Letters from Jerusalem
June 13, 2021
MARK 15: 6, 7 “Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.” And 15 “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”
Greetings brothers and sisters, in The Name of Yeshua, the Messiah, who deserves all of our attention and obedience. May He be glorified and blessed and seen…only Him. May you be encouraged and blessed.
The Middle East has often been described as a land of intrigue and mystery, and in my own experience I have found that to be accurate: Things certainly aren’t always what they seem to be and 1 plus 2 most often does not result in 3.
I wanted very much to write this letter TODAY; the day BEFORE we find out if we have a new government…or not. As I said…things here are not always what they seem to be. As of this moment, tomorrow, Sunday the 13th of June, we are scheduled to swear in a ‘new’ government following 4 devastating and divisive elections. Is anyone ‘happy’? No. But everyone IS exhausted and holding a collective breath. Binyamin Netanyahu has been our Prime Minister for 12 years and the new government is an unwieldy coalition of extreme right to extreme left with everything in between (including the Arab ‘Ram’ party) …except for the Likud, which is slated to head up the opposition. But this is the Middle East and anything can happen.
As I was sitting before The Lord yesterday morning, praying and reading His Word, I happened to be in Mark 15. It was one of those times when reading about the crucifixion seemed particularly real to me. My heart was heavy as I read the now so familiar words and pictured the crowd of my own people saying ‘Give us Barabbas! Crucify Yeshua!’ and I ‘looked around the crowd’ and thought of those so passionate about what is happening in our countries today, particularly concerning the leadership. I thought about the oppressive Roman rule back then. Israel was occupied, conquered and the rule was…anti God…anti Jewish…and this Barabbas, leading a seemingly ‘just’ uprising against such oppression…perhaps (dare I say?) ‘peaceful demonstrations’ that just happened to end with death. As I ‘looked’ at the crowd I thought ‘They are looking the WRONG WAY! They are missing seeing The Messiah… their deliverance…because their eyes are focused on the wrong subject.’ The HORROR of that understanding settled over me so much so that I wanted to cry. People were so angry and so tired of godless oppression. Everything political was upside down and yet there really were so many promises from God for this people…but they looked to man’s answer… and crucified God’s answer! How could this be??
Their eyes were looking in the wrong direction.
They looked upon Yeshua hanging on the cross and chose Barabbas.
I do not want to choose Barabbas…I want to SEE Yeshua.
“Looking unto Yeshua, The Author and Finisher of our faith…”Hebrews 12:2
Well…today is the 13th of June and at this moment the new government is being introduced and, as I watch, I don’t know who is being heckled more…Naftali Bennett, our new Prime Minister or Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister now leaving that position (who is speaking at this moment). At the same time, fire engines scream past our apartment and planes fly over attempting to put out a massive fire in Mevesseret Zion, just outside of Jerusalem. This is the second fire (arson investigation obviously) this week in the foothills. The one several days ago also burned into communities…one of them being Yad h’shmonah (known by many of you – a believer’s moshav that also houses the Bible translators’ school). God was merciful and answered our prayers and they were miraculously spared…albeit, many many precious trees were destroyed. All that I hear so far is that homes in Mevesseret are being evacuated. These fires are not natural.
Dare I say that what I see all around me is not natural.
As I listen to the speeches in the Knesset right now, the mocking and heckling on both sides is grievous; such words!
We have a new government.
The writing of these letters began nearly 27 years ago…’What you see…write!’ Now I ask: Where do I rest my eyes Lord? Your precious Eyes can not behold evil.’ How The Heart of The Lord must hurt to see such hatred…to hear such words. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—think upon these things” Philippians 4
I am so deeply thankful that opinions fly BUT THE LORD says ‘LOOK UPON ME…. WHOM YOU PIERCED!’ and the only answer is ‘Yes Lord! Unto You I will look.’ But it isn’t always easy, is it?
My husband and I have been looking around lately at the path that we have been brought on and it leaves us openmouthed and often with tears; truly He has led us all this way and we can trust Him to lead us to the end of our path.
We left our old country on the 13th of July 1994 having NO idea where we were going. I had never been here before. We were trusting in His Word to us that He had confirmed and confirmed to us in so many ways that we are almost embarrassed to have needed so much confirmation…but He GAVE! We came ‘on our own, at His Word.’ No one else was sending us or even understood why we were going… or WHERE! (‘You mean that you are going to …Palestine??)
When we arrived, I really thought that we would see sand and camels everywhere. There was sand and camels, but it was NOTHING that I could have imagined (we had no computer, or google…we really were pretty ‘back woods’ people from a remote area). Why did we come up to Jerusalem? I have no idea! One afternoon, visiting with Derek Prince, he told us ‘You can’t CHOOSE to live in Jerusalem! Jerusalem chooses whom she wants to live in her.’ I must admit that I do now believe that. We had no choice. I saw low stone buildings and a dry land. I heard a language that I did not (yet) understand. I was sad. I remember that when we moved here there were no advertising signs and that really impressed me…there was something ‘clean’ and ‘new’ about living somewhere not cluttered with advertising or graffiti. (that has changed) ACTUALLY, there were very few signs at all and those that there were more often than not without any English. Because we came during the large Russian Aliyah, there was much Russian spoken and written. We would receive all sorts of announcements in Hebrew, Arabic and Russian and we knew no one who could help. ‘Our Aliyah counsellor’ was French and spoke VERY little English…we really did learn ‘the hard way’…but HE NEVER FORSOOK US!
Our youngest daughter turned 13 right after we came and it was a daunting effort to even begin to understand the school system (TOTALLY different than the one that we were used to). When I finally brought her to a school to enroll her, the teacher said to me ‘Where did you learn to speak English?! It is EXCELLENT!’ I laughed, but one of our daughter’s classes was ‘English’ and the teacher was Russian. The class would begin ‘Gooda morninn class’ and the class was taught to respond ‘Gooda morninn teacher.’ This is no longer the case.
Building codes in Jerusalem were strictly regulated and buildings could not be built higher than 3 stories and all buildings had to be built of the classic white ‘Jerusalem stone’. It was really (now I can say) beautiful, stunning. This too has given way to great change. Huge sky scrapers (‘luxury apartments’) with elevators are replacing the older buildings faster than I can keep track of. Roads and infrastructure are exploding Jerusalem into a modern metropolis with the ‘lite rail’ moving into nearly every neighborhood (not at ALL without resistance from the ‘locals’ but to no avail.) Somehow the old ‘Jerusalem law’ changed… who knew?
The shuk was such a classic Middle Eastern market all of these years, but restaurants and bars have found this a ‘hip’ place to take over for ‘night life’ and I for one, find that my heart grieves at this change as it does over many others.
I’ve written too much and I’ve rambled and I apologize for that. I do SEE ‘something’ and felt that I was supposed to write…but I don’t see ‘clearly’ perhaps? Oh may we see Him clearly through the fray! May we train our eyes to be fixed on Him!...And may we bring Him glory.
I send my love from Jerusalem. May His Word be fulfilled for His glory by the power of His own Spirit: Here and in you … and us.
MARK 15: 6, 7 “Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.” And 15 “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.”
Greetings brothers and sisters, in The Name of Yeshua, the Messiah, who deserves all of our attention and obedience. May He be glorified and blessed and seen…only Him. May you be encouraged and blessed.
The Middle East has often been described as a land of intrigue and mystery, and in my own experience I have found that to be accurate: Things certainly aren’t always what they seem to be and 1 plus 2 most often does not result in 3.
I wanted very much to write this letter TODAY; the day BEFORE we find out if we have a new government…or not. As I said…things here are not always what they seem to be. As of this moment, tomorrow, Sunday the 13th of June, we are scheduled to swear in a ‘new’ government following 4 devastating and divisive elections. Is anyone ‘happy’? No. But everyone IS exhausted and holding a collective breath. Binyamin Netanyahu has been our Prime Minister for 12 years and the new government is an unwieldy coalition of extreme right to extreme left with everything in between (including the Arab ‘Ram’ party) …except for the Likud, which is slated to head up the opposition. But this is the Middle East and anything can happen.
As I was sitting before The Lord yesterday morning, praying and reading His Word, I happened to be in Mark 15. It was one of those times when reading about the crucifixion seemed particularly real to me. My heart was heavy as I read the now so familiar words and pictured the crowd of my own people saying ‘Give us Barabbas! Crucify Yeshua!’ and I ‘looked around the crowd’ and thought of those so passionate about what is happening in our countries today, particularly concerning the leadership. I thought about the oppressive Roman rule back then. Israel was occupied, conquered and the rule was…anti God…anti Jewish…and this Barabbas, leading a seemingly ‘just’ uprising against such oppression…perhaps (dare I say?) ‘peaceful demonstrations’ that just happened to end with death. As I ‘looked’ at the crowd I thought ‘They are looking the WRONG WAY! They are missing seeing The Messiah… their deliverance…because their eyes are focused on the wrong subject.’ The HORROR of that understanding settled over me so much so that I wanted to cry. People were so angry and so tired of godless oppression. Everything political was upside down and yet there really were so many promises from God for this people…but they looked to man’s answer… and crucified God’s answer! How could this be??
Their eyes were looking in the wrong direction.
They looked upon Yeshua hanging on the cross and chose Barabbas.
I do not want to choose Barabbas…I want to SEE Yeshua.
“Looking unto Yeshua, The Author and Finisher of our faith…”Hebrews 12:2
Well…today is the 13th of June and at this moment the new government is being introduced and, as I watch, I don’t know who is being heckled more…Naftali Bennett, our new Prime Minister or Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister now leaving that position (who is speaking at this moment). At the same time, fire engines scream past our apartment and planes fly over attempting to put out a massive fire in Mevesseret Zion, just outside of Jerusalem. This is the second fire (arson investigation obviously) this week in the foothills. The one several days ago also burned into communities…one of them being Yad h’shmonah (known by many of you – a believer’s moshav that also houses the Bible translators’ school). God was merciful and answered our prayers and they were miraculously spared…albeit, many many precious trees were destroyed. All that I hear so far is that homes in Mevesseret are being evacuated. These fires are not natural.
Dare I say that what I see all around me is not natural.
As I listen to the speeches in the Knesset right now, the mocking and heckling on both sides is grievous; such words!
We have a new government.
The writing of these letters began nearly 27 years ago…’What you see…write!’ Now I ask: Where do I rest my eyes Lord? Your precious Eyes can not behold evil.’ How The Heart of The Lord must hurt to see such hatred…to hear such words. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—think upon these things” Philippians 4
I am so deeply thankful that opinions fly BUT THE LORD says ‘LOOK UPON ME…. WHOM YOU PIERCED!’ and the only answer is ‘Yes Lord! Unto You I will look.’ But it isn’t always easy, is it?
My husband and I have been looking around lately at the path that we have been brought on and it leaves us openmouthed and often with tears; truly He has led us all this way and we can trust Him to lead us to the end of our path.
We left our old country on the 13th of July 1994 having NO idea where we were going. I had never been here before. We were trusting in His Word to us that He had confirmed and confirmed to us in so many ways that we are almost embarrassed to have needed so much confirmation…but He GAVE! We came ‘on our own, at His Word.’ No one else was sending us or even understood why we were going… or WHERE! (‘You mean that you are going to …Palestine??)
When we arrived, I really thought that we would see sand and camels everywhere. There was sand and camels, but it was NOTHING that I could have imagined (we had no computer, or google…we really were pretty ‘back woods’ people from a remote area). Why did we come up to Jerusalem? I have no idea! One afternoon, visiting with Derek Prince, he told us ‘You can’t CHOOSE to live in Jerusalem! Jerusalem chooses whom she wants to live in her.’ I must admit that I do now believe that. We had no choice. I saw low stone buildings and a dry land. I heard a language that I did not (yet) understand. I was sad. I remember that when we moved here there were no advertising signs and that really impressed me…there was something ‘clean’ and ‘new’ about living somewhere not cluttered with advertising or graffiti. (that has changed) ACTUALLY, there were very few signs at all and those that there were more often than not without any English. Because we came during the large Russian Aliyah, there was much Russian spoken and written. We would receive all sorts of announcements in Hebrew, Arabic and Russian and we knew no one who could help. ‘Our Aliyah counsellor’ was French and spoke VERY little English…we really did learn ‘the hard way’…but HE NEVER FORSOOK US!
Our youngest daughter turned 13 right after we came and it was a daunting effort to even begin to understand the school system (TOTALLY different than the one that we were used to). When I finally brought her to a school to enroll her, the teacher said to me ‘Where did you learn to speak English?! It is EXCELLENT!’ I laughed, but one of our daughter’s classes was ‘English’ and the teacher was Russian. The class would begin ‘Gooda morninn class’ and the class was taught to respond ‘Gooda morninn teacher.’ This is no longer the case.
Building codes in Jerusalem were strictly regulated and buildings could not be built higher than 3 stories and all buildings had to be built of the classic white ‘Jerusalem stone’. It was really (now I can say) beautiful, stunning. This too has given way to great change. Huge sky scrapers (‘luxury apartments’) with elevators are replacing the older buildings faster than I can keep track of. Roads and infrastructure are exploding Jerusalem into a modern metropolis with the ‘lite rail’ moving into nearly every neighborhood (not at ALL without resistance from the ‘locals’ but to no avail.) Somehow the old ‘Jerusalem law’ changed… who knew?
The shuk was such a classic Middle Eastern market all of these years, but restaurants and bars have found this a ‘hip’ place to take over for ‘night life’ and I for one, find that my heart grieves at this change as it does over many others.
I’ve written too much and I’ve rambled and I apologize for that. I do SEE ‘something’ and felt that I was supposed to write…but I don’t see ‘clearly’ perhaps? Oh may we see Him clearly through the fray! May we train our eyes to be fixed on Him!...And may we bring Him glory.
I send my love from Jerusalem. May His Word be fulfilled for His glory by the power of His own Spirit: Here and in you … and us.
May 24, 2021
“My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.” PROVERBS 23:26
Greetings in The Name of Yeshua, Messiah, Lord, risen Savior. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be edified and encouraged in the way that He is leading you.
Wham bang…eleven days of conflict…not conflict, but war. The sounds, the smells, the tension, the nerves lying raw just under a calm surface. And it’s over? Again? Well…not for the dead and the wounded and the scarred of course. For them it never ends. But the damaged will repair the damage, or walk away and meanwhile, we wait. I was thankfully surprised to be wrong; Jerusalem really stayed relatively calm considering what was going on and we were not the final target this time. Praise God for His mercy on us…but those in the area of Gaza were saturated: Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod and even Tel Aviv along with so many smaller villages.
I have read (as probably many of you) many accounts over the years about those martyred for their faith. I have read (as probably many of you) of those who were stretched by great trials and stretched all the way to God…and I have often longed for circumstances larger than myself to ‘press me into Him’ and free me from these shackles of sin and stumbling that I battle year after year. I have thought that perhaps ‘great shakings’ would ‘press’ me into victory that He calls me to reach instead in secret wrestling with Him. I recall the shock and grief with which I heard a Chinese brother share how he saw Western believers listen to his testimony and then pray that God would ‘bring to them persecution’ so that they too could be strong and singularly directed. He said that he stopped them and said ‘You are WRONG! You don’t hear about the oh so many strong Pastors who renounced their faith or lost their minds in the midst of these things! There were far more lost than strengthened.’ I was taken aback, because he was right: I HADN’T heard of them…but he reported that there were more that did NOT stand than those who did. In other words,…it has to be God’s grace mixed with our choosing Him. It is not the events that make us strong.
With that background in mind, we have just passed through another ‘warlet’ and entered into another ‘cease fire’ with calls for intifada alongside stands for co-existence; it seems to me that the people of the country are both passionate and exhausted. Division and divisiveness are running rampant world wide.
BUT GOD IS ON HIS THRONE!! Will you excuse me while I just ‘throw in’ a few ‘BUT GOD’s at random? It is so powerful a tiny phrase to me, salting the scriptures. I always stop when I come to a ‘But GOD…!’ for I know that it is, after all is said and done, GOD’S will that WILL ultimately prevail. (suffer me a few ‘but GODs’)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” EPHSIANS 2:4
“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” PSALM 73:26
“But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.” PSALM 75:7
“But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge”. PSALM 94:22
“And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 CHRON 20:15
“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts”. 1 THES. 2:4
“For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow”. PHIL 2:27
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us”, GALATIANS 3:18
“Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.” GALATIANS 3:20
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. “; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10
“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 CORINTHIANS 3:7
Thank you for suffering me that ‘focus’ as I continue to write.
I wanted to share with you the most encouraging thing that took place during this time…well…TWO actually. One was personal…such a private encouragement. We have a dear sister whom we have been blessed by (‘through ‘really, for it is God IN her…only HE can really bless) who has blessed us as she stayed with us a number of times while volunteering in the land here. The country has been closed and it has been impossible for non-Israelis to get in (and often out) …BUT GOD! WHO IS RICH IN MERCY opened the door and our sister arrived on Jerusalem Day just before the sirens here in Jerusalem. Her quarantine ended with the cease fire and our home is again blessed through His increased presence in her. Praise God Who, yes, strengthens His inheritance when it is weary! WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIS GRACIOUS BODY!
But here is the story that also encouraged me and I hope will touch you as well (it’s a ‘shuk’ story):
I have told you about different vendors and personalities in the shuk whom I’ve gotten to befriend over the years. It amazes me how our lives affect one another. The shuk (the word ‘shuk’ means ‘market’, but THE shuk is specifically (in Jerusalem) the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market (Mahane Yehuda means ‘camp of Judah’ in Hebrew). There are also ‘the shuk’ in Jaffa, Beer Sheva, Haifa and I’m sure other old cities. Each shuk has its own ‘culture’ and one could say ‘dance’ that is preformed daily with such a precision. In the shuk, as I have shared before, the ‘peace’ between Arabs and Jews has been lovingly nurtured and guarded. The work is hard and the people who work there seek a decent life for their families. Relationships develop between the merchants and also between the merchants and customers. It is a rather unique dance amidst to noise, pressures and occasionally what some would call squalor.
I think that I have told you about M, a rather young Arab vendor whom I have gone to for a number of years. I remember him as a boy working in the shuk for others; he looked like a dark cloud and had a huge chip on his shoulder, but I always felt that he had a tender heart. As he grew, he finally got his own stall and I began to buy my cucumbers and tomatoes there and talk with him. I’d ask about his family and check up on him when he was sick… He’d smile when he saw me coming and I also asked him about the chip on his shoulder and dark cloud above his head. He told me that he ‘thinks too much and that it isn’t good’ and we discussed many things.
Now this ‘warlet’ seemed to be quickly moving in a direction that could rend the fragile warp and woof of the fabric of the shuk, and M was on my heart…so I prayed for him.
And I prayed before I went to the shuk last Wed. It was (yet another) ‘day of rage’ (declared by the Palestinian Authority this time) and all of the Israeli Arabs were being encouraged by the Palestinians to refuse to work. (You might remember that Israeli Arabs are full Israeli citizens while Palestinians are NOT ISRAELI but members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization…now referred to as Palestine. They are under either Hamas or Fatah…neither of which are part of Israel. It is complicated and I won’t go further into it now) To my great joy, the shuk was FULL and NO stalls were closed. People (both Jews and Arabs) seemed tender and smiling. I made my way into the rather dark corner alleyway of what is called the Iraqi shuk where M has his stall and he greeted me with a big and free and tender smile. I almost kissed him (NOT acceptable!). ‘How are you?’ I asked from my heart and our eyes said it all. ‘I’m fine, and you, are you ok?’ He asked me. Each word that we exchanged held that ‘balance’ and thrilled my heart. I thought about that young boy back 15 years ago who was so volatile. Often, during tensions, when there is a volatile young person working at the shuk, I have seen them rebuked and removed by their Arab employers. I was thankful that this young man came through. While I was talking to him, a young religious Jewish man came up and said something derogatory to him (it happens on both sides -I am embarrassed to say- as you are seeing it play out world wide right now). M said to him: ‘We are both made by God.’ and he shrugged and looked back at me and I marveled at the change. Generally, throughout the shuk on Wed. that was my experience; people helping and encouraging one another.
I don’t know what lies ahead, but I think of Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham’s intercession ‘Would you spare them for 20 righteous?’ and I know that even in the midst of the larger picture, our merciful God cares about individuals and there are some precious dramas playing out in the midst.
I have gone back to work again, across town via train and bus, and I see tenderness all around me, daily…and the brokenness. I have little understanding of the bigger picture of what is going on. You tube ‘teachings’ are flying around at top speed, but I just can stand quietly and wait and look up.
May we be found IN HIM …IN HIS PEACE. Though all shakes and crumbles around us, may we be able to declare with the prophet Habakkuk “…YET WILL I REJOICE IN THE LORD I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.” May we fix our eyes on Yeshua, The Author and finisher of our faith…and keep walking. May He bless and encourage you and may He Alone be glorified.
Lovingly, your sister here.
“My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.” PROVERBS 23:26
Greetings in The Name of Yeshua, Messiah, Lord, risen Savior. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be edified and encouraged in the way that He is leading you.
Wham bang…eleven days of conflict…not conflict, but war. The sounds, the smells, the tension, the nerves lying raw just under a calm surface. And it’s over? Again? Well…not for the dead and the wounded and the scarred of course. For them it never ends. But the damaged will repair the damage, or walk away and meanwhile, we wait. I was thankfully surprised to be wrong; Jerusalem really stayed relatively calm considering what was going on and we were not the final target this time. Praise God for His mercy on us…but those in the area of Gaza were saturated: Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ashdod and even Tel Aviv along with so many smaller villages.
I have read (as probably many of you) many accounts over the years about those martyred for their faith. I have read (as probably many of you) of those who were stretched by great trials and stretched all the way to God…and I have often longed for circumstances larger than myself to ‘press me into Him’ and free me from these shackles of sin and stumbling that I battle year after year. I have thought that perhaps ‘great shakings’ would ‘press’ me into victory that He calls me to reach instead in secret wrestling with Him. I recall the shock and grief with which I heard a Chinese brother share how he saw Western believers listen to his testimony and then pray that God would ‘bring to them persecution’ so that they too could be strong and singularly directed. He said that he stopped them and said ‘You are WRONG! You don’t hear about the oh so many strong Pastors who renounced their faith or lost their minds in the midst of these things! There were far more lost than strengthened.’ I was taken aback, because he was right: I HADN’T heard of them…but he reported that there were more that did NOT stand than those who did. In other words,…it has to be God’s grace mixed with our choosing Him. It is not the events that make us strong.
With that background in mind, we have just passed through another ‘warlet’ and entered into another ‘cease fire’ with calls for intifada alongside stands for co-existence; it seems to me that the people of the country are both passionate and exhausted. Division and divisiveness are running rampant world wide.
BUT GOD IS ON HIS THRONE!! Will you excuse me while I just ‘throw in’ a few ‘BUT GOD’s at random? It is so powerful a tiny phrase to me, salting the scriptures. I always stop when I come to a ‘But GOD…!’ for I know that it is, after all is said and done, GOD’S will that WILL ultimately prevail. (suffer me a few ‘but GODs’)
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” EPHSIANS 2:4
“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” PSALM 73:26
“But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.” PSALM 75:7
“But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge”. PSALM 94:22
“And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 CHRON 20:15
“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts”. 1 THES. 2:4
“For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow”. PHIL 2:27
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us”, GALATIANS 3:18
“Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.” GALATIANS 3:20
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. “; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:10
“So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 CORINTHIANS 3:7
Thank you for suffering me that ‘focus’ as I continue to write.
I wanted to share with you the most encouraging thing that took place during this time…well…TWO actually. One was personal…such a private encouragement. We have a dear sister whom we have been blessed by (‘through ‘really, for it is God IN her…only HE can really bless) who has blessed us as she stayed with us a number of times while volunteering in the land here. The country has been closed and it has been impossible for non-Israelis to get in (and often out) …BUT GOD! WHO IS RICH IN MERCY opened the door and our sister arrived on Jerusalem Day just before the sirens here in Jerusalem. Her quarantine ended with the cease fire and our home is again blessed through His increased presence in her. Praise God Who, yes, strengthens His inheritance when it is weary! WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIS GRACIOUS BODY!
But here is the story that also encouraged me and I hope will touch you as well (it’s a ‘shuk’ story):
I have told you about different vendors and personalities in the shuk whom I’ve gotten to befriend over the years. It amazes me how our lives affect one another. The shuk (the word ‘shuk’ means ‘market’, but THE shuk is specifically (in Jerusalem) the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market (Mahane Yehuda means ‘camp of Judah’ in Hebrew). There are also ‘the shuk’ in Jaffa, Beer Sheva, Haifa and I’m sure other old cities. Each shuk has its own ‘culture’ and one could say ‘dance’ that is preformed daily with such a precision. In the shuk, as I have shared before, the ‘peace’ between Arabs and Jews has been lovingly nurtured and guarded. The work is hard and the people who work there seek a decent life for their families. Relationships develop between the merchants and also between the merchants and customers. It is a rather unique dance amidst to noise, pressures and occasionally what some would call squalor.
I think that I have told you about M, a rather young Arab vendor whom I have gone to for a number of years. I remember him as a boy working in the shuk for others; he looked like a dark cloud and had a huge chip on his shoulder, but I always felt that he had a tender heart. As he grew, he finally got his own stall and I began to buy my cucumbers and tomatoes there and talk with him. I’d ask about his family and check up on him when he was sick… He’d smile when he saw me coming and I also asked him about the chip on his shoulder and dark cloud above his head. He told me that he ‘thinks too much and that it isn’t good’ and we discussed many things.
Now this ‘warlet’ seemed to be quickly moving in a direction that could rend the fragile warp and woof of the fabric of the shuk, and M was on my heart…so I prayed for him.
And I prayed before I went to the shuk last Wed. It was (yet another) ‘day of rage’ (declared by the Palestinian Authority this time) and all of the Israeli Arabs were being encouraged by the Palestinians to refuse to work. (You might remember that Israeli Arabs are full Israeli citizens while Palestinians are NOT ISRAELI but members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization…now referred to as Palestine. They are under either Hamas or Fatah…neither of which are part of Israel. It is complicated and I won’t go further into it now) To my great joy, the shuk was FULL and NO stalls were closed. People (both Jews and Arabs) seemed tender and smiling. I made my way into the rather dark corner alleyway of what is called the Iraqi shuk where M has his stall and he greeted me with a big and free and tender smile. I almost kissed him (NOT acceptable!). ‘How are you?’ I asked from my heart and our eyes said it all. ‘I’m fine, and you, are you ok?’ He asked me. Each word that we exchanged held that ‘balance’ and thrilled my heart. I thought about that young boy back 15 years ago who was so volatile. Often, during tensions, when there is a volatile young person working at the shuk, I have seen them rebuked and removed by their Arab employers. I was thankful that this young man came through. While I was talking to him, a young religious Jewish man came up and said something derogatory to him (it happens on both sides -I am embarrassed to say- as you are seeing it play out world wide right now). M said to him: ‘We are both made by God.’ and he shrugged and looked back at me and I marveled at the change. Generally, throughout the shuk on Wed. that was my experience; people helping and encouraging one another.
I don’t know what lies ahead, but I think of Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham’s intercession ‘Would you spare them for 20 righteous?’ and I know that even in the midst of the larger picture, our merciful God cares about individuals and there are some precious dramas playing out in the midst.
I have gone back to work again, across town via train and bus, and I see tenderness all around me, daily…and the brokenness. I have little understanding of the bigger picture of what is going on. You tube ‘teachings’ are flying around at top speed, but I just can stand quietly and wait and look up.
May we be found IN HIM …IN HIS PEACE. Though all shakes and crumbles around us, may we be able to declare with the prophet Habakkuk “…YET WILL I REJOICE IN THE LORD I WILL JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.” May we fix our eyes on Yeshua, The Author and finisher of our faith…and keep walking. May He bless and encourage you and may He Alone be glorified.
Lovingly, your sister here.
May 17, 2021
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” … “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” ACTS 2:1-4 and 37-39 Greetings in The Name of HIM Who is Sovereign Lord, Creator of the heavens and the earth…for the glory of Him Who rules and reigns in the affairs of men and nations and Who will be glorified and see His purposes come to pass…and then we shall all be ashamed in The Light of the full knowledge. May He be glorified and blessed and may you be edified in Him. TODAY is Shavuot…Pentecost…TODAY: the fully arrived day and the streets of Jerusalem (in my neighborhood) are quiet and people dressed in white walk to The Western Wall and back again. You wouldn’t guess, if you were dropped down in front of my apartment, that war continues to rage in this country and that last night, in the Jerusalem area neighborhood of Givat Ze’ev, a newly – yet still incomplete – synagogue became the scene of another tragedy. They had been warned that it was not ready to use yet, non the less they gathered on the stadium bleachers that were placed to seat the crowds. The bleachers collapsed (the scenes were all too similar to those from Mt. Meron just two weeks ago on l’ag b’omer…the day marking the mid-point between Passover and Shavuot). Some 60 remain in hospital today with 2 dead and one missing, many in serious condition…originally some 120 were brought to hospital by medics called from the front line…BOTH Jewish and Israeli Arabs…to shuttle them by ambulance and helicopter to 3 different hospitals.
It was a ‘pause’ in the midst…a certain ‘gasp’ as once again an avalanche of ultra-orthodox people, who had gathered for prayer, were seen crushing one another to death…unheard of!
It was a night of much speculation about what would happen in Jerusalem. It began with a truck ramming into and injuring 7 police and I, for one, wondered if this wouldn’t be the night when both the battles within and the bombs from without wouldn’t peak here in Jerusalem. But God seemed to have written a different scenario.
The bombs into and out of Gaza continued (a synagogue hit in Ashkelon was repaired by the worshippers in order to begin worship 2 hours later) and skirmishes within the cities continued…but that ‘pause’ did ‘something’ here in Jerusalem, that I will not try to explain…simply tell you what I see with my eyes.
I have seen this before but it takes me by surprise each time. Suddenly we become aware of what the rest of the world is saying (NOT you and I KNOW that. I KNOW that we have many true believing supporters. I am also not wishing to discuss governments concerning this either…it is SPIRITUAL and not NATURAL) ‘You have only had 9 dead and they have had hundreds! You are slaughtering innocent men, women and children!’ … we build shelters (not enough) and iron domes and they build bombs. Early this morning, a 15 km. tunnel into Israel (terror tunnel for kidnapping an attack! Built with sophistication from foreign donations – have any of you seen PICTURES of these underground tunnels?) was destroyed. It was built (in other words…they entered it from…) over a kindergarten and a mosque! TUNNELS (Link to live updates article - Times of Israel); Human shields…they make very emotional photos and reports. The world is experiencing much painful infighting concerning events taking place here.
I have one comment:
REMEMBER THE CRUCIFIXION OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH!
REMEMBER THE HATRED.
REMEMBER THE LOGIC.
REMEMBER HIS DEATH. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
BUT WE LIVE IN THE TRUTH AND LIGHT OF HIS RESURRECTION AND THUS WE HAVE FULL PEACE IN THE MIDST.
We live in the kingdom of this world but in the Spirit we are alive in His Kingdom…not of this world. His purposes are different, His focus is different because The Light of HIS Truth BRINGS His kingdom into the kingdoms of this world…and THAT is what I am asking prayer for. I am asking prayer that we, the believers here, will be effective in the midst. May our presence be HIS Presence and may the sweet smelling savor of YESHUA draw them to Him above the stench of war and hatred and opinions! May THIS Shavuot be even more fruitful than the one 2,ooo years ago.
May The Lord be seen and glorified…and may we be found of Him in His Peace. YES…WE HAVE HIS PEACE AND PERSONALLY WE ARE NOT AFRAID. Thank you for all of your prayers. Lovingly, your sis (a sheep)
May 15, 2021
Exodus 33:15 “Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”
Exodus 34:8-9 “So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Shabbat Shalom to you dear brothers and sisters. May The Lord Alone be blessed and glorified and may you be blessed and encouraged. What an incredible Peace to KNOW that The Lord is Sovereign; that He reigns over all and that His Word is True and stands firm, and that His Spirit leads His children in the midst of all.
Shavuot (Pentecost) begins tomorrow at sundown. (see Deut. 26…feast of weeks) Once again, I have described the holiday and my relationship to it and the many traditions and truths about it over the past 25 years. It is really the culmination of Passover…the offering back to God the fruits of His promise to the children of Israel for the land that He gave. It is one of the (only) THREE commanded holidays that all of the men are to present themselves before The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to His ‘priest’ (Cohen) in Jerusalem…and yes, even this year, there will be (Lord willing) many who will faithfully go up to the western wall of the temple and offer prayers and thanksgiving there.
When I felt, a number of years ago, The Lord pressing me to “learn My ways in Judgment”, I wrote bits and pieces along the way about it. I have quite a ‘book’ of notes that I have made through out the Word of how The Lord tells us to walk in the midst of His Judgments…to respond, to live. So as these things occur around me, I have found truly that The Lord has adjusted my heart to His Word in so many areas that I do, indeed, have His Peace ruling in my heart. HE is sovereign. HE is just. HE is right and pure in ALL of His ways. I want to worship Him in His will.
As we sit in the hushed quiet of Jerusalem this Shabbat morning, I suspect that it is only a pause. Jerusalem is ‘the prize’…Jerusalem is ‘the key’…Jerusalem is what this long battle has ALWAYS been about and for. There are riots in the Eastern part of the city (perhaps 2 miles, 4 kilometers, away). There is tension, even at the shuk, where traditionally people work together in harmony and care about one another and argue with a very interesting form of restraint. I understand that a young Arab man was stabbed there several days ago but I know no more. The FACTS are scanty. ‘News’ and many words fly via social media but I am careful to take this with a grain of salt. Social media (in my opinion) has deified ‘OPINION’ and I see many running from opinion to opinion. All of the ‘events’ that are taking place will neither edify you nor give you the ‘key’ to praying in His Spirit about the situation.
We have been here through several wars (I’ve lost count) …the second Lebanon war, Protective Edge in Gaza, the withdrawal from Gaza by Israel, the second intifada, the knife intifada…and more. This is different. There is a change. I don’t know what the outcome will be but I know that The Lord Reigns and rules and that His heart is with this area and this people. I know that that does not mean that we will be ‘spared’ things difficult to understand according to many doctrines. We all see through a glass darkly.
Hamas has lobbed more than 2,000 rockets into Israel causing much damage, havoc and many tears. There may be more but the last that I heard there were approximately 6 killed here…one a little 5 (or 6) year old boy. During his funeral the air raid sirens went off and mourners had to take cover. Air traffic to Ben Gurion (our airport) has been diverted. In Israel, Ashkelon, Ashdod, the southern cities and Beer Sheva have been battered, but also Tel Aviv and areas around. All of the communities (the ‘envelope’ communities on the Gaza periphery) have been slammed by constant attack. There have been many killed in Gaza including children, as yes, they still use human shields and build their war machine in schools and populated areas. We have been pounding them from the air with the aim of damaging their attack powers.
The painful difference between this outbreak and others (thus far) is the violent uprisings within perhaps all of the mixed Arab Jewish towns and cities. The violence has come from and toward both sides…it is ugly and shocking. Besides Jerusalem, awful scenes have come from Lod and Jaffa …but also Haifa, Bat Yam, and cities covering the country. Meanwhile, the Northern border is boiling and there have been several rockets as well as a storming of the border fence…nor is our Eastern border quiet.
That is my ‘update’ as I see it. It is not complete. I neither want to be ‘sensational’ nor give you my opinions.
israelprayercenter
May 12, 2021 - UPDATE
YNET ENGLISH NEWS
JERUSALEM POST
TIMES OF ISRAEL
ISRAEL HAYOM
I have enclosed for you 4 links to local, general Israeli news media that are covering up to date happenings here, which are different than in the past, and for those of you who use the news media as a springboard to prayer, this is worthwhile. More than any other time I have noticed that world media is late in getting information or not sharing at all so I want to include these FOR PRAYER AND ACCURACY (as possible)
YNET ENGLISH NEWS
JERUSALEM POST
TIMES OF ISRAEL
ISRAEL HAYOM
I have enclosed for you 4 links to local, general Israeli news media that are covering up to date happenings here, which are different than in the past, and for those of you who use the news media as a springboard to prayer, this is worthwhile. More than any other time I have noticed that world media is late in getting information or not sharing at all so I want to include these FOR PRAYER AND ACCURACY (as possible)
May 10, 2021
Beloved sisters and brothers,
To HIM Who rules and reigns may all the glory be! May He be magnified and praised and blessed for He WILL be glorified and He is being glorified! May my words be pleasing to Him and encouraging to you. BLESSINGS in THE NAME OF YESHUA HA'MASHIACH.
This will be a very short update as I must go to bed. I have been struggling all week to send out a letter in preparation for our 54th Jerusalem Day and the upcoming Shavuot celebrations and even with several stories – vignettes – but I just couldn’t write it and my heart has been heavy and ‘conflicted’. At the bottom I will share with you how far I got, but now I must update you.
Yes, we had 7 rockets fired at Jerusalem from Hamas run Gaza…air raid sirens and into our ‘safe space’. Many rockets are being fired at the Gaza periphery area and the army has been retaliating. There have been some injuries…it is on going and this is the beginning of it so I will try to share with you what I can that I know (or believe) to be accurate because the little that I am hearing from the nations is NOT.
This round was well planned and is NOT ‘spontaneous riots’ as the media portrays it. It was planned for a long time and comes in the midst of battle for power between Hamas and Fattah…and ofcourse it IS the ‘time when the kings go to war.’ It is the end of Ramadan…it is (today) JERUSALEM DAY … Shavuot (Pentecost) is approaching…
There has been staged increasing rioting on Temple Mount over the past few days and our troops have gone in to quell the riots (Israel’s long-standing refusal to tolerate insurrection). Hamas entered the equation this week with more incendiary balloons and disturbances. It FELT as if they were planning it to erupt on Jerusalem Day. Hamas gave Israel an ‘ultimatum’ this afternoon that either we withdrew ALL security forces from The Old City and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem or they would send rockets. We ‘were given until 6pm’.
As I said the eerie sound of the air raid siren began at about 30 seconds after 6 here in Jerusalem. In our building, two young women who live on the floor above us could be heard crying in the hallway filled with terror. I called up to them in Hebrew ‘Don’t worry! Don’t be scared! You will be ok. Look up to our God…our Abba!’ I heard 5 of the 7 ‘booms’. I feel that there is an opportunity to reach out with His comforting Hand. Perhaps because this is not our first experience with bombs on Jerusalem (hard to believe that the last time was 2014!). Our younger daughter with their two little Girls and the Baby that she is carrying within though were not in the country in the summer of 2014, so it IS their first time to hear these sounds. I would appreciate prayer for them.
I am too tired to write more and it will possibly be a long noisy night so I will close for now and try to update. I will add what I had started writing yesterday and was HOPING to finish and send today. Thank you for your prayers and concerns…May we be found praying in The Holy Spirit and not from the flesh…for such a time as this. LOVING BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL. (don’t remember if I mentioned…I have deep peace and no fear)
FOOTAGE OF ENTERING JERUSALEM 1967
“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness…
…“And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’” Zechariah 13:1 and 4-6
Dear Brothers and sisters, loving greetings in The Name of Yeshua The Messiah…may He be blessed and glorified, adored and feared. May He be seen in us for the glory of The One True God…The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May you be edified and blessed for His glory.
The above scripture might seem like an awfully strange one to begin with on this eve of Jerusalem Day. And this letter could be divided into many topics as I do have much to share and so much has happened, is happening and lies before us here. But my heart has been heavy…weeping heavy…and I for one am thankful that (as I have made very clear in these letters for all of these years) that I am NOT a prophet; I’m a sheep like you, seeking to be obedient and a vessel fit for The Master’s use…WHATEVER that may be…but nothing more. Because I am here, I can share ‘from my vantage point’ what I see…
And today I admit to you that I find myself conflicted and my heart heavy and sad, NOT from any fear but a longing to only see through the Eyes of The Holy Spirit and not my flesh.
I thought of the verse in Revelation this week about ‘One woe is past…but oh for the others’ (my quick paraphrase). With the blanket (controversial) vaccination program that we have had here, at this moment it really does look that, as for now anyway, a battle has been won. A few weeks ago we had passed 10,000 new cases of COVID a day and the total reported for yesterday was either 2 or 3 (depending upon where you are reading) and THAT really IS something. For the first time since this began our active cases are below 1,000 and those in critical have also fallen dramatically; one ‘woe’ appears to be passing. The tragedy that occurred on Mt. Meron (which could really be called the peak of Israel ‘opening up’ from Corona restrictions) seems like a ‘short collective gasp’. The responses in the Haredi community have been interesting; so many rabbis immediately said ‘God has judged us. We must search our hearts.’
As I said, that shocking event was a ‘pause’ or ‘gasp’ as it was pushed aside by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu losing the mandate to form a government and the mandate was returned to President Reuven Rivlin who has passed it to Yair Lapid. He now has his chance to form a coalition…OR (should he fail) …we return for a FIFTH round of elections. Now I KNOW that you likely don’t understand what that all means. It is very difficult to understand even for those of us who live here. Suffice it to say, the country is tired, divided, angry, and ‘scattering’ in a way that all places without effective leadership do.
And then came Ramadan.
I think about how in years past I have explained each of these holidays…both the Jewish and the Muslim from my interactions here in Jerusalem, and I simply don’t have the energy to do it again (I suppose that I can go back and find an old letter to forward if someone wants). Throughout Ramadan I have had some very nice interactions with Arab vendors at the shuk whom I have gotten to know over the years. I personally do not believe that we will ever ‘make peace’ with our cousins, but individually, one on one, some precious relationships are formed and they are sweet and I believe pleasing to Him. But I am taking a bunny trail and I do not want to do that.
Friday night was the last Friday of Ramadan (Friday is the Muslim day of rest/worship) so the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Temple Mount in the Old City (about 2 miles from our apartment). Approximately 80,000 Muslim worshippers came and riots broke out. Tensions were high for many reasons. I can name some but I am not certain of all of my information (I hear conflicting reports so feel that it is better to not try to give specifics that may not be accurate). Whenever the Israeli law enforcement find it necessary to enter The Mount (usually to stop the throwing of Molotov cocktails and rocks) there is
Beloved sisters and brothers,
To HIM Who rules and reigns may all the glory be! May He be magnified and praised and blessed for He WILL be glorified and He is being glorified! May my words be pleasing to Him and encouraging to you. BLESSINGS in THE NAME OF YESHUA HA'MASHIACH.
This will be a very short update as I must go to bed. I have been struggling all week to send out a letter in preparation for our 54th Jerusalem Day and the upcoming Shavuot celebrations and even with several stories – vignettes – but I just couldn’t write it and my heart has been heavy and ‘conflicted’. At the bottom I will share with you how far I got, but now I must update you.
Yes, we had 7 rockets fired at Jerusalem from Hamas run Gaza…air raid sirens and into our ‘safe space’. Many rockets are being fired at the Gaza periphery area and the army has been retaliating. There have been some injuries…it is on going and this is the beginning of it so I will try to share with you what I can that I know (or believe) to be accurate because the little that I am hearing from the nations is NOT.
This round was well planned and is NOT ‘spontaneous riots’ as the media portrays it. It was planned for a long time and comes in the midst of battle for power between Hamas and Fattah…and ofcourse it IS the ‘time when the kings go to war.’ It is the end of Ramadan…it is (today) JERUSALEM DAY … Shavuot (Pentecost) is approaching…
There has been staged increasing rioting on Temple Mount over the past few days and our troops have gone in to quell the riots (Israel’s long-standing refusal to tolerate insurrection). Hamas entered the equation this week with more incendiary balloons and disturbances. It FELT as if they were planning it to erupt on Jerusalem Day. Hamas gave Israel an ‘ultimatum’ this afternoon that either we withdrew ALL security forces from The Old City and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem or they would send rockets. We ‘were given until 6pm’.
As I said the eerie sound of the air raid siren began at about 30 seconds after 6 here in Jerusalem. In our building, two young women who live on the floor above us could be heard crying in the hallway filled with terror. I called up to them in Hebrew ‘Don’t worry! Don’t be scared! You will be ok. Look up to our God…our Abba!’ I heard 5 of the 7 ‘booms’. I feel that there is an opportunity to reach out with His comforting Hand. Perhaps because this is not our first experience with bombs on Jerusalem (hard to believe that the last time was 2014!). Our younger daughter with their two little Girls and the Baby that she is carrying within though were not in the country in the summer of 2014, so it IS their first time to hear these sounds. I would appreciate prayer for them.
I am too tired to write more and it will possibly be a long noisy night so I will close for now and try to update. I will add what I had started writing yesterday and was HOPING to finish and send today. Thank you for your prayers and concerns…May we be found praying in The Holy Spirit and not from the flesh…for such a time as this. LOVING BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL. (don’t remember if I mentioned…I have deep peace and no fear)
FOOTAGE OF ENTERING JERUSALEM 1967
“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness…
…“And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’” Zechariah 13:1 and 4-6
Dear Brothers and sisters, loving greetings in The Name of Yeshua The Messiah…may He be blessed and glorified, adored and feared. May He be seen in us for the glory of The One True God…The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. May you be edified and blessed for His glory.
The above scripture might seem like an awfully strange one to begin with on this eve of Jerusalem Day. And this letter could be divided into many topics as I do have much to share and so much has happened, is happening and lies before us here. But my heart has been heavy…weeping heavy…and I for one am thankful that (as I have made very clear in these letters for all of these years) that I am NOT a prophet; I’m a sheep like you, seeking to be obedient and a vessel fit for The Master’s use…WHATEVER that may be…but nothing more. Because I am here, I can share ‘from my vantage point’ what I see…
And today I admit to you that I find myself conflicted and my heart heavy and sad, NOT from any fear but a longing to only see through the Eyes of The Holy Spirit and not my flesh.
I thought of the verse in Revelation this week about ‘One woe is past…but oh for the others’ (my quick paraphrase). With the blanket (controversial) vaccination program that we have had here, at this moment it really does look that, as for now anyway, a battle has been won. A few weeks ago we had passed 10,000 new cases of COVID a day and the total reported for yesterday was either 2 or 3 (depending upon where you are reading) and THAT really IS something. For the first time since this began our active cases are below 1,000 and those in critical have also fallen dramatically; one ‘woe’ appears to be passing. The tragedy that occurred on Mt. Meron (which could really be called the peak of Israel ‘opening up’ from Corona restrictions) seems like a ‘short collective gasp’. The responses in the Haredi community have been interesting; so many rabbis immediately said ‘God has judged us. We must search our hearts.’
As I said, that shocking event was a ‘pause’ or ‘gasp’ as it was pushed aside by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu losing the mandate to form a government and the mandate was returned to President Reuven Rivlin who has passed it to Yair Lapid. He now has his chance to form a coalition…OR (should he fail) …we return for a FIFTH round of elections. Now I KNOW that you likely don’t understand what that all means. It is very difficult to understand even for those of us who live here. Suffice it to say, the country is tired, divided, angry, and ‘scattering’ in a way that all places without effective leadership do.
And then came Ramadan.
I think about how in years past I have explained each of these holidays…both the Jewish and the Muslim from my interactions here in Jerusalem, and I simply don’t have the energy to do it again (I suppose that I can go back and find an old letter to forward if someone wants). Throughout Ramadan I have had some very nice interactions with Arab vendors at the shuk whom I have gotten to know over the years. I personally do not believe that we will ever ‘make peace’ with our cousins, but individually, one on one, some precious relationships are formed and they are sweet and I believe pleasing to Him. But I am taking a bunny trail and I do not want to do that.
Friday night was the last Friday of Ramadan (Friday is the Muslim day of rest/worship) so the Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Temple Mount in the Old City (about 2 miles from our apartment). Approximately 80,000 Muslim worshippers came and riots broke out. Tensions were high for many reasons. I can name some but I am not certain of all of my information (I hear conflicting reports so feel that it is better to not try to give specifics that may not be accurate). Whenever the Israeli law enforcement find it necessary to enter The Mount (usually to stop the throwing of Molotov cocktails and rocks) there is