Debt of
Gratitude
At a point in
time when many say, "The God of Israel is dead!", "The God of Israel does not
exist!" I want to say to you, the God of Israel lives! The God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob is still on the Throne!
At a time when
many say, "God is finished with Israel!" or "God is finished with the Jews!" I
tell you that God is building up Zion, and bringing His chosen people home from
every nation. He is bringing them home to Israel. Prophecy is being fulfilled !
In 1983, I was
given a trip to Israel to attend the Feast of Tabernacles celebration sponsored
by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. It was a life changing
experience!
From the very
moment that I mailed my check to make my reservation, people began to come at me
from all sides trying to speak fear in to me. Then, for no apparent reason, my
right foot began to pain me, and the closer it came to the day of departure the
worse it became.
Finally I asked
the Lord how He expected me to go to Israel on tour, when I could hardly walk.
His reply was, "Don't allow the fear of others, and the pain in your foot to
keep you from Israel and the many blessings I have for you there." So I prepared
to leave as planned.
Although the
flight to Israel was a long one, I was so excited that it didn't really matter.
As the airplane finally began to circle Ben Gurion Airport, tears began to run
down my face, and I had the overwhelming feeling that I was coming home. It was
an awesome feeling!
After we landed
on the tarmac, and we started down the steps from the airplane, the pain in my
foot became severe. However, the very moment that my foot touched the ground,
the pain was gone and never returned. I walked all across Israel for two weeks,
pain free! Praise God!
In Jerusalem, I
was able to visit the places where Jesus had walked and prayed. When I stepped
out of the empty tomb into the surrounding gardens, it was as though He slipped
His arm around me. His Presence was so real, and never left me. All I could do
was weep. Then I joined the others under a tree for a very beautiful communion
service.
Up on the Mount of Olives, I
found the view to be breathtakingly beautiful! From there, we walked down
through the Kidron Valley and up to the Western Wall. There we joined thousands
of others who had gathered together to ask forgiveness of the Jews for all they
have suffered at the hands of Christians, or those calling themselves
Christians. From there we went to pray at the Western Wall.
When I had finished praying, I backed up and stood silently looking in to the
crowd as they prayed so intently. All at once, I began to weep uncontrollably. I
didn't really understand what was happening to me, for I had never experienced
this before. Then I heard the Lord say, "Myrna, long after you return to
America, you will intercede for My people. "
In the hotel
where we were staying, I found myself awake every morning at 3:00 AM. It was as
though I was drawn out on to the balcony. I would pray out there until daybreak.
I just couldn't seem to get enough of Jerusalem. The golden glow over that city
at night is just beautiful! On the last night in that hotel, I heard the Lord
say to me, "1 AM calling you, Myrna, as a watchman on the walls of Jerusalem."
Early the next
morning, we boarded a bus to go north to Tiberias. As we left the city of
Jerusalem, once again, tears began to run down my face. I felt so sad having to
leave.
On the bus,
everyone began to sing and praise the Lord. As we began to approach Tiberias,
our guide said, "In just a few minutes, you will see a very beautiful sight. A
sight you won't see again any place else but here." At that moment my eyes fell
on the beautiful Sea of Galilee. There is no picture or painting that can do it
justice.
Our next stop
was the Jordan River, where many of us were to be baptized. As I approached the
water, the Presence of the Lord, once again, became so real to me. As I came up
out of the waters of baptism and began to walk away, the pastor who had just
baptized me called out to me saying, "Myrna, the Lord said to tell you that He
will use you mightily in this land, but you must wait on Him."
That evening I
sat on the beach of the Galilee until 1 :30 AM, just basking in His Presence. I
only slept for a few hours that night, and I was back on the beach to watch the
sunrise. Such peace!
The next couple
of days we toured Tiberias. We walked all around the places where Jesus had
ministered. Soon it was time to make our way back to Ben Gurion Airport, but I
was finding it very difficult to leave. When I did, I left part of my heart
there.
On the airplane,
returning to America, I put my head back to rest and think about all I had seen
and done in Israel. Suddenly the Lord impressed upon me, Zechariah 8:23. I
opened my Bible and read and reread that Scripture. As I did, the word, 'heard'
kept lifting off the page. Finally I asked the Lord what He was saying about the
word 'heard'.
He said, "My
Daughter, My people must 'hear' that I love them, and I AM working on their
behalf in the land of Israel. My people must 'hear' that you, a Christian, love
them and are willing to work on their behalf at home, and in Israel. "
When I returned
to America, the Lord had me put out a heavily anointed newsletter, and I was
asked to write a number of travel logs for publication. That's not all! The Lord
opened the door for me to share my heart on several radio stations, and on the
local Christian Television station.
The following
year He took me back again for the Feast of Tabernacles, and every year
thereafter. Through each trip He was bringing me to the realization that the
roots of my faith are in Judaism. The Jesus I love and serve is a Jew! His
disciples were Jews, and the prophets were Jews! The New Testament was written
by Jews!
I could plainly
see that I owe a great debt of gratitude to both God and the Jews. Had it not
been for them, I never would have heard the Gospel, nor would I have the Bible
which is so precious to me.
By 1990 my work
for Israel began to intensify .He began to send me to Israel twice a year, both
spring and fall. On three different occasions He took me back just to walk the
streets of Jerusalem, fasting and praying for His precious people. Each time I
was there for forty days.
Always upon my
return to America, I would send out a newsletter with prayer points for Israel
and her people. We held prayer meetings for Israel at Fair havens Missions.
Those coming in to South Florida from Israel were often housed and cared for at
Fair Havens. Many of them held meetings there.
It wasn't long
until the Lord began to speak to my heart about helping the Jews both materially
and financially. He kept showing me Romans 15:25 which reads, "For if the
Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews
to share with them their material blessings."
The next thing I
knew, I found myself traveling and speaking on behalf of Israel and the Jews. I
shared with people the needs in Israel, and showed videos to help in raising
funds to bring the Russian Jews home to Israel, and help the Ethiopians who were
in absorption centers in Israel. Their needs are so great!
As I shared all
across the states, people began to send us good clothing which was processed at
Fair Havens and then shipped in to both Tiberias and Jerusalem. Over a four year
period of time tons of good clothing was shipped into Israel. We found that we
were servicing many of lsrael's social agencies. All glory to God!
The Lord laid it
upon my heart to begin making care packages for the babies of the new Olim, and
the Pro-Life organizations in Israel. We also made care packages for the IDF
soldiers, and how appreciative they were. It was such a joy to go to the
military bases, and rest stops to distribute them. Words cannot express the joy
that came back to us as we saw how those little care packages touched their
hearts and filled a need.
In 1992 the Lord
called me to go to both Germany and Poland to visit Dachau, Auschwitz, and
Berkinau death camps. When I asked the Lord why He called me to visit these
horrid places, He said, "Today there are many voices that say the Holocaust did
not
happen. Your
testimony, what you saw and felt as you walked through those places, will not be
disputed, and you will share with generations after you."
In 1994 the Lord
called me to go in to Jerusalem and establish a place there which He could use
as a House of Prayer. A place where pastors and intercessors He was calling to
Jerusalem could stay. Those were very difficult times and He was calling many to
Jerusalem to intercede for His land and His people. Twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week we had someone there fasting and praying for Israel. Many
sweet relationships were built with all those who came from many countries to
pray. I found great peace and contentment living in Jerusalem, no matter how
violent the times were.
Today, God is
calling His people to come home to Israel, and He has commissioned Christians to
help them. Some come only with the clothing they have on their back. Some cannot
come unless they have help, for they have no money.
Isaiah 11 : 12
says, "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel;
He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the
earth."
Isaiah 49:22
says, "See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up My banner to the
peoples; They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on
their shoulders."
Isaiah 66:20
says, " And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy
mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord."
Isaiah 61: 10
says, "Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you."
Isaiah 61 : 5
says, " Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and
vineyards."
God is calling
Christians and Jews to come together and work together so that His plan and His
purposes for Israel and the Jewish people come to fulfillment. This is His
number one priority today!
From every
nation, including America, they will be coming home to Israel. Ask the Lord what
He would have you to do to help them between now and then. If you are willing to
do your part, He will show you exactly where you are needed so you can be a part
of Biblical prophecy as it is being fulfilled. Comfort, Oh, Comfort His people!
Pray for the
Peace of Jerusalem!
Shalom U'vracha,
Myrna