The Harvest and the Rains

Shalom!

I’m sorry it has been a bit longer in between updates this time; this past week was rather crazy! Thanks to the lovely dumpster cats that were coming into our courtyard, we had to have the house and courtyard sprayed for fleas.  So we were moving in and out of the house this week while they sprayed and got it under control.  It is so nice to be back in the house and have no fleas. We also got the courtyard fixed so the cats will just have to stay out now!

There are a few things I want to mention this time.  First of all, I hear that in the U.S. some of the news stations said there was a big standoff on the Temple Mount.  It was not nearly as big of a deal as the news in the States made it out to be.  The Arabs have really been trying to create another big uprising focused on the Temple Mount, but they have been unsuccessful.  We must keep covering it with prayer so that the Enemy’s plans will be thwarted.

Last time I was in Israel the Arabs were secretly excavating under the Temple Mount with bulldozers – archeologists were furious because many relics were completely destroyed; the area should have been excavated with fine tooth comb.  The goal of the Arabs was to remove all evidence that it had once been a Jewish holy site.  Their excavations caused part of the Wall to bulge and they have since had to do major repairs to it so it wouldn’t fall.  The area they excavated is now the largest underground mosque. They are trying to stay hidden, but God sees that which is done in secret, and He will shout it from the rooftops!  They also want to add a fifth minaret to the Mount to symbolize the Five Pillars of Islam.

It rained very briefly today, this is the first time it has rained since I arrived.  Please pray that the Former Rains would come!!! The rain in the Fall months is called the former rain and the rain in the Spring is the Latter Rain.  Right now we are in the midst of a water crisis. The Sea of Galilee is at an all time low, and if it gets too much lower they will no longer be able to use it as a source of water.  The aquifers here in Jerusalem are also basically empty. We NEED rain!  Interestingly enough, it did rain shortly before I arrived and it just happened to be right after a day of repentance!

I find it interesting that God has been making some major inroads into Turkey in recent years, and right now Turkey has an abundance of water!!!  God always gives physical signs of what He is doing in the Spirit. There is an excitement in my Spirit because we have the opportunity to see some amazing rain, if we will stand firm in our prayers for Israel.  God often uses Israel as an example of what He is wanting to do in the rest of the earth. Do you want to see God’s outpouring of rain where you are?  Then pray that He would pour it out here in Israel.  She is our sister, He has not cast her away but chased after her and if we cast her away it is out of jealousy and that is not the heart of God.

I love you all and hope this is encouraging to keep pushing forward!  I would also appreciate your continued prayer for my finances. I have close to two-thirds of the money needed to cover my bills while I am here. God has been so faithful to provide so far, I’m looking forward to seeing how He will complete it!
Many blessings to you all as you chase after Him!
Lydia


Pictures:

#1 - Me standing on the spot where they believe the holy of holies might have been.

#2 - Something interesting I found in the graffiti outside of the Temple Mount. The Black box symbol is used a lot as a symbol for the mosque or the Dome of the Rock (can’t remember which), but someone wrote over it! I love that they had red flowers all around it as well. Go read the chapter! Was so encouraging!

#3 - The sun rising over part of the City of David, view from where I pray in the morning!