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Prayer — The First Domino with Great Impact Imagine a row of dominoes. They stand neatly one behind the other. Silent. Motionless. And then… a single stone touches the first one. Very gently. Almost unnoticed. And suddenly something begins: One stone falls… then the next… and the next… until an entire chain is set in motion. What looked so small at the beginning unfolds into something powerful. — Dear brothers and sisters, our prayer life can work in exactly the same way. At times, we might feel: “It’s just a prayer… maybe only a few words… maybe even imperfect.” But from Jehovah’s perspective, a sincere prayer is never small. It is like the first domino. And today, we want to feel together how much can be set in motion by it. — 1. The first domino: Drawing close to Jehovah When we pray, something happens first that no one can see. No big outward change. No immediate visible solution. But inside… something begins. Our heart opens. We speak with Jehovah—not formally, but honestly. Maybe we say: “Jehovah, I don’t know what to do…” or: “Please help me to stay calm…” And in that very moment, something wonderful happens: Jehovah draws close to us. He doesn’t just hear the words—he hears the heart behind them. Perhaps we have experienced that after a prayer, we didn’t immediately receive an answer… but suddenly we no longer felt alone. That is the first stone falling: Closeness to Jehovah. And this closeness is the foundation for everything that follows. — 2. The second domino: Inner peace When Jehovah is close to us, something inside us changes. The circumstances may still be the same… but our heart is no longer the same. A storm may still be raging outside… but within us, it becomes calmer. Thoughts that were once spinning begin to settle. Fears lose some of their power. Maybe you know this feeling: You go into prayer full of worries… and you rise with a quiet peace. Not loud. Not overwhelming. But present. Like a gentle light in the darkness. That is the second domino: Inner peace. — 3. The third domino: A change in our heart And this peace does not remain without effect. It begins to shape our heart. Maybe we were tense before… and now we react more patiently. Maybe we were hurt… and suddenly we find the strength to forgive. Maybe we were restless… and now we can listen calmly. Prayer doesn’t just change our feelings— it changes who we are. And often, we don’t even notice it right away. But others… do. That is the third domino: A changed heart. — 4. The fourth domino: Influence on others And now something very special happens. Our changed way of being does not remain with us. It touches others. Maybe it’s a kind word you say… maybe a patient look… maybe a moment when you don’t react harshly but remain calm. To you, it may seem like something small. But for someone else… it may be exactly what they needed that day. Perhaps that person thinks: “Why is he so calm?” “Why is she so kind?” And without even realizing it, you pass on something that began in prayer. That is the fourth domino: Influence on others. — 5. The fifth domino: Jehovah is honored And at the end of this chain stands something great. Something we often don’t fully see. When others observe our behavior… when they see love, patience, and peace… they notice something. Maybe not immediately in a conscious way… but they sense: There is something different here. And in time, this can lead them to Jehovah. Maybe through a question… maybe through a conversation… maybe through a thought that begins to grow in their heart. And so Jehovah is honored— through something that began with a simple prayer. That is the fifth domino: Jehovah is glorified. — A heartfelt illustration Imagine the following situation: It is early in the morning. Everything is quiet. Maybe you are sitting alone… perhaps with a heavy heart. You pray. Very honestly. Maybe with tears in your eyes. No one hears you. No one sees you. It seems like such a small moment. But in that very moment, the first domino falls. Later, you go out… you meet someone… and without consciously planning it, you are kind, calm, loving. That person notices. Perhaps they themselves are carrying a burden. And your way of being gives them a small piece of hope. And that person… may pass that hope on to someone else later. And so a chain begins… A chain you will never fully see. But Jehovah sees it. He sees every single “stone” that has fallen. Every moment. Every effect. — Final thought Dear brothers and sisters, our prayers are never insignificant. Even if they are quiet. Even if they are short. Even if they are imperfect. They are the first push in the domino effect. And that push can set things in motion far beyond what we can see. That is why it is worth continuing to pray. To pray honestly. To pray again and again. Because every prayer has the power to set a chain of goodness in motion. And Jehovah… he sees every single moment of it. And it brings him joy.

Revealing confidential information, of any kind, or one-upmanship or gossiping, are ongoing challenges for Jehovah's people. We must all be so very careful to keep our own counsel and allow Jehovah's channel of communication to reveal the truth.

What's the first thing you will do in paradise, I'm going straight to my grampa from my dad's side I have never met him before but my dad always says he was a great man, after that I might meet some people from Bible times and some famous people from history ( hellen keller, ect) then i will start building my house and garden. After I will to the beach and I can swim because there is no drowning. What will you do? Can't wait to hear!

@SofiaI understand your hurt feelings as I also felt the sting of his reply. But I did pause when I reread, several times in fact, why he questioned you for a reference link. The only thing different was I understood you wrote it in error as.i know your stance. A misunderstanding for sure. Yes his wording was indeed hurtful no matter how polite, but I am sure you know him to be a loyal , respected brother who oversees with caution even if it may have felt veiled harshness. I know you both to be strong pillars for Jehovah and in your hearts have already forgiven I love you all immensely.

☝️ and puke 🤮

I think we need a ditto emoji

I don't know if it has enough sass, I can still adjust it a little bit if you wish.

My 2 cents. I look at this particular topic because I want to hear what our brothers are dealing with in different parts of the world and how it reflects on the times we are living in. @jrnievas I agree that intentions could be misunderstood when someone responds to a post. In joining jwtalk I have had to learn to adjust myself, reread my comments before I post, or sometimes not post at all if I feel strongly about something and I don't know how to respond without possibly offending. In a lot of ways I think it has helped me grow. 🙂 I understand if you want to take a step back. You and @Sofia offer an insight and a prospective that I would really miss with regard to this particular topic. I would ask that you don't leave it. But I guess I'm being a little selfish. 💚 Whatever you both decide, I will respect it.

It's no wonder we are always studying such things as the June 2026 Wt How to Maintain Christian Friendships “Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, mildness, and patience.”—COL. 3:12. FOCUS How to deal with challenges that could threaten our friendships with fellow Christians. Plus! or rather on top of all you mentioned, men, women, we all communicate differently - not necessarily wrong, just different. So many publications from the FDS regarding this 😍 The struggle is real, right?! 🤗 For ALL of us and me the Most. 🙄 Let's keep 💪🙏 💙

"Average" prices might be high for a while: Short-Term Energy Outlook - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

This is one of the reasons why I don’t want to comment on or continue following this post anymore—because we all have different opinions and different perspectives on what’s happening in the world right now. Some say that what’s happening now could lead to the Great Tribulation, while others say it won’t. Sometimes we follow certain news, but then nothing really comes out of it. And each of us has the right to comment or form our own thoughts about what’s going on. But it’s just difficult in forums like this—you can easily be misunderstood, and people might think badly of you even if that wasn’t your intention at all. We don’t really know, because we’re just people behind keypads/keyboards, and we don’t even know who is truly a Witness or not here. If we believe that the end will come, then why should we still keep following this topic if we’re already convinced that it can happen at any time? We can already see what’s happening around us. Isn’t everything we’re seeing already enough? Will we allow Satan to get in between us and cause division just because of these kinds of discussions? Even if everyone has good intentions, is following posts like this really the best thing to do just to strengthen our conviction that the Great Tribulation is near? Anyway, this will probably be my last post in this thread. Bye.

Hahahaha, missed Cobal myself but did do early Xbase in DOS. 🙂 Funny, I miss the early days. i really liked VB6. Programming has changed so much. My last C# was doing WIX installers. (Have done lots of work with installers) This I did for fun a year or so ago. Open Source, mainly as a project for the wife and to keep myself sane. https://github.com/jakebullet70/HomeCentral Mostly though now, i play with my 3d printers, only programming work I do now is Prog8 for the Commander X16. (A Retro computer my son sent me) Anyway, if you ever want to bounce something off my old brain please feel free. I will continue to follow along.

"Finatics" would be good.

Thanks, I appreciate it! Always nice to hear from someone with that much experience 🙂 I’ve also been around for quite a while (started out with COBOL 🙂). Later moved into C++ and VB6, and these days I’m building in C# and .NET MAUI. I still really enjoy the challenge of creating solid solutions, especially when it helps brothers within the organization.

We welcome all to our Memorial meeting. We just hope and pray that the meeting will turn out to be the first step toward finding the true God, and the blessings that he offers through the great gift of the ransom.

Think I used these https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjQldWX06uTAxXYllAGHexvAH8YACICCAEQGxoCZGc&co=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwve7NBhC-ARIsALZy9HWYq-EjDczHFM97Bqrij_UARuGpHVOAmd6rVqPNb7Il4MzF0hJvqxcaAt15EALw_wcB&cid=CAASJeRojysD351Av6MTWK0DsCtj-gsuHG-USQ2i6k_kaRmgeyDl4Ks&cce=1&sig=AOD64_2Zrhz8yCMKEKEaRlG_6wCSHmxcyw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjiqM-X06uTAxU2aEEAHfG2AnkQwg8oAHoECCAQLg&adurl=

Thank you. I didn’t know you could add something to keyrings 🙏

Sister Sófia, I wanted to speak to you with great care and kindness. Your attitude in the conversation was very beautiful — acknowledging a point with humility shows how sincere you are and that you have a noble heart. You are one of the greatest contributors to this topic, with 758 posts, always helping, clarifying, and contributing in such a valuable way. Several friends have also asked me for links on certain subjects, whether from mainstream media news or from the jw website — not because they doubt what was said, but so that, if someone accesses the topic (which is public), they can easily find this information. Your presence is truly missed. Please don’t take this to heart. We are living in difficult times, and more than ever we need to stay united. If you feel comfortable, it would be really nice to have you back with us. A big hug from your brother, Brazil 🤝 Portugal 🌹 🌷Irmã Sófia, queria falar consigo com muito carinho. A sua postura na conversa foi muito bonita .... reconhecer um ponto com humildade mostra o quanto é sincera e que tem um coração nobre. A irmã é uma das maiores colaboradoras deste tópico, com 758 publicações, sempre a ajudar, a esclarecer e a contribuir de forma tão valiosa. Vários amigos já me pediram também links sobre determinados assuntos, seja em notícias da comunicação social ou no site jw — não por duvidarem do que foi dito, mas para que, caso alguém aceda ao tópico (que é público), possa encontrar essas informações com facilidade. A sua presença faz muita falta, de verdade. Não leve isto a peito. Estamos a viver tempos difíceis e, mais do que nunca, precisamos de nos manter unidos. Se se sentir à vontade, seria muito bom tê-la de volta connosco. Um grande abraço do seu irmão, Brasil 🤝 Portugal 🌹

“Give Me Your Light” – A Life That Truly Counts Just imagine everything very clearly for a moment. A room, dark, quiet, almost empty. The air is cool and still, no sound, no life. And in the middle of this room stands a candle. Beautiful, flawless, unused. Its wax is smooth, its wick untouched. It is perfect. But it is cold. It has never shone, never given warmth, never helped anyone find their way. And next to it lies a small match, inconspicuous, almost seeming worthless, and yet it carries within it something that can change everything. Then a soft voice breaks the silence. The match says: “I have the task of lighting you.” And suddenly everything changes. The candle is startled. You can almost feel how fear spreads within it. “Oh no, please not. If I burn, then I will no longer be the same. Then my days are numbered. Then I will fade away.” Isn’t that strikingly honest? Isn’t that exactly what we sometimes feel deep inside? We want to serve Jehova, we want to love, we want to help, but please without losing ourselves, please without pain, please without it really costing us something. But the match asks a question, a question that cannot simply be pushed aside: “Do you want to remain cold and hard your whole life, without ever truly having lived?” This question goes deep, because it touches something we often avoid. There is a difference between existing and living. Jehova does not want us to merely exist, but to truly live. In Ecclesiastes 11:8 it says: “Rejoice in your life, but remember, the days of darkness will be many.” A life that only preserves itself will eventually become empty, quiet, and dark, just like this room. The candle continues to whisper: “Burning hurts, and it drains my strength.” And this time the match does not contradict it. It says: “That is true.” No sugarcoating, no false promises, just truth. Yes, it takes strength to remain kind when you have been hurt. It takes strength to encourage someone when you yourself feel empty. It takes strength to be active in the ministry when your heart feels heavy. It takes strength to hold on to Jehova when you cannot feel him. Maybe someone feels exactly like that today. Maybe someone is thinking deep inside: “I can’t burn anymore, I have no strength left.” But this is where this crucial thought comes in: “This is the secret of our calling, we are meant to be light.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world.” Not, you can be it, but you are it. That means even if you feel weak, even if you think your light is small, in Jehova’s eyes, you are light. But the candle was afraid of losing its beauty, and that is so human. We want to appear strong, untouched, in control. But Jehova sees beauty differently. In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we read: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the power beyond what is normal may be God’s and not from us.” Not the perfect, but the fragile reveals God’s light most beautifully. Imagine a mother. It is late at night. Her child is sick, has a fever, is restless and crying. The mother is tired, exhausted. She could say: “I need sleep now.” But she gets up. She sits by the bed, gently strokes her child’s forehead, and stays hour after hour. As the night passes, her strength fades, but the child feels safe, secure, and loved. Has this mother lost something, or has she shown in that moment the most beautiful thing there is? Love that gives of itself. That is exactly how it is with us. When we give of ourselves, when we give, when we love, we do not lose, we fulfill our purpose. The match says: “If we are consumed, we do not disappear, others will carry the flame forward.” Maybe you remember someone who once was a light for you, a brother who listened to you, a sister who understood you, a simple conversation at the right time, and that light still lives within you today. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 it says: “Keep encouraging one another and building one another up.” Every small flame changes the darkness. Imagine a completely dark room, no windows, no door visible, and someone stands in it, alone, disoriented. Then someone lights a small match, just a tiny light, and yet everything changes. You begin to see outlines, you recognize direction, and you no longer feel alone. That is exactly how your faith works, that is how your effort works, that is how your kind word works. Maybe small, but life-changing. Then comes this serious statement: “Only the one who refuses will die.” Jesus expressed it similarly in John 12:24: “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just one grain, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” A life that only protects itself will, in the end, remain alone. And then comes this moment. The candle lowers its wick. You can almost feel how it does not lose its fear, but lets it go. Not because the fear is gone, but because it has understood that there is something greater than itself. And it says quietly, but firmly: “I ask you, give me your light.” What a prayer. Perhaps one of the most honest prayers there is. “Jehova, I am afraid, but I want to shine.” In Isaiah 60:1 it says: “Rise up, become bright, for your light has come, and the glory of Jehova shines upon you.” The light does not come from within ourselves, Jehova gives it to us, and we are allowed to pass it on. Now imagine the candle once more. Now it is burning. Yes, it is changing, yes, it is becoming smaller, but the room is now warm, alive, and full of light. People see one another, find support, and feel safe. And somewhere in a corner stands another candle, still dark, still unsure, and it sees this light and whispers: “I ask you, give me your light.” The question is not, will it cost me something. The question is, am I willing to truly live. And if we are honest deep in our hearts, then we might say, with tears in our eyes: “Jehova, I am afraid, but give me your light.”.

As a retired senior devoloper... (About 40 years) Nice to see the project. In the end I was doing Enterprise Desktop / SQL in VB.NET and Android work in B4A. Anyway, nice work.

Ha. I rather thought we have had about 110 years of that already. They seem to muddle their way out of fixes, but into new fixes. It gets worse each time.

The middle east is one of the richest region in the world because of an overpiced oil. Now theyre in turmoil. If one's country is affected, the world is affected. 2.5 million Filipinos are working in the region. Some are coming back home. It is bad on the economy.

Hi @Sofia.. I enjoy your comments . My hands sore due to working with computer for 20 yrs so I cannot type that much now. But I enjoy your observation of the world.

Better yet, Sofia, don't go anywhere. Stick with us. You're a treasure.

esd_march_19.mp3