Anniebea

Friday, February 6 We should no longer be children.—Eph. 4:14. A Christian who remains immature can easily be misled by “trickery” and “deceptive schemes” and be taken in by conspiracy theorists and apostates. He may be prone to being jealous, creating strife, taking offense, or yielding to temptation. (1 Cor. 3:3) The Scriptures compare the process of growing to spiritual maturity to the process of growing to adulthood. (Eph. 4:15) A child lacks insight and needs supervision. To illustrate, a mother might ask her young daughter to hold her hand while crossing the street. As the girl grows older, the mother might allow her to cross the street on her own but will still remind her to look both ways for traffic. When the child becomes an adult, she avoids such hazards on her own. Likewise, when Christians become mature, they reason on Bible principles to get Jehovah’s thinking on the matter and then follow through accordingly. w24.04 3 ¶5-6

Well he is no longer referred to as ‘Prince’ Andrew and I fully expect him to end up being extradited to the US to face charges of sex trafficking… the stuff coming out today is truly disgusting and I’ve no wish to give any of the men involved air time. It’s a distraction from the peace talks that are going on behind the scenes, but it will blow over like everything else, at the moment though it’s taken over the news completely and I’m sick of hearing about it Lol All Andrew Mountbatten has received so far is a slap on the wrist these men think they are above the law and it makes me feel physically sick, it’s the victims we should be thinking of really

Thursday, February 5 Keep on . . . seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.—Matt. 6:33. Because of changes in economic conditions, some have been tempted to accept work that requires them to move away from their family, but that has often proved to be an unwise decision. Before taking up a new job, consider not only the possible financial advantages but also the spiritual cost. (Luke 14:28) Ask yourself: ‘How might my marriage be affected if I were away from my mate? What impact would this move have on my Christian association and on my ministry?’ If you have children, you also need to ask yourself this important question: ‘How will I raise my children “in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah” if I am not with them?’ (Eph. 6:4) Be guided by God’s thinking, not by that of family or friends who do not respect Scriptural principles. w25.03 29 ¶12

Wednesday, February 4 There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.—Acts 24:15. Consider the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. A righteous man named Lot lived in their midst. But do we know that Lot preached to all of them? No. They were certainly wicked, but did they all know any better? Recall that a crowd of men in that city sought to rape Lot’s guests. The Bible says that the mob ranged “from boy to old man.” (Gen. 19:4; 2 Pet. 2:7) Do we really know that the merciful God, Jehovah, condemned each one to death with no hope of a resurrection? Jehovah assured Abraham that there were not even ten righteous men in that city. (Gen. 18:32) So they were unrighteous, and Jehovah justly held them accountable for their actions. Can we say for certain, then, that none of them will rise in the “resurrection of . . . the unrighteous”? No, we cannot say for sure! w24.05 2 ¶3; 3 ¶8

That’s a great analogy Bea! And I do agree with the speaker, it is close… things have changed so much this past 6 months, the underlying tension in the world just seems…. Different, somehow! You keep doing what you’re doing Bea, you bring comfort to all of us 🥰

Tuesday, February 3 It is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom paid by Christ Jesus.—Rom. 3:24. When Jehovah forgives, he does so completely and permanently. This allows us to have a good relationship with our heavenly Father. At the same time, we remember that true forgiveness is a gift. It comes from Jehovah’s love and undeserved kindness, which he expresses to sinful mankind. It is not a right that humans can demand. How grateful each one of us should be that Jehovah is the God of “true forgiveness”! (Ps. 130:4; Rom. 4:8) However, our being forgiven is dependent on something important. Jesus explained: “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14, 15) Obviously, then, it is vital for us to imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness. w25.02 13 ¶18-19

Monday, February 2 He will send out the angels and will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from earth’s extremity to heaven’s extremity.—Mark 13:27. While Christ died “once for all time,” he is still making sacrifices for us. (Rom. 6:10) How so? He continues to expend time and effort as he puts the ransom benefits to work in our behalf. Consider what he is busy doing. He serves as our King, High Priest, and head of the congregation. (1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 2:17) He is in charge of the work of gathering the anointed and the great crowd, a task that will be completed before the great tribulation ends. (Matt. 25:32) He also sees to it that his faithful servants are well-fed spiritually during these last days. (Matt. 24:45) And throughout his Millennial Reign, he will continue to serve our interests. Jehovah truly gave his Son for us! w25.01 24 ¶12

Sunday, February 1 It is honorable for a man to refrain from a dispute, but every fool will become embroiled in it.—Prov. 20:3. Brothers who manifest fine Christian qualities are an asset to the congregation. A reasonable man promotes peace. If you want to be known as being reasonable, listen to others and be open to their viewpoints. In a meeting, would you be willing to support the decision of the majority if no Bible law or principle is violated? Do not insist on doing things your way. Appreciate the value of many advisers. (Gen. 13:8, 9; Prov. 15:22) Instead of being harsh or disagreeable, be gentle and tactful. As a peaceable man, take the initiative to make peace, even in tense situations. (Jas. 3:17, 18) Your kind words can soften the attitude of others, including that of opposers.—Judg. 8:1-3;Prov. 25:15; Matt. 5:23, 24. w24.11 23 ¶13

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