October 9, 2024 Keep Washing FeetWHITNEY LOWE Lee en español "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV) "Can you believe she said that to me?" I asked my husband. Someone from church had made a comment in passing that offended me. Over the past months, I had been trying to develop a friendship with this person. She hadn't really reciprocated, and now her comment had me wanting to walk away entirely. I was 100% ready to delete her from my contacts over a backhanded compliment that she probably didn't mean. Christian community isn't easy, friend. Though we often idealize church and the relationships that come with it, we are all still human, equally as prone to carelessness as we are to taking offense. Thankfully, Jesus saw this coming. At the Last Supper in John 13, He exhorted His disciples not to give up: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). Until Jesus returns, our love for fellow believers is the sign that the gospel is real. God could have written it in the clouds, right? But God didn't do that. Instead, He called us, His Church, to show the world that new life in Christ changes everything and draws us together in redemptive fellowship. Importantly, Jesus had just finished washing the disciples' feet when He gave this new command. He washed the feet of Judas, who was hours away from selling Him out for 30 pieces of silver, and the feet of Peter, who would deny Him in a moment of weakness. Serving one another as family members in the household of God (Ephesians 2:19) requires a posture of humility. Jesus set the bar for loving each other down here - on the floor, washing feet that have been walking all day (in Jesus' case, walking through unpaved streets before there were sewer systems), serving people we already know are inevitably going to hurt us with their lack of sensitivity and their failure to return the favor. Just like the Old Testament law bound the Israelites together as God's chosen people, the new commandment that binds us together in Christ is love. Sometimes that looks like washing feet, even when the world tells us to pick up our righteous anger and fight back. We continue to love each other unreasonably because that's how people know we belong to Jesus, who died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). In those moments when offense and bitterness tempt us to cut ties and throw punches, may we be people whose unconditional commitment to each other shows the transformative, sacrificial love of our Savior. Lord, in my offense and frustration, grow in me the humility to keep washing feet. Remind me of Your grace every day so that I can offer it to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS Set Your Eyes Higher: A 40-Day Reset to Slow Your Anxiety and Fix Your Focus on God by Whitney Lowe was written to help you find new perspective, purpose, power and peace through a daily devotional practice. Get your copy today! ENGAGE For devotionals and biblical reflections, follow Whitney on Instagram. Enter to WIN your very own copy of Set Your Eyes Higher by Whitney Lowe. To celebrate this book, Whitney's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, October 14, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY Ephesians 2:19, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household ..." (NIV). Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (NIV). Who are you tempted to give up on today? How can you love them the way Jesus loves you? © 2024 by Whitney Lowe. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Keep Washing Feet –  Encouragement for Today – October 9, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

The Sunshine State has already witnessed devastation from Hurricane Helene and is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton. Milton is projected to be among the most powerful storms in recorded history. Some analysts have dubbed Milton the ‘Storm of the Century.’ “Hurricane Milton approached known maximum storm strength limits on Monday night, with wind gusts briefly topping 200 miles per hour,” the New York Post reports. The gargantuan strength of Milton prompted some experts to call for a Category 6 designation. New: Hurricane Milton has the potential to reach max limits. This is leading to calls for a new Category 6 designation for hurricanes. Via: The New York Post pic.twitter.com/ftH1DmGnAS — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) October 8, 2024 “This is nothing short of astronomical,” Florida meteorologist Noah Bergren said, according to the New York Post. “I am at a loss for words to meteorologically describe to you the storm’s small eye and intensity,” he added. From the New York Post: After forming as a Category 5 storm, Milton on Tuesday was downgraded to a Category 4 after hitting Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula with a glancing blow. By Tuesday night, it was back to Category 5 again as it churned toward Florida’s gulf coast, putting millions of lives at risk. After forming in the Gulf of Mexico, Milton rapidly accelerated from a tropical storm with 60-mph winds Sunday morning to a deadly Category 5 hurricane by Monday with sustained winds of 180 mph — exhibiting an incredible trebling of power in only 36 hours. If the hurricane reached winds of 192 mph, it would have surpassed a rare threshold that just five storms have reached since 1980, USA Today reported. Its exceptional intensity has prompted calls from some meteorologists to expand the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to include a new Category 6 for hurricanes. Now, Florida may have to prepare for another tropical system after Milton passes through the state. The U.S. National Hurricane Center identified a potentially developing storm that would be named ‘Nadine.’ Is this real?? Another gulf hurricane (Nadine) 7 days after Milton? pic.twitter.com/4r7sijADyo — Kelli Kay (@KelliKayK) October 8, 2024 It just don't stop Another potential hurricane 'Nadine' might be headed towards Florida pic.twitter.com/kwEQ3REpnk — Vision4theBlind (@Vision4theBlind) October 9, 2024 Per Daily Mail: The current ‘non-tropical area of low pressure,’ NHC officials noted, is currently ‘producing gale-force winds’ northeast of the Bahamas at 15 miles per hour. Right now, this weather front has a 20 percent chance of building into a tropical storm and could develop into a stronger hurricane-force storm before Wednesday night — just as Milton barrels over Florida. NHC officials described Hurricane Milton as already ‘potentially catastrophic’ for Florida’s western coastal communities all by itself — a clear indication that yet another storm this soon would do unprecedented harm. Potential hurricane 'Nadine' is on a path to hit Florida in Milton's wake https://t.co/Ao6QpkQUZH pic.twitter.com/jCsqzQX1iM — Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) October 8, 2024 FOX Weather reports: While all eyes are on Florida’s western coast ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, something could be brewing on the east side of the Peninsula. The National Hurricane Center outlined an area for possible tropical development off the southeast coast of Florida, now designating the disturbance Invest 93L. The area currently has a low chance of tropical development over the next 48 hours, and timing will be critical to whether anything forms.

Foreigner blended hard rock and atmospheric ballads to the tune of more than 80 million sales - and now they're on their way to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is demanding that CBS News release the full unedited video of Vice President Kamala Harris on “60 Minutes” after a significant discrepancy was discovered that appears to show that interview was deceptively edited to benefit Harris. The moment in question came when host Bill Whitaker was discussing with Harris the United States’ financial support for Israel in its war against genocidal Islamic terrorists in the region. “But it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening,” Whitaker said to Harris. In a promotional clip that was posted by CBS News on Sunday, Harris responded to that statement from Whitaker by saying: “The work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.” WATCH (relevant portion starts at 1:36): Monday, on a 60 Minutes election special, Bill Whitaker asks Vice President Kamala Harris if the U.S. lacks influence over American ally Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. https://t.co/TG3WOCA23A pic.twitter.com/IH6MXMjuCP — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 6, 2024 However, when the full interview was published by the network on Monday night, that statement from Harris was nowhere to be found. Those words were not included anywhere in the television broadcast nor did they appear in the interview when it was posted on YouTube, the interview’s transcript, or the show’s “Overtime” segment. Instead, on television and in the interview posted online, Whitaker’s identical statement that “it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not listening,” is followed by Harris saying: “We are not gonna stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.” WATCH (relevant portion begins at 1:19): With just 29 days until Election Day, Bill Whitaker sits down with Vice President Kamala Harris. One year after Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, Whitaker starts by asking Harris what the U.S. can do to prevent an all-out regional war in the Middle East. https://t.co/NsOjzQIL5O pic.twitter.com/dRruqbEaqg — 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 8, 2024 The second set of remarks from Harris is what is included in the transcript published by the network. The Trump campaign responded to the discrepancy by calling out the network for “deceptively” editing Harris’ answer “to lessen Kamala’s idiotic response.” “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” asked Karoline Leavitt, Trump National Press Secretary, in a Tuesday night statement. “The American people deserve the full, unedited transcript from Kamala’s sit-down interview. We call upon 60 Minutes and CBS to release it. What do they, and Kamala, have to hide?” CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A closer look at Harris’ remarks and the state of the 2024 presidential race indicates that the edit was intended to do more than just “lessen Kamala’s idiotic response.” In Harris’ initial response, she said that the Biden-Harris administration’s work and advocacy led to a lot of what Israel has done in the region. Harris’ response came within the context of Whitaker talking about Netanyahu taking the fight to Hezbollah, despite objections from the administration, and his insistence on eradicating Hamas from Gaza so they cannot carry out another October 7 attack in the future. Harris’ answer is politically problematic for her as she tries to pick up key swing states that she needs to win if she is to beat former President Donald Trump in next month’s election. One of the state’s that Harris needs to win is Michigan, which has a large Islamic population that has been angered over Israel’s war against Hamas. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) warned donors last week that internal polling from her Senate campaign shows that Harris is “underwater” and trailing Trump in the state, Axios reported. The New York Times reported on Monday, the first anniversary of October 7, that Israel’s war against Islamic terror groups in the Middle East was “threatening the Democratic coalition in the United States.” The report states: Nowhere are those tensions more politically important than in Michigan, a crucial battleground state with a significant population of Arab American and Muslim voters. Four years ago, President Biden won Michigan with strong backing from many of those Americans. But interviews this weekend with voters, activists and community leaders in the Detroit area suggested that support for the Democratic ticket has not merely eroded among Arab Americans and Muslims. In some neighborhoods, it has all but vanished. Harris has responded to her eroding support among Muslims by meeting with Arab leaders in Michigan, even as a growing number of Jews in the United States say they feel threatened by anti-Semitic violence and the political Left’s embrace of pro-Hamas protesters. Harris’ answer on “60 Minutes” threatened to inflame tensions among the Islamic community who may view what she said as an admission that the administration supports all or most of Israel’s actions. The response ultimately aired is effectively the opposite of what she originally stated. “We are not gonna stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end,” Harris said in the answer. That answer would appease the Islamic community, which has largely sought an end to Israel’s military since October 8, 2023. The following post is the video that went viral on social media that drew attention to “60 Minutes” deceptive edits: Remember Kamala’s word salad answer about Israel on 60 Minutes? It’s gone. This is what many Americans will now see. pic.twitter.com/H4w7btDv6x — MAZE (@mazemoore) October 8, 2024

Jaylen Dunham surprised fans and the judges with his incredible audition on The Voice. Not only did he impress because of his stunning vocals but also because of the surprise that he caused the judges when they turned around and saw who was belting those powerful vocals. Jaylen Dunham didn’t initially get any chairs to turn, but he walked off that stage a winner. After realizing her mistake, Gwen Stefani used The Voice Replay button to give the young man a spot on her team. The Voice Replay A Great New Feature For The Show The stage is dark and Jaylen Dunham wastes no time getting right into his performance. The young man chose to sing Listen by Beyoncé. As he heads into the chorus, his voice picks up in intensity. The crowd stands and begins to applaud Jaylen for his performance. While the crowd is loving this young singer, the judges remained hesitant to turn. As Jaylen Dunham finishes his performance, none of the judges turn. However, have no fear, The Voice Replay will make this young man’s night turn right around. As the coaches turn around and see the young man before them, shock covers all of their faces. Gwen Stefani runs up to him claiming she needs a hug. On her way up to him she claims, “They switched out a person, right? Was that you singing?” Jaylen Dunham’s Happily Ever After As the young man explains that he is only 14 years old, the judges applaud him further. “I’m speechless,” Reba claimed. Michael Bublé chimed in, “I can’t imagine how formidable you’re going to be in 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, awesome.” Next, Stefani comments on how blown away she was at the tuning in Jaylen’s voice. From there, she goes on to make his night even better by explaining The Voice Replay. She said, “We have this new thing on The Voice. Basically, if you are like, ‘Dang I should have pressed my button’ but I didn’t press my button…you can press your button.” As she utters the last words, she places her hand on top of her button. Thus securing young Jaylen Dunham a spot on her team. Jaylen erupts into laughter as a smile spreads wide across his face. The crowd’s ear-shattering cheers echo across the room. Even the coaches are happy about the decision. “Wait to go Gwen!” Reba shouts over the cheers. Stefani admitted that she knew she needed to use her replay button because she had that regretful feeling after turning around and seeing Jaylen. We are so happy Gwen decided to use this new feature and cannot wait to see what incredible performances this duo has in store. The source of the featured image is here. The post Gwen Stefani Pulls Trick From Her Sleeve To Give 14-Yr-Old Second Chance On “The Voice” appeared first on InspireMore.

Tragically, more than 200 people died due to Hurricane Helene, and it negatively affected millions of others. Families lost everything and will have to start their lives over again. Even though it will take a very long time to rebuild, some famous country music stars want to help. Luke Combs and Eric Church, both North Carolina natives, are bringing music and some love to their home state with the Concert for Carolina benefit. They’ve teamed up with James Taylor and Billy Strings to put together one heck of a show. Concert For Carolina Will Take Place in Charlotte According to a news release, the artists will play at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on October 26. Luke, Eric, James, and Billy will headline the show, along with other special guests. The event is for charity, and proceeds will directly help victims of Hurricane Helene. Luke and Eric spoke about the event on Good Morning America. They said coming together was simple. Eric called himself North Carolina made. “I wouldn’t be who I am today if not for the people there and the community there. To see this happen to them, to that community, to those people, is especially devastating,” he said. “Luke and I are doing everything we can to try to help that out. For me, it’s in the very DNA of what made me, me.” Luke said he called Eric first after the hurricane. I know how much our state means to him and to myself, and I knew that he would be willing to do whatever it took to help out,” he said. Luke said the concert was a “crazy idea,” but he knows they can pull it off. Tickets for Concert for Carolina go on sale on October 10. The artists will split the proceeds evenly between their charities of choice. Luke guaranteed this is one not to miss. “But I promise it will be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of concert,” he told Good Morning America. “I’m real excited and proud to be a part of it.” The post Eric Church & Luke Combs Teaming Up With Other Artists To Help Hurricane Helene Victims appeared first on InspireMore.

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Palm trees and championships (And Category 5 hurricanes too)