Alignment
During the last month I have been consciously aligned with Israel. The Jewish New Year began on 15th September 2023…the year 5784 in Israel’s chronology. Why I have sensed this increased identification with her High and Holy days I am not sure. Except that it may be the Spirit of God, Israel’s Jehovah, who has drawn me. I was born in 1948; the same year that modern Israel was born. When I was truly born again in Jesus in 1990, I was immediately spiritually aware of the importance of Israel and her spiritual significance in the earth today.
Two Poems: Yom Kippur & The Heart of God
YOm kippur
I was in Kefalonia, Greece on Yom Kippur. This most Holy day for the Jewish people is the Day of Atonement. This year it was from sundown on 24th September to sundown on the 25th.
Atonement is about Israel’s collective awareness of sin; sin against their Most Holy God. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s holiness. The day called Yom Kippur is about repentance – personally and as a nation -and remembering the atoning sacrifices that used to be made by the priests for those sins; cleansing away the stains of sin for the year ahead.
The poem I wrote on Yom Kippur was my thankful response for the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, who has not yet been recognised as such by most Jews alive today.
Jesus is my Saviour; the One who has rescued and redeemed me from sin and death and brought me into God’s Kingdom of eternal life, through His personal sacrifice of Himself on the cross some 2000 years ago. He is my Messiah by inheritance. Though I am not of the Jewish line, yet He has grafted me in to the rootstock of God’s people Israel, by His own blood sacrifice. This is my poem:
Thank You, Lord: On Yom Kippur You are worthy of all honour, glory and worship. You created all things. You sustain all things. You are the Lord of Love and Life. Glory is Your hallmark, Glory is Your Name There’s no honour great enough, for You are not the same You’re greater than creation, You’re Holy and You’re Other And yet You breathed Your life in us; gave Jesus as our brother To us who now believe in Him, Your pure and perfect Son You give Your Spirit freely, and in Him make us one One with your own perfection, one with Your glory here We give You all our worship; You call us to draw near If we were not in Jesus, we dare not seek Your Face For Holy is Your Countenance and we approach by grace The grace of His atonement, Your pure and perfect Lamb That sacrifice in blood was made by Him who is I AM And now on this most Holy Day, as we remember sin We grieve that we have been the ones who brought the darkness in So, as we thank You, Holy God, for brilliance of Light We worship You as David did - and dance with all our might! Originally written on Yom Kippur 24/5 September 2023
The Heart of God
After the Day of Atonement there follows, a few days later, the seven days of Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles – a time of rejoicing for the Jewish people. And, at the end of that week, a further two days holiday of rest and happiness. God’s Word – in the law given to Moses -is also celebrated.
It was at this latter time that the horror attack was perpetrated against the Jewish people in their homeland. Terrible reports of unspeakable atrocities; the worst since the Holocaust. Israel is in shock. The world is challenged. Christians and Jews, who pray to the same God, are crying out for justice, help, mercy. The whole earth is shaken. War is declared. Innocent people – children and babies included – are dead, injured and suffering.
We are all still in shock. Today, as I was joining with other Christians throughout the world, asking the Holy Spirit of God how to pray, I started to write a poem. I’ve finished a few verses. This is my way of trying to understand how to align with Jesus, in God’s own heart, to pray for God’s people Israel and, indeed, for the world in which I live.
The Heart of God Your heart is not divided, Your heart is always One You love this world we live in - as Father, Spirit, Son - You hate the sin we perpetrate; the sin that stains this earth You give us everything You are; that we might have new birth And in the bloody conflict, when hatred fills man’s heart Jesus we look upon Your cross - salvation You impart Your blood atones for everything and shows the power of love The perfect love of sacrifice; our Father’s heart above And so today we seek Your heart, to show us how to pray We ask for revelation - Your wisdom for this day Speak Light into great darkness; bind evil, horror, fear We ask for hearts of righteousness, to loose Your Kingdom here
The Bakery 