A Sudden Movement…….

On 8 June 2024, after 245 days in captivity, Noa Argamani and three other hostages were rescued from Gaza in a joint operation by the Israel Defence Forces, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police. Her name in Hebrew means, “movement”, and after those awful 245 days it was definitely a sudden one!

I think it was about February 2024 I began to feel a burden from The LORD about this particular girl. I knew her mother Liora was battling brain cancer and I knew her outlook was poor. I could only think of the word, reunion, and so I set about praying along those lines.

I have learnt over the years that having prayer lists are a good thing but what we really need when it comes to intercession is direction from The LORD, what does He want us to pray about?

I had been attending a church meeting on Saturday 8^th June and to be honest I had come away a bit discouraged with some conflicting thoughts about what had been shared by the preacher. I had no sooner left the meeting when a text came through four hostages had been released and one of them was Noa. All the disappointment from the meeting just disappeared and I was filled with ecstatic joy! Immediately I thanked The LORD, I’m sure amongst the many others who had been praying.

I wept when I heard she went straight to see her mum and the reunion had come to pass even though at this stage Liora was very sick. The doctors had been working hard with her over those months and they were confident that she could hear her daughter’s voice. Yesterday Liora passed away but her prayer had been answered.

At the funeral Noa speaking of her mother said:

“Thank you for being strong and holding on all this time, just so I could see you at least one more time.”

Being alongside Jude in hospital even up to her last breath was the greatest privilege a husband could receive. It is though I entered into Noa and her mum & dad’s situation personally because of my own life experiences.

The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthian Church:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.“ 2 Cor 1: 3-4

Ask God for a burden & be faithful to follow it through, it might change your walk and life forever.

Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven

“Biddy watched the officers gently carry her husband’s casket into the peaceful quiet of the cemetery. Throughout the long days and nights beside him in the hospital, she had been so sure that Oswald would make it. The word from the Bible to her own heart during that time had seemed so clear, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.” (Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God page 9)

I remember like Biddy when faced with a sudden change in my own circumstances the questions & concerns about the future started to come. It was later in the chapter that I drew alongside her, the similarities were striking. At our wedding we sang, “Praise my soul the King of Heaven”, and I felt it should be included in Jude’s celebration of her life. Listen to what happened to Biddy next:

“Biddy closed her eyes, pulled Kathleen (their young daughter), close to her, and softly began to sing the hymn that welled up in her heart: “Praise my soul the King of Heaven, to His feet Thy Tribute Bring.” “It would not be the last time she sang those words when all seemed lost and her only hope lay in the grace of Almighty God”.

I have been so blessed reading the autobiography of Oswald Chambers. The famous devotional “My utmost for His highest”, came out of his writings.

New Years eve 1916 while stationed as a Chaplain in Egypt he wrote on a large blackboard:

“The Irreparable Past-Sleep on now. The Irresistible Future-Arise let us be going (Matthew 26:45-46)

It has been the grace of God that keeps me going forward with an irresistible future. I would like to write more on this subject about going forward and will do in June dv.

www.notoncebuttwice.com

Thank you………

After completing Jude’s book and sending out the link, I would just like to say a big thank you for the amazing response and the kindest of words.

I was struck by the number of nations where people have viewed from. I continue to pray that Jude’s book will be a great comfort to many believers going through a valley and also a warning to those outside of Christ that personal salvation is the only answer to life’s questions.

Here are a few of the comments received;

“A beautiful person reflected in a beautiful book”. AW

“At the end of the day it’s not the sermons we have heard or the books we have read, but the precious lives of the people that the Lord put alongside us that have the biggest effect. These are the true blessings that we treasure. Sister Jude was most definitely one of those treasures that the Lord Jesus blessed us with, and we thank Him daily”. AK

“I’m so impressed with this book. I hadn’t realised she was writing it and I think it’s wonderful that you’ve finished it”. AH

“Aw, thank you so much. I loved Jude and this brought a tear to my eye” G

“Your book is poignant and powerful and beautifully written- a masterpiece just like your beloved”. A

Thank you again and may God richly bless your life.

Andy