BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL!

O LORD my God, Thou are very great;
Thou art clothed with splendor and majesty - Psalm 104:1

EXALT THE LORD OUR GOD,
And worship at His holy hill;
For holy is the LORD our God - Psalm 99:9

BE GLAD IN THE LORD, you righteous ones;
And give thanks to His holy name - Psalm 97:12

NEW PREWRATH NOVEL

It was in October of 2007 that Kristen Wisen introduced herself and left a comment on my first prewrath blog. Her father, Robert Van Kampen, is one of my heroes of the faith. I'd read a couple of his books and when she identified herself as his daughter, needless to say my delight spilled out as a shriek to my husband in the other room. She had written to encourage me to not lose heart, though many would probably initially reject prewrath, she told me I was planting seeds to help prepare believers for the return of Christ. She has become a dear friend since then. We email often and have learned we both love to dig into the rich and wonderful truths of God's Word.

Well, her second novel is set to debut on February 15th. The first one, "The Appearing", was great. (I haven't told her this but I love the second one even more; I was privileged with a sneak preview read!) It is riveting all the way through. I was working on a photography project when she sent me the manuscript. I told her it would have to wait until I finished my editing. Now, when you've been editing photos for hours on end it gets rather tedious. I needed a distraction. I picked up the manuscript and I'll let you guess which I finished first, my photo project or the book? It was the book.

To visit Kristen's website and learn more about "Overcomer", (she'd already picked out the name before we met), click here. Go ahead and order it too while you are at it. You won't be disappointed!

Oh, and what's really cool...we are getting together for the first time next month. And speaking of the rich and wonderful truths of Scripture, Lord-willing, I'm going to get to hear her teach Romans 8 to the gals in her ladies Bible study!

CHANGE IN AMERICA

Well, we've just inaugurated a new president that has been touting that America needs change. I think America is going to change, but not necessarily for the better. This is a link that will take you to a video message to our nation by a Lebanese woman. It is put out by The Heritage Foundation. She tells her story of how her country changed because the radical Muslims came in and changed it. And guess what...it's happening here in America too. The following are my thoughts after I watched the video...

Where do I start?! Wow! We already have Hamas cells in the US. Our cities are seeing mosques go up left and right. This woman called Europe, Eurabia. What struck me was how Israel treats the people of her enemies…how kind they were to the people that only want to kill them…obviously this is what happens when you are blessed and influenced by the one true God of the Bible. This why America has treated her enemies with respect. But how much longer is that going to be the case?!

How do we fight against what I believe God has prophesied will happen? I guess from the human perspective, as Americans we should. But from heaven’s perspective, I don’t see the tide being stopped. This woman says all the moderate Muslims should band together and stand up as Americans first, but will they is the big question? My understanding of Scripture is that Jewish people and believers all over the world will be undergoing great persecution when Christ returns to gather His elect. It will begin in Israel and then spread. It makes sense to me that Antichrist will be aligned somehow with the Muslims in bringing this about. This video seems to give credence to that and just causes me to be even more sober-minded – that we could begin to see prophesy unfold right before our eyes. As believers we need to be letting the Word of Christ dwell in us richly, we need to be sharing our faith, we need to be standing for truth. Eventually this is going to cost us. We need to be prepared to endure. I love the Lord's words to Peter when He told Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift Peter like wheat. The Lord told Peter that He’d prayed that his faith would not fail. Though Peter denied the Lord, his faith never completely failed. He repented and went on to be a dynamic force in the church, because of God’s power. We need not fear because God is for us and nothing is going to separate us from His love! And, I believe it is those who heed the Lord’s warnings and instructions in Matthew 24 who will be more prepared for what is coming.

THE TRUTH OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ISRAEL

I received this letter today from a friend who has friends in Israel.

Update From Israel

January 2009

Dear Friends,

As you all know, Israel is in a middle of a war. First, we would like to thank you for your prayers and to tell you that we are doing fine.
I know that the news broadcast picture the Palestinians as the victims and us as the aggressors. But the truth must be said.
In the last eight years… eight years! The cities in the south west side of Israel suffer from attacks by the Hamas. Missiles are launched at our cities regularly, on a daily basis. Israel did not react at all. Children in Sderot and other settlements in the region learned to lie down under the desk in school when the alarm goes off. Many families left the area while others stayed and tried to have some kind of normal life. What does it mean? They never take showers that take more than two minuets, the children do not play outside, they drive with open windows to hear the alarm… normal life.
Then, six months ago, Israel signed a cease fire agreement with the Palestinians. Israel did not shoot even one bullet, but Hamas kept sending missiles to Israel. Not a lot, but still few every day. In the mean time the Hamas built tunnels under the border with Egypt and smuggled long range rockets.
Israel knew about it but respected the cease fire. Why? Good question.
As the six month came to an end, the Hamas started a big attack on the southern cities, including Ashkelon, where our church has meetings. For some days Israel waited hoping the Hamas will quit, but they didn't.
Do you know any country in the world that would allow something like that to happen for eight years? The Hamas shoot their missiles in purpose to kill civilians, women and children. Thanks to the Lord, the God of Israel, they have little success. But they definitely are destroying the lives of many.
Two weeks ago Israel said that enough is enough. We attacked with much power and are giving the Hamas a hard lesson. In the mean time Hamas keep shooting missiles and long range rockets to our cities. Now the Grad rockets can reach some 40 KM. That means that they reach even northern than Ashdod. 3 of the missiles landed in Gan Yavne, thank the Lord in open spaces. Few landed in Ashdod and killed a woman who was a secretary in the high school where Amir studied.
It is not fun time in Israel, Now as I write this letter, the alarm in Gan Yavne went off 3 times. Each time all has to go to a shelter and wait there until we hear the explosion.
I am sure you see many pictures in the media of dead civilians on the Palestinian side. This is true. But some thing must be said:
First, Israel never aims at civilians! The Hamas terrorists took of their uniforms and they fight with civilian clothing. So not always when you see civilians they are civilians.
Second, The Hamas uses children and women as human shields. Probably you heard yesterday that the IDF bombed a UN school. The true story is that there were no students there. The place was full with refugees and terrorists. The Hamas launched bombs from the school yard to hit the Israeli soldiers. The IDF had no option but to fire back. We know that the terrorists kidnapped children and they walk from one place to another with children because they know that the Israeli soldiers will not shoot while children are around.
Third, since the terrorists hide behind civilians and since many houses are in fact storage for missiles, Israel has no choice but to bomb the houses. Now listen to that. Before Israel attack a building we warn the people who are inside that we are going to do that and ask them to leave. How do we do that? By sms, telephone calls and by spreading notes from an airplane. We know that many of the terrorists escape because of that, but the IDF has high standards of morality.
Forth, Since the war started the heads of the Hamas disappeared. The fact is that we know where they are. Many of them are in a shelter under the Gaza main hospital. They know that Israel will not bomb a hospital so they use the sick and injured as their shield.
Yes, we are sorry for any civilian that hurt from our activity. It is not our goal. Whenever Palestinian children and women are hurt, the Israelis have real sorrow. When Israeli children suffer, the Paletinians have real happiness. Wars are not nice. The Palestinians civilians have to stand against the Hamas and not allowing them to shoot Israel.
The Israeli army is doing his best to win the battle but is also very careful not to harm innocent people. I don't think that there is any army that would be as careful as the IDF. It should be said that our care for the civilians increase the number of injured and dead on our side.
At the moment the war continues. Israeli soldiers are fighting in Gaza strip while Israel sends humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
All the schools in the south are closed, so Orit stays at home with the kids. I work almost as usual. We do not have church meetings in Ashkelon now.
Please pray with us that this battle will end with some hope for the two peoples. The situation must be changed. Israel should not agree to have her children under a threat day and night.
We trust the Lord and we know that He is sovereign. Please pray that we will be bold to share the eternal hope with our friends and families especially now.
May our Lord Jesus Christ receive the Glory.

Yours in Him,
Eitan and Orit Kashtan

A NUGGET FROM DR. MARTIN LLOYD-JONES

"Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself?"

Talking to oneself about God, His Word, and His will is the issue!

A NUGGET FROM JOHN MACARTHUR

"For believers, God's sovereignty is the overarching and all-encompassing reality that keeps everything in perspective."

This is why we can rejoice in the midst of pain and sorrow - because God has promised that He will cause "all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28