Day 67 Yes, I See

 

3/8/2026

"It is blessed to know of a place where we can

lay our tired head and heart, our heavenly Father's 

arms, and say to Him, 'I can do no more. And I have

nothing to tell you. May I lie here a while and rest?

Everything will soon be well again if I can only

rest in Your arms a while."

 

O. Hallesby

 

 

Here I am, sitting on a log, looking down at the grass, lost in my thoughts, feeling small and vulnerable, the noise in my head threatening to steal my peace, my joy. It's lonely sitting on this log, alone, weary, and afraid, but help is on the way. Soon I'll see a car pass by, and a stranger will smile and wave a friendly hello. The birds will eat the crumbs left on the meadow grass, then happily fly away. The sun is slowly rising and hope is on the way.

 

There are days when I feel "stuck" not knowing what to do. For a few months now my normal life has been changed, and when things finally appear to look hopeful, another potential snag threatens the peace that has been gained. Yet this time there's a difference, there's awareness, yet a calming feeling as if no matter what comes, it is well. As if in affirmation I hear the words "it is well with my soul" softly playing in the background. And I know that it is well with my soul, and in my life, because great is the faithfulness of the Lord. Again, confirmation comes "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be." 

 

It appears as if the Lord is sitting here beside me on my lonely log, no longer alone but resting in the arms of my Savior and Lord. He's assuring me of His love, and He's singing to me, reminding me of His faithfulness. He sent the stranger's smile and wave of affirmation. He sent the birds to dine and happily fly away, and He sent the sun to awaken the sky and shine the light of His countenance. He is reminding me that it's a new day, and although the clouds may appear in the sky, He is always with me. Never be afraid to start again, as many times as it takes, no matter what another may say to hurt and harm, He changes not, and His compassion never fails, great is His faithfulness.

 

Day 66 Jesus, Our Shepherd

 

3/7/2026

"As the Father knows Me, even so I know

the Father; and I lay down my

life for the sheep."

John 10:15

 

Yesterday, after fueling up with the Word of God, I put on my work gloves, grabbed my yard tools, and I worked the better part of the day outside. Physical labor, although unkind to lazy muscles from winter slumber, is so energizing, and playing in the dirt is something I enjoy. As a kid I used to love making mud pies, but I had no such luxury today as there was much work to be done. I love getting my hands dirty, working the soil, so later on I can see the fruit of my labor spring forth an abundant harvest. It was a good day and much was accomplished. 

Today I enjoyed a quiet, peaceful, and restful Sabbath day. I woke up around 3 am to let Alex, my cat,  outside, as he's an early morning riser who enjoys making his visits around the neighborhood before circling back around to the field that lies dormant beside my home. He's a natural born mouser, so he enjoys waiting and watching, just as the sun rises and unsuspecting field mice come out to play. It's the highlight of my neighbor's day when she sees him stalking his prey. It seems as if the little fellow brightens many lives, and I am so grateful that God sent him to my doorstep for his forever home. Although with spring around the corner, I have been seeing less of him inside lounging on my bed, but he's a free spirit, and he knows where to come if the need arises. I know Abba watches over him, as He watches over all of His furry creatures.

Since I was up already I decided to turn on the early morning Sabbath service from Kehilat HaCarmel in Israel. Since the alerts have been sounding continuously, everyone needs to stay close to bomb shelters, so the service was abbreviated somewhat. Pastor Danny shared from Psalm 23, a favorite passage of scripture that many people have memorized. His dad was a shepherd, so growing up he knew firsthand how to interpret David's psalm to make it relevant for today. Jesus always taught in parables, using examples common to life, as did David when he watched his flock on a mountainside communing with God.  There's an author I enjoy, Phillip Keller, who wrote several books based on his life as a shepherd, comparing a shepherd's role in caring for his flock with that of Jesus, our Great Shepherd. David must have spent many hours alone in the fields, sitting on the hillside guarding his sheep, communing with God, growing in wisdom and understanding. In Psalm 23, David has a deep knowledge of how our Shepherd watches over us, His flock, as he watches over and protects his sheep.

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). The Shepherd takes care of His sheep by providing shelter, by feeding them, and protecting them from predators. His sheep know His voice and respond to Him. In John 10:14 Jesus says I am the good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. When shepherds brought their sheep to the well for watering, the different flocks would mingle together, but when the shepherd called his sheep by name, they would recognize their shepherd's voice and follow him (John 10:3). The sheep know that the shepherd takes care of all their needs.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (verse 2).  Sheep are very timid, and they become tense and fearful if they suspect any hint of a threat. They are unable to lay down or have peace until certain things are done. They must be fed, be free of parasites, and there can be no contention or quarreling among the sheep so they can relax and rest. The shepherd makes certain that all these needs are met, so they will lay down. It's interesting to me that in spite of all the alerts in Israel of incoming rockets, missiles, or drones where the people must hurry to safety in a limited amount of time, never knowing for certain if the their shelter will be hit, the people are able to find peace and rest. Only God, our loving Father, our Good Shepherd can bring them, and us, to a place of rest and peace in the midst of storms. We look to Him from whom our help comes from.

"He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (verse 3). After a night of sleep and rest, the sheep are ready to head back out to the pastures where they will graze during the day. The shepherd guides them along the way that is safe, avoiding hazardous ravines or areas where predators are known to hang out. He must lead them, because if sheep are left alone, they will wander off, and either get lost or fall into some disaster. They depend on the presence of the shepherd to guard and protect them. Proverbs 4:25-27 says, "Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Remove your foot from evil."

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (verse 4). Like a shepherd guides his flock along the well trodden path other flocks have roamed, providing a sure path of safety, so the Good Shepherd guides us along the straight and narrows pathways, remaining beside us, even in times of struggle and hardship. The Israeli people certainly understand what it means to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, as they are continuously being fired at, but they know that God will protect them. Huddled in the shelters, the children feel safe, because their parents are there with them. The parents reassure the children of God's unfailing love, so they do not fear. Even though the sheep walk through deep, narrow, often dangerous valleys where there are animals lurking in the shadows to prey on them, they know that the shepherd will guard them and keep them safe from any danger. The shepherd carries a rod to keep predators away, and he carries a staff with a crooked end that helps to pull the sheep back onto the path, if they veer off or become caught in the brush. These tools are signs of strength and protection.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over" (verse 5). As the shepherd herds his sheep to fertile grasslands where they can feed, there may be predators watching in the trees, but the sheep know they will be protected, because they are loved. Although the enemy is encamped around about Israel, the Good Shepherd prepares a feast for the people, and the enemy cannot touch them. We have peace in our homes even when there may be chaos outside, where we can commune with our Father knowing He is in the midst of us. The shepherd anoints the sheep's head with oil to protect them from insects and parasites that burrow down into their skin and into their nasal passages. It soothes wounds and heals scabs, and it acts to soothe them and keep them peaceful. In ancient days, it was customary for the host whose home one was visiting to anoint the visitor's head with oil as a sign of blessing. An overflowing cup suggests abundance and blessing, and it represents the fact that our God doesn't just provide for our needs, but He blesses us in abundance.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (verse 6). In these closing lines, David is expressing the goodness of our God in providing for our needs always, and the blessing we will receive will be eternal life spent with Him. Oh, what a glorious day that will be! 

Day 65 Garden of the Soul

 

3/6/2026

"The most rewarding things in life are often

the ones that look like they cannot be done."

Daily Walk  

 

Spring seems to be nipping at our heels! The temperatures were much warmer this week, and the forecast for next week appears advantageous for yard work. The grass is getting higher, and the weeds are thriving, even the allergies are kicking off with a fierce vengeance. 

We spent the greater part of the day cutting down the hedges, hauling the branches, then burning the debris in the late afternoon. There were small piles of previously cut branches and vines, so we managed to get most of it burned, before our stamina completely burned out! There's still so much more that needs to be done, and I am anxiously waiting for a new chain for our chainsaw and for my spare lawnmower blade to be sharpened. On my bucket list of things to purchase, to make my life easier, is either a Toro or a Honda garden tiller, as I plan to plant a reasonably-sized garden this year. My parents' green thumb did not come naturally to me. They could make anything grow, but I have to work at it. Actually, it's not hard to do, and my attitude is good, so that makes the hard work pleasurable, especially when I see fruitful growth. In our group this week we were studying the Parable of the Sower:

"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Luke 8:5-8). 

I'm hoping that my seed falls on well-prepared soil, with plenty of sunshine and copious amounts of water and irrigation, so the earth will produce excellent crops. It's been quite a while since I had the opportunity to plow up a patch of earth on my own land, so I have high expectations. I have fond memories of digging up potatoes for my daddy, but I don't know if I am quite that adventurous. I love it that Scripture provides direction, even in gardening and tending our animals, if we just take the time to search for it. The farmer's almanac gleaning its understanding from the Bible, I am certain!

The response in full to Jesus' answer to the above parable was:

"Then His disciples asked Him, saying, 'What does this parable mean?'  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable is this: 'The seed is the Word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts less you should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience'" (Luke 8:9-15).

My online Bible group went well last night, and the ladies seemed to participate more freely than they have in the past couple of months. Perhaps the mild temperatures encouraged group efforts?! Whatever the case, I love it when people voluntarily interact and respond to one another's thoughts or opinions. It should always be like that where people feel comfortable sharing their hearts. I miss Charlie Kirk's events at the colleges, because he loved to hear opinions and to provide Biblical insight to clarify wrong assumptions. Still much is happening in our colleges and high school thanks to Charlie's influence. Some criticized his Biblical stance or his political views that are not being taught in the church as a whole, and certainly not in high school history or government. Nonetheless, voices are being raised, but their voice is not that of man's but God's through the inspiration of Holy Spirit. The King is on the throne, and enemy strongholds are falling. Truth prevails, and the prisoner will be set free. May the Lion of Judah roar!

Day 64 So Much More

 

3/5/2026

 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us,

 that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”  

1 John 3:1

 

As you may recall, a few months ago God began to ask me to consider my motives, as I had been asking Him about things He had spoken to me, things He had asked me to do. I was confused, because  opportunities that had opened, that seemed timely and fitting, I accepted as His leading, but the doors had been slammed shut only after a short period of time. I struggled over the matter for months until another unexpected change in my life occurred, but then the entire year had been a wild ride already with health concerns stemming from old injuries and surgeries, followed by my son's accident before Christmas and waiting for answers from that debacle, feeling so alone and unsupported by the local church. That shouldn't be a surprise to me, as it's been that way for many, many years. I don't understand that failure either. Perhaps it has nothing to do with me. I've tried to fit in, but I don't know why I am such a misfit. I love to talk about the miracles of God, the power of prayer and intercession, the sovereignty of God, and just how wonderful my Savior is to me. I have so much to be excited about, because He saved my soul from damnation, and now I'll be with Him one day when my time on earth is over - forever! Somehow this makes people uncomfortable, people who faithfully attend church! The streets are easier, as kindness speaks so loudly and authentically. I don't seek a position, just a sense of belonging, of purpose, acceptance as a child of God, passionate for His Word. 

Yesterday I had my taxes done, and I walked away feeling so inadequate, no worthless, all because I no longer work. I file taxes, but each year I'm told I no longer have to file, because I don't make any money, so the taxes pulled from my minimal IRA that's issued to me each month are returned to me. When I was working I made a good salary, so I was "worth something." The tax lady didn't make me feel this way, someone else had a couple of years ago, and every so often I remember, because jabs come from different directions to remind me of my "worth." In the afternoon, as I stood talking with a neighbor, in my yard, a discussion about who should be allowed to vote came up. I was among one who shouldn't be allowed to vote, because I am not making an income to benefit the State. Imagine that! Each year I plan to get back to work, do something with my life. It doesn't seem as if I am "doing anything," when actually my life is quite full. I had been knitting for a community charity group, but it really wasn't my cup of tea, although the fellowship was nice. I also worked with another charity that makes missionary dolls for Samaritan Purse shoe boxes, among other ministries. I painted the dolls faces - one side happy, the other sad, representing the face of one saved from their sins, and the one who had not yet been told the Good News.  It was lots of fun and a worthy effort, plus the people who did all the other jobs assembling these dolls were very nice. We even shared short devotionals, and I had shared one. My health took a spin, nothing serious, but aggravating. My three falls didn't help, and I still bear the pain for the last one. All that isn't so important, as I feel that I'm rather resilient for an older person. I never seemed to age mentally, so that's why I tend to take risks, like pulling on vines hanging from a tree limb. It wasn't a big tree, and the vine was pretty strong and resisted my attempts to dislodge it. I was adamantly opposed to leaving it there, as it was choking the life from the crepe myrtle trees, my daddy's trees that he worked so hard to preserve, whose beauty brings me joy. There's still work to do with them, but tomorrow my son and I are going outside to tackle some bushes, and maybe I'll give the vines another go.

This morning after the prayer call I was talking to God, asking Him to forgive me for some feelings that came back to me about some people who had hurt me, disappointed me really. But then I realized that maybe that's the way it was supposed to be, otherwise I would have said "yes" to more things, further complicating my already complicated life. I recently got dumped again, or at least it feels as if that is what happened, as I've not heard from the people in question. As I said before, I should be used to rejection by now, but then I got nudged again. What if I needed this to happen, because I had been hanging on in an uncomfortable situation for so long, feeling "less than" each week, not knowing how to "be more."

As I was sitting in my rocking chair, writing in my journal, crying a river, I heard the voice of God so clearly saying "I called you to stand on the wall, not live there." By that I understood that the call to intercessory prayer came to me years ago, when God spoke to me through a passage of scripture in Ezekiel 22:30, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that should not destroy it; but I found none." That verse changed my life, and I've never looked back. I still have a photo illustrating it on my table beside the bed. Since that time prayer took on new meaning, and over the years the desire has grown, as has my love for all people.

I'd been struggling to finish my blogs, four days behind, always racing to keep up with the daily news for this war that is off the charts when it comes to prophetic significance. I wanted to write the story, helping those who cannot understand the times, because they are not taught, to realize that the imminent return of Jesus is near. I especially want people to correct their thinking regarding the place Israel has in end time restoration. It amazes me that people, not even pastors, realize that we owe the Jewish people, God's chosen people, everything. Without them we wouldn't have a Bible, and we wouldn't have a Messiah. Jesus is after all a Jew. God has been telling me for years to "write the story," so I have been blogging the story, including those parts of my life that seemed to fit, but God said "there's so much more." That got my attention, because as I shared earlier, I was feeling a bit "stuck" this morning when I began to write. It was as if He was sitting here, with His arm around me, talking to me, saying "Yes, I called you to write the story, and yes, Israel is part of it, but there's so much more. You say you're worthless, but I call you My Own, My Beloved One. When you say you are not enough or less than, you're calling Me a liar, and I am not a man that I lie. You know this. So pick up your pen and begin again. Heed My voice in My Word, as you always do, and tell "the story" I put inside of you. You know it. I don't have to remind you. Begin again with renewed spirit, and the words will flow, your memory recharged."

So here I am again, writing. "The time will come when all these things come to pass. I know you worry about age, don't! Remember my servants. My servants still speak - your friends Oswald and Andrew, and yes, Brennan and Rich."

Tonight I received an email from Hope California who's in the beginning of revival and restoration with meetings scheduled soon. It shared:

"The world defines worth by success, comparison, or status, but the Gospel roots it in belonging. In Christ, you are loved, forgiven, chosen, and sent. Let every lie of shame or rejection fall away as you declare His truth over your life. Stand not as one earning approval, but as one already embraced. As you walk in that confidence, fear of rejection loses its grip, and your words of encouragement can breathe new identity into those who feel unseen or forgotten."

• Thank God that your identity is in Christ, renounce lies of shame, rejection, or insignificance, and declare God’s truth over yourself: loved, chosen, forgiven, and sent.  
• Pray that believers in LA would stand in their God-given identity and authority.  
• Ask God to raise up confident, humble sons and daughters across the city.  
• Pray that your secure identity in Christ would free you from fear of rejection when sharing your faith.  
• Ask God to open doors for you to speak identity and hope into those who feel lost, unseen, or ashamed. 

 I don't think this is coincidence!

Day 63 History Lesson, Pt 2

   

3/4/2026

 "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. 

A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but Prophesy!"

 Amos 3:7-8

 

Yesterday we left off with the story of Saul and King Agag who met his demise at the hand of the prophet Samuel. King Saul's disobedience led to the loss of the kingdom, and eventually led to God's covenant with David and his generations.

Now we return to the story of Esther and the celebration of Purim which is the celebration of the Jew's victory over total annihilation. Esther was Queen of Persia when King Ahasuerus was in power. She had not revealed that she was a Jew, because her cousin, Mordecai, who raised her, did not think it wise. Haman was second under the King, and he had a severe dislike for the Jews, especially Mordecai, because Mordecai would not recognize his authoritiy. Eventually, this led to Haman convincing the King that the Jews were enemies to his kingdom, and he wrote a decree to be sent to every nation under the King's control that on a certain date they would totally annihilate all the Jews who were exiled there. Once a decree is signed and sealed by the King, it becomes irrevocable. Prior to this signing of the decree, however, Mordecai had overheard two of the King's eunuchs plotting to murder him, so Mordecai informed Esther who warned the king. Once confirmed the eunuchs were hanged on a gallows, and the account written in the book of the chronicles of the king.

When Mordecai heard of Haman's conspiracy, he dressed himself in sackcloth, and when word came to Esther, Mordecai asked her to approach the King on behalf of her people. Esther knew that to approach the King without an invitation was certain death, so once she agreed to Mordecai's request, she called a three day fast with her maids and asked Mordecai to gather all the Jews who were in Shushan to fast with her. Esther approached the King, who joyfully received her, and she invited the King and Haman to a banquet. Haman was so happy that day leaving the courts, until he passed Mordecai at the gate, and he did not stand or bow to Haman. He was furious, so when he went home he shared with his wife, Zeresh, about Queen Esther's invitation exclusively for the King and himself. Then she shared with her about how Mordecai had ruined it all. "Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, 'Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made" (Esther 5:14). 

It's interesting to note that Zeresh was the daughter of Governor Tattenai of the region beyond the River, from Jerusalem. When King Cyrus of Babylon decreed that the Jewish exiles' return to Israel to restore the temple in Jerusalem, Governor Tattenai was one who opposed Ezra and Zerrubbabel completing the work. A letter was sent to King Darius regarding the matter, and when it was investigated, the king discovered the decree by King Cyrus, so he basically told Governor Tattenai to back off and leave them alone plus he told the governor that if they needed any assistance that he would pay for it. So the temple was restored. Since Zeresh was the daughter of the governor perhaps she remembered this honor being shown the Jewish people, and later recalled the events.

Meanwhile, back at the castle, the night before the banquet, King Ahauserus was unable to sleep, so he had the book of the chronicles read to him. When he was reminded of the time Mordecai saved his life, he asked what reward Mordecai had been given. None had been recorded, so the king determined to rectify the situation. Early in the morning when Mordecai, happy as a lark to have Mordecai swinging from the gallows he had built, arrived at the court to request Mordecai's death, the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman, naturally thought that he was the only one the king would want to honor, so he made some pretty strong demands, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!'" (Esther 6:7-9). Next thing, Haman is escorting Mordecai through the streets as he recommended to the king that one be honored. When Haman returned home mortified over the morning events, his wife, who had recommended his building the gallows to hang Mordecai, said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." (Esther 6:13). She, like her father Tattenai, knew that the Jewish people were protected.

When the second day of the feast arrived, Queen Esther revealed the real reason for the banquet and exposed the truth behind the plot to kill her kinsmen, the Jewish nation. The king was livid that anyone would dare threaten his bride and her people, and in the end Haman was hung on his own gallows. Mordecai was elevated to Haman's position and his home given to Mordecai. The decree could not be overturned, so the king allowed a new decree to be written, and the Jewish people were allowed to defend themselves. The date was set for the 12th day of Adar, the twelfth month of the year, and a second day was granted as well. The Jews killed five hundred men the first day and seventy-five thousand the second day, securing the victory! This is why Purim is celebrated on the 12th - 14th days of Adar.

It is significant to understand that this current war with Iran was initiated at this time of the year, as we are currently in the month of Adar, and the Feast of Purim has been celebrated. The war is with the Arab nation, who have threatened the Jewish nation going back to the days of Ishmael. The spirit of Amalek is the power behind the hatred of the current regime that was behind the massacre on October 7, 2023, and it has continued. Remember God's warning to the people to totally blot out the curse of Amalek.

The former Supreme Leader of Iran along with forty of his leaders were killed on February 28th when the war began. This same leader was responsible for the inhumane slaughter of his own people who were protesting against the years of persecution and deplorable conditions, as well as the senseless murder of his own people. The war has escalated, and other leaders of the IRGC have been killed, leaving the remaining army confused, weapons decimated, leading to the indiscriminate firing of rockets, drones and missiles in all directions including Israel and to their former allies. Only God knows how it will end, but we fight for the freedom of the precious Iranian and Persian people. One thing is for certain, the battle belongs to the LORD, and He will have the final say. The lives of two billion Muslims are now in the valley of decision.   

Day 62 History Lesson

 

3/3/2026

 "The LORD roars from Zion, and utters His voice

from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds 

mourn, and the top of Carmel withers."

Amos 1:2 

 

Today my journey through the Bible took me to the book of Joshua where I have been following the exploits of the leader of the children of Israel, the General who lead the troops valiantly into battle. I love this story, as it is such a fine example of God's extraordinary ways of getting the job done. The story of Jericho is the first victory as the chosen people of God crossed over into the Promised Land. The Lord  instructed Joshua to have the army walk around the walled city of Jericho for seven days, following the exact commands of the Lord. Joshua did so, and when he gave the shout, the walls fell. Everyone in the city was saved except for Rahab the prostitute and her family, as she had hidden the spies when Joshua sent them to spy out the land. She was told to leave the red cord that she helped them to escape, hanging in the window so that she and her family would not be harmed. Rahab is also listed in the lineage of Christ, the red cord saving her life, as the blood of Jesus Christ saves those who call upon the Name of the Lord for salvation. This is another example of Christ mentioned in the Old Testament, and an interesting parallel.

On March 1st an Iranian missile hit the little village of Beit Shemesh killing nine people and destroying the synagogue. The scroll was recovered, and it was not destroyed in the assault except for a piece of shrapnel marking a portion of scripture, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, which was not part of the Torah readings, but it is read during Purim when the story of Esther is read.

"Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget." 

This word spoken by God references the lifelong blood lust of the Arab people for Israel. It traces back to Genesis with Esau and Jacob. Esau hated Jacob, because he said he stole his birthright and blessing as the first son. Isaac loved Esau, and Rebekah loved Jacob. When they were still in her womb, they battled, and when she inquired of the Lord, He told her that the younger would rule over the older. Esau did not value his birthright as first son and traded it to Jacob for a bowl of soup. The covenant made with Abraham to be a father to the nations was remembered to Isaac, and then to Jacob whose name was later changed to Israel by God. When Esau married, he married Ishmael's daughter, Mahalath, as he knew his parents did not want him to marry a woman from Canaan. Ishmael was Abraham's son from Sarah's maid, Hagar, but Isaac was the son of promise. Although Abraham loved Ishmael, he sent Ishmael and Hagar away at Sarah's request, but God told Hagar that Ishmael would also become a great nation. Although Ishmael and Isaac buried their father together, they were not united. The Amaleks are descendants of Ishmael, and as noted above, because they attacked the stragglers when the children of Israel were journeying through the land, God told Moses and Joshua to completely wipe them out. But they did not do so. 

Another interesting parallel is noted in Esther when the wicked Haman was identified as an Agagite, a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. When Saul was anointed as King of Israel by Samuel the prophet in 1 Samuel 15:3, "Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation-men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys." Saul did attack the enemy as commanded, but he failed to kill King Agag, but Samuel told him that because of this failure to obey God's commands, the kingdom would be torn from him. Samuel then killed and chopped up Agag, but still descendants of Amalek remained. Tomorrow I'll continue with how this ties into the story of Esther and interesting parallels found there that lead to the present day battle that continues in the Arab nation, specifically Iran.

Day 61 Purim Feast

 

3/2/2026

"Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in 

the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the

month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a 

holiday, and for sending presents to one another."  

Esther 9:19

  

Monday morning prayer meetings generally find us praying about the deception found in the church regarding the existence of Israel, but today our prayers are directed at the war with Iran, and the many people who need to be free from the evil stranglehold of the enemy. So much happens in a day as the alarms continue to go off and the citizens of Israel run in and out of bomb shelters. What has been happening is so exceptional in that only God could have orchestrated the timing of each event, as it spans  all the way back to Genesis.

The CEO of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Jurgen Buhler, shared with us about a new phone app called "Star Walk," that allows users to identify stars, constellations, planets, and satellites by pointing their phones at the sky. He shared that on February 26 he had been using Star Walk, and he said that there was a notice that the alignment of the planets would take place on February 28, as if the planets were announcing a change. That morning was the beginning of Operation Roaring Lions/Operation Epic Fury initiated by Israeli airman and later joined by the United States. The initial strike killed Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and forty leaders who were located in the building that was hit. Yesterday in my blog I mentioned the blood moon and the alignment of the planets from a report from NASA. The blood moon will be visible to many on 3/3/2026. As I shared yesterday, the blood moon in the Bible references divine intervention, a shaking, and a time of repentance. According to the Jewish calendar we are now in the month of Adar, the last month of the year, the month in which the second temple was restored by Ezra and the exiles from Persia by a decree under the reign of King Darius. 

It is also the month when Purim is celebrated. Much has been said about the celebration of Purim in my previous posts, but I did want to mention that it a time of joyous celebration. Although war is ongoing, rockets, drones, and missiles are still flying in from Iran, the regime has crumbled, but the remaining members of the IRGC continue a relentless pursuit of vengeance against Israel and against anyone who is an ally or sympathetic to Israel. It was reported that a volley of drones were coming quite frequently, and the new laser, called the Iron Beam, was actually melting the drones as they fell. Although the citizens in Jerusalem were in and out of the bomb shelters, it didn't seem to hinder the celebration of Purim, as the people dressed in costumes, ate the festive pastries and played games in the shelters. One report said that weddings were not canceled, but they were performed in the shelters, as well. The people of Israel are resilient people, who have suffered years of persecution since they become a nation on May 14, 1948. The day after they won this victory they were attacked by the Arab nation. As we study Biblical history we see that God has been restoring his people to their land, and it continues today, called aliyah. As defined in several places in the scriptures, God is bringing His people back from their where He scattered them. The diaspora are those citizens who have been scattered all over the world. 

In the meantime the Iranian women are celebrating in the streets, because they are free of the stronghold of the evil regime. Still the battle ensues for total freedom and the end of the evil jihad. The woman are bold and courageous, and they are willing to put their neck on the line for the welfare of the nation and their families for freedom. It is obvious that God is directing this war, and He is orchestrating every move. We pray for continued strength and divine protection for the people of Iran and for all the military involved, and we pray for Israel and the citizens and leaders of Israel and America. Thy will alone be done, Our Father.