Heshvan 5786 / November 2025

Shalom Dear Friends;

Noah was one of a kind; chosen to preserve mankind from utter destruction. He survived his generation of terror, vicious perverseness and willful destruction. he was given the name Noah, which means REST. That in itself is a mystery to me. After a wild storm, a glorious rainbow graced our valley this week, bringing forcefully to mind Abba Father’s promise.

“My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again will the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Gen: 9:15.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will finder rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Math. 11:28 

 I believe our last visitors of the year have now departed. We have had 150 days of a total of 45 house guests since April! It has indeed been a stretch. This week we have been forced to rest with all of the blessed rain. Our land is soaked these days and we are ‘resting’ in the early rains that Joel spoke of. The olive harvest is safely in, the trees are pruned and mulched. How to rest from the inside out is the real question? How to quieten the noise within, the turbulence of mind and heart, the ache for Israel?

Jay and I are experiencing two things. Friends tell us how good we look. Why wait eight decades? I love to tell young people that they are beautiful. They need it as we are all so hard on ourselves. Those who worked with us in ‘Jerusalem Vistas/Israel Vision’ studio, or with me on the road or in counseling  are coming forward now to say ‘thank you’. This is sweet! Not that we expected it, but it is an inkling of the fruit of those long years.

Israel is our prayer focus, as is Canada, and Greece. I want you to listen to to this video clip.

It clears the air, and gives us a crystal clear perspective of why we support Israel in prayer and other ways. Why we respect their determination to ‘live’ no matter WHAT! So many hostages were kept alive through reaching out into the darkness by faith and being met.

I pray for my birth nation,Canada; today just an empty shell of her former place in the world. May our prayers for change be heard in the Throne room of heaven.

I pray for Greece as adopted nation of rest, and here we rest. I am grateful for the Greek Orthodox Church who feed their people every Sunday on the words of Jesus. The priests are family men, which I find reassuring. It gives them a touch of reality. The services are run by community members, from the readings and worship all the way to the Grandmas who bake the ‘holy bread’. Jesus is loved here. Recently in a service, my Greek friend asked, “Will you take communion?”

“Oh”, I responded in surprise, “I am not allowed. I’m not Greek Orthodox.”

“Have you been baptized?” She whispered.

“Yes, in the Jordan River…”

“That will do” she said, “come on!”

The priest served communion of bread and wine. On the way back to my seat from the alter, I was given a very generous portion of this ‘holy bread’ freshly baked.  For, Messiah, Jesus Christ IF the Bread of Life! It was super at the end of a 3.5 hour service.  The Sunday sermon was is always centered on the words of Jesus. The blessed Holy Spirit smiled upon the full congregation. It was restful, welcoming, real. Thank you Jesus.

Pray with us for the outpouring the Holy Spirit here in Greece. I plead the blood of the Lamb over the borders daily. Greece has a severe history, and Turkey is no friend.

We look forward to a quiet winter after an extremely HOT and very very busy summer. We will be careful in future not to overdue it. Sorry for the long absence. You do understand.

Thank you dear friends for you notes of encouragement and your prayers and gifts.

In closing: “I will sing of Your strength; yes I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold, and a refuge in the day of my distress. You are my hiding place. You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 59:16, Psalm 32:7

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.  

Thank you!
Dr. Meridel Rawlings,

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Image at top: Photo by Meridel Rawlings