Walls and Gates of Jerusalem - Part 4

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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The Walls & Gates of Jerusalem, Jaffa Gate --  More Pictures from the  Emory University Collection, Part 4 When was this picture of the Jaffa Gate taken? Here are clues. The Jaffa Gate, from the Emory collection. Several features  in the photograph tell us when the picture was taken. Note the tower, in particular.  Jaffa Gate photographed by Peter Bergheim, perhaps as  early as 1860 (Library of Congress collection) For centuries, the entrances to Jerusalem were small and often built with sharp angles to make access difficult to attackers.  Jerusalem consisted only of the Old City with little habitation beyond the walls, rebuilt in 1540 during the reign of the Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent.  Until the end of the 19th century, most wagons and carriages stopped outside of the gates and people and products went in through the gates.   William Seward (Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state) wrote in 1871 that the population of the Old City was 16,000, comprised of 8,000 Jews, 4,000 Mohammedans, and 4,000 Christians. Original caption: "Interior of Jaffa Gate from near Hotel Mediterranean" by Felix Bonfils (circa 1870). Note the moat on the left and the narrow path. Mark Twain and his "Innocents Abroad" colleagues stayed in the Hotel Mediterranean in 1867. Two major architectural changes in the Jaffa Gate in 1898 and 1908 help historians date the early photographs of the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem.  The first was the breaching of the wall in 1898 to permit German Emperor Wilhelm II to ride into the Old City without dismounting and with his escort of carriages.  To built the roadway, a moat -- visible in pre-1898 photos -- had to be filled in.  Click on photos to enlarge.  Click on captions to view the original pictures. In 1908 the Turkish authorities built a clock tower near the gate in honor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.  A photochrom picture of the Jaffa Gate (circa 1890). Note the wall of the moat under the yellow arrow, indicating the photo was prior to 1898. The British captured Jerusalem in 1917, and the tower was knocked down in 1922. We can now determine that the Emory University collection photo was taken after 1908 when the tower was erected. Once the Jaffa Gate walls were breached, the entrance became a major thoroughfare, especially as an entrance to the Turkish army base and prison in the Old City, known as the "Kishle." The shops outside the gate were torn down prior to the German Emperor's visit. Traffic jam inside Jaffa Gate, 1898. The Turkish military escort, was possibly part of the German Emperor's entourage.   Close inspection on the left of the photo shows an American flag hanging outside of the Grand or Central Hotel, formerly the Mediterranean Hotel. A Jewish shop immediately outside of Jaffa Gate Another view of Jaffa Gate before 1898. See  adjacent photo enlargement of the shops   An photo enlargement of the Jaffa Gate and the shops (from the picture taken before 1898) shows a Jewish millinery shop with a Hebrew sign selling various headgear for religious Jews, some of whom are standing outside of the shop. The Library of Congress caption notes:  Photograph taken before October 1898 visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Jerusalem when a breach was made in the wall near the Jaffa Gate. (Source: L. Ben-David, Israel's History - A picture a day, Oct. 30, 2012.)

God's Mysterious Ways #8: "I Cried Out To God, 'What Are You Doing to Me?' He Said..." - Bill Yount

Bill Yount:

God's Mysterious Ways #8: 

"I Cried Out To God, 

'What Are You Doing to Me?' 

He Said..."

I felt I could no longer endure the painful trial going on in my life for so long. In frustration, I cried out to God. "What are You doing to me?" He said, "I'm making a man of God out of you!" He continued, "I did not cause your pain but I'm using it."

The orthopedic doctor calls it a frozen shoulder. Jesus calls it healed. 

It's a muscle beneath the shoulder that becomes locked up and is painful. The orthopedic doctor said, "You must stretch your arm to loosen that muscle. Here are six exercises twice a day for six weeks including hanging on a bar. You must stretch your arm until it hurts. Then lean into the hurt and count for twenty seconds with excruciating pain and then repeat." 

After a few exercises I thought about the doctor, "He's got to be kidding me! It feels like I'm tearing my muscle apart. Like I'm ripping it out of my arm."

Is It a Good Pain or a Bad Pain?

He also advised me to visit a massage therapist. As she was working on my arm muscle I had to let her know something. "It hurts! That's painful!" She asked me a question, "But is it a good pain or a bad pain?" I said, "I am a no pain person."

I was told if you want to recover faster, you can have someone else stretch your arm because they will pull it farther than you would. I thought to myself, "How stupid is that?" 

But in desperation to end this ordeal, I chose a physical therapist to stretch my arm. The pain was so great, I laughed. I said to him, "Am I going crazy? Why did I laugh when I felt the worse pain of my life?" He said, "That's your release! 

That laughter is your release!"

I now believe pain can be an ingredient of laughter. I promise if you are now in pain that is beyond words, there will be a time when you will laugh again, and even drown in God's laughter.

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." Luke 6:21

There was a time when my pain almost stopped my ministry. On a ministry trip I became powerless to the pain that justified me not going to the next meeting. My wife and I prayed, but no relief. I phoned home to our intercessors for prayer. 

One intercessor, after praying, said, "Bill, you are on a mission. God has sent you there. You can trust Him." Something clicked in my spirit. I dragged my body to that meeting. The moment I stood up to minister the pain left me.

After the meeting it returned with a vengeance. It fought me to the next meeting two days later. When I got up to minister it left again and then followed me home. As this took place with many of my meetings, something dawned on me. 

I am stretching my spiritual muscles! 

I want to encourage you. Sometimes you must walk through some stuff to get to where God is. But remember, you are on a mission and the great I AM has sent you!

Spiritual Frozen Muscles in the Body of Christ

Many times what I experience in my physical body is what is going on in the Body of Christ. I sense the Lord showing there are some spiritual frozen muscles in His Body.

And I hear the Lord saying, "You need to stretch those muscles. Stretch until it hurts! Many of your healings will come while you are being stretched by others. 

I am stretching you this season out of your frozenness. I am stretching your arms farther than you would like, so they can reach around a world full of pain, sin and brokenness. 

Those frozen muscles will thaw from the fire of My Spirit as you allow Me to stretch you."

Being Stretched Against the Odds

A woman kept standing for the healing of her husband who suffered a stroke, leaving a third of his brain dead. The doctor said to her, "He will never fully recover and will be a vegetable the rest of his life." The woman said, "No, by the stripes of Jesus he is healed." 

The doctor got upset with her and said, "I don't think you are taking me seriously. I have been doctoring these cases for thirty years." The woman responded, "Jesus has been healing longer than that!" 

Nine days later he walked out of the hospital whole.

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden (the enemy's burden) shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." Isaiah 10:27

After several months of pain, prayers of many, stretching exercises and some laser treatment, my frozen shoulder is finally loosed. The pain is gone.

God has intervened again in my life.

But I have noticed something. If I don't keep stretching, the muscle will freeze again. It's the same spiritually. Lord, help us to keep stretching and allowing You to stretch us beyond our pain.

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries

Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com
Website: billyount.com

Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 33 years where he is now an elder and a home missionary. He is currently an advisor at large for Aglow International. Bill faithfully served in prison ministry at Mount Hope for 23 years and now travels full-time, both in the U.S. and internationally, ministering in churches and Aglow circles. 

"Humility and humor" characterize his ministry as he brings forth a fresh word that is "in season," proclaiming the word of the Lord! The shofar (or ram's horn) is often used in his meetings, breaking the powers of darkness over regions, churches, and households. 

The shofar represents God's breath blowing into the nostrils of His people, reviving them and awakening the lost. Many of God's messages, which Bill ministers prophetically, come out of his everyday life with his family and friends.

October 21, 2013

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

There are people I know who deal with real pain in their body. Bill Yount recently dealt with this and shares some of his painful experience with us... I appreciate his transparency in this story.

While God does not bring or give pain, He can most definitely use it and bring glory to His name, which you'll read about in Bill's article.

If you've been through some of what Bill shares here, make sure and write to him and let him know how his article encouraged you. AND for anyone experiencing pain even now, we Pray and Declare COMPLETE HEALING over your body in Jesus Name! Amen.

Blessings,
Steve
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The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 
http://www.elijahlist.com

Prophetic Stones of Remembrance: A Legacy for the End Times by Bill Yount E-Book $8.99

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Lighthouses. Shine on!

 

I like lighthouses. Always have. I named my business decades ago, "Martin Lighthouse Services". I believe it was the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh in Hebrew) guiding me even then.

It may be cliche', but let His light shine through you today. The darkness needs to be broken!

Shalom and ahava (love in Hebrew),

Steve Martin

Love For His People

Carolina BalloonFest near Troutman, NC Oct. 20, 2013 (#2 of 5)

 

Laurie and I attended the Carolina BalloonFest Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013 near Troutman, NC. It was the 40th annual. Our first time. What a beautiful site!

We also enjoyed the Scottish bag pipes and drum band. More videos of the balloons and the Scottish lads (and lass) can be seen on our YouTube channel. 

Be blessed!

Steve Martin

Love For His People

YouTube videos: Love For His People

Ahava Love Letter - “Love The One You Are With” (Steve Martin)

                  

“Love The One You Are With” 

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing…” (Cor. 2:15 NAS)

 ^“For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost; (2 Cor. 2:15 Complete Jewish Bible – CJB)

Dear family of friends,

Sometimes I feel "conflicted" in my soul. I want to be out with the people, for His heart for them burns with love and compassion; and at other times I want to be with His people, for His heart burns with love and compassion for them.

Over the many years of walking with the Lord, I know His heart is the same for both – those who know Him and seek His face continually, and those who don’t know Him, and are lost, seeking that which can’t fill the void in their hearts. But this I know – His immense heart of love beats with compassion for both groups of people. He is the God of Love, the God of Ahava - that beautiful word in Hebrew for love.

So what do I do when I feel torn, wanting to be with those who don’t know of His love for them, and the time that it takes to be with them? Or use the time to be gathered with His people, whom I have a strong kinship with? How do we know what time it is to do what, when?

Remember the song of years gone by, “Love the One You’re With”?  ("Love the One You're With" is a 1970 single by folk rocker Stephen Stills. The first release from his solo debut Stephen Stills, it peaked at No. 14 in the Billboard Hot 100.) Though I don’t remember the lyrics that once were in my memory banks, I can agree with the title words. The younger generation, my children’s age, may not know this song. But more and more my heart goes out to them, as they try so many things which can destroy their lives.

My current job puts me in contact with college age interns, trying to get their foot in the door for the career they seek. Most often they do not have a clue as to what they really need, in order to be fulfilled. I can at least be a father image to them (who many have not really had) and share His love for them. Even if I don’t say the words, they know the difference. One 20 year old intern wrote in a thank you note to me, sent after she left, of how she had not met many people who had the “spirit” I have. I hope the next place she is at has someone who can plant another seed in her heart. The One she longs for is not far away from her.

I give thanks to my friend, Holy Spirit, Ruach KaKodesh, Who has been given to us to be as our Guide, as the One who will help direct our steps, and our hearts. He will let us know when, where and how, so we can truly love the ones we are with. His timing, as we listen for His Voice, will direct our steps as to when and where we are to be during our daily walk.

Time we spend with those who may have no knowledge of the Lord Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) heart for them will enable them to “see” Him, as the presence of His Holy Spirit in us counters that of other spirits. As the Bible says, we are “a fragrance”, “the aroma” to those currently lost.

Working in the marketplace gives us the opportunity to be “in the world, but not of the world.” Our presence among the people opens a door to share the love of God with them. Sometimes, as it is said, we need to use words when necessary. How will they hear without us being the ones who share His love with them? The ones I work with don’t step foot in a church building. We must step foot into their buildings.

The Lord’s heart burns for the unsaved. His desire is to see all come to know Him, and receive eternal salvation. If you are out there in the world, the marketplace, be the light He has put in you, for them. Shine and allow His Holy Spirit, living within you, to draw them to the Messiah. Then they too can join the community of saints, that we long to be with even more so.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

 Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless Israel with our humanitarian ministry. 

Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: www.loveforhispeople.org/support

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box 414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

Be sure to get my two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com , plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for $14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

E-mail: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin  and  Love For His People    

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blog: http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com   

Full website: www.loveforhispeople.org

YouTube: Steve Martin (loveforhispeopleinc)

Ahava Love Letter #81   “Love The One You Are With”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (10/20/13 Sunday at 7:45 am in Charlotte, NC)

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog:

 http://loveforhispeople.blogspot.com   

What Do You Want (#75)

The Hiding Place (#74)

Why Is A Gentile Like You Celebrating the Feasts of the Jews? (#73)

They Are Loved Too (#72)

Oskars Needed Again? (#71)

Little Orphan Chuckie (#70)

Demons & Fire Trucks (#69)

I Like Mike (#68)

Disappointed with Small Beginnings? (#67)

Rise Again (#66)

The Cities (#65)

How can You Mend A Broken Heart (#64)

Anxious (#63)

Hidden (#62)

Share His love today. 

Love the ones you are with!

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Inc.

Ahava statue in Israel (Love)

"Ahava" in Hebrew

- statue on Israel

"Ahava" in Hebrew

One more Ahava!

One Grape at a Time

Volunteers Fulfill Prophecy, One Grape at a Time

By Julie Stahl CBN News Jerusalem Correspondent

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JERUSALEM, Israel - Hundreds of Christians travel to Israel each year to help farmers harvest crops. This additional help is not only appreciated, it also fulfills Bible prophecy.

A volunteer Christian group called Hayovel, which means Jubilee in Hebrew, provides volunteers to help Israeli farmers bring in the grape harvest.

"We're a group of Christian volunteers from America and from Canada and from all over the world," David Johnson, a Hayovel, volunteer explained.

"We've come to help the Jewish people, specifically in Samaria and Judea, usually referred to as the West Bank," he continued.

The vineyard is in Ofra, not far from biblical Shiloh. More than 300 volunteers worked 30,000 man hours to bring in nearly 400 tons of grapes across Judea and Samaria during the last three months.

"You get to see the thankfulness on the owners' faces when you help them out," Hannah Pauls, a 15-year-old volunteer, said.

Zach Waller directs Hayovel. His parents came up with the idea as a way to serve Israel about nine years ago.

They hoped actions would speak louder than words to help repair relations between Jews and Christians caused by 2,000 years of persecution.

"Dad said, 'Hey this is an opportunity that we have as believers in Yeshua, Messiah, that we can come and serve and try to restore this relationship,'" Waller said.

But they discovered they were actually fulfilling Bible prophecy, such as Isaiah 61:5 and Jeremiah 31:5: "You will see nations coming to the land, working in the vines, helping the Jewish people."

Local Jewish resident Aaron Lipkin sees the Christian love as a healing ointment. He said everything that is happening is a big miracle, it's part of a process called redemption.

Team leader David Johnson oversees about 30 volunteers. This year is the third season for he and his wife.

"We have a heart for the Jewish people settling the land of Israel and it's a heart that we've been given by our Messiah and we're here to help them," he said.

They work hard. They also worship and declare Scripture.

"We thought, hey, you know, we should set up some kind of prayer shifts so that somebody's praying while they're working," Waller recalled.

"So we sent guys to go pray and we actually ended up picking twice as much that day than normal. And that touched vineyard owner Rafael Kadmon," he said. "I happy very much because when we work, we sing, we see the man is very, very happy."

Rick Pauls said he feels so strongly about the work that he brought his wife and children to pick grapes for a second year.

"We feel very protected by God and by Israeli security," Pauls said. "It's amazing to be here because as you read the scriptures here in this place it just comes alive."

His wife Karen called it an opportunity to give, but she said the biggest impact was just meeting the Jewish people.

"Their faith is absolutely unbelievable. No one has been untouched by something pretty intense in their life, losing someone, and they just believe," she said. "I mean it's not for fame or glory, it's hard. And they just believe in the promises of God."

Her son said the experience for him has been equally as powerful.

"Just being here has blown me away," he said. "Just being able to serve the Jewish people, to enhance His kingdom here on earth."

CBN.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2013/October

Flags of the nations in Charlotte Chamber of Commerce hallway

Walls & Gates of Jerusalem -- More Pictures from the Emory University Collection

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta) It's the final countdown... 1,000,000 visitors to Israel Daily Picture Tell us why you enjoy viewing Israel Daily Picture in the comment section below. Recommend Israel Daily Picture to your friends and family. The Walls & Gates of Jerusalem -- More Pictures from the Emory University Collection, Part 3 Damascus Gate 1. (Emory Collection, circa 1905) Note shops on the right. Was this the first "strip mall?" We present part 3 of the digitalized photos of the Underwood & Underwood stereoscope collection, Palestine through the Stereoscope, from Emory University's Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology. In this feature we present the pictures of Jerusalem's walls and gates. By comparing the photos to the photo essays presented here over the last two years we are able to date the pictures. Click on pictures to enlarge. Click on captions to view the original pictures. Damascus Gate 1: The shops on the right of the square belonged to a Jewish banker name Chaim Aharon Valero (circa 1905). The domes of the Hurva and Tiferet Yisrael synagogues are on the horizon on the left of the picture. Both were destroyed by the Jordanian Legion  in 1948. Read more about Valero here.  Damascus Gate 2. photographed by Mendel Diness. Note how barren the area outside of the wall was. (Fine Arts Library, Harvard University, circa 1856) Damascus Gate 2: Mendel Diness, a Jewish watchmaker,  became Jerusalem's first Jewish photographer and is credited with photographing the Damascus Gate in the 1850s. Later he left Palestine and became a Christian preacher in the United States named Mendenhall John Dennis. Read more about Diness/Dennis and his photo collection  found in a Minnesota garage sale.  Damascus Gate 3 Construction of the row of Valero's shops outside the gate. (Library of Congress, circa 1900) Damascus Gate 3: The picture shows the construction of Valero's shops. In the 1930s, the British authorities ruled that the area should be zoned for use as "open spaces" and they demolished the shops in 1937. The Valeros were not compensated. View pictures of the demolition here. MOREL http://www.israeldailypicture.com/