Bible Speaks

"Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits." (1 Cor.15:33) Let us now discuss some scriptures that teach us important lessons about our choice of friends. This will help us understand how important it is to study the Bible and to meditate on it so that we can get to know Jehovah well. Psalm 26:4 says: “I have not sat with men of untruth; and with those who hide what they are I do not come in.” At Proverbs 13:20, we read: “He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.” What important lessons can we learn from those scriptures? (1) Jehovah wants us to choose our friends carefully. He wants to protect us from doing something that could harm us and our friendship with him. (2) Our friends influence us to do good things or to do bad things. That is simply a fact of life. The way the verses above are written shows that Jehovah is trying to touch our heart. Notice that these verses are written as simple truths, not as rules, such as “you must not do this” or “you must not do that.” It is as if Jehovah is telling us: ‘These are the facts. What will you do? What is in your heart?’ On the night before he died, Jesus prayed with his 11 faithful apostles and asked his Father to protect them. He said these unforgettable words: “Watch over them because of the wicked one.” (John 17:15) Just as Jesus cared about his apostles, he cares about all his followers today. So we can be sure that Jehovah will answer Jesus’ prayer by protecting us during these difficult times. Proverbs 2:7, 8 tells us that Jehovah is like a shield for those who are faithful to him, and “he will guard the very way of his loyal ones.” It is not always easy to obey Jehovah’s requirements. But only those who obey Jehovah will have everlasting life and true freedom. (Romans 8:21) Others may think differently, but do not let them fool you! Who wants to mislead you? Not Jehovah, but Satan!

@ARchiv@L @Kurt He gave me the info. Just made the picture, so he gets the credits. ????

9 "At that Satan answered Jehovah: “Is it for nothing that Job has feared God?" (Job 1:9) NWT Job Kept Integrity Under Test Job lived in Uz during the time the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Though not an Israelite, Job was a loyal worshipper of Jehovah. He had a large family, great wealth, and influence in his community. He was a highly regarded counselor and an impartial judge. He was generous to the poor and needy. Job was a man of integrity. Job clearly showed that Jehovah was the most important Person in his life 1:8-11, 22; 2:2-5. • Satan took note of Job’s integrity. He did not deny Job’s obedience to Jehovah; rather, he questioned Job’s motives • Satan claimed that Job served Jehovah out of selfish interest • To provide an answer to Satan’s charge, Jehovah allowed Satan to attack that faithful man. Satan brought devastation to all aspects of Job’s life • When Job maintained his integrity, Satan questioned the integrity of all men • Job did not sin or accuse God of doing anything wrong

WHO CARES? DOES GOD CARE? IT IS only natural to call to God for help when we are in dire straits. After all, he “is great and is abundant in power; his understanding is beyond recounting.” (Psalm 147:5) He is in the very best position to help us to cope with our problems. Added to that, the Bible invites us to ‘pour out our heart’ before him. (Psalm 62:8) Why is it, then, that so many have the impression that God does not answer their prayers? Does that mean that he does not care? Rather than being quick to blame God for any seeming inaction, think back to the time when you were a child. When your parents did not give in to your every demand, did you ever accuse them of not loving you? Many children do. When you grew up, however, you appreciated that love is displayed in many ways and that saying yes to a child’s every request is not really the loving thing to do. We can be certain that in God’s due time, there will be no more suffering or death on planet Earth. Rather, the conditions foreseen in the book of Revelation will hold sway: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3, 4) You may say, ‘I will never live to see that time.’ However, the fact is that you might. And even if you die, God can raise you from the dead. (John 5:28, 29) That is what God purposes for us, and that is what will happen. How far from the truth it is to say that God does not care for mankind!

Psalms 2 Why are the nations agitated And the peoples muttering an empty thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And high officials gather together as one Against Jehovah and against his anointed one. 3 They say: “Let us tear off their shackles And throw off their ropes!” 4 The One enthroned in the heavens will laugh; Jehovah will scoff at them. 5 At that time he will speak to them in his anger And terrify them in his burning anger, 6 Saying: “I myself have installed my king On Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 Let me proclaim the decree of Jehovah; He said to me: “You are my son; Today I have become your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron scepter, And you will smash them like a piece of pottery.” 10 So now, you kings, show insight; Accept correction, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Honor the son, or God will become indignant And you will perish from the way, For His anger flares up quickly. Happy are all those taking refuge in Him."

@Anna We are a United people! Of course the world ? will see our Unity and Love for those of the same Faith, we really never met. But, because they Love Jehovah God, we are a Unified Family! Perhaps of the 175,000 in Russia, many more will be curious and want to learn more about Jehovah's Witnesses! We stand up with no fear! Our Father has control and on command Christ the King will march forward. Exciting times! Many prayers needed we all pray for many that are also being faced with attacks! Satan is on his way out! Let him scream his last breath! We long for God's Kingdom with Magnification of His Holy Name throughout the earth! If all 8,220,000 wrote 6 letters = 48,000,000 letters! Many shouts and the world will watch! May all His people be Blessed and rejoiced now, and forever for the King ? of the Universe will reign forever! One of my favorite scriptures is Psalms 2: Psalms 2 Why are the nations agitated And the peoples muttering* an empty thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And high officials gather together*as one Against Jehovah and against his anointed one. 3 They say: “Let us tear off their shackles And throw off their ropes!” 4 The One enthroned in the heavens will laugh; Jehovah will scoff at them. 5 At that time he will speak to them in his anger And terrify them in his burning anger, 6 Saying: “I myself have installed my king On Zion, my holy mountain.” 7 Let me proclaim the decree of Jehovah; He said to me: “You are my son; Today I have become your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will give nations as your inheritance And the ends of the earth as your possession. 9 You will break them with an iron scepter, And you will smash them like a piece of pottery.” 10 So now, you kings, show insight; Accept correction, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Honor the son, or God will become indignant And you will perish from the way,+ For His anger flares up quickly. Happy are all those taking refuge in Him."

“Be Joyful Forever in What I Am Creating!” What a heartwarming lesson we learn from Jehovah’s words! He wants us to draw close to him because he is an approachable God. (James 4:8) These words also show us that Jehovah is humble. (Psalm 113:5, 6) After all, he continues figuratively to spread out his hands, entreating his people to return despite the fact that their stubbornness has made him “feel hurt.” (Psalm 78:40, 41) Only after appealing to them for centuries does he finally abandon them to their enemies. Even then, he does not close the door on humble individuals among them. Will Jehovah show mercy to faithful ones among his people? Isaiah explains: “This is what Jehovah has said: ‘In the same way that the new wine is found in the cluster and someone has to say, “Do not ruin it, because there is a blessing in it,” so I shall do for the sake of my servants in order not to bring everybody to ruin. And I will bring forth out of Jacob an offspring and out of Judah the hereditary possessor of my mountains; and my chosen ones must take possession of it, and my own servants will reside there.’” (Isaiah 65:8, 9) Jehovah will bless his faithful servants. With hearts overflowing with joy, they will break out in shouting. Eating, drinking, and rejoicing are terms signifying that Jehovah will abundantly satisfy the needs of his worshipers. In contrast, those who have chosen to forsake Jehovah will hunger and thirst spiritually. Their needs will not be satisfied. They will cry out and howl because of the anguish and distress that will come upon them. Jehovah says: “Here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” (Isaiah 65:17) What of the new earth? Following the pattern of the ancient fulfillment, the new earth will be made up of people who gladly submit to the rulership of the new heavenly government. Even now, millions of rightly disposed individuals subject themselves to this government and strive to follow its laws as found in the Bible. These ones come from all nationalities, languages, and races, and they work together to serve the reigning King Jesus Christ. (Micah 4:1-4) After the passing of the present wicked system of things, this group will form the nucleus of a new earth that will eventually be a globe-encircling society of God-fearing humans who inherit the earthly realm of God’s Kingdom.—Matthew 25:34. Jehovah describes more blessings that await the returning exiles: “They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them.” (Isaiah 65:23) Those restored Jews will be blessed by Jehovah, so they will not labor in vain. Parents will not bring forth children merely for these to suffer an early death. The former exiles will not be alone in enjoying the blessings of the restoration; their offspring will be with them. So eager is God to fulfill his people’s needs that he promises: “It will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear.”—Isaiah 65:24. I can't wait, can you? ???????? Click on picture for motion. IMG_0506.mov

Sorry I didn't post Russian. It's in Jehovah's hand no worries. ???

#Repost @happyman ・・・ I received this letter today from a man named Dino that has been locked up in prison for the last 30 years. A few years ago I was visiting the San Francisco area for work. So I went to a meeting at the local Kingdom Hall when I was invited to a home for hospitality by a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. I told them that I be writing guys in prison. So they asked me to write a family member that was locked up. I said that I would write him and share the Good News of God's Kingdom with him. I kept his address taped up on my mirror so that I wouldn't forget. Days, weeks and months had passed and I still hadn't wrote him. I felt bad because I'd see the address and I would say I haven't forgot about you. Finally after a couple of years of seeing his address and my conscience bothering me I wrote him. I didn't know if he would write me back. I didn't know if he had got out already. I hope that the letter would find him. What a surprise I had got a letter from him! He wrote me saying that if I would of wrote him any sooner that he would of just thrown away my letter and not wrote back. He said that I had wrote him at the perfect time! He said that I wrote him at a time when he was calling on God and asking him questions. He said that he didn't want anything to do with Jehovah's Witnesses but that since I wrote him at the right time that he was willing to listen! He said that he had a lot of questions for me. Now we are going on about 4 years of studying and that he would love to become a Jehovah's Witness! I send him copies of "What Does the Bible Really Teach" and he highlights the answers. He also asks questions and I answer them for him with scriptures. I hope that he gets baptized soon... #jehovahswitnesses #ministerialservant #regularpioneers #dontshrinkback #jw4life #jw4ever #prisonwritingministry#StopJWBan

Anyone see this? http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/jehovahs-witnesses-respond-russias-religious-ban https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-justice-ministry-calls-for-country-wide-ban-on-jehovahs-witnesses-57458

Be Watchful—Satan Wants to Devour You! 8 "Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone."(1 Peter 5:8) NWT Without Jehovah’s help, we could never win our fight against Satan Since his rebellion, Satan has been Jehovah’s greatest enemy and an enemy of all mankind. We can see how corrupt Satan really is by looking at how the Bible describes him. Satan means “Resister,” which shows that this wicked angel hates God’s rule and fights it with all his power. What Satan really wants is to see the end of Jehovah’s rule. At Revelation 12:9, Satan is called Devil, which means “Slanderer.” Satan has dishonored God by calling him a liar. The words “the original serpent” remind us of how Satan used a snake to deceive Eve. The expression “the great dragon” is also a good way to describe Satan. He is fierce, he is cruel, and he is evil. He wants to stop Jehovah’s purpose from coming true and to destroy God’s people. Clearly, Satan is the greatest threat to our integrity. That is why the Bible warns us: “Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Peter 5:8) When we oppose Satan, we also oppose all those who support him and who rebel against God’s rule. That includes a large group of other rebellious angels, who are called demons. (Revelation 12:3, 4) Many times they have shown that they are much stronger than humans, causing great suffering to them. (Matthew 8:28-32; Mark 5:1-5) Never forget how powerful the demons and their ruler really are. (Matthew 9:34) Without Jehovah’s help, we could never win our fight against Satan. The only way that Satan can turn people against our loving God, Jehovah, is by deceiving them. (1 John 4:8) Satan deceives people so that they are not “conscious of their spiritual need,” that is, they do not realize that they need a relationship with God. (Matthew 5:3) The Devil has “blinded the minds of the unbelievers” so that they cannot see the truth about Jehovah.—2 Corinthians 4:4. As we have seen, Satan is powerful, cruel, and deceptive. How can we win our battle against an enemy like this? Jehovah gives us help. His Word teaches us about Satan’s methods so that “we are not ignorant of his designs.” (2 Corinthians 2:11) When we understand the different ways Satan attacks us, it is easier for us to remain watchful. But just knowing Satan’s methods is not enough. The Bible says: “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

@Willy Rodrigues If you own a business put on your business name in letter. We must be respectful. I also noted the laws of their Russian Federation. Those laws state Worship of God is free. You will find all these "laws" of the Russian Federation listed on page 2. The most we can do is write our letters and Jehovah will and is already working on these nations. We are peaceful law biding citizens and respect authority. What ever they decide it's against Jehovah and he will take care of His people. It could possible turn out to be the greatest witness in the whole world! Jehovah said before destruction, the nations will know I am Jehovah! Agape, ???

Jehovah will take care of his people! ???

EASTER—FERTILITY WORSHIP IN DISGUISE Promoted as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Easter is actually rooted in false religion. The name Easter itself has been linked to Eostre, or Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn and of spring. And how did eggs and rabbits come to be associated with Easter? Eggs “have been prominent as symbols of new life and resurrection,” says the Encyclopædia Britannica, while the hare and the rabbit have long served as symbols of fertility. Easter, therefore, is really a fertility rite thinly disguised as a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.* * Eostre (or Eastre) was also a fertility goddess. According to The Dictionary of Mythology, “she owned a hare in the moon which loved eggs and she was sometimes depicted as having the head of a hare.” Would Jehovah condone the use of a filthy fertility rite to commemorate his Son’s resurrection? Never! (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18) In fact, the Scriptures neither command nor authorize the commemorating of Jesus’ resurrection in the first place. To do so in the name of Easter, therefore, is to be doubly disloyal. jw.org

What Is in a Name? In the Hebrew language, God’s name is written יהוה. These four letters, which are read from right to left, are commonly called the Tetragrammaton. Many names of people and places mentioned in the Bible contain an abbreviated form of the divine name. Is it possible that these proper names can provide some clues as to how God’s name was pronounced? According to George Buchanan, professor emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., the answer is yes. Professor Buchanan explains: “In ancient times, parents often named their children after their deities. That means that they would have pronounced their children’s names the way the deity’s name was pronounced. The Tetragrammaton was used in people’s names, and they always used the middle vowel.” Consider a few examples of proper names found in the Bible that include a shortened form of God’s name. Jonathan, which appears as Yoh·na·thanʹ or Yehoh·na·thanʹ in the Hebrew Bible, means “Yaho or Yahowah has given,” says Professor Buchanan. The prophet Elijah’s name is ʼE·li·yahʹ or ʼE·li·yaʹhu in Hebrew. According to Professor Buchanan, the name means: “My God is Yahoo or Yahoo-wah.” Similarly, the Hebrew name for Jehoshaphat is Yehoh-sha·phatʹ, meaning “Yaho has judged.” A two-syllable pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton as “Yahweh” would not allow for the o vowel sound to exist as part of God’s name. But in the dozens of Biblical names that incorporate the divine name, this middle vowel sound appears in both the original and the shortened forms, as in Jehonathan and Jonathan. Thus, Professor Buchanan says regarding the divine name: “In no case is the vowel oo or oh omitted. The word was sometimes abbreviated as ‘Ya,’ but never as ‘Ya-weh.’ . . . When the Tetragrammaton was pronounced in one syllable it was ‘Yah’ or ‘Yo.’ When it was pronounced in three syllables it would have been ‘Yahowah’ or ‘Yahoowah.’ If it was ever abbreviated to two syllables it would have been ‘Yaho.’”—Biblical Archaeology Review. These comments help us understand the statement made by 19th-century Hebrew scholar Gesenius in his Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures: “Those who consider that יְהוָֹה [Ye-ho-wah] was the actual pronunciation [of God’s name] are not altogether without ground on which to defend their opinion. In this way can the abbreviated syllables יְהוֹ [Ye-ho] and יוֹ [Yo], with which many proper names begin, be more satisfactorily explained.” Nevertheless, in the introduction to his recent translation of The Five Books of Moses, Everett Fox points out: “Both old and new attempts to recover the ‘correct’ pronunciation of the Hebrew name [of God] have not succeeded; neither the sometimes-heard ‘Jehovah’ nor the standard scholarly ‘Yahweh’ can be conclusively proven.” No doubt the scholarly debate will continue. Jews stopped pronouncing the name of the true God before the Masoretes developed the system of vowel pointing. Thus, there is no definitive way to prove which vowels accompanied the consonants YHWH (יהוה). Yet, the very names of Biblical figures—the correct pronunciation of which was never lost—provide a tangible clue to the ancient pronunciation of God’s name. On this account, at least some scholars agree that the pronunciation “Jehovah” is not so “monstrous” after all. jw.org

"The true God felt regret over the calamity that he had spoken of causing to them; and he did not cause it."—Jonah 3:10. Jehovah also gave the people of the Assyrian capital of Nineveh an opportunity to respond to his warning. His word occurred to Jonah, saying: “Get up, go to Nineveh the great city, and proclaim against her that their badness has come up before me.” Nineveh was deemed fit for destruction.—Jonah 1:1, 2; 3:1-4. However, when Jonah declared the message of doom, “the men of Nineveh began to put faith in God, and they proceeded to proclaim a fast and to put on sackcloth, from the greatest one of them even to the least one of them.” Their king “rose up from his throne and put off his official garment from himself and covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the ashes.” The Ninevites responded to Jehovah’s molding efforts and repented. Consequently, Jehovah did not cause the calamity.—Jonah 3:5-10. Being a chosen nation had not excluded Israel from discipline. The Ninevites, on the other hand, were not in a covenant relationship with God. Still, Jehovah had his message of judgment declared to them and showed them mercy when they proved to be like malleable clay in his hands. How vividly these two examples show that Jehovah our God “treats none with partiality”!—Deut. 10:17. The way that God is willing to mold us shows that he is reasonable and adaptable. That is evident in situations where Jehovah determines to take action based on his just judgment of people but then changes his mind because of their response. The Scriptures state concerning the first king of Israel that Jehovah ‘regretted that he had caused Saul to reign as king.’ (1 Sam. 15:11) When the people of Nineveh repented and turned around from their bad way, the Bible says: “The true God felt regret over the calamity that he had spoken of causing to them; and he did not cause it.”—Jonah 3:10. jw.org

A VITAL MESSAGE OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN TO YOU! – JUDGE RUTHERFORD ???

@Kurt With the Rain and Thunder comes Rainbows! Soft spoken and a gift from Jehovah! ???⛈⛈⛈?? Thank you, ???????

"Let your brotherly love continue."(Hebrews 13:1) NWT Tap screen for birds ? IMG_0426.mov

Click on pictures for motion ?? ? ? IMG_0416.mov

"Let your Kingdom come." (Matt.6:10) Click on picture for motion ???? IMG_0419.mov

"What sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion!"— (2 Pet. 3:11) Peter was not posing a question but making a rousing statement, an exclamation. Peter knew that only those who do Jehovah’s will and exhibit godly traits will be preserved through the coming “day of vengeance.” (Isa. 61:2) Thus, the apostle added: “You, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on your guard that you may not be led away with them [false teachers] by the error of the law-defying people and fall from your own steadfastness.” (2 Pet. 3:17) Being among those who had “advance knowledge,” Peter knew that in the last days, Christians would have to be especially on guard in order to maintain their integrity. Later, the apostle John clearly explained why. He foresaw Satan’s eviction from heaven and his “great anger” against those “who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.”— (Rev. 12:9, 12, 17) www.jw.org