My dear Friends:
This thought came to me:
Growing old takes grace …
Choosing Life, is an Art form.
Especially when the going is tough,
It’s … my choice!
Meridel Rawlings
This Sabbath is called ‘The Sabbath of Comfort’. I think that is lovely. It falls after last week when we ‘remembered’ the destruction of both Temples and waited to see if Iran would attack Israel. I didn’t believe they would. Bullies are also cowards, and Israel sent an ultimatum. May we all give thanks to the God of ALL Comfort. He will see us through. Our goal is to gain the Kingdom of Heaven!
“COME, and let us return [in repentance] to the LORD, for He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.” Hosea 6:1
When we take time to reflect, can we say the best things in our lives came out of wounding? Wheat is crushed before it becomes bread. Incense must be one with the fire to release its fragrance. Fields must be cut open with ploughs to receive life-giving seed. What must first happen for our hearts to be open to the love and Word of the Almighty? Often, the sweetest joys in life are the fruits of sorrow, which few of us like to discuss. Human nature needs to be tempered to make it fit to bless the world. Oh, it’s a costly education … that of being a significant blessing. One must suffer, you see God’s thoughts are much higher than our own.
“Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
The Beauty of the Moment:
The morning breezes are a little cooler now, with a hint of coming change. Dew is beginning to fall in the stillness of night bringing some relief to our parched land.
Fields are golden. We pray daily against fire. Athens has been plagued this summer, the village next to us had one on each side of the village. We are also seriously taking the call to pray for our nations. The Holy Spirit lays them upon our hearts. Our work is to be faithful. Yes, world news and politics seem so upside down and backwards. We know we are in the time of the “birth pangs of the coming of Messiah.” We call (pray) for law and order in Jesus Name and do what we can wherever we are, to help make a difference. Sometimes that means standing up to bullies and their lies. This takes what my mother called ‘intestinal fortitude; which, in today’s jargon means, ‘it takes guts!’ We also must be wise and know when to be silent, and where to put our time and strength. Jordan Petersen is being made an ‘example’ to all Canadians and the world for being so outspoken.‘Free speech’ no longer exists in my birth nation neither do many other human rights. The MAID program, (Medically Assistance In Dying) has taken the lives of 50,000 Canadians and lowered the permissible age to 12, without parental consent. This is a kind of madness. Then there is President Trump. Alon Musk interviewed him on X this week and it broke the internet with 1,000,000,000,000 views. Not one news outlet in America asked the former President for an interview. His angry neighbours are trying to drive him from his home residence in Florida? At the some time he was summoned with a 10-month prison sentence. Attention: darkness smiles deceitfully in the open with full media coverage and backing. It is all madness, an upside-down world. All the more reason to pull back, stay in the Bible, find solace for our souls and learn how to protect our families and each other!
The Controversy of Israeli History:
My husband Jay was a documentarist in Jerusalem for 50 years, blessed with a fine team including our 4 sons, and a nephew and niece. During that time, he had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Kedar on many occasions. Listen up and smile! Here, Dr. Mordechai Kedar is interviewed by Al Jazeera. He walks away with the show! Of course, I was delighted and couldn’t help smiling and giggling. Truth always wins!
He speaks Arabic, so you will have to be quick to read the English. Well worth it!
A Voice in the Wilderness
Our good friend Rev. John Angliss sent this from England.
“We have to go to work!”
“This is Jay. Work means heading 350 meters to our beach and swimming, walking, reading and praying together. I love to look for shells, but this year there are none? We were late this morning and the families with young children had descended. Just watching the mothers in action is a science. One large woman, who appeared arthritic inspite of her age, kept watch over her two beautiful curly-headed boys by standing and screaming, “Come, do this do that!” Painful to listen to.The mother of three on our left by contrast of laid back. They played, built sand castles, jumped in and out of the sea, or raced each other down the beach. She sat back eating an apple. Both lives spoke volumes …
Speaking of little ones: we have 11 grandchildren, and their ages range from 25, 23, 22, 20, 19, 17, 3,1 and 2 months. I’d love to send photos but their parents prefer we don’t, which is understandable. Ten of the 11 have visited us this summer. The 11th is studying physics in Australia.
An Irresistible Invitation:
I got the invitation of a lifetime this week when the phone rang. Three-and-a-half-year-old Ryan was on the line. Now, one of his favourite phrases is, “I have a GOOD idea!” But this time, he began, “Mom Honey …” This name was given to me 20 years ago by David’s son Amitai). Ryan rushed on, “I want you to come and sleep over. You can meet me at the breakfast table. We NEED to talk!”
WOW! I was delighted with the summons and hope it takes place before too long.
What do you suppose the little fellow has on his heart? How profound the little ones can be.
From My Friends:
“My dear friend, It gives me such joy to bless you!! You fight the battles – I merely point and click. You and Jay are heroes to me!!!” Much love, A.C. Canada
“Dear One;
Please do not be overly concerned about me. I am okay. Most importantly, we get to pray GOD’S WILL be done on earth, as it is in heaven. On Sept 11th, when the Twin Towers in NY were attacked, The Holy Spirit said to me: ‘This DAY, the whole world changed …’ On Oct 7th 2023 the Holy Spirit said ‘This is the beginning of the end!’ Not sure how long we will have to wait for JESUS’ return? We occupy till He returns. SHALOM.’” E.J. England
Martin Luther’s hymn – A Mighty Fortress written about 1529, speaks of the amazing strength of our God – in all and every situation.
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe
His craft and power are great
And armed with cruel hate on earth is not his equal
And though this world,
with devils filled
Should threaten to undo us
We will not fear, for God has willed
His truth to triumph through us
The prince of darkness grim
We tremble not for him
His rage we can endure
For lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him
We send you Comfort, knowing that His kingdom is forever!
Every blessing from Jay and Meridel Rawlings.
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