Worthy Brief - 2/28/2025
Friend, take a break -- enjoy your Shabbat rest!
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Leonardo da Vinci, who excelled at many things -- as a painter, sculptor, poet, architect, engineer, city planner, scientist, inventor, anatomist, military genius, and philosopher said a wise thing:
"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment...Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen."
Have you found this to be the truth? We have! Any time we step back from a situation or project and take some time away, we undoubtedly gain new perspective and insight about it. Now, I know not all of us can take a week-long vacation at a luxurious resort to take time away from our difficulties, but we can, and must take a retreat with the Lord (which by the way, can be much more restful)! The Word says He makes me to lie down and green pastures -- It doesn't say He'd like us to, if we could try to take some time from our busy schedules -- it says He makes us!
Friend, it's time to take a rest from all the things that make us weary today -- ministry work included. Let's take some time out with the Lord and get quiet before Him. He has so many things He wants to reveal, if we would only give Him a chance to show us! He's has so many ways He wants to refresh us and refill our empty places, if we would only be obedient to His call!
Shabbat Shalom ... we'll see you on Monday!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
(George & Obi - Dallas, Texas | Baht Rivka - Israel | Elianna - Married living in Missouri)
Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce.
Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!
UK Prime Minister Discusses Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal in White House Visit
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House Thursday to further discuss the U.S. and Europe’s role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Indonesia’s Aceh Province Canes Gay Men
Two young men in Indonesia's strict Islamic-ruled Aceh province were publicly caned Thursday after an Islamic Shariah court convicted them of having sex with each other, witnesses said.
Poland Supreme Court: ‘IKEA Wrong To Fire Christian Over LGBTQ+ Remarks’
Poland’s Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal by the Swedish furniture giant IKEA against a Christian employee who was fired for criticizing the LGBTQ+ movement quoting the Bible.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
October 7 Report Finds Major Intelligence Lapses Resulted in Tragic Massacre (Worthy News In-Depth)
Israeli Military Intelligence and the Southern Command ignored more than five warnings, such as new SIM activations in Gaza and unusual Hamas activities. Dismissing these as routine, they overlooked signs of the impending October 7 attack. On this day in 2023, Hamas and other terrorists groups launched an unprecedented invasion from Gaza into southern Israel, coinciding with Simchat Torah and marking the start of the ongoing Gaza war.
Netanyahu Orders Cairo Mission to Further Hostage Negotiations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed a negotiation team to "travel to Cairo for talks Thursday evening." Israeli officials are hopeful to secure the release of additional hostages by as early as Saturday, although "discussions have not yet commenced" and the timeline is still uncertain.
Inside the United States
Trump Admin Doubles Down On Cuts to USAID With Plan for 90% Reduction
The Trump administration wants to purge more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, in addition to approximately $60 billion in global U.S. assistance, according to a new memo.
Mexico Extradites 29 Cartel Members to US for Prosecution
Mexico agreed to extradite 29 cartel members on Thursday, including former Sinaloa cartel founder Rafael Caro Quintero and former Zetas leader Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, to the United States, amid efforts to avert US tariff threats linked to illegal migration and drug trafficking.
SCOTUS Pauses Judge’s Order Requiring $2 Billion in Foreign Aid to Be Paid Out
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts late Wednesday paused a lower court's ruling requiring the Trump administration to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments.
Christian News
Uganda: Muslims Stab Evangelist in Attack
Muslims in eastern Uganda attacked and stabbed an evangelist who, along with his team, had converted a Muslim widow to Christianity during an open-air preaching session on February 15, according to Morning Star News.
Worthy Watch
‘USAID sending $40 million per week to Taliban’
“Per week, $40 million in taxpayer money is ending up in the hands of the Taliban,” according to testimony before a Congressional committee on Thursday.
Worthy Insights
Op-Ed: This is a window of opportunity for an attack on Iran
Israel is approaching a critical decision regarding a potential strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. This comes against the backdrop of alarming advancements in various components of Iran's nuclear project and an understanding that this moment presents a strategic opportunity, given Iran's relative weakness and Israel's close coordination with the new US administration.
CIA employees mocked Pat Robertson’s death, trashed Christians in leaked chats: report
Employees at the Central Intelligence Agency mocked the death of the late televangelist Pat Robertson, according to internal chat logs leaked to journalist Christopher Rufo.
Planetary Parade 2025: Rare Photo Captures Earth And 7 Planets For The First Time Ever
In a groundbreaking feat, photographer Josh Dury, 27, also known as the "Starman", is believed to have captured the first-ever image of all seven planets, plus Earth, in a single frame.
Gallup: US Trust in Media Hits 50-Year Low
A new poll shows that the level of trust Americans have in mainstream media outlets to fairly and accurately report the news has dropped to the lowest level in more than 50 years since Gallup began tracking media trust in the United States.
RFK Jr Pauses Multi-Million Dollar Contract To Develop New COVID-19 Vaccine
Clinical trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine were halted after a multi-million contract authorized by the Biden administration to develop the inoculation was paused by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump’s ICE Racks Up Over 20,000 Arrests In Single Month
The Trump administration is arresting illegal migrants at a break-neck pace, far outpacing the rate at which the Biden White House nabbed those living unlawfully in the country.
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Israel’s Right to Defend Itself, Poll Finds
An overwhelming majority of Americans support Israel’s right to defend itself, according to a poll released Thursday.