Tag: Israel

Morning Reading: Luke 19:41-44 NLT – The Lord Wept

Reading: Luke 19:41-44 NLT

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.

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“Man of Sorrows”
James B. Janknegt (1990)

“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”

A Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem: Psalm 122.6

O Yahweh, God Almighty, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Father of all who confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord; We pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. We pray, that by your sovereign mercy and grace, you would visit the land of Israel with your powerful presence.

We pray you would restrain the diabolical evil, and contain the demonic violence present in the land. We pray you would confirm the decisions and policies of the elected leadership, the Knesset and the courts, that are in keeping with your perfect will.  We pray you would purge from leadership positions, and constrain the excesses of those who will not submit to your will.

“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people. They plot against those you cherish. ‘Come’, they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.’ With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you. … Let them know that you, whose name is Yahweh —  that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

For you, our Father, have declared, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.”

“Can a mother forget the baby nursing at her breast or have no compassion on the child of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

We pray O Yahweh, a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. O God, we who call upon the name of Yahweh, will give ourselves no rest – and will give you no rest, till you establish Jerusalem and make her a praise in all the earth. Be pleased to hasten the day when all Israel will cry out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh.”

Hear our prayer O Yahweh, for we pray in the strong name of Jesus our Redeemer and Messiah, our risen, reigning and returning Prince of Peace.  Amen and Amen

Spiritual Song: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” – Jose and Kathy Jimenez

Netanyahu: Israel is the Bright Star of Freedom – Reblog

Netanyahu: Israel is the Bright Star of Freedom

NetanyahuPrime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issues a special greeting ahead of Israel’s 65th Independence Day.
By Elad Benari – First Publish: 4/12/2013, 6:14 AM

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a special video greeting on Thursday ahead of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 65th Independence Day which will be celebrated on Tuesday.


“65 years ago we celebrated our new found freedom, the renewal of Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland,” said Netanyahu. “This was a dream of ages. Jews prayed for this for generations, ‘Next year in Jerusalem’. Now we’re here in Jerusalem, in the one and only independent Jewish state.”

Israel, he said, has “a remarkable economy, with technology, with entrepreneurship, with science, with culture. We have a strong army and a strong economy and we have a home for every Jew around the world who wants to make Israel his home.”

“When you look around us, you see that Israel is the bright star of freedom, the bright star of a liberal democracy that embraces all its citizens, Jews and non-Jews like.”

“I hope that all of you have a chance to visit Israel this coming year, and I want to thank you for the support that you’ve given us. I know that because of your support, we have renewed strength to face the future with great optimism and with great hope,” said Netanyahu.

Franciscan Friars and the Year of Faith (YouTube)

Franciscan Monastery Washington, DC
Franciscan Monastery
Washington, DC

Peanut Gallery: We visited the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC on our 2013 March for Life pilgrimmage. They were most welcoming and delight in showing visitors who they are and what they are about, especially as “Custodians of the Holy Land.”

What are they up to here in America during the “Year of Faith?” Here’s a video – they’re taking it to the streets:

What is your Christian community doing to bring the light Christ to the world?

Special thanks to Rebecca Hamilton for bringing this to our attention.

Epiphany: Isaiah 60.1-3 NLT – “All nations will come to your light.” – Siyahamba (YouTube)

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Kotel (Western Wailing Wall) at sunrise.

Reading: Isaiah 60:1-3 NLT

“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.”

“All nations will come to your light….”

Spritual Song: “We are marching in the light of God” – several versions, different nations – check them all out, they will warm your heart… and make you smile.

From Canada –

From Croatia –

From India –

From Bosnia/ Herzegovina –

From South Africa –

Advent Hymn: “O little town of Bethlehem!” (YouTube)

Manger Square in Bethlehem

“O little town of Bethlehem!”
Phillips Brooks (1868)

O little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God our King And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

Please read this last verse written by Brooks, and make it your prayer today:

O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; Oh come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!

Amen.