"He Is My Refuge And My Fortress"

This week, just prior to the start of a new calendar year, many people reflect on the events of the previous year. Some make resolutions or commitments addressing areas of their lives that they desire to change or improve during the upcoming calendar year.

As the Jewish people and the leaders of Israel go through this process, they will find much to be concerned about. In a review of the previous year, they will find that Anti-Semitism is at its highest level since WWII especially in Western Europe and the Middle East.

A Partial List Of Anti-Semitic Happenings In 2014

The Nazi salute has surfaced on TV shows and the internet 

Jewish businesses were boycotted and sanctioned

Ukraine Jewish families had to register their real estate 

Hamas and Palestinian Authority formed one government

20,000 Pro-Palestinian people demonstrated in Paris

3,000 rockets slammed into Southern Israel

Terrorists killed three Rabbis in a Jerusalem Synagogue

In making commitments for the upcoming year, how will the Jewish people and we who support them respond to all of this? A suggestion would be to commit to spending more time before the Throne Room Of God in prayer, supplication and wailing. Psalm 91 is titled "Abiding In The Shadow Of The Almighty." Verses 1,2,9,10,11 say, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of The Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Because you have made The Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways."

We can proclaim these verses for God's protection of the Jewish people and ourselves in 2015. God's people, Jew and Gentile, need this protection!

May The Lord Bless And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank     

"Prince of Peace"

Isaiah 9:6 says, "For Unto Us A Child Is Born, Unto Us A Son Is Given; And The Government Will Be Upon His Shoulder. And His Name Will Be Called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace." This verse of God's Word prophesies of the most important birth in the history of mankind. This event of God becoming man in Jesus Christ is called the Incarnation. This miracle was prophesied hundreds of years previously in Isaiah 7:14. Thus Christ, the sinless God-man, was qualified to become our Redeemer (2 Corinthians 5:21).

For our Christmas message, let us concentrate on the Christ-child becoming our Prince of Peace. I doubt many would disagree when I say we desperately need the Prince of Peace in our everyday lives. Within the past couple of weeks, little children were assassinated in Pakistan for proclaiming their Christian faith; two New York City policeman were shot to death in their squad car and Hamas just fired a rocket into Southern Israel. All this will continue and will even increase until The Prince of Peace comes back to earth and . . . Every Knee Shall Bow And Every Tongue Confess That Jesus Christ Is Lord.   

However, we can experience The Prince of Peace now in our everyday lives. John 14:23, 27  illustrates Jesus saying "If anyone loves me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to Him and make our home with Him." Also, Jesus continues, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Yes, we can experience this glorious peace from The Prince of Peace each day as we Worship and Praise Him; Repent of our sins; Present our prayers and petitions and sit at His feet and listen. Be encouraged children of God, and have a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day,

Frank

"Be Glad And Rejoice"

This past Tuesday at sundown, the Jewish people throughout the world started their celebration of the Feast of Hanukkah. The traditions of Hanukkah include the lighting each night of one candle of an eight-branched Menorah. Thus Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights.

The drama of Hanukkah begins with Alexander The Great during the fourth century, BC who had conquered the world by the age of 23. Several generations later, Antiochus Epiphanes, who ruled from Syria, had military control over Jerusalem. Antiochus had Jerusalem's High Priest murdered and set up a statue of Jupiter on the Temple Mount.

An old priest named Mattathias became angry and fled to the nearby mountains with his sons to prepare to wage warfare against the oppressors from Syria. Mattathias put his son Judah in charge and they defeated every attempt by Antiochus to end their uprising. Judah led his followers to Jerusalem where he drove the Syrian force from the Temple and out of the city.

Upon arriving at the Temple, they found inside the Temple a huge Menorah. The rejoicing Jewish conquerors found only enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. Levitical Laws stated that the Temple Menorah must burn continually. The miracle of Hanukkah is that our Lord God provided enough oil to cause the Menorah to be lit for the entire eight days.

What does this mean for us? Hanukkah is a story of overcoming in the face of overwhelming adversity. Our lesson from this holiday is that we can overcome with our God. Zephaniah 3:19 says, "Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you." Our Lord God has dealt with our oppressors in the past, is dealing with them in the present and will deal with them in the future. As a result, Zephaniah 3:14 also says, "Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!" 

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day,

Frank    

Israeli Style Democracy

Israel is the only country in the Middle East to function as a democracy. However, their method of democracy is very different and is referred to as a Parliamentary Democracy. Israel's Parliament, the Knesset, can be dissolved before completing its four year term. Political parties are elected to the Knesset and there are 13 parties currently represented. The elected parties appoint members to the Knesset and each party receives a number of Knesset members based on general election results. 

After the Knesset is elected, Israel's President identifies one party to form a coalition. The leader of that party then becomes the Prime Minister and he works to form a coalition and then the Knesset votes its approval. If at any point, the Prime Minister cannot continue a coalition of support, the government is dissolved and new elections are necessary. This happened last week and elections are set for March 17, 2015.

Prime Minister Netanyahu hopes that going to the polls will deliver a government with less internal opposition. Surveys indicate a plurality of voters would choose Netanyahu's Likud Party in the upcoming election. 

A major concern for Israel and those who love Israel is will the splintered government function effectively over the next two months with all the current challenges in place. Hamas is rebuilding tunnels for its next attack; ISIS plans to attack and destroy Israel; Iran is close to having nuclear weapons; terror attacks in Israel have increased recently; and riots are common on the Temple Mount and in East Jerusalem. Also there are parties in favor of "Giving Up The Land" that desire to gain control of the government.

Israel needs our prayers desperately right now. We know there are those who want an Israeli government who will give in to the demands of their enemies. However, Isaiah 62:7 encourages us to pray continually for our Lord's control and protection over Jerusalem, "You who make mention of The Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." Let us take these verses to heart and pray accordingly and continually.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care,

Frank

"A Blessing"

Genesis 12:3 says, "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." This extremely important verse of Scripture illustrates our Lord God speaking to Abraham as part of establishing the Abrahamic Covenant showing that The Lord desires for the Jewish people to be a blessing to all peoples of the earth.This has been illustrated by the Jewish people over and over again in the past and in the present. For example, the Jewish people have been the recipients of 22% of all Nobel Peace Prizes while making up only 2% of the world's population. Israel is always one of the first countries responding to help during disasters.

The tactics of the Israeli Defense Forces during the recent Gaza War also is a prime example. Medical tents were established at the Gaza border to actually treat injured citizens of Gaza. The I.D.F. did all they could do to avoid any casualties within the citizenship of Gaza. 

This so far has been a little bit of a history lesson since I know I have covered these concepts in other blogs. However, in today's message I want to share how the Israelis function among themselves in Israel and especially during the Gaza War. We need to first realize that the population of Israel is annually rated among the happiest, healthiest and most educated in the world. Life expectancy in Israel significantly exceeds America's and that of most European countries. Unemployment is low, the economy is robust.

During the duration of the Gaza War, youth movements, Synagogues, businesses and individual citizens sent food and supplies to the soldiers in Gaza. They also visited wounded soldiers, sent food to bomb shelters and visited bomb shelters to entertain and play with the children. A major concern among Israeli citizens was to reach out to what was known as "Lone Soldiers" meaning those who have no family in Israel. Israelis went out of their way to visit these soldiers in hospitals and to attend their funerals.

Yes, God's Chosen People have taken their calling to be a blessing to all peoples of the earth seriously. However, another very important part of Genesis 12:3 is for us which states, "I will bless those who bless you." We can do this with our continual and fervent prayers for God to take care of them and protect them.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day,

Frank