A couple of weeks ago, Gary and I took Austin and Hannah (our oldest son & future daughter-in-love) into the Old City to eat a shawerma. I love falafels and shawermas. Have I ever mentioned that? Anyway, on the way to the little falafel shop, we stopped off at the Western Wall. We didn’t have time to stop and linger, but we saw a white dove on the Wall over on the women’s side, and Hannah and I didn’t want to pass up the photo op! A white dove on the Western Wall…the only section of wall left from the 1st century when Yeshua walked here….a Wall that His human eyes looked at….
(more…)
I’ve been meditating recently on the two accounts in the Gospels where Yeshua ran the money-changers and animal sellers out of the temple complex. One is in John 2 right after He turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana, and the other one is in Matthew 21 a few days before He let the people crucify Him.
The first time this happened He made a whip, drove them out of the temple complex along with the animals, knocked over the money-changers’ tables, and said, “Get these things out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market?” That day His disciples remembered a verse in Psa. 69:9 that said, “Zeal for Your house will devour me.”
(more…)
A couple of days ago I attended an intercession watch at the house of prayer. I was pouring my heart out to God, passionate in my reminders to Him of why He needed to strengthen the believers in Turkey and send them workers to help build the five houses of prayer in that country. I was in tears. I was energized. I was passionate. I was happy. And in the midst of the music and the shouts of the people around me, I heard a quiet voice saying, “This is what I have called you to do. This is what makes you joyful in the place of prayer, and this is what moves My heart.” I knew exactly what He meant. What excites me the most in prayer is a group of people crying out to God together for houses of prayer to be birthed and strengthened all over the planet, specifically in Muslim countries. I am so passionate about this. There’s no other way that the forces of evil can be pushed back in a city and a country than to have prayer and intercession rising to the throne on a continual basis through a people who are committed to each other and to Him.
Have you ever noticed that the things that you should be doing and the things that you are called to do are the hardest to stay committed to?
(more…)
Posted in Family on 14. Jan, 2010
This has been a wonderful week in the life of the Benjamin and Baker families. A week ago our son, Austin, and his girlfriend, Hannah Baker, arrived here in Israel. They are staying for two and a half weeks, and we couldn’t be happier!
I am so happy to announce that last Monday night Austin asked Hannah to be his wife! And she said, “Yes!” They went out to dinner while Gary, Preston and I led the Monday night corporate gathering at Succat Hallel. After they finished eating at a nice restaurant overlooking the Old City, they walked back to our apartment stopping off at the lookout next door. It’s a beautiful place overlooking the city. It is a sentimental place for Austin. When he lived here a few years ago, he spent a lot of time there before God in some sweet quiet times. He read a letter to her and asked her to be his wife. She cried. He cried. Then when they got back up to the apartment, we all cried!
(more…)
Posted in Family on 09. Jan, 2010
Maddy turned six years old yesterday! I was so busy with getting her uncle and bonus aunt from the airport, that I wasn’t able to get this out yesterday, but I’ve had the pictures picked out for a week!
Madysen is amazing. I love her so much. She’s a quiet strength to the family. Not that she’s quiet all the time. When she gets the giggles, it’s all over! She loves to cuddle, and she is so sensitive to the feelings of others. She is such a great sister to Ashlyn, Kadyn, and Judah. She loves her mom and dad and all her aunts and uncles. And last but not least, she loves her Gigi and Poppy. I REALLY miss her crawling up in my lap and just sitting with me for a while. She is SO cuddly and precious!
Another special thing about Maddy is that she loves Jesus and loves to worship Him. She has such a sweet voice. I can’t wait to see what God has planned for her. She loves to pray. She even prays for Jerusalem and the Jewish people at night before she goes to sleep!
Maddy, never forget how precious you are to Jesus and to me and Poppy!
Maddy at school on Grandparents' Day
(more…)
Most Recent Comments