:שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד

"Hear, Yisra'el: the Lord is our God; the Lord is one:

This one of the most striking verses to hear at least when I attend a Shabbat

service and hear it canted. Israel is on my heart. She actually has been even more so since 2003 when the Lord started sharing with me alot about Israel and what His plans are for me going to Israel. It is a greater thing that will take steps to come to completion. For me, I know that my heart for Israel is two fold: that the nations in her would come to the truth that the Lord is our God and that Jesus is the Messiah, the real peace maker; that the Lord will use me to be a part of bringing this truth and His ways to the people He would have me to live among.

I'm not sure when I had this dream but it is still very clear to me and I know I need to share it now.

I am in an older city with lyme stone walls and small paths between the buildings. I am in a preschool or daycare with three little girls. Somehow I knew that one was Jewish, one was Arab, and the last was Christian. They all three were playing together without a care in the world but to love one another and have fun while playing. One by one each girl was picked up by her mother. At the end of the day I was walking in the walkways on my way to meet some friends when I came across the Arab little girl. She got so excited to see me outside of the school but her mother quickly realized what was happening and looked at me in fear. Somehow I knew the father was unaware of the girl attending the school. The father saw me smiling at the wife and daughter and was curious but did not pry. I smiled at him and greeted him I guess in Arabic. He nodded and I went on to meet with my friends. When I got out of the dark, small walkways onto a hill it was then that I saw the familiar old city of Jerusalem.

I have had many similiar dreams of me working in that nation. I thought some were now dreams but seeing what growth I have had in the years in between and seeing what I have been doing in the past year I can see that God's timing is always the best way to go. In the meantime I will be pressing in to know more about the nation, the cultures and hopefully the languages. I hope to also make a trip out there in May to see where help may be needed to serve in the land. 

There is so much that this land has to offer, so much promise that should come to pass. Remember to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."

The Power of Words

Words.

Do we really understand the power in them? The world was created and is still multiplying from the beginning of time for the simple words the Lord spoke in those six days. "Let there be light." Galaxies are still being discovered. Amazing. I have been learning in my own life how restrained I am becoming in the words I use in everyday life. We are accountable for each word spoken. I'm not perfect and a few non-life giving words get through every now and then. What am I saying? What are you saying? Do I really mean it when I ask someone how they are doing? Am I bringing life to someone or cutting them down. It can almost be a maddening task to watch each word that comes from my mouth but God is long-suffering, and merciful. He allows me to walk it out, to catch myself. For me, I figure that speaking life to those around me can't harm too much but I do need to truly mean what I say or else it is almost as frivolous as speaking words that are not uplifting. What words are you using? Do you stand by the words you may be using? Is there life in these words?

"The tongue has the power of life and death," Prov 18:21

The symphony my heart played

So much of the American society is looking for that one thing that gives them fulfillment, success, joy, and happiness. Very few find it but the reality is it is always right in front of us we just have to choose to see it for what it is. I believe the biggest lesson I learned in these past few months is listening to what Father God is saying and then doing it. This past year God led me back to Kona to work with a DTS that ended up being a big part of my ability to see this reality.

Awaken was what God had told us over and over in many different ways. We adopted the word as the title of this DTS. Awaken to His love; Awaken to His ways; Awaken to reality. As staff we did our best to keep our focus on Jesus and God did the rest. Our biggest desire was that each student that came to this DTS would leave with a bigger view of Who our God is and a deeper understanding of how much He loves each one of us.

For me, I was deeply humbled by each student that He allowed me to disciple. I was very priviledged to watch the metamorphisis He was taking them through right before my eyes. Hearing the excitement in their voices when they discovered how they are trully loved by the Creator of the universe just brings me to a place of shear humbleness. Hearing how their dreams and visions are developing and changing as time went on was so amazing. As I look back and see all that was done I hear my heart sing the symphony God placed from the beginning of time. I know that I was made to do exactly what I am doing at this place in this time. Leading people into the reality of Who our God is and how awesome and loving He is is all of the fulfillment and success I need. Walking with them in their discovery of the greatness of our God is the joy and happiness I want to experience as I do what God has called me to do.