Joyous War-Time Travail

Joyous War-Time Travail

Traveling in a country in the midst of war is a unique opportunity for prayer and supplication, but also for simple praise and adoration. God POURED OUT blessings upon me in the last month as I traversed this nation, criss-crossing it in various directions, all for His Glory, as He sent me. It was and is a spectacular visit, full of remarkable encounters in prayer, worship and travail, but also in simple, joy-fueled encounters. Special beyond words.

Yes, Israel is a place of great sorrow, concern and worry at the moment, but God is pouring out joy and laughter, wonder and amazement, at His beauty and Glory. I could not have asked for more!

And yet … and yet … the grief runs deep, is palpable, and needs much love and care. I KNOW that the LORD is up to something special here, I KNOW He is after Israel’s heart, but oh … oh … oh … how it hurts! People need to be loved … and loved … and loved … and somehow, Yeshua also needs to be loved … and loved … and loved. He too is crying … and laughing … and victorious.

I will start with a somewhat chronological travelogue of my time here…

TENDER HEART: A PERSONAL GOD-CHRONICITY

A group of people, with whom I have been walking for five years, in Isfiya, are now relocating to start a new Tabernacle of David near Megiddo, and leaving the Tabernacle of David in Isfiya, which is very dear to my heart. I arrived just before the separation announcement, and was happy to be able to encourage and support all concerned in the transition. God’s timing was impeccable. The TOD in Isfiya will continue, and people are arriving to join it, so God is multiplying His Presence beautifully. But new beginnings that tear the fabric of connection are painful, full of goodbyes, yet also full of joy, with much positive expectation and hope. So much tenderness and compassion in the end. It was an honor and a privilege to be part of the farewell process. If you are interested in knowing more about either House of Worship, let me know, and I will connect you with them.

COVENANT HEART

I was invited to attend a truly beautiful celebration of the opening of the Indigenous People’s Embassy in Jerusalem. I have attached the link to the video of the event, and their website. It greatly touched my heart to hear and feel their support for us, in Israel, living in the Land where God chose to put us, where He raised us up as His people, and created us to be a witness to the world of good and evil, of obedience and disobedience, and then brought us the solution for all our spiritual woes in Yeshua HaMashiach.

The Indigenous people’s support was unconditional, and they blessed all of us tremendously with their love. They took us back to the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then brought us forward from the time of Joshua, reminding us of how God used this land and our experiences within it to shape our relationship with Him and with the surrounding nations.

To experience their kinship with us and their desire to covenant with us, for our good, was overwhelmingly healing and restorative. Please watch the video.

https://www.indigenousembassy.org

FIERCE HEART

The LORD took me down to Mt. Hezekiah, the tallest mountain in the south of Israel, and to Eilat, Israel’s border with Egypt, along the Red Sea. The prayers and paintings I had created in South Carolina about the Red Sea erupted into praise and fierce worship along its banks. Here one can pray in the same breath for Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, looking at each nation, just by turning around in a circle. Sweet and powerful, like red hot chili peppers! (Rather than describe in detail please watch attached videos at end of letter. They are special.)

On my way back up through the Negev, I visited the truly beautiful Timna Park (see photos) and saw friends I have missed for a long time.

Timna Park

Then, a couple weeks later, I found myself up in the North, skirting Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, so close to Syria I could see the streets and the windows in the houses. I asked a policeman if I could go into that neighborhood, and he told me it was Syria. So close to Lebanon, I could feel the vibration of war, my skin on edge, as winds of protection circled round my car to keep us safe. I was worshiping, internally, with all my might. So close to Jordan I could have touched the fence, if it was not electric. All the time under the complete covering of the LORD. We went up to almost the very top of Mount Hermon (see videos), drove and worshipped through Kiryat Shmona, and visited Banias. Again, videos tell the story well, so please watch them. I also visited Rosh Pina, a beautiful old city with a gorgeous view of the surrounding nature. (See videos and pictures)

I have just returned from visiting the Nova Festival site … I will share my reflections and photos, etc., in the next newsletter.

VERTICAL HEARTS/HORIZONTAL HEARTS

In between the southern and northern escapades I participated in an eleven day worship gathering in the Galilee with Arnie Klein. The passion of this man and his love and his celebration of God! The wonderful way He worships Who God Is, and Who God will always Be. It is magnificent to behold. But challenging … and convicting too. Our collective vision for the gathering was to bless and glorify God, personally and corporately catering to his Heart, as if He was in the room with us. We often became silent and stayed that way for long periods of time. Just waiting. God’s Presence palpable amongst us. His Presence too sweet to be broken with words or sounds. Sometimes He laughed, sometimes He wept, sometimes … Our desire to serve God with our worship held us all together. That was our shared vision, our vision which bound us together. The communal aspect of it all, living with nine people in a house, helped me to listen carefully to other people’s needs and hearts, and gave me a desire to not only serve God, but to serve others wisely, with openness and care. God was reiterating to me the importance of shared vision, the horizontal commitments that support the shared vertical connections. “Thou shalt love the LORD they God with all thy heart, mind, soul and strength, (the vertical) and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (the horizontal).” Double portion. A beautiful and life changing experience, as we all grew together. Although I don’t have videos of anything we did there, I do have beautiful videos of the Galilee. Enjoy!

EXPECTANT HEART

This leads me forward into what is to come …

With my worship center …

With the community God is forming around me …

With my own vision …

IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PLANNING PURIM. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION… BUT HERE IS THE GENERAL IDEA…

WE WILL BE HAVING CORRY KEELER, FORMERLY CORRY BELL, OF LEV SHELO, ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOR A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WORSHIP CONCERT. CHECK OUT HER MUSIC AT WWW.LEVSHELO.COM

THAT’S ON SUNDAY, MARCH 24.

EARLIER IN THE DAY WE WILL BE HAVING DANCE AND ART WORKSHOPS WHICH FOCUS ON GOD’S VICTORY IN OUR LIVES.

COME AND CELEBRATE GOD’S VICTORIOUS MARCH THROUGH THE AGES WITH US ON PURIM!

HE IS ON THE THRONE AND MIGHTY TO BEHOLD!

HALLELUJAH!!!!

Much love to you …

Wendy

VIDEOS

Israel Blessings: https://youtu.be/2fOMpL5Lo6g

Journey South:

Mt. Hezekiah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ibEQ-TYbS4

Eilat, the Red Sea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0WFVnSQjBw