This series, Progression of Prayer, was inspired by the excellent bible study by Kristin Schmucker, "Arise, A study on the book of Nehemiah".

And I said: “I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments…” Nehemiah 1:5


This verse, the first line of Nehemiah’s prayer to God for His people, struck me anew when I read it again recently. I’m learning that there’s a progression of prayer, a protocol for approaching the LORD God of Heaven and Earth. The One Who created all of it with not merely a word, but the word that contained the breath of the universe. It’s wise to be aware of The Whom one is approaching.


Before Nehemiah got into the heart of his request, he was careful to first declare to his God how incredibly faithful He is. Has been and always will be. That it’s God Himself Who is the covenant keeper with His people.


I would imagine that, Nehemiah himself, was reminded of the true character of His God. The God that owns the breath of all life. So that as he settled himself before this Mighty God to bring his request, he did so with humble confidence and faithful assurance that his God would hear and answer with generous mercy.


The attention of this amazing God of All Creation, the Heart of the Keeper of the Breath of Life, is captured by the humble approach of one who loves Him and is careful to guard His instructions.


This is just the beginning of the progression of prayer that I’ve been seeing. I want to share more in the next post.


Thank you for visiting today. I pray you have been blessed!

I thought I'd be able to write every few days while here in Israel. It seems, however, that I haven't been able to get my thoughts together long enough to get them down.

Traveling with other people takes up a fair amount of space in my mind, not to mention all the different things and places we've experienced, leaving less time for ruminating. I want to tell you about where we've been, but ​I also want to try to express to you how it feels to be here.

For the first week and a half, it was pretty hot and humid ~ mid 80's, which is way out of the comfort zone for this cool weather Pacific North-westerner ~ but has cooled off into the mid 70's, thank goodness!

It didn't occur to me until this morning that we are at about 2500 feet in elevation here in Jerusalem, which also challenges my sea-level legs. All in all, I should be in better shape when I return home than when I arrived here.

This past Thursday we traveled to Itamar, a community just north of Jerusalem in Samaria, which was established in the mid-80's. We wanted to connect with Rabbi Moshe and Leah Goldsmith, who were one of the original families to establish the community. When we arrived, they embraced us with open arms, inviting us to enjoy snacks and drinks in their beautiful sukkah. Their hospitality was warm and generous.

When the community began, there was no water or electricity and they had to drive to Jerusalem for groceries. Over the years the families have developed their community to include raising chickens, organic gardening and a goat farm. Much of their abundant harvest is sold to markets in Tel Aviv. They have paid a dear price to redeem and hold on to this beautiful land, losing friends and families to various terrorist attacks.

Spreading over several hill tops, the highest point in the community is Mountain 866, named such because it is 866 meters, or 2841', feet above sea level. The military has placed a tower used to listen to cell activity all the way into Syria. This helps protect the county as a whole. At the top of 866, on a clear day - which for us it wasn't - one can see the Sea of Galilee to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the west and the Dead Sea to the south. Even though we were unable to see the seas, the view was wide open and spectacular looking over the stony hills, valley of olive trees and various communities.

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Sitting here in our apartment this afternoon, the sliding door is open, a cool breeze flows through. Voices rise from the large sukkah below us, men singing in Hebrew, pounding the tables with enthusiasm and joy, jangling cutlery and dishes all part of the musical composition. I imagine they are songs of thankfulness for the blessings of this Holiday, provision from the Father, and the anticipation of their - and our - coming Messiah.

Blessings to all of you, as well... until next time!

It's been a while. Way too long. The last time I visited this blog I was pulling those pesky weeds - yet again!

Well, not today! Today, I sit in our lovely apartment cooling off and winding down after a long hot walk down to the Western Wall to join in with all the faithful prayer warriors during Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. A time for coming before our  Father, pulling back the curtain of our hearts and asking Him show us the places that need His merciful cleansing.

Descending the stairs from Hurva Square, through the security check point to enter the Western Wall Plaza, we could see men and women dressed in white garments. It's traditional to wear white garments on Yom Kippur. The whole day is spent in fasting and prayer and white is a sort of reminder of the purity and solemnity of the day.

No pictures are allowed while at the Western Wall Plaza on this day, but Ron took this one from the top of the stairs before reaching the Plaza. You can just see people gathered to the left of the stairway leading up to the Temple Mount.

As Julia, Zelta and I sat on on the women's side, we could hear singing and shouting coming from the men's side, and listened as groups of men marched and sang as they ascended the walkway up to the Temple Mount.

Until next time... Shalom from Jerusalem!

Look! It's the same weeds I pulled four years ago! And last year! How many times must I pull the same weeds?

It occurred to me that perhaps the Lord is saying the same thing about my heart's garden. I strive to keep my weeds under control but inevitably I let my guard down, grow weary or make a poor decision and up they pop once again.

Either the root remained or passing birds redeposited them or they were borne upon the wind. In some way they found fertile ground in my heart.​

When He moves us from out of our darkness into His light inevitably the weeds will be seen. ​

​A gentle hand is required to remove the weeds without destroying the flowers. Though, sometimes the weeding will leave open wounds, bare patches, holes in my heart that leave me aching and vulnerable for a time

I mostly keep my head down during the process, heavy and burdened. Should I dare look up I find my neighbor nearby bringing calm peace and trust to brighten my spirits, if I will be open and allow her in. ​

​I look behind me to see how far I've come but only see a plain path. It's only after much patience, when He's done - for a time - that I can see how He added His masterful touch to transform the difficult, the ugly, the bothersome, the sad, sometimes heartbroken weedy parts of my heart into something beautiful, useful, and meaningful to me and perhaps also to someone else.

It's that time of year when the promise of spring into summer makes itself known.

Spring is always to prettiest time of year for my garden. These pictures don't begin to show what's soon coming.

Though the rhododendrons have almost finished, the roses will soon explode while daisies wave in the breeze. The lavender is just pushing up flower buds and will be a purple - or lavender - haze by July.

The swallows have moved in above the arbor, soon little baby chirps will be heard.

Snow in summer blankets the beds while winter's heather finishes her bloom. The poor little scrubby tree on the left may have to come out. I tried to rescue it from struggling too long in a confining pot. The green along the stone pathway is oregano. It loves to travel and will seed any and everywhere. I regularly pull it out.

I created this lovely garden art from a metal grate. It was very easy, I just ran over it with the lawn mower. Ronnie-baby didn't appreciate, though, how it tangled itself in the mower blades breaking some sort of bracket and bending the blades. I think it's very creative and a nice modern art sort of contrast to our country garden.

This is a small glimpse into my early spring garden. More to come next time.

Wishing you all peaceful spring days!

This is one of my all time favorite dishes. It's simple and only needs a little prep time for chopping chicken and veggies. It's beautiful color and fragrance will seduce you.

Note: this is my own recipe. Everything in my cooking world is approximate. Things may change, depending on the contents of my refrigerator or what's in my pantry. My Momma always said a recipe is just a guide. Most of the time I cook with my nose, thinking of what I'm cooking while sniffing my herbs and spices to sense if they will satisfy my palate in this particular dish on this particular day.

However, for this recipe, each one of these ingredients are unchangeable essentiaIs. I wouldn't change a thing!
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Here goes:

Curry Chicken Vegetable Stew

1.5 - 2 lbs. chicken thighs - I prefer boneless, it's easier.

Variety of Vegetables - my favorites are little potatoes, onions, mushrooms, celery, carrots. You choose your favorites. Quantity? totaled together, shoot for filling the cooking pot to about half full.

One bottle (2 oz.) curry - yes, it seems like a lot - and I've been known to add even more!

One quart chicken broth, unsalted - such as Pacific brand, or homemade.

2 cans coconut milk - full fat, I like Thai Kitchen.

4 - tablespoons butter.

4 - tablespoons coconut oil.

Prepare by chopping all the vegetables and chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat large stew pot, melt butter and coconut oil. Add chicken pieces and sprinkle about half of the curry powder over the chicken. If you know you'll like it, add the entire amount of curry. Let the chicken brown a bit, stirring the curry in well, and let it saute with the chicken a bit. Add the chopped vegetables and stir to coat with the curry. Pour in the chicken broth until mostly covering the chicken and vegetables. Stir well and simmer for a few minutes. Add both cans of coconut milk, stir well. Add any remaining curry powder. Let simmer, stirring regularly to keep from sticking, until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is rich, smooth and creamy - maybe about 45 - 60 minutes, depending upon how much liquid is added.

Season with sea salt to taste. Pepper would also be good. Serve over rice if desired, or with some pita or naan bread. We just eat it straight up.

If you don't think you'll like such a strong curry flavor, decrease the amount. You can always add more later. But do a taste test before the cooking is complete to decide if you want to add more so the additional curry can mellow and meld with the overall dish.

If you don't use the entire quart of chicken broth, that's fine. If you do and find it's too much, just let the entire stew simmer longer until it's the consistency you prefer. I like the stew to be a little thicker, not so soupy.

No, this is not a low-fat recipe. All the fats in this dish are healthy fats - paleo style - and is very filling and sooo delicious! And to keep it paleo, there are numerous websites with recipes for paleo pita or paleo naan. Just a few to try:  myheartbeets.com; paleohacks.com; healinggourmet.com .

I hope you enjoy!

The swimmers have returned.. splash and dive. Another beautiful day in paradise. Conversations with our brothers and sisters from the Netherlands. We were surrounded by them last evening at dinner. Ron and I were the only two Americans at a table of 10. Their Dutch accented voices sharing their hearts and perspectives...

"We don't want either! [Trump or Hillary]", with which we agreed.

"We are still bridge builders between our brothers and sisters at home and our Israel homeland." Again, we agreed.

"It's a difficult place to live, here in Israel. It's not time to invest in the land." Well... I'm praying this last statement is a translational issue. I believe if it were time to live in Israel, we would live in Israel. However, it is time to invest in the land to whatever degree we are able and allowed.

We did enjoy much talk and sharing about our families and learning how to say thank you in Dutch, "danke something"... I wish I could remember. And your welcome.. which I can't even remember a hint of how it goes.

Never the less, our hearts connected as much as possible during an hour and a half dinner time. It was so special - a stretch to understand each other, but so sweet. This is the land of prophesy. I can't seem to forget that. Our very presence here demonstrates that.

It's now lunch time on Shabbat (October 29, 2016). This morning we enjoyed reading the Torah together, all sitting in a huge double-ringed circle. Different people reading different sections. Here in Israel. Where it's all about that.

We have a rest time now, a Shabbat, and little pockets of people have gathered here and there for Bible study.

Julia and Ron have both been down with colds and feel pretty poor. It's a good day for them to rest and recuperate as much as possible. Zel and Julia are staying in a room near us and they will be down in a little bit so we can enjoy lunch together.

It's been hard to grasp all that I've experienced in the last 2.5 weeks. Hard to put into words. I can rattle off each event, each activity, but I'm finding it difficult to get down into the feeling of it all. It will take some processing. These are just odds and ends...

Ramble-writing...

They shout, they holler, they wave their hands then it's all over. Shaloms are said and off they go on their way.

This is a land of passion and emotion, all worn on the outside, lived on the outside.

During our stay at the Eshel Ha'Shomron Hotel, in Ariel, Samaria, we had the opportunity to meet some of the writers and staff who run the Breaking Israel News website. They had many questions about what country/state we came from, how did we come to understand our Israelite heritage, how do our fellowships work, in essence, who we are and what we believe.

It was a sweet meeting of brothers and sisters, an inspiring visit. Though definitely not enough time to thoroughly explore each others hearts, I felt affirmed as their Ephraimite sister and gushed a bit, wanting to apologize,

"Please forgive our Ephraimite Crush. We are so glad to see you seeing us. Though we may still see each other through a glass darkly, we are so glad to be seen and to meet you and be in your midst."

Several days later, during the taxi ride from the Townhouse Tel Aviv Boutique Hotel in Tel Aviv, our driver, Daniel, was also interested in us Americans. We shared much conversation, including each of our opinions about our upcoming Presidential election. He was amazed at our love for and desire to support Israel and so eloquently expressed his heart stating that Israelis consider themselves as one of the stars in our flag. We didn't talk much about God or religion, but no matter, I was very touched and, again, felt affirmed by my Israeli brother.

In contrast, I sat next to a woman during our flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt. She slept almost the entire way, waking up in a very chatty mood just as we approached Frankfurt. She said she had been visiting in Israel for about a week and was so glad to be headed home to Chicago. Her opinion of Israel was that of a third-world country, very difficult living situations for the general public; strongly disliked the cats that are everywhere and disapproved of the governments decision to subsidize people in order to feed them. I hadn't heard of this, but apparently the government believes it is the humane thing to do.

I had to mostly agree with her on all but one point, the third-world view. And, I can mostly agree that it can be very difficult to live in Israel. But, with all of the security, military, technology and agricultural innovations, third world it is not.

Her opinions were her own, and I may even consider them to be a bad report, but my thoughts, which I kept to myself, were, "but if those (us Ephraimites), who love Israel were allowed in to live, we would bring good things to help improve conditions where necessary, and even fill the land pushing out those who hate Israel."

No, it is not America, with her spacious freedom. But, dare I say, we Americans could learn a lot from these strong, brave and tenacious people who are holding on to this incredible land in the face of unrestrained and unrepentant hatred directed toward them by most of the world. And, not least of all, they are building and improving, as they are able, in spite of it. And that needs an exclamation point after it!!

Photos: A diverse mosaic of paths walked by our ancestors, Ceasarea, Israel.

Prophesy is before our eyes...

Eshel Ha'Shomron Hotel. It's just as I remembered. Only cooler. What is Your plan for us this year, Father?

This lovely breeze blows, voices softly murmuring from neighboring balconies interspersed with joyous laughter. The splashing has ceased for now as the swimmers prepare for this evenings dinner, the roar of a lawnmower takes it's place.

In the distance I see from our ground-floor terrace the spikey fronds of a palm tree peeking above juniper trees woven through with deep pink bougainvillea. Situated next to a ramp leading from our group of 8 rooms to the pool area below, ours is a cute, rather public little terrace, and we see everyone coming and going.Thus, we must be the gate-keepers of our little enclave.

There are many such enclaves in this hotel. Perhaps the Lord has designated a gate-keeper for each one.

I must be forthright to say, though it feels somewhat isolated from the outside Israeli world with its necessary and excellent security, this hotel is a safe haven and a peaceful oasis in the middle of hills filled with an angry adversary.

The owners, Menachem and Tovah, shared with our group their stories of unbelievable personal encounters with suicide bombers inside their hotel lobby and just outside at the gas station. Both of them incurred major injuries, Menachem still carries metal pieces inside his body, and the lobby tiles are scarred and pitted where the bomber blew himself up. The entire lobby had to be rebuilt but Tovah left these tiles so she would not forget, and perhaps also, to always remember how good and protective God has been to them.

These two honored heroes stood before my eyes with smiles and jokes. I have no frame of reference so I must believe them. They are tenacious, determined to hang on to their hotel and this land. I believe we, B'ney Yosef, are here to support them with our prayers, our money, our very presence. May we help fill this land with love and helping hands. May we be worthy.

We are still getting to know each other, we members of Judah and Ephraim, and it will take some time. Definitely patience and perseverance will help make it happen. The Lord has said it will happen. Indeed, it is happening now.

I used to think that He would be the only One Who knows how and when we will all walk together again. But during this entire trip He's been urging me to look with my spiritual rather than my natural eyes. It is no longer if/when, but here/now. It is happening now. I, we, each one of us, are a part of it.

He is calling, has been calling, is calling still. Look with your spiritual eyes and see Him at work. Watch Him do what He says He will do.