Small Blessings Israel

10/28/2025

Whispering Echoes: Lifted Eyes

Peace does not reside in wealth, power, or fame. These are fleeting illusions, leaving their victims feeling failed and hopeless.

Contentment cannot be found in the number of faceless likes or followers on social media. They cannot replace the shaking of a hand, or the hug of a friend, or the holding of a loved one.

Lift your eyes from the glow of glass … from scrolling and tapping thumbs … dancing and begging for attention … searching for purpose and meaning in fleeting entertainment and anonymous praise.

Above, there’s a sky untouched by algorithms … a silence that sings in starlit ways … a true, enduring life purpose begging to be discovered.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” —Colossians 3:2

Lift your eyes from curated lives, scenes, and choreographed scripts that ultimately outdate you and heartlessly abandon you. Recall and rediscover the breath of the wind, the scent of pine, the majesty of a mountain.

Focus relationships to the hands you can hold and repurpose your steps to the hearts you can heal. Take the time to retreat and listen for the sacred pulse of God’s design for your life.

Lift your eyes to the Maker’s canvas in the wonder of the night sky, where galaxies, unimaginably vast and distant, whirl in quiet grace at the breath of His whispers.

Take the time to ponder the wonder of a single blade of grass, and the winding journey of a gentle stream. Consider that even every atom bears His fingerprint, and every soul, for Him or against Him, was created in His image … to be His child … to discover His love by simply believing … on His Son, Jesus Christ. Such is the carefree freedom and deep peace of the one who believes, and rests, in His love and care.

Lift your eyes and see His loving gaze … fixed upon you in His love … and longing to give you everlasting life … available to all who simply believe … simply believe on His Son.

Rest, child of God, … Lift your eyes … and Rest.

Closing Prayer

Lord, in the quiet of this moment, I lift my eyes to You. I believe on Your Son Jesus the Messiah. Teach me to see beyond the glow of the glass and the noise of fleeting praise. Let me find peace not in performance, but in Your presence. Help me rediscover the sacred in the simple, the eternal in the everyday. May Your fingerprints guide my steps, and Your love steady my heart. I rest in Your gaze and, by your love, rise in Your grace. Amen.

God Bless You!

Stephen Apple
for the Small Blessings nonprofit charity

Our website: www.smallblessings.org
Thank you for your prayers for our recent extended stay in Israel and our ministry to the hospitals and wounded civilians and soldiers there.

To donate to our Israel work: www.smallblessings.org/give

Mail correspondence:
Small Blessings
P.O. Box 11265
Palm Desert, CA 92255

10/17/2025

www.smallblessings.org

GOD IS OUR DEFENSE!

Against All Odds: Many Nations Came Against Israel. But God is Our Defense.
The Wars, the Wounded, the Will, and the Wonder

As we complete this extended stay in Israel—a nation small in size but immense in spirit and Biblical importance —we reflect on the extraordinary resilience we’ve witnessed. We were among the first to see the beautiful event we all in Israel had been praying for ... the release of our sons and daughters ... our brothers and sisters ... our friends and family. After 738 days in captivity—nearly two full years—the final group of Israeli hostages was released on October 13, 2025. Their return was a moment of national relief and divine mercy. The first thing many of us did was to fall to our knees and thank God for His goodness. As the Scriptures say, "God is good, and His mercy endures forever." Amen.

It has now been over 21 years since we got rid of everything in California and moved to Tel Aviv, Israel to plant the Calvary Chapel Tel Aviv church plant there, and then later a Calvary Chapel church plant in Haifa, Israel. Over the years we ordained Pastor John Bangura to shepherd the flock at Tel Aviv, and Pastor Yossi Goldberg to help him plant a church in Haifa, Israel. And our Shepherd's Light ministry, with my dear brother Pastor Brose Bates, continues to work to help the church plants there.

And for the last few years, our new Small Blessings nonprofit has worked with Israel to help equip the IDF with needed equipment including bulletproof vests, helmets, and medical supplies as well as provide much needed help in the hospitals that treat the wounded soldiers and civilians in Israel. Some of the most significant moments was when Small Blessings worked to help the IDF Widows and Orphans fund to help support the needs of the families of fallen IDF soldiers. And God has used the Small Blessings ministry to help so many others over the last few years for needs too numerous to list.

But now, over the last two months, our journey took us North to Haifa, Central to Tel Aviv, and South to Ashkelon, where we partnered with three remarkable hospitals: Rambam Medical Center, Ichilov Sourasky Medical Center, and Barzilai Medical Center.

Each of these institutions shares a sobering reality: they operate underground hospitals designed to function during wartime. These are not symbolic shelters—they are fully equipped medical facilities built underground to withstand missile strikes, drone attacks, and ballistic threats while medical staff give life-saving care to critical need patients.

At Rambam Hospital in Haifa, what was once a huge underground parking garage has been transformed into the largest underground hospital in the world. It holds 2,000 beds and includes surgical suites, intensive care units, imaging centers, and staff support. Think about that ... the largest underground hospital in the world is in a tiny nation that survives on only 1/4th of 1% of all the land in the massive Middle East. This underground hospital conversion would normally require years of engineering ingenuity and planning—but war does not allow such luxuries. The transformation had to be accomplished in just 72 hours, with adjustments made after the basic needs were in place. Reinforced ceilings, rerouted infrastructure, and independent power, water, and air filtration systems were installed under pressure, all to ensure the hospital could operate even under siege. It’s a marvel of necessity born from urgency, and constructed by the blessing of God.

Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv followed suit, constructing a subterranean extension capable of treating mass casualties during emergencies. Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, just miles from the Gaza border, built its underground hospital to protect patients and staff from near-daily rocket fire. These facilities are not optional—they are essential. In a country where sirens can sound at any hour, and where war is not a distant memory but a present reality, underground hospitals are lifelines.

Small Blessings was honored to fund surgical equipment, critical medicines, and emergency supplies for each of these hospitals. We also provided support to Schneider's Children’s Medical Center, where the youngest patients—many battling life-threatening cancers and severe heart conditions—receive care in the midst of chaos.

Beyond the hospital doors, our work extended to IDF field units, supplying portable medical gear for first responders in combat zones. These young soldiers—many of whom were recently waiters, students, or office workers—now faced threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, Iranian proxies in Syria, and Houthi jihadists in Yemen. The recent barrages from Iran included hundreds of ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones capable of mass destruction. In Israel's border towns, children attend school in bomb shelters, learning beneath concrete ceilings instead of colorful posters.

These are the wars. These are the wounded. And yet ... these have the will.
The will of the Jewish people to endure, to rebuild, to live. Their resilience is not just admirable—it’s miraculous. And through it all, we witness the wonder of God’s Presence. His protection. His provision. His love.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans, “God is not finished with Israel.” This, indeed, is obvious. What nation has ever seen such deliverance? What tiny people group has ever stood triumphantly against so much hatred and animosity? Indeed, Against All Odds, God has intervened and given Israel the victory.

The Bible speaks of His plans for the Jewish people, and of the calling upon gentile believers to encourage, support, and help restore them to their homeland—and to share the love of their Messiah, Jesus Christ, with them.

So, while sirens interrupt sleep, and bomb shelters become classrooms, and the world grows increasingly hostile to Israel —there is heard a whisper of hope in the soul:

“He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” —Psalm 121:4
"Peace. Be still. Our God Reigns." ... For His is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

We would invite you to not just reflect on this, but to worship God and thank Him for His love and care.

With much thanks for your heart for Israel and your prayers,

Stephen & Patricia Apple

Small Blessings Israel
Our Website: www.smallblessings.com

10/13/2025

Right Now! ... Beginning at 8AM this morning in Israel OUR HOSTAGES ARE BEING RELEASED! In Israel, throughout the cities sirens are sounding and horns are honking in celebration of the miracle that God has done! The Sheba Medical Center Hospital near us is ready to receive the hostages as their conditions are dire and the medical needs are great. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the hospital there last night in last minute preparations. In the United States people are readying to go to sleep, but here in Israel, people are awakening to a new hope. GOD IS GOOD!

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

09/20/2025

🌿 Whispering Echoes — “Beloved”

There is a voice that calls to the weary— not in thunder, but in a whisper. It speaks not to the polished, but to the broken. To the soul curled in silence, aching for light, longing for acceptance and love.

You are not forgotten. You are not discarded. You are not too far gone.

The hands that shaped the stars also shaped your heart. And though the world may pass you by, He sees you. He knows your name. You are Beloved.

You are not merely flesh and bone. You are spirit—breathed into existence by the Creator, the eternal God who is love. You are a hybrid of heaven and earth, body and spirit, crafted in His image, made to walk with Him.

Yes, the road has been hard. Yes, the wounds run deep. But the Son of God walked that same road— from manger to cross— so that your sorrow might be exchanged for everlasting joy.

He did not come for the righteous. He came for the lost. For the poor in spirit. He came for you.

And when you believe, when you whisper “Jesus, I believe,” the heavens rejoice. Your heart is healed. Your purpose is reborn. And the light of His love shines into every shadow ... chasing away the darkness.

You are beloved. You are chosen. You are His.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

09/02/2025

🌿 Whispering Echoes — “Lift”

A quiet peace and gentle contentment rests silently within the word, “Lift.”

Not the lifting of burdens or overcoming trials for our own gain, but the quiet ministry of raising others— from despair into hope, from silence into song, from shadows into the Light.

Jesus Christ, Heaven’s Radiant Light, left the throne of glory to walk among dust, despair, and sorrow. He did not come to be served, but to serve, to rescue, to forgive, to Lift.

He stooped low so that we might rise. He bore the weight of our brokenness so that we might stand … restored … in the beauty of His forgiveness.

And now, we—His image-bearers—are called to reflect that same compassion. As ambassadors of Christ … sent into a lost world with God’s loving offer of salvation … living not for self alone, but for the joy and high purpose of lifting others.

For in every word of encouragement, in every act of kindness, in every moment spent building rather than tearing down, we touch the heart of God.

Life becomes fulfilling when we live it outward … shining His light into the darkness … when we see others not as interruptions, but as invitations— to love, to serve, to Lift.

God is not in the demolition business. He does not desire to tear down, but to build up. He is the Creator. The Builder. The Restorer of ruins. He spoke galaxies into existence from nothing. And He still speaks beauty into the voids of our lives today.

When no further options exist … when surrounded by nothing … remember … God can take nothing … and speak it into beauty.

Aspire to be carriers of His love … lifters of the weary … lights shining into despair … echoes of the One who first lifted us.
Let your life be a bridge, not a barrier. A hand extended, not withdrawn. A whisper of grace and love, in a world that often shouts with judgment.

Nothing fulfills the longing soul more deeply than lifting another toward the Light.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” —1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Small Blessings Israel exists to provide medical care, hospital supplies, bomb shelters, and food, to Israel’s poor and to give aid to the widows and orphans of fallen IDF soldiers.

To help us care for Israel’s poorest, paste this link into your browser:
www.smallblessings.org/give

Small Blessings is a 501(c)3 non-profit as a Calvary Chapel ministry. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for standing with Israel.
© 2025 Small Blessings. All Rights Reserved.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

08/19/2025

🌿 Whispering Echoes — “Carried”

Life isn’t a marathon meant to drain us, but a journey where we are carried— through joys and trials, valleys and victories. Carried with quiet confidence and the hope of arrival.

The wind is mysterious and beautiful. You can’t see it, but you feel it. It moves with purpose— soft as a sigh, bold as a storm. In Scripture, the Hebrew word for “wind” is “ruach” … the same as the Hebrew word for “spirit.”

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Helper. The Comforter. The One who guides us. In the Bible, in Acts Chapter 2, He came upon the believers with the sound of a rushing, mighty wind— great power, yet perfect peace— carrying them closer to their Creator.

He still moves today … stirring hearts, guiding steps. He carries us when we’re weary, whispers truth when we’re lost, and fills us with boldness to share the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, who gave His life so that all who believe on Him would have everlasting life.

You are not alone. Even in trials, He is with you … turning sorrow into blessing. You’re a child of God. Adopted. Loved. Carried.

Set your sails—not in fear, but in faith. Not in striving, but surrender. Let Heaven’s wind carry you— to the places you’re meant to go, the people you’re meant to see, and the joy that awaits you … beyond the storms.

At journey’s end, time gives way to eternity. As He carried you through life, He will carry you into His Kingdom—where sorrow is no more, and joy is forever. Such are the faithful promises of God … to those who give themselves to be carried by Him.

To help us care for Israel’s poorest: www.smallblessings.org/give
© 2025 Small Blessings. All Rights Reserved.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

08/11/2025

🌿 Whispering Echoes — “Heart”

The real you is not the version that shifts with the crowd— not the polished smile, not the curated words.

It’s the quiet you. The one God sees. The one you feel in the stillness when the lights go down and the applause fades.

Man looks at the outward appearance ... but God looks at the heart. And He sees the thoughts you never speak, the fears you carry in silence, the ache for peace that no material possession can soothe.

You were not a cosmic accident. You were crafted— lovingly— in the image of God. With a soul that longs for love, and a heart that longs to love.

You long to be known. Sheltered. Held. Cared for. Not by fleeting pleasures, but by God’s eternal presence … in His loving hands.

This is your heart— the you inside you— the real you— the driver of your physical body— the sojourner who plans your days— the dreamer of forever.

And in Jesus, the Son of God, your heart finds its home. His light pierces the shadows, His life replaces death, His peace becomes your forever.

Let your heart remember … You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are deeply loved. And you were made for eternity … in the Kingdom of your loving Heavenly Father.

💛 FOR OVER 21 YEARS WE HAVE WORKED AMONG THE POOR IN THE INNER CITIES OF ISRAEL AND PLANTED CHURCHES THERE.

WE PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE POOR, HOSPITAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES, BOMB SHELTERS, AND SUPPORT FOR THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF FALLEN IDF SOLDIERS.

IN ALL WE DO, WE CARRY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND TO THEIR POOREST, TEACHING THROUGH GOD'S WORD WEEKLY TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THOSE DESIRING TO HELP US CAN DONATE TO THIS MINISTRY AT THE LINK BELOW. SMALL BLESSINGS IS A 501(c)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. 👉

www.smallblessings.org/Give

Thank you for your heart for Israel.

Stephen & Patricia Apple
Small Blessings


Copyright © 2025 by Small Blessings. All Rights Reserved.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

07/30/2025

🌿 Whispering Echoes — “Be Still”

The soul was not designed to endure... but to enjoy. It longs for stillness— not floods of distractions, trials, or alarms.

Like morning fog rolling over Galilee’s hills, peace descends quietly, moving like mist through the soul, resting on the heart that dares to pause... to breathe... to receive.

The Holy Spirit’s treasures are rarely shouted— but whispered, in a still, small voice to the soul that listens.

Be still. Discover the peace that surpasses understanding. In the quiet, let your heart dwell on God's promise: His peace is yours, and cannot be stolen by the world.

You are His child. You are greatly loved. And He is near.

Your faith will flourish in quiet trust as you rest your hand in the hand of your all-powerful Heavenly Father.

In the hush, His voice gently restores. His love wraps your weariness— softly… as morning fog covering the waters.

The darkness of trials is pierced by brilliant light. Hope and peace become daily companions. Grace and mercy remove all doubts and fears.

His unfailing care and faithfulness anchor every promise.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

💛 THOSE DESIRING TO HELP US CARE FOR ISRAEL’S POOREST CAN DO SO HERE 👉 www.smallblessings.org/Give



Copyright © 2025 by Small Blessings. All Rights Reserved.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

07/16/2025

July 2025 Small Blessings Israel Ministry During War Update

Bomb Shelters, Medicines, Bulletproof Vests, & Flood Rescues

A Light in the Midst of Dark Times

In the span of just a few short weeks, the world witnessed what many now regard as one of the most miraculous and morally restrained military responses in modern history — Israel’s defense against a direct missile and drone onslaught from Iran and its network of regional militant armies aimed at Israel's civilian centers and cities.

And through it all, Small Blessings Israel was quietly at work, ministering to the wounded, comforting the displaced, and standing with the hurting and afraid in bomb shelters, hospital rooms, and rescue efforts.

Israel's Hour of Trial — and Triumph

On June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a measured but decisive airstrike aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions of wiping Israel off the face of the earth and deterring further threats to the Jewish people. In return, Iran fired over 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones toward Israeli cities. Miraculously, nearly all were intercepted. Those that broke through tragically claimed the lives of 28 Israeli civilians, a number that could have been exponentially higher were it not for God's covering hand.

What stunned the global community wasn’t just Israel’s technological mastery, but its moral restraint. Despite possessing the capacity to inflict widespread devastation, Israel did not retaliate by targeting Iranian civilian centers. Instead, it struck only military infrastructure, preserving the dignity of life wherever possible. — a principle that reflects both biblical compassion and strategic integrity ... even in times of war.

Now today, Israel stands recognized not only as a regional power but as one of the top military nations in the world, commanding respect for its precision, planning, and prayerful restraint.

How Small Blessings Served During the Crisis

In the heart of the storm, your support made it possible for Small Blessings to:

>>>Deliver medicines to overwhelmed hospitals treating wounded civilians.

>>>Supply protective gear to IDF soldiers, and supporting their families, including support to fallen soldiers' widows and orphans affected by the conflict.

>>>Provide critical resources to bomb shelters, where Israelis huddled together to simply survive, and believers gathered to watch our online Bible studies and pray and worship together in safety when they could not meet in their churches.

>>>Sustain our communities of believers throughout Israel, ensuring that even in the midst of rocket fire, the Word of God did not return void.

These efforts were originated and guided by the Holy Spirit, and our activities were placed on our hearts at each critical moment by the Lord— and then the needs confirmed by the very events unfolding in the news afterwards. God is Faithful!

Faith Beyond Borders: Texas Flood Relief

It should be no surprise that those who are led by the Lord to help those far away, also feel the urgency to help those who are near. So, in the last month, our mission did not stop at Israel’s borders. But when the devastating flash floods hit Kerr, Travis and Williamson counties in Texas, claiming the lives of at least 133 people, including 36 children with at least 100 people still missing, Small Blessings also did what we could to help.

We partnered with rescue teams and suppliers to give food, blankets, water, and medical support to displaced families and the injured, fulfilling the Lord’s call to comfort those who mourn and minister to the hurting in His name.

Because You Love, We Serve

These are the moments that define Small Blessings Israel and the moments that define the amazing donors who have selflessly contributed or prayed for this labor of love. Whether it's delivering bulletproof vests to IDF soldiers, placing supplies in bomb shelters, or sending care to grieving families in the Texas flood tragedy, your love and compassion made it possible.

Jesus said, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was a stranger, and you took Me in. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me. ... Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to Me" — Matthew 25:35-36, 40

From the warzones to the floodwaters, thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus and helping us in carrying His love to those who are hurting and in severe need. Thank you for your prayers and may God richly bless you!

in His unfailing care,

Stephen & Patricia Apple

Small Blessings Israel

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

07/14/2025

Some things arrive like an unexpected breeze— a gentle brush of morning air on your face, reminding you: God’s care awaits the day ahead.

Like dew on thirsty ground, peace settles quietly in the heart that walks by faith in the Creator.

Faith isn’t a last resort for emergencies. It’s a way to live— every day, every moment— with wisdom as simple as trusting the Heavenly Father who watches, guides, and loves.

He proved His love on the Cross. He knows exactly where to place you today so you’ll be steady, safe, and blessed tomorrow.

When we surrender our lives into His hands, He replaces our burdens with quiet peace and steady strength.

Over two decades in this ministry to Israel, we’ve seen Him move: shelter for the homeless, medicine for the sick, mercy for those the world forgets.

So many moments, so timely and tender— they defy coincidence.

We’ve never asked for donations. Never leaned on marketing. Just faith, and the quiet listening to His still, small voice.

And God has never failed.

That’s the life that opens when simple faith becomes your daily walk. The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)

07/11/2025

Welcome to this week's "Inspiration Journey" through God's Word. As we journey verse by verse through His Word, we discover His love and care, and the promises that sustain and inspire us. This journey reveals His unwavering love, tender care, and life-giving promises that renew and grow our faith in beautiful and powerful ways.

Click on the link below to watch this week's message ...
https://vimeo.com/1100521536

07/07/2025

As I was praying for the families in Texas who had lost precious children and loved ones in the sudden flash flood, a faint memory of a Bible verse gently, and unexpectedly, brushed across my heart ...

“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” — Isaiah 57:1

It’s one of those verses that can quietly reframe loss, offering a deeper spiritual perspective. We are given everlasting life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Son of God.

Bringing God's Love to Israel's Poor (Scroll Down for an Overview)