WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 1/29/2014

Priority Prayer Focus Jan 29, 2014

Pray over the Israeli ministries Paul’s prayer request of the Ephesians (6:19)

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.”

The Gospel has come full circle, the first shall be last.

Contact information for all the ministries is included inside the attached Weekly Summary.
Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

We start this week with couple of December prayer letters that slipped through the cracks, first in Jerusalem, the director of the Yad Hashmona Guest House and the only Messianic moshav (a co-op settlement or village) writes about the ups and downs of 2013 for them. This is the Guest House & facility which a lesbian couple sued and prevailed over in the Israeli courts when the Messianics refused to host their lesbian wedding reception based on it going against their religious beliefs.  Yad Hashmona is taking appealing the verdict, so the case is ongoing.  Also last year a religious orthodox Jewish town began seeking to expand their town by surrounding the Yad Hashmona hilltop.  This is also an ongoing case. 

Then because of harassment from the Kosher supervisors over their kosher license, Yad Hashmona decided to give up their kosher license because it had become impossible to work with the supervisors. This cuts off a lot of business this facility has used to keep afloat, which is why we would like to urge those of you planning individual or group tours to Israel to consider using Yad Hashmona as your base lodging. 

You can read more inside the attached Weekly Summary – including the GOOD NEWS of 2013 that their Messianic village grew by another 55 new members, families who will be building houses, “making it a bigger settlement of believers, and increasing our hold in the grounds and the land God entrusted in our hands.”  This is a historic/prophetic place unfolding and visitors from the international church can have a portion in it just by choosing to use these facilities when in Israel.  

The second email we overlooked was this one from Eric Benson of the House of Victory rehab ministry that is connected with the HaCarmel congregation.  Mazal tov to Eric was installed as an Elder at HaCarmel.  You can watch here.  It is a very touching video, a little less than 10 minutes long, but brought tears to my eyes quite fast.  A blessing.

Revive Israel shares a video of a Messianic preschool they have sown seed into in Jerusalem which is serving both Jewish and Arab families.  It is called Little Hearts Preschool directed by Alec Shoshani, a project of Seeds of Hope Ministry, Taysir and Karen Abu Saada.  Watch the video here and be blessed with the vision of one new man, kindergarten level. 

Ari Blumenthal of Revive also shared about the conference last week with Koreans from 7 different churches and several nations along with Revive.  “We encourage groups to make visiting and fellowshipping with the “living stones” a part of their visit to Israel.  This is not because we are without enough work in the local ministry!  Rather, we believe that the twin “mysteries” of the One New Man (Eph. 2 & 3) and the Olive Tree (Rom. 11) compel us to build real, relational unity with the Body of Christ from the nations.”

Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper’s great visit to Israel has encouraged the hearts of all Israelis, including a Canadian married to an Israel living in Israel and on the Revive team, Cody Archer.   Read inside the attached Weekly Summary, his take on PM Harper’s impact.

Please pray for the Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper.  We know that the stand Harper took wholeheartedly on behalf of Canada will bring backlash, and in fact, this notice just arrived in my email from the Ottawa Citizen that the “National Council of Canadian Muslims – formerly known as CAIR-CAN, or Council on American Islamic Relations (Canada) – threatens to sue Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s spokesman, Jason MacDonald, for daring to suggest that the organization has links to the terrorist group Hamas.” 

Most people do not realize it, but the connection between CAIR and Hamas has been shown in court evidence in the largest case of material support of a terrorist group that was ever tried in U.S. history, the Holy Land Foundation case.  But CAIR continues to win the public relations war through the willful blindness of government leaders, the media and in public that apparently would rather not have to be burdened with the facts about Islamist terrorists.  Pray for believers in all the nations to pay attention to the agenda of Islam that challenges Israel, first – but every other nation second.  

From David and Michaella Lazarus of Beit Immanuel comes an extremely heartening report from some of the men of their congregation who have been visiting prisoners, many of whom are serving life sentences.  What a powerful testimony this report is – Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.  You can read the Q&A inside the attached Weekly Summary.

From Arad comes news of a change taking place in the Hebrew congregation in Arad.  Yo-yakim Figueras has been pastoring the Mercy of Yeshua congregation for several years but now is stepping back to put his focus on working with children and youth -both from the congregation but also from outside.  The congregation will be led by a plurality of elders.  Pray for this congregation to make a good transition and that leaders will emerge for the good of the congregation.

Sally Shiff, who leads the intercessory team at the HaMaayan (Wellsspring) Congregation in Kfar Saba, has just returned from a six tour of the United States where she spoke in many meetings to raise up intercessors for the living stones of Israel.  I was delighted to meet Sally face to face in Dallas, blessed by her never-met-a-stranger ebullient personality and wide open heart.  One of the things that I’m sure Sally in many of her meetings what about the faulty translation we have of Psalm 122:6 to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”  Sally explained how the proper meaning is “to inquire or ask, ‘How is your peace”. 

What does that mean to you? Everything saints, especially because by using this prayer letter that weekly shares the prayer requests of Israeli ministries, you are in effect asking for and receiving knowledge and understanding of their conditions.   When you understand that God wants you to inquire, How are you?  What is going on? How can I pray for you – that makes a big leap over just praying about Israel’s international standing.  Now you are getting PERSONAL with spiritual saints who can really tell you what the need is in Israel. 

Read more about Sally’s trip across the U.S. inside the Weekly Summary.

Joel Jelsk shares a teaching, Stewarding God's words for you that he gave at Succat Hallel in Jerusalem this week.   Within the teaching is also a testimony about the news that broke last week about the Al Qaeda terrorist cell that was captured in Jerusalem before they could carry out intended major attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem convention center and many other attacks that would have created major havoc in not only Israel, but with rippling effects through the Middle East. This news has been downplayed almost to be non-existent in the U.S. but WE MUST TAKE NOTE!  

Joel leads a youth group at Succat Hallel, which you can read about inside the attached Weekly Summary.  Joel and his bride are leaving for Mexico and the U.S. shortly for family visits and a speaking tour, you can see Joel’s tentative schedule below in the Touring Ministries section.

Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please keep in prayer the Israeli believers who are fighting for their lives or other urgent health needs: 

• Brian Slater’s wife Racheli has suffered a broken hip/Femural Neck Fracture from a fall in their home. She will be on crutches for two months. Appreciate prayers.
• Four elder ministry leaders in Israel, are dealing with Parkinson’s which is a neurological syndrome.  Since they have not shared this information, I will just ask for you to please pray for them each to be able to continue to live normal lives, and for the hand of the LORD to bless them with healing.
• Harvest of Asher   Continued prayer for Elena’s recovery from cancer, also for her mother’s recovery from surgery and for Elena’s daughter who is taking care of them all. Please pray for a 11-yr old autistic boy who functions at a high level, but has declined emotionally with a change in schools this year.  Pray for Marina & her daughter suffering from a genetic hearing disease.
• Please pray for the wife of Ariel Ben David, who leads an Eilat Congregation, and also for his worship leader, both of whom were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Pray for Ami Ortiz for ongoing issues from the 2008 bomb blast – and that he would win the appeal for government recognition that he is a terror victim.  It would mean benefits for the continuing surgeries and legal expenses.  See Leah’s report on their website of the latest round of laser surgeries on Ami’s scarring in this issue.

Inside the attachment of the
Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries
Arrows from Zion can be shared freely.  Just copy and paste this email into a Word document to make it easy to print.  However, we ask the Weekly Summaries not be forwarded or information republished without consent of the specific ministries. The Weekly Summary is by subscription only, write arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com

Praying the Headlines

Martin Sarvis in Jerusalem gives us perspective and prayers on two issues in the Israeli news to pray into.  (Read the full versions inside the attached Weekly Summary, along with the suggested lines of prayer) Here are excerpts of the two issues:

Last week Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet released news of having uncovered a massive plot aimed at perpetrating a rash of high-level bombing and shooting attacks in Israel. Directed from al-Qaeda operatives in the Gaza Strip, it involved suicide bombings at the US embassy in Tel Aviv and at the Jerusalem Convention center (the latter involving an additional suicide-truck to arrive and blow up rescue workers after the original detonation); an attack on a bus between Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, with shooting of passengers after the bus was overturned; kidnapping of an Israeli soldier at the Jerusalem Central bus station; and blowing up of a residential building housing Jews in the Abu Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem. The three young recruits who were captured (another is still at large) were from Jerusalem, one a father of four living in the Abu Tor neighborhood mentioned.  We thank God for His merciful protection and watch over Israel. He who watches over her "neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 121:4).

Israel has some of the most liberal laws on abortion in the western world. It is estimated that there are at least 40,000 abortions performed here each year-around 110 a day ("56,000 fewer abortions and not a single protest" Eli Schussheim: The Times of Israel, 19 Jan 2014, 3:50 p.m.). The Government has recently decided to extend abortion funding, enabling women between the ages of 20 and 33 to obtain free government-sponsored abortions (previously, such assistance was limited to women under 19 or over 40). . . .
Yet there is a growing Life-remnant in the land! Be'ad Chaim (Pro Life) is a registered Israeli non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of mothers and unborn children. Sandy Shoshani, national director of Be'ad Chai, responded to the Governments decision with a warning, "The moral fibers of our nation are in shreds. You can't bring a curse on your nation and not expect repercussions. We just opened the door wide and made ourselves vulnerable." Be'ad Chaim sent letters to many Knesset members including the Prime Minister. As Shoshani told Israel Today, "It's one thing for a government to approve abortion, but it's another thing entirely to pay for it." There have been some sympathetic responses, but "no one is actually doing anything. Ultimately, there is really not much we can do besides put this matter and our leaders before the Lord" (Ibid.).

Israeli Ministries on Tours

BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for Brian Slater of Yeshua’s Fresh Bread in Israel; and Joel Jelski of Succat Hallel 24/7 House of Prayer.

The Israeli Messianic Feature of the Week  Books You Need By Your Reading Chair
All Available at Amazon

 

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
If your weekly Arrows from Zion email does not come in,
check online each Wednesday at Israel Prayer Dot Com  |
 Israel Watcher – A Second Opinion   Mostly political or current events commentary
| Fruit of the Fig Tree   Spiritual insights 

If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry to share both the  challenges and the great things God is doing among the Israeli indigenous ministries, please pray about making a financial gift donation.  Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
Or click on the PayPal account:  donna@israelprayer.com
I do not have tax exempt status. 

WEEKLY Arrows from Zion 1/22/2014

Priority Prayer Focus Jan 22, 2014

Pray for steadiness among the saints in the chaos of these days . . . and for the times that we rub each other the wrong way like 60-grit sandpaper, that we will keep our relationship in perspective – God’s perspective, that is.  A temple of living stones being fitly joined together.

Contact information for all the ministries is included inside the attached Weekly Summary.
Arrows from Zion
Strategically Aimed for the Lord’s Harvest in Israel

First we say farewell to Tom Bender, until we meet in eternity, and to his family, Ronit his wife, we send our condolences to you in the loss of your best friend and covenant partner in your life.  We pray that the LORD would comfort you as only He is able, and send you memories that make you smile again.  Pray for renewed vision to press forward in the high calling.

Israel Pochtar will be leading an official delegation from Israel to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. this February 5-7.  The annual prayer breakfast is actually a series of meetings, luncheons, and dinners over several days which presents a tremendous opportunity to  “meet important people involved in making key decisions in Israel, but to also influence and help change their negative misconceptions and mindsets regarding Messianic believers in Israel as well as Christians from the nations.”  Over 3,000 guests from over 130 nations will attend.

Israel writes:  “I firmly believe this is in actual fact a divine appointment, a God-given opportunity to impact the future of Israel.”  If you would like to help sponsor this strategic project, please read more inside the attached Weekly Summary.

Pochtar also follows up with a short report on their special Christmas outreach project, writing: “What an amazing evening! Over 400 non-believers came to watch a special musical presentation of the Nativity night and hear a moving message we prepared about the birth of our Messiah. Whole families were left mesmerized and absolutely touched, as the whole atmosphere was aglow with the Spirit of our Messiah Yeshua.”

Special Israelprayer Note:   Remember around last Thanksgiving when a Jewish reporter writing for Mother Jones launched an attack on the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute because former President George W Bush was to be their keynote speaker for the annual fund raiser?  Well that reporter, Sarah Posner, has written negative articles about Messianic Jews before and earlier this month I happened across one of those articles that appeared in the Left leaning magazine, The Atlantic.  Kosher Jesus: Messianic Jews in the Holy Land starts off with a great opening line, “Asher Intrater is playing Jewish geography with me.”  My comments of praise have to end there.

You might be interested to read what kind of attitude there is in some Jewish circles about Jews who believe in Yeshua, but I also wanted to point out this November 2012 article for another reason.  Even though I keep a pretty close eye out for the various forms of persecution and harassment that Israel’s Messianic Jews are confronted by, the truth is they don’t tell a lot of it.  Some are under tremendous pressures of attempts to cause troubles to the heads of the ministries or the teams and congregants around them. 

Certainly Asher’s ministry is one that is a high value target of anti-missionaries, and there are others.  Please pray for the often unspoken needs of targeted ministries.

Asher shares his teaching, Messiah Must Die, that discusses some of the beliefs of traditional and contemporary Judaism concepts of the Messiah, specifically the claim of Lubavitchers that Rabbi Schneerson fulfilled Isaiah 53 and was the Messiah.    Intrater notes that there is still an expectation in Israel today that Messiah will come to rule as king and bring world peace.  (He has also taught in the past that this is an aspect of Jesus that Christians need a clearer vision for.) 

Mark your calendars to join in with the Revive Israel Esther Fast which has become an annual event live streaming from Jerusalem.  March 13, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Israeli time; Prayer topics, schedules and links to be announced.

Dov Bikas expresses gratefulness to those who prayed for their move from Yavne to Beer Sheva – closer to the congregation and rehab center.  They are at capacity in the rehad center with 8 men who are studying the Bible and truly seeking the Lord as they overcome the addictions in their lives.  Bikas writes, “Since our centers – and all others we cooperate with – are already full, we can no longer accept new people. This is quite sad because people in Tel Aviv who are struggling with addictions keep asking about a rehab. That is why we are praying about the possibility of opening another center this year – either for women or for men, depending on God’s leading and circumstances. Please pray.”

Helping people is always a good thing, but only those who are ministering in the name of Yeshua are helping people in a way that touches the natural need in an eternal way.  That is why we encourage any of our readers, if you donating to any cause in Israel – even if it is through a Christian ministry – if the donations are not distributed by Israeli believers ministering in the name and power of Jesus, PLEASE reconsider if just good enough is good enough.   The God kind of giving will bring eternal consequences, not just temporary relief.

Eitan Shishkoff who turns 66 in a few days, encourages us to “give yourself whole-heartedly to God, to your immediate family, to your community of faith, and to those next to you who do not yet know the Messiah.”  He also writes, “Your prayers of intercession are the mortar that has secured us, as living stones, in the Lord’s rebuilt temple here, in the land of Israel.  Todah Rabbah!  Thank you so much!”

Some specific prayers Eitan asks for is “for justice and servant-hearted integrity in our parliament (Knesset) and cabinet ministries.  The Department of the Interior in particular, which rules on citizenship applications, has intense need for prayer, that Messianic Jews would not be blocked from citizenship.”

Also:  Israel also needs intercession regarding the gaping distance between or social norms and God’s revealed way of life for this land in [the Bible] ….Examples: Tel Aviv is considered the world’s best city for gays.  Corruption in business and in government is expected and often applauded. 

Tents of Mercy will soon be opening a coffee house/soup kitchen to help the needy in their neighborhood.  The poverty level, as we noted last week is extreme and is set far below what the U.S., for example, has set as the poverty level.  We can help them make a major difference in the lives of people in their own neighborhoods. 

Eitan’s book, “What About Us?” is in the process of being published in German with strong interest in French, Spanish and Norwegian.  He writes, “I would so appreciate your intercession for the logistics and local financing of each of these editions.  I am humbled and grateful for the international interest in what I wrote on the subject of covenant friendship between Jewish and Gentile lovers of Yeshua.”

Howard Bass, writing from Beer Sheva notes, “Christmas has come and gone, but the subject will not go away.  One of the main objections that we faced this year was the contention that the whole thing is of pagan origin, including the date set for it.  This false premise has gained strength the last 30-40 years only, and has brought division and confusion into the Body of Messiah, and is a terrible witness to those still seeking the Lord of Glory, while seeing His 'church' scattered and accusing the brethren.   The timeline which I have been working on for close to 20 years uses only Scripture to show that the birth of the Lord and its timing is not of pagan origin, but from God Himself.”  Read more inside the attached Weekly Summary.

Howard also writes, “There is another national scandal in Israel connected especially with the rabbinic leaders and their undue influence over political, business, criminal, police leaders.  There was an opinion piece in Sunday's Hebrew edition of the most widely circulated newspaper, Israel HaYom (Israel Today), about the filthy corruption infecting the whole of the society, coming through the spiritual leaders of the "Jewish state".  Here is today's online English translation, and pay particular attention to the final paragraph, speaking of "a God-fearing Jew from Galilee 2000 years ago".

Howard gives tribute to an Israel Prayer warrior in England who passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 95. Ken Burnett started “Prayer for Israel” in 1969 just as the Messianic movement was emerging from the Jesus Movement that was taking place in the United States.  Howard writes, “Ken was a vital part in our own lives, in the encouragement he gave to Randi and me, and for the congregation in Beer Sheva which we have been part of since 1982.  PFI's prayers, and yours, have without doubt been greatly used by our God and Lord to enable whatever good has come out of Beer Sheva and from the Bass family.”

Psa 68:11-13 The Lord gives the word: The company that publish the tidings are a great host.

Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarries at home divides the spoil.

When you lie among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.

Psa 68:14-16  When the Almighty scattered kings in it, It was as white as snow Salmon.

A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.

Why do you look askance, you high mountains, At the mountain which God has desired for his abode? Yea, YHVH will dwell in it for ever.

Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is in the power of the tongue

Please keep in prayer the Israeli believers who are fighting for their lives or other urgent health needs: 

• Brian Slater’s wife Racheli has suffered a broken hip/Femural Neck Fracture from a fall in their home. She will be on crutches for two months. Appreciate prayers.
• Four elder ministry leaders in Israel, are dealing with Parkinson’s which is a neurological syndrome.  Since they have not shared this information, I will just ask for you to please pray for them each to be able to continue to live normal lives, and for the hand of the LORD to bless them with healing.
• Harvest of Asher   Elena is recovering at home from the last hospital stay. Please keep her in your prayers.  Pray for Omer’s condition and healing for Anna & Shimon.  
• Please pray for the wife of Ariel Ben David, who leads an Eilat Congregation, and also for his worship leader, both of whom were recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Pray for Ami Ortiz for ongoing issues from the 2008 bomb blast – and that he would win the appeal for government recognition that he is a terror victim.  It would mean benefits for the continuing surgeries and legal expenses.  See Leah’s report on their website of the latest round of laser surgeries on Ami’s scarring in this issue.

Inside the attachment of the
Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests from Israeli Ministries
Arrows from Zion can be shared freely.  Just copy and paste this email into a Word document to make it easy to print.  However, we ask the Weekly Summaries not be forwarded or information republished without consent of the specific ministries. The Weekly Summary is by subscription only, write arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com

Praying the Headlines

ISRAELPRAYER:  I dearly appreciate the way Eddie Santoro delivers insight and perspective on significant news in Israel.  That’s why I am going to devote this whole space to reprinting his prayer letter this week.  Usually we don’t have room but this week we do, so I would like all of you to get the full benefit of Santoro’s report on news taking place in Israel.  If you don’t know, Eddie is the pastor of the Ahavat Yeshua congregation in Jerusalem – a thriving Hebrew-speaking congregation that is filled with committed young Israeli families. 

Eddie & Jackie Santoro in  Jerusalem
Ahavat Yeshua Congregation (The Love of Yeshua)
Zion’s Glory and Tikkun Ministries  SUBSCRIBE: esant@netvision.net.il
Donations designated for Zion’s Glory: Tikkun Ministries PO Box 2997 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20886  http://www.tikkunministries.org/donations.php?ministry=ZionsGlory

It seemed to be a typical winter's night in southern Israel. The bustle of the day time activity in the city of Ashkelon had quieted down, the hour grew late and people went to sleep. And then suddenly, in the early predawn hours, the scream of air raid sirens shattered the silence. Once again terrorists from within the Gaza Strip were attacking Israel. This time they had fired seven rockets in the direction of the sleeping city. The three miles that separate Ashkelon from the terrorists meant that there were only seconds available in which to find cover from the incoming rockets. Parents grabbed their children and ran for their safe room, older people lay there and prayed, knowing that the brief seconds before impact were far too short to allow them to find cover.

At the same moment, the Iron Dome anti missile defense system perceived the rocket launches. In seconds, the amazing Israeli technology locked onto the speeding missiles. In a heartbeat they determined that five of the seven rockets were on course for direct hits within the boundaries of the city.  Immediately the fiery Israeli rockets streaked skyward towards the tiny points of light that were carrying death and destruction to the city. Each of the Iron Dome rockets found their target and as they exploded high above the city, a great cry of relief went up from the residents. The incoming rockets had been destroyed. This time there would be no ambulances, no broken bodies and no heartbreaking funerals.

And Again Several nights ago a similar scenario was played out, but this time the target was Israel's most southern city, Eilat and the point of origin was the Egyptian Sinai. Again, the sirens went off and again the sound of explosions shattered the quiet of the evening and by God's grace yet again, no one was wounded.

Over the past weeks there have been many more missiles. Some came from terrorists located in Lebanon and were aimed against Kiryat Shemona, Israel's most northern city and others were fired from within Syria towards the Golan Heights.

The perpetrators of these attacks were all from different terrorist groups and they originated from different places, but the motivation was always the same. The satanic inspired hatred of the Jewish people is the burning passion that drives each of these terrorists onward. All of the attacks were unprovoked. The only crime that Israel had carried out against these enemies was to exist. In the minds of these terrorists, the only solution to this most fundamental offense of the State of Israel was and continues to be its destruction.

Several weeks ago an Israeli worker was carrying out maintenance on the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip. He was standing in Israel unarmed when suddenly gunfire came from Gaza. The bullets found their mark and the worker fell to the ground dead. His crime? He was an Israeli doing his part to protect the Jewish people from their enemies.

At the same time along the Northern border, an Israeli patrol was driving along a road that bordered Lebanon. Suddenly a rocket propelled grenade was launched and the vehicle was struck. The wounded Israeli soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to a nearby hospital. Their crime? Driving a vehicle within Israel. The penalty for this offense according to Israel's enemies is death.

UNESCO  Last week a UN exhibit entitled, "The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel"  was suddenly cancelled. The reason for the cancellation according to UNESCO, the UN organization for Education, Science and Culture was that a group of Arab states, as well as the Palestinian Authority, said that they found the exhibit "deeply disturbing". The fact that the Jewish history that was portrayed by the exhibit is true was of no consequence to UNESCO. The exhibit was cancelled. The Arab solution to the "deeply disturbing" offense of Israel's history is clear. Rewrite the 3,500 years of history so that it is not Jewish. Replace the truth with a lie and undo the existence of Israel. Then and only then would the offense be removed. 

There is no other nation on the earth that suffers such an unending attack on its existence. As Israel's history is forever linked to the history, heritage and coming of Yeshua, so also as a people and as a nation, they somehow share in the sufferings of Messiah. Please join us in praying for the peace of Jerusalem. As Isaiah the prophet declared; "comfort, comfort my people" and "give God no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth".

A Different Reality  This past week the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper arrived in Israel for a state visit. It was a uniquely positive visit as the Canadian leader spoke the truth unashamedly and clearly. He boldly proclaimed Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State and openly praised Israel's record on human rights and economic freedom. It is interesting to note that the Canadian leader is a strong, evangelical Christian and no doubt the clarity of his understanding is directly connected to his deep faith. He is also a personal friend of PM Netanyahu.

In his message to the Knesset, he said that calling Israel an aparthied nation is "sickening" and that Canada would stand with Israel, "through fire and water". Though two Arab members of the Knesset walked out during his message, the hearts of Israelis were strengthened and encouraged by this brave politician who choses to stand on God's side.

Video Clip:  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper sings “Hey Jude” to Israeli PM Netanyahu at a Jewish National Fund gala event.  Click here to see the delighted reception from Israelis.

The reality of life in Israel is the opposite from the script that is being spoken around the world. When a lie is told again and again, people begin to receive it as the truth. The lies are spreading daily and are taking root at an unbelievable speed until in the end, all nations will gather against Israel.

We thank the Lord for men like Stephen Harper, who count truth as more valuable than political advantage. We also ask you, our dear friends, to be a light that is shining forth, proclaiming the truth wherever you are. Let each of us stand firm against the power of the unending lies that are spoken against Israel.

Please also join us in praying for the continual, supernatural defense of this nation. As King David declared so long ago; "may the Lord be Israel's stronghold...and when her enemies advance against her may it be them who stumble and fall."

We thank you for your love and support.

Israelprayer:  As we are preparing to send this prayer summary out we are seeing news reports of an al Qaeda terrorist plot that the Shin Bet thwarted that intended massive bombing of the Jerusalem Convention Center.  Threats are always hanging over Israel, but now there is an increase of actions behind the threats.  Pray for God’s hand of protection to be a barrier – a Heavenly Iron Dome – against active terror threats.

Nazareth Christians Warned Against 'Slandering' Allah

IsraelToday

As Christians of every stripe in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth begin to again take a real stand for their faith, local Muslims are warning them not to overstep the boundaries of their traditional place in the Middle East (hint: they must remain dhimmis, or second-class).

A large billboard hanging at a central point in Nazareth features a picture of an Israeli stop sign, along with the English translation of a verse from the Koran cautioning Christians (and Jews) to speak only the "truth" regarding Allah.

The poster (and Koran 4:171) reads:  "O people of the Scripture (Christians)! Do not exceed the limits of your religion. Say nothing but the truth about Allah (The One True God). The Christ Jesus, Son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God and His word conveyed to Mary and a spirit created by Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not say: 'Three gods (trinity)'. Cease! It will be better for you. Indeed, Allah is the One and the Only God. His Holiness is far above having a son."

Evangelical Christians from Nazareth have become a growing and integral part of the overall Messianic body in the land, while traditional Christians (Catholics, Greek Orthodox, etc) have been waking up to their historical and religious connection to the Jews and are joining the Israeli army in ever greater numbers.

Israeli Ministries on Tours

BOOKING meetings now (See open dates)  Inside the attached Weekly Summary are itineraries and open dates for Brian Slater of Yeshua’s Fresh Bread in Israel and Joel Jelski of Succat Hallel/Bound4Life.

Donna Diorio 
 arrowsfromzion@gmail.com or donna@d10r10.com
 
  Israel Watcher – A Second Opinion   Mostly political or current events commentary
| Fruit of the Fig Tree   Spiritual insights 

If you appreciate the efforts of this ministry to share both the  challenges and the great things God is doing among the Israeli indigenous ministries, please pray about making a financial gift donation.  Make donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio and mail to:
Israel Prayer  P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006
Or click on the PayPal account:  donna@israelprayer.com
I do not have tax exempt status.