May, 2008

Greetings,

I’ve just returned from a wonderful Passover celebration, have everything pretty well caught up in the office, and have had a weekend of good rest.  All I have been able to do for the past three days is to worship the Lord!  It has been an awesome time in Him!   Praise His Holy Name!

As I have read through all of my mail and emails, I have just rejoiced with so many of you, especially all of you who have celebrated Passover for the first time.  Your excitement and joy rolled off the pages and just blessed my heart.  As you shared about the exceptional amount of peace and anointing that you experienced when you participated in the Seder Dinner, knowing that you were where you were supposed to be, doing what Abba has called you to do, I can only imagine how it blessed His heart.  I was told that some of you hosted Seder Dinners in your homes for family and friends for the first time, and I know that blessed the heart of Abba, for He is working to try to build up the family once again.  Hallelu Yah!

The day after we celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits, which is the true Resurrection Day, the day that Yeshua rose from the grave, we began the counting of the omer. The Scriptures tell us to count seven full weeks, or forty-nine days, and then on the fiftieth day we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, and we have so much to celebrate.  It was on that day many years ago when the Holy Spirit came down in waves of glory upon the believers, who were patiently waiting for His arrival, in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. He so empowered the Believers that they moved out through Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and onwards toward the ends of the earth carrying the Gospel of Yeshua our precious Messiah.  Glory!

I have heard from many of His forerunners or trailblazers, and they are being sent out in to the Nations right after we celebrate Pentecost in June! They will pave the way for many of you to follow, so prepare and make ready. He is preparing a harvest! He is working out all of the details!  He is working to free His people up so they will be available to move out with Him when He calls.  When we receive the call to go, we must quickly carry out the tasks that He has assigned us, for the night is soon coming when no man will be able to work.   

He said to tell His people to saturate themselves with the Word and fast and pray as He leads.  Worship Him! Rest in Him and allow Him to have His way with you in preparation. He said that there will be fresh new anointings and mantles given as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost this year.  Yes, in many ways these are terrible times, but for those who are truly His, these are exciting times, and they will become even more so in the days ahead.  

Florida Judge Shocks Family and Friends

Monica Sierra has just answered the call of Yahweh to the mission fields. At the age of 35 she became the youngest judge ever to be elected to Hillsborough County’s Circuit Court.  She recently shocked her family and friends when she told them she was giving up her $145,000.00 per year job to go to the mission fields. She said, “I’m just listening to God’s call.  This is not something planned or ever dreamed of, in fact, I always prayed that God would never ask me to serve in a foreign mission field.” She went on to say that she must trust that God knows better than she does.  She believes that since He has called her to go, He has equipped her for the task ahead.  Monica will be serving the Lord in the Middle East.  Shalom and blessings, Monica!

The Timing of God is Imperative

Joyce Kuras writes, “When God interrupted my plans and said that it was time for me to go home to Israel, I was startled, for I had made plans to wait for at least a year or more before planning to make Aliyah to Israel.  I wanted all of my ducks in a row, every i dotted and every t crossed. My family and my boss all agreed and so I thought that was God’s plan. I had no idea of the implication of God’s timing.

“When I told my family that God had spoken to me and told me it was time for me to go home, my family told me it was too early for me to come home, for they were all too busy. They said that it would be best for me to wait until July.  My boss also insisted that I wait until July, and my friends told me to wait until the price went back up on apartments so I would get a better deal when I sold mine. All of this made good sense to me, for I didn’t want to do anything to disrupt my family, for I would need their assistance when I did go. I also felt uncomfortable doing anything so hastily.

“Today I received sad and reflective news.  The Rabbi, who authenticated my Jewishness,  passed away.  He had been sick for several years and then suddenly grew worse. When he wrote the letter for me it was one of the last things that he was able to do. Without Him, or the letter he wrote for me, I could not have proven my Jewishness in order to make Aliyah to Israel.   So you see the timing of God’s call was crucial. I am so grateful that He chose to call me audibly in a way that I could not deny or forget. I also thank Him for the way that He opened and closed doors, as well as moved mountains to push me through the process of making Aliyah. I am at home in Israel, surrounded by family and in my own apartment, thanking God for His perfect timing.  Thank you all for your prayers!”  Blessings to you and yours, Joyce!

Psalm 107:1-3 “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those He gathered from many lands, from the east and west, and from the north and south.” 

He is the Guiding Light for All of Us

Janet Robbins writes, “There was a man in our congregation who owned a tow-truck company. He, his wife and children live way out in the country.  The roads are not good, and they have no   neighbors close by, only farm animals.  Cancer came in to his life and last week, at his home, it was time.  The ambulance was called, and the pastor was called. 

“It was two o’clock in the morning when the pastor started out in heavy rain and dense fog. Limbs of trees were fallen all along the road and there were pot holes galore.  The pastor said to the Lord, “I’ll never find their driveway in this terrible weather. I can’t see anything!”  He kept driving and began to think that he must have missed the turn off.  He came over a little rise in the road and saw yellow blinking lights on a tow truck next to the driveway.  He was thankful to the Lord and turned in to the driveway.

“When he went in to the house he said, “What a great idea to have lights to help find the driveway!”  Everyone looked at him and then at each other. Each one said that they hadn’t done it, and the neighbors would not have done it for they did not know what was happening. Would you believe that as the pastor followed the ambulance and the cars away from the house and started back up the little incline, he looked back just in time to see the yellow blinking lights go out?  He truly is our guiding light!”  Blessings to you, Janet!

Church vs. Bar

Sandy Sanok sent this to me because it reminds her of the Book of Acts, where the Church was praying for Peter’s release from prison, the Angel of the Lord went to the prison to release him, and when Peter went to the home where they were all praying, the one who opened the door was so shocked that she thought it was Peter’s ghost and ran from the door.

“This happened in a small town where owners of a bar began to construct a new building so they could open for business. With petitions and prayers, the local Baptist Church promptly began a campaign to block the bar from opening. Nevertheless, work progressed right up until the week before the bar was to open, when a lightning strike hit the bar and the building burned to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the whole church congregation on the grounds that the church was, through the prayers of the congregation, responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions and means.  In its reply to the court, the Church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building’s demise.

“As the case made its way in to court, the presiding judge looked over the paperwork at the hearing and commented, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, because as it appears from the paperwork, we seem to have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not.”  

The Journey of Life

Shelley Slesinger wrote to share her testimony with us.  She said, “This past December I was diagnosed with colon cancer.  It was quite a shock to us because I’ve always been very healthy, and I had no reason to believe I would be sick.  Not only did it come as quite a shock, but it was far more serious than we had hoped.  I realized at that time I was going to have a very frightening journey.

“I had to go through surgeries, chemo therapy and radiation, but the Lord lifted me up each and every day. He helped me to understand that He was going to be with me all the way. I read my Bible and prayed, and He lifted me up in a way that only He can do.

“Through it all, He surrounded me with friends and family. I received hundreds of cards and emails from friends at our congregation.  The tendency when you have a crisis in your life is to want to hide, withdraw and say you don’t really need any help.  He knew that I needed help though, and He revealed to me that He would help me every step of the way, and He was with me through a very rough journey.

“About a week ago, I had a clean PET scan and I believe the Lord has healed me of cancer. I feel totally revitalized! I have a boldness to share my faith, whereas before I was rather shy about it, even though I had been a Believer for a very long time.  I feel as though I have a freshness about me now!  I feel as though He has transformed my life! He has changed my life! He has touched my heart in a way that is very hard to explain.  Therefore, my message to all of you is realize that life is short, life is a gift, life is very precious and don’t waste time. If there is someone you need to share your faith with, if there is someone you need to help, if someone is on your mind, go out there and do it! Share your faith!  Live every day to its fullest!  I just thank Jesus every day for everything He has done for me.  I feel like a brand new person and I thank you, Jesus!”  Thank you for sharing with us and God bless you, Shelly!

In the Midst of the Storms

Ellen Port writes, “We were awakened a couple of weeks ago here in the St. Louis area to an earthquake, and I can’t say that I was surprised.  The only fear that increased in me is the fear of the Lord. The day draws near!  There is no time to waste on selfish ambition! We must make the most of every opportunity!  The Lord is answering so many of our prayers here.  There is an amazing stirring among the young people who come to our Thursday morning Bible Study at the school where I teach.   Recently Scott Ward, a world-wide missionary, came to speak to us and it rocked their world.

“Scott hears from the Lord, is so led by the Spirit and the supernatural is so common-place in his life that they were intrigued.  He is fully committed, broken, contrite and OBEDIENT! He is traveling with a group of young people whom the Lord has called to forsake everything this world has to offer and witness all over the world.  Amazing!  One girl in our study cried out to the Lord for salvation and the others have a desire and or burden to be a witness for Yeshua.  The Lord is so good!

“I am so excited about the way the Lord has heard my cries! Scott was an answer to specific prayers.  It was truly a miracle of the Lord the way we hooked up. Please pray that their hearts are changed forever, and they will be filled with the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses to all the world.     

Note: Thank you for sharing with us, Ellen, for we have prayed for all of you in the St. Louis area as your area has taken a real pounding this winter. Betty Carpenter recently wrote from Jerusalem to tell us that there is a mighty move of the Spirit of God among the young people there.  Also, the Lord is bringing forth a lot of new music from among the young people and the Messianic Jewish community.  Praise His Holy Name for He will be made known through the storms! Yes, we will pray for all of these young people.

Aliyah

These folks are either beginning, or in some cases completing, the process of making Aliyah to Israel.  Please pray that Abba will lead them, guide them, and provide all that is needed physically, spiritually, emotionally and financially as they prepare to go home.  For security purposes I will share only their first names, but the Lord knows who they are and what their immediate needs are.  As the Lord continues to bring these dear ones to mind, please pray for,  Renee, Mariah, Laura, Richard, Joy, and Chris and his wife.

Short Term Missions

Stephen Arrington is returning to China once again.  He will be gone from May 24^th through June 6^th. Stephen’s heart has been deeply touched by God for the Nations, and he is looking forward to this mission that he might be used once again to touch the lives of those who have never heard the Gospel, and also to encourage the Body of Messiah there.  Let us cover him in prayer while he is in China, and his wife, Suzanne, while he is gone. We can expect to hear a good report when Stephen returns.  All glory to God!

Note:  The Lord tells me that He is preparing to do an unprecedented work in the Asian Nations.   

Pastor Sadie Connor and team will be leaving for Trinidad July 7^th through the 14^th.   This is a return trip to Trinidad for Pastor Sadie.  This team cries out for souls and longs to see people set free and healed.  Please pray along with them to lay a solid foundation of prayer in under this mission so they will be used mightily to lead people to receive the salvation, healing and deliverance that Yeshua so beautifully provided at Calvary!

Hear the Heart of Yahweh

Debra Webster & Lenore Zwald were recently used to bring this word forth through the gifts of tongues and interpretation.  Let us hear His heart!

“New things only come through brokenness. New things can only come in new wineskins. For the move of God that is to come, it must be in new wineskins, or it will be ruined.  There are those in My Body, I have broken them and ground them to powder, I have reconfigured them into new wineskins. There is nothing of the old there. I am renewing them in a way that will mean that the move of God that comes will have a container that is right for it. 

“This is not a quick work! It is a work of decades and many months. It is a work that I have been doing in all those hearts that truly went My way. Rebellion, self-seeking, control, rationalization, and manipulation, not only of others, but of Myself, and of their destiny, have all been driven out in this wise. It is a work that is very important! It is a foundational work, for that which I AM about to do in the earth.

“Know this, that those upon whom difficulty has come in this day will not try to take the glory to themselves, nor will they try to control the move of God. They will allow My Presence to move upon the earth according to My will, and they will be a people of My glory and My praise. Though they stand before Me now, broken vessels, not even sure what it means to be a new wineskin, and to hold something new, yet I will come in to their lives and My glory will be seen and it will be Me and not them.

“I will do a great work in the earth among all those whose hearts are set to know Me. For there are many upon the earth yet to come in to My Kingdom, thus I have prepared vessels for this move in this day. Be not discouraged, My children, when trouble comes, for it is the trouble that makes you in to the vessel that can hold My glory and show it to the world.”

The Secret is Surrender

If we will let the deep rest of Yahweh come over us, the rest in Yeshua, the shalom and rest and holiness of Heaven, then that restfulness will bring a blessing to our hearts, even more than the words we speak or the things we do.  “In thy strong hand I lay me down, so shall the work be done, for who can work so wondrously as You, Yahweh, the Almighty One?” 

Yeshua Won!

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Israel recently ratified a settlement between twelve Messianic Jewish Believers and the State of Israel, which states that being a Messianic Jew does not prevent one from receiving citizenship in Israel under the Law of Return or the Law of Citizenship, if one is a descendent of Jews on one’s father side (and thus not Jewish according to halacha).  Praise the Lord, for this Supreme Court decision brought an end to a legal battle that has carried on for almost three years. All twelve of the applicants had been denied citizenship based solely on the grounds that they belonged to the Messianic Jewish Community.  This answer to thousands upon thousands of prayers came just as we were preparing to enter in to Passover.  Thank you, Abba, and may their citizenship papers come quickly, without any further hindrances.

New Jersey – A three-judge panel has sided with the School Board when they argued that a football coach cannot kneel and bow his head during student-led prayers. Coach Marcus Borden has been in the East Brunswick district for more than two decades and has fought the school policy for three years.  Finally he was told that he had to stop practicing his faith in front of the students. The coach filed suit arguing that an employee should have the same right as the students and a lower court agreed with him.  Nevertheless, the school district appealed saying that the Coach’s long history of praying before meals and taking a knee in the locker room had crossed the line and constituted an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.  The Coach will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.  Let’s pray for a spirit of justice to be loosed in to this case.

Ohio – A middle school teacher, John Freshwater, has refused an order to hide his personal Bible which he has kept on his desk for 18 years. He said that he agreed to remove a collage which contained the Ten Commandments, but to remove his Bible is going too far. His students have all proclaimed “take your Bible to school” day in support of their teacher.  They will also wear Christian-themed T-shirts. This particular teacher is a committed Believer who has actually smuggled Bibles in to China.  He knows how precious the Word of God is and says that he draws strength from it. There is dialogue taking place between the attorneys at this time.  Again, let us pray for a spirit of justice to be released in to this case. 

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your prayers and your financial support that allows us to do so much for so many during these difficult times. We are grateful! Thank you, too, for the help you have given me personally. I so appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Contact info: (912) 265-0019  (myrnamiddleton@yahoo.com) or www.fairhavensmissions.org