Over and over again, as we pray for Israel and walk the Temple Mount we are reminded that this “whole thing”, life, our existence etc. is all about God coming down to be with us. In the Garden God came down and walked with Adam and Eve, when Moses built the Tabernacle God came down and visibly dwelt with them, when Solomon dedicated the Temple God once again came down in a visible form to dwell among them. His name Emanuel means God with us. Yeshua came down and walked with man for 33 years so that a way could be made for Him to come down and walk with man for eternity once more. He is returning HERE, to earth to be with us. I think it’s fairly safe to say His number one desire is to be with you, with me, with each of us. He made us so that He could be with us. My first purpose in existing is simply to be with God. Sounds simple enough right? Yet so often we forget. I am endeavoring to make this a greater part of my daily life – inviting Him to come and walk with me.
As I’m sure you have heard by now, former Presidents George W. Bush’s new book on his time as president is now out on book shelves. Since it is out we have learned just how close Israel came to signing a peace agreement with the Palestinians during Olmert’s term as Israel’s prime minister. You never know just how your prayers are affecting things. It’s very possible that several years ago people were concerned about the way Olmert was handling things and began praying for God’s intervention. The reason it was never signed is because some dirt was uncovered on Olmert which eventually led to him being removed from office early and Abbas did not want to sign any sort of agreement with a Prime Minister who was going out of office, particularly one leaving under his unpleasant circumstances. Psalm 2 reminds us that God will remove people who refuse to follow His way. It says “kiss the Son, lest He be angry with you.” In other words, bow before Him and His will, serve Him, don’t lift yourself above Him. He is jealous over Israel and will go to great lengths to protect her. It would seem we are at another place in time when “kings of the earth” are attempting to decide the fate of Israel and put together some sort of “peace” agreement. We must pray that God will once more rise up and put these “kings” in their place.
Recently a friend of mine was on a bus conversing with a young religious Jewish man. They began discussing how the nations of the world tell Israel what to do when he suddenly declared to my friend “one day Israel will have a leader who will say ‘We are here not because the U.S. or the UN says we can be here, but because the Lord God Almighty says we can be here.’” I pray that many more young people rise up with boldness and declare to the Goliaths that they have mocked God etc.
Part of the reason Israel is in its current situation is because they have made covenants with death. We were praying into Isaiah 28 recently, where it speaks of the covenants of death but then follows that section up with verses 16-18 which speaks of the chief cornerstone. In Israel there are not only a large number of abortions performed each year, but they are very open to the gay and lesbian communities. Tel Aviv is now one of the top vacation destinations for people with that type of lifestyle. These are things in direct contradiction with God’s word and the directions He laid out for His people in the Old Testament. In Is. 28 it says that God will destroy these covenants and place justice and righteousness as the measuring line and plum line. Until the nation as a whole leaves these lies and turns to God I don’t think we will see a leader come from them who will carry a spirit like David did. However, Netanyahu did make a bold statement to President Obama the other day in regards to building in Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem. He said, “Jerusalem is not a settlement, it is the capital of the State of Israel.” In Zechariah 2:3 God says He will make Jerusalem as a heavy stone which will bring damage to those who would try to remove it. We must keep praying for the U.S. and the stand our current president is taking in regards to Israel, even to the point of trying to tell them when they are allowed to build houses for their people. God does not tend to deal kindly with arrogant leaders; we are not out of the woods as a nation simply because the Democrats no longer hold the House.
Praise the Lord for the Canadian Prime Minister who has taken such a bold stand and declared he will stand with Israel no matter what. We must pray for him and for his family because such declarations typically bring a lot of attacks from those who would love nothing more than to see Israel destroyed. If you have time you might want to listen to his speech, it’s most definitely worth listening to as he says things I haven’t heard any politician say in a very long time, if ever!
This last week was the 6 year anniversary of Arafat’s death. One paper said that “Arafat’s romanticism was a disaster for his people.” He was more concerned with keeping his image as a revolutionary than in giving his people what they needed (which is why he did not sign a peace agreement with Clinton and Barak – praise the Lord – when he had the opportunity, that’s not the image he wanted for himself). Please pray that the “Palestinian” people would come to understand and see the truth. I know someone living in Jericho and he says that the PA “police” are worse than the mafia; even the local shop keepers there say that. The goal of the PA is to keep the people in complete poverty so they can use that to get food and money given to them by the rest of the world which they then either keep for themselves or sell to the people who are supposed to be getting the aid for free. Many of them still hail Arafat as having been a great man because he caused them to be noticed by the world. But those who are honest with themselves will actually tell you that their situation in life (the ability to have food, a decent economy, and fairly peaceful living conditions) were far better before Arafat began sending in suicide bombers and creating his mafia type force to keep the people subjugated. The other day I was dealing with one of the kids here who was throwing a tantrum. He told me that if I did everything he wanted me to do (make him a shake, let him stay up and play Nintendo) he would then be nice. Too bad for him I don’t do things that way. I informed him that due to his behavior he had lost the privilege of having those things. Later I was laughing about it because it reminded me of the Israeli/Palestinian issue. They send in bombs and they threaten Israel with all sorts of violence. Then they tell Israel that if they will give them what they want (basically – Israel itself) they will be nice. That is a very twisted way of thinking. They are living under deceptions and lies, but God wants to give them the Truth and radically save them! I know some who have found this Truth, and now they are more pro-Israel than some Israelis! I was speaking to a former Muslim the other day and he just kept going on and on about the amazing things God is going to do in Israel and how he just loves his Jewish brothers. This is the heart God wants to give to the Arab people, and to the Jewish people in regards to the Arabs.
Praise Reports and Prayer Requests:
1. Still praising God for His marvelous provision! My first reaction when I got the money was to try and figure out just how far I could stretch it. Then I felt the Lord ask me why I was doing that. Was it because I didn’t believe He would provide for next month’s bills as well? Was I functioning out of fear that He would forget for some reason? I realized that at that moment I was operating out of a poverty mentality, that God only provides every now and then and so you have to stretch it as far as possible when He does. I don’t believe He wants us to be wasteful or unwise in the use of the money He sends our way, but I also think it’s perfectly ok to use it on things like cheese to go with the cucumbers and tomatoes, or a nice loaf of bread, or maybe even a cup of hot chocolate! Please pray for me as I continue to learn how to walk this out.
2. I have a friend who would like for me to join her in England to do some prayer mapping etc. in December. When we first discussed the idea I felt that it just might be something God was lining up for me. It would only be for a few weeks and then I would head back to Israel. So please pray with me to know if this is a door He is opening. I have put a fleece before Him that if it is what He wants He will prove it by bringing in the extra money I would need to purchase a ticket etc. If not then that’s fine too as I just want what He wants!
3. As I mentioned above, I know a former Muslim who is a believer. He and his family have a very rough time since they live in a Muslim area. Often they are beaten by their neighbors etc, and they have a hard time finding enough work to cover their needs. Their health has also been under attack. Please be praying for them to be strengthened. If you feel led to give toward their needs at any point please send it to me as you normally would but include a note saying it’s for the Arab family. I think it’s important that we help our brothers and sisters when we can, especially when they have it much worse than we do.
4. We will be entering the time of the Hajj this week. This is a Muslim feast. Please pray that it passes without any outbreaks of violence and that God’s Spirit would fall among them and bring new revelation!!!
Photos:
1. At a concert with my friend 
