Day: December 20, 2023

From Jew to Completed Jew and the Amazing Miracle From God: He Wanted to Assure Me That Jesus is Lord – But Another Miracle was revealed to me today!

On By Geri UngureanIn Another Miracle8 Comments

I bring this article out frequently because it is miraculous what God did in my life. If you have not read this before, I do hope and pray that it blesses you!

But today I was just about knocked over by something which I will reveal at the end of this piece.  When I told Tim, he said that he got “Holy Ghost” chills from his head to his toes!

But before I tell the readers, I must repost the original article:

Originally written in 2015, I bring this article out every few years.  And I pray that some of my people might happen upon it, and believe in their hearts that Yeshua was and IS the long awaited Messiah of the Whole world.

If you have Jewish friends who are searching for truth, perhaps this article would open their eyes!

This story makes my heart leap inside my chest whenever I tell it. Being Jewish, it was miraculous enough that the Lord opened my eyes to Jesus, and helped me see Him with my heart. But what transpired a couple of weeks later was truly a gift from Him.

After the glorious night of my salvation all I wanted to do was read my Bible. I honestly forgot to eat meals sometimes because I was so absorbed in His Word. I wanted to please Him in every way. Almost instantly I knew that He wanted me to stop doing certain things. I had an aversion to off-color TV shows and movies. Soap operas were gone forever, and I had been addicted to them for years.

I saw the world differently. It was like He gave me new vision, like I was seeing people through His eyes. I wanted to stop every person I saw and ask them, “Do you know Jesus?” I was even able to discern people who loved Him. It was a certain look in their eyes. When I would finally ask if they knew Him, the answer was almost always, “Yes” and if not, it gave me an open door to tell them about Yeshua and His love for them.

My Jewish parents and siblings were not so thrilled. Well, perhaps that’s an understatement. They thought I was completely meshugana (crazy in Yiddish). But I quietly treasured in my heart that I knew the truth, and I prayed that my family would one day know it as well.

A week before my water baptism, I spoke to a lady at a Messianic congregation in Maryland – Beth Messiah. I was very excited to know other Jews who knew the truth about Messiah Yeshua. She was as excited as I was. She asked me if I had looked at Isaiah 53. I had not, but I told her that I would look after our conversation. She told me that she would mail to me literature about Beth Messiah.

Isaiah 53. OY! How did I miss that for so many years? It was an accurate description of Yeshua being led to Calvary to be slaughtered for the sins of the world. I read it over and over. I could not believe that such a picture of the Crucifixion was in my Old Testament that entire time.

I wanted to obey Him in all things. My friend told me about baptism, and how He wanted us all to be baptized after we were born-again. I told her that I wanted to be baptized—the sooner the better. Then the day of my baptism came.

As I came up from the water, I uttered some words which I did not understand. I felt that God wanted me to remember these words so I kept repeating them quietly to myself. The next day I received an envelope from Beth Messiah. There was a cover page which told about the congregation. I saw the first words which I had said “H’brit Chadashah” on this page.

My heart was beating so fast. Beside the words was the translation: “The New Testament.” I realized that I had spoken Hebrew! I was not Bat Mitzvah’d -only confirmed in my synagogue, so I did not learn Hebrew.”Then I saw the next word I had said “Yeshua” which means Jesus.

But the last word I had said was not there. It was “mannah” and I had to know what it meant. I called the home of my rabbi. His wife answered. I told her who I was and that I found a word and thought it was Hebrew. I told her it was “mannah.” She said, “Of course that is Hebrew. It is manna, the bread from heaven.”

Well, I almost passed out. I had said in Hebrew: “The New Testament of Jesus is the bread from heaven!” What a glorious gift to receive from Him; a confirmation that what I believed was TRUE, and given to me in Hebrew.

I told a Baptist minister this story. He told me that in 38 years of hearing “tongues” stories, mine was the first one he believed. He said that it was done in accordance with Scripture. He told me that he would never forget it.

 What I learned today:

Do you know what BETHLEHEM means in Hebrew?

Beth means HOUSE.

Lehem or (Lechem) means BREAD.

HOUSE OF BREAD!!

Brethren – does that excite you as it does me?

 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?  Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  

For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”  And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.  But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day”  (John 6: 30-40).

COME LORD JESUS!

GROWING UP JEWISH

On By Geri UngureanIn Growing up Jewish15 Comments

I became a believer in Yeshua in 1983 at the age of 32.

I had searched for truth about this amazing man my whole life prior to that night in ’83.

Who could He be? Why did so many in the world follow Him?  But also, why was there so much persecution of my people in His name?

It was very confusing to me, but being so intrigued by Him, I pressed on to find TRUTH, no matter what the consequences.

Pioneer Girls

When I was around 7 years old, I began to understand that there were Christians who loved Jews. However, I found them to be few and far between. My friend from across the street, Joan Sladen, invited me to come to her church on Wednesday night to attend ‘Pioneer Girls.” Surprisingly, my parents agreed.

That did not last long. I suppose that my speaking the name of Jesus in my home put a stop to that. But at least I was introduced to the Creator of the Universe at a very young age. I believe that God had His hand on me – even then.

Moving to a more “Jewish” area (We thought)

I had been born in D.C. and when I was 5 years old, my father moved the family to a city in Maryland in which we Jews were in the vast minority. I learned all manner of anti-Semitic names in that place:

Dirty Jew, Kike, Christ killer, Penny pinching Jew were just a few names I was called.  

God’s Incredible Sense of Humor

Although very thin, God had given me an unusual gift. I could throw a football better than any of the boys in my neighborhood – a beautiful spiral right to the receiver.  The boys fought over which team I would quarterback.

There were two boys who called me despicable Jew-hating names. Being thin and wiry, I was also very strong. I would warn the boys that if they continued to call me those names, I would beat them up. Not heeding my warning, the boys would continue and I would make good on my promise. They would run home to tell ‘mommy’ what I had done. Their mothers would come outside and scream at me. They would call me the same names.

At least I knew where the boys learned the ignorant behavior.

My name was like a bullseye

My last name was Rosenberg. I had to endure teasing and being disparaged with remarks like:  “You don’t look Jewish”……”You don’t act Jewish” etc etc.

When I would dare ask what they meant, then the door opened for their hateful responses. It was always worse on the first day of school each year when our names were called out.  It was just something I had to live with, but I must say that being hated like that was very hard.

Holocaust images and laughter

My history teacher was teaching on the Holocaust and showed a documentary which included the piles of dead bodies of my people. I could hardly  breathe.

A few boys in back of me began to laugh at the images. My teacher scolded them but I ran out of the room – I didn’t want to cry in front of them.

Elsa – the German Girl

I got permission to go to a home of a friend I had made in school. I rode her bus home with her. In a while her father came into the kitchen with us. He asked Elsa to leave the room to talk to him.

Elsa came back out alone, and told me that I had to leave. She helped me gather my school books and sent me out the front door. I don’t even know how I got home that day. I had no idea where I was. Miraculously, I was walking in the right direction and saw part of my neighborhood.  God at work in my life – again.

My swim team and the Championships

Most swim clubs in our area were “Restricted” and that meant NO JEWS – NO BLACKS.  So, the Jews got together and built their own swim club. It was not ‘Restricted’ but no Gentiles would ever want to be around us.

Each year, the county had a swimming championship and invited all swim clubs – yes, even ours. Each team had an area in which to sit. We were placed at the back near the entrance gate.

We were not supposed to go into their cafeteria. Our team jackets had our insignia on them – so they knew who we were.  I decided to go in anyway. The looks I got! OY VEY!  But I felt a sense of accomplishment that day. I felt strong.

Tried to become Catholic!

In my twenties, I found a Catholic Church near to my home. I thought that perhaps these people were the holiest and I might find Jesus there. I met the priest and he asked me if I would like to come to Catholic instruction. I said yes, but each week as I showed up for this class, the priest acted as if he had never met me. He was quite old, but I thought to myself ‘how many Jewish girls came there wanting to be Catholic?’

I stopped going.

If I put in this article every Jew hating event in my life, the reader would become bored and not read to the end! Perhaps I should write a book….

So I will end here. I hope that this has given some readers a glimpse into what it is like Growing up Jewish!

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

MARANATHA!!

The Perfect Savior at the Perfect Time Sent to Save Imperfect Humanity by David Fiorazo

On By Geri UngureanIn PERFECT SAVIOR3 Comments

From davidfiorazo.com

 

We are all familiar with the story and traditions of Christmas, but let’s dig a little deeper into the meaning of this wonderful season pointing to Jesus, the perfect Savior, who entered the world at the perfect time to save imperfect humanity.

C.S. Lewis once said, “The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.”

Jesus stepped down into our atmosphere from His throne and set aside His crown of gold to briefly wear a crown of thorns and offer his life as a ransom for many. He did this so that we might believe, be saved, and one day wear the crown of life.

We did nothing to deserve this free gift and we can do nothing to earn it or get God to love us more. Ephesians 2:8-9 states,

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Christmas is not about festivities and buying presents, it is about God’s presence, receiving the free gift and sharing the good news of the gospel. There are many reminders if we would just slow down and consider Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Did you know the Christmas wreath is said to represent Jesus’ crown of thorns? A Christmas tree represents the cross of Christ, the tree Jesus died on. And those Christmas lights we put up began with candles representing Jesus as the light of the world. John 1:5 states, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

That was 2,000 years ago. What about today – do we understand the light of the world and remember the reason for the season? It’s easy to get distracted by the business and demands of the Christmas season.

Matthew 1:23 states:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

What an amazing and hard to grasp truth! The eternal God is with us through the Holy Spirit within every believer in Christ. At Christmastime, we focus primarily on the miracle of the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus. What is even more astounding is His deity, the fact God entered our world as a vulnerable human baby and little known to anyone at that time, the Christ child was and is the Creator of all things!

The gospel of Luke states that Jesus would be called “the Son of the Most High,” and also that “His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33).” I’m looking forward to that!

John begins His gospel by declaring Jesus was with God “in the beginning John 1:2),” and Colossians chapter 1 adds that,

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

God, speaking in Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus this way:

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”

Jesus instructed people to pray that His kingdom come and, “…your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Gods ways are above our ways.

The Apostle Paul prayed for Christians that they would be, “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding Col. 1:9).”

God spoke to believers through His Word, and the Apostle Paul opened the letter to Christians in Rome saying,

”…concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…(Rom. 1:3-4)”

If it were not true history, it would be unfathomable to think God became flesh and lived among mankind, but the Bible confirms this (John 1:1,14) and fully explains why.

We needed a Savior from sin and death. Satan knew all about this and did everything in his power to stop the birth of Christ. King Herod was demonically inspired when he ordered a murderous killing spree across that land. Matthew 2:16 states:

“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.”

God sent Jesus to Egypt for a short time and saved him from the Satanic plot. Jesus is the beginning and the end, and in one of the last verses in the entire Bible, John wrote:

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16

I love this verse! Satan tried cutting of the line of David, but God’s Word declares Jesus the source (root) of David’s life which establishes His deity. But Jesus is also a “descendant” of David which establishes His humanity. The Scriptures give powerful testimony to Christ as the God-Man. Another way of saying this is Jesus is the root and the fruit of the family tree of David.

The Lord of the universe conducted His masterful plan ordained long ago. Jesus entered the scene at the right cultural, political, and religious atmosphere as the book of Galatians states:

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

God’s timing is perfect, and His ways are far above and beyond our ways! Before the birth of Jesus Christ, mankind was desperate, without help and without hope in this present world system. But God intervened and sent His Son to rescue us from sin and death.

Finally, let’s look closer at some very familiar prophetic verses we hear this time of year about the birth of Jesus. Some 700 years B.C. the prophet Isaiah stated:

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

Is the government resting on His shoulders today? No, that is still to come. Are we living in a time of unending world peace yet? Nope. But we are promised that His government and His peace will increase and last forever.

The reign of the Messiah will also be characterized by true justice and righteousness, and it will not last merely 1,000 years. There will be no end to the reign of the Prince of Peace, and He will rule for all eternity. That’s why it is so important we exalt Jesus this season, the only true, living God, and trust in Him alone for salvation. By the way, even Mary needed a Savior.

Handel’s Messiah is spot on: “And He shall reign forever and ever.” Where? The Bible tells us “upon the throne of David.” Jesus will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom (that is, David’s kingdom – Israel). This is a fulfillment of God’s great covenant with David.

Moreover, the gospel of Luke states,

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47) Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and absolutely no one comes to the Father in heaven except through Him (John 14:6). Jesus is also the only Mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5). 

There is so much more we could add, but this gives us plenty to consider regarding the spiritual meaning and supernatural power behind who and what we celebrate at Christmastime.

As believers, may the peace of Christ rules in our hearts, and may the love of God shine through us at this very dark time in world history. Let them see something different about us. Let us get out of the way so they can see Jesus and maybe they, too can have a relationship with the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father.

Romans 10:9-10 states,

…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Merry Christmas, God bless you, and keep speaking the truth about things that matter.

facebookMERRY CHRISTMAS!!