Hello friends,

I missed writing here last week as my family and I were given some long awaited news that has thrown our normal rhythms into a transplant and replanting process. I’m speaking figuratively, but also literally. Our family of eight will be moving cross-country over the next few weeks!

We are very grateful and excited about this as it has been in our hearts and prayers for some time. We would be deeply grateful for your prayers as we come to mind and although I hope to remain consistent in writing to you here, there may be a couple rough weeks ahead? If so, I’ll be back soon!

I’ve had a song by Rich Mullins based on Psalm 2 running around in my mind lately. (You can listen to it for free right now if you want, I’ll wait here 🙂 )

“Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed…”

—Psalm 2:1-2

I’ve been thinking, what more remarkable, visible, example of this in our day than the rebirth and independence of the modern state of Israel proclaimed in May of 1947? Now, 69 years later, we continue to celebrate God’s faithfulness.

In Israel and all over the world His hand is at work.

Let’s continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, literally surrounded by her enemies, and praise God for how His power is made known through her even still.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”

—Psalm 122:6-7

Below is a prayer that our friend Keren Hannah Pryor, of His Israel, has shared from the Jewish traditional prayer book.

“Our father who is in heaven, rock of Israel and its redeemer, bless the State of Israel, the first sprouting of our redemption. Defend her with the pinion of your devotion, spread over her the shelter of your peace, and send your light and truth to her leaders, officials, and advisors, affirming them with good counsel from you.

Strengthen the hands of the defenders of our holy land, grant them salvation, and crown them with a crown of triumph. May you give peace in the land and eternal gladness to its inhabitants.

Please take note of our brothers, the entire house of Israel, in all the lands to which they have been dispersed, and quickly lead them upright to Zion, your city, and to Jerusalem, the dwelling place of your name.

As it is written in the Torah* of Moses your servant: “If your dispersed ones will be at the ends of the heavens, from there the LORD, your God, will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the LORD, your God, will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and cause you to possess it, and he will grant more goodness and abundance than your fathers.”

Unite our hearts to love and fear your name, and to keep all of the words of your Torah*. Quickly send us the son of David, your righteous Messiah, to ransom those who wait for your final salvation.

Appear in the beauty of the brilliance of your strength over all the inhabitants of your world, and let all who have breath say, “The LORD, God of Israel is king, and his kingdom rules over all.” Amen, selah.”

It’s a beautiful prayer*. And the perfect time for us to join our family in praying it.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

—Romans 11:33-36

Praising His faithfulness and Seeking Him with you today friends,

Raynna, for the whole family
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*The prayer from the Jewish traditional prayer book (siddur) is an English translation by Aaron Eby
*Torah = The word of God