On the front lines in Israel...

This was shared yesterday in an e-mail from Jerusalem. I have kept the names private, for protection and security, and edited it as such. 

I absolutely agree with his following statements also included about the USA President's recent action (or lack thereof). May the Lord give us USA leaders with a backbone to lead!!! (I hold my tongue and heart back, to pray, as the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) Himself commanded us to, while at the same time letting it be known that we will FULLY stand with our friends, the Israelies!)

We will join our friends in November in Israel, as already planned months ago. 

Steve Martin
Editor

P.S. Artwork and photos added by me.

Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013

Shalom from Jerusalem - the City of Peace!

We wanted to send out an update as the world waits to see what actions will or will not be taken against the Syrian government for using chemical weapons on its own people, including children.  

Because the United States in such a large country, it is good to keep in mind the size of Israel couched in the middle of its Arab enemy nations.  Israel is in effect only the size of New Jersey, with Syria being place about where NY City would be.  Damascus, Syria's capital, and where the chemical weapons were used, is only 134 miles from Jerusalem, Israel's capital, about 2 hours.  However, Damascus is only 67 miles from the Sea of Galilee and only half that distance from the Israeli border.

Due to the fighting in Lebanon as well - two Muslim terror group fighting each other like in Syria, the Sunnis and Shiites - Israel has been on high alert on that northern border as well.  Rockets were even fired at Israel from Lebanon last week.  Egypt continues to be a mess with internal fighting as well - the military government fighting against both the Muslim brotherhood and the terror groups in the Sinai.

Last Sunday, we met with a soldier from a unit to hand off dry-fit ball caps that were requested by the commander.  We were supposed to deliver the caps to the base near the northern border, but due to the rockets fired into Israel a few days prior, they were not allowing any civilians on base, so we met at a neutral site in Tel Aviv.  While we were with the soldier, the commander called to share his appreciation with our organization, saying he'd like to schedule a base visit sometime in the future, but it was much too dangerous right now.  

IDF - Bibles and weapons of protection

When we asked the soldier how they were doing, he shook his head and said they have had to cancel all leaves, nobody was going home for the weekends, and they were on high alert.  Please pray for these watchmen on the borders, that they get the rest they need for their bodies and minds.  We made sure to tell him that there are people all over the world that support what they are doing, praying for them, and sending money to help meet their needs, like these caps.  

He said for us to please tell these people all over the world a big thanks. 

To know they have love and support means more than you know, and we always make sure they know it's from Christians around the world. 

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?"  Psalm 2:1 is occurring all around us - the news is like reading the Bible and watching it come to pass.  And at the same time, Syria and Iran promise that if the United States attacks Syria, that they will attack Israel.  Israel has been reiterating all week that we are not involved in this conflict, BUT - we will respond fiercely if attacked.  We truly believe that they will not be stupid enough to attack Israel if they are attacked by the US, it would mean their downfall and they know it.  Therefore, it's most likely propaganda to scare other countries from acting.  The news has been showing Israelis en mass getting gas masks this week in light of a possible US attack.  Media has made it appear as a panic, but it's more truthfully frustration...long lines of people who waited too long to get what they should already have in their possession.

And now, as the entire Middle East region has been holding their breath all week waiting for a response from the US, instead a retreat is announced.  Whether you believe the US should strike Syria or not, this doesn't bode well for many reasons.  First, Syria and Iran are almost giddy - they view this as weakness.  Second, they can now gauge the response the US may have with a nuclear Iran.  Third, Syria now has until at least September 9th to not only continue killing, but to move & hide chemical weapons.  And lastly, Israel now sees the kind of response the US (Obama) could potentially have concerning Iran, and we know we cannot trust him to "have our backs" in an emergency situation. 

Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hevron (Hebron)

We were also scheduled to visit a base in Hevron today.  After dropping off the dry-fit shirts the commander requested, we were going to be given a tour/escort of the Tomb of the Patriarchs where Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, and Jacob & Leah are buried.  It's not easily visited, because Hevron is a Palestinian city, and both Jews and Arabs share Abraham as their father.  I was on the phone last night with the commander of the base making plans for where we were to meet and everything was scheduled.  Then we heard Obama's speech.  It wasn't long before the commander called back and said we need to reschedule the visit....

So, as we trust in the the God of Israel - Adonai Tzva'ot, Lord of Heaven's armies - we do as a Torah scribe spoke to our organization staff this week --- "We pray, and then we do."  And as our Prime Minster has encouraged us - we trust our government (Israeli) and the Israel Defense Force to protect us, we continue on with our daily lives, and prepare for a month of the High Holy Days, beginning this coming Wednesday evening.

We pray and we do - in the meantime, we have also made preparations personally.  The new apartment we have just move to has one bedroom that is a bomb shelter.  We have made sure it is stocked with food, water and necessary supplies.  We have a plan on who gets what (phones, computer, internet, etc) to get to the bomb shelter in the 90 seconds allotted for Jerusalem. We've had our gas masks since we got here, they are issued to all long term staff upon arrival. Be assured - we are not afraid or concerned - just using wisdom to "pray and do".  Now we watch and see.  But mostly...we will enjoy God's appointed times - Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the joyous Feast of Tabernacles!!

Jerusalem volunteer worker

Ahava Love Letter (#55) - Lost, But Not Forgotten, Friends

“Lost, But Not Forgotten Friends” "The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding  our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every  other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts  we see and the parts we don't.  If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in  the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the  exuberance. You are Christ's body — that's who you are! You   must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body  does your "part" mean anything.” (from THE MESSAGE: 1 Cor. 12:25-27)

Dear family of friends,

My nephew Chris is in the Army. He has been a member of the USA armed services for many years now, serving proudly and courageously. I think he will be a “lifer”, if that is the proper wording. (I hope my military friends will inform me of the correct terminology! Or his mom Linda!)

Chris has never told me personally, but I would think he may have lost a few, close buddies while he was on tour of duty in Afghanistan. I am almost certain several were injured and taken out of action. Some may have gone AWOL, and others later may have tragically committed suicide. Far too many are no longer part of the unit.

War is never pleasant, but because of the world we live in, it is often necessary to defend and maintain our freedom, and the life Americans take for granted. We are to hold tight our relationships with friends. They can easily be picked off.

For me, I have never been in the military. At least, not in the natural realm. But I have lost a few buddies, and hoping a few are just temporarily AWOL, and yet still coming back.

Often I think of Mike, the worship leader who had a big heart and was great on the guitar, adding to his pleasant voice. I have his name on a 3” x 5” note card on my office desk, to remember to pray for him.

And there was Ben, who faithfully helped me in the ministry back in the day, with his computer skills, when I knew nothing about that stuff, and so desperately needed those skills and the Lord’s gifting.

I am not sure what happened to Michelle, who served with gusto alongside her husband for years.

Even a real close friend, whom I worked with on two different ministry staffs for so long, had many vital and meaningful times together. And yet I never see or hear from him now, three years later, after repeated attempts. (His picture is on my office desk, along with others I hired, blessed, and encouraged in the Lord.)

They are missed. And my “body” feels the longing to be in fellowship with them once again.

I often think about what my friends from times gone by are now doing. Are they still walking with the Lord? Have their lives gotten better, or gone in the opposite direction.  You know the Liar hates us all.

There are just too many of them who once were, and now lost in contact. His Body hurts.

When Yeshua (Jesus) said He was coming back for His Bride, there is no way she won’t be the most beautiful creation He has ever created. Every part, every connection, every cell necessary to move in graceful form, power and agility, will be in perfect function and shape.

I miss my buddies, my friends, parts of His Body that I was connected to. But I know I serve the living God of Israel, and what He says, goes. Therefore, His Body will get it together. He will see to that. Thank you Lord that Your promises are true. I hope to see those friends again, and to reconnect.

In the meantime, thanks for the work You are now doing in reconnecting Your Body here on earth. Your purposes will be accomplished. Your will – WILL be done.

Ahava (love in Hebrew) to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

P.S. If you see any of my old friends, tell them I think about them, pray for them, and hope to get together again. Send them this ahava love letter, because I do love them.

I hope many of you, who once served together as friends in churches and ministries, make it to the “ReUnionize Time” set for Aug. 10, 2013 in Pineville, NC. Please search for that Ahava Love Letter on the Love For His People blog. That edition is the same title as the event.

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. You can send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

©2013 Steve Martin      Love For His People, Inc.  12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134      

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Ahava Love Letter #55   Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (05/17/13 Friday, 5:00 pm. Charlotte, NC)

'US quietly bolstering presence in Persian Gulf' - Jerusalem Post

'US quietly bolstering presence in Persian Gulf'

By JPOST.COM STAFF

07/03/2012

According to 'New York Times' report, US sending planes, ships to Gulf in bid to protect Hormuz, reassure Israel over Iranian threat.

Photo: REUTERS/Handout

The United States has quietly increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf to deter Tehran from attempting to shut the Strait of Hormuz, according to a New York Times report published Tuesday.
Linking the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean, the Strait is used to transport about a fifth of the world’s oil on a daily basis, and the popular assessment within the IDF is that Iran – which borders the channel to the north and east – has the ability to shut it down if it so chooses.

Citing a senior administration official, the report stated that the deployment of a number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iranian territory was partly done to reassure Israel that the US is taking the Iranian threat seriously. "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it," the report quoted the official as saying.

The report identified a number of visible elements of the US buildup in the Gulf, including sending increasing numbers of aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor, which boasts stealth capabilities, into two separate bases in the Persian Gulf. The planes join jets and carrier strike groups already in the area.
According to the report, the the US navy has also been sending advanced ships capable of enhancing the country's ability to patrol the Strait and reopening the waterway should Iran try to block shipping. In addition, the navy sent a converted amphibious transport and docking ship and doubled the number of minesweepers assigned to the region.

“The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’ the Times quoted a senior US Defense

Department official as saying on condition of anonymity. “Don’t even think about closing the Strait. We’ll clear the mines. Don’t even think about sending your fast boats out to harass our vessels or commercial shipping. We’ll put them on the bottom of the gulf.”

Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee drafted a bill on Sunday calling for Iran to try to stop oil tankers from shipping crude through the Strait of Hormuz to countries that support sanctions against it.

More than a third of the world's seaborne oil exports pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz from the oilfields of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports are all shipped through Hormuz.

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=276116