Worthy Brief - 12/22/2023
Friend, what are you doing today?
Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.”
He totally missed the BIG news – this was the first any human had flown!!
How often do we miss the big picture of what God is doing? We’re so busy running around with the daily grind, sometimes even within our ministries, that we forget the amazing plan that we’re a part of! There is so much work to be done. We must make sure that we are daily getting focused on what God would have us do! Otherwise, we labor in vain!
Friend, let's take a break for a moment, rejoice in the fact that God has an awesome plan in which He has called us to participate, and ask Him for wisdom concerning what He would have us do today.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX)
(Baltimore, MD)
Editor's Note: The Apple App Store has given the green light to our upgrade! If you haven't installed our Worthy News App on either Android or Apple devices, you can download it today. We've designed it to allow you to follow up to 50 different news sites within our app 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! And the best part? It's completely free!
Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!
Editor's Note:
Would you prayerfully consider giving a year-end donation to Worthy Ministries? Your support will help us grow, allowing us to hire additional writers and staff for the coming year.
Editor's Note: We are planning our Winter Tour so 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.
Beleaguered Ukrainian President Faces Losses
A year after he received standing ovations in Western capitals from Washington to London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looked beleaguered.
Ukraine Has Received Final $1.65 Billion Tranche of Aid From EU
Ukraine continues to require international support to fight Russia’s invasion and has now received the last 1.5 billion euro ($1.65 billion) tranche from the 18 billion package from the European Union for 2023, Reuters reports. Receipt of the final EU tranche was announced Thursday Dec. 21 by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
16 Dead In Shooting In Prague University
At least 15 people were killed and about 30 others injured in a shooting on Thursday at Charles University in central Prague, Czech police and other sources said.
24th Victim Of Indonesia Volcanic Eruption Dies After Struggle
The death toll from the volcanic eruption on Indonesia's Mount Marapi that caught dozens of climbers by surprise this month has risen to 24 after a teenage girl, who became a symbol of determination and hope, lost her life.
Turkey President Accuses Israel Of “Massacre” At Trip In Hungary
Turkey’s president wrapped up his visit to Hungary with a warning to Israel to end its “ongoing massacre” in Gaza, while not mentioning the Hamas atrocities in the Jewish nation that killed 1,200 people.
China Rolling Out Thought Control Weapons In ‘Brain Warfare’
Communist-run China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is rolling out brain-influencing weapons and advanced psychological warfare in “a major shift in military strategy,” according to a new report obtained by Worthy News.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Claims 2,000 Hamas Terrorists Killed in December, 8,000 Overall; Lebanon Border Heats Up
As the war continues into its 3rd month in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims that it has eliminated 8,000 Hamas terrorists and 2,000 since the beginning of October, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.
US: Over 50% of Young Adults Believe Israel Should Be Erased, Poll Finds
A new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows that, since the Oct. 7 genocidal attack on Israel by Hamas, over 50% of American young adults believe Israel should be erased and the land it is on given to Hamas and the Palestinians, Israel365 News report.
Inside the United States
Federal Judge Halts California’s Ban on Permitted Concealed Carry in Public
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against California’s wide-ranging ban on concealed carry users bringing their weapons to a number of public and private places ranging from public transit to parks, stadiums and banks.
Border Patrol chiefs confirm ‘illegal aliens spread the word the border is open’
As part of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security's investigation into the "dereliction of duty" of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, it and members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability conducted interviews with eight U.S. Border Patrol chief patrol agents and one deputy chief patrol agent.
Christian News
Nigeria: Slaughter of Christians Continues, 8 Murdered in Plateau State
Fulani Islamic terrorists killed eight more Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau state last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Nigeria leads the world for the number of Christians murdered on account of their faith: well over 50,000 have been slaughtered since the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in 2009.
More Than 80% of US Christians Favor a Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Poll Shows
A new poll by Lifeway Research shows that four out of five US Christians support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which a new state of Palestine is created alongside Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Israel and West Bank Christmas Celebrations Canceled Amid Gaza War
As the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues unabated, Church leaders and city councils in Israel and the West Bank have decided to call off large-scale public Christmas celebrations and not to decorate public spaces with Christmas trees, the Jerusalem Post reports. The decision affects Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace (now controlled by the West Bank Palestinian Authority), Nazareth in northern Israel, where Jesus grew up, and Jerusalem, where He was crucified and rose again.