A Shout of Joy and a Plea for Help

 I have just returned home from a joyous and blessed celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles with the Beit Yeshua congregation in Nevada. John and I had traveled out for this feast day celebration a few times before and have remained dear friends with the wonderful people there. I had the great joy of leading worship and teaching from the bible each day. The weather was beautiful and the mountains and pine forests surrounding us made a great setting for the week-long campout. Bright red apples were falling from the trees by the bushel full and several in the congregation brought in jars of honey, elderberry syrup, and apple butter to share from their land.

We are to keep this Feast of the LORD as He commanded His people in Leviticus, in Numbers and in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 16:13-17 says, “You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your wine press. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful."

Other verses explain that this is to be a time of remembering when the Lord God led His people through the wilderness for forty years, keeping them safe in their tents (or tabernacles).  This year, the Hebrew year 5786, held very great significance because the hostages were returned to their families in Israel on the seventh and final day of the biblical Feast of Tabernacles.  I personally became overwhelmed as I realized that these hostages were taken captive by Hamas in the brutal attack of October 7, 2023, exactly two years ago, which was ALSO the seventh and final day of the biblical Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot).  They were taken captive on that biblical Hebrew day and they were returned two years later on that same biblical Hebrew day. When I see God moving in such precision on HIS CALENDAR I know we must be paying attention! It always means something! So, let me share with you some of what He has showed me.
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In ancient Israel, during the morning procession of that great Seventh Day, known as Hoshana Rabbah, worshipers circled the synagogue seven times with branches of willow and palm, chanting the biblical words of Psalm 118: “Hoshana – Save us, we pray, O Lord!” This day has long been called Yom HaYeshuah HaGadol – the Day of Great Salvation. This year, its meaning feels especially fitting.

The One For Israel website posts: "For two long years, Israel has fought, prayed, and wept for its sons and daughters to come home. Today, on Hoshana Rabbah, those prayers have been answered.
The hostages, held in captivity since the war began, are finally free – and a day once marked by cries for salvation has become a living image of redemption. The convergence is striking, reminding Israel that sorrow and deliverance often meet in God's appointed time — not by coincidence, but by divine design. This, too, adds to the sense among many that the timing of the hostages’ release bears the mark of mercy. More than a diplomatic achievement, it is a moment when a nation’s faith and tears converge in thanksgiving. The fragile sukkah, the temporary tabernacle we dwell in during this feast, symbolizes human vulnerability under divine protection. It reminds us that Israel’s security – and our own – does not depend primarily on walls, power, or human plans, but on the presence of God, who shelters His people “under the shadow of His wings.”

As the Book of Nehemiah tells of the first Sukkot celebrated by those returning from Babylonian captivity: “So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; ... And there was very great gladness.” Nehemiah 8:17  On this day, two years after their captivity began, Israel’s hostages too can once again sit in the sukkah – the fragile shelter of joy – together with their loved ones.

I sense in my Spirit that Father is demonstrating to the world that our well-being and security never depends on our own merit, but on His faithfulness to fulfill His promises, in His time and according to His plan. And even though this Day of Great Salvation has passed, we will still continue to cry out, "Hoshana!" - Save us, we pray!" because we pray that the veil will be lifted from Israeli eyes and they will come to know and receive Yeshua (which means Salvation)! God has answered prayers for restoration and the world seems to think there is now going to be a time of peace. But we who are in Yeshua know that true peace will only come upon His glorious return. So let this cry of Hoshana and the shout of Maranatha continue to ring out in the earth as we await the coming of our Deliverer, as we are promised in Romans 11:26: "and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob."
Hallelujah! 

I have a personal note and request to add. I pray you may be moved to help. A couple of months ago when I sprained a second ankle, a young man from here in my community came into my life. A neighbor made me aware of his Facebook post that said MISSION: YARDWORK. The post explained that this young man, whose name is Matthew, felt he was called to offer free yardwork, mowing, trimming, etc. to elderly or handicapped individuals who could not do yardwork or mow their lawns. I had been wondering how I would be taking care of my lawn this past summer, but I called Matthew and he has been coming each week to help me, without taking any compensation. He has the kindest, most gentle heart and he shared with me that he hoped by helping those who need help he might begin to accumulate a list of customers and referrals so that he could start his own little landscaping business next spring. He was here last Wednesday for a final fall mowing and he helped me assemble my new dining set. Matthew talked about the Lord and his yearning to learn the Bible. He left my house on his small electric bike, pulling a little wooden cart with a mower in it -- and just outside of town he was rear-ended by a hit and run driver. His bike and trailer and equipment were all totaled. He himself did not have a scratch! God kept him safe, but it is heart-breaking to me that he lost all he had to begin his little business that has brought genuine help to so many.  If this touches your heart too, would you go to this link and leave a donation of any size to help Matthew? I would be truly grateful.
​Much love to you all!
 https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-matt-rebuild-mission-yardwork