Bible Speaks

HOW TO HARNESS YOUR HABITS 3 Take a Long-Range View ? There is a popular notion that it takes 21 days to cement a new habit. In reality, though, research shows that it can take some people less time—and others a lot more—to make significant changes. Should that discourage you? Well, think of this scenario: Imagine that you want to build a habit of exercising three times a week. The first week, you meet your goal. The second week, you miss a day. The third week, you are back on track. The fourth week, you barely exercise once. The fifth week, you reach your goal again, and from that point forward, you meet it each week. ? It took five weeks to solidify your new habit. That may seem like a long time, but once you reach your goal, you will be glad you have cultivated a new good habit. ? BIBLE PRINCIPLE: “The righteous one may fall seven times, and he will get up again.”—Proverbs 24:16. ? The Bible encourages a long-range view. What counts in the end is, not how many times we fall, but how many times we get up again. ? What counts in the end is, not how many times we fall, but how many times we get up again WHAT YOU CAN DO ? Do not conclude that a relapse is a permanent failure. Expect to face some setbacks as you work toward your goal. Focus on the times when things went right. For example, if you are trying to improve the way you communicate with your children, ask yourself: ‘When was the last time I felt like yelling at my children, but didnÂ’t? What did I do instead? How can I repeat that?Â’ Such questions can help you to reinforce your successes rather than dwell on your setbacks. ? Would you like to know how Bible principles can help you in other aspects of life, such as dealing with anxiety, building a happy family life, and finding real happiness? Speak with any of JehovahÂ’s Witnesses, or visit our website, jw.org. RELATED BIBLE PRINCIPLES “Fix your gaze straight ahead of you.”—Proverbs 4:25. ? “Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead, I am pressing on toward the goal.”—Philippians 3:13, 14. https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102016127?q=prov+4%3A25&p=par

Gaining the Victory Over Human Weakness ???? ??????? “The minding of the flesh means death.”—ROMANS 8:6. When Paul wrote to Christians living in Corinth—a city known for its moral depravity—he offered a realistic warning against temptation and the power of sin. He said: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall. No temptation has taken you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12, 13) ??????? All of us—young and old, male and female—encounter many temptations in school, at work, or elsewhere. Let us, therefore, examine PaulÂ’s words and see what meaning they have for us. ??????? What comfort we derive from PaulÂ’s words: “No temptation has taken you except what is common to men”! (1 Corinthians 10:13) The apostle Peter wrote: “Take your stand against [the Devil], solid in the faith, knowing that the same things in the way of sufferings are being accomplished in the entire association of your brothers in the world.” (1 Peter 5:9) ??????? Yes, others have faced similar temptations and have successfully resisted them with GodÂ’s help, and so can we. ??????? One way that Jehovah assists us is by answering our prayers for his help in coping with temptation. Jesus Christ taught us to pray: “Do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the wicked one.” (Matthew 6:13) ??????? In response to such heartfelt prayer, Jehovah will not abandon us to temptation; he will deliver us from Satan and his crafty acts. (Ephesians 6:11, footnote) ??????? We should ask God to help us recognize temptations and have the strength to resist them. If we implore him not to allow us to fail when we are tempted, he will help us so that we are not overreached by Satan, “the wicked one.” https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2001203?q=1+cor+10%3A13&p=par Â

JEHOVAH PROTECTS HIS FRIENDS ?????? The Bible says that Jehovah is looking for ways “to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) ?????? At Psalm 32:8, Jehovah promises his friends: “I will give you insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give you advice with my eye upon you.” A powerful enemy wants to stop us from being GodÂ’s friends. But Jehovah wants to protect us. (Read Psalm 55:22.) ?????? As friends of Jehovah, we serve him with all our heart. We are loyal to him even under difficult circumstances. And we have the same confidence that the psalmist had. He wrote about Jehovah: “Because he is at my right hand, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8; 63:8) ?????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102015152?q=ps+32%3A8&p=par

“Stay Awake, Stand Firm in the Faith” ????????? Paul, writing to the Corinthians, urged: “Stay awake, stand firm in the faith.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) Yes, staying awake is linked to our having a firm standing in the Christian faith. ????????? How can we stay awake? By acquiring a deeper knowledge of GodÂ’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:14, 15) Good personal study habits and regular meeting attendance help to strengthen our faith, and keeping JehovahÂ’s day close in mind is an important aspect of our faith. So our reviewing from time to time the Scriptural proof that we are living close to the end of this system will help us not to lose sight of the important truths regarding that coming end. ?????????  It is also good to take note of unfolding world events that fulfill Bible prophecy. One brother in Germany wrote: “Every time I watch the news—the wars, the earthquakes, the violence, and the contamination of our planet—it drives home to me the nearness of the end.” - ????????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2017/11/28

When nature is used to give glory to Jehovah (Revelation 4:11) What do you think? – What We Give To Jehovah Comes Back As A Blessing! What do you think?

"The plans of the diligent surely lead to success, But all who are hasty surely head for poverty." (Prov. 21:5) At times, pressure to engage in unwholesome activity may come from other youths who claim to be servants of Jehovah. For example, what if you arrive at a gathering arranged by such a person and discover that there is no adult supervision? Or what if a youth claiming to be a Christian brings alcohol to a gathering and you and others present are not of legal age to drink? A number of situations may arise in which you will need to follow your Bible trained conscience. One teenage Christian relates: “My sister and I walked out of a movie that contained a lot of swearing. Others in the group decided to stay. Our parents praised us for what we did.” If you are going to a gathering, have an exit plan in case things are not as you expected them to be. Some youths have an agreement with their parents that a simple phone call is all that will be needed to get an early ride home. (Ps. 26:4, 5) –"I do not associate with deceitful men, And I avoid those who hide what they are. I hate the company of evil men, And I refuse to associate* with the wicked.' - Bible Speaks

"Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) To maintain our integrity to Jehovah, we must adhere to his moral standards, just as Job did. He declared: “A covenant I have concluded with my eyes. So how could I show myself attentive to a virgin? . . . If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I kept lying in wait at the very entranceway of my companion, let my wife do the grinding for another man, and over her let other men kneel down.” (Job 31:1, 9, 10) Determined to maintain integrity to God, Job avoided gazing at a woman lustfully. As a married man, he did not flirt with a single woman or pursue romantic objectives with another man’s wife. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a powerful statement regarding sexual morality—surely a point integrity keepers need to keep in mind. Is that your view? - Bible Speaks

Orphaned Man Says: "What i am learning gives me hope for the future" - He Now Is Learning He Has A “Huge Worldwide Family!” Raquel our sister a long time ago approached this orphaned man who had little or nothing to eat.He began to study the Bible. Now  you will always see him  studying the magazines, books and the Bible. "What i am learning gives me hope for the future" he said. When possible, our sister takes him out to eat and bring him food. JW Philippines

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Message from the Russian brothers and sisters. "We are ok! We have Jehovah on our side". (Romans 8:31) JWÂ Russia

Giving Thanks? - Thanksgiving and Black Friday? - A Contradiction? ??? Chuckle ???

@Gone Fishing Amazing! Jehovah Knows! Keep Busy!

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The increase in big earthquakes predicted for 2018 as the rotation of the earth slows down Scientists say that the amount of severe earthquakes will likely increase sharply next year due to a regular decrease in earth rotation Scientists have warned that there could be a huge increase in the number of devastating earthquakes around the world next year. They believe that changes in the speed of rotation of the earth could trigger intense seismic activity, particularly in densely populated tropical regions. Although such fluctuations in rotation are small, changing the duration of the day in a millisecond, they may be involved in the release of large amounts of underground energy, it is argued. In his study, bilham and bendick observed earthquakes of magnitude 7 and greater that occurred since 1900. "Major Earthquakes Have recorded well for more than a century and that gives us a good record to study", said said . https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/18/2018-set-to-be-year-of-big-earthquakes

NEWS Regional Assembly 2018 Below is the invitation to convention 2018. As you can see on the cover, the official theme of the 2018 convention is " be brave!" You can see from the cover of the invitation to a ship in a storm. I have heard from different sources that the drama video for next year will be about Jonah This is consistent with the art work of the invitation, and also with the fact that a circuit superintendent and his wife, who recently visited the branches of the United States. They said they saw the construction of boats in the audio visual production department. Maybe the scenes of Jonah were taken from the movie? Because they look very similar to a movie Is it possible that we are prepared to preach a message of judgment like Jonah? Exciting times ahead!

How Can You Keep a Balanced View of Money? ????? Love of money and a desire for possessions are not new; nor is the Bible silent about them, as if they were some recent phenomena. They are very old. In the Law, God instructed the Israelites: “You must not desire your fellowmanÂ’s house . . . nor anything that belongs to your fellowman.”—Exodus 20:17. The proper use of money is approved by God. For example, Jesus said: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches.” (Luke 16:9) This includes contributing toward the advancement of the true worship of God, for we definitely should want God as our Friend. Solomon himself, following the example of his father, David, contributed large amounts of money and valuables toward the building of JehovahÂ’s temple. Another Christian mandate is to give material assistance to those in need. “Share with the holy ones according to their needs,” said the apostle Paul. He added: “Follow the course of hospitality.” (Romans 12:13) This often involves spending some money. However, what about the love of money? Paul warns: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:10) This text does not say that money itself is evil—nor does any other scripture. Neither does the apostle say that money is the fundamental cause of “injurious things” or that money lies at the root of every problem. Rather, the love of money can be a cause—even if not the only cause—of all kinds of “injurious things.” Guard Against Greed The fact that money itself is not condemned in the Scriptures should not blunt PaulÂ’s warning. Christians who begin to love money are vulnerable to all kinds of problems, the worst of which is that of straying from the faith. This truth is reinforced by what Paul said to the Christians in Colossae: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects . . . hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) How may covetousness, greed, or “love of money” amount to idolatry? Does this mean that it is wrong to want a bigger house, a newer car, a more profitable job? No, none of these things are evil in themselves. The question is: What is the heart attitude that makes one want any of these things, and are they really necessary? The difference between normal desire and greed might be likened to the difference between the small campfire that cooks food and the blazing inferno that consumes a forest. Wholesome and well-placed desire can be constructive. It motivates us to work and to be productive. Proverbs 16:26 says: “The soul of the hard worker has worked hard for him, because his mouth has pressed him hard.” But greed is dangerous and destructive. It is desire out of control. Control is a core issue. Will the money we accumulate or the material things we want serve our needs, or will our needs serve money? That is why Paul says that being a “greedy person . . . means being an idolater.” (Ephesians 5:5) To be greedy for something in reality means that we surrender our will to it—in effect, we make it our master, our god, the thing we serve. In contrast, God insists: “You must not have any other gods against my face.”—Exodus 20:3. Our being greedy also indicates that we do not trust that God will follow through on his promise to supply what we need. (Matthew 6:33) Greed, then, amounts to a turning away from God. In this sense too, it is “idolatry.” No wonder Paul warns so clearly against it! ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2001441?q=love+of+money&p=par#h=10

“Make Sure of the More Important Things” There are many things that Jehovah chose not to include in the Bible. For example, he did not give us details about the human brain or the universe. Instead, Jehovah gave us information that we need so that we can understand his will and obey him. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) It is interesting that Jehovah chose to tell us about the invisible part of his organization. It is exciting for us to read this information in the Bible books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation! (Isaiah 6:1-4; Ezekiel 1:4-14, 22-24; Daniel 7:9-14; Revelation 4:1-11) Why has Jehovah allowed us to know about some of the things that are happening in heaven? Jehovah wants us always to remember that we are part of a universal organization. The invisible part of JehovahÂ’s organization is working hard to do JehovahÂ’s will. For example, Ezekiel saw a vision of the invisible part of JehovahÂ’s organization represented by a huge chariot. This chariot was extremely fast and could change direction instantly. (Ezekiel 1:15-21) He also saw the Rider of the chariot. Ezekiel said: “I got to see something like the glow of electrum, like the appearance of fire all around.” He added: “It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah.” (Ezekiel 1:25-28) Ezekiel must have been amazed by this vision. He saw that Jehovah is in full control of his organization and is using his holy spirit to direct it. The moving chariot in the vision is a wonderful illustration of how the invisible part of JehovahÂ’s organization works - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/402013285?q=phil+1%3A10&p=par

"All your works will glorify you, O Jehovah, And your loyal ones will praise you. They All your works with glorify you oh Jehovah, will proclaim the glory of your kingship. And speak about your mightiness," (Ps 145:10,11) May Jehovah Bless You as You Praise Him. Good Night! ? Good Morning! ?? Good Afternoon! ? Identifying God’s Loyal Ones - King David supplies the answer. After extolling Jehovah’s marvelous qualities, he states: “Your loyal ones will bless you.” (Psalm 145:10) You may wonder how humans can bless God. They do so primarily by praising him or by speaking well of him. Jehovah’s loyal ones can be identified as those who use their mouths to speak well of him. In social settings and at Christian meetings, what is a common theme of their discussions? Why, it is Jehovah’s Kingdom! God’s loyal servants share the sentiments of David, who sang: “About the glory of your [Jehovah’s] kingship they will talk, and about your mightiness they will speak.”—Psalm 145:11.- We Must Speak Out As King David Did! https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2004044?q=ps+145%3A10%2C11&p=par

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” (Eccl. 7:10)New English Translation - Bible Speaks ????? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2012206?q=good+old+days&p=par

The world's most valuable book': Copy of psalms dated 1640 sells at New York auction for record $14.2M ??? Oh LOOK Jehovah’s Name! Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2514208/Copy-psalms-dated-1640-sells-auction-record-14-2M.html#ixzz2lqoZPisE

@koralblu shares: “For the past six weeks I have had the pleasure of serving where the need is great in Ecuador. I had the opportunity to preach in the Andes in the Quichua territory. This little lamb reminded me of Isaiah 40:11. I was able to see first hand what that scripture really mean to tenderly care for JehovahÂ’s sheep. Truly serving Jehovah and seeing the wonders of his creation is spectacular.”  Thank you ??Â

“Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up.” (EPHESIANS 4:29) ??? WHY WE NEED TO GUARD OUR SPEECH One important reason to guard our speech is that words have power. Proverbs 15:4 says: “The calmness of the tongue is a tree of life, but distortion in it means a breaking down in the spirit.” Even as water revives a thirsty tree, so the calm speech of a soothing tongue can refresh the spirit of those hearing it. In contrast, the twisted words of a perverse tongue can crush the spirit of others. Indeed, the words we speak have the power to injure or to heal. (Proverbs 18:21) Vividly describing the power of words, another proverb says: “There exists the one speaking thoughtlessly as with the stabs of a sword.” (Proverbs 12:18) Thoughtless words said in haste can cause deep emotional wounds and destroy relationships. Has your heart ever been pierced by the thrusts of a verbal sword? On the positive side, the same proverb says: “The tongue of the wise ones is a healing.” Thoughtful words from one who manifests godly wisdom can mend an aching heart and restore relationships. Can you recall an occasion when you experienced the healing power of kind words? (Proverbs 16:24) Recognizing that spoken words have power, we certainly want to use our speech to heal others, not to hurt them. No matter how hard we try, we cannot completely control our tongue. Here, then, is a second reason why we need to keep on guard respecting our speech: Sin and imperfection incline us toward misusing our tongue. Words are a product of our heart, and “the inclination of the heart of man is bad.” (Genesis 8:21; Luke 6:45) Bridling our tongue is therefore a real struggle. (James 3:2-4) Although we cannot gain perfect control of our tongue, we can keep working at making improvement in how we use it. Just as a swimmer trying to swim upstream has to keep fighting the current, so we have to keep fighting the sinful tendency to misuse our tongue. A reason to guard our speech is that Jehovah holds us accountable for our words. The way we use our tongue affects not only our relationship with fellow humans but also our standing with Jehovah. James 1:26 says: “If any man seems to himself to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his own heart, this manÂ’s form of worship is futile.” If our tongue is unbridled—spewing out hurtful, poisonous speech—all of our Christian works could be rendered worthless in GodÂ’s eyes. (James 3:8-10) JW.ORG

A prayer of the oppressed one when he is in despair and pours out his concern before Jehovah. – Psalms 102:16-22. 16 For Jehovah will rebuild Zion; He will appear in his glory. 17 He will pay attention to the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer. 18 This is written for the future generation, So that a people yet to be brought forth will praise Jah. 19 For he looks down from his holy height, From the heavens Jehovah views the earth, 20 To hear the sighing of the prisoner, To release those sentenced to death, 21 So that the name of Jehovah will be declared in Zion And his praise in Jerusalem, 22 When the peoples and kingdoms Gather together to serve Jehovah." Psalm 102:16-22 fin. - Bible Speaks

@JW Insider Jehovah sees our needs and love we share with others. Are we not grateful those 5,000 letters were sent! How small a token to show love to others and think about how they are loved and cared for. Jehovah takes care of us everyday. Are we not as appreciative? Thank you for your support. We serve a “Happy God”!

Thank you ?? ??? Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane 30 x 40 inches Oil on Masonite board Artist: anonymous Patterson Educational Center  This painting depicts the emotional moment when Jesus appeals to His Heavenly Father. The angle from above looking downward gives us an idea of how Jehovah and his angelic brothers saw Jesus as he said “Father, if you want to, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:42). ?? #Repost @edsalazarfineart