Worthy Brief - 5/31/2019
Friend, get back up!
Psalms 37:23-24 The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
My wife used to teach Israeli dance workshops all over the world. And over the years, she has acquired a few interesting and rather funny stories of people, including herself, tripping and stumbling over each other during a class.
Stumbling is not one of my most favorite things in the world. It's embarrassing and often hurts. The fact is, however, that stumbling is something we all must experience. The question is -- what do we do when it happens?
Imagine this. You're walking home and you trip and fall over a random object on the sidewalk. You scraped your knee and it hurt a little. And the kids walking home from school behind you saw you trip and giggled amongst themselves -- that was kind of embarrassing. But will you go all the way back from where you came and start again from the beginning? Or will you just sit and sulk on the curb, refusing to take another step at the thought of it happening again? No! Of course not! That would just be silly, wouldn't it?
So is it on our walk through life with the Lord. Satan would love nothing more than for us to go sulk in a corner somewhere and dwell on our humiliation and fear that it might happen again. But the Lord wants us to rise up, dust the dirt off our clothes, maybe give a little chuckle ourselves and move forward for His Kingdom!
Yes, we may stumble on this long and sometimes treacherous journey but we will not be cast down! The Lord has upheld us and He will always! So get back up, continue to press through ... and remind yourself once again the victory was already won for you 2000 years ago!
Friend, enjoy a break from a long week ... have a great weekend ... Shabbat Shalom!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Editor's Note: Check out our new Facebook page for answering readers questions about news, politics, religion, Israel, and ministry.
Russia Rejected Iran S-400 Missile Request Amid Gulf Tension
Russia has rejected an Iranian request to buy S-400 missile defense systems, concerned that the sale would stoke more tension in the Middle East, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, including a senior Russian official.
Iran and Russia Say Meeting of 2015 Nuclear Accord Partners ‘Might Facilitate’ New Talks
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi discussed the 2015 Nuclear Accord in Tehran on May 29, calling for a meeting of the six countries party to the agreement that would hear Iranian complaints.
Saudi king urges world to rein in Iran
Saudi King Salman Thursday night called for an international stance against Iranian acts, which he said pose a threat to global security and flow of oil supplies.
Trump announces escalating tariffs against Mexico, starting at 5 percent, until illegal immigrants 'STOP'
President Trump on Thursday abruptly announced a new 5 percent tariff on Mexico beginning in early June, saying the levy will 'gradually increase' until the ongoing illegal immigration surge at the southern border is "remedied" and illegal migrants 'STOP.'
North Korea executes envoy in a purge after failed U.S. summit
North Korea executed its nuclear envoy to the United States as part of a purge of officials who steered negotiations for a failed summit between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, a South Korean newspaper said on Friday.
Tourists are spreading superbugs across international borders, report warns
Holiday-makers are at risk of picking up and bringing home superbugs, according to a study looking at the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu Meets With Kushner, Greenblatt After Suffering Major Loss in Israel's Parliament
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Trump, and US Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt on Thursday.
Inside the United States
House Democrats Vote to Lift Ban on Embryonic Gene-Editing Research
Scientists and ethicists worldwide are calling for a global moratorium on editing the DNA in human embryos, but a Democratic-led committee in the U.S. House of Representatives wants to leave the door wide open to the controversial research. On May 23, the House Appropriations subcommittee that focuses on funding related to the Food and Drug Administration drafted a bill that would drop the ban prohibiting the FDA from considering such research.
Atheist group sues Texas judge for 'unconstitutional' opening prayer
An anti-religious group is suing a Texas judge for opening prayer -- for the second time.
Louisiana's governor, a Democrat, signs 'heartbeat' abortion bill into law
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, broke from his party's ideology Thursday and signed a bill that would prohibit women from having an abortion once a baby's heartbeat is detected, in almost all cases.
ACLU seeks to block more sections of Trump’s border wall
The American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal court to block additional sections of President Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.