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May, 2006
Shalom Y’all,
It is a beautiful spring day here in South Georgia! Although the sun is shining brightly, it is still cool and breezy. An ideal day! How I thank God for it, and thank God that I am home to enjoy it. April has been a heavy travel month for me, taking me in to in five different states. So, needless to say, I am happy to be off the road again.
Many have written to ask me how I like my new location, and I can honestly say that I like it a lot, I’ve just not been here long enough to be able to really enjoy the peace and quiet of the place. God has truly blessed me in so many ways here, but I thank Him very specially for giving me a landlord who is a deeply committed believer in Yeshua. Hallelujah!
In spite of all the travel, this has been a wonderfully blessed Passover Season. Now as we are counting down the fifty days to the Feast of Pentecost, (Shavuot), I await its arrival with great anticipation. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is considered the second most important Feast of the Lord. It was one of the three occasions when all males were required to appear before the Lord at the Temple. It marked the end of the barley harvest, and the beginning of the wheat harvest. Two loaves of bread were offered and waved before the Lord during the Shavuot ceremony as the people celebrated the fact that God had taken care of them, sustaining them through the previous year.
After the Temples were destroyed, Shavuot became a commemoration of the giving of the Torah to Moses and the Covenant of Sinai. It was at this time that Moses brought the Torah (Law) down from Mt. Sinai, and the children of Israel agreed, in one accord, to follow Yahweh in devotion and obedience. Biblically speaking it was the birthday of the Nation of Israel. It was also the beginning of relationship.
It is certainly not a coincidence that on the very same date, on the Hebrew calendar, as 120 believers in Yeshua were waiting for ten days, all in one accord, in the Upper room, that the blessed Holy Spirit was poured out on all of them, empowering every one of them to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. They immediately began to share the salvation of the Jewish Messiah in great power, going out even to the Gentiles. Through the coming of the Holy Spirit believers in Yeshua, both Jew and Gentile, became one. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are told that there is no longer Jew or Gentile, but we are all one in Yeshua, for He Himself tore down that which had divided us. This speaks of new relationship and new commitment on the part of both parties. Yeshua, the head of His united Body. Hallelujah!
It is interesting to note the power that was displayed as the Law was given. As He came down to meet His people, His Presence shook the Earth and up on top of Mt. Sinai, the people saw lightning and thundering which caused them to tremble. As the blessed Holy Spirit was poured out in the Upper Room, suddenly there was a sound from Heaven like a mighty rushing wind which filled their meeting place, while what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in unknown languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability. When the sound was heard outside the Upper Room, people came running from every direction to find out what it was all about. Peter preached under a powerful anointing, quoting the words of the prophet Joel, and his words convicted the people deeply. About three thousand were baptized, and added to the Church.
Brothers and sisters, it is not a coincidence that both the Nation of Israel and the Church were born on exactly the same day on the Hebrew calendar. It is interesting to note that we see represented in the two birthdays, the essential elements of the character of Yeshua, our Jewish Messiah. We see both the coming of God’s Law and His just and righteous rule, as well as the coming of His grace and mercy. We see a God of grace and mercy, as well as a God of justice and judgment. Praise His Holy Name!
Today, the dear Lord is calling all believers in Yeshua to begin to let go of all the pagan holidays that they have celebrated for years, and begin to celebrate the Feast Days of the Lord. There are many holidays being celebrated, even by believers in Yeshua, but God only ordained seven of them, and they are discussed throughout the Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. They are called the Feasts of the Lord, and they are ‘appointed times’ for us to meet with Him, ‘for His holy purposes’. Leviticus 23 lists all seven of them in chronological sequence. Collectively they tell a story. The seven Feasts of the Lord depict God’s overall ‘Master Plan of Salvation’.
We have seen the fulfillment of all of the Spring Feasts of the Lord, and if we believers in Yeshua cannot meet with Him and celebrate His death, and resurrection, as well as the coming of the blessed Holy Spirit, there is something radically wrong. The Lord said to me, “The Church, above all others, should be anxiously awaiting each of the Spring Feast days in the Passover Season, to celebrate the fulfillment of the many promises that I have made to them.” Nevertheless, He said that the Church prefers to hold on to the traditions of man, just as the Pharisees and the Religious leaders of His day did, and in so doing nullify the direct commands of God.
I only wish that I had the room here to expound on the first three of the Spring Feast Days, but I don’t. The past few years, each time He has had me share on all of the Spring Feast Days, which make up the Passover Season, I have had one or more persons come forth to tell me that the dear Lord has been speaking to them about celebrating His Feast Days, and letting go of all the traditions of man.
How blessed Abba must be, as we begin the ‘counting of the omer’ until Pentecost arrives, to know that this year more than 200 million believers from almost every country will unite in prayer for His glory, and the transformation of the nations. Thousands of public venue gatherings are being planned in large stadiums, church buildings, small auditoriums, and homes on Pentecost. However, it will not be a one day event, but following the example laid out for us in the Scriptures, we will be waiting and praying through the ten days which precede Pentecost, just as the 120 waited and prayed in the Upper Room. Pentecost begins at sundown June 1st and ends at sundown June 3rd.
As we gather together, wait and pray, may the dear Lord do a deep work of cleansing within each of us. It is our prayer that the blessed Holy Spirit will once again come in power, to refill us afresh, then take us to the four corners of the earth to lift high the Name of Yeshua, our Messiah. May we all be used to bring great glory to His Holy Name, and to further His Kingdom. Let us all celebrate the Feast of Pentecost!
National Day of Prayer
On May 4th let us all answer the call to humble ourselves and join others in prayer for our nation. President Bush, and all 50 governors, will proclaim the 55th annual National Day of Prayer. The theme this year is “America, Honor God” and is based on I Samuel 2:30: “Those who honor Me, I will honor!”
Shirley Dobson, Chairman of the National Day of Prayer said, “At a time when so many principles found in Scripture have been rejected by society, it is all the more vital that God’s people stand firmly in defense of the precepts He has laid out in His Word. As we wage this cultural battle, however, none of our efforts are assured success without consistent, fervent prayer for God’s intervention.”
In addition to asking God to forgive our collective rebellion against Him, it will be a good time for us to corporately pray for the Church, our schools, the media, and especially our governmental leaders, asking the Lord to grant them wisdom for the challenges they face on a daily basis. This year’s observance is probably the most crucial in the 54 year history of our National Day of Prayer. In light of all the terrorists threats, and the moral decay of American society, corporate prayer with others who love and serve the Lord, is vital to our nation’s future. There will be groups organizing everywhere. Let us all find one and lend our prayers to those of the others.
Prayer for Our Nation
Oh Heavenly Father, You have made Yourself known to us as a nation by Your mighty works throughout our history. From the very beginning, You have been with us through many wars and conflicts; Your right arm has saved us. We have been amazingly and graciously blessed. Today, we confess our sin of not responding to Your right to rule in our lives, and our nation. Too often we have despised and rejected Your will while imposing our own, and we are now facing the consequences of our disobedience. Draw us back to Yourself, that we may return to Your ways once again. Without You we can do nothing. You have promised that if we honor You, You will once again honor this great nation. That is our fervent prayer, Oh God. For Your honor and glory we pray, Amen. (Henry Blackaby)
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Ronald Reagan once said, “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” Fellowship of Christian Drivers (The Lord’s driving prayer force.)
We are: A non-denominational Christian prayer force for the trucking industry and its professionals.
Goals: 1. To challenge and encourage drivers to increase their knowledge of the written Word of God through prayer and devotional learning. 2. To increase fellowships that will strengthen relationships among Christian drivers. 3. To encourage couples to have Christ as the corner and foundation of their marriage, and to put trust in the Lord during an absence, that they will be strong against temptations faced on a daily basis. Note: This is a newly organized ministry, and their core group is full of the love and zeal of the Lord. They are on the road to reach truck drivers with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to foster fellowship for truck drivers who are already believers. To date, they are in eight states, and eleven major cities. I believe that they are based in Versailles, KY. Let us get behind these men, and under gird them in prayer. I thank God for raising this ministry up in this hour. If ever there was a ministry needed, it is certainly this one. The truck drivers truly do face every kind of temptation on a daily basis. Go, men, go!!!
Paul & Joane Gelep Back from Israel
“What an outstanding three weeks, walking the Land, and loving the people. We have so many stories to tell, it is difficult to choose which ones to share at this time. We were invited in to many homes, Jewish, Armenian, and Arab, and treated like family in all of them. An Armenian family invited us for dinner, After dinner we were treated to an evening of singing and music by the sons of the family. Even in places along the street where we stopped to eat, it became a festive occasion, with the restaurant employees interacting as we took pictures, etc.
“At the home of an Arab man who has lived in the Old City all his life, we had the opportunity to share the difference between ‘believing” in Jesus, and having a “personal relationship” with Him. Please pray that the seed planted in Naim will bloom as the Holy Spirit reveals truth to him.
“As usual shop owners thanked us profusely for coming to Israel. Many shop keepers remembered us, and thanked us for our loyalty. In a secular Jewish home in the Galilee, I was asked to say the blessing over the lighting of the Shabbat candles (in Hebrew, of course). What an honor and a blessing! This is the home of the soldier (Gilad) we have told you about in previous years. He was the one to whom we gave the Bible, which included the “New Testimony” as he put it. When he came to visit us in Jerusalem, he asked if we could all go to the Kotel (Wall) to pray. The next morning as he left to go back to the Galilee, he told us that he had discovered Jerusalem.
“Moshe and Dov were so appreciative of the $650.00 sent for the bike fund by friends here in TN and KY. Also, we met a Jewish woman on the train from Kiryat Mozkin to Tel Aviv. ‘Stella’ was intrigued with the idea of Christians who love and support the Jews and Israel. She was thrilled that I gave her a copy of Richard Booker’s book, “Why Christians Should Support Israel”. She vowed to email me after she reads it.
“We were able to spend a lot of time with Judy Gilliland, just about every minute that she was not at work. We visited the hospital where she is working, and some of her patients. It was difficult to say good bye to her.
“Please tell everyone that Paul and I cannot express how grateful we are for your prayers that covered us as we traveled. We could sense, not only His hand of protection, but also His direction as He led us about the Land. I stood one morning in the early hours, as the golden sun was rising and bathing the city in that golden glow, and prayed blessings over all of you back home, who were faithful to intercede for us, and those who were part of “sending us”.
With love in Yeshua, Paul & Joane While Driving Home…
“Myrna, on my drive home from Berea tonight, I was just meditating on the goodness of the Father. Suddenly, an overwhelming grieving grasped my heart and spirit. I began to weep deeply from my very depths, and I heard the Father say that many in the Church Body are coming before Him laden with unrepented sin. He is looking for the blood of Yeshua, but there is only the sin. The grief I felt was so unbearable it was taking my very breath from me! He has been longsuffering for the Body to repent, but they still refuse to acknowledge their sin. Even now as I am writing this to you, my spirit grieves and I weep.” Much love to you and shalom, Debbie Robinson
Psalm 105:19
“Have you ever despaired that the ‘word’ or ‘words’ given you concerning your calling and destiny will ever happen? Does it sometimes seem that you have been hidden away and forgotten, and even though you want to be patient and humble, you sometimes wonder, “When, Lord?” Let me encourage you with Psalm 105:19.
“Joseph had been literally sold down the road for his dreams and visions. He had gone through thirteen years of pain, humiliation and loneliness. It must have seemed to him that his circumstances would never change. Perhaps he had resigned himself to be the best steward he could be for his master. Later, he had to decide to be the most trustworthy jail trustee that his Egyptian captors had ever seen. However, I wonder, did the dreams he had dreamed ever go away?
“We know that Joseph did see the fulfillment of his dreams. Suddenly he came in one day from serving in a dark, dusty place to become the second in command of the nation. All that he had seen in his youth happened for him. Why did it take so long?
Psalm 105:19 NKJ says, “Until the time that his ‘word’ came to pass, the Word of the Lord tested him.”
“I don’t know if you are like me, but when I know that I’ve heard a ‘word’ from the Lord, I’d like for it to happen the next day. The waiting can become uncomfortable at times. Like Joseph, most of us have known times of great pain, rejection and loneliness, as we have waited for our ‘words’ to become reality.
“But, praise God who is faithful! Our ‘word’ is not just a noun – it is a verb. Our ‘word’ is a word of action! The ‘word’ that the Lord speaks to us will test us until its fulfillment. It is an active thing designed to put us through the fire, and change us in to the very thing that the Lord says we are. It is not only the promise, but also the vehicle to the promise!
“You can be encouraged to know that, just as the Lord gave Joseph a ‘word’ that was designed especially for him, a ‘word’ that was fashioned to perform in him all that was needed, so, too, will your ‘word’ test and try you until the day of its completion. Do not despair in the testing my friends. Just as God took a bragging youth and made him into a wise ruler, so, too, will the “word” that He has given to you, take you, in all of your imperfection, and form you into all that He says you are.”
Love, Deborah Cain Short Term Missions
The Lord said about a year ago that He was preparing to flood the nations with short term missions. A short term mission is anywhere from ten days to two years. Anything over two years is considered to be a long term mission. The Lord went on to say that He would send us in to the streets, not in to church buildings. I’m already seeing a tremendous increase in this type of mission activity. We have many to cover in prayer as they go. Please be faithful to pray for them as the Lord brings them to mind.
Scott and Dalit Holtz will be leaving Georgia with a team this month. Destination Israel! The Lord has called and anointed them to do something they have never been called to do before. A new thing, if you will! Not new to God, but new to them.
They are all extremely prophetic, with incredible unity among them, and all anointed to blow the shofar as tactical surgical warfare. The Lord is sending them to move in the spontaneous winds of God against a real enemy. For security purposes I can not share the location in Israel, but I will tell you that they will create a dilemma for the terrorists and try to disrupt their activity. The Lord told Scott that all they have learned flowing in the prophetic river, and spontaneous evangelism, will be applied during the course of this operation. They need our prayers to go ahead of them.!
Christine Sakakkibara will be leaving Israel for the United Kingdom May 28th. She will be on a speaking tour, sharing the needs that Israel and her people have in this chaotic hour. She is scheduled to return to Israel June 28th. She has asked that we please cover her travel and speaking tour in prayer.
Jan Wilker is scheduled to depart Canada June 8th, arriving in the Ukraine where she will be co-laboring with the saints, and visiting with the spiritual daughters that she has there. She will be ministering in the Ukrane until September 2nd, when she returns to her home in Canada. Jan is a well seasoned missionary and realizes the importance of good prayer cover as she comes and goes. Please remember her throughout the three months that she will be gone.
Tim Steuber is preparing for his trip to Russia. He will be traveling with a group called “Revelation”, departing the US June 29th, and returning July 8th. There are eight of them in the group, planning to fly in to Finland, then take a bus in to Russia from there. They will be ministering in a city called Vyborg, which is on the outskirts of St. Petersburg. Please continue to lay a solid foundation of prayer under this trip so that everything will run smoothly, and they will be able to accomplish all that the Lord is sending them to do. Ministry in Russia can be very frustrating at times.
Please remember Barbara Wittbrodt, who is teaching in Korea at this time, and also Judy Gilliland,who is based in Jerusalem and working at the French Hospital there.
Pastor Sadie will be taking a team from Jesus Compassion Ministries, in North Lauderdale to Jamaica in September, and then to Panama in October. We need to begin to prepare the way for them through prayer. This team is strong in evangelism with hearts crying out for souls to be saved. Let us be praying for hearts to be prepared in advance of their going to both places. They go in to the highways and by ways, as the Lord has told us to do, and God never disappoints them. They also care for a number of handicapped children in Jamaica. They are praying that each one of these children will be set free and healed in Jesus’ Name. Let us agree with them in prayer. The Great Commission
Brothers and Sisters, let me say that some of you are not called to make short term or long term mission trips out of the country. However, you must understand that you enter the mission field as soon as you step outside your home. There are people out there waiting to hear why you are so blessed. They want to hear what Yeshua has done in your life. They want to know what He could do for them. If the Lord knows you will be faithful in sharing with others, He will do what He does best, and draw them right to you. He will then very quickly turn each conversation around to give you an opportunity to share with them.
I am finding so many hearts that are well prepared and ready as I travel. It is really exciting! However, there are not enough of us out there in the highways, byways and market places sharing with them. Pray before you leave your house, and be alert and ready to seize every opportunity to share with someone. He will work with you!
We must always keep in mind that if we are not willing to share with others, many of them will die without having heard about Yeshua, and the salvation that He provided for them at Calvary. The last thing Yeshua did before He left this earth was to commission all of us to go and tell. It is not an option for any of us!
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Before I run out of space, I want to take this opportunity to thank both Jonathan Lindberg, editor/publisher of the Main Street Journal in Memphis, and Pastor Sadie Connor, and the congregation at Jesus Compassion Ministries in North Lauderdale for their warm hospitality. They are an absolute delight to work with.
In all of my travels this month, I met so many people that I’ve not known before, and saw so many people saved, healed and set free, all to the glory of God. How I praise God for allowing me to be a small part of all that He is doing in the earth today. I count it a privilege to serve Him.
In Memphis, it brought great joy to my heart to meet so many brothers and sisters who are fully aware of all that is happening in both Israel and America. They have God’s heart concerning both nations, and they, too, have been called by God to begin to organize His troops.
I want to thank all of you who are so kind to cover me in prayer, especially as I travel and minister on the road. I want to thank those of you who support Fair Havens Missions financially. By co-laboring with us, you allow us to do so much more for so many, who are in dire need of our help in this hour. I am so grateful! I am grateful to those of you who help me personally. I thank God for you each and every day.
May we all remember to pray for our troops, especially those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. May we also remember to pray for Israel’s IDF and Security Forces. Let us pray daily for the peace of Jerusalem, the salvation of the Jewish people, the Aliyah, and the soon coming of Yeshua, our Messiah.
Shalom & Blessings! Myrna |