Bible Speaks

"What will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" Matt. 24:3 wol.jw.org

"In Jehovah the God of Israel he trusted." (2 Ki. 18:5) King Sennacherib of Assyria sent his representatives—including Rabshakeh—to Jerusalem along with a heavy military force. King Hezekiah of Judah went to the house of Jehovah and began praying: “O Jehovah our God, save us, please, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Jehovah, are God alone.” (2 Ki. 19:14-19) Hezekiah acted in harmony with his prayer. Even before going up to the temple to pray, he instructed the people not to respond to Rabshakeh’s taunts. Hezekiah also sent a delegation to Isaiah the prophet, seeking his advice. (2 Ki. 18:36; 19:1, 2) Hezekiah took steps that he could rightly take. He did not try to seek support from Egypt or from neighboring nations. Rather than lean upon his own understanding, Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah. After Jehovah’s angel struck down 185,000 of Sennacherib’s men, Sennacherib “pulled away” and returned to Nineveh. (2 Ki. 19:35,36) wol.jw.org

"Pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment." (Prov. 2:2) "By making your ear attentive to wisdom, And inclining your heart to discernment." (Prov. 2:2) At the start of Solomon’s kingship, God appeared to him in a dream and invited him to make a request. Aware of his limited experience, Solomon requested wisdom. (1 Ki. 3:5-9) Pleased that the king asked for wisdom rather than for riches and glory, God gave Solomon “a wise and understanding heart”—as well as prosperity. (1 Ki. 3:10-14) We personally do not expect to receive wisdom miraculously. Solomon said that “Jehovah himself gives wisdom,” but he wrote that we should strive to gain that godly quality. He used expressions such as “call out for,” “keep seeking for,” and “keep searching for” wisdom. (Prov. 2:1-6) Clearly, we can gain wisdom. It would be good to ask: ‘Am I taking to heart Solomon’s example of treasuring divine wisdom? Do the choices I make indicate that I am treasuring and seeking divine wisdom?’ wol.jw.org

"The Golden Rule" “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matthew 7:12) YES, the Originator of what Jesus taught, including what came to be known as the Golden Rule, is the one who sent Jesus, namely, the Creator, Jehovah God. God originally purposed that all mankind treat one another as they would like to be treated. He set the finest example in expressing care for the welfare of others in the way he created humans: “God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) This means that God lovingly endowed humans with a measure of his own outstanding qualities so that they could enjoy life in peace, happiness, and harmony—potentially forever. Their God-given conscience, when properly trained, would guide them to treat others the way they themselves would want to be treated. jw.org IMG_6532.MP4

Give Comfort to Those Who Grieve - Their Cry He Will Hear! ~ (Psalm 145:19) "The desire of those fearing him he will perform, And their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them." (Psalm) 145:19) NWT 2013 "He satisfies the desire of those who fear him; He hears their cry for help, and he rescues them." With the Comfort God Gives When we seek to comfort others, words of sympathy are certainly in order. We endeavor to convey to the grieving person by word and tone of voice that we deeply care about his situation. This is not accomplished by the use of hollow platitudes. The Bible tells us that “through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) jw.org IMG_6527.MOV

I am from Mexico, but I had the privilege of participating in a special preaching campaign in Nicaragua, where there is greater need for Kingdom publishers. Here we are in Rio San Juan, Nicaragua helping to pull the boat from the rocks. Photo shared by @alejandrodeleoncantu

"Muéstrense agradecidos, amonestándose unos a otros con salmos, alabanzas a Dios, canciones espirituales con gracia." (Col. 3:15, 16).

"Show yourselves thankful . . . , encouraging one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs sung with gratitude."—Col. 3:15, 16. jw.org

Rest a bit, snow storms here and blizzards! No meetings, we must study and read and listen to jw.broadcasting.org and keep strong! Jehovah will take care of us! My new motto: "I have no fear, Jehovah is near." Agape, ???

Suirago City, Philippines last night earthquake, hope all is well. Praying for those who are living there. ?????? http://reut.rs/2kYDNEV Sat Feb 11, 2017 | 8:16 AM EST Earthquake in southern Philippines kills four, damages infrastructure 4h ago | 01:16 Powerful quake kills at least six in southern Philippines (Reuters) - Four people died and more than 100 were injured after a powerful earthquake struck the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines late Friday, damaging some structures and cutting power in many areas, local officials said. The 6.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and the epicenter was about 13 km east of the city of Surigao, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no tsunami threat from the earthquake. Renato Solidum, head of the Philippines' seismic agency, said on radio on Saturday morning 89 aftershocks had been recorded and more could be expected but they were unlikely to cause significant damage. Friday's quake was the strongest since the city was rocked by a 6.9 quake in 1879, Solidum said. People rushed to open spaces and spent the night in parks and shelter areas, according to radio reports.

Just as the day's of Noah so the presence of the Son of Man will be.... Matthew 24 36 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be." Matthew 2436 “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 38 For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,39 and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be."

??Kevin Richardson-The Lion Whisperer…True trust, and deep love. This man amazes me. To be able to follow him around,for just 1 day,to be able to get close to these beautiful,and powerful animals…would definitely be a dream come true. Maybe soon in New World will be reality?

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102016805 SONG 5 God’s Wondrous Works Alternate presentation available (Psalm 139) 1.O God, you know my rest and waking, When I lie down and when I rise anew. You search my thoughts, my inmost inclination, The words I speak, the ways I walk, you know them too. You saw when I was made in secret, My very bones not hidden from your sight. You saw my form; its parts were down in writing. I love the wonder of your ways and praise your might. Your knowledge, God, is wondrous, awe-inspiring; Of this my soul is very well-aware. If I should fear that darkness might enfold me, Your spirit, God, would find me, even there. Where could I hide from you, Jehovah, Or be concealed, be hidden from your face? Not in the Grave nor in the highest heaven, Not in the dark nor in the sea; there is no place. (See also Ps. 66:3; 94:19; Jer. 17:10.)

Brazilian Peppertree May Pack Power to Knock Out Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria http://pages.s4.exacttarget.com/Share.aspx?i=2a98e483f3318162526849ecfcdeb7c517f71b516fbbe4354d3e691097d7f1b8

Queen Esther: Hard day for me with therapy, Agape ???

6 "At that time the lame will leap like the deer, And the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert plain." (Isaiah 35:6) NWT jw.org

6 "At that time the lame will leap like the deer, And the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy. For waters will burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert plain." (Isaiah 35:6) NWT jw.org

Brazilian Peppertree May Pack Power to Knock Out Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria Fri, 02/10/2017 - 9:48am by Emory Health Sciences The red berries of the Brazilian peppertree -- a weedy, invasive species common in Florida -- contain an extract with the power to disarm dangerous antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria, scientists at Emory University have discovered. The journal Scientific Reports is publishing the finding, made in the lab of Cassandra Quave, an assistant professor in Emory's Center for the Study of Human Health and in the School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology. "Traditional healers in the Amazon have used the Brazilian peppertree for hundreds of years to treat infections of the skin and soft tissues," Quave says. "We pulled apart the chemical ingredients of the berries and systematically tested them against disease-causing bacteria to uncover a medicinal mechanism of this plant." The researchers showed that a refined, flavone-rich composition extracted from the berries inhibits formation of skin lesions in mice infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auereus (MRSA). The compound works not by killing the MRSA bacteria, but by repressing a gene that allows the bacteria cells to communicate with one another. Blocking that communication prevents the cells from taking collective action, a mechanism known as quorum quenching. "It essentially disarms the MRSA bacteria, preventing it from excreting the toxins it uses as weapons to damage tissues," Quave says. "The body's normal immune system then stands a better chance of healing a wound." The discovery may hold potential for new ways to treat and prevent antibiotic-resistant infections, a growing international problem. Antibiotic-resistant infections annually cause at least two million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The United Nations last year called antibiotic-resistant infections a "fundamental threat" to global health and safety, citing estimates that they cause at least 700,000 deaths each year worldwide, with the potential to grow to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Blasting deadly bacteria with drugs designed to kill them is helping to fuel the problem of antibiotic resistance. Some of the stronger bacteria may survive these drug onslaughts and proliferate, passing on their genes to offspring and leading to the evolution of deadly "super bugs." In contrast, the Brazilian peppertree extract works by simply disrupting the signaling of MRSAbacteria without killing it. The researchers also found that the extract does not harm the skin tissues of mice, or the normal, healthy bacteria found on skin. "In some cases, you need to go in heavily with antibiotics to treat a patient," Quave says. "But instead of always setting a bomb off to kill an infection, there are situations where using an anti-virulence method may be just as effective, while also helping to restore balance to the health of a patient. More research is needed to better understand how we can best leverage anti-virulence therapeutics to improve patient outcomes." Quave, a leader in the field of medical ethnobotany and a member of the Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, studies how indigenous people incorporate plants in healing practices to uncover promising candidates for new drugs. The Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) is native to South America but thrives in subtropical climates. It is abundant in much of Florida, and has also crept into southern areas of Alabama, Georgia, Texas and California. Sometimes called the Florida holly or broad leaf peppertree, the woody plant forms dense thickets that crowd out native species. "The Brazilian peppertree is not some exotic and rare plant found only on a remote mountaintop somewhere," Quave says. "It's a weed, and the bane of many a landowner in Florida." From an ecological standpoint, it makes sense that weeds would have interesting chemistry, Quave adds. "Persistent, weedy plants tend to have a chemical advantage in their ecosystems, which help may protect them from diseases so they can more easily spread in a new environment." http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2017/02/brazilian-peppertree-may-pack-power-knock-out-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria?et_cid=5824560&et_rid=667413647&type=headline&et_cid=5824560&et_rid=667413647&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.laboratoryequipment.com%2fnews%2f2017%2f02%2fbrazilian-peppertree-may-pack-power-knock-out-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria%3fet_cid%3d5824560%26et_rid%3d%%subscriberid%%%26type%3dheadline

“Now Is the Especially Acceptable Time” “Look! Now is the especially acceptable time. Look! Nowis the day of salvation.”—2 COR. 6:2. Paul recognized the significance of the timein which he lived. He said: “Look! Nowis the especially acceptable time. Look! Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2) The majority of mankind, blinded by Satan, are still alienated from God and ignorant of the purpose of God’s undeserved kindness. (2 Cor. 4:3, 4;1 John 5:19) However, worsening world conditions have caused many to respond when shown that alienation from God is at the root of human evil and suffering. Even in lands where most people have been apathetic about our preaching work, many are nowaccepting the good news and taking action to become reconciled to God. Do we, then, appreciate that this is thetime for us to apply ourselves even more zealously to sounding out the entreaty: “Become reconciled to God”? Jehovah makes to fortify us spiritually. That means taking seriously our family and congregation worship—being regular in personal and family study, in prayer, and in meeting with our fellow Christians. That will help us to have the “fire” to sustain the “boiling” that will keep us “aglow with the spirit.”—Read Acts 4:20; 18:25.

"Be courageous and strong. Do not be struck with terror or fear, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:

"A prostitute is a deep pit." (Prov. 23:27)

“For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16) We do have the mind of Christ. — 1 Cor. 2:16. It is good to remember that being whole-souled is not a matter of how much time we spend in the ministry. Individual circumstances vary. A person who spends just an hour or two in field service each month may be very pleasing to Jehovah if that really is all his health allows him to do. (Compare Mark 12:41-44.) Hence, to determine what wholesouled service to God means for us personally, we need to make a frank appraisal of our abilities and circumstances. As followers of Christ, we also want to harmonize our viewpoint with his. (Rom. 15:5) What did Jesus put foremost in his life? He told the crowds from Capernaum: “I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth.” (Luke 4: 43; John 18:37) With Jesus’ zeal for his ministry in mind, evaluate your circumstances to see if you could further expand your ministry. (1 Cor. 11:1) www.jw.org

Why did Jesus hesitate to heal this woman's daughter? On one occasion, Jesus and his apostles were in the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. While there, they met a Greek woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter. At first, Jesus ignored the woman. But when she kept on insisting. Why did Jesus at first refuse to help this woman? Was Jesus testing her to see how she would react, giving her an opportunity to display her faith? His tone of voice, although not revealed in the written text, did not discourage her. His use of the term “little dogs” softened the comparison. So perhaps Jesus was acting like a parent who intends to grant a child’s request but withholds any outward sign of that intent in order to test out the child’s seriousness. Whatever the case, once the woman expressed her faith, Jesus willingly granted her request. (Mark 7:28-30) 27 "But he said to her: “First let the children be satisfied, for it is not right to take the bread of the children and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 But she replied to him: “Yes, sir, and yet even the little dogs underneath the table eat of the crumbs of the little children.” 29 At that he said to her: “Because you said this, go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 So she went away to her home and found the young child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.” (Mark 7:27-30) NWT jw.org