jeremiah616

jeremiah616

As I watch events being played out across the world stage, particularly what appears to be the increasing marginalization of America and the daily ratcheting up of the outcry against Israel to make even more concessions to those who would destroy Her, I am left with an ever increasing sense that time is short. It is almost as if the "birth pains" are now increasing in intensity by the day.

As the world looks on with dismay and perplexity, we as Believers need to focus our attention more and more on the "author and finisher of our faith," the Word, and the need to take inventory of those things in our lives that may hinder us from "running the race that is set before us."

And as we focus our attention on those things that are above and not on the temporal, may our Yahweh instill in our hearts a sense of urgency to redeem the time, that we may serve Him boldly and that our lives may in every way glorify the King of Glory.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Update 3/13/12


March 9–13
Palestinians have fired nearly 200 Grad missiles, rockets and mortars deep into Israel. Three civilians were wounded directly by the fire, one of them seriously. Additionally, 21 people suffered from shock and 11 were injured while fleeing for cover. Many of the Grad missiles launched at large cities were intercepted by missile defense system known as Iron Dome.
Most of the attacks followed an Israeli air strike on Zuhair al-Qaissi, commander of the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, a terrorist group with close ties to Hamas, and Mahmoud Hanini, a top field commander in the group. Al-Qaissi had overseen th2011 southern Israel cross-border attacks, which killed eight Israelis including six civilians. Israeli officials said that he was preparing the final stages of a new mega-attack that could have claimed multiple lives.
To protect students from the rockets, Israeli officials cancelled classes in most schools in the cities the Southern region and the Home Front Command barred all mass gatherings in southern Israeli communities. The Israel Police raised the level of alert around the country and foreign embassies, including the US Embassy, have issued travel warnings and emergency directions to Americans currently living in Israel.  A portion of that travel advisory is below.
Today, despite the so called ‘ceasefire’, seven rockets have been fired into the southern region. The news media refers to this as “relative calm”.

“I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:2
From: <amctelaviv@state.gov>
Date: Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 6:07 PM
Subject: Embassy Tel Aviv Security Message, March 12, 2012
To: stewartinsderot@gmail.com

Security Message for American Citizens regarding Travel in Southern Israel, March 12, 2012

Violence continues to occur along the boundary between Israel and the Gaza Strip.  Terrorist groups fired rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza over the weekend, and Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza, including airstrikes.  In the past, some rockets have traveled more than 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza and landed as far north as Yavne and Gadera and as far east as Beersheva.  As a result of possible military operations by the Government of Israel in Gaza and the ever-present risk of rocket and mortar attacks into Israel from Gaza, U.S. government personnel travelling in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip boundary, including the city of Sderot, or traveling south of Beersheva,  must make prior notification to the Embassy's Regional Security Office.

U.S. citizens in southern Israel should be aware of the risks and should take note of announcements by the Government of Israel’s office of Homefront Command at: http://www.oref.org.il/315-en/PAKAR.aspx.  U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise caution and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety and security while traveling in this region, and should monitor local news sources to find the latest information on the situation, as it can change unexpectedly.



Saturday, March 10, 2012

Update From Sderot 10/3/12

As most of you know, I have now returned to Sderot after spending a few months with family and friends in the States. I am thankful for all the opportunities I had to share and visit with family and faithful friends. You all made my visit very memorable. And of course, a special thanks to my host families for providing me with housing and friendship.

While I was in the States I had a wonderful opportunity to share over several weeks with a ladies group on Leviticus 23 and the Appointed Feasts of the LORD. The Appointed Feasts of the LORD are vital to the gospel message and understanding the Father’s plan of redemption. They were given to us by God so we could understand the coming Messiah and the role Messiah would play in redeeming and restoring both man and the earth. The Feasts were intended to place man into God’s time table; they help us understand His reckoning of time.

Now that I’m back in Sderot, I am busy catching up on the changes in the weekly distribution and the new computerized system of tracking everything.

The past 24 hours has once again seen an escalation in rocket fired into the southern region. At least 100 rockets- Kassams and the longer-range Grads- have pounded the southern region since Friday. As of now those living in the affected areas have been instructed to remain near safe rooms. According to the Ministry of Defense the current escalation is far from over and the operations will probably continue for another day or two.

“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” Psalms 32:7