Trees in God’s Garden
There is a New Year holiday in Israel this week called Tu B’shevat. It is not the Jewish civil New Year of Rosh HaShana, nor is it their religious New Year of Passover. It is not even the Gregorian calendar New Year that most of the world observes on January 1. It is
Pray Without Ceasing
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul exhorts believers to "pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." What does it mean to pray without ceasing? When I first read this verse, I thought it meant I should pray twenty-four hours a day, seven
Showers of Blessing
We’ve been having typical winter weather in Israel this month—rain, hail, wind, and cold. Everything is gray and dreary looking. But I am not complaining…We need the rain so much. And the Lord has even commanded us to thank Him for yucky weather because He brings beautiful blessings out of those messy days.
Be His Mouthpiece
Please bear with me as I preach to myself today… “Then Moses said to the LORD, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ So the LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man’s
Implanting a Resolution
As we wrap up all the events of the past year and look ahead to the year that lies ahead of us, many are making New Year’s resolutions, or at least are contemplating things you would like to change or improve in your life. And why not? With the closing of past books
Blessed Assurance
As Christmas is winding down and my Nativity set is being carefully wrapped and stored, I paused for a moment to think about the figure of Joseph that I held in my hand. Most people focus on the Baby Jesus or Mary in the Christmas narrative, but there is not much known about
Divinely Designed Detours
I love the story of the wise men coming to search for the Baby Jesus found in Matthew 2:1-12. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King
Let Your Light Shine!
This week the celebration of Hanukkah begins. In Israel, there will be thousands of traditional 9-candle menorahs lit in windows on rooftops and in plazas all over the country. But what is Hanukkah about? During the 2nd Century BCE, during the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Jewish people were cruelly persecuted by
Share Your Joy!
How many times this Christmas season have you heard the carol "Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!" sung or played. It is one of the most popular and beloved Christmas carols of all time. And how appropriate that it should be! Because Yeshua came to earth and dwelt among us, we
Our Best Gift
While walking through the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City this week, we witnessed numerous shopkeepers and residents hanging Christmas decorations, stringing lights in their entryways and blasting Christmas carols over their sound systems. Everyone is getting excited about the upcoming celebrations of Yeshua's appearance in the flesh to our world. I found
Thanksgiving Blessings from God
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, a time to pause and reflect on all the blessings that the Lord has poured into our lives throughout the past year. And truly we have much to be thankful for! Let us take a moment and count a few of God's benefits to us as Solomon did
Developing a Prayer Habit
How is your prayer life today? Do you often find that prayer is not easy? Do you struggle to find the words to say? Does your mind start to wander and your thoughts get distracted when you pray? Do you find it difficult to pray for more than a couple of minutes? (I
Is Failure God’s Will?
Perhaps the most horrific story in the Bible is the devastating civil war of Judges 20 and the events that led up to one tribe of Israel being nearly obliterated. It was not just the atrocities that the men of Benjamin committed that were so awful; it was also what the other tribes
Is Failure God’s Will?
Perhaps the most horrific story in the Bible is the devastating civil war of Judges 20 and the events that led up to one tribe of Israel being nearly obliterated. It was not just the atrocities that the men of Benjamin committed that were so awful; it was also what the other tribes
Beauty Behind Rainbows
I never cease to be amazed and awed by the beauty of a rainbow after a storm. It is a ray of hope, a bright reminder of a promise from long ago. After the Flood, God set His rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant with Noah. Genesis 9:11-13 says,
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“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 TLV