Israel, con’t, part 4

I am as always, year after year, reading through the Scripture, and am in the book of Revelation. Once again I am reminded that what we call life, is all about Israel as far as God is concerned. Not that He doesn’t love all of us, after all He provided a Savior for “all” and provided a parenthesis during which the Gentiles were “grafted in” for salvation as well as the Jews, read Romans 9-12. But first in the heart of God is Israel and the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He absolutely WILL keep those promises! No matter what our President says or does, or Abbas, Ahmadinejad, or any other person or nation, Israel will ultimately prevail, because they are God’s! And, all those who are against her will have to account to Him at the Great White Throne Judgment, read Revelation 21. I guess what annoys me the most is the twisted logic of those who are pushing so hard for a Palestinian state without recognition of Israel’s right to exist, and insisting on the “right of return” which means any Arab that wants to can move into Israel and claim land. These things make no sense to me. I know there is a saying that “if you tell a lie often enough and loud enough, it will be believed.” It must be true, at least in this case. Another issue that perplexes me is the dividing up of Jerusalem…as a city, Jerusalem goes back to the time of Abraham and Melchezedek, some 4,000 years. David the King danced in the streets of Jerusalem over 3,000 years ago. The Muslim nation did not exist until 600 AD. And yet they want it to be their capital because it is “holy” to them. But the biggest irritation to me is the fact that they were offered as much as was offered to the Jews, they refused it while the Jews accepted back in 1948. Has the world forgotten that?????  I guess so, or can it be just “political correctness?” If so, and it happens, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are in BIG trouble with the God of Israel, and I would not want to be them…”It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living, angry God.”

Israel…con’t

I get amazed every time I read or see on TV the President of Iran or other Arab leaders speak of Israel with such hatred in their voices and attitudes…sometimes they look as though they might have a stroke they are so enraged. It is so forceful, it isn’t human…hate like that…my,my,my! Then not too long ago as I began reading through the Scripture as I do over and over, in Genesis I read what God had to say about Ishmael and later Esau, and I will ask you to read it for yourself…Genesis 16 and 27. Bare in mind that Ishmael’s mother was Egyptian, came from Egypt to Canaan with Abraham and Sara out of Egypt when they had gone there for food in a famine, didn’t seem to want to trust God for provision. A sin of distrust on Abraham’s part began a set of circumstances that exist to this day. It shows itself clearly in the hatred and violence of the Arabs toward the Jews. They do not want them to have even the little sliver of land the UN gave them in 1948, no where near the amount of land God gave them. I challenge you to read Genesis and Numbers and find the portions where Scripture clearly lays out the boundary's’ of just exactly how much land God gave them. Interestingly, they have never possessed all He gave them but they will one day when He returns in power and glory!

Another aspect of distress to me is the anti-Semitic attitudes of non-Arabs and even Christians, and it is an uninformed point of view. If one knows the facts, even apart from the Bible, it is very hard to see and/or understand that view. When Israel was given their land in 1948, it was a barren desert. If you ever saw the old movie Lawrence of Arabia, that will give you an idea of what Israel looked like in ‘48. Ezekiel 37 and 38 really tells it really well, ad well as some of what will happen during the early years of the Tribulation. Ezekiel tells how Israel will bloom after her people begin coming back from various parts of the world, and begin new lives in their homeland…and do not forget that just a few years ago when Israel gave the Palestinians Gaza, a thriving area with homes, farms, businesses, etc., they burned everything to the ground!!! Does that make any sense???? No, not a bit…that is pure, horrible rage!

To be continued…

Israel, can't part 4

What will it mean if this anti-Semitism continues and/or gets worse? To me, it indicates one more time that we are definitely in the last days and moving rapidly toward Christ’s return for His bride!  In my opinion, when Israel became a nation in 1948, the scenario was “kicked off.” Old Testament prophecies began to come alive as Israel bloomed, prospered and began to make her mark in the world. US Presidents,Congressman,Senators and other important persons saw her as a force to be reckoned with and were very supportive of her democratic government, the ONLY nation in the Middle East that was democratic. That attitude continued for decades, President after President, just about all were supportive of this tiny nation thriving in the midst of her Arab neighbors…all were antagonistic and threatening. The world quickly began to forget that the “so-called” Palestinians had refused their own state, were NOT the original occupiers of the area, thousands of years ago both Arabs and Jews shared the land, and the more antagonistic toward God…pagans…were conquered by the Israelites at God’s instruction so as not to pollute the holiness God instilled in them as a pattern for living. Even God’s instruction to the Jews was at times harsh but it was always to keep down sin among His people. You may ask why God desired a group of people He called “His”…what purpose did He have in mind in calling Abraham out from his homeland and people, not even telling him where He was taking them????  Well, He wanted 1) a people, a group of people actually, that would love Him and obey Him, and be His very own people that He would love and care for eternally, 2) a people that would keep account of His instructions and preserve the writings, 3) a line of people that would remain pure that He could use to bring His Son into the world as Savior of all. In return He gave them a land, starting with Abraham, that would always be His/theirs. The key word here is “OBEY…” Of course they did not, He was constantly dealing with them in their sin, the whole of the Old Testament is full of the account, and much of the New. But, the Covenant He made with Abraham was unconditional since He knew they would not keep it, and unconditional is unconditional…then and now! He said “I will bless them that bless you and curse them that curse you,” then and now. He never breaks a promise…

If we go back to the book of Daniel, we’ll get a timeline of God’s dealing with Israel. All is accomplished with the exception of seven years. get out your study Bible and check it out, all but seven years. We Christians refer to that time period, as does the Apostle John in Revelation, as the Tribulation. Jesus Himself referred to it in Matthew 24-25, calling it a time when there would be such horrible events He would have to intervene at the end or none would survive, so terrible nothing in past history would compare and as you know, some pretty awful things have happened so it must be going to be too horrible to even contemplate. But it will come because God said so and He never changes His mind or breaks a promise.

ISRAEL…GOD’S PRIDE AND JOY!

When I was a little girl, we had a lady in our town and church named Margaret Carter who loved teaching children. She did it very well, with Sunday School, release school time, Bible clubs in her home…any place she could, she taught kids. I had no idea I was learning so much, thank God I was. She talked a lot about endtimes, emphasizing Daniel with her flannel graph lessons. When I was 15 my father, my favorite person in the whole world, died. I remember blaming God, and deciding to go my own way…and I did. For 20 years I lived exclusively for me. Then, someone gave me a copy of Hal Lindsey’s book Late Great Planet Earth, I read it from cover to cover in an evening and was never the same! I did a 180* turn to the Lord and to my surprise, all I had learned as a child, especially from Miss Carter, came back! I was so hungry for more, I read, and read, and read. That was 1974.

I also remember sitting with my dad and watching our new TV set, while Israel was partitioned by the UN, (Israel accepted the land offered, the Palestinians did not) and given nation status. I saw David ben Gurion stand on a balcony and  tell the Israeli’s they now had a homeland and no one could take it away from them. I heard on the radio with my grandfather, President Truman recognize Israel for diplomatic status with the USA. That was May 14,1948.

The very next day, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq invaded the brand new nation to take it away but Israel prevailed and they had to withdraw. They had told the Palestinians NOT to accept what the UN offered because they were going to “push Israel into the Med and they, the Palestinians, could have it all. Not happening! From that time until the present, the Palestinians live in refugee structures even though the US, UN and most EU nations sent them millions of dollars that went right into the pockets of their leaders like Arafat and the people never saw any of it. There are thousands of Arabs that have continued to live in Israel, prospered and are happy there. They do not want Palestinian rule. When Israel gave over Gaza, it ad left with homes, farms, fields, businesses…what did the Palestinians do???? They burned everything to the ground and now it is a barren, scorched piece of land not the blooming, thriving land it had been since 1967.

All I have written here is secular history. I have not said one word of what God gave the Jews, and what the boundries are. I’ll leave that for another blog…

 

TO BE CONTINUED

 

RELATIONSHIPS

I’M SURE WE HAVE ALL BEEN TO THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE READY TO THROW OUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR AND WALK AWAY FROM SOMEONE. THE RELATIONSHIP MAY HAVE BEEN A CLOSE AND PERSONAL ONE OR A MORE CASUAL ONE. EITHER WAY, WE CAN GET FED UP WITH A PERSONS CONSERVATION, ATTITUDE, BEHAVIOR OR SOME OTHER CHARACTER QUALITY OR LACK OF ONE. CONSIDER WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY BUILT THE RELATIONSHIP ON…SOME INCIDENT, SOMETHING IN COMMON, A MUTUAL FRIEND??????  THEN CONSIDER IF THE RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. I GUESS THAT SOUNDS PRETTY COLD BUT THINK ABOUT THIS…A RELATIONSHIP IS DIFFERENT THAN A FIENDSHIP.RELATIONSHPS CAN BE CASUAL, FRIENDSHIPS MORE PERSONAL AND INTENSE. AS A BELIEVER, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE MORE “ IF WE WERE, WE WOULD EXPERIENCE LESS PAIN AND HEARTACHE.

WHEN READING THE SCRIPTURE CAREFULLY, YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THAT JESUS WAS ERY DISCERNING IN HIS FRIENDSHIPS, PARTICULARLY BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION…HE WAS DOWN RIGHT PICKY! WE NEED TO BE AS PICKY IN OURS. WE ARE NOT GOD, AND DO NOT KNOW A PERSONS HEART SO IF HE WAS CAREFUL, WE SHOULD BE EVEN MORE SO. I DO NOT THINK I COULD ENTRUST MY INNER THOUGHTS TO A NON-BELIEVER. IN ALL PROBABLITY THEY WOULD NOT “GET IT.” HOW CAN THEY UNDERTAND US WHO ARE INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN THEY ARE NOT? IN MANY CASES, FRIENDSHIP WILL LEAD US TO SOMEONE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO. THAT BEING SO, THAT PERSON MUST BE TRUSTWORTHY AND DISCRETE AND OF COURSE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST OR YOU WILL NOT BE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE MUST HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS, AND IT IS HELPFUL IF YOU HAVE THE SAME ACQUAINTENCES/FRIENDS. AND VERY IMPORTANT…IT TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP. CASUAL RELATIONSHIPS USUALLY DO NOT DEVELOP INTO TRUE FRUENDSHIPS. JUST BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION, IN THE UPPER ROOM, CHRIST TALKED WITH HIS DISCIPLES…HIS HAND-PICKED FRIENDS…AND TOLD THEM HE HAD ELEVATED THEM TO TH OSITION OF FRIENDS…QUITE A COMPLIMENT, THAT I DO NOT THINK THEY UNDERSTOOD UNTIL MUCH LATER. HE TOLD THEM A FRIEND COULD BE TOLD THINGS AN ACQUAINTENCE COULDN’T, BUT THEY HAD SPENT THREE YEARS TOGETHER NIGHT AND DAY, AND KNEW EACH OTHER VEY WELL. REMEMBER ALSO, HE TOOK PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WITH HIM WHEN HE WENT AWAY TO PRAY, AGAIN A COMPLIMENT THEY WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND UNTIL LATER. IN CONCLUSION, IF GOD HIMSELF WAS CAREFUL WHO HE INVESTED FRIENDSHIP IN, SHOULDN’T WE BE DISCERNING, DEPENDING ON THE LORD TO ASSURE OR CENSURE A FRIENDSHIP? HE INSTRUCTED US TO “BE WISE AS SERPENTS, HARMLESS S DOVES,” WE NEED TO TAKE THAT ADVICE TO HEART.

Accountability and Confrontation, Dirty Words…

For most of us, either of these issues are inviting. We don’t want to share our most personal matters with almost anyone, especially bad habits, thoughts, actions. but…we need to in order to grow a healthy and Godly Christian life. It is difficult to find someone you can trust not to blab to others, and one who will listen! As I see it being a counselor myself, listening is a lost “art.” People constantly over talk or interrupt or their facial expression tells you they are not listening. I think over talking bothers me he most. It says to me, “what you are saying isn’t important, I know better than you…” I just really dislike it and a lot of people do it on a continuing basis. Years ago when I was a new Christian and not yet in ministry, I had a retail store. People use to come in, sit down in the small sitting area I had, and many times pour out their hearts to me. I had always been a”people” person but this was different, I was almost compelled to pay attention. At times, I would start to interrupt, and would sense the Holy Spirit urging me to keep quiet. When it happened more than occasionally, I gave it some serious thought and prayer, and realized the Lord was teaching me to shut MY mouth and just listen. Later I learned by experience that good counseling was mostly a matter of listening. Most of the time, God has an answer for troubled people, something in His Word that can be applied or used as a guideline. If you are doing all the talking, you cannot hear what your friend is trying to tell you. And…it goes without saying, if you are not in the Word, living close to the Lord, you will have no answers for them. Now confrontation is another whole ball game…Again, a very close relationship to the Lord and deep knowledge of the Word and Biblical principles are essentials to be effective in confrontation. A Godly walk will draw others to you when they face situations they cannot handle alone. There are a few “rules” in confronting, 1/ being honest and direct, choosing your words carefully. Also watch YOUR body language. But do not beat around the bush, weigh what needs to be said and lay it squarely on the line. Be as loving as possible, non-judgmental, with the aim of giving the person a way to see the situation from god’s point of view. And never, ever confront anyone in anger or you’ve lost your opportunity to help another grow in the Lord, they will back off, perhaps permanently. If possible use an action you’ve seen so that you can be specific and not generalize…generalizing feels like an attack and you do not want that. Where possible be empathetic. If you’ve walked in their shoes, tell them so, it will help them realize you are not criticizing. And I think most important, be affirming. We never know what kind of childhood and upbringing they may have had, possibly never feeling adequate, being told they are stupid and useless. You will be surprised how many people have serious damage from childhood, damage only God can heal…and you may be the conduit He wants to use to accomplish it. Earn the right to confront…listen carefully to the Holy Spirit’s checks and act on them. That way you keep short accounts with the Lord and are always ready to be used in His service. Opportunities frequently come when we aren’t looking for them, so be alert…and ready!