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March 18, 2024

MONDAY. SWORDS OF IRON WAR

Day 164

Before closing the door, this morning, Willie reminded me to go for my 20-minute walk. It was a timely reminder. Although I am at home more, I tend to get bogged down by whatever I do and miss a simple action such as a walk outdoors. The remainder stayed with me until I left the apartment at 10:30 and went down our 60 stairs to walk out to the park behind my building.

Raya is 86.

A few hours earlier, during morning's prayer, I heard about the fighting in Shiva Hospital. The IDF was notified of Hamas directing their operation from inside there. IDF went in to secure the ill citizens, get rid of Hamas operators, keep the medical team safe, and take the hospital back into our hands.

They fought overnight and needed our prayers. IDF brought Arabic-speaking soldiers to the area so they could communicate. By morning most of Israel knew about it. 

The sun is high in the sky today with 19 degrees heat. But I am cold even in the sun.

Willie says that everyone in our local hospital, staff and patients alike, is tired and cold. I wondered if the cold and tiredness were a part of the war. Maybe it is caused by the shock of it all.

Today is my mother's 37th Memorial Day.  Today, 16 years ago, we landed at Ben Gurion airport as we returned to Israel. Today, Raya my friend turned 86 years old. Busy day. 

Today, Netanyahoo had to talk to the world politicians who are attacking us again,

"And to our friends in the international community I say: Is your memory so short? So quickly did you forget October 7, the most terrible massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust? So quickly are you ready to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the monsters of Hamas? Did you lose your moral conscience so quickly?"

"Instead of putting pressure on Israel, which is fighting a just war, against an enemy that cannot be more cruel, direct your pressure against Hamas and its patron - Iran. They are the ones who pose a danger to the region and the entire world," Netanyahu concluded. "We, in any case, will face all the pressures, and with God's help, we will continue to fight together until complete victory."

I asked God what I needed to do? How do I respond? What is my place in all this?

In the early morning, He reminded me of Micah 6:8 -

He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

This is a tall order. Truly an assignment. Help me to fulfill this requirement, dear God.



March 16, 2024

21:00 END OF SHABBAT. Day 162. SWORDS OF IRON WAR. 16.03.2024


Evening – it is around 21:00 now. Willie and I completed our 2-sides puzzle; Rested, ate, and watched the first 4 episodes of “The Chosen” on Netflix.

Terrorists Infiltrated in Hebron 7 hours ago. Rockets fired in Kiryat Shmona at the same time. The Chief of the General Staff and other generals met in the region of Yehuda and Shomron and evaluated the forces' readiness for Ramadan.

Throughout the day, instances of projectile launches originating from Lebanese territory into Israeli areas were identified. In response, the IDF promptly engaged the sources of the aggression with precision artillery strikes.

While IDF is ready to respond to attacks, the generals asked our people to respect the prayers and fasting of the Muslim population.

It seems like such double standards! We were attacked while praying and fasting in the Yum Kippur War – no one gave us time to prepare for the attack from Egypt. It was 50 years ago and that horrible war still has memorials of mourning over the dead. On October 7, on the last day of Succot, during our celebration of the Tora, they terrorized the civilians, killing maiming, abducting – in their our own homes, on our own land!... did we receive respect for our women, children, old ones, or for our prayers and celebration? No, we didn't.

And the world is calling for us to stop a war we did not start? Why? All we receive from the rest of humanity is hatred and antisemitism.

Israel continues to protect itself. Our borders are filled with our young people, men and women. We are staying – World, we are not stopping and not leaving. See us win. Israel will be victorious. God will free our hostages and protect our people.

We fasted and we prayed and the best among us gave their lives.

Isaia 58 says: Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

AM ISRAEL CHAI.

SHABBAT. Day 162. SWORDS OF IRON WAR.

SHABBAT. 

Quiet. The last reported rocket from Lebanon was last night around 20:25 at Shlomi. That city was evacuated some weeks ago. The last three reported rockets from Gaza fell around 21:00 at Sderot, Iirm, and Nir Am.

Now at 07:30, it is quiet in Nahariya. A peace of Shabbat.

We decided to stay home and rest. The stress is affecting everyone. We are extremely tired. I feel that we can sleep around the clock. I had a second shot in my eye two days ago, but that does not seem to be the reason for the need to sleep. Willie, thank God, is physically fit, yet he also needs to rest a lot. So we decided to listen to our bodies and our days are quieters by choice. We pray, put puzzles together, patter around the house, walk downtown, and rest, rest, rest.

Shabbat Shalom to you all.





March 15, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 161.

FRIDAY. 15.03.2024

The Iron Challah 

Still waiting.

Waiting for Shabbat to arrive in peace. Waiting for the soldiers to come home. Waiting for the hostages to return to Israel alive. Waiting for the world to remember that it all started because of the day of terror when our people were murdered, slaughtered, raped, abducted by Hamas. Waiting for peacetime so the nation can start to recover from trauma. Waiting.

As a part of this nation and living in it, Willie and I are also waiting. But, we are also praying. Praying for God to help us all, individually and collectively. Daily, I am praying more and getting closer to Him.

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. (Psalm 119:2-3)

Since I am at home now full time, I decided to bake for Shabbat. The airplanes flew to Lebanon with the daily assignment of protecting the North border and the electricity was on again and off again. I baked anyway. The Chalah burned and I named the “hard outside soft inside” chewable crunchy creation – The Iron Chalah. It is filling

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Pslam 27:14)

March 12, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 158

Park @ Back of the House
TUESDAY 12.03.2024

Waiting. Praying. Waiting. Praying.

COPIED FROM NEWS SOURCE: 🔅Monday night - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connect to Israel in Real Time:

🔻ANTI-TANK MISSILES (4) - from Lebanon, Hezbollah - at an IDF post in Ramim Ridge.

🔻ROCKET COUNT = 30 so far today, 22 in one barrage.

Joint Announcement:
IDF (Israel Defense Forces (IDF), armed forces of Israel, comprising the Israeli army, navy, and air force) and ISA forces (The United States Army Intelligence Support Activity (USAISA), frequently shortened to Intelligence Support Activity) eliminated a terrorist who planned to carry out a terror attack in the immediate future.



▪Tel Aviv's planned terror stopped.. a large attack was supposed to take place in the center of Israel. This could have been a reality-changing event on Ramadan but was avoided thanks to high-quality shin bet intelligence and a successful operational action by the IDF. A terrorist from Jenin was armed with weapons and a large explosive charge, with which he intended to carry out a significant bombing and shootings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He was caught by the shin bet and an elite counter-terror IDF squad in Samaria on his way.

▪Ramadan celebration terror. Arabs threw a Molotov cocktail at vehicles on the JerusalemGush Etzion road after the el Khader junction towards Efrat.

Waiting. Praying. Waiting. Praying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJLoO3jzxBA




March 11, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 157.

MONDAY 11.03.2024


YesterdayWillie took the train to Tel Aviv with our guest while I stayed home and mostly slept. I guess some days are just like that.

He called from the Shalom Station and we looked at that city of my birth. Young people crossed the streets with armour on their shoulders, but a sense of peaceful existence came through that view. High rises keep towering over the area of the train stations, many more than I recall. The food mall was empty at 11 am, but there are new food spots in there, we'll try them together another time. Nice place. Energetic, joyful. I have always loved Tel Aviv.

Today, Willie is in the hospital volunteering. I'm at home having a mundane day of washing more bedding, housework and Googling. I'm thankful for the peace.

It is the first day of Ramadan and the country is on alert. While we've been praying for peace, we know that the Imams are calling for attacks and for terrorist actions. So we pray but stay alert for any unexpected terror. It is 10:45 am on a perfect sunny day. This is what the war is about – to be able to enjoy freedom on our land as free people. To have mundane days as well as exciting times. To play our music choice, speak our language and enjoy the next generations. It is the first day of the Muslim's fast, we hope it'll stay as peaceful for the full 30 days.

We're planning to start a two-sided puzzle.





March 09, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 155.


SATURDAY 09.03.2024

A full day with our guest from The Bahamas. Bussing to and from the Khila in Isofia, participating in a packed and impacting service, lots of good food and fellowship, and a restful evening.

God allowed me to share today Mark 13:9-13.

But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The Pastor read the antidote to the suffering and how to endure it:

Roman 8:37-39

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



March 08, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 154.

FRIDAY 08.03.2024


Wisdom of the masses – a new word coined: Booming. I'm sure everyone understands this Hebrew word – in all languages.

Near by us rockets were sent from Lebanon. We heard the noise; it was far enough so the sirens did not come on in Nahariya, but a school girl, daughter of a friend in Cabri, recorded a video of the rocket in the sky.

We went downtown for some errands and waited for the bus for 40 minutes enjoying the street kitten play with its new toy.

I woke up this morning with a joy in my heart.

IDF attacking South Lebanon as an answer to them shooting us in the North so that's not the reason. It is International Women's Day, today, which I did not know until one of Willie's English students brought me flowers, that was not the reason either. Our friend is on his way from Jerusalem, which is great, but not a cause for such a deep joy.

Our group read Isaiah 61:3 upon my request, I believe this was it.

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

There is a shift in the air. A turn of events or some other major change.

I do pray that the abducted hostages are being set free. 19 women among them – it would be great if they sent free today being Women's Day.

The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength says the Nehemiah, and I agree.

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Shabbat Shalom.



March 07, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 153.

THURSDAY 07.03.2024 5 MONTHS.

"They are building over there!"

Booms and airplanes were flying north till after 1 am on the night before. However, last night we slept well. It was quiet. This morning our prayer group read Psalm 3. I am praying that the soldiers on the front also get a good sleep.

( Psalm 3:5-6) I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of tens thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

Many questions are being asked of us privately. I apologize that I am unable to answer them all. My knowledge is limited and now my eyesight is adding to that limitation. I keep up with the news from all the fronts in various ways. Two sites are the most accurate: https://t.me/israel_realtime_updates & RedAlert application.

I assume you can download them, let me know if that helps.

Today's News included: Canada to fund Hamas. The associated press from a Canadian official: Canada will return to funding UNRWA. That's a disappointment. One of many during this war.

The First World War was fought from 1914 to 1918. More than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in this war, then called The Great War. More than 66,000 of our service members gave their lives and more than 172,000 were wounded. Did the Canadians forget their sacrifice? They fought against terrorists in WW1 and WW2 how can they fund a terrorist organization that is hiding under a humanitarian mask?

In Ann of Green Gables, Lucy Maude Montgomery wrote about the Canadian soldiers in WW1: “The dead, as well as the living, were fighting on our side and such an army cannot be defeated”.

I agree with this sentiment. I feel that the IDF is backed up by generations who suffered and died in Israel and abroad. These are not only Jews. Some are friends from all the nations. Druze, Christians, Muslim Arabs, Bedouins, and Volunteers from around the world, are all part of the efforts to overcome terror, many are in the IDF and many help in the country. Some have died, and some are counted among the hostages. A man from India who came to work here to support his young family in India was killed two days ago in one of the attacks. We are not alone, regardless of the media hype and the political thrust to isolate us from the rest of humanity. But, I also believe that God is with us and His hosts are fighting with our army; because of Him, we cannot be defeated.

(Psalm 3:8) Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah



March 05, 2024

SWORDS OF IRON WAR. Day 151.

TUESDAY 06.03.2024


My soul feels heavy today, it might be the effect of the whirling events.

Last night 30 rockets were shot from Lebanon by the Hezbollah to northwest Galil. I heard the booms, they knocked out electrical towers and a few settlements were in darkness. Nahariya was far enough so our sirens were not employed. More rockets were sent again 3 minutes ago.

The Hamas playing games with the hostages' lives. They are spouting words with double meanings during the negotiations as if they are Greek oracles. More evidence of Hamas brutality especially against the women during the terror attack are publicized. They treated the female hostages worse than animals. The Israeli government members are getting more frustrated and the families of the hostages are very angry. Hostility rising.

Yet, with all these painful issues, my eyes are looking at Yeshua.

I've noticed this morning that international volunteers are admired and appreciated here while they receive criticism from people in their home countries. I want to tell our volunteers how proud I am to see their hard work and sacrifice. You, people from gentile nations, are
siding with the people of God.  You are showing by your actions that you stand with Israel, the apple of God's eye. In Matthew 25:31-46, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, God is very specific about his judgment. He knows who is for and who is against Israel. His judgment is specifically related to the behaviour of the nations toward Israel.

I don't know if the actions of individuals will affect how God judges their specific nation. But I'm positive that God will not overlook the good the volunteers are doing during this war and the hope and help they exhibit in our kibbutzim and the IDF bases on the front line. Their work and presence with us during this time are worth in gold. So many we see here who are from Thailand, the Bahamas, The Americas, and Europe, all sacrificing their time of work, study, comfort and at their own expense coming here to help. I've met people who are of all ages and all cultures, and these are not Jews, but they are people of faith in God.

God, please bless them as they bless us, your people, on these trying days.