NOTES: Tom says lets talk about Damascus and  other news and comments of the day. Suggests raspberry lemonade and buffalo wings and hang out with an old friend and a fellow servant of the Lord. 

Tom says lets have a daily dose of encouragement and reads Scripture.

Isaiah 40: 31 the Lord shall renew our strength. Deuteronomy 31: 8 He will not leave or forsake us. Once we belong to Him and put our faith in Him we are a child of God. Isaiah 43: 2 with each example, the water and the fire, we go through and He is with us through it. 

Joshua 1:9 don’t be afraid or dismayed God is with us wherever we go. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 He comforts us in our tribulation that we may comfort others. Matthew 11: 28 He gives us rest. Peace beyond our understanding. 

News: 

7 Israel News: Syria says Israel carried out air strikes in Damascus.  2 waves of strikes against Damascus. Tom says this is Isaiah 17 and reads it. Says will we see it before the rapture? We don’t know. The oldest city in the world be destroyed. Many think it will be by a nuke. 

Israel Today: Arab media says 11 senior revolutionary guards were killed on attack at Damascus airport. Amir says and most of the command of revolutionary guard and other pro Iran militias in E. Syria were killed in the attack. 

Israel today: Biden and Netanyahu had an intense phone call. Biden demanded Netanyahu release tax revenues to Palestinians. Israel had stopped this 2 months ago because PA sends a large portion of that to Hamas ruled Gaza. Then Biden says this conversation is over. Tom wonders if he even remembers that conversation.

7. Israel News: a poll says 68% of most Israelis support military action against Hezbollah, to remove Hezbollah from the border. Tom says it really should be much higher. 

Brother Keegan put this from a tweet from Iran Observer. The war in Gaza is gradually taking on the appearance of a regional war although the intensity of war in Gaza remained unchanged for several days and the resistance in Gaza has declared it could continue for months. Other fronts could quickly escalate. Preparing for military operation against Lebanon to keep Hezbollah away from the border. On the Yemen front it is dealing a blow to Israel’s economy by making the Red Sea expensive and dangerous for shipping companies. Yemen’s defense minister has warned of a major escalation if war in Gaza does not end. With Iraq it has less direct engagement with Israel, things getting tricky for the US. The PM in Iraq says it plans to end US presence in Iraq and it may bring serious damage to US forces in Iraq. Tom says wars and rumors of war, so close. 

Times of Israel: Egypt says it is waiting responses on the plan to release the hostages. They put together a 3 stage plan. 1. 2 week halt to the fighting to be extendable to 3-4 weeks in exchange of 40 hostages that are minors, women and elderly men, especially sick ones. Israel in return would release 120 Palestinian security prisoners of the same categories. And for Israel tanks to withdraw and aid would enter Gaza. 2. Egypt to sponsor a talk to end division of PA and Hamas and form government in W. Bank that would oversee the reconstruction of the strip and pave the way for Palestinian parliament and presidential elections. 3. A comprehensive ceasefire with release of remaining Israel hostages including soldiers, in return for yet to be determined number of Palestinian prisoners in jails affiliated with Hamas and Jihad terror group, including those arrested October 7. However it says Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have said they reject this plan. Tom says what they want is the Jews dead and they get the land. 

Ynet news:  Iran accelerates arms shipment to Hezbollah to prepare for large scale conflict to Israel. 

Insider Paper: Large amount of bombing in Ukraine last night from Russia across the cities including the capital. Nationwide air alert. 16 dead and 97 wounded. 150 missiles fired at peaceful Ukrainian cities. Tom says pray, that is what God would want for all to do.

Huge waves from the ocean in Ventura California. Floods in Germany. 5.8 earthquake near Japan. Last 24 hours of earthquakes: 47, 4.0 and above, and 12, 5.0 and above. 

Clown world: In New Jersey is a Ai generated story about a deadly Christmas shooting. Authorities said this never happened. At the bottom of the article it says the content was assisted by Ai tools and it may contain error.  Seems this news outlet’s Ai writes fiction and they have no problem publishing this to readers. Tom says so many journalists using Ai now. Says the news is fake enough before, don’t add more! 

Another one: LG has developed a 2 legged Ai powered robot that can watch people’s pets. Compact, bi pedal robot can roll about the house freely with wide range of capabilities. Like notify if left AC on while away,  to watching pets while at work and send unusual activity to smart phone. Can tell the weather and remind to take medication on time. It can recognize faces and voices and process the emotions of ones around and engage in conversation! Could greet at the door, analyze emotion and play music to either boost mood or lull to sleep. It can also change its posture due to its articulated leg joints! Tom says, but the dog will need to know if the robot causes unusual activity! And Tom says he would kick it across the room! Laughs, double clown world!

Comments: 

Says we are blessed to see these very last days. To see the most prophesied times in Scripture come to pass. Says let’s pray we endure to the end. These evil days will pass and Jesus will reign forever.

Says old dirty rag washed in the blood of Jesus. He is coming soon. Says so thankful to Tom for these. 

Comment back says the old dirty rag goes to the deepest sea leaving you as a royal priest, a child of the King, a set apart treasure, a vessel unto God, a new creation, a heir with Christ, beloved of the King. To be with Him for time without end, hallelujah! 

Says whenever listens to Tom gets a type of friendly grandpa feeling. Says is 14 years old and his grandparents died before he was even born. Says maybe we are all a family in Christ. Tom says that is wisdom. Says says yes, I’ll be your grandpa! 

Gospel: we are all the family once we believe in His blood that washes white as snow become a family of God forever. 

Tom says when someone comments that someone that belonged to the Lord then left he will never be convinced. Says once truly saved always saved. Says if they left, they were never really saved. 

Born again is believing in the power of the blood and what Jesus did on the cross, a child of God. Like a child and its mom. Can not talk for 20 years but still be her child.

Gospel: 

Says it is time to become a child of God. We all have a choice. We were created to find Jesus, to worship Him. Tom warns of hell if reject Jesus and His perfect sacrifice. We are all sinners and He took all sins on the cross. Admit being a sinner and receive His salvation. Be born again, say yes and thank Him. He will see you through the valleys, the fires and give you unspeakable joy and eternal life!

Today’s Scriptures:

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

[31] but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Timestamp: 1:20

Deuteronomy 31:8 KJV

[8] And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Timestamp: 1:33

Isaiah 43:2 KJV

[2] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

Timestamp: 2:06

Joshua 1:9 KJV

[9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Timestamp: 2:35

1 Corinthians 1:3–4 KJV

[3] grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [4] I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 

Timestamp: 2:52

Matthew 11:28 KJV

[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Timestamp: 3:18

Testimonies:

@matthewpilch2264

Hey, Tom! I grew up attending a church that did not preach the Gospel. Then, in the middle of my childhood, my family basically fell apart, and by the time I was 15 not one of us lived with another: I was living with a family that I had never met, my sister somewhere else, mom who knows, and my dad – by himself. When the dust settled, I had been made a ward of the state and I was angry with my parents for what they had done. I began attending a church that preached the Gospel but when I heard about sin, all I could think of was my parents. Then, in the fall, the Lord began to convict me of my own sin and He gloriously saved me when I was 16. I followed in baptism a year later, and though my life has been full of ups and downs, I know that I am saved by the grace of God alone, through Jesus Christ alone, through faith alone. And, by His grace, He has blessed me with a family of my own and entrusted me to preach that same Gospel until Jesus returns!

@lulur7462

I grew up “religious “ & knew I always felt incomplete. My dear friend encouraged me in the Lord, I surrendered & have never looked back. 

@Amor_Fati_

Testimony: Saved by the Spirit of Christ 6 years ago. Was lost and broken until Jesus saved me. Addicted to weed. Completely set free from everything. Praise the Lord Yeshua. God Bless 

@candicejustice777

I was 19 I think when I asked Jesus to be my Savior I remember this rush of wind going threw me it was crazy- I was always close to God but that day I made my decision and I’ve changed into a caring loving empathetic person all thanks to God!!!! You all have a wonderful day.

@sasa096L

I fully surrendered this year at 27, my life was full of abuse i was hurt and spent most my life trying to find a way to end my own life, my mind is stuck as a kid and never remember the days, so now that i have surrendered fully he guides my life and Jesus keeps me alive and I love him and i’m so happy he saved me!