The live-fire component of this year's annual #HanKuang military exercises, Taiwan's major war games involving all military branches, kicked off Monday morning and will run until late Friday to test the armed forces' capability to fend off a Chinese invasion.
https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202109130008

Be like a cactus!

I saw an inward picture of a cactus, standing strong in a desert.

Did you know that a cactus is able to have normal leaves, but they adapt with spines (modified leaves) in the desert to minimize water loss?

It also performs transpiration at night to reduce water loss.

Cacti are classified as “succulents” because they have thickened, fleshy parts to store more water.

Cacti have an extensive root system that don’t go very deep into the ground because most of the groundwater is on the upper layers due to rain. There are hardly any underground stores of water in the desert.

In a hot desert, most plants cannot survive the harsh, dry climate, but a cactus is able to survive and thrive.

It is adaptable, absorbent, attractive (can produce flowers), and able-bodied (the spines fend off predators). Truly an amazing plant that can live where most creatures cannot.

If we look at the cactus as ourselves, water as the water of God’s word, and the hot desert as this world, then we will understand this faith picture that God has for us.

God wants us to store up water and retain it efficiently just like a cactus. A cactus is designed to maximize water gain and minimize water loss.

In this world that prides itself on its own knowledge, rejecting the kingship of God, we must be like a cactus that finds every opportunity to receive God’s word.

You can retain it better when you meditate on His word. Keep it in your heart, and think about it often. This way, you will take in more, and lose less of it.

“They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke‬ ‭2:16-19‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Mary did exactly this. When others heard the good news about Jesus, they only wondered at it, but Mary kept these sayings, pondering them in her heart. She was like a cactus and retained the water.

“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.” (Psalms‬ ‭91:7‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

In a desert whereby living creatures who cannot adapt just die of thirst and starvation, you will not. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. You shall not even fear the heat when it comes because you are full of God’s word, unceasingly fruitful in every season!

I drew this picture as part of one of our Patreon Bible Study series. “God Every Morning” tier and above patrons receive daily Bible Study teachings and devotionals as well as all my ebooks. Become a patron on Patreon at this link: http://Patreon.com/miltongohblog

【斷開鎖鏈！擁抱公義正直與民主】

#貝里斯、#海地、#聖克里斯多福及尼維斯、#聖露西亞、#聖文森及格瑞納丁 發表共同聲明慶祝今年 #自由日 及 #海地獨立紀念日，誓言擁抱「公義、正直與民主的連結」。

我們的這五個友邦每年會共同紀念廢除奴隸制度，而 #海地 更是第1個廢除奴隸制度的國家。

台灣與5個友邦共享公義、自由與民主等理念，未來期待持續與友邦及理念相近國家深化合作與互動，堅持維持民主自由。
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#Taiwan would like to support our allies in the #Caribbean in their joint statement on #EmancipationDay in #Belize, #StKittsAndNevis, #StLucia and #StVincentAndTheGrenadines and #IndependenceDay in #Haiti yesterday, calling for continuing efforts to sever the shackles that enslaved while embracing the ties of justice, integrity and democracy that bind. Taiwan shares these values and condemns historic and modern-day injustices. We’re keen to work with our allies and like-minded partners to ensure that #DemocracyPrevails, and that people are never dehumanized in this way again. Together we can fend off the threat of authoritarianism!
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Embassy of Belize ROC -Taiwan
Ambassade d'Haiti à Taiwan
Embassy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ROC, （Taiwan）
Embassy of Saint Lucia, ROC,Taiwan

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