Appointment in Jerusalem

Dear Friend,
How are you?  I’m well.
 
On September 12th this year, I had a dream.  I seemed to be in my old house where I spent my childhood and youth.  There were many apples on the ground in the garden.  In the middle of the garden, there was a grey-haired man sitting on a chair.  He seemed to be in his early or mid 60’s.  While I passed by him, I played the apple, as if I played the soccer with the apple.  I was very good at it as if a good soccer player played the ball for fun.  I felt kind of amused, when I played the apple with my legs and feet.  And the old man watched me enjoy playing the apple, without saying anything to me.  He looked like an introvert, being calm and collected.  And in the background of the garden, there seemed to be a doggie or birds.
 
When I awoke, I was curious as to what the dream meant.  And I looked up a James Goll’s book, Dream Language and read his writings on apple:
For example, let’s say that you have a dream in which an apple appears and you discern through the Holy Spirit that it symbolizes Israel because Zechariah 2:8 refers to Israel as the “apple” of God’s eye. Once the image of the apple has entered your spiritual alphabet as a symbol for Israel, you can be confident that whenever that image appears in a future dream, the dream has something to do with the nation of Israel. God is consistent with His revelatory symbolism.
 
Goll, James W.. Dream Language: The Prophetic Power of Dreams (pp. 139-140). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.
 
Then, it dawned on me that the old man in my dream didn’t exactly look like a Caucasian nor an Asian.  He must be a Jew, Middle Eastern.  Then, I became more curious as to what the Lord was trying to say to me, related to Israel or the Jews, His chosen ones.  So, I wanted to listen to Derek Prince’s teaching on Israel and in the middle of his teaching, I heard him mention the book, Appointment in Jerusalem, the real story of his first wife, Lydia Prince.  I knew she had 8 girls in Jerusalem, including the Jews, the Arabs and an English, before she married Derek Prince.  She became a mother, adopting the baby girls whom God sent to her.  Somehow, I felt I must read that book, though I didn’t feel I would have the same calling in Jerusalem as Lydia had.  I know we, as Christians should be thankful to the Jew and intercede for Israel.  So other than the calling of intercession, I did wonder whether the Lord has something in store for me, related to Israel.
 
While I was reading the book, I felt that my calling would not be going to Jerusalem like Lydia Prince, but the book itself spoke to much timely.  And my eyes got wet many times, when I read His faithfulness to Lydia and her girls.  The book became one of my favorite books together with The Hiding Place and Letta in China. I plan to write more on my findings on the apple dream later, but for now, I would like to share what Derek Prince wrote in the appendix of the book, as I think it resonates with what I’ve been sharing on House Church: 
Lydia considered her children to be her greatest legacy. While the physical houses of most of the children’s homes in Israel no longer exist, she saw her children as “living stones,” as the apostle Peter wrote about in 1 Peter 2:5 (nasb), and a number of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are involved in Christian ministry today. “Don’t you think I have something to be thankful for,” Lydia once said, “to be a mother to all these children?” She believed strongly in the influence parents have on their children. “I think we need to have real Christian homes. It is in the home that our Christianity shall be seen. I’m sorry to tell you that going to church doesn’t interest me nearly as much as seeing that Christ is the ruler in the homes. That He is the head. That we have peace and harmony in our homes. That’s where we can hear the voice of the Lord. “Let us see our homes as real Christian homes, and if we are at peace, the children will be peaceful. I have seen that. I could have ten children near me, and they would be quiet. Why? Because I have a peace with God, and no one will feel the peace of God as a child will. If a mother is nervous, the child gets restless.”
 
Prince , Derek. Appointment in Jerusalem . Whitaker House. Kindle Edition.
 
In the book, Lydia Prince shared her story as to how Jesus manifested Himself as a Person when she prayed and wanted to know the unknown hunger for something.  And she also shared her story that she was baptized in the Holy Spirit in her own house when she was alone.  Later, in Jerusalem, all of girls were baptized before they became 6 or 7 years old.  And her home was known among the soldiers during the World War II.  When they visited her home, they were baptized by the Holy Spirit and some of them became the pastors later.  And one of the soldiers got baptized even before he stepped inside the door.  It reminded me of what the late Pastor, Neville Johnson prophesized on the House Church.  He said people would be healed or get delivered from the evil spirits even before they entered those small houses filled with the Holy Spirit.  
 
Then, I would like to emphasize the importance of making our home as His dwelling place.  There is always a price, and I believe keeping our eye gate and ear gate is so important for us to be His dwelling place.  So many Christians spend hours on watching TV or on internet, most of which is simply rubbish. I don’t write this out of religiosity, but I would like to encourage us to think about relationship.  Imagine that you’re in love with someone. You wouldn’t watch TV, leaving him or her alone.  You would want to talk to and look at him or her rather than watch TV.  And you would simply enjoy his or her company and do whatever you do together with your loved one.  But many Christians talk and behave as if Christ isn’t with them in their places.  He is always with us and we should be mindful of His presence and enjoy the fellowship with Him.
 
Friend,
I think my story started from Israel, but it sounded a bit sidetracked. :-) Yet I believe it’s still important to love the Lord as our Bridegroom and serve Him as the real Lord in our home and to make our home His dwelling place.  Hopefully next week, I will write more on my findings on the apple dream.
 
Have a bliss!
Yunee

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 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.  For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. (Zechariah 2:8~9)