It has been more than four weeks since the brutal attack of Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians in Gaza’s bordering communities, violently disrupting a peaceful Shabbat morning. I won’t recall all the numbers of horrific, brutal acts on that day and the days that followed.
As I try to write these few lines, I’m praying nonstop and asking the Lord to help me express, to put down in some form of words that are so deep in my heart, on many hearts today. Hearts that are profoundly sorrowful and pierced with pain, bleeding deeply for this land, His people, the condition of this world, and His own heart—the Heart of God for lost humanity and His firstborn Israel.
What does God’s heart feel now? Can we even go there? I can’t. I only find comfort in knowing that He dwells with the brokenhearted. And we find ourselves in His broken heart.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18 ~
Pray that this nation finds comfort in their God today as hearts and lives are broken. May they be able to humble themselves and call upon His name for forgiveness and deliverance. He is their God. May they truly be His people.
It is not ok to murder, rape, behead, burn alive, or to bake babies in the oven. This is pure evil that every human must condemn. We must take sides. We must rise against the evil in prayer, speech, and heart.
Israel is at war, war with evil, and we all are affected. We are at war. We all have responsibilities and tasks. Some of us here are taking a physical stand and involved in practical assignments. Most of you in the nations are also assigned to intercede, support, and encourage.
We all run the race. We all get tired. We are numb and weary. But we keep our eyes on the Lord. We live outwardly, not inwardly, for we cannot afford inward living. “His strength is made perfect in our weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We all experience soaring on His wings. We see His face and hold His hand. We rely on grace alone. We choose to trust His loving heart and believe His promises, enabling us to carry on and grow from strength to strength.
It allows us to comfort those who are impossible to comfort, to feed the displaced and hungry, to clothe those who are on the frontlines, to travel south and north, to be His feet, His hands, His smiles, and to show His heart to His very people. We feel privileged. So should you as you take your part in this war, His war.
The needs around are huge - physical, emotional, spiritual. All we can say is ‘HINENI,’ Lord, ‘Here am I.’ Make us all completely Yours.
We do not forget Holocaust Survivors. We continue to visit, call, pray, and comfort. The images they see on TV screens are too much for them to bear. It reminds them of their family members being killed, their siblings brutally murdered, and their grandparents shot during the Holocaust, so the pain now is much deeper. Tears are pouring nonstop. They need us now more than ever. Our presence deeply touches them. We are broken and humbly cry to the One who sees them to send His Comfort and Light. We want to be faithful.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Please join in the cry of our hearts for His people. The light shines most brightly when the darkness rapidly covers the earth.
At times, I feel like I’m asleep and dreaming a bad dream. But it is not a dream. It is thick darkness creeping in. Lord, please, wake us up in the hour of great struggle so we can watch with You. We failed more than once. Help us not to leave You alone ever again and be faithful. All these things will be for the Glory of Your Holy Name. Amen
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah ~ Psalm 61:1 - 4 ~