Bible Speaks

The "real Caleb" is at the Brazil Branch Office. ????

Are You Disappointed in God? ????? “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) ????? “WHY ME? Why did God permit this to happen to me?” Those are questions that disturbed 24-year-old Sidnei from Brazil. After an accident on a waterslide, he became permanently confined to a wheelchair. ????? Suffering that results from accident, illness, death of a loved one, natural disaster, or war can easily make people feel disappointed in God. This is nothing new. The patriarch Job of ancient times was struck with one calamity after another. Mistakenly he blamed God, saying: “I cry to you for help, but you do not answer me; I stand up, but you just look at me. You have cruelly turned against me; with the full might of your hand, you assault me.”—Job 30:20, 21. ????? Job did not know the source of his troubles nor why they came upon him or were permitted. Happily, the Bible enlightens us on the reason why such events occur as well as how we should react to them. ????? The miserable conditions on earth today are clear evidence that human rulership has utterly failed. Not only have worldly governments failed to bring peace, security, and happiness but they have also brought the earth to the brink of ruin. This reinforces the fundamental truth stated in the Bible: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) Only GodÂ’s way of ruling can guarantee lasting peace, happiness, and prosperity to mankind, because that is GodÂ’s purpose.—Isaiah 45:18. ????? How, then, will God bring the human condition in line with his purpose? Recall that Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matthew 6:10) ??????? Yes, in due time God, through his Kingdom, will remove all causes of suffering. (Daniel 2:44) Poverty, disease, and death will be things of the past. Regarding the poor, the Bible indicates that God “will rescue the poor who cry for help.” (Psalm 72:12-14) ??????? As for the sick, the Bible promises: “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isaiah 33:24) Even concerning the dead ones who are in GodÂ’s memory, Jesus said: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28, 29) What heartwarming promises! ??????? OVERCOMING DISAPPOINTMENT ????? Some 17 years after his accident, Sidnei, mentioned at the outset of this article, said: “I never blamed Jehovah God for the accident, but I have to admit that at first I was disappointed in him. There are days when I feel really down, and I cry when I think about my physical disability. However, from the Bible I have come to understand that the accident was not punishment from God. As the Bible says, ‘time and unexpected events overtake us all.Â’ Praying to Jehovah as well as reading specific scriptures has made me stronger spiritually and kept my spirits up.”—Ecclesiastes 9:11; Psalm 145:18;2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, 16. ??????? Keeping in mind the reasons why God has permitted suffering and how its effects will soon be undone helps us to overcome any feeling of disappointment in God that we may have. We are assured that God is “the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” No one who rests his faith on him and his Son will be disappointed.—Hebrews 11:6;Romans 10:11. ??????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015651

PRAYER – WHY ARE MY PRAYERS NOT ANSWERED? DOES HE HEAR ME? ?????????????? Why might it seem that Jehovah has not answered our prayers? ????????????? Sometimes, though, we might wonder, ‘Why hasnÂ’t Jehovah answeredmy prayers yet?Â’ Remember, he knows when and how to answer our prayers. He knows what we need. We may have to keep on praying for a time to show that we really mean what we say to him and to show him that we truly have faith in him. (Luke 11:5-10) Sometimes Jehovah answers our prayers in a way that we may not expect. For example, we may pray about a difficult situation, but instead of removing the problem, he may give us the strength to endure it.—Read Philippians 4:13. ????????????? Jehovah uses his holy spirit to answer our prayers. When we pray for help to cope with a problem, he may use his holy spirit to give us guidance and strength. (2 Corinthians 4:7) Jehovah also uses the Bible to answer our prayers and to help us to make wise decisions. When we read the Bible, we may find scriptures that will help us. Jehovah can also motivate someone who comments at a meeting to say what we need to hear or an elder in the congregation to share a point from the Bible with us.—Galatians 6:1. ????????????? Why should we pray to Jehovah often? What an amazing privilege we have to pray to Jehovah! We can be sure that he will listen to us. (Psalm 145:18) And the more often we pray to Jehovah from our heart, the stronger our friendship with him will become. ?????????????? SUMMARY TRUTH 1: JEHOVAH WANTS TO LISTEN TO OUR PRAYERS “Jehovah is near to all those calling on him, to all who call on him in truth.”—Psalm 145:18 What should we do if we want Jehovah to listen to our prayers? Hebrews 11:6 We must have faith. Psalm 138:6 We must be humble and respectful. James 2:26 Our conduct should be in harmony with our prayers. Matthew 6:7, 8 We must be sincere and honest when we pray. We should not repeat the same words in our prayers. Isaiah 1:15 We must live according to GodÂ’s will. TRUTH 2: COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER To whom should we pray? Matthew 6:9; John 14:6 Do we need to be in a special position to pray? 1 Chronicles 17:16; Nehemiah 8:5, 6; Daniel 6:10; Mark 11:25 Does Jehovah hear our silent prayers? Nehemiah 2:1-6 How long should prayers be? 1 Samuel 1:12, 15; Luke 20:46, 47 How often should we pray? Romans 12:12;1 Thessalonians 5:17 Why do we say “amen” at the end of a prayer? 1 Chronicles 16:36;1 Corinthians 14:16 TRUTH 3: WHAT WE CAN PRAY ABOUT “No matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14 What are some things that we can pray for? Matthew 6:9, 10 Pray for JehovahÂ’s will to be done. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 Pray to express gratitude. Matthew 6:11-13 Pray for our personal needs and concerns. Luke 11:13 Pray for holy spirit. James 1:5 Pray for wisdom to make good decisions. Philippians 4:13 Pray for strength to endure. Ephesians 1:3, 7 Pray for forgiveness for our sins. Acts 12:5 Pray for others. TRUTH 4: JEHOVAH ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS “O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come.”—Psalm 65:2 How does Jehovah answer our prayers? Proverbs 12:25; Revelation 14:6 Jehovah can use angels or humans to help us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 His holy spirit gives us the help we need. Philippians 4:6, 7, 13 He gives us the peace and strength we need to endure. Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 He gives us wisdom through the Bible and the congregation. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102015157?q=prayers+not+answered&p=par Â

Having “Come to Know God”—What Now? “You have come to know God.”—GAL. 4:9. ????????? We can compare our spiritual growth to the physical growth of a tree. A tree may grow to an amazing size, especially when its root system is deep or extensive. For example, some of the majestic cedars of Lebanon can reach the height of a 12-story building and have strong, penetrating roots and a trunk circumference of up to 40 feet (12 m). (Song of Sol. 5:15) After the initial growth spurt of such a tree stops, the tree still grows but not as noticeably. Year after year, the trunk widens and the roots go deeper and spread farther, producing a more stable tree. ????????? The same can be said of a ChristianÂ’s spiritual growth. During our initial period of Bible study, we may quickly grow spiritually and then get baptized. Those in the congregation happily notice our progress. We may even qualify as a pioneer or receive other privileges. In the following years, our continued spiritual growth may not be as noticeable. ????????? Nevertheless, we still need to grow in faith and knowledge “to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ.” Thus, we progress, as it were, from a tiny sprout to a mature Christian, a sturdy and well-developed tree. But our growth should not stop there. Our knowledge needs to broaden and our faith needs to deepen. Thus we become ever more anchored in the soil of GodÂ’s Word. Whether you are newly baptized or you have been serving God for many years, regularly checking the depth of your faith and devotion to Jehovah God is essential. Failure to check on this regularly and diligently can lead to spiritual ruin. The Bible warns us: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.”—1 Cor. 10:12. ????????? Lesson for today. (1 Cor 10:12) https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013204?q=roots+deep&p=par#h=31

"Living Forever on Earth!" ? ????? What prize is held out to millions who are doing God’s will today? For the great majority of those who choose to do God’s will, the prize worth working for is eternal life in a newworld of God’s making. (Ps. 37:11, 29) Jesus confirmed that this was a valid hope. He said: “Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5) ????? Jesus himself is the principal one to inherit our earth, as Psalm 2:8, Those sheeplike ones who actually will live on earth will “inherit” the earthly realm of the Kingdom ‘prepared for them from the founding of the world.’ (Matt. 25:34, 46) And we are guaranteed that this will all come to pass because God, who promises it, “cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) ????? We can have the same confidence in the fulfillment of God’s promises that Joshua had when he told the Israelites: “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.”—Josh. 23:14. ????? In God’s new world, people will be able to live without getting sick again or dying. “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isa. 33:24) Eventually, the inhabitants of the new earth will wake up each morning to perfect health, thrilled with the prospect of another marvelous day. They will look forward to satisfying work and association with others who have only their best interests at heart. Such alife is a wonderful prize indeed! As asuggestion, why not open your Bible to the prophecies at Isaiah 33:24 and 35:5-7? Try putting yourself in the picture. That will help you keep your eyes on the prize. ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009200?q=life+in+a+new+world&p=par#h=13 Enjoy this Video! Tap on the Link — ????? IMG_1968.mp4

Two of my three children, Isobel and Alex made a public declaration of their salvation to our great God Jehovah on July 1,2017 at our "Do Not Give Up!" regional convention at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama. We are so happy to continue receiving Jehovah's love and blessings. ???????? My son Alex and his best friend from childhood Keegan on Alex's baptism day. Keegan visited from his work at Warwick to attend his regional and welcome his best friend Alex into our loving and universal brotherhood. ???????? Judy Eckhoff

I spent one year as an auxilliary pioneer then decided to apply as a regular pioneer. After a year, I had the privilege to attend the Pioneer Service School. It was an unforgettable experience because our schedule for PSS was moved three times and the class was held in Cebuano which was quite surprising to me because Hiligaynon is my local language, not Cebuano. Good thing I was able to understand the whole week class because I used to work for years in Cebuano speaking cities. ??????? My journey in pioneering was never easy. I had to quit my full time job due to some conflicts with work so I can attend my PSS. I didn't regret anything in giving up a lot of things to pursue my pioneering. Many people asked me why I end up working part time jobs though I'm a Bachelor's Degree holder but this life is what I really want ever since. Simple and I'm contented with it. I may try to explain my reasons to them, only few will understand. ??????? Seeking first Jehovah's kingdom will always be my first priority because I know that Jehovah will provide everything to me.-Matthew 6:33. I will never ever exchange this privilege to any privileges of this world. Surely, this is "THE BEST LIFE EVER!" ? ????? — Contributed  – 8/4/2017

94 year old Jehovah's Witness, Brother Cliff symbolized his dedication to Jehovah by water baptism in Rosenberg, Texas. Love that expression! ?????

Don’t confuse your path ? with your destination. ?Just because itÂ’s stormy ? now doesn't mean you aren't headed for sunshine. - ?????????? Jehovah Is “the Provider of Escape” for Us "But as these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near.” (Luke 21:28) “Jehovah will help them and provide them with escape.”—PS. 37:40 ?????????? What Jehovah has done in Bible times as well as in our day gives us reason to trust in him as our Helper. Soon, when the great tribulation comes upon SatanÂ’s world, we will need JehovahÂ’s help as never before. Yet, JehovahÂ’s servants will be able to look to him with complete confidence. They will be able to lift their heads and rejoice, knowing that their deliverance is near. (Luke 21:28) In the meantime, no matter what trials may come upon us, let us be determined to place our trust in Jehovah, having full assurance that our unchanging God is, indeed, our “Provider of escape.” ?????????? Jehovah offers us spiritual protection, which is of utmost importance. Being true Christians, we understand that there is something that is more valuable than our present life. Our most precious possession is our personal relationship with Jehovah. (Ps. 25:14; 63:3) Without that relationship, our present life would have little meaning and our future life prospects would be lost. ?????????? Thankfully, Jehovah gives us all the help we need to maintain a close relationship with him. We have his Word, his holy spirit, and his worldwide congregation to help us. How can we take full advantage of these provisions? By regularly and diligently studying his Word, we will strengthen our faith and brighten our hope. (Rom. 15:4) ?????????? By sincerely praying for his spirit, we will receive help to resist the temptation to engage in questionable conduct. (Luke 11:13) By keeping up with the direction the slave class provides through Bible-based publications as well as at meetings, assemblies, and conventions, we will be nourished with spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matt. 24:45) Such provisions protect us spiritually and help us to stay close to God.—Jas. 4:8. ???????????

Displaying Good Manners as Ministers of God “Become imitators of God.”—EPH. 5:1. ????? CONCERNING respectful conduct, author Sue Fox writes: “ThereÂ’s no such thing as a vacation from good manners. Politeness works everywhere, all the time.” When people make a habit of being courteous, problems with others are minimized and often disappear. But the opposite is also true. Treating others in an ill-mannered fashion leads to conflict, resentment, and sadness. Good manners generally flourish in the true Christian congregation. ????? Still, we must guard against adopting the bad manners that are common in the world today. In the fast-paced life that is common in many places today, two people often pass each other without saying “hello” or “how are you?” ????? Of course, no one is expected to speak to everyone passing by on a crowded sidewalk. In many other situations, however, it is appropriate and desirable to greet others. Is it your custom to greet people? Or do you often walk by without a smile or a pleasant word? With no bad intention, a person could develop a habit that is in reality ill-mannered. ????? Godly parents in Bible times made sure that their children learned basic points of courtesy in the home. Consider the polite way in which Abraham and his son Isaac addressed each other at Genesis 22:7. The good training from his parents was evident also in the case of Joseph. When imprisoned, he was courteous even to his fellow prisoners. (Gen. 40:8, 14) His words to Pharaoh show that he had learned the proper way to address a person of high office.  ????? The value of training our children to be well-mannered cannot be overestimated. To get along well as adults, young ones need to learn the proper way to greet visitors, to answer the telephone, and to eat a meal with others. They should be helped to understand why they ought to hold doors for people, show kindness to the elderly and sick, and offer to help those carrying heavy packages. They need to understand the importance of sincerely saying “please,” “thank you,” “you are welcome,” “may I help you?,” and “I am sorry.” ????? In the last days of his evil rule, Satan is bent on wiping out the standards of respectful conduct that Jehovah has established. But the Devil will fail to eradicate the good manners of true Christians. May each of us be determined to follow the examples of our gracious God and his Son. ????? Then our speech and conduct will always be in contrast with the actions of those who choose to be ill-mannered. We will bring praise to the name of our well-mannered God, Jehovah, and will attract sincere people to his true worship. Lesson for today. (Titus 2:7, 8) ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009844?q=politeness&p=par

Displaying Good Manners as Ministers of God “Become imitators of God.”—EPH. 5:1. ????? CONCERNING respectful conduct, author Sue Fox writes: “ThereÂ’s no such thing as a vacation from good manners. Politeness works everywhere, all the time.” When people make a habit of being courteous, problems with others are minimized and often disappear. But the opposite is also true. Treating others in an ill-mannered fashion leads to conflict, resentment, and sadness. Good manners generally flourish in the true Christian congregation. ????? Still, we must guard against adopting the bad manners that are common in the world today. In the fast-paced life that is common in many places today, two people often pass each other without saying “hello” or “how are you?” ????? Of course, no one is expected to speak to everyone passing by on a crowded sidewalk. In many other situations, however, it is appropriate and desirable to greet others. Is it your custom to greet people? Or do you often walk by without a smile or a pleasant word? With no bad intention, a person could develop a habit that is in reality ill-mannered. ????? Godly parents in Bible times made sure that their children learned basic points of courtesy in the home. Consider the polite way in which Abraham and his son Isaac addressed each other at Genesis 22:7. The good training from his parents was evident also in the case of Joseph. When imprisoned, he was courteous even to his fellow prisoners. (Gen. 40:8, 14) His words to Pharaoh show that he had learned the proper way to address a person of high office.  ????? The value of training our children to be well-mannered cannot be overestimated. To get along well as adults, young ones need to learn the proper way to greet visitors, to answer the telephone, and to eat a meal with others. They should be helped to understand why they ought to hold doors for people, show kindness to the elderly and sick, and offer to help those carrying heavy packages. They need to understand the importance of sincerely saying “please,” “thank you,” “you are welcome,” “may I help you?,” and “I am sorry.” ????? In the last days of his evil rule, Satan is bent on wiping out the standards of respectful conduct that Jehovah has established. But the Devil will fail to eradicate the good manners of true Christians. May each of us be determined to follow the examples of our gracious God and his Son. ????? Then our speech and conduct will always be in contrast with the actions of those who choose to be ill-mannered. We will bring praise to the name of our well-mannered God, Jehovah, and will attract sincere people to his true worship. Lesson for today. (Titus 2:7, 8) ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009844?q=politeness&p=par

#Jw greetings from California Hello from California

#Jw sermon in a public place in the United States Public witnessing in USA

#Jw sermon in public place in Mexico Public witnessing in Mexico

@James Thomas Rook Jr. Yet, Jehovah will even have compassion for all those that turn to Him in Prayer! Even the Apostle Paul was an opposer of Christians and fought against them! Jehovah is ready to forgive, but you must turn around and do works the befit Repentance! What a marvelous God Jehovah is. Even many (bad) Kings He did not destroy because they repented and returned to His approval. Never Give Up! ??????

Now You Know Some Of Your History! ???????? Did you know that the first computer for translating multiple languages (MEPS) was invented by Jehovah's Witnesses, to enable them to provide Bible-based publications --& Bibles-- in *many* languages: ???????? "MEPS is an abbreviation that stands for Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System. It is a system that JehovahÂ’s Witnesses themselves have developed for getting written material published quickly in many languages. They developed MEPS because nowhere in the world was such a system available for publishing in the many languages in which they print their Bible literature. ???????? "Why was such a multilanguage publishing system unavailable anywhere in the world? Simply stated, because most printing is done for profit, and there was not sufficient monetary return to cover the cost of developing a computerized system for producing literature in many of the languages in which publications of the Watchtower Society are produced. But JehovahÂ’s Witnesses do not print for profit. Their sole objective in printing Bible literature is to help people of all nations and languages to learn about Jehovah God and his Kingdom government.—Matthew 6:9, 10; 24:14. ???????? "...JehovahÂ’s Witnesses had regularly been translating material into over 165 languages. (Then) ???????? Therefore, from their own translators they also could obtain the necessary language information to produce MEPS, which currently has the capacity to process material in 644 languages, using 29 alphabets and character sets." ???????? Milestones in the Production of African-Language Bibles Who Are Doing JehovahÂ’s Will Today?  ??????? LESSON 23 How Is Our Literature Written and Translated? ??????? In order to do our best to declare the “good news” to “every nation and tribe and tongue and people,” we produce literature in over 750 languages. (Revelation 14:6) How do we accomplish this challenging task? We do it with the help of an international writing staff and a group of devoted translators—all JehovahÂ’s Witnesses. ??????? The original text is prepared in English. The Governing Body oversees the activity of the Writing Department at our world headquarters. This department coordinates the assignments of the writers who serve at headquarters and at certain branch offices. Having a diversified writing staff allows us to address multicultural subjects that give our publications an international appeal. ??????? The text is forwarded to the translators. After the written material has been edited and approved, it is sent electronically to teams of translators around the earth, who translate, check, and proofread the text. They endeavor to select the “accurate words of truth” that will capture the full meaning of the English in their target language.—Ecclesiastes 12:10. ??????? Computers speed up the process. A computer cannot replace human writers and translators. However, their tasks can be sped up by using computerized dictionaries, language tools, and research materials. JehovahÂ’s Witnesses designed a Multilanguage Electronic Publishing System (MEPS) by which text can be entered in hundreds of languages, merged with accompanying artwork, and composed for printing. ??????? Why do we put forth all this effort, even for languages that are spoken by only a few thousand people? Because it is JehovahÂ’s will that “all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.”—1 Timothy 2:3, 4. How is the writing done for our publications? Why do we translate our literature into so many languages? https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/jehovahs-will/literature-written-and-translated/ Â

“I was especially fond of the sons of men.”—PROV. 8:31. ????????? GOD’S firstborn Son was the earliest and most complete expression of Jehovah’s unfathomable wisdom. He was wisdom personified, “a master worker” alongside his Father. We can only imagine the joy and satisfaction that he experienced as his Father “prepared the heavens” and “established the foundations of the earth.” However, though appreciating these inanimate things, God’s firstborn Son “was especially fond of the sons of men.” (Prov. 8:22-31) Yes, Jesus has a fondness, or tender affection, for mankind that stretches back to his prehuman existence. ??????? Later, as proof of his loyalty and love for his Father, as well as of his deep love for “the sons of men,” God’s Firstborn willingly “emptied himself” and came to be in the likeness of men. He did so in order to provide “a ransom in exchange for many.” (Phil. 2:5-8; Matt. 20:28) What love he has for the human family! While Jesus was on earth, God empowered him to perform miracles that revealed how much he loved people. Jesus thus demonstrated the kind of marvelous things that will soon take place earth wide. ???????? Jesus’ coming to earth also enabled him to “declare the good news of the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 4:43) Jesus knew that this Kingdom would serve to sanctify his Father’s name and would be the permanent solution to all human ills. Not surprisingly, woven throughout the fabric of Jesus’ preaching tours were evidences of his genuine concern for the human family. Why should this matter to us? Because the lessons we learn will inspire confidence and hope for the future. Let us examine four of Jesus’ miracles. ?"POWER WAS WITH HIM TO DO HEALING” ? “JESUS GAVE WAY TO TEARS” ? Jesus’ heart was touched by the pain of others. Deeply moved by others’ reaction to the death of his friend Lazarus, Jesus “groaned” and “became troubled.” He felt that way even though he  knew that he would shortly bring Lazarus back to life. (Read John 11:33-36.) Jesus was not ashamed to manifest strong emotions. Onlookers could see the affection Jesus felt for Lazarus and his family. What compassion Jesus showed by using his God-given power to bring his friend back to life!—John 11:43, 44. ???????? If we maintain our Christian integrity, we may well witness one of the greatest miracles of all time—the miracle of surviving the great tribulation. Soon after the war of Armageddon, more miracles will occur, restoring humans to good health. (Isa. 33:24; 35:5, 6; Rev. 21:4) Imagine watching people discard eyeglasses, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and the like. For good reason, Jehovah will bring Armageddon survivors to a state of good health. Those survivors will have work to do. They can move forward with zest to make our planet, a gift from God, into a global paradise.—Ps. 115:16. ???????? https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20150615/jesus-loved-people/

A mother and her daughter arriving late at a Christian meeting ????? ????????? Do You View Human Weakness as Jehovah Does? ?????? “The members of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.”—1 CORINTHIANS 12:22. ????????? https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/ws20140615/view-of-human-weakness/#?insight[search_id]=ba6429fe-bd3f-4227-a491-0c7bcd20db83&insight[search_result_index]=0 Â

"They would not . . . worship any god at all except their own God."—Dan. 3:28. ??? ????? Loyalty to Jehovah Brings Rewards The account of the three Hebrews can strengthen our determination to be loyal to Jehovah In the seventh century B.C.E., three Hebrew servants of Jehovah were given clear evidence that God rewards faith and courage. King Nebuchadnezzar assembled BabylonÂ’s dignitaries and demanded that they worship a towering image of gold. Any who would not do so were to die in a fiery furnace. The three Hebrews respectfully told Nebuchadnezzar: “Our God whom we are serving is able to rescue us. Out of the burning fiery furnace and out of your hand, O king, he will rescue us. But if not, let it become known to you, O king, that your gods are not the ones we are serving, and the image of gold that you have set up we will not worship.” (Dan. 3:16-18) The thrilling rescue of the three Hebrews is vividly described at Daniel 3:19-30. Although we are not likely to be threatened with death in a fiery furnace, we do face tests of integrity and can be sure that God will bless us for our faith and courage. According to Daniel chapter 6, how did Daniel act courageously, and with what result? ????? Daniel showed faith and courage when his enemies prevailed upon King Darius to issue a decree that “whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days except to you, O king, should be thrown to the lionsÂ’ pit.” As soon as Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he “entered into his house, and, the windows in his roof chamber being open for him toward Jerusalem, even three times in a day he was kneeling on his knees and praying and offering praise before his God, as he had been regularly doing prior to this.” (Dan. 6:6-10) Courageous Daniel ended up in a lionsÂ’ pit—but Jehovah delivered him.—Dan. 6:16-23. ????? Like Jesus, early Christians courageously rendered worship only to Jehovah. (Matt. 4:8-10) They refused to burn incense in honor of the Roman emperor. (See picture.) “Very few of the Christians recanted,” wrote Daniel P. Mannix, “although an altar with a fire burning on it was generally kept in the arena for their convenience. All a prisoner had to do was scatter a pinch of incense on the flame and he was given a Certificate of Sacrifice and turned free. It was also carefully explained to him that he was not worshiping the emperor; merely acknowledging the divine character of the emperor as head of the Roman state. Still, almost no Christians availed themselves of the chance to escape.”—Those About to Die. ??? ????? Modern Christians held in Nazi concentration camps with possible death facing them were given repeated opportunities to gain their freedom by signing a declaration renouncing Jehovah. But few signed. Risking death during a genocide in Rwanda in recent times, Tutsi and Hutu Witnesses protected one another. Such trials call for courage and faith. ????? We are now privileged to share in the greatest work ever entrusted to GodÂ’s human servants—that of declaring the Kingdom message and making disciples. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) How grateful we are for JesusÂ’ matchless example! He “went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:1) ????? Like him, we need faith and courage in order to preach the Kingdom message. With GodÂ’s help, we can be like courageous Noah, an intrepid “preacher of righteousness” to “a world of ungodly people” about to perish in a global deluge.—2 Pet. 2:4, 5. ?????? Prayer helps us to carry out the preaching work. When certain persecuted followers of Christ prayed that they might ‘speak GodÂ’s word with boldness,Â’ that plea was answered. (Read Acts 4:29-31.) If you are somewhat timid about preaching from house to house, Jehovah will answer your prayers for greater faith and courage.—Read Psalm 66:19, 20.* ?????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2013043

"Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with God, he would hear the voice conversing with him from above the cover of the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubs; and God would speak to him." (Numbers 7:89) ????? *** Holy Spirit Active in the Invisible Heavenly Realm *** This golden ark or chest was used as a receptacle for sacred articles. It had a cover surmounted by two golden cherubs with wings spread out to cover the mercy seat or propitiatory. When this ark was placed in the Most Holy of the tabernacle or temple, a miraculous light (the Shekinah light) appeared above the wings of the cherubs. (Exodus 25:10-22; 2 Kings 19:15) Thus Jehovah was represented as throning above the cherubs and giving instructions from there. HS chap. 2 p. 31 par. 32 ?????

Breaking news:: AUGUST 4, 2017 NIGERIA Heavy Rainfall in Nigeria Extreme rains in southwest Nigeria from July 6 through July 12, 2017, caused flooding in the states of Delta state, isoko north, LGA, Â Lagos, Niger, and Oyo. News reports indicate that at least 18 people have died as a result. The branch office of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses in Nigeria has confirmed that none of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses have been killed or injured during this disaster, though four were displaced. Additionally, two of the WitnessesÂ’ homes sustained damage and another one was destroyed. Witnesses in Nigeria are providing relief aid to their fellow worshippers as well as their non-Witness neighbors, a number of whom also were displaced or lost homes.

Enjoy this home made video! Tap in link! ? ? ? IMG_1829.mp4

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibid Ibid. (Latin, short for ibidem, meaning "in the same place") is the term used to provide an endnote or footnote citation or reference for a source that was cited in the preceding endnote or footnote. This is similar in meaning to idem(meaning something that has been mentioned previously; the same), abbreviated Id., which is commonly used in legal citation.[1] To find the ibid. source, one must look at the reference preceding it. Ibid. may also be used in the Harvard (name-date) system for in-text references where there has been a close previous citation from the same source material.[2][3] The previous reference should be immediately visible, e.g. within the same paragraph or page. Many academic publishers now prefer that "ibid." should not be given in italics, as it is a commonly found term.[4] Notice that ibid. is an abbreviation where the last two letters of the word are not present; thus, it commonly takes a period (full stop) in both American and British usage.

@Carol Ann Torres Love his "Smile!" ??? ????

"The trumpeters and the singers were as one in causing one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Jehovah. "— 2 Chron. 5:13. ?????? During SolomonÂ’s reign, music was featured in pure worship in a large way. At the inauguration of the temple, there was a fullscale orchestra, with a brass section composed of 120 trumpets. (2 Chron. 5:12) ?????? As soon as that joyful sound had gone up, “the house itself was filled with a cloud,” indicating JehovahÂ’s approval. ????????? How thrilling, how awe-inspiring it must have been to hear the sound of all those trumpets along with thousands of singers blending as one! Music was also used in worship by the early Christians. Of course, first-century worshippers met, not in tabernacles or in temples, but in private homes. Because of persecution and other factors, the conditions under which they met were often less than favorable. Still, those Christians did praise God in song. ?????? Â