in the Land of the Living

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living." psalm 27:13

Hello there Beloved!

What a glorious thing to daily walk hand in hand with our Maker, our Redeemer, our Comforter, our Healer, our Everything! Truly and honor to be here in the land of Israel, tasting and seeing that He is good. Everyday, presented with the opportunity to know God intimately for myself, not just someone who I speak of because of head knowledge, but because of heart experience.

It has been amazing month here so far, so exciting to stand in the gap for the people here and to pray to the One who created them and desires an intimate relationship with them. To pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He would bring the increase into His kingdom. To pray that the eyes of the people would be opened to see His glory that is surrounding them and to see their need for a Redeemer. An honor to be here to lift worship up to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, to worship Jesus, our Messiah no matter how we may feel, but to worship Him simply because He is WORTHY of our worship!

Our days have consisted of having morning worship and devotions as a team and from there taking part in the weekly soup kitchen here in Tel Aviv, where we have the blessing of serving food to the poor and homeless as well as build friendships with them. We have also been able to do many prayer walks, and it has been so amazing to walk the streets of Tel Aviv and sense the Lord's presence in the midst of the darkness that hovers over this nation.

It has also been awesome to as a team to share our in-depth testimonies with one another and truly see how the Lord has been glorified in AMAZING ways in each life that is on this team. So humbling to look at the Lord and who He is, and then to look at myself and who I was without Him and then to look at where He has placed me and for what purpose, what an honor to be a reflection of His grace and forgiveness!

To think that each day the Lord sets before us Life or Death, Obedience or Disobedience. To think of the Liberty that comes when we choose Life. So many things that come across our path as we choose Life, so many things and circumstances, temptations and trials that try to stumble us as we walk on this Highway of Holiness, yet to cling to the Truth that He will not allow our feet to stumble. So, as I sit here in my room and I reflect upon my past, I see the Lord's faithfulness in my life, no matter if I was faithful or not, His faithfulness is not determined on mine, He is faithful regardless, because He cannot deny Himself. To look at my present and to see that with everything set before me, I have two choices, Life or Death. And I desire to encourage each one of you as well to sit and reflect, and answer the question, today, will you choose Life or Death? In our mind, the things that we are thinking about...Life or Death? In our hearts, the emotions we feel that we allow to affect our actions, are we going to choose Life or Death? In everything, in how we reach out to each other, Life or Death?

Be encouraged brethren, that no matter what you may be facing, NO temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. So remember that there is ALWAYS a way out and that you ARE able to bear whatever you are going through because greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world. Also, remember that His grace is NOT in vain!!! Continue to seek His face, continue to hold onto His word, and do not lose heart, you WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living! A warrior is made in battle! so continue to fight FROM victory, and not for victory. Allow the courage to come from communion with Christ!

Please continue to keep me and the team in prayer as we are fighting the good fight and are seeking desperately to make Him known to His people!

Prayer Request:
*Continual brokeness before God
*Jordan & my leadership
*Continued team unity
*People of Israel
*Calvary Chapel Tel Aviv
*Adonai Roi Messianic Congregation
*Team Finances

echoing His grace,
Pri

EXODUS

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8

Shalom! (Peace)

What an amazing thing to be walking the streets of Israel once again! Beholding the faces of a people that my heart has been longing to see once again. Being here in the Land that the Lord loves so much at such a crucial time in this world is so humbling!

So, our journey officially began on July 28th, where we embarked on our wilderness trip in San Bernadino Mountains. This time in the mountains was truly amazing for me. Walking throughout the mountains and valleys and seeing how the physical surroundings represented the circumstances that were surrounding me and I had a couple of choices, either to stay in the valley and never see the glory that lied at the top or to continue on and experience the glory of reaching the mountain top and seeing the splendor of everything around me. It was so sweet to push past through every valley, to reach the mountaintops and then to head back into the valleys, knowing that the Lord's faithfulness was enough for me to arise in faith again to go back into the valley and onto experience His faithfulness and grace once again in reaching the next mountain of His glory!

From wilderness, we continued our journey to Pine Summit (conference center in Big Bear). This week was geared up for preparation with teachings and times of worship and prayer. It was so sweet to be blessed with the opportunity to share on the topics of Intensity and then another day on Meditation. I was truly humbled by the opportunities, and at the same time was filled with such a desparation for the Lord to move on my behalf. Day after day experiencing the Lord's heart for each one of us and for the nations that He was sending us out to. Truly sensing the Lord equipping me for the season that is at hand. Never before feeling so desparate and vulnerable before the Lord and the only One that I had was Him!

During our time at Pine Summit, my co-leader Rich went mountain boarding during our free time and during that time injured his knee. Because of the injury to his knee and the report he received from the doctor, he felt led to stay back in the States. Overwhelmed with so many emotions and so many questions as to what would happen with me and the team, I became even more desperate for the Lord. And in His faithfulness, Jordan Henderson (my co-leader from last year) answered the call and will be co-leading with me here in Israel. He just came in this morning so please keep him in prayer for adjusting to the climate and everything else. I am so excited to be leading another team with him this year, truly humbled that He would bless me with another opportunity to serve alongside my brother.

This first week here in Israel has truly been a week that has left me at a loss for words. We are living here in Tel Aviv right across the street from the beach! It's so amazing to think that this will be my home for the next 4 months and to think that the Lord has drawn me out here so that I may know Him more! Man! He loves us so much! I am so excited for what the Lord has in store for this season.

I am truly feel that I have just experienced an exodus like never before, coming out of the place I was just in back in the States and entering Israel, the Promise Land. It has definately been a journey already, at times feeling like the children of Israel and just walking around in the desert in circles but the Lord has been so faithful to His promise to me and has brought me to the Land that His heart yearns for. And here I am, sitting in our apartment in Tel Aviv writing you of His faithfulness. I am so excited for this season that I am in, holding onto the Promises that He has made me of new life and peace and also so excited to see His promises unfold for our team.
So, I encourage you, no matter what part of the exodus you are on, whether you are wandering around in the desert and do not see any water around you, remember that He is all that you need! He longs to draw you to Himself so that He may fill you with HIS goodness. Whether you are in the valley, continue to press in and climb up the mountain, knowing that the mountaintop is not glorious without the valley. And if you are currently on the mountaintop, remember that He has you in this place to refresh you and give you strength for the valley that lies ahead, so arise in faith and walk through everything that He has before you. Being fully confident that every part of the exodus is leading us to His throne to behold the beauty of His glory and splendor!

So, I invite you on this journey with me into His promises. Please pray with us and we long to share the Love of Jesus the Messiah with every person we come into contact with, whether by word or by deed.

Please pray:
*God's heart for His people and for each other
*Jordan and my leadership
*Persevering heart
*attitude of prayer and worship and surrender
*The Lord's continual protection
*team unity

echoing His grace,
pri