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Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Stunning Israel Calendar 50% Off ✡ "Heritage of the Nations"
WATCH: Arab Muslim Discovers He's a Jew
WATCH: Arab Muslim Discovers He's a Jew
Tuesday, December 09, 2014 | Israel Today Staff
Mordechai Halawa’s touching story of growing up a Kuwaiti Muslim with Palestinian Arab ancestry only to discover he’s actually a Jew has been making the rounds in the Israeli media over the past week.
Born Mumtaz Halawa, he always knew his grandmother had been a Jew who converted to Islam in order to marry his grandfather, an Arab from what is now the Palestinian Authority-controlled town of Nablus (biblical Shechem).
In Islamic law, someone born to a Muslim father is, therefore, a Muslim. Halawa never thought differently of himself, despite knowing his grandmother’s background.
That was until a Jewish man in Canada, where Halawa had gone to study, informed him that Jewishness is not primarily a religion, but rather an ethnicity that cannot be erased by conversion to one religion or another.
“I felt that until that day I was in a dream world, and then someone smacked me and I woke up,” Halawa told Orot TV.
Having come to a sudden realization that he was the enemy he was raised to hate, Halawa changed his first name to Mordechai, immigrated to Israel, began living as a Jew, married a Jewish girl, and is proudly hopeful that the children he will one day have will be Israelis.
A number of research projects in recent years have revealed that Halawa might not be alone, and that a large percentage of what are considered to be “Palestinian Arabs” have at least some Jewish heritage.
The narration in the video below is in Hebrew, but Halawa speaks in English throughout (besides the opening seconds, when he is speaking to friends in Arabic):
PHOTO: Halawa standing outside the walls of the Old City in Jerusalem, where he lives today. (Orot TV)
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Monday, December 8, 2014
"Being Hidden: The Makings of a Spiritual Sniper" Bill Yount
"Being Hidden: The Makings of
a Spiritual Sniper"
Bill Yount, Hagerstown, MD
The Elijah List
Sniper: A skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place.
Does it seem like you are in a hidden place with darkness all around you? And is the enemy breathing down your neck? Be encouraged. You may have the makings of a spiritual sniper.
Snipers are concealed by darkness in the time of war, close to enemy territory. If you can't see daylight, you may be right on schedule. Darkness brings out a sniper's full potential.
"We Own The Night!" is their motto.
Not many of God's people can stand being hidden for long periods of time. It's a lonely, dark place – but you are not alone. God is with you, and He's creating something powerful out of you. The Lord is saying to many:
"The enemy will soon know why you haven't been heard from as of yet. He will soon wonder where you came from. Treasure your hiddenness. It's your advantage. And don't fear the darkness. Your hardships and enemies have come to train you. Don't go AWOL! The moment you were born for is coming. Your light will pierce darkness. My spiritual snipers are coming forth in this season of war."
Communication Is a Must In Your Hiddenness
Although hidden, you must have clear communication with God and your comrades. You must learn the weapon of silence to hear. Silence makes the enemy wonder what you are up to while God is giving you strategy. Silence enables you to hear not only God's still small voice but also the enemy's next plan of attack. (Photo via Pixabay)
I sense the Lord saying, "I'm corporately anointing your ears to hear and eyes to see what no other generation has ever heard or seen for this end time spiritual war. Keep in communication with one another. At times your comrades will be your eyes and ears. It's the lifeline to win. Communicate even if you don't agree. Communicate until you do. You are a team, and no one goes anywhere without each other. A team that can move as one is a dominating force. Laying down your life for each other is not a question. You are no longer considered your own."
Maneuvering Offensively
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force. Matthew 11:12
A former sniper shared with me how he was sent ahead of his troop and how he concealed himself close to the enemy. He said, "A vacant building or any forsaken covering gave me an edge for my deadly aim." He also said, "I became a terror to the terrorists. I could paralyze a large troop with one fatal shot to their comrades. Terror would grip them, for they didn't know where I was. At times I shot from a window of a forsaken building and then ran. If they suspected where I was they would immediately launch heavy artillery into that place. Bounties were placed on my head."
I asked him, "Were you afraid of dying?" He said, "No, I died when I left home. If I had any fear in me, I wouldn't have survived what I went through."
His words, "I died when I left home," pierced me. I wonder how many of us realize the day we gave our life to Jesus Christ was the day we died to ourselves, and He now lives in us. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). And Jesus is never afraid. Having been through much warfare myself, I'm learning when I feel intimidated by the enemy, the truth is: that's really when he is terrified of me. So I move beyond what intimidates me and find sweet victory.
Staying Focused
Many will see other comrades being elevated this season. Don't be jealous or envious. They are being called to the front line where increased danger lies. Their advancement is your protection. It's a most dangerous time to compare ourselves with one another. Some will think that their strong anointing that's promoting them lessens their need for their comrades or those in authority over them. It actually increases your need for them.
You may seem to be ahead of them in rank, but they are behind you to cover your back. If left alone with our increased anointings, we become dangerous to ourselves and others. This often results in "friendly fire." We need our comrades to keep speaking into our lives to adjust and sharpen our spiritual gifts and weapons to stay effective. Our training never ends. God will always have someone over us to learn from and someone under us to teach what we have learned.
Biblical "Sniper" Weapons
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. 2 Corinthians 10:4
Throughout history snipers rise from obscurity to win wars. One person stands out to me as the greatest sniper in the Bible: David, a shepherd boy, hidden in the hillsides of Judea. Trained by a bear and a lion, he makes his debut with a giant named Goliath. David becomes a sniper in the eyes of the Philistine army as he takes out Goliath with a slingshot and stone. He knew that giant would look good on his resume. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. Psalm 144:1
David was also a warrior as a scribe. His writings still pierce the darkness in our lives today. The Lord is releasing a scribe anointing upon many for new songs, books, and movies to be written to dismantle powers of darkness upon the earth. Pick up your pen and fight!
David's greatest weapon in his arsenal was worship. David was a full-time worshiper and part-time shepherd. He worshiped in secret, and God met him on the battlefield. Worship didn't keep David away from trouble. Worship brought God down into the troubles, and God never lost a battle.
In the wars that rage against us today, our greatest weapon is still to worship God in the midst of chaos.
Through worship, Heaven comes and fills us with His love and presence, which can touch our worst enemies to surrender all to Jesus. Loving our enemies keeps them from getting inside of us. We will be facing giants in the days to come. Don't leave home without your slingshot. Remember, as a Believer, Jesus lives in you, and He is not afraid. Besides, you died when you left home.
Welcome, Sniper.
Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministry
Blowing the Shofar Ministry
Bill Yount has been a member of Bridge of Life in Hagerstown, Maryland, for the past 36 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.
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Poll: Israeli View of Obama Falls (Even Further)
Poll: Israeli View of Obama Falls (Even Further)
Monday, December 08, 2014 | Israel Today Staff
Whereas his predecessors were consistently counted among Israel’s best friends in the international arena, US President Barack Obama is seen by the majority of Israelis as being either neutral or negative toward the Jewish state, according to a new survey.
Conducted late last month by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, the poll revealed that only 37 percent of Israelis believe Obama has a “positive” attitude toward their country. An equal number labeled the American leader as “negative,” and the remainder listed him as neutral.
Even worse, as far as Israelis are concerned, has been Obama’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and other regional issues.
Some 52 percent of respondents said Obama’s handling of the peace process had been “bad,” and 65 percent felt his policies in general had damaged America’s standing in the Middle East, which in turn harms Israel’s position.
Days after the results of the survey were published, reports leaked that the Obama White House was considering sanctions against Israel, a wholly unprecedented move for an American government.
According to the reports, Obama and his top aides had discussed sanctions as a means of deterring Israeli “settlement activity” and kick-starting the once-again stagnant peace process.
While the reports, which cited unnamed Israeli diplomats, remain unconfirmed, US congressional leaders aren’t taking any chances, and a letter to the president signed by 48 members of the House of Representatives read thus:
“Recent reports suggest that your administration has held classified meetings over the past several weeks to discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions against Israel for its decision to construct homes in East Jerusalem. Israel is one of our strongest allies, and the mere notion that the administration would unilaterally impose sanctions against Israel is not only unwise, but is extremely worrisome.”
Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, reaffirming Israel as a “major strategic partner” of the US. The bill had already won unanimous support in the Senate back in September, and will now be placed on Obama’s desk for his signature.
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Star of David Shines in Miss World Beauty Pageant
Star of David Shines in Miss World Beauty Pageant
Sunday, December 07, 2014 | David Lazarus ISRAEL TODAY
Miss Israel is representing her native country in the international Miss World beauty pageant adorned in a patriotic blue and white gown featuring the Star of David.
Mor Maman, the current Miss Israel, is highlighting her pride in her native land of Israel. The bold decision by Miss Maman to appear in a dress depicting the symbol of the State of Israel is intended to make a clear statement to the international community: Israel is alive, well and here to stay!
Showing off the national colors of Israel with the star of David embossed across the front and along the arms of the gown, Miss Israel will be competing against 100 other beauty queens from around the world.
Last year the pageant was watched by over 2.5 billion people in 180 countries. This year over 3 billion are expected to view the 64th annual event, which will be broadcast live from London.
The competition began on November 20th and concludes with the Grand Final on 14th December.
There is a Miss World app – a free smartphone application from which viewers can vote for their favorite contestants and help them advance to the final round.
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Friday, December 5, 2014
US May Sanction Israel for Building on Bible Lands - CBN News
US May Sanction Israel for Building on Bible Lands
Friday, December 05, 2014
JERUSALEM, Israel -- The United States is considering the possibility of taking "harsher measures" against Israel for building in Jerusalem and biblical Judea and Samaria, a report in the leftwing Ha'aretz daily said this week.
The report said (unnamed) senior Israeli officials said (unnamed) White House officials "held a classified discussion a few weeks ago about the possibility of taking active measures against the settlements."
Until now the United States has made do with condemnation of Israeli building in areas that are disputed between Israel and the Palestinians - areas the Palestinians want for a future state and the Bible promised to the Jewish people as an eternal inheritance.
The report appeared the same day the U.S. Congress reaffirmed Israel as a "strategic partner."
The House of Representatives unanimously approved the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 on Thursday, which expands defense and security, energy, research and development, business, water management, and academic cooperation. The Senate approved the bill earlier.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, neither The White House spokesperson nor the National Security Council would comment on the report.
The rightwing Arutz-7 website said commentators on Israel's right dismissed the report as "election propaganda."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for early elections this week. It's no secret that Netanyahu and President Barack Obama don't get along. Some have wondered if the United States would try to influence Israeli elections.
Landmark Bill Enshrines Israel as Strategic Partner - CBN News
Landmark Bill Enshrines Israel as Strategic Partner
Friday, December 05, 2014
Congress has unanimously approved legislation declaring Israel a "major strategic partner" of the United States.
The United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 is viewed as historic because it strengthens the friendship the two nations have enjoyed for nearly 70 years.
The landmark legislation expands cooperation in several areas, like energy, agriculture, defense, and intelligence.
It provides Israel with another $200 million worth of military equipment -- a weapons stockpile both nations can use in the event of war.
Israel's status will be upgraded to expedite trade licensing, and Israeli citizens may be allowed to enter the United States without a visa.
Congressional approval comes at a time when relations between the two countries are at an all-time low.
The White House's dislike of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is apparent, with administration officials having made disparaging remarks about the Israeli leader in the past.
In addition, many Israelis feel the United States is pressuring the Jewish state to accept further concessions with Hamas, a designated terror group that has pledged to destroy the Jewish state.
Nevertheless, Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel, told CBN News he believes the United States will remain friends with Israel because the nation is the only representative of the free world in the Middle East.
"That's why inevitably we have and will continue to have strong cooperation between America and Israel," he explained. "And I have to say that our security cooperation, the cooperation at the levels of our armies and intelligence is very close and very deep."
Sharansky believes what is most important to Israel is that America continues to lead the free world, "and when America is not ready to lead, we will all have a problem."
But some of Sharansky's fellow Likud Party members and some members of the U.S. Congress don't like the direction the Obama administration is leading, especially on the issue of Iran's nuclear program.
They predict the United States will eventually negotiate an agreement that will lead to Iranian development of nuclear weapons.
That's something Sharansky says Israel will never accept.
"Of course we would prefer that the free world would realize the depth of the threat to freedom in the world and will take care of Iran," he said. "But if the free world will not do it, Israel will have no choice but to deal with this problem."
While many see the historic Strategic Partnership Act as a step in the right direction, deep strains in the friendship may still lie ahead.
Watch video: CBN News
Mayor Campaigns for God After Miraculous Escape - CBN News
Mayor Campaigns for God After Miraculous Escape
Friday, December 05, 2014
As super Typhoon Haiyan slammed into eastern Philippines, Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and a few staff members were stranded at a beach front location.
"A song that I was singing throughout the time was "You are my Word, You are my God and I lay down my life for you,'" Mayor Romualdez recounted to CBN News in an exclusive interview from his office in Tacloban.
Suddenly a storm surge hit the building.
Miraculous Escape
"I was asking God, 'Please give me a few minutes, even an hour to get down and to make sure my family was okay and then if it is time for me to go then that's it,'" Romualdez recalled.
Romualdez and the others punched a hole in the ceiling to escape rising water seconds before another tidal wave hit.
Meanwhile across town, at his beach house, Romualdez's wife and two children were also on the verge of being swept away by tsunami-like waves. The entire time Cristina Romualdez was reciting the whole of Psalm 91.
"I will dwell in the shelter of the most High God, I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, you are my refuge and my fortress," she said.
The couple says it's a miracle they survived.
"When you are faced with death as I was several times during that day you completely forget everything," the mayor told CBN News. "I never went back to my house to check on my belongings till after five days. What was important to me were the lives of people. I got my family and I was out there saving lives."
Paying Forward With Hope
As soon as the storm passed, the mayor hit the streets clearing debris and coordinating search and rescue operations. Over 6,000 people died that day. Romualdez says he knew he had to give people hope to help them pull through.
"People were questioning their faith and they were asking me: 'Why did God take away my children? What did they do wrong? And then I said 'Do you want to see God?' 'Yes, then you have to die! You have to overcome death and Christianity is not focused on death, it is focused on after life."
A year later he's still encouraging residents of his city to draw close to God.
"The purpose in what I tell people is that when it comes to God I ask questions, but I don't question. I ask questions and I ask, 'Lord, why did this happen?' George: Have you had an answer yet? Romualdez: Yes. George: And what did He say? Romualdez: The answer clearly is that it is not a miracle that you survived, because at the end of the day you are going to die. What is a miracle here and the blessing here and the grace of God here is where are you going to go after that."
The mayor's wife, a former actress turned politician, organized several evangelistic outreaches in Tacloban, including a worship event which took place on the storm's one-year anniversary.
"Anything could happen at any minute, you could lose your life any second, any day so people need to realize and I think people have realized that there's no other way you can go but rely on God and walking with God every day," seh said.
It's a spiritual sentiment that runs deep in this city-- as I discovered while riding Tacloban's most popular means of public transport.
"It's good to have a mayor who trusts God and encourages us to trust Him as well," Nirva Vinez a resident of Tacloban, said."He almost lost his life, he knows the pain we are enduring a year after the storm. We need God's help to rebuild our destroyed city."
CBN Disaster Relief
The mayor has taken a lot of heat in the last year for his government's slow response to the rebuilding efforts. But in reality you talk to many Taclobans and they will blame the national government in Manila.
"It's not the mayor's fault," one resident of Tacloban said. "The national government is wrongly accusing him of inaction when the blame should be on them for not doing enough to help us rebuild."
Romualdez says thanks to international aid agencies, like CBN Disaster Relief, Tacloban is slowly getting back on its feet. In the last 12 months, CBN Disaster Relief teams have built temporary homes for over 15 hundred families, restored 9 schools and helped thousands of typhoon victims with livelihood projects.
"I was very glad when I saw the teams (CBN Disaster Relief) come in because I know they work fast and they were one of the first ones to build temporary or what we call transitional shelters and they were fast," he said.
Mayor Romualdez is a very busy man these days trying to rebuild and restore hope to his city. He clings to his faith and is trusting God to fulfill His divine purposes for Tacloban.
"Being more like Christ is living dangerously. We are not told that there is a disaster so we will hide. No. We are told that there are disasters to come, there are challenges to come but for us to face it and God will be with us. Having a strong faith is the key, you cannot do it alone."
Watch Video: Mayor-Campaigns-for-God-After-Miraculous-Escape
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