Worthy Brief - 4/27/2017
Friend, go through a personal revival!
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
As we celebrate Shavuot (Pentecost) in a few weeks, my spirit is anxiously awaiting what God will do! Each Shavuot season during the counting of the omer, I love to study past revivals and in studying them, there's two recurring themes that stand out:
First, that He has often used obscure and unknown individuals to lead revivals, and that even these men whom He used so powerfully never considered themselves to be "special", but often wanted to stay out of the limelight.
And secondly, I haven't read a story about a revivalist who did not first go through a personal revival himself! Revivals were not sparked until these men went through a season of personal desperation and yearning for the fire of God – and only after this season were they used of the Lord to change their generation.
How does this speak to us, obscure, unknown individuals? It shows us that a true and deep hunger for God can grow into a significant and powerful calling on our lives -- a specific mission which God Himself will empower! It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, old or young, educated or uneducated -- each of us has a potential destiny to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God! But in order to go on and do those awesome works in His name, we need to be in a state of revival!
Friend, as we get closer to the day of Shavuot -- let us seek hard after our own personal revival! We're alive for such a time as this -- to be spirit-filled vessels of revival to this lost and dying world! Press in, press on, and go forth in His Power...because there is so much work to be done!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Florida
Editor's Note: We are on a cross-country speaking/music tour this spring in the United States! If you see that we will be close to your area and you want to hear a timely word from Worthy News Founder and Director, George Whitten and powerful Israeli Worship Music from Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music, as well as testimony of life and ministry in the Land, we invite you to join us -- or even invite us to speak/sing at your Congregation, Conference, Church, Midweek Meeting or Israel focused Event, especially if you see a free date on our way! We hope to hug you! Send us an email to george [ @ ] worthyemail.com for more information. Check out our calendar and see if we're speaking near you!
Around the World
Trump tells Canada, Mexico, he won't terminate NAFTA treaty yet: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump told the leaders of Canada and Mexico on Wednesday that he will not terminate the NAFTA treaty at this stage, but will move quickly to begin renegotiating it with them, a White House said.
France offers evidence Syria was behind nerve gas attack
The French government has proof indicating the Syrian air force dropped bombs containing the nerve gas Sarin on a civilian population, it said Wednesday.
Islamic State in talks for terrifying merger with al Qaeda as battlefield defeats mount
The Islamic State group and al Qaeda, long rivals for supremacy in the jihadi struggle, are feeling more pressure to combine as the Islamic State loses its territorial base in Syria and Iraq and the still-potent terrorist network founded by Osama bin Laden prepares to welcome legions of foreign fighters fleeing the advancing U.S.-backed coalition, analysts and officials in the region say.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
‘Huge’ blasts near Damascus airport blamed on Israeli strike
Explosions were heard near Damascus’s airport on Thursday morning, in what some local Arabic-language media reports blamed on an Israeli airstrike.
Israeli cyber authority says it stopped 'major' hacking attack
Israel's National Cyber Authority has thwarted a 'major' attack on businesses and public institutions, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement Wednesday, just days after the body faced harsh criticism from some of the country's top security officials.
Trump Considering Israel Visit, White House Official Confirms
US President Donald Trump is considering a visit to Israel in the near future, a senior White House official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
Mnuchin vows 'biggest tax cut' in US history, confirms plan to slash business rate
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin confirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration aims to lower business tax rates to 15 percent, saying a forthcoming proposal will constitute the “biggest tax cut” for Americans in history.
Video: Planned Parenthood exec who 'wanted a Lamborghini' caught haggling over baby body parts
The Center for Medical Progress released a never-before-seen video Wednesday showing a top Planned Parenthood executive haggling over the price of baby body parts from abortions.
Freedom Caucus gets to yes on healthcare
Republicans took a serious step forward in their effort to replace Р’ВObamaCare on Wednesday when the conservative House Freedom Caucus endorsed revised legislation.
GOP leaders, Trump team to talk taxes on Tuesday
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will host a private meeting Tuesday with top House lawmakers and Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, to discuss tax reform and other legislative priorities.
Christian News
ACLJ Urges New UN Secretary-General to Declare ISIS' Atrocities on Christians a Genocide
The American Center for Law and Justice is urging the new secretary-general of the United Nations to take action on the genocide of Christians in the Middle East.
UMC Announces 'Special Session' to Determine Church's Homosexuality Stance
The United Methodist Church announced that its top legislative body will hold a special session in order to determine what stance the mainline denomination will hold on homosexuality