
Reductions in Force
As the partial shutdown of the U.S. government continues into its third week, several agencies have announced reductions in force (RIFs). The agencies announcing layoffs include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Treasury Department. So far, more than 4,100 federal employees have been terminated.

Nobel Laureates
The Nobel Prizes have been awarded each year since 1901 and, while not without controversy, remain one of the most prestigious and widely recognized awards one can be granted. As with any subjective award, the announcement of the honorees (most commonly referred to as Nobel Prize laureates) generates a mix of acclaim and critique.

Those Who Dreamed
Pray for every soul in Israel, Gaza, and the surrounding region. Pray that peace would hold, but also that the rebuilding process would include not just the rebuilding of cities but also people and souls. Pray that those still living under Hamas control would find both earthy and eternal freedom (reports suggest that Hamas’s violent methods of control continue even in the wake of the hostage release).

Abortion Pill Approved
How are you intentionally choosing proximity to the widow and the orphan, and what is one tangible way you can do so this week? Every life is precious to God and is fearfully and wonderfully formed by Him (Ps. 139:14), and you are tasked with being a tangible support to the fatherless (Jam. 1:27).
There are countless ways to begin, the best of which is to look around your community and your church to identify specific needs. If you look, you will find them. Another option to consider is A Fearless Life, which we offer as a way to connect willing adoptive families with funding to adopt from foster care.

Twenty Points for Peace
“Seek peace and pursue it.” That is your charge and mine out of Psalm 34:14. It encompasses so much, beginning with the internal personal peace offered through Jesus as a result of surrendering our lives and wills to Him. But taken in context with the rest of scripture, including the call in Matthew 5:9 to be peacemakers, we are absolutely meant to be agents of physical peace in our world, as well.

Already in Progress
The eternal praise of God is already in progress, and in fact awaits the moment when you and I will join in!

A Week and Counting
You very likely have a perspective on the politics and the public policy at play in this situation. Those are certain to vary across our community, but we can be united in our intentional focus to search out and stand with those most negatively impacted. Who in your world is missing paychecks or assistance in a way that materially impacts their wellbeing? What practical role can you play to stand in that gap with and for them?
Let’s together meet those needs for each other this week.

Tentative Hope
Representatives from Israel and Hamas are in Egypt to discuss implementation details of a 20-point peace plan. Both sides have tentatively agreed to large portions of the plan, but implementation may be the most difficult part of securing a firm and lasting peace, and there remains a large number of issues—including the political future of Hamas—yet to be resolved. Negotiators on both sides are aiming to accomplish a ceasefire and a hostage/prisoner swap as the first step while the larger negotiations continue.
Meanwhile, vigils were held around the world to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that began the current war, and to pray for the remaining hostages. There are believed to be 20 living hostages still held in Gaza, and an additional 28 deceased hostages whose remains have not yet been released.

Seeing in Color
How can you deliberately choose to live in the full expression of color and vibrancy offered to you? It is really quite simple (which is distinct from easy—this is not always or even usually easy). If you want to live in full possession of what Jesus came to give, you must accept the path He gave you to walk. Your life—every facet—must be yielded and even surrendered to Him.

Comey Indicted
Nobody is above the law and nobody is below the law. It has become a common refrain for The Equipped family, and it is certainly relevant for this story.

Of Breath and Sighing
Your God knows what it is to sigh. He knows what it means to be troubled beyond words. He hears your groaning and even your sighing, and He understands. He is YHWH.

Grand Blanc Attack
Pray for and grieve with those who are hurting and grieving. As you do so, resist the urge to be anxious or fearful. The brokenness of our world is in plain view, and we can be assured it will continue to be present. You can be equally assured of a peace that passes all understanding when your mind is stayed on Jesus (Philip. 4:7).

Rate Cut
The policy decisions of the world’s superpower matter. That includes economic decisions such as the federal funds rate. These are issues worth understanding, and in some cases worth factoring into your decision making.
They do not, however, impact your eternity, and this reality should dictate your level of fixation on them (translation: the federal funds rate should have no impact on your peace).
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philip. 4:7).

Love Your Enemies
Justice and vengeance belong to the Lord (Rom. 12:19), and the perpetrator of this horrible act will face earthly justice. But you and I, my friend, are called to love and forgiveness. That is a difficult calling. It requires us to be open to our enemies turning from evil even after inflicting evil upon us.
Will you embrace that level of love for your enemies? It will truly set you free.

The Preteen Messiah
Your God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13:8). But He shows up in the most unexpected ways.
He shows up in what seems to be both victory and defeat.
He shows up in mountaintop moments and in times of immense grief.
He is seated forever at the righthand of God the Father. But he was first a pre-teen from the neighborhood.
Have you recognized Him? Have you noticed His presence in your everyday?
There is great strife in our world today. But your God is in the midst of it all, and He is who He claims to be. He is the Messiah!

Shutdown Looming
This story continues to be on loop. While the two major U.S. political parties have divergent priorities, including on matters of spending, shutdown politics has become ubiquitous across all versions of partisan control. In every variant of partisan control, Congress and the White House have been unable to fund the government under anything close to regular order.
The result is perpetual government shutdown watch. We have said it before—when one deal is reached to avoid a shutdown, it is really just setting the date on which you can expect the next shutdown threat.
So how should you as a Jesus follower—knowing the facts above—interact with a story like this?

Resigning Prime Ministers
This week, no matter your prime minister, president, or earthly king, allow your status as an eternal citizen of heaven to inform the way in which you “seek the peace and prosperity of [your] city” (Jer. 29:7).

Department of War
The policies and actions of the U.S. military carry enormous consequence. As the world’s most powerful and sophisticated fighting force, the actions—and even the posture—of the department responsible for overseeing that force are of immense importance.

Bolsanaro Sentenced
Governments of men—and their leaders—are fallible, and their reign will come and go (Dan. 2:21). All of them. This is a challenging truth to grasp when our preferred leaders are in power, but it is one that is essential for both flourishing and the preservation of our own sound thinking (2 Tim. 1:7).

Block Everything
Everyday life in France was significantly disrupted last Wednesday as nearly a quarter million people took to the streets to “Block Everything.” The protests and unrest are in response to President Emmanual Macron’s selection of Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister. Hundreds were arrested, and it is likely that additional demonstrations will happen in the days ahead.