Category Archives: Prophecy

January 12, 2015 · 5:17 pm

To Listen or not to Listen to Prophecy…That’s the Question (Part 2)

DSCF1476

Let’s break down the process of speaking a prophecy from my experience, okay?

When I prophesy, I first feel a nudge in my inner man from the Holy Spirit to speak something. Along with my nudge or inner witness, I usually have the opening words, which may be something like, “I believe the Lord wants to speak to us…” As I speak the opening words, a few more words are given to me by the Holy Spirit and then more words gush through me as I speak, until I finish.

There are a few inner things happening in me while I prophesy.

On the one hand, I’m trying to listen to the Holy Spirit and speak His words in a similar manner. If He is cheerful, I want to be cheerful. If He is sober, I want to speak in the same way. Etc. Etc.

At the same time, I am trying to check my words against scripture because every prophetic word must line up with the Bible and its intent. If my words do not line up, they should be judged as false.

So, I like to think of myself as a computer with a few tabs open while I am prophesying.

Don’t worry!

It’s not as hard as it sounds because the Holy Spirit is doing the heavy work. I am just a vessel allowing Him to work through me. He fully understands my capabilities, my insecurities, my audience, and my faith level. He then gives me more than enough grace to handle all of this.

Now, whether or not you prophesy like I do really doesn’t matter because we are all unique individuals. Allow Him to train you to prophesy according to the measure of faith that God has assigned you.

Okay, what about spiritual discernment?

(Continued in Part 3)

2 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 11, 2015 · 8:21 am

Inside Israel

dolly 911

 

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 15th 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

 

2 Comments

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

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 10, 2015 · 9:05 am

The Rumors of Larry’s Death Were Not Greatly Exaggerated (Part 1)

 

 

(Click on photo to enlarge)

(Click on photo to enlarge)

“Well, what are your plans for your life?” asked Carol, my fiancee of just a few hours.

“I am going to start a large publishing company which will generate millions of dollars to help feed and care for the poor of the world,” I said without hesitation.

Carol giggled. “Sounds great, honey.”

This actual conversation took place sometime during the week of March 10, 1996. Carol and I had first met each other on the previous Friday, had our first date on the following night, and became engaged on that Sunday morning. We eventually communicated our dreams, our hopes, our middle names, and so forth on the fly as we planned for our wedding on April 5, 1996.

Now, let’s fast forward to the various times when we had no money to pay our car payments, our rent or house payments, our creditors, buy groceries, and whatever else over the last eighteen years. The conversations between Carol and me in the midst of our Dunkirk crises  generally followed along these lines:

“Larry, what are we going to do? We don’t have enough money to buy a cup of coffee, let alone make the house or car payment,” said Carol.

“I really don’t know,” I replied.

“Well, what do you know?”

“I know the Lord has called me to start a large publishing company which will generate millions of dollars to help feed and care for the poor of the world. So, that means the Lord has a way for us to survive this predicament.”

“O Lord, I’m married to a man who has no clue about the real world and has his head stuck in the sand!”

Yet, the Lord has always brought us through our valleys. It hasn’t always been textbook pretty, but we have survived.

The publishing company, LarryWho, is now alive and on the ground. Its first book, The Day LA Died, is off the printing presses and awaiting release right now. Everything seems to be coming up roses, right?

Maybe.

You see, this series came about because I decided to evaluate my publishing and book marketing qualifications at 3:15 this morning. And guess what? I am clueless. I laid in bed for forty-five minutes before deciding to get up and face my inadequacies.

I walked downstairs, fed the cats a few treats, and sat down, expecting to seek the Lord in my normal manner. But I couldn’t concentrate. So, I walked through the house praising the Lord.

As I praised Him, a revelation dawned on me:

When the Lord created the universe, how much input and advice did He need from me? How about when He set the sun, moon, and stars in place? Or the mountains and seas? Or man and the duckbill platypus? He accomplished it all without my help. Thus, why am I concerned about my lack of publishing and marketing qualifications? The Lord, my CEO, my Sales Manager, knows how to do it all. I need to trust Him to open doors and reveal each step of the journey.

So, this series will be about a blind pilgrim – me – fulfilling a dream of starting a large publishing company. Who knows? Maybe my journey will encourage you to do the same.

(Continued in Part 2)

9 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Literature, Prayer, Prophecy, Self publishing, Shameless Advertising, spiritual warfare, Writing

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

January 8, 2015 · 8:19 am

Jesus’ Great Hope for Cain

Featured Image -- 11899

 

This is an eye-opening article from my friend, Hope Flinchbaugh at Lift Jesus Cross.

Lift the Cross of Jesus!'s avatarLift Jesus' Cross!

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ Acts 2:17

“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.  Joel 2:28

We live in a season when the Tree of Knowing Good and Evil has grown exponentially.  Instead of the Tree of Life bearing fruit on both sides of the River of Life, we have seen the Tree of Knowing Good and Evil taking root on both sides of Information Highway through television, radio, internet, email, and print. As Christians, what we believe from these trees will shape our future. Perhaps this is why God promises…

View original post 440 more words

2 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , ,

January 6, 2015 · 12:23 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for America (1/6/2015)

 

two cats 8

 

Dad would drive our 1955 Pontiac, Mom would ride in the shotgun seat, and my sister and I sat in the back. It did not matter where we were going because she and I would soon end up having a fight. Maybe she put her hand over the midline between her side of the seat and my side. Maybe I touched her. Whatever lit our fuses would soon be forgotten as our fight escalated.

Mom would then turn around and give us her best ‘don’t mess with your mama’ look. “Larry, why are you always causing trouble? Behave yourself.”

“Mom, she hit me last. So, I should be able to hit her one more time. It’s only fair!”

I am sure most of us can relate to this incident in one way or another, but the point is that avenging ourselves by retaliation is a natural reaction, which we learn as youngsters. Not only that, retaliation and vengeance will always escalate until one party loses or both sides quit. There are no in-between positions.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, we cry out to You to stop the racial war which is now being stirred up in America. Help us to no longer  act as children, tossed to and fro by the waves of mankind and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes, and help us to speak the truth in love and to grow up in every way into who You are, the Head of the church. (Based on Ephesians 4:14 and 1 Timothy 1:1)

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

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

Click on to see MyGFA site.

Click on to see MyGFA site.

4 Comments

Filed under African-American, black people, Christianity, Church, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, Race, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

January 5, 2015 · 2:16 pm

To Listen or not to Listen to Prophecy…That’s the Question (Part 1)

DSCF1476

 

A friend sent me an email with a YouTube video link by an evangelist who talked about the New World Order, 6000 FEMA camps in America, pastors pledging allegiance to the New World Order, railroad cars moving Christians to camps, and countless other statements.

I listened to three or four minutes of the video and turned it off.

Today, I gritted my teeth and listened to the full message. Did I feel any better after listening to the twenty-six minute message? No, absolutely not. It still felt like ice water dripping on my inner spirit.

There is no doubt the evangelist has a prophetic gifting, sincerely loves the Lord, and has a little bit of truth mixed into her message. But just because a person talks about dreams, visions, prophetic words, has a few revelations, and inserts some scriptures along the way, are we supposed to accept her message as an inspired word of the Lord?

So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29 AMP)

It is not just the responsibility of leaders to discern whether prophecies are accurate words of the Lord. We all are called to do this. Why? Because the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us and does not just fall upon prophets, kings, and priests as in the Old Testament.

Okay, let’s be honest with ourselves.

Most of our spiritual ears have been dulled by the world around us, by our teachings, by our dependence on leaders, by television and movies, and by countless other things. Our spiritual discernment is probably at its lowest level right now.

So, what can we do to sharpen our spiritual discernment?

(Continued in Part 2)

2 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , ,

December 17, 2014 · 9:05 am

Islamic Terrorists Versus Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 11)

indian terrorist 2

 

How to be a Radical Christian (vi).

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15)

The number one rule in spiritual warfare is that a believer needs to be known in two places in order to have authority over demonic forces:  heaven and hell.

Being known in heaven comes with having your name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life at salvation. This is an act of grace by our Lord, and has nothing to do with our individual struggles or works. A believer’s authority is a part of the Christian’s makeup from his new birth onward.

On the other hand, being known in hell comes out of struggles, and then, eventual victories  over demonic forces that have influenced and controlled a believer in different areas of his life. If there are no victories, there will be very little authority over demonic forces.

For instance, I knew a man that was part of a prayer group. The prayer group began interceding against prostitution activity in his neighborhood, and the unclean spirit behind the activity. But the man failed to mention that he himself had a long standing problem with lust.

After a few days of prayer and fasting, prostitutes knocked on his door day and night, offering their services to him free of charge. It almost drove him over the edge. He withdrew from the prayer group.

In Part 5, I stated that a religious spirit empowers and guides the Islamic Terrorists and that the only way to overcome this religious spirit is for a bunch of Radical Christians to get free of the religious spirit that rules over our nation.

So, how do we get free of the religious spirit?

Most of us Christians will have to come out of our present churches in order to accomplish this feat.

(Continued in Part 12)

4 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Church, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , , ,

December 10, 2014 · 9:33 am

Islamic Terrorists Versus Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 10)

terrorists

How to be a Radical Christian (v).

And it was so, when the Philistine (Goliath) arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. (2 Samuel 17:48)

The Philistine army was on one mountain. Israel was cowering on a mountain opposite the Philistines. A small valley ran between them. The ten-foot tall giant, Goliath, was dressed in bronze armor and was standing in front of the Philistine army, challenging Israel to a duel. He was armed with a sword, spear, and javelin. His shield bearer was standing off to his left and slightly in front of him, protecting him from arrows.

Now, standing out in front of the Israeli army was a fifteen year-old kid with a sling and five stones.  No armor. No sword. No spear. No javelin. No shield or shield bearer.  He was all alone and he could expect no assistance from the nervous Nellies standing behind him wearing Israeli uniforms.

Goliath mocked and cursed David. Then David boasted about the Lord.

The Philistine giant and his shield bearer trudged forward, but what did David do? He didn’t walk. He raced toward his foe. And while he was running, he swung his sling around and around.

What do you think was going through the heads of the the Israeli soldiers as they watched the fifteen year-old kid racing toward the Terminator of that day? Probably something like this: “He’s a nut! He doesn’t have a chance. We are doomed.”

And yet none of the Israeli soldiers, including King Saul and David’s older brothers, had the courage to take David’s place. So, they stood and watched from a distance as David won the battle for them.

David’s running toward Goliath is a perfect illustration of how Radical Christians must help fight Islamic Terrorists.

“What?” you say.

Not too many years ago, a well-known prophet prophesied what he saw was going to happen in California – death and destruction. He advised all Christians to move to safer states. Maybe, Montana, Utah, or Idaho.

Sadly, I agree with his visions about death and destruction in California and on the West Coast, but I disagree with his advice that we Christians should abandon ship and run for safety.

When the bombs begin exploding (and they soon will), Radical Christians must be set in place to be the Body of Christ, willing to reach out and help the hurting people, and to be leaders. This could be the church’s finest hour.

(Continued in Part 11)

6 Comments

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

Tagged as , , , , , ,

December 9, 2014 · 1:45 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for America (12/10/2014)

IMG_2413

A centurion named Julius guarded Paul and other prisoners on their journey to Rome. They boarded a cargo ship in Syria and crossed the Mediterranean Sea to other ports. In Myra of Lycia, they boarded a ship sailing to Italy.

The traveling was slow because it was late in the year, when the Mediterranean was hazardous for sailing. They reached a port on the island of Crete called Fair Havens. Paul said to them −

“Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” (Acts 27:10) 

The centurion, pilot, and owner of the ship ignored Paul’s words and sailed for a different port on Crete. But a strong wind blew them out into the Mediterranean. They were storm-tossed and forced to jettison the cargo. Soon they feared for their lives.

Paul stood up in their midst when the storm was at its worst and said −

“Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet, I now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” (Acts 27:21-22)

Paul’s words of hope were like life rafts for the other 275 men on the ship. They followed his advice and all were saved.

Why does it always seem like we people have to travel through terrible storms before we listen to the voice of the Lord? It doesn’t have to be that way.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, give us Americans ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to His churches. (Based on Revelation 2:7)

What do you think and did the Lord speak to you today?

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

Click on to see MyGFA site.

Click on to see MyGFA site.

2 Comments

Filed under Christianity, Church, Fasting, Gifts of the Spirit, Kingdom of God, Prayer, Prophecy, spiritual warfare

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

December 8, 2014 · 9:15 am

Inside Israel

IMG_0568

 

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

Dear Brothers and Sisters, beloved in 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,

J

Click on to see MyGFA site.

Click on to see MyGFA site.

2 Comments

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

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,