Dear Lovers of God!
Love on Land and at Sea
This February 2026, my focus on Love is personal and experiential because I believe the Lord wants each of us to receive a personal touch from Him—receiving God’s Love in such a way that each of us knows His love intimately. We all need more of God’s love, and it always begins with Him. The more love we receive from God, the more we have to give to others.
God’s love gift to me at the beginning of December 2025, came in the form of a Mediterranean cruise. Sheryl, Claudia, and I had the privilege and delight to go together for the first time on a vacation. We labor daily in the ministry of Jewish Jewels but have never had any kind of “staff retreat” or team-building time together. I was the one who suggested a retreat cruise—a very specific cruise—since there was a place on my bucket list from before Neil went to heaven—a unique synagogue on the island of Curaçao (more details later). When I mentioned my desire to Sheryl and Claudia, they agreed to join me on an ABC cruise—to the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
Sheryl and I have traveled together before so we knew that the cruise would be more like a mission trip than a vacation. Sheryl always packs an assortment of Jewish Jewels materials and tracts, and I make special seashell messages to take with us. Claudia is an intercessor and worship leader, so she added a lovely, deep spiritual dimension to our journey.
God’s Love for the World
Workers on most cruise ships are not from the U.S. but from many countries around the world. Most are far from their families and work on the ships for at least six months at a time. They need big doses of the love of God and usually are very open to receiving His love.
We were still on land (had not sailed yet) when we met Bel from the Philippines, the hostess in the main dining room. We chatted briefly, and Claudia asked Bel how we might pray for her. Bel did not know what that meant but liked it! She told us that she hoped she would see us again. She did—the next day. It was Sunday, and we were at sea. As Sheryl, Claudia, and I walked into the dining room, Bel remarked aloud: “Here are the three angels.” From then on, this precious woman reached out to hug all of us each time she saw us. Love knows no language or cultural barriers.
As was our custom during the entire cruise, we asked to be seated with others—and prayed for God to choose the ones He had ordained. Sunday breakfast was amazing! We sat at a table with a lovely couple from North Carolina. I noticed immediately that the wife sounded just like Sheryl when she spoke (Brooklyn for sure, when she mentioned her “motha”). It turned out that she and Sheryl were the same age and both had lived in Canarsie and went to the same school. The couple, both Jewish, had a daughter Jamie and a brother Neil. They also used to live in Florida.
The coincidences were uncanny: Claudia is from Brazil, and the wife has relatives in Brazil. The husband was involved in building the development where Claudia lives in Coral Springs, Florida. The wife kept commenting on the “signs” involved in our being together.
I shared Neil and my testimony, including our beginning Temple Aron HaKodesh in Fort Lauderdale, and they expressed their disillusionment with Judaism. (They have experienced their share of hypocrisy). The wife said she was “spiritual” and has no big objections to Jesus but values her “Jewishness.” At one point, Sheryl was deep in the Gospel with Leviticus 17:11 and the blood atonement. Breakfast ended [I think we ate!] with the gift of a seashell message, our business card, and praying the Priestly Blessing over them. Lord willing, this chosen couple will watch Jewish Jewels in their North Carolina home and become completed, Messianic Jews.
The Voice of the Lord Upon the Waters
Psalm 29:3 has always been one of my favorite verses. I listen for God’s voice each time I go to the beach—and certainly while at sea. His voice—and His love—continued throughout our first day at sea. We sat with a couple from Ontario, Canada at dinner. We found out their life story (people like to talk about themselves) and then asked about their spiritual history. Nominal Presbyterians but very open to learning about a deeper relationship with Jesus. We promised to leave my book A Kiss A Day outside their stateroom door. We did—and later saw them on deck as they profusely thanked us.
Sunday wasn’t over yet! There was still more love to give—and another encounter, this time in the jewelry store onboard. A Jewish mother and daughter were there and noticed our Jewish jewelry. A conversation began about “Jewish Jewels,” and her daughter immediately took out her phone and found me on our website—and told us that she had “subscribed.” We had a few more opportunities to connect with this family from Wellington, Florida, during the cruise. Jewish—culturally—but not spiritually. But God has a plan for them. (They were very touched when we prayed for the mother for healing after breakfast on Monday, as we held hands in a circle. The daughter commented: “Oh, I love this!”)
Love One Another
Yeshua said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn. 13:34). I believe that our fellow passengers on the Celebrity cruise saw the love that the three of us have for one another. Think of it: three single women in one stateroom for eight nights with all our clothing, toiletries, luggage, etc., not only still talking to one another, but genuinely loving one another’s company. A testimony to lives lived in God’s love.
We were refreshed to finally be seated at dinner with other believers in Yeshua—who even loved their Jewish roots! Sharon and Tracy were delightful dinner companions. We all prayed before we ate, shared stories about God’s love in our lives, and were thrilled to hear about Presbyterians diving deep into the Bible. These two Christian friends were excited to hear about the ministry of Jewish Jewels and gladly received our newsletter and at least one Ancient Jewish Wedding Customs book. I’m sure they will share Jewish Jewels back at home in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Love in the Sand
December 2, 2025, was a dream come true for me. My long-awaited visit to the synagogue in Curaçao was made possible because a tour guide switched the order of a tour so that Sheryl, Claudia, and I could visit Mikve Israel-Emanuel before closing time. Love always makes a way!
I was not disappointed. Mikve Israel-Emanuel synagogue was established by Sephardic Jews from the Netherlands and Brazil in the mid-17th century (1650s). It is the oldest continuously used synagogue in the Americas, famous for its sand-covered floor. The floor was originally covered with sand to muffle footsteps and avoid detection by antisemitic persecutors. The entire floor is still sand to pay homage to the Iberian Jewish ancestors.
We walked in the sand and were in awe of the size and beauty of the synagogue. There is a carved mahogany bema and Torah ark, three high vaulted ceilings, galleries, and magnificent chandeliers. The interior is said to resemble the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam.
At the end of our visit to Mikve Israel-Emanuel, we spoke with a man who appeared to be the “doorkeeper” and told him about Jewish Jewels. He received a seashell message, card, and a newsletter. I had received a kiss from God!
God’s Love in One Minute
I finished the December Jewish Jewels newsletter “Go With the Gospel” before the cruise and wanted to practice one of the Gospel presentations at an island stop in Aruba. I decided to return early to the bus to see if I could chat with James, the bus driver/guide. What happened was shocking, but should not have been, since I well know that the devil will do anything he can to stop God’s Word from going forth.
Just as I was about to speak with James (on an empty bus), a woman stepped up and began chatting with him. She went on and on, talking about nothing in particular, seeing that I was waiting to talk to him. I prayed silently, but she kept on and on. Finally she left, and I knew I had about one minute before the others would return to the bus. So, I shared the One Minute John 3:16 Gospel Presentation with James, and he seemed to receive it. In all his years in church (Catholic), he had never heard the “Gospel.”
More Love at Sea
This was not my first cruise, but every time I have been on the ocean, a Bible verse from before I became a believer in Yeshua has come to mind; “Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them!” (Isaiah 42:10). Our final day at sea was indeed full of praise to the Lord.
We found ourselves back in the jewelry store—not to purchase jewelry but to share with the jeweler. Avi told us a fascinating story about the owner of Effy Jewelers, an Iranian Jewish immigrant, and then proceeded to tell us about his wife and children back home in India and how much he missed them. We gave Avi a seashell and lots of Jewish Jewels information, and I was able to present the Gospel to him in between customers. He had never heard about Yeshua’s gift of salvation before.
Sheryl blessed Avi with the Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) as we left the store.
Love of God, but not Messiah
We were excited to find out that there would be a Shabbat service onboard on Friday evening since Sheryl and I have led Shabbat services on previous cruises. However, this time, other arrangements had been made. We arrived to find a conservative Jewish man from New Jersey handing out Siddurim (prayer books). He told us that he usually leads services on cruises. We joined in but found the service a bit lifeless and dry. (We are used to Spirit-led and Spirit-filled Shabbat services.) To me, seeing 23 Jewish people who seemed to love God, but not really know Him, was sad. Our people need Messiah. Without Yeshua, they cannot experience the Love of God and the joy of Salvation.
Love-Centered Living
This must be our goal. There is nothing greater than Love—God’s Kind of Love. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (I John 4:17).
I am asking myself in 2026: “Do I love God enough?” “Do I love His children enough?” My answer is: no. I need more love; it is the only thing that never fails, according to the Bible. (1 Cor. 13:8) If we are to be conformed to the image of our Messiah, we must be vessels of love. Abba, help us!
The Bible says in Matthew 24:37, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Noah, and a few souls saved through water (1 Peter 3:20), were on a big vessel (Ark) floating upon the sea of lost humanity. That is us today, the set-apart followers of the Jewish Messiah. We are in the world, but not of it. As Sheryl, Claudia, and I sailed to the islands, we could not relate to the round-the-clock drinking of our fellow passengers. They seemed to be escaping life, looking for joy in all the wrong places. Real joy comes from love, and real, unconditional love is found in a personal relationship with Yeshua, the ark of our salvation. He is our Captain, our Refuge, our Shelter, and the One who will bring us safely home.
We are to be Yeshua’s “arm of love” in the midst of a wicked and lost generation. I would like to quote from one of my favorite devotionals that really spoke to my heart about God’s will for us in 2026: “You are to help to save others. Never let one day pass when you have not reached out an arm of Love to someone outside your home—a note, a letter, a visit, help in some way. Be full of Joy. Joy saves. Joy cures. Joy in Me. Each day do something to lift another soul out of the sea of sin, or disease or doubt into which man has fallen. I still walk today by the lakeside and call My disciples to follow Me, and to become fishers of men.” (God Calling by A.J. Russell).
That is how we can fulfill the “royal law” spoken of in James 2:8. It is the law of love, actually the fulfilling of the Law. (Matt. 5:17; Rom. 13:10)
Loving God as a Priority
Loving our neighbor (the second great commandment in both the Tanakh and Brit Hadasha) should be a natural extension of loving God (the first great commandment). (Deut. 6:4-5; Matt. 22:37-40) “So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself'” (Luke 10:27). Lois Tverberg in Listening to the Language of the Bible reminds us that the word “soul,” nephesh נפש (NEH-fehsh), means “life” as well as “soul.” So the Jewish interpretation of “Love the Lord with all your soul” is actually that we should love God with all our lives—every moment throughout our lives. This is the opposite of being a “one-hour-a-week believer.” Lois mentions that a further traditional interpretation of “With all your nephesh” is the idea that we should love God even to the point of sacrificing our lives for Him. (This is actually happening today in other countries around the world, like Nigeria and North Korea.)
He First Loved Us
We must always remember this foundational truth: “We love Him because He first loved us” (I Jn. 4:19). God is love (1 Jn 4:8) in Hebrew: Elohim hu ahavah 
(eh-lo-HEEM hu ah-ha-VAH). His kind of love is unconditional 
(a-ha-VAH she-ey-NAH teh-loo-YA be-da-VAR). God’s sacrificial love is ahavat nefesh 
(a-ha-VAT NEH-fesh), “soul love.” This love reached the height of perfection in God’s Son, Yeshua, who sacrificed His life for each one of us.
God’s love never ends. It is everlasting. In Hebrew, ahavat olam 
(a-ha-VAT oh-LAHM). The prophet Jeremiah expresses this love of God for His people Israel as follows: “…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love (
ahavat olam); therefore with lovingkindness (
khesed) I have drawn you” (Jer. 31:3).
Finally, God’s love for us is passionate, fiery, burning; in Hebrew: 
(a-ha-VAH yoh-KEH-det), as expressed in John 17:23-26. Given this kind of love, we should respond to God by saying, “Your love is better than wine, 
(kee-toh-VEEM doh-DEH-kha mi-YAH-yeen), and I am Yours forever 
(shel-KHA la-AHD).”
Please join me in choosing LOVE this month,
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