Bible Speaks

Adorable as they are, little children clearly lack the maturity, experience, and wisdom generally associated with age. 
Yet, Jesus told his disciples: “Unless you become as young children, you will by no means enter into the kingdom.” 
What did Jesus mean? What qualities do young children possess that adults do well to imitate? Well, think how timid and trusting a child is! How free of rivalry and malice! How submissive and unassuming! 
Yes, a little child can beautifully epitomize the godly quality of Humility. JesusÂ’ point is clear. All of us must cultivate childlike humility if we are to inherit GodÂ’s Kingdom. - Matthew 18:3.
jw.org

Have Tender Affection for One Another” - “Jehovah Is Very Tender in Affection”
Unpleasant experiences may have left some with the feeling that showing tender affection would lead only to further disappointment. 
It takes courage and strong faith for them to open their heart to others once again. But they should never forget that Jehovah “is not far off from each one of us.” He invites us to draw close to him. (Acts 17:27; James 4:8) 
He also understands our fear of being hurt, and he promises to stand by us and help us. The psalmist David assures us: “Jehovah is near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.”—Psalm 34:18
An intimate friendship with Jehovah is the most important relationship we can cultivate. But is such a bond really possible? Yes. 
The Bible reveals how very close righteous men and women felt to our heavenly Father. Their warm expressions have been preserved to give us confidence that we too can draw close to Jehovah.—Psalms 23, 34, 139; John 16:27; Romans 15:4
Jehovah’s requirements for intimacy with him are within the reach of everyone. “O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent?” asked David. “He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness and speaking the truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:1, 2; 25:14) 
As we see that serving God produces good fruit and wins us his guidance and protection, we will come to know that “Jehovah is very tender in affection.”—James 5:11
How blessed we are that Jehovah desires to have such a personal relationship with imperfect humans! 
Should we not then display tender affection for one another? With Jehovah’s help, each one of us can contribute to and enjoy the tender affection that is characteristic of our Christian brotherhood. 
Under God’s Kingdom, everyone on earth will share in this affection forever. 
 

“Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.”—Prov. 27:11.
With the passing of the centuries, Satan has built up a powerful criminal organization. Jehovah will eventually destroy it and the Devil, giving overwhelming proof of GodÂ’s rightful sovereignty. Jehovah God was so certain of a positive outcome that he foretold it when the rebellion took place in Eden.
(Gen. 3:15)"And I shall put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. He will bruise you in the head and you will bruise him in the heel.”
Many humans have exercised faith and maintained their integrity with respect to JehovahÂ’s sovereignty and the sanctification of his name. Their number includes Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Ruth, David, Jesus, the early disciples of Christ, and millions of integrity keepers today.
Such upholders of divine sovereignty share in proving Satan a liar and in clearing JehovahÂ’s name of the reproach that the Devil has heaped upon it by boasting that he could turn all mankind away from God.
(Job 2:1-5) Afterward it came to be the day when the sons of the [true] God entered to take their station before Jehovah, and Satan also proceeded to enter right among them to take his station before Jehovah. 2 Then Jehovah said to Satan: “Just where do you come from?” At that Satan answered Jehovah and said: “From roving about in the earth and from walking about in it.” 3 And Jehovah went on to say to Satan: “Have you set your heart upon my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from bad? Even yet he is holding fast his integrity, although you incite me against him to swallow him up without cause.” 4 But Satan answered Jehovah and said: “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul. 5 For a change, thrust out your hand, please, and touch as far as his bone and his flesh [and see] whether he will not curse you to your very face.” 11/15 4:10, 11. 
 

This is my 11 year old son, Evan. Using the JW app he was able to give a witness to his whole class when they were discussing the Ten Commandments. His teacher had him read all Exodus 20 from the app. He was also able to show his teacher Jehovah’s name from the Bible as they were discussing the Tetragrammaton.
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Thank you
Shared by @andrealeigh1096

@JW Insider
Oh yes! I have FORTUNATELY (FORTUNE) ? met you. Keep up the Good Works Brother.
The only destiny I know is Jehovah God and the New World ? and maybe a new husband in view! I’ll take it all! I’m not greedy? 
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@TrueTomHarley
I’m always a half hour early. Be early or miss the road when Armageddon comes I say. If we want to be there for others, be there early. Habitual late people distract those in attention. Perhaps they need a new clock ? or a nice call in the morning to help them put the first leg in front of the other? Or perhaps earlier to Bed would help many? I’ll save you a seat ? your worth it Brother! 

The same chapter of the Kingdom book that spoke of the first use of 'Kingdom Hall' also spoke of the first time Witnesses met in their own building. A church group had been divided because half followed Russell's teachings and half did not. There were two groups but only one building, and for a time (this was in the 1880's) whoever got to the building first used it for services.
I realized that our salvation lay in this account. The tyrannical and mean organization regularly abuses their authority by reminding Witnesses to get to meetings on time, even a little early for the sake of visiting.  I realized the answer to the problem was to share our Hall with the Mormons or Catholics or Rastafarians. Then our people will get there early to prevent the others from using it.
might it be, though, someone asked, that only one person would arrive early, and not the whole congregation? Not a problem. In that case, he or she can save seats. We're good at that, too.

Hah! I noticed this little blast from the past (and present for many of us, too). Hard to believe that so many of us fell for this little mix-up between which word was the better one to use and which was not so good. Turns out that "LUCK" was more than likely just a term for success or loss that came into English from middle German where a lot of gaming and gambling terms came from in the 1500s. So we all replaced it with a word based on FORTUNE, which had been personified as a false Roman goddess during Bible times. Even when it came into English the earliest known instance is in the phrase "Dame Fortune."
Even in the Bible, the word translated "fortune" was associated with bad things:
(Leviticus 20:27) 27 “‘Any man or woman who acts as a spirit medium or is a fortune-teller should be put to death without fail. . . . of course, it was based on the translation of
(Isaiah 65:11) 11 “But YOU men are those leaving Jehovah, those forgetting my holy mountain, those setting in order a table for the god of Good Luck. . . But the foot-note for that verse says
*** Rbi8 Isaiah 65:11 ***
“For the god of Good Luck.” Heb., lag·gadhʹ; LXX, “the demon”; Lat., For·tuʹnae. Compare Ge 30:11 ftns. Of course if you follow the footnotes for Genesis 30:11 you see that the same word for "Luck" here is translated "Fortune" in Genesis:
(Genesis 30:10, 11) . . .. 11 Then Leʹah said: “With good fortune!” So she called his name Gad. The name of the tribe was "Luck" just as "laggadh' basically means "to Luck" if the footnote for Isaiah 65:11 is correct. Or Isaiah was referring to the god of Fortune, if the footnote to Genesis 30:11 is correct.
It was about as silly as saying that we shouldn't say something was "destined" to occur, because this somehow invokes the god of Destiny.
(Luke 9:44) . . .for the Son of man is destined to be delivered into the hands of men.” (Mark 13:4) 4 “Tell us, When will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are destined to come to a conclusion?”
(Isaiah 65:11) . . .And those filling up cups of mixed wine for the god of Destiny.

Could be worse ..... after an especially good meeting ... a speaker that REALLY knew his stuff... I stood up and excitedly said to an elderly Sister sittin' in the row behind me " Wasn't that a HELL of a good talk?".

Actually, I only crossed it out because I wasn't sure I had spelled it correctly.

@JW Insider
Oh yes! I have FORTUNATELY (FORTUNE) ? met you. Keep up the Good Works Brother.
The only destiny I know is Jehovah God and the New World ? and maybe a new husband in view! I’ll take it all! I’m not greedy? 
????????

“Do all things for GodÂ’s glory.”—1 Cor. 10:31.
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For many today, the only thing that matters is their personal happiness. But a servant of Jehovah sees things differently. He knows that God provided marriage as a gift to further His purpose.
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(Genesis 1:26-28) And God went on to say: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth and every moving animal that is moving upon the earth.” 27 And God proceeded to create the man in his image, in God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 Further, God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth."
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Adam and Eve had respected that gift, the whole earth would have become a paradise filled with happy, righteous servants of God. Above all, God’s servants see marriage as an opportunity to bring glory  to Jehovah. Loyalty, unity, and spirituality are godly qualities that fortify a marriage.
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So whether we are preparing for, strengthening, or trying to save our marriage, we must first see marriage for what it is: a divine and sacred institution. Keeping that truth in mind will move us to do our best to make marital decisions based on God’s Word. In this way we show respect not just for the gift of marriage but also for the Giver of that gift, Jehovah God. 
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w11 1/15 2:19, 20. - Bible Speaks

One of the day's postcards in the assembly hall El Trébol. During the 2017 Regional Convention Program Do not Give Up! Santiago, Chile.
Image shared by @paolo_cordieri
#jw #jwchile

Jehovah said to Joseph: “Get up, take the young child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I give you word, for Herod is about to search for the young child to kill him.” Interestingly, Jehovah had always spoken directly to Mary before she became engaged to Joseph. 
Why did Jehovah now only communicate through Joseph? 
It is because Jehovah respects the headship arrangement. Certainly a good example for all of us to do likewise. 
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Thank you ????? Song 52 "Christian Dedication"
Tap on Video Link mp4 ______Enjoy!
@jw_kingdommelodiespiano
 
6834A6D7-C455-4926-B7AF-DC96CBC0E09C.MP4

THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES
I Never Went Anywhere Without My Gun
As told by Annunziato Lugarà
        YEAR BORN: 1958         COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY         HISTORY: VIOLENT GANG MEMBER MY PAST:
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Rome, in an area made up of the poor working class. Life was tough. I never knew my real mother, and I didnÂ’t have a good relationship with my father. I grew up learning the rules of the streets.
By the time I was ten years old, I had already started stealing. At age 12, I ran away from home for the first time. On more than one occasion, my father had to pick me up at police headquarters and take me home. I argued with people constantly—I was violent and angry with the whole world. When I was 14, I left home for good. I started taking drugs and living on the street. Not having anywhere to sleep, I would break into a car and stay in it until the early morning hours. Then I would look for a water fountain so that I could wash up.
I became really good at stealing—anything from bag snatching to robbing apartments and villas during the night. I started to gain a bad reputation and was soon invited to join a notorious gang, which allowed me the “opportunity” to upgrade to robbing banks. Because of my aggressive personality, I was soon a respected member of the gang. I never went anywhere without my gun; in fact, I slept with it under my pillow. Violence, drugs, stealing, foul language, and immorality became my way of life. The police were constantly on my heels. I was arrested several times, and I spent years in and out of prison.
 
HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE:
On one occasion when I was let out of prison, I decided to go and visit one of my aunts. Unbeknownst to me, my aunt and two of my cousins had become JehovahÂ’s Witnesses. They invited me to attend a meeting of the Witnesses. Out of curiosity, I decided to go with them. When we arrived at the Kingdom Hall, I insisted on sitting near the door so that I could keep an eye on those who came in and out. Of course, I was armed.
That meeting changed my life. I remember thinking that I must be on a different planet. I was greeted by people with warm, friendly smiling faces. I still have a vivid picture in my mind of the kind, honest look the Witnesses had in their eyes. This was certainly a million miles away from the world I was used to!
I started to study the Bible with the Witnesses. The more I learned, the clearer it became that I had to change my lifestyle completely. I took to heart the words recorded at Proverbs 13:20: “The one walking with the wise will become wise, but the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.” I realized that I needed to distance myself from the gang. That was not easy to do, but with Jehovah’s help, I succeeded.
For the first time in my life, I started to have control over my actions
I also cleaned myself up physically. With much effort, I stopped smoking cigarettes and using drugs. I cut my long hair, got rid of my earrings, and stopped using bad language. For the first time in my life, I started to have control over my actions.
I had never enjoyed reading and studying, so it was a real challenge to concentrate and apply myself to Bible study. However, as I made the effort, I gradually came to love Jehovah, and something started to change inside me—my conscience began to bother me. I often had negative feelings about myself, doubting that Jehovah could ever forgive me for all the bad that I had done. In those moments I found a lot of comfort in reading about Jehovah forgiving King David after he had committed serious sins.—2 Samuel 11:1–12:13.
Another challenge was sharing my faith with others in the door-to-door ministry. (Matthew 28:19, 20) I was terrified that I would meet someone whom I had hurt or wronged in some way in the past! But gradually I was able to overcome my fear. I began to find real satisfaction in helping others learn about our wonderful heavenly Father, who forgives so abundantly.
HOW I HAVE BENEFITED:
Learning about Jehovah saved my life! Most of my former companions are dead or in prison, but I have a truly satisfying life and a future to look forward to. I have learned to be humble and obedient and to control my volcanic temper. As a result, I enjoy better relationships with the people around me. I am happily married to my beautiful wife, Carmen. Together, we find great joy in helping others learn about the Bible.
Oh, and I now do honest work—it sometimes still involves banks, but instead of robbing them, I clean them!
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2014485?q=the+bible+changes+lives&p=par#h=13

The Miracles of Jehovah! ?????
? Giant Tortoises — Average Life Span 100 Years
Making it to 100 if you’re a human is quite an accomplishment. For giant tortoises, however, it might not be such a big deal — their average life span is 100 years.
In fact, several reptilian centenarians have made headlines recently. Lonesome George, an iconic Galapagos tortoise who was the last of his kind, passed away last week at age 100. Meanwhile, the giant turtle couple pictured above recently decided that after 115 years together, it was time to split up.
Possibly the most headline-grabbing giant tortoise of all, though, was Harriet, a Giant Galapagos Land Tortoise who lived to the ripe old age of 175 (give or take a year or two). Born in the 1830s, Harriet was collected by Charles Darwin when he visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835. After a brief stay in England, she was taken to Australia where the weather was more suitable for her.
Tap on Video Link mp4 _____Enjoy! ?
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/7-animals-with-incredibly-long-life-spans
B1128C6F-B225-477E-8C52-04336767EE6A.MP4

One of the day's postcards in the assembly hall El Trébol. During the 2017 Regional Convention Program Do not Give Up! Santiago, Chile.
Image shared by @paolo_cordieri
#jw #jwchile

beautiful pictures of magnificent animals ....

https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleCreation/pub-jwb_201708_7_VIDEO
 

THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES
I Never Went Anywhere Without My Gun
As told by Annunziato Lugarà
        YEAR BORN: 1958         COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ITALY         HISTORY: VIOLENT GANG MEMBER MY PAST:
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Rome, in an area made up of the poor working class. Life was tough. I never knew my real mother, and I didnÂ’t have a good relationship with my father. I grew up learning the rules of the streets.
By the time I was ten years old, I had already started stealing. At age 12, I ran away from home for the first time. On more than one occasion, my father had to pick me up at police headquarters and take me home. I argued with people constantly—I was violent and angry with the whole world. When I was 14, I left home for good. I started taking drugs and living on the street. Not having anywhere to sleep, I would break into a car and stay in it until the early morning hours. Then I would look for a water fountain so that I could wash up.
I became really good at stealing—anything from bag snatching to robbing apartments and villas during the night. I started to gain a bad reputation and was soon invited to join a notorious gang, which allowed me the “opportunity” to upgrade to robbing banks. Because of my aggressive personality, I was soon a respected member of the gang. I never went anywhere without my gun; in fact, I slept with it under my pillow. Violence, drugs, stealing, foul language, and immorality became my way of life. The police were constantly on my heels. I was arrested several times, and I spent years in and out of prison.
 
HOW THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE:
On one occasion when I was let out of prison, I decided to go and visit one of my aunts. Unbeknownst to me, my aunt and two of my cousins had become JehovahÂ’s Witnesses. They invited me to attend a meeting of the Witnesses. Out of curiosity, I decided to go with them. When we arrived at the Kingdom Hall, I insisted on sitting near the door so that I could keep an eye on those who came in and out. Of course, I was armed.
That meeting changed my life. I remember thinking that I must be on a different planet. I was greeted by people with warm, friendly smiling faces. I still have a vivid picture in my mind of the kind, honest look the Witnesses had in their eyes. This was certainly a million miles away from the world I was used to!
I started to study the Bible with the Witnesses. The more I learned, the clearer it became that I had to change my lifestyle completely. I took to heart the words recorded at Proverbs 13:20: “The one walking with the wise will become wise, but the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.” I realized that I needed to distance myself from the gang. That was not easy to do, but with Jehovah’s help, I succeeded.
For the first time in my life, I started to have control over my actions
I also cleaned myself up physically. With much effort, I stopped smoking cigarettes and using drugs. I cut my long hair, got rid of my earrings, and stopped using bad language. For the first time in my life, I started to have control over my actions.
I had never enjoyed reading and studying, so it was a real challenge to concentrate and apply myself to Bible study. However, as I made the effort, I gradually came to love Jehovah, and something started to change inside me—my conscience began to bother me. I often had negative feelings about myself, doubting that Jehovah could ever forgive me for all the bad that I had done. In those moments I found a lot of comfort in reading about Jehovah forgiving King David after he had committed serious sins.—2 Samuel 11:1–12:13.
Another challenge was sharing my faith with others in the door-to-door ministry. (Matthew 28:19, 20) I was terrified that I would meet someone whom I had hurt or wronged in some way in the past! But gradually I was able to overcome my fear. I began to find real satisfaction in helping others learn about our wonderful heavenly Father, who forgives so abundantly.
HOW I HAVE BENEFITED:
Learning about Jehovah saved my life! Most of my former companions are dead or in prison, but I have a truly satisfying life and a future to look forward to. I have learned to be humble and obedient and to control my volcanic temper. As a result, I enjoy better relationships with the people around me. I am happily married to my beautiful wife, Carmen. Together, we find great joy in helping others learn about the Bible.
Oh, and I now do honest work—it sometimes still involves banks, but instead of robbing them, I clean them!
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2014485?q=the+bible+changes+lives&p=par#h=13

@James Thomas Rook Jr.
You caught me away! I know you might go to the Kingdom Hall when signs of Armageddon comes? Perhaps the name will change by then? Perhaps it will “the secret place of the Most High?”
Get on board my Friend it’s coming don’t see you?
???

Haha you guys are all funny ? Find the “right” Kingdom Hall and you won’t be disappointed! I find one and when I travel I check it out first! Keep on the “right” road my Friends. Perhaps soon we may not be able to meet there but underground. Rejoice cause we’ve been counted worthy of bearing His Name!
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@James Thomas Rook Jr.
You caught me away! I know you might go to the Kingdom Hall when signs of Armageddon comes? Perhaps the name will change by then? Perhaps it will “the secret place of the Most High?”
Get on board my Friend it’s coming don’t see you?
???

The 1936 Year Book said:
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
The Society's branch office established in Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands, is making progress. Only a small
number of workers are there, the publishers numbering
12 in all. During the year property was purchased
and a suitable hall and living quarters were erected.
This building fronts on a boulevard and also abuts on
a side street. Signs are placed on the building, advertising
the hall and the books. These are illuminated
by electricity, so that everyone passing must see the
signs. The work has progressed there during the year,
and the total number of books and booklets placed is,
to wit, 19,170. From the local director's report the
following is taken :
The real high point of the year's witness, Brother Rutherford,
was the public address delivered by you here in Honolulu at
McKinley auditorium last April, and which was carried by
radio to the other islands. . . .  In Jehovah's providence it
arrived in time for use on June 2, for the world-wide broadcast.
And Jehovah's blessing has been very manifestly upon
its use ever since.
And then came to us Kingdom Hall, for use in honoring his
name at transcription lectures and study meetings, also as a
headquarters for Jehovah's literature and publishers at this
place. In addition to the meetings held in it, Kingdom Hall,
with its signs and books on display, brings the name and word
of Jehovah prominently before the people. . . . The Lord
has done so much for his work that the publishers here feel
an additional weight of responsibility to faithfully carry out
the work the Lord has given them. Meetings in Kingdom Hall
are held in English, Spanish and Japanese.
During the construction of Kingdom Hall many things occurred
which demonstrated clearly the providences of Jehovah.
It has been the means of greater co-operation amongst Jehovah's
witnesses at this place.
----end of excerpt quoted from 1936 Year Book, p.145-146.