Our Worthy Brief is a daily Christian newsletter designed to encourage, inform, and edify believers in their daily walk with God. Our online Christian magazine incorporates our daily devotional (Worthy Devotions) along news from around the world provided by our Christian News service, Worthy News.

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Worthy Brief - 8/30/2024

Friend, keep your nose to the grindstone!

2 Timothy 2:20-22 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

A grindstone is a revolving disk made of stone which is used for grinding, polishing or sharpening. It can commonly be seen grinding down wheat or sharpening and polishing metal for various purposes.

At first glance, this information may not seem all that interesting to you. However, a wise man once compared life to a grindstone. He said -- whether life grinds us down or polishes us up depends on what we’re made of!

So… here’s a question. What are we made of? Is life grinding us down to pieces? Or is it polishing us up to make us better equipped to do the work of the Lord? I can tell you this -- we are not called to crumble apart like chaff under the grindstone! We are called be tools in our Master’s hand -- sharpened and polished beautifully for His use!!

Friend, let’s commit ourselves to the Lord once again this weekend. Let’s not whine about our difficulties, but allow God to use them to sharpen us for His glory! Have a delightful shabbat, enjoy your weekend, and keep looking up -- for our redemption draws near!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri)
(Baltimore, MD)

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Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are now booking in the following states. Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee! If you know Rabbis, Pastors or Leaders who might be interested in powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.

Around the World
Japan Authorities Warn Of Landslides and Flooding After Devastating Typhoon
Japanese authorities warned Thursday of landslides and floods in many parts of southwestern Japan after “one of the biggest typhoons in recent years” killed four people and forced the evacuation of more than 4.1 million nationwide.
Russia Strikes Ukrainian President’s City As NATO Calls For Long-Range Missiles (Worthy News Focus)
Two days after a Russian missile strike killed four people and injured five in a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, another Russian attack hit Ukraine’s central city during official mourning.
Deadly Typhoon Shanshan Strikes Japan, Millions Issued With Evacuation Orders
As of midday Thursday EST at least four people have been killed, nearly 100 injured, and five million ordered to evacuate in southwestern Japan as Typhoon Shanshan made landfall on the island of Kyushu, the Independent UK reports. Bringing torrential rain and extremely high winds of up to 123 mph, Shanshan is one of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in decades.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Defense Minister Expands War Goals To Include Safe Return Northern Residents
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a meeting with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and other defense officials, announced his intention to "expand the goals of the war" to include the safe return of residents who had evacuated from the north back to their homes.
Archaeologists Uncover Rare 2,700-Year-Old Judahite Stone Seal at Temple Mount
Archaeologists excavating in the Old City of Jerusalem have uncovered an exceedingly rare, highly artistic 2,700 stone seal that was probably made by a local Judahite craftsman, World Israel News (WIN) reports.
IDF Strikes Senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad Operative on His Way to Attack Israel
While still engaged in a war with Hamas in Gaza, and battling Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday carried out a targeted drone strike in Syria and killed Firas Qasem, a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) organization, who was reportedly on his way to attack Israel, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Inside the United States
Harris Defends Flip-Flopping On Policies In First Interview As Presidential Nominee
Kamala Harris has defended her seemingly overnight policy position shifts since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.
Canada Officials Express Alarm About Terrorism Threats, Americans About Impact on US
In addition to members of Congress expressing alarm about national security threats at the U.S.-Canada border, members of the Conservative Party of Canada are blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for being responsible for creating them.
Harris To Appoint Republican In Administration If Elected
US Vice President Kamala Harris pledged Thursday to appoint a Republican to her cabinet if she wins the presidential election, saying that would reflect her interest in hearing a variety of views.
Report: New York Hate Crimes Skyrocket, with Jews Targeted in Majority of Incidents
Hate crimes have skyrocketed in New York over the past five years, according to a new report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, which revealed nearly half of the incidents reported last year targeted Jewish people.
Nine States to Have Pro-Choice Abortion Measures on November Ballot
Following the 2022 decision by the US Supreme Court to revoke the federal right to abortion up to viability and return the issue to individual states to decide, at least nine states will have pro-choice abortion measures on their November 2024 ballot, Forbes reports. The nine states with confirmed ballot measures are: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, Nevada, and South Carolina.
New York: Federal Court Rules Pro-Life Groups Can Promote Reversal of Abortion Pill Services
A federal court ruled Tuesday that, while a related lawsuit proceeds, nonprofit pro-life pregnancy centers in New York are allowed to tell women that the effects of abortion pill drugs can be safely reversed for a healthy pregnancy to continue, CBN News reports.

Christian News
Uzbekistan Threatens Church Demolition In Crackdown
Members of a thriving Baptist church in western Uzbekistan say local authorities have begun demolishing their worship facility as part of a broader crackdown on devoted Christians.
Dozens Baptized at Ohio State University Gospel Event Hosted by Ohio State Football Players
Around 60 people were baptized with 800-1,000 people in attendance at an Ohio State University Gospel event hosted by Ohio state football players on Sunday, The Lantern student newspaper reports. Those in attendance were treated to hearing the Word of God and personal testimonies, with the opportunity to give their lives to Christ.
Pakistan Christian Girl Forced To Marry and Convert; Two Boys Held For ‘Blasphemy’
There was concern Thursday about three Christian youngsters in Pakistan, including a 12-year-old girl who was forced to marry and convert to Islam while two 18-year-old brothers were charged with blasphemy, several sources said.