Category Archives: Israel

March 22, 2015 · 2:38 pm

Inside Israel

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

Greetings, dear Brothers and Sisters, faithful and hopeful, trusting in The Blood of The risen Lamb of God, May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blesse.

I doubt that there is one of you who has not heard about our election results, although the final outcome won’t be known until a government is formed. (Thanks to our incredibly complicated political system.

Polling stations were open across the country from 7a.m. until 10 p.m. At 7 a.m., my husband and I walked out of our apartment and crossed the street to our assigned polling place. I thought of you as we were immediately greeted by neat, kind faced, strong-bodied security men who blocked the way to the station. One glance up the block reminded me that our leaders set an example to the country by being at the polls first. It turned out that our President (Reuven Rivlin) and his wife were voting at our station. All waited patiently for them to finish.

There was a sense of excitement in the air, and indeed this was reflected in a high voter turnout – nearly73%, much higher then in past years. People were friendly one with another, yet not asking, “Who are you voting for?”

Most people seemed to assume that EVERYONE was voting for change because that’s what the polls had consistently reflected. What they DIDN’T count on was that the virulent intimidation and aggressive arrogance DEMANDING change, and accusing those who did not believe as they did of being stupid and racist, did not SILENCE their VOTE. We became the “silent majority,” not wanting to be exposed to the violence of words.

It was an upset. One that made MANY of us smile.

I was thankful to go for an emergency doctor’s appointment and also thankful that my doctor was willing to see me in spite of the incredible winter that we have had here, which has stretched the medical workers to the max. I saw a Doctor walk into the nurses’ station and in a couple of minutes heard angry yelling from one of the nurses. As I listened I heard: “Don’t you tell ME why I voted for him! I’m sick of the liberal media telling me that I was duped or it was fear mongering, or that I am uneducated or racist! I know EXACTLY what I am voting for and why!”

Hum…sounds like some backlash.

When I went for my blood test, Svetlana was smiling like a Cheshire cat and humming. “Shalom Svetlana, why so happy?”

Her eyes literally twinkled. “The election,” she said simply. “I would rather fear God then Obama and count on His help then America’s.” A

And THAT was exactly what I had seen as the decision maker here. Will we disobey the world or The Lord? The chips are finally down on the table.

I was happy but surprised to get the same reaction from a co-worker the following day, a young woman in her early twenties. She told me that she got into an argument at university about her vote and was shocked at the ugly words thrown at her. “I let them roll off,” she said. “So if it’s war now…at least we don’t wait till the West makes deals with our so-called neighbors and arms them further. If we look to God, He promises to be with us, doesn’t He?”

On the other side, there is angry disbelief that so many people can be so stupid.

But generally, on the bus and train, I feel that people are much calmer, more secure and less discouraged.

As I said, because of our incredibly complicated political system, we still don’t know who the government will be or even who will be at the helm, but in my spirit I sense that there IS a renewed strength. By the way, when the soldiers votes were counted, they raised our Prime Minister’s party by a full seat, showing that even the young soldiers are backing him, unexpected and encouraging.

I have no doubt that it WON’T be easy, but I would rather be in His will and cast upon Him.

I think you are hearing enough of world reaction…and you know, I am neither an expert nor a political analyst, just a witness. Hopefully, a faithful one.

Exodus 12:1-3 “ And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, ²This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. ³Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:” (at sundown on Friday the 20^th of March began the first month according to scripture…the month of Nissan leading up to Passover, (Pesach), the celebration of the liberation through the blood deliverance of God by the blood of the pascal lamb…AND…THE FULLFILLMENT…still not fully embraced here in the land.)

And now Passover preparations are entering full gear and that includes A LOT of work. Funny how we can make His gracious gifts so heavy at times.

Most of our larger food stores have already been scrubbed from top to bottom. The hometz of food with leaven, not kosher for Pesach, moved to a far corner. It will either disappear altogether or be shrink-wrapped and sealed by a rabbi with a label that can not be broken by law until after Pesach. On the shelves, matzo appears along with special cookies and cakes, flours, gefilte fish, grape juice and all sorts of foods peculiar to this holiday.

GARLIC APPEARS IN THE SHUK. That might sound funny, but the highly fragrant fresh huge bulbs of garlic, still caked with earth and bulky with long leaves seems to hail the oncoming Pesach. The garlic, woven into braids or wreaths are a much-enjoyed gift to receive at Pesach. The shuk also opens new stalls filled with inexpensive dishes and cutlery, pots, single use items, all fresh for Passover, never having been in touch with leaven of any sort.

Homes are being scrubbed from top to bottom and hometz being removed there as well. Many people will replace all kitchen items. Some throw out couches and all sorts of household items that might have crumbs inside them.

In the midst of these preparations, the synagogues are also full with heart-preparation taking place.

Yes, the mad dash has begun!

But in the midst, the reason is not forgotten…and I think particularly this year, so soon after the elections, people will be looking for comfort in the scriptures and their meaning.

May the Lord bless you,

your sister J

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March 15, 2015 · 8:48 am

Inside Israel

Greetings in The Name of The Lord, Whose path is set so that we might just keep walking toward the goal of knowing Him, serving Him faithfully, filled with HIS Spirit Alone, for His glory Alone, by His grace and in His strength. Only HE could do that with the likes of us, eh? May He be blessed and glorified and may you be blessed.

With so much happening, His plans swirl around us here at an ever-increasing rate. I’m sure that most of you know how different segments around the world received our Prime Minister’s speech before the US congress. You also probably know that our elections are scheduled to take place on the 17^th of March.

In my opinion, there is often a fine line between our own observations and opinions and then finding His Heart and will, particularly in political matters. But in deed, we are CALLED to Know Him AND His will, so, we know that He does not contradict His Word and the WHOLE counsel of His Word.

This means that I do know that Israel is part of His end-time plan and it means for Israel to be part of His plan, it must be in existence. I ALSO know that HE says that Israel WILL stand alone and must look to HIM Alone. This is also in His end-time plan. I also know from His Word that all of the world will come against us.

These things help me to not vote according to the panic that many Israelis feel as they see the political echelons of America and Europe turning against us. Although the speech given by Netanyahu in the US congress received a huge number of standing ovations and at the same time, scornful responses of those opposed to his words. The idea that the speech was an election ploy was surely proved wrong when the polls showed that the speech did NOT influence votes here at all. He is still running increasingly behind the left wing (as far as the polls show, which means little in my opinion.)

From the many talks that I had with patients at the doctor’s office where I work, my understanding is that the MAIN LINE OF DIVISION is between those who believe that we MUST trust God Alone as a nation…and those who believe that we must trust the nations, particularly America. You would be amazed at the number of conversations that I have had with people who say, “But we KNOW that we will stand alone and must finally trust God completely…”

Yes. They know, many of them. And I hear it on the bus and train as well. Most people do NOT enjoy being scoffed at, so you do not hear it loudly because those in the media and the universities have such devastatingly sharp tongues and pens. But I do share it with you for prayer.

We MUST be a nation that depends on our God Alone. THAT is the will of God to which I have no doubt. It means not being afraid BECAUSE of looking away unto Him. It is easy for me to say that I know Yeshua, Jesus. But to my brothers and sisters after the flesh that do not yet know His Face and His Name, I look forward to the fulfillment of Romans 9, 10 and 11, Ezekiel 36, Zechariah 12, Mat 23:37-39, Luke 13:34-35, just to name a very few.

So, yes, I ask for prayer for our elections, that God will turn the hearts of the people to vote according to His will.

As the media stands excitedly poised to welcome a Netanyahu defeat, I remember clearly a few events that were exclamation points along my observations. Perhaps you remember, too:

The US President ran his campaign with a motto: “Change!’ (“yes we can”). At the time I recall quoting the verse Proverbs 24:21-22 –

²¹My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

²²For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

I had red flags in my heart back then because change was the goal. I am old enough to have seen rebellion and how it works: “The present is uncomfortable…we want out…anything seems better then this.”

When the US President was elected, I closely watched his visit to Egypt where he so warmly greeted then President Hosni Mubarak and pledged in his speech to loyally back him. But his agenda of change was already working and with barely the blink of an eye he was supporting the Moslem Brotherhood and the stunned Mubarak was toppled overnight. This was the beginning of the Arab Spring.

I also remember clearly the President’s trip here where with the support of Shimon Peres, our “man of peace”, the main author of the chaotic Oslo peace accords. Obama gathered a large number of handpicked left-wing Israeli university students, WITHOUT consulting our Prime Minister, and had a heart to heart chat with our young people, encouraging them to “rise up and bring CHANGE.” These were seeds, or tares, well planted into fertile, intellectual, energetic minds, political science majors, who know how to organize.

I also remember why these nasty, early elections were called. There was a rebellion in the government and our Prime Minister said that he needed a mandate to run the country and that he could not do it with the bickering and mockery instigated mainly by the left. (I am NOT saying that none of it was legitimate! I am saying though that it was organized and he was correct.)

It is interesting that attrition (“the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.”) appears to produce a response of CHANGE, unless we are standing firm in HIM with our eyes fixed steadfastly on His Face, which NEVER CHANGES.

And so our elections – WHICH WILL INDEED AFFECT THE ENTIRE WORLD – pose a clear choice to a very, very weary people: left wing choosing to stand with the world and please them in a run toward peace at any price or right wing with a decision to stand in our understanding of God’s purposes…that He has given us this land and we are not to give it away… even at the expense of relentless struggles.

At times like this, Daniel 9:27 comes up for discussion among many:

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

And yet I prefer to focus on different verses: 1 Corin 10:13 “…but God is faithful…” and Eph. 2:4 “But God, Who is rich in mercy…” 1 Thes 4:8 “…but God, Who has also given unto us His Holy Sprit…”

Oh, there are others. NO, I am NOT more spiritual…not by a long shot. But I really cannot figure it all out…AND YET, I KNOW THE ONE WHO CAN AND WHO HAS AND WHO IS ALREADY THERE. What does it all mean? We get to look more unto The Lord, to draw nearer and to learn more of His mercy. I know what I HOPE happens on this coming Tuesday, and I pray toward that end, but I pray looking away toward Him.

Thank you for praying along with us for His glory!

Lovingly,

your sister J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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March 3, 2015 · 8:23 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America on Tuesday (3/3/2015)

electionsmeter.com

At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over Israel, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (Daniel 12:1)

Like all nations, Israel is imperfect and flawed, but no other nation in the history of the world has so many promises and a divine destiny written in the Bible like Israel does. America doesn’t. England doesn’t. Russia doesn’t. Only Israel has such unique promises spoken by the Creator for His chosen people: the Jews.

Now, if you believe the Bible is truly God’s Word, then you only have one choice: to stand with Israel. Otherwise, you may find yourself fighting against God, which I guarantee will be a losing position for you.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I pray that we Americans bless Israel and also that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem so that our nation will prosper in the future. (Based on Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 122:6)

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

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

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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March 2, 2015 · 3:37 pm

Inside Israel

Greetings dear sisters and brothers, in The Name of Yeshua, King of kings and Lord of lords. May He alone be glorified and may you be blessed and edified. I have missed you and feel impressed in my heart to write NOW.

I believe there is a cry for prayer rising with your todayg up from the heart of God that is pressing me to share. A title keeps swirling around in my mind: Purim Protocol.

Most know plenty about Purim, the holiday that is a result of the events recorded in the book of Esther. Many of you have even participated in Esther fasts or other preparations of heart to seek God concerning His breakthroughs for the Jewish people or the body or personal needs, when the enemy seems particularly close at hand. Well, Purim is upon us now: Wednesday through Thursday for unwalled cities, and Thursday through Friday for walled cities, Jerusalem being one of the walled cities. The book of Esther, the only book in the Bible where the Name of God is not directly mentioned, is a short book, just 10 short chapters in length. It is an easy read and we often reflect on: “for such a time as this” and “if I perish, I perish.” Powerful words from the mouths and hearts of people caught or called into a moment of history where doing and saying the right thing was key to the continuance of God’s program and the bringing forth of Messiah from His people.

It has struck me deeply that because of the urgency of the message Esther did not approach the king according to protocol. This could have had dire consequences, unless God protected Esther.

Our countries stand at a brink − not just those of you in America, but for the whole world. Since you are the ones who pray for Israel, perhaps you are aware of the messy, ugly election campaign that currently bogs us down here in Israel. I mention these things because also many of you have written and said that you do not listen to the news, so I am adding a bit of background.

Perhaps you know that our Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, arrived in Washington DC this morning to give two speeches. One to the AIPAC (American Israel lobby group) convention today, Monday, 10 a.m. Washington DC time or 5 p.m. Israel time. The other is at the invitation of the Congressional Majority Leader to a joint session of the US Congress. THIS SECOND SPEECH HAS CAUSED A FIRESTORM!

Background: For at least 9 years (some say as long as 20) our Prime Minister has been harping on the Iranian enrichment program. He has taken every opportunity to express the existential threat that he is convinced this program poses. The world has gotten tired of hearing him and the mockery thrown at him is painful to hear. Nonetheless he has stated time and again that he would take ANY PLATFORM OPEN TO HIM TO CRY OUT ABOUT THIS DANGER.

He accepted the invitation to speak to the US Congress, and the world around him blew up. It was announced that the invitation was “Not according to protocol,” and that his acceptance was an affront to the US President who was not consulted about the visit. It was offensive and a danger to Israel -US relations. He was told that the US President, Vice President, and many others would not attend the speech as it was electioneering. The US Administration’s policy is not to meet with people running for major offices so close to an election.

Our election is the 17^th of March, but the Iranian nuclear deal is running toward completion now. Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to Congress on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Washington DC time and 5 p.m. our time.

Our own news media and politicians are smearing him. How he is able to withstand the pressure must be because of the numerous prayers holding him up. Tuesday night is the night before erev Purim (or the night before Purim begins) meaning that it is during the Esther fast for those who fast.

“All the king’s servants, and people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” (Esther 4:11)

Then Mordecai bade them to return an answer unto Esther: ‘Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more then all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father’s house will perish; and who knoweth whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

I personally see a connection here that I cannot ignore. Normally it would be unheard of for a Prime Minister to speak to the US Congress against the wishes of a standing President. It is definitely not happening according to protocol.

We need the scepter of the Lord to be extended to Binyamin Netanyahu. We need the anointing of God to be upon him without him taking any glory. We need the message to be accurate and to be heard and heeded.

Because of the media blitz and electioneering AGAINST the Prime Minister in Israel, his election ratings have gone down. I do not know how anyone can think that he is doing this to win votes.

Perhaps I am wrong, but may The Lord be RIGHT and I am asking for you to be aware of this incredibly pivotal moment and to pray according to His Heart, if He calls your heart to prayer.

Outside, the shuk is full of colorful baskets and costumes and the shopping carts are full of goodies to put in the baskets and give out to one another in accordance with Esther 9:20-28

Signs announce Purim parties and readings of the book of Esther will take place all over the country, in homes and chosen spots. The noise-makers, called groggers or greggers will clank out their irritating noise whenever the name of Haman is mentioned during the reading, which helps to keep the children focused on the words.

And in the midst of the preparation for the age-old customs of Purim, we once again see a broken protocol and a plea for mercy against annihilation.

May The Lord be glorified.

Lovingly,

your sister J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

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February 15, 2015 · 9:17 am

Inside Israel

Greetings in The Precious Name of Yeshua h’Meshiach, Jesus The Messiah, The Christ, The risen Son, King of kings and Lord of lords…may He ALONE be glorified and may you be blessed and edified.

I do greet you lovingly with shalom that comes from Him alone. Surely there is no peace in the world. How sad it is to see so many lost without Him and His peace.

My cousin is here visiting us from New York City. She knows that I’m a believer because I have shared my story with her. She had planned on coming with me to fellowship on Shabat, but is now waffling. Just before coming here, she met an old friend whom she hadn’t seen in 30 years. Her friend is a Gentile believer who lives in Jerusalem and apparently shared very forcefully with Paula about Jesus. Thus far, it has had the opposite effect, so I am praying.

Our foster daughter, Yvonne, is scheduled to arrive this coming Monday. Then the day before she leaves on 1 March, my husband’s brother has tickets to arrive and to be here until two other very old friends from NYC arrive. Phew! Here goes!

In the midst of this, I doubt that any of you could be unaware of the intense worldwide mockery and opposition against our Prime Minister’s upcoming speech before the US Congress. I cannot imagine such pressure against a single man. I do appreciate your prayers for him.

I am personally convinced that there is no political motivation involved but that he truly is a voice crying in the wilderness about the Iranian threat. You might remember the dream that I had back in 1988 about Iran and the bomb. That dream took place totally out of any context in my life at the time. It is one of the only two dreams that I ever had, which I felt was prophetic. Up until recently it would have been IMPOSSIBLE for it to come to pass, but the days are running and are even here.

I believe that we are witnessing huge events, and that just as the worldwide weather patterns have changed into extreme patterns that populations are not prepared to deal with, it now seems to be in every area of life. I feel that the life I have known is rapidly becoming extinct. I don’t mean to be so dramatic, but from this vantage point, that is how I see it. I still wonder at how The Lord took me from living at the ends of the earth, a quiet life, uncaring about “current events” and what the world was doing, and for reasons of His own, placed me in the center of the earth and said: “What do you see? Write it down. You are a witness.”

In the past I have shared much about our fellowship (kehila) and many of you have prayed for different ones here. Over the years that stopped for some reason, but it was in my heart to share some things with you about our fellowship today. It’s great!

We are blessed with a Pastor who seeks Him and brings His Word faithfully without diluting it or removing from us the burden of responding to it. It is a challenge to never coast, and also a most valuable gift. There are many members of the kehila going through much fire right now. And I wonder if some of you might take one or more to pray for them. I know with me, that is how it works.

The Holy Spirit can put on your heart one person to battle for, so with that in mind I want to share a couple of needs: Luba is a 67 year old sister who made aliyah from Russia 19 years ago. She was already a widow back them and has one daughter who lives in the Tel Aviv area. But the daughter has her own burden and is pregnant with her 10^th child. There’s no way for her to travel to help her mother. One or more of the children are always ill with a cold or something, which also means that she can’t be with her Mom because Luba has a very rare and deadly cancer. She has gone through chemo and radiation and needs a miracle. We are all trying to care for her, but really, she is alone too often and is very weak. Perhaps someone might pray for her.

Another is Keren. She is still in a wheel chair after some 9 years already and it is hard on her, Tsaki (her husband) and the two girls. She became paralyzed after she had an epidural (spinal) during the birth of their second daughter. This godly young family needs their hands lifted up.

Carmen (with 5 godly children) and Hanna have recently had their backslidden husbands leave them. They also need encouragement.

Another sister, Elana needs prayer. I share these names just now because I felt an urging to in my spirit. If one person is picked up by just one it is worth it. The body is an amazing organism.

Once again I notice how MUCH this tiny country has changed in tangible ways, just since we arrived twenty years ago. I was looking around our super market and remembering how it was when we came. Birds flew through the stores and perched on the shelves. There was no English to be seen on any label, and our food experiments were often humorous. We could have delicious yogurt, especially when you couldn’t read that it was 28% fat sour cream. And who knew back then, that the nut butters were mixed with chocolate or that the zucchini was pale and not dark green.

There was much to learn by trial and error, plenty of erros. And NOW, there is much written in English, both on labels and signs. And speaking of signs, I loved the fact that there were no billboard signs, no graffiti, no advertising anywhere to be seen when we came. That too has changed and signs are displayed on every available space now, including buses and trucks.

I didn’t particularly like the fact that sales were a totally foreign idea in Israel back then. If a food was outdated and you asked to pay a lower price, the merchant would look at you as if you were crazy and ask, “Why?” Products would go from full price to the garbage. There was no in-between. Now we have sales.

When we came the country was still naïve. There was much more hope in the air. In so many ways, the country has caught up with the West and lost its naiveté.

Thankfully I still think it has it’s flavor – the underlying heartbeat that exclaims, “The Lord has claimed us. Oh Abba Father, where are You and where are we?”

His hunt for the heart of this people will be won. He WILL be displayed and glorified in a people still lost. His Word IS faithful, as is His Spirit. How do you explain Israel? How do you mark her towers and chart her path? ONLY through His Word. From Genesis through Revelation there it all is laid out for us to wonder at and walk and BELIEVE.

There is a new exhibit that has just opened at the museum called “By the rivers of Babylon.” On display are ancient stone tablets with writings recording the Babylonian captivity and confirming the words of the prophets. These were just found.

Will we hear them louder now? It’s all knee work, isn’t it? It’s all so simple; going to the cross, dying to self, following faithfully. Come, hear, obey, and LOVE. Don’t I wish it were as simple to keep my feet in the center of that path?

God bless you and keep you.

Lovingly,

your sis J

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February 8, 2015 · 3:58 pm

Inside Israel

As Shabat fades into the first night of the new week, (our days are counted from sundown to sundown) I greet you in The Name of Him Who has already walked this week and knows what lies ahead. May He hold us close to His heart as we walk hand in Hand with Him. What assurance to know that we don’t know what lies ahead, but HE DOES…and He can handle it.

Tu b’shvat (the 15^th of the month of Shvat) is upon us now. I sat before Him in His Word and He dealt faithfully with my heart and I thought how well it fit in with this celebration. The what , how, and why Tu b’shvat is celebrated can be checked out here. The “how” is easy on the surface: we eat fruit (for some reason, particularly dried fruit -probably because only winter fruits are readily available right now) and we plant trees, particularly fruit and nut bearing trees.

This morning, while reading in Haggai, I looked at a verse one way and He suddenly riveted my eyes to the opposite direction with His Light exposing an area of my heart. He pressed me to the floor with His Words: “A sanctified (holy) you is not a dead you…it is still flesh and stinks. It is a counterfeit.” In other words: DIE TO SELF is still the name of the game and my eyes were being lulled to sleep. I am SO thankful for the faithfulness of The Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin and for giving us the great gift of REPENTANCE. OH THANK YOU YESHUA. HE is faithful.

And so, what does this have to do with Tu b’shvat?

I thought about dried fruit and dried hearts. And I thought about trees and roots and plantings and wheat and tares and sweet fruit and disappointing fruit and then I suddenly remembered that it was Tu b’shvat. This is a Shmita year (a sabbatical year when we do not plant in the ground: every seventh year) and well, YOU tie it altogether.

And I have stored up some “only in Israel” stories to share when I had a moment. Deep breath!

I had to chuckle and think several times over the past few weeks as I wondered how to graciously share this story with you. In the midst of so many weighty events, this is a lighter one. I think that it falls under the category of “Peace between Jews and Arabs on the kindergarten level.”

I have often told you over the years about “my beggar”…Mohammed by name. He and I go back 17 years already and I have watched his children grow up. I had a hand in turning him from a being full fledged beggar into a salesman of sorts. When I first began to work at the doctor’s office, Mohammed would come around and beg for a hand out. Everyone else would flee the room and I was left holding the bag.

I soon found that the more that I gave him, the more he wanted. He was NEVER thankful. I prayed for him and thought about him a lot. I have shared many stories about him over the years: how I taught him to be thankful…how I encouraged his children to use their education toward a job…how I gave them Bibles in Arabic and prayed that their children might read them etc. Mohammed and I are the same age and after 17 years I look forward to seeing him every Friday. I worry when he doesn’t show up. He brings me vegetables now and although I’m not sure where he gets them, I’m always thankful and he smiles broadly.

So I worried about him and his family when the weather turned cold. I had reason. “Tachtunot…arbeem vay arba…” he said to me. This was an unusual request that took me aback: “Women’s underwear, size 44.”

I WOULD have been indignant, except I felt The Holy Spirit’s nudge and felt He said to me: “His wife is cold and he trusts you with this request.”

I told him that I would do my best. Since our sizes are different (small, med, large, etc), it took me a few tries. “These are too small,” he told me the first time.

He began coming back daily and I found myself seriously shopping for underwear for a lady whom I’d never met.

“These are too large,” he told me with some urgency the second time.

I was running out of funds now, but this lady was cold. I felt like Goldilocks.

The order then changed: “My wife needs 6 pairs.”

Gulp! I prayed some more. “Lord, please help me find the right size.”

Back downtown I went yet once again in search of size 44 and six of them.

Thursday I handed him the latest package. I saw him go outside and check them out. He smiled and took off. Friday he returned with the prettiest radishes I’d ever seen. They fit. Mission accomplished. Bridges between warring peoples were built. One lady was more comfortable in the cold weather, but they are not yet safe in Him.

I’m thankful that God cares about beggars. Perhaps you would want to pray for Mohammed and his family? I wonder if he will retire before me….

Speaking of not yet safe in Him, that is exactly how I felt as my husband and I went to a shiva on Monday night. I’ve explained before that a shiva is the seven day period of sitting in mourning for a loved one. Although the particulars differ between background cultures, the fundamentals are the same. Some sit on the floor, some on hard seats. Food is brought and set around for all who enter and for the mourners to remember to care for themselves. Most cut their shirt with a rip along the neckline. Soft shoes or slippers are worn. The people come and come and you are not left alone except to rest.

David Landau was famous. I knew that of course, but didn’t know the half of it. His family were patients at the doctor’s office where I work and soon my husband became his only barber. He was editor of the Hebrew ultra liberal newspaper, H’Aretz, and later became editor of their English edition. A rare combination of deeply religious, Zionist Jew while being an extreme liberal left wing zealot, he was a fiery intellectual giant bigger then life. He was a lawyer, author of many books including Ariel Sharon’s biography. His beautiful, gentle wife and I often laughed about what an odd couple her husband and mine made, lovingly raging against one another. My husband is a non-verbal man, being dyslexic, and David was a man of words and The Word. David and my husband adored one another.

Then David, a year younger then we are, got brain cancer. A few months back, the Queen of England knighted him for his life’s achievements, such a great honor for him. He came to my husband to have his hair cut before leaving for England.

The Prince asked him, “Who trimmed your massive beard?” He joyfully told him my husband’s story.

As we sat in his impressive apartment with his widow, surrounded by books, paintings, weighty achievements of life, the apartment filled up with important people. The movers and shapers of today’s paths. My heart wept. None of this is eternal. None of it counts for eternity or saves us from eternal darkness. All of that passion against the dying of this life, and yet no real Light from The Way, The Truth and The Light.

What can I do to share Him here in this day and season before another grave opens up? I am not afraid to share, but I AM afraid to share if it will only make me feel better, as if, “well, I did what I could.” And yet it hardens rather then softens a heart. And so I pray for fruit, I pray for harvest, I pray for a zealous heart full of The Holy Spirit that will prevail on high and with man.

I found a pivot point to prayer in an odd place. I was walking to work and saw two elderly women across the street walking in the opposite direction. One was rather bent over and had a tan shawl around her shoulders. I was startled by the odd way my eyes saw it, as if there was a large arm tenderly draped around her. It so startled me that I asked The Lord about it and found myself praying on Tuesday morning in a way that I NEVER have before: for a general group of the elderly lonely and uncomforted.

I don’t generally pray for amorphous groups, but this one took on the face of the woman in the shawl. How He leads us down different paths, but more and more my question before Him is: Where is the FRUIT Lord? Oh, I don’t want to beat the air. TEACH ME TO PRAY, AND PRAYING, TO REALLY PRAY!

Our election campaign gets nastier and nastier. Anti Semitism in Europe in particular is epidemic. Isis groups emerge on all of our borders and within. “Not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY”…”shouting grace, grace, unto this mountain” (Zechariah) It will not be by human will that we survive, nor that we bare fruit.

You know, I write this letter boldly and bare-faced because I believe I’m writing to like minded sisters and brothers, also desperate for Him and to behold His glory. May we be made fit for The Master’s use in these days. I send you much love. God bless you and thank you for your prayers…particularly as our guests begin to arrive. May He be glorified and may we finish the work that He has for each of us.

Lovingly, your sis in Jerusalem,

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January 25, 2015 · 2:35 pm

Inside Israel

Greetings dear friends, brothers and sisters, in the precious Name of Yeshua. May He be blessed and glorified and may you be blessed and drawn daily closer to Him…all for His glory.

Life here has been growing more intense and picking up its pace. It has demanded all of my attention, which has left me little time to write or even check email. I know that it is not just that I’m slowing down, but that time itself is indeed speeding up. I am only thankful for His Peace that passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds on Him.

I mentioned to you in my last letter that I was about to celebrate my 40^th year since meeting Him face to Face. That was so meaningful and at the same time, so humbling. I set a large space of time aside to wonder about it and to assess the time. I lay my stewardship before Him and ask Him to judge it. How I have used the time? How I have handled what He has entrusted me with?

Oh, it was NOT a pretty picture from my side, but we have a kaporah (atoning sacrifice), atonement, the Atoning One and Intercessor. A Holy God Who forgives and cleanses. I did ask Him to somehow confirm me and He did just that.

At my fellowship there is a monthly women’s prayer meeting. Although they did not know yet that it was a special day for me, the leader called me on my birthday and asked if I would share at the meeting this Tuesday. What a humbling gift.

Yet, all plans seem to have a way of being disrupted, don’t they? I have no doubt that this is to teach us how to stand steady when things shake, but SOMETIMES it is the enemy.

You know that I have been actively involved in IFI (Intercessors for Israel) since we arrived. I attend at least the beginning of the weekly Friday morning prayer meetings in the center of town. Their yearly conference is one that I try to attend. The ONE meeting of the conference that is mine (meaning…yay! I can be there!) is Tuesday morning.

Last year, armed with my Bible in my backpack, ready to go to the prayer meeting, my husband needed to go to the emergency room with severe pain. Thankfully it was nothing, but for the first time in years I was not able to gather with those from the nations to prayer in this manner. I was so disappointed.

This year, I had my day planned out. IFI prayer in the morning, kehila women’s prayer meeting at night, where I also would be sharing. At 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, the mysterious pounding on the ceiling happened again. This is the pounding that we have been blamed for by our upstairs neighbor. It woke us suddenly.

Soon after, my husband felt sever chest pain. When it looked like a heart attack, we checked his blood pressure. Seeing it very high, I called the ambulance. Within a few minutes there was a loud knocking on the door. I opened it and said, “Please, please come in! My husband is right here.”

At which point the POLICE informed me that our upstairs neighbor had called them to complain about us for the fifth time. It was now 2 a.m. I said, “Well…in any case, I’m glad that you are here. My husband is having a heart attack.”

They were most helpful, especially when the ambulance got lost. Once again I stuffed my Bible (ever hopeful) in my backpack and spent the night in a cold chair beside my husband. Thankfully he was fine for the SECOND year in a row.

In answer to prayer, God’s anointing was present for me to speak that evening, despite no sleep. And today, I made it to the 11-1:00 prayer meeting. Halleluiah! My floor may not be washed, but I’m asking for The Lord’s grace to cover that too.

This is only one example of why I haven’t written. It’s been INTENSE.

While we were in the emergency room (from around 2:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.), the ARMY was called in to help with the overload. Our army doctors and medics showed up to help with the heavy load of patients. Being that our hospitals are all public hospitals, we can do that. And I must admit, I find myself on the other side of the coin having become so very thankful for our form of socialized medicine here. Our system has a heart and a moral mandate to save lives.

The protocol states that if my husband were hospitalized, the entire issue would have been covered. Armed with the large bill from the ambulance and the hospital, I trekked off to face the bureaucracy. Thankfully, I was covered with prayer. At least now I could hold my own in Hebrew. I made my case: “See? He almost died 4 years ago and this looked and felt just the same…”

The secretary tapped on the computer and shook her head, up and down, sided to side. I prayed. My heart was pounding. I waited. She smiled. I relaxed. “Ok, instead of 2,000 shekels, it will be 400 shekels.”

PHEW! THANK YOU LORD! Back into the street and it only took 3 hours.

Back on the train, a noisy man got on, looking a bit bedraggled, he began to sing loudly. I watched him. Was he crazy or was he drunk? He sang with passion. I began to listen to his songs. Usually people like that cause some discomfort, but not this man, everyone watched him. His voice was sad. His words ironic and deep. He was probably in his 60s and belted out song after song, making up the words as he went. A commentary on life here. The search for peace. The hope so deep. The sweat and blood.

A young religious woman sat beside me and also watched him. “He seems crazy but his words are so deep,” she said to me, and I agreed. Tears began to roll down his face. The whole train watched and listened. “It is like he is a Rabbi, preaching to us,” she said again. Again I agreed. It was true. A sermon was being sung on a train. A Jeremiah in the flesh again weeping for the children of God yet wandering on the long path.

Our Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has been invited to speak to the US Congress, by the speaker of the House without the knowledge of the US President. You likely know what a row this has caused around the world, but believe me, that flack is minor compared with the blasting that he is receiving through our own media and the other political parties that are currently involved in a mud slinging campaign against him. He has been silent about it until today when he explained that he has one main calling, and that is to defend the people and land of Israel at all costs. He has promised to speak out concerning the Iranian threat, whenever and wherever the door opened and he would do just that. Things, forces, so much bigger then us loom on every horizon.

I ask for prayer for this man whom I believe that God has called for such a time as this to be a clear trumpet of truth. He is standing boldly before incredible opposition. If you are one who prays for this nation and people, please be particularly vigilant at this time. I am sorry for not having kept up sending out the IFI prayer notes. Will begin again once they are back online. It is a very dangerous season, but The Lord’s pathway is THROUGH the whirlwind and the storm. We know that we are all safe in Him when we are on that path.

God bless you dear sisters and brothers. I love you,

Your sis in Jerusalem, J

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January 18, 2015 · 4:53 pm

Inside Israel

Blessings multiplied to you dear brothers and sisters, where in Him we abound!

All glory and honor to The King of kings and The Lord of lords…Wh knows all of our griefs and even bore them for us that we might rejoice in hope with Him. He does all things well.

Although SOMETIMES we may not feel that way.

At noon today, a car slowly went down the boulevard in front of our apartment. Over a loud speaker a Rabbi was chanting the mourner’s prayer and encouraging everyone to come to the cemetery not too far away from here where the 4 victims of the French kosher market attack were all being buried. Their coffins had arrived from France early this morning. Mercifully, it was a sunny day, with freezing rain forecasted for tomorrow. The sun gave an illusion of some warmth, although in actuality it held little.

For the remaining Holocaust survivors, the times that have been leading up to these events are taking place regularly, and often, are not reported. My husband, a hairdresser, cut the hair of a Holocaust survivor today who shared her feelings and her story with him. Her father sent her family to America from Germany during the war. He told them: “Don’t worry so much. I am more German the Jewish. Nothing will happen to me.”

That was the last that they saw of him before he went to the gas chambers. She said that so many deluded themselves in the same way. She then said that she hears the very same things now from Jews in America, France, England etc. “Why can’t they see what is happening?” she asked my husband.

“Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. (Jeremiah 16:16)

When we were in Alaska, the fishers showed up and found us. They did not tell us to go to Israel, but they confirmed what we already knew, what He had been preparing our hearts for YEARS, and what His Word had confirmed to us over and over again.

We resisted: ‘Us?? Why Us? Is this what You mean or are we understanding it wrongly?”

In two days, on the 15^th of this month, it will be 40 years since I fully intended to end my life and instead found LIFE by meeting The Lord of LIFE. It was not long after, only a couple of months or so, that He told me that He had made me Jewish for a reason and that someday I would be living in Jerusalem. This was the LAST thing that I wanted to hear.

I had spent YEARS running away from being Jewish. I didn’t WANT to live in Jerusalem. I had a native Alaskan husband and there was NO way that I was going to tell HIM what to do. I didn’t argue. I just said, “Oh no! Well, if that is You, You will have to do it.”

He had confirmed it to me in His Word when I was alone in the back of a pick-up truck. I hid it in my heart. SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER, He told my husband, instead of me.

In the meantime, He brought fishers and planted seeds. My husband listened to them, but I listened less. I figured if He parted the Red Sea (actually it is the Sea of REEDS or Reed Sea in Hebrew), He would just do it in His good time. And it would be a long time in the future. Ha!

But now He is sending the hunters and it’s neither funny nor relaxed. Our girls are not home anymore. My sister and niece and other relatives, though few, are also not stirring. Instead of seeing the waters heating up, they are defending Islam – the religion of peace.

But the hunters are here now, and it really is time to pray and to obey.

I, for one, can tell you that it is NOT EASY. I understand why my sisters and brothers after the flesh struggle with the idea of leaving everything behind and making aliyah (moving to Israel). EVEN those who are younger then we were when we came, EVEN those who may know some Hebrew, or have family or friends here. The West is comfortable. Israel is not.

Giving up everything that you know, your foundations, your language, to go into the unknown seems scary to some and downright foolhardy to others. When we made aliyah, I had never been here before and my husband, (Alaska Native, and not Jewish) only as a tourist for 3 weeks. We were nearly 50, had no security, didn’t know the language, were lightly acquainted with one person here. None of my relatives were here and our youngest was just about to turn 13. BUT THE LORD REALLY HAD SPOKEN.

We sold everything and bought tickets. VERY few people understood. Some were nasty. Several suggested that if we came as missionaries, they might consider helping with some support. One missionary, who was a friend of mine, a sister whose kids were friends with mine, chastened me sore and told me that we were NOT in HIS will, that we DIDN’T know what we were doing and that our family would be destroyed. Most people, not knowing that it was fully my Husband’s decision, blamed me for telling him what to do.

No, it wasn’t easy nor has it been easy, but we have NO DOUBT that we are in His will and we cry out to others to follow. The hunters are here and the time is shorter then it was 20 years ago. I do not mean to be dramatic, but it is necessary to say.

Our Prime Minister has been bold to the disdain of many, making us the mockery of the nations while he speaks out truth without shame, with boldness, consistently. But the world is not listening.

But you are listening. You are HIS children and as I meditated in His Word this morning I felt urged in my heart to say how MUCH The Lord LOVES you.

That is not a platitude but I had a glimpse into that love this morning. The battle that rages in the hearts of His children and I felt urged: ‘Tell them I LOVE them.”

Yes, I am NOT a prophet but I know Him as you do and He really wants you to know that IN YOUR STRUGGLES, HE REALLY LOVES YOU!

Argh! It is time to get dinner on the table and I must stop writing.

It is cold, cold, cold here. The rocks are radiating cold. We are told that it is the coldest winter on record. Hot water bottles, hats and gloves accompany us to bed. It is hard to get up in the morning and face the air. I went downtown to try to find a warmer hat as the ones that I made, ddidn’t LOOK good. (vanity!) Most of the women’s shops that sell hats are run by olim from France.

I was struck by the deep sense of mourning. “Tsurot tovot,” each one said to me as I left. This means: may your troubles be good ones.

With the announcement that the 4 young men killed in Paris would all be buried here, the community began to prepare to attend. Special public transportation would bring people to the cemetery, no private vehicles. Yes, it is one big family. While the citizens of France and the world march against intolerance, and while 3 million copies of the “Charlie” magazine are going on the market instead of the usual 60,000, I am struck that no one here wants a souvenir of the attack. They have seen it too many times before and they see the writing on the wall…

May you be found in His Peace. May your first love be rekindled and may you seek His Face always. May He be glorified in His children and may we fight the good fight of faith. For HE is worthy.

God bless and encourage you,

Your sis J

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January 11, 2015 · 8:21 am

Inside Israel

May ALL glory and honor and attention and blessing go to Him and may you be encouraged and blessed!

I woke as usual onJanuary 1 to prepare for work, as it is a regular work day here. Since I get up at 4:30 a.m. to dress and then spend time with The Lord before leaving at 6:15, I opened the shutter at sunrise and was stilled by the sight of very dramatic black billowing clouds streaking across the sky.

On and off, the clouds opened up and dumped rain, like rounds from an automatic weapon, and then stopped. When I got to work at around 7 a.m., there was a HUGE clap of thunder and lightning and that was that. Suddenly, it was over.

“Huh. What is this about, Lord?” I thought.

By 7:30 there was no sign of the early drama and when I spoke to my husband about it he said, “What rain and thunder? There was nothing like that here.” (meaning after he woke up).

I’m not much into signs and omens unless really tweaked by The Lord, but it perked my interest. Surely, Israel is in deep water. In fact, since we have moved here, dramatic events have often been matched with dramatic weather.

Immediately coming to mind is a vivid memory of sitting around a Passover Seder table with neighbors and their families, perhaps 20 people. The weather that particular evening had been very dramatic with pouring rain, wind, hail and finally snow with thunder and lightening. It was springtime and very unusual.

One young man was in army and had his cell phone turned on. In the midst of the Seder, he got a phone call. We all knew that it couldn’t be good as phones, even if they are turned on, don’t ring on Holydays. The Passover massacre had just occurred in Netanya, blowing up a hotel where many had gathered for large Seders. The intifada had become a war.

Likewise, today I am home as the result of an intense, large winter storm. Following the difficulties resulting from last year’s massive snowfall, the country took this forecast seriously and has prepared itself. Perhaps, over-prepared might better describe the sometimes humorous panic.

Better than a repeat of last year when we were without electricity for 5-10 days and roadways impassible for as long. Trees were broken in half all over the city and the army came door to door with hot soup, bread and blankets to check on the emergency needs of cold, vulnerable people.

Now, I grew up in NYC and remember winters when the water froze in the toilet. Then I spent some 15 years raising our children in a remote part of Alaska, having before that lived in rural Washington state, rural northern California and various other northern places, but each of these areas were prepared for cold weather. The locals knew how to deal with it wisely. That is not the case here.

With all of our buildings made of stone to withstand the desert blasts of heat for most of the year, they hold the cool air well. Actually, very well. Stones radiate cold and heat as well as the summer draws to an end. I remember one particularly cold winter in Alaska where we sealed off all of the bedrooms and camped out in the living room around the wood stove drinking hot chocolate and reading books aloud. That winter even blankets on the walls did not keep them from forming ice inside. It was cold, but we were prepared and were also young.

Last year, I wasn’t prepared for the electric oven not to work. That meant no bread baking to add heat the heat-less apartment. We ran out of kerosene for our kerosene heater, but we were far better off then the many who relied totally upon electricity for heat and light. The sheer COST of heating when it is this cold is an added problem. All communication was down as even battery run items couldn’t be re-charged.

I taught many people to cover their heads, hands, necks and feet in the house. Why? We lose most of our body heat through these extremities. Plus, it’s good to stock up on hot water bottles. The deep expression of community touched me as the whole country constantly checked on neighbors. Troops of young volunteers fanned themselves out through neighborhoods.

The main roads leading to Jerusalem were shut down today with the first brief flakes of snow in an overreaction to last year’s mad dash to the capital to see the snow when it began. Many thousands or cars were stranded and abandoned across the frozen roads making them inaccessible to both emergency vehicles and snowplows. The plan is to keep them free of vehicles, clear them, and only THEN re-open them.

The roads had to be re-opened after a couple of hours as the storm waited outside of the city, promising to hit later in the day. The USA actually issued a travel warning, not to go to Israel unless absolutely necessary because of the snow.

Life has its humor…and sometimes it is cold.

I am thankful for the humor because life here can be awfully intense and stressful. Our filthy election campaigns are in full swing and the accusations hurt my ears and heart, but they DO spur me to pray. Several ISIS cells have been uncovered here in Israel and not just on our borders.

The battle with the Palestinians has intensified in the world arena. The media ignorance, opinions, arrogance and out and out lies could have us in tears constantly if we looked at them…and God forbid believed them! It is growing nastier and more dangerous all the time. Harper Collins, a huge world-renowned English publishing house, just published their new world atlas eliminating the State of Israel from their maps. Too offensive to the Arab nations with which they do business. The BDS Movement (boycott, divestment, sanction) against Israel has mushroomed on college campuses around the world with the help of social media and is spreading at epidemic rate.

I have been reading the Minor Prophets. My knees at the beginning of each book, knowing that the causes for judgment upon Israel are here again now, Then the ending of each book brings awesome praise to my heart because of the vision of restoration. On the 15^th of January, it will be FORTY YEARS since He reached down and plucked me from the flames of Hell at almost the last minute.

I have read the Bible from beginning to end for 40 years now. And finally, it is becoming clearer for me to understand how great is His mercy and how His mercy is revealed through His unique dealings with Israel. My heart literally pounds as I see it and is so incredibly beautiful! And best of all, it is true. We will yet see the fulfillment of His great and precious promises.

Has He not been faithful to each of us? And in His dealings with Israel? More then 5,000 years of faithfulness to Israel. He has chastened yes, but patiently waited for what will happen… just as He patiently waits for each of us to get it.

May each of us be drawn nearer to His heartbeat for His glory. Blessings!

Love,

your sis J

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December 8, 2014 · 9:15 am

Inside Israel

Dear Brothers and Sisters, beloved in Yeshua,

I greet you so lovingly, so thankful for each of you and for HIM Who is the same in tumultuous times as He is in peaceful times. May HE be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed…and dare I say…feel some of the love that I have for you, His body.

I will try to share carefully what is on my heart and not take too much of your time.

Crisis upon crisis, crisis upon crisis, this land, His land, is in turmoil but He has the answer. It is Himself. It has always been Him, but how often have you and I run this way and that until we fall at His feet? How much more for the nations who don’t yet know Him?

I am sure that you know that our government has collapsed and called for new elections. I have often tried to explain our form of coalition government, which is less than desirable, always fiery and messy, and now, at this time, unworkable. It literally flew apart at the seams, culminating with our Prime Minister firing the finance minister and justice minister. Then, other ministers, from their respective parties, stepped down and the government was dissolved. New elections will be March 17 with Prime Minister Netanyahu remaining at the helm until then. Given the unstable situations within and without, a LOT can happen between now and then.

My uneducated assessment: I do NOT know how Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood under all of the criticism, slander, betrayal, and hatred up to this point. I pray it has been − as is rumored − that he is looking to God. Surely there is considerable world-wide prayer for him.

It has seemed that from the time that Mubarak of Egypt was overthrown, effectively beginning the now festering “Arab Spring,” that outside forces, such as other governments, have been very active to bring about a similar situation here. It is subtle, but not so subtle as to go undetected. There has been a undermining by the media to support opposition politicians and thus strengthening these politicians to undermine the existing government. It is alarming to watch, but GOD IS WATCHING. It hasn’t taken Him by surprise.

Because Israeli elections are particularly disgusting with their gross and indecent mudslinging, anything goes. The public soon becomes depressed and discouraged and it is easy to understand why. No one can hear this much negative talk about anyone and still remain unaffected. May God have mercy on us!

Predictably, the expression of anger among the Arabs has increased. Not that their anger has increased, but that they now perceive weakness and division and a sympathetic ear from the world. So we are also hearing ever-increasing diatribes daily. Such lies as that we should go back to where we belong, that there was never a Jew in the middle east, that there was never a temple on Temple Mount, that there was never such a people. We are made up and a conspiracy is what we are. Get out…you are hated…go back to where you belong. Your Bible is a myth and a counterfeit.

“And The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:3 NKJV

IN THE MIDST OF THE UPSIDE DOWN, STRESSFUL, BATTLE FILLED LIFE, strings of lights begin to appear. First I saw the Chanukiahs, the eight branched Chanukah with the ninth branch in the center, strung up along the road. “LOOK!” I yelled to my husband “the Chanukiahs are up.”

Sure enough, it is almost Chanukah. It is easy to forget Chanukah if your children and grandchildren aren’t around. We old folks can forget to become excited, but, sure enough, the diet busting sovganioat is here. This traditional Chanukah gut-buster used to be a sort of deep fried jelly donut covered with powdered sugar and filled only with a dab of raspberry jam, but over the past few years it has evolved. It is now a virtual wedding cake affair, with each bakery vying for 1st place in the local newspaper as best sovganioat available in Jerusalem. Iced in all colors and elaborately designed they are now filled with chocolate, caramel, vanilla, etc.

How could I have missed seeing them in the shuk? And then, there are the dreidles, the four-sided tops with Hebrew letters on the sides saying: “Nes gadol hayah shin.” This is unique to Israel and means: “A great miracle took place here.” The tops in the other parts of the world say: “Nes gadol hayah sham,” or “A great miracle happened there.” What a blessing to live in Jerusalem!

And this great miracle, which is still being celebrated, was celebrated by Jesus or Yeshua:

“Now it was the Feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And JESUS walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” Jn. 10:22-23.

It was the miracle of the multiplication of the oil for the menorah in the temple, the LIGHT in the center of the temple. There was no Light due to occupation by the Greeks. BUT GOD, WHO IS THE LIGHT, did what only HE could do and multiplied the Light. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (YESHUA) WHO WALKED IN THE TEMPLE DURING CHANUKAH, and who multiplied food for the thousands in the same way that the oil was multiplied, IS STILL THE LIGHT BEING MULTIPLIED, JUST AS QUIETLY, JUST AS MYSTERIOUSLY, IN DARKENED HEARTS, FLOODING THEM WITH LIGHT, DAY BY DAY.

Did you know that Israel provides free Christmas trees for Christian citizens? AND there are Christmas lights strung up as well in areas where there are more Christians, not that these symbols are anything, but a reminder that The Light of the world CAME into this dark world. While in the west people are fighting for the right to MENTION Christmas or have a manger scene or singing carols in a public place, it is TOTALLY different here. We sort of celebrate religion here in that there is a great curiosity about Christmas. So rather then being a battle about materialism, pagan traditions and the like, the holiday becomes a wonderful opportunity to share the LIGHT with hungry hearts. And OH HOW WE NEED HIM NOW!

This election and the chaos that it brings with it has truly plunged the people into a despair of need. We are surrounded by enemies that HATE our very existence. The world consensus is that we are the source of all of the turmoil, and in the midst of all that, our LEADERSHIP battles for the authority to lead our nation. How GOOD God is that He wedges us into a place where we can only look up.

Iran seems to be pulling the wool over the world’s eyes while their stated goal is: 1) destroy Israel, and 2) establish Islam on earth. The UN has a list of cases against us and is poised to declare a Palestinian state, as the Palestinians prepare to take us to the world court for war crimes. Europe is ablaze with fresh anti-Semitism. The scuffle to keep food on the table and roofs over heads becomes more difficult each day. These are all signposts and the good news is that they are signposts to HIM.

I love it that every time we get into a deeper mess. God then turns us toward Him with another holiday, as if He were saying, “Come children and I will tell you a story and it will bring you to Me.” And I LOVE that it is time to look at The Light.

First and Second Peter speaks SO CLEARLY to the times that we are all living in. My heart pounds as I read them because we are NOT being told to KNOW AND UNDERSTAND everything, such as the seasons, the signs, or the answers. We are told clearly HOW TO WALK.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you…Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope FULLY upon the grace that is to brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…Coming to Him as a living stone…proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…Finally all of you be of one mind…be serious and watchful in your prayers…fervent love one for another…if anyone speaks let him speak as the oracles of God…all of you be submissive to one another AND BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…casting all of your cares upon Him…

This could be farfetched but is this perhaps Israel’s ultimate purpose? Is this HOW we are to ultimately be the Light to a chaotic world when it sees HIS great FAITHFULNESS to His covenants and His Word and His people and His land and glorifies His Name just as He said He would when all else is impossible?

So perhaps it is NOT a matter of having a store of food and water on hand, or of knowing the times and the seasons or of being wise but:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…”…Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace without spot and blameless…” (2 Peter 3:11,14)

Welcome to the season of LIGHT. In His Light may we see Light. I hope in the coming days to describe to you the scenes around Jerusalem. I wish you were all here and thank you for your prayers and gracious love.

Your sis in Jerusalem,

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

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