Thanksgiving 2011

A special message for you and your family

LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk 3:2

The ICEJ would like to wish you and your family a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving!

We thank the Lord His every blessing, which includes your support for our ministry which allows us to carry out the calling God has given us in Israel.

Below is an excerp from our Isaiah 62 Prayer Guide for November, which is focused this month on the need to give thanks as we come before God. Here in the USA, we can appreciate the fact that this nation still sets aside a day in November to give thanks to our God and Creator for all His many blessings.

Always Giving Thanks!

““...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20)

Many times, when we pray for Israel, we instantly think about all the challenges and troubles facing this tiny nation: terror, the threat of nuclear war and her alienation within the international community. But, too often, we forget to thank God and praise Him for the amazing things which He has already accomplished in Israel over the course of years. Israel has not only survived more than 63 years in a hostile neighborhood, but she has flourished - even excelled - in the midst of this challenging environment.

Israel has seen the return of millions of immigrants over the past decades. She has became a major scientific and economic leader in the region and even in the world. Ancient biblical towns which, for centuries, lay in ruins are now thriving and dynamic cities once again. Every year the desert is being pushed back so that more and more land can be used for agriculture. Israel has a strong and effective military with which to defend her people. And the list goes on...

The modern-day story of Israel is a ‘divine miracle story’ for which we need to give thanks to God. For sure, there still are many challenges which require our fervent intercession and prayer, and there and are still many promises which need to be fulfilled. But let us always start our prayers for Israel, our nation and our own families by thankfully reflecting on what God in His great faithfulness has accomplished so far.

As we give thanks, we please the heart of God. But giving thanks also helps increase our faith in that same God who watches over Israel every second of every day. The Psalmist says, “I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds…” (Psalm 77:12). Let us do this together as we again come before God to seek His presence and helping hand..

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Jürgen Bühler
ICEJ Executive Director