Thanks Shekel...
Julie...Wow...and another confirmation for me as well..
The first post below is very subjective..l apologize. It was long. I will sum it up. The storm ended up being called the Hanukkah Day Storm...named the following March.. God used a young man to demonstrate to me the inner feelings of Jacob...by the Power outage we experianced in our small neighborhood while being surrounded by everybody with lights. He went on to show me the larger picture of Israel..
On a subjective level....With my whole heart l say...I understand how difficult it is to accept grace and mercy...And
dark heart. What a gift is waiting for you!
This also seems to be another confirmation of a storm coming to the Northwest. And l have to wonder if it's the straw that will break the camels back?
Hi friends.....God's lamb and Adoniacole...glad you are safe!

The power came back for all the houses around us late in the day on Friday. Oh good l thought, it's starting to come on...not....
Later we found out through a call that the 1000 people in our grid had gotten power except for 17 homes in a little group where l am. I had a lot of time to think and pray...
That evening it was strange to look out across the field around us and see lights and yet be this Island of darkness. As l sat in my front room surrounded by candlelight (thoroughly enjoying myself by the fire and listening to music) l suddenly realized it was the first day of Hanukkah. Maybe God wanted to show me something......... but it extended beyond that moment.
I had a prayer request come my way the day before for a young man whom l'd prayed for before. It's a strong Christian family but the youngest son can't seem to get it together and has been in trouble numerous times. Thursday night after the worst of the wind was over l was dozing in and out of sleep. l woke up with him on my mind and began to pray and oddly tears began to fall. God started to show me this young man needed to shake out his shoes...forgive and get on with it. He was holding back. God reminded me of a post l made here on the forum...here it is:
QUOTE
Thanks for posting your testimony like this ferv. I know people who have had personal 9/11 experiences too. One totally broken and sold out to the Lord...Another...who's works have changed but the heart has not. These are the Jacobs who don't understand grace and mercy. They will die a painful death.
I did...died a slow painful death that is.. When l said yes... l meant it. But the reason l suffered so was because l was holding on to certain things that had to be pried from my grip. Not material things but attitudes.
I thought the pain l was experiencing was deserved because l was such a sinner. I knew God forgave me but l hadn't forgiven myself. Truly what that says is (l don't really believe God forgives me because l'm so awful) I had to really believe and accept his grace and mercy. It truly was why l couldn't forgive myself. Unbelief was disguising itself behind my own self loathing....Once l truly accepted my forgivness l was able to forgive myself...It seems so simple but it wasn't for me..Lack of knowledge was my down fall.
Then l began to emerge and walk more in the fullness of what he had for me.
I'm not there yet and as you have stated the work continues.
Of course this made it worse for my tears because l could personalize the pain this young man had. The paralyzing inability due to not being able to accept grace and mercy.
Now l'll skip back to Friday enjoying my music and realizing by candlelight it was Hanukkah. God suddenly brought this young man to mind again... What must it be like for him to see the lights all around him (his family) but yet he remains in this darkness. A darkness that interferes with everything. Even as l would run to the grocery store the world would be functioning normally and then l would go back to my dark circle of houses. DOESN'T THE POWER COMPANY KNOW WE DON'T HAVE POWER!? That's when we made the call and found out we may be waiting a whole lot longer because the many had priority.
As a contemplated this young mans life l understood even better what it was like..not only because l had the same experience about not accepting forgiveness but now a new dimension of being in the dark while others are enjoying a normal life. (this young mans main unforgiveness is with his father)
Then as l was contemplating Hanukkah and thinking about this young man l was encouraged...because though the world sees our dark group of homes...inside is this candlelight. And l thought about my older brothers and sisters...the Jewish people in our Pacific NW community celebrating Hanukkah. What must they be feeling celebrating in the darkness. But the more l thought about it the more l realized somethings. What must it be like for the little nation of Israel...surrounded by darkness yet beyond that darkness the power is on and people are living their normal lives...

And yet....the candle burns. Did they wonder the same? Have they been deserted by the power company?
Not to stretch a point but God reminded me of my greenhouse (See prophecy section under 'look up your redemption draweth nigh') Even the darkness pressing in is held back until the appointed time...Inside is the Lords protected work. Jacobs heart ...and a light unseen by others is holding out hope.
God takes personal things in our lives to teach us and help us understand...
This was a profound teaching lesson for me. Giving me a depth of understanding and realizing even to a greater extent that we all aren't so different. Everybody has a hard time accepting and understand the awesome power of grace and forgivness. It keeps us from participating with all those around us that are walking with the power on because even though we can enter in and pretend to be part...we still go home at night. To a dark house...BUT but but...keep the candle burning !
this song just came to mind:
Point of grace - Keep the candle burning Lyrics
You think you re alone
There in your silent storm
But I ve seen the tears you ve cried
Falling down
And trying to drown
The flame of hope inside
Let me tell you now
Tell you now
When you re walking in the dead of night
When your soul is churning
When your hope seems out of sight
Keep the candle burning
All it takes is one steady heart
In a world that's turning
Shine a light and pierce the dark
Keep the candle burning
Keep the candle burning
When you re down and you're discouraged
When the darkness clouds your view
You got to gather up your courage
You know the Lord is gonna see you through
Let me tell you now
Tell you now
When you re walking in the dead of night
When your soul is churning
When your hope seems out of sight
Keep the candle burning
All it takes is one steady heart
In a world that s turning
Shine a light and pierce the dark
Keep the candle burning
Keep the candle burning
One ray of light always breaks through
Follow wherever He takes you
Wherever He takes you
When you re walking in the dead of night
When your soul is churning
When your hope seems out of sight
Keep the candle burning
All it takes is one steady heart
In a world that s turning
Shine a light and pierce the dark
Keep the candle burning
When you re walking in the dead of night
When your soul is churning
Hope seems out of sight
Keep the candle burning
Just one steady heart
In a world that s turning
Shine a light and pierce the dark
Keep the candle burning
Keep the candle burning
This is about Jacob...Yes l know the Lord says 2/3 will perish but lately he's been talking about the 1/3. I believe he's about to show me what that's like....I know what the 2/3's are like but l don't know a thing about the 1/3...I can't wait. I believe he will show me a type. I'm excited about this. But you know...there are a lot of Jacobs out there. You don't have to be a Jew to have a Jacobs heart...Calloused over from uncircumcised sin...growing outwardly threatening to encase you in darkness for ever.
Accepting the fullness of God's pardon will enable you to walk in the fullness of his light..without pretending.
It's no big concluding sentence but l don't think God is done showing me yet.
I wonder if my tears will help that young man l was praying for? I remember what it was like to accept it myself. I'd been a born again Christian for 10 years but l was totally crippled in my walk because l thought l'd blown it for God and he could never use me. I finally had to accept that he would and could still use me
or l would die...(not unsaved of course) but my load would be to heavy. I had to give it up
I want to see this for others...For Jacob ...for this young man the Lord gave me a heart and burden for...Because l know what it's like to be in the dark while others are enjoying the Son and reign...sun and rain comes down on all...but God keeps a remnant for his perfect timing...To the Jew as a whole and even in our personal experiences. Not everybody walking in the light has the power.
The Hanukkah Storm....
This string has continued in my life despite my absence from the forum.
I realized l needed to understand;
QUOTE
The Story of Hanukkah
http://www.jewishpub.org/children/hanukkah/The Story of Hanukkah begins in Israel long ago. Israel was called Judea then, and the Jews who lived there did not rule their land. Different kings with their armies marched through Judea. But while Judea was ruled by different kings, the Jews lived there as they always had. The farmers planted and harvested. The shepherds watched their sheep. And on holidays they all went up to the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Temple was beautiful. It stood on top of a mountain. Inside were gold crowns and gates covered with gold and silver. There was a ner tamid, a light that always burned, and a gold vine with gold leaves and grapes hanging from it. …There were no idols in the Temple. Other people worshiped many gods. They prayed and bowed to idols. But the Jews, led by the high priest, prayed to just one god, the God who created the heavens and earth.
The Jews kept their holidays. They lived in peace until a Greek, Antiochus the Fourth, ruled Judea.
It was not enough for Antiochus that his people paid him high taxes. He wanted them all to take Greek names, read Greek books, and play Greek sports.
Antiochus forced the Jews to take a new high priest, named Menelaus. Soon, he began stealing gold and silver from the Temple and sending it to Antiochus.
The Jews hated the new high priest. While Antiochus was fighting a war in Egypt, a small army of Jewish soldiers surrounded the Temple. They forced Menelaus out.
But then Antiochus returned. His army was with him. He saw the soldiers in Jerusalem and thought the Jews were rising up against him. With his army, he stormed the city. They tore down the city walls. It was the Sabbath. The Jews wouldn't fight back and thousands were killed. Homes were burned. Women and children were carried off and sold as slaves.
Antiochus and his men marched into the Temple. They marched out with everything they could carry. Later a Greek idol was placed in the Temple. Any Jew who refused to bow and sacrifice an animal to the idol was killed. So were Jews who lit Sabbath candles or studied Jewish law.
The king's soldiers went throughout Judea and forced the Jews to bow and worship Greek idols. Some Jews obeyed the king. Many others didn't and were killed.
Then the king's men came to the town of Modin. They set up their idol and asked an old priest named Mattathias to worship it. Mattathias refused. …He threw down the idol and called out, “Whoever is for the Lord our God, follow me!” And he ran off into the hills. His five sons and many other Jews followed him.
Antiochus heard what happened in Modin. He sent an army after Mattathias and his followers. But each time the soldiers came near, the rocks and caves seemed to open up. Brave Jews attacked the strong army of Antiochus. Then they ran back to the hills and hid.
One army general remembered that the Jews would not fight on the Sabbath, so that's when he attacked. Many Jews were killed until Mattathias told his men that they must fight back, even on the Sabbath.
The Jews were farmers and shepherds. But they fought like brave soldiers. First they fought under Mattathias. Then, when Mattathias died, his son Judah became their leader. Judah was called the Maccabee, the hammer. The people who fought with him were called Maccabees.
Antiochus sent his best generals with large armies to fight the Maccabees. The armies came with bows, arrows, swords, horses, and armored elephants. For one battle, slave traders even came along leading empty wagons. After the battle, the traders planned to capture the beaten, frightened Maccabees and sell them as slaves.
It never happened.
The Maccabees surprised the armies of Antiochus. Once, the Maccabees caught them in a narrow pass between two mountains. From the tops and sides of the mountains, it was easy for the Maccabees to fight their enemies down below.
Another time, Judah knew that the soldiers of Antiochus were ready to attack. He lit a ring of campfires and led his men away. Then, while half the enemy's army was attacking the empty campsite, Judah and the Maccabees surprised the other half. In the final battle, there were more than six of the enemy for each Maccabee. But still, the mighty army of Antiochus was beaten. And Judah led the Maccabees to Jerusalem.
The Temple in Jerusalem was overgrown with thorns and weeds. It was filled with garbage. When the Maccabees first saw it, they cried. They tore their clothes and mourned. Then they worked to clean the Temple. They built a new altar, new gates, and new doors.
When it came time to light the ner tamid, the Maccabees searched for oil. They found just one small jar, enough to burn for only one day. But the oil in that small jar burned and burned until more oil could be prepared. The oil that was enough for one day burned for eight days, and the ner tamid did not go out.
On the twenty-fifth day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, the Temple became again the “House of God.” The Jews celebrated. They prayed and sang for eight days. Then Judah declared that every year, on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, an eight-day holiday would begin. The holiday was called Hanukkah, which means dedication. It celebrates the day the Temple was rededicated to God.
That was over two thousand years ago. But today, all over the world, Jews still celebrate Hanukkah.
I thought WOW why haven't l understood all involved here? So l went to Wikipedia...I found this small section on Hanukkah that stood out. Here it is:
QUOTE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HanukkahHistorically, Hanukkah commemorates two events:
The triumph of Judaism's spiritual values as embodied in its Torah (symbolized by the Menorah, since the Torah is compared to light) over Hellenistic civilization (considered darkness) which under Antiochus IV, had attempted to culturally assimilate the Jews away from practicing Judaism's commandments, by outlawing certain Jewish religious practices (Brit Milah) and forcibly installing Greek religious symbols in the Second Temple.
The victory of the Jews over the armies of Antiochus IV. The rebellion was begun by Mattathias Maccabee and continued by Judah Maccabee and his other sons. They defeated overwhelming forces, and re-dedicated the Second Temple.
The spiritual side of Judaism shies away from commemorating military victories, the Hasmoneans later became corrupt, and civil war between Jews is considered deplorable, so Hanukkah does not formally commemorate either of these historical events. Instead, the festival commemorates the Miracle of the Oil and the positive spiritual aspects about the Temple's re-dedication. In doing so, the oil becomes metaphor for the miraculous survival of the Jewish people through millennia of trials and tribulations.
Here are my thoughts.
In the first article to little children it says that if the people hadn't fought on the Sabbath they would have been destroyed as a people. And yet in the second article from Wikipedia it says:
QUOTE
The spiritual side of Judaism shies away from commemorating military victories, the Hasmoneans later became corrupt, and civil war between Jews is considered deplorable, so Hanukkah does not formally commemorate either of these historical events.
When l asked my Pastor about this he said that the Jewish people were peace loving and didn't want battles settled this way.
And yet God was with them in many battles except when they sinned.
What can the Jewish people think about the victory that was won because they fought on the Sabbath?
I'm building up to something...but l can't seem to get past this.
If you understand this please help me with it.
Thanks Dani for starting the string! And Val...for the great posts and explanations that followed.
It's worth it to go back and reread the whole string.
Julie...I had a good little chuckle at this..."The Jews were farmers and shepherds. But they fought like brave soldiers. First they fought under Mattathias. Then, when Mattathias died, his son Judah became their leader. Judah was called the Maccabee, the hammer. The people who fought with him were called Maccabees."