March 2008
22/03/08 18:08
Shalom from Zion
“Behold He stands at our wall, looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice. My beloved spoke to me and said, “Arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me. For lo, the winter has past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, and the time of singing has come” (S.O.S.2:10)
We bless you to see Him who is standing behind your wall, calling you to arise. For lo, the winter is (officially) past (as of March 21), resurrection day is coming. deliverance/ Purim is at hand. We’ve even celebrated St Patrick’s Day! So……arise!!! And come!!!!
It seems an awfully long time since we last communicated! so there are a number of things for us to mention, at least briefly; things past, present, and future.
Present
To begin, I’d like to share a few words about how we are currently praying for Israel. One of the things we have been “hearing” for this year (perhaps you have too) is that it’s a time of open doors. There are new horizons awaiting us, new thresholds to cross, old “cycles” of thinking and doing to be left behind. The number “8” designates new beginnings, and this is an “8” year (2008/5768). It’s time to step up and move forward into new things. And we believe this timing applies not only to individuals, but to nations as well. It’s time for all of our nations to break out of some old mind sets and behavior patterns, and step up into a new alignments, with God’s purposes and with our national destinies!
Regarding Israel, the Lord has impressed upon us that we should be praying from Isaiah 60:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has arisen upon you….. and .…shall be seen upon you. The Gentiles (nations) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising”.
We feel it’s time for a dramatic “shift” in the direction of this nation; from aimless wandering in worldliness and unbelief, to a pursuit of it’s destiny in God. (You may know that Israel is about to celebrate it’s 60th birthday!) God has promised not only to return this people to their land, but also to give them a “new heart”, and pour out His spirit upon them (Ezek36:24-28), and cause them to yet be a nation of “witnesses” unto Him. And when Israel arises the nations themselves will also be freed to “arise”. As Israel, God’s “first nation” comes up into her rightful place, other nations will be freed to “come”to their rightful place as well.
Of course, there is a transition to be made, in our hearts, in our thinking, in our actions. To effect a shift from Is 59 “realities”(“we look for light, but here is darkness”), to Is 60 realities (the glory of the Lord has risen upon you), the Lord is looking for a company of intercessors (59:16), to cry out for “His own arm” to bring “salvation” (v16), and that, soon, “the Redeemer will come out of Zion” (v20). O Lord , let this be the hour, when your people begin to turn (repent), and “seek Your face, o God of Jacob” (Ps24:6). Pray with us, that this transition will be impacting and widespread throughout our nation!
So, for Israel’s 60th birthday, we are praying from Is 60, and if that’s not enough, we are praying it along the central highway of Biblical Israel, Highway 60! The “way of the patriarchs” , modern day Hwy 60 runs from Nazareth to Beersheva, and passes through each of the four places Abraham built an altar unto the Lord; Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and Jerusalem, as well as through Bethlehem. We feel we are to “pick up the promises of Abraham” on behalf of this nation, to recall it to the faith of Abraham (by which he, and you, were counted righteous…remember!(Gal 3:6-9). On behalf of Succat Hallel, we want to help strengthen worship expressions that are beginning to spring up along this “highway” (in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Beersheva), and perhaps awaken the worship in places where it is…well…dormant! (Shechem, Bethel, Hebron). Thus far, we have taken several “exploratory” journeys of worship to each of these places, and hope to establish teams to “go” regularly, to enthrone the Lord on our praises, to affect the spiritual atmosphere over the land, and to call the nation to stand in the promises made to their “father” Abraham (ie.“to you and your descendants I will give this land”) Pray for a restoration, of the faith and worship of Abraham in his descendants and in this land!
Our Travels
where we’ve been...
Switzerland
...which was a major hotbed of the “Protestant reformation” back in the 1600’s , and was the home of John Calvin, John Knox and others. As we visited the historic reformation sites, we had a major encounter with the Lord, and found ourselves “calling out” the world-wide reformation that is upon us today
New York
where we joined a Messianic leader from Jerusalem (Michael Cohen), and a team from the NY area, to pray at the site of the 1947 United Nations Building. It was here, in Flushing Meadows, that the historic vote was taken to “allow” Israel to become a nation again. The propelling vision was of the UN being like the mother, Israel being like the child, and the “umbilical chord” had never been cut (Ezek 16:4). Hence, the child is still drawing some very unhealthy “nourishment” from the mother (ie, Israel still seeking it’s approval, justification, permission to be from a very humanistic, ungodly, occultic body) With the help of excellent spiritual mapping and historical
insight, we had a very dynamic four days of prayer, on sight at the 1939 World’s Fair grounds (where the UN building was later located), the modern-day UN building, “Ground Zero” of 9/11 fame, and the Statue of Liberty!
where we are going...
China
We are excited about the prospect of being in China this summer, to join a Chinese and international 24/7 prayer room during the time of the Olympics. China is emerging as a major player in our world drama, and we are in awe of the potential of the church being unleashed from China in these days. It seems as though China is about to step through some doors of it’s own…and you may know, the Olympics is due to begin on 8-8-08! It feels like a “big” project to us…and is partly about “linking” China to Jerusalem in the
spirit… so please be praying for us, for the wisdom and revelation we’ll need to effectively play our part, for the finances to get us there, for all the “connections” needed, naturally and spiritually.
Our Travelers
We have pressed ahead with the worship room here in the city of David. We are still fairly small and quiet, but we have a core group regularly putting in hours of worship and prayer, and we have had an amazing array of “guests”, from all over the world. South Africans, Kenyans, Brazilians, North Americans, Italians, Irish and Scots…and Asians! God is awakening Asia with revelation about Israel, and we have had guests from Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China…all wonderful! And best of all, there is a sweet and restful presence of the Lord, apparent to most who visit.
Prayer
Temple Mount
We have continued with our weekly “Temple Mount” watch, and it is still the most amazing acre on earth! We have grown…there are consistently 20-25 locals attending, not even counting the guests; and God continues to meet us there.
One Thing & The Call
We are currently part of the prayer team for the “OneThing” youth conference (sponsored by Succat Hallel), and “The Call, Jerusalem“, both coming up in May, and both with potential for powerful impact. We feel these are “key” events…and will be sharing more about how you can help pray, in the next mailing! Meanwhile, you can see www.jerusalempraise.com, and www.thecall.com for more information.
Personal News
We have...
Altogether, we (all) are a blessed people, living in one dynamic time of human history! The kingdom is advancing! We bless the Lord continually for each of you. Thank you so much for your love ,care and prayer support; w/o which we would be “done for”(as the Irish like to say) Grace and peace to you….and don’t forget, to arise and shine, arise and come in, arise in the Beloved! In Him Love Us
“Behold He stands at our wall, looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice. My beloved spoke to me and said, “Arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me. For lo, the winter has past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, and the time of singing has come” (S.O.S.2:10)
We bless you to see Him who is standing behind your wall, calling you to arise. For lo, the winter is (officially) past (as of March 21), resurrection day is coming. deliverance/ Purim is at hand. We’ve even celebrated St Patrick’s Day! So……arise!!! And come!!!!
It seems an awfully long time since we last communicated! so there are a number of things for us to mention, at least briefly; things past, present, and future.
Present
To begin, I’d like to share a few words about how we are currently praying for Israel. One of the things we have been “hearing” for this year (perhaps you have too) is that it’s a time of open doors. There are new horizons awaiting us, new thresholds to cross, old “cycles” of thinking and doing to be left behind. The number “8” designates new beginnings, and this is an “8” year (2008/5768). It’s time to step up and move forward into new things. And we believe this timing applies not only to individuals, but to nations as well. It’s time for all of our nations to break out of some old mind sets and behavior patterns, and step up into a new alignments, with God’s purposes and with our national destinies!
Regarding Israel, the Lord has impressed upon us that we should be praying from Isaiah 60:
“Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord has arisen upon you….. and .…shall be seen upon you. The Gentiles (nations) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising”.
We feel it’s time for a dramatic “shift” in the direction of this nation; from aimless wandering in worldliness and unbelief, to a pursuit of it’s destiny in God. (You may know that Israel is about to celebrate it’s 60th birthday!) God has promised not only to return this people to their land, but also to give them a “new heart”, and pour out His spirit upon them (Ezek36:24-28), and cause them to yet be a nation of “witnesses” unto Him. And when Israel arises the nations themselves will also be freed to “arise”. As Israel, God’s “first nation” comes up into her rightful place, other nations will be freed to “come”to their rightful place as well.
Of course, there is a transition to be made, in our hearts, in our thinking, in our actions. To effect a shift from Is 59 “realities”(“we look for light, but here is darkness”), to Is 60 realities (the glory of the Lord has risen upon you), the Lord is looking for a company of intercessors (59:16), to cry out for “His own arm” to bring “salvation” (v16), and that, soon, “the Redeemer will come out of Zion” (v20). O Lord , let this be the hour, when your people begin to turn (repent), and “seek Your face, o God of Jacob” (Ps24:6). Pray with us, that this transition will be impacting and widespread throughout our nation!
So, for Israel’s 60th birthday, we are praying from Is 60, and if that’s not enough, we are praying it along the central highway of Biblical Israel, Highway 60! The “way of the patriarchs” , modern day Hwy 60 runs from Nazareth to Beersheva, and passes through each of the four places Abraham built an altar unto the Lord; Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and Jerusalem, as well as through Bethlehem. We feel we are to “pick up the promises of Abraham” on behalf of this nation, to recall it to the faith of Abraham (by which he, and you, were counted righteous…remember!(Gal 3:6-9). On behalf of Succat Hallel, we want to help strengthen worship expressions that are beginning to spring up along this “highway” (in Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Beersheva), and perhaps awaken the worship in places where it is…well…dormant! (Shechem, Bethel, Hebron). Thus far, we have taken several “exploratory” journeys of worship to each of these places, and hope to establish teams to “go” regularly, to enthrone the Lord on our praises, to affect the spiritual atmosphere over the land, and to call the nation to stand in the promises made to their “father” Abraham (ie.“to you and your descendants I will give this land”) Pray for a restoration, of the faith and worship of Abraham in his descendants and in this land!
Our Travels
where we’ve been...
Switzerland
...which was a major hotbed of the “Protestant reformation” back in the 1600’s , and was the home of John Calvin, John Knox and others. As we visited the historic reformation sites, we had a major encounter with the Lord, and found ourselves “calling out” the world-wide reformation that is upon us today
New York
where we joined a Messianic leader from Jerusalem (Michael Cohen), and a team from the NY area, to pray at the site of the 1947 United Nations Building. It was here, in Flushing Meadows, that the historic vote was taken to “allow” Israel to become a nation again. The propelling vision was of the UN being like the mother, Israel being like the child, and the “umbilical chord” had never been cut (Ezek 16:4). Hence, the child is still drawing some very unhealthy “nourishment” from the mother (ie, Israel still seeking it’s approval, justification, permission to be from a very humanistic, ungodly, occultic body) With the help of excellent spiritual mapping and historical
insight, we had a very dynamic four days of prayer, on sight at the 1939 World’s Fair grounds (where the UN building was later located), the modern-day UN building, “Ground Zero” of 9/11 fame, and the Statue of Liberty!
where we are going...
China
We are excited about the prospect of being in China this summer, to join a Chinese and international 24/7 prayer room during the time of the Olympics. China is emerging as a major player in our world drama, and we are in awe of the potential of the church being unleashed from China in these days. It seems as though China is about to step through some doors of it’s own…and you may know, the Olympics is due to begin on 8-8-08! It feels like a “big” project to us…and is partly about “linking” China to Jerusalem in the
spirit… so please be praying for us, for the wisdom and revelation we’ll need to effectively play our part, for the finances to get us there, for all the “connections” needed, naturally and spiritually.
Our Travelers
We have pressed ahead with the worship room here in the city of David. We are still fairly small and quiet, but we have a core group regularly putting in hours of worship and prayer, and we have had an amazing array of “guests”, from all over the world. South Africans, Kenyans, Brazilians, North Americans, Italians, Irish and Scots…and Asians! God is awakening Asia with revelation about Israel, and we have had guests from Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China…all wonderful! And best of all, there is a sweet and restful presence of the Lord, apparent to most who visit.
Prayer
Temple Mount
We have continued with our weekly “Temple Mount” watch, and it is still the most amazing acre on earth! We have grown…there are consistently 20-25 locals attending, not even counting the guests; and God continues to meet us there.
One Thing & The Call
We are currently part of the prayer team for the “OneThing” youth conference (sponsored by Succat Hallel), and “The Call, Jerusalem“, both coming up in May, and both with potential for powerful impact. We feel these are “key” events…and will be sharing more about how you can help pray, in the next mailing! Meanwhile, you can see www.jerusalempraise.com, and www.thecall.com for more information.
Personal News
We have...
- celebrated our 29th year together!
- nursed John through another eye surgery…having a catarac removed.. just last week
- and are watching the value of the American dollar plummet, relative to the “shekel”. Last year the dollar would “buy” 4.5 shekels; yesterday it bought 3.35 shekels, so we are making a few “adjustments”!
Altogether, we (all) are a blessed people, living in one dynamic time of human history! The kingdom is advancing! We bless the Lord continually for each of you. Thank you so much for your love ,care and prayer support; w/o which we would be “done for”(as the Irish like to say) Grace and peace to you….and don’t forget, to arise and shine, arise and come in, arise in the Beloved! In Him Love Us