Bible Speaks

"The Law has a shadow of the good things to come."× (Heb. 10:1)
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God's name is shown here in Paleo-Hebrew (top) and in modern Hebrew (bottom). Modern Hebrew letters would have been unrecognizable to Abraham, Moses, David, and most of the authors of the Old Testament.JW.ORG - Bible Speaks -

WHY WE MUST STRUGGLE: ~ 
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A biology teacher was teaching his students how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. He told the students that in the next couple of hours, the butterfly would struggle to come out of the cocoon. But no one should help the butterfly. Then he left.
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The students were waiting and it happened. The butterfly struggled to get out of the cocoon, and one of the students took pity on it and decided to help the butterfly out of the cocoon against the advice of his teacher. He broke the cocoon to help the butterfly so it didn't have to struggle anymore. But shortly afterwards the butterfly died.
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When the teacher returned, he was told what happened. He explained to this student that by helping the butterfly, he had actually killed it because it is a law of nature that the struggle to come out of the cocoon actually helps develop and strengthen its wings. The boy had deprived the butterfly of its struggle and the butterfly died.
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Apply this same principle to our lives. Nothing worthwhile in life comes without a struggle. As parents we tend to hurt the ones we love most because we don't allow them to struggle to gain strength.
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"Stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."— (Rom. 12:2) - Bible Speaks
— Contributed 

11 "I am coming quickly.
Keep holding fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown."
12 “‘The one who conquers—I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will by no means go out from it anymore, and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem that descends out of heaven from my God, and my own new name." (Revelation 3:11-12)
3:12—What is the “new name” of Jesus? This name has to do with Jesus’ new office and privileges. (Phil. 2:9-11) While no one else gets to know that name in the way that Jesus does, Jesus writes it on his faithful brothers in the heavenly realm, bringing them into a close relationship with him. (Rev. 19:12) He even shares his privileges with them.
NEW JERUSALEM
An expression that occurs two times, and only in the highly symbolic book of Revelation. (Re 3:12; 21:2) Near the end of that series of visions, and after seeing Babylon the Great destroyed, the apostle John says: “I saw also the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”—Re 21:2.
The Bride of the Lamb. In the light of other scriptures, the identity of New Jerusalem is made certain. She is “as a bride.” Farther along, John writes: “One of the seven angels . . . spoke with me and said: ‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ So he carried me away in the power of the spirit to a great and lofty mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God and having the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious stone, as a jasper stone shining crystal-clear.”—Re 21:9-11.
New Jerusalem is the bride of whom? The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who shed his blood sacrificially for mankind. (Joh 1:29; Re 5:6, 12;7:14; 12:11; 21:14) What is her identity? She is composed of the members of the glorified Christian congregation. The congregation on earth was likened to “a chaste virgin” to be presented to the Christ. (2Co 11:2) Again, the apostle Paul likens the Christian congregation to a wife, with Christ as her Husband and Head.—Eph 5:23-25, 32.
Furthermore, Christ himself addresses the congregation at Revelation 3:12, promising the faithful conqueror that he would have written upon him “the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which descends out of heaven from my God, and that new name of mine.” A wife takes her husband’s name. Therefore those seen standing with the Lamb upon Mount Zion, numbering 144,000, having the Lamb’s name and that of his Father written in their foreheads, are evidently the same group, the bride.—Re 14:1.  jw.org
 

Everything is vanity and chasing after the wind. Only God's Kingdom can give people a real purpose in life and a hope for the future. 

All other things being equal .... Money cannot
buy happiness ....... it can only RENT happiness .
 
 

When you face Death ? the tables change. Money ? and fame don’t buy happiness. Only a Life serving Jehovah gives Happiness. Many never learn that. 

How Many Were There? - Not Sure the Date? - I Was There In 1958. - Parents Were Cooks! - I Helped With Serving Food ? But I was Mainly Looking...I was 4 years old. Oops my Age. - ????? - Bible Speaks
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Jesus’ Birth — How It Brings Peace ~
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“Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.”Luke 2:14
THE proclamation of “peace among men of goodwill” was not the only prophecy connected with Jesus’ birth. In addition to what the angels announced to the astonished shepherds, heavenly messengers had made divinely inspired declarations about the newborn Jesus to Mary and her husband, Joseph. A consideration of these messages will enable us to gain a broader perspective on Jesus’ birth and to understand the real significance behind the angelic promise of peace among men. 
It was indeed “good news of a great joy” for humankind when the angels announced the birth of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10, 11) This child was to be the Messiah, the great Prophet and Ruler that God’s people had long been expecting. (Deuteronomy 18:18) A prophet I shall raise up for them from the midst of their brothers, like you; and I shall indeed put my words in his mouth, and he will certainly speak to them all that I shall command him." (Micah 5:2) “And you, O Beth?le·hem Eph?ra·thah, the one too little to get to be among the thousands of Judah, from you there will come out to me the one who is to become ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times, from the days of time indefinite." His life and death on earth would be central to the vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, so that the angels could say: “Glory in the heights above to God.”—Luke 2:14. 
Please note that the angels did not tell the shepherds of peace and goodwill to all men. Rather, they announced “peace among men of goodwill.” That is to say, among those who are approved by God and have his goodwill. Those who express genuine faith in Jehovah become faithful followers and imitators of Jesus. Such men and women are willing to manifest generosity and understanding toward others, not just a few days each year, but every day. 
Would you like to learn how to become this "men of goodwill"? Jehovah's Witnesses will be happy to help you learn about this. Ask them for a free Bible study today! 
The rest of this article is very good read it here:
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002451?q=Jesus+birth&p=par
jw.org

Bernard Law, ex-Boston archbishop disgraced by priest sex abuse scandal, dies at 86
by Alastair Jamieson  and Anne ThompsonDec 20 2017, 7:30 am ET Cardinal Bernard Law, the disgraced ex-archbishop of Boston whose failure to stop child molesters in the priesthood sparked a global crisis in Roman Catholicism, died Wednesday in Rome, Vatican officials announced Wednesday. He was 86.
Law passed away "early this morning after a long illness," the Holy See said in a statement. One of the most important leaders in the U.S. church until scandal led to his resignation, Law was hugely influential as a confidante of Pope John Paul II, and was a regular visitor to the White House under President George W. Bush.
But in January 2002, The Boston Globe began a series of reports based on church records that showed Law had transferred abusive clergy among parish assignments for years without alerting parents or police. Within months of the reports, which were recounted in the movie "Spotlight," Catholics around the country demanded to know whether their bishops had done the same. Mitchell Garabedian, an attorney who represented dozens of people who say they were sexually abused by priests, said Law's death has reopened old wounds.
"Bernard Law could have prevented many children from being sexually abused," he said in a statement to NBC News. "He knew what Father John Geoghan had done and he refused to notify the public. He refused to protect the innocent. Law's death is a reminder — his name is salt in the wound of many victims."
In the case that started the scandal, the Globe reported that Law and two of his predecessors as Boston archbishop had moved Geoghan between parishes despite knowing that he molested children. More than 130 people eventually came forward to say Geoghan had abused them. The archdiocese paid $10 million in settlements with 86 of his victims and their relatives even as Law was clinging to his job.
Alexa MacPherson, who says she was a victim of clergy sex abuse for six years as a child, had no words of sorrow at the news of Law's death.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish. I hope the gates of hell are swinging wide to allow him entrance," she told The Associated Press. "I won't shed a tear for him — I might shed a tear for everyone who's been a victim under him."
http://nbcnews.to/2B4Vzvc
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Who Is The Light Of The World ? ~
?? ?
He whirls
a Thunderbolt
of 'Light'
and it lands
neither here
nor there
but everywhere...
That is
what it means
to be
'The Light of the World' YES, HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
(Job 37:1-5) . . .“Indeed at this my heart begins to tremble, And it leaps up from its place. 2 Listen attentively, YOU men, to the rumbling of his voice, And the growling that goes forth from his mouth. 3 Under the whole heavens he lets it loose, And his lightning is to the extremities of the earth. 4 After it a sound roars; He thunders with the sound of his superiority, And he does not hold them back when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders with his voice in a wonderful way, Doing great things that we cannot know." - Bible Speaks 

“Roots That Cannot Be Dislodged” ~
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A good man cannot, of course, be unrighteous or unjust. So righteousness is also necessary for gaining Jehovah’s approval. King David sang: “You yourself will bless anyone righteous, O Jehovah; as with a large shield, with approval you will surround them.” (Psalm 5:12) Contrasting the condition of the righteous with that of the wicked, Solomon says: “No man will be firmly established by wickedness; but as for the root-foundation of the righteous ones, it will not be caused to stagger.”—Proverbs 12:3.
The wicked may seem to prosper. Consider the experience of the psalmist Asaph. “As for me,” he says, “my feet had almost turned aside, my steps had nearly been made to slip.” Why? Asaph answers: “I became envious of the boasters, when I would see the very peace of wicked people.” (Psalm 73:2, 3) But as he proceeded to come into the temple sanctuary of God, he came to realize that on slippery ground is where Jehovah had placed them. (Psalm 73:17, 18) Any success that the wicked may seem to achieve is temporary. Why should we be envious of them?
In contrast, the one who has Jehovah’s approval is stable. Using the metaphor of a strong root system of a tree, Solomon says: “Good men have roots that cannot be dislodged.” (Proverbs 12:3, The New English Bible) The unseen roots of a giant tree, such as the sequoia of California, may cover an area of several acres and can provide solid anchorage in the face of flood and high winds. A towering sequoia can even withstand a powerful earthquake.
Like such roots in earth’s nourishing soil, our minds and hearts need to delve expansively into God’s Word and draw from its life-giving waters. Our faith thus becomes firmly rooted and strong, our hope sure and firm. (Hebrews 6:19) We will not be “carried hither and thither by every wind of [false] teaching.” (Ephesians 4:14) Of course, we will feel the effects of stormy trials and may even tremble in the face of adversity. But our ‘root-foundation will not be caused to stagger.’
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003047

All Nations and Races will  Learn 
about Jehovah! - ???
“In the final part of the days,
The mountain of the house of Jehovah
Will become firmly established above the
top of the mountains,
And it will be raised up above the hills,
And to it all the nations will stream.
 3 And many peoples will go and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of
Jehovah,
To the house of the God of Jacob.
He will instruct us about his ways,
And we will walk in his paths.”
For law will go out of Zion,
And the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem.
 4 He will render judgment among the
nations
And set matters straight respecting many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.”—Isaiah 2:2-4.
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There is Hope for Everyone! - Find the “Joy of Jehovah!”

There is Hope for Everyone! - Find the “Joy of Jehovah!”

?????  ~ Song 91 "Our Labor of Love"
Thank you 
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Jehovah’s Witnesses - Big Totals 2017
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Branches of Jehovah's witnesses: 90
Number of countries: 240
Total Congregations: 120,053
Global Memorial Attendance : 20,175,477
Participants in Memorial Emblems worldwide: 18,564
Maximum Peak: 8,457,107
Average Preachers every month: 8,248,982
Percentage increase compared to 2016: 1.4 %
Total number baptized: 284,212
Average Pioneers each month: 1,249,946
Average Publishers as auxiliary Pioners each month: 439,571
Total hours spent in the field: 2,046,000,202
Average Bible studies each month: 10,071,524
During the 2017 service year, Jehovah's witnesses spent more than $ 202 million on the care of Pioneers, missionaries and special circuit supervisors in their field service assignments. Around the world, a total of 19,730 ministers ordered as staff of branch facilities. They are all members of the world order of full-time special servants of Jehovah's witnesses.
* The 2017 year of service was from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017.
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What Hope for the Poor? - ???
Nobody likes to see pictures of starvation or little children in lands that are not cared for. Is this God's purpose for man and child and women? God does have a plan, it is because of man's injustice and greed most of this is happening. Read what God will do about it....
PSALMS 35:10
Let all my bones themselves say:
“O Jehovah, who is there like you,
Delivering the afflicted one from one stronger than he is,
And the afflicted and poor one from the one robbing him?”
PSALMS 113: 5-7
Who is like Jehovah our God,
Him who is making his dwelling on high?
6 He is condescending to look on heaven and earth,
7 Raising up the lowly one from the very dust;
He exalts the poor one from the ash pit itself."
GodÂ’s Interest in the Poor
Mankind’s Creator, Jehovah God, is not pleased with this situation. Jehovah views the poor with compassion. We read in the Bible: “[God] is sure not to forget the outcry of the afflicted ones.” (Psalm 9:12) Jehovah is a God who cares about the poor.
Regarding Jehovah, the Bible says: “To you the unfortunate one, the fatherless boy, commits himself. You yourself have become his helper.” (Psalm 10:14) Notice how this Bible verse refers to afflicted people as individuals.* Yes, God looks at each one and considers his or her needs. To him each person is precious and worthy of attention. Jehovah invites people from all economic levels to learn from him and enjoy his friendship.
Bible principles are practical whether we are rich or poor
But God’s purpose includes more than taking action against oppressors. He will give righthearted humans a way of life free of injustice. By means of a superior form of government, he will allow all humans to lead satisfying, joyful lives free of poverty. 
The Bible prophetically states regarding the rule of Jesus Christ: “He will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.” (Psalm 72:12-14)
This beautiful future is open to you. But for you to meet God’s requirements for life in that new world, it is vital that you first learn and then do the will of the true God. Make wise decisions based on knowledge of God’s Word. Live in expectation of the wonderful future God holds out to all mankind. You will not be disappointed. God’s Word promises: “Not always will the poor one be forgotten, nor will the hope of the meek ones ever perish.” (Psalm 9:18)
- Bible Speaks
JW.ORG

The peak publishers in 2016 was 8,340,347, so this represents a 1.4% increase in publishers, peak-to-peak.
[per jw.org:]
2016 Grand Totals
Branches of Jehovah’s Witnesses: 89
Number of Lands Reporting: 240
Total Congregations: 119,485
Worldwide Memorial Attendance: 20,085,142
Memorial Partakers Worldwide: 18,013
Peak of Publishers in Kingdom Service: 8,340,847
Average Publishers Preaching Each Month: 8,132,358
Percentage of Increase Over 2015: 1.8
Total Number Baptized: 264,535
Average Auxiliary Pioneer Publishers Each Month: 459,393
Average Pioneer Publishers Each Month: 1,157,017
Total Hours Spent in Field: 1,983,763,754
Average Bible Studies Each Month: 10,115,264
 
 

2017 Figures released to Bethel families worldwide:
Peak Publishers: 8,457,107
Total Baptized: 284,212 
Regular Pioneers: 1,225,279 
Memorial Attendance: 20,175,477
Memorial attendance has increased by 0.5%
Last year it was 20,085,142 while 2017 is 20,175,477
Hours: 2,046,000,202

THE  TRUTH  ABOUT  CHRISTMAS......
The year was 1928, when Jehovah's people came to understand the God-dishonoring roots of Christmas. Since then, the pagan roots of Christmas customs have become general public knowledge..... but few people have made changes in their way of life as a result. But, Jehovah's Witnesses are always willing to make the needed changes in order to become more acceptable as servants of Jehovah God.
When shown that celebrating the birth of Jesus had actually become of greater interest to people than the ransom provided by his death; that the revelry of the holiday and the spirit in which many gifts were given did not honor God;  that the magi whose gift-giving was being imitated were actually demon-inspired astrologers;  that parents set an example for their children in lying by what they told them about Santa Claus;  that  "St. Nicholas"
(Santa Claus) was admittedly another name for Satan the Devil himself;  and that such festivals were, as acknowledged  by Cardinal Newman in his "Essay on the development of Christian Doctrine" were "the very instruments and appendages of demon-worship"  the church had adopted....  When made aware of these things, Jehovah's Witnesses promptly and permanently ceased having any part in  Christmas  celebrations.
Jehovah's Witnesses do have good times with their family and friends. But, they do not participate in holidays and celebrations that are linked with pagan gods (as is true of such holidays as Easter, New Year's Day,  May Day and Mother's day).  Read, 2.Cor. 6:14-17.  Like the early Christians,  Jehovah's Witnesses do not even celebrate birthdays. They also respectfully refrain from sharing in national holidays, that memorialize political or military events and also refrain from giving worshipful honor to national heroes.
WHY ?
BECAUSE  JEHOVAH'S  WITNESSES  ARE  NO  PART  OF  THE  WORLD !
Reference, Proclaims Book,  pages  198-200....
( by  Brother  Roger B. Elder )     Thank  you  Brother  Elder !

Who Is The Light Of The World ? ~
?? ?
He whirls
a Thunderbolt
of 'Light'
and it lands
neither here
nor there
but everywhere...
That is
what it means
to be
'The Light of the World' YES, HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
(Job 37:1-5) . . .“Indeed at this my heart begins to tremble, And it leaps up from its place. 2 Listen attentively, YOU men, to the rumbling of his voice, And the growling that goes forth from his mouth. 3 Under the whole heavens he lets it loose, And his lightning is to the extremities of the earth. 4 After it a sound roars; He thunders with the sound of his superiority, And he does not hold them back when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders with his voice in a wonderful way, Doing great things that we cannot know." - Bible Speaks 

“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 man’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 God’s eyes. 
(James 3:8-10)
JW.ORG