Worthy Brief https://worthybrief.com en-US Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:18:28 +0000 <![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/30/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03302026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03302026

Friend, this is your beginning: when God steps into your Egypt!

Exodus 12:2-3  This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. 

There is something deeply powerful in the way God introduces Passover (Pesach) in Exodus. He does not begin with a list of instructions.  He begins with divine intervention. Israel is enslaved, bound under Pharaoh, and crushed beneath a system they have no power to escape. Yet right in the middle of that helplessness, God speaks: "This month shall be for you the beginning of months."

In that moment, God reveals a dual prophetic reality. On one level, He is establishing His calendar -- declaring Nisan as the first month, the beginning of months for Israel. But on a deeper level, He is declaring something far more personal: this is the beginning of your spiritual life. Redemption becomes the true starting point of existence. Life is no longer defined by bondage, but by deliverance.

And how does this beginning unfold? It starts with a Lamb. The choosing of the lamb, the applying of the blood, and even the precise timing of the sacrifice all carry profound prophetic weight. God is not only delivering Israel -- He is unveiling a pattern of redemption that would echo through all generations.

The Hebrew name for Egypt, Mitzrayim (מִצְרַיִם), means a narrow place, a place of restriction. Israel was not only physically trapped but spiritually confined. Yet God does not wait for them to break free. He declares that He Himself will come into the midst of Egypt. This pattern echoes throughout all Scripture and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua (Jesus). God does not stand at a distance demanding ascent; He enters the prison to bring deliverance. He steps into bondage so that His people can step into freedom.

The very word Passover -- Pesach (פֶּסַח) -- reveals the heart of God. It means to pass over, to hover over, to protect. This is not passive avoidance but active covering. When God says He will pass over, He is not merely skipping houses; He is standing guard over them. Judgment is moving through Egypt, yet wherever the blood is present, God positions Himself as a shield. This is more than deliverance -- it is covenant protection. It is God declaring that where the blood is applied, His presence will stand between His people and destruction.

God then does something astonishing: He resets time itself. “This month shall be the beginning of months.” Redemption becomes the starting point of Israel’s calendar. In Hebraic understanding, time is not merely chronological -- it is covenantal. Life is not defined by natural birth but by redemption. This is why the New Covenant echoes the same truth: in Yeshua, all things become new. Passover is not simply an event to remember; it is a divine reset of identity, purpose, and destiny.

And at the center of it all stands the lamb. Israel did not suggest it, and Moses did not invent it. God provided it. This introduces the deeper Hebraic reality of the sacrifice -- in Hebrew, Korban (קרבן)— means to draw near. The sacrifice is not about loss but about access. Even in Exodus, the root truth is clear: man does not create access to God; God provides the means to draw near to Him. This is why the Gospel is not built on human effort but on divine provision.

This is where everything begins. Before cleansing the house, before walking in holiness, before understanding deeper truths, there must be an encounter with the God who delivers. And there is an urgency here that cannot be ignored. You cannot deliver yourself from Egypt. You cannot reason your way out of bondage or improve yourself into freedom. God must step in --and the good news is that He already has. The same God who entered Egypt has entered humanity through Yeshua. The same God who stood between judgment and His people has provided the blood that still speaks today.

Friend, you don’t have to wonder if God will show up. He already has. The real invitation is to recognize His presence in the middle of what you’re walking through. Redemption doesn’t start when you finally get everything right or reach high enough—it begins the moment you realize that God has already come near to you, already made a way, already stepped in on your behalf. Right where you are -- He is there. And this can truly be your beginning.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Lastest Sermon Posted on YouTube: When Kingdoms Clash: Israel, Iran, and the Hand of God in the Last Days!

Around the World
Trump Weighs High-Risk Operation to Seize Iran’s Uranium, Officials Say
President Donald Trump is weighing a potential military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium from Iran, a complex and dangerous mission that could place U.S. forces inside the country for days, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive citing U.S. officials.
Infighting Reported Within Iran’s Leadership Over Islamic Republic’s Direction
Tensions are reportedly rising within Iran’s leadership as President Masoud Pezeshkian clashes with senior figures in the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over military operations and the country’s worsening economic crisis.
Houthis Enter War Attacking Israel as Iran ‘Hits US Ship’; Americans Wounded (Worthy News In-Depth)
Yemen’s Houthis officially entered the widening Middle East war on Saturday by launching an attack on Israel, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck a U.S. logistics vessel near Oman, amid fresh reports of American casualties.
Iranian Hardliners Seek Nuclear Weapons as War Continues
A growing chorus of Iranian hardliners is openly calling for the Islamic Republic to pursue nuclear weapons, as internal divisions intensify amid ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel—two nations the regime has long targeted with chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
Pentagon Weighs Major Troop Surge as Trump Strengthens Hand Against Iran
The Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East, a move that would significantly strengthen President Donald Trump’s position as his administration confronts the Iranian regime while keeping diplomatic options on the table.
Finland Supreme Court Convicts Christian Lawmaker Over Christian Views On Homosexuality
Finland’s top court has convicted a Christian politician, a Lutheran bishop, and his church foundation of “hate speech” after they published Christian views on homosexuality, sex, and marriage in a pamphlet 22 years ago.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Expands Lebanon Security Zone as Netanyahu Vows to “Fundamentally Change” Northern Threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to expand its security buffer inside southern Lebanon, signaling a significant escalation in Israel’s northern campaign against the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.
Israel Kills ‘Hezbollah Terrorist Posing As Journalist’ As War Expands
Israel’s military said Saturday it had killed a key “Hezbollah terrorist” who allegedly revealed Israeli troop positions while posing as a journalist, amid intensifying clashes with the Iran-backed group.

Inside the United States
U.S. Supreme Court To Examine Birthright Citizenship Wednesday
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case to determine to whom the United States can extend birthright citizenship.
Defying Senate, House GOP Passes DHS Funding Stopgap
The Department of Homeland Security shutdown will continue into the weekend after House Republicans snubbed the Senate’s funding deal and passed their own funding stopgap instead.
‘No Kings’ Protests Fueled by Socialist, Communist-Linked Networks, Investigation Finds
As thousands gather nationwide for the latest wave of “No Kings” protests targeting President Donald Trump, new reporting is drawing attention to the ideological and financial networks helping mobilize the demonstrations—many of which are tied to socialist and communist-aligned groups.
DHS Partial Shutdown Impacting Local Law Enforcement
Congress’ failure to reach an agreement to continue funding the Department of Homeland is not only impacting TSA workers, it’s also impacting local law enforcement agencies that rely on federal grants.
Senate Funds DHS Without ICE or Border Patrol, Heads to House
The U.S. Senate agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security early Friday, without including funds for ICE and Border Patrol.

Christian News
Christians In Pakistan Alarmed By Custodial Death, Child Marriage Ruling
Christians in Pakistan expressed concern about their safety Friday after a believer reportedly died in police custody while the nation’s recently created Federal Constitutional Court approved the marriage between a Muslim man and an underaged Christian girl.
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George Whitten Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/27/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03272026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03272026

Friend, the shining of the wheat!

Matthew 13:43  Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Daniel 12:3  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. 

Yeshua (Jesus) does not conclude this parable with separation alone -- He brings it to its true climax in glory. After the harvest, after the revealing, after everything has been set in its proper place, He lifts our eyes beyond the process and into the purpose with a powerful promise: the righteous will shine. This is the heart of the harvest -- not merely the removal of what does not belong, but the unveiling of what truly does.

For generations, wheat and tares have grown side by side, creating seasons where it has not always been easy to clearly distinguish between what is of God and what is not. There has been mixture, overlap, and at times even confusion. Yet the harvest changes everything. It does more than separate -- it reveals. It is the moment when God openly displays the true identity of His people.

And what He reveals is not weakness, but radiance.

The wheat will not simply endure or barely make it through -- they will shine forth as the sun, fully visible, fully revealed, and fully reflecting the glory of their Father. What was developed in hidden seasons, what was formed in quiet obedience, what was cultivated over time will now be seen openly. The work of God within them will no longer be concealed -- it will shine.

This reality is echoed in Daniel’s words: “Those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever and ever.” There is a clear connection here. Those who shine are not passive observers of God’s work -- they are participants in it. They are those who have aligned themselves with His heart, who have carried His truth, and who have labored with eternity in view, helping lead others into righteousness.

This reveals something essential about the nature of the harvest. God’s focus has never been limited to separation -- it has always been centered on salvation. The field exists for the harvest, the harvest exists for souls, and those who align themselves with that purpose become carriers of His light.

That is why they shine.

They did not live for themselves, but for what mattered to Him. They walked in truth, they lived in obedience, and they gave themselves to what has eternal value. And when the harvest comes, that alignment is no longer hidden -- it is revealed as glory.

Friend, this is not your moment to fear -- it is your moment to be revealed. What God has been forming in you, even in hidden places, will not remain concealed. The day is coming when everything will be brought into the light, where every counterfeit will be exposed, and every work of God will stand in undeniable clarity. Do not grow weary in what has seemed unseen or unnoticed -- He has been preparing you for this very unveiling. What He planted, He will gather. What He formed, He will reveal. And what He has filled with His life will shine with His glory. So stand firm, stay faithful, and remain anchored in Him -- because when that moment comes, you will not shrink back… You will shine.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend and we'll see you first thing on Monday!

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Lastest Sermon Posted on YouTube: When Kingdoms Clash: Israel, Iran, and the Hand of God in the Last Days!

Around the World
Trump Extends Pause on Iran Energy Strikes as Negotiations Continue
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is extending a temporary halt on U.S. strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure by an additional 10 days, signaling a continued window for diplomacy amid an escalating conflict.
Rubio: Iran at “Weakest Point” as U.S. Pushes to Cripple Military Capabilities (Video)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful message during a cabinet meeting this week, declaring that Iran is at its “weakest point” even as its leadership continues aggressive actions across the region.
Iran Rejects US Talks as Trump Says Deal Still Possible Amid Escalating War
Iran said early Thursday it has no plan to hold negotiations with the United States, rejecting Washington’s claims of ongoing talks, as the nearly month-long U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran continued to rattle the Middle East and global markets.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Intensifies Campaign to Dismantle Hezbollah as Northern Fighting Escalates
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is now actively focused on “dismantling Hezbollah” as part of its broader campaign against Iran, declaring the military effort remains “in full swing” despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Inside the United States
Senate Democrats Block Voter ID Amendment to SAVE Act in Party-Line Vote
Senate Democrats on March 26 unanimously rejected a Republican-backed amendment to the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act that would have required voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot, marking another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over election integrity.
Trump Weighs Emergency Powers as DHS Funding Standoff Intensifies
Senate Republicans are urging Donald Trump to consider declaring a national emergency to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are paid, as a funding standoff over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) threatens to disrupt travel during the busy spring holiday season, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Meta, Youtube To Appeal $6 Million-Plus Award To Young Woman
Meta and YouTube are appealing a $6 million-plus ruling that held them liable for social media addiction.

Christian News
Churches Plan Millions Of Bibles in Iran Despite War, Christians Say
American churches and mission groups are preparing to bring millions of Bibles and other Christian literature into Iran despite the ongoing war in the region, Christians familiar with the plans say.
Iranian Christian Convert Plans Return as Fighter as War Raises Fears for Christians
An Iranian Christian convert who fled a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in early January says he plans to return to his homeland as a fighter, underscoring growing concerns over the safety of minority Christians amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
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George Whitten Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/26/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03262026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03262026

Friend, the harvest will reveal the heart: when humility bows and pride stands!

Matthew 13:38-40 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.

Yeshua (Jesus) brings this parable to a decisive and unavoidable climax: a moment is coming when everything in the field will be uncovered for what it truly is. The harvest is not merely the end of a process -- it is the unveiling. What has been growing quietly over time will suddenly stand in full clarity, with no room left for confusion, assumption, or misjudgment. In that moment, the distinction will be undeniable.

Wheat, rich with substance, bends low under the weight of what it carries, while tares remain upright -- rigid, unchanged, and empty within. This picture reveals a deeper Kingdom truth: what is filled with true substance will walk in humility, while what lacks substance often stands in pride. The harvest does more than reveal what was planted -- it exposes what has been formed within. It is precise, final, and without error. The season of growth gives way to the moment of separation, where everything is brought into alignment, and nothing remains hidden.

This is the hour to pursue a life filled with real substance -- truth that is weighty, enduring, and transformative, producing a posture of humility before God. Do not be drawn into the illusion of strength that stands apart from Him, or the rigidity that comes from pride. True strength is found in surrender, and true fullness is found in yielding.

The field that once held mixture will not remain that way. Everything will be set in its proper place -- what belongs to the Kingdom gathered and preserved, and what does not removed. This is not simply an ending, but the revealing of what has been developing all along.

Friend, live with the awareness that this moment is approaching. Let your life be marked by substance, not appearance -- by truth that produces humility before God. Refuse the pull of pride and the comfort of outward form, and remain anchored in Him. When the harvest comes, it will not measure what appeared right, but what truly was right. There will be no time to adjust, only the unveiling of what has already been formed within. So walk humbly, stay rooted, and allow Him to shape you deeply -- for those who carry true substance will not fear the revealing, but will be ready for the gathering.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Lastest Sermon Posted on YouTube: When Kingdoms Clash: Israel, Iran, and the Hand of God in the Last Days!

Around the World
Iran Internet Blackout Enters Fourth Week Amid War With U.S., Israel
Iran’s sweeping internet blackout has entered its fourth week, leaving millions of civilians cut off from global communications as the conflict with the United States and Israel intensifies.
U.S. Surpasses 10,000 Strikes on Iran as Operation Epic Fury Intensifies
The United States has surpassed 10,000 strikes on Iranian targets since launching Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, marking a major milestone in the ongoing military campaign, according to U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.
Australian PM Heckled At Sydney Mosque Amid Tensions Over Islamist Ban, Bondi Beach Massacre
Video has emerged showing protesters booing and chasing away Anthony ‌Albanese and Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at the nation’s largest mosque after the government banned an Islamist group following a recent massacre of Australian Jews.
U.S. Warns of Escalation as Iran Rejects Ceasefire Terms, Demands Control of Hormuz
The White House issued a stark warning to Iran this week, signaling that further military action is imminent if Tehran refuses to agree to terms aimed at ending the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Iranian regime.
Foiled Synagogue Attack Deepens Concerns Over Antisemitic Violence In Netherlands (Worthy News In-Depth)
Dutch authorities have foiled a planned attack on a building housing a synagogue and school in the western town of Heemstede, detaining two teenagers suspected of preparing an explosion or arson with terrorist intent, officials said.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Strikes Caspian Supply Line in Bold Move Against Iran-Russia Axis
Israel has carried out a rare and far-reaching military strike on Iran’s Caspian Sea port of Bandar Anzali, targeting a logistics hub used by Russia and Iran to transport weapons, according to the Wall Street Journal..

Inside the United States
Poll: 70% Of Americans Support In-Person Requirement For Abortion Pills
A new national survey finds widespread support for requiring women to see a doctor in person before receiving abortion pills.
Trump Signals Possible National Guard Deployment as Airport Delays Mount Amid Shutdown
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is considering calling up the National Guard to assist federal agents at airports as long lines and delays intensify during the ongoing partial government shutdown.
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George Whitten Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/25/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03252026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03252026

Friend, trust God's timing in a mixed field!

Matthew 13:29-30  But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."

There is something deeply instructive in the restraint of the Lord. When the servants recognize the problem in the field, their instinct is immediate action. They want to fix it, remove it, clean it up. But the Lord responds in a way that challenges human urgency. He tells them to wait.

This is not indifference. This is wisdom.

In the natural world, wheat and tares often develop in such close proximity beneath the surface that their root systems become intertwined. What appears separate above ground is deeply connected below. To pull one too early risks damaging the other. What seems like a simple solution from the surface is far more complex at the root level.

Yeshua (Jesus) is revealing something essential about how God governs His field.

There are realities at work beneath the surface that we do not fully see. There are connections, dependencies, and timings that are hidden from natural perception. What looks like a clear situation to us is often far more intricate in the wisdom of God. And so, instead of immediate separation, the instruction is patience -- let both grow together until the harvest.

This speaks directly to one of the most difficult tensions believers face. Why does God allow what seems contrary to His nature to continue? Why are things not dealt with immediately? Why does the field remain mixed?

The answer is not delay -- it is design.

God is not reacting to events as they unfold. He is working according to a predetermined moment called the harvest. Until that moment arrives, there is a divine allowance for growth. Not because everything in the field is acceptable, but because everything in the field is moving toward a point of completion.

There is a process unfolding, one that cannot be rushed or bypassed. As growth takes place, it begins to reveal the true structure of what has been planted. Over time, what lies beneath the surface is exposed, bringing depth into view that was once hidden. And as maturity is reached, clarity emerges -- making evident what could not be fully understood in the earlier stages.

What cannot be safely separated in its early stages will become unmistakable in its fullness. What is hidden in development will be evident in completion. God is allowing time to do what premature action cannot accomplish without causing harm.

This requires a shift in how we see the present moment. The field is not out of control -- it is under supervision. The presence of mixture does not mean the absence of oversight. The Lord has not lost authority; He has established timing.

And that timing is purposeful.

There are things being strengthened in the wheat during this season that could not develop any other way. There is endurance being formed, roots going deeper, stability being established. The very environment that seems confusing is also producing resilience in those who are truly planted.

At the same time, everything else is moving toward its own exposure.

Nothing remains undefined forever.

The harvest is not just a moment of action -- it is a moment of revelation. It is when everything becomes clear without force, when separation happens without confusion, when what is true and what is not can no longer be mistaken.

Friend, this is the hour to trust the wisdom of the Lord over the urgency of the moment. Do not be troubled by what you cannot yet separate or shaken by what seems unresolved -- God is not behind, He is precise. He sees beneath the surface and knows the exact moment for perfect separation. Your call is to stay rooted, grow steadily, and remain anchored in Him. The harvest is coming, and with it will come clarity -- everything revealed and set in its proper place. So stand firm and trust His timing, for the One who said, “let both grow together,” has already appointed the moment when He will say, “now separate.”

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Lastest Sermon Posted on YouTube: When Kingdoms Clash: Israel, Iran, and the Hand of God in the Last Days!

Around the World
Trump Declares ‘Regime Change’ in Iran as U.S. Pushes Toward Ceasefire Framework
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the ongoing conflict with Iran has already resulted in what he described as a “regime change,” signaling a dramatic shift in leadership dynamics within the Iranian government as Washington presses forward with negotiations to end hostilities.
U.S. Prepares Rapid Deployment of 82nd Airborne as Iran Tensions Escalate
The Pentagon is preparing to deploy a brigade combat team from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials, signaling a significant escalation in America’s posture toward Iran.
Lebanon Expels Iranian Envoy, Escalates Diplomatic Break with Tehran
Lebanon sharply escalated tensions with Iran on Tuesday, announcing the expulsion of Tehran’s ambassador-designate and recalling its own envoy amid accusations of diplomatic violations and growing concerns over Iranian influence in the country.
Gulf States Move Toward Joining Operation Against Iran Alongside U.S. and Israel as Middle East Rapidly Shifts
Arab Gulf nations are moving closer to joining the expanding military campaign against Iran, signaling a dramatic shift in regional dynamics as sustained Iranian attacks strain their economies and threaten control of critical energy routes, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Hungary FM Admits Russia Contacts As EU Leak Claims Spark ‘Treason’ Row (Worthy News Investigation)
Hungary’s foreign minister has admitted contacts with Russia during European Union meetings, after reports that confidential information from closed-door discussions may have been shared—an allegation the opposition says could amount to “treason” and carry a potential life sentence in prison.
Iran-Linked Group Claims London Ambulance Attack As Antisemitism Fears Rise In Europe
An Islamic group linked to Iran claimed responsibility Monday for what residents and officials described as an “antisemitic hate crime” terror attack on four volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish group in London, the latest in a series of attacks targeting European Jews.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Hezbollah’s Missile Power Decimated, But Deadly Strikes Continue in Israel
Israeli intelligence assessments indicate Hezbollah has been significantly weakened, losing an estimated 85% of its missile arsenal since the war ignited by Hamas’ October 7 massacre. The Iranian-backed terror group is now believed to possess between 11,000 and 13,000 rockets—roughly one-sixth of its pre-war stockpile.
Israel Signals Intent to Establish Security Buffer in Southern Lebanon Up to Litani River
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that Israeli forces plan to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, outlining a strategy to create a “defensive buffer” amid ongoing conflict with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.
Indonesia Rejects $1 Billion ‘Board Of Peace’ Fee Amid Gaza, Israel Debate
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto said his country would not pay the $1 billion fee for permanent membership in U.S. counterpart Donald J. Trump’s “Board of Peace” after coming under pressure for signing up.

Inside the United States
Shutdown Standoff Deepens as Democrats Block DHS Funding Over ICE Restrictions
The partial government shutdown stretched into its 39th day Tuesday as Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-backed plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, drawing sharp criticism from conservatives who argue politics is being placed ahead of national security.
NASA Plans To Build $20 Billion Base On the Moon
NASA has abandoned its plans to build a lunar-orbiting space station and will instead use those resources to construct a $20 billion permanent base on the moon, scheduled for completion within seven years.
Louisville to Pay $800K After Christian Photographer Wins Free Speech Case
Louisville, Kentucky has agreed to pay $800,000 in attorney’s fees to Christian photographer Chelsey Nelson following her legal victory over the city’s public accommodations law, which had required her to photograph same-sex weddings if she offered services for traditional marriages.
Footage Shows Deadly Plane Collision With Fire Truck, Raising Questions
Footage apparently taken from an air traffic control tower showed a fire truck crossing a runway before being struck by an Air Canada Express plane at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.

Christian News
Senior Nigerian Evangelical Leader Abducted As Church Attacks Raise Alarm
A senior leader of one of Nigeria’s largest evangelical denominations has been abducted in Nigeria’s central Plateau State while concern remains about several Christian worshipers kidnapped elsewhere in the turbulent African nation, Christian sources said Tuesday.
Several Worshippers Kidnapped In Nigeria Church Attack As Concerns Persist
Concerns remained Tuesday about the whereabouts of several worshippers who were abducted Sunday when gunmen attacked the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Nigeria’s north-central Kwara State, police said.
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George Whitten Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/24/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03242026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03242026

Friend, the poison in the field: when deception looks like truth!

Matthew 13:26  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

There is a deeper layer in this parable that moves beyond simply identifying the difference between wheat and tares. Yeshua (Jesus) is not only revealing that the tare looks like wheat -- He is warning that what it produces has the power to affect those who partake of it. The issue is not just imitation; it is ingestion. It is not only what is growing in the field, but what is being received into the heart.

In the natural world, darnel -- the tare -- was dangerous not merely because it resembled wheat, but because of what happened when it was harvested and consumed. Its seeds were often infected with a toxic fungus, and when mixed with real grain and ground into flour, it could cause dizziness, disorientation, and even a loss of mental clarity. In some cases, it produced effects similar to intoxication. What appeared harmless in the field became harmful in the body. This is the sobering picture Yeshua is painting.

The danger, then, is not always immediately visible. A tare can grow unnoticed for a season, but its true nature is revealed through its effect. In the same way, there are influences, teachings, and voices that may appear sound on the surface, yet when received, they do not produce life. Instead, they introduce confusion, weaken conviction, and subtly distort truth. The question is not only what something looks like, but what it imparts when embraced.

This is where discernment becomes deeply personal. The parable is not just about identifying what is false in the field -- it is about guarding what is allowed into our own lives. Because deception is not merely something to observe from a distance, it is something that can be absorbed if we are not watchful. What we consistently take in will shape our thinking, influence our convictions, and ultimately affect how clearly we see.

In this hour, the field is full, and the voices are many. Access to teaching, influence, and information is constant. But not everything that is available is life-giving. Some things carry mixture. Some things carry subtle distortion. And, like the tare, their effects are often gradual. They do not immediately destroy; they slowly dull spiritual sensitivity, weaken discernment, and make compromise feel acceptable.

Yeshua's warning, then, is not only about recognizing deception -- it is about refusing to consume it. Discernment requires more than observation; it requires intentionality. It calls us to test what we hear, to weigh what we receive, and to remain anchored in what is true. Because what we feed on will determine what we become. If we feed on truth, we grow in clarity. If we feed on mixture, we begin to tolerate compromise. And if we feed on deception, even in subtle ways, it will affect our ability to discern.

This is why the battle in this parable is not just in the field -- it is in the heart. The Lord is calling His people to maturity, to move beyond passive reception into active discernment. To no longer accept something simply because it is presented, but to examine its source, its substance, and its fruit.

This is a call to guard your spiritual appetite. Not everything that appears acceptable is beneficial, and not everything that resembles truth carries life. The Spirit of God is leading His people into a place of clarity -- where we are no longer easily swayed, but firmly rooted in truth.

Friend, do not feed on what dulls your spirit or weakens your conviction. Instead, return again and again to what is pure, what is true, and what produces life. Because in this hour, what you receive will determine how clearly you see. Those who guard their hearts and remain anchored in truth will not be overcome by deception. They will walk in clarity, stand in strength, and be prepared for what is ahead. This is the hour to be watchful, to be discerning, and to be rooted deeply in truth. For the difference between wheat and tares is no longer hidden -- and those who are awake will not be deceived.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Lastest Sermon Posted on YouTube: When Kingdoms Clash: Israel, Iran, and the Hand of God in the Last Days!

Around the World
Dutch Police Worker Shot After Criticizing Iran Amid Europe Security Concerns (Worthy News Investigation)
Investigations continued Monday into the shooting of a Dutch police employee in the western Netherlands after he publicly criticized Iran’s Islamic rulers, in a case raising fresh concerns that Tehran’s crackdown on dissent is extending into Europe.
Scores Feared Dead After Colombian Military Plane Crash; Defense Minister Calls For Prayers
Scores of Colombian soldiers were feared dead and dozens injured after a military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the country’s remote southern Amazon region, officials said Monday, as Colombia’s defense minister urged prayers for those affected in the largely Catholic country.
Iran Denies US Talks As Trump Signals Possible Deal, Delays Strikes (Worthy News Investigation)
Iran on Monday denied claims by U.S. President Donald J. Trump that Washington and Tehran were engaged in “good and productive conversations” toward a potential agreement that could bring “longtime peace” for Israel.
Trump Holds Off on Iran Energy Strikes as Backchannel Talks Intensify
President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will delay planned military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, signaling a potential diplomatic opening in a rapidly escalating Middle East conflict.
Pro-Kremlin Blogger Turns on Putin, Reportedly Confined to Psychiatric Facility
A prominent pro-Kremlin blogger who once championed Russia’s war effort has dramatically reversed course—publicly denouncing President Vladimir Putin before reportedly being placed in psychiatric care, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.
Slovenia Vote Too Close To Call As Orbán Ally Janša Challenges Liberal Government
Slovenia, the birthplace of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, held a closely contested parliamentary election Sunday, with populist opposition leader Janez Janša — an ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — running neck-and-neck with the ruling liberal party.
Opposition Figure Attacked, Orbán Booed As Hungary Election Tensions Rise
Hungary’s election campaign turned increasingly tense over the weekend as an opposition politician was attacked with a knife and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced loud protests during a campaign speech, underscoring deep divisions ahead of the April 12 vote.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel’s Strategy Targeting Iranian Checkpoints May Open Door for Internal Uprising
Israel’s expanding military campaign inside Iran is now focusing on key pressure points within the regime’s internal control system—specifically targeting checkpoints and street-level enforcement units—in what analysts believe could open the door for a broader uprising against the Islamic government, according to an exclusive report by the Epoch Times.

Inside the United States
Senate Confirms Mullin as Homeland Security Secretary Amid Political Tensions
The Senate on Monday confirmed Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, handing President Donald Trump a key leadership change as the agency faces mounting scrutiny and political pressure. Mullin was approved in a 54–45 vote and is set to replace outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem at the end of the month.
Justices Appear Skeptical Of Late Mail-in Ballot Deadlines
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to strike down state laws allowing mail-in ballots to be received after Election Day.
Economist Warns Billionaires Tax Could Cost California $25B
The proposed California billionaires tax would cost the state more money than it would bring in if the Golden State’s “golden goose” flocks to other states, according to a Stanford economist.
Deadly New York Airport Collision Kills Two Pilots; Dramatic Recording Emerges As Airports Disrupted
Two pilots were killed and at least a dozen people were injured, including nine who were hospitalized, after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, authorities confirmed Monday, in a crash that shut down one of the United States’ busiest aviation hubs.

Christian News
Christian Sanitary Worker In Pakistan Faces Death Penalty In Blasphemy Case
A Christian sanitary worker in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad faces a possible death sentence after spending more than three years behind bars over alleged blasphemy against Islam.
Christian Action Star Chuck Norris Dies At 86
Chuck Norris, the martial artist and Hollywood action star known worldwide for his outspoken Christian faith and message of perseverance, has died at the age of 86, his family confirmed.

Worthy Insights
‘We Saw Over 500 Make Decisions for Christ’: Revival Hits Texas Universities
As CBN News has been reporting, widespread revival is sweeping U.S. college campuses, with thousands of students attending events, engaging in worship, and getting baptized. That has included campuses across Texas, but now several more universities in the Lone Star State are also seeing powerful moves of God.
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George Whitten Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/23/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03232026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03232026

Friend, two seeds, two kingdoms!

Matthew 13:24-25  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 

With so much disinformation and so many voices speaking into our lives, people often ask for my thoughts on who to trust and what to believe. In light of that, I believe it’s time to step into a deeper kind of discernment -- becoming what I would call a fruit inspector. This series is born out of that burden: to learn how to recognize the difference between the wheat and the tares.

Yeshua (Jesus), when asked about the events leading up to His return, did not begin with wars, disasters, or global upheaval. His first warning was simple and direct: "Take heed that no man deceive you." That alone tells us something profound. The greatest danger in the last days is not just what is happening around us -- it is the deception that can grow among us. Yet Yeshua did not leave us vulnerable. He gave us a clear way to see through deception: by inspecting fruit. When we learn to recognize fruit, we gain the ability to discern the times with clarity and confidence. That is the foundation we begin with.

Yeshua introduces the parable with a striking image: a man sowing good seed into his field. Everything begins as it should -- intentional, pure, and full of promise. But then, under the cover of night, while men slept, an enemy comes and sows tares among the wheat. The field is not abandoned; it is infiltrated. The issue is not the absence of good seed, but the presence of a second, corrupt seed planted alongside it.

In the natural world, the plant Yeshua refers to as a tare is widely believed to be darnel, sometimes called poison wheat. What makes this plant so dangerous is not just its toxicity, but its resemblance. In its early stages, darnel looks almost identical to wheat. The leaves are similar, the growth pattern mirrors it, and to the untrained eye, there is no clear distinction. Ancient farmers understood this well. In fact, sowing darnel into another man’s field was considered such a destructive act that it was addressed in Roman law. The enemy did not need to destroy the field outright -- he only needed to corrupt it from within.

This is the heart of what Yeshua is revealing. Both seeds grow in the same soil. Both are exposed to the same conditions. Both develop side by side. Yet their origin is entirely different. Later, Yeshua makes it clear: the wheat represents the children of the Kingdom, while the tares represent the children of the wicked one. This is not merely a parable about agriculture -- it is a revelation of two spiritual realities unfolding simultaneously in the earth.

This truth carries weight, especially in the hour we are living in. Not everything growing in God’s field came from God’s seed. Not every voice that sounds right is rooted in truth. Not everything that appears genuine carries life within it. There is a parallel growth happening—truth and deception, light and darkness -- maturing together until the time of harvest.

This is why discernment cannot be superficial. In the early stages, wheat and tares cannot be distinguished by appearance alone. You cannot rely on charisma, gifting, influence, or presentation. These things can be mimicked. The only reliable measure is fruit. Wheat will eventually produce life-giving grain, while the tare will reveal its nature in what it produces.

So we come back to the words of Yeshua: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” This is not a call to fear -- it is a call to awareness. It is an invitation to move beyond surface-level perception and into Spirit-led discernment. The Lord is not asking His people to be suspicious of everything, but to be discerning in everything.

Friend, this is the hour to awaken. The field is full, and the voices are many, but God has given His people the ability to see clearly. The Spirit of Truth is present, and the fruit is visible to those who will look. This is the time to sharpen your discernment, to test what you hear, and to refuse to be moved by appearance alone. Do not be swayed by influence or drawn in by what merely resembles truth. Look deeper. Look for the fruit. Because those who learn to discern between the wheat and the tares will not be shaken in the days ahead. They will stand with clarity, walk in truth, and be ready for the harvest that is coming.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland)

Around the World
Trump Issues Stark Warning to Iran as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens, Military Strikes Intensify
The confrontation between the United States and Iran escalated sharply this weekend after President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours -- one of the world’s most critical chokepoints.
Iran Launches Long-Range Missiles at U.S.-U.K. Base, Signaling New Global Threat
Iran escalated its conflict with the United States by launching two long-range missiles at the U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia—its first confirmed use of intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The strike, targeting a base about 2,500 miles away, revealed capabilities far beyond what many analysts had expected.
Trump Backs Orbán At CPAC As Migration, ‘Islamization’ Dominate Election Debate
U.S. President Donald J. Trump used a major conservative gathering in Hungary to endorse Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of a high-stakes April 12 election, as warnings over mass migration and what speakers described as the “Islamization of Europe” dominated the conference.
Concerns Grow Over Russian Links To Hungary Election Monitoring Mission
Human rights activists and senior officials have expressed concern about Russia’s interference in Hungary’s upcoming elections after revelations that a former interpreter of Russian President Vladimir Putin is part of an international observation mission overseeing the April 12 vote.
Trump Signals ‘Wind-Down Of Iran War’ As Markets Tumble (Worthy News In-Depth)
In a setback to those hoping for regime change in the Islamic Republic, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signaled Friday that he may begin “winding down” military operations against Iran, saying Washington is close to achieving its objectives.
US Vice President Vance To Visit Hungary Ahead Of Crucial Election; CPAC Gathers Global Conservative Figures
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to visit Hungary in a last-minute show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces his toughest election since returning to power in 2010, officials familiar with the planning confirmed.
Anti-Immigration, Local Parties Surge In Dutch Municipal Elections
Anti-immigration and local parties made gains in municipal elections in the Netherlands, where concerns over rising migration from mainly Islamic countries, the financial impact of climate policies, and increased defense spending have dominated national and local debates.
EU Leaders Rebuke Hungary’s Orbán Over Blocked 90 Billion Euro Ukraine Loan
European Union leaders condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision on Thursday to block a 90 billion euro ($98 billion) loan for Ukraine, linking his stance to a dispute with Kyiv over Russian oil supplies.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iranian Missile Strikes Injure 175 in Southern Israel as Netanyahu Warns of Expanding Threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday night was “a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future” after Iranian ballistic missiles struck the southern cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring at least 175 people and causing significant damage to civilian neighborhoods.
Israel To Spare Energy Sites After Gas Strikes Trigger Market Shock; Iran Warns Of ‘Zero Restraint’
Israel signaled Thursday it would refrain from further attacks on energy infrastructure after a strike on Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, sending oil and natural gas prices sharply higher and raising fears of a wider regional escalation.

Inside the United States
ICE Agents To Assist With Airport Security Beginning Monday, Trump Says
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will help with security efforts at the nation's airports beginning Monday as a partial government shutdown is causing lengthy delays for passengers, President Donald Trump wrote Sunday on social media.
U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Mail-in Ballots Case Monday
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in a consequential case to determine if states can accept and count mail-in ballots after Election Day.

Worthy Insights
Netanyahu: ‘I did not mock Jesus – that’s fake news’
A storm erupted on social media overnight into Thursday following remarks made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference, which were perceived by many as disrespectful toward the figure of Jesus.
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George Whitten Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/20/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03202026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03202026

Friend, taking the land!

Joshua 21:43-45  So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it.  44  The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45  Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. 

The conquest of the land did not happen in a single moment -- it unfolded over years of battles, endurance, and sustained faith. What began at the Jordan required perseverance through opposition, setbacks, and continued trust in God. City by city and territory by territory, Israel advanced, not by one decisive act alone, but through a journey of ongoing reliance on the Lord.

Yet when the story is brought into full view, Scripture summarizes it with a powerful declaration: “Not one word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.” God finished what He promised. Every delay, every battle, and every season of waiting did not cancel His word -- they confirmed the process by which it would be fulfilled. What God had spoken generations earlier came to pass in its entirety. Time did not weaken the promise; it revealed its certainty.

The wilderness had prepared them. It stripped away dependence on Egypt, exposed weakness, and formed a people who learned to rely on God. Faith sustained them, carrying them through the Jordan, through Jericho, and through every challenge that followed. And in the end, the promise was fulfilled—not partially, but entirely according to the word of the Lord.

This is the pattern of God. He does not speak casually, and He does not abandon what He begins. What He promises, He performs. Yet His fulfillment often unfolds through a process that requires endurance. The inheritance was given, but it had to be possessed. The land belonged to them by covenant, but it was walked out through perseverance.

Revival follows this same pattern. It is not sustained by a single moment of breakthrough, but by a people who continue -- through resistance, through testing, and through time—holding fast to what God has said. The harvest is not gathered by those who start well, but by those who remain faithful until the work is complete. Promise becomes possession through perseverance.

Friend, do not measure God’s faithfulness by your current moment -- measure it by His word. He has not forgotten what He has spoken over your life, your calling, or this generation. This is not the hour to grow weary -- it is the hour to continue. Revival and harvest belong to those who remain steady, who refuse to retreat, and who press forward until the promise is fully realized. If we endure in faith, we will see it -- not one word will fail. Every promise will stand, and what God has spoken, He will surely bring to pass.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a great weekend -- please continue to keep the situation in the Middle East in your prayers. We’ll provide updates on Worthy News over the weekend if any significant developments arise.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland -- Speaking this weekend throughout Pennsylvania)

Around the World
Saudi Arabia Signals Possible Military Response After Iranian Strike on Oil Facility
Saudi Arabia warned Thursday that it may take military action following an Iranian drone strike on a key oil installation, escalating tensions across the Middle East and raising concerns over regional stability and global energy supplies.
U.S. Launches Largest Strike Yet on Iran as Conflict Intensifies
The United States carried out its most extensive wave of strikes against Iran to date on Thursday, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu: Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities ‘Neutralized’ as U.S.-Israel Campaign Intensifies
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that Iran has lost its ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles following nearly three weeks of coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.
Israel Strikes Iranian Navy in Caspian Sea, Expands “Operation Roaring Lion”
Israel dramatically expanded its military campaign against Iran, striking Iranian Navy targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time since the launch of “Operation Roaring Lion,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Thursday.

Inside the United States
FBI Reports Record Recovery of Missing Children as Crackdown Expands Nationwide
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a historic surge in efforts to protect children, revealing it recovered more than 6,200 missing children in 2025 -- an increase of over 30 percent from the previous year.
Red States Move To Cut Income Taxes As Trump Eyes Federal Shift
As Republican-led states move to lower or eliminate income taxes, President Donald Trump's economic advisers have suggested moving ahead with broader state sales taxes to boost economic growth and wages for workers.
Republicans Defend, Democrats Vilify GOP Voter ID Bill
As a marathon debate over the SAVE America Act continues in the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are sparring over whether the voter ID bill would strengthen election security or discourage potential voters.
Federal Judge Blocks Arkansas Ten Commandments Law, State Vows Appeal
A federal judge has struck down an Arkansas law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, igniting a renewed national debate over faith, history, and the First Amendment.
FBI Revealed Former Counterterrorism Chief Joe Kent Was Under Active Investigation Prior to Resignation
The FBI has been investigating former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent for several months over allegations that he improperly shared classified information, according to multiple reports.
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George Whitten Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/19/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03192026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03192026

Friend, the power of unusual obedience!

Joshua 6:20  So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 

Jericho stood as the first and most formidable barrier in the land of promise. Its walls were thick, its defenses strong, and its reputation intimidating. From a natural perspective, it was unconquerable. Israel had just entered the land, and immediately, they were confronted with a fortress that could not be overcome by conventional means.

But God did not give them a military strategy -- He gave them an instruction.

They were told to march around the city, remain silent, blow trumpets, and on the seventh day, release a shout. There were no weapons of siege, no visible plan of attack, no strategy that made sense to the natural mind. The victory would not come through strength or skill, but through obedience to God's voice. Faith had to move even when the method seemed unusual.

Day after day, they walked in silence. There was no visible progress, no sign that the walls were weakening. It would have been easy to question the process or adjust the plan, but they continued in obedience. Then on the seventh day, at the appointed moment, they shouted -- and the walls collapsed.

Jericho did not fall because Israel was strong; it fell because God was faithful.

This is the nature of spiritual victory. The greatest strongholds are not broken by force, but by alignment with God’s instruction. What seems foolish in the natural often carries power in the Spirit. Obedience becomes the weapon, and faith releases what God has already determined to do.

Revival follows this same pattern. God often leads His people in ways that do not appeal to human reasoning. He may call for worship when pressure is rising, prayer when action feels urgent, or persistence when nothing appears to be changing. But spiritual battles require spiritual weapons, and victory comes when we trust His method above our own understanding.

Jericho was more than a city -- it was a declaration. No barrier can stand before a people who are aligned with the voice of God. The walls that appeared permanent collapsed in a moment because obedience positioned the people for a breakthrough.

Friend, do not measure your breakthrough by what you see -- measure it by your obedience. The walls before you may look immovable, but they are not stronger than the God who has spoken. This is the hour to trust His strategy, even when it stretches your understanding. If we walk when He says walk, worship when He says worship, and respond when He says speak, the walls will not stand. Revival will not be released through human effort, but through a people fully aligned with heaven -- and when that alignment is complete, every stronghold will fall.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Maryland -- Speaking this weekend throughout Pennsylvania)

Around the World
Iran Confirms Death Of Intelligence Minister As US Counterterror Chief Resigns Over War (Worthy News In-Depth)
Tehran confirmed Wednesday that Israel killed several senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as part of a U.S.-Israeli operation, while a top Trump administration official resigned in protest over the escalating war.
Iran War Escalates As Tehran Threatens Gulf Energy Sites While US Carrier Withdraws After Fire
Tehran warned Wednesday it could target numerous energy sites across the Gulf region as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran escalated, while America’s most advanced aircraft carrier moved toward port after a fire aboard the vessel in the Red Sea.
Russia Deepens Military Support to Iran Amid Escalating Conflict, WSJ Reports
Russia has significantly expanded its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and advanced drone technology to bolster Tehran’s ability to target U.S. forces across the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive citing officials familiar with the matter.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu: Elimination of Iranian Security Chief Could Open Door to Regime Change
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that the targeted killing of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani could create a strategic opening for the Iranian people to overthrow the Islamic regime.
Israeli Family Hit By Missile Strike Receives Aid As War With Iran Slows Immigration
An Israeli family devastated by a recent missile strike near the central city of Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, has received financial assistance from a U.S. evangelical leader, as the ongoing war involving Iran has slowed—but not halted—the arrival of Jewish immigrants to the country.

Inside the United States
Chief Justice Roberts: ‘Hostility Towards Judges Is Dangerous And It’s Got To Stop’
Personal hostility toward judges can be dangerous and has to stop, Chief Justice John Roberts said Tuesday, when he discussed a range of issues facing the judicial branch at a Rice University Baker Institute of Public Policy event in Houston.
Gabbard Grilled During Senate Intelligence Hearing, Maintains Iran A Threat
Iran took center stage during the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee's grilling of members of the Trump administration’s national security and intelligence team during its annual hearing on worldwide threats.
U.S. House Tanks Balanced Budget Amendment As National Debt Tops $39T
The U.S. House tanked a balanced budget resolution to curb the federal government’s practice of racking up trillion-dollar deficits every year.

Christian News
Christians Urge Cuba To Free Detained Teen Amid Crackdown On Churches
Christians have expressed concern over the detention of pastors and a Christian teenager by Cuba’s communist authorities in connection with Christian activities and rallies for greater freedom on the island.
Elderly Christian Acquitted In Pakistan Blasphemy Case After Two-Year Ordeal
A Pakistani court has acquitted an elderly Christian who was falsely accused of blasphemy against Islam, his defense team confirmed.

Worthy Insights
War in Lebanon Could Be a Game Changer for Christians
Amid the thunder of Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rockets, Lebanon’s ancient Christian communities cling to fragile neutrality—yet whispers grow that this war could shatter Hezbollah’s grip forever, handing Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Armenians, and other Christian sects a historic chance at revival.
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George Whitten Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/18/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03182026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03182026

Friend, from wilderness provision to promised abundance!

Joshua 5:10-12  Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 11  And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. 12  Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year. 

After crossing the Jordan and being consecrated at Gilgal, Israel did not immediately march into battle. Before Jericho, before strategy, before conquest, God brought them back to worship -- they kept the Passover. In the very land of promise, they paused to remember the blood. This reveals the order of God: before you fight for what He has promised, you remember what He has already done. Before inheritance is possessed, redemption is honored. The same God who brought them out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb was now bringing them into the land by His faithfulness, and worship anchored this transition.

They were no longer wanderers sustained by miracles in the wilderness; they were now a people stepping into promise. Yet God would not allow them to move forward without first grounding them in gratitude. The Passover reminded them that everything ahead was built on what He had already accomplished. Then something remarkable happened -- the manna stopped. For forty years, heaven had fed them daily. Every morning, provision appeared on the ground-- supernatural, consistent, and sustaining. But the moment they ate from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. Wilderness provision ended because promise provision had begun.

God was shifting how they lived. The same God who had provided miraculously in the wilderness was now providing through the land itself. The season had changed, and what once sustained them was no longer needed because something greater had been given. When the promise begins, wilderness provision ends. This is a critical truth for people entering revival. We must not cling to old forms of provision when God is leading us into new dimensions of fulfillment. The manna was never the destination -- it was the means to reach it. Holding onto yesterday’s provision can keep us from fully embracing today’s promise.

God was not removing provision -- He was upgrading it. The land required participation, stewardship, and maturity. It was no longer about gathering what fell; it was about possessing what had been given. The same God was providing, but in a different way, aligned with their new season. Revival carries this same transition. There are moments when God shifts His people from survival into stewardship, from daily rescue into sustained inheritance, and that transition must be anchored in worship and gratitude, or we will misunderstand what He is doing.

Friend, do not rush past the place of remembrance. Before you step into greater promise, return to the Lamb and honor what God has already done. Let gratitude anchor your heart as God shifts you into new seasons of provision. If something familiar begins to cease, do not fear -- it may be the sign that promise has begun. Revival will be carried by those who recognize the season they are in, release what was for the wilderness, and embrace what God is now providing. The God who sustained you before is now leading you into fullness -- step into it with worship, and you will walk in everything He has prepared.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Obadiah arrived to the U.S. last night ... thank you for praying for him and his team!

Around the World
Ramadan Break In Dutch Parliament Sparks Debate Over Religion In Politics
A request to suspend a parliamentary debate so a Muslim lawmaker could break his Ramadan fast has sparked controversy in the Netherlands, with critics warning it reflects growing “Islamization” in a nation long regarded as one of Europe’s most liberal societies.
Trump Signals Possible Turning Point for Cuba as Freedom Prospects Rise Amid Crisis
President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric toward Cuba on Monday, raising the possibility that the long-oppressed island could be on the verge of a historic transformation away from decades of communist rule.
Trump Vows U.S. Will Act Alone if Needed to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States is prepared to continue military operations against Iran without support from NATO allies, signaling a willingness to act unilaterally to secure the vital Strait of Hormuz and counter Tehran’s growing aggression.
Teens Arrested After Rotterdam Synagogue Explosion; Report Says Suspects Hired As “Foot Soldiers”
Dutch police arrested four teenagers after an explosion damaged a synagogue in the port city of Rotterdam early Friday, heightening concerns about antisemitism and threats against Jewish institutions.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iran Attacks Tel Aviv, Two People Killed
Two people have been killed near Tel Aviv during what Israeli authorities describe as an Iranian missile barrage, with emergency responders saying police were dealing with “several” impact sites in and around Israel’s economic hub.
IDF Expands Ground Operations in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Attacks Intensify
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that it has pushed additional deeper into southern Lebanon, expanding its buffer zone along the northern border as Hezbollah continues launching rockets and drones into northern Israel.
Israeli Minister’s Daughter Found Dead As Groups Demand Inquiry
The daughter of a senior Israeli minister who had publicly accused her parents and others of abuse was found dead under unclear circumstances, authorities said, prompting women’s groups to call for a broader investigation.
Israel Eliminates Iran’s ‘De Facto Leader’ Larijani in Major Strike as Regime Leadership Crumbles
Israel confirmed Tuesday that it eliminated Iran’s top security figure, Ali Larijani, in a targeted overnight airstrike in Tehran—marking one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership since the killing of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Inside the United States
Senate Opens Debate on SAVE America Act Amid Sharp Partisan Divide
The Senate voted 51–48 on Tuesday to begin debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a Republican-backed bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot.
More Than 300 Iranians Apprehended By Border Patrol Under Trump
Since President Donald Trump has taken office, 307 Iranians who attempted to illegally enter the country have been apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

Christian News
Pastor Killed, Christians Abducted In Nigeria After Trump Warns Of More US Strikes
Suspected Islamic Fulani herdsmen have killed a pastor and abducted other Christians in northwestern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, a region marked by recurring religious and ethnic tensions, despite U.S.-backed efforts to curb extremism that has killed thousands of Christians annually, Worthy News learned Tuesday.
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George Whitten Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/17/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03172026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03172026

Friend, choose the lamb, enter the promise!

Joshua 4:19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 

Joshua 5:10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. 

When Israel came up out of the Jordan River, Scripture marks the moment with precision: it was the tenth day of Nisan. This detail is not incidental -- it is deeply prophetic. It was on this very same day, forty years earlier, that each household in Egypt was commanded to choose a lamb for Passover (Exodus 12:3).

The day that began redemption now marked the beginning of inheritance.

God was revealing a pattern: what He starts in redemption, He completes in fulfillment. The crossing into the land was not disconnected from Egypt -- it was the continuation of what began under the blood of the lamb. Deliverance and promise are inseparably linked.

Before Israel ever left bondage, a lamb had to be chosen.

Before they could enter the land, the timing brought them back to that same reality. The God who brought them out by the blood was the same God bringing them in by His promise. Redemption was not the end -- it was the beginning of a journey that leads to inheritance.

This points us directly to the greater fulfillment in Yeshua, the true Passover Lamb. Just as Israel had to choose the lamb in Egypt, each of us must personally choose Him -- salvation is not automatic; it is received. The blood must be applied, the Lamb must be embraced, and just as their journey into promise was anchored in that act of redemption, so our inheritance in God flows from our response to Him.

You cannot enter God’s promise apart from the Lamb, and revival follows this same pattern. It does not begin with activity or momentum- - it begins with returning to Him. When the foundation of redemption is forgotten, it becomes difficult to walk in the inheritance, but when a people remain anchored in the Lamb, they position themselves to see God faithfully fulfill every promise He has spoken.

God’s timeline is never random -- He aligns moments across generations to reveal His purposes. The same day that once marked deliverance now marked possession, declaring that the work of redemption was still active, still unfolding, and still leading His people forward. The God who redeems is the same God who faithfully brings His promises to fulfillment.

Friend, this is the hour to choose the Lamb again with fresh devotion. Revival will not be sustained by activity alone -- it will be sustained by a people anchored in the sacrifice of Yeshua. Do not move forward into promise while neglecting the foundation of redemption. Return to the Lamb. Honor the blood. Build your life on what He has done. When the Lamb is central, the promise is secured. If we remain rooted in Him, we will not only come out of bondage -- we will enter fully into everything God has prepared, carrying revival and ushering in the harvest for His glory.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Europe Declines Trump’s Request For Warships To Free Hormuz
In an unprecedented rebuke to U.S. President Donald J. Trump, European countries on Monday declined his request to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas until its effective closure by Iran.
Hungary-Ukraine War Of Words Escalates Ahead Of Hungarian Elections (Worthy News Radio)
A bitter war of words between Hungary and Ukraine has escalated sharply ahead of Hungary’s crucial April 12 elections, with both sides trading accusations over threats, energy supplies, and alleged political interference.
Trump Putting Pressure On International Community To Help Secure Strait Of Hormuz
As President Donald Trump looks to several countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. and Israel continue to pound Iran.
Suspected Iran-Linked Terror Group Targets Jewish Sites Across Europe
A previously unknown terrorist organization with suspected links to Iran has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Jewish targets across Europe, raising alarms among security officials and Jewish communities.
Russia Tests Internet Shutdown System, Disrupting Life in Moscow
Russia is expanding tests of a nationwide system designed to shut down internet access during times of unrest, leaving millions in Moscow temporarily cut off from mobile data and online services, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Launches Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon to Target Hezbollah Infrastructure
The Israeli military has launched a targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and strengthening security for communities in northern Israel.

Inside the United States
IDF: Michigan Synagogue Attacker’s Brother Hezbollah Commander
Israel Defense Forces said Sunday the brother of the suspect in last week’s Michigan synagogue attack was a Hezbollah terrorist.
Trump Launches Anti-fraud Task Force, Vance To Lead
President Donald Trump launched an anti-fraud task force on Monday, and appointed Vice President JD Vance to lead it.
Red States Push to Eliminate Income Taxes as Blue States Move to Raise Taxes on the Wealthy
A growing divide is emerging across the United States as Republican-led states move to slash or eliminate personal income taxes while Democratic-led states push to raise taxes on high earners.

Christian News
Killing Of Christian Youth In Pakistan Sparks Outrage; Police Arrest One Suspect
Pakistani police have launched a murder investigation after a young Christian man was brutally killed in the eastern city of Lahore, shocking members of the country’s small Christian community, investigators told Worthy News.
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George Whitten Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/16/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03162026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03162026

Friend, revival begins with consecration!

Joshua 5:2-3  At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time." 3  So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 9  Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. 

After Israel crossed the Jordan and stepped into the land of promise, something unexpected happened. Before a single battle was fought, before Jericho’s walls were confronted, God stopped the entire nation. Instead of preparing weapons or military strategy, the Lord gave Joshua a very different command: circumcise the nation again.

The wilderness generation had neglected the covenant sign.

Those who had been born during the forty years of wandering had not been circumcised, and before Israel could begin the conquest of the land, their covenant identity had to be restored. God was making it clear that victory would not begin with warfare -- it would begin with consecration.

The people of God first had to remember who they were.

Circumcision had always been the mark of belonging to the covenant given to Abraham. It represented separation, identity, and devotion to God. By commanding this act before the battles began, the Lord was reminding Israel that inheritance flows from covenant, not merely from effort. The conquest of Canaan would not be won simply by strength or strategy -- it would be won by a people who were aligned with God.

Scripture tells us that at that moment God “rolled away the reproach of Egypt.” Even though Israel had physically left Egypt decades earlier, the wilderness years had left lingering marks on their identity. Before they could fully step into promise, the shame and influence of the old life had to be removed.

This moment also points to a deeper spiritual reality. In the New Covenant, circumcision is no longer physical -- it is spiritual. The apostle Paul speaks of the circumcision of the heart, a work of God that removes the old nature and brings us into new life. Being born again is the true circumcision, where God cuts away the old identity and forms a new one rooted in Him.

Revival always follows this pattern.

Before conquest comes consecration. Before victory comes surrender. Before the people of God can take ground in the world, their hearts must first belong fully to the Lord. God is far more interested in forming a consecrated people than in producing quick victories.

The Lord was preparing Israel not only to fight battles, but to carry His presence in the land.

Friend, before God leads His people into greater victory, He calls them into deeper consecration. Revival is not sustained by enthusiasm alone -- it is sustained by hearts that belong fully to Him. Allow the Lord to deal with the old influences of Egypt that may still linger in the heart. Let Him renew your identity and restore the covenant within you. When a people are consecrated before God, the reproach of the past is rolled away -- and they become ready to advance into every promise He has prepared.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Hungary’s Rival National Day Rallies Highlight Deep Divide Ahead Of April Election (Worthy News In-Depth)
Rival rallies drawing hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets of Budapest on Hungary’s March 15 national holiday as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and opposition challenger Péter Magyar presented sharply different visions for the country ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, with the war in neighboring Ukraine overshadowing the campaign.
U.S. Strikes Iran’s Kharg Island Military Targets as Trump Warns Oil Infrastructure Could Be Next
President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a major bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, destroying what he described as every military target on the strategically vital export hub.
Explosion At Jewish School In Amsterdam Sparks Fears After Synagogue Attacks
An explosion damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early Saturday in what authorities described as a deliberate attack against the Jewish community, raising alarm after recent assaults on synagogues in the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium.
Trump Calls For Warships To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz Oil Route Near Iran
U.S. President Donald J. Trump says the United States and allied nations should send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
US Refueling Aircraft Crash Kills Six Crew Members Over Iraq As Iran Strikes Intensify
All six crew members aboard a U.S. refueling aircraft have died after the plane crashed over western Iraq, the U.S. military confirmed Friday, as fighting between the United States, Israel, and Iran continued to intensify.
Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Likely Disfigured,’ Hiding Underground After War Strikes
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader is likely wounded, disfigured, and hiding underground as the Islamic Republic reels from the opening blows of the war with the United States and Israel.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Says Campaign Against Iran Advancing Faster Than Expected
Israel’s military campaign against Iran, conducted in coordination with the United States, is progressing faster than originally planned, according to Israeli defense officials.

Inside the United States
In A First, Nine Texas Antifa Members Found Guilty On Federal Terror Charges
In a historical first, nine people have been convicted by a federal jury on domestic terrorism charges connected to Antifa.
Suspected Islamist Gunman Kills ROTC Instructor At Virginia University
Investigations continued Friday after a suspected Islamist gunman opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University in the U.S. state of Virginia on Thursday, killing a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) instructor and wounding two others before he was subdued by students and died, officials said.

Christian News
Christian Youth Killed In Lahore Sparks Outrage; One Suspect Arrested
Pakistani police have launched a criminal investigation after a young Christian man was brutally killed in the eastern city of Lahore, an attack that has shocked members of the country’s small Christian community, investigators told Worthy News on Saturday.
Bible Sales Surge In Britain As Young Generation Rediscovers Faith
Bible sales in Britain have surged to their highest levels since records began, reflecting a growing spiritual interest across the nation—particularly among younger generations.
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George Whitten Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/13/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03132026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03132026

Friend, testimony that carries the promise!

Joshua 4:6–7 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." 

After Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground, the Lord gave Joshua a surprising instruction. Twelve men—one from each tribe—were told to return to the riverbed and carry out stones. These stones were not meant to decorate a campsite or mark a victory monument for pride. They were to be placed as a memorial so that when future generations saw them, they would ask, “What do these stones mean?”

God was establishing a testimony.

The stones came from the very place where the river had once blocked their path. What had been an impossible barrier had become a lasting reminder of God’s faithfulness. Every time Israel looked at those stones, they would remember that the same God who stopped the Jordan was leading them into their inheritance.

God understands something about the human heart -- we forget miracles quickly. Moments that once filled us with awe can slowly fade if they are not remembered and retold. That is why the Lord instructed them to build a visible memorial. The stones preserved memory so that faith would continue. What God had done for one generation was meant to strengthen the next.

A generation that remembers God’s works will continue God’s mission.

The same principle remains true for us. Faith grows stronger when we remember what God has already done. When we recall the times He answered prayer, opened doors, provided in times of lack, or carried us through seasons that felt impossible, our confidence in His faithfulness grows. Testimony anchors the heart and strengthens expectation.

The God who moved in the past is still moving today.

Friend, remember the stones in your own journey. Think back to the moments when God intervened, when He provided, when He carried you through something you could never have overcome alone. Those moments are not just memories -- they are reminders that the God who was faithful before is still faithful now. Let those testimonies strengthen your faith today, because the God who has done incredible things in your past is preparing to do incredible things in your future.

Shabbat Shalom! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you first thing on Monday morning!

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Damaged Russian Gas Tanker Drifts In Mediterranean As Hungary-Ukraine Energy Tensions Rise
A damaged Russian gas tanker is drifting unmanned through the Mediterranean Sea, prompting Malta to prepare emergency measures while tensions linked to the war in Ukraine spill into Europe’s energy and security landscape.
Iran Launches Drone, Missile Attacks Across Gulf As Oil Prices Surge
Iran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Gulf countries Thursday, the 13th day of the United States-Israel war against Tehran, with strikes reported in Bahrain and other states, sending oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns among foreign workers, including Christians.
Wave of Antisemitic Attacks Targets Synagogues Across U.S., Canada, and Europe
A troubling wave of antisemitic incidents has struck Jewish communities across the United States, Canada, and Europe over the past week, prompting heightened security and renewed warnings from officials.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Hits Tehran Nuclear Compound While Crushing Iran’s Drone Network
Israel intensified its campaign against Iran on Thursday, striking a nuclear-weapons development facility near Tehran while continuing operations against the regime’s missile and drone infrastructure.

Inside the United States
Michigan Synagogue Attacked; Suspect Reportedly Dead
Law enforcement is responding to reports of an active shooter and a vehicle driven into Temple Israel synagogue and school, located in West Bloomfield Township.
Democrats Tank DHS Funding Bill For Fourth Time
U.S. Senate Democrats tanked the Department of Homeland Security funding bill for a fourth time Thursday, ensuring the department’s funding lapse will span at least a month.
Bipartisan Housing Bill Passes Senate, Faces Uncertain Fate In House
The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bill to increase American housing supply and lower home prices, in an 89-10 vote Thursday.

Christian News
25,000 Christians Face Eviction In Pakistan’s Capital As Father Reported Missing
Nearly 25,000 Christians, many of them impoverished sanitation workers and day laborers, face possible eviction from their homes in Pakistan’s capital after authorities ordered them to vacate two settlements within days, Christians familiar with the situation confirmed Thursday.

Worthy Insights
US to give Israel one week to end the war
A senior political source from the Middle East tells Israel Hayom that the US wants the military campaign against Iran to end, and has given Israel just one week to conclude it. The source also assessed that the regime in Tehran is unlikely to be replaced, because such a change would require either a ground invasion by troops or the renewal of large-scale protests inside Iran, something the source does not believe will happen in the near future.
US, Israel preparing secret plan for ‘day after’ Iran’s ayatollah regime
Israel and the US have prepared a plan aimed at creating the conditions to accelerate the fall of Iran's ayatollah regime after the war ends, according to a source familiar with the details who spoke with Israel Hayom.
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George Whitten Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/12/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03122026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03122026

Friend, crossing through barriers into revival!

Joshua 3:14-17  So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16  that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan. 

Israel stood at the edge of the Jordan River, and it was overflowing its banks. The wilderness was finally behind them, yet the promise of God still lay across the water. Between where they were and where God had called them to be stood an impossible barrier. The river was at flood stage, wide and powerful, a final obstacle between wandering and inheritance.

For forty years, the people had journeyed through the wilderness, watching a generation shaped by fear pass away. Yet the covenant of God had not changed. The promise spoken to Abraham still stood, waiting for a people willing to trust it. Now, a new generation stood where their fathers once hesitated, looking at the same challenge but with a different opportunity before them.

God gave Joshua clear instructions. The priests were to carry the ark of the covenant -- the symbol of God’s presence -- and walk directly toward the river. The miracle would not occur before the movement. It would occur in response to it. The waters did not part while the people stood at the edge discussing the river, analyzing the risk, or fearing the current. The river opened the moment the priests stepped into the water carrying the presence of God.

This is the pattern of faith. God often opens impossible passages when His people move forward with Him. The miracle followed obedience. The presence of God went first, and the people followed. What had looked like an impassable barrier suddenly became a pathway into promise.

The Jordan marked the end of the wilderness and the beginning of inheritance. It was more than a river -- it was the threshold between delay and fulfillment. Promise begins where the wilderness season ends, and the crossing came not through human strength but through trust in God’s faithfulness.

This pattern remains true today. Revival often begins when God’s people stop standing at the edge of possibility and step forward with His presence. Discussion gives way to decision, hesitation gives way to obedience, and the path forward opens as faith moves.

Friend, the Jordan before us may look overwhelming, but the promise of God stands on the other side. This is not the hour to remain on the shore of hesitation. Carry His presence forward and step into the water by faith. When God’s people move with Him, what once seemed impossible will open before them. The wilderness season is ending, and the way into promise is appearing. Revival begins when a people trust God enough to step forward.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Europe On High Alert After Belgium Synagogue Blast As Iran War Fuels Security Fears
Belgium, Britain, France, and Germany are among European countries on heightened alert after an explosion outside a synagogue in eastern Belgium raised fears of possible terrorism linked to the war involving Iran.
IEA Announces Record Oil Release as Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Shake Global Markets
The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced Wednesday that member nations will release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves, the largest coordinated drawdown in the agency’s history, as the war with Iran disrupts global energy supplies.
U.S. Strikes Over 5,500 Targets in Iran as Operation Epic Fury Expands
U.S. forces have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, according to an operational update Wednesday from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.
Ships Struck Near Strait of Hormuz as Gulf Tensions Escalate
Three commercial cargo vessels were struck by projectiles early Wednesday in or near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the growing threat to global shipping lanes as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies.
Iranian Crown Prince Urges Citizens to Await ‘Final Call’ as Pressure Mounts on Tehran
Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, has called on the Iranian people to prepare for what he described as the decisive stage of their struggle against the Islamic regime, urging citizens to await his “final call” as tensions continue to escalate in the country.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iran and Hezbollah Launch Coordinated Missile and Rocket Assault on Israel
Israel came under a coordinated barrage of rockets, drones, and ballistic missiles Wednesday night as Hezbollah and Iran launched simultaneous attacks that triggered air raid sirens across large parts of the country.
Israel Exploring Security Partnership With Somaliland Near Red Sea
Israel is exploring a strategic security partnership with Somaliland that could potentially include a military presence near the mouth of the Red Sea, according to officials cited in a Bloomberg report.
IAF: Iran’s Missile Capabilities Could Drop 95% Within Days
Israel’s military believes Iran’s ability to launch ballistic missiles at the Jewish state could collapse by as much as 95% within days, according to reports Tuesday citing senior Israeli Air Force officials.

Inside the United States
US Intercepts Iranian Signals As Texas Shooting Fuels Fears Of Sleeper Cells
U.S. intelligence agencies say they have intercepted encrypted communications believed to originate from Iran, raising concerns that the signals could be intended to activate sleeper cells abroad amid escalating tensions following reports that Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike.
Trump Announces First New U.S. Oil Refinery in 50 Years With $300 Billion Investment
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the first new U.S. oil refinery built in half a century will be constructed in Brownsville, Texas, calling the project a historic milestone for American energy independence.

Christian News
Pastor Beaten Unconscious in India as Hindu Nationalists Attack House Church
A pastor was recovering Wednesday after being beaten unconscious when a mob of Hindu nationalists attacked a house church gathering in central India, assaulting worshippers that included women and children, Christians familiar with the case said.
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George Whitten Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/11/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03112026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03112026

Friend, take the mountain!

Joshua 14:12  Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said." 

When Caleb finally stood in the land God had promised, he was eighty-five years old. Forty-five years had passed since he first spied the land with Joshua, and an entire generation had risen and fallen in the wilderness. Yet Caleb’s faith had not weakened. Standing before Joshua, he made a remarkable request: “Now therefore, give me this mountain.” He did not ask for comfort or easier ground. He asked for the very place where the giants still lived.

The Anakim were still there, just as they had been when Caleb first saw the land decades earlier. Time had passed, but the challenge had not disappeared. Yet neither had Caleb’s confidence. The same spirit that believed God at forty years old was still alive in him at eighty-five. The years had not diminished his faith; they had refined it.

This reveals an important truth about God's promises. Promise requires courage even at fulfillment. Many people assume that when God’s promise comes into view, the obstacles will fade away. Caleb’s story shows otherwise. The giants did not vanish simply because the time of inheritance had arrived. The promise still required faith to possess.

But Caleb’s spirit remained aligned with the covenant. He declared that he was still as strong for battle as he had been when Moses first sent him into the land. His faith had matured over time, but it had not weakened. The years of waiting had strengthened his resolve rather than diminishing it.

Giants do not disappear -- faith grows stronger.

Caleb understood that the mountain was not a problem; it was an opportunity. The very giants that once intimidated a generation now stood as the final step into fulfillment. What others feared, Caleb was ready to confront. The promise had sustained him through decades of waiting, and now he was prepared to claim it.

Inheritance requires finishing strength. It is not enough to begin in faith; the promise belongs to those who carry that faith all the way to the end.

Friend, this is the hour to ask boldly for the mountain set before you. Do not settle for comfort when God has called you to possess His promises. The presence of giants does not cancel what God has spoken -- it confirms that something significant lies ahead. Let your faith be stronger today than when you first believed. Hold fast to the promise and do not lose strength at the finish line. Those who endure with courage will not only see the promise—they will inherit it.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
U.S. Destroys 16 Iranian Mine-Laying Boats Near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying boats near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday as Washington moved to prevent Tehran from disrupting one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, the Pentagon confirmed.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Injured but Still Governing
Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was reportedly wounded during the recent war but remains capable of carrying out his duties, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by The Jerusalem Post.
Six Dead In Suspected Deliberate Bus Fire In Switzerland
At least six people were killed and five others injured after a passenger bus burst into flames in western Switzerland, with authorities saying the blaze may have been deliberately set.
Iran Strikes Gulf States As Christians Voice Fears (Worthy News In-Depth)
Iran launched new attacks on Gulf Arab countries Tuesday as strikes that began last week have killed at least seven people and injured more than 120 others, heightening fears among foreign residents, including minority Christians, Worthy News learned.
Hegseth: Tuesday To Be ‘Most Intense Day Of Strikes’ Yet In Iran
The American military continues to ramp up its attacks on Iran, 10 days into Operation Epic Fury.
Iranian Women’s Soccer Players Granted Asylum In Australia After Anthem Protest
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women’s soccer players who sought asylum amid fears for their safety if they returned to the Islamic Republic, authorities confirmed.
US, Israel Reject Iran’s New Leader As NATO Intercepts Second Missile Threatening Turkey; US Shares Recover (Worthy News Focus)
NATO-linked air defenses intercepted a second Iranian ballistic missile threatening alliance member Turkey on Monday as the United States and Israel rejected Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iran, Hezbollah Launch Coordinated Cluster Missile Barrage Against Israel
Israel faced an intensified wave of attacks Tuesday as Iran and Hezbollah launched what analysts describe as a coordinated barrage of missiles and drones, including cluster munitions, on the 11th day of Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion.

Inside the United States
ICE Houston Arrests Over 400 Illegal Immigrants Charged With Child Sex Offenses
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that its Houston division arrested 414 illegal immigrants in 2025 who were charged with or convicted of child sex crimes.

Christian News
Christians Concerned As Bihar Weighs Anti-Conversion Law
Christians in India voiced concern after lawmakers in the northern state of Bihar suggested introducing an anti-conversion law similar to legislation adopted in several other states.
Mexico Christians Face Rising Attacks After Cartel Retaliation (Worthy News Focus)
Evangelical Christians in parts of Mexico are facing renewed persecution after cartel retaliation erupted following the killing of one of the country’s most notorious drug lords in a U.S.-backed military operation that left dozens of Mexican soldiers dead, Christian advocates say.
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George Whitten Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/10/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03102026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03102026

Friend, worth the wait!

Joshua 14:7-10  I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8  Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9  So Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.' 10  And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 

When Caleb finally stood in the land of promise, forty years had passed since the day he first spied it. An entire generation had lived and died in the wilderness. The report of fear had delayed the inheritance of a nation, yet Caleb’s faith had not shifted. He reminded Joshua, “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me… and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart.” The years had passed, but his confession had not changed.

Time had not erased the promise, nor had delay weakened it. The wilderness had tested many, and most had surrendered their confidence along the way. But Caleb held firmly to what God had spoken. While others allowed fear to reshape their expectations, Caleb carried the same report for four decades. He watched an entire generation pass away, yet the word God had given him remained alive in his heart.

Time tests faith; it does not cancel promise. Many can believe God in a moment of excitement, but fewer carry that same confidence through seasons of waiting. Caleb’s faith endured the long years because it was rooted in covenant, not circumstance. The land had not changed, the giants had not disappeared, and the promise had not expired. The delay only revealed whether faith was a temporary enthusiasm or a lasting conviction.

Delayed inheritance still requires sustained belief. God does not forget what He has declared, even when fulfillment takes longer than expected. The wilderness may slow the timeline, but it cannot nullify the promise. Caleb’s life shows that the passage of time does not diminish God’s word—it refines those who hold on to it.

Forty years later, Caleb stood ready to receive what had been promised. His faith had survived the delay, and because it endured, he was prepared to step into the inheritance others had forfeited.

Friend, do not let delay rewrite what God has spoken over your life or over this generation. The wilderness may test your faith, but it cannot cancel your inheritance. Hold your confession and guard the promise in your heart. What God has spoken does not expire with time. Those who continue to believe through the waiting will be the ones who step into fulfillment. Stand firm -- the promises of God are still alive, and those who endure in faith will inherit them.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Global Operation Rescues 65 Children, Arrests 60 in Child-Exploitation Crackdown
An international law-enforcement operation has led to the arrest of 60 suspects and the rescue of 65 child victims following a year-long investigation across Central America, North America, and the Caribbean.
Trump Launches ‘Shield of the Americas’ Strategy Targeting Drug Cartels
President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping new strategy to combat drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere, declaring that powerful trafficking networks should be treated as national security threats rather than ordinary criminal organizations.
G7 Nations Not Yet Ready To Release Oil Stockpiles
G7 finance ministers said Monday they will take “necessary measures” to stabilize energy supplies but added there is no plan yet to release strategic oil stockpiles after prices for the vital commodity surged over the weekend to a 45-month high.
Trump Says War Against Iran ‘Very Near Completion’ as U.S.–Israel Campaign Devastates Regime’s Military
President Donald Trump said Monday that the joint U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran is "very far ahead of schedule," declaring that the Islamic Republic's military infrastructure has been largely destroyed and the conflict could soon come to an end.
Ukrainian Man Kidnapped And Murdered In Bali As Police Hunt Suspects
Authorities on the Indonesian island of Bali are investigating the kidnapping and brutal killing of a Ukrainian man believed to be linked to organized crime in a case that has shocked residents of the resort island, a popular international tourist destination.
Hungary: Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy Threatened To Kill Prime Minister Orbán
Hungary accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of threatening to kill Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as frictions between the neighbors intensified Friday, deepening disputes over energy supplies, financial aid and the war in Ukraine.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF Hits Over 600 Targets, Kills 200 Hezbollah Operatives in Expanding Lebanon Campaign
Israel’s military says it has struck more than 600 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon and eliminated roughly 200 terrorists since the Iranian-backed group joined the regional conflict last week.

Inside the United States
Trump Push for SAVE America Act Raises Risk of Congressional Gridlock
A political standoff is brewing in Washington after President Donald Trump vowed not to sign new legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, prompting warnings from Senate leaders that the move could trigger legislative gridlock.
Federal Deficit Totaled $1 Trillion In Beginning Of Fy2026, CBO Says
The United States federal budget deficit totaled $1 trillion in the first five months of fiscal year 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Christian News
Christian Leader Welcomes US Call To Keep Pakistan On Religious Freedom Watch List
A Christian rights leader in Pakistan has welcomed a recommendation by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to keep Pakistan designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” amid reports of widespread violence against Christians and other minorities.
Christian Girl, 10, Targeted In Attempted Rape Attack In Pakistan
Authorities in Pakistan launched an investigation after a 10-year-old Christian girl was allegedly targeted in an attempted rape by a Muslim man in Punjab province amid a series of violent incidents against Christians in the region, investigators said Sunday.

Worthy Insights
Thousands Turn to Christ as Massive Franklin Graham Event Reaches 90,000
Franklin Graham preached the gospel to 90,000 people in Lima, Peru, over the weekend, and thousands made commitments to give their lives to Jesus Christ as a result.
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George Whitten Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/9/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03092026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03092026

Friend, standing together in covenant!

Numbers 32:11-12  'Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, 12  except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.' 

When the wilderness generation failed to enter the land, God made a striking declaration. Only two men from that generation would inherit the promise -- Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. Joshua was from the tribes of Israel, but Caleb was a Kenizzite, a people originally outside the covenant line of Abraham. One represented Israel by birth; the other represented someone grafted in by faith.

Only two entered. A Jew and a Gentile.

This was not accidental. It was prophetic. The promise of God was never meant to be sustained by ethnicity alone but by covenant alignment. Caleb was not born into the tribes of Israel, yet he carried the same spirit of faith. When the majority shrank back, he stood firm. When others measured giants against themselves, Caleb measured them against God.

Inheritance is covenantal, not cultural.

The wilderness had a mixed multitude who left Egypt together, but the land was entered by those who aligned themselves fully with God’s promise. Bloodline did not determine inheritance -- faith did. Caleb stood beside Joshua, not because of heritage, but because his heart was anchored in the covenant of the Lord.

This points forward to the greater story God was writing. From the beginning, the promise was meant to reach beyond one people to all who would trust the God of Israel. The land of promise was entered by a Jew and a Gentile standing side by side in faith. It was a picture of what God would one day do through Yeshua (Jesus) -- bringing people from every nation into one covenant family.

Revival always unites what fear divides.

Fear builds walls. Covenant tears them down. When God moves, He gathers people who share the same spirit of faith, regardless of background. The question is never where you came from; the question is whether you believe what God has spoken.

Friend, the promise of God is not limited by background, culture, or history. What matters is covenant alignment. God is raising a people in this hour -- Jew and Gentile -- who carry the same spirit of faith. The harvest before us will not be gathered by one group alone, but by a unified people who believe His Word. Stand in covenant confidence. Refuse the divisions fear tries to build. When hearts align with God’s promise, inheritance follows -- and revival advances through a people joined together by faith.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

Around the World
Iran Names Mojtaba Khamenei As New Supreme Leader After Death Of Father
Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts announced Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected as the country’s new supreme leader, replacing his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening phase of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
U.S., Israeli Air Superiority Cuts Iranian Missile Attacks by 90%
The number of missiles launched by Iran has dropped by roughly 90% since the opening day of the war, according to the commander of U.S. Central Command, as American and Israeli forces establish near-total aerial dominance over the country.
Trump Weighs Special Forces Mission As Israel Strikes Iran And Middle East Death Toll Climbs (Worthy News Focus)
U.S. President Donald J. Trump was weighing deploying special forces to seize Iran’s near-bomb-grade uranium as Israel expanded strikes on targets in Iran and Lebanon, escalating the war in the Middle East that has already left more than 1,500 people dead across the region, officials said.
Orbán Sends Energy Relief Letters Ahead Of Hungarian Election Amid Ukraine War And Global Energy Fears (Worthy News Focus)
Hungary’s prime minister has begun sending letters to households promising relief on energy bills ahead of April elections as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East raise fears of rising energy prices across Europe.
RFE/RL Journalist Held In Russian Isolation Unit As Media Freedom Forum Warns Of Crackdown
U.S.-backed broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) says one of its jailed journalists has been moved to a “punitive isolation unit” in Russia, where she is serving additional disciplinary penalties for alleged violations, as critics warn that more journalists and media workers are now behind bars in the country than last year.
Hungary-Ukraine Tensions Surge Over Oil Pipeline Dispute, Alleged Bank Worker Detentions
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine surged Friday after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vowed to “break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force” to restore Russian crude supplies to his country, as Kyiv accused Hungarian authorities of detaining employees of a Ukrainian state bank transporting large sums of money and gold through Budapest.
U.A.E. Weighs Freezing Billions in Iranian Assets Amid Escalating Conflict
The United Arab Emirates is considering freezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets held within its financial system, a move that could severely restrict one of Tehran’s most important economic lifelines, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive citing officials familiar with the discussions.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Strike Kills Senior IRGC–Hezbollah Officials in Beirut
The Israeli military said Sunday that an overnight strike in Beirut killed five senior liaison officials connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and Hezbollah, dealing what it described as a significant blow to coordination between the Iranian regime and its Lebanese proxy.

Inside the United States
Trump Refuses to Sign New Bills Until Congress Passes SAVE Act
President Donald Trump said Sunday he will refuse to sign any additional legislation until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, escalating pressure on lawmakers to advance the voter-identification bill that has stalled in the Senate.
NYC Bomb Suspects Allegedly Shouted “Allahu Akbar” Before Explosive Attack at Protest
Authorities say a suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before throwing an improvised explosive device during a protest near Gracie Mansion, triggering a major investigation involving federal and local law enforcement.
Trump Receives Fallen Troops In Dover As Gulf Shipping Disrupted And Middle East Tensions Rise
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived at Dover Air Force Base in the U.S. state of Delaware on Saturday to receive the remains of six American soldiers killed during the first days of combat operations linked to U.S. strikes on Iran, as tensions across the Middle East continued to escalate.
Trump Fires Homeland Security Chief Noem Amid Shootings, Spending Controversies
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on after months of controversy, including the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis and growing questions from lawmakers over spending at the Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in February as Unemployment Ticks Higher
The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost 92,000 jobs in February, according to new data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking a sharp reversal from earlier forecasts that predicted modest job growth.

Christian News
Islamic Militants Turn To Christ In Nigeria Amid Violence, Film Shows (Worthy News In-Depth)
A growing number of Islamic militants are abandoning terrorism and turning to the Christian faith in Nigeria, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians, according to a new documentary by a global mission group.
Two Arrested After Killing Of Christian Worker Sparks Protests In Pakistan
Pakistani police have arrested two Muslim suspects in connection with the killing of a young Christian agricultural worker whose death sparked protests in the country’s eastern Punjab province, investigators and Christian advocates said Saturday.
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George Whitten Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/6/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03062026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03062026

Friend, the cost of standing alone!

Numbers 14:10  And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.

The moment Joshua and Caleb spoke faith, the atmosphere turned hostile. The congregation had already accepted the majority report. Fear had filled the camp, and emotion had spread quickly through the people. When Joshua and Caleb stood and declared that God would give them the land, the response was not applause but rage. The crowd wanted to stone them.

This is the cost of standing in faith when fear dominates the crowd. Joshua and Caleb were not rebellious or arrogant; they were simply repeating what God had already said. Yet in that moment, the voice of covenant sounded offensive to a people who had already surrendered to fear. Faith is rarely applauded in fearful seasons. When fear fills the atmosphere, courage feels threatening, and when unbelief becomes agreement, faith begins to sound unreasonable.

Those who speak promise in moments of panic often find themselves standing alone. But Joshua and Caleb refused to bend their report. They would not adjust the truth to fit the crowd or soften the promise to match the mood of the camp. They stood firm because they understood something the others had forgotten -- the promise was not sustained by opinion but by covenant. The land did not belong to the majority report; it belonged to the God who had declared it.

This pattern repeats in every generation. When God begins to move toward fulfillment, resistance rises. Faith must hold its ground even when the crowd turns against it. Those who carry revival cannot measure their convictions by popularity; they must measure them by promise. History often turns on the courage of a few who refuse to retreat while others tremble.

Joshua and Caleb were nearly silenced that day, yet they became the only two from that generation who entered the land. Standing alone cost them something in the moment, but it ultimately qualified them for the inheritance that others forfeited.

Friend, do not be surprised when faith sets you apart. Revival has always been carried by those willing to stand when others retreat. Do not bend your report to match the crowd. Do not dilute what God has spoken to avoid resistance. The promise is not upheld by majority agreement -- it is upheld by divine declaration. Stand firm. Speak truth. Hold covenant. Those who refuse to bow to fear today will be the ones who step into fulfillment tomorrow.

Shabbat Shalom! We’ll continue posting updates on Worthy News throughout the weekend as developments unfold in the ongoing war. Our regular worthy briefs will resume first thing Monday morning. Have a great weekend in Him!

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Birmingham, Alabama. This weekend we will be in Huntsville, Alabama and Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

🚨 New Video Just Released on the Worthy Ministries YouTube Channel -- War with Iran has started … now what?

Around the World
Iran War Raises Fears Over U.S. Arms Supply For Ukraine
Concerns grew Thursday that the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran could affect the war in Ukraine, amid fears Washington may soon lack sufficient munitions to continue supporting Kyiv, including through its European allies.
Massive Blackout Plunges Western Cuba Into Darkness Amid Fuel Crisis
A widespread power outage plunged large portions of Cuba into darkness Wednesday, leaving millions without electricity across the island’s western and central regions, including the capital city of Havana.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Enters “Next Phase” of War With Iran After Crippling Air Defenses
Israel says its war against Iran is entering a more intense phase after the Israeli Air Force achieved broad air superiority and severely weakened the regime’s military infrastructure.

Inside the United States
Iran War Powers Resolution Fails in House
Congressional efforts to halt the U.S. military’s operations in Iran have now failed twice, with the U.S. House tanking a War Powers Resolution only a day after it was rejected in the Senate.
Trump Administration Ends Federal Funding for Transgender Surgeries for Prison Inmates
The Trump administration has ended federal funding for gender-transition surgeries and cross-sex hormone treatments for transgender inmates in federal prisons, a policy shift officials say will save taxpayers nearly $2 million.

Christian News
Malta Court Acquits Christian Man Who Faced Jail Over LGBTQ Testimony (VIDEO)
A Christian man in Malta who faced jail time for publicly stating he had left the gay lifestyle said he “praises God” after being acquitted following a three-year legal battle in a case that could have wider European ramifications.

Worthy Insights
The 1,400-Year-Old Sunni-Shia Islamic Religious Split Is Shaping the Iran War
Iranian Shiites have a saying, "Sag Sunni." It means Sunni Muslims are dogs. The Iranians don’t mean it as a compliment.
CIA’s secret plan to arm militias on Iran’s borders
The United States is intensifying efforts to build an opposition within Iran. According to intelligence sources talking with CNN, the American initiative is not limited to ethnic groups such as the Kurds and the Baloch. It is also focused on garnering support from within Iran's regular army, public figures, local leadership and even relatively moderate senior officials within the regime.
Chinese state-run media promotes anti-Iran War protests organized by CCP-linked Singham Network
Chinese state-run propaganda outlets are promoting U.S. protests against the Trump Administration’s strikes against the Iranian regime, with the protests being organized by a Chinese Communist Party-linked financial network in the United States.
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George Whitten Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/5/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03052026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03052026

Friend, fear not -- the harvest is before us!

Numbers 14:6-9  But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7  and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8  If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9  Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them." 

When the congregation erupted in fear, Joshua and Caleb did something remarkable -- they tore their clothes. In Scripture, this was not theatrical emotion; it was the sign of deep grief. They were not grieving the giants. They were grieving the unbelief spreading through the camp.

They had walked through the same land as the other spies. They saw the same cities, the same warriors, the same descendants of Anak. Yet their conclusion was completely different. While others magnified the obstacles, Joshua and Caleb magnified the promise.

“The land we passed through… is an exceedingly good land.”

They did not deny the reality of the giants, but they refused to let fear interpret what God had already declared. The land was exactly what the Lord had promised -- abundant, fruitful, and overflowing with provision. The issue was never the goodness of the land. The issue was whether the people would trust the God who had already pledged to give it.

Joshua and Caleb shifted the conversation from obstacles to their relationship with God. “If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us.” Their confidence was not rooted in Israel’s strength but in God’s favor. Victory would not come through military power; it would come because the Lord had chosen to give the land.

Then they made a statement that revealed their perspective: “Do not fear the people of the land, for they are our bread.”

The very thing the people feared would become their provision. What looked threatening would ultimately sustain them. When God is with His people, opposition becomes opportunity. The giants that intimidate unbelief become nourishment for faith. Their strength would not come from avoiding the battle, but from trusting the One who had already gone before them.

Joshua and Caleb also understood something deeper: the spiritual battle had already shifted. “Their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us.” While Israel focused on the visible strength of their enemies, these two men recognized that the decisive factor was the presence of God. When the Lord is with His people, every calculation changes.

This is the perspective that revival requires. The harvest before us is abundant, yet opposition is visible. Fear will always magnify resistance, but faith remembers that the Lord goes before His people. The promise is not sustained by our ability -- it is sustained by His presence.

Friend, lift your eyes again to the goodness of the land before you. The harvest prepared for this generation is real, and God has already spoken abundance over it. Do not let fear reinterpret what heaven has declared. The giants that intimidate others are not signs of defeat -- they are confirmation of the promise. In fact, they are so big we cannot miss what God is about to do. What looks like opposition will become bread for those who trust Him. If the Lord delights in us -- and He does -- He will bring us fully into what He has prepared. Do not shrink back. The Lord is with us, and the harvest before us is not beyond reach -- it is waiting to be possessed.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Birmingham, Alabama. This weekend we will be in Huntsville, Alabama and Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
Please pray for our son, Obadiah, and his team on the mission field in Ethiopia.

🚨 New Video Just Released on the Worthy Ministries YouTube Channel -- War with Iran has started … now what?

Around the World
Iran State TV Hacked, Airs Message From Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Urging Military to Join Protesters
Iran’s state television network briefly lost control of one of its main channels on Wednesday after hackers interrupted programming and aired a message from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi calling on the Iranian military to side with protesters against the Islamic Republic.
Hegseth: U.S., Israel Will Soon Have ‘Complete Control’ Over Iran’s Airspace
American and Israeli forces have begun taking control of Iranian airspace, and in a few days, it will be uncontested airspace, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
US Submarine Sinks Iranian Warship Near Sri Lanka As Iran Conflict Widens
An American submarine has destroyed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka in the “first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II,” killing scores of people, the U.S. defense secretary confirmed Wednesday.
US Says ‘Operation Epic Fury’ Has Hit Nearly 2,000 Targets In Iran, Destroyed 17 Warships
The United States says it has struck nearly 2,000 targets across Iran and destroyed at least 17 Iranian naval vessels, including a submarine, as part of the widening military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, launched together with Israel against the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s Assembly Of Experts Reportedly Selects Mojtaba Khamenei As Supreme Leader Amid War Turmoil
Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts has reportedly chosen Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s next supreme leader amid the escalating war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Targets Iran’s Internal Security Forces in Bid to Weaken Regime
Israel and the United States are increasingly targeting Iran’s internal security apparatus as part of their ongoing military campaign, striking organizations responsible for suppressing protests and maintaining the Islamic Republic’s grip on power.
Indonesia Freezes Trump’s ‘Board Of Peace’ Talks As Iran War Shifts Diplomatic Focus
Indonesia has paused discussions on U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s “Board of Peace” initiative for Gaza as diplomatic attention shifts to the rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, dashing hopes among some Christians that the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation might move closer to normalizing relations with Israel.

Inside the United States
Iran War Powers Resolution To Curb Trump’s Military Authority Fails In Senate
The U.S. Senate failed to pass a measure Wednesday that would have curtailed President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military operations in Iran without congressional approval.
Bessent: Trump’s 15% Global Tariff Likely to Take Effect This Week
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s newly announced 15% global import tariff is expected to take effect sometime this week as the administration moves to rebuild its tariff framework after a recent Supreme Court ruling struck down part of the president’s trade agenda.
Tech Giants Join Trump to Sign ‘Ratepayer Protection Pledge’ on AI Data Center Power Costs
President Donald Trump met Wednesday with leaders of major technology companies at the White House as they formally backed a new initiative designed to prevent the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers from driving up electricity prices for American consumers.
Stocks Rise, Dollar Slides After Report Iran Contacted US To End War
Stocks rebounded after a report that Iran made indirect contact with the United States to negotiate an end to the war in the Middle East, boosting hopes that the conflict could be short-lived.

Christian News
Christian Youth Murdered In Pakistan Amid Rising Attacks
Hundreds of Christians, including family members, have protested the killing of a young Christian agricultural worker by one or more Muslims in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province and the alleged reluctance by authorities to properly investigate the case.
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George Whitten Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/4/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03042026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03042026

Friend, a different spirit can change everything!

Numbers 14:24  But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 

In the middle of a generation overwhelmed by fear, God pointed to one man and said something remarkable: “Caleb has a different spirit.”

Not louder than the crowd, not more influential than the leaders, and not more gifted than the others—yet Caleb stood apart because his spirit was different. While others were shaped by fear and overwhelmed by the size of the giants, Caleb’s heart remained anchored in what God had spoken. His strength was not in personality or position, but in a spirit that refused to let circumstances redefine covenant. What set him apart was not outward advantage, but an inward alignment with the promise of God.

Everyone else saw the same land, the same giants, the same fortified cities. Yet while the majority magnified obstacles, Caleb magnified covenant. His difference was not external -- it was internal. His spirit was aligned with what God had spoken rather than with what circumstances suggested.

What distinguishes you internally determines where you enter externally.

The wilderness revealed two kinds of spirits. One spirit gave room fear to speak, calculated impossibility, and shrank identity. The other spirit held tightly to God’s promise, even when the majority disagreed. Caleb did not deny the reality of the giants -- he simply refused to let them redefine God’s promises.

Heaven responds to a different spirit.

God did not say Caleb had a better strategy. He said Caleb had a different spirit and followed Him fully. That difference set him apart from an entire generation. The crowd saw gaints and withdrew. Caleb saw promise and moved forward.

Inheritance belongs to those who see differently.

The land did not open because the obstacles disappeared. It opened because someone carried a spirit that agreed with heaven rather than earth. A different spirit does not echo the atmosphere of fear -- it shifts it. It refuses to let majority opinion redefine divine promise.

Every generation faces this moment. Many will acknowledge the challenges. Many will rehearse the resistance. But God is always searching for those whose spirit aligns with His voice rather than the noise around them.

Friend, the future belongs to those who carry a different spirit. Refuse to inherit the atmosphere of fear that surrounds you. Let your spirit agree with heaven, not with intimidation. The harvest before us will not be gathered by those who repeat the majority report, but by those who carry covenant confidence. Be the one who sees promise where others see problems. When a different spirit rises in a generation, destiny opens -- and revival advances.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Birmingham, Alabama. This weekend we will be in Huntsville, Alabama and Murfreesboro, Tennessee)

🚨 New Video Just Released on the Worthy Ministries YouTube Channel -- War with Iran has started … now what?

Around the World
Trump: U.S. Navy To Provide Escorts For Tankers Through Strait Of Hormuz
Over concerns that Iran is blocking vital tankers from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Navy will begin escorting tankers through the area.
Trump Floats ‘Friendly Takeover’ of Cuba as Communist Regime Faces Mounting Pressure
President Donald Trump is raising the possibility of dramatic change in Cuba, suggesting that talks with Havana could lead to what he described as a potential “friendly takeover” as the island’s communist government struggles with deepening economic collapse.
Energy Markets Under Strain As Strait Of Hormuz Disruption Cripples Global Supply
Oil and natural gas prices jumped sharply Tuesday as global energy markets came under mounting strain after shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz stalled amid the ongoing U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran.
Trump Says Iran’s Military ‘Knocked Out’ After Israel Kills Quds Force Commander
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Tuesday that Iran’s military capabilities have been largely neutralized, after Israel confirmed it had killed a senior commander in Iran’s elite Quds Force during ongoing strikes on Tehran.
At Least 22 Dead After Bolivian Military Plane Carrying Banknotes Crashes In El Alto
A tense calm has returned to Bolivia’s western city of El Alto after riot police pushed back crowds trying to reach an airplane carrying banknotes that crashed late Friday, killing at least 22 people.
U.S. Intensifies Campaign Across Iran With Rapid Increase in Targets Hit
The U.S. military has struck 1,700 Iranian targets within the first 72 hours of the expanding conflict, according to a Tuesday update from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), signaling a sharp acceleration in the pace of operations.
Powerful Earthquake Strikes Off Sumatra, Residents Flee Homes
A powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Tuesday, Christians told Worthy News, forcing residents to flee their homes in several areas.
EU Struggles To Stay United Over Iran War As Energy Shock Rattles Central And Eastern Europe (Worthy News Analysis)
The European Union struggled to remain united Tuesday as leaders of the 27-nation bloc debated how to respond to ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.
IAEA Confirms Damage to Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Site After U.S.–Israeli Strikes
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed March 3 that one of Iran’s key uranium enrichment sites sustained new damage during the ongoing joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
U.S. Closes Embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as Iran Conflict Intensifies
The United States has closed its embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia and suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait as Iranian retaliatory strikes continued across the Gulf region.
Iran Weighs Response After With Much Of Navy Destroyed As AP Labels Conflict ‘War’
Iran was weighing its options Tuesday after U.S. forces said they had destroyed much of its navy as part of the expanding war between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic.
U.S. Warns of China’s Expanding Submarine Threat
Senior U.S. naval commanders are warning that China’s rapidly expanding submarine force presents a mounting strategic challenge, as Beijing develops next-generation ballistic missile submarines capable of striking larger portions of the U.S. mainland from waters closer to its own shores, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Expands Ground Presence in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Attacks Continue
Israel’s military said Tuesday it had expanded its troop deployment deeper into southern Lebanon as fighting with the Hezbollah terror group intensified along the northern border.
Prayers In Tel Aviv Shelters Amid Attacks (VIDEO)
Footage has emerged appearing to show people in Tel Aviv bomb shelters praying and singing as sirens sounded amid Iranian missile attacks in recent days.
Israeli Strike Hits Assembly of Experts Meeting in Qom as Iran’s Leadership Crisis Deepens
An Israeli defense source confirmed Tuesday that the Israeli Air Force struck a building in the Iranian city of Qom where senior clerics had reportedly gathered to elect a successor to Iran’s slain supreme leader.

Christian News
Christian Girl Maryam, 11, ‘Brutally Killed’ in Pakistan Prompting Outrage
An 11-year-old Christian girl was abducted and killed by her Muslim neighbor in the Pakistani city of Gujranwala, the latest in a series of attacks targeting members of the country’s Christian minority, investigators told Worthy News on Tuesday.
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George Whitten Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/3/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03032026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03032026

Friend, when atmosphere decides the future!

Numbers 14:1-4 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2  And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3  Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"  4 So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt." 

It happened in a single night. The spies had spoken. Fear had been planted. And now the entire congregation lifted their voices and wept. What began as a report became an atmosphere. What began as information became emotion. And emotion, left unchecked, turned into rebellion.

Fear became corporate. It spread from tent to tent, from family to family, until despair felt justified. They did not simply express concern -- they concluded defeat. They talked of appointing a new leader. They longed to return to Egypt. The same people who had seen the sea split now stood ready to reverse their destiny.

Atmosphere can either advance destiny or abort it.

The rabbis later connected that night of weeping with the ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av) -- a day that would echo through Jewish history as a date of tragedy. Both Temples would be destroyed on that date. National calamities would unfold on that date. Why? Because that first night marked a sin of unbelief that shifted history’s trajectory.

A moment of corporate fear created generational consequence.

Revival moments are fragile. When God brings a people to the edge of promise, resistance rises. If fear governs the atmosphere, forward movement can stall. What heaven intends to establish can be delayed by collective agreement with doubt.

The congregation rose up -- but not in worship. They rose up in complaint.

Unity is powerful, but unity around fear is destructive. Shared emotion can move a nation backward as easily as forward. They allowed feelings to outrun covenant. They let atmosphere override promise.

Emotion is not the enemy. But when emotion is not anchored in faith, it becomes rebellion.

This is the tension in every generation. Every generation is called to revival. Every generation is called to harvest its own moment in history. The question is whether we will amplify discouragement or anchor ourselves again in what God has spoken. We can allow fear to shape the atmosphere, or we can steady it with faith. History proves that unbelief leaves a ripple that carries forward-- but so does faith. And when a generation chooses trust over fear, it does not just change its present -- it shapes its future.

Friend, guard the atmosphere. Do not allow fear to become agreement. Refuse to let discouragement spread unchecked. The ones who entered the land were not those who wept with the crowd, but those who stood firm in covenant when the crowd trembled. This is the hour to steady the room, to silence panic, to lift perspective. What we magnify will multiply. Let faith fill the air. Let covenant shape the climate. If we guard the atmosphere with unwavering trust, destiny will not stall -- it will surge forward, and revival will break forth in our generation with power and purpose.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Birmingham, Alabama. This weekend we will be in Huntsville, Alabama and Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
🚨 New Video Just Released on the Worthy Ministries YouTube Channel -- War with Iran has started … now what?

Around the World
Iran Declares 40 Days Of Mourning After Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed In Strikes (Worthy News Focus)
Iran declared 40 days of public mourning after confirming that 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during Israeli and U.S. strikes on his compound in downtown Tehran.
Hegseth Calls Iran Strikes ‘Most Precise In History’ As US Signals War Could Expand
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom President Donald J. Trump calls “secretary of war,” said Monday that Operation Epic Fury against Iran was “the most lethal, most complex, and most precise aerial operation in history,” though he declined to rule out the possibility of American ground forces becoming involved.
Iran Rejects U.S. Talks; Regional Strikes Expand As Greece Deploys Forces To Cyprus
Iran has rejected negotiations with the United States as military escalation spread across the Middle East and into the eastern Mediterranean after the U.S. and Israel began striking the Islamic Republic early Saturday.
Three U.S. Troops Killed As Iran Strikes Back; British Base And UAE Also Targeted (Worthy News In-Depth)
Three U.S. service members were killed and five seriously wounded in an Iranian counterattack as fighting between the United States and Iran intensified, officials confirmed Sunday.
Ukraine Peace Talks Clouded By Middle East Escalation As Zelenskyy Backs U.S. Strikes On Iran
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that rapidly escalating tensions in the Middle East could postpone the next round of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, as Moscow condemned recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on its ally Iran.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Kills Hezbollah Intelligence Chief as Lebanon Moves to Ban Terror Group’s Military Wing
Israel announced Monday that it eliminated the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence apparatus in an overnight strike on Beirut, as Lebanon’s government declared it would move to prohibit the terror group’s military activities following a dramatic escalation along the northern border.
Netanyahu: Iran Operation Will Be “Quick and Decisive,” Not Endless War
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is forcefully rejecting claims that the United States and Israel are entering into a prolonged conflict with Iran, declaring that the current military campaign will be swift and decisive.

Inside the United States
U.S. Urges Americans to Leave Middle East as Iran War Intensifies
The U.S. State Department on Monday urged Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen Middle Eastern nations as the war with Iran entered its third day and regional security conditions deteriorated.
SCOTUS Rules Against California’s ‘Secret Gender Transition’ Law
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of plaintiffs in a lawsuit against a California law that allowed public schools to conceal a student’s “gender transitions” from their parents, a policy SCOTUS ruled likely violates the First and Fourteenth amendments.
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George Whitten Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 3/2/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03022026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-03022026

Friend, do not let giant interpret your future!

Numbers 13:31-33 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." 32  And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33  There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

The ten spies were not fabricating a story. The land truly had fortified cities. The descendants of Anak were formidable. The obstacles were visible and measurable. Their report contained facts.

But facts alone do not determine destiny.

They added interpretation. “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we… We were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” That sentence revealed the real battle. The problem was not what stood in the land -- it was what had shifted in their perception. Facts without faith produce fear.

The giants were real, but so was the covenant. The walls were high, but so was the promise. The land flowed with abundance, yet they allowed the size of the opposition to redefine their identity. Fear always shrinks identity before it blocks opportunity. Once they saw themselves as grasshoppers, the idea of possession became impossible in their minds.

Perspective determines possession.

The majority report spread quickly because it sounded reasonable. It acknowledged danger. It sounded cautious. It felt responsible. But it was disconnected from the covenant perspective. They measured the giants against themselves rather than against the God who had waged war against the gods of Egypt, split the Red Sea, and continued to reveal His power to them day after day!

This is the tension in every revival generation. We can assess the culture, resistance, spiritual opposition, and shrinking moral landscapes. Those are real observations. But if we interpret reality without covenant confidence, fear will spread faster than faith.

The issue was never the size of the giants—it was the loss of perspective.

When we forget what God has spoken, facts become final. When we remember what God has declared, facts become secondary. The majority may sound convincing, but heaven’s perspective carries authority.

Revival will never be sustained by majority opinion. It will be carried by those who are convinced that God’s promises will be fulfilled simply because He has spoken.

Friend, remember this: the ones who entered the promised land were not the majority -- they were the ones who carried the covenant in their hearts. Joshua and Caleb did not have popular support; they had covenant confidence. They believed what God had spoken, even when everyone else doubted. It was not the loudest voices that inherited the land, but the faithful ones. So do not be moved by numbers or opinions. Hold fast to His promise. Carry the covenant. Those who trust what God has said—no matter how few—are the ones who step into fulfillment.

George & Baht Rivka (Currently in Tampa, Florida. This week we will be in Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama.)

Around the World
Trump: Nine Iranian Ships Destroyed; Iran Wants To Talk
Nine Iranian ships have been “destroyed and sunk” by U.S. forces as part of Operation Epic Fury, according to President Donald Trump.
Iran Closes The Strait Of Hormuz
One of the major global maritime passageways for oil transport, the Strait of Hormuz, has been closed, according to multiple reports.
Putin Signals Willingness to Accept U.S. Security Guarantees as Ukraine War Enters New Phase Amid Operation Roaring Lion
In a striking turn of events with profound geopolitical consequences, The UK Sunday Times reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness — at least in diplomatic talks — to accept U.S.-backed security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a prospective post-war settlement. This development arrives at a moment of historic intensity, with the United States and Israel conducting major military operations against Iran’s regime in what U.S. leaders are calling a decisive strike against Tehran’s nuclear and missile threat.
Trump Declares Khamenei Dead, Signals Continued Pressure on Iran
President Donald Trump announced in a Truth Social post that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, describing the development as “justice” for Americans and others worldwide allegedly harmed by the Iranian regime.
Reports Claim Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed in Massive Israeli Strike
A senior Israeli official said Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the opening strike of Operation Roaring Lion, potentially ending the 86-year-old cleric’s 36-year rule over the Islamic Republic.
Trump Announces Major US Combat Operations Against Iran, Urges Regime Change
U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces have begun what he described as “major combat operations” against Iran, saying the objective is to eliminate what he called “imminent threats from the Iranian regime” and prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. He also urged Iranians to topple the country’s current leadership.
Trump Floats Annexing Cuba Amid Deadly Sea Incident And Deepening Crisis (Worthy News In-Depth)
Communist-run Cuba was preparing for more uncertainty Saturday after U.S. President Donald J. Trump suggested he may annex the island, though he indicated it would be less bloody than during the removal of Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump: “They Cannot Have Nuclear Weapons” — President Signals Patience, But Draws Clear Red Line
U.S. President Donald Trump made clear Friday that while he is frustrated with Iran’s posture in nuclear negotiations, he is not rushing blindly into conflict — even as American military assets continue to mass across the Middle East.
Hungary’s Orbán Deploys Troops To Energy Sites As Ukraine Tensions Rise Amid Domestic Scandal (Worthy News Focus)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday he had deployed troops to protect key energy facilities, accusing Ukraine and the European Union of endangering Hungary’s energy and economic security ahead of April elections.
Poland Says Belarus Using Hamas-Style Migrant Tunnels In Hybrid War Escalation (Worthy News In-Depth)
Polish officials say they have uncovered Hamas-style underground tunnels along the Belarus border that were allegedly used to funnel migrants into the European Union as part of what they describe as a Russian-backed campaign to destabilize the West.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel Strikes Hezbollah After Northern Attack; U.S. Campaign Against Iran Expands
Israel launched targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon on Monday after the Iranian-backed terror group fired projectiles into northern Israel, marking its first direct action against Israel’s northern regions since 2024 and formally widening the regional conflict.
Israel Drops 2,000 Bombs on Iran in First 48 Hours of Operation Roaring Lion
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Sunday night that it has dropped 2,000 bombs across Iran in the first two days of Operation Roaring Lion, marking one of the most intense aerial campaigns in Israel’s history.
Operation Roaring Lion Targets Iranian Leadership as IDF, U.S. Launch Broad Coordinated Strike
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the U.S. Armed Forces have launched a sweeping coordinated military campaign dubbed “Operation Roaring Lion,” targeting what Israeli officials describe as existential threats posed by the Iranian regime.
US, Israel Strike Iran As Iranian Missiles Hit Northern Israel
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran early Saturday, prompting a swift Iranian missile response that rocked northern Israel with explosions, witnesses said.
Netanyahu Announces Joint US-Israel Operation Against Iran, Warns Of Heavy Price
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the United States have launched a joint military operation against Iran aimed at ending what he described as the threat posed by Tehran’s leadership.
U.S. Authorizes Departure of Non-Essential Personnel from Israel as Regional Tensions Surge
The U.S. State Department on Friday authorized the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members from Israel, citing escalating “safety risks” amid intensifying regional tensions.

Inside the United States
Suspect in Austin Shooting Wore ‘Property of Allah’ Sweatshirt, Iranian Flag Shirt as FBI Probes Terror Link
The suspect in a deadly early-morning shooting in downtown Austin that left at least two people dead and 14 others wounded was wearing clothing bearing Islamic and Iranian imagery, according to multiple media reports, as federal authorities investigate a possible connection to terrorism.
FBI, Law Enforcement On Higher Alert Following Strikes On Iran
The FBI is on high alert following the U.S.-Israeli coordinated strikes on Iran overnight.
Trump Cuts Federal Ties With $15 Billion AI Firm Anthropic In Military Showdown
U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Friday ordered all federal agencies to phase out their use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Anthropic, a leading U.S.-based AI firm valued at about $15 billion, following a high-profile dispute with the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, over military use of the technology.
DOJ Arrests 25 in Minnesota Church Disruption, Vows Zero Tolerance for Attacks on Worship
Federal authorities have arrested 25 individuals in connection with a January 18 anti-ICE protest that disrupted services at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday.
Clinton Under Oath Denies Epstein Knowledge, Says Trump Not Implicated
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton told a congressional investigative panel on Friday that he had no knowledge of the crimes of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said he did not believe current President Donald J. Trump was involved.

Christian News
Evangelist Franklin Graham Urges Prayers For Military, President Amid Iran Strikes
Evangelist Franklin Graham, who has close ties to the White House, urged Americans on Saturday to pray for the U.S. military, which together with Israel’s forces began striking Iran earlier in the day.
Christian Woman In Pakistan Alleges Abduction, Forced Conversion To Islam; Suspect Named (Worthy News Investigation)
A young Christian woman alleges she was abducted at gunpoint and forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man four years ago after meeting him through her job at a beauty salon in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province. Now in her 20s, she fled this month and is in hiding with her young daughter, fearing retaliation.
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George Whitten Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 2/27/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02272026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02272026

Friend, face the giants and possess the promises!

Numbers 13:31-33 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." 32  And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33  There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

After forty days of exploring abundance, the spies returned carrying visible evidence of promise. The grapes were lush, the land was fruitful, and God’s word had proven true. Everything He had declared about Canaan was confirmed by what they held in their hands.

But then the tone shifted.

Yes, the land flowed with milk and honey—but there were giants. Fortified cities. Powerful armies. The sons of Anak. What God had declared as gift was now interpreted through fear. The giants were real—but so was the promise. The tragedy was not in what they saw; it was in how they processed it.

The ten spies did not deny the harvest. They doubted their ability to possess it. “We are not able,” they said, and then revealed the deeper issue: “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” Fear always attacks identity before it attacks opportunity. The land had not changed. The harvest had not disappeared. What changed was perspective. When fear interprets the future, giants grow larger and calling grows smaller. The moment you see yourself as insignificant, destiny begins to feel impossible.

This is the tension of every revival moment. The harvest is prepared, but opposition is visible. Cultural resistance, spiritual warfare, intimidation, unbelief—these are the giants that stand in the land today. But giants do not cancel prophecy. God never promised an empty land; He promised a given land. The presence of giants was not a contradiction of promise—it was confirmation that something valuable was there. The enemy fortifies what he fears losing.

The real battle was never against the giants themselves. It was against internal agreement with fear. Ten spies measured the giants against themselves and concluded defeat. Two measured the giants against God and concluded victory. Inheritance hinges on comparison. If you compare giants to your strength, you will retreat. If you compare them to God’s faithfulness, you will advance.

Revival always requires confronting something larger than comfort. The harvest is great, and resistance is real. The question is not whether giants exist—it is which voice will shape your destiny.

Friend, do not allow giants to reinterpret who you are. You are not grasshoppers—you are covenant carriers. The harvest before us is too significant to surrender to intimidation. Yes, there are giants of fear, doubt, and unbelief -- but they stand on land God has already declared ours. Measure opposition against His power, not your weakness. If faith rises now, the giants will not define this hour -- the promise will.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend! When you have a moment, I just released a new YouTube video — "Is war coming with Iran? Tucker - Huckabee Debacle", — that will be especially important in the days ahead.

George & Baht Rivka (Melbourne, Florida)

Around the World
US–Iran Talks Show Mixed Signals as Military Buildup Intensifies
The third round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran ended Thursday amid sharply conflicting assessments, as diplomatic maneuvering unfolded alongside one of the largest U.S. military buildups in the Middle East in years.
February Strike Commemoration In Amsterdam Overshadowed By Controversy (Worthy News In-Depth)
The 85th anniversary commemoration of a strike in Amsterdam against the deportation of Jews to Nazi death camps was overshadowed Wednesday by pro-Palestine protests and a controversial speech.
Indonesia Raises Billions In Bonds To Fund Budget Shortfall As Christians Pray For Stability
Indonesia tried to raise money on international financial markets Wednesday amid concerns over fiscal pressures in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which recently faced one of its sharpest stock market downturns in decades.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Air Force Strikes Hezbollah Radwan Force Sites in Eastern Lebanon
The Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes Thursday in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, targeting eight military compounds belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Inside the United States
Democrats Move to Block Trump Military Action on Iran as Talks Stall
Congressional Democrats are moving to force votes in the House and Senate to block President Donald Trump from launching military action against Iran without prior congressional approval.
FBI Subpoenaed Kash Patel Phone Records While He Was Private Citizen, Report Reveals
The FBI obtained phone records belonging to its current director, Kash Patel, during the Biden administration while he was still a private citizen, according to multiple reports confirmed Wednesday.
Bill Gates Addresses Epstein Ties, Admits Affairs But Denies Misconduct
Bill Gates, co-founder of tech giant Microsoft and currently ranked among the world’s wealthiest individuals, told employees this week that he had extramarital affairs during his marriage but denied any involvement in or knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking, according to remarks reviewed by U.S. media outlets.

Christian News
Houston Pastor Fatally Shot During Burglary Attempt, Church Mourns Founder
A Spanish-language evangelical congregation in Houston, Texas, home to one of America’s largest Hispanic communities, is mourning its founding pastor after he was accidentally shot and killed during a reported burglary attempt.
Christian Sanitation Worker Brutally Assaulted In Pakistan’s Punjab Province (Worthy News Investigation)
A Christian sanitation worker in eastern Pakistan has alleged he was brutally beaten while performing municipal cleaning duties in what advocacy groups describe as part of mounting pressure on Christians in the Muslim-majority nation.
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George Whitten Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 2/26/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02262026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02262026

Friend, wilderness to promise -- do not miss what is already in your hands!

Numbers 13:2  "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." 

Luke 10:2-3  Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  3  Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

The Lord never sends His people to evaluate what He has already declared. When God spoke to Moses, the language of heaven was already settled: “the land… which I am giving.” The spies were not commissioned to determine whether the promise was possible -- they were sent to witness what was already theirs by divine decree.

History offers a striking natural parallel. In the mid-20th century, Xerox rose to global dominance after pioneering the modern photocopier. By the 1970s, the company established one of the most advanced research centers in the world — PARC in Silicon Valley. Within those laboratories, Xerox engineers developed technologies that would shape the future of computing: the computer mouse, the graphical user interface, Ethernet networking, and laser printing. The future was not hidden from Xerox -- it was sitting in their hands. Yet leadership remained anchored to the success of their copier empire. They evaluated revolutionary breakthroughs through the lens of yesterday’s victories, and while others -- most notably Apple and later Microsoft -- seized the moment, Xerox hesitated. They saw, but did not possess. They pioneered, but did not pivot. They touched the future, but did not walk into it.

Beloved, this is the wilderness lesson before the body of Messiah today. Israel stood at the very edge of promise with the fruit of the land in their hands, yet wilderness thinking kept them from entering. The issue was never the clarity of God’s word -- it was the alignment of their mindset. It is possible to witness promise and still shrink back, to receive revelation and still hesitate, to stand at the threshold and still think like a wanderer. But the Spirit of the Lord is calling His people forward in this hour with unmistakable urgency.

The harvest of the nations has already been declared. God is not asking whether it can happen -- He has spoken it. This is not the season to measure new assignments by old comfort zones or past survival mindsets. The wilderness has indeed refined you, but it must not define you. Faith must now rise and take hold of what God has already prepared.

Friend, lift your eyes. The promise is before you, the harvest is ready, and the word of the Lord has already gone forth. Do not stand at the border of promise with a wilderness mindset. Agree quickly with what He has declared -- and step forward to possess it.

George & Baht Rivka (Melbourne, Florida)

Around the World
Trump’s Tariffs Set To Rise To 15% For Some Countries, Greer Says
The Trump administration signaled a possible climb in some U.S. tariffs above 10%, but provided few specifics.
Vance: U.S. Sees Signs Iran Rebuilding Nuclear Program Ahead of Geneva Talks
The United States has detected evidence that Iran is attempting to rebuild elements of its nuclear program following U.S.-led strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday, just one day before renewed negotiations in Geneva.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Modi Makes Historic Address to Knesset, Vows Stronger Israel–India Alliance
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a historic address to Israel’s parliament on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian leader ever to speak before the Knesset, and pledging to deepen strategic ties between the two democracies.
Palestinian Authority Funnels Nearly Half a Billion Shekels to Terrorists in 2025
The Palestinian Authority transferred approximately NIS 487 million to imprisoned terrorists and the families of attackers in 2025 under its controversial “pay-for-slay” policy, according to information presented during Israel’s security cabinet meeting on Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Inside the United States
Clintons To Face Questions From Lawmakers This Week Over Epstein Ties
After six months of stalling, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will appear before lawmakers for their depositions.
Trump Officially Declares ‘War On Fraud,’ Vance To Lead
President Donald Trump officially declared a "war on fraud" during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. He named Vice President JD Vance as leader of the task force to fight fraud.

Christian News
Christians Raise Alarm Over Alleged Land Seizure And Blasphemy Law Misuse In Pakistan
Christians in Pakistan’s industrial city of Gujranwala expressed fears of renewed violence after a Christian family’s ancestral home was allegedly taken over by a Muslim lawyer who accused the homeowner of blasphemy, sources told Worthy News.
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George Whitten Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 2/25/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02252026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02252026

Friend, alive for the harvest: seeing the wheat in the midst of the weeds!

Matthew 13:24-30  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27  So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29  But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."

We are in the midst of the harvest of the world, and the Spirit is calling His people to see this hour with clarity. In the days of Yeshua (Jesus), the entire world held only a few hundred million souls. By AD 1000, the number had barely moved, and even by 1800, humanity had only just approached one billion. As recently as 1970 — just over fifty years ago — the global population was only about 3.7 billion. But today, the world's population exceeds 8 billion. This is not merely a demographic statistic -- it is a harvest reality. Never in human history has there been such a concentration of eternal souls alive at one time. Never has the gospel had such reach. Never has the field been this full.

You are not alive by accident. You were born into the earth at the very moment when the fields of humanity are more populated than all previous centuries combined. Heaven understood the timing before you ever drew breath. You are alive for harvest.

Yet Yeshua gave a sober warning in the parable of the wheat and the tares: both would grow together until the time of harvest. In other words, as the harvest ripens, so does the visible presence of the weeds. This is where many believers lose clarity. When tares become more visible, it can feel as though darkness is winning. Cultural noise grows louder, disorder seems to multiply, and the field can appear increasingly complicated. But hear the wisdom of the Kingdom: the presence of tares is not proof that harvest is failing — it is often evidence that harvest season is approaching.

The enemy’s strategy is distraction. If he can keep the Church fixated on the weeds, anxious about the tares, and overwhelmed by what is growing wrong, many will miss what God is growing right. Beloved, do not misread the field. Yes, the tares are growing — but so is the wheat. And by simple mathematics alone, even a faithful remnant in this generation could witness a harvest that eclipses the combined ingathering of all the generations before us -- COMBINED. The sheer scale of humanity alive today means the potential harvest field is historically unprecedented.

The question is not whether the harvest is large — Heaven has already answered that. The question is whether laborers will lift their eyes above the weeds and step fully into the moment they were born for. As we study the wilderness wanderings of Israel, we recognize that this season has been God’s preparation for His people — refining our vision, purifying our motives, and strengthening our endurance -- for the harvest is at hand!

Friend, lift your eyes. Do not be distracted by the tares. Do not be overwhelmed by the noise of the field. Do not interpret this hour through fear. You are alive in the most populated moment in human history, and the Lord of the harvest has not made a mistake. The wheat is ripening. The fields are ready. And this generation may yet see a remnant harvest that surpasses anything the earth has witnessed before. Now is the hour to see clearly and to step into the harvest you were born for.

George & Baht Rivka (Melbourne, Florida)

Around the World
Iran University Protests Intensify as Regime Loyalists Clash With Students
Tensions are escalating across Iran as anti-regime student protesters and pro-government militias clashed for a fourth consecutive day on university campuses, marking the most sustained unrest since the regime’s deadly January crackdown.
Iran Near Deal With China for Advanced Anti-Ship Missiles as U.S. Builds Naval Presence
Iran is close to finalizing a deal with China to purchase advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, according to six sources familiar with the negotiations, as the United States expands its naval presence near Iranian waters amid rising tensions, according to a recent Reuters report.
Slovakia Halts Power To Ukraine, Hungary Blocks Massive EU Loan
Slovakia has halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine since Monday and Hungary blocked a 90 billion ($98 billion) European Union loan after Kyiv did not restore Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba (“Friendship”) pipeline.
Zelenskyy Says Russia Has Not Broken Ukrainians After Four Years Of War (Worthy News Radio)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Russia had not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in the war despite a mounting death toll, as his country marked the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Rights Groups Say Europe Recorded Over 80,000 Migrant Pushbacks In 2025
A coalition of human rights organizations said Tuesday that European politicians condemning abuses by U.S. immigration authorities should also confront what they described as widespread illegal “pushbacks” at Europe’s own borders.
Youngest Dutch PM Rob Jetten Sworn In While Facing Climate, Migration And Life Issues (Worthy News In-Depth)
Progressive politician Rob Jetten became the youngest and first openly gay prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally sworn in by King Willem-Alexander at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, the seat of government of the Netherlands.
UK Police Arrest Former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson in Epstein-Linked Probe
A British political and royal crisis over the elite’s ties to late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein deepened Monday as police arrested Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
U.S. F-22 Stealth Fighters Deployed to Southern Israel Amid Iran Tensions
Twelve American F-22 stealth fighter jets that departed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom have been deployed to an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, part of a significant U.S. military buildup as President Donald Trump weighs possible action against Iran.

Inside the United States
Trump Declares ‘Golden Age,’ Warns Iran And Honors Charlie Kirk In State Of The Union
U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared that America has entered a “golden age” while warning Iran of possible military action and honoring slain Christian activist Charlie Kirk during a politically charged State of the Union address before a divided Congress.
Nearly Two Dozen Of Largest Federal Agencies Shed Over 278,000 Workers In 2025
As a result of a concerted effort by the second Trump administration to reduce the size of the civilian federal workforce, the total staff of 23 of the largest executive-branch agencies shrunk by roughly 3% in the first half of 2025, with 144,000 additional jobs cut by year’s end.
Illegal Border Crosser Apprehensions Drop 96% At Southwest Border In A Year
In one year, illegal border crossings dropped by 96% at the southwest border, an historic shift from record highs during the Biden administration.
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George Whitten Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000
<![CDATA[Worthy Brief - 2/24/2026]]> https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02242026 https://worthybrief.com/newsletters/worthy-brief-02242026

Friend, the evidence of the harvest!

Numbers 13:1-2  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them." 

Numbers 13:20  whether the land is rich or poor; and whether there are forests there or not. Be of good courage. And bring some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes. 

John 4:35  Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 

The transition from wilderness to promise began with instruction. The Lord told Moses, “Send men to spy out the land… which I am giving to the children of Israel.” The language matters. God did not say, “See if you can take it.” He said, “See what I am giving.” The promise was declared before it was explored. The spies were not sent to evaluate the possibility, but to witness the provision.

After years of warning and wandering, Israel stood at the edge of fulfillment. The land was no longer a distant word -- it was visible terrain. And when the spies entered, they did not first encounter war -- they encountered abundance.

They came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down a cluster of grapes so large it had to be carried between two men on a pole. The fruit was excessive. The harvest was undeniable. The land was exactly as God had spoken—flowing with milk and honey.

Before the spies mentioned the giants, the abundant fruit was displayed.

God allowed them to taste promise before confronting opposition. The evidence of harvest came first. Heaven was saying, “What I declared is real. What I promised is prepared.”

The wilderness had sustained them with daily manna, but Canaan offered overflow. Manna was survival. The land was an inheritance. The grapes were more than produce -- they were a preview of destiny.

And this speaks directly to us.

The harvest of the nations has already been declared before us. The gospel mandate still stands firm. God is not waiting to see if the harvest is possible -- He has already spoken it into motion. We are not sent to debate whether it can happen; we are sent to recognize what He has already prepared and step into it by faith.

The fruit is visible. Hearts are ready. The promise is substantial.

The question is not whether the harvest exists -- it is whether we will believe what God has already declared.

Friend, lift your eyes and see the harvest set before you. God has already spoken abundance over this hour, and His word does not return void. The study of the wilderness wanderings was to refine us, to strengthen us, and to prepare us -- but it was never the destination. The harvest now awaits. Do not measure promise through hesitation or past struggle. Look at what He has given. Agree boldly with what He has declared. The evidence of harvest is in front of us, and faith must rise -- not timidly, but confidently -- to step in and gather what heaven has prepared.

George & Baht Rivka (Melbourne, Florida)

Around the World
U.S., Iran Set for Third Round of Nuclear Talks as Military Buildup Intensifies
Nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, marking the third round of indirect talks this month as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East.
Greenland And Denmark Reject Trump’s Hospital Ship Offer
Greenland and Denmark have publicly rejected U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s suggestion that an American naval hospital ship be sent to the Arctic island, saying their universal healthcare system already provides free treatment to all citizens.
Hungarian Opposition Slams War Execution Video As Orbán Campaign Escalates
A campaign video distributed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, showing a little girl weeping at a window and intercut with scenes of her father being executed in war, has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, including Budapest’s mayor.
Crowds March To Russian Embassy In Budapest As Ukraine War Nears Fourth Year
Crowds marched to the Russian Embassy in Budapest on Sunday to mark nearly four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that is believed to have caused nearly 2 million military casualties.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
USS Gerald R. Ford Arrives in Israel as U.S. Military Buildup Intensifies Amid Iran Tensions
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, arrived off Israel’s coast on Monday, marking a significant escalation in U.S. military deployments to the region as Washington and Jerusalem prepare for the possibility of renewed conflict with Iran.

Inside the United States
Trump Moves to Expand National Security Tariffs After Supreme Court Ruling
The Trump administration is preparing a new wave of national security tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many of President Donald Trump’s second-term levies, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Fifth Circuit Clears Way for Louisiana to Display Ten Commandments in Classrooms
A federal appeals court has ruled that Louisiana may begin enforcing its law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, marking a significant victory for supporters of religious liberty and America’s historic foundations.
Nor’easter Fury Paralyzes East Coast: 10,000+ Flights Grounded as Blizzard Conditions Trigger Widespread Emergencies
More than 10,000 flights were canceled nationwide between Feb. 22 and Feb. 24 as a powerful nor’easter slammed the East Coast with heavy snow, damaging winds, and coastal flooding, paralyzing travel and prompting emergency declarations across multiple states.
Trump, Democrats To Make Their Case At State Of The Union
President Donald Trump is set to deliver his second State of the Union Address of his second term Tuesday evening, when he is expected to highlight his accomplishments during his first year back in office and spotlight goals for the coming year.

Christian News
Ugandan Christian Convert ‘Killed By Muslim Father’ In Alleged Faith-Related Attack
A 33-year-old man in eastern Uganda was allegedly killed by his Muslim father after converting to Christianity, local sources said, in what church leaders describe as part of a broader pattern of faith-related violence in the African nation.
Iranian Christians Face Surge In Arrests As Crackdown Deepens
Christian advocacy groups have expressed alarm over what they describe as a sharp rise in arrests and mistreatment of Christians in Iran, particularly converts, accusing the Islamic Republic of increasingly using national security laws to suppress religious dissent.
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George Whitten Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000