One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village.
He worked in a carpenter shop until he was about thirty.
He then became an itinerant preacher.
He never held an office.
He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn’t go to college.
He had no credentials but Himself.

After preaching three years, the public turned against Him.
His friends ran away.
He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth.
He was laid in a borrowed grave.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone,
and today He is the central figure of the human race.
All the armies that ever marched,
all the navies that ever sailed,
all the parliaments that ever sat, and
all the kings that ever reigned
have not affected the life of man on the earth as much as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE. *

*Attributed to James Allen Francis.

I’m very thankful for that one solitary life. Psalm 22 from the Tanakh

Jewish people – coming to Messiah : )

God pours out His grace through dreams & visions to the Muslim world : )

15% increase

FINLAND LOVES ISRAEL

Pray for Jewish college students. good blogs

A PRAYER FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS by Elaine Davenport (Friday, August 17, 2007)
Dear Heavenly Father, we kneel before Your throne this day giving you the honor that You are due. You are a mighty God. It is our prayer to ask you to guide every college student in this country. Lord, we ask you to meet each and every need. We ask you to stir up the gift that is inside of every one that knows you. We ask for you to send the ministering angels out to each and every one of them to prosper their way. We lay claim on the college students in this country and other countries and we declare that Satan will not have any advantages with them; not one.

We are ask you for Godly Wisdom as to how to pray for them and help them. Father, please touch their hearts and soften them to the Good News! Please touch the hardened hearts of certain unbelieving instructors and professors so that they will not suffer hellfire and damnation. Please give them the wisdom to know that they will be held to a greater level of accountability for tainting minds if they do regarding any manner. We pray for Ethics on all College campuses and for revival to break out in that place. In Jesus Name we ask and pray. AMEN

Jewish Agency Launches ‘Campus Aliyah Fellowship’

by Malkah Fleisher

(IsraelNN.com) Due to a huge upsurge in applicants expressing interest in making aliyah in 2009, the Jewish Agency has launched an aliyah program targeting university students, in an attempt to enable Jewish youth to come home to Israel right out of college.

The Campus Aliyah Fellowship will bring aliyah “fellows” to 20 flagship campuses across North America. These fellows – one per campus – will be present to answer questions, foster relationships, and create an aliyah-friendly environment.

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Fellows will be provided $500 a semester for aliyah-related programming on campus, including social, cultural, and informational events. They will also receive training before each semester and will be kept abreast of new rights and regulations regarding immigration to Israel.

The initial campuses were chosen based on their reputations as being pro-Israel and containing large Jewish student populations. Yeshiva University, University of Texas, University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, University of Massachusetts, University of Colorado, Florida Atlantic University and York University fellows have already been chosen, with applications being accepted until July 15.

The Jewish Agency is also planning a winter pilot trip for interested students, who will explore aliyah options in Israel while meeting other olim and professionals.

According to the Jewish Agency, there has been a surge in aliyah in 2009, with a 15 percent increase across America.

Israel National News

We got the tour of Israel National News headquarters.

Damascus Gate

I’m reading Ernie Gruen’s book, The Giver and His Gifts. I went to the church he founded and pastored for 13 years – a great teacher and I’m really enjoying the book. He passed away June 1, 2009 and at his memorial service his family let each person have one of his books. I’d read the rest of his earlier books, but not this one.

In Chapter 4 he speaks of a new road and mentions the Damascus gate in Jerusalem, how it leads to Damascus. We go through the gate to get somewhere; we don’t stay at the gate. Matthew 7:13-14 says to “enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” We must chose daily on our walk with Christ to follow Him in thought, word and actions, becoming more mature as we journey along.

I have 3 pictures of the Damascus Gate the free day in Jerusalem my husband and I explored the Kidron Valley and other places.

Actually, this last picture is a different gate – I think it is the gate going into Bethesda and St. Ann’s church, where you pay to see it, which we did and was worth it.

Creation and Water

Ezekiel 47:1-2 was my study for the day – all about living water flowing from under the Temple to the Med and the Dead Seas. I found this explanation of Creation and water. When the earth was created, there was darkness and water. On the 2nd day water was separated between water above and water below. A good study of Ezekiel 47:1-12

Ezekiel
Chapter 47

1 And he brought me back unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward, for the forefront of the house looked toward the east; and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way without unto the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looketh toward the east; and, behold, there trickled forth waters on the right side.

3 When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.

6 And he said unto me: ‘Hast thou seen this, O son of man?’ Then he led me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.

7 Now when I had been brought back, behold, upon the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8 Then said he unto me: ‘These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and when they shall enter into the sea, into the sea of the putrid waters, the waters shall be healed.

9 And it shall come to pass, that every living creature wherewith it swarmeth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, that all things be healed and may live whithersoever the river cometh.

10 And it shall come to pass, that fishers shall stand by it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; there shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the Great Sea, exceeding many.

11 But the miry places thereof, and the marshes thereof, shall not be healed; they shall be given for salt.

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit thereof fail; it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for healing.’

My husband went out to find blackberries today, but they are still too red.

Black-eyed Susans growing in the park

Ezekiel 45 & 46

My study on Ezekiel 45 and 46 this morning caused me to wonder a few things. Why will there be sacrifices in the future? Also, I never knew the land allotment would be in straight lines. Here we can find some explanations. More explanations here.

I love the verse in Psalm 121:4 “Behold, He who keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Here we find a very good explanation of the new Land of Israel. Changes will come when Messiah puts His feet again on the Mt. of Olives. The high places will be made low and the low places will be high.

Sadly, Jerusalem as we know it now is to be destroyed one more time according to the Old Testament Zechariah and also according to John the author of Revelation:

For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city (Jerusalem) shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women ravished; half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD your God will come, and all the holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:2-5)

…And there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as had never been since men were on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city (Jerusalem) was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found; and great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague. (Revelation 16: 18-21)

But, earth is to be restored by God’s Messiah. A great golden age is about to dawn on the human race as God will at last have His day. Messiah—Immanuel—God with us—will reign on earth—and He will rule from Jerusalem. Tiny Israel will be elevated to first place among the nations, and Jerusalem, City of Peace will be the world capital visited annually by pilgrims from all the nations: Zechariah 14:16-21

our son

Our son will be coming home soon. He is finishing up his 5 months of Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission. They helped refugees of Sudan and Uganda. Here is another YWAM school who went to Israel in 2003.

The Last 3 Years

I got this idea from Lizraelupdate.com’s blog about Gilad Shalit.

What have I done in the last three years? Since June 2006 – graduated my son from high school, helped with my kid’s many plays they were in, fixed many sack lunches for my husband, gone to two family reunions, took a trip to Israel with Homeschool Travel, camped a few times in state parks.

We pray for the soon release of Gilad Shalit. May he find comfort in knowing many are praying for him.

Psalm 131

1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

This is my 131st post, and this psalm fits it quite well. Actually, this is the 132nd post; Psalm 132 can be read here.

The road may be dark and long but the promises of HaShem are forever and true.

Psalms Chapter 23

1 A Psalm of David. HaShem is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of HaShem for ever.

inspiration – serve God with all your heart

This man was on the 700 Club today. He is amazing, living his life to serve others and share the love of Jesus.

today, Thursday

Today I did my therapeutic swimming – my kids don’t go like in the past, so I got a membership for the summer by my lonesome to get some exercise since my ankle still bothers me to walk too much. I swam back and forth 13 times. Before that I visited my favorite thrift store because I had forgotten to bring a towel for swimming. I got a few others things too – blue tagged clothes were only 50 cents. I noticed a sign saying they really needed volunteers, so I signed up (I always thought I would eventually). I get to clean and price house wears. I prefer back room work so this will be perfect a few hours a week.

Last night I went to our new class at church – how to hear God’s voice. It was excellent, good and great.

There are 4 keys – Be still, Look for vision, get in the flow (spontaneous), journaling. Our pastor said he journals very much, just free-flow writing, then 24 hours later reads back over it and highlights what he believes God is speaking to him. I journaled 2 pages this morning, so will see what it looks like tomorrow. Exciting stuff. Simple but profound.

I thought this little guy was really cute – he lives where my grandparents used to live in the country. I used to bottle feed little calves like him – so cute.

hot hot and hotter

It has been hot hot and hotter here, but thank goodness it did rain last night – how refreshing.

My job is a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom. I have really enjoyed it, but the time for that is surely coming to an end sooner than later. What to do? I like to garden and sew.

Today I organized some junk in the closet, keeping some, giving some away and throwing some away. Then I got the mail. I received the new Operation Exodus magazine (find their most recent issue here) and sat outside in the heat with the dog and read most of it. This is what I feel God wants me to do – pray for His chosen to return to His Land. I also received letters from 3 other ministries I like, 700 Club, Jews for Jesus and Zola Levitt. They are all tops.

The country-side around where I grew up in NE KS. (We went to a family reunion last weekend.)

The corncrib is still standing,

but the house is gone.