A ROAD MAP TO JOYPoems and StoriesFind Your Way in a World of Discontent Step into a world where faith and poetry intertwine—where the flicker of hope leads you down a path toward lasting joy. In “A Road Map to Joy,” Bonnie Saul Wilks gathers luminous poems and reflective stories that capture the ache and…
Tag: Israel
Terror and Beauty
I pause with reverence on the balcony of my hotel room in the Holy City. Across from me stands the New Gate, and my eyes follow Jerusalem’s ancient walls as far as I can see. The golden Dome of the Rock faintly gleams as dawn peaks its way up and over the horizon and walls….
“Because You Have Prayed To Me…”
“Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him…’” (Isaiah 37:21). The Mid-East is at a tipping point–on the cusp of ending the Oct 7,…
Day of Atonement: The Promise of Provision
On Yom Kippur, heartsbecome as white as apriest’s prepared andpure white linengarments created forthe holiest sanctuaryon the holiest day ofthe year. The priestenters this placewith sobriety andthe fear of the Lord.He represents thepeople to Godand God to the people.Hearts ascend in quietsurrender as sweetincense arises. This is the day tocleanse, repair, repent—to seek forgivenessto make…
I Am Jesus
In the scorched earth of the October 7th war and against the black shroud of inconceivable inhumanity, death, and mourning, I unexpectedly discovered a riot of living and colorful resilience, hope, and even joy among Israelis during our recent trip to the Mid East. I had not imagined this response, and it captured my attention…
The Zeal of the Lord
Here we are a number of years ago in Odessa, Ukraine, the birth place of the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute. “For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this,” (Isaiah 37:32). The above scripture was part of my…
The Common and the Holy
I love the almost holy tranquility of this old photo. This morning while preparing my thoughts for a teaching on understanding the purpose and place of Sabbath rest as Gentiles tonight at Queen City Church in Cincinnati, I meditated on the differences between the common and holy things of life. Sabbath is the first thing…
Dilemma of Joy
My treasured keepsakes bulge in pockets of time—rather moments—that are tucked hard against the bones of my heart. They remain as fresh and life-giving as the first-offerings of spring rosesbuds, tight with fragrance and bleeding of crimson that smears across my fingers as I pull them out one petal at a time. The edges are…
Ukraine, Israel, and More
The criminal, deathly Russian aggression against Ukraine in the last week has touched a deep place of both shock and compassion in hearts around the world, especially Wayne and me. We moved our family to Odessa, Ukraine some years ago to start Bible schools and congregations. When the flames of Communism went underground, the gospel…
Go, and Keep Going
I responded to a call to go into all the world to preach the gospel in my early 20’s. Eagerly, I went to Bible school to prepare. This hope became my bread and butter as I studied, dreamed, and planned to go. I didn’t exactly know where God would send me, but I knew international…
Bonnie Saul Wilks 