Worthy Brief - 6/18/2020
Friend, God only knows!
Est 4:14b who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
This is a story relayed by Corrie Ten Boom, "It was Christmas, 1944. My sister, Betsie, had died. I was in a hospital barracks in Ravensbruck, a Nazi prison camp. Dark it was in my heart, and darkness was around me. There were Christmas trees in the street between the barracks. Dead bodies of prisoners had been thrown under the Christmas trees. I tried to talk to the people around me about Christmas, but they mocked and sneered. At last, I kept quiet.
In the middle of the night, I suddenly heard a child crying and calling, "Mommy! Come to Oelie. Oelie feels so alone." I went to her and saw a child not so young, but feebleminded. "Oelie, Mommy cannot come, but do you know who is willing to come to you? Jesus will come." Oelie was lying on a bed next to the window, not far from lack of food, she had a sweet face and beautiful eyes. A bandage of toilet paper covered an incision from surgery on her back. That night I told this poor child about Jesus. How He came into the world as a little baby how He came to save us from our sins. "The Lord Jesus loves Oelie and has borne her punishment on the cross.... Jesus is ... [in heaven] right now. He is getting a little house ready for Oelie." Later I asked her what she remembered of what I had told her. "What is the little house like?" I asked. "It is very beautiful. There are no wicked people as in Ravensbruck only good people and angels. And Oelie will see Jesus there." The child added, "I will ask Jesus to make me brave when I have a pain. I will think of the pain that Jesus suffered to show Oelie the way to heaven." Oelie folded her hands; together we gave thanks. Then I knew why I had to spend this Christmas in Ravensbruck."
Friend, often we find ourselves in difficult situations or places and we can't for the life of us understand for what possible reason we're here -- but be encouraged! We may not understand but God does! And who knows whether you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this?
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Edgewater, FL
Editor's Note: Shalom Friends, thank you all for your messages of love and concern over the sudden death of my brother. We are grieving but we are healthy and well. I (George) have been going back and forth to Maryland, taking care of my brother in law’s situation, cleaning, fixing, taking care of debts and paperwork, trying to get my parents in a good, safe place. The airlines have not yet reimbursed our tickets or allowed us to use our them on a different date to return home to Israel despite our several efforts to contact. That all said, we are trying to make the best of our time here as we wait for answers. My wife (Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music) is currently working on new music and it looks like we are going to travel and minister for a couple of months. If you are interested in having us at your congregation, hosting a home meeting or connecting us with others please contact and let us know— love to see you on our way! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
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