shavuot (49-50 days after Passover) is the second of the three high holidays commanded in scripture, when all men were told to “come up to Jerusalem and present themselves before The Lord. The first of the cycle is Passover and the third is Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) which comes in the fall of the year. I hope to explain that fascinating holiday as it approaches more closely.

BUT right now, as the new flags multiply themselves along the streets, on homes and on cars, and as they are solemnly set on each grave, it is that mysterious time ALSO of “the counting of the omer.” You can find it by reading all of Leviticus chapter 23, (it is mentioned in several other places as well but this is the most specific one).

FIRST OF ALL: WHAT IS AN OMER?

o·mer ˈōmər,ˈōmer/ noun: omer; plural noun: omers; noun: Omer

an ancient Hebrew dry measure, the tenth part of an ephah.

Judaism: a sheaf of corn or omer of grain presented as an offering on the second day of Passover.

Leviticus 23:15- “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, (*THAT IS THE SABBATH OF PASSOVER) from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. ^{(*THAT WOULD MEAN ON SHAVOUT)}You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the Lord. And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Lord. ¹⁹Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. ²⁰The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest. ²¹And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Confusing? You are in good company because it is confusing to many Jews as well. The counting was kept mostly by religious Jews it seemed, when we arrived more then 20 years ago, but with the internet and nifty little “counting the omer calendars” and special meditations on thankfulness for each day of the counting of the omer, it seems to be observed more widely now among younger people. On our calendars there is a small mark which shows which day we are in, and the idea of taking 50 days to be thankful for something from God is never to be smirked at. We should all do that.

I will close now but there is just so much happening before my eyes that it seemed good to share this with you. God bless and encourage you as you press into Him.

Lovingly,

your sis J in Jerusalem

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April 12, 2015 · 9:04 am

Inside Israel

Greetings dear sisters and brothers in The Name of Yeshua h’Meshiach, King of kings and Lord of Lords.

Some cities never sleep. Mine, Jerusalem, is on vacation right now. Well…not me and a few others, but many shops are closed and many parts of the train and bus lines are nearly empty as the population flocks to the Old City, or the northern or southern parts of the country for the week-long festivities during chol h’mo’ed Pesach…or the appointed (in-between) days of this Passover holiday. (The word ‘mo’ed’ actually means “appointed time” but is translated in the English Bible as “feast,” which IS implied, but the word is a bit deeper than that. It means a time appointed to meet with God.)

With the meeting of the simultaneous dates for both Resurrection Sunday and Passover, the population has swelled with tourists, both Jews and Christians, both from outside of the country and from our own north and south. The Old City, the scene of the holiest of events and the focal point of history, where God chose to put His Name, draws all of us, whether it is to the garden tomb where Jesus may well have risen from, or to the site of the Temple where the Levites invoked the ancient blessing of Moses on the people yesterday. There is no denying that the Old City is the ancient heart of the world, still beating with both mystery and promise. But the city itself is just a symbol, a type of what we who know Him and have found in our own prayer closets. Our own walks-along-the way.

The two holidays of Passover and Resurrection Sunday really represent the very foundations of both Covenants…and how amazing that they are one in the same. The birth and the fulfillment.

I wanted to write this year as the smoke hung heavily in the air from the burning of the hometz (leaven). I watched again that ancient rite of fires burning the last of the leaven from off the land, people bringing out the last of their bread products to the fires. I wanted to write as I watched fathers holding the hands of their children who were carrying the baked goods, learning their lesson of obedience to God’s commandment.

But even though it moved me greatly, yet more was added to the thoughts about the burning fires today when a sister visiting from Alaska told me that the night before she had observed the park FULL of families barbequing their dinners last night, the first night after the Pesach day of rest). As she returned to her room later in the evening, the families were already gone and yet the smoke lingered heavily in the valley and she thought how that must have been what it was like at Passover in the days of the temple, when the smoke from all of the sacrifices hung in the air and remained, even when Yeshua was here walking these paths. The Word speaks much about the sweet smelling sacrifice-Jesus being the sweetest smelling One – and this touched me. I prayed again that He would find the sacrifice of our lives pleasing. So much symbolism surrounds us just now. May it stir our hearts for Him.

So as Passover approached, I did get to witness all sorts of small but poignant things that I wanted to share. They are the tastes of Jerusalem and her uniqueness as she waits for her Promise who Himself waits to open her eyes. May these tastes satisfy you with a salt that makes you thirsty to pray for the fulfillment of His perfect purposes according to the longing of His heart. I wrote these notes as I waited for and rode the train shortly before Pesach:

As I waited for the train, watching it approach, a huge raven landed on the track. Our ravens differ in appearance from those that I knew in America as these have a dove brown body (our doves are doe-brown…NOT white) and black wings and head. As the train got closer, it seemed to “play chicken” with the approaching train, not flying off until the very last second. I held my breath, not wanting to see a squished raven. As I noted the glint in it’s eye (having enjoyed its game) I thought, “Huh! It’s Israeli. It has an Israeli chutzpah personality. It is not politically correct. It challenges itself to its limit all of the time, and this is somehow a reflection of the character of the people.

I was still thinking about this as I got on the train crowded with soldiers. I stood beside a young soldier with an Uzi strapped across his back and a big lunch bag in his hand. I could see the cucumber, tomato and pita inside the plastic bag. I smiled at the little boy look on his face. Looking out the window I noticed brand new flags – an Israeli flag alternated with a Jerusalem flag – all along the tracks. They had not been there yesterday and I realized that they were just being put up. I watched as they blew so gloriously in the wind: a proclamation of a promise made by God to Abraham and continued through the days of Moses and down through David and through out the centuries of dispersion and even in the face of constant threats of annihilation. There they flew, fresh flags proclaiming that HE WHO HAS BEEN FAITHFUL WILL BE FAITHFUL.

As I watch the people running through the shuk. The freshly harvested huge garlic, fragrant and woven into braids for gifts in glorious contrast with the deep red strawberries, golden bananas, glowing oranges of all hews and sizes, fruits, vegetables, greens, reds, purples, yellows, oranges, among happy but hurriedly focused crowds rushing toward the goal of being ready before the shofar is sounded to announce that it is TIME to sit down to the Passover. I watched a tall (Israelis are generally rather short…like yours truly…or maybe NOT quite as short as me) tourist excitedly pointing his smart phone around and shouting excitedly into it, “You wouldn’t BELIEVE this. You should SEE it.” It made me smile.

But I also watched a blind woman feeling her way through the produce and a young woman came up taking her arm and saying, “Can I help you?” They turned and smiled at each other and even without seeing, they saw.

Right after that I overheard another young man on the phone calling someone and saying, “You were on my mind and I wondered if you need any last minute help?”

All around me people were helping one another, being kind, greeting one another , “Hag Sameach.” (Happy Holiday.) In the midst of the outwardly rude, pushing mass, there was a steady flow of kindness and help. It warmed my heart.

I was very tired and not feeling well. So I was happy and thankful to be invited by the elders family at kehila to their Seder in their home, and had only prepared my contribution to their dinner and a gift, needing to work right up to the day of the Seder, on that Friday evening.

I did NOT have a very godly response when my husband announced on Tuesday that he did not want to go. He thought we would just stay home. Seder is NOT something people have alone. The scriptures say that each family takes a lamb and if the family is TOO SMALL for a whole lamb, they should take it with another family. A year old lamb is a LOT of meat, so this implies a BIG GATHERING. Even when we did NOT gather with MANY people, we at least had our children and a few guests.

Yes…I was angry! Here I stood before Pesach and Resurrection day, before the commemoration of what He has done and more importantly, WHO HE IS. I was full of sin, anger, even self-righteous anger because I felt like a martyr who had a right to be angry. AND I couldn’t even ASK Him to forgive my husband because I was so ANGRY. WHAT TO DO? My prayers were more like: “God…? Are you there? Hum…help.” Period.

I am writing now BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL.

My husband and I had THE BEST SEDER EVER. By faith and with some anger and depression, I set the table as before Him for the holiday with the Seder plate, the matzo and the grape juice. I set out our haggadot (these are the books that are read at Passover Seder that retell both the story of Passover and are full of teaching commentary.)

Although they are passed down through the ages, different cultural, ethnic, or persuasion groups have their own slants. We have quite an assortment of haggadot in our home. We have inherited my father’s, we have some from different groups of believers, we have others in Hebrew only and we even have one that I put together one year.

There is one that we were given in ulpan (language class) when we first made aliyah, that was put out by the Misrad h’klita (or the Ministry of Absorption of the Jewish Agency) which is for immigrants and is in Hebrew PLUS every possible other language. It also explains traditions and background for those who don’t yet know them.

So here sits my husband and his rebellious wife. I hand him (he is profoundly dyslexic by the way, and finds reading VERY difficult) the huge pile of haggadot and say, (hoping to make him feel REALLY guilty) “Ok. Lead us.”

He said, “I want to do a traditional Seder like your Dad did. We will use his haggadah.”

Well, my Dad’s haggadah was VERY dry and written in King James English, full of this rabbi said this and that rabbi said that. My Dad used to HUM through a lot of it and skip whole portions. It is boring to say the least. We didn’t get far into that one when he picked up one from a believers Seder instead and said, “Let’s change to this one.”

That one was easier reading, but after a while it diverted so far from the traditional that it left out so much that we started flipping through them all. While he did that, I got up and took the afikomon.

This is a side comment, but perhaps some of you remember that afikomon is a bit of a mystery during the Seder order. (Usually it is stated: we don’t know WHY we do this exactly.) The leader of the Seder takes 3 pieces of matzo (unleavened bread) and places them in a special bag (or napkin) with 3 slots. NO ONE QUITE KNOWS WHY BUT the MIDDLE PIECE of this pierced, striped unleavened bread is BROKEN. Then the BROKEN PIECE IS SET ASIDE AND HIDDEN. AT THE END OF THE FEAST, THE BROKEN MIDDLE PIECE IS SHARED WITH EVERYONE AT THE FEASH. IS THIS A PICTURE OR WHAT OF YESHUA AND OF THE REVELATION THAT WILL COME?

The Son, broken and hidden away to be revealed at the end of the feast, which CAN not end until HE is shared with all called to the feast. I love it so much.

So…to continue…while my husband was distracted and puzzling how to proceed, I got up and took the afikomon from beside him and placed it in my Bible.

So, we ate our rather simple but nice meal after getting through the plagues and moving on. It was now about 8:30 and my husband was ready to end the meal. I said, “Hey! Not so fast. Not without afikomon.”

He said, “Well, that’s easy. It’s right here…”

I smiled like a Cheshire cat.

“HOW DID YOU GET IT? WHERE IS IT?” he asked and was truly surprised.

“You don’t get it until I get what I want,” I told him.

According to Jewish Passover tradition, as kids we bargained for a small toy or a bit of candy. “Ok, what do you want. I don’t want to be here forever.”

Well, I wanted two things, and I was unmovable: he did the cleaning up AND I wanted to finish the FULL Seder. I had never done that before. Usually after the meal we would sing a few songs because everyone was full and tired and happy. We would bless The Lord and end.

Again, the haggadot came out and we searched. He picked the one from the Jewish Agency and it stated that the end of the service is called “THE HILLEL” (which is WORSHIP AND PRAISE).

It is ALL taken from scriptureand from Psalms. Deut. 8:10 says, “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.”

And so in Judaism the main blessing is prayed AFTER the meal rather then before…and…oh my…true praise and worship it is. As we read, we both began to weep and worship and praise as His glory was repeated and His Name was blessed and over and over and over Who He IS was lifted up in thanksgiving, page after page of blessing into song. We finished at 10:30 full of light and joy and love for one another, but mostly for Him Who somehow MIRACULOUSLY brought us out of anger and darkness…NOT with harsh rebuke and chastening, although we so deserved it, but by pointing our eyes toward HIMSELF. In worship, our sin was drowned and we were once again delivered, as the children of Israel went through the Sea of Reeds (yes…it isn’t the Red Sea in Hebrew but the REED Sea.”

With still much to share, may this offering (which it is) be acceptable to Him and encouraging to you.

For His glory.

Your sis J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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

Tagged as Christianity, Church, Israel, Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Spiritual warfare

March 29, 2015 · 7:07 am

Inside Israel

Greetings and blessings with love dear sisters and brothers in Yeshua, Jesus, The risen King of kings and Lord of lords. May He be blessed and glorified, and may you be blessed and edified.

In this city, the place recorded over and over in scriptures as the place that God chose to put His Name, people are scrubbing.

For those of you new to this letter, the quickest way to understand the reason for the intense cleaning is to read Exodus 12. The very fact that Yeshua is referred to as “our Passover” and is The Lamb that takes away the sins of the world, having been pierced and broken and His precious Blood applied to our hearts, says to me that an intimate understanding of this holiday, the commands attached to it, and the thread that it represents throughout the Bible holds a key to wonderful promises, as well as a clearer picture of Him for each of us.

The Jewish people who don’t yet know Him, even walking in just the shadow of the promises, have great joy in walking this out before Him. We as believers, knowing Him who has fulfilled the full picture, can worship Him Who does ALL things well. I DO get caught up in the glory of it all.

Cleaning, scrubbing and replacing: When God told the children of Israel that NO LEAVEN SHOULD BE SEEN IN THEIR HOMES AT ALL during this feast…well…He opened the can of a million questions. What is leaven? This year, I will not go into this question, but I am certain that removing leaven from a tent thousands of years ago was probably easier then hanging out of the window of a third floor apartment to scrape out the cracker crumbs that your children dropped into the window casing, not to mention crumbs in the couch, every chair, the baby carriage, the plastic bags, the cracks in the floor, etc. Can you picture the panic?

Then there are LABELS to read – each and every one! What appears on the Rabbis list of leavened food this year that was not there last year? It is a particular challenge to the scrupulous. Those who are fearful and weigh their spirituality by a measurement of being the most clean. Many rabbis take to the airwaves admonishing young mothers to maintain an honest balance and to remember that dust is not leaven (in other words…calm down a bit) and to keep in the forefront that the cleansing of the heart before God is the most important thing.

Other ultra orthodox communities literally empty their homes of every item, putting it on the street, and teams of young and older men hose out the entire home. (Our younger daughter’s in-laws do this.)

The shuk is crowded with people purchasing new plates and cutlery, dish drains and garbage pails, pots and towels. They are not high quality and they will be replaced next year. Meanwhile, the pickings on the street are excellent. Some get a new ironing board or couch that someone else felt they couldn’t adequately clean; they will clean it and a need is met. People who need a new refrigerator or stove usually wait until Passover to get it so that they have a clean one ready.

Other people simply leave their homes and go to a hotel for the entire weeklong holiday, trusting the hotel’s cleaning staff (certified by a rabbi of course), thus sealing off their own homes. The rabbis also certify the food stores after each has done a thorough cleaning, sealing off with shrink wrap or another form of plastic seal, rows of items that are considered not kosher for Passover.

Last year I was at the market across the road from our apartment when the rabbi blew the shofar and certified the store as kosher for Passover. There was a joy present as the people smiled.

The Lord JUDGED THE GODS OF EGYPT (EXODUS 12:12 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.”) and in this manner, Israel remembers The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…WHO CALLED FOR THE PASSOVER LAMB.

Those who come to visit the land get to see MUCH more then I ever have, perhaps I should say different things. Maybe someday I will go on a tour and see and learn, too. I think it is wonderful that God has experiences for all who open their hearts to see that The Lord has done great things for us and displays His glory in so many ways.

A friend from Alaska is visiting here right now. She brought two others who have not been here before and we joined them for dinner this past Shabat (Friday night). The Friday-Saturday before a high holiday is called a Shabat h’gadol or a HIGH Shabat. It is celebrated with much seriousness and preparation of heart, and much joy. Our friends went to the Western Wall – considered the holiest place in Judaism (the only part of the original Temple still standing, where many go to pray and to place little papers with their prayers into the cracks in the wall. Many ceremonies are blessed there: bar mitzvahs, weddings, new babies, all sorts of events and consecrations.

They came back with this glowing report and although I wasn’t there to see it, I would like to share as accurately as I can recall. At the wall, they joined in the reading of the sidur (means “order of the service”) – a small book that is available in many languages and is an edifying compilation of Psalms and prayers to help the worshipper set their heart in order before The Lord on Shabat and before a holiday…or at the start or end of a day or whenever) on the “women’s side” of the wall.

My friend said that as they were praying these Psalms speaking of “you will rejoice and sing and shout for joy before me,” large groups of men, spontaneously broke out in song and joyful dance on the “men’s side” of the wall. (This would be the circle dancing typical of the religious.) They shouted praises to God as the sun went down and Shabat was coming on. Her description alone brought my heart to weeping.

It is happening. Hearts are hungry for Him. Oh may He come and reveal Himself NOW! At the Passover Seder that almost all will sit down to next Friday night…voices will rise and the ancient story will be told again around every table. This year may He come and reveal Himself. Will you pray with and for us? As believers celebrate the Risen Lamb, we have the great gift of prayer that avails much.

May His Presence be with each of you all in a new and deeper way as we all look to The Lamb and celebrate His miraculous deliverances, both personally and corporately AND look with anticipation toward those to come. May each of us encounter Him as He is and nothing less. I do so much appreciate each of you. Blessings to each of you.

Lovingly,

your sis J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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Filed under Christianity, Church, Israel, Jerusalem, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as Christianity, Church, Israel, Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Spiritual warfare