Hi and thank you for stopping by for another look inside Israel today! Our sis in Jerusalem is sharing about what she observes with a heart for Him. God bless you as you read and pray! Now, here she is .. .
It is now the night of the 18th and I began this letter two days ago. So much is going on in our country and I am clueless as to what is known on the ‘outside’…and if things from here are being reported, how they are being displayed and interpreted.
Currently our yet-to-be-formed government is in a real crisis. Our system is a mystery to many of you and indeed, it took me about 10 years to get a minimal grasp on how it works. Although Netanyahu was elected, he was elected to form the next government and given a time period of just under a month in which to do it. To do that, he must negotiate with the many parties who won seats in our Knesset (Parliament or Congress) and have a majority join him (thus forming a ‘coalition) and that is just not happening. If it does not come together soon we will have to go to new elections again. It is quite serious.
We also have a new ‘scandal’ over a previously unidentified ‘prisoner – x’ who apparently committed suicide in jail. He held duel Israeli Australian citizenship and an Australian news magazine did a major ‘expose’. He was a Mosad (Israel’s famous spy agency) agent and very serious security issues are involved. The news media is aflutter with noise…and noise that is potentially damaging to Israel. This is a dangerous diversion that we could have done without.
The war in Syria has begun spilling over into Israel. Two days ago, seven Syrian soldiers were brought to Israel having been severely wounded and are in a hospital here in our North. The rebels seeking to take over Syria are of great concern to Israel.
These are just a few of our current crisis’. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OUR 7 YEAR WATER CRISIS HAS ENDED! THANK YOU LORD! The FUNNY news is that when the public announcement was made we were told in the next sentence that we were NOT having our water prices rolled back at all, much less the pre-crisis level, because we are now de-salinating water and THAT is expensive!
And in the midst, God remains on the throne! Does that mean that we will be spared the judgment that seems imminent to the nations of the earth;? I, personally, do not see it that way. But it is given to me to know Him and His voice and His ways, and to follow Him. I totally trust His judgment…He IS The Righteous and True Judge. And how we get to focus on His ways again as the days of Purim rapidly approach. Thursday is the fast of Esther. We all seem to love the book of Esther where she is told ‘Perhaps you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this.’ I often think of that as I ride the bus or train or deal with people at work in sometimes such wonderful and fearful ways…but it is for such a time as this that we were each brought to the place in which we stand. Esther was found faithful. We read it now and it looks so simple…but the more I look at what it must have been like to really BE her, it the more extraordinary and rare that her faithfulness becomes. Perhaps you will join with us and spend some time in this book? Saturday night and Sunday Purim will be celebrated in the country as a whole. I have been here long enough to watch it take more and more of a form that I am ashamed of…resembling the witches sabbeth or mardi gras more then a scriptural celebration. The costumes have become generally awful and the drinking (which had a religious tradition) has become a free for all. It is so grievous to me. It is somewhat better for ‘Shushan Purim’ in Jerusalem, the ‘walled city’ which this year begins on Sunday night through Monday. Perhaps you remember how I have shared over the years that according to the tradition, Purim is held for two days in ‘walled cities’ because Shushan was allowed a second day of Purim. Since many religious live in Jerusalem, we still see modest Queen Esther and Mordachi costumes. I do so enjoy watching the religious families with their ‘tribes’ of children, rushing joyfully from place to place happily delivering ‘mishloach manot’ (sent portions) baskets of fruit and sweets all over the city. As it is recorded in the book of Esther, that the Jews ‘…made the day a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.’ (from Esther 9:19) and that continues through today. In the midst of it all, we stop and atleast some of us really are taking notice of the fact that ‘Great things The Lord hath done for us, whereof we are glad’ as David said in Psalm 126
And so, having taken so much of your time already, I will just quickly bring you up to date concerning our family. My husband was in great pain the night that the prayer conference began, and he was diagnosed with a ‘closed pelvic fracture’. I have been 120% involved in medical things concerning him and the results are inconclusive, but he is much better. He seems to be fine now…is walking and working although he has missed a lot of work due to dr. appointments and tests. He became extremely depressed and the weight of our children and Grandchildren leaving the country became very heavy again. I was way overtired with all of the added responsibilities and came down with a stubborn case of bronchitis. It picked up a shovel and dug me a deep slimy pity-party-pit. His wonderful faithful Spirit battled in me and I repented of that sin and plan to stay in His victory. I actually have much that I would love to share about that, but will end with a birthday gift that He gave me yesterday:
Perhaps some of you remember the wonderful gift that I was given last year at this time when He miraculously opened the door for me to go to Tel Aviv Yafo for a night and two days to attend a conference for local women lead by a sister from America whom I had never heard of (Dottie Schmidt). I NEVER do anything like this, but I had an irresistible urge to go and recognized that it was Him. I was deeply touched at that conference and the sister ministering and I had a special connection. As the same time of year approached I began to pray about going again should she return, but this time the door was firmly closed. I prayed about it. I received an email from a local sister telling me that she had driven this visiting sister to a congregation to speak that Shabat and Dottie had asked ‘Do you know a woman named ______ (remember I don’t use my name at all online) from Jerusalem? She was at the meetings last year and I have been praying for her and was looking forward to seeing her’. The sister mentioned the hotel that she was staying in before the meetings begin and it is within walking distance of my apartment. Since yesterday was my day off, I prayed and though ‘What presumption! But Lord, if You want us to meet up, please make a way.’ I went down town and did my chores and kept lifting it up. On the way back home I took a deep breath and thought ‘What can I loose.’ And committed it to The Lord. I had a card to leave at the desk for her and was going to sit down and write in it when I thought; perhaps I’ll leave a message at her room as well. I called up from the desk and she answered. I was flustered. She insisted that I come up and looked amazed. ‘How in the world did you know that I was here?’ she asked. Then she explained that she had only been in the room to sleep and that this was a 3 hour period that she had asked to stay back alone! Indeed The Hand of The Lord had given me a gift as we shared and prayed together and I was deeply ministered to!
AND…I have NO DOUBT that your prayers (and I do NOT say that as flattery or fancy spiritual words, God forbid!) play such an important role in my life and the path through this world to victory … for His glory!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read all (or part) of this. Thank you for standing with us. Please know that you would be embarrassed if you knew how much I care about each of you…you are a blessing!
May His grace and mercy draw each of us deeper into His Word and His Spirit…and may we have His discernment in these day! Lovingly, your sis here.
ani b’derek
I’ll be leaving my blog up, but closing the comments. And maybe coming back to it in the future. 
