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Worthy Brief - 10/17/2019

Friend, you have Him, who is greater than your circumstances!

Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

As we continue in the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), where believers are commanded to rejoice -- let's remember an important principle the Lord laid out for us. The Lord is quoted in this scripture in Matthew. It contains an important precept which believers sometimes tend to overlook. Many believe and even teach that if you're blessed, your life will be filled with material prosperity, and that if you are undergoing extreme trial, it must be because you have sinned or that you lack faith. The Lord says that the sun rises and the rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous alike.

A life of good circumstances does not mean that God is with us. And likewise, a life of trial and suffering does not mean that God is not with us! If we base our lives on our circumstances, we are no different than people without God. What makes us different is that we have something far greater than our circumstances! We have a relationship with the Living God!

Friend, so this Sukkot season, let's remember that in His presence is the fulness of joy [Psalm 16:11]. So let's choose to enter into His presence and learn to rejoice not only in the good times, but in the tough times as well -- however, hard that may be!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel

Editor's Note: Our preliminary US and UK speaking tour calendar are now online. We have quite a few more dates to add as soon as they are confirmed. If you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. 

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
US jets destroy anti-ISIS coalition base in Syria after withdrawal, official says
Two Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) F-15 jets destroyed a base that was the headquarters of the anti-ISIS coalition in northern Syria on Wednesday after it had been vacated, according to a military official.
Syrian Forces Enter a Key Border Town, Thwarting Turkish Plans
Syrian forces on Wednesday night rolled into the strategic border town of Kobani, blocking one path for the Turkish military to establish a 'safe zone' free of Syrian Kurdish fighters along the frontier as part of its week-old offensive.
Police and Protesters Clash in Catalonia for a Third Consecutive Night
Rioting raged in Barcelona and several other Catalan towns for a third straight night Wednesday, with police fighting running street battles with protesters angered by lengthy prison sentences for nine leaders of the wealthy region’s drive for independence from Spain.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Friedman: US peace plan won’t call for settlement evacuations
The US administration’s much-anticipated peace plan will not call for the uprooting of even a single settler, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said Wednesday, drawing sharp criticism from Ramallah.
Path to Israeli Unity Government May Be Opening, With Gantz Indicating a Willingness to Sit With Netanyahu
Despite the current impasse in the Israeli coalition talks, signs emerged on Wednesday that a path to a unity government might be opening, with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz reportedly expressing a positive attitude toward such an arrangement.
Netanyahu demands commitment from allies they will not join Gantz coalition
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asked members of his right-wing/religious parliamentary bloc to sign a commitment not to join a narrow coalition led by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz that would rely on the support of the Arab parties.

Inside the United States
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The federal debt increased by $1,203,343,570,253.55 in fiscal 2019, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury Department.
House Republicans expected to force vote on revised Schiff censure
House Republicans are ramping up their efforts to formally rebuke House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as they look to combat the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
US Congress Supports Hong Kong Protesters, Passes Pro-Democracy Bill
The US House of Representatives has passed the bill that pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong believe would defend their freedom and basic human rights. Although it still has to gain approval from the Senate before becoming law, protesters consider this a big step forward in their fight for democracy.
San Francisco Expands Travel Ban to Pro-Life States
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US retail sales unexpectedly drop as Trump's trade war hits the backbone of the economy
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US House overwhelmingly condemns Trump’s Syria withdrawal, Turkey offensive
The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted its bipartisan condemnation of US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of American forces from northern Syria.
Volker Testimony Destroys Narrative Of Diplomatic Turmoil Following Ukraine Phone Call
The United States’ former envoy to Ukraine told congressional investigators neither country’s officials were concerned about anything in the July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until a campaign of leaks alleging abuse of power began surfacing in late August. Far from the media-fed narrative of officials being physically shaken by the call, Kurt Volker told lawmakers no one had expressed any concern to him about it, or about later allegations that requests for Ukraine’s help in corruption investigations was improper.
Top Diplomat Testified That Obama Admin, Not International Community, Orchestrated Ukraine Prosecutor’s Firing
A top U.S. diplomat and expert on Ukraine testified to Congress yesterday that the Obama administration -- with former Vice President Joe Biden as its point man -- orchestrated the firing of the Ukrainian prosecutor who was investigating a company connected to the Biden family, sources familiar with the testimony told The Federalist.

Christian News
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