Still Small Voice September 2018 / Tishri 5779 Meridel Rawlings, Box 84156, Mevasseret Zion, 9079097 Israel Dear Precious Friends, This season of the year in the Jewish calendar is filled with very meaningful life-giving events. It’s like a show and tell, and the Jewish people have been practicing them for thousands of years. Think of it! Since 1979 Christians are joining in the fun by making their way to Jerusalem from the four corners of the earth to celebrate their very own “Christian Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.” Pray for the day to come when we are truly one people! Questions: Did you know that during the Jewish New Year we write our sins on a piece of paper and throw it into the sea? Did you know that there is a secret to sitting quietly in the Succah? Did you know that we are encompassed round about by so great a cloud of witnesses? Why is it called the Feast of the Great King? If you have questions, write to me: meridel.rawlings@gmail.com Photo: …

We have had great weather in Israel this year. From well-needed rain coming at unexpected times to the glorious sun that we almost always have above us. This not only makes life pleasant, but it causes fruits, vegetables, and all plant life to grow and thrive. Jay and Meridel have always planted, and planted some more, in their small garden. They utilize the borders around the yard and every little corner that a spade of earth can occupy. The varieties of things that sprout and grow are amazing. Apart from beautiful flowers and trees, one can find bushes of herbal tea to olives, pomegranates, and clementines~there is always something to find and enjoy. This week the grapes along the arbor and around the fence are more than ready to be harvested. The birds have already noticed and begun their own picking. Early in the morning, Jay and Meridel pulled out the ladders and clippers to began bringing in the luscious clusters of sweet, beautiful grapes to munch on and make into juice. Enjoying the fruits …

Still Small Voice Thanks You for your prayers. The Torah portion, “Balak” tells of Baalam… the sorcerer in Moab who could not curse Israel as hard as he tried. Just as the LORD God made the donkey speak to warn this zealot, so to, He made it impossible for him to curse. Supernaturally he blessed the people of Israel. What an amazing story this is. See part of this prophecy below. “How lovely are your tents O Jacob! Your dwellings O Israel! He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you. And cursed is he who curses you.”  Numbers 24: 5, 9. In Hebrew, the verse about the lions reads: “Behold a people that rises like a lioness and raises itself like a lion.” “But, Judah shall abide forever. And Jerusalem from generation to generation.” Joel 4:20 Yehuda (Judah) is Yaakov’s (Jacob’s) fourth son. When the land is divided amongst the tribes of Israel, Yehuda receives the vast territory south of Jerusalem, extending from the Dead …

 Shalom Shalom dear friends!                              Sivan 5777 / May 2018 My greeting means ‘perfect peace’, which in Hebrew, is wholeness in every respect! Jesus imparted this when He said; “My peace, I leave with you!”  John 14:27  Photo left: Jay & I celebrating our golden Wedding- 50 yrs. Photo below: Our immediate family. Left to right: Chris flew in from Helsinki. He is a media designer. David produces news films for Media Line. Daniel is our ‘hands on’ film producer for Israel Vision. Josh is a media designer who “thinks” us all on. These men have stood with us all the way. They have given us 8 beautiful grandchildren ages, 19, 18, 17, 15, 14, 12 and 11 year old twins. The grands indicate that they will stand tall upon our shoulders. Our hearts are filled with gratefulness to the LORD God of Israel who has never left us nor forsaken us and has led us every step of the way! Hallelujahs …

Shalom… to you this Passover – Easter Season from the Rawlings in Israel! You see to the above, an ancient menorah carved out of rock found by a friend during our recent tour of Yodfat, a village destroyed by Roman legions in 60 CE/AD. David alone in the wilderness of Judah wrote: “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my strength.“ Ps 63:6a. When David asked questions he expected answers. The on going war against Messiah and His Kingdom is found in Psalm 102. David carried the title, Messiah,  as did all of Israel’s kings because they were dedicated to the service of the Almighty and anointed with holy oil in the Name of the LORD GOD of Israel. “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together. Against the LORD and against His anointed? He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The LORD has said …

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him. Psalm 25:14 Today is the first day of Purim and all of Israel is celebrating. This is one of my favourite feasts because it is time to “let down” to enjoy and send packages of cookies, cakes and chocolates to family, neighbours and friends. Yes,  just like we are instructed in Esther 9:22. This historical account ensures that we remember and celebrate God’s preservation of the Jewish people. …as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. There you have it… our LORD God put down our enemies of old and told His children to  remember, observe and keep this time of deliverance and salvation throughout our generations!  Now what does that teach us about Father God? Like Billy Graham of blessed …

Shalom Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and financial contributions. It has been put into the ‘pot’ to help keep our doors open and the work going forward. Here are some pointers to encourage you in prayer for us. The time is grave and growing ever more so… and we have to daily submit our hearts to Jesus. I told Jay, I feel like a leaf trembling on the end of a branch. But God…! We have learned to encourage ourselves in Him day after day. Kindly join Jay and I in this prayer for our four sons all working in Media: David 48 yrs, Christian 46, Joshua 42 and Daniel 31. They have been a tremendous blessing to us over these many years, but we sense the Holy Spirit wants to loose them for even greater service. We pray: Sanctify them – purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy – by the Truth. Your Word is Truth. Just as you sent Me into the world, I also …