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Worthy Brief - 3/20/2020

Friend, don't be shaken!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

This week, Salt Lake City experienced a strong magnitude-5.7 earthquake which caused the closing of its airport.  It was the strongest to hit the city since 1992.

This reminded me of when we first moved to Israel, in 2003.

I was in my Hebrew class downtown, and my wife and one-month-old baby were alone in our Jerusalem apartment. My wife called me immediately and this is what she told me, I'll never forget it.

She was sitting in our bedroom with our 1-month old in her arms, when out of nowhere came a sudden loud roaring sound, followed by a shaking of all four walls, and all the contents within banging back and forth against them rapidly and with great force. So many things were going through her mind that moment as she tried to remember what you're supposed to do in a scenario like this. Are you supposed to get under the bed? Or maybe get outside? Yeah, outside! But it would be three flights of steps to get outside and with a newborn baby in her arms -- how?! She just froze in fright, thinking about what could happen next. But in the midst of it all, Riv looked down at Elianna in her arms. Would you believe, she was perfectly content -- happy, smiling, even drifting off to sleep as the whole earth shook all around her. Wow.

Each of us can take a lesson from Elianna. Even in the midst of all the chaos, distress or crises beyond our control, we must rest, trusting that we're safe in the loving arms of the Father. We shouldn't have a care in the world.

Friend, is your world being shaken right now? Know that God is holding you today. No matter what you're facing, you can trust Him to cover you. Just lay back and enjoy the ride!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Baltimore, Maryland

Editor's Note: Watch George's latest video update: Cycles, Patterns, and the Corona Virus! Also, be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel.

Editor's Note: If you have a prayer request, or if you'd be interested in becoming an intercessor, be sure to visit the Worthy Prayer Team!

Around the World
'Under control': Putin seeks referendum vote despite coronavirus outbreak
Even the new coronavirus can't stop President Vladimir Putin when his power is on the line. As rumors abound that Russia’s capital is about to be locked down to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19, Mr. Putin said this week that an April 22 nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that could keep him in power until 2036 will proceed as planned.
Italy coronavirus death toll passes China's for first time
The number of people to have died from coronavirus in Italy has now surpassed that of China, where the disease originated, according to figures released Thursday.
China targeting U.S. Navy warships with electromagnetic weapons
China has called for using electromagnetic attacks on U.S. warships transiting the South China Sea, according to a state-run Chinese outlet.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel enters lockdown mode as PM announces unprecedented measures
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday tightened the national stay-at-home policy aimed at containing the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, announcing the guidelines he had introduced earlier this week would now be enforced by police under emergency orders.
IDF goes into higher state of readiness as it aids in fight against coronavirus
Dubbing its efforts against the coronavirus 'Ray of Light,' the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said it was moving to a higher state of readiness, one normally reserved for preparation for an enemy attack, which the military stresses was not in light of external threats but rather because of the pandemic.

Inside the United States
Food service industry hit especially hard by coronavirus-induced unemployment spike
The number of people claiming unemployment has spiked significantly, with a new Department of Labor report claiming that a 33 percent week-to-week increase is the highest since the Great Recession.
Half a trillion dollars devoted to checks for individual Americans in proposed Trump stimulus package
President Trump Thursday continued to negotiate a one trillion dollar stimulus package for the economy that would see half a trillion dollars sent out to individual Americans within nine weeks.
Senate GOP unveils $1,200 direct cash payments in massive stimulus proposal
Senate Republicans on Thursday announced a $1 trillion stimulus plan to combat the economic damage caused by the effort to control the coronavirus.
U.S. jobless claims could top record 1.5 million next week - economists
A wave of layoffs at restaurants, bars and hotels, as efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic bring much of everyday American life to a halt, could drive new applications for U.S. unemployment benefits to a record 1.5 million or more next week, economists warned on Thursday.
Coronavirus will kill over half of small businesses in three months
More than half of U.S. small businesses will close within three months if the coronavirus crisis is not solved.

Christian News
Op-Ed: Christianity is growing faster than any time in history. Why is the Church in Europe, America declining?
When we look at the state of Christianity in the world today, we see a decidedly mixed picture. In many parts of the world, there is incredibly good news: God is authoring a season of multiplication instead of addition in many parts of the world.