Oil in Israel

In 1983, the Lord gave me a dream of a map of Israel. At the time I was ignorant of the geographical region of the Middle East and I was unfamiliar with the shape or size of the state of Israel, but I did understand that I was seeing a map of Israel. I was also ignorant of any knowledge of geological makeup of the land of Israel and the surrounding countries. I did know that in general there was much oil in the Middle East, but I was unaware as to whether Israel had oil. In my dream, I first saw the map as if looking down on it lying on a table. I saw three areas on the map that indicated there was oil. I was surprised at my understanding and wondered what it meant. Then the map changed so that I could see the view underground. I could see the depths of the deposits below the areas. There was more oil than would have appeared from the original view. Then I saw and understood that there were areas in countries to the east of Israel that had vast reserves, but as I watched those reserves began to deplete as the oil reserves under the land of Israel swelled. It was as if the deeper wells under Israel were draining oil from those other lands. I awoke thinking that it was wonderful that Israel would have such abundance of such an important resource, but that there would be great danger when the other countries discovered their reserves were depleting. I understood that the Israeli oil wells were very, very deep wells, deeper than wells are normally drilled.

Most of my understanding about Israel in 1983 was from reading the Bible. I knew that oil in Israel was a blessing God had promised. It was also in 1983 that the Lord told me I would go to Israel. I saved my pennies and obtained a passport by faith. In the years following this dream, I watched the news for any information that would relate to an amazing find of oil in Israel—and I prayed. I learned that the places on the map where I saw the oil in Israel were in areas south of Haifa, south of Tel Aviv and near the south end of the Dead Sea. The areas where the oil drained from are the geographical areas of Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. I informally gathered bits and pieces of information through the years. I developed a desire to join an archeological dig and thought perhaps that might be the avenue to bring me to Israel but it never materialized. In 2000, I began to use the internet to find more information about Israel. I also continued reading and studying scripture with a deep sense of connection with the land of Israel while my relationship with the Lord grew on many levels. In 2002, at Pesach (Passover), I finally had the opportunity to visit Israel. I went again that year during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and again in 2003, and 2004. Beginning with my first visit, my connection to Israel, her land and her people, grew even deeper. The more I understood about Israel, the Middle East and oil, the more I prayed. I met a pastor from California in Jerusalem, in 2004. I returned in 2005 to marry him and serve together as ministers in Jerusalem. In 2006, my research on the internet led me to find lots of information about oil exploration in Israel. I was excited to share with anyone who would listen about Zion Oil—a company with a divine vision and desire to bless Israel. They were Christian Zionists, men of integrity. I was thrilled to know that someone else had a dream like mine to see Israel prosper by finding the hidden oil promised in scripture. I even considered writing a letter to John Brown to tell him about my dream and that I knew he had to drill deeper. But I waited for God’s timing. I wanted to buy stock when it first became available—but as ministers, we had no funds. So I continued to pray—praying for God’s blessing of oil for Israel.

In 2009, we returned to Rochester, NY, while my husband recovered from some health issues. I worked part-time as a software consultant while caring for him while he regained his strength. In February 2010, God led me to investigate getting a mortgage because rent was so expensive. Suddenly, I found myself with a pre-approval of a mortgage. Two weeks later an offer was accepted on a house. The house was perfect. A ranch built in 1955 that needed some extensive cosmetic work, but not more than I could handle. The previous owner built the house but had passed away. The house had been left through the cold NY winter with no utilities so there were some complications in accomplishing the closing that was originally to happen at the end of March. At the beginning of June, we had taken pre-possession and were living in the house while we painted and began upgrading the kitchen and bathroom. When the tile around the shower began leaking into the basement, I worked to clean out the old grout. However the wall was so rotted from being wet that the soap dish fell into my hand with a huge lump of plaster and newspaper stuck to the back of it. One large piece of newspaper fell into the wall. As I cleaned up the mess, I reached into the wall to retrieve it. The paper was from an advertisement section of The Daily News, November 25, 1955. The paper was brown with age and had some water damage but was fairly legible. Later, on closer examination, I saw not only stoves, toasters, ice skates and various things for sale, but one tiny news article in the middle of a page. I gasped as I read the title, “First Oil Well Gushes in Israel”. I had to photograph the page to decipher all the writing.

Heletz Oil Field, Israel, Nov 24, (AP) Israel’s first oil well started production today when Development Minister Mordecai Bentov touched a lever which sent crude oil 4800 feet down gushing into huge tanks. After three or four days of tests, the oil will be taken to the oil refineries at Haifa.

I was surprised that I never heard of the Heletz Oil Field, especially after I researched and found that it continued to produce through the years. I noted that it had been in the news several times in the past year and wondered what it all meant. I marveled that God had orchestrated events for this paper to be placed in the wall of a house built in 1955, that I would buy in 2010, with leaking tiles for me to find “at such a time as this”. I didn’t understand what it might mean but I anticipated that God would soon show me.

I was able to go to the CUFI Summit in Washington, DC as a bus captain, in 2010. I was able to work out the trip at the last minute, because I really felt I had to be there. On July 20, 2010, I met John Brown and Steven Spillman and was able to share this story. That day I read the entire book, Breaking the Treasure Code, by James R. Spillman and Steven M. Spillman. As I read, missing pieces regarding Israel’s oil began to fall into place and I understood that God has done much more than I had imagined in directing my steps and my life according to His purposes. My word to those at Zion Oil is still—Drill deeper!

May the Lord direct and bless the efforts of Zion Oil as they seek to glorify God and bring blessing to His people.

Dancing with the Lord

Shalom Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I’ve had several ideas of late for sending out little nuggets of revelation the Lord has been blessing me with--but the timing hasn’t been right until now. So, today, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you on the subject of dancing (with the Lord).

Many people come to us asking prayer for the guidance of the Lord. Some ask, “How do I hear from God myself? How can I be sure it’s Him?” Well, that age-old question has yet to be answered by anyone but the Lord Himself. My experience has been: start with the Word of God, trust Him, and you will know that you know when the Lord speaks. Like some of you, I have heard from the Lord on many different types of occasions. There is no formula. And I don’t believe there is anyone who hasn’t had a misstep, thinking the Lord was speaking, when, later, it became evident He was not, or the timing wasn't right.

Does this mean we didn’t have faith to hear the Lord speak to us...that we were too fleshly, too sinful, too easily deceived? NO! This is all part of learning to trust the Lord. If we continue to trust Him, He will take our mistakes and make them beautiful, as if things were supposed to have been that way from the beginning. We must believe that He does, indeed, wish to speak to us, lead us, and “guide our footsteps.” But sometimes--often, when we most desire an audible voice from the Lord--He guides almost imperceptibly. He gives us choices so that we can learn our own hearts.

Also, like a father, He sometimes wants us to make choices by ourselves, just so He can bless us. Picture a dad asking his 8-year-old son, “Do you want the red bicycle or the blue one?” They are not exactly identical and his son has no clue about which will be of better quality. Dad just wants to give him the one he wants. I have encountered many Christians who are so concerned about missing God’s will that they are like a little boy who refuses to choose, and just says, “You know best, Father.” But the father’s joy a nd excitement over the little boy getting his heart’s desire is gone. These same people sometimes speak of “not putting God in a box,” or “quenching the Spirit,” voicing their fear of limiting Him--yet they are keeping Him from doing His heart’s desire. Well, what if the desire of His heart is to bless you by giving you the desire of your heart?

So what does all this have to do with dancing? I had a conversation with a couple of friends about how we are all learning to live by faith in new dimensions. The Lord directs our steps a day at a time, even one tiny step at a time. Comments like, “It would be nice to know where I will sleep in a few days,” are not uncommon in Jerusalem. God’s provision is quite often just in time, and not a moment sooner. What is the Lord trying to teach us? Or train us all for?

I shared with those friends that as a former successful and creative project planner, I have had experience with incorporating contingency plan s into a schedule, so that when just about everything that could go wrong does, the schedule can still be used with only minor adjustments. Good project plans always incorporate a list of risk assessments anticipated while making the plan, and are presented along with the plan to management, the customer and the workers. Any deviations affect the entire schedule. For many years, I have thought of the Lord as the ultimate project planner. He just doesn’t let us see the entire schedule, showing only a few of the details. His master schedule has it all. But today, I heard myself say, “He isn’t executing a project plan--He is dancing with us!” Wow, what a different perspective! He is dancing a new dance never done before, and He wants us as His partner.

Many years ago, before I had learned to dance, a friend of my husband asked me to dance at a wedding and I was petrified. I was self-conscious, quite clumsy and embarrassed, knowing I would step on his toes. He dragged me to the dance floor, and because he was such a good dancer, he led without any effort to follow on my part and we floated around the room. To this day, I cannot dance well, but for that short time, I felt like a graceful ballerina--all because the man could lead so well. Father God knows how to lead. He holds us close to Himself and we fall in step as we look into His face and flow with His movements.

I am one who has always fought low self-esteem. From the time I was a little girl, I have looked at my feet a lot instead of looking up. I have good peripheral vision (praise God!) so I don’t bump into things too often. This has affected me spiritually, as well, and God has spent many years building up my spirit through His Word. I have memorized many scriptures about God blessing our feet.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 34:23, 24.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:19.  (some translations say 'skip upon the mountains'!)

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me that my feet did not slip. Psalm 18:36.

I have always been looking at my feet...but when you dance, you must not do that. Can you imagine what it would be like if those ballroom dancers were always looking at their feet? First off, you have to push away from your partner to see your feet. That makes it difficult for him to lead.

I see many in the body of believers keeping arm’s length from the Lord in order to tell where their feet might land, always worried about making a mistake. They are seeking God to show them what to do next instead of trusting Him and just flowing with His Spirit. This is a great lesson to me and gives me perspective as I minister with the Lord and my husband, and live my daily personal life.

Thank you, Lord, that you are such a patient and loving Abba, our Daddy.

If you are seeking the Lord to direct you and help you make decisions, picture yourself as a little one in Daddy’s arms as he carries you across the dance floor. Then, see yourself a few years older, standing on Daddy’s feet as he dances with you, teaching you to move with Him. Finally, see yourself mature, as He takes you by the hand and you let Him lead you across the dance floor, leaning into Him and flowing with Him. And even when you misstep, as you lean into Him, see how He continues the flow. This has to be a lot easier than studying the plan to see where your feet ought to land next. Hallelujah!

Blessings!