Friday, December 12, 2025

Arrows 2025 Dec 12 Hanukkah | Christmas: Don't fight over it - Honor Him in both!

 This will be a FIRST for me, but I have decided to take the last two weeks of December off, so I will not be putting out the weekly prayer lists after Dec 19 again until Jan 9th. Most years I have worked right through but this year I want to spend the time resting in the Lord’s guidance for me in 2026. I need to make some changes to get better delivery of my prayer letters and I want to make my reach greater.

     At 74 I realize there is a limited amount of time left in my life and I want to make the most of it in fulfilling this calling towards the Israeli ministries. Really it is a calling not only to them, but also to international Christians who will only benefit from awakening to their spiritual brothers and sisters in Israel.  I believe this awakening to be among the most prioritized visions of God in the days ahead – bringing the unity of our common faith in Yeshua/Jesus with Messianic Jews and Christians embracing each other as family. It may look like the total opposite to the naked human eye – it sure does to me! – but to the eye of the Spirit, this is what God’s eyes are fixed upon.
      I would deeply appreciate and love the prayers of the saints for my two weeks of rest and seeking God’s direction in how best to fulfill the ministry He led me into.  Donna Diorio

Arrows from Zion
Summarized from the Weekly Summary of Prayer Requests Israeli Ministries

I always love what Howard Bass of Yeshua’s Inheritance in Beer Sheva says around this time each year and that is because he says thing like he has this week: “For Hanukkah, we will light the hanukkiah, the 9-candle lamp stand, and will light all of the candles each of the nights. The true Light has come, and all else pales. God bless you all during this Christmas season, sanctifying the holy dayto the glory of the God of Glory! I know that not all of you will agree with that, but long ago the Lord convicted me of having wrong reasons for rejecting the most amazing world-changing event yet to overthrow the pagan empires of this world against the righteous and holy Kingdom of God. We will have our Christmas service on Dec 20.”
     Now isn’t that a beautiful spirit? And so is this: “On Sonday, the 21st, we will go again…to a Palestinian evangelical church in Bethlehem, which is not particularly favorable towards Israel, for their Christmas service, with a banquet lunch following. It is important for them, and for us, that despite these last two years of terrible war and propaganda, to know that there are genuine brothers and sisters on each side. To God be the glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Here again is the link to my "timeline" of Yeshua's birth.
     Many other good things have been unfolding in this congregation and I would invite everyone to enjoy the great wisdom and good heart of this congregational ministry letter. To subscribe to the monthly email or to get donation information.    

Avi and Chaya Mizrachi, founded a congregation and the Dugit Outreach ministry in Tel Aviv 30 years ago. They passed the congregation over to the next generation, but are still at the helm of Dugit, the ministry outreach among other things like Shelanu TV and a Tel Aviv prayer room. Avi writes this week about the celebration of Hanukkah when “they rose up against a powerful empire that desecrated the Temple and demanded that the Jews worship another god.” It was “because the Maccabees refused to bow to idolatry and compromise.” It is a celebration of light overcoming the darkness, and really that is the reason we Christians celebrate Christmas, because the Light of the world was born.
     Avi writes, “Israel is once again living in tension with darkness pressing in. Our army is on high alert, and the number of rockets aimed at Israel, lying in wait for another attack, is growing. Even when the world says “ceasefire,” the war has not stopped. Hamas is still firing at our soldiers in Gaza. Our son-in-law, who is also the leader of our Congregation, is still serving in Gaza. The pressure is real. The message of Hanukkah for today is crystal clear: When darkness rises, we bring light. | When deception spreads, we speak truth. |  When fear increases, we choose faith.”…. . As we celebrate Hanukkah, may we remember: God’s light prevails. God’s truth prevails. God’s love prevails. With hope and determination.
     “
We at Dugit feel more strongly than ever that we must stand firm—not only spiritually, but physically. This is why securing a building that we own in the heart of Tel Aviv is so important. A place where:  No one can remove us or shut our doors | No political pressure can silence the Gospel |  And the light of Yeshua can shine freely in a city that desperately needs hope. To stand with the Mizrachi’s in this critical undertaking, please go here to deliver an end of the year blessing.

From Israel Pochtar of the Beit Hallel congregation in Ashdod, and Voice of Judah ministries, Israel sends a video about A Hanukkah of Welcome to honor Jewish immigrant children and their families. Also a link to read about A Christmas of Hope — Lifting Up Yeshua in His City Jerusalem. And an important gathering When Love Breaks Down Walls: Jewish-Arab Reconciliation Conference in Eilat | Lastly, “Help us complete our Center for Revival in Ashdod! It’s a God-given Vision” WATCH HERE

The Revive Israel team writes, “Israel  Is Entering a New Season—Stand With Us in 2026 After two years of war, heartbreak, and global isolation, people across the nation are searching for healing, meaning, and hope. Hearts are open in ways we have not seen in years.  At Revive Israel, we believe this is a prophetic moment, a time when God is turning hearts back to Him and to one another, just as Malachi promised. In the shaking, many Israelis are asking, “If the world isn’t with us… who will help us?” Our answer is simple: The Kingdom is with you. And so are we. As we step into 2026, we are focusing on a renewed vision of discipleship, family restoration, healing, and daily Kingdom life lived out across Israel. Your partnership helps make this possible. Follow this link to see our team & ministry grounds  This is a unique window, full of prophetic possibility and promise. Your year-end gift strengthens the work God is doing right now in Israel.

Daniel & Shirya Yahav write from Tiberias, the Peniel Fellowship that they are seeing continued growth – new families with youth and children. (This is a small excerpt from a mostly positive longer letter, but so important to pass along to my subscribers) “Along with all the good things God is doing, we feel the fierce spiritual battle that is going on. A very vivid reminder was one day as we returned home from another court hearing concerning the case of the defamation lawsuit we have mentioned before. Upon arriving at home our daughter rushed out of the door yelling "there is a snake in the house". We rushed out of the car and indeed there was a snake about 80cm (31 inches) long crawling up the stairs. It tried to sneak and hide but we managed to finally catch him. It was so very symbolic of the nature of the battle we are engaged in. Pray with us for God's victory over the deceit also in this matter. More Prayer Requests: Please continue to pray for the salvation of God's chosen nation. For those who are seeking to find the true and living God, and not be satisfied with dead religion. For God's protection from the continued threats from all our enemies around and within.”

Ronit Bender who is out of the Carmel congregation writes, “This spiritual awakening is happening. I don’t know what you hear on the news, probably not this, but it’s been in a number of articles here. Let’s pray that just as God blinded their hearts from the time of Isaiah, now, He will open their hearts, so they will “understand with their hearts, and return (repent!) and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). . . . I have fond memories about how much easier it was in Australia to share the Good News and lead people to the Lord. In Israel it is so different, but the Lord did not promise us an easy life, He promised to see us through as we depend on Him at all times. . . .It blesses my heart to see the eyes sparkle and hope returning to the one who was hopeless.  All the GLORY goes to the Lord! This is a great opportunity to thank you for all you have done this year. Whether praying for me and with me, helping with finances, or sending words of encouragement, a hug or a smile. The Lord called us - you and me to be the "one new man" for a reason. In January it will be 12 years since Tom left the earth. They have not been easy years, but God's purposes and plans have materialized and solidified in them. By your obedience, I was able to do what I have been called to do, with you the "share holders" of Heavenly treasures.” To send a year end blessing to Ronit: Please email Ronit for full details or PayPal trbender@gmail.com
 

David Silver of Out of Zion ministries in Haifa writes about his bout with a severe depression that left him unable to continue on these past couple of years with his ministry duties. I would just like to thank David for having such courage to be so transparent with what he experienced, and also for the wonderful reminder that when God embraces us, no matter what, He continues to love us through it all. I was especially touched by all that David wrote because of my own two year experience in the late 1990’s as I had to climb my way out of an abyss of spiritual oppression because my cup of bitter unforgiveness had filled to overflowing. I know first had it is hard to be transparent about that because although God may be forgiving, other believers often aren’t. But when you press into God in these situations, He repairs our brokenness – like a cracks in a vessel now sealed with gold, we can emerge with an empathy for where so many broken believers and non-believers stand. And not only empathy, but insight for them on how to be healed. You will have to email for David’s letter. It is too long to share here, but God bless you DAVID for having the courage to write openly!

Guy Cohen who leads the Harvest of Asher congregation in Acco put out such a wonderful word that I wanted you to be able to read in full, so I just posted it on my Facebook page: Dreams from God Do Not Die.

Avner Boskey of David’s Tent is out with a new piece on the protest slogan From the River to the Sea. “Rage-filled shouts, the beating of drums, violent marches and cries for destruction of the Jewish state – these Nazi-like manifestations are now commonplace today. . . . According to the God of Israel’s prophetic viewpoint, ‘From the River to the Sea’ does not refer to an imaginary Arab Palestine. It actually refers to a Greater and Messianic Israel. Today’s anti-Semitic marchers are championing a counterfeit prophetic vision.”

 

Fields of Wheat’s Joel Jelski who is the director for the Katzir Youth Camps writes for prayer support for the 100 teens they have coming for the Hanukkah Katzir/Harvest camps that get underway shortly in “Ein Gedi, a well known biblical site where David hid from Saul in the Judean desert…. Over the course of the camp, our teens and leaders will explore the key stages of David’s life. During the daily small group discussions, we’ll dive into his Psalms—discovering lessons about a life devoted to intimacy, faith, and trust in God through different seasons of life.” Not only that but they have supplied the Devotional they will be going through during the camp so you can read along and intercede with them while the camp is taking place: December 18-21. Joel writes, “Thank you for being an essential part of this camp. We know that we will see God move in significant ways in the lives of the teens because of your faithful prayers for them.”  To partner with Fields of Wheat

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