We are at the end of the season of the Fall Feasts of Israel which have deep meaning for the believer in Yeshua. The significance of the Spring Feasts bring us back and teach us again the significance of the blood sacrifice, our freedom from the slavery of sin, the death and resurrection of the Messiah, and the outpouring of the of the Holy Spirit which binds us into one Body all over the world. The Fall Feasts are prophetic of the second coming of the Messiah, the national day of salvation of the Jewish people, and the millennial kingdom when Messiah will rule and reign from Jerusalem over the whole earth. It is a glorious and spiritual time in the land, and this year I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in such a way that has been a joy and pleasure. As I have been refreshed by the presence of God, the days have also gotten cooler which in the Middle East is also refreshing because the summer sun is fierce and relentless here, often without a cloud in the sky to offer a few moments of respite. The anticipation of the coming of the Lord is tangible, which brings joy in the midst of tensions and the stirrings of war in our region.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind in Israel that we will face a difficult year in 2009/2010 (the Hebrew year 5770). We realize that there is the real possibility of a confrontation with Iran in the near future. We have also been informed by the Civil Defence division of the army that a strong earthquake is expected, and we should begin to prepare with storing water and canned goods.
Psalm 46 comes to mind:
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
AS A MOTHER
Many women who come to visit ask the question, how, as a mother, have I been able to go through this experience. The answer - only by the Grace of Almighty God and your prayers. I would like to encourage you today, that in times of crisis, and so many of you have experienced this, the Lord is immediately present. He gave us His word from the first moments, which explained to us what was happening, and He gave us promises that we could hold onto during the dark days that followed. What encouraged me greatly was also His personal Word to me - as I watched my son strugglng physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I saw him weeping, and going through excruciating pain, and I struggled emotionally, mentally and spiritually along with him. I saw my son's body, ripped apart by a bomb, and the agony of knowing I was not there when senseless hatred and violence destroyed his healthy, strong body. It was terrible, and my heart felt like a stone of pain that I was wearing on my chest.
However, I realized that the Father knew exactly what I was going through. He also watched His Beloved Son's body being ripped apart by Roman torturers, and cruelly nailed to a cross. He saw the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pain when the sin of the world was laid upon Yeshua. At that moment, the Father had to turn away from his Son, as He heard Him cry out - My God, why have you left me?
The Lord of the Universe was carrying us through, every step of the way.
AMI NEWS
Ami on the other hand, keeps on going from glory to glory! He has begun school and is studying with a serious attitude, and as I said before, he is on two basketball teams. He is also participating in a program that physically trains 11th graders and up for the army, is being tutored in English, and we'll be starting the youth group again after the holidays. He is excited about life, and has many friends. We're considering postponing his hand surgery for later in the year so it won't interfere with the forward momentum that he's on.
The other day Ami showed me exactly what is happening with his left hand. He still has low level pain in it, and he also has partial numbness in all of his fingers except the ring finger, which is completely normal. He still doesn't have full strength also, and the thumb is out of joint and requires surgery. Even with that he's able to dunk the basketball with both hands, and he says he's also jumping higher than ever before. Also , in gym class in school, he comes in first in all the races they do (2 kilometers - a little more than a mile ). This despite the predictions that he would never be able to run like he did before! God is Good!
James 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
There are many believers here in the land from all over the world for the Feast of Tabernacles, many attending the various conferences that take place at this time. This is a foretaste of Zechariah 14: 16-18:
16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
We were privileged to meet with a group of women from Sri Lanka, and one sister from Sidney, Australia. They have been praying for Ami from the beginning - from the ends of the earth!! We had a lightening visit and a refreshing time of prayer with them. It was a blessing, and they were blessed to see Ami doing so well. In the next few weeks, we're looking forward to meeting with tour groups from Germany, Norway, South Africa, Puerto Rico and London, England .
Some prayer points:
Please pray for the arrest of the individual or individuals who are responsible for the attempted murder of Ami. We believe that progress is being made in the investigation even though we are given very little information. Also, when the arrests are made, please pray for our lawyer to be able to receive the right strategy for the case.
Please continue to pray for the hand and ear drum surgeries, for healing so these surgeries do not have to take place, and for the healing of scars.
Please pray for Ami to progress spiritually as well as in all other areas that he would slowly be able to grow into the place that the Lord has for him as a result of this experience.
Please pray for unity and love in the Body of Messiah in Israel that we would continue to grow together to stand against increasing persecution. 1Chron. 12:33 and 38 talk of the mighty soldiers of Israel who could "keep rank". In Hebrew it says that they walked "heart to heart".
Please pray for Howard and Randi Bass's court case in Beersheva which is coming up in November. You can read about their case at: http://roshpinaproject.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/messianic-jews-take-beer-sheva-chief-rabbi-and-anti-missionaries-to-court/
This case is of the utmost importance for the Body of Messiah in Israel.
Blessings to you all - Leah
There is no doubt in anyone's mind in Israel that we will face a difficult year in 2009/2010 (the Hebrew year 5770). We realize that there is the real possibility of a confrontation with Iran in the near future. We have also been informed by the Civil Defence division of the army that a strong earthquake is expected, and we should begin to prepare with storing water and canned goods.
Psalm 46 comes to mind:
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
AS A MOTHER
Many women who come to visit ask the question, how, as a mother, have I been able to go through this experience. The answer - only by the Grace of Almighty God and your prayers. I would like to encourage you today, that in times of crisis, and so many of you have experienced this, the Lord is immediately present. He gave us His word from the first moments, which explained to us what was happening, and He gave us promises that we could hold onto during the dark days that followed. What encouraged me greatly was also His personal Word to me - as I watched my son strugglng physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I saw him weeping, and going through excruciating pain, and I struggled emotionally, mentally and spiritually along with him. I saw my son's body, ripped apart by a bomb, and the agony of knowing I was not there when senseless hatred and violence destroyed his healthy, strong body. It was terrible, and my heart felt like a stone of pain that I was wearing on my chest.
However, I realized that the Father knew exactly what I was going through. He also watched His Beloved Son's body being ripped apart by Roman torturers, and cruelly nailed to a cross. He saw the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pain when the sin of the world was laid upon Yeshua. At that moment, the Father had to turn away from his Son, as He heard Him cry out - My God, why have you left me?
The Lord of the Universe was carrying us through, every step of the way.
AMI NEWS
Ami on the other hand, keeps on going from glory to glory! He has begun school and is studying with a serious attitude, and as I said before, he is on two basketball teams. He is also participating in a program that physically trains 11th graders and up for the army, is being tutored in English, and we'll be starting the youth group again after the holidays. He is excited about life, and has many friends. We're considering postponing his hand surgery for later in the year so it won't interfere with the forward momentum that he's on.
The other day Ami showed me exactly what is happening with his left hand. He still has low level pain in it, and he also has partial numbness in all of his fingers except the ring finger, which is completely normal. He still doesn't have full strength also, and the thumb is out of joint and requires surgery. Even with that he's able to dunk the basketball with both hands, and he says he's also jumping higher than ever before. Also , in gym class in school, he comes in first in all the races they do (2 kilometers - a little more than a mile ). This despite the predictions that he would never be able to run like he did before! God is Good!
James 5:16 - Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
There are many believers here in the land from all over the world for the Feast of Tabernacles, many attending the various conferences that take place at this time. This is a foretaste of Zechariah 14: 16-18:
16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
We were privileged to meet with a group of women from Sri Lanka, and one sister from Sidney, Australia. They have been praying for Ami from the beginning - from the ends of the earth!! We had a lightening visit and a refreshing time of prayer with them. It was a blessing, and they were blessed to see Ami doing so well. In the next few weeks, we're looking forward to meeting with tour groups from Germany, Norway, South Africa, Puerto Rico and London, England .
Some prayer points:
Please pray for the arrest of the individual or individuals who are responsible for the attempted murder of Ami. We believe that progress is being made in the investigation even though we are given very little information. Also, when the arrests are made, please pray for our lawyer to be able to receive the right strategy for the case.
Please continue to pray for the hand and ear drum surgeries, for healing so these surgeries do not have to take place, and for the healing of scars.
Please pray for Ami to progress spiritually as well as in all other areas that he would slowly be able to grow into the place that the Lord has for him as a result of this experience.
Please pray for unity and love in the Body of Messiah in Israel that we would continue to grow together to stand against increasing persecution. 1Chron. 12:33 and 38 talk of the mighty soldiers of Israel who could "keep rank". In Hebrew it says that they walked "heart to heart".
Please pray for Howard and Randi Bass's court case in Beersheva which is coming up in November. You can read about their case at: http://roshpinaproject.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/messianic-jews-take-beer-sheva-chief-rabbi-and-anti-missionaries-to-court/
This case is of the utmost importance for the Body of Messiah in Israel.
Blessings to you all - Leah