Winter 2011

God Is the God of His Word

I love this time of the year! It’s a time to   celebrate the holidays with friends and family and reflect on all the blessings that our Lord has bestowed upon us this past year. So much so, that we should desire to help others less fortunate then ourselves to also have a great holiday season.

For us, it’s also a time of the year that magnifies the truth that our God is the God of His word! Let me explain, one of my ministries with CJFM is our messianic fellowship, Tikvah BaMidbar (Hope in the Desert). We will be celebrating Hanukkah, the “Feast of Dedication” soon. It’s called, the Feast of Dedication because it marks the occasion when the Jewish Temple was rededicated after the Greeks had desecrated it.

“Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, con-cerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary be trampled under foot?’ And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed” (Dan. 8:13-14).

The transgression that Daniel is relating to us begins with Antiochus Epiphanes, the Hellenized ruler of Syria. He was a vile and wicked man who hated the God of Israel and considered Him a lesser god.

He invaded the Holy Temple of God and carried away the golden altar, the golden candlesticks, the golden vessels, and other sacred treasure. And to show his hatred and contempt for God—he slaughtered and boiled a pig and poured its broth upon the Holy Scrolls of the Law. True worship was stopped, and was replaced by pagan worship in the Temple.

He then continued the Abomination of Desolation by erecting a statue of his god Jupiter, which was placed in the Temple.

But as I stated earlier, our God is a God of His Word. Epiphanes began his persecution of the Jewish people in 171 BC, and it was exactly 2,300 morning and 2,300 evenings on the 25th of Kislev that the Temple was cleansed and rededicated.

God Sends His Son, the Birth of Our Lord

There are hundreds of wonderful messianic prophecies in the Older Covenant that were completely fulfilled by our Messiah, Jesus. One of the passages that I often use is Isaiah 52:13-12. In this passage, 27 prophecies were fulfilled in just one day. After reading this passage you’ll have to agree that our God is the God of His word.

Another verse that amazes me is Galatians 4:4.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law” (Gal. 4:4 NASB).

In God’s timetable, when the exact religious, cultural, and political conditions demanded by His perfect plan were in place, Yeshua, Jesus, came into the world.

God sent His Son at the precise moment to bring all who trust and believe out from under bondage to the Law. God is the God of His word!

A Comforting Truth

Many of us have lost loved ones who were of the faith. I recently came across this Christmas poem and hope that it’s as comforting to you as it is to me.

“Christmas In Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

  I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring.
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

  I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
  So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
  And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

  I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
  I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
  After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
  It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.


  Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
  For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
  So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
 Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Author Unknown

How can we ever thank you for the love that you have bestowed upon us through your prayers and financial support? Again, all that we can say is thank you from our hearts that are so grateful for each of you.

Have a happy Hanukkah, a merry Messiahmas, and a great New Year,

Barry & Vi