“My life in prison was not in vain,” said Pastor Samuel who was imprisoned for eight years for preaching the gospel in India. Could you or I say the same after such a long separation from our families? We may never find out, but the persecuted church suffers such tragedies everyday.
On November 3 (or any Sunday in November), join churches across the nation in lifting up the persecuted through unified prayer.
Filed under Christianity, Church, God, Gospel For Asia, India, Kingdom of God, Poverty, Prayer
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 …
Yesterday I was a witness to something that I must grow in my understanding of, but it was a unique window into a part of the Jewish world that many of you pray for: the ultra orthodox. The 93 year old spiritual leader of Israel’s Shas political party died. He had also been the Chief Sephardic Rabbi for many years. His name was Ovadia (meaning, servant of God) Yosef.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9)
“My father! My father!” were the cries that went up as passionate grief and sometimes hysteria rippled its way through gathering throngs of people. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef was a colorful, controversial figure considered by many to be a great Torah sage, perhaps the greatest of our generation, in spite of the fact that he was often mocked by the media for saying politically incorrect things and questionable statements. His words were constantly picked apart and quoted out of context, but now he was appearing bigger then life in his death.
He entered the hospital about a month ago with deteriorating health. Huge prayer meetings were called on his behalf as his health went up and down. He rallied several days ago, but yesterday he suddenly lapsed and family was called. The president of Israel was at his side when he died in Jerusalem’s Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. At the time, the halls and area of the hospital were jammed with his followers.
Although I was watching the events unfold while at work on ynet internet news, I was not prepared for what happened next. It was a cultural departure from my westernized Jewish upbringing. He died around 1:30 and I went home at about 2:30. At 4:30 I heard lots of sirens and helicopters. I thought, it’s either a bomb (pigua) or Rabbi Ovadia’s funeral starting, so switched on the TV to see. I saw live coverage on every channel of the masses of mourners gathering and the footnotes said that the funeral would begin at 6 PM.
According to Jewish law, the funeral is to take place the same day, before sundown when possible. The bodies are not buried in coffins here, but in shrouds.
I had an appointment downtown at 6 PM so decided to leave early. However when I arrived at the train station I was surprised to see throngs of people walking silently but swiftly along the tracks, in the streets and sidewalks toward the center of town. I remembered former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s funeral following his assassination, but this was totally spontaneous. A flashing sign at the station told me that train service was discontinued due to the expected crowds. It was soon obvious that there were also no buses getting through. Very shortly, neither were cars.
I went home and turned on the TV to get an overview of what was happening. At that point ½ million people were expected for the funeral and the security forces were gearing up for crowd control, but even they weren’t prepared for what happened. Now, you have to understand that our total population is 8,012,400 of which about 20% are Arab and at least 40% are children, so half a million pouring down the narrow ancient streets of Jerusalem to attend a funeral is a LOT of people.
It turned out that this was an underestimate. Soon the highway coming up into Jerusalem was completely blocked with walkers as people abandoned their cars on the sides of the road and began walking from many miles away. Inter city buses were stranded along with all commuters. EVERYTHING ground to a halt. Ambulances became hospitals as crushed or injured people were being treated in ambulances that could not get through to a hospital.
It is estimated today that upwards of 850,000 people packed the area around the cemetery. There are no estimates on how many failed to make it that far. Although the funeral was to take place at 6 PM, the body could not be moved through the crowd to its final resting place until 11:30 PM. There was a human surge, the likes of which I have never witnessed before in Jerusalem. I encourage you to examine some of the links and get an idea through photos or video. You can see them here, here and here.
Even these do not convey the intensity of the event.
What I watched were people grieving, beating their chests, and crying, “Abba! Why did you leave us alone?” My heart was wrenched and grieved for a people following mortal man as if he were a god. Many of the prayers had been prayed for this man’s life were prayed on the graves of the patriarchs or prophets or other idolized rabbis. As I watched, I prayed for the day to come when they will, with even deeper passion, weep for Him Who was pierced for them.
And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem…” (Zechariah 12:10)
In THAT day their weeping will be turned to joy and they will no longer be left alone, just as you and I are not.
Yes, it was a powerfully emotional event we witnessed yesterday, the result of my people seeking for Truth in the darkness and finding the death which can not rend the grave.
Until next time, I send much love,
Filed under Christianity, Church, God, Israel, Jerusalem, jesus, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy
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 …
Dearest Sisters and Brothers,
I greet you in The Name of The Lord, Yeshua, Jesus. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be blessed.
Today as I write, the world has taken, again, another rapid leap toward “the end of the story” and, as is written, we here in Israel find ourselves at the center of much of the conflict. It MAY come as a surprise to some of you that we are generally very thankful for what we heard last night from our Prime Minister. As a matter of fact, I personally saw a number of directly answered prayers. (Full speech may be seen here.)
We saw our Prime Minister stand against the entire world in a hostile environment and speak the truth. We saw our Prime Minister speak honestly about our purpose, vision and intent, without a “forked tongue.” We saw him stand tall and, MOST important to me, and a direct answer to prayer, we heard him quote the scriptures from the prophet Amos:
“In our time the Biblical prophecies are being realized. As the prophet Amos said, ‘They shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall till gardens and eat their fruit. And I will plant them upon their soil never to be uprooted again.’”
“Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Israel have come home never to be uprooted again.”
He told the world that we were willing to stand alone against Iran, but he knows that it is written in the book of Daniel that Michael, the angel of our people, stands with us against the prince of Persia, and we are NOT alone. I don’t believe that I am alone when I say that his speech filled me with a joy and peace because he found the strength to withstand the world and to stand. I am NOT afraid. If we are in God’s will, we are safe, although we may lose our lives. If we are OUTSIDE of God’s will we are NEVER safe, although we may save our lives.
I used to look at the scripture in Luke 21: 16-18 that says: “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish,” and wonder, how can I be killed but my hair be ok? But it IS easy to understand when we look at it all according to God’s economy.
Oh the incredible JOY of being in the center of His will! I don’t think any of us would trade that for an extra minute on this earth. I firmly believe that when we are in the center of His will, the enemy has NO AUTHORITY to take us a minute before the boundaries that The Lord has set for our times.
So, I am NOT afraid NOR am I shouting, “Doomsday War.” I don’t know the times that are in God’s very able Hands. Now THAT is PEACE!
Well, I also know that the American government shut down and am aware of the practical problems that this causes for many. Yet, there are severe problems in other nations as well, not to mention all of the personal mountains in our private lives. But for those of you who are praying at this time for Israel, would you continue to pray for protection over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s life while he is in America? He plans to be there, I believe, until Friday, and he is greatly hated by many.
Oh my, it is late. I must be up at 4:30 and off again at 6:30. I still like the buses much better then the train but am using my train time to constantly turn to The Lord and keep my VERY fleshly nature in check, bringing it again and again to the Cross. I am tired so will close but our personal prayer requests remain. We need to be able to find a new place to live after 19 years and are not finding suitable affordable housing. We need peace and to be led by Him. Our younger daughter, now 6 months pregnant, and her husband are still living with our older daughter and are unsettled. She is also still sick. Thanks for helping me carry my load. Can I help you with yours?
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Don’t you just love that?
I send much love,
Filed under Christianity, Church, India, Jerusalem, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare
(Actual letters from children)
Not too long ago, I found myself with three writing projects and wondered where I should start. As I sat there, a gentle voice whispered to my heart, “Do the two most important ones first.”
“What?” I said, not knowing which two were the most important.
“Write replies to the two letters you just received.”
I pushed aside the three writing projects and reread the two letters, sitting on a to-do pile next to the computer. One letter was from an 8-year old girl named Joshni, who lives in Tamil Nadu, India, and the other from a 5-year old boy named Anupam, who lives in West Bengal, India. Both are Dalit children who attend Bridge of Hope schools and are sponsored by Carol and me.
I wrote letters to both and included three pictures in each envelope. The pictures reveal life in California and my family to them.
I’m a small potato in the writing world, but to these children, I’m probably the big enchilada. You see, my letters are most likely the only ones they will ever receive. A few words can make a difference in their lives.
And the Lord seems to agree with me.
If you are interested in knowing more about sponsoring a child in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program, check it out here.
Filed under Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Gospel For Asia, India, Kingdom of God, Poverty, Prayer
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 …
5 Sept 2013 – My elderly neighbor’s voice was very loud as he was on speaker phone to a friend. I worked in the kitchen and went to close the window when I caught his words basically saying: “Yes, and the Suez Canal was not that far…” I began to listen. This is the day that the 40th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war is being commemorated. I listened as he and his friend recounted their minute by minute experiences. “No. That was Thursday and I still didn’t know what was happening. Rumor said that there would be a cease fire (hafsaket esh) but we were still fighting.”
I had listened to a stirring account given by a man on the radio news this morning. He said that in the first day of the war alone he lost 85 of his friends, family and unit. The interviewer asked how he had survived and he immediately said, “That was only God.”
It was better then listening to the news where I heard a disappointing statement given by our Defense Chief this week saying that Israel can depend on no one but herself, her capabilities and the IDF (our military). I gasped with grief, not a mention of The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God have mercy!
I said out loud: “We depend on You Lord! Our eyes are upon You!”
Dear Brothers and sisters, Shalom. May The God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, by the power of The Holy Spirit. May you be blessed and may The Lord be glorified and blessed.
I wrote the above several days ago and then time ran out and I lagged several days behind.
“Succot Sameach. Happy Succot!” we said yesterday to bus drivers, vendors and strangers on the street, rushing home after work to prepare the dishes to bring out to the sukka. There was a heavy air between my husband and me this year as we put up and decorated our succa. Some family issues weighed heavily upon us, as well as the uncertainty concerning our move and the lack of family with us tried to block out the joy of the holiday. Finally, however, the succa was up, and I added new scripture verses this year to the ones I normally hang in Hebrew and in English. Our visitors usually include local believers, Christians from the nations here for the MANY feast related meetings and prayer watches, and local friends and neighbors who are not yet believers, some of whom don’t yet know what we believe.
The scriptures therefore have a multifold purpose: to glorify Him, to remind us of why we are sitting in the succa, to spur us to Him, to declare Him and His purposes both to those who come in and go out and to the very heavens above, to stand in agreement with Him.
So I carefully pin the computer generated hangings I too hastily put together on our walls made of strips of different material I have collected over the years. My husband cuts the palm branches from a few date palms around our house and puts them on top of the lattice of loose sticks that are laid across our clothes line. Usually I am able to get some willow and other branches added in, but this year it is just date palm. As tacky as it sounds, I then put up the ‘plastic’ fruit hangings − grapes, pomegranates, peppers etc. − I have collected over the years, much like Christmas ornaments. Then I put up the fresh fruit I bought at the shuk yesterday: pomegranates with their stems and leaves and boughs of early yellow dates.
Finally, I head out through the area in search of boughs and colorful flowers. I come back with lots of fragrant myrtle, branches from the red pepper trees laden with red peppercorns, a blue hanging flower, and various lovely leaves and fragrant herbs, and I hang them where there are spaces. I have to be careful that the pomegranates are not hung above where someone will sit as they can HURT when they fall! Bowls of huge sweet grapes, dates, all colors and varieties of fruit and nuts sit on the table. The living Thanksgiving offering is prepared in a living tabernacle to house living stones hoping to be a sweet smelling savor to Him. Time to enter in.
This is my “close up view” of yesterday’s preparations.
Around us swirl a huge flurry of events including a spiraling amount of convocations hosting Christians from around the world. What a cacophony of activity. When we first made aliyah, there was ONE Christian Feast of Tabernacles’ conference which hosted believers from all around the globe. It was one of the biggest events in the general Jerusalem calendar yearly. Over the past few years groups have split off and other groups have come in, depending upon persuasion and emphasis of doctrine, and perhaps geographic area of the world. The result has been multiple large conferences going on simultaneously.
How blessed we are to have many, many thousands of believers from all over the world gathering to pray and intercede for the nation and to worship The King. Although we don’t often get to go to partake in any of the meetings due to work constraints and so forth, we often get meet encouraging visitors during the holidays. Our kehila will be full of visitors tomorrow night. One was with us last night in our succa from California. She joined, with a pastor friend and his wife, as we sat under the Jerusalem stars sharing The Word, testimonies, and His glory.
Along with the Christian feasts, there are both huge and small Jewish gatherings in individual and group succas. The secular make it a “nature feast” and travel and camp and have fun. Each morning thousands of people wend their way to the Western Wall or to synagogue with their “four species:” a palm branch, called a lulav, two willow called the aravot, minimum of three myrtle branches called haddasim , and finally one citron called an etrog. They pray and say special blessings. There will also be the ‘Blessing of the Cohenim, the proclaiming of the priestly blessing over the people sometime later this week at the western wall.
AND there will be the Jerusalem March where believers come front and center: marching through the streets of Jerusalem often in traditional dress depicting their home countries and with banners proclaiming scriptures and promise. The streets are all closed and lined with joyful spectators, amazed that Christians come to bless them. What a season!
Leviticus 23:33 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 34 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. 35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary workon it. 36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.37 ‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— 38 besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord. 39 ‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You shall keep it as a feast to theLord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I amthe Lord your God.’” 44 So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord. (For a few of the MANY other references in scripture see: Deut 31:10,Zech14:16, John 7:37, 2 Chron 5:3 and 2 Chron 7:8-end (amazing celebration)
I must continue to work during Succot so it is a particularly busy time for me. The first and the last days of the feast are both proclaimed days of rest. I don’t work on those and neither does public transportation or anything else. Yet how I love to see the succas lining the streets as I make my way to and from work, and to hear the noise of people inside. Occasionally, if I have a moment, I will drop in to a stranger’s succa and become an immediate friend. The succas are open to all. Strangers are welcome. It is a law in Jerusalem that every house must be built with a place for a succa, even if that is in the street out front.
The last day of Succot is Simchat Torah, or Joy in the Torah. It symbolizes the end of the yearly cycle of reading the torah scroll and the beginning again at “In the beginning GOD…” ( Gen 1:1)
A dear friend who was just in our succa for lunch today told us how it just hit her they are not talking about reading the Bible, but THE SCROLL. It is rolled out through out the year, and at the beginning of the new cycle of reading through the scroll, it must be manually and carefully rolled up to start again, which is no small job. What an interesting thought: someday this world will be “rolled up as a scroll” and there will be a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. We do long for such a day.
It is time to go and prepare the evening meal. I do love sitting outside and hearing the wind in the trees and the birds signaling the different times of day. It’s like hearing The Lord signaling the different seasons. May we have ears to hear.
Brief family update: our new son-in-law whom I’ve told you about, and whom I’ve asked for prayer, is suddenly becoming very “religious.” This is a shock and actually a panic. I told you that our daughter has been a backslidden believer and her husband a backslidden Haradi orthodox Jew. I have been praying The Lord would pursue them unto Himself as they both truly seem to want and be looking for His Truth.
Suddenly, however, he met a rabbi who is very cultish and has taken him in − hook line and sinker. They are currently in California living with our older daughter and family. It has become VERY strained, painful and grievous on many levels. Our younger daughter who is pregnant cries all of the time. Thank you for praying for them as there is tremendous tension now where there was joy. May we ALL – and our families and our generations − be found IN HIM FOR HIS GLORY.
I want to take a moment to thank you for caring. I mean that. Thank you for caring for us, our family, this people, this nation. Thank you for caring for the Church worldwide. Thank you for loving God and being Light in such a dark world.
Blessings to each of you,
Your sis in Jerusalem, J
Filed under Christianity, Church, God, Israel, Jerusalem, jesus, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy
To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell. (C.S.Lewis)
Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope offers love and hope to the most vulnerable humans in the world − children − through sponsors like you and me. If you’re interested, check it out here.
Filed under Christianity, God, Gospel For Asia, India, Kingdom of God, Poverty, Prayer
Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, the day of repentance, the day of dread, the day that it is said all the hearts are examined, and those who are appointed for death, will be written for death, and those appointed for life will be written for life. Then the books are closed and sealed.
“G’mar khatima tova” is heard every few minutes. Literally it means: “may you finish with a good signature stamp.” We wrote in English − in my childhood days − “May you be inscribed in the book of life.” Others wish me also “tsom kal’’ or an easy fast and I respond, “tsom mashma’oti” or “may you have a MEANINGFUL fast” and then we enter into a short conversation concerning the true meaning of a fast before God.
A Hebrew language teacher advised me to say “tsom mo’il” or may you have a beneficial fast.
“What?” I asked. “Why is that better then a meaningful fast?”
My boss was quick to answer: “I want my fast to give me points.”
Wow! Talk about saying it as it is.
“Well, when I fast, my desire is to draw closer to God and to find those things that stand in the way of a deeper relationship, and repent from them,” I said.
He thought and said, “You must be ahead of me.”
But I added, “No. I could NEVER have enough points to win my way into the book of Life. I am way lower then you.”
His answer was from the teaching of the sages: “Those lower are far ahead…”
So it is at the time of Yom Kippur. The seriousness of it impacts the entire nation, a nation of people seeking to secure their place in the book of life. I am in the midst, SECURE that my name IS INDEED written in THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE. How wonderful to be both without fear or dread, and be assured that I have the adequate atonement.
It is almost sundown and the streets are silent as people finish up their last meal. I caught the last bus and train home from work. The buses stopped at 1:00 and the trains at 2. The television and radio stations shut down at the same time, and our airspace and airport are also closed, along with all of our borders. We are effectively sealed off from the world to be sealed in with God and here in Jerusalem it is silent.
Many of the believers take this time to fast as well, not to obtain atonement and gain points to get into the book of life, but hopefully, after spending special time asking The Lord to examine our hearts for any sins of compromise, presumption, unforgiveness, hardness, whatever we may have been blind to– to pray for the blinders to be taken off our nation and our people. For the veil must be be stripped from the eyes and YESHUA must be revealed as He says is Zech 12:
“And they shall look upon Him Whom they pierced and mourn for Him as for an only begotten Son.”
The Pascal Lamb IS among us and His once and for all time sacrifice IS sufficient and oh what reason for rejoicing! Zechariah 8:18 speaks of a day:
The entire chapter, indeed the book, is full of promises yet to be fulfilled, but I have heard people say, “How can a fast be a joyful feast?”
Oh, what joy to feast on The Lord and His heart for Israel during this fast. To me it already is a joyful feast and I long for the day that it will be for the entire nation.
The synagogue service is really a culmination of a month of prayer. For the past ten days many have been praying prayers of slichot or forgiveness at the western wall or in their synagogues at 4:30 in the morning. There have been daily special prayers and reading of scripture mid day and evening and into the night. Many, if not most, of what is read in synagogue and being prayed is directly from scripture and very passionate. But as is true in Christian churches, so it is in synagogues, people can sit hardened and unrepentant under The Word. People can harden their hearts, stiffen their necks, close their ears and remain blind.
On shabat, our Pastor’s wife challenged us to examine our own hearts once again concerning this issue of forgiveness before The Lord’s supper (tsudot h’adon in Hebrew):
“Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Years ago, as I was struggling and losing the battle to forgive a sister who seemed continually to hurt me, I suddenly understood my unforgiveness had the power to bind her so she could not be loosed in heaven. The awful understanding so horrified me that I seemed to stand on a precipice looking at the power we had toward one another, and The Lord set me free to forgive. Although I still struggle at times, the impact of that view has stayed with me all of these years. I have been forgiven MUCH. How dare I not forgive everything? I stand in the midst of a people who long to know that forgiveness.
This morning at prayer, a sister visiting here from another country for this season of feasts and conferences, shared that last night after being at a prayer conference, she had been able to witness to a group of 5 locals. She was amazed at how hungry and open they were to hear the good news. I envied her ability to share so freely.
Most Israelis will accept much more willingly the testimony of a gentile believer then a Jewish one. Indeed, today at work I had a strange experience that used to be much more common and it took me a bit aback. Some new immigrants came in to see the doctor where I work for the first time and we began to talk. They just arrived a week ago from the state of Texas. When they asked where I was from and I told them, suddenly the woman took a deep breath and looked askance at her husband and I remembered that look. She had been warned about me. She began to ask some specific questions which left little room for doubt.
I don’t feel worthy of the title: dangerous.
Years ago large groups of people were warned by their rabbis to stay away from me as I was such a dangerous woman, but I thought my lack of fruitfulness had stripped me of that distinction. But of course, the knowledge of Him – His Name – is dangerous. Dangerous to the enemy and to all we hold dear in this life, and the knowledge of Him so radically changes EVERYTHING.
Years ago, before we moved here, a young Israeli man stayed in our village to work in the fishing industry there. We became very close and I talked to him much about The Lord. One day I said to him, “I can not convince you. You ask Him yourself. Ask Him, ‘Do you have a Son, is He The Messiah, and is His Name Yeshua (Jesus)?”‘
He bowed his head and did just that and to my shock, he crumpled in a heap on to the floor. He began to weep and to pray. But when it was over he said to me, “Do you know what I just did? I have separated myself from my people, my nation and my family.”
Well, I knew that feeling partially. I remember thinking, “Uh oh. I’m Jewish. What will happen to my parents,” but I didn’t understand then Aam Israel – the people/nation so ancient and so veiled. I had been in the captivity (dispersion or diaspora or scattering) for too many millennia to fully understand.
So, the kitchens of Israel or at least most of Jerusalem are closed now for 25 hours. Darkness has fallen and the synagogues are full. The vehicle-free streets are full of children riding bikes. Although we are sealed off and silent, today also marks 40 years since the Yom Kippur war and 20 years since the disastrous Oslo “peace accords” were signed.
People are dying as I write in Syria. Iran is plotting our demise and the world stands on the precipice. It is the right moment to stand sealed off before The Lord.
And, of course, Wednesday night we get to, once again, to dwell in our little succa’s (booths) for a week and rejoice together. What a great great God we serve. He certainly knows what is best.
If you choose to fast and or pray along for this nation, it might be a good time to read the book of Hebrews. It is so rich in truths which are still hidden here.
Thank you so much for caring and for even reading what I write. I am so blessed by you, dear sisters and brothers.
Lovingly, your sis J
Filed under Christianity, Church, Israel, Jerusalem, jesus, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy
“God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” (John Wesley)
When Americans hear about needy children, we think about doing one thing: giving money. Then, our minds run through all the options. Can we afford to do so? What financial obligations do we have right now? Are there other priorities for our money right now? What if I don’t give? Will I feel guilty? And so forth. And so forth.
Relax. Take it easy today.
You see, I understand that not all Christians can or will sponsor a child for $35 a month through Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program. There are many other avenues to help build the Kingdom of God and it’s up to each person to decide for himself.
Yet, we can all pray, right?
So, take a moment and agree with me on the following simple prayer:
“Lord, I ask You to provide 50,000 new sponsors for Bridge of Hope children this year. Amen.”
Filed under Christianity, Church, God, Gospel For Asia, India, jesus, Kingdom of God, Poverty, Prayer
Here’s a prophetic video for America, which none of us ever want to watch because once we do, we’re forced to make decisions.
Do we believe what Dean Odle says in the video?
If we don’t believe him, then there are no problems. We can continue on with our lives, believing Odle is another Harold Camping, deserving of having verbal rocks thrown at him.
Yet, if we do believe him, then what will we do? Just add the info to our mental archives, waiting for one of those rainy days which never seem to come. Or do we begin acting right now?
The choice is ours to make.
As for me, it’s a no-brainer. My books listed on the right sidebar− Jonah, Prophecy 101, Planning + Preparation = Survival, What’s In It For Me? − were especially written for the scenarios described by Dean Odle in the above video.
Like so many times in the past, my British friend, Mercedes, at Believe, alerted me to this video by posting it on her site. Thanks Mercedes and God bless you for your hearing heart.
Filed under Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, God, grace, jesus, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare
Obviously, the photographer helped set up the above photo and probably said something like, “Put your hands together and pray.”
The two Dalit children on the left side of the photo obeyed the directions, but still kept their dark eyes on the photographer. Their curiosity was too big a hurdle to overcome, and to be honest, I would have done the same at their ages.
The Dalit girl in blue seemed to care little about the activity around her and took the opportunity to pray. Maybe she’s praying for her parents. Or her grandparents. Or her brothers and sisters. Or her neighbors. Or whatever.
Do you think God listens to her prayers?
After all, God has a lot of problems to handle right now, with Israel and Syria most likely topping the list. And the girl is just another Dalit child who is dirt poor, an untouchable in India’s caste system, and the least of the least in the world’s largest democracy.
Yet, when she prays, I believe all of heaven is poised to move on her behalf.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)
This photo reminds me of the six children Carol and I sponsor in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program. Every letter we receive from our kids tells how much they enjoy praying for us.
So, when you think of Larry Who, think about Team Larry Who and our six kids praying for us.
If you want, you can start building your own team today by going here. Your team can be as large as you want…that’s up to you.
Filed under Bridge of Hope, Christianity, Church, God, Gospel For Asia, grace, India, jesus, Kingdom of God, Poverty
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