Anniebea

Given where we are in the sands of time then I doubt you will find many who agree with you! Or maybe you could give your reasoning on why you think this way?

Saturday, January 31 Reprove before all onlookers those who practice sin, as a warning to the rest.—1 Tim. 5:20. Sometimes an announcement is made in the congregation that a person has been reproved. In such a case, we can continue to associate with him, knowing that he repented and abandoned his wrong course. He is still a part of the congregation and needs the encouragement that comes from associating with fellow believers. (Heb. 10:24, 25) However, the situation is quite different with a person who has been removed from the congregation. We “stop keeping company” with that person, “not even eating with such a man.” (1 Cor. 5:11) Does that mean we would completely ignore him? Not necessarily. Certainly, we would not socialize with him. But Christians can use their Bible-trained conscience in deciding whether to invite a person who was removed from the congregation—perhaps a relative or someone they were close to previously—to attend a congregation meeting. w24.08 30 ¶13-14

Friday, January 30 [Love] hopes all things, endures all things.—1 Cor. 13:7. Avoid questioning others’ motives. If others do not express appreciation for something we have done, we could ask ourselves: ‘Are they truly unappreciative, or did they simply forget to express appreciation?’ Perhaps there are other reasons why they did not respond as we may have hoped. Some may feel deep gratitude but have difficulty expressing it. They might be embarrassed to receive help, especially if in the past they were the ones helping others. Whatever the case, Christian love will move us to make allowances for our fellow believers and to keep finding joy in giving. (Eph. 4:2) Be patient. With regard to being generous, wise King Solomon wrote: “Cast your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” (Eccl. 11:1) As these words indicate, some may respond to our generosity long after the fact—“after many days.” w24.09 30 ¶18-19

I studied Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored… I have to admit I hated every minute of it

Thursday, January 29 Be sound in mind.—1 Pet. 4:7. A Christian who is sound in mind does his best to make good decisions that reflect Jehovah’s thinking. Such a Christian knows that nothing in life is more important than his relationship with Jehovah. He has a balanced view of himself, knowing that he does not have all the answers. And he demonstrates his reliance on God by approaching Jehovah often in humble prayer. We realize that we need to keep praying to Jehovah regardless of any natural abilities we may have. Therefore, especially when we are faced with important decisions, we pray to Jehovah for guidance, trusting that he knows what is best for us. How thankful we are that Jehovah has designed us in a way that we can reflect his qualities. (Gen. 1:26) Of course, we cannot imitate Jehovah perfectly.—Isa. 55:9. w25.03 11 ¶13; 13 ¶17-18

Wednesday, January 28 Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.—Matt. 4:17. Throughout his ministry, Jesus taught his listeners about his Father’s forgiving nature. Consider the parable of the lost son. That young man chose to pursue a sinful way of life for some time. Yet, he “came to his senses” and returned home. How did the father respond? Jesus said that while the son “was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him . . . , and he ran and embraced him and tenderly kissed him.” The son intended to ask if he could become a servant in his father’s household, but his father called him “this son of mine” and restored him to his place in the family. The father said: “He was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15:11-32) When Jesus lived in heaven before coming to earth, he had surely seen his Father show such compassion toward countless repentant sinners. What a heartwarming and reassuring picture Jesus painted of our merciful Father, Jehovah! w24.0811 ¶11-12

Tuesday, January 27 May Jehovah, my Rock, be praised, who trains my hands for battle.—Ps. 144:1. We can be a good influence on others if we are firm for what is right and if we make decisions that are solidly based on Bible principles. As we grow in faith and accurate knowledge, we become more steadfast in the truth. We are not indecisive, unsteady, or easily swayed by false teachings and worldly thinking. (Eph. 4:14; Jas. 1:6-8) We are also able to assist those who may be facing trials. (1 Thess. 3:2, 3) Elders are to be moderate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, and reasonable. These men are a stabilizing influence on others by “holding firmly to the faithful word.” (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim. 3:1-3) By their example and their shepherding, elders help publishers to be regular in their meeting attendance, field service, and personal study. When brothers and sisters face unsettling events, elders can do much to keep them focused on Jehovah and his purposes. w24.06 31 ¶16-18

Monday, January 26 Become kind to one another.—Eph. 4:32. As a courting couple, how can you handle problems and disagreements that you may have from time to time? Would this indicate that your relationship is not working? Not necessarily; all couples have differences. A strong marriage is made up of two people who can work together to overcome their differences. So how you work through problems now may reveal whether your marriage will be successful. As a couple, ask yourselves: ‘Can we discuss matters calmly and respectfully? Do we readily admit our shortcomings and try to improve? Are we quick to yield, apologize, and forgive?’ (Eph. 4:31) Nevertheless, if you constantly disagree or argue during courtship, the situation will not likely improve after you get married. If you realize that the other person is not right for you, ending the courtship would be the best decision for both of you. w24.05 29 ¶12

I admit I had to look up all of this 401 things, people here just don’t have bonds and investments normally… they’re too busy trying to put food on the table, paying extortionate rents and getting by… The US seems to be very much money driven and investments either that or Americans have far more disposable income

I agree, I mentioned this yesterday… the board of peace is evidently to support the UN and give it more abilities, read into that what you will

Sunday, January 25 Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far more than that of corals.—Prov. 31:10. While marriage is not essential for happiness, many single Christians, whether young or old, look forward to having a marriage mate. Of course, before pursuing a courtship, you should be financially, spiritually, and emotionally ready for marriage. (1 Cor. 7:36) It is also best to know what you are looking for in a mate before beginning a courtship. Otherwise, you could overlook a potential mate or you could pursue a courtship with someone who is not well-suited for you. Of course, any potential mate should be a baptized Christian. (1 Cor. 7:39) But not every baptized person will be a good marriage mate for you. So you could ask yourself: ‘What are my goals in life? What qualities in a marriage mate do I view as essential? Are my expectations reasonable?’ w24.05 20 ¶1; 21 ¶3

Saturday, January 24 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.—1 Tim. 4:16. We can increase our enthusiasm for the preaching work by focusing on our love for Jehovah and for our neighbor. (Matt. 22:37-39) Just imagine how happy Jehovah is when he sees us do the work and how happy people will be when they start studying the Bible! Think, too, about the salvation that awaits those who respond to our message. (John 6:40) Are you confined to your home for some reason? If so, focus on what you can do to show love for Jehovah and for your neighbor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samuel and Dania were confined to their home. Throughout that difficult time, they regularly did telephone witnessing, wrote letters, and conducted Bible studies over Zoom. Samuel and Dania’s circumstances limited their activity, but they did what they could and found joy in doing so. w24.04 18 ¶15-16

Friday, January 23 When you make gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you.—Matt. 6:2. After Jesus returned to heaven, the apostle Peter performed a miracle by healing a man who was lame from birth. (Acts 1:8, 9; 3:2, 6-8) Naturally, this amazing event drew a crowd of people. (Acts 3:11) Would Peter bask in the glory of the moment, given that he had come from a background where prominence and position were greatly emphasized? No, Peter humbly directed praise away from himself and gave the rightful credit to Jehovah and Jesus, saying: “Through [Jesus’] name, and by our faith in his name, this man whom you see and know has been made strong.” (Acts 3:12-16) We can follow Peter’s example in cultivating humility. We perform tasks for others because we love Jehovah and we love people, not because we love to be admired. If we happily serve Jehovah and our brothers in any way we can, regardless of whether our efforts are noticed, we give evidence of being humble.—Matt. 6:1-4. w25.0310-11 ¶11-12

I don’t think this board of peace will replace the UN but it maybe the thing that leads the nations into giving the UN the teeth that it requires.. Trump said that the UN has tremendous potential but hasn’t used it as of yet and along with the board of peace will be something very unique for the world ….

Thursday, January 22 With you there is true forgiveness.—Ps. 130:4. In the Bible, sins are often likened to heavy burdens. King David described his own sins this way: “My errors loom over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too much for me to bear.” (Ps. 38:4) But Jehovah pardons the sins of repentant wrongdoers. (Ps. 25:18; 32:5) The Hebrew expression translated “pardon” basically means to “lift up” or “carry.” We might think of Jehovah as a strong man who figuratively lifts the burden of sin off our shoulders and carries it away. Another word picture shows just how far away Jehovah carries our sins. Psalm 103:12 tells us: “As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off from us he has put our transgressions.” East is the farthest point from west. The two points never meet. In other words, Jehovah takes our sins as far away from us as we can imagine. What a reassuring way to describe his forgiveness! w25.02 9 ¶5-6