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Friday, April 24 Ponder over these things; be absorbed in them, so that your advancement may be plainly seen by all people.—1 Tim. 4:15. A brother who qualifies as an elder is not a newly converted man. Although you do not have to be baptized for many years, you do need time to become a mature Christian. Before you are appointed as an elder, you must demonstrate that, like Jesus, you are humble and are content to wait on Jehovah for any assignment. (Matt. 20:23; Phil. 2:5-8) You can prove that you are loyal by sticking to Jehovah and his righteous standards and by following the direction given through his organization. The Scriptures clearly state that overseers must be qualified to teach. Does this mean that you must be an excellent public speaker? No. Many well-qualified elders, though not the best public speakers, teach effectively in the ministry and on shepherding calls. w24.11 23-24 ¶14-15

Don’t feel silly at all, everyone who has ever had a pet of any kind knows the pain we feel when they are no longer here… I’ve even had to ask in my congregation if anyone has a dog that we could go on walks with because my remaining dog is so lonely now do you have a photo of your dog you could share here? This is my dog she was called Pip

I absolutely feel your pain and hurt, I also lost my 16 year old dog two weeks ago and the hole she has left in my heart is immense I still have a 10 year old dog at home and she is also grieving badly and seems to have lost all confidence in herself As for why Jehovah created animals that die? I think it’s a question that in our imperfect state we are unable to answer … I continue to hang on to the hope that in the new world Jehovah will open his hands to us and that we could have our beloved pet back if we wanted to… But again that is me yearning to have my dog back with me and I’m thinking emotionally because the pain is raw… we don’t know Jehovahs plans and we’re way too imperfect to comprehend them even if we did! Try to think back on all of the happy times you had together, you gave her the very best life that you could and you made her happy… but it’s so very hard to deal with right now 😪

Thursday, April 23 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.—1 Tim. 1:15. Imagine giving someone you love a special gift that is both beautiful and practical. How disappointed you would be if that person simply put it in storage and gave it no further thought! On the other hand, you would surely be pleased if he or she put your gift to good use and expressed appreciation for it. What is the point? Jehovah has given his Son in our behalf. How happy Jehovah must be when we show gratitude for that precious gift and for his love, which moved him to provide the ransom! (John 3:16;Rom. 5:7, 8) As time passes, however, we could begin to take the gift of the ransom for granted. It would be like putting God’s gift in storage. We are happy to have it, but we keep it out of sight. To prevent that from happening, we must regularly renew our gratitude for what God and Christ have done for us. w25.01 26 ¶1-2

I’m looking forward to summer again

Wednesday, April 22 Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely.—1 Pet. 2:21. Jesus set a perfect example of how to cope with injustice. Consider the unjust treatment he experienced, both from family and from outsiders. His unbelieving relatives accused him of being out of his mind, the religious leaders accused him of collaborating with the demons, and Roman soldiers mocked him, physically assaulted him, and eventually killed him. (Mark 3:21, 22; 14:55; 15:16-20, 35-37) Yet, Jesus endured all that injustice and more without retaliating. What can we learn from his example? (1 Pet. 2:21-23) Jesus left us a perfect model to follow when we are dealing with an injustice. He knew when to remain silent and when to speak. (Matt. 26:62-64) He did not reply to every false statement made about him. (Matt. 11:19) When he did speak, he did not insult his persecutors or threaten them. w24.11 4-5 ¶9-10

Tuesday, April 21 I will come again and will receive you home to myself.—John 14:3. Only genuine, faithful anointed ones will be received by Jesus into the heavenly Kingdom. Any anointed ones who do not remain spiritually alert will not be gathered with the “chosen ones.” (Matt. 24:31) By extension, all of God’s people, regardless of their hope, should view Jesus’ words as a warning to keep on the watch and remain faithful. We have come to know Jehovah well, so we trust his judgment. We are not concerned if Jehovah has chosen to anoint some faithful ones in more recent years. We recall what Jesus said about the 11th-hour workers in his illustration of the vineyard. (Matt. 20:1-16) Those who were invited to work in the vineyard later in the day received the same wage as those who began working in it earlier. Likewise, no matter when anointed ones are selected, they will receive the heavenly reward if they are judged faithful. w24.09 24 ¶15-17

Monday, April 20 Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.—1 Cor. 10:24. How long should you observe the person before you express your romantic interest? If you approach someone too soon, you could come across as impulsive. (Prov. 29:20) On the other hand, if you take too long, you could come across as indecisive, especially if the other person has perceived your interest. (Eccl. 11:4) Remember, before approaching someone, you do not need to be convinced that you will marry that person. But you should be convinced that you are ready for marriage and that the other person could be a suitable mate for you. What, though, if you sense that someone is interested in you? If the feeling is not mutual, try to make that clear by your actions. It would be unkind to make the person think that there is a possibility of a relationship when that is not the case.—Eph. 4:25. w24.05 22-23 ¶9-10

Seriously!! I’m saying I don’t like the man I didn’t once say that I don’t respect him, I don’t need to show this man honour.. I honour Jehovah. i am also not American, I live in Ireland… maybe we just have a very different outlook here and I suspect that’s the case and as Tortuga said I would love him to come into the truth, do I think he will? As Richard said it would be a modern day miracle. Sorry if I offended you.

Sunday, April 19 If your heart becomes wise, then my own heart will rejoice.—Prov. 23:15. By the time the apostle John wrote his third letter, some individuals were spreading false teachings and causing divisions. However, others continued “walking in the truth.” They obeyed Jehovah and were “walking according to his commandments.” (2 John 4, 6) These faithful Christians brought joy not just to John but also to Jehovah himself. (Prov. 27:11) What is the lesson for us? Faithfulness leads to joy. (1 John 5:3) For example, we have the joy of knowing that we make Jehovah happy. He rejoices to see us reject the temptations of the world and accept the truth. Others in heaven also rejoice. (Luke 15:10) We too can find joy in seeing one another remain faithful. (2 Thess. 1:4) Then when this system passes away, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that we demonstrated our loyalty to Jehovah even in a world dominated by Satan. w24.11 12 ¶17-18

I’m afraid that no other president in history has been like Trump… and I think that it’s perfectly ok to say that you dislike the guy, he is a cringeworthy raging narcissist!! Does that mean that I’m not remaining neutral? Personally I don’t think so… I don’t even know the name of the party he represents… I’m that interested in it Lol As a person I don’t like him I find myself laughing and cringing at him in equal measure I do feel that he will possibly be in power during the GT and how that will go down is interesting in itself!

Saturday, April 18 If anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper.—1 John 2:1. The most important decision that any person can make is the decision to dedicate himself to Jehovah and to become part of His family of worshippers. Jehovah desires everyone to do so. Why? He wants them to enjoy a friendship with him and to live forever. (Deut. 30:19, 20; Gal. 6:7, 8) However, Jehovah does not force anyone to serve him. He allows each individual to decide what he will do. What if a baptized Christian breaks God’s law, committing a serious sin? If he does not repent, he must be removed from the congregation. (1 Cor. 5:13) Yet, even then, Jehovah fervently hopes that the wrongdoer will return to Him. In fact, that is an important reason why he provided the ransom—to make forgiveness possible for repentant sinners. Our loving God warmly appeals to wrongdoers, urging them to repent.—Zech. 1:3; Rom. 2:4; Jas. 4:8. w24.08 14 ¶1-2

Friday, April 17 Let no one lead you astray in any way.—2 Thess. 2:3. What can we learn from the apostle Paul’s words to the Thessalonians? When we hear something that does not harmonize with what we have learned from the Bible or when we hear a sensational rumor, we need to use discernment. In the former Soviet Union, our enemies once circulated a letter that was allegedly from world headquarters. The letter encouraged some of the brothers to form a separate, independent organization. The letter itself appeared to be genuine. But faithful brothers were not fooled. They realized that the message the letter contained did not line up with what they had been taught. Today, enemies of the truth sometimes use modern technology in an effort to confuse and divide us. Rather than be “quickly shaken from [our] reason,” we can protect ourselves by considering whether what we hear or read is in harmony with the truths we have already learned.—2 Thess. 2:2; 1 John 4:1. w24.0712 ¶14-15

Exactly…. Hope this doesn’t bother you.

Buckle up .. It wasn’t you Lee… Shawn is replying to the wrong person

Thursday, April 16 In my distress I called on Jehovah, . . . and my cry to him for help reached his ears.—Ps. 18:6. King David knew Jehovah and relied on Him. When pursued by his enemies, including King Saul, David prayed to Jehovah for help. After God answered his prayer and rescued him, David declared: “Jehovah is alive!” (Ps. 18:46) With these words, David was not merely acknowledging that God exists. One reference work notes that David was expressing confidence in Jehovah “as a living god who constantly acts on behalf of his people.” Yes, David knew from personal experience that his God was alive, and that conviction renewed his determination to serve and praise Jehovah. (Ps. 18:28, 29, 49) Our being convinced that Jehovah is the living God can help us to serve him with zeal. We will have the strength to endure trials and the motivation to continue working hard in his service. We will also be determined to remain close to Jehovah. w24.0620-21 ¶3-4

Wednesday, April 15 Love one another.—John 15:12. Jehovah’s people love to help one another. (2 Cor. 8:4) However, at times, it takes courage to do so. For example, when a war breaks out, the local elders realize that their brothers and sisters need encouragement, support, and perhaps spiritual or physical provisions. Out of love for the sheep, the elders put their own safety at risk in order to provide what is needed. In such circumstances, it is important that we remain united. Cooperate with the direction from your local branch office. (Heb. 13:17) Elders should regularly review local arrangements for disaster preparedness as well as organizational direction on what to do when a disaster is imminent. (1 Cor. 14:33, 40) Be courageous but cautious. (Prov. 22:3) Use common sense. Do not take unnecessary risks. Rely on Jehovah. He can help you to assist your brothers safely. w24.07 4 ¶8; 5 ¶11

Tuesday, April 14 Will the Judge of all the earth not do what is right?—Gen. 18:25. A person’s eternal future does not depend on when he happens to die. Jehovah is the perfect Judge—he renders just and righteous decisions. (Ps. 33:4, 5) We can be confident that “the Judge of all the earth” will do what is right. It is also reasonable to conclude that a person’s eternal future does not depend on where he happens to live. It is unthinkable that Jehovah would automatically label as “goats” millions of people who live in lands where they never had an opportunity to respond to the Kingdom message. (Matt. 25:46) The righteous Judge of all the earth cares even more about these individuals than we ever could. We do not know how Jehovah will maneuver events during the great tribulation. Perhaps some of these people will have an opportunity to learn about Jehovah, put faith in him, and take their stand on Jehovah’s side when he sanctifies himself before all nations.—Ezek. 38:16. w24.05 12 ¶14-15

I finished ‘The Lost Passenger’ by Francis Quinn last month it was very good in fact all of her books are good!!

Monday, April 13 Satan . . . is misleading the entire inhabited earth.—Rev. 12:9. In the first century, Satan’s supporters told one lie after another about the perfect, miracle-working Son of God. For example, the religious leaders told people that Jesus’ power to expel demons was given to him by “the ruler of the demons.” (Mark 3:22) When Jesus was on trial, the religious leaders accused him of blasphemy and incited the crowds to call for his death. (Matt. 27:20) Later, as Christ’s followers preached the good news, those who opposed them “stirred up and wrongly influenced the people” to persecute those Christians. (Acts 14:2, 19) Regarding Acts 14:2, The Watchtower of December 1, 1998, explained: “Not content with rejecting the message themselves, Jewish opposers embarked on a smear campaign, trying to prejudice the Gentile population against Christians.” Today, Satan is still “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” w24.0411 ¶15-16

Sunday, April 12 I praise you, O Jehovah my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever.—Ps. 86:12. Jehovah is merciful and compassionate. (Ps. 103:13; Isa. 49:15) He is empathetic; when we feel hurt, he feels hurt. (Zech. 2:8) He makes it easy for us to draw close to him as a Friend. (Ps. 25:14; Acts 17:27) And he is humble; “he stoops down to look on heaven and earth, raising the lowly from the dust.” (Ps. 113:6, 7) How could anyone not want to glorify our great God? We glorify Jehovah because we want others to know him. Many do not know the truth about Jehovah. Why? Because Satan has blinded their minds by spreading terrible lies about Him. (2 Cor. 4:4) Satan has convinced people that Jehovah is vengeful, uncaring, and the cause of much of the world’s suffering. But we know the truth about our God! We have the opportunity to set the record straight and thus bring him glory.—Isa. 43:10. w25.01 3 ¶6-7

Saturday, April 11 Look out for yourselves, so that you do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that you may obtain a full reward.—2 John 8. Jehovah created us with a special ability. Although we enjoy receiving, we gain even greater happiness when we give to others. We feel good when we are able to help our fellow believers. And we are happy when they express their appreciation. Yet, whether the receiver expresses appreciation or not, we can be glad that we did the right thing. Never forget that whatever you give, “Jehovah has the means to give you much more.” (2 Chron. 25:9) We simply cannot outgive Jehovah! And there is no greater joy than to be repaid by Jehovah himself. Let us be determined, then, to continue imitating our generous heavenly Father. w24.09 31 ¶20-21

Friday, April 10 How I do love your law! I ponder over it all day long.—Ps. 119:97. When you do your Bible reading, be sure to look for ways to apply what you read. As you go over a portion of God’s Word, ask yourself, ‘How can I apply this information now or in the near future?’ To illustrate, let’s say that your Bible reading included 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18. After reading those two verses, you could stop and think of how often and how deeply you pray. Also, you could reflect on things for which you are grateful. Maybe you determine that you will thank Jehovah for three specific things. With even a few minutes of such focused attention, you will to some extent become a hearer and a doer of God’s Word. Think of how you would benefit by repeating this process each day with other portions of the Bible that you read! Yes, you will grow as a doer of God’s Word. w24.09 4-5 ¶9-10

Thursday, April 9 He interceded for the transgressors.—Isa. 53:12. Jehovah asked Abraham to offer up his own son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham surely found this to be the most painful task imaginable. Nonetheless, he prepared to follow through with it. But God stopped him at the last moment. Still, that example teaches all people of faith a vital truth—Jehovah would be willing to offer his own beloved Son as a sacrifice. Jehovah loves humans that much. (Gen. 22:1-18) Centuries later, the Law given to the nation of Israel called for many sacrifices to atone for the sins of God’s people. (Lev. 4:27-29; 17:11) Such sacrifices pointed to a greater sacrifice, one that would completely save mankind from sin. God’s prophets were inspired to explain that the promised offspring, who turned out to be a special Son of God, would have to suffer and be put to death in order to save mankind—including you—from sin and death!—Isa. 53:1-12. w24.08 4 ¶7-8

And yet you want to know what is going on