I’m sorry to disturb your Christmas celebrations, but something is happening in the land in which Jesus was born, and to the people God chose to send Him to, that I really believe you should know about..
In the past few hours, as millions of Christians have been gearing up for Christmas, many turning their attention to the story of Jesus’ birth and what it means for mankind, rockets have been raining down on Israeli communities in the south. At least 60 missiles fell today - Christmas Eve - some pulverizing bedrooms and falling just meters away from playgrounds - sending tens of people into shock and distress.
Thanks be to God no Israelis were killed today. There could so easily have been.
Tonight, as I write this, Christian children around the world are lying in bed, many wide awake with excitement at the thought of what tomorrow may bring.
Here, in the Israeli cities of Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba, and in all communities within 30 km from the Gaza Strip, thousands of Jewish children are lying awake in fear and dread of the next Red Dawn alert that will send them scurrying for shelter.
Angels came to Bethlehem’s shepherds heralding peace on earth and bringing glad tidings of great joy that a king, the King of the Jews, had come. But for the Jews of southern Israel - and indeed of all Israel - Christmas promises no joy, no let-up from the violence and hatred they have known for so long.
“Oh, it serves them right. For after all, they rejected Jesus.”
This the callous response of some who call themselves Christians, but who in their hearts completely lack the compassion and love of they One they claim to follow.
Thousands of years and thousands of miles removed from what Israel’s people have gone through in the past and are going through today, the Christian world - whose faith was born in the Land and among the People of Israel - is quite capable of enjoying “its” Christmas Day and laying plans for “its” New Year without any reference whatsoever to Israel.
Christmas Day promises no cheer for Israelis in the Negev. And 2009 holds little apparent hope for Israelis, wherever they may be, as the world, with a new American leader at its head, comes against Israel in an effort to wrest away from the Jews the land and patrimony of their founding fathers.
If I may impose on you, dear Reader, please consider giving Israel and Israelis just a few minutes of your thoughts and prayers before you get swept up in the festivities.
May God bless you and yours in the coming year. May He be glorified in Israel. And may the Lord bless His people with peace.
Amen!
Dear Stan, be assured, you did not disturb my Christmas celebrations. You focused my heart more intently on that upon which it was already focused - YHVH’s beloved - Yisra’el, and the soon-coming of her/our KIng. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - our Mighty God - wake up the sleeping church before it is too late. What will it take to wake her up - for she is indeed asleep. You are sadly right. In the midst of the Christmas celebrations, not one word of reference to Israel. Much exaltation of the pagan elements of Christmas, but not one word of Israel. With each passing year, it becomes more and more difficult for me to got through the motions of ‘doing Christmas’. My heart, my prayer, and my tears are with you there in Israel. May Adonai of the Armies of Heaven soon rise up and make Himself known to the kings of the earth on behalf of His beloved - Israel! Hallelu et Adonai! Praise His Holy Name. He has not forgotten Israel! She is the passion of His heart!
Bless you Stan, for your faithful heart. Hanukkah blessings to you and to all of Israel as we look to God to raise up another Judas Maccabee for such a time as this!
The “church” is worse than asleep, “she” is apostate! Mixing paganism with something intended as worship, when Our Heavenly Father makes it clear in His Scriptures that what she is doing is spiritual adultery.
Stan. you have not disturbed our celebration. There is no Christmas celebration in this house. And without teshuvah, there is no Judah Macabee for this generation. As we seek to understand how to celebrate Chanukah without the world’s ways in it, this Ephraimite family is weeping and praying for the atrocity of sleepless citizens of Israel.
May Our Heavenly Father and Our Intercessor at His right light the fire of dedication in the hearts that belong to Them to stand firm in this time.
Shalom Everyone,
I understand the heart and spirit of your comparative Stan - and the shared heart and spirit of Jan, Leslee and Gary.
Were it not for the understanding of what the L-rd makes clear in scripture about Israel’s outcome to the glory and good of G-d and them, all that goes on would surely destroy the hope that abides within us.
In all of what we see before us, G-d and Messiah will hold us all accountable for either LOVING or NOT LOVING His people Israel. May the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s heart be enlarged in our own so that we all increasingly learn to walk in ‘unfeigned love’ for Israel and one another.
In bible principle theme let us understand we are not to be ‘hearers of the word only but ‘doers’ also.
I am a Christian, and my heart breaks for Israel. You are in my prayers. You are not forgotten in my home. Look to the Lord and trust in Him. I pray for you daily.
Shalom Stan,
As we too stand on the Walls with you let our voices be heard as we proclaim that Israel is for all time the homeland of G-d’s people and our hope for the future. May G-d truly light the fire that should be in our hearts to stand fim in beleif of what has been told from long ago.
The west appears now to be anti-Israel, I wonder would this be the case if arab oil was not available to them
A point I ponder often when I see the forces of the anti-christ and their ability to prevaricate on any subject
Amen and Amen Leslee and Gary Simler!!!!!!
The Lord has not forgotten His people. His heart is ever present and His eyes are ever watchful over Jerusalem. You are in His hands. Hold fast. He will not sleep who covers you. You are the love of His heart and the apple of His eye. Though all fall around you it will not come nigh you. He will not allow His people to be taken. Hold fast. Hold fast.
The Christmas celebrated last week came at a time when the world is still feeling the financial aftershocks precipitated by many who have taken advantage of the trust supposed to be found in the financial markets, only to find that the avarice of the stock market crash prior to World War II is alive and well. Yet, as badly as the money markets seem to be in, it pales in comparison to the hatred of the Jewish people as we read of the Hamas calling off their hudna because they cannot function in a governed society and must express themselves as the Adversary sees fit.
This latest violence, and the support it is receiving from the Lebanese front does pose the question, when will the world step in, not to support Israel, the defender of the Jewish people and the Biblical lands, but to exercise the predetermined movement against the right of Israel to exist, as so many have promulgated? It is interesting that even as Christmas has been mentioned during this time of terror, it was also the time of the Jewish Festival, which would more likely be associated to this time by those in the land. Did the world take time to honor that tradition? It is quite apparent it did not, nor are they going to.
We are being swept into the Gregorian New Year with no time left to propose resolutions of doing better than last year, and for the cause of Israel, there is good reason. The resolve of the enemies of Israel is made plain, and the situation Israel finds herself in cannot be more difficult than even the time of her re-instatement. It is Biblically apparent that the intent of Israel’s enemies is to take this to a point of no return with calls for a new, a third intifada. Zephaniah closes and Joel opens in stride with Zechariah and Ezekiel.
Friends, this is not a Christmas time story, for the visit to Bethlehem occurred near two thousand years ago (and by a true look at the Scripture, the birth of Yeshua did not occur in winter). Instead, the events happening now are the opening alarms for the return of Israel’s Holy One, not as the child but as her LORD; and Israel must be prepared for that event. (Isaiah 40:3 - The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”).
World opinion is of no importance, nor is all the rant from the arab nations. The only thing that matters is what GOD will do, that is clearly laid out in the Bible. ” I will gather them from the four corners of the world” (that is Israel) “I will remember my `everlasting` covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. ” I will curse them that curse you (Israel) and bless them that bless you, I will destroy all the nations gathered against you”. GOD bless ISRAEL
Please know that God’s chosen ones are always in my family’s prayers and always in our church’s prayers. Those of us who have traveled to Israel have a special bonding of the Spirit for you. We continue to pray.
In the name of Jesus,
Candace
First and formost God bless all of you. He loves the Jewish people so much, as I do. My grandpa is jewish so I have a special bond for gods people. To me it is clearly obvious that God wants us as christ followers to protect Isreael at all cost. He will not let anything happen to his chosen people. I think americans forget that the Jesus, or yasheua , is a Jew. I dont know if most christians think they are worshipping a white God. False.Jesus is jewish, so is paul. How can you not love his people. I put jewish people on a pedestal like god does. I love you guys, dont know you but we will spend eternity together.Let others mock us, who cares. We are chosen and protected by God and wil be blessed with the ultimate gift, life.
I love everyone in christ. See-ya later. Mindy