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Worthy Brief - 12/22/2022

Friend, shine your light!

Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all that are in the house.

As we light the candles during the season of Chanukah, we remember that God has called us to be lights.

D. L. Moody told the story of a man who was crossing the Atlantic by ship. He was terribly sick and confined to his cabin. One night he heard the cry, “Man overboard!” He felt that there was nothing he could do to help, but on second thought, he said to himself, “I guess I can at least put my lantern in the porthole.” He struggled to his feet and hung the light, so it shined out into the darkness.

The next day he learned that the person who was rescued said, “I was going down in the dark night for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. As it shone on my hand, a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in."

All of us have weaknesses -- and times of weakness. The fact of the matter is, though, that weak or not, we need to muster up the strength to put our lights in our portholes for the sake of the dying and the lost among us. It’s so tempting to sulk in our weaknesses and stay in our beds -- but God expects more of us. He has given us the strength to do all things -- even move mountains! There are so many people around us sinking in despair. But God has chosen us to reach out and light up their lives!

Friend, let's do something extraordinary for the Lord today. Be bold, speak up! Let’s get beyond our weaknesses and light up the darkness around us!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Foley, Alabama

Join us on an epic, life changing journey through Israel, through the eyes of those who are well acquainted with the culture, the people and the Land. This is not your average Israel tour— bring your family, bring your friends, and experience the REAL ISRAEL with George and Baht Rivka as your personal hosts.


Around the World
Ukraine’s President On His Way To U.S.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on his way to Washington on Wednesday for a summit with President Joe Biden.
Putin says ‘Satan II’ intercontinental ballistic missiles will be deployed soon
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to soon deploy the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles in combat as part of the Kremlin's efforts to modernize the country's nuclear forces.
U.S. to send first Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine as Zelenskyy comes to town
The U.S. is sending its famed Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, Biden administration officials confirmed Wednesday, marking a major step forward in American military aid to Kyiv as its war with Russia nears the 10-month mark.
UK March for Life director arrested, charged for silent prayer near abortion clinic
The Director of the UK March for Life has been arrested, searched, and criminally charged for silently praying near an abortion clinic in England’s city of Birmingham, ADF UK reports.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Minutes before deadline, Netanyahu secures votes to form government
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night secured the final votes needed to form a government, minutes before his deadline to do so, and called President Isaac Herzog to finalize his rise to power

Inside the United States
‘Bomb cyclone’ to impact holiday travel with blizzards, cold temps across the nation
A Christmas blizzard is ramping up this week to ultimately form into a bomb cyclone, creating paralyzing conditions for travelers heading out for the holidays.
$1.7T omnibus bill funds border security in foreign nations, but prohibits it in US
The more than 4,000-page, $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill prohibits funds for U.S. border security but it provides funding for border security in foreign nations.
House panel votes to release Trump tax returns after multiyear Democratic quest
The House Ways and Means Committee voted Tuesday to release former President Donald Trump’s tax returns, a major win for Democrats who have been seeking the records for years.
Elon Musk To Resign As Twitter’s CEO
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, says he will resign as chief executive officer of social media network Twitter if he finds someone "foolish enough to take the job."

Christian News
Sudan church burned down by suspected Islamic extremist
An Islamic extremist in Sudan’s military is suspected of having burned down the building of a Sudanese Church of Christ congregation in Al Qadarif state last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Persecuted Chinese congregation seeks refuge in the US
An entire church congregation of 62 Chinese Christians who left China three years ago to escape government persecution are now in Thailand and applying for refugee status in the United States, CBN News reports.
Uganda: Christian teacher and son violently attacked by Muslim extremists, “We survived by the grace of the Lord Jesus”
Muslim extremists in central Uganda violently attacked a Christian teacher and his son, after first terrorizing the man’s wife in their home, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Christianity is legal in Uganda but there have been an increasing number of attacks on former Muslims who turn to Christ by Islamist extremists enraged at their conversion.