12:17 AM here in Alberta, March 30 - the day of the big march to Israel by those opposed to her existence.  Since the time difference is about 7 hours, it is morning in the land.  I don't know what time the march is to begin, but Israel's IDF and police have been making preparations to protect its citizens and borders, deploying thousands of soldiers and police.
   Arabs living in Israel and Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza are marking what they call 'Land Day' in protest of what they call 'discriminatory Israeli land policies'.  This year, those from neighboring Arab countries have planned to march near Israel's borders in solidarity with their Palestinian Arab brothers, calling their part in this "Is Israel losing the Temple Mount War?"
     Because the 'peaceful protest' turned deadly last year, Israeli police and military are out in full force to quell any trouble that may arise.  However, they want to keep a low profile as much as possible, but of course they must be available to quell any flare-ups that may occur.  They will do whatever is necessary to protect their citizens.  Roadblocks have been set up at the entrances to major cities
     Apparently, protesters from 82 countries are expected to take part in what they call 'Land Day', to "end the apartheid regime and the ethnic cleansing".
     The whole idea is ridiculous, if it weren't so tragic.  I certainly cannot comprehend such hatred,  such unwillingness to compromise.  The Arabs have thousands of square miles of the Middle East .... but they want that tiny strip of land called Israel as well.  They want Jerusalem, God's holy city.  Indeed, they want the world!
     I pray for a peaceful demonstration.  I pray that no one is hurt or - worse - killed, on either side of the conflict.  I pray for a peaceful resolution to the whole situation in the Middle East and the world, for that matter!    But I don't expect real peace .... not until the Prince of Peace returns.
     My heart is heavy tonight, when I think of what is happening perhaps at this very moment in Israel.
     Passover is only a week away .... a time of looking back to the historical freedom from slavery in Egypt, when the Jewish people were saved from the Angel of Death by following the instructions God gave to Moses - for each family to sacrifice a spotless lamb, and put its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses, so that when  the Angel of Death came and saw the blood, he passed over their houses and spared them, but killed the firstborn in all the houses of Egypt.  That's what it took for Pharaoh to finally agree to Moses' plea to "Let my people go!"
     However, Passover is a celebration of freedom, and believers today can celebrate, because our perfect Lamb of God, Yeshua our Messiah, shed His blood at that Passover long ago to cover our sins - He paid the price for us!  As the Bible tells us, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
     Thank You, Yeshua, for laying down Your life for us!

Wisdom from the Torah

I was reading a commentary this morning on this week's Torah portion, particularly Exodus 31:2-3:  "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God [Ruach Elohim], with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts."


Bezalel had been selected by God in a special calling to be in charge of the construction of the Mishkan, for all the furnishings of the Tabernacle, the priests' vestments, the anointing oil, and the incense.  God had given him great artistic abilities, so he could carry out God's mandate for him.

The name of Bezalel has great meaning attached to it.  It comes from a combination of three Hebrew words:  be (in), tzel (shade), and El (God).  This can be translated as "in the shadow of God", a secret, special place of refuge.  Psalm 91:1 tells us:  "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High [Elyon] will rest in the shadow [tzel] of the Almighty [El Shaddai].


This name, Bezalel, was given to the first artisan mentioned in the Bible.  Names are important throughout God's word.  This man, chosen by God to be the artisan in charge of all the furnishings of the Tabernacle, was given this gift of 'artistry' in order to give glory to the Most High through the temple furnishings and instruments. With such an important mandate, Bezalel would have used the greatest care in designing and building these things in order to bring glory to God.

This suggests that there is something about the use of  whatever measure of creativity that God gives us which can be used as an act of worship, to bring glory to God, our Father and Creator.  The commentary, by a writer from Bibles for Israel, suggests that we allow this explanation to "inspire us to let our creativity flow and no longer consider creative endeavors 'non-productive' and a waste of time."

A very timely word indeed!  May it encourage all of us who have been given a measure of creativity, regardless of its size, to use it as an act of worship to our wonderful, holy Creator!

Another Hobby .....?

     My daughter sent me some info regarding Altered Books, a subject I had heard of, was rather curious about, but had never really checked it out.  Until today.  I think I'm going to like it.
     I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head!  But hey, that's what 'creative' people do, right?  We create.  And a new way of doing so is always fun.  The trick is to find the time to 'do' all these different projects.  I'm good at starting .... but it sometimes takes me awhile to finish it!
     After I returned from my trip to Israel a few years ago (is it that long ago already???) I began a series of watercolours of different photos I had taken, thinking I'd like to do a calendar with them.  But I have yet to complete twelve watercolours in order to complete this project.  I think I have four done!



     It was put on hold while I wrote a book (GRAFTED IN), which is now completed, published, and available.
     A couple of years ago I was given a gift of a beautiful hand-made leather-bound book from Italy.  As it is definitely too beautiful to simply use as a journal, I began doing colourful calligraphy of Bible verses on its pages.  I have enjoyed this project, but have not yet filled the book.  One day I'll get back to it.  I do enjoy it, and am fairly pleased with the results.

     Another project I've been working on off and on is entering favourite quotes in another special book which has a wooden cover with leather binding - again, a book too beautiful to use as a simple journal.
     I also scrapbook.  The very first one I ever did was for my Dad's 90th birthday.  It was originally all in one volume, but it was so thick and unwieldy that it broke, so I have since put it into two separate volumes:  one of Dad's life, and the other of his kids and our families.  Since Dad passed away a few years ago, this special book is now in my possession.

     Right from the start I loved scrapbooking!  There is so much a person can do with all the embellishments, fancy papers, fabric, ribbons, buttons ..... and of course, pictures!  But a scrapbook is SO much more than a book of pictures!  It is a work of art which tells a story.
      Once Dad's book was done, I started working on an 8X8 one for myself.  That was fun.  It briefly tells my story.  I remember that the very first page I worked on was 'My Favourite Things', which I had begun listing long before I ever actually began work on the book itself.  I had printed each 'thing' on several different coloured strips of paper, then put them together - it was sort of like a puzzle, trying to figure out what fit where on the page.
     And now I have Altered Books to play around with!  I'm presently working on a couple of pages.  I'll have to post them the next time I write about my 'projects'.