Meridel Thanks you…
Shalom Dear Friends:

“Those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention, and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and those who esteem His Name.”  Malachi 3:16

Photo: My Granddaughter Cecilia by the aloe plant holding oranges from the clementine tree we planted for her. Last week, we all had a most unusual experience. I had taken a break from office work and was in the garden pruning our aloe plant. The winter winds had ripped most of the flowers away. I was trimming the stalks.

Our office manger came outside and said, “Meridel there is a lady at the gate, and she says she knows you but, that you do not know her.”  I recognised the family name as one of the charities our production team had produced teaching material for in DVD form.

The elegant lady that stood before me was dressed in a dusty rose blouse and skirt with matching stylish chiffon scarf draped around her shoulders. I observed that she was an orthodox woman, an observant Jewess. She was shy, but also got right to the point and amazed us by pronouncing: “God lives here!”

“Well, yes, yes He does, I affirmed, in agreement, “we are very blessed indeed by His Presence.”

She explained; “I live in Jerusalem and come to a hairdresser in this neighbourhood. For several years now, when I come over, I stand near by taking in the view. I have prayed for your family, because God lives here! I feel His Presence so strongly in this place and am comforted.”

I invited her in and gave her a glass of water (in the Name of the LORD). It was 24C, so warm this February morning, so we sat outside in the sunshine. In the stillness of the moment, we heard a mother quail call her little ones into line. Bees buzzed in the rosemary bushes and birds sang out their joyous spring trills for ‘being back’ home from Africa. We enjoyed that very special moment together; suspended somewhere between the present and eternity. “Who is this precious person” I wondered? My son Josh brought us tea. She also greeted him with, “God lives here.” He smiled in agreement.

When hearing that she was still in grief over the loss of her mother, I was able to share how I was profoundly comforted on a wild winter Jerusalem day. It was the day my mother died in Canada, I sat like a bereft orphan, all alone on the other side of the world. I was in great need of comfort.  It came in a sudden most unexpected encounter. Later that night I was visited in a dream. One day I will share it. On her way up the stairs to her car, we ran into Jay just coming out of his office. Again she pronounced: “God lives here, and I am happy to see that you look so well.”

In parting, I assured her that she could visit us whenever she was in the area. I invited her to come and rest in the garden, as long as she liked. I also mentioned that there was bed for her when she needed it.

Now, how special was that? When she pronounced so emphatically: “God lives here” I was showered all over with tingles from the Holy Spirit. (prickles in Hebrew scripture.) We live moment by moment, one day at a time. I know that we encouraged her, but oh my, how much more she encouraged us! I share this with you because God is no respecter of persons. May He bring His special messengers to your home.

What a joy to receive your letter and see your hand writing. I see the Kingdom of God as enormous and all encompassing, embracing the most unlikely of souls. I consider those who stand with Jay and I as family. We must keep open minds and hearts, especially today as the darkness demands attention.

The whole world has gone mad with this computer age and phones that track our every step and even our conversations. But there is still nothing quite as sweet as a love letter from a friend. And… when they add a little extra goodness, its just marvellous! How we live is a mystery, He is our source of life, breath, inspiration and sustenance. How we love to hear your news. We do believe that the foundations of Israel are settled down into the very bedrock of Abba’s Eternal Covenants. Israel and the Jewish people are like no other nation.

All hell is breaking out around us. Times are dire here. An Israeli F16 was shot down by Syrian forces on Saturday the 10th of February. Iran has set up proxies on the border of Lebanon… since 1982 the awful war in Lebanon they have never stopped supplying missiles to Hezballah. President Obama signed a pact with Hezballah giving them free licence to expand their movements of terror activity world wide. Consequently Iran has installed thousands of missiles aimed at our cities all along the Lebanese border.

Iran has built a highway from Tehran right up into Syria via Iraq. Inside of Syria they have created ammunition dumps and installed many military outposts all along the Syrian/Israeli Border on the Golan Heights. Iranian militants sit there just 7 miles from Israel. Israel had to take took out 12 supply centres that Iran had build up in Syria.  Russia waits in the wings, and Turkey is actively at war inside of Syria. No good can come from any of it. Mr. Netanyahu said in no uncertain terms that he would attack Syria if need be. Our son David said that when he was working with us, he wondered at Jay’s bold statement saying that “Damascus would become a ruinous heap.” Today it is almost a reality. They created a 4-part series on the Middle East BEFORE the most recent war.

We need your prayers and support as never before.  Our news here inside of Israel is dire. We are not afraid, but it is all very sobering. The best thing any Israeli can do is just ‘to keep on keepin on’ and pray for our leaders and military to be watchful and wise. It is written that the God of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. We certainly understand why. Please add your prayers into this current disastrous set up.

“And he [we] will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not whither. Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green.”  Psalm 92:13,14. Israel as an ancient reborn nation 4,000 years old, today is filling the world with fruit.

The Feast of Esther known in Hebrew as Purim, begins on Feb. 25th, and we love to dress up and rejoice. It is a act of faith considering the rough neighbourhood that we live in.

May God bless you and our dear friends, and keep you!

Meridel Rawlings, Box 84156, Mevasseret Zion, 9079097 Israel.