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Seizure of property of Jehovah's witnesses worth $ 15.5 million appealed. Yes. Petersburg, January 17 (Rapsi, Mikhail Telekhov) - a decision to confiscate property worth 881.5 million rubles ($ 15.5 million) belonging to the Jehovah's witness organization banned in Russia has been appealed, The Press Office of st. Petersburg courts has told rapsi. The appeal was filed by watch tower Bible and tract society of Pennsylvania registered in the United States. According to prosecutors, the property of Jehovah's witnesses includes 16 property elements in st. Petersburg. A court found earlier that the administrative center of Jehovah's witnesses transferred its complex to watch tower Bible and tract society of Pennsylvania under a donation agreement on March 1, 2000. However, the court declared fraudulent treatment because Jehovah's witnesses continued to use property after transfer to the foreign organization, and confiscated the property complex for the benefit of the Russian Federation. In April 2017, the Russian Supreme Court ordered the liquidation of the Jehovah's witnesses organization and all its 395 local branches. In August, the administrative center of Jehovah's witnesses was added to the list of prohibited extremist organizations. The religious organization of Jehovah's witnesses has had many legal problems in Russia. Since 2009, 95 materials distributed by the organization in the country have been declared extremists and 8 branches of Jehovah's witnesses have been liquidated, according to the ministry of justice. Jehovah's witnesses is an international religious organization based in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2004, several branches and chapters of the organization were banned and closed in several regions of Russia. http://www.rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20180117/281659813.html

Why the Tendency to Lie? The fact that “the whole world” lies in the power of Satan tells us why many people lie. ?? But we might ask, ‘Why did Satan, “the father of the lie,” do so?Â’ Satan knew that Jehovah is the rightful Sovereign of all that He has created, including the first human pair. Yet, Satan desired for himself this lofty and unique position, something to which he was not entitled. Out of greed and selfish ambition, he schemed to usurp JehovahÂ’s place. To achieve this, Satan resorted to lies and deceit. (1 Timothy 3:6) - Bible Speaks 1 Timothy 3:6 Tree of Life Version (TLV) 6 He must not be a new believer,[a] or he may become puffed up and fall into the same judgment as the devil. Footnotes: 1 Timothy 3:6 Lit. newly planted (Grk. neofutos). Tree of Life Version (TLV) Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

"God . . . will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out." (1 Cor. 10:13) - Bible Speaks 1 Corinthians 10:13 New Life Version (NLV) 13 You have never been tempted to sin in any different way than other people. God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted more than you can take. But when you are tempted, He will make a way for you to keep from falling into sin. New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International

Fascinating album shows detailed images of human development I stumbled upon a fascinating photo album on Flickr published by user lunar caustic. The album shows a collection of photos of human development in unprecedented details. The images were taken to be included in a cataloghighlighting the embryonic development. Similar pictures were taken by Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson back in 1965 and were published in Lifemagazine. Images and captions by Flickr user lunar caustic. https://dailyaccord.com/fascinating-album-shows-detailed-images-of-human-development/ Beautiful Pictures on site ____??

Keep Smiling! ?? Questions Children Asked But No Answers So Far? If swimming is a good exercise to stay FIT, why are whales FAT?? Why is the place in a stadium where people SIT, called a STAND? Why is that everyone wants to go to HEAVEN but nobody wants to DIE? Shall I say that there is racial discrimination even in chess as the WHITE piece is moved FIRST? In our country, we have FREEDOM of SPEECH, then why do we have TELEPHONE BILLS? If money doesn't grow on TREES then why do banks have BRANCHES? Why doesn't GLUE stick to its BOTTLE? Why do you still call it a BUILDING when its already BUILT? If its true that we are here to HELP others, what are others HERE for? If you arent supposed to DRINK and DRIVE why do bars have PARKING lots? If All The Nations In The World Are In Debt, Where Did All The Money Go..? When Dog Food Is New With Improved Taste, Who Tests It..? If The "Black Box" Flight Recorder Is Never Damaged During A Plane Crash, Why Isn't The Whole Airplane Made Out Of That Stuff..? Who Copyrighted The Copyright Symbol..? Can You Cry Under Water..? Why Do People Say "You've Been Working Like A Dog" When Dogs Just Sit Around All Day..??=D=))=D We all r Living in a seriously funny world..- We NEED a NEW WORLD to LAUGH FOREVER! - Bible Speaks - ????

SIERRA LEONE AND GUINEA They Called Him “Bible” Brown William R. Brown BORN 1879 BAPTIZED 1908 PROFILE Spearheaded the early preaching work in West Africa. - READ HIS EXPERIENCE AND BE ENCOURAGED https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/302014003?q=bible+brown&p=par

Preaching in Germany to a church with the name of Jehovah on the front of it? Little do they know it? ??

Warwick Bethel Headquarters, Warwick, New York USA - Enjoy! Video Link mp4 by_______ lilishandoyo IMG_7701.MP4

“Search for Jehovah and His Strength” ?????? "The eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him."—2 Chron. 16:9. ?????? God always uses his power for good. “As regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) Jehovah directs his power in a controlled way. Patience holds back GodÂ’s execution of the wicked to give them the opportunity to repent. Love moves him to make the sun shine upon all kinds of men—righteous and unrighteous. Justice will move him finally to use his unlimited power to bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, Satan the Devil.—Matthew 5:44, 45; Hebrews 2:14; 2 Peter 3:9. ?????? Jehovah can empower his servants as well as protect them. The Bible urges us to “search for Jehovah and his strength.” (Psalm 105:4) Why? Because when we do things in GodÂ’s strength, our power will be used for the benefit, rather than the harm, of others. Nowhere do we find a better example of this than in Jesus Christ, who performed many miracles in “JehovahÂ’s power.” (Luke 5:17) Jesus could have dedicated himself to becoming rich, famous, or even an all-powerful king. (Luke 4:5-7) Instead, he used the power God gave him to train and to teach, to help and to heal. (Mark 7:37; John 7:46) What a fine example for us! ?????? 1?? How do we draw on GodÂ’s strength? First of all, we have to ask for it in prayer. 2?? Second, we can draw spiritual strength from the Bible. (Hebrews 4:12) 3?? Third, we draw strength from Jehovah through Christian association. Paul encouraged Christians to attend meetings regularly in order to “incite to love and fine works” and to encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) Jehovah gives power to his servants when they carry out their ministry. We read in IsaiahÂ’s prophecy: “He is giving to the tired one power; and to the one without dynamic energy he makes full might abound. . . . Those who are hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not tire out.” (Isaiah 40:29-31) ?????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2000163?q=2+chron+16%3A9&p=par

"Be transformed by making your mind over."—Rom. 12:2. ????? ALL of us are influenced by the way we were raised and our environment, that is, our friends, our culture, and the community in which we live. That is why we like certain foods and why we dress and behave in a certain way. ????? There are at least two important reasons why Christians do not do that. First, the Bible says: “There exists a way that is upright before a man, but the ways of death are the end of it afterward.” (Proverbs 16:25) Because we are imperfect, we are not able to guide our steps perfectly. (Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 10:23) ????? Second, the Bible says that Satan is “the god of this system of things.” He controls the worldÂ’s standards, that is, what the world thinks is right or wrong and what becomes popular. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) If we want to make Jehovah happy and want him to bless us, we must obey what is said at Romans 12:2.—Read. ????? If we want to make Jehovah happy and want him to bless us, we must be transformed “Be transformed by making your mind over,” Paul wrote. The “mind” refers to our ability to think. But in the Bible, it also includes what we like to think about as well as our attitude and our ability to reason on a matter. Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Paul described people who had “a disapproved mental state” because of their ‘unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, and badness.Â’ They were “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,” and other bad things. (Romans 1:28-31) We can understand why Paul counseled the Christians who lived around people like that to ‘be transformed by making their mind over.Â’ ????? Only we know if we have allowed what we have learned from the Bible to transform us and whether it continues to do so ????? If we allow Jehovah to mold us, the transformation that results is internal, or spiritual—precisely what we need in order to combat worldly influences. ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402013685?q=rom+12%3A2&p=par#h=7 Â

How Can People Make Peace? ?☹️?? "Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones."—Eccl. 7:9. ?☹️?? FRANK and Jerry faced a common problem. When two people have a difference, both often go away angry, perhaps blaming each other. If they maintain this stance, estrangement may develop. Perhaps you have experienced a similar situation. If so, you likely took no pleasure in it! Indeed, most of us want to live in peace and harmony with our friends and neighbors. How, though, can we do so despite occasional upsets? Can we rise above negative attitudes and hurt feelings? Can we settle our differences amicably? ?☹️?? Consider Frank and Jerry’s predicament. Basically, their friendship began to unravel when they took several wrong steps: (1) Jerry was inconsiderate, (2) Frank expressed his annoyance in a way that upset Jerry, (3) both lost their temper, and (4) both refused to yield. ?☹️?? In time, however, reason prevailed. The two men put their differences behind them and made peace. What helped them to succeed? They applied some practical principles that have helped many friendships not only to survive rocky times but also to grow even stronger afterward. ?☹️?? The principles involved can be found in the world’s most widely distributed book—the Bible. It encourages us to cultivate qualities that promote peace and heal emotional wounds—qualities such as discernment, insight, kindness, love, and patience.—Proverbs 14:29;1 Corinthians 13:4, 5. ?☹️?? “Be Peaceable With All Men” The causes of conflict are complex and varied, and not everyone is eager to respond to overtures of peace. Hence, the Bible offers this realistic advice: “If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men.”—Romans 12:18. ?☹️?? READ TWO EXPERIENCES HERE – VERY GOOD! ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102014284#h=2 The people mentioned in this article are living proof that the wisdom found in the Bible really works—that it has the power to overturn even “strongly entrenched” negative attitudes when we let it. (2 Corinthians 10:4) Concerning that wisdom, Proverbs 3:17, 18 says: “Its ways are pleasant, and all its paths are peaceful. It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, and those who keep firm hold of it will be called happy.” ?????

Never say you are busy! UPBUILDING STORY ?????????? This is a story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, a man in Japan breaks open the wall. ?????????? Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of it's feet. ?????????? He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed five years ago when the house was first built! ?????????? What happened ?... The lizard had survived in such position for five years. In a dark wall partition for five years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling. ?????????? Then he wondered how this lizard survived for five years without moving a single step since it's foot was nailed ! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. ?????????? Later, not knowing from where it came, appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah !... He was stunned and touched deeply,... ?????????? For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past five years. Imagine ?... ?????????? It has been doing that untiringly for five long years, without giving up hope on it's partner. Imagine what this small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind like us can't. ?????????? Please never abandon your loved ones. Never say you are busy when they Really Need You. ?????????? You May Have The Entire World At Your Feet. But You Might Be The Only World To Them. ?????????? A Moment of negligence might break the very heart which loves you through all odds,... Before you say something, just remember it takes a moment to break, but an entire lifetime to make.

LIFEISNOWHERE ??? OR ? LIFE IS NO WHERE? ??? ARE you facing changes in your life? Are you finding it hard to accept those changes? Most of us have been or will be in that situation. Some real-life examples from the past can help us to identify qualities that will be useful. ?????? For example, consider David and the many changes he had to deal with. He was a mere shepherd boy when Samuel anointed him as future king. While still young, he volunteered to fight the Philistine giant Goliath. (1 Sam. 17:26-32, 42) Young David was invited to live at the royal court of King Saul and was appointed as head of the army. David could not even have imagined all these changes in his life; nor could he have anticipated what would happen next. ?????? David’s relationship with Saul became extremely strained. (1 Sam. 18:8, 9; 19:9, 10) To save his own life, David had to live as a fugitive for several years. Even when he was reigning as king over Israel, his circumstances changed drastically, especially after he committed adultery and, in an effort to cover up that sin, murder. As a result of his own sins, he had calamities within his family. Among other things, David experienced the rebellion of his son Absalom. (2 Sam. 12:10-12; 15:1-14) Still, after David repented of his sins of adultery and murder, Jehovah forgave him and David was restored to God’s favor. ?????? Your circumstances may also change. Health problems, economic hardships, or family difficulties—even our own actions—produce changes in our lives. What qualities can help us be better prepared to cope with such challenges? ?????? We will constantly find ourselves facing changes in our lives. Sometimes it is not easy to understand why things happen. Personal limitations and emotional tension may make it difficult for us to maintain a spiritual outlook. Still, such qualities as humility, modesty, and meekness will help us to accept the changes and remain in God’s favor. ??????

How important is a Greeting? ???????? It tells a story that a man working at a meatpacking plant in Norway. One day, finishing your work schedule, was one of the refrigerators to inspect something, shut the door to the safe and got stuck in the refrigerator. He knocked hard on the door and started screaming, but no one listened. ???????? Most workers had already retired to their homes, and it was almost impossible to hear it for the thickness I had that door. ???????? He had five hours in the refrigerator on the verge of death. Suddenly the door opened. The security guard came and rescued him. After that, the guard asked: "Why is it that came open that door, being that is not part of your work routine?". He explained: "I've been in this business 35 years, hundreds of workers entering the plant each day, but he is the one who greets me in the morning and said goodbye to me in the evenings. The remaining workers treat me as if I was invisible. " "Today I said Hello! at the entrance, but never heard: you say; See you tomorrow!" So I was worried and came to look for you! ???????? Jesus asked, "If you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing do? Do not do the same thing also the people of the nations "(Matt. 5:47). ???????? Regarding the importance of greeting, the consultant Donald Weiss wrote: "Nobody likes him that others pass by without even looking at it. There really is no excuse to appease those who have achieved overlooked. The solution is simple: greet each other and talk to them. "Indeed, if we are careful not cold shoulder or indifference to those around us, we will get good results. – Contributed ?

Lessons From the Birds of the Heavens “Those hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will soar on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31) ????? “Ask, please, . . . the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of Jehovah has done this?”—Job 12:7, 9. ????? Eagle The eagle is mentioned many times in the Bible, and its striking silhouette is a familiar feature of the Promised Land. From its nest high up on a cliff, the eagle “searches for food; its eyes look far into the distance.” (Job 39:27-29) Its sight is so powerful that the eagle can reportedly spot a rabbit half a mile (1 km) away. ????? Just as the eagle can “look far into the distance,” Jehovah is able to look far into the future. Thus, Jehovah God declared: “From the beginning I foretell the outcome, and from long ago the things that have not yet been done.” (Isaiah 46:10) By heeding Jehovah’s counsel, we can benefit from his matchless wisdom and foresight.—Isaiah 48:17, 18. ????? The Bible also compares those who trust in God to eagles: “Those hoping in Jehovah will regain power. They will soar on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31) An eagle soars by using thermals, or columns of rising warm air. Once the eagle locates a thermal, it spreads out its wings and circles around within the column of air, rising higher and higher. The eagle does not depend on its own strength to soar and glide long distances. ????? Likewise, those who trust in Jehovah can look to him as the one who promises them “the power beyond what is normal.”—2 Corinthians 4:7, 8. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2016404

How to be a Friend. ????? (True Friends) should follow the words of Matthew 18: 15 “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to YOU men, Whatever things YOU may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things YOU may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven." Pursue Peace ????? “Let us pursue the things making for peace.”—ROM. 14:19 TRUE peace is hard to find in today’s world. Even people belonging to the same national group and speaking the same language are often divided religiously, politically, and socially. By contrast, Jehovah’s people are united despite the fact that they have come out of “all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues.”—Rev. 7:9. ????? The peaceful condition that generally exists among us is no accident. It has come about primarily because we “enjoy peace with God” through our faith in his Son, whose shed blood covers our sins. (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 1:7) Moreover, the true God gives holy spirit to his loyal servants, and the fruitage of that spirit includes peace. (Gal. 5:22) Another reason for our peaceful unity is that we are “no part of the world.” (John 15:19) Rather than taking sides in political issues, we remain neutral. Having ‘beaten our swords into plowshares,’ we do not get involved in civil or international wars.—Isa. 2:4 ????? The peace we can enjoy with one another goes deeper than merely refraining from doing harm to our brothers. Although the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses that we belong to may be made up of individuals from many different ethnic groups and cultures, we “love one another.” (John 15:17) Our peace allows us to “work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Gal. 6:10) Our peaceful spiritual paradise is something to be treasured and safeguarded. Let us, therefore, examine how we may pursue peace within the congregation. When We Stumble ????? “We all stumble many times,” wrote the disciple James. “If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man.” (Jas. 3:2) Hence, differences and misunderstandings between fellow believers are bound to arise. (Phil. 4:2, 3) However, problems between individuals can be solved without disturbing the peace of the congregation. For example, consider the counsel we should apply if we realize that we may have offended someone.—Read Matthew 5:23, 24. ????? What if we have been wronged in some small way? Should we expect the offender to come to us and apologize? “[Love] does not keep account of the injury,” states 1 Corinthians 13:5. When offended, we pursue peace by forgiving and forgetting, that is, by ‘not keeping account of the injury.’ (Read Colossians 3:13.) Minor transgressions in day-to-day life are best handled in this way, for this contributes to a peaceful relationship with fellow worshippers and gives us peace of mind. A wise proverb states: “It is beauty . . . to pass over transgression.”—Prov. 19:11 ????? What if we find that a certain offense is too difficult for us to overlook? Spreading the matter to as many ears as are willing to hear is certainly not the course of wisdom. Such gossip serves only to disrupt the peace of the congregation. What should be done to resolve the matter peacefully? Matthew 18:15 states: “If your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” While Matthew 18:15-17 applies to sin of a serious nature, in the spirit of the principle stated in verse 15, we should kindly approach the offender privately and try to restore a peaceful relationship with him.* ????? The apostle Paul wrote: “Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked state, neither allow place for the Devil.” (Eph. 4:26, 27) “Be about settling matters quickly with the one complaining against you at law,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:25) ????? Pursuing peace, then, calls for settling difficulties quickly. Why? Because doing so prevents differences from festering like an untreated, infected wound. Let us not allow pride, envy, or the attaching of too much importance to material things prevent us from resolving disputes soon after they arise.—Jas. 4:1-6. ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011611?q=wronged&p=par

Pets Provided for Man’s Good ???????? God created animals for the sake of humans. Animals can help them do their work and can serve as their companions or pets. They also serve to magnify God’s love and wisdom. Surely it is a pleasure to observe the beauty of animals and to learn more about the Creator from a study of their marvelous instinctive wisdom. (Psalm 104:24;Proverbs 30:24-28; Romans 1:20) 24 How many your works are, O Jehovah! You have made all of them in wisdom. The earth is full of what you have made." (Psalms 104:24). God dearly loves his human creation; should we not, in turn, show consideration and affection for the animals that he has entrusted to our care and oversight? Those who possess such love have often been drawn to the wonderful prospects of enjoying animalsas our Creator originally intended. ???????? Pets in God’s New World In Jehovah’s new world, people will be able to touch the furry mane of a lion, to stroke the striped coat of a tiger and, yes, to sleep in the woods without fear of any animal doing them harm. Notice this promise of God: “I shall certainly cause the injurious wild beast to cease out of the land, and they [humans] will actually dwell in the wilderness in security and sleep in the forests.”—Ezekiel 34:25;Hosea 2:18. ???????? Indeed, wild animals will then be in submission, even to little children! The Bible says: “The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them.” ???????? But that is not all! The scripture continues: “The cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. ???????? "They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.”—Isaiah 11:6-9. ???????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102004122?q=love+for+animals&p=par#h=6 ? ? ? 1 Moving Video Tap on link and Enjoy! IMG_9633.MP4

Jehovah’s Eyes - Is He Looking at You? - Can you See His Face with Eyes of Understanding? - Learn How you can See Him! - It will Touch Your Heart! ???? God helps humans to understand and appreciate things about himself by likening them to things that we see and know well. Thus he speaks figuratively of his “eyes” being on his people, evidently indicating his watchfulness and loving care for them. The apostle Peter says: “The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous ones.” (1Pe 3:12) ???? God emphasizes this care and sensitiveness for their welfare when he speaks of his servants as “the pupil” of his eye, metaphorically representing their preciousness in his sight and his quickness to act in their behalf when touched by the enemy. ???? (Deuteronomy 32:10) . . .He came to find him in a wilderness land, And in an empty, howling desert. He began to encircle him, to take care of him, To safeguard him as the pupil of his eye." ???? (Psalm 17:8) . . .Keep me as the pupil of the eyeball, In the shadow of your wings may you conceal me." ???? Describing God’s observation of the actions of all men, Jeremiah wrote that His “eyes are opened upon all the ways of the sons of men, in order to give to each one according to his ways.” (Jer 32:19) ???? Of Jehovah’s omniscience and his purpose to exercise justice toward all, the apostle Paul wrote: “There is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting.” (Hebrews 4:13) ???? (2 Chronicles 16:9) . . .For, as regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him." ???? (Psalm 66:7) 7 He is ruling by his mightiness to time indefinite. Upon the nations his own eyes keep watch. As for those who are stubborn, let them not be exalted in themselves. Se′lah." ???? (Proverbs 15:3) . . .The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones." ???? Of the searching quality of God’s examination of men, the psalmist says: “His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men.”—Ps 11:4 ???? One cannot understand God’s purposes without the gift of spiritual eyesight. On the other hand, Jehovah hides his truth from the eyes of those who are stubborn or rebellious, letting “their eyes become darkened.” (Ro 11:8-10) ???? (Luke 19:42) . . .saying: “If you, even you, had discerned in this day the things having to do with peace—but now they have been hid from your eyes." ???? “They have [literal] eyes, but they cannot see [spiritually].”—Jer 5:21 ???? (Isaiah 59:10) . . .We keep groping for the wall just like blind men, and like those without eyes we keep groping. We have stumbled at high noon just as in evening darkness; among the stout ones [we are] just like dead people." ???? jw.org

"In showing honor to one another take the lead." — (Rom. 12:10) ????? What is involved in honoring others? It starts with respect. In fact, the words “honor” and “respect” are often used together because they are closely related. ????? Honor is the manifestation, or outward demonstration, of respect. In other words, respect refers primarily to how we view our brother while honor refers to how we treat our brother. How can a Christian show genuine honor to fellow believers if he does not have heartfelt respect for them? ????? (3 John 9-10) I wrote something to the congregation, but Di·ot′re·phes, who likes to have the first place among them, does not receive anything from us with respect. 10 That is why, if I come, I will call to remembrance his works which he goes on doing, chattering about us with wicked words. Also, not being content with these things, neither does he himself receive the brothers with respect, and those who are wanting to receive them he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation." ????? Just as a plant can flourish and last only if it is rooted in good soil, so honor can be genuine and lasting only if it is rooted in heartfelt respect. Since insincere honor does not grow out of genuine respect, it will wither sooner or later. ????? No wonder, therefore, that Paul preceded his admonition to show honor with the clear-cut statement: “Let your love be without hypocrisy.” ????? (Romans 12:9) Let [YOUR] love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good." ????? (1 Peter 1:22) Now that YOU have purified YOUR souls by [YOUR] obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly affection as the result, love one another intensely from the heart." jw.org

Wise in Heart”—Yet Humble! ???????? Jehovah’s humility is manifest in yet another beautiful quality—reasonableness. ???????? This quality is sadly lacking among imperfect humans. Not only is Jehovah willing to listen to his intelligent creatures but he is also willing to yield when there is no conflict with righteous principles. As used in the Bible, the word “reasonable” literally means “yielding.” This quality too is a hallmark of divine wisdom. In what sense is the all-wise Jehovah reasonable? For one thing, he is adaptable. Remember, his very name teaches us that Jehovah causes himself to become whatever is needed in order to fulfill his purposes. (Exodus 3:14) ???????? Humans can only try to imitate such perfect adaptability. All too often, though, humans and their organizations are more rigid than adaptable, more unreasonable than yielding. To illustrate: A supertanker or a freight train might be awesome in terms of size and power. But can either one respond to sudden changes in circumstance? If an obstacle falls across the tracks in front of a freight train, turning is out of the question. Sudden stops are not much easier. A heavy freight train may take over a mile to stop after the brakes are applied! Similarly, a supertanker may coast onward for five miles [8 km] after the engines are shut off. Even if the engines are thrown into reverse, the tanker may still plow on for two miles [3 km]! It is similar with human organizations that are prone to rigidity and unreasonableness. ???????? Because of pride, men often refuse to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. Such rigidity has bankrupted corporations and even toppled governments. (Proverbs 16:18) How happy we can be that neither Jehovah nor his organization is anything like that! jw.org

How Strong is Your Faith? - Walk by Faith not by Sight! ????? (Hebrews 11:1-3) . . .Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. 2 For by means of this the men of old times had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we perceive that the systems of things were put in order by God’s word, so that what is beheld has come to be out of things that do not appear.Faith is, therefore, the basis for hope and the evidence for conviction concerning unseen realities. The entire body of truths delivered by Jesus Christ and his inspired disciples constitutes the true Christian “faith.” ????? (John 18:37-38) . . .Therefore Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him: “What is truth?”. . . ????? Christian faith is based on the complete Word of God, including the Hebrew Scriptures, to which Jesus and the writers of the Christian Greek Scriptures frequently referred in support of their statements. ????? Faith is based on concrete evidence. The visible creative works testify to the existence of an invisible Creator. ????? (Romans 1:20) . . .For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable." ????? The actual occurrences taking place during the ministry and earthly life of Jesus Christ identify him as the Son of God. ????? (Matthew 27:54) . . .But the army officer and those with him watching over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things happening, grew very much afraid, saying: “Certainly this was God’s Son.” ????? God’s record of providing for his earthly creatures serves as a valid basis for believing that he will surely provide for his servants, and his record as a Giver and Restorer of life lends ample evidence to the credibility of the resurrection hope. ????? (Matthew 6:26) . . .Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are?" ????? (Matthew 6:30) . . .If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith?" ????? (Matthew 6:33) 33 “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU. . ." ????? (Acts 17:31) . . .Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead.” ????? Furthermore, the reliability of God’s Word and the accurate fulfillment of its prophecies instill confidence in the realization of all of His promises. ????? (Joshua 23:14) 14 “Now, look! I am going today in the way of all the earth, and YOU well know with all YOUR hearts and with all YOUR souls that not one word out of all the good words that Jehovah YOUR God has spoken to YOU has failed. They have all come true for YOU. Not one word of them has failed." ????? Thus, in these many ways, “faith follows the thing heard.”—Ro 10:17 So faith is not credulity. ????? The person who may ridicule faith usually has faith himself in tried and trusted friends. The scientist has faith in the principles of his branch of science. He bases new experiments on past discoveries and looks for new discoveries on the basis of those things already established as true. ????? Likewise, the farmer prepares his soil and sows the seed, expecting, as in previous years, that the seed will sprout and that the plants will grow as they receive the needed moisture and sunshine. Therefore faith in the stability of the natural laws governing the universe actually constitutes a foundation for man’s plans and activities. ????? Such stability is alluded to by the wise writer of Ecclesiastes: “The sun also has flashed forth, and the sun has set, and it is coming panting to its place where it is going to flash forth. The wind is going to the south, and it is circling around to the north. Round and round it is continually circling, and right back to its circlings the wind is returning. All the winter torrents are going forth to the sea, yet the sea itself is not full. To the place where the winter torrents are going forth, there they are returning so as to go forth.” (Ec 1:5-7) ????? But faith cannot be taken for granted, because lack of faith is ‘the sin that so easily entangles one.’ To maintain a firm faith requires putting up a hard fight for it, resisting men who could plunge one into immorality, combating the works of the flesh, avoiding the snare of materialism, shunning faith-destroying philosophies and traditions of men, and, above all, looking “intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.” ????? (Jude 3-4) 3 Beloved ones, though I was making every effort to write YOU about the salvation we hold in common, I found it necessary to write YOU to exhort YOU to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones. 4 My reason is that certain men have slipped in who have long ago been appointed by the Scriptures to this judgment, ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct and proving false to our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ." For more info go to: jw.org

Questions old people ask - answers they forget Today’s laugh submitted by Lillian. Thanks for the chuckle. ?????

“THE great day of Jehovah is near. It is near, and there is a hurrying of it very much.” (Zephaniah 1:14) ????? Is it not worthwhile to examine your life to see whether you are proving yourself ready for that vital day or whether some adjustments are in order? How can you prove that you really are ready? ????? We have to be alert spiritually and live day by day as ones who are ready. We need the right attitude—and actions to match. Micah said: “As for me, it is for Jehovah that I shall keep on the lookout. I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation.”—Micah 7:7.