Divided and Broken

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves. . .’” Luke 22:17
“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me’.” Luke 22:19

This has me thinking of when He divided the loaves and fishes to feed the 5,000. Now He is preparing to feed the whole world.

Oh Lord, please let me be willing to be poured out and broken for You as You were for me. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Together

Go and prepare
a place for Me
where we can gather
intimately
for I’ll be divided
poured into each cup
broken, passed ’round
Bread filling you up.

Look Up

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28

Our eyes get understandably pulled to all that is happening in the world around us.

Thank You, Lord, for assuring us in Luke chapter 21, nothing that is occurring is catching You off guard. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Near

Hurricane Katrina
wars in Egypt, Libya, Sudan
famines in Ethiopia
tsunami’s in Indonesia and Japan -
we look around and help out
those in deep need and despair
as the eyes of our hearts stay lifted
to our God who is oh so near.

Out of Poverty

“So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;
for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had’.” Luke 21:3-4

Jesus sees us at our lowest points as precious vessels of His grace.

Thank You, Jesus, for always turning things upside down. Please help me pour out of those places in my life that I feel are bankrupt. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Jesus Sees

When you feel you can’t go on
but for others you somehow do

when you are brokenhearted but still love
because Jesus is loving you

when the bad news comes
and you’ve lost all happiness

yet rejoice and praise Him
Jesus sees you and is blessed.

Paying Taxes

“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Luke 20:22
“But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ‘Why do you test Me?’” Luke 20:23
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” “They answered and said, ‘Caesar’.” Luke 20:24
“And He said to them, ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’.” Luke 20:25

As tax time approaches, it’s time to render to “Caesar” what is “Caesar’s”. There are laws, rules and accountants to all help with that. But what about rendering to God the things that are God’s?

Lord, help me to remember that everything I have is Yours to use anyway You want. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Rendering

My fingers curl
next they clench

but You gently pull
them loose again

in order for me
to give and receive

I need open hands
and a heart that believes.

Inside Israel – Shabat Shalom from Jerusalem

Hello and welcome to a look inside Israel today, as told by J of Jerusalem. This time I have 2 letters to share from her. Thank you so much for reading, caring and praying. I think you’ll be moved. Now here’s J . . .

I did want to write today,..but not about this. I went to help out my older daughter as she IS having some struggles,
similar to last time, after the birth of this Baby (prayer please…) I left her house on the 2:15 bus. It gets me to the central bus
station at 3:00. Just before arriving, I felt a ‘strong urge’ to try getting off the bus at the stop before the bus station.
I resisted, but rang the bell JUST as he would have passed the stop along the highway before entering the city. As I
walked up the hill I thought ‘hum…I don’t think this is really better. Probably should have gotten off at the usual stop
and walked up and down stairs. Probably would have been getting to my stop about now…’ and as I got to the place
where I was waiting for the second bus, we heard it; a huge bomb. We all knew the sound. We all stood still.

The bomb went off at the same stop where my bus would be stopping. At this report, there are 24 or 25 injured, 3
critically. The bomb wasn’t on my bus, but I would have been right there…and was spared that. Others, many others
weren’t. I am praying for them. I wanted to thank you for your ongoing prayers for our family and for His purposes
in this land that He has called for His purposes. THANK YOU LORD, FOR LEADING US. ALL OF THE PATHS OF THE LORD
ARE MERCY AND TRUTH…and He WILL lead us all the way, even when He leads through the valley of the shadow and
include much suffering, I would only want His path. He chose to spare me this time, and for that I am grateful. Rejoice
with me please. Lovingly, your sis

ani b’derek

ALL Glory to Jesus, Yeshua, King of kings and Lord of lords!

Just as I decide what I want to write to you about, a train comes along and brings in 20 new items and before I know it…’OVERLOAD’! Sorry!

I want to thank you for all of the wonderful emails, rejoicing with me for ‘my miracle’. I am thankful for being spared, (both injury and further trauma) but I am also so aware that it is NOT His will to always spare us from grief and suffering, nor from death…but to lead us carefully on the path that He has for us…and to comfort us along the way and finally lead us safely home, no matter HOW we go.

There was one fatality from the bomb on Wed and she was a wonderful believer.

Her name was Mary Jean Gardner from Scotland.
I did not know her personally, but I know others who did. She had spent many years as a Wycliffe Bible translator in Togo. After translating the New Testament, she was troubled that the first testament was not available to the people and rather then translate it from English, she came to Jerusalem to study Bible translation at the Jerusalem school of Bible translation so that she could translate it from the original Hebrew. In an interview with the head of the Bible school on our radio news today, it was stated that since she was right next to the bomb, her body absorbed much of the shrapnel, possibly saving others from worse injury. The radio interview was an extraordinary testimony, and it blessed me no end to know that even in death, she was sharing Him with others.

God loved and guided her as well as He had guided me; He just chose to guide her all the way to the gates of eternity on Wed.

I often think of the description of Peter being released from prison by the angel (who smacked him on his side to wake him), while it is said in the same chapter of Acts (I believe) that James was killed by the edge of the sword. They were both beloved, and both walking in His will. May we each be willing to walk the path that He has for us with thanksgiving. May He receive the glory, honor and praise. May we all, as His sheep, hear Him and be lead of Him … in His peace.

Again, I am thankful for this deliverance, and so thankful for all of your love and encouragement.

Erupting Praise

“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
saying,
‘Blessed is the King who comes in
the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the
highest’.” Luke 19:37-38

Something about this passage makes me envision those disciples like a volcano that had to erupt.

Oh Lord, let our praises and joy pour forth now and forevermore. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Be The Praise

For all that You have done
and are about to do
let nothing, no nothing
stop us from rejoicing in You

and being the praise
that continuously sings
glory in the highest
to our blessed King of kings.

Wanting To See Jesus

“And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.” Luke 19:3
“So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.” Luke 19:4

What am I willing to do in order to see Jesus in my life?

Lord, I want to see who You are more and more each day. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Climbing Up

What would I do
O Jesus
in order to see You?

Would I climb a tree
if I knew
You were passing through?

Or would I stay
on the ground
and let the crowd
block my view?

O Jesus
may nothing ever come
between me and You.

What Not To Lose

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. . . ” Luke 18:1

Some prayers I’ve prayed for twenty-four years now.

Oh Lord, thank You for all the evidence I see of You each day that keeps my prayers coming and my heart thumping. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Always

I awake with a prayer
and a praise on my lips
and as the day progresses
I just can’t seem to quit
for there’s a hope lit within
a faith covering what I see
and nothing can negate it
as I wait expectantly.

As They Went

“Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.” Luke 17:12
“And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us’.” Luke 17:13
“So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” Luke 17:14

The lepers started on their way to the priests before ever seeing the evidence of being healed.

Lord, help me walk forward this day on Your word alone. And here’s a simple poem . . .

On Our Way

You say, “Go”
and I turn
You say, “Show”
and I learn
that as I walk
Your word comes through
and I dance with joy
right back to You.

Pressing In

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” Luke 16:16

When my daughter presses two different colors of playdoh together, it becomes impossible to separate them again.

Thank You, Lord, for the process of us being pressed together with You and becoming one. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Without Wrinkle

The urgency of
Thy Kingdom come
and the unstoppable force
of Thy will being done
presses us in
to becoming one
in the blood and the power
of God’s Only Son.