- Jay and Meridel Rawlings Tour Scotland
- We have been under attack since starting our daily broadcasts from Jerusalem…
- Wounded Healer: Nobody escapes being wounded
Still Small Voice Thanks You
Meridel Rawlings Box 84156, Mevasseret, Zion, 90805 Israel
Email: meridel.rawlings@gmail.com
Shalom… Summer 2008
“Today my son Josh and I came to this conclusion: Success is an illusion for we came into this life with nothing and we leave with nothing. Life is like a call to dance. Our designer chooses the stage upon which we appear. How we choose to dance out the divine mystery of life is our privilege.” You’re the only ‘you’ He created. Each life is of infinite value and worth. Dance… beloved. See James 5:11
Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. I Peter 4:12
Jay and I and our four sons are very grateful for each and every one of your lives that have made a big difference in our lives. Thank you for standing with us over the years. During the last forty years called to Israel and her peoples, we have had many challenges and testings and thought we had learned how to rejoice in every difficulty. I guess the Lord has another idea.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8, 9
Ever since we agreed to start broadcasting a daily news commentary show from Jerusalem worldwide, giving a Biblical perspective on unfolding events here–we have been hit and I mean hit hard. We can trace the attacks to the very day we agreed to take this challenge on back in March; 4 months ago. As Joyce Meyers says “new level–new devil.” Here are a few examples:
Attacks:
• Meridel’s car was stolen
• Our TV Mobile van was broken into and a soundboard and camera valued at $15,000. were stolen
• David’s and Adi’s home was broken into and both of their laptops and hard drives were stolen. That means all of her work was taken and David’s hundreds of hours of edited TV programs.
• Our office was broken into but because of the security the thief fled with nothing.
• David was attacked and threatened that he would have his legs broken.
• Daniel was followed and accosted by 3 Arabs in Jerusalem, a knife was held to his throat and he was robbed. At the time he was delivering the pay roll to our media team. He was not injured but was robbed of the salaries.
• Our co-workers wife left him and three children
• Both locks broke on the two entrance doors to our television studio.
• Giving: Funds began to dry up the very day we took on the challenge to broadcast a Biblical perspective on the daily news worldwide, working with the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
• The Israeli Shekel is very strong now and this has cut our donation income by 30-35%- -a hard reality to deal with
• We have not received our salary (below the minimum wage) for 3 months now.
God’s Secret Strategy, Treading and Trusting: Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God. And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability, the promptness and the readiness produced by the good news] of the gospel of peace. [Isaiah 52:7]
Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). And pray also for Jay and Meridel and David, Christian, Joshua and Daniel that [freedom of utterance] may be given us; that we may open our mouths to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news, for which we are ambassadors… Ephesians 6: 14-20a.
We also know that this is the time for the Good News to be broadcast LIVE via satellite and Internet 24/7 from Jerusalem. Please download our brochure Send the Light at: www.israelvision.tv/sendthelight and copy and pass on in your church, prayer group or synagogue.
Scotland and England Tour: It was our joy to get out into the high-ways and by-ways of our forefathers’ Scotland. Sheila Watt of Edinburgh arranged our ministry sessions. We enjoyed meeting and worshiping with the people, even on the Islands of Skye and Lewis. My first seminar in England on sexual abuse was presented in Reading’s 3 Mile Cross Christian Fellowship, we were the guests of Pastor John and Mary Angliss. It takes a brave man to invite me to come and work! CD’s are available for any offering. While in their home, the joy of the Lord overtook me and the spirit of laughter and joy were restored back into my life for the first time in months.
Wounded Healer: Nobody escapes being wounded. WE all are wounded people whether physically, sexually, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. The main question usually is not “How can we hide our wounds?” This is so we don’t have to be embarrassed or shamed. “How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?” Wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, when we have done our homework to become wounded healers.
Jesus is God’s wounded healer: through His wounds we are healed. See Isaiah 53. Suffering is a divine universal principal. Jesus’ suffering and death brought life and fullness of joy to all who choose and will to believe and follow in his footsteps. His humiliation brought glory; his rejection brought a community of love. As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others… so be it!
Some news from Finland that gladdens my heart. A precious young severely abused woman who attended my Healing for the Family Seminars there last summer wrote: “Do you remember me telling you about getting to know a believer? This July we exchanged engagement rings. If everything goes well our wedding day will be August 9th 2008. Jesus is good to us!”
I have worked with her and poured my love into her and watched her grow as she literally drank in the words of loving encouragement and life. She is a daughter to me; her own parents are not worthy of her. Her healing encourages me to believe in the value of my difficult and misunderstood work with the sexually abused. Her success has given me courage to keep on in the face of unprecedented hatred and attacks against my own ministry as a wounded healer, which I have not elaborated above. Take a moment now and give praise to the Father (Matt 6:9) for my precious daughter.
The Kingdom of God is among us… and the King is coming home to Jerusalem.
While Jay and I are on tour in Canada, my sons Joshua and Daniel are taking care of my letters. My 4 sons are standing with me in thanking you for your invaluable help at this time. I shared the following with my closest Israeli friends when we gathered for dinner recently and they loved it. I trust that you will also be encouraged to keep on in spite of what you hear and see around you. Thank you for your prayers for us. We pray to bring glory to our King and his Royal Kingdom.
The likelihood of anyone else in history having the same genetic make-up as you is zero unless you are an identical twin. You are not just another brick in the wall or another nail in the carpenter’s tool box. You were personally designed, formed and made according to Isaiah 43:7
You are the only ‘you’ He created, so that you could create sign posts to His Kingdom because of your unique contribution. You are your Beloved’s and His desire is toward you. S of S 7:10
No, you’re not your parents, and you are so much more than your nationality. You may resemble some relative… but you certainly are no carbon copy.
In fact, you are incomparable. So there is no need to be sized up or to size yourself up to the measurements or accomplishments of any other person. Just take responsibility for being the best you can. We don’t even need to ask the ‘million dollar question;’ ‘who are You?’ You already know your strengths and weaknesses I am sure if you are listening to the Still Small Voice?
We read in the Bible about Bezalel the builder of the tabernacle: “I have filled him with… wisdom… He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving… mounting gemstones… carving wood…” Exodus 31:3-5 He could grasp the invisible and guide his artisans to forge the heavenly into a hands on ‘show and tell.’ He helped to bring heaven to earth. Do we not still marvel at his cutting edge workmanship and spirit of excellence?
He knew what to do with each gift, be it a humble copper mirror, a necklace, a jeweled ring, a linen sash, sheep’s wool, animal hides, gnarled acacia wood or spices of myrrh and frankincense.
He delighted in dreaming impossible dreams, multi-tasking, overseeing, instructing, designing… With a company of willing helpers he created a dwelling place a ‘beit – home’ if you will, for the Shekinah Presence of the Almighty. Audacious as it seemed, he used the love gifts of the families of God’s people given in obedience to divine instructions. He accomplished what had never been done before. He created a place of refuge for the Divine Presence and the household of Israel, coming out of slavery; the waste-howling wilderness that life was. He overshadowed them all.
Life has had it’s own set of limitations, instructions and circumstances for you… It’s okay to learn from others but you have had to keep returning to what your Creator tucked away in your heart. That call is to keep listening for the voice that has no sound and then to follow through. That still small voice does not speak above the chatter of your morning coffee club, or in the daily news, or provide the agenda for the board meeting… BUT it does echo back to you those very fleeting inspired thoughts and hopes we all so quickly forget in the crush of life. Yet these thoughts are the very fabric of your call; which is a divine reality woven into your being from the beginning. This mystery of creation allows you to bring forth the invisible riches in secret places and that which is exceedingly precious in the sight of your Holy One of Israel. The staggering truth is that He can be found of you… in you and through you… not at some huge spiritual event… no, in the secret place.
Thus says the Lord: Who made you and formed you from the womb? Who will help you? Fear Not! For I will pour water upon him or her who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants… and they shall spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses. Isaiah 44: 2a, 3,4.
Your work is to stand strong and not to faint but to believe. I am talking to myself here. We read: David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
Beloved…
Be strong and fix your eyes on what lies before you and just keep going. Proverbs 4:25-27
Your finest hour is here: not because everything is going you way, but because you are going God’s way! You are not alone, nor are you forgotten or cut off. To quote my eldest son David, who once said, in spite of the awful pressures we are experiencing… “Mom, our family being all together with our wives and little ones is what life is all about… it doesn’t get any better than this!”
Our family unanimously agree to send this blessing to you…
“May your eyes sparkle and your pulse race at the work of your hands?
We all agree that you are making this world a much finer place.
Thank you.
May you be blessed beyond your wildest imagination?
May the work of your hands speak to and embrace other ‘lovers of life.’
May you be used to ignite thoughts of Eternity in many hearts.
You , who so tenderly received God’s personal impartation
and blessed us.
L’ Haim! (To Life!)
P.S.
My web designer, Chris Rawlings, as had a very simple method for you
to donate on line in a safe and effective manner. Thank you.
Canadian Itinerary Summer 2008
July 20th a.m. Kitchener: Stanley Park United Brethren
Pastor John Pearce: 519 893 8186
July 20th p.m. Oakville: Good News Assembly of God
2222 South Sheridan Way, Mississauga Ont. Phone: 905 856 7636
July 26th. Victoria B.C.
New Life Centre: July 26th Open House with the Rawlings.
See the latest productions and Gala Israel at 60. 9:30 – 11:30 coffee
and bagels
Sunday July 27th 10 a.m. Mount Douglas 10 a.m.
August 3rd Brooks Alberta
Victory Center
Pastor Bill Martin: 403 501 3186
August 5th & 6th. Leithbridge
Miracle Channel:
To be announced;
Red Deer: Jay and Meridel Meet the Public (Between Aug. 23rd.
See the latest productions, and Gala premier video Israel at 60.
Venue to be announced: Contact: C. Kolwalsky 403 342 6415 or 309 5466
August 31st: Kingston Gospel Tabernacle
Pastor David Blackmore: 613 548 3855