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Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread – Sweet As Honey

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Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread – Sweet As Honey


This Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread has a delicious moist crumb, perfect for celebrating the fall season. Bonus, this pumpkin bread recipe is also low-carb, sugar-free, and gluten-free.

I love baking with almond flour. It’s a nourishing, low-carb flour that makes the most delicious gluten-free, keto-friendly bread, muffins, or cookies. But it becomes absolutely amazing when you pair it with pumpkin, like I did with my Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins, Almond Flour Pumpkin Cake, or Almond Flour Pumpkin Brownies.

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Bread

You might have tried my keto pumpkin bread recipe using a combination of almond flour and coconut flour. This recipe uses almond flour only. So, this pumpkin bread is also naturally:

There’s nothing easier than making almond flour pumpkin bread. All you need are two separate bowls to prepare the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients. Then, simply bring them together to create the perfect moist gluten-free pumpkin bread with almond flour.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Below are the ingredients you need to start this almond pumpkin bread recipe. Jump to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the detailed measurements.

  • Canned Pumpkin Puree – make sure you used canned pumpkin puree that is purely made of 100% pumpkin, with no additives. Don’t confuse it with canned pumpkin pie filling. It contains sugar and other additives that won’t make this pumpkin bread come out good at all. Learn how to make your own pumpkin puree.
  • Crystal Sweetener – You can use any sweetener you love. For paleo pumpkin bread with almond flour, use coconut sugar. For the keto version, use erythritol, allulose, or any keto sweetener. Just avoid liquid sweeteners that make the batter runny and the bread denser.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spices – or make your own by mixing ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger – jump to the recipe below for the exact measurement of each spice.
  • Eggs – There’s no egg substitute available for this recipe. Almond flour is a low-starch flour, and it relies on eggs to bind and create a nice, fluffy bread texture that holds together. Don’t be tempted to use flaxseed eggs. It wouldn’t work, and the bread would never set in the oven.
  • Almond Flour – Almond flour is a low-carb flour, ideal for baking keto recipes.
  • Baking Soda – For a fluffy texture.
  • Vanilla Extract – For more flavor.
  • Melted Coconut Oil – or melted butter.

How to Make Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk almond flour, baking soda, salt, sweetener, and pumpkin spices until evenly combined.
  2. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and canned pumpkin puree. Give extra care to the temperature of each ingredient. You want the eggs and melted coconut oil to work well together, so make sure eggs are at room temperature, not cold out from the fridge.
  3. The reason is simple, coconut oil solidifies below 74°F (23°C), so if it comes in contact with cold eggs, you end up with oil lumps in the batter.
  4. Finally, pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until the ingredients come together into a thick, slightly orange batter.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch x 5-inch rectangle loaf pan with parchment paper. Slightly oil paper with coconut oil or olive oil and set aside.
  6. Transfer the pumpkin bread batter into the pan and spread evenly.
  7. Bake the bread for 40 to 55 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Transfer the bread to a wire rack. You can pull the hanging piece of parchment paper from the pan to easily release your almond flour pumpkin bread from the pan.
  9. Cool completely before slicing. I recommend 3 hours before slicing almond flour baked goods.
Step-by-step instructions on How to make Almond Flour Pumpkin Bread

Baking Tips

The key to making delicious almond flour baked goods is to:

  • Choose the right almond flour – you must use ultra-fine golden almond flour for best results. In fact, almond flour comes in different forms. Sometimes coarse, sometimes dark. It depends on whether the almonds have been ground with their skin on or not. To enjoy a soft, moist, melt-in-your-mouth almond flour pumpkin bread, you must use fine, golden-white almond flour made from skinned almonds. Other darker, coarser almond flour versions result in gritty, grainy texture in almond flour bread, which nobody likes.
  • Measure the flour either in weight or with the scoop, sweep method. It means you lightly pack the flour in the cup. Don’t over-pack it.
  • Don’t thin out the batter. Almond flour bread batter comes out thicker, slightly grainy, but that’s normal. Don’t thin out the batter by adding milk or any other liquid.

Serving Suggestions

This pumpkin bread is absolutely delicious on its own, and it doesn’t require add-ons to be tasty. But, there are always several ways to make this bread even more decadent!

  • Stir in nuts in the batter – at the end, when the batter is ready to transfer to the loaf pan, stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans or chopped walnuts.
  • Drizzle some icing – combine yogurt of your choice and powdered sweetener you love to create a sweet icing, as seen in the picture below. I recommend powdered erythritol and coconut yogurt to keep the bread sugar-free.
  • Serve the slice with nut butter or jam. The best flavor to match pumpkin bread is peanut butter or almond butter, or even a drizzle of my sugar-free caramel sauce.

Storage Instructions

This pumpkin almond flour bread stores very well in the fridge. Place the bread in a cake box and store it for up to 4 days. It’s preferable to store the whole bread in the fridge and slice it only when you want to eat some. This preserves the bread’s moisture.

Another option is to freeze the pumpkin bread, either whole or in slices. I like to freeze slices for portion control later – trust me, it’s a very tasty bread, and freezing single serves saves you from eating the whole thing. So wrap each slice of pumpkin bread in plastic wrap and freeze. Thaw at room temperature the day before eating.

A slice of Pumpkin Bread with Almond Flour on a small plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve listed below the answers to the most common questions about this recipe.

Is Pumpkin high in carbs?

Pumpkin is relatively low in carbs, hence why it’s a very good ingredient for keto recipes with about 4 grams of net carbs per 100 grams.

Drinks To Serve With Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin bread of any kind is better with a hot drink on the side, especially tea and coffee. Below I listed some of my favorite hot drinks to make with this pumpkin bread recipe.

Keto bulletproof pumpkin latte
Bulletproof Tea Recipe
Keto Latte Fat Burning Coffee
Sugar Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer

More Pumpkin Recipes Using Almond Flour

I created so many pumpkin recipes on the blog to enjoy this fall, using your almond flour to keep your baked goods low in carbs. Try some of the below recipes for pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, and more!

Keto Pumpkin Muffins
Keto Pumpkin Brownies
Keto Pumpkin cookies

Prevent your screen from going dark

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan with lightly oiled parchment paper. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the dry ingredients until evenly combined: almond flour, baking soda, crystal sweetener you love, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Set aside.

  • In another bowl, beat eggs, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, and melted coconut oil – make sure the oil is not too hot, or it can ‘cook’ the eggs.

  • Combine the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients until they form a thick consistent bread batter.

  • Transfer the batter to the loaf pan and bake in the center rack of the oven for 45-55 minutes at 350°F (180°C) until a pick inserted in the center of the pumpkin bread comes out clean.

  • Cool down on a wire rack for 3 hours before slicing.

  • Decorate with a drizzle of 1/4 cup yogurt combined with 1/2 cup powdered sweetener (I used powdered erythritol).

Storage: You can store this bread in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze and thaw the day before serving.

Nutrition1 slice (using erythritol as a sweetener)

Serving: 1 slice (using erythritol as a sweetener)Calories: 153.5 kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 5.1 g (2%)Fiber: 2.3 g (10%)Net Carbs: 2.8 gProtein: 5.7 g (11%)Fat: 13.2 g (20%)Saturated Fat: 4.2 g (26%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.8 gTrans Fat: 0.1 gCholesterol: 62 mg (21%)Sodium: 141.6 mg (6%)Potassium: 57.3 mg (2%)Sugar: 1.2 g (1%)Vitamin A: 2473.8 IU (49%)Vitamin B12: 0.1 µg (2%)Vitamin C: 0.7 mg (1%)Vitamin D: 0.3 µg (2%)Calcium: 50 mg (5%)Iron: 1.2 mg (7%)Magnesium: 6 mg (2%)Zinc: 0.2 mg (1%)

Carine Claudepierre

About The Author

Carine Claudepierre

Hi, I’m Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook, and founder of Sweet As Honey.

I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I’m passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I’m also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.

I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet

Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!

All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.

Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.

I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!



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Craftsman Style ADU Studio House with Loft and Narrow Footprint (Floor Plan)

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Craftsman Style ADU Studio House with Loft and Narrow Footprint (Floor Plan)


Specifications

  • Sq. Ft.: 619
  • Bedrooms: 1
  • Bathrooms: 1
  • Stories: 1

Main Level Floor Plan

Main Level Floor Plan

Second Level Floor Plan

Second Level Floor Plan

Front View

Front View

Rear View

Rear View

Living Room

Living Room

Living Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Kitchen

Sleeping Loft

Sleeping Loft

Right Elevation

Right Elevation

Left Elevation

Left Elevation

Rear Elevation

Rear Elevation

Details

This craftsman style ADU studio house features a cute and charming facade with classic clapboard siding, board and batten accents, multiple gables, and a covered entry lined by white pillars.

A spacious living room greets you as you step inside. A vaulted ceiling enhances the open and airy feel while large windows provide stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The combined kitchen and dining offers L-shaped counters, a storage closet, and double sinks that look out the backyard.

Rounding out the house plan are the full bathroom, laundry closet, and a sleeping loft accessible via a ladder.

Pin It!

This craftsman style ADU studio house features a cute and charming facade with classic clapboard siding, board and batten accents, multiple gables, and a covered entry lined by white pillars.

Architectural Designs Plan 72441DA

More House Plans

Design Your Own House Plan (Software) | See ALL Floor and House Plans | 25 Popular House Plans

Bedrooms: 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedrooms | 3 Bedrooms | 4 Bedrooms | 5 Bedrooms | 6 Bedrooms | 7 Bedrooms

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Levels: Single Story | 2-Story House Floor Plans | 3-Story House Floor Plans

Size: By Sq Ft | Mansion Floor Plans | Small Houses | Carriage Houses | Tiny Homes | Under 1,000 Sq Ft | 1,000 to 1,500 Sq Ft | 1,500 to 2,000 Sq Ft | 2,000 to 2,500 Sq Ft | 2,500 to 3,000 Sq Ft | 3,000 to 4,000 Sq Ft | 4,000 to 5,000 Sq Ft | 5,000 to 10,000 Sq Ft

Features: Loft | Basements | Bonus Room | Wrap-Around Porch | Elevator | In-Law Suite | Courtyard | Garage | Home Bar | Balcony | Walkout Basement | Covered Patio | Front Porch | Jack and Jill Bathroom

Lot: Sloping | Corner | Narrow | Wide

Resources: Architectural Styles | Types Houses | Interior Design Styles | 101 Interior Design Ideas



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Bong Joon Ho’s Robert Pattinson Sci-Fi

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Yesterday, the official X/Twitter account for director Bong Joon Ho‘s upcoming sci-fi film Mickey 17 uploaded an abbreviated clip featuring a chilly Robert Pattinson teasing the long-awaited arrival of the film’s trailer. “What’s it like to die?”, Pattinson’s character is asked as he perishes repeatedly. The trailer is here and our excitement couldn’t be higher for this one.

Mickey 17, based on the Edward Ashton book Mickey 7, follows a man named Mickey Barnes who, after being scanned by a machine, is tasked with assisting in colonizing an ice planet. The mysterious machine’s purpose is to reprint his body repeatedly until his task is complete. Should Mickey meet his untimely end by drowning, freezing to death, or zombie buffalo, no biggie. There’s more Mickey to go around so long as only one of him exists at a time—a paradox that becomes a problem when a reprint survives his scheduled termination. What follows are multiple versions of Mickey fighting (or playing rock paper scissors) to decide who will continue living while contending with the ice planet’s lethal environment and hostile lifeforms. In short, Mickey 17 is grade-A speculative fiction with a baker’s dozen more Pattinsons to add to the ensuing drama.

In addition to Pattinson(s), the film stars Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. On the production end of things, Mickey 17 will also see Oscar-nominated director of photography Darius Khondji (Okja) on board, alongside Oscar-nominated production designer Fiona Crombie (Cruella), Oscar-nominated editor Jinmo Yang (Parasite), costume designer Catherine George (Snowpiercer), visual effects supervisor Dan Glass (The Matrix), and Jae-il Jung (Parasite) providing the film’s score.

Mickey 17 was initially slated to release March 29, 2024, but was pushed back. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. delayed it due to production shifts during the SAG-AFTRA strike—though its new release window was probably for the best, considering it would have had to contend with Elio, Kung Fu Panda 4, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Godzilla and Kong.

Mickey 17 releases in theaters January 31, 2025.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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Bringing Ecosystems Together: How W3C DIDs and VCs can help with Ethereum’s Three Transitions

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12 September 2024

Ethereum Open Community Projects L2 Standards Working Group

Vitalik Buterin identified three crucial transitions for Ethereum: scaling through L2 rollups to reduce costs, enhancing wallet security via smart contract wallets for better security and user experience, and advancing privacy through privacy-preserving mechanisms. This article explores how integrating W3C Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) can address some of these challenges by improving the management of identities, keys, and addresses, leveraging existing decentralized identity solutions to aid Ethereum’s transitions efficiently to move to a more L2-based world.

As Vitalik Buterin pointed out in a series of 2023 articles, particularly his Three Transitions article,  Ethereum is transitioning from a young experimental technology into a mature tech stack that could bring an open, global, and permissionless experience to average users. However, he believes that there are three major technical transitions that the stack needs to undergo, roughly simultaneously:

  • L2 Scaling Transition: This involves moving the ecosystem to rollups to address the high transaction costs on Ethereum, which have reached $3.75 or even $82.48 during a bull run
  • Wallet Security Transition: The shift to smart contract wallets (account abstraction) is necessary for enhanced user comfort and security in storing funds and non-financial assets, moving away from centralized exchanges and single non-custodial wallets.
  • Privacy Transition: Ensuring privacy-preserving funds transfers and developing other privacy-preserving mechanisms such as social recovery and identity systems is essential to prevent users from resorting to centralized solutions that offer only some or virtually no privacy.

Vitalik emphasizes that these transitions are crucial and challenging due to the intense coordination required to implement them. In particular, he discussed the implications of these transitions on the relationship between users and addresses, payment systems, and key management processes. The relationship between users and their addresses, and key rotation/recovery are a major concern both technically and from a usability point of view – UX determines success or failure no matter how good the underlying technology is.

In this article, we will delve into these latter issues and discuss how solutions from another ecosystem, namely the one focused on decentralized identity, also often referred to as self-sovereign identity, can significantly aid with the transitions without having to reinvent too many wheels.

The problem statement in the context of Ethereum’s technical transitions can be summarized as follows according to Vitalik:

  • Complex Payments: The transitions make simple actions like paying someone more complex, requiring more information than just an address because the user needs to determine which funds to use, where to send it to, and specific payment instructions often involving identity information.
  • Smart Contract Wallets: Smart Contract wallets add technical issues that need to be addressed, such as ensuring wallets track ETH sent by smart contract code including tracking across networks.
  • Privacy Challenges: Privacy-preserving transactions, if implemented, introduce new challenges, such as needing a “spending public key” and encrypted information for the recipient to find the payment and how to pick it up.
  • Identity Changes: The concept of an “address” will change, potentially requiring a combination of multiple addresses, encryption keys, and other data to interact with a user.

These points, therefore, raise the question of how we manage identity, addresses, and their keys together, and in a way that does not confuse the user, and compromise the security of their assets.

Given the above problem statement, the concept of an “address” in the Ethereum ecosystem, is evolving, with the traditional idea of an address as a single cryptographic identifier becoming obsolete. Instead, “instructions for how to interact with me” will involve a combination of addresses on multiple Layer 2 (L2) platforms, stealth meta-addresses, encryption keys, and other data. In his article, Vitalik points out that one possible approach would be using the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) records to contain all identity information. Sending someone an ENS name like “alice.eth” would allow them to access all the necessary details for interaction, including payment and privacy-preserving methods. However, this method has drawbacks, such as tying too much to one’s name and the inability to have trustless counterfactual names, which are essential for sending tokens to new users without a prior blockchain interaction. In addition, the ENS system is a rent-seeking system. Therefore, more broadly, it is not equitable and does not guarantee continued ownership of one’s identity; that is not a tenable situation. An alternative solution involves keystore contracts that hold all identity information. These contracts can be counterfactual-friendly and are not tied to a specific name, allowing for more flexibility and privacy.

This brings us to the topic of keys controlling “addresses”. Specifically, key rotation and key recovery in a multi-address Ethereum Ecosystem. Key rotation is just becoming an important feature with smart contract wallets and account abstraction where the controlling address of a smart contract wallet might change because a key is rotated or recovered which necessitates a new controlling address. Irrespective of key rotation or key recovery, the traditional method would be to run onchain-procedures on each address separately. This is impractical due to gas costs, counterfactual addresses, and privacy concerns. As mentioned before, Vitalik proposes the usage of keystore contracts that exist in one location and point to verification logic at different addresses. This would allow the creation of a proof of the current spending key for transactions. This requires a recovery architecture that separates verification logic and asset holdings, simplifying the recovery process by requiring only a cross-network proof for recovery.

In this context, Decentralized Identifiers can leverage keystore contracts to empower a modular verification logic for contract accounts that verifies zk proofs through a specific validation module and embeds a system to standardize onchain executions.

Adding privacy measures, such as encrypted pointers and zk proofs, increases complexity. However, it offers potential synergies with keystore contracts for persistent addresses since the persistent address could be “cloaked” in a zk proof.

What does this all mean for smart contract wallets? Traditionally, wallets were designed to secure assets by protecting the private key associated with on-chain assets. If the key was to be changed, the old one could be safely disclosed without any risk. However, in a zero-knowledge world wallets need to protect data besides assets. The example of Zupass, a ZK-SNARK-based identity system, illustrates that users can hold data locally and only reveal it when necessary. However, losing the data’s encryption key means losing access to all encrypted data. Therefore, the management of encryption keys is also becoming increasingly important. Vitalik suggests that multiple devices or secret sharing among (key) “guardians” could be used to mitigate the risk of losing encryption keys. However, this approach is not suitable for asset recovery due to the potential risk of collusion among “guardians”. Finally, the concept of an address as a user’s on-chain identifier will have to change, and, therefore, wallets must manage both asset recovery and encryption key recovery to avoid overwhelming users with complex recovery processes aka poor UX. For example, Sign In With Ethereum relies on the onchain address and the user’s private key controlling that key to generate the authentication message. However, there is no notion of a one-to-many relationship in this approach, and no notion of a smart contract wallet as the primary delegate of the user. The verifying party, also called the relying party, therefore, cannot assess the scope of the authorization(s) required for the user when logging in which is crucial depending on the functionality the verifying party makes available to the user address.

The Three Transitions are more than just technical enhancements; they represent radical shifts in how users engage with Ethereum-based stacks, especially in the areas of identity, key management, and addresses, thereby, evolving the Ethereum ecosystem from its current state into a more user-friendly and accessible platform that prioritizes scalability, security, and usability. Therefore, one would naturally ask the following question: Are there tools and frameworks already available that could be utilized by the community, especially regarding identity, key management, and privacy to ease the transitions? The answer to that is a definite yes. In particular, the ecosystem that has evolved around the concept of decentralized identity and its standards, frameworks, and numerous reference implementations has produced tooling that is readily usable within the Ethereum stack.

What is the Decentralized Identity Ecosystem?

The decentralized identity ecosystem is focused on giving individuals control over their digital identities without relying on centralized authorities. It leverages blockchain technology and cryptographic principles to ensure privacy, security, and user-centric identity management. At the core of this ecosystem are two key concepts: Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs).

Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs):

DIDs are a new type of identifier that enables verifiable, self-sovereign digital identities. They are unique, globally resolvable identifiers associated with a subject, such as an individual, organization, or device. DIDs are decentralized by design, meaning they do not rely on a central registry or authority for their creation or management. Instead, they are created and controlled by the users or entities acting on their behalf. DIDs typically utilize public-key cryptography to ensure secure interactions and allow the subject to prove ownership and control of their identity and perform specific authorized actions such as assertions, authentication, authorization, and encryption.

Verifiable Credentials (VCs):

Verifiable Credentials are digital credentials that contain claims about a subject’s identity, attributes, or qualifications, issued by trusted entities known as issuers. VCs are tamper-evident and cryptographically signed to ensure their integrity and authenticity. Importantly, VCs are portable and can be presented by the subject to verifiers, such as service providers or relying parties, without the need for those verifiers to contact the issuer directly. This enables seamless and privacy-preserving identity verification across different domains and contexts.

Several key players and organizations are contributing to the development and adoption of decentralized identity technologies:

  • Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF): DIF is a consortium of organizations collaborating to develop standards and protocols for decentralized identity systems. It promotes interoperability and innovation in the space.
  • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C): W3C hosts the Credentials Community Group, which incubates work on verifiable credentials and related technologies, and the Decentralized Identifier and Verifiable Credentials Working Groups, which are developing updates to the respective specifications
  • Hyperledger Indy: Hyperledger Indy is an open-source project under the Linux Foundation. It is focused on providing tools and libraries for building decentralized identity systems.
  • Sovrin Foundation: Sovrin Foundation operates the Sovrin Network, a public permissioned blockchain designed for decentralized identity management.
  • Microsoft, IBM, and other tech companies: Several major tech companies are actively involved in developing decentralized identity solutions, contributing to standards development, and building reference implementations.

Standards play a crucial role in ensuring interoperability and compatibility within the decentralized identity ecosystem. Some key standards and reference implementations include:

  • Decentralized Identifier (DID) Specification: Defines the syntax and semantics of DIDs, including methods for their creation, resolution, and management.
  • Verifiable Credentials Data Model: Specifies the structure and format of verifiable credentials, including JSON-LD contexts for representing claims.
  • DIDComm Messaging Protocol: Enables secure, private communication between DIDs using end-to-end encryption and cryptographic authentication.
  • SSI (Self-Sovereign Identity) Protocols: Various protocols and frameworks, such as DID Auth, Presentation Exchange, and VC API, facilitate secure interactions and transactions within the self-sovereign identity paradigm.
  • Hyperledger Aries: A framework that provides a set of interoperable components for building decentralized identity solutions, including agents, wallets, and protocols.
  • Privado ID former Polygon ID: A set of tools built for developers to create secure and trusted relationships between users and applications in the Web3.  It focuses on decentralized identity, giving users control over their data. The toolkit is based on the open-sourced iden3 protocol.
  • QuarkID: An open-source DID solution currently deployed on ZKsync Era with digital credentials being issued by the City of Buenos Aires.

Below, we detail how a decentralized identity framework can be successfully applied to the cross-network challenges for identity, address, and key management previously discussed.

Using Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)

Problem: Managing identity for a user across various Ethereum networks is complex.

DID Solution for Identities:

  • DIDs provide globally unique identifiers that are resolvable (to their DID Document) and cryptographically verifiable across any blockchain network.
  • Each DID is associated with a DID Document which contains information about the relationship of a DID with a set of cryptographic keys, the functions these keys can perform such as verification, authentication, authorization, assertion, and encryption, as well as service endpoints such as API endpoints to addresses controlled by the keys listed in the DID Document.
  • The relationship of DID to their DID Documents or respective cryptographic representations can be stored on any blockchain network, ensuring tamper-proof and persistent identity records.

DID Documents for Address Management:

Problem: Users have different addresses on the Ethereum mainnet, testnets, and Layer 2 solutions, including counterfactual addresses.

DID Document solution:

  • A DID document has a verificationMethod data property allowing a DID owner or controller to specify symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic keys for any desired curve such as secp256k1 utilized by Ethereum stacks.
  • The verificationMethod for a key also allows the user to specify an ID for the verification method. This is typically the DID plus a fragment as per the DID specification. This fragment allows two very important things. First, it allows you to specify a network identifier, for example, “1” if the key is an Ethereum key, and other numbers if that key is not on an Ethereum network. In addition, the fragment can be extended to indicate if the key belongs to a counterfactual address or a smart contract wallet. For example, “did:ion:1234xxxxddd4444-#1-counter” would indicate that the public key identified belongs to a counterfactual Ethereum address. In addition, if required for certain reasons to separately identify an address on Polygon PoS vs Arbitrum One the “1” could be replaced by the chainId of the target network, e.g. 137 for Polygon PoS.
  • Lastly, a smart contract wallet can be given its own DID and controlled by the DIDs of the smart contract wallet owners where each owner identifies one or more controlling keys for the wallet as specified in their DID document. This last point allows for two major improvements for smart contract wallets – key rotation aka key recovery, and an arbitrary number of controlling keys without revealing those controlling keys

DID Documents for Key Management including Social Recovery:

DID Solution for Identities:

Problem: Key recovery and key rotation for Ethereum addresses, particularly smart contract wallets, are complex and are not user-friendly.

DID Document solution:

  • When a public key associated with a DID must be rotated for security or recovery purposes, a user can simply update a DID Document and replace the old public key with a new public key in the verificationMethod using another controlling key. This can be a key the user directly controls, or if control has been delegated, by another user controlling a DID listed as controller.
  • Therefore, this can also be achieved for a Smart Contract wallet. Each controller can independently update the key in the verificationMethod associated with their DID. This is enough because the user can produce a cryptographic commitment that the update was done correctly that can be submitted to and verified by the smart contract wallet.    

Privacy (Zero-Knowledge) Aspect of DIDs and DID Documents

  • DID Documents can be represented as zero-knowledge proofs by first merkelizing their JSON-LD document, and then verifying Merkle Proofs of relationships of DID-to-key and DID-to-functional-capability (as represented through one or more cryptographic keys).
  • Using zk-SNARKs, in particular, enables efficient verification of cryptographic key claims on Ethereum networks.
  • For example, the zero-knowledge circuit for a valid key rotation update of a DID document would do two things: a) verify that the updating key is in the DID document and is a controlling key by verifying a Merkle proof of inclusion in the DID document and b) verify the digital signature of the controlling key over the root hash of the old DID document. The public inputs to the proof would be the Merkle Root of the new merkelized DID Document and the root hash of the old DID document, and the private inputs would be the Merkle proof and the digital signature. The smart contract would only have to verify the proof, check that the old root hash was registered, and then update the old with the new root hash.
  • This has the advantage that no information is leaked about which addresses control the smart contract wallet. Every smart contract wallet transaction could be fully anonymous if all transactions submitted to the smart contract have a recursive zero-knowledge proof that verifies that a) the public key belonging to the address submitting the transaction is a controlling key of the DID that is a smart contract owner and b) that a zero-knowledge proof that the transaction was signed by the correct quorum of signatures of the smart contract wallet owners was properly verified by a verifier in the circuit itself. 

Using Verifiable Credentials (VCs)

Problem: The entity performing a key operation such as a key rotation or a digital signature for a financial transaction must prove that it is a legal entity that meets all applicable compliance rules for a jurisdiction that has compliance oversight.

VC Solution for Compliant Key Operations:

  • W3C VCs allow assertions to be made about the subject of the credential such as “Alice is a legal enterprise in Brazil”, or, “This enterprise is a legal entity in the US and a registered Broker-Dealer”, or, “The legal US entity A is a legally registered Broker-Dealer and is legally authorized to act on behalf of the legal US entity B”. 
  • Given the standardized structure and public context reference files that specify the VC standard and specific VC types, each VC can be readily turned into a zk proof given a standardized, and publicly available zk circuit. Revealing only the legal identity of the VC issuer as the root of trust, such as a KYC provider.
  • Such zk proofs, in particular, ZK-SNARKs can be submitted with any transaction and verified in a smart contract such as a smart contract wallet or a DeFi protocol.
  • This allows for compliant transactions on Ethereum stacks without revealing any sensitive identity or other relevant compliance data.

Useful Implementations for Ethereum Networks

There are dozens of different implementations of the W3C DID specification. While many DID methods are not as scalable as necessary, or not easily anchored on a blockchain, several DID methods fit the bill for the Ethereum ecosystem – permissionless, blockchain-anchored, scalable, and cheap. All of these DID methods are based on the Sidetree Protocol.  The Sidetree Protocol is a “Layer 2” DID protocol that can be implemented on top of any event anchoring system, including Ethereum, and is compliant with W3C guidelines. The Sidetree protocol does not require centralized authorities, unique protocol tokens, trustworthy intermediaries, or secondary consensus mechanisms. Specifically, the Sidetree protocol defines a core set of DID PKI state change operations, structured as delta-based Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types (i.e. Create, Update, Recover, or Deactivate), that mutate a Decentralized Identifier’s DID Document state.

Therefore, by leveraging an Ethereum-based implementation of Sidetree, the Ethereum ecosystem can ensure that each user has a self-sovereign identity, that is both private and interoperable across different L2s and applications.

We believe that the integration of W3C DIDs and VCs into Ethereum’s infrastructure is crucial for navigating the upcoming transitions. They provide the necessary tools for managing identities, keys, and address security, and privacy, and are aligned with the decentralized nature of blockchain technology.

Unfortunately, the Ethereum ecosystem and the decentralized identity (DID) ecosystem have not intersected much, though both share a focus on decentralization. The Ethereum ecosystem has primarily concentrated on advancing and scaling its blockchain technology, whereas the DID ecosystem has prioritized developing standards and protocols for governing digital identities. As a result, opportunities for collaboration between these two ecosystems have been limited.

We see the Three Transitions as an opportunity to change this and start a closer collaboration between the Decentralized Identity and Ethereum ecosystems.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Eugenio Reggianini ([email protected]) for proofreading the manuscript and adding important content.

4M Training Program Elevates Career Opportunities – CleanLink

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4M Training Program Elevates Career Opportunities  CleanLink



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Growing Potatoes – The Little Veggie Patch Co

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Growing Potatoes – The Little Veggie Patch Co


 

Shop Seed Potatoes

“It’s not a tuber!” shouted Arnold Schwarzenegger in the perennial classic Kindergarten Cop. At least that’s what we heard. Potatoes, on the other hand, are tubers. As are sweet potatoes – not related to the potato if you can believe it – as well as yams. But we digress. Potatoes are tubers, they are delicious and they provide consistently high yields for consistently neglectful gardeners. 

Tubers are essentially a growth of reserve nutrients. Like an underground doomsday bunker, they store plant energy for an uncertain future. It is this stored energy that gives them the potential to grow a new plant at a moment’s notice or lay dormant until conditions improve. Anyone that has left a potato long enough in the bottom corner of the cupboard has seen it start to produce sprouts, ready to release its energy. Seed tubers from a nursery are often well sprouted and will not carry any soil borne disease, which is not the case for market bought varieties.

When buying seed potatoes there’s two paths/families that your potato will belong to. This will determine how you grow your potatoes so pay attention… 

Determinant or short-season potatoes can be covered only once, when planted. These tubers will be ready to harvest once the plants have grown and begun to yellow and die back; in about 70-100 days.

Indeterminant varieties will yield a bigger, albeit later harvest (between 110-140 days). The plants that grow from these varieties can be repeatedly ‘earthed’ or ‘hilled’ – the process of covering over with more compost/soil – to increase the yield (three cycles is maximum). Each time the shoots are covered, a new level of tubers will form, meaning that upon harvest each layer will produce potatoes of varying maturity.

Even though potatoes are a relatively easy crop to grow – which is why you find them EVERYWHERE and eat them ALL THE TIME – there are a few tips to maximise the yield;

1. Choose the right variety: different potato varieties will have slightly different growth requirements and are suited to different environments, but more than choosing the variety suited to your climate, you will need to choose the variety that is best suited to the way you like to eat them! Not all potatoes deep dry or roast well…..similarly not all potatoes hold well in a salad. Choose wisely.

2. Plant in the right season: which in Australia, in temperate climates, is really at most times of the year. While it’s best to plant in the milder parts of the cool and warms seasons, we’ve also found success in the extremities. When you are living in colder zones, stick to mid autumn and early spring. If you find yourselves amongst the warmer climates, winter is always best.

3. Prepare the soil: potatoes grow best in loose, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Before planting, work in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil quality. The ideal pH is somewhere around 5.5, but saying that, we’ve found them less fussy to pH than to soil that is either get too dry or too boggy.

4. Plant the seed potatoes correctly: cut your seed potatoes into chunks, each with at least one “eye” or bud. Plant them about 10cm deep, with the eyes facing up, spaced roughly 30cm apart.

5. Maintain proper soil moisture and nutrition: potatoes need consistent moisture, but they don’t like to be waterlogged. Similarly they’re not going to appreciate drying out on repeat. Another case of the Goldilocks principle….which is just right. Make sure the soil stays evenly moist throughout the growing season. If you prepare the soil well, fertilising won’t be necessary, however we like to get into the routine of applying an all-purpose fertiliser during the growing season

6. For those with small spaces plant separately: we recommend planting in a felt pot or potato grow bag so that growth cannot invade the rest of your garden. Keeping potatoes in a separate container also guarantees that you won’t miss any produce when it comes to harvest time. 

Harvesting

Potatoes grown in the garden bed are best harvested with a garden fork, which lifts away much of the plant while allowing excess soil to fall through its tines. When harvesting, sink the fork into the ground – giving a fairly wide berth from where you expect the first tuber (don’t want to spear it!) – to lift the earth and reveal the tubers growing beneath.

When planting in a felt pot or other container, it can simply be dumped upside down to reveal all of the contents inside. This allows growers to quickly sift through the soil with their hands and ensures that nothing will be missed.

Once harvested leave dirt on them and store in a cool, dark place. Decent ventilation is important because tubers will continue to breath and repair bruises/blemishes for a couple of months after harvesting. Keep away from sunlight.

MIDNIGHT PRAYERS FOR MARRIAGES

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MIDNIGHT PRAYERS FOR MARRIAGES


45 Miracle Midnight Prayers for Marriages: A Guide to Strengthening Your Relationship with God and Your Spouse

Strengthen your marriage with 45 miracle midnight prayers, designed to help you build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship with your partner.

Are you struggling in your marriage and seeking a way to strengthen your bond with your spouse and with God? Perhaps you feel like your relationship has lost its spark or you’re dealing with challenges that seem insurmountable. Whatever the case may be, know that you’re not alone.

MIDNIGHT PRAYERS FOR MARRIAGES

Marriage is a beautiful and sacred union, but it’s not always easy. It requires hard work, dedication, and a deep commitment to each other and to God. That’s why we’re excited to share with you this guide to 45 miracle midnight prayers for marriages.

These prayers have been carefully crafted to help you connect with God and your spouse on a deeper level. They will guide you through the tough times and the good times, and help you build a strong foundation for your marriage.

So if you’re ready to take your relationship to the next level, join us as we explore these powerful prayers and the impact they can have on your marriage.

45 Midnight Prayers for Marriages

  1. Dear Lord, I pray that my spouse and I will always put You first in our marriage. Help us to seek Your guidance in all things. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
  2. Father, I pray that You will give us the grace to love each other unconditionally, just as You love us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
  3. Lord, I pray that You will help us to communicate effectively with each other. Let our words be kind and our hearts be open to one another. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Colossians 4:6
  4. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will protect our marriage from any outside influences that may seek to harm it. “The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life.” – Psalm 121:7
  5. Lord, I pray that You will help us to forgive each other when we make mistakes. Let Your love be the foundation of our forgiveness. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13
  6. Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to be patient with each other and to trust in Your timing for our lives. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
  7. Father, I pray that You will bless our marriage with children, if it is Your will. May we raise them up in Your ways and in Your love. “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” – Psalm 127:3
  8. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be good stewards of our finances and to use them wisely. Let us be content with what we have and trust in Your provision. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” – Hebrews 13:5
  9. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will help us to be each other’s biggest supporters and encouragers. May we build each other up and not tear each other down. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
  10. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be selfless in our marriage and to always think of the needs of our spouse before our own. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
  11. Heavenly Father I thank you for your promises of Deliverance and Protection over my Life, I give you praise for your manifesting the victory in my marriage.Isaiah 54:17, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
  12. Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry with each other. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19
  13. Father, I pray that You will help us to be faithful to each other and to honor our marriage vows. “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Mark 10:9
  14. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be a light to others through our marriage. May we reflect Your love and grace to those around us. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
  15. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will help us to be humble and to put the needs of our spouse before our own. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
  16. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be patient and understanding with each other, especially during difficult times. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” – Ephesians 4:2
  17. Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to be a team in our marriage, working together to accomplish Your will for our lives. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9
  18. Father, I pray that You will help us to be open and honest with each other, and to work through any issues that arise in our marriage. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16
  19. Almighty God I receive Dominion over all the Powers of the enemies in the Name of Jesus Christ, my marriage is superior to the forces of Darkness in Jesus mighty Name.Luke 10:19, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
  20. Oh Lord I Pray that you send your warrior angels into the camp of the enemy to rout and destroy their plans, in Jesus name.2 Kings 19:35, And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
  21. My father My Father, Release your fire  into the enemy’s camp and covens against my marriage in Jesus name.Amos 1:10, But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
  22. Almighty father Build your wall of Fire around my Marriage in Jesus mighty Name, No demon will  come near my home in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.Zechariah 2:5, For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
  23. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be grateful for each other and to never take each other for granted. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  24. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will bless our marriage with joy and laughter. May our home be filled with Your joy and peace. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
  25. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be understanding and compassionate towards each other, as You are towards us. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
  26. Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to be a source of comfort and strength to each other, especially during difficult times. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
  27. Father, I pray that You will help us to be good examples to others of what a marriage should look like. May our love for each other be a testimony to Your grace and faithfulness. “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.” – Titus 2:7-8
  28. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be a source of encouragement and hope to each other, reminding each other of Your promises and faithfulness. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
  29. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will help us to be patient with each other’s weaknesses and imperfections. May we extend the same grace and forgiveness to each other that You extend to us. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24
  30. Every negative agenda of the Devil over my family shall come to nought in Jesus mighty Name. Isaiah 8:10, Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
  31. Every gathering of Devils, witches and wizards targeted at thwarting my marriage be scatterd in the Name of Jesus. Isaiah 54:15, Behold they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
  32. Dear Lord guide me in my marriage, order my steps in your word in the Name if Jesus, I’ll not walk in vanity in Jesus Name. Psalm 119:133, Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
  33. Declare that you are covered, your marriage is preserved in the Name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 91:4,He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
  34. I reject the dominion of Devils in my marriage and home, I declare that Christ is King in my marriage in Jesus Name. Psalm 89:18,  For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
  35. Lord let your promise of double blessing come upon my lives in Jesus name, all the challenges we have faced be turned to Joy in Jesus Mighty Name. Isaiah 61:7,For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. Tonight, I bind every demon of set back against my marriage and loose my promotion and Progress in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Matthew 18:18, Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
  36. Tonight, I execute judgement upon demons against my Marriage in  the  strength of my  God in Jesus mighty Name. Psalm 149:5-9, Let the saints  be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
  37. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be good listeners and to seek to understand each other’s perspectives. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19
  38. Dear Lord, I pray that You will help us to be quick to forgive each other and to let go of any bitterness or resentment that may arise. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
  39. Father, I pray that You will help us to be loving and respectful towards each other, just as You command us to love and respect each other. “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” – Ephesians 5:33
  40. No tormenting Spirit will reign in my home in the Name of  Jesus, We sleep and wake up in Peace in Jesus mighty Name.

    Proverbs 3:24, When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

  41. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be a team in our marriage, working together to accomplish Your will for our lives. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20
  42. Heavenly Father, I pray that You will help us to be patient and understanding with each other, especially when we disagree. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:3
  43. Lord, I pray that You will help us to be faithful to each other and to honor our marriage vows, no matter what challenges we may face. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23
  44. I Declare the glory of God, the goodness of God, the Mercy of God in my Home in the Name of Jesus, I refuse to be anxious, I give thanks to God in everything in Jesus Mighty Name.

Philippians 6-7,Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Recommended: Prayer for Your Spouse – 15 Powerful Prayers for Your Spouse Right Now

45. Give thanks to the Lord for the answers that you have received to your prayers. Thank you Jesus for answering and settling all that concerns my marriage and marital destiny. For I pray in Jesus precious name.

Prayer is a very Powerful instrument in warfare, Midnight is the time where serious Spiritual orchestration takes Place as such it is very vital to Pray at midnight. We encourage you to secure your Victory tonight.

Read Also: Prayer for My Husband

Go on and give thanks to God, Believe that He has heard You and cultivate the healthy habit of midnight prayers because it’s very strategic and effective. Our Lord Jesus Prayed in the Night, His Apostles Prayed at Night as well and all came with incredible results. Go on tenaciously in Midnight Prayers and watch how your Life will be transformed miraculously. Congratulations,God is For You and He’s with You.

 





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Villa Embrace: A Masterpiece of Design and Elegance in St. Barths

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Villa Embrace: A Masterpiece of Design and Elegance in St. Barths


Aerial view of Villa Embrace. Image by Laurent Benoit

Villa Embrace, the vision of Vancouver-based financier Martin Weinberg and his wife, Michelle, is an experience of the pinnacle of luxury and personalised service. From its breathtaking location and graceful design to its sophisticated amenities and dedication to cultivating bespoke, unforgettable experiences, Villa Embrace has earned its reputation as the ultimate luxury retreat on St. Barths in the Caribbean. The architectural marvel that is Villa Embrace has earned the first spot at Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2024, taking home the title of Best Luxury Villa in St. Barthélemy.

A Retreat of Refinement, Luxury and Style

View over the Gustavia harbor from Villa Embrace. Image by Laurent Benoit

Opened in March 2022, Villa Embrace is positioned in the mountainside of St.Barths, offering spectacular panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and the bustling Gustavia harbor. This four-level residence, renowned as one of the most exclusive and expensive private villas in St. Barths, gives the ultra-luxury vacation experience a whole new meaning thanks to its other-worldly design and incredible amenities.

Exquisite Design, Architecture and Art

Villa Embrace features five lavish suites, each utterly unique but all incorporating an effortless blend of indoor and outdoor living with floor-to-ceiling windows, natural materials, and modern decor. The villa’s design is the perfect amalgamation of contemporary architecture and timeless elegance, thoughtfully crafted to leave a lasting impression on even the most discerning eye. The villa’s four storeys are adorned with thoughtfully curated pieces, from a custom TT. Trunks Games Table to a nautical-inspired dining table by Italy’s Barbarini & Gunnell, alongside timeless classics like Minotti’s signature sofas. Complementing this refined interior, a carefully selected art collection features iconic works by Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, each piece sourced from the owner’s private collection, adding a layer of cultural sophistication to the villa’s already impeccable design.

Amenities that Create an Unforgettable Experience

Notable amenities include two infinity-edge pools, one over 100 feet long, overlooking a waterfall, and outdoor showers surrounded by lush foliage. Each suite is accompanied by private gardens, ensuring an intimate and serene retreat. The villa also features an outdoor Japanese soaking tub, a wine cellar, and a state-of-the-art cinema. Additional highlights include a four-story glass elevator offering views of the villa’s private waterfall and living wall, an outdoor massage suite, a hammam, a fully equipped gym, and a private drive-up entrance to the master suite and office – creating a space where every detail invites guests to unwind, indulge, and connect with the beauty of the villa and its surroundings.

Art Collection at Villa Embrace including pieces from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Image by Claudio Napolitano

Personalised Service at its Finest

Villa Embrace offers exceptional services that emphasize personalized and luxurious experiences. An in-house chef is available 24/7 to prepare gourmet meals tailored to guests’ preferences, supported by a well-stocked wine cellar. The dedicated concierge service ensures every request is fulfilled, from VIP pre-arrival planning to exclusive dining reservations. The villa’s in-house butler thoroughly manages every detail, providing services such as arranging personal training sessions, hillside hikes, outdoor massages, and private beach picnics.

Snapshot from a day out planned by Villa Embrace. Image by Hugo Allard

International Acclaim

Villa Embrace has garnered international media attention from prestigious outlets, including Forbes, Robb Report, Travel + Leisure,  and Haute Living, solidifying its status as a premier luxury retreat. For more information on the award-winning, renowned villa, or to book your next stay, visit https://villaembrace.com/.

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Allstate, AFCA Reveal 2024 Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalists

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NORTHBROOK, Ill., September 17, 2024 – The 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® is set, narrowing the candidates for this year’s Allstate Wuerffel Trophy.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team names 22 student-athletes and one head coach for exemplary community service. The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, announced later this year, is presented to one of the 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

“Each year, I’m inspired by the way these young men use their gifts to make a positive impact on their communities,” said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, 2009 Good Works Team member and 2008 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient. “I’m once again honored to help celebrate this award and the outstanding work it highlights.”

This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was selected from a record 178 nominees, representing players and coaches from colleges and universities across the country for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field.

Members of this year’s team include:

Chase Griffin, Quarterback, University of California, Los Angeles: Griffin founded a foundation to tackle food insecurity among youth, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Malaki Starks, Defensive Back, University of Georgia: Starks hosted a football camp for at-risk youth in Atlanta and is a regular presence in Clark County schools.

Garrett Greene, Quarterback, West Virginia University: Greene actively gives back to the community, visiting children in local hospitals, raising funds for cancer patients, and assisting veterans.

Dean Janikowski, Kicker, Washington State University: Janikowski honors his late mother raising funds to support cancer patients, including calling on fans to pledge donations for each field goal and extra point he makes.

The full roster of the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and their stories of community service can be found at ESPN.com/Allstate.

“The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team represents the power of achieving for your community,” said Sam Acho, ESPN analyst, author, and 2010 Good Works Team member and Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient. “These honorees have accomplished so much in a short amount of time. I hope this award will encourage them to continue to realize the joy in serving others.”

The 23 award recipients bring together:

  • 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
  • 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
  • 1 honorary head coach

“The Good Works Team embodies Allstate’s work to improve communities,” said Troy Hawkes, Allstate executive vice president and general manager. “We’re inspired by these award recipients and the positive impact they are having on so many people.”

All members are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists who look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.

“It is amazing to see the extra efforts and community service these 22 young men put out on a daily basis,” said Craig Bohl, AFCA executive director. “Not to be outdone, our honorary head coach Marcus Freeman shows that you can still give back and help your community even when you are the head coach of an FBS program like Notre Dame. I congratulate Coach Freeman and these 22 student-athletes for making the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.”

Throughout the season, fans can join the conversation using #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels to help others learn more about these players and their stories.

The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain

The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service, is presented to one of the 11 FBS players elected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Danny Wuerffel, the award honors the former NFL quarterback’s commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world.

“Seeing the incredible effort the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has committed through hundreds of service hours to benefit their communities, starting nonprofit foundations, and hosting fundraising events, is truly inspiring,” said Wuerffel. “We are excited to see which of these incredible servant leaders will be named the 20th anniversary recipient of the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy this year.”

The 2024 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy finalists and recipient will be selected by a national voting committee, including a fan vote component. The 2024 recipient, who will also be recognized as the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain, will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 12, airing on ESPN.

Fans can cast their vote by November 15 at ESPN.com/Allstate.

About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 89 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since it began in 1992. The SEC is followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with 55 selections and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 43 selections. Georgia is in first place with 24 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The Bulldogs are followed by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 18 honorees. Super Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning were members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Teams, respectively.

About the AFCA

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to “maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession” and to “provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football.”

For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Request Form.

About the Wuerffel Foundation

The Wuerffel Foundation is dedicated to supporting Danny Wuerffel’s mission to inspire greater service and unity in the world, built on the three values of excellence, service and humility. As a recognized humanitarian, Danny mentors community leaders and connects them with philanthropic resources. The foundation annually presents the prestigious Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football’s premier award for community service, and hosts the Desire Cup and PickleBowl events.

About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy

The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football’s premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries. An avid pickleball player, he was drafted as a professional within the National Pickleball League and hosts celebrity pro-am “PickleBowl” tournaments.


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One Reason Preaching Matters | Crossway Articles

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One Reason Preaching Matters | Crossway Articles


God Speaks through Preaching

To many people, preaching seems strangely out of place in the modern world. Why would anyone choose to go to a church building, week by week, to hear a preacher (often the same person) deliver a monologue for twenty or thirty minutes (sometimes even longer) about an ancient book with characters who lived, at best, two thousand years ago? This doesn’t happen in any other context. Educational methods are increasingly interactive. Learning by discovery is the watchword. Preaching seems to be just another example of the church being out of touch, out of date, and out of steam.

Of course, it’s not difficult to find examples of preaching that are sadly boring or irrelevant. Nor is it hard to hear arguments put forward to claim that preaching has had its day: we live in a visual learning culture, listeners have sound-bite levels of concentration, study groups or one-to-one mentoring is more effective, moderns are opposed to domination of a congregation from an elevated pulpit, and so on. But the remedy for the disappointing level of much contemporary preaching is not less preaching, nor its removal from the church’s agenda, but better preaching. And that is because something happens through preaching that cannot occur in any other communication context.

David Jackman


In this convenient handbook, David J. Jackman presents a basic methodology for the study and preparation of expository teaching. 

God is committed to preaching, by which he speaks through the proclamation and explanation of his word. So the preacher’s task and privilege is, in J. I. Packer’s memorable phrase, “to mediate a meeting with God.”1 Preaching matters not because human beings decide that it does but because through preaching God speaks today. His voice is heard. So let’s look at three basic convictions or principles (and key Scripture passages for each) that help us to understand not just why preaching matters but why it is of supreme importance.

Preaching Matters Because the God of the Bible Is a Speaking God

The act of preaching today cannot be separated from the word of God that he has infallibly spoken in the Scriptures—the sixty-six books of divine revelation that make up our Bible. That is the bedrock foundation on which all preaching is to be built.

A basic biblical definition of the preacher is that he is a herald or proclaimer. It’s a significant description because it implies that there is a message, or declaration, that the messenger is to pass on faithfully and accurately without distortion. Because God has spoken in his word, the preacher can and must preach. Without that divinely given biblical content, all that a preacher can achieve is the expression of his own, often highly questionable, opinions. On offer, then, are the mere words of human beings. They may appear attractive and promise all sorts of comfort and joy, but ultimately, they are just human words—transient and powerless. Instead, in biblical expository preaching, the authentic voice of God is heard. What is expected is that God will speak to our souls through the human agency of the preacher.

To mediate a meeting with God will require the preacher’s disciplined preparation and dependence on the Holy Spirit. The conviction that such a meeting is God’s purpose and, therefore, possible will have constant implications for the preacher. If we are to be expositors, we must take sufficient time for preparation so that we have more than just a surface acquaintance with the text. We must read and reread, to listen carefully and hard, if we are to represent God’s truth faithfully. This will ensure that what we say is accurate to both the content and tone of the Bible passage we are preaching. Otherwise, we may easily lead our hearers astray. We must be actively depending on God, the Holy Spirit, to grant illumination and understanding to us and our hearers so that in our preparation we are governed by his life-giving word and praying for its impact on all who hear. Equally, we must be dependent on the Spirit who inspired the text to give us clear thinking, a warm heart, and effective delivery in the process of preaching so that the wind of God may be in the sails of the sermon.

Convictions such as these need to be rooted in us through the power of the Scriptures themselves. So it will be profitable to examine a key passage from Paul in 2 Timothy to help us ensure that our view of preaching is shaped by God’s word and not contemporary opinions.

To mediate a meeting with God will require the preacher’s disciplined preparation and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

At the end of his life Paul passes on the ministry baton to Timothy, who is serving as pastor-teacher in Ephesus, the church in which Paul himself had spent his longest period of settled ministry. Like many pastors today, Timothy is struggling against false teaching bringing divisive factions into the church, but the conviction Paul wants his young colleague to embrace is that the Scriptures—what he calls “the sacred writings”—are more than sufficient as his authoritative source of divine revelation by which he can fulfill his ministry and lead the church. Paul writes, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14–15). Paul’s appeal is for stability, for continuance in the Scriptures, on the grounds that Timothy has experienced already their trustworthy truth in his own life and family as well as through close observation of Paul’s own life and ministry (2 Tim. 3:10–14).

Paul’s main argument, though, builds on the double purpose—or what we could perhaps label as the job description—of the Scriptures. First, according to 2 Timothy 3:15, the Scriptures are able to make us wise to come to Christ by faith to find salvation. As the Bible story unfolds, God is progressively revealing himself through the Scriptures until, ultimately, he comes in person into our world. As we meet Jesus in the pages of the Gospels, we see the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his person (Heb. 1:3). This is what compels us to repent of our sin, accept his merciful forgiveness, and lay our lives before him as our Savior, Lord, and God.

The second purpose appears in the following verses: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17). Because all Scripture is breathed out by God, it is the articulation in words of his mind and purposes. Because of that, all Scripture is profitable to teach what is right and to correct what is wrong. And this is necessary so that the man of God (a technical term for the pastor-teacher like Timothy) may be equipped for the task in all its aspects. The term “equipped” means that everything necessary has been provided to get the job done. Scripture is the pastor-teacher’s totally sufficient resource for ministry because what Scripture says, God says.

Paul’s solemn charge is, therefore, brief and to the point: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:1–2). Whether or not it seems to be “in season,” the word is always to be preached in order to do its work of reproving and rebuking so as to build up and strengthen the people of God. The need is urgent, then and now, because false teaching is constantly multiplying and spiritually destructive. But Timothy is not instructed to seek out or discover some new message. He is to keep faithful to the revelation already given; he is to preach the word, the word breathed out by God himself, whatever the personal cost might be.

Paul concludes, “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Paul warns Timothy not to allow any pressures, whether external opposition or internal uncertainty and divisions, to divert him from this primary calling. The apostle’s confidence is entirely in the power of the preaching of the word of God to accomplish the work of God, both in the church and in the world. Only that confidence will keep the contemporary preacher unashamedly at this good work, whatever the responses. When God’s word is faithfully preached, God’s voice is authentically heard. Preaching matters because the God of the Bible is a speaking God, the only one.

Notes:

  1. J. I. Packer, Truth and Power: The Place of Scripture in the Christian Life (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 120.

This article is adapted from Proclaiming the Word: Principles and Practices for Expository Preaching by David Jackman.

David Jackman

David Jackman (MA, Cambridge University) is a renowned Christian speaker and author. After fifteen years in pastoral ministry, he became the founder-director of the Cornhill Training Course in London, a ministry of the Proclamation Trust, of which he was later president. This ministry continues to encourage and equip Bible teachers around the world.

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