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I had a wonderful surprise this week. While some of our publishers were going over some very old photographs of our village (around WW1), they found a picture of a group of sisters advertising the PhotoDrama in our little village. We didn't get a congregation until 1970. So no one can identify these diligent sisters (and one little boy) in the photo. Photo is shown below. It is possible that the 100 year old photo is mislabeled. They could be standing in front of the sign advertising the Drama but really are part of a 4th of July demonstration or something similar. Our history is more detailed than we ever knew. Did anyone else have the Photo Drama come to be shown in their congregation territory?

Hello Brothers and Sisters, I'm not sure if everyone know this or not. Now when click on a video at JW.org and then click on the Download button you can get the transcript by selecting either Copy, TXT or PDF. No need to go to any other unofficial websites to get this information. THANK YOU to Jehovah and the Governing Body for making this text now available to us so easily at our Official Website at JW.org! Roger

That really is the only useful purpose for the Doomsday Clock. We know it does not indicate how close we are to doomsday or Armageddon. Those we talk to in the ministry, however, do not have our faith or am accurate understanding of what doomsday really is. My opinion is that, once the prophecy of "Peace and Security" is fulfilled that the Doomsday Clock will be set back to the farthest from midnight it has ever been set to. To date the farthest from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991. I would not be surprised if the clock is set to 1 hour before midnight right before Armageddon.

Can you image what any of the anointed would say to the medic if they revived them before they ascended?

It was bitterly cold that morning...the kind of cold that makes you hesitate before opening the door...the kind of cold that could be dangerous if you stayed outside for too long. I was out on my route...putting miles behind me, my mind half engaged with the third episode of The Jack Benny show that was echoing around the interior of my van. I was just about to pull into a gas station when my phone rang...a brother from up north again, thanking me for some cheese I had delivered to his house the previous week. His wife was in the background, reminding him to tell me thank you from several local brothers and sisters as I slid into a parking spot at Kwik Trip and chatted with them for a few minutes. I listened as they related a local experience from last week's field service; a potential study started by his wife and another sister. I needed to use the restroom, but the conversation had me engaged and so I just sat there, appreciating my warm van as I watched people dashing back and forth from their vehicles to the gas station. Wisconsin "cold" has a way of prioritizing people's behavior, thus I started grinning as I watched several people performing a funny little dance as they stood fueling their gas tanks...attempting to keep the Arctic chill at bay. I must have lost the thread of the conversation, however, because the next thing I knew the sister was asking me, "Well Tim?", in a very expectant tone. Apologizing for my ADHD brain, I asked her to repeat what she had said, and quickly found out that they were offering me lunch at their house once I got up around their neck of the woods sometime that afternoon. I hesitated briefly, doing some quick mental gymnastics regarding the timing of my route, then accepted and said I would be looking forward to the food and a good conversation, even if I couldn't stay very long. We said goodbye then, and, after using the bathroom...I continued on my route until I finished my stops near their town. By this time it was about 1:00 in the afternoon, and I was hungry. Parking my van in their driveway, I walked up to the front door and rang their doorbell, whereupon they quickly admitted me and shut the door, blocking out the wickedly freezing air that had rushed into their warm house. No one was in a hurry. Lunch was already on the table, they knew I didn't have much time so everything was already prepared. His wife is a wonderful cook; two plates later of pork roast and vegetables dished out over a mountain of homemade mashed potatoes...I was warm...I was full...and if I'm being honest, I was getting sleepy 🥱. Our conversation was natural and full of warmth...we flitted from one subject to the next like an ice skater gliding over an ice rink. Finally I knew it was time to leave and my eyes strayed around the room...looking for a clock, (as I had left my phone in my van). A large cuckoo clock sat on the mantle above their electric fireplace...and after gauging the time...I happened to notice several greeting cards neatly arranged surrounding the clock...like soldiers on a battlefield. I asked about them casually, remarking that my wife does the exact same thing with our greeting cards. It was in that single moment...that everything changed. Their faces softened. Their voices warmed. Motioning me to follow...they got up from the table, walked over to the cards and started pulling them down. Suddenly this dear older couple came to life before my eyes....their voices filled with sheer joy as they began to recall who had given each one to them...and why each meant so much. The bitter cold outside lay forgotten as memories suddenly started flaring into life around me. Assuming the cards were recent...I asked to see them...and they pressed them into my hands, one after the other. The dates flashing before my eyes stopped me in my tracks 1978...1984...1991...and 1997. Several were more recent...but some were decades old. They had kept them all these years...not tucked away in a box, not forgotten in a drawer...but on the mantle place...in a position of honor. And the words inside those cards? They still encouraged them today... because they told me that they still take them down sometimes and read them together, drawing encouragement and strength from words written years, even decades ago. I left shortly after, waving goodbye and smiling as I walked out the door back into the bitter cold...because they were still there, at the mantle place, talking to each other about their precious greeting cards. That moment...my last glimpse of them as they stood gently fondling those cards...that moment sent my mind and heart straight back to a verse I’ve read many times, but never quite like this: “Like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time.” — Proverbs 25:11 In Hebrew, the word translated “word” is dāḇār. It doesn’t just mean something spoken. It means a matter, an event...something that does something and KEEPS doing it. And the phrase “spoken at the right time” literally means “on its wheels.” A word that arrives exactly when needed...and keeps traveling with you. The words in those cards cards weren't just written in 1978, 1987, 1991 and 1997...or even now, in 2026. Those words arrived again...day after day, month after month, year after year. Those words spoke again in quiet moments, sad moments...moments when maybe no other words could fill the empty space. The words on those cards warmed hearts long after the ink had dried. Proverbs 25:11 isn’t about eloquence. It’s about timing and permanence. A word given with love at the right moment doesn’t fade. It waits. It moves. It returns. Sometimes, it sits quietly on a mantle place...ready to speak again...whenever it's needed. So friends, I know the world is getting colder...I know things are getting more and more hectic...but please, please remember that a greeting card may seem small and sometimes unimportant...but it is not something that gets read once and then tossed away, as if it meant little. Not among Jehovah's people it doesn't. As crazy as it might sound, a simple greeting card with just a few words of encouragement has the power to stir hearts years, even decades after it was written. I know, I've seen and experienced it first hand, both as the giver and the receiver. A gift doesn't have to expensive to make it beautiful...and words don't have to be perfect to be "spoken at the right time".

I wish we had a Restoration Clock that showed how close we are the New System. I think we are symbolically 85 seconds to sunrise...

Hello brother, looks like you might have had an add-on installed, which is why they appeared. They won’t show up unless you have one. 😅😅😅

If you’re on iPhone/iPad (possibly also mac) then I highly recommend an app called JWX which works on top of your JW Library, adding not only transcripts but even parses the transcript to make the scriptures detected in it hyperlinked:

This special report on the eighth anniversary of the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia has been prepared by the Office of Public Information for distribution to and discussion with government officials. READ HERE This annex to the report highlights the threat to life and health the persecution has caused for Jehovah’s Witnesses with disabilities or serious illnesses. READ HERE.

But if it's mentioned on jw.org and takes into account what scientists think, why not talk about it? This subject can lead to Kingdom topics, great for starting conversations.

Wow, I see now that I am a Regular Member here at this great website! Thanks so much to the great moderators here for the update to my status. Roger

I think you need more magnesium in your diet.

A wife and her husband married for over 30 years were sitting at the dinner table. Suddenly the wife looks at him and says, "Do you remember when you used to hold my hand? The husband sighs reaches out and holds her hand. She continues, do you remember when you used to kiss me on the cheek? He leans over and gives her a kiss. Then she says softly, do you remember how you used to nibble my ear? The husband stands up and starts walking away. Surprised she asks where are you going? He replies...

First minute of first year in paradise!

There are times when courage does not feel brave at all. It’s not easy to describe. It can feel quiet. Sometimes heavy. Maybe it’s just getting through the day without falling apart. Those are the very things that matter most to Jehovah. Some trials are not loud. They’re not tough decisions. They can show up in small places… You get up in the morning and you’re still exhausted. You’ve still got the same problems you had before you went to bed. People look at you, and you just smile, because you don’t want to tell everybody how it really is. Courage can be just putting your feet on the floor and starting the day. We’ve all been there — when you’re in that mode where you’re going over things again and again in your head. And then you realize you have no idea how to deal with what you’re dealing with. You’ve pondered. You’ve done the homework. But nothing’s coming of it. What you thought you had within yourself, you find that it’s not even there anymore. That’s why the words at Proverbs feel so real: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 And somewhere in all of that, it clicks. You see how much you’ve been leaning on yourself. Not because you meant to push Jehovah aside, but because that’s what we tend to do. And you see it, and you know it, and you believe it. Trusting in Jehovah was never supposed to come later. It was supposed to come first. Sometimes the prayer is simple. Not polished. You’ve just emptied yourself out. You’re not trying to sound right. You’re saying what it is. You might say, “I don’t see where this is going, and I don’t have any idea what to do next.” But that takes courage too. Not what most people notice — just the kind that shows up when you stop pretending you’re fine. The thought from Proverbs keeps coming back. “In all your ways take notice of him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:6 There it is. You’re letting Him be part of it. That doesn’t mean the problem goes away. You’re just not lost in it anymore. The problem is still there, but your feet become sure in their path because you’re not wandering on your own. Some of us have things deep down inside that we never share with anybody. It might be a health issue. It may be anxiety, that pops up every once in a while. Stress in the family that hasn’t been settled yet. We keep working on it, like we have for years. Life keeps going, and so do we. The Bible doesn’t offer fantasy. Faith doesn’t make life easy. “Many are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.” — Psalm 34:19 That’s just a fact. But we’re on solid ground. Jehovah has never left us through it all. He’s with us from start to finish. He doesn’t wait for us to totter before He helps. Joshua had a big responsibility, and he knew he couldn’t do it on his own. He didn’t get a step-by-step plan laid out in front of him. But he did get a good plan. The best plan. “Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and strong. Do not be afraid or be terrified, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9 That is the difference! We know how it’s going to turn out. We know we’re going to get through it. We know Jehovah is going to sustain us, because we’re not doing this by ourselves. When you look back, people often say the same thing. They don’t know how they got through it. They just know they did. And they know they didn’t do it on their own. Strength showed up when it was needed. Never early. Just at the right time. And just enough to get through that day. Jehovah gives us what we need when we need it. Courage doesn’t always look strong. Sometimes it just keeps going. It keeps turning to Jehovah again and again, because the prayer never really ends — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

KEEP ON THE WATCH! https://www.jw.org/en/library/series/more-topics/doomsday-clock-moves-closer-to-midnight/

Just a thought: this doesn't look like a spontaneous photo; it's posed, so it was probably intended to be official. If the photo-drama was to take place in municipal halls, the flag was often required to be displayed because the event was public. No doubt the question of strict neutrality had not yet been addressed in a clear and decisive manner. The flowers may be part of the decor and the welcome given to the public.

During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the director, "How do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalised?" "Well, said the director, we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub?" I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup. "No said the director, A normal person would...

Measles Resurgence The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday reported at least 733 confirmed measles cases nationwide so far this year—more than four times the annual average of 180 cases from 2000 to 2024. See dashboard. The nationwide update, which often lags behind state-level counts, comes as South Carolina reported 920 measles cases yesterday, including 44 new infections since Tuesday. Of those infected with the respiratory virus in South Carolina, 840 are unvaccinated, and 824 are under 18. Overall, roughly 57% of cases confirmed by the CDC are among people aged 5 to 19. Experts attribute the nationwide rise in measles cases to a growing number of parents declining vaccines for their children over concerns about potential side effects. The US recorded 2,276 measles cases last year—its highest total since the nation declared measles eliminated in 2000 following high vaccination rates. Last year, the share of kindergarteners vaccinated against measles nationwide also fell below 93%. Experts say herd immunity is typically achieved at around 95% coverage. Explore the best resources we've found on measles here.

Our congregation has several events coming up that need volunteers, such as the CA Cleaning assignment, lunch for the SCE, work day at the AH. Has anyone used NWP to notify the congregation when volunteers are needed? I'm thinking about creating a Congregation Events for each event and include "Volunteers Needed" in the title and include the captains information in the Event description. Such as "Circuit Assembly Cleaning Assignment-Volunteers Needed" as the title, then put the captains name and number in the description. Do you think that would work? Have you found a better way to do it?

This clock is irrelevant in Jehovah's timetable, even if it's referenced in jw.org. It was only created by someone who has absolutely no idea of the real deal ahead. So don't base any assumptions off this 'doomsday' clock. I personally would not even mention it even in convos.

I have thought a lot about Jehovah's invitation, “do not be afraid,” often repeated to his people in ancient times. Jesus also used this expression and its derivatives on numerous occasions. This is not just a simple slogan that is easy to offer in conversation when someone expresses suffering and asks for a comforting, encouraging response. It is not a denial of the reality that the person is going through. It is simply a highlighting of Genesis 3:15. Fear has become instinctive and primal since that day. We must all face it with faith. Jehovah and Jesus always strive to shift the center of gravity of our fears and breakdowns (betraying, denying, not holding on until the end, being so tired of everything...). The idea is therefore to reorient courage, not to anesthetize it in order to wake it up later. Courage and faith go hand in hand. They must not sleep, they have to walk. We are at war, the fighting on the front lines is exhausting, and sometimes we just want the hostilities to stop. We would like to lay our heads on a pillow, close our eyes, and drift off into a sweet dream. So it really takes courage to fight against sleep and stay awake until the end. Thank you David for this topic.

Very possibly, yes. On the other hand, given the nature of the government, with covert operations everywhere, I think the brothers would be extremely careful about messaging apps. This actually brings back memories of how brothers evaded the authorities during WWII. Letters tor telegraphs that would say "Mother sends her love", or "We had a wedding reception at a nice hotel. They had a pool". IYKYK 😉

I don't recall installing any "add-on" to my browser. I use Google Chrome as my browser. The text options appear for me. I have to say that not every video has the text included in the file. I went and tried the recent Feb Broadcast (AM-Part 2). It works there. Then I went and randomly selected the Memorial Morning Worship video from 2024 and it worked there. See the pics below.

Wednesday, February 11 Each one will carry his own load.—Gal. 6:5. Does a mature Christian ever need help from anyone? Yes. Mature ones may need to ask for help at times. Someone who is immature may expect others to tell him what to do or to make a decision that he himself should make. A mature Christian, on the other hand, will draw on the wisdom and the experience of others while recognizing that Jehovah expects him to “carry his own load.” Just as adults differ in physical appearance, mature Christians differ in spiritual qualities, such as wisdom, courage, generosity, and empathy. Further, when two mature Christians face a similar situation, they might come to different conclusions that are both Scripturally acceptable. That is especially true in matters of conscience. Recognizing this, they avoid judging each other over such differences. Instead, they focus on remaining united.—Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 1:10. w24.04 4 ¶7-8

At the bottom of the photo, it reads: W.R.C. August 1914 What does “W.R.C.” stand for? W.R.C. means Women’s Relief Corps. What Was the Women’s Relief Corps? The Women’s Relief Corps (WRC) was founded in 1883 as the official women’s auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—the major Union Civil War veterans’ organization. It became one of the largest patriotic women’s organizations in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman's_Relief_Corps It would be interesting to know the authenticity of this photo and who is actually posing in front of the camera.

seems the writer appreciates us for standing firm https://thecatholicherald.com/article/mary-kenny-an-absurd-crackdown-on-jehovahs-witnesses

Magnesium (avocados + almonds) + glycine (bone broth/collagen/gelatin) rich foods and/or magnesium chloride flakes to soak in. Pure gifts from Jehovah for calm and chill. Love it.

Hi Tim, Do you think this idea could tie in with your good story? Your post reminded me of the possibility of why the apples in PROV 25:11 don’t just have silver carvings, but are made of gold. We know that gold is a precious metal, very valuable. So a good word spoken at the right time is like gold, very valuable! But also, if I give you as a gift, apples made of yarn or even made of wood with silver carvings, these may also look nice. And you may appreciate my effort in making this gift and you may even like the wood or yarn design of the apples But how long will my gift of wood or yarn apples last? 5 years? 20 years? Gold however, is 1 of the most stable elements in the periodic table! So if I give as a gift, apples made of gold, how long will your gift last? Well gold is resistant to corrosion and can last thousands of years! So a good word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in another way, besides being very valuable! For example, the nice couple you had lunch with, had precious cards saved from the 1970s onward. But if those cards were good words given at the right time, or read again at a right time when they were in need of comfort or encouragement, then like apples, not of wood or yarn, but of gold, 1 of the most stable and long lasting elements that exist, then there is a possibility that a comforting card, or an encouraging email, or a touching word verbally spoken at just the right time may last as long as gold, for thousands of years!!! 😮 And what if those valuable, precious words are remembered by someone when they enter into the New World? What will happen to those precious words they had barely remembered in the “Old World”, but now their mind and memory has progressed to perfection? The result may be that a perfect mind with a perfect memory that perfectly recalls those precious, valuable words that were a gift to them way back in 2026 or in 1978, could be remembered FAR longer than just thousands of years!!! 🧠

Unknowingly, Sergei Lavrov has mentioned a truth. The masquerader behind all this. (Mathew 4:9). But then again, these are just his weapons of mass distraction.

DIARY OF A BMW DRIVER.. The other day I was cruising along as usual coming onto one of my motorways, which was very busy with inferior cars First off, I couldn't believe that the volume of traffic DIDN'T slow down for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway! The driver of the car behind me did realise his mistake though and honked an apology to me with a long blast of his horn. Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane. Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 110 mph enjoying the adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway, but was driving at a ridiculous 70 mph! Naturally, I got within a foot or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn't be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way. Of course, once he realised it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me! He also tried to keep up with me and when he realised I would out-run him, he put on some blue lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that he could congratulate me on my excellent car. Needless to say, I was eager to oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew - that my car goes fast! Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to take my drivers licence to a police station to be sent away to have some points put on! (They're not free points either - they're £20 each and I was only allowed 3.) But the man at the police station said that because I drive a BMW, it won't be much longer before I earn the full 12 points, and then I won't even NEED a driving licence, so they will take it off me! See, now THAT'S the sort of respect you get when you own and drive a BMW!

Bitcoin isn't a scam.....but the powers that be figured out how to rig it. Using ETFs and other junk like that, they can now manipulate the price & make money on the ups AND the downs. The wild crash of silver shows how easily they can move prices they have control of. No such thing as easy money for us....unless you wanna partake of Satan's table. In any case, proper research would reveal that during Bitcoin's bear cycle, a 70-90% crash in value is NORMAL. This is expected. Even without their manipulation. Know what you're getting into... Always do research & invest responsibly!

Warning/ Guterres: Global economy must surpass GDP to avoid planetary catastrophe - Kosova & Bota For decades, politicians and policymakers have prioritized growth, measured by GDP, as the primary economic goal. But critics argue that endless, indiscriminate growth on a planet with limited resources is fueling not only the climate and environmental crises, but also rising inequality. Economic growth measured by GDP can hide poverty, inequality, violence, and human rights abuses. The UN aims to complement GDP with broader indicators to assess real human well-being, equality, and environmental sustainability. This move follows warnings that current economic models ignore climate shocks, which could threaten global economic stability. World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2026 The numbers tell a sobering story. Nearly one-third of global GDP (approximately $31 trillion) faces high water stress by 2050. Today, 2.1 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water. The global water cycle is increasingly "out of balance," delivering too much water in some places (catastrophic floods), too little in others (severe droughts), and water that's too polluted almost everywhere. This isn't a future risk, it's a present crisis affecting supply chains, agricultural production, and human security. The AI-Environment Paradox By 2030, global data centers could consume 945 terawatt-hours annually. That’s more than Germany and France combined. Approximately 20% of electricity demand growth may come from AI-related computing. Water stress from cooling data centers compounds freshwater scarcity in regions already facing shortages. Beyond the Noise: Key Takeaways from Davos 2026 - CO2 AI Ecclesiastes 8:9: "during the time that man has dominated man to his harm." Revelation 11:17, 18: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king... and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”

Well, midnight is the start of a new day.

You can also click on the text below the picture and play the audio. It immediately reads out the audio description, then it reads the picture description that is below the picture.

Hey, thanks a lot. Your suggestion worked perfectly 👌.

A minister and a Taxi driver at the Pearly Gates A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, a leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?" The guy replies, "I’m Joe Cohen, taxi driver, of Noo Yawk City." St. Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." The taxi driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it’s the minister’s turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Calvary for the last forty-three years." St Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven." "Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi driver, and he gets a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?!" "Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter.

Maybe the great tribulation comes sooner than some expect

Saturday, February 7 O Jehovah, who may be a guest in your tent?—Ps. 15:1. For some time, God’s friendship was limited to those living in the spirit realm, where he dwells. Later, he extended his tent to include humans on earth. In time, among those favored ones were Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Job. Those true worshippers were described as God’s friends, or ones who walked “with the true God.” (Gen. 5:24;6:9; Job 29:4; Isa. 41:8) Throughout the centuries, Jehovah continued to invite his friends to be his guests. (Ezek. 37:26, 27) For example, from Ezekiel’s prophecy we learn that God truly wants his loyal worshippers to have a warm relationship with him. He promises to make “a covenant of peace with them.” That prophecy points to a time when those who have a heavenly hope and those who have an earthly hope will be united under his figurative tent as “one flock.” (John 10:16) That time is now! w24.062 ¶2, 4; 3 ¶5

That is probably the right assumption. If he did not SEND nor close normally, the changes were probably lost. So all the data files would be just as they were before he started.

Sadly, my eyes and brain and my neck dont like to read so I stick to our study material for our meetings ... but I do like the idea of reading although I have never really been fond of fiction and have found too often the choices had subject matter troubling my conscience - same reason I find so many movies no longer work for me. This past year I have bought several books to support our brothers and put my name in the front along with the congregation name and have lent them out with the invitation to share - even mark up and or highlight and then to pass them on... for them not to sit on a shelf! Hubby came home from the meeting on Wednesday and shared that one set is now on with its 5th reader and circulating through other congregations. I have heard some have devoured a book in a couple days. So thank you Tom and Thomas!!! 🙂 The books that I have currently circulating: Now on Earth - Thomas Walker Set Free - Thomas Walker Just See Yourself - Thomas Walker Released - Thomas Walker The Undecided - Thomas Walker The Workman's Theodicy: Why Bad Things Happen - Tom Harley I Dont Know Why We Persecute Jehovah's Witnesses - Tom Harley These ones are a more difficult read only because of the evil of war, so not a bedtime read: Unfettered Joy - Hermine Schmidt Death Always Came on Mondays - Horst Schmidt Faith on the March - Alexander Hugh Macmillan No Greater Love - How My Family Survived the Genocide in Rwanda - Tharcisse Seminega I have some books by EK Jonathan in my cart on Amazon to make part of my sharing library and was hoping maybe someone here has read and perhaps recommend which ones to start with?

and this is why we need a puke emoji added to the basic reactions

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

One part of this warning is easy to miss. The danger does not come only from obvious outsiders or clearly false teachers. Sometimes it comes from within, when those who are viewed as mature begin to speculate. When a spiritually strong person shares guesses or theories, weaker ones often listen closely. They may assume, If a mature Christian is saying this, it must be solid. In that way, speculation can carry more weight than it should. What began as a personal idea can slow another person’s growth or even confuse them. This is where trickery and deception can enter, not because someone intends harm, but because speculation is treated like truth. Immature Christians are especially affected. Instead of building confidence in what Jehovah has clearly given us, they may become unsettled, unsure, or distracted by ideas that cannot be proven. True maturity shows restraint. It recognizes that saying less is sometimes the loving choice. It protects the weak by staying close to what is known and clearly taught. When mature ones avoid speculation, they help others grow steadily instead of being pushed back and forth. Jehovah's Organization has been encouraging us to 'stick to what we know'.

@Pikachu @Mike047 @Denton The scriptures have always been there. What changes is when we take the time to read them carefully and apply them in our life. When we meditate on Jehovah’s Word, that’s when we begin ‘putting meaning into it’ and allowing it to reach our heart — just as was done when the Law was read and explained to the people. (Nehemiah 8:8) Just to clarify, this was simply a meditation on one of the five principles Brother Flegel highlighted in the first part of the annual meeting. It wasn’t meant to introduce something new, but to reflect on how applying what Jehovah has already given us can deepen its meaning for us personally.

Thank you so much! I needed this today. Reading your spiritual considerations is something I always look forward to doing since they are encouraging and uplifting. I'm grateful you've shared your hard work with us.

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

I still serve Jehovah gladly.mpeg

I can think of one or two that I would like to know better. 🤣

I've never read any Grisham, I'm a classics girl myself, but my boys have enjoyed his middle grade novels about Theodore Boone. I read the Giver in my early teens and enjoyed it-trying to interest my 14 yo in it but she declares it 'boring'. We're reading Wind in the Willows as a family. I'm currently reading numerous books myself, including Kon Tiki and Return of the Native (Thomas Hardy) and Atomic Habits. I'm reading a Russian novel a year, so far I've read Anna Karinina and Crime and Punishment. Pondering what to read this year.