Bible Speaks

4 "They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one will make them afraid, For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken."
(Micah 4:4)
jw.org
IMG_3339.MOV

Lesson for today. 
19 "Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue will last for only a moment."
        (Prov 12:19)  
Be Careful of What You Plant. An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. 
Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. 
He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.' 
The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One very special seed…. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here after one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring and the one I choose will be the next emperor!' 
One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. 
Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. 
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends. However he just kept waiting for his seed to grow. 
A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace, when Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. 
They were beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey nice try." 
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "What great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,' said the emperor. Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor:' 
All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified…"The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!" 
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. ’My name is Ling,' he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling and then announced to the crowd, 'Behold your new emperor… His name is Ling!" 
Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? 
Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. 
All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers, when you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor."
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. 
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. 
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. 
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. 
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. 
If you plant hard work, you will reap success. 
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. 
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy. 
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements. 
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. 
But If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust. 
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness. 
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction. 
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble. 
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation. 
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation. 
If you plant greed, you will reap loss. 
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies. 
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles. 
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt. 
Remember your graves because your way passes over it. You will be dealt with as you deal with others, you will reap what you sow and what you send today will meet you tomorrow. 
So be careful what you plant now, it will determine what you will reap tomorrow, The seeds you now scatter, will make life worse or better, your life or the ones who will come after. 
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you plant today. http://www.english-for-students.com/be-careful-of-what-you-plant.html

24 "No resident will 
say: “I am sick.”
The people dwelling 
in the land will be 
pardoned for their error."
       (Isaiah 33:24)
"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.” (Rev.21:4,5)
       jw.org

4 "They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one will make them afraid, For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken."
(Micah 4:4)
jw.org
IMG_3339.MOV

Lesson for today. 
19 "Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue will last for only a moment."
        (Prov 12:19)  
Be Careful of What You Plant. An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. 
Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. 
He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.' 
The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One very special seed…. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here after one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring and the one I choose will be the next emperor!' 
One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. 
Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. 
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends. However he just kept waiting for his seed to grow. 
A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace, when Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. 
They were beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey nice try." 
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "What great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,' said the emperor. Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor:' 
All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified…"The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!" 
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. ’My name is Ling,' he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling and then announced to the crowd, 'Behold your new emperor… His name is Ling!" 
Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? 
Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. 
All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers, when you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor."
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. 
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. 
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. 
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. 
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. 
If you plant hard work, you will reap success. 
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. 
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy. 
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements. 
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. 
But If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust. 
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness. 
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction. 
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble. 
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation. 
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation. 
If you plant greed, you will reap loss. 
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies. 
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles. 
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt. 
Remember your graves because your way passes over it. You will be dealt with as you deal with others, you will reap what you sow and what you send today will meet you tomorrow. 
So be careful what you plant now, it will determine what you will reap tomorrow, The seeds you now scatter, will make life worse or better, your life or the ones who will come after. 
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you plant today. http://www.english-for-students.com/be-careful-of-what-you-plant.html

4 "They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one will make them afraid, For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken."
(Micah 4:4)
jw.org
IMG_3339.MOV

Lesson for today. 
19 "Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue will last for only a moment."
        (Prov 12:19)  
Be Careful of What You Plant. An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. 
Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. 
He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you.' 
The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. 'I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One very special seed…. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here after one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring and the one I choose will be the next emperor!' 
One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. 
Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. 
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends. However he just kept waiting for his seed to grow. 
A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace, when Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. 
They were beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey nice try." 
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. "What great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,' said the emperor. Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor:' 
All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified…"The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!" 
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. ’My name is Ling,' he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling and then announced to the crowd, 'Behold your new emperor… His name is Ling!" 
Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? 
Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow. 
All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers, when you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor."
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. 
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. 
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. 
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. 
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. 
If you plant hard work, you will reap success. 
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. 
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy. 
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements. 
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. 
But If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust. 
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness. 
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction. 
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble. 
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation. 
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation. 
If you plant greed, you will reap loss. 
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies. 
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles. 
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt. 
Remember your graves because your way passes over it. You will be dealt with as you deal with others, you will reap what you sow and what you send today will meet you tomorrow. 
So be careful what you plant now, it will determine what you will reap tomorrow, The seeds you now scatter, will make life worse or better, your life or the ones who will come after. 
Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you plant today. http://www.english-for-students.com/be-careful-of-what-you-plant.html

David and Goliath
THE Phi·lisʹtines again come to fight against Israel. David’s three oldest brothers are now in Saul’s army. So one day Jesʹse tells David: ‘Take some grain and loaves of bread to your brothers. Find out how they are getting along.’
When David arrives at the army camp, he runs to the battle line to look for his brothers. The Phi·lisʹtine giant Go·liʹath comes out to make fun of the Israelites. He has been doing this every morning and evening for 40 days. He yells: ‘Choose one of your men to fight me. If he wins and kills me, we will be your slaves. But if I win and kill him, you will be our slaves. I dare you to pick someone to fight me.’
David asks some of the soldiers: ‘What will the man get who kills this Phi·lisʹtine and frees Israel from this shame?’
‘Saul will give the man many riches,’ the soldier says. ‘And he will give him his own daughter to be his wife.’
But all the Israelites are afraid of Go·liʹath because he is so big. He is more than 9 feet (about 3 meters) tall, and he has another soldier carrying his shield for him.
Some soldiers go and tell King Saul that David wants to fight Go·liʹath. But Saul tells David: ‘You can’t fight this Phi·lisʹtine. You are just a boy, and he has been a soldier all his life.’ David answers: ‘I killed a bear and a lion that carried off my father’s sheep. Andthis Phi·lisʹtine will become like one of them. Jehovah will help me.’ So Saul says: ‘Go, and may Jehovah be with you.’
David goes down by a stream and gets five smooth stones, andputs them into his bag. Then he takes his sling and goes out to meet the giant. When Go·liʹathsees him, he can’t believe it. He thinks it will be so easy to kill David.
‘Just come to me,’ Go·liʹath says, ‘and I will give your body to the birds and animals to eat.’ But David says: ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I am coming to you with the name of Jehovah. This day Jehovah will give you into my hands and I will strike you down.’
At that David runs toward Go·liʹath. He takes a stone from his bag, puts it into his sling, andthrows it with all his might. The stone flies straight into Go·liʹath’s head, and he falls down dead! When the Phi·lisʹtines see that their champion has fallen, they all turn and run. The Israelites run after them and win the battle.
1 Samuel 17:1-54.
We today show courage and faith in Jehovah of Armies he will help us to fight all our battles. 
jw.org
IMG_2929.MP4

Special Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya
51,000 attending on the first day! More than 9,000 English speakers, more than 16,000 Swahili speakers. There are also sign language, and Chinese speakers.
Via

A Bible study with grandmother in Nepal.
Via

Pioneers in the Spanish congregation Bulverde in San Antonio, Texas, United States gather for their annual meeting
Via

Sisters braving the Bad weather in Maastricht, Holland
Via

Jehovah's Witnesses Convention, at graduation, class of 120 missionaries
from Witness bible school, heard seven speeches before receiving diplomas.
( The  Sisters  looking  a  little  like  white  brides )
Location:
NY, US   -   August 1950
 

Silence is not always the sign of wisdom.....
28 "Even a fool who keeps silent will be considered wise, And the one who seals his lips, discerning."
(Proverbs 17:28)
jw.org

12 "So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
(Hebrews 12:1) jw.org

Patterson Bethel in the wintertime
Via

Lesson for today. (Matt 5:44, 45)  
Love your enemies. Jehovah has always taught us to love our enemies.
In Jesus’ time, some taught that people should hate their enemies. But Jesus counseled: “Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
Paul gave similar counsel when he said: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:20; Proverbs 25:21)
In ancient Israel, Jehovah gave his people laws instructing them to help their enemies and even their enemies’ animals. (Exodus 23:5) By applying that counsel, some people who once hated one another might have become good friends.
As Christians, showing love for our enemies may change the way they feel about us. Some of them may even become servants of Jehovah. By working together in such a way, former enemies might become good friends.
Because Christians show love, many of our enemies have softened their heart toward us. If we show love for our enemies—even rabid persecutors—how happy we will be if some of them embrace true Christianity!
Our enemies are in a very precarious position. They are fighting against God. Thus, in harmony with Jesus’ command, rather than fear them, we pray for those persecuting us. (Matthew 5:44)
We pray that if any are opposing God out of ignorance, as Saul of Tarsus was, Jehovah will graciously open their eyes to the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Saul became the Christian apostle Paul and suffered greatly at the hands of the authorities of his day.
Still, he kept reminding fellow believers “to be in subjection and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers, to be ready for every good work, to speak injuriously of no one [no, not even of their most ardent persecutors], not to be belligerent, to be reasonable, exhibiting all mildness toward all men.” “If you love those loving you, what reward do you have?” asked Jesus. “Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?” (Matt. 5:46, 47)
True Christians do not show partiality toward people of certain educational or ethnic backgrounds; nor do they extend love only to those who are able to reciprocate.
Rather, they help the poor and the sick, the young and the old. In such ways, Christians can imitate Jehovah’s love and thus be perfect in a relative sense. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010846?q=pray+for+enemies&p=par#h=6

This can certainly apply to people who are known deceivers. Con artist and such. It can also be a warning about associating with people of whom we are not sure of such as people we only meet on the internet. Via the internet people can portray themselves in any manner including changing their gender so suit their audience.
We are all judged by the company we keep. If we associate with drug addicts then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with bigots then we will be grouped in with that crowd. If we associate with people espousing christian principles then we will be grouped in with that crowd. Jesus can read hearts and all judging has been given to him; however, in the temporal we are judged by people and they cannot see our hearts. They can only see the outward appearance. If we declare that we are a Christian yet regularly socialize with people who abuse drugs, people who denigrate other races, people who look down on others because of their station in life how will this affect how people view Christianity?   

NICARAGUA,  A  Dad  just  baptized  his  daughter ❤
She  seems  crying,  but  he  is  so  happy  smiling ;-)

Jesus was often seen in the company of prostitutes and tax collectors (sinners)
Isn't he a model for us?
 
 

Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it....
18 "Whoever neglects discipline comes to poverty and disgrace, But the one accepting correction will be glorified."
        ( Prov.13:18). NWT jw.org

Anna:
Sometimes some hide who they are, This happened to me, a respected and loved elder and pioneer was and hiding who he was to me and all. Be careful we know that Satan is trying to weaken us all and leave the worship of the true God Jehovah. His actions lead him to be DF and proved he was just hiding his bad conduct and no fears Jehovah sees those that are doing these things and hiding to others. Keep on the watch, many more will come in sheep's covering. Keep strong and focused and pray for protection from these type of predators. We are very close to the end, it will not be late! 

Be careful who you            associate with...people 
at war with themselves 
will always cause collateral 
damage in the lives of 
those around them.....
4 "I do not associate 
with deceitful men,
And I avoid those who 
hide what they are."
        (Psalm 26:4)
          jw.org

When sadness overwhelms us, remember Jehovah carries our daily load for us.
19 "May Jehovah be praised,      who daily carries our load,
The true God of our salvation." (Selah)
(Psalm 68:19)
       jw.org