Numbered

“As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.” Numbers 1:19
“So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war in Israel – all who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.” Numbers 1:45-46

We don’t normally like being numbered – or thought of as a number – or even taking numbers.

Lord God, thank You for numbering us among Your army, for counting us as worthy. May we ever be ready to go to war for You, whether it be on our feet or on our knees. And here is a simple poem . . .

Fit to Fight

I have been numbered, counted
approved to go to war
so what am I hanging back
turning away and hiding for?
As You have already gone ahead
and won the fight
let me not be afraid
to join forces for what is right.

Stone Rolling

“And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ ” Mark 16:3

I have huge stones of yet unanswered prayer in my life.

Thank You Lord, for rolling away the stone and sitting at the right hand of God so that nothing can ever separate us from You and Your love. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Unsealing Tombs

Yet unanswered prayer sits
like heavily sealed tombs
trying to block
my view of You
but You roll away
any doubt I feel
assuring me You have a plan
and a purpose that’s real.

Praying with everyone today who face stones that need rolled away.

*This is the last post from The Gospel of Mark. Time to head back to the Old Testament tomorrow and start The Fourth Book of Moses called Numbers. *

The Hard Things

“Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen.” Mark 15:46

Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent member of the council. Still, he took courage and asked for Jesus’ body.

Lord, help me do those hard things for You, the things that no one else wants to do . . .the things that may even make me look bad to others. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Waiting To Be Wrapped

There are acts that no one
really wants to do
but You lay it on our hearts
and we’re compelled to move
like Joseph taking Your body
down from the cross
the broken and hurting are waiting
to be wrapped in linens of Love.

Doing What We Can

“She has done what she could.” Mark 14:3

Jesus doesn’t look at what we do and compare it to what others are doing.

Lord, help me to do what I can today, to glorify You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

No Comparisons

I don’t do as much as the women
up and down my street
and I’m not as well put together
as the new neighbor that I meet
but You don’t line me up beside them
and ask me to compete
but look inside my heart
at what I lay down at Your feet.

Thank each of you for doing what you do!

Jesus Watching

“And what I say to you I say to all; ‘Watch!’ ” Mark 13:37

We are a people who like to watch all sorts of things . . .sporting and music events, sunsets and sunrises, whales and birds.

Thank You, Jesus, for telling us to watch for the most spectacular happening ever – Your return to earth. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Something Else Is Coming

I watch for the postman
to bring me the mail
and I check to see what the weather
will be like as well
but may I never forget You’re coming,
to watch for You above all,
and listen for Your trumpet
to sound out it’s mighty call.

Inside Israel – Christmas

Hi! Praying that you had a blessed Christmas! I had thought I’d be able to post something for Christmas Day, but . . . ha! So, here is something from J of Jerusalem, for Christmas. God bless.

Christmas. The time selected to celebrate the birth of Messiah into the world…Light into darkness…Hope into hopelessness…Life into death…Salvation come! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been caught short…taking it ‘lightly’; a fact that I have become ‘used to’: He came…He saved me from certain death and from living death…He filled me with His Spirit and gave me new life…and He called me to come and follow Him. How could I EVER loose the wonder…the first love? But I have. It is NOT ‘the wonder of Christmas’, but the wonder of Christ…Messiah… that is to never loose its newness. Christmas, with all of its cultural trappings, WAS a tool that drew me back to that wonder. I SO never wanted the celebration (that was never a part of my child hood or experience) to become something worldly and material, and so I ‘worked at it’ each year. I loved the carols that were so full of truth and that we could sing freely, even on street corners and in stores! I PRAY that your celebrations are fully centered on Him and in His Presence. I know for so many Christmas is disappointing and a pagan celebration of ‘stuff’ and, dare I say, nonsense (Santa Clause!)…but if it can be another TOOL to remind us of the impossible miracle…our salvation as unworthy as we are…well…I pray that you will find that this year as the opportunity is before you.

HERE IT IS DIFFERENT. I have shared so many times, over the years, that there IS no ‘Christmas’ here. I STILL get at least one email every year asking, incredulously, ‘is it TRUE that Jews don’t celebrate Christmas and that it isn’t a holy day there? Why???’ Since Chanuka came so early this year, the festive feeling is not in the air anymore. He comes silently…but it is in a violent world that doesn’t want Him that we must look for Him…and look AT Him. The night before last there was a murder and a woman critically wounded: it was two believers! The story broke in the news in a patchy manner; Two women were out hiking (NOT in disputed territories, but in ‘Israel proper’) – one was a tour guide, an immigrant from England and the other, her friend, an American Christian currently living in England working for a ministry. They were approached by 2 Arabs who asked if they had water. When they left the tour guide told her friend that there was something ‘not right’ and they needed to get out of there, but almost immediately they were attacked with knives. The tour guide was stabbed 12 times but played dead. The tourist screamed and screamed…and was killed. The tour guide is doing amazingly well and is to be released soon from hospital, but the body is asking for prayer for her to deal with the trauma victoriously. HOWEVER…word has gotten out that they were believers and ‘opinions’ are flying;…’missionaries! Aren’t they ILLEGAL?’ – ‘Maybe it WASN’T Arabs, but maybe it was anti missionaries’ – ‘Two unmarried women and one comes back? Ah ha!…’ Hearing the rumors fly, the vicious ones and simply the ‘speculations’ remind me that we live in a world so alienated from Truth. It is wonderful that Light reveals Truth. May The Lord teach my mouth to be silent until it can speak TRUTH!

Christmas. As I explained a number of times before, the body here is quite divided about the subject, so it is a ‘we won’t ask and you won’t tell’ policy concerning those who celebrate Christmas and those who don’t. People whisper apologetically one to another ‘…uh…do you do anything special for Christmas? Would you like to do it together?’ And, yes, there ARE a variety of things to ‘do’ here. There are some, granted, amazing concerts…Handel’s Messiah in many languages. Some things are lovely…but very few are offerings to Him…As the wise men brought offerings to Him, living here gives us a new opportunity, perhaps, to really bring Him a gift, for we aren’t bound by cultural expectations. If we CHOOSE to say ‘Yes, I want to join with the body world wide and take this season to specially meditate on His birth’, why…we can do it in any way that we please! And what better way then to bring Him a gift!

So in the midst of terror attacks, lies and speculation, heat and dry blasts of wind instead of rain (yes, I’m afraid our one drenching rain has given way to dry heat again), uncertainties, stresses, work demands and family demands and practical demands…I WANT to give Him a gift. I don’t know what that will be yet, but I will endeavor to listen and to hear what would bless Him. And that is my prayer for you as well.

Thank you for continuing to ask about my husband’s recovery and each of our situations. My husband is slowly increasing strength. The dr. told him yesterday that it will be another month (a full 3) before he is back to regular activities. It is a testing time. We waited for 3 hours on Sunday to see the orthopedic trauma specialist. He seemed to have a nervous breakdown (overwork) just about the time he finally took us…and he walked off the job! It was, uh… well…’another Israeli experience’ that perhaps I will write about another time. It added to some of my husband’s frustration. He has tried to do a bit of work, but it has been too hard on him so far. Three months of no work has been stretching in many ways. He is faithful! Our older daughter is due to give birth in Feb and has been overdoing it with the move that they must make this coming week. Our son in law needed to be out of the country once again for his work and that left her with packing. Our Grandson continues to demonstrate some worrying problems and that brings her great grief, so I do appreciate prayer for all of them, and for her emotional and spiritual health during this time ahead as well. Our younger daughter is still doing well at her job in the botanical garden nursery, but is concerned that at 29 her life is not going anywhere…and she is still living at home. She does need prayer…I thank you for your prayers for our family to finally glorify Him! Victory is His, and it is all from Him and for His glory.

You are a gift to me. Together we are His body. What a WONDER! May He be glorified and blessed in us and may He find us truly worshipping for He is worthy! Yeshua h’Meshiach! King of kings and Lord of Lords!

Not Far Away

“So when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’” Mark 12:34

For most of us, the idea of kingdoms and royalty seem completely out of reach.

We thank You, Jesus, for a Kingdom so different from the earthly ones and only a prayer away. And here’s a simple poem . . .

His Kingdom Come

Knights in shining armor
well guarded castles, fancy dress
these kingdoms seem mostly interested
in staying separated from the rest

but You welcome us into Your Kingdom
by way of a Prince upon a cross
all You ask is that we love Him
with our all, at any cost.

A Heart In Season

“Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it.
He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.” Mark 11:12-13

Sometimes the demands and expectations can leave me feeling exhausted, dried up . . .bereft of fruit.

When You come to me today, Lord, may You find what You are looking for. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Hungry To See

What are You looking for
when You come to me today,
knowing my circumstances
and constant disarray?
He says, “I’m hungry to see
a heart attitude that’s right,
that would be enough to fill
My Spirit with delight.”

Only With God

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25

We don’t often think of the disadvantages of being rich.

Thank You, Lord, for knowing just how much to give and what to take away in order for my trust to be in You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

It’s Easier

Being wealthy
– isn’t always the answer
– that we think
– it will be
But being rich
– in what Jesus gives
– can satisfy us
– completely.

The One Thing We Never Lack

“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me.’” Mark 10:21

You may know this scripture about the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. What I had overlooked was the part where Jesus looked at him . . .and loved him.

Thank You, Lord, that the one thing we never lack is Your love of us. And here is a simple poem . . .

The Love Motivator

There is always more to do
a higher level to achieve
so having Your love
is the one thing that bolsters me.
No matter where I’m at
in my ability to obey
Your unconditional love
leads me on each day.