Bible Speaks

44 "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him, and I will resurrect him on the last day." (John 6:44) Each person that Jehovah draws becomes part of a worldwide congregation of genuine friends who love what is right. Our loving God helps such ones to gain his approval.

"But he said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you, for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent." (2Cor.12:9)

“Guide me in the pathway of your commandments, for in it I take delight.”—Psalm 119:35.

Queen Esther: Thank you, many years of love for Jehovah keeps me motivated. Much love, ?????

9 "But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders." (2 Thess.2:9) Who were the Magi that visited the young child Jesus? Astrologers (Gr., maʹgoi; “Magi,” AS ftn, CC, We; “Magians,” ED) brought gifts to the young child Jesus. (Mt 2:1-16) Commenting on who these maʹgoi were, The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (Vol. II, p. 139) says: “According to Herodotus the magi were a tribe of the Medes [I, 101], who professed to interpret dreams, and had the official charge of sacred rites . . . they were, in short, the learned and priestly class, and having, as was supposed, the skill of deriving from books and the observation of the stars a supernatural insight into coming events . . . Later investigations tend rather to make Babylon than Media and Persia the centre of full-blown magianism. ‘ Originally, the Median priests were not called magi . . . From the Chaldeans, however, they received the name of magi for their priestly caste, and it is thus we are to explain what Herodotus says of the magi being a Median tribe’ . . . (J. C. Müller in Herzog’s Encl.).”—Edited by P. Fairbairn, London, 1874. Rightly, then, Justin Martyr, Origen, and Tertullian, when reading Matthew 2:1, thought of maʹgoi as astrologers. Wrote Tertullian (“On Idolatry,” IX): “We know the mutual alliance of magic and astrology. The interpreters of the stars, then, were the first . . . to present Him [Jesus] ‘gifts.’” (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, 1957, Vol. III, p. 65) The name Magi became current “as a generic term for astrologers in the East.”—The New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, 1952, Vol. 22, p. 8076. So the circumstantial evidence is strong that the maʹgoi who visited the infant Jesus were astrologers. Thus The New Testament translated by C. B. Williams reads “star-gazers,” with a footnote in explanation: “This is, students of stars in relation to events on earth.” Fittingly, then, modern English translations read “astrologers” at Matthew 2:1.—AT, NE, NW, Ph. How many of these astrologers “from eastern parts” brought “gold and frankincense and myrrh” to the child Jesus is not disclosed; there is no factual basis for the traditional notion that there were three. (Mt 2:1, 11) As astrologers, they were servants of false gods and were, wittingly or unwittingly, led by what appeared to them as a moving “star.” They alerted Herod to the fact that the “king of the Jews” had been born, and Herod, in turn, sought to have Jesus killed. The plot, however, failed. Jehovah intervened and proved superior to the demon gods of the astrologers, so instead of returning to Herod, the astrologers headed home another way after being given “divine warning in a dream.”—Mt 2:2, 12. http://m.wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000448#h=9:0-10:218

4 "The king then said to me: “What is it that you are seeking?” At once I prayed to the God of the heavens." (Nehemiah 2:4) Nehemiah, governor of the Jews in the fifth century B.C.E., did his best to please God. He spearheaded the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls despite enemy opposition. He enforced God’s Law, cared for the oppressed, and sought to build up the faith of his fellow Israelites. Did God notice the good that this faithful man had done? Did Nehemiah have Jehovah’s approval? We can discern the answers in the closing words of the book that bears his name. Nehemiah prays: “Do remember me, O my God, for good.” Is Nehemiah afraid that his good deeds have gone unnoticed by God or that God will forget about him? No. Nehemiah is no doubt aware of what earlier Bible writers have said about Jehovah’s keen interest in his faithful worshippers and their good deeds. (Exodus 32:32, 33; Psalm 56:8) What, then, is he asking God to do? One reference work notes that the Hebrew term translated “remember” implies “the affection of the mind and the action which accompanies recollection.” With full faith in the power of prayer, Nehemiah is asking God to remember him with affection and to bless him.—Nehemiah 2:4. Will Jehovah answer Nehemiah’s prayer for remembrance? In one respect, he already has. The very fact that Jehovah saw fit to have a permanent record made of Nehemiah’s prayer, making it part of the inspired Scriptures, assures us that he remembers Nehemiah with affection. But the “Hearer of prayer” will do more to answer Nehemiah’s heartfelt request.—Psalm 65:2.

2 "Look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest."

We can avoid reality, but we cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.... 6 "So, then, let us not sleep on as the rest do, but let us stay awake and keep our senses." (1 Thess.5:6)

By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances we greatly reduce our power to change them.... 7 "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love and of soundness of mind." (1 Tim.1:7)

20 "But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 "Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good." (Romans 12:20,21) 16 "Maintain a good conscience, so that in whatever way you are spoken against, those who speak against you may be put to shame because of your good conduct as followers of Christ." (1 Peter 3:16)

"I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way, you must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’” (Acts 20:35) 2 “This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says concerning you, Barʹuch, 3 ‘You have said: “Woe to me, for Jehovah has added grief to my pain! I am weary from my groaning, and I have found no resting-place.”’ 4 “You should say to him, ‘This is what Jehovah says: “Look! What I have built up I am tearing down, and what I have planted I am uprooting—the entire land. 5 "But you are seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking such things.”’ “‘For I am about to bring a calamity on all flesh,’ declares Jehovah, ‘and wherever you may go, I will grant you your life as a spoil.’” (Jeremiah 45:2-5)

Trust is earned when actions meet words... 5 "Better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay." (Ecclesiastes 5:5)

The best apology is changed behavior... 8 Therefore, produce fruit that befits repentance."

What It Really Takes to Be Happy JEHOVAH, “the happy God,” and Jesus Christ, “the happy and only Potentate,” know best of all what it takes to be happy. (1 Timothy 1:11; 6:15) Thus, it comes as no surprise that the key to happiness is found in God’s Word, the Bible.—Revelation 1:3; 22:7. IMG_0040.mov

Queen Esther: Time will tell! ?????

????? Dreams of Paradise! Queen Esther! ???????

Queen Esther: Jehovah reads hearts, no fear Jehovah is near. Perhaps we don't know, perhaps he is still studying? Two of his albums has the Watchtower behind him by the sign and also the AWAKE? We never know? Thank you, I like his music ? too! ???

8 "My trust is in God’s loyal love, forever and ever." (Psalm 52:8)

3 "Abʹi·gail, was discerning and beautiful." ABIGAIL means; (Abʹi·gail) [(My) Father Has Made Himself Joyful].

30 "Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season, I will tell the reapers: First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up; then gather the wheat into my storehouse.’” (Matthew 13:30) NWT

9 "So then, Jehovah knows how to rescue people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people to be destroyed on the day of judgment." ( 2 Peter 2:9) NWT

20 "The true God is for us a God of saving acts; And to Jehovah the Sovereign Lord belong the ways out from death." ( Psalm 68:20) Reference Bible

16 "Your house and your kingdom will be secure forever before you; your throne will be firmly established forever.”’” ( 2 Samuel 7:16)

Queen Esther: Is he a Brother? If so, why did he just sing a Christmas song on the Today show on Monday? Love his other ? music.

8 :12 "Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying: “I am the light of the world." Whoever follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will possess the light."