Author: David Blakeslee

A Message from the Lord

Have you ever had a message given to you that you knew, without a doubt, was from the Lord? And then it was repeated?

Operation Exodus was written by Gustav Scheller. It was handed to me by a woman who said at our first meeting, “The Lord told me to give you this book.” Unique words I’d never been told before. It got my attention with a strong sense of curiosity and a little bit of uncertainty. That is until I traveled down the road to have her words confirmed by a stranger. Mr. Kubal saw the book laying near my backpack and said, “I know the author of that book of yours, and I know the President of the organization that has succeeded him. Would you like me to introduce you?”

Debra Minotti led the Buffalo, New York headquarters of Operation Exodus, USA. Dave Kubal introduced me to Debra and, long story short, Blessing Broker’s first project was with her amazing organization to aid two families in their move from the U.S. to Israel from the generous support of friends like you.

Operation Last Exodus

Years later, and recently, a gentleman sat behind Denise and me at a Bible conference in Huntington Beach, California. He gave me a book he wrote entitled Operation Last Exodus. Robb Schwartz published his 544-page novel in 2012 and is working on its sequel. I’m well into this thriller about the Lord’s final call to His people for a return (a.k.a. “Aliyah”) to Israel according to His promise and end-time plan. It’s a stellar book written by a brilliant, highly educated, well-accomplished, yet humble servant of God.

Robb has been gracious enough to ask for my thoughts as I read his intriguing work. It is a hair-raising, well-researched, tale of race wars, spiritual battles, political and social dilemmas which make the Holocaust pale in comparison to what the Bible tells us is on the near horizon.

I have since been moved to the understanding that there is great hatred and growing violence toward the people of God and that it must happen to force His people to return to Him and to the land where He placed His Name.

As I’m reading his book, I’m reminded of my visit with my friend, Marty in Pittsburgh, PA at the end of October 2018. On the 27th, at the Tree of Life Congregation along with the New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, a brutal attack happened against worshippers in the building during Shabbat morning services. The terrorist shot seventeen, killing eleven and wounding six others.

A few days after the slaughter, Marty and I walked around the synagogue praying, pleading, asking the LORD for comfort and for a right perspective against hatred and anti-Semitism. We talked with friends and family members of the congregation. We cried.

I have since been moved to the understanding that there is great hatred and growing violence toward the people of God and that it must happen to force His people to return to Him and to the land where He placed His Name.

As I finish this read and continue my conversations with this author, I am moved with the conviction and the awe that it “MUST be a God Thing.”

Robb Schwartz has been so kind to offer a limited supply of his books to Blessing Broker as we focus this month of September on helping with our Aliyah Initiative.

For a signed copy of Operation Last Exodus, please prayerfully consider joining us in the Aliyah Initiative while there’s still time. For a gift of $40.00 or more, we will send a signed copy of Robb Schwartz, “OPERATION LAST EXODUS” as a token of our sincere appreciation. Click here to give now towards the Aliyah Initiative.

This is what the Lord God says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My flag to the peoples;
And they will bring your sons in their arms,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

– Isaiah 49:22

 

This is what the Lord God says:

“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
And set up My flag to the peoples;
And they will bring your sons in their arms,
And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

– Isaiah 49:22

Obeying God’s Call

Martha’s story continues from the previous blog about the necessity of trust. She had called me crying about finding that her trust was broken with an organization that helps impoverished Russian Jews move to their ancient homeland, Israel. She found that the organization’s leadership doesn’t believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, although they claimed to have a “fellowship” with Christians.  She felt misled. All Martha really cared about was being obedient to the call that God put on her heart… “Bring Israel’s sons and daughters home!” But she wanted to do so in partnership with obedience to her Savior.

There are multitudes of testimonies of God calling individuals to participate in helping His people. I’d like to share one with you that’s very personal.

There is a great increase, for many different reasons, that Jewish people are sensing a call, an urge, to make what they call, “Aliyah” to Israel.
Could it be a God thing?

A Cup of Coffee and a Divine Appointment

I’d arrived from Phoenix to a Maryland home on the Chesapeake Bay. I knocked on the door of my new friends, a husband and wife. I’d not yet met them in person. Donna said, “The Lord told me to give you this book.” She handed me a copy of Operation Exodus: Prophecy Being Fulfilled by Gustav Scheller.  After a beautiful visit, I continued traveling through Maryland and Virginia meeting with others who are helping take the love of Yeshua, Jesus to the Jewish People scattered around the world.  In between meetings, I settled in a coffee shop to make notes of my travels and prepare for upcoming meetings. I pulled my planner out of my backpack along with the book from Donna. I set them on the table and went to retrieve my order; a quad-Grande Americano with a splash of cream. When I returned to my seat, a well-dressed gentleman had taken the seat next to mine. He told me that he knew the author of the book in front of us.

We found a very interesting course of conversation. I learned that he was the President of an organization called Intercessors for America. Dave proceeded to tell me about his involvement with the organization that I was working for at the time and that while it was not their focus, they too have a calling to help Israel. Dave invited me to his office where we continued our impromptu chat. He then introduced me to a wonderful soul that leads a Christian organization to helps Jews return to Israel! Martha’s and my prayers were answered! God has raised His hand to us.

Blessing Broker’s inaugural project was with that organization to send two families to Israel.  Of course, that was after doing much research and asking a lot of questions from our new contact.

We have since learned about the great need to acclimate to the new country once there.

1. Immigration paperwork
2. Housing
3. Food & clothing
4. Jobs
5. Transportation
6. Learning the language
7. Finding a community of fellowship, etc.

We have come to know a Believer in Israel that is working as a Christian resource, utilizing great stewardship, in helping with all the above and more.

Join Us in His Work

There is a great increase, for many different reasons, that Jewish people are sensing a call, an urge, to make what they call, “Aliyah” to Israel. Could it be a God thing? We believe so and we are joining God in His work to raise a banner to the nations. Join us by praying how the Lord will lead YOU in His call.

September 6th-7th is the Feast of Trumpets. This month we are focused on sounding the call to help with Aliyah and equipping the returning Jewish people with a firm foundation/resource.

Stay tuned for our 9/6/2021 podcast conversation with Chaim on the Galilee regarding Aliyah and what he’s doing to B.L.E.S.S. the returning of Jewish people to Israel.

Do your research, or run the other way, when someone says, “Trust me…”

A small remote village in Africa is desperately in need of water. A well-intentioned organization in America sees the need. The organization puts out a widespread appeal to dig a well in the village. Many people hear the plea to help. Some give to pay in full the cost to dig a well, some in part. Difficulties are later found with the local and national governments. The monies collected are then redistributed to provide individual water filtration devices to some in the original area of appeal and much of it to others.

What’s the problem with this?

The intention of this generous Partner was not fulfilled. Trust is compromised, if not destroyed.

ECFA President (ret.,) Dan Busby wrote the book on trust.  Literally, the title is Trust: The Firm Foundation for Kingdom Fruitfulness.  I met Dan in his office at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) in Winchester, Virginia, where I was handed a signed copy at the end of our visit.  After many conversations over the years with ECFA’s Member Services, it was thrilling to be in the headquarters of the biggest and best accountability partner of Christian churches and organizations.

Where did the ECFA come from?

The ECFA was founded in 1979 by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the US branch of World Vision to provide accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fundraising, and board governance. Members include Christian ministries, denominations, churches, educational institutions, and other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations.

Blessing Broker® is in the long, detailed process of accreditation with ECFA.  (Full Disclosure: We are currently in the third year of operation as a 501(c)(3) and not yet at the income level to qualify for membership).

At its inception, the ECFA established, and maintains, its Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™ which are drawn from scripture and are fundamental for operating with integrity.

These standards include adherence to:

1. Doctrinal Issues (Biblical Faith)
2. Governance by a responsible board
3. Having financial oversight
4. Use of resources in compliance with laws
5. Transparency
6. Integrity in compensation
7. Excellent stewardship of charitable gifts

It is these standards for which Blessing Broker® was born.

The Necessity of Trust

I received a call many years ago from a friend in tears. Martha (alias) said through her shaken voice, “David, I just learned that this ‘Fellowship’ I’d been sending money to has been lying to me!” My reply to Martha was three questions; “Didn’t you give this gift to the Lord?” Secondly, “When you learned that it wasn’t used as you’d intended, is it not still His?” Lastly, “What will you do the next time?” She dried her tears and we chatted about a few other things before we said goodbye.

What initially shocked me the most was the income and investments of the CEO exceeding $6,000,000.00 per year.

I immediately went to ECFA.org and found that this large ministry was not a member. So, I went to the organization’s website and found their annual reports and 990’s (IRS tax-exempt return). I was shocked at what I found! I won’t turn the dirt here, but something stunk!

The IRS Form 990 provides the public with financial information about a nonprofit organization. What initially shocked me the most was the income and investments of the CEO exceeding $6,000,000.00 per year. Though the notes within the 990 file expressed commensurate compensation of salaries for the CEO and the organization’s executive salaries, which by the way are also seemingly extreme to this observer, it made everything else stink.

Would you have trust in a ministry that paid its CEO millions per year?

As Martha and I continued the conversation over time, she has learned how to ask different questions and do different research on work that she wanted to support and be a part of. My suggestion: Start at ECFA.org.

Mr. Busby and his staff never said, “Trust me….” They didn’t have to. Their integrity, accountability, and excellence speak for themselves. But don’t take our word for it. Check things out for yourself!

Blessing Broker is here to help you ask the great questions, research needs and solutions, and be the blessing with integrity and confidence.

 

Twas the night before Christmas…

Twas the night before Christmas, 2014, my sister walked through the door and her eyes went immediately to the countertop where my gift sat.  She saw the Hanukkiah I’d brought home for Christmas and exclaimed, “What?! … Are we Jewish now?”

I laughed and replied, “No, but since Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, shouldn’t we?”

John 10:22-23 (TLV) says, “Then came Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication;”) it was winter in Jerusalem. Yeshua was walking in the Temple around Solomon’s Colonnade.”

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a menorah (or hanukkiah). One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shamash (Hebrew: שַׁמָּשׁ‎, “attendant”). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the festival.[4] Other Hanukkah festivities include singing Hanukkah songs, playing the game of dreidel and eating oil-based foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, and dairy foods. Since the 1970s, the worldwide Chabad Hasidic movement has initiated public menorah lightings in open public places in many countries.[5] (Wikipedia, 2021)

The Baptist church we grew up with didn’t mention the Hanukkiah or the “Feast of Dedication” written in the Book of John, nor did we ever hear any teaching on the “Feasts of the Lord.”  I don’t recall hearing much about Israel, either.  At least not in the context of God’s promises toward her except by extension to the “church,” which many do without rightly dividing the scripture (II Timothy 2:15). For example, many teachers, preachers, and denominations wrongly ascribe God’s promises and blessings to the “church” when His Word is specific to an individual or nation.

First Baptist Church, however, did teach us to study the Bible. According to my Strong’s Concordance, “Israel” is listed 2,465 times.  With so many references in God’s Word, why wouldn’t we want to study its relevance to the past, present, and future acts of God regarding Israel?

Why should Gentile Christians support Israel?

In a word; “RESTORATION.” Israel is the only place or Nation that God has placed His Name and promises to restore the world. The Bible contains over 1,800 predictions concerning more than 700 separate subjects found in over 8,300 verses. That’s nearly a third of the Bible!  The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ alone, many with amazing specificity. Numerous prophecies have already been fulfilled, and they have come to pass precisely as foretold. The mathematical odds of someone making this number of predictions and having every one of them come to pass are light-years beyond the realm of human possibility. These miraculous prophecies could only be accomplished with the supernatural guidance of Him who sees the end from the beginning. It Must Be A God Thing!

Do you want to see Jesus’ return?  Does His empty grave give you hope? We know that when He does return, He will restore ALL things.

Jesus said, “For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘Baruch ha-ba b’shem ADONAI. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” –Matthew 23:39

Do you want to see Jesus’ return?  Does His empty grave give you hope? We know that when He does return, He will restore ALL things. He’s not going to Rome, New York, or Anytown, USA — He’s not returning omnipresently over the whole earth. Jesus is returning to Israel!  But not until they call out to Him.

We want nothing more than for Him to find us joined with Him in His work when He returns. Please join us in sharing the love of Jesus with those living in the land and the people of Israel.

Experiencing God

Over thirty years ago, Henry Blackaby released a book and study guide entitled, “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.”

Of the thousands, if not tens-of-thousands of hours studying the bible in my lifetime, Experiencing God has been the greatest aid, alongside the bible, to grow my faith and trust in Jesus, my Savior, and my God. We see Him moving in Israel and choose to join Him in His work.

The premise is this;

God is always moving

John 5:17, 19-20 My Father is still working, and I am working… I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing.

He invites us to join Him in His work

2 Corinthians 5:19-20 In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself… and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us.

When we do, He blesses us as we know and do the will of God

Ephesians 3:16-21 I pray that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Of the thousands, if not tens-of-thousands of hours studying the bible in my lifetime, Experiencing God has been the greatest aid, alongside the bible, to grow my faith and trust in Jesus, my Savior, and my God. We see Him moving in Israel and choose to join Him in His work.

#BLESS #BeTheBlessing #BlessIsrael #BlessedBeyondMeasure #Charity #ExperiencingGod #Blackaby #Return #Rapture #Bible #Maranatha

Many years ago, I began receiving stories and testimonies of extraordinary happenings.

Healings, near-death experiences, reversed infertility, deliverance from addiction(s), reconciliations, and a host of other things. I wasn’t looking for them, but one after another, they flowed like a stream, and then as a torrent — they came my way.

What a blessing to hear what I now call God things. What do you do when something you’re not exactly looking for keeps dropping in your lap or prodding you? Whether we realize it or not, “God things” are all around us. What do you do with them? Do you just “go with the flow?” Would you investigate? Would you dismiss it, as I’ve done so many times? What if you were called to act on the prodding from within your unique interest or from what some call “destiny,” “fate,” or “Divine guidance?” Somewhere in our mind or soul, we must acknowledge that there’s a higher power at work inviting us into something else, something better; to be a blessing to someone else.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve dropped the ball so many times on following the lead on a blessing story. But as I did act on some of them, life’s trajectory dramatically changed for good!

The story of Blessing Broker is no exception and one I love to tell…

As a Technical Designer in the field of Mechanical Engineering, I was trained to look at details from many different angles. What works? How does it work? How can it be improved? Does the tooling need to be changed? What are the inherent limitations and opportunities? And so on. Little did I know that my training and occupation would lead me to analyze organizations and “charities.” Through a long string of seemingly unconnected events, I stumbled upon a stack of magazines from a ministry I knew nothing about. I read one magazine and immediately recognized that this organization was blessed by the inspiration, direction, and Word of God. So, I spent several hours researching their public 990 tax reports, articles, reviews, and other reports of this particular ministry. When I found their stewardship to be exceptional, I prayed, “Lord, increase my income so that I may give to this organization.”

Three days after learning of this ministry, the one-and-only Representative just happened to sit next to me in a Starbucks and randomly struck up a conversation. BOOM! By God’s grace, a job that I wasn’t looking for dropped in my lap and changed my life. Many people reading this know exactly what I’m talking about.

For two years now, as we pray and practice faithful stewardship, we continue to experience the economic truth that you cannot outgive God.

When the chapter ended at that ministry, my wife, Denise, and I strongly felt that it was time to start Blessing Broker®. On July 1st, 2019 we began by sending a love offering, together with others, to friends who are doing great work in Israel. They visit some of the 200,000 remaining Holocaust Survivors. As soon as we sent the check, another came in the mail for the same amount. We prayed and sent that one out, too. Another unexpected gift arrived more than the one before it. It hasn’t stopped. For two years now, as we pray and practice faithful stewardship, we continue to experience the economic truth that you cannot outgive God.

Up until now, we’ve not produced a newsletter, created a blog roll, sent consistent email updates, or done any intentional communication efforts. That’s all about to change! In future letters, we will share more about how God is providing and prodding us to “broker” the blessings which continue to flow.

We invite you to join us on the journey of prayer, trusting God, and acting on the call of His Holy Spirit to join Him in His work to proclaim the GREAT news of Yeshua until He calls us home.

We simply want to pass on the blessings God has given us. Please keep us in your prayers.

Lastly, our website has the daily One Year Bible® linked in the upper right-hand corner next to the PRAYING HANDS. Please click on the link and let us know how we may pray for you.

A soul who blesses shall prosper. -Proverbs 11:25

 

Together in His service,

David Blakeslee
President
Blessing Broker®