by Mike Whitney‚ The Unz Review: Recent developments suggest that Israel’s full-scale ground offensive in Rafah could take place at any time. What we have been told by Israeli officials‚ is that the operation will require the evacuation of the city‚ presumably so the IDF can inflict the same level of destruction on Rafah as […]

March 31‚ 2024 There Is Space for All Your Emotions This EasterRACHEL MARIE KANG Lee en español "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb‚ and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb." John 20:11 (ESV) Editor's Note: Today's devotion is part of a special series for Holy Week! From March 24 (Palm Sunday) to March 31 (Easter Sunday)‚ each devotion will focus on the events leading up to Jesus' resurrection. We pray these words will prepare your heart and mind for the celebration of our risen Savior. One year ago‚ I drove 600 miles to visit my grandfather's grave. As I stood there‚ torn between emotions and shivering in New York's below-zero wind chill‚ I couldn't even shed one tear. When I think back to this moment‚ I remember oscillating between grief - knowing I'd never again hug my grandfather on this side of heaven - and joy as I reflected on his life and legacy. This Easter‚ I know I'm not the only one who feels an intermingling of sadness and joy. I know I'm not the only one carrying gratitude for all that is good while simultaneously cradling grief for all that is lost ... and seemingly still being lost. We rejoice‚ celebrating our risen Savior.We grieve as this month marks the fourth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic.We rejoice‚ praising God for healing‚ provision and redemption.We grieve as relationships strain‚ illnesses increase and wars wage on. We're wounded‚ yet we wonder. We hurt‚ yet we hope. We feel afraid‚ yet we stand in awe - both of life and of Christ. This is what it means to be human - our hearts are a holy holding of every God-given emotion. It's like when Mary Magdalene wept outside Jesus' tomb‚ the stone rolled away and His body gone. "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb ..." (John 20:11). She wept‚ unsure of where Jesus' body lay. She wept‚ possibly replaying flashbacks of Jesus' suffering on the cross. She wept‚ likely bewildered by the chaos and confusion of it all. Still‚ while Mary wept‚ she also wondered: "and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb" (John 20:11). She wondered‚ looking again to see if her Rabbi was in the tomb. She wondered‚ seeking a glimmer of hope. She wondered‚ keeping faith though she wept through grief. And the risen Jesus‚ with two simple questions‚ made a sacred space for Mary's story. He asked her‚ "‘Woman‚ why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" (John 20:15‚ ESV) ... as if to acknowledge both the hurt she felt and the hope she held. Perhaps this is what I needed that day as I stood at my grandfather's tomb - someone to make space for it all. This Easter‚ maybe your heart is holding equal parts hurt and hope. You're afraid and in awe of all you carry‚ whether from stories in the headlines or in your own home. Whatever emotions you carry into this day‚ know that Jesus not only saves you from your sins‚ but He also simply sits with you - in your joy‚ grief‚ fear and wonder. Jesus is the One who overcame the grave and the One who comes close to us. Jesus is the One we praise and proclaim until - hallelujah - His Kingdom comes. God‚ You stand with us in our sorrow. You walk with us when all is right in the world. We will praise and preach Your name‚ always telling others of the power of Your great love. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Happy Easter! Today we celebrate Jesus' miraculous resurrection from the grave. His death and resurrection open the door for us to have a relationship with Him. Knowing God’s peace‚ perspective and purpose for your life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. Find out more about how to have a relationship with Jesus when you click here! ENGAGE Find hope and help for life's losses and hard seasons when you connect with Rachel Marie Kang on Instagram or at her website. FOR DEEPER STUDY John 20:14-15a‚ "At this‚ she turned around and saw Jesus standing there‚ but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her‚ ‘Woman‚ why are you crying?'" (NIV). This Easter‚ as you reflect on your life and the resurrection of Jesus‚ consider the following questions:What would you say if Jesus asked you‚ "Why are you crying?"What would you say if Jesus asked you‚ "What/why are you celebrating?" We're always here to hear your heart - come and share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Rachel Marie Kang. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post There Is Space for All Your Emotions This Easter – Encouragement for Today – March 31‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

MOSCOW — Foreign diplomats in Russia laid flowers Saturday at the site of last week's attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 144 people. Those in attendance included ambassadors from the United States‚ EU countries‚ Africa and Latin America. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said the "around 130 diplomatic missions" taking part included representatives of "unfriendly states." Since the attack‚ thousands of people have brought bunches of flowers‚ wreaths and other tokens such as teddy bears‚ creating a makeshift memorial at the Crocus City Hall. Russian state news agency Tass reported Saturday that the number of people wounded in the attack was 551‚ quoting figures from the Moscow regional department of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry. Previous figures have been much lower and it did not explain the discrepancy. The death toll rose to 144 on Friday when a severely injured victim died in a hospital‚ according to Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko. Russia's Investigative Committee said Saturday that 134 of the dead had been identified. "Genetic tests are being carried out for other‚ as yet unidentified‚ victims‚" the committee said in a statement on messaging app Telegram. An affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack‚ the deadliest on Russian soil in years. The Kremlin‚ however‚ has insisted that Ukraine and the West had a role‚ something Kyiv has vehemently denied. Nine people were detained by Tajikistan's state security service in relation to the attack‚ RIA Novosti said Friday. In Russia‚ a total of nine suspects have faced court so far and were remanded in pre-trial detention. The latest hearing took place Friday‚ with a judge in the Basmanny District Court ruling that suspect Lutfulloi Nazrimad should be held in custody until at least May 22. Russian independent news site Mediazona cited Nazrimad as saying in court that he was born in Tajikistan. Since the attack‚ Tajikistan's Ministry of Labor‚ Migration and Employment has recorded an outflow of migrants workers from Moscow back to Tajikistan. "There are a lot of calls. These are most likely not so much complaints about harassment‚ but about our citizens' fear‚ panic. Many want to leave. We are now monitoring the situation; more people are coming (to Tajikistan) than leaving‚" Deputy Labour Minister Shakhnoza Nodiri told Tass‚ the news agency said Saturday. Russian officials previously said that 11 suspects had been arrested‚ including four who allegedly carried out the attack. Those four‚ identified as Tajik nationals‚ appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday on terrorism charges and showed signs of severe beatings. One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing. Russia's Investigative Committee additionally said Thursday it had detained another suspect in relation to the raid on Crocus City Hall‚ on suspicion of being involved in financing the attack. It did not give further details of the suspect's identity or alleged actions.

1877 - The family with samurai antecedents who responded to the Saigo army in ÅŒita Nakatsu rebels. 1940 - Karelo-Finnish SSR becomes 12th Soviet republic (until 1956) 1945 - 3rd Algerian division crosses the Rhine 1955 - Merger of Chase National Bank (3rd largest bank) and Bank of the Manhattan Company (15th largest bank) forms Chase Manhattan 1969 - George Harrison and Pattie Boyd are fined £250 each for illegal drugs 1988 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Toni Morrison for her novel "Beloved" 1994 - Actor James Farentino pleads no contest to stalking ex-girlfriend Tina Sinatra 1995 - Second time in tennis history‚ world #1 and #2 ranked players play in the same Davis Cup team; Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi score victories in US quarter-final win against Italy in Palermo 1995 - Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor of US District Court in NYC issues an injunction against Major League Baseball owners in move that effectively ends 232-day strike 2012 - Fiji Floods kill 2 people and force thousands to be evacuated More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1146 - Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at Vézelay‚ urging the necessity of a Second Crusade. Louis VII and Eleanor of Aquitaine are present and join the Crusade. 1917 - The Danish West Indies are officially ceded to the US for $25 million and renamed the Virgin Islands 1958 - USSR suspends nuclear weapons tests‚ and urges US and Britain to do same 1970 - Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit 1984 - Mike Bossy becomes first player in NHL history to record 7 straight 50 goal seasons; scores 50th and 51st of the year in a 3-1 New York Islanders' win at Washington 1988 - Pulitzer prize awarded to Toni Morrison for her novel "Beloved" More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1360 - Philippa of Lancaster‚ Queen of Portugal as wife of King John I (1387-1415)‚ born in Leicester Castle‚ Leicester‚ England (d. 1415) 1536 - Ashikaga Yoshiteru‚ Japanese 13th shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate (1546-65)‚ born in Nanzen-ji Temple‚ Kyoto‚ Japan (d. 1565) 1651 - Karl II‚ Elector Palatine (d. 1685) 1960 - Anne Howard‚ American actress (Nicole Love-Another World)‚ born in San Diego‚ California 1964 - Erik Turner‚ American rock guitarist (Warrant - "Cherry Pie")‚ born in Omaha‚ Nebraska 1975 - Adam Green‚ American film director More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1928 - Medardo Rosso‚ Italian sculptor (portraits)‚ dies at 69 2003 - Tommy Seebach‚ Danish rock keyboardist‚ singer (Sir Henry and His Butlers)‚ and songwriter (Eurovision)‚ dies at 53 2005 - Terri Schiavo‚ American figure in right to die case (b. 1963) 2008 - William L. Dickinson‚ American politician (Rep-R-AL‚ 1965-93)‚ dies at 82 2014 - Charles Keating‚ American district attorney (Los Angeles California)‚ dies at 90 2016 - Hans-Dietrich Genscher‚ German Minister of Foreign Affairs (FDP)‚ worked to re-unify Germany‚ dies at 89 More Famous Deaths »

The late‚ great ROBIN WILLIAMS does Easter.

“Outrageous and abhorrent.” The post Biden Admin Bans “Religious Designs” for Easter‚ Declares it Transgender Day appeared first on Frontpage Mag.