20/20 in 2020: The Bride at the Wall
by Donna Diorio
My first visit to Israel in 2003 was packed with many things that struck me as things God wanted me to see and keep in my heart. We had rented a car and driven all over Israel as if we had done it a million times. It was during the second intifada and we were well aware of the dangers because we had been praying over them. In fact, on our list of places to visit, we were going to sites where Israelis had lost their lives in terrorist bombings — some only a matter of weeks before. We wanted to say with visiting those places that despite the dangers involved, we were committed to Israel.
We met some people in neighborhoods which were still shaken by terrorist attacks only a couple of blocks from their homes. We were able to tell them, we are Christians who love Israel and we are with you. One young man in the German Colony especially was comforted to hear this, telling us that he didn't met many Christians who loved Israel. I was struck throughout that trip at how many Christians were staying in Israel but they were there just to support the Palestinians. Local cafes and pizza parlors being bombed by Palestinian terrorists but Christians were there to succor the Palestinians and were in fact hostile to Israeli Jews. Deceived Christians.
Israel seemed peaceful to us as we traveled up and down the nation on our own even though we knew there was danger lurking. Israelis were getting on with their lives and we were traveling around as if danger were not lurking at all. On the final day or so of that 2003 trip we did encounter the reality of danger in Israel. We had just gotten onto the old highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv but within a mile or so all the cars were stopped, people were outside their vehicles looking around suspiciously at people in the cars around them. There was no traffic coming on the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem side either but some emergency vehicles went by us all on the shoulder of the road. Then some cars began to drive backwards kind of fast on the shoulder. They would have to back up for a mile or more to get back to the freeway entry. I remember thinking smugly, "How impatient Israelis are!"
Later I realized, that was not impatience, that was fear. Because when the authorities finally re-opened the freeway for us to continue driving, and we got up to the place where the emergency vehicles were, it is then we saw the abandoned car and the robotic bomb zapper near it and all the law enforcement people standing around. Even having a car breakdown on the side of the road could demand the bomb squad be called out. That is a reality when there are people who want to kill you with access to do it.
I felt like God did not want me to go home with a false sense of the real dangers in Israel. This experience let me know that we cannot be so fearful that we stop coming to show our solidarity with them, but we can't live under the illusion that the trauma, pain and fear are not that real to most Israelis. It is a small nation, like a small town where everyone has a connection to someone who has been hurt or has died because of the demonic hatred against them.
Bet you didn't think my New Year's 2020 article would take this tone. I know I didn't. But the past few weeks have been sobering times with anti-Semitic hate crimes increasing at an unbelievable pace in the US; in Europe it has been for some time. Two days ago there was a shooting attack at a church that is less than an hour from where I live. It has focused me on the knowledge that we need to have 20/20 spiritual vision going into the new year of 2020. Yeshua said that "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." It is my goal for the new year and the new decade to have a purity of heart that allows me to see God, because I do believe we are going to need to be able to see God more than we ever have in past years. I expect the challenges to increase dramatically.
Which brings me to this picture that I took in 2003 of the bride at the Wall. It is a common thing for religious brides to go to the Wall in the Old City Jerusalem to have their pictures taken in their wedding dresses, but to me it is another thing that God wanted me to see in Israel. The white of the wedding dress is a symbol of purity and purity of heart is what the Bride of Messiah needs to make herself ready for His return. You know the prophetic scriptures of the Bride making herself ready — her garments are to be without spot or wrinkle.
My first visit to Israel in 2003 was packed with many things that struck me as things God wanted me to see and keep in my heart. We had rented a car and driven all over Israel as if we had done it a million times. It was during the second intifada and we were well aware of the dangers because we had been praying over them. In fact, on our list of places to visit, we were going to sites where Israelis had lost their lives in terrorist bombings — some only a matter of weeks before. We wanted to say with visiting those places that despite the dangers involved, we were committed to Israel.
We met some people in neighborhoods which were still shaken by terrorist attacks only a couple of blocks from their homes. We were able to tell them, we are Christians who love Israel and we are with you. One young man in the German Colony especially was comforted to hear this, telling us that he didn't met many Christians who loved Israel. I was struck throughout that trip at how many Christians were staying in Israel but they were there just to support the Palestinians. Local cafes and pizza parlors being bombed by Palestinian terrorists but Christians were there to succor the Palestinians and were in fact hostile to Israeli Jews. Deceived Christians.
Israel seemed peaceful to us as we traveled up and down the nation on our own even though we knew there was danger lurking. Israelis were getting on with their lives and we were traveling around as if danger were not lurking at all. On the final day or so of that 2003 trip we did encounter the reality of danger in Israel. We had just gotten onto the old highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv but within a mile or so all the cars were stopped, people were outside their vehicles looking around suspiciously at people in the cars around them. There was no traffic coming on the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem side either but some emergency vehicles went by us all on the shoulder of the road. Then some cars began to drive backwards kind of fast on the shoulder. They would have to back up for a mile or more to get back to the freeway entry. I remember thinking smugly, "How impatient Israelis are!"
Later I realized, that was not impatience, that was fear. Because when the authorities finally re-opened the freeway for us to continue driving, and we got up to the place where the emergency vehicles were, it is then we saw the abandoned car and the robotic bomb zapper near it and all the law enforcement people standing around. Even having a car breakdown on the side of the road could demand the bomb squad be called out. That is a reality when there are people who want to kill you with access to do it.
I felt like God did not want me to go home with a false sense of the real dangers in Israel. This experience let me know that we cannot be so fearful that we stop coming to show our solidarity with them, but we can't live under the illusion that the trauma, pain and fear are not that real to most Israelis. It is a small nation, like a small town where everyone has a connection to someone who has been hurt or has died because of the demonic hatred against them.
Bet you didn't think my New Year's 2020 article would take this tone. I know I didn't. But the past few weeks have been sobering times with anti-Semitic hate crimes increasing at an unbelievable pace in the US; in Europe it has been for some time. Two days ago there was a shooting attack at a church that is less than an hour from where I live. It has focused me on the knowledge that we need to have 20/20 spiritual vision going into the new year of 2020. Yeshua said that "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." It is my goal for the new year and the new decade to have a purity of heart that allows me to see God, because I do believe we are going to need to be able to see God more than we ever have in past years. I expect the challenges to increase dramatically.
Which brings me to this picture that I took in 2003 of the bride at the Wall. It is a common thing for religious brides to go to the Wall in the Old City Jerusalem to have their pictures taken in their wedding dresses, but to me it is another thing that God wanted me to see in Israel. The white of the wedding dress is a symbol of purity and purity of heart is what the Bride of Messiah needs to make herself ready for His return. You know the prophetic scriptures of the Bride making herself ready — her garments are to be without spot or wrinkle.
Psalm 24:1-6 A
Psalm of David | The King of Glory and His Kingdom
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its
fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend
into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not accepted falsehood, Nor swears in order to deceive.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not accepted falsehood, Nor swears in order to deceive.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob,
the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
I believe that part of the Bride making herself ready, is having the purity of heart to stand for all the "Jacobs" who are going to seek the face of Yeshua. To be ready with spiritual courage despite the foreseeable dangers. This is my aspiration for 2020, to have 20/20 spiritual vision in order to see what God is doing among His people, one new man in Messiah.
Who seek Your face. Selah
I believe that part of the Bride making herself ready, is having the purity of heart to stand for all the "Jacobs" who are going to seek the face of Yeshua. To be ready with spiritual courage despite the foreseeable dangers. This is my aspiration for 2020, to have 20/20 spiritual vision in order to see what God is doing among His people, one new man in Messiah.
Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries by subscription only donna@israelprayer.com
DISCLAIMER: You need to understand that in no way do I despise
Palestinians, but I would not go to hold up their arms in attacking Israeli
Jews, or Jews anywhere. I also understand that many Palestinians and many Arabs
across the Middle East and scattered in the world will one day receive Yeshua
and be reconciled to God. When they also become reconciled to God's plans in
having restored the nation of Israel in order to spiritually restore the Jewish
people in their own Messiah, that is what
I can support. One new man in Messiah also means Palestinians.
Delighted to hear from Christian Arab intercessor in Nazareth, Rania Sayegh of the House of Prayer & Exploits on her busy season of travel in Norway, Canada and the US, then home again to raise up prayer and fasting for the Isaiah 19 Highway nations of Egypt, Assyria and Israel. From there Rania gives an excellent report of what went on in the recent "Welcoming the King of Glory" (Avi Mizrachi leading the Messianic Jewish contingent at the urging of Pacific Rim believers who wanted to come up to Israel by invitation of the body of Messiah in Israel - in other words, in the correct spiritual protocol).
Rania's report is the truly encouraging and she also sends a video Hundreds gathered for a Prophetic Act of repentance on Mount Precipice. This is where Yeshua's hometown folk rejected Him and wanted to throw him off the cliff after He read from Isaiah 61:1-3 (The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me...") and then told them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Rania writes that there was a spiritually historic repentance made and a welcoming of Yeshua back to His hometown of Nazareth. It is something she says she has prayed to see for at least the past 17 years. Watch the video is powerful. For all Rania's news connect directly with the ministry or read in the Weekly Summary if you have a subscription
Delighted to hear from Christian Arab intercessor in Nazareth, Rania Sayegh of the House of Prayer & Exploits on her busy season of travel in Norway, Canada and the US, then home again to raise up prayer and fasting for the Isaiah 19 Highway nations of Egypt, Assyria and Israel. From there Rania gives an excellent report of what went on in the recent "Welcoming the King of Glory" (Avi Mizrachi leading the Messianic Jewish contingent at the urging of Pacific Rim believers who wanted to come up to Israel by invitation of the body of Messiah in Israel - in other words, in the correct spiritual protocol).
Rania's report is the truly encouraging and she also sends a video Hundreds gathered for a Prophetic Act of repentance on Mount Precipice. This is where Yeshua's hometown folk rejected Him and wanted to throw him off the cliff after He read from Isaiah 61:1-3 (The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me...") and then told them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Rania writes that there was a spiritually historic repentance made and a welcoming of Yeshua back to His hometown of Nazareth. It is something she says she has prayed to see for at least the past 17 years. Watch the video is powerful. For all Rania's news connect directly with the ministry or read in the Weekly Summary if you have a subscription
Speaking of Avi Mizrachi we received an end of the year review of what
has been going on at Dugit Messianic Outreach Ministries and the Anonai Roi
congregation via "3+
minutes to watch my short video". Avi writes about how their new
Prayer Tower is becoming a focal point for intercession & their new
ministry offices are now on the same floor as the Prayer Tower. Their
Distribution Center is on the ground floor making it easier for the disabled
and needy to access it. The HaOgen evangelistic-oriented coffee house is engaging
people about Yeshua's love and the congregation is growing. Learn more by
visiting their website
Israel Pochtar sent word that about 170 Israelis took part in their
Christmas outreach - which many are saying that Israelis are curious to know
about. " It was a day filled with laughter, fellowship, food and fun as
they learned more about Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas. Revealing
Yeshua through the feasts of Israel is a foundational strategy of the ministry
to share Yeshua with Israelis. This is just one of many gospel outreaches we
host each year. Won't you partner with us as revival spreads in the land of
Israel?" There were treats, gifts but the greatest gift was the
opportunity to explore the scriptures about the coming Messiah and prophecies
about the birth of Jesus.
The #1 item in the Friday Prayer Points 12/27/2019 that
Chuck Cohen sends out for Intercessors for Israel in Jerusalem is a real jewel
this week: "This past week we have had a
number of answers to our prayers. Israel is being soaked with rain and with
snow in the higher elevations. Statistics for aliyah have shown that over the
past decade more than 250,000 Jews have returned from over 150 nations! It has
just been announced that Israel has developed a laser system, called Light
Blade that will defend it against flying incendiary devices, like balloons and
kites, as well as drones. Also Hamas just called off its weekly March of Return
along the Gaza security fence at least until March. Finally, Prime Minister
Bibi Netanyahu won the Likud leadership elections by a landslide. What a mighty
God we serve!"
Asher Intrater's Revive Israel sends an article by Greta Mavro An Undivided
Heart: Part Two, 2 videos Guy Cohen
featured in Orthodox
Jew to Messianic Pastor and Asher speaking on God's Unrelenting Love. Also: Revive
Israel is moving beyond reconciliation with Arab Christians to a deeper and
more intimate level of cooperation. Learn
more here. To be a part of what Revive is doing Consider giving today
Congratulations to new grandparents Avner and Rachel Boskey as their son
Asaph and Andreea welcomed a little son into the world Dec 24th. Avner and
Rachel Boskey delivered their own "baby" in the form of a new music
video, All Hands on Deck. view-able now. "The song is a rock-blues
shuffle laying out the prophetic vision of the Ezekiel 37 army. It is available
for digital download at www.davidstent.org and of course at Amazon, iTunes,
Spotify, etc. Please feel free to share or post this link on your social media
networks! Please feel free to forward
this e-mail to your friends!"
Chaim Malespin shares this Year
in Review VIDEO for the Aliyah Return Center
And Orna Grinman's fascinating blog post is an interesting backgrounder on the
Maccabees & Hannukah. Between
Jerusalem and Athens "The Talmud says very little about Hannukah. Many
historians believe that was done on purpose, since for centuries the story of
the Maccabees was considered to be as soured wine. But then the Zionists
thinkers brought Judah the Maccabee into the forefront of the collective Jewish
recognition. From the feast of Latkes and the miracle of the cruse of oil,
Hannukah turned into a celebration of heroism. The Jewish papers from that time
report of Hannukah banquets, celebrating the spirit of heroism, calling for a
modern version of a renewed independence in the land."
IStandwithIsrael from Maoz Ministries sends two articles about people
they have been able to help in Oxana's
home and Ethiopian
Congregation. Also from their excellent prayer points email, I want to
highlight this one in particular:
1. Praying for Israeli Laborers for a Spiritual Harvest: If it’s true the laborers of the harvest are few, in Israel, laborers who are both skilled in Israel’s language and culture as well as mature in character are fewer. Ministries all over the land of Israel are in need of qualified workers. Volunteers come from the outside and help in one way or another, but their visas are inevitably only good for a few months or years - and in Israel, it takes years to build anything.
Father, I thank You that all
things considered, there are few major divisions among believers in Israel. We
ask that Your Kingdom and the Harvest would continue to be our priority above
petty theological differences. Lord of all, raise up laborers within the Body
in Israel.
For more, connect directly with the ministry or read
in the Weekly Summary if you have a subscription
Guy Cohen of the Harvest of Asher congregation in Acco writes that they
have been hosting groups from Holland, the United States and England who come
to help working with Holocaust survivors, renovating a city youth center and
other things Guy said "was a great witness to the city." Also, a
youth pastor from England came speak into the lives of our young people, a young
lady, who had left the faith, returned after many years. She heard the message
and afterwards gave her heart to Yeshua. We want to reach many like her—and
together we can! Together we can make a difference in the Holy Land. The Bible
speaks about the end-times revival in Israel. It is going to happen! We are so
grateful that you have chosen to be a part of it. Give to help
If you missed the Year End giving you can always start the year off right
with a donation to Kehila News. Here
are a couple of stories from Kehila God’s
Unconditional Love Shared at the Holiday of Holidays by Violet Chemiker
about the city-wide event in Haifa and Howard Bass' Jesus the Israeli Jew
in response to the Palestinian claims that Jesus was a Palestinian and not only
that, a Muslim prophet. (oy veh!)
Avi Tekle who leads the Ohalai Rachamim congregation in northern Kiryat
Yam writes that the Deputy mayor awarded Tents of Mercy a certificate of thanks
for our contributions to the local community. " We give glory and thanks
to God for the wonderful opportunity to serve the people of our city and
continue to strengthen connections with the local municipality. What a great
testimony this is for Yeshua!" He writes that "it is thanks to your
partnership that we have the resources to do this work. Your donations will help us get
2020 off to a strong start"
Jackie Santoro of Zion's Glory writes, "Although there is not much
celebration of Christmas in Israel, it is a growing curiosity to most people.
Israelis want to "see" Christmas....it is wonderful that every year,
multitudes go to the Old City in Jerusalem to try and catch a glimpse of
Christmas - by looking at the lights at various places or stopping by Christ
Church where they hear traditional worship music being sung and played and feel
the inspiration and the sheer awe of the season. Bibles are left on the table
and it is reported that many hundreds are taken. There is no doubt that many
seeds are planted on this night and I believe that God faithfully waters to
bring about his harvest. May the Gospel take root among his people, this year
more than any other!"
Jackie also writes about the rising anti-Semitic attacks in the US and
increasing worldwide. She writes that Israeli President Rivlin encouraged Jews
worldwide to return home, to Israel. "Please pray for Jews to consider
returning to their ancestral homeland and choose to make aliyah in the days to
come. These increasing attacks are a warning. The days are growing darker! May
we be wise in these times."
Jackie also asks prayers as she prepares for a trip to the US in February - the first time she is traveling alone. Pray over her itinerary and all details of the trip to be the good plan of the Lord. "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us and let us not grow weary in well doing. God is good and his plans and purposes for us are good!"
Jackie also asks prayers as she prepares for a trip to the US in February - the first time she is traveling alone. Pray over her itinerary and all details of the trip to be the good plan of the Lord. "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us and let us not grow weary in well doing. God is good and his plans and purposes for us are good!"
Praying the
Headlines
From Tikkun Global CEO Ron Cantor: As of 8
AM on Dec 31, which Ron says is the "largest giving day" of the year,
the GOD TV Matching Funds $50,000 challenge was up to $27,148 raised. That left
$22,852 that could be doubled by giving before midnight. I hope the fund came
in because how often do you get the opportunity to have your donation doubled
in blessing to a ministry or in this case many ministries? The money is already
designated to be used in Israel to help the ministries Tikkun supports to reach
Israelis with the good news of Yeshua, feed the poor, host camps for young
Messianic Jews, and so much more. Even if you missed the deadline, your
donations are welcomed.
Here are a couple of articles by Tikkun ministers: Israel
freezes bank accounts of terrorists’ families | By Ron Cantor and Is the Press Corrupt? | by Dan
Juster
Urgent HEALING Needs: Life and Death is
in the power of the tongue
Please keep in prayer these Israeli ministry leaders
and believers with urgent health needs
Please continue to pray for Jacob Damkani, who remains after surgery locked in the place of non-communication. Pray the LORD's mercies over Jacob and his dear wife, Elisheva |
Continue
please to pray for Ruth Nessim Critical
prayer need she is losing sight! Prayers for a miracle for Ruth.| Olga Bikas has longstanding severe back
pain. please keep praying for
Olga. Sadly, she is not getting better and recently she has even felt worse for
a period of time.
Please continue to pray for all the Israeli ministry leaders who contracted influenza after a conference. This flu has been striking many in Israel, including Rachel Boskey, Shlomy Abramav and Eitan Shishkoff. Last week I reported that Shlomy had already recovered - I misread a photo and post I saw on Facebook - but Shlomy wrote and says he still needs prayer and that he was very sick. Please pray that God would break this flu season by sending health like a mighty rushing wind through Israel.
Please continue to pray for all the Israeli ministry leaders who contracted influenza after a conference. This flu has been striking many in Israel, including Rachel Boskey, Shlomy Abramav and Eitan Shishkoff. Last week I reported that Shlomy had already recovered - I misread a photo and post I saw on Facebook - but Shlomy wrote and says he still needs prayer and that he was very sick. Please pray that God would break this flu season by sending health like a mighty rushing wind through Israel.
Pray for Rania Sayegh asks for prayer of
restoration of strength, energy, and complete healing. | Ronit Bender says my heart valve is still leaking but my
lungs are fine. I totally have peace about my health, although it is far from
great. I still appreciate prayer, as I need it. I am very grateful they
let me travel in October and November both to Australia and Holland. Please
continue to pray for Ronit
THANK YOU to those who have considered this ministry worthy of financial support.
Donna Diorio donna@israelprayer.com or donna@d10r10.com
Donations appreciated | paypal.me/DonnaDiorio
Or look up on paypal: donna@israelprayer.com
Or by postal mail make
donations payable to the order of Donna Diorio
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do not have tax exempt status.
P O Box 111302 Carrollton, Texas 75006 | I do not have tax exempt status.
