Shalom Dear Friends:

Sometimes I think we become all too familiar with the many privileges of being a believer in a God who lives! What do I mean? I know that I have not appreciated the immense potential granted me through His Living Word. We speak it daily, read and discuss it, but do I release it? I woke up this morning with some instructions:  “My Word IS the source of Life, hinder me not!” 

Our Shabbat dinner is the highlight of the week. This week, two sons, a kalah, (Hebrew for a son’s wife}, a family friend and a delightful 22-month-old grandson were our guests. As is our custom, after the blessings we hugged and kissed before beginning to eat. It was a superb feast of fresh fish caught earlier in the day and masterfully prepared by our Greek friend. We topped it off with chocolate cake, berries and ice cream. Yummy. The real piece d’resistance was the scripture reading that followed. Today, who isn’t seeking direction in this upside-down world? It read as follows:

“ He led them safely, so they did not fear.  I (wisdom) walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice. Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way, and to bring you into the place I have prepared. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: … their own arm did not save them; but Your right hand and Your arm led Your people to make for Yourself a glorious name.  O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes, make Your way straight before me.”

Psalm 78:23a, Proverbs 8:20, Exodus 23:20, Isaiah 63:9, Psalm 5:8a 

Upon waking this morning I was arrested by the knowledge that our foes, can be our own worries and anxieties that open the door to negativity! This does more to hinder the delicate internal workings of the blessed Holy Spirit deep within our own lives and those of our loved ones. Often very sadly, our mouths are misused instruments, not as a well of life. Pause and consider this. Then I heard these words, in command form:

“Loose him and let him go.” Jesus never saw impossibility. He dared to ask various ones who came to Him (that was the secret). “What do you want?”  Our hope is that He has never changed and is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

I read recently read, a description of Jesus is “THE EDGE”. 

Simply put He is the dividing line between:

Life/death, peace/torment, light/darkness, success/failure, strength/weakness,

Health/sickness, contentment/despair, sanity/insanity, direction/confusion, singleminded/double minded, prophecy/sorcery, balance/imbalance, adventure/boredom, significance/meaninglessness, eternal/temporary, beauty/ashes, obedience/disobedience, respect/disrespect, gratefulness/ungratefulness, confidence/anxiety, fruitfulness/barrenness, friendship/loneliness, self-worth/dissatisfaction, purpose/drifting, contentment/dissatisfaction, sustenance/inner starvation, satisfaction/frustration, sabbath rest/overwork, renewal/refuse, citizen/alien, adventure/boredom, freedom/slavery, autonomy/control, liberty/bondage …

Sometimes the only way to find the edge is to go over it!

Greece is desperate for water. Our well, and others in the valley are dry. About once a month we order a truck to bring us 70 cubic meters of water. We use it to water our trees and run the house.  This fall we have had 3 days of rain so far. However, I believe that we are experiencing a miracle. As evening falls, so does the precious dew, which soaks everything. A mist rises up over the valley like a blanket. When we drive out just two minutes, the fields are dry as a bone. Ever since we have been coming here since 2018, I have been praying for change. I am asking the land to be refreshed and the wells to be filled again. May this sheep nation have all that is needed for fruitfulness.

Greece is different from other nations in many ways. The Greek Orthodox Church is very visible and active in the nation. Our local friends respect and trust their priests and have been raised to serve God and one another. Because of the godly standard set up here there in no Halloween, or Masonic Lodges, both are rooted in the occult. I am praying for two dear friends who are masons and see no need for change in their lives, yet one is dying of cancer. How sad is that? Communism has been put down here as well. One can sense the open heavens here through the daily practical application of brotherly love.

Miracles Among the Nation quotes:

1. “Thank you again for the gift of your book. WOW! Wow! Wow! It was magnificently awesome.  Once I was able to physically manage your book, I couldn’t put it down. I had a dream some years back about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  In my dream a wave of warm water came up to my ankles and it was fun.  Slashing in the water was exhilarating.  A second wave came and this was up to my hips.  It made me feel off balance and I felt some fear.  I was not in control any more.  When I saw the third wave coming it was like a tsunami and I held my breath in terror.  When I was encompassed by the wave, my breath eventually gave out and I was ready to accept the fact that I was going to die.  When I breathed in, instead of dying, I was filled with life.  That was my dream.  I was ashamed to share it with anyone because the Lord showed me how much of a control freak I am.  You two swam in the deep end of the anointing your whole lives.” 

N. B. Canada

2. “I love the adventures in your book. but I love the Timeless Secrets.  I was quite intrigued by the story of the issue of control when you were working at the Camp in America.  The older I get the more I realize God hates one man to control another. He gave us free will at the cost of the death of His Son, Jesus.“

C.P. Canada

I close with this clip from Jordan Petersen:

For those Canadians who would like to give directly to our Canada bank, here is the info:

Royal Bank of Canada

Branch 04130

Account: 547 3152  in favor of John & Meridel Rawlings

Next week I will share our Canadian adventure with First Nations friends.

I have one request: kindly ask your praying friends to subscribe.

With love and prayers from our home to yours.

Meridel Rawlings.

Gmail: meridel.rawlings@gmail.com