Garden in the Desert Project in Israel

Dear Friends, My heart is overflowing with all that is happening with my Precious Oils ministry both here and in Israel. I do hope that you find a few moments to read this letter, I will try to keep it short, but as always there is always interesting stories within the stories of my life.

In March, I went to Israel to work on a book called The Healing Rose; The Rest of the Story of Esther’s Purification. It was my husband, David, who suggested that I go during Purim and devote set-apart time to complete the work. I spent four days studying at the Hebrew University library. It was here where I uncovered some amazing writings from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s centered on Biblical flora, healing plants, ancient spice route information and many other things pertaining to my love and passion, and my Precious Oils ministry of the plants of the Bible.

It was my goal to write after I had studied at the university. I planned to go to a quiet prayer house in the desert; but my plans changed. The care-taker of the prayer house had a work-related emergency and wouldn’t be able to meet me on the day I was scheduled to arrive. This left me in a bit of a dilemma of where I would be going. I made a call to a place I had wanted to visit for years since I began staying at places in the desert known as The Scented Cities, and other ancient incense route locations. I arrived with the thought of staying there two nights, but I ended up staying three. Little did I know that there was a spice conference being held within a few kilometers, in which anyone staying at this ancient, historical site was invited to also attend?

How does this happen? I was detoured from one place only to find myself sitting among Israeli’s and other nations who came together for one purpose; to learn more about the ancient spice routes. This was the third year for this conference; the first two years it had been held in Eliat but this year after the recent finding of a piece of pottery that had an inscription stating that the Queen of Sheba was from Yemen the location got changed to be on the ancient incense route. Did I mention that the conference was all in Hebrew? That didn’t matter, I loved it!

I had opportunity to meet the two conference organizers, both very well-educated, English speaking and historians of the incense route. During the afternoon break I also met a really nice lady who wanted to meet me when she found out that I wrote about the plants of the Bible. We chatted and she said I needed to come to her home. I told her that I was going back to Jerusalem, and she said that is where she lived. The short version of this story is one evening I went to her home to “chat” about our love of spices. She began our conversation with “So, how did you come to the conference?” I explained that “I just so happened” to be staying at a guest caravan where the group was invited to the conference. And, I extended my stay so I could be part of the conference for one day. Then, I asked her what brought her to the conference. She replied, “My husband” who at that moment walked into the kitchen. I nearly fell out as I extended my hand to once again meet one of the conference organizers. New spice and incense loving friends. I have an invitation to visit them again, and they want me to bring them copies of my books.

Another really neat thing happened actually while I was staying on the incense trail. The director of the project came into the dining hall where I was writing. He asked if I had a moment, he wanted to show me around. As we walked around the grounds he lead me to two plants, given to the site by an archeologist whose job is to plant the desert. I had seen this plant before; it is the ancient Balm of Gilead which is being cultivated throughout Israel in select locations to see what part of the desert the plants can flourish. (I’ve actually touched and smelled this plant at two other places in the desert on previous journeys.) As he handed me a berry to smell he began to tell me about part of the vision, and the mandate from the government of Israel, of where we were standing. He perked my interest, we chatted and then he went back to the construction project he was working on. I thought “Hmm that was nice that the director took time to show me around this amazing place.” I know people in his position are very busy, they see new people all the time, and they often never see you twice, so I thought.

A few weeks after I returned home I received a personal e-mail from the director; it was a friendly handshake thanking me for coming and do I think that I will be returning? I really did love the place and told him so, as well as my heart’s desire to return. To shorten the story is that I’m planning on returning in October, this time to cook for some groups who will be staying and working on this ancient incense route site. Things even go deeper beyond cooking and doing laundry for groups from around the world this fall. As the director and I have conversed he is feeling that Precious Oils is to be part of a “garden project” vision at this very special archeological site. It’s not only on the incense trail it was one of the stopping points of the Children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering. It also is a place that is prophesied as part of the future borders of Israel. (Ezekiel 47 & 48).

I can’t even begin to explain to you what happened to me as I read his e-mails. He said “I had a hunch about you” and that is why he personally reached out to me. He’s said that many people “want” to be part of greening the desert, but he feels that I am the one for this particular project because of my passion for Israel, the Lord, and the flora of the Bible.

So, bottom line is this, prayer and financial support is needed as I am committed to cook and serve in Israel at this site for four or five weeks in October and November. David needs to also come to Israel while I am there, he has only been once, in 2000. It will be important for us to walk the land together to see how David and I, and Precious Oils, fits into the future green space desert plantings that will benefit generations to come.

If you want further, and more precise information about the Garden of the Ages please feel free to contact me. Please note that I’ve set up a new e-mail address, BlossomingIsrael@aol.com, for the desert garden project, and yes, my PreciousOils@aol.com is still to use if that is in your address book.

Tax deductible giving is possible (and greatly appreciated). Checks need to be payable to Liberty Ministries, Inc., please memo Israel/Hillson Mission.

Send checks to:   Cynthia Hillson 107 Bradberry Street Mooresville, NC 28115   Thank you for your love and support.

In His Service,

Cynthia

Just a few other notes. Katie, our missionary daughter is doing well. She works for a church in Hong Kong as the Children’s Church Director where each week she oversees the lessons and volunteers for over 100 children, infant to 12. Thank you for your prayers and support for her as well as the timing for me to take her more of her personal items to her; she doesn’t plan to return home for a year, or two. She was home for the holidays; it was the first time in four years that all six children, spouses, grandchildren, David and I were all together. It was a fun, and chaotic, few hours. Our fifth grandchild is due in a few weeks!! Abigail graduates college and will soon be off on her own. The timing couldn’t be better to be empty-nesters with the opportunity(ies) that await us in Israel.

Leaves and Trees

I often find myself wondering “Why did I say that?” only to find out a few days later that what I had said was somewhat prophetic in nature, thus was the case two weeks ago.

On April 30th I taped two Precious Oils interviews at the Aviv Moon Studios in Charlotte, NC for Shabbat Night Live.

One of the questions of the second taping of the short interview went something like this:

Scott “What essential oils should we have as we prepare for the last days?”

Cynthia: “Leaves and Trees, we are going to need to breath”.

Oh vey, of anything I could have said, why the leaves and trees? Little did anyone realize how prophetic my answer was when the news began to appear two days later as the first (and now second) case of MERS has appeared here in the US.

You might be asking “What the heck is MERS?”

Well, MERS is not an emergency, but it has been in the news since May 2nd, and yesterday this article appeared. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2014/05/14/mers-airports-cdc/9077329/  MERS is an acronym for a virus named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Well, that prophetic portion of my life must have been tuned into the leaves and the trees in another way just a few weeks earlier in April. I was a vendor at a Women’s Conference and I introduced a new jewelry line that will correspond with a seminar that I will be filming later this year. The jewelry is my “Tree of Life” line, and the seminar is “The Healing Leaves”.

 

With the purchase of each pendant you will receive a “tree” healing essential oil and a copy of my teaching “A Leaf and A Handful of Leaves”.  For more information on the jewelry and my teaching booklet please go to www.shop.TheFragrantBride.com.

To keep updated of the date and other pertinent details of “The Healing Leaves” seminar go to my web site. http://www.thefragrantbride.com/The_Healing_Leaves.html

Check out on Shabbat Night Live at 9 pm Friday, May 16, 2014. The show will re-air throughout the week. Shabbat Night Live link.

The Garden is Over Grown with Weeds

I, Apothecary Cynthia Hillson, would like to address something that I’m witnessing more than ever before concerning the plants of the Bible, and the misinterpretation that the plants were “essential oils”. The plants of the Bible were not essential oils, period! This lie has penetrated the hearts and minds of people who say that they are God-fearing followers of Yeshua, and The Holy Bible. This has me deeply concerned. I pray that as you read this note that you become as alarmed as I am.

 

I’ve read the blogs and the literature from the MLM companies, watched You Tube videos, and I even have friends who have been swept away thinking that their essential oils were the oils of the Bible. Last week I posted on my Face Book page the famous Norman Rockwell painting of gossip. It was in that post that I commented about the shekel and how it was a Biblical weight and how some of the mlm essential oil business people have made it a liquid measure. It is heresy that people who are teaching “Oils of the Bible” classes have once level-headed people making a religion out of this topic. It is of my opinion, and sad-to-say, that the motive behind many who are teaching that the plants of the Bible are essential oils are totally mislead, or there is a driving force of mammon involved. I am boldly saying this and encourage anyone who wants to debate me over the topic of what the oils of the Bible “really” were to contact me and we can further discuss.

Do you know what heresy is?   heresy (n) her·e·sy [ hérrəssee ]

1. unorthodox religious opinion: an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious teaching, especially one that is officially condemned by a religious authority

2. holding of unorthodox religious belief: the holding of, or adherence to, an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious teaching, especially one that is officially condemned by religious authorities

3. unorthodox opinion: an opinion or belief that does not coincide with established or traditional theory, especially in philosophy, science, or politics

 

Let me share the following from Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible and his comments found in   Exodus 30:22-38.

 

“Directions are here given for the composition of the holy anointing oil and the incense that were to be used in the service of the tabernacle; with these God was to be honored, and therefore he would appoint the making of them; for nothing comes to God but what comes from him.

1. The holy anointing oil is here ordered to be made up the ingredients, and their quantities, are prescribed, Exodus 30:23-25. Interpreters are not agreed concerning them; we are sure, in general, they were the best and fittest for the purpose; they must needs be so when the divine wisdom appointed them for the divine honor. It was to be compounded secundum artem – after the art of the apothecary (Exodus 30:25); the spices, which were in all nearly half a hundred weight, were to be infused in the oil, which was to be about five or six quarts, and then strained out, leaving an admirable sweet smell in the oil. With this oil God’s tent and all the furniture of it were to be anointed; it was to be used also in the consecration of the priests, Exodus 30:26-30. It was to be continued throughout their generations, Exodus 30:31. The tradition of the Jews is that this very oil which was prepared by Moses himself lasted till near the captivity. But bishop Patrick shows the great improbability of the tradition, and supposes that it was repeated according to the prescription here, for Solomon was anointed with it (1 King’s 1:39), and some other of the kings; and all the high priests with such a quantity of it that it ran down to the skirts of the garments; and we read of the making up of this ointment (1 Chronicles 9:30): yet all agree that in the second temple there was none of this holy oil, which he supposes was owing to a notion they had that it was not lawful to make it up, Providence overruling that want as a presage of the better unction of the Holy Ghost in gospel times, the variety of whose gifts was typified by these several sweet ingredients. To show the Excellency of Holiness, there was that in the tabernacle which was in the highest degree grateful both to the sight and to the smell. Christ’s name is said to be as ointment poured forth (Song of Songs 1:3), and the good name of Christians better than precious ointment, Ecclesiastes 7:1.

2.The incense which was burned upon the golden altar was prepared of sweet spices likewise, though not so rare and rich as those of which the anointing oil was compounded, Exodus 30:34, Exodus 30:35. This was prepared once a year (the Jews say), a pound for each day of the year, and three pounds over for the Day of Atonement. When it was used, it was to be beaten very small: thus it pleased the Lord to bruise the Redeemer when he offered himself for a sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savor.

3. Concerning both these preparations the same law is here given 1. (Exodus 30:32, Exodus 30:33, Exodus 30:37, and Exodus 30:38), that the like should not be made for any common use. Thus God would preserve in the people’s minds a reverence for his own institutions, and teach us not to profane nor abuse anything whereby God makes himself known, as those did who invented to themselves (for their common entertainments) instruments of music like David, Amos 6:5. It is a great affront to God to jest with sacred things, particularly to make sport with the word and ordinances of God, or to treat them with lightness, Matthew 22:5. That which is God’s peculiar must not be used as a common thing.”

 

This brings me to another important aspect of why I’m addressing the seriousness this subject. The pursuit of selling essential oils as being Biblical isn’t only not correct, but it is often done in a flippant way. (Matthew Henry called it jesting. Take a moment to read Ephesians 5 to know what Paul tells us about jesting.) It is my prayer that my friends who are involved in these companies understand that I am writing this in love. I feel repeating the mlm jargon that the plants of the Bible were essential oils only is extremely misleading.

 

In the Bible The Holiness that is associated with The Holy Oil and The Holy Incense can be read in the Hebrew. When one reads Scripture only in English the essence of what is said is often missed. Please also note that anytime that the Lord repeats a word it is like your parents telling you “What I about to say is important, so listen up.” Then it is our choice to heed their words. In Hebrew, the Holy Anointing Oil and The Holy Incense weren’t only just holy, they are MOST HOLY! You can look this up for yourselves in Exodus 30:29 & 36. Those who are repeating the heresy that the plants named in the Holy Oil & Incense were essential oils aren’t taking into consideration what “holiness” truly is.

My ministry name, Precious Oils was established in 1991 not because of essential oils but for anointing oils and my 3 day experience with the Lord. In my publications I share my love of our modern day convenience found in essential oils that I call a “Garden in a Bottle”. Psalm 133 is the Scripture that is printed on my ministry checks, and it is a song we all sing, hold hands and dance to, then we go back to our belligerence.

 

A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalms 133:1-3

 

It seems that today the lack of unity among God’s people is rampant, and has become fiercely competitive; that includes the warring between companies, and individuals, about essential oils. The lies, and deception that the oils of the Bible were essential oils is preposterous, and even has become implausible. Instead of His plant kingdom, found in a pristine garden that He planted in the very beginning, it has become a bit frightening and the reason for this blog today. I’m afraid that the garden that the Lord desires to have in the future has become vastly overgrown with weeds among Believers. And, I believe that the Lord is about to weed His garden.

 

We enjoy the glimpse of a beautiful garden where the Shulamite gives up what was “her garden” and invites Him to come into “His garden”. (Song of Songs 4.) By the way, are you aware that the Shulamite’s name means peaceful . . . and her name is rooted in Shalom?

 

May there soon be shalom to all who want to enjoy God’s fragrant kingdom with His precious plants that are named in the Bible as well our modern usage of them including, but not limited to, essential oils.

 

Sincerely,

 

Apothecary Cynthia Hillson

 

http://www.TheFragrantBride.com

 

PreciousOils@aol.com