Saturday, December 28, 2013

"Pressing On With Encouragement for the Long Haul” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

"Pressing On – Encouragement for the Long Haul”

“My times are in Your hands…” (Psalm 31:15 NAS)

Dear family of friends,

As I sat in my prayer chair that Saturday morn, having already read the Lord’s Word which I keep beside me on the lamp stand, and now accompanied with a fresh cup of java my good wife had brought me, I pondered on what the new year would bring. Weariness had taken a bit of a toll on my body, my mind and even my spirit. I looked forward to the road ahead, but as many of us do, we wonder what is on that road. Is it good? Will we make it? Will our faith be strong enough? And so I asked Him for more strength and hope.

In a brief message I had written to one of my five sisters that week, who was anxious about an upcoming job situation, I encouraged her to daily pray His words, one of many given to us in His Book of Promises. He simply says for us to believe, “My times are in Your hands.”

I found myself praying that same prayer again – for her, others on my prayer list, and for myself. As Derek Prince once said about receiving Scripture, it is like taking daily medicine. Here is an excerpt from a devotional he wrote.

Daily Devotional by Derek Prince.

God’s Medicine Bottle

Proverbs 4:20–22
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” KJV

For many years I have known those three verses from the fourth chapter of Proverbs as “God’s medicine bottle.” God declares that if we will rightly receive His words and His sayings, they will be life to us and health to all our flesh. The marginal translation for the word that is translated “health” is “medicine.” That’s why I say it’s “God’s medicine bottle.”

And God says His medicine will provide us with health in all our flesh. In every area of our physical body it will provide health, but remember, the directions are on the bottle. The medicine only works if you take it according to the directions. There are four directions.

First, attend to God’s word.
Second, incline or bow down your ear and listen to His sayings.
Third, let them not depart from your eyes, keep them before your eyes continually.
And fourth, let them settle and abide in the midst of your heart.

If you take the Word of God according to those fourfold directions, you will find, as I did many years ago, that God’s medicine bottle produces just the results that He claims. It brings life and health to all our flesh. I found that after a year on end in a hospital when doctors couldn’t heal me, God’s medicine did the job.

Whitaker House Publishers, 1996

Personally I can’t comprehend how people who do not know the Lord God of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus), make it through their day to day life. It astounds me how many keep trusting in their own abilities or someone else’s, which will ultimately fail, when they too could be having an ongoing faith in their Creator, and Knower of the road ahead for them. I am so thankful we can know His will, walk in His ways, and gain daily encouragement through His Holy Spirit.

For the long haul, for the marathon we run, we must keep pressing on in our faith and hope in Him. Our Good Lord will see us through. He will provide daily strength for the journey, to the end of time. His reward will be great.

Keep your eyes fixed on Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Keep pressing on to the mark He has set before us. His promises are sure. We can count on Him. Thank you Lord.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

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Ahava Love Letter #96 “Pressing On” Steve Martin

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (12.28.13 Saturday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters

Friday, December 27, 2013

Did 2013’s Prophetic Words Ring True? - Jennifer LeClaire (CharismaNews)

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In the days and weeks ahead, prophetic voices around the world will release prophecies for 2014. You’ll read a handful of them on the "Prophetic Insight" section of charismamagazine.com.

But before we charge ahead to weigh prophetic mandates, directives and warnings for 2014, let’s take a minute to look back at the prophetic words declared over 2013. After all, you can’t always limit God’s words to a 12-month timeline. Indeed, it’s possible that some 2013 prophecies won’t be relevant for years and others will remain relevant for years to come. So, again, before we move on to the next new word, let’s review what the Lord said last year and respond according to His Spirit.

The Spiritual Avalanche That Could Kill Millions

About this time last year, evangelist Steve Hill had a vision. He saw a massive, majestic mountain covered in glistening snow. It turned out to be an avalanche of heretical teachings, including universal reconciliation, the deification of man, a challenge against the validity of the Word of God including His judgments, and even the lifting of any boundaries, claiming His amazing grace is actually amazing freedom. We’ve certainly seen a rise in heretical teachings in 2013. But I believe the avalanche has yet to completely fall. Have you girded the loins of your mind for the onslaught in the years ahead?

Be Free of Satan’s False Accusations in 2013

Sandie Freed, founder and director of the School of the Prophets and Apostolic Training Center in Bedford, Texas, declared freedom from Satan’s false accusations in 2013. She charged us to “step into 2013 with an understanding of who God is and with the revelation that He is not a God that lies.” This was less of a prophetic word and more of an apostolic decree. Did you heed the call?

'My Hand Is Moving Across Your Nation in a Miraculous Way'

Eileen Fisher, author of Embracing the Prophetic, released a prophetic word declaring, “My hand is moving across your nation in a miraculous way.” The conclusion of the prophecy proclaimed, “You will hear a miraculous report of the Lord. You will dance in the streets and you will sing and you will declare, 'All is well!' I will say until you, sing it in faith, sing it when you are alone, declare it, decree it, and so it shall be: All shall be well because the well of salvation is going to be poured out fresh over your nation. I am causing places that have been dry to open up to My reign. I will come down and you will hear, 'Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord our God and be dipped in the well of our own salvation,' says the Lord your God.” Did you experience this in your life, family or church?

Return to Antioch

The Lord told Jennifer LeClaire (that’s me) to issue a prophetic directive. It came to my spirit in three words: “Return to Antioch.” In my article, I wrote, “We need to ‘return to Antioch.’ We need to return to sound doctrine that strengthens the spirits and souls of the disciples, encourages them to contend for the true faith, and refuses to sugar coat the Christian walk. We need to ‘return to Antioch’ and leave behind the Hollywood Christianity, the pillow prophets, the prosper-me gospel and the other foolish practices that have crept into the 21st century church while we were sleeping. We need to ‘return to Antioch’ and walk with Christ no matter what it costs us. We need to be found faithful when the Lord returns.” I believe this is still true for 2014.

Cry Out for a Youth Awakening

Former Charisma editor J. Lee Grady believed God had redemption in mind for 2013. Lee says God told him, "Pray for a great awakening in the younger generation.” He offered three Spirit-led prayer points and concluded, “God wants to give America another chance. The prophet Jeremiah pronounced many words of judgment on wayward Israel, yet he prayed this: 'Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old' (Lam. 5:21). God loves to answer that prayer! His desire is to restore—and He can orchestrate a great turnaround in our nation if we will humble ourselves and cry to Him with all our hearts.” Amen. I believe this prophetic word is still relevant today.

13 Prophecies for 2013

The most-shared 2013 prophecy article on Charisma magazine last year was revivalist Matt Sorger’s "13 Prophecies for 2013." He shared a number of visions, from stagnant waters being stirred in a fresh way to a prophetic ear to comprehend to a new God-given language to communicate His truths clearly to blueprints for a new wineskin. Sorger encouraged us to pursue these things aggressively as invitations to lay hold of.

Stay tuned in the coming days and weeks as we’ll share more prophetic words. In the meantime, review these decrees, announcements, insights and directives. Grab what rings with your spirit even as you prepare your heart to receive what God has for you in the new year.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

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Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta) - David Street in the Old City of Jerusalem

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

David Street, inside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem's Old City. The picture appears to have been taken prior to 1898 when the moat on the right was filled in and the road widened to allow entry of the German emperor.

(Credit: Keystone-Mast Collection, California Museum of Photography at UCR ARTSblock, University of California, Riverside)

Traffic jam on the expanded David Street in 1898

(Credit: Library of Congress)

Welcome to David Street just inside the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem's Old City. Like today, it was a center for tourism over 100 years ago which explains the hotels, the signs in English, the sale of photographs, and a tourist office.

No date is provided for the picture in the UCR files, but looking at another picture probably taken during the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm in 1898, this scene predates the visit.

We found one of the photographs on sale of particular interest. (See the bottom left of the photo at the top.) We've seen that picture before -- in the Library of Congress collection.

Photographs for sale in the 1890s.

Jew of Jerusalem The Library of Congress dates the

picture as being taken between 1900 and 1910. It was

almost certainly taken in the 19th century, however.

A sign on the street advertises "Bonfils," one of the leading photographers in the Near East at the end of the 19th century. Many of his pictures appear in Israel Daily Picture.

Photographs for sale to tourists

The Keystone collection photo from UCR also shows a prominent sign for the Cook's World Ticket Office, the leading travel agency for tourists and pilgrims to Palestine and Syria in the 19th century. The bottom sign offers guides and camp equipment.

For more information on Cook's role in investment and development of tourism in Jerusalem and Jaffa, read Ruth Kark's From Pilgrimage to Budding Tourism: The role of Thomas Cook in the rediscovery of the Holy Land in the 19th Century.

Strangely, Cook's signs cannot be seen in the photograph of the German emperor's arrival. Cook had supplied dozens of large tents for the emperor's entourage, but the signs were covered over.

The name "Assad C. Kayat" appears on a sign in the UCR photo. Ruth Kark's book on Sephardi Entrepreneurs in Jerusalem shows a 1903 check from the Jewish banker, Jacob Valero, to Kayat, but we have not discovered his profession or why he hung a sign in the Old City.

Kathie Walters: Getting In and Out of the Boat (Your Boat) - The Elijah List

Kathie Walters:

Getting In and Out of the Boat (Your Boat)

"Put Up Your Sail And See If the Wind Will Catch It"

Have you ever thought of something you would like to do, but you couldn't figure out how it would work or how it would succeed? So, you dropped the idea "until later."

What about the book or booklet you were going to write, but never got around to it? What about the art classes you wanted to take? What about the place you promised yourself to go? Or the person or ministry you really wanted to hang out with?

You know, we only have one life to live down here. You may as well have some adventures. I tell the older people, the grandpas and grandmas – this is the best opportunity you've ever had to get up and do something adventurous.

How do you know if it is going to work? Well, sometimes you don't know; you have to "give it a go," as they say in New Zealand, or, as Janice's husband, David, says to her, "Put your sail up and see if the wind will catch it."

You have to take opportunities – doors can open and close, and windows of opportunity can open and close. If you don't have your spiritual antenna up, you can miss those doors, because you are "busy."

Did you know you can be so busy working for Jesus you can totally miss a God opportunity? Jesus doesn't require you to work for Him; He wants you to yield to Him so that He can work THROUGH you. Much easier that way.

Some opportunities mean that you are in the boat. But you have to push off from the shore.You have to leave familiar territory – your comfort zone – and launch out, not exactly knowing all the details on the map either.

Where Is Your Comfort Zone?

Sometimes you have to get OUT of the boat if the boat has become your comfort zone. Remember Peter? He got out of his comfort zone, didn't he? A boat...that's his territory – he was comfortable there. He was a fisherman, and guess what? Fishermen practically live in boats. A very familiar place for him. He had probably managed to keep safe in all kinds of weather before now.

But suddenly, Peter saw Jesus walking on the water. Do you know, just like you, Peter had never actually seen anyone do that before?

I'm sure he had eyes like saucers. "Whaaaat?" But before he knew it, he realized this was an opportunity, and he leapt into an unknown sphere of faith. He couldn't wait for Jesus to get in the boat, because that particular opportunity would pass. He leapt into action, didn't he?

Next thing you know – there he is walking on the water. Whoooa, amazing! Of course we all know he got His eyes off Jesus and had to get back in the boat, but at least he had a Push out from the shore

go...at least he knew in the future that's a possibility.

You know, sometimes there aren't six months for you to debate about how to respond to an open door. You have an idea of something. But that's not enough – you have to push out from the shore, you, have to raise the sail.

You have to let the wind catch the sail.

Now Is Not The Time To Stay In Your Comfort Zone

Do you know that in Ireland in the fifth and sixth centuries there were many preachers in the monasteries? During that Celtic revival the monasteries would have about 4,000 young men and women.

They were like our Bible colleges. They healed the sick, preached the Gospel, and raised the dead. Some of them, called the Peregrini, would get into a boat off the shores of Ireland; the boat had no engine, no oars, and no rudder. They hoisted the sail and trusted God to send the winds to take them where they were meant to go. Brendan the Navigator had many miraculous adventures that way. He even sailed to America ("the Land of Promise," he called it.)

So, what about you? You can stay in your comfort zone – in your familiar boat, or you can raise the sail and let the winds take you out and into the purposes of God. It's so easy to get settled, isn't it?

Now is not that time.

We all have heard and seen the prophecies about the move of God and about the CHANGES.

Peter was probably quite successful as a fisherman. He was comfortable there – it's what he knew. But He met Jesus, and Jesus really turned his boat upside down. There he was in his comfort-zone life, and suddenly he met a Man unlike any other man he had ever met.

One day Jesus said, "Hey Peter, leave all that fishing, get out of your boat. I have some other fish to fry" (Kathie's interpretation, but it's good – and Scriptural).

Peter had to make a decision, didn't he? Jesus didn't say, "I will give you six months to think it over, and if you feel so inclined, well you can come with me." He just said to Peter, "Follow Me," and probably carried on walking.

Are you ready to hoist the sail? Are you going to push away from the shore?

If you want things to change, you have to do something different.

I don't believe it's the will of God that you are in a job that you hate, or a ministry or church you can hardly stand. That's immoral, really, as you will never give it your best. He puts His desires in your heart, so that when you serve Him, it's delightful, because it's in your heart.

What's really is in your heart? Keep your antenna up. Hoist the sail, let the wind come and take you where He wants you to go.

Kathie Walters
Good News Ministries

Email: kathiewalters@mindspring.com
Website: kathiewaltersministry.com

Kathie Walters is an international speaker who brings freedom to those who feel they have to "qualify." She also ministers in the supernatural and believes that the supernatural realm is for everyone.

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

It is always a challenge to "get out of our comfort zone" and walk to a new place with the Lord...BUT there are those times He calls us to STEP OUT...yes!

As we are about to embrace a New Year of change, it's a good time to pray and seek the Lord in ways that He wants to STRETCH us.

I appreciate this latest word by my friend Kathie Walters...she walks in the supernatural as a natural way of life.

Be encouraged as you walk out of your Boat!

Blessings,

Steve Shultz

***

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Israeli Minister: Must Stop Calling Ourselves 'Occupiers'

Thursday, December 26, 2013 | Yossi Aloni Israel Today

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Settlements

Israeli Tourism Minister Uzi Landau earlier this month inaugurated a new visitors center in the Jewish “settlement” of Sussia south of Hebron, and said the Jewish state must stop referring to itself as an “occupier” before it can expect anyone else to do the same.

“In the past we had arguments [over whether or not to remain here], but we always said it is our [land],” noted Landau. “But for the past 20 years we have been calling ourselves ‘occupiers,’ so what do we expect from everyone else?”

According to Landau, Israel needs to do a full 180 degree turn in how it approaches the subject. “This is our land! This is our homeland!” the minister stated emphatically. “We need to build without reservation and act as though we belong here.”

Landau urged Israelis and Jews everywhere to get back in touch with their roots, to realize the nation that God intended them to be, by visiting the ancient places like Sussia.

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