This poem is mostly the story of what I went through and learned between the ages of 12 and 14. By Yeshua’s great grace, I am here to proclaim that I never sought Him in vain.
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You often cry And wonder why He seems so far away You wonder if He truly cares And hears you when you pray
You know you should Believe He’s good But you can’t see His hand It’s hard to cling to joy and hope When you don’t understand
But never fear For yet He’s near His promise will remain “I haven’t told the seed of Jacob ‘Seek for me in vain.'”
When life is dim You search for Him Amidst the clouds of doubt You know He has the answers that Can say what life’s about
But when you fail To see the trail That leads you to His throne You fear that searching won’t avail You feel that you’re alone
But lift your head And never dread He’ll guide you through the rain He hasn’t told the seed of Jacob “Seek for me in vain.”
When all you know Is dole and woe And you can barely see You know you need to hear His voice And He can set you free
To hear His voice Becomes your choice But how you do not know Then seek His face and trust in Him His words to you He’ll show
And when you’ve heard His precious word– What peace amidst the pain! He hasn’t told the seed of Jacob “Seek for me in vain.”
He knows our fears He sees our tears He saves us from alarms And though He sometimes lets us fall We fall into His arms
Despite our flaws He gives a cause To all that we endured He didn’t speak in secret depths We hear our Savior’s word
And when the years Of pain and tears Have brought you strength and gain You’ll say in love to Yah above “I never sought in vain.”
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For thus says Yehovah, Creator of the heavens–He is the Elohim, Former of the earth, and its Maker: “I am Yehovah, and there is none other. I have not spoken in secret, in the dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.'” Turn to me and be saved, all ends of the earth, for I am El, and there is none other. –Isaiah 45:18,19,+22
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28
Hear Yehovah, and have compassion on me! Yehovah, be a help for me! You have turned my mourning to dancing. You have loosed my sackcloth and made me hear gladness, so that my glory will sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yehovah, my Elohim, I will thank you forever. –Psalm 30:11-13
Eternal love, unending grace Compassion rich and free Are found upon the Savior’s face Are found at Calvary
For there they mocked, and there He cried Forsaken and alone For there He bled and there He died To take me as His own
Oh, I am mortal and undone A sinner, yet I see He sent for me His only Son What love He has for me!
A love so great and infinite He heard my desperate cry A love so deep and passionate He rather chose to die
And give up all His majesty His palace in the sky And live among such misery Than see me justly die
For I deserved the awful death But He was there instead He finished all, gave up His breath And lay among the dead
The grave could never hold him down Nor can it conquer me For when He rose to claim His crown I rose for all to see
Yeshua conquered, grace to give What joy–He set me free! He paid the price for me to live What love He has for me!
A love that chose to rescue me When I had gone astray Although I sinned so stubbornly He led me to His way
A love that reads my heart and mind Yet sees beyond my sin He opened heaven’s gates to find My soul and let me in
A love beyond my hopes or dreams No other love compares Like never-ending cleansing streams That take away my cares
A love that daily bears with me And helps me learn and grow A love that clears my eyes to see And guides me as I go
A love that always cares for me A love that knows no end My righteous King has come to be My Father and my Friend
A love that faithfully forgives Whatever I have done He loves me with the love He gives His Son, the Righteous One!
This love is why I live today This love is how I cope And in the darkest pit or fray This love is still my hope
Eternal love, unending grace Compassion rich and free Are found upon the Savior’s face What love He has for me!
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“For because of Yehovah’s love for you and because of His guarding the promise which He swore to your fathers, Yehovah brought you out with a strong hand, and redeemed your from the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And you shall know that Yehovah your Elohim is the Elohim: the faithful El, guarding the covenant and the lovingkindness to a thousand generations.” -Deuteronomy 7:8-9
“Because you were valued in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you, I will give men instead of you and nations instead of your soul.” -Isaiah 43:4
Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! -1 John 3:1
“…I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you withlovingkindness. Again I will build you, and you will be built, Maiden of Israel! Again you will be adorned with your tambourines and will go forth in the dance of those who laugh.” -Jeremiah 31:3+4
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you: continue in my love. If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:9-13
“…That they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them as You have loved me.” -John 17:23
One of my passions is Hebrew. It’s a little difficult for me to put into words what the Hebrew language means to me, but I am going to try. I feel it is important for me to tell you why I love it so much.
Right now I’m writing in English. Throughout my life I have written, conversed, and learned in English. I have portrayed deep feelings in English. I’ve studied English since I was very young, and have learned to harness the power of the English language in the form of sentences, paragraphs, descriptions, poetry, and prose. I’ve learned how to bring beauty out of simple English words. All of you can understand the meaning of the sentences and words that I write. English is the medium that we use to express our ideas.
Why then do I feel that Hebrew is superior? Does not English work as well as any other language? What does Hebrew convey, or what does Hebrew do, that other languages can not?
In English, words are but a medium for expressing ideas; In Hebrew, the words themselves give you ideas. In English, the rules for conjugating words are difficult and irregular; in Hebrew, the rules for conjugation are certain and orderly. In English, any single letter has no meaning on its own; in Hebrew, even one single letter can tell you something.
You might be able to express in English everything that you can express in Hebrew, but the difference is that it would take paragraphs of English words to express what is found in a single Hebrew sentence–when you boil down the sentence to its letters, roots, ancient pictographs, etc. The very shape of the Hebrew letters can tell you things. Even right now, as I try to tell you about why Hebrew is so close to my heart, I’m certain I would have an easier time if I were writing in Hebrew, because Hebrew is packed with both obvious and hidden meaning.
In English, if you want to find the root of a word, you have to carefully study in a dictionary or some other manuscript. In Hebrew, the root, and thus the definition, of a word is right before you, inseparably tied into the word. In English, the root of a word could be from any random language, including Hebrew; in Hebrew, except for modern additives, the roots of words are purely Hebrew. The fact that Hebrew words have roots so plainly displayed helps you easily find the relationships between them. There are three letter roots and two letter roots, helping you find connections and meanings.
The English language is characterized by the mindset of Greco-western civilization, which places greater emphasis on ideas, feelings, and thoughts. But Hebrew is an action-based language. The Hebrew phrase “אנחנו מאמינים” means both “We believe” and “We are believers.” In Hebrew, when you are weeping, you are a weeper. When you are fighting, you are a fighter. You are what you do. We’ve all heard the saying that actions speak louder than words; In Hebrew, actions speak out of the words.
Now it’s time for a history lesson. How many of you know that Hebrew was a dead language for nearly two thousand years? When the Romans ransacked Jerusalem in AD 70 and scattered the Jewish people throughout the world, Hebrew became a dead language, only known by a portion of the scattered Jews. The religious Jews who still understood the language thought it was sinful to use the holy language for anything other than Bible reading and prayer. The Hebrew language was not in common use until a man named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda revived the Hebrew language nearly single-handedly. Yehovah gave him a vision, and it burned like fire within him. He understood that in order for Israel to be a nation, they needed to have Hebrew as a common language to connect the thousands of Jews who had been scattered. Now, because of his efforts, millions of Israelis speak a language that hadn’t been used for common conversation since the time of Yeshua. Are people speaking Babylonian or Egyptian or the language of the Philistines? Never before has a dead language come alive. Eliezer Ben-Yehuda was Yehovah’s instrument in preforming this linguistic miracle.
I highly recommend Eliezer Ben-Yehuda’s biography: “Tongue of the Prophets”
The Israelis, myself, and anyone else who understands Hebrew, speak the language that the prophets spoke, the kings spoke, Moses spoke, and Adam spoke. Most importantly, they speak the language that Yehovah spoke–both as a still small voice in the secret places and as a strong voice booming forth from Mount Sinai. It is the language that the finger of Yehovah wrote upon the two tablets of stone. It is the language He spoke as He made an unending covenant with His people. It is the language Yeshua used as He cried out on the cross, and I infer that it is the language He will use upon His return to this earth. It is the language of Yehovah, the holy language, and that is the most marvelous thing about Hebrew.
Changes happen to a language over time. Thankfully, due to the work of diligent and impassioned scholars, Hebrew has remained essentially the same over thousands of years. Elijah the prophet could enter modern Israel and understand most of the words. Isn’t that miraculous?
Hebrew is once again the common language in the streets and homes of Israel
Yet there are many people in modern Israel who do not realize what a miracle it is that they speak Hebrew. Many don’t care about Yehovah or the Bible, and that takes away much of Hebrew’s preciousness. Such people often adopt a Greco-western mindset, like I mentioned earlier, and miss the deep meaning embedded in the Hebrew words.
That’s one of the main reasons I am writing this. I want you to understand how precious this language is. After all the terrible persecution the Jews have suffered over the years, it is only by the hand of Yehovah that this language is still being spoken in schools, markets, and homes throughout Israel and the world.
Two weeks ago, Yehovah blessed me with an opportunity to talk to a young native Israeli. I looked at that child and understood as he spoke to me in the language of our fathers; my heart melted. I feel like crying right now when I think of it, because in that moment, as he spoke, I was able to see firsthand the restoration of my people Israel. Hardly more than a hundred years ago, there was not a single child who spoke Hebrew as his mother language. Yet I was able to talk with this native-speaking child in the holy language. I got to take part in the miracle. I don’t think I’ve been quite the same since that moment.
Hebrew is a language of relationship, unity, and connection. It is a language that connects you to Yehovah, His people, and His land. It is a language that connects the past, the present, and the future.
Psalms 115-118 in my Hebrew Bible
I understand that many Americans have excuses as to why they don’t want to study Hebrew. They say they are too old, too busy, or not smart enough. They are afraid of failure, or they simply don’t want to make it a priority. But who said an old person can’t learn a language? Just because you might not be smart enough to become fluent in a language does not mean that you are not smart enough to study. And please don’t think that if you try, you will fail. You will learn at least a few special things as you study.
All that being said, I do understand that many never chose to learn Hebrew. If you don’t want to learn, that is your choice. I am merely telling you the reasons that I did choose to learn Hebrew–and why it is my favorite language, my passion.
Me with my Hebrew Bible
English annoys me with how confusing it is. Hebrew, however, is a breath of fresh air. It makes my heart sing. Whenever I open my Hebrew Bible, the depth of meaning found in the Bible combined with the depth of meaning found in the Hebrew language provides such a richness to Yehovah’s precious book. In my mind, no English words, or even English poetry, can compare with the beauty of the Hebrew language. My heart greatly yearns for the day that I will be in Israel speaking Hebrew with my brothers. I know that I will likely not get that opportunity until the Savior returns, so my heart cries out to my King in song, in the language that both He and I love:
“So, blessed is your arrival and Your kingdom come. Our Redeemer, our King is returning! And we will rejoice in hope that will not fail. He will come; our Master, our King will come.”
-A translation from the song “He Will Come” by Sheli Myers
אז ברוך בואך ותבוא מלכותך גואלנו מלכנו חוזר ונגיל בתקווה שלא איכזבה הוא יבוא; אדוננו מלכנו יבוא
מתוך השיר “יבוא,” שלי מאיירס
“And then I will return to the nations a clean language, for all of them to call on the Name of Yehovah, to serve him with one shoulder.” –Zephaniah 3:9
כי אז אהפך אל העמים שפה ברורה לקרוא כלם בשם יהוה לעבדו בשכם אחד צפניה ג:ט
For a long time it was on my heart to be in a musical. I would dream of maybe one day being able to act, but I didn’t know how I’d ever get an opportunity. I settled with doing small, simple plays with a few family members or friends. It seemed that Yehovah’s will was for me to stick with those little shows, but the desire to be on a real stage doing a real show still burned within me. I did not know when Yehovah would want to do anything with that desire, and thought it might just be a fleshly desire that was not from Him.
But as the years went by, I realized that the desire was from Him. In 2018, I felt Him urge me to write a musical, and I obeyed, writing a script entitled The Maid of Morristown Manor. He helped me and gave me songs and music. I was certain that His hand was behind this musical.
But when it was being edited, serious flaws became obvious. It was not good enough for the stage. Furthermore, we did not have enough actors. I became discouraged, wondering if Yehovah had any plan for my failed musical, and why He had helped me write it if it was simply to be thrown in the trash. But then I felt a peace inside. It was as if the Father was telling me that it was fine that The Maid of Morristown Manor had flunked–that He was not done working.
The year before I wrote The Maid, my sister Amy Grace felt Yehovah prompting her to write songs for a musical based on the Exodus from Egypt. She wrote “Be Still, My Child,” “In Days Gone By,” and “Someone Knows My Name.” Just like my musical, though, it became obvious that the plans in her head were not able to come to reality. Some songs were incomplete, she never wrote a script, and, once again, there was no way that we would find enough actors. Amy Grace didn’t care that her musical would never happen; she didn’t have any inner fire compelling her to act. But I did. I would tell her that her songs were special and something should be done with them, yet her songs were to lie dormant for years.
On June 21, 2020, the time of waiting, wondering, and dormancy was over. On that day, I told Amy Grace that I was tired of her doing nothing with her beautiful half-finished songs. I wanted to write a musical about the Exodus, and asked her for permission to finish and use her songs. She agreed. That day I started writing the script for a new musical, feeling Yehovah compelling me.
The next few months were a lot of work. Yehovah helped me as I wrote the songs, plot, and script. I would marvel as rhymes and words flowed out of my brain so seamlessly. I knew that the words were from Him. Not once did I encounter writer’s block. He was giving me music to play and a story to tell. And one day Yehovah suddenly gave me the title for my musical: On Eagles’ Wings. I tried not to put many characters in the musical, hoping to make it feasible for performance, as I did not know many people who were willing to act.
It just so happened that during this time, Yehovah began suddenly placing people in our lives. I did not know that these new friends would one day become the cast members, but Yehovah did. He was orchestrating everything.
With every passing week, I became more convinced that On Eagles’ Wings was Yehovah’s work. It became obvious that He wanted us to perform this musical and had given me the inner flame for that purpose. “Shall You take our wildest dreams and truly form them into fact?” I wrote into the musical script, as I watched Yehovah change my musical from a far-out dream into a soon-coming reality.
Then I realized why Yehovah’s hand had been so evident in the two musicals that had never come to fruition. Those two musicals were crucial stepping stones that prepared us for On Eagles’ Wings. Amy Grace’s musical was the birthplace of multiple songs and The Maid was where I learned invaluable lessons about script format and editing.
In December, auditions for the musical were held. When I began to worry that we would not find enough actors, I was reminded of all that Yehovah had done, and trusted that He would continue to work. Auditions turned out to be amazing, and I found all the actors I needed! I couldn’t believe how many people were willing to audition.
The next few months became a busy blur. I finished the script in January and soon got it edited, which was tough, but Yehovah would not let me give up. Then in February, practices began. It is hard to explain exactly what it was like for me to see the musical come to the practice stage. Those days were answered prayers.
My siblings and I also had so much work to do on the music for the show. In my opinion, that was the biggest job. We had to record, rerecord, and piece together music so many times. Thanks to Yehovah, I had some amazing musicians and helpers who were there for me on that journey. Yehovah sustained us through all the hard work.
Finally we secured a venue. The first time I went to the venue I was taken by its beauty and amazed at Yehovah’s provision. The Silver Chapel had such wonderful acoustics that none of the actors needed microphones during the performance.
Practices, hard work, and costume designing continued without stop. The cast was so gracious and patient with me and my family as we worked to bring this musical to fruition. Everything fell into place. This amazing experience was a marvelous example of how the physical and spiritual work together. We did the physical work; Yehovah did the spiritual work. Here is a brief list of some amazing things Yehovah did that I have not already mentioned.
He helped my sister Rose write the song “He is My Peace.”
He gave us a venue in the middle of COVID-19.
He gave us a practice stage in Piedmont, AL.
He helped us find a sound man.
He gave many people willing hearts and able hands to help with the work.
He helped us find all of the props we needed.
About two months before the show, the actress for Avdah (the main character) and the actor for Leah switched characters and the transition was smooth.
He gave my brother the time and ability to do hours of acting, recording, and digital mastering.
He stopped all my stage fright on performance night.
He helped us find a videographer.
He allowed the Silver Chapel to get a new sound system before our performance.
There was a 12-hour storm right between two crucial practices the final week.
He made the weather so lovely that heat or AC (which would have been too noisy for the audience) was not needed on that day.
On March 21, 2021, nine months to the day after I wrote the first words of the script, the musical was performed. It was an amazing night, with seventy people in attendance. So many people said that they were amazed, but I was more amazed than they were–amazed that the King of all Creation would use me in such a way and let my dreams come true. I keep saying how it was Yehovah who made that night amazing. We are humbled by Him.
“Now to Him who is able to do all things exceedingly above what we ask or think, according to the power working in us, to Him be the glory in the church in Messiah Yeshua to all the generations forever and ever. Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21
One might try to find meaning in life on his own But we need our Redeemer; we can’t live alone He gives comfort and healing, and silences strife He gives clarity, meaning, and purpose to life
I will live
For Yeshua has raised me from chains and from death He has given me everything: heartbeat and breath And a mission He’s given and sent me to go He has called me by name; could I answer Him “no”?
I will live
No, I’ll never give up and I’ll never let go Though the going is tough and the progress is slow And in days of distress I refuse to despair I will cry to my El; He will answer me there
I will live
For my El didn’t lift me to let me fall down And I haven’t been saved to let go of my crown And I wasn’t redeemed to do nothing at all I will cherish His word–never flee from His call
I will live
“Oh, but doomsday is coming quite soon!” one might say “We must run; we must hide–there is no other way That our lives shall be saved from this upcoming war.” So he hides–doesn’t live–so then what’s his life for?
I will live
Life is not about safety–don’t hide in a shell Life is meant to be lived; life has stories to tell Life’s a gift from Yehovah–don’t waste it, my friend Let’s live life to the fullest, from start until end
I will live
I will live for the One Who has called me His own I will live by His side; I shall not live alone I’ll give ear to His voice, for in Him, yes, I can Do His purpose and will and complete all His plan
I will live
I will live in His power, His love, and His grace I will hope for the day when I’ll stand face to face With Yeshua, and Him I shall thank and adore I will live in the presence of Yah evermore
I will live
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“Let my soul live, and it shall praise You, and Your judgements shall help me.” -Psalm 119:175
“I will not die, for I will live and declare the works of Yah.” -Psalm 118:17
“‘…Because I live, You shall live also.'” -John 14:19
“Speak to My Heart” is one of my very favorite songs. Today I wanted to share it with you. Because it is in Hebrew, my sister and I wrote an English translation that can be sung to the tune, so English speakers can enjoy the song too.
Here is the link to the song: Speak to My Heart. It is written by Irit Iffert and preformed by Rebekah Wagner. It was presented at the “Praises of Israel” concert in Jerusalem, December, 2019.
A more accurate translation of the Hebrew, a transliteration of the Hebrew words, and the Hebrew words themselves, can be seen at the bottom of the above video. And below is our English translation. I hope that this song will bless you as much as it has blessed me!
Speak To My Heart
Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua Amid this great storm I’m found Waves of doubt tower o’er me Oh, hold me or else I’ll drown
Sweet words that will give me hope Sweet words that can calm this sea Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua And plant in my heart Your peace
Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua I’m resting beneath Your wing You’re my eternal fortress In You my soul will sing
Kind words of Your endless mercy Kind words that make crying cease Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua Your presence will be my peace
Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua Declaring Your word of truth And may those words grow within me Oh, mold me to be like You
Dear words of Your might and power Dear words that will give me strength Oh, speak to my heart Yeshua Your word is my rock of faith
Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua A whisper both small and still Oh, search now my heart and help me To follow and do Your will
Rejoicing in how You love me Surrendering fears and joys Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua And teach me Your gentle voice
Rejoicing in how You love me Surrendering fears and joys Oh, speak to my heart, Yeshua And teach me Your gentle voice
