Looking Past the News

May 27, 2024

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Dear Friend,

Things are still tense around us. As you can see Hamas is winning the war of public opinion outside of Israel with encampments on so many campuses. I find that really scary. The spirit of deception has gone out into the world: calling black white and white black (not that everything Israel does is right.)

One night as I woke up and was listening to the fighter jets and drones overhead, I thought about turning my eyes to look at the cross. It was very calming and the Lord said, look a bit backward in time (from the cross). And He brought me to Gethsemane. Yeshua knew what was going to happen and He desired for the cup to be removed from Him so much so that, as He prayed, He sweat drops of blood. He knew and understood more of what was going to happen than I do, but He felt the same way.

Soon afterward, as I turned to look at the passage, the Lord said, “Go further back. Look to see more of His pain and suffering.” So I opened to Matthew and found that chapter 16 is where He first begins to talk to His disciples about what is to happen.

They are in Caesarea Philippi. First, Yeshua asks “Who do others say I am?” And then, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.” Keys to the Kingdom are given to him. And Yeshua starts talking to them about what will happen to Him. Peter takes Him aside and tells Him to stop talking that way. It won’t happen that way! Yeshua answers him: Get behind me, Satan. You are a stumbling block to Me! You are setting your eyes on your own interests not God’s.

Yeshua was tempted to use His ability and power to have it not happen that way. But He knew God’s plan was good and right. Yeshua could have the whole world, but it would cost His soul - just like for me. What will I do with my life: follow God or Satan?

And He ends with a promise: The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of the Father and His angels and will repay every man according to His deeds. In the end, there will be justice. In the meantime, there is pain and suffering trusting His plan beyond personal comfort.

All this has allowed me to be okay with being stressed about the news, but to turn to God and know that whatever happens, I want to set my eyes on His interests and give my soul to Him and to participate in His plan. I don’t want to give my soul to anything else.

The next passage I have just started to meditate on is in Matthew 18: Who is the greatest in the kingdom? And Yeshua calls a child to stand with Him and focuses on the place of children. Among other things I am mulling over, it’s inevitable that there will be stumbling blocks, but woe to the one through whom it comes and then, “Do not despise one of these children because their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father in heaven.” Wow.

I think it is very good for me to be in the gospels and see Yeshua as a man and God, and try to hear His words to me.

The girls are doing well. They are each happy with where they are. Shir has been crying a bit more and needing to be held for periods, but I think that’s also good. She then gets down and is playing nicely.

We did have a number of fun trips during Pesach. We visited friends who live next to a banana plantation. I had never seen them grow before and it was amazing!! We also went to a cave with wonderful stalactites and stalagmites. The girls enjoyed each and every adventure (and traveled very well) but by the end of the vacation they were asking for time at home to stay in their pajamas and play.

We were finally able to have a Congregational Day at the Baptist Village. All of those attending our congregation were invited to one place to enjoy a time of fellowship, worship and fun together in a wonderful place. The village is situated right next to a National Park with a river and plush greenery. We were excited that about 400 people attended the day’s activities.

May 13th was Israeli’s Memorial Day which was followed by the celebration of 76 years of Independence. This Memorial Day close to 2,000 names of soldiers and civilians were added to the list of those killed in war and by terrorist actions. As always, it was a hard transition from sorrow to joy. This year fireworks were cancelled, military bases were closed to the public and the general celebration was much subdued. We joined members of our home group at Shay and Naomi’s place for a quiet celebration of our freedom in spite of being at war.

We are continuing with making plans and pursuing them knowing full well that each day, our plans could be completely disrupted by the war. It’s truly correct that: Our times are in His hands.

This week we received the news that Shir has been placed in the kindergarten next to her sisters! Leeya who will be introduced to the Herzl School on Sunday June 2nd. She has to bring her pencil case and colors to the kindergarten as well as a couple notebooks as they begin to prepare to attend 1st grade. She is so excited to be going to school!

Thank you so much for your prayers. As we look ahead, please be praying:

• That the young men who have expressed a desire to get together will take the initiative to set up a time to meet.

• That Elishua would know where the Lord wants him as he looks to take the next step in his academic career. He recently finished his degree in Chemistry and is considering a research fellowship in Germany, among other options.

• For our trip to the United States this summer with the grandgirls. We will be arriving in New Jersey on July 2nd, traveling to Missouri on July 15th and spending a long weekend in Oak Harbor, Washington beginning August 14th. Our return to Israel is scheduled for August 2oth when the grandgirls will need to prepare for a new year of school.

• That the grandgirls would be granted US Citizenship during our time in the States on the basis of their grandparents’ physical presence. We had planned to do this, but the tragedy of Dasha’s murder has complicated the process.

We are so grateful for your faithful prayers! Thank you so much for being a part of our lives and ministry.

Yours in the Messiah,

Heidi and Phil