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I had a dream last night that this convention “Eternal happiness” is going to be last before GT. I also have dreams from time to time that I can fly like a bird, so don’t read too much into it 😆

Jehovah won't be looking for reason to annihilate you at Armageddon, He will consider all the reason he has to save you.

All this stuff about following instructions as the GT is getting close... it really feels closer than ever

Well, for those of us whose RC is still a month and a half away...we can use all the encouragement we can get...♥️

The last time I addressed everyone on this forum, I said that I was broken. A little over 2 months have went by since that awful day...and I can now definitively declare that I am past being "broken"...I've been ground into dust. There are parts of me that will never be whole again in this system...because those parts simply no longer exist. I've been left sitting as a proverbial pile of dust...and no, I'm not feeling sorry for myself and I'm not being dramatic. I'm sharing this because after speaking with a trusted friend, an elder who has been with me through my years in prison to here and now today...I now am beginning to have a very different understanding of the word "dust"...and it has strengthened my faith immeasurably over the past few weeks. The scripture? Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the High and Lofty One says, Who lives forever and whose name is holy: “I reside in the high and holy place, But also with those crushed and lowly in spirit, To revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of those being crushed." Dakah...crushed, pulverized, beaten down or ground down into dust! What a shocking word...what a visceral image that would have brought to mind for our ancient brothers and sisters. Total collapse... absolute vulnerability...sound familiar? It does to me...and that's why I'm formulating this post. These aren't just words on a page, not to me. This is weeks worth of shock, rage, humiliation, vulnerability, anger, hatred, sadness, fear and concern, loss of control...spilling out of a heart that has been crushed, pulverized , beaten and ground down...a heart reduced to dust. And yet...and yet, I'm still here. Emotional? Yes. At a loss for words sometimes? Definitely. Unable to move forward or backwards at times? Absolutely. Feeling tiny and vulnerable and sick to my stomach with worry and fear? Always. And yet...I'm STILL HERE! Why am I still here? Why haven't I blown away yet? Particles of me have scattered...individual dust motes of me have flitted away in the wind...I cannot retrieve them...and I cannot find the energy to chase them even if I could. So why am I still here? Dust...it's that simple. I'm dust, that's why I'm still here...here, let me explain. You see, I've always had a backwards understanding of dust, even though I've used it symbolically in my posts before, I never really stopped to take a good look at what it actually is...not to humans...but to Jehovah. Dust is not actually the end state of something...it's quite literally what Jehovah used to START human life. Dust scatters easily...and this isn't something I'm talking about from observation...it's something I've personally felt...something I've lived through...AM living through...currently. The wind comes along and WHOOSH!!...there it goes, up into the air...dancing around...lost and alone...helpless until the air settles down and it can land once again. I am dust...I've been picked up and moved along here and there...and yet...I'm still here...I haven't settled in some random place...I haven't been left to the mercy of chance or a good stuff breeze. Why?? Here's what the brother shared with me: My heart may be dust...but Jehovah's holy spirit is like that wind...it lifts up all those tiny fragments and gently carries it along with his chariot...protecting and shielding all the tiny bits of me that would otherwise be scattered and blown away. And JUST when I start to feel worthless...just when I start to feel like I should just give up and slip away, slip back into the darkness...Jehovah's glory lights up the tiny little specks that ARE me...and by that light...I start to glow and shine...just as real dust glows when hit by a sunbeam. So you see...I'm just dust...but that's okay, in fact it's the only reason I'm still here...because someone much much stronger and wiser than me...simply refuses to let me go.

Collage: A couple stay zealous in the ministry while awaiting prophecies leading up to Armageddon. 1. A church burning down. 2. The United Nations. 3. The sun and moon are darkened. 4. Soldiers at war. 5. Jesus wields a bow as he rides a white horse through the clouds. If only this next service year could be the last...

How do you react to small tests of faith? Every time you tell someone you don't celebrate Christmas, turn down a birthday gift, stand respectfully for the anthem without participating, request a day off for the Convention, reject job offers that interfere with your spiritual life, preach despite angry householders, or respectfully explain your stance on controversial social issues you take a stand for Jehovah. The GT will be a more extreme version of the kinds of tests we've faced our whole spiritual lives. The people who are confident they will survive know the sacrifices they have already made to follow Jehovah and are sure they will continue in that course. Think about it, if we can take a stance now that risks our job or social standing, how much easier will it be during the GT when we know the clock to Armageddon is very limited and our jobs and social standing will be destroyed anyway? Once we cross that finish line, how many of today's worries will ever be applicable again - bills, employment, money? Even if we lose all our worldly possessions we will know that the time is close, so there's no point in clinging to it or planning for retirement. We know we can depend on our congregation to pull together resources. We know we will get direction from the GB. We know Jehovah will not abandon us. If there is some specific test you are thinking of that you aren't sure you can withstand, please give it some prayerful thought and figure out if it's something you have already passed before (taking a stand in some way for Jehovah) or something someone else has already endured (torture, imprisonment etc). Meditate on examples of faith. Don't let your fears fester and don't let them be vague or "your strength will be meager" when you need it most.

We are watching the Broadcasting as a family, my older daughter said : we are getting in the GT in less than a year, aren't we ? May it be true

What a Broadcasting! Is it just me or are they trying to push something that’s about to come crashing down on our heads? It’s nothing new, but it’s getting more and more urgent. Or maybe it’s just me spinning a web of hope. Beautiful song, indeed!

I had forgotten... I am still digesting the convention - this is really quite amazing the bounty at our table spiritual table 🙂

Anticipation is a good thing (Keep on the Watch). Do not let it grip you with inordinate expectation. I recall the published furor we had in times passed (50 years ago). From the organization (in publication): WT Dec 15, 1974, page 764,766…And now, as the critical year of 1975 enters, it may well be asked …And now, as the year 1975 opens up, some thousands of the anointed remnant, still alive on this earth, look ahead to realizing that joyful prospect. From Br. Fred Franz (Governing Body): WT May 1, 1975, page 285…“we should not think that this year of 1975 is of no significance to us,”“we are filled with anticipation for the near future” We await the GT and end of this world with calm expectation and complete trust in God and Christ. Whether in this year or in ten years, it will come on time and it will not be late. Always be focused on the work of the Kingdom and do not be distracted by any apparent "times and seasons" or possible dates. Remember our errors (done in faith) with 1914, 1925, 1954, 1975, Y2k and so on. We are eager but the Holy Spirit from Jehovah is patient. God has picked a day and hour more than 2000 years ago. It has not (and will not) change...♥️

JWB July 2026 transcript

I feel that this broadcast and the talk from Kenneth Cook that was shown at the midweek meeting two weeks ago shows that we are very close and that Jehovah is preparing us. I also felt that the international convention Eternal happiness we had in Stockholm last weekend was a big hug from Jehovah, assuring us that he loves us so much and that he will help us with everything if we rely on him. Personally I feel that something is in the air and that Jehovah is getting us ready. Hope it wont be long now.

We are all feeling it so close... it's exciting !

With the midweek meeting about obeying instructions, Paul at Malta during the tempest, people having to obey instructions to be all saved... + the broadcasting... the Slave is giving good food at the proper time

This is something I'd be very careful with. Jehovah has his people on a schedule, for years. Why would any witness do a YouTube search for BS meetings? We've never used such language, (worship services? That's not us) true witnesses dont have YouTube BS postings, its not how we do things and if a witness was doing this I'd be very suspect.. We may have a few sisters that like to review the WT before the meeting but we're not doing BS on YouTube. When I came into the truth I was harassed by apostates. They left notes on my car. The demonstrations in front of the RC facility were common. In my community there was a splinter group, as has happened in years past, that called themselves Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses. Similar but completely not true. So please pay attention to verbiage. We have a common language that identifies Jehovah’s true people.

Convention lunch is a lot of eating here in Nigeria, everyone looks forward to it, it's a jamboree altogether. Several varieties,heavy and oily meals-Tuwo,Eba,Akpu,eguisi soup,Afang soup,Okra soup,Fried rice and roasted chicken 🍗,jollof rice,local drinks-Zobo and Kunu etc I wonder what else is not brought for convention lunch break,almost every variety of food is brought 😂 Sisters begin cooking as early as 4am of convention day to meet up with the demand of convention lunch break, it's a lot of cooking.

I get you. You need to believe you can make it despite your shortcomings. God knows our situation and troubles. That’s good enough for me. The more negative you feel. The more discouraged you’ll get. There’s no point in doubting if it’s coming soon. Just don’t be afraid and believe you can walk on water aka survive Armageddon. No more doubting. We will make it. See you there.

I'm still shocked and if I'm being honest a little jealous at how many brothers and sisters in the congregation are so sure they will make it through. All I've been taught my whole life is how cramped and tight the road to life is, Zephaniah 2:3 saying that even doing the right things there is a probability that you will survive the day of Jehovah's anger. I've always felt that there is a mark of "good enough" and it's different person-to-person, as Jehovah knows our limitations. As someone that has struggled with severe depression and strongly have the desire to do what's right while the world continues to try to pull you down with it, it's hard to think how I personally could be considered worthy of Him to receive the gift. I, like the rest, watch in anticipation for Jehovah's Day to come and his name to be vindicated. I hope to see the world become a paradise again and the wicked never to surface again. I just wish I had an ounce of the confidence I see in others.

Interesting. For the last couple of years I have been taking the audio portion of the new original songs and converting them to mp3 format. I was customarily posting them in my Music Collection on OneDrive. That's to fill in the two-week gap between the time the broadcast comes online to the time the song shows up on jw.org. However, I was noticing now (since the last two broadcasts) that the song is posted on jw.org on the same day as the broadcast!!! Now they're getting too quick for me, rendering my efforts to help out obsolete. So this has been fun. If you have been following along, thank you for your appreciation.

Me too, I’m still processing convention we finished yesterday, broadcasting will have to wait a week I think 😆 It’s true we have an abundance of spiritual food 🥰

We saw it last night. The Hamas leaders in Lebanon are willing to give up their leadership from what we understand but, not their weapons. So, much yet has to be seen and understood by this. We don't know what this all means as of yet so, let's wait on the governing body.

There are some villages with Bible students in Poland too. One support group feom our congregation encountered them 2 years ago while doing rarely worked territory. Our friends witnessed to them as any other denomination.

This picture will give an idea of how convention lunch is done here in Nigeria,we love the excitement it adds to the convention programs

I, of course, do hope it comes this year. October would be wonderful. But the words soon, on the verge, around the corner etc are all part of the same language used for years. I’m not saying it’s wrong to hope the word soon means this year, but it’s all relative. This language was used back in the 1960’s as well. Just doing a simple search on WOL will show you that. In expectation of soon always, but also expecting it to be a while longer. We just don’t know.

Ukrainian brothers and sisters are in my prayers constantly 🙏🧡 Can we have some news please? so many deadly attacks last days make my heart shake Are you ok? Are you safe able to hide? any wounded or casualties? please take a big chunk of Christian love from me in Portugal 🧡🧡

I think that's the point: hope. We have a hope that's alive and real, something Jehovah gave us that we can believe and trust in. It's not confidence exactly, it's the knowledge that we can make it through because Jehovah wants us to make it through. That doesn't mean we don't worry sometimes about failing him, in fact we'd be silly if we were overconfident (look at what happened to Peter!), but it is all about the fact that he will help us because he says he will. It's about faith.

The reported move by Hamas to dissolve its civilian government and transfer authority to a UN-backed committee is a significant political development. Whether it succeeds remains uncertain, especially since the article itself notes that Hamas had not committed to disarming and that negotiations remain deadlocked. So it is best to view events like this as another reminder that human governments continue to struggle to produce lasting peace—exactly what the Bible has long indicated. Ex 14:13

I LOVED how they considered Habakkuk ❤️ (Is consider the right word? How they talked over Habakkuk, discussed)

46... devastating... Jehovah, please come !

UPDATE on Jw.org https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/venezuela/UPDATE-Multiple-Earthquakes-Devastate-Venezuela/ This update does not have any missing brothers/sisters But reports an increase in those who were killed from 6 to 46😭

meantime in New York https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/man-arrested-throwing-molotov-cocktails-103141627.html

When I eat to much chocolate, I fly like a bird and much into it too.

I can relate to you very much. Still I pray every day to see the end of wickedness and see how Jehovah vindicates his name and makes it known around the entire Earth regardless of what that means for me personally. I am very unimportant in this story. If I live through it, it will be because of Jehovah's very undeserved kindness and for eternity I will be thankful and wonder how that could happen. If not, it will be the right thing to happen, but from that point on humanity will be on road to re-unite with Jehovah's universal family and that is most important.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hamas-gaza-government-israel-palestine-b3010082.html Hamas announced on Monday the dissolution of its government in Gaza and is preparing to transfer power to a United Nations-backed technical committee as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal.

Am I reading too much between the lines or are we guys arguing (peacefully) without reason. person A said: I think there are no more Bible students person B said: no, I think they still exist. I checked online and a YouTube video popped up person C said: no, you can’t study other religions, it’s wrong person D said: but you should get to Know them, this is what FDS says person E said: no, FDS meant something different Don’t we all agree that: - Russell era Bible students still exist - it’s okay to learn a thing or two about another religion - it’s not okay to study too Much about other religions - we all love Jehovah and other brothers and sisters Love to you all 🥰

Some years back I came across a Russellite in the course of my secular work. I had witnessed to her in the course of conversation while I was working in her office. That's when she told me she was a Russellite. She said they held meetings once a month in a town about 35 miles south of us. Even though I had not known there were any Russellites in our area nor did I know they held meetings - it did NOT make me want to look them up, do research about them or dig any deeper. If someone asked me to prove that there are active Russellites in our area I would simply tell them they could research it - that I have no interest in digging into such a subject. Just because someone asks about another religion does not mean we have to go research that religion to teach them the truth. I would not search YouTube to find out about meetings for Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Mormons, Russellites, Bible Students or any other religion ... I would show someone how to find a JW meeting by using jw.org

I love this new feature for JW Library!!! Here is a screenshot below. This is just 1 way a person can set up their iPad to study the WT Lesson. (Left Side) WT Lesson (MIddle) English NWT (Right Side) Spanish NWT

Sounds like turtle food to me!

Not really comparable at all

What do you think is in store for us this month?

Attack on small group while on work in south africa....check out the video https://briefly.co.za/south-africa/246028-stayed-calm-cctv-shows-jehovahs-witnesses-robbed-gunpoint-morning-ministry/#google_vignette

I think we all have those feelings at times. But i think about myself as a mom and the love I have for my children. I love each of my children individually. Individually they can break my heart or make me proud. This is how I see Jehovah looking at us. As a group of his children yes but also he sees our individual hearts. John 3:16 is a good scripture @LeolaRootStew one sacrifice was all that was necessary for Jehovah to extend mercy to each of us. Jehovah doesn't act with sentimentality but he sees us and loves us individually. Our imperfections make it hard for us to feel that.

Here is the latest update News | Sterling Mine Road Audio/Video Production Center | New York https://share.google/otkNVlMtqZorHSqVh

Out of the mouths of babes Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:15, 16

I’ve listened to the first talk 3 or 4 times today there is an awful lot in it and each time I hear something new!

I really appreciated this, Tim. It made me think of Psalm 113:7. You highlighted that dust was Jehovah's starting point. That scripture reminds me that even when someone feels they've ended up on the ash heap, Jehovah still reaches down and lifts them up. Thank you for giving me another way to think about those verses.

Me too, exhausted from convention which finished yesterday. It's been a real struggle in the lead up for everyone I know, but we made it!!

@Ishaya Here is the US, on the rare occasion that someone didn't bring something to eat, some nearby will offer something. But, for the most part, that does not happen often. Since the direction from the US Branch is to bring a simple meal for yourself, that is what most do. It is not common for lunch at a US Convention to be a jamboree altogether. It is also not common for ones to come without a lunch ... unless they are on a diet and don't eat lunch - I have seen some do this.

Do the sisters get to sit and enjoy the meetings? We in the States used to have massive cooked meals for assemblies and conventions many years ago. But it was stopped because of how much labor and time it required of the friends. Between the set up, cooking, and cleaning, many would miss large portions of the programs. Now, each person/ family brings food from home for modest lunch breaks.. just to refresh. It seems to me that meals like you describe @Ishaya, especially in the heat, would induce sleepiness in the afternoons.. 🤔