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Den stille, milde røst, Mai 2017

Published by Meridel Rawlings

«Så sier Herren Gud: Se, jeg henter israelittene fra de folkeslagene de dro bort til. Jeg samler dem fra alle kanter og fører dem til deres eget land. 22 Så gjør jeg dem til ett folk i landet, på fjellene i Israel. De skal alle ha en og samme konge. De skal ikke lenger være to folkeslag og ikke mer være delt i to kongeriker.“Ezekiel 37: 21-22.

Dette evige ord er for det jødiske folk, representert av oliventreet til venstre.  For 20 år siden plantet vi dette oliventreet i hagen vår, en stadig påminnelse om dette verset. Hvilket løfte i Ordet gjør du til ditt i dag?

I vår fant jeg en spire av et nytt oliventre under treet.  Jeg plantet det om og har stelt det. Foto til høyre. Her er det allerede med to grener og full av liv. I år er oliven, granatepler og fiken fulle av frukt. Høsttiden vil bli fantastisk. Jay og jeg er takknemlige og anser at vårt største bidrag i livet er våre fire sønner. De som nå pleier mange andre.

La oss ikke glemme.…

Her i Israel er Minnesdagen for Holocaust et faktum av vår pågående historie. Vi tar tid til å se tilbake og huske. Det begynner om kvelden med sirenene som kaller alle israelere til å stå oppmerksom og reflektere på den syke tiden under nazistenes velde. Millioner av jøder bærer i dag de usynlige sårene som påvirker deres barn og barnas barn. Vi har 5 barnebarn med besteforeldre som levde og døde gjennom denne tiden. Som så mange andre av oss, hadde vi fedre, onkler og bestefedre som tjente i de alliertes styrker i 2. verdenskrig. I dag er det  rundt  250 000 Holocaust overlevende   i Israel, alle med vitnesbyrd om grusomhetene …

Jeg anbefaler deg filmen; Bag of Marbles, den forteller en sann i historie om en familie fra Paris som overlevde. Vis den til familien din og bidra til større forståelse. Den andre, The Zoo Keeper’s Wife, også en sann historie som finner sted i løpet av 2. verdenskrig i Warszawa Zoo. En nervepirrende film.  For å lære enda mer les: The Hidden Children av Jane Marks en Bantam bok, # 0 533 40936 0.

Yom Ha Zikaron, Minnesmarkering for De Falne.

Den følgende uken ropte sirenene igjen til oss alle. Denne gangen minnes vi  de 24.544 falne soldater under Israels mange kriger, samt sivile ofre for pågående terror, både barn og eldre.  Vi holder lysene tent i 24 timer. I den tiden deler vi i vitnesbyrdene til familiemedlemmer fra alle livets reiser og gråter med de som gråter. I år var det enorm aktivitet. Urolighetene, torden av jetfly og helikoptre var voldsom. Iran hadde stablet dødelige våpen nær flyplassen i Damaskus som Israel ødelagte. De var øremerket Hizbollah i Libanon, strategisk plassert for å bli brukt mot sivile mål i Israel. Også Hamas skjøt en rakett i Israel.  Men Israel verken slumrer eller sover. Dette er tross alt en krigssone, vær så snill og husk at når du ber.

Israels 69. Uavhengighetsdag begynte ved solnedgangen den  2. mai, og vi lever nå vårt 70. år …

Gatene var fylt med unge og gamle, så mye dans og glede! Våre sønner dro til Jerusalem Mahane Yehuda-markedet for å feire i fellesskapet. David lager en kortfilm hvert år for en i lokalsamfunnet. Adi, hans kone, koreograferte en dans som hennes studenter utførte på Mount Herzel denne dagen.

Jay og jeg feiret vår 49. bryllupsdag … Jay sier: “Meridel får fortsatt mitt hjerte til å løpe løpsk! “Ja, vi forlot det gode livet i Canada i 1969 men vi har ingen anger!

Sjeldent er vi alle samlet som en familie. Vår andre sønn Chris kom på besøk fra Helsinki, Finland.  Hvilken gledestid det var! Bilde f.v. David , Josh (stående), Chris, Jay og Daniel.

Se, hvor godt og vakkert det er
når brødre bor sammen!….  For der gir Herren velsignelse,
liv til evig tid. Salme 133: 1, 3b.

Til slutt kjære venner, et kall til bønn.

Jeg lovte å holde deg oppdatert om Jays fremgang. Han har det ikke bra. Han vil bli innlagt igjen til Share Tzedek sykehuset den 10. mai for en fullstendig gjennomgang av hjertet.  Siden det ikke er noe “sinus” -slag i hjertet hans(dette slaget kalles også hjertehastighetsmakeren) er han ikke kandidat for behandlingen kjent som en “ablasjon”. For mer detaljert informasjon kan du søke på nett. Vi i famiien er bekymret og har kontinuerlig bønn. Kardiologen sa at de må stoppe og re-starte hjertet hans igjen i håp om å få en normal hjerterytme. Dette blir det fjerde forsøket. Vi ber vår himmelske Far for et nytt hjerte.

Vi takker for dine emailer og brev, og ja, vi trenger din forbønn og støtte som aldri før. Siden den Israelske økonomien er sterk blir både den Kanadiske og Amerikanske Dollaren svak. Det gjør det utfordrende å betale regninger for personer i vår situasjon. Tusen takk til alle som velger å gi oss en hånd.

Vær rikt velsignet

Hilsen Meridel…..

Still Small Voice May 2017 – Lest We Forget

Published by Meridel Rawlings

This May in Israel is a time for look back and remembering our history, for pausing today to consider the price in blood paid over the land of Israel, and then to look forward and rejoice in the good promises of the Eternal Book concerning this Land of Israel and her peoples.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again  be two or be divided into two kingdoms.”  Ezekiel 37:21-22 Hebrew Bible.

This eternal word is for the Jewish people, represented by the olive tree to the left. 20 years ago we transplanted this olive tree in our garden, an ever present reminder of this verse. What promise in the Bible are you making your very own today? This spring, I found a sprouted olive seed  under the tree;  I tenderly transplanted and nurtured it. Photo right. Here it is, already with two branches, and full of life. This year, the olives, pomegranates and figs are loaded with fruit. Harvest time will be amazing. Jay and I gratefully acknowledge that our greatest contribution has been parenting our four sons, who now nurture many others.

Lest We Forget.…

Here in Israel, Holocaust Remembrance Day is a sober fact of our on going history. We take time to look back and remember. It begins in the evening with sirens calling all Israelis to stand at attention and reflect upon  that sickening era of Nazi history. Millions of Jews today bear the invisible wounds, affecting their children and children’s children. We have 5 grandchildren with great grandparents who lived and died through that era. For many others of us, we had fathers, uncles, and grandfathers who served in the Allied Forces of WW2.  Today in Israel 250,000 Holocaust survivors remain living testimony to the atrocities…

I suggest you could help to educate  your family by taking them to see the film, Bag of Marbles, which tells the true story of a Parisian family who survived. The second, The Zoo Keeper’s Wife,, also a true story that takes place during WW2 in the Warsaw Zoo. This nail biter keeps one of the edge of their seat the entire two hours. To learn even more read: The Hidden Children by Jane Marks a Bantam book, #0 533 40936 0.

Yom Ha Zikaron, Remembering the Fallen

The following week, again the sirens called  out to us all. This time to remember the 24,544 fallen solders of Israel’s many wars along with civilian victims of on-going terror, ranging in age from babes in arms to the elderly. We light memorial candles that burn for 24 hours. During that time, we share in the testimonies of family members from all walks of life, weeping with those who weep.  This year, there was enormous activity in the heavens above us. The unrest, the thunder of jets and helicopters was unnerving. Iran steadily and stealthily stock piled deadly weapons near the airport in Damascus, which Israel destroyed. They were earmarked for Hezbollah in Lebanon to be used against Israeli civilians. Also Hamas lobbed a rocket into Israel. Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. This is after all is said and done, a war zone, please remember that when you pray.

Israel’s 69th Independence Day began at sunset on May 2nd, we are now living out our 70th year… The streets were filled with young and old alike, dancing to Israeli songs of yesteryear and rejoicing!  Our sons headed for the Jerusalem Mahane Yehuda market to enjoy community dances of joy and  the glorious sound of victory. David, still a film maker, creates a short film every year for one of the communities helping us all to appreciate in visuals the price paid for the land.  Adi, his wife, choreographed a dance her students performed at nation’s the Mount Herzel.

Jay and I celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary… Jay says: “Meridel still makes my heart race!” Yes, we left the good life in Canada in 1969. No regrets!

Very seldom are we all together as a family.  Our second son Chris joined us from Helsinki Finland for the many remembrances and celebrations. What a joyous time we had. Our favourite past time was ‘talking’! Photo Lt: David, forefront, Josh standing, Chris, Jay and Daniel. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!… for there the LORD bestows his blessing even life forevermore. Ps 133 v. 1,3b.

Finally dear friends, a call to prayer.

I promised to keep you updated on Jay’s progress. He is NOT doing well. He will be readmitted back into the Share Tzedek Hospital on May10th for a full review of his heart history. Now, because there is no ‘sinus’ beat in his heart, (this beat is also called the pace maker of the heart) he cannot be a candidate for the procedure known as,  an ‘ablation’. For more detailed information, you could go on line. You can appreciate that as a family we are concerned and keep a continual prayer watch.

His cardiologst said that again they have to stop and restart his heart, hoping to obtain a regular beat. This will be the 4th try. We are asking our Father in Heaven for a new heart.

We thank you for your emails and letters of interest and yes, we need your  prayers and support as never before. Because the Israeli economy is so strong, it makes the CD and US $ very weak just 2.5 shekels to one Canadian $ and 3 shekels for one US $. It makes paying the basic bills very tough on people in our situation. Thank you to all who choose to give us a hand.

Every blessing to you,

From Meridel, David, Chris, Josh and Daniel Rawlings

Die leise, feine Stimme – Passah 5777, April 2017

Published by Meridel Rawlings

«SIEHE, DER MENSCH»

JESUS IN DER ISRAELISCHEN KUNST

„ Ich habe völlig neue Dinge über israelische Künstler gelernt – darüber, wie sie Jesus begegnen. Genial!  Und mein persönlicher Umgang mit  israelischer Kunst wird ebenfalls nie mehr derselbe sein. Sehr, sehr hilfreich, Meridel! Ich bin der Ansicht, dass auch für uns Christen der Umgang mit israelischer Kunst im Zusammenhang mit Jesus eher ein Tabuthema ist, weil  wir keine falschen Dinge sagen, oder Menschen verletzen wollen. Es ist ein Privileg mitzuerleben, was in Jerusalem im Bereich der Kunst im Hinblick auf unseren Erlöser passiert. Die Kunst muss wieder eingenommen werden von Menschen, die JESUS lieben. Das dies in Israel passiert, ist wunderbar und erfüllt mich mit Freude.“

Sie können den Rundbrief herunterladen, indem Sie hier klicken

April 2017 update on the health status of Dr. Jay Rawlings

Published by Meridel Rawlings

Dear Friends of the Rawlings Family:

Thank you for your inquiries, caring notes and of course your prayers for Jay’s well being.  Things are looking up now that it is daylight saving time, the evenings are lighter and spring is here in Israel. We are glad to be out of winter’s grip, although we didn’t get enough rain. Photo: Daniel, Jay and Josh Rawlings in Ancient Jaffa.

Since last writing, Jay has been fitted with a C-PAP machine to assist his breathing at night. This device is expensive and not covered by health care. Meridel’s brother and sisters in Canada paid for it entirely. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  After being deprived of oxygen for, how long, we are not sure, Jay began sleeping deeply and restfully. He has had to work  out the kinks learning to breathe wth it, but it has become a permanent fixture in his life now.

Since December Jay has been taking daily doses of several drugs to regulate his heart and thin his blood. But his heart is still stressed,  leaving him breathless upon little exertion. We saw his Professor of cardiology  and he has recommended an ‘ablation’.

It is a procedure that uses radio frequency energy (similar to microwave heat) to destroy a small area of heart tissue that is causing rapid and irregular beating.

Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat scornful.
But his delight will be in the law (teachings and statutes)
of the LORD.
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.
That brings forth its fruit in its season.
Whose leaf also shall not wither:
and whatever he does shall prosper.
Hebrews 1:1 and Psalm 1:1-3.

Again we are asking you to keep Jay in your prayers at this time.

Thanks!

Jay and Meridel

The Rawlings Family and Jerusalem Vistas/Israel Vision Team.

Made in Israel

Published by Meridel Rawlings

Israel today, in spite of continual attacks, war, terror and prejudice is a miracle of survival.  Israel has not only survived for seven decades and overcome great obstacles, it is now one of the most fertile countries on earth. Israeli innovations, especially in medicine and agriculture have impacted the quality of life for a huge part of humanity.  “Made in Israel” traces how Israeli inventors have become world leaders in start up companies. Now Israel is becoming known as the “Scale Up” country as more an more innovations are birthed, nurtured and blossomed via Israeli companies.  PS, We are close friends with Chris Mitchell, CBN bureau chief here in Jerusalem and he has authorized us to run this movie. Over the years he has used excerpts of our productions for their 700 Club TV show that is broadcast world wide.