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Saturday, July 19 Time will fail me if I go on to relate about Gideon.—Heb. 11:32. Gideon responded mildly when the Ephraimites criticized him. (Judg. 8:1-3) He did not reply in anger. He showed lowliness of mind by listening to their concerns, and he tactfully defused the tense situation. Wise elders imitate Gideon by listening carefully and responding mildly if criticized. (Jas. 3:13) They thus contribute to the peace in the congregation. When Gideon was honored for the victory over Midian, he focused the attention on Jehovah. (Judg. 8:22, 23) How might appointed men imitate Gideon? They can credit Jehovah for what they accomplish. (1 Cor. 4:6, 7) For example, if an elder is commended for his teaching ability, he can direct attention to the source of the instruction, God’s Word, or to the training we receive from Jehovah’s organization. Elders might at times reflect on whether they are drawing undue attention to themselves. w23.064 ¶7-8
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Friday, July 18 He made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.—Rev. 1:6. A limited number of Christ’s disciples have been anointed with holy spirit, and they enjoy a special relationship with Jehovah. These 144,000 are to serve as priests in the heavens with Jesus. (Rev. 14:1) The Holy of the tabernacle represents their spirit-begotten condition while on earth as sons of God. (Rom. 8:15-17) The Most Holy of the tabernacle represents heaven, where Jehovah dwells. “The curtain” that separated the Holy from the Most Holy represents Jesus’ fleshly body that was a barrier to his entering heaven as the great High Priest of the spiritual temple. By giving up his human body as a sacrifice for mankind, Jesus opened up the way to heavenly life for all anointed Christians. They must also give up their fleshly body to receive their heavenly reward.—Heb. 10:19, 20; 1 Cor. 15:50. w23.10 28 ¶13
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Thursday, July 17 A true friend shows love at all times and is a brother who is born for times of distress.—Prov. 17:17. Mary, the mother of Jesus, needed strength. She was not married; yet, she was to become pregnant. She had no experience raising children of her own, but she was to care for the boy who would become the Messiah. And since she had never had sexual relations, how would Mary explain all of this to her fiancé, Joseph? (Luke 1:26-33) How did Mary receive the strength? She sought help from others. For example, she asked Gabriel to provide further information concerning the assignment. (Luke 1:34) Shortly thereafter, she traveled all the way to “the mountainous country” of Judah to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth commended Mary and was inspired by Jehovah to share an encouraging prophecy about Mary’s unborn son. (Luke 1:39-45) Mary said that Jehovah had “acted mightily with his arm.” (Luke 1:46-51) Through Gabriel and Elizabeth, Jehovah strengthened Mary. w23.10 14-15 ¶10-12
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I think it looks ridiculous if I’m honest, I’ve even seen men on TV straightening their beards 😆 I’m not a black sister but I have corkscrew curls, I gave up straightening it over a year ago and since then it’s become more and more curly… when I was younger and before the age of hair straighteners I used to iron it on my mothers ironing board, I put it under brown paper and it worked but did look a bit stupid Lol
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Wednesday, July 16 Jehovah knows that the reasonings of the wise men are futile.—1 Cor. 3:20. We must avoid resorting to using human reasoning. If we look at matters from a human standpoint, we may leave out Jehovah and his standards. (1 Cor. 3:19) “The wisdom of this world” often appeals to fleshly desires. A few Christians in Pergamum and Thyatira adopted the idolatrous and immoral views common in those cities. Jesus sent strong counsel to both congregations for their toleration of sexual immorality. (Rev. 2:14, 20) Today, we face pressure to adopt wrong viewpoints. Family members and acquaintances may appeal to our emotions and encourage us to compromise. For example, they may claim that giving in to our desires does not matter and that the Bible’s moral standards are outdated. At times, we might reason that the direction Jehovah gives us is not sufficient. We might even be tempted to “go beyond the things that are written.”—1 Cor. 4:6. w23.07 16 ¶10-11
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Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon
Áine replied to Dhanyel's topic in Secular News in the Mainstream Media
Yes I agree he will do it, but I’m wondering if something else nudges his agenda in the meantime, he’s so unpredictable in many ways He is on a mission for world peace and that means bullying the other nations with his tariffs etc in order to get there… This time it’s Russia and so the pushing continues. -
Tuesday, July 15 Shepherd my little sheep.—John 21:16. “Shepherd the flock of God,” the apostle Peter urged his fellow elders. (1 Pet. 5:1-4) If you are an elder, we know that you love your brothers and sisters and want to shepherd them. However, you may at times feel that you are so busy or so tired that you cannot fulfill that assignment. What can you do? Pour out your concerns to Jehovah. Peter wrote: “If anyone ministers, let him do so as depending on the strength that God supplies.” (1 Pet. 4:11) Your brothers and sisters may be facing problems that cannot be fully solved in this system of things. But remember that “the chief shepherd,” Jesus Christ, can help them beyond what you can do. He can do so both today and in the new world. God asks elders simply to love their brothers, to shepherd their brothers, and to become “examples to the flock.” w23.09 29-30 ¶13-14
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Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon
Áine replied to Dhanyel's topic in Secular News in the Mainstream Media
That’s of course if we get to 50 days, trump has a habit of giving a timeline and then forgetting about it -
Monday, July 14 He went outside and wept bitterly.—Matt. 26:75. The apostle Peter struggled with his weaknesses. Consider a few examples. When Jesus explained how he would suffer and die in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, Peter rebuked him. (Mark 8:31-33) Repeatedly, Peter and the other apostles argued about who was the greatest. (Mark 9:33, 34) On the last night before Jesus’ death, Peter impulsively cut off a man’s ear. (John 18:10) That same night, Peter gave in to fear and three times denied knowing his friend Jesus. (Mark 14:66-72) That led Peter to weep bitterly. Jesus did not give up on his disheartened apostle. After Jesus was resurrected, he gave Peter the opportunity to reaffirm his love for him. Jesus invited Peter to serve humbly as a shepherd of his sheep. (John 21:15-17) Peter responded positively. He was in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and among the first to be anointed by holy spirit. w23.09 22 ¶6-7
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Sunday, July 13 Look! I am making all things new.—Rev. 21:5. God’s guarantee begins with the introduction: “The One seated on the throne said.” (Rev. 21:5a) These words introduce one of only three instances in the book of Revelation when Jehovah speaks in the visions. So this guarantee is provided, not by a powerful angel, not even by the resurrected Jesus, but by Jehovah himself! This fact highlights the trustworthiness of the words that follow. Why is that so? Because Jehovah “cannot lie.” (Titus 1:2) That statement makes the words that we read at Revelation 21:5, 6 completely reliable. Consider the word “Look!” The Greek term translated “look!” is used repeatedly in the book of Revelation. What follows the exclamation? God’s statement: “I am making all things new.” True, Jehovah is speaking about future changes, but for him this promise is so certain to come true that he speaks of these changes as if they were already taking place.—Isa. 46:10. w23.11 3-4 ¶7-8
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Saturday, July 12 They killed [Jehoash] . . . , but they did not bury him in the burial places of the kings.—2 Chron. 24:25. What can we learn from the example of Jehoash? He was like a tree with shallow roots that depended on the support of a stake. When the stake—Jehoiada—was gone and the winds of apostasy blew, Jehoash toppled over. This powerfully illustrates that our fear of God must not depend solely on the good influence of fellow Christians, including family members. To remain spiritually strong, we must strengthen our own godly devotion and fear through regular study, meditation, and prayer. (Jer. 17:7, 8; Col 2:6, 7) Jehovah does not really ask much of us. What he requires is summed up at Ecclesiastes 12:13, which says: “Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.” When we fear God, we will be able to face future tests and stand firm. Nothing will be able to damage our friendship with Jehovah. w23.06 19 ¶17-19
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Peace and Security, Great Tribulation, Armageddon
Áine replied to Dhanyel's topic in Secular News in the Mainstream Media
Isn’t it ironic…. Don’t you think 🎶 😂 -
Friday, July 11 I will . . . show you consideration.—Gen. 19:21. Jehovah’s humility and compassion move him to be reasonable. For example, Jehovah’s humility was evident when he was about to destroy the wicked people of Sodom. Through his angels, Jehovah instructed righteous Lot to flee to the mountainous region. Lot was afraid to go there. So he pleaded that he and his family be allowed to take refuge in Zoar, a small town that was slated for destruction. Jehovah could have insisted that Lot follow His instructions to the letter. Instead, he granted Lot’s request, even though it meant sparing Zoar. (Gen. 19:18-22) Centuries later, Jehovah showed compassion toward the inhabitants of Nineveh. He sent the prophet Jonah to announce the imminent destruction of the city and its wicked inhabitants. But when the Ninevites repented, Jehovah felt sorry for them and spared the city.—Jonah 3:1,10; 4:10, 11. w23.07 21 ¶5
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Thursday, July 10 Let your petitions be made known to God.—Phil. 4:6. We can build up our endurance by frequently and earnestly sharing our concerns with Jehovah. (1 Thess. 5:17) Perhaps you are not facing a severe trial right now. Even so, do you seek Jehovah’s guidance whenever you feel upset, confused, or overwhelmed? If you regularly turn to our God for help with your day-to-day challenges now, you will not hesitate to do so when you face bigger challenges in the future. You will then be confident that he knows precisely when and how to act in your behalf. (Ps. 27:1, 3) We are more likely to endure the future great tribulation if we endure trials today. (Rom. 5:3) Why can we say that? Many brothers have found that each test of faith that they endured helped them withstand the next challenge. Endurance refined them, strengthening their faith that Jehovah is ready and willing to help. Faith, in turn, helped them endure the next trial.—Jas. 1:2-4. w23.07 3 ¶7-8
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Wednesday, July 9 Sovereign Lord Jehovah, remember me, please, and strengthen me.—Judg. 16:28. What comes to your mind when you hear the name Samson? You likely think of a man of outstanding strength. That is true. But Samson made a bad decision that led to painful results. Still, Jehovah focused on Samson’s overall record of faithfulness, which He included in the Bible for our benefit. Jehovah used Samson to accomplish amazing things to help His chosen people, Israel. Centuries after Samson’s death, Jehovah inspired the apostle Paul to include Samson’s name in a list of outstanding men of faith. (Heb. 11:32-34) Samson’s example can encourage us. He relied on Jehovah, even during challenging circumstances. We can draw encouragement as well as learn other practical lessons from his example. w23.09 2 ¶1-2
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Tuesday, July 8 Jehovah’s day is coming.—1 Thess. 5:2. The apostle Paul compared those who will not survive Jehovah’s day to people who are asleep. They are unaware of their surroundings or the passing of time. Hence, they cannot discern important developments or respond to them. Most people today are asleep in a spiritual sense. (Rom. 11:8) They are indifferent to evidence that we are living in “the last days” and that the great tribulation will come soon. (2 Pet. 3:3, 4) However, we recognize that the inspired counsel to stay awake becomes more urgent with each passing day. (1 Thess. 5:6) Therefore, we must keep calm and steady. Why? So that we do not get caught up in today’s political or social issues. The pressure to take sides in these matters will increase as Jehovah’s day draws closer. Still, we need not be anxious about how we will respond. God’s spirit can help us to have a calm and steady state of mind and to make wise decisions.—Luke 12:11, 12. w23.06 10 ¶6-7
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Monday, July 7 Serve Jehovah with rejoicing. Come into his presence with joyful shouting.—Ps. 100:2. Jehovah wants us to serve him happily and willingly. (2 Cor. 9:7) So should we keep working toward a spiritual goal if we do not feel like it? Consider the apostle Paul’s example. He said: “I strictly discipline my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Cor. 9:25-27, ftn.) Paul forced himself to do what was right even when he may have felt inclined to do otherwise. Did Jehovah approve of Paul’s service? Definitely! And Jehovah rewarded him for his efforts. (2 Tim. 4:7, 8) Similarly, Jehovah is pleased to see us working toward our goal even when we do not feel motivated to do so. He is pleased because although we may not always be doing it out of love for that activity, he knows that we are doing it out of love for him. Just as Jehovah blessed Paul, He will bless us for our efforts. (Ps. 126:5) And as we experience Jehovah’s blessing, we may even start to feel motivated. w23.05 29 ¶9-10
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Sunday, July 6 A highway will be there, . . . the Way of Holiness.—Isa. 35:8. Whether we are of the anointed or of the “other sheep,” we need to remain on “the Way of Holiness” as it takes us through the spiritual paradise and leads us to future Kingdom blessings. (John 10:16) Since 1919 C.E., millions of men, women, and children have left Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, and have begun traveling on that figurative road. When the Jews left Babylon, Jehovah saw to it that obstacles in their way were removed. (Isa. 57:14) What about the modern-day “Way of Holiness”? For many centuries leading up to 1919, Jehovah used God-fearing men to help clear the way out of Babylon the Great. (Compare Isaiah 40:3.) They did necessary preparatory work—spiritual roadwork—to make it possible later for righthearted people to leave Babylon the Great and enter the spiritual paradise, where pure worship of Jehovah had been restored. w23.05 15-16 ¶8-9
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Saturday, July 5 Prove yourselves ready.—Matt. 24:44. God’s Word encourages us to keep cultivating endurance, compassion, and love. Luke 21:19says: “By your endurance you will preserve your lives.” Colossians 3:12 states: “Clothe yourselves with . . . compassion.” And 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10 says: “You yourselves are taught by God to love one another. . . . But we urge you, brothers, to go on doing so in fuller measure.” All these verses were addressed to disciples who had already shown endurance, compassion, and love. Yet, they had to continue developing these qualities. We must do the same. To help you, consider how the early Christians demonstrated these qualities. Then you will see how you can imitate those disciples and, as a result, prove yourself ready for the great tribulation. Then when the great tribulation begins, you will have learned how to endure and you will be determined to continue to endure. w23.07 3 ¶4, 8
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Friday, July 4 Go up to Jerusalem, . . . and rebuild the house of Jehovah.—Ezra 1:3. The word had gone out! The Jews, who had been captives in Babylon for some 70 years, were free to return to their homeland, Israel. (Ezra 1:2-4) Only Jehovah could have accomplished this. Babylon would not normally release its captives. (Isa. 14:4, 17) But Babylon had been overthrown, and the new ruler had told the Jews that they could leave. Every Jew, especially family heads, faced a decision: to leave Babylon or to stay behind. That decision might not have been an easy one to make. Old age prevented many from risking the hardships of the trip. And since most of the Jews had been born in Babylon, it was the only home they had ever known. To them, Israel was the land of their ancestors. Some Jews had apparently become very successful in Babylon, so they may have found it hard to leave their comfortable homes or their businesses and settle in an unfamiliar land. w23.05 14 ¶1-2
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Thursday, July 3 Let us consider one another . . . , encouraging one another.—Heb. 10:24, 25. Why do we attend congregation meetings? Primarily, to praise Jehovah. (Ps. 26:12; 111:1) We also attend meetings so that we can encourage one another during these difficult times. (1 Thess. 5:11) When we raise our hand and give a comment, we contribute toward both of these objectives. But when commenting, we may face challenges. We may feel anxious about commenting, or we may keenly desire to participate but are not called on as often as we would like. How can we deal with these challenges? The apostle Paul said that we should focus on “encouraging one another.” When we realize that others in the audience can be encouraged by even a simple expression of our faith, we will feel better about volunteering to comment. And if we are not called on often, we can be happy that others in the congregation will have the opportunity to comment.—1 Pet. 3:8. w23.04 20 ¶1-3
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Wednesday, July 2 O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.—Ps. 97:10. We can take practical steps to minimize our exposure to the wrong thinking and ideas popular in Satan’s system. We can fill our mind with wholesome thoughts by reading and studying the Bible. Attending meetings and taking part in the ministry will also safeguard our thinking. Jehovah, in turn, promises that he will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. (1 Cor. 10:12, 13) Each of us needs to pray more than ever to remain faithful to Jehovah during these difficult last days. Jehovah wants us to ‘pour out our hearts before him’ in prayer. (Ps. 62:8) Praise Jehovah and thank him for all that he does. Ask him to help you to be courageous in the ministry. Beg him for help to deal with any problems and to resist any temptation that you may be facing. Do not let anything or anyone stop you from regularly praying to Jehovah. w23.05 7 ¶17-18
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Tuesday, July 1 He went through the land doing good and healing.—Acts 10:38. All that Jesus said and did, including the miracles he performed, perfectly reflected his Father’s thinking and feelings. (John 14:9) What can we learn from Jesus’ miracles? Jesus and his Father deeply love us. While on earth, Jesus showed the depth of his love for people by using his miraculous power to ease their suffering. On one occasion, two blind men cried out to him for help. (Matt. 20:30-34) Notice that Jesus was “moved with pity” and then he healed them. As used here, the Greek verb translated “moved with pity” refers to an intense compassion felt deep inside the body. Such deep compassion, which is an expression of love, also moved Jesus to feed the hungry and to cure a leper. (Matt. 15:32; Mark 1:41) We can be sure that Jehovah, the God of “tender compassion,” and his Son deeply love us and are pained by our suffering. (Luke 1:78; 1 Pet. 5:7) How they must long to remove all the woes that afflict humankind! w23.04 3 ¶4-5
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Monday, June 30 He would speak to them from the pillar of cloud.—Ps. 99:7. Jehovah appointed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and as visible evidence He provided a pillar of cloud by day and one of fire by night. (Ex. 13:21) Moses followed the pillar, which led him and the Israelites to the Red Sea. The people panicked when they thought that they were trapped between the sea and the pursuing Egyptian army. But it was no mistake. Jehovah had intentionally led his people there by means of Moses. (Ex. 14:2) God then delivered them in a most astonishing way. (Ex. 14:26-28) For 40 years thereafter, Moses continued to depend on the pillar of cloud to guide God’s people through the wilderness. (Ex. 33:7, 9, 10) From the pillar Jehovah spoke to Moses, who in turn conveyed His instructions to the people. The Israelites had ample evidence that Jehovah was using Moses to guide them. w24.02 21 ¶4-5
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