Coming Clean

“When they went into the tabernacle of meeting, and when they came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  Exodus 40:32

Moses, Aaron and his sons washed in the bronze laver before serving God.   Am I coming clean before God each day?

Thank You, Jesus, that my sins can be washed away  as I repent and confess them to You and ask for forgiveness. Here’s a  simple poem . . .

In Moses’ Day

Aaron and his sons
washed in the bronze
laver, but now
the laver is gone

and we each
get to decide
whether or not
to come clean.

Beaten Thin

“And they beat the gold into thin sheets and cut it into threads, to work it in with the blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen thread, into artistic designs.”  Exodus 39:3

I usually think of gold as something precious and showy – like jewelry.  Not to be hammered upon.

Oh Lord, may I not hold my life so dear that I deny You access to use it anyway You want.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Our Golden Thread

Beaten thin
and woven in
to create in us
something divine

Jesus, solid
pure and holy
kept His Father’s
design in mind.

Inside Israel

Praying for each of you as you join me today for a look inside Israel. J of Jerusalem brings us her observations as only she can, a believer who trusts God in the land He promised.  God bless you as you read the following and trust in His promises too.

“Shma Yisroel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Ahad!”  “Hear o Israel…The Lord our God…The Lord is One!”

I walked outside with Gila, our dog, this morning at 5am and the air pulsed with the sound of the Moslem call to prayer.  It is Ramadan; the Moslem month of fasting (from dawn until dusk) prayer, repentance and meditation.

At sunrise, I walked toward the bus for our 6:30 ifi prayer meeting, just as the shofarim (the rams horns) are sounding in synagogues, calling Jews to prayer, reading of scriptures and meditation as we are in the month of Elul, the Jewish month of deep reflection before God and repentance.

I ride the bus with Moslems and Jews as I make my way to prayer meeting, listening…listening to the sounds and wondering as each people, fighting from the womb, seek peace, peace within and peace with God, and some…even peace with each other.  Our first topic for prayer today is salvation; first we pray for the Jews.  Next we pray for the Moslems.

I leave for work and am on the bus when the 7am news begins.  ‘Peace talks are to begin this coming Thursday.’  The US President Obama is determined.  Everybody on the bus cringes.  Without exception peace talks have produced blood baths here in our streets, not usually, but 100% of the time.  Not just for the 16 years that we have been here, but for the 46 years before…and throughout history.

I have not spoken much of the situations here in the middle east for awhile.  The emails that I get seem to reflect the fact that most of you receive plenty of reports and commentary from other believers in the region and one more does not add that much to your insight in prayer and understanding, but today I ‘heard’ such a call…a ‘reminder’ if you will…that the current events, the daily events and the spiritual events that take place here are as much intertwined today as they were throughout recorded scripture.  And surely that is the point…we are living the continuance of recorded scripture here.

I’ve written twice now about the dream that I had in 1988 concerning Iran.   Back then, both the thought that Iran would have world wide influence or that we would be living here were extremely remote.

Shma Yisroel, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Ahad!” “Hear o Israel…The Lord our God…The Lord is One!” This is the main foundational prayer in Judaism.  HEAR! I listen.  Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.  Open my ears, Lord, that I may hear.  Open the ears of my heart, Lord, that I might be attentive.  Let me hearken: ‘this is the way, walk ye in it.’  I listen to the shofarim and to the chants from the Moslem minaret.  Each calling to different, opposing God/gods.  A call to battle.  A call to preparation.  The call gets louder.

The sun has fully risen and the ‘calls’ fade into the din of increasing traffic and the movement of people and goods.  That represents well my personal battle…my ears are sharpened to Him in the morning but often seem to grow dull through out the day, worn down by the day’s noise and demands.  But the call is surely becoming louder and more urgent.  Certainly the days for which He has trained us are approaching rapidly…and are even here.

May we pray, using the ears of our hearts filled with His Spirit in these days ahead.  Those of you who have been called to pray for and or stand with Israel, may you each stand the ground He has given you to take, and not be turned aside.  I write with deep love for Him and for you.  For those of you who use them and don’t get them directly, here are the Friday morning ifi prayer points.  Lovingly, your sis

Friday Prayer Points

27 August 2010

1. We used selected verses from this Shabbat’s prophetic reading (Isaiah 60:1-22), as an encouragement to praise our God. Please note that this chapter specifically speaks to Israel as she is in the process of being restored from the nations and then saved.

·         Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of LORD [YHWH] is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles/nations shall come to your light… Lift up your eyes round about, and see…Your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see, and… your heart shall fear… [because] the forces [or "wealth"] of the Gentiles shall come unto you… they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of LORD.

Therefore, these gentiles must be Christians – because only they would show forth the praises of LORD.

·         For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. Yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

·         Violence shall be heard no more in your land, nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

·         …LORD shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land forever…that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I LORD will hasten it in his time.

·         How wonderful to have our eyes opened to see so much of this prophecy coming to pass just as You said it would.

·         If you are so faithful to Your promises to this people – while they are still in unbelief – how much more will You watch over Your word to those of us who believe.

·         Precious Lord, we bless You from Your holy city of Jerusalem.

2. We are in the month of Ellul, the month of repentance according to Judaism. It is a great time to intercede for the salvation of the children of Israel.

·         Your people also shall be all righteous…that I may be glorified.

Isaiah 60:21

·         Abba, we ask for multitudes of Jews to have the veil removed – that they might become righteous in Messiah Yeshua – so that You might be glorified.

·         We bless You that you have made Yeshua to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21b)

·         Lord, as many Orthodox attend services every morning this month and listen to the sound of the shofar, open their spiritual eyes to see Messiah Yeshua.

·         Save all remaining Holocaust survivors. Use believers – especially descendents of those who persecuted them – to provoke them to jealousy (Isaiah 60:14).

·         Yeshua, meet with many of Israel’s soldiers as they guard this nation.

·         Touch the youth of this nation. Pluck out a significant remnant for Your holy name’s sake.

·         And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says LORD. As for Me, this is My covenant with them…My spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed, says LORD, from now and forever.

Isaiah 59:20-21

Redeem the unsaved loved ones of Messianic Jews.

3. As this is also the Islamic month of Ramadan, we prayed for Moslem salvations.

·         We ask for a harvest of Israeli Arab Moslems.

·         Send workers into the Moslem harvest fields.

The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.

Matt. 9:37-38

·         Thank You for the work You are doing among many Islamic groups and nations. Increase the ex-Moslem Church exponentially over this Ramadan.

·         Save many Palestinians and turn them into on fire Christian Zionists!

·         Use Iranian believers to reach out to Iranian Moslems with the good news of Messiah.

·         While Moslems are fasting during the days of Ramadan, reveal Yourself.

·         Walk among the Moslems who go up to the Temple Mount today and do all of the ritual prayers. Surprise some of them with an experience of Yourself.

·         After this I looked, and, behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and families, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Rev. 7:9-10

4. On September 2^nd direct “peace” talks are suppose to start between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Washington, DC, under the auspices of the Obama administration. Already there are signs that absolutely nothing will be accomplished – and that is good for both Israel and the nations who are pushing us to divide God’s land.

·         For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and divided My land.

Joel 3:1-2

·         Lord, the noose is tightening around the neck of Israel. We are being told that we must – for the sake of “world peace,” – divide our inheritance with a people who refuse to even recognize us as the Jewish State.

LORD, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. Help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.

2 Chr. 14:11

·         If it had not been LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say… when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick…Then the waters had overwhelmed us… Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 124:1-8

·         We do thank You that according to King David in this Psalm, You are on Israel’s side – as we say so!

·         Break this snare that the nations are setting for Israel’s negotiators – especially our Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

·         Help Bibi to trust and look to You more than to trust and look to the nations – especially America with its current administration.

·         We ask for a strong anointing on Bibi and his negotiating team to not be manipulated or deceived by anything that happens in these talks (Num. 23:23).

·         Instead, give Netanyahu supernatural clarity and insight to avoid all of the snares that will be set before him.

·         Continue to harden the already hard hearts of the PA leadership. Let Obama and his team see that they are being unreasonable and not willing to compromise one iota.

·         Wake up the believers in America to the grave danger their current political leadership is leading them into and encourage them to stand in the gap for their nation and its relationship to Your nation Israel.

I sought for a man…that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore…have consumed them with the fire of My wrath…

Ezek. 22:30-31b

·         For thus says LORD of hosts; After the glory has He sent Me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of His eye.

Zech. 2:8

5. Israel’s security was the next topic of prayer this morning. First – Iran.

·         LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me… they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psalms 27:1-3

·         Abba, You see what is happening in Iran. Arise and defend us from this threat from the Spirit of Persia.

·         Shake Iran spiritually by continuing to save multitudes.

And I will set My throne in Elam [ancient Persia] …

Jer. 49:38a

·         Shake Iran politically and divide their current leadership.

…and will destroy from [Elam] the king and the princes, says LORD.

Jer. 49:38b

·         Shake Iran physically and send stronger earthquakes – especially in the areas where they have built their centrifuges and at Bushehr, where their first nuclear plant is being filled.

·         Anoint Israel’s spies inside Iran to obtain accurate and up-to-date intelligence information.

·         Lord, show us how to pray into the current Middle East situation where now almost every nation wants to have nuclear energy – Egypt, Jordan even Lebanon and others.

6. Next, we prayed into the security situation in the North with Hizbullah and its hold on Lebanon. If Hizbullah is revealed as the organization that assassinated former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, there will be chaos and bloodshed as they will try to divert attention away from themselves – and focus either on Israel or internally against others in Lebanon.

·         Have mercy on Lebanon and remove from them their Islamic overlords.

·         Cause the truth to come to light from the UN tribunal investigating the assassination.

·         Remember the prayers of multitudes of Your people for Israel’s safety from a threat from this direction.

Let the priests, ministers of LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Your people, O LORD, and give not Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the people, Where is their God?  Then will LORD be jealous for His land, and pity His people… I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate…

Joel 2:17-20

·         Throw Israel’s enemies into confusion – whether Hamas in the south, or Hizbullah in the north, or Syria and Iran.

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Psalms 55:9

Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

Psalms 129:5

·         Do not allow the confusion of the IDF’s current Chief of Staff being on his way out and the next CoS already being named cause confusion in the ranks of Israel’s army.

·         Help Gabi Ashkenazi [current CoS] and Yoav Galant [next CoS] work well together and to have a smooth transition.

·         With the IDF seemingly having two heads for the next several months, do not allow them to be double-minded!

·         Keep all of our soldiers alert and able to discern any potential and real threats – to either themselves or this nation.

We finished by praying for aliyah - the immigration of the Jews in exile back to the land of their forefathers – the land which God has promised to them over 200 times in Scriptures. We are seeing an incredible miracle as the living God fulfills His word – which He spoke into existence over 2500 years ago.

Moreover the word of LORD came unto me, saying,
Jeremiah, what do you see?
I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Then said LORD unto me, You have well seen:
for I will watch over My word to perform it.

Jeremiah 1:11-12

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion,
The IFI team

ani b’derek

Following Instructions

“All who are skillful among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded . . .”  Exodus 35:10

Chapters 36-39 give the details of what the skillful made, all according to the Lord’s commands.  Nothing was skipped over or altered to fit another want or need.

Lord, may I heed Your voice and Your word, giving attention to all the details of my life, to live it out according to Your good will and pleasure.  Here’s a simple poem . . .

You Saved Me To Do What?

If I don’t know You
how can I follow
and if I don’t listen
how can I obey?
And if my arrogance
keeps me from doing it Your way
then I am thinking
I still need to be saved.

Excessive Giving

“The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”  Exodus 36:5
” . . .and the people were restrained from bringing . . .”  Exodus 36:6

There became a need in our small community for support of a local family as their tiny son battled leukemia for 17 months of his short 2 year life.  Today, a house is being built and donated to the new foundation in order to help other families and children with similar needs.

Oh Lord, if we as a people are faulted, let it be for giving too much. And here’s a simple poem . . .

A Given

If there is a need
that we can meet
let us not turn away

remembering how
You gave everything
on that one eternal day.

Is there a need you’d like to share with us today?

Shining

“Now it was so . . .that Moses did not know that the skin of His face shone while he talked with Him.”  Exodus 34:29

Jackson Wilcox wrote in his Editor’s Diary section of Silver Wings, that we all have a candle in us.  Only some of us just aren’t lit.

Lord Jesus, please help me keep my candle lit and use it to light others.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

Lit

May my face shine
from the time
I spend with You,
may my life glow
with the radiance
of Your love,
and may I be
a ready candle
burning to touch
an unlit wick for You.

An Awesome Thing

“For it is an awesome thing that I shall do with you.”  Exodus 34:10

Awesome.  How often have I used that word? To describe God, other people, places, things?  Yet, I hesitate to use it to describe what God is doing with my life.

Oh Lord, help me understand, believe and see the awesomeness of Your work in everyone . . .and even in me.  And here’s a simple poem . . .

What He Does

Rich Mullins sings
“our God is an awesome God”
and I must agree

and say “YES” to
the next awesome thing
He does with you and me.

An Inheritance

“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 sins, and take us as Your inheritance.’”  Exodus 34:9

We may leave an inheritance or receive an inheritance, but Moses asked to be an inheritance.

Lord Jesus, I ask too, to be an inheritance of Your mercy and grace, passed on to the next generation.  Here’s a simple poem . . .

Lavish Living

How grateful I am to be an heir
of Your Holy Kingdom
thankful that through You alone
I am welcomed there

yet I don’t want to get caught up
in all I am receiving
but choose instead to lavish it on
everyone I can.

The Fumble . . .

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Cut two tablets of stone  like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.’”  Exodus 34:1

I had totally forgot this . . .Moses dropped the original ten commandments.  Not just dropped, but threw them down in anger when he saw the people worshiping the golden calf.  Like a priceless heirloom, I’d think they couldn’t be replaced.  But  God in His unlimited graciousness says, “Come . . .I’ll write again.”

Lord, forgive me for when I drop what You have told me and given me.  Thank You for writing it again and again on my heart. Here’s a simple poem . . .

His Living Heirloom

I’ve been given something so important
of unimaginable worth
more priceless than all the heirlooms
that can be found upon this earth

and if I do drop it
and forget to pick it up
it lays unbroken, calling
“come drink again this cup.”

Inside Israel

Thank you for coming along today to take a peek inside Israel through the eyes of a dear friend, J of Jerusalem.  The following is what she shared with those on her e-mail list this last week.  There is always much to share . . .intercessors for Israel prayer notes, special prayer updates, etc. So please let me know if you would like me to include more  each Sunday!

One of  the precious lessons that I seem to have learned from The Lord over the years, that  I hope is part of who I am in Him, is to praise Him in ALL things and give Him The glory!  Since I’m getting so much time to observe hospitals lately, I thought that perhaps I could turn it into a blessing for those of you who can’t experience life here first hand.  You might enjoy a ‘unique’ trip with me into a part of life not generally visited by ‘tour groups’.  I began thinking about this as I rode the bus to work one morning, passing our downtown hospital, Bikor Holim, which lies in the center of Jerusalem and straddles several very busy, extremely narrow streets.  It has been a real blessing during the intifada when there were so many attacks in the center of town.  The hospital is comprised of 4 MAIN buildings, very old and picturesque, if not run down…indeed it speaks volumes of years gone by.  What made me think of the uniqueness of our hospitals was that it was 6:30am and there were several families outside on this particularly hot morning, sharing coffee and breakfast at the picnic tables provided for that purpose by the hospital.  They are literally a stones throw from the passing traffic jams, but there sat a Moslem Arab family, and an Orthodox Jewish family, each with a member in pajamas, some assorted doctors and nurses and other patients…and I though… hum!  I should write about this.

Indeed, I was jarred into seeing it with new eyes during my most recent visit to Hadassa Hospital where I am being treated.  Hadassa is a much larger complex of buildings, almost a city, sitting on a mountain.  You get off the bus in front of their new ‘mall’ (I kid you not!) and hotel.  People come from all over the country to the hospital and their relatives used to be put up at the hospital.  (it is still allowed and you often see mattresses on the floor in waiting rooms where families rest) When you get off at the mall entrance, there are wheel chairs available (!) incase you came to the emergency ward but not by ambulance or taxi (I’ve watched more then one person carried through the mall!) This looks like any normal busy nice mall except for the ‘customers’.  What a mix!  Not just of nationalities either.  My daughter and I sat having a cup of tea and laughed as we looked around:  Plenty of pajamas!  Wheel chairs galore; patients walking around pushing their infusion poles; but no one is alarmed as at the next table there is a surgeon still with his scrubs on.  The nurses and doctors are relaxing along with the patients and families…yes…it is a unique mall!

After passing through the mall you enter what is like an airplane corroder and exit into a very large square with the emergency rooms on the left, the main hospital in front of you and the clinics on the right.  After passing through security for the third time, you make your way to your destination…but…you must pass through what my daughter fondly calls the ‘patient’s country club’ first:  That is ‘the square’.  Since it is a non smoking hospital, all of the smokers are naturally out there, so you find a huddled mass (their area is relatively limited) of pajamaed smokers, some with casts or very interesting bandages, some in wheelchairs, again others with iv poles, and even a few on beds!  (wheeled out by compassionate friends).  It’s kind of funny.  But, since today is the 19^th day of a deep heat spell, when the evening air blows in, the hospital seems to empty out courtyard is full until the wee hours of the morning.  It’s just more comfortable outside.  Looks sort of like a pajama party in a camp ground.

I am thankful that The Lord gave me eyes to see such things…and a merry heart about them, for that is the BEST medicine!

Also, since I have been having blood tests twice weekly, the lab technicians where my blood is drawn know me quite well…and know what medical conditions I have been through.  One of the younger women approached me recently and asked me about what was wrong.  As I told her what had been going on, she said “But you are always so happy and light!”  I thanked her and told her that God was able to take ALL burdens AND heal too, but hadn’t yet healed me.  She then told me about her 34 year old sister in law, the mother of 3, who is in the midst of breast cancer treatment and now has leukemia as well.  She said “I am sick about it.  I cry all the time!  I don’t know how to talk to her.  It’s so horrible.  What do I say?  What do I do??”  I prayed.  Then I began to share with her what she could safely ‘do’!  “This is what you DO!”  I said.  “Bring her MEALS.  Don’t ask if she needs them, just ask what foods she LIKES and can eat right now, or better still…’do you have any problem with milk products? Chicken?’ and make lots of meals to freeze.  Take the kids.  Don’t ask if she would like it.  Come over and say ‘I have some time and want to take the kids for an outing’.  Bring cleaning things and tell her to go out for a cup of coffee or take a nap and clean her house.  Don’t ask her ‘how are you?’ if you are not comfortable with it.  She will probably be relieved not to have to answer that.” I continued for awhile and gave her a hug and she cried and thanked me.  “You are so brave and such an encouragement.  I have never met anyone like you.” she tells me.  “Well, I get up early and read the scriptures…and then I pray from my heart and I am encouraged and I ask for strength for each day and thank our wonderful God for Who He is and all He provides.”  I continue to speak to her of hope and peace.  I long to tell her His Name, but haven’t had that open door yet.  I pray it will come soon.  Join me?  (oops.  Some of you have asked about Yigal.  His wife, Dror, passed away, but he has remained in touch with me and a friend of mine as well who is now speaking to him much about Yeshua.  Please continue to pray for him.)

So, good things are happening in the midst of every day.  And the days are also getting shorter, and that means the High Holidays are fast approaching.

I had wanted to write to you on the first day of the new month (according to the Hebrew calendar) but wasn’t up to it.  The shofars began to be blown!  That wonderful, eerie sound, mournful and yet eternally victorious, once again, piercing the air as they begin to announce the new year; Rosh h’shana  approaches!  The amazing month is upon us…the month of preparation: first Rosh h’shana in 3 more weeks, followed by the days of awe…of heart searching and sober watching leading up to Yom Kippur, the day of national repentance, the most ‘sacred’ day in the year.  Then the incredibly victorious week of Succot…the week of rejoicing in our succas.  I long for the strength to write to you about them with renewed vigor this year.

My strength is all in Him right now as I seem to have very little of my own.  I am doing little more then working and making meals at this point.  I am waiting for some biopsy results.  Should be a few more weeks and will let you know, but I am fully at peace.

I will go to bed now, but my heart delights in His body, whom you are, and I declare my love for each of you in Him!  God Bless you ALL.  May HE be glorified!  Lovingly, your sis

ani b’derek