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Katididaustralia

Interesting Tidbit
Posted:Nov 2, 2017 4:00 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2017 2:59 am
8562 Views

Mark 7:33-35 When Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, he went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of Decapolis. Here they brought him a deaf man with a speech impediment, and they pleaded with him to lay his hand on him and he took him aside privately, away from the crowd. Then he put his fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue and looking up into heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him: “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” At this his ears were opened, and his speech impediment was removed, and he began speaking normally.

I've often wondered about this healing by Jesus.

Why did he take the man aside from the crowd?
Why did he touch his ears?
Why did he spit?
Why did he look to heaven and sigh?

Well, when you consider Jesus' love and compassion and kindness it would seem possible that he may have sensed a nervous or even embarrassed disposition of the man and wanted to alleviate this and so took him to a private place.
Also, thinking about how we communicate with deaf people today, in signs, then it is likely that Jesus did the same thing, touching his ears so the man new that he was going to heal his hearing.
As well, spitting was a means or sign of healing accepted by both Jews and Gentiles at that time and the use of saliva in cures is reported in rabbinic writings. Jesus may have spit simply to convey to the man that he was to be healed. Jesus wasn't using his saliva as a natural or miraculous healing agent.
Likewise, when he looked to Heaven and uttered a sigh, it wasn't in exasperation or tiredness or anything like that but was a simple way to convey to the man that what he was about to experience was not from Jesus himself but from Jehovah God.

A simple explanation but very logical.
It sure makes this verses make more sense.

Katidid.
0 Comments
Hell
Posted:Oct 23, 2015 2:02 am
Last Updated:Oct 29, 2015 7:52 pm
11617 Views

Definition: The word 'hell' is found in many Bible translations. In the same verses other translations read 'the grave', 'the world of the dead' etc. Other Bibles simply transliterate the original-language words that are sometimes rendered 'hell'; that is, they express them with the letters of our alphabet but leave the words untranslated, such as the Hebrew 'sheohl' and its Greek equivalent 'haides', which refer, not to an individual burial place, but to the common grave of dead mankind; also the Greek 'ge-enna', which is used as a symbol of eternal destruction. However, both in christendom and in many other religions it is taught that hell is a place inhabited by demons and where the wicked, after death, are punished and some believe this to be with torment.

Does the Bible indicate whether the dead experience pain?
Ecclesiastes 9:5 + 6 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten. Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave(Sheol), where you are going.
So, if the dead are conscious of nothing they obviously feel no pain.
Psalm 146:4 His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish.

Does the Bible indicate that the soul survives the death of the body?
Ezekiel 18:4 Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so also the soul of the —to me they belong. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
Some Bible use the words 'soul' while others use terms such as 'the man' and 'the person'.
"The concept of 'soul', meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the 'body'.....does not exist in the Bible." - La Parole de Dieu(Paris, 1960) Georges Ausou, professor of Sacred Scripture, Rouen Seminary, France, p.128
"Although the Hebrew word 'nefesh' in the Hebrew Scriptures is frequently translated as 'soul', it would be inaccurate to read into it a Greek meaning. 'Nefesh'....is never conceived of as operating separately from the body. In the New Testament the Greek word 'psyche' is often translated as 'soul' but again should not be readily understood to have the meaning the word had for the Greek philosophers.It usually means 'life' or vitality', or, at times, 'the self'." - The Encyclopedia American, 1977, Volume 25, p. 236.
Bible usage shows the 'soul' to be a person or an animal or the life that a person or an animal enjoys.

Why is there confusion as to what the Bible says about hell?
"Much confusion and misunderstanding has been caused through the early translations of the Bible persistently rendering the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades and Gehenna by the word hell. The simple transliteration of these words by the translators of the revised editions of the Bible has not sufficed to appreciably clear up this confusion and misconception." - The Encyclopedia Americana, 1942, Volume 14, p. 81.

Translators have allowed their personal beliefs to colour their work instead of being consistent in their rendering of the original-language words. For example: 91) The King James Version rendered 'sheohl' as 'hell'. 'the grave' and 'the pit; 'haides' is therein rendered both 'hell' and 'grave'; 'ge-enna' is also translated 'hell'. (2) Today's English Version transliterates 'haides' as 'Hades' and also renders it as 'hell' and 'the world of the dead' and besides rendering 'hell' from 'haides' it uses that same translation for 'ge-enna'. (3) The Jerusalem Bible transliterates 'haides' six times but in other passages it translates it as 'hell' and as 'the underworld' as well as translating 'ge-nna' as 'hell' as it does 'haides' in two instances.
Thus the exact meanings of the original-language words have been obscured.

What is the 'fiery Gehenna' to which Jesus referred?
Reference to Gehenna appears 12 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Five times it is directly associated with fire. Translators have rendered the Greek expression 'ge-ennan toupyros' as 'hell fire', 'fires of hell', 'fiery pit' and 'fires of Gehenna'.
Historical Background The Valley of Hinnom(Gehenna) was outside the walls of Jerusalem. For a time it was the site of idolatrous worship, including sacrifice. In the first century Gehenna was being used as the incinerator for the filth of Jerusalem. Bodies of dead animals were thrown into the valley to be consumed in the fires, to which sulfur, or brimstone, was added to assist the burning. Also bodies of executed criminals, who were considered undeserving of burial in a memorial tomb, were thrown into Gehenna. Thus at Matthew 5:29+30, Jesus spoke of the casting of one's "whole body" into Gehenna. If the body fell into the constantly burning fire it was consumed, but if it landed on a ledge of the deep ravine its putrefying flesh became infested with the ever-present worms, or maggots mentioned in Mark 9:47+48. Living humans were not pitched into Gehenna; so it was not a place of conscious torment.
At Matthew 10:28, Jesus warned his hearers to "be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in gehenna.". What does it mean? Notice that there is no mention here of torment in fires of Gehenna; rather, he says to "fear him that can destroy in Gehenna". By referring to the 'soul' separately, Jesus here emphasizes that God can destroy all of a person's life prospects; thus there is no hope of resurrection for him.
So, the references to the 'fiery Gehenna' have the same meaning as 'the lake of fire' of Revelations 21:8, namely, complete destruction, 'the second death.

What does the Bible say the penalty for sin is?
Romans 6: 7 For the wages sin pays is death,.....

After one's death, is a person still subject to further punishment for their sins?
Romans 6: 7 For the one who has died has been acquitted from his sin.

Is eternal torment of the wicked compatible with God's personality?
Jeremiah 7:31 They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the of Hinnom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, something that I had not commanded and that had never even come into my heart.’
If it never came into God's heart, surely He does not have and use such a thing on a larger scale!
1John 4:8 God is love.

By what Jesus said about the rich man and Lazarus, did Jesus teach torment of the wicked after death?
If taken literally, this parable would mean that those enjoying divine favour would all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham; that the water on one's fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering thirst. Does that sound reasonable to you? Also, if it were literal it would conflict with other parts of the Bible and if the Bible were thus contradictory, would a lover of truth use it as a basis for faith?
Happily, we know that the Bible, the Word of God, does not contradict itself. God does not contradict Himself!
What, then does the parable mean? The 'rich man' represents the Pharisees. The 'beggar' Lazarus represents the common Jewish people who were despised by the Pharisees but who repented and became followers of Jesus. Their deaths were also symbolic, representing a change in circumstances. Thus, the formerly despised ones came into a position of divine favour and the formerly seemingly favoured ones were rejected by God while being tormented by the judgement messages delivered by the ones whom they had despised.
Luke 16:19-31, Luke 18:11, John 7:49, Matthew 21:31+32, Acts 5:33 + 7:54

What is the origin of the teaching of hellfire?
In ancient Babylonian and Assyrian beliefs the "nether world....is pictured as a place full of horrors and is presided over by gods and demons of great strength and fierceness." - The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria, Boston, 1898, Morris Jastrow, Jr,. p. 581
Early evidence of the fiery aspect of christendom's hell is found in the religion of ancient Egypt - The Book of the Dead, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 1960, with introduction by E. A. Wallis budge, pp. 144, 149, 151, 153, 161.
Buddhism, which dates back to the 6th century B.C.E., in time came to feature both hot and cold hells - The Encyclopedia Americana, 1977, Volume 14, p. 68.
Depictions of hell portrayed in catholic churches in Italy have been traced to Etruscan roots - La civilta etrusca, Milan, 1979, Werner Keller, p. 389.

However, the real roots of this God-dishonouring doctrine go much deeper. The fiendish concepts associated with a hell of torment slander God and originate with the chief slanderer of God, the devil(which name means slanderer), the one whom Jesus Christ, in John 8:44, called "'the father of the lie."

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, although he knew that he would be put to death as the ransom sacrifice, his flesh ‘rested in hope.’ This was because of his knowledge that his Father would resurrect him, that his sacrifice would successfully serve the ransom purpose, and that his flesh would not see corruption. That it would not stay in the grave to rot. Jehovah God evidently disposed of Jesus’ fleshly body in his own way (possibly disintegrating it into the atoms of which it was constituted). Jesus did not take back his fleshly body and thereby cancel out the ransom for which it was given, Acts 2:26, 31, Luke 24:2+3, 22+ 23; John 20:2
On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., the apostle Peter referred to David’s death and quoted Psalm 16:10: “You will not leave my soul in Sheol.” After mentioning that David was still in his tomb, Peter applied those words to Jesus and indicated that David “saw beforehand and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in Hades(the grave) nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God resurrected, of which fact we are all witnesses.” Peter here used the word “Hades,” the Greek counterpart of the Hebrew word “Sheol.”
Thus, those said to be in Hades are in the same situation as those said to be in Sheol. They are sleeping in the grave, awaiting resurrection. Acts 2:29-32

From this it is very clear that Jesus did not go down into Hell, since there is no such place, but simply died and went to the place common to all mankind, that is, death.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope this has furnished clear information and Scriptures for you Bible study. Of, course there are many more Scriptures that can be referenced also, especially those using the word 'soul'.

When I first began to understand this I simply replaced the word 'soul' with the word 'life' in my mind as I read. It sure does make the verses much clearer. Likewise, you can do this with 'hell', 'hades', 'sheol' and 'Gehenna' replacing them with 'the grave' and 'destruction'.

Yours,
Katidid.
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Act Wisely In A Senseless World
Posted:Sep 29, 2015 3:50 am
Last Updated:Oct 25, 2015 9:30 pm
12718 Views

Many things in today's world have advanced to help the human race, but, in contrast, spiritually and morally, most people are paupers and don't know how to get along with others.
Many people preach enlightenment but there are no solutions to many basic human problems.
Rockets into space don't help a starving baby!
Armaments and war don't progress unity of nations!
Supposed nuclear deterrents don't make peace!
Senseless talk abounds.
Religions promote politics and war with the resulting extermination of millions of people.

Generally speaking, many are fortunate to live in a country where most have luxuries, can marry and provide for their families and are basically 'well off' but false reasoning, the love of money and greed for advanced living conditions distorts an acceptable sense of values.
1Timothy 6:9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin

So, how can we act wisely?
Is there a true source of wisdom?
Happily, the answer is Yes!
God's Word, the Bible, provides us with all the necessary knowledge we need to live a happy, fulfilled and useful, loving lives.
Proverbs 27:11 Be wise, my , and make my heart rejoice, so that I can make a reply to him who taunts me.

We each have our own opinions but when everyone follows their own thinking all it does is promote hatred and chaos. Just watch the news on any given day for every possible example in the world of these results.
Jeremiah 10:23 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.

God's reasoning, unlike our own, are pure and logical and completely thought through for our benefit and if we actually apply God's standards and principles in our lives we will benefit ourselves and the lives of those around us.
Isaiah 48:17 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk.
Psalm 119:144 The righteousness of your reminders is eternal. Give me understanding, so that I may keep living
Romans 15:4 For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.
Proverbs 3:21 My , do not lose sight of them. Safeguard practical wisdom and thinking ability.
We need to always be on guard against the machinations of the satan so that we are not led astray by the corruptions and enticements of the world we are surrounded by. Mixing in the world's politics, entertainments and greeds only leaves a dirty stain on our lives and on our hearts.
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them: “Keep your eyes open and guard against every sort of greed, because even when a person has an abundance, his life does not result from the things he possesses
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?
1Corinthians 2:12 Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.

We need to love God and serve Him willingly by choice. Loving what He loves and hating what He hates.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that Jehovah hates; Yes, seven things that he detests: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, a false witness who lies with every breath, and anyone sowing contentions among brothers.
Deuteronomy 16:22 22 “Neither should you set up a sacred pillar for yourself, something Jehovah your God hates
Isaiah 61:8 For I, Jehovah, love justice; I hate robbery and unrighteousness.
Zechariah 8:17 Do not scheme calamity against one another in your hearts, and do not love any false oath; for these are all things that I hate,’ declares Jehovah.”
Malachi 2:16 For I hate divorce,” says Jehovah the God of Israel, “and the one who covers his garment with violence,” says Jehovah of armies. “And guard yourselves respecting your spirit, and you must not deal treacherously.
Ephesians 5:3-5 Let sexual immorality and every sort of uncleanness or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as is proper for holy people; neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting—things that are not befitting—but rather the giving of thanks. For you know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no sexually immoral person or unclean person or greedy person, which means being an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and of God.
2Timothy 3:1-3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.
None of these things are fitting for those who want to please God and be protected by Him.
Reading His Word and agreeing with it is not enough! If we continue to listen to the empty speeches of the world it will taint us, make no mistake about that!

There are approximately 400 million first pages on the world wide web to date - some may well be accurate but many, if not most, are inaccurate and time wasters and most are contrary to God's standards and can be rightly labelled 'falsely called knowledge', especially those that challenge God's Word and suppose that the Bible's standards are false or out of date and that undermine confidence in Jehovah's Word.
Fiction is one thing but false reality is dangerous and unfiltered learning may seem legitimate but it can cause unlearned ones to think such things are actually real and/or true, and being immersed in such 'false knowledge' can cause fear, anxiety and fantasy.
It is far better to listen to the knowledge of Jehovah God and avoid unrealities and fantasies. God's Word helps us avoid the many heartaches caused by 'false knowledge' and 'false doctrines' and 'false realities'.

There is very little good news in satan's world, despite the many advances of modern life, and many would trick us out of jealousy for the positive attitude and obvious happiness in our lives. The world's peoples cannot focus on God's Word nor on positive, happy outcomes and so they try at every turn to undermine our faith in God's Truth.

We need the 'gold coins' of God's wisdom and not the cold, gold coinage of satan's system. God's future plans are what make for happiness and confidence in our lives. We do not want to be wise in our own eyes nor in the eyes of the world. What we need is to be wise in the eyes of Jehovah and this brings life everlasting through His loving and wonderful , Christ Jesus.

The world of satan's design, this system of things, has no answers to mankind's plight and most things in the world, the 'bling' so to speak, appeals to our desires, greeds and jealousies.
1John 2:15+16 Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world.
1 Timothy 6:9+10 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains

What sort of training do you want? The training of this world's words of senseless philosophies or the training from Jehovah God found in His Word?
Meditating on God's Word requires deep thought to let His standards and principle sink deep into our hearts, changing our sinful nature to a more readily acceptable nature of Godly wisdom. It does not come easily in this corruption that we have inherited but it certainly does come.
Prayer to Jehovah God asking for wisdom, faith, help to keep walking in His Way and to make good choices in our lives is a most wonderful gift given by God. Amazingly, we can talk to the most powerful being in the whole of existence and be heard by Him! Not just heard, but also answered. So wondrous!
Psalm 65:2 O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come
Psalm 66:19 But God did hear; He paid attention to my prayer.

Satan's enticements can be very subtle. Such things as peer pressure.
Romans 16:17+18 Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them. For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering speech they seduce the hearts of unsuspecting ones.

Is it easier to tell the truth or to lie?
Is it easier to apologize than to justify your wrong actions and words?
Is it easier to be angry and puffed up than to pursue peace?
These are important questions we all need to ask ourselves.
What course am I on?

Fearing Jehovah God and acquiring wisdom will keep you from the destruction of this senseless world system and the 's of satan!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope this is not too long for you. I did add a few more relevant Scriptures than was actually given in the talk that Sunday.

Love Katidid.
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Jah's Eyes Are Upon You
Posted:Sep 21, 2015 4:08 am
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2020 9:17 am
12473 Views

Why does a mum or dad keep a watch on their ?
Is it to take a tally of their wrong doings?
Is it to be the 'fun police'?
Is it to growl at them over every single mistake made?
No, it is because they love their and want to care for them and keep them safe and protected.
A good parent watches their 's actions, good and bad, focusing on the positive in love and concern, commending them for their good qualities and teaching them what other action may have been made when they do something bad.

Just like a good parent, Jehovah God keeps a watch on us.
He presents Himself in many Scriptures as a loving Father.
Why does He present Himself in this way?
It is because He wants us to understand that our connection to Him is like that of a and a loving parent.
Since He is our creator, it is a logical representation to us, so that we can understand His great loving concern for us.

Unhappily, most people in the world of satan today act as if no 'parent' is keeping a watch over them.
Psalm 14:1 The foolish one says in his heart: “There is no Jehovah.” Their actions are corrupt, and their dealings are detestable; No one is doing good.
For the most part, people act as if no one sees them, and often another human person doesn't, but they forget or ignore the power of God.

Funnily enough, we actually live in a 'big brother' age where there are cameras everywhere and sadly it is precisely because of the age we live in that this is necessary because of the great rise in crime in the world and the wickedness of most people.
Even then, most people take little notice of their actions and who may see, thinking they can act with impunity because it is their right 'to be themselves' etc..
2Timothy 3:1-4 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,
Philippians 3:19 Their end is destruction, and their god is their belly, and their glory is really their shame, and they have their minds on earthly things

Amazingly, people post very personal information about themselves online for all and sundry to read and then wonder why they can't get jobs or attract unwanted attention. Very 'woolly' thinking indeed.
Even if people are concerned because of being 'seen' they certainly don't take into account that it is God who sees them over and above human agencies and they wouldn't care even if they acknowledged that God is watching because they don't think God matters or that He will act.

Unlike a human parent or a human agency, Jehovah God sees everything!
Psalm 11:4+5 Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah’s throne is in the heavens. His own eyes see, his watchful eyes examine the sons of men. Jehovah examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one; He hates anyone who loves violence.
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere, watching both the bad and the good.
There is no ambiguity in this.
God sees all!

If we pray in silence we expect Jah to hear.
If we died tomorrow we expect Jah to keep us in His memory and resurrect us in the Millennium.
We expect that Jah knows 'us' and is able to make us live again as 'us', remembering who we are.
The embryo of us is 'down in writing' as it were. In our DNA information, but is that who we actually are.
Does this information take into account our upbringing, our experiences, what is in our heart and mind?
No, it doesn't, but we expect that God sees and knows all these things about us so that our characters also will be in place in the resurrection.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.

How do you feel about God seeing all things about you?
Do you feel somehow that it is an invasion of privacy?
That we are always under supervision?
Does it bother you knowing that cameras may always be taking pictures of you when you go out in public?
Not usually, so why would it make anyone feel uncomfortable to know that Jah is watching?
Is it because we know that we are doing wrong?
Fooling ourselves with 'wooly' thinking and unsound reasonings?
Is it not more important that Jehovah God, the maker of all things, is keeping a close eye on His creation?
Acts 4:24 “Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,


So, why is Jah watching us?
It is because He has our best interests at heart.
Isaiah 48:17 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God,
The One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One guiding you in the way you should walk.

Jehovah God is interested in us and he is interested in our silent prayers to Him.
You could say He is tuned into us.
Psalm 65:2 O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come

Wonderful good news for those loving God. The most powerful of all beings is personally interested in me - 'has my back' so to speak - cares for me!
Awful bad news for those practising sin in opposition to God. There is no place to hide.
Hebrews 4:13 And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account.

What we need to ask ourselves is:-
Does my way of life have Jehovah God's approval?
Does it reflect God's standards and principles?
Does it reflect the claim I make of being a Christian?
Do I look into the mirror of God's Word and then just turn away?
Do I allow what I learn to change my heart and mind away from satan's worldly thinking?
Do I actually apply what I learn in my day to day life?
Would another person truly see that I am different to most people in the world around me?
Am I ashamed of what God may see of me in my life.
What are my true motives in my day to day dealings, not just with people but also with the rules and laws of the authorities I am subject to in this world?

Tough questions!
How will we answer?

Happily, God is interested in our progress as Christians and He loving helps us through the Kingship of His loving , Jesus Christ, and through the free gift of His Holy Spirit.
Will we let Him help us?
All we have to do is keep on knocking and asking and applying and acting in harmony with our requests.
Matthew 7: 7 “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you.
Are we, however, like a bratty , knocking at the door and then running away?
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Is it actually easier to stand for Truth or to live in the world of satan's corruption?
Is it easier to tell the Truth or to keep on telling lies and having to keep tab constantly of what we have said?

Important questions for all of us knowing that God is watching and wants with all His heart for us to reach salvation.
Love Katidid.
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The Mathematical Ability Of Plants
Posted:Sep 18, 2015 2:49 am
Last Updated:Mar 17, 2020 9:18 am
12858 Views

Plants use a complex process called photosynthesis to extract energy from sunlight to create food. Studies on certain species have revealed that they perform yet another feat - they calculate the optimum rate at which to absorb that food overnight!

Consider: By day, plants convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into starch and sugars. During the night, many species consume the starch stored during the day, thus avoiding starvation and maintaining plant productivity, including growth. Moreover, they process the stored starch at just the right rate - not too quickly and not too slowly - so that they use about 95 percent of it by dawn, when they start making more.

The finding were based on experiments on a plant of the mustard family called Arabidopsis thaliana. Researchers found that this plant carefully rations its food reserves according to the length of the night, no matter whether 8, 12 or 16 hours remain until dawn. Evidently, the plant divides the amount of starch available by the length of time remaining until dawn, thus determining the optimal rate of consumption.

How do plants ascertain their starch reserves? How do they measure time? What mechanism enables them to do math? Further research may shed light on these questions.

What do you think? Did the mathematical ability of of plants come about by mere chance such as evolutionists say? Or...was it designed by a magnificent and wonderfully creative God?

Since Jehovah God is the ultimate mathematician I am choosing to believe the Bible's account of creation.

One thing I do appreciate though is the ability of man to do these amazing researches and experiments to explain God's wonderful abilities. We surely live in an amazing time in history for so very many reasons.

Love Katidid.
1 comment
How Jehovah God Has Started To Fulfill His Promises In Our Own Time
Posted:Sep 13, 2015 6:36 pm
Last Updated:Sep 13, 2015 6:38 pm
12142 Views

Jehovah's people do not now form a literal nation, nor do they occupy a single, physical land. Rather, anointed Christians make up a spiritual nation, "the Israel of God."
Galatians 6:6 As for all those who walk orderly by this rule of conduct, peace and mercy be upon them, yes, upon the Israel of God.
Their companions of the "other sheep" join them in a spiritual "land," a realm of activity in which they worship Jehovah God unitedly. That worship is their way of life.
John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.
Isaiah 66:8Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Will a land be brought to birth in one day? Or will a nation be born all at once? Yet, as soon as Zion went into labor, she gave birth to her sons.
What kind of land has Jehovah given us?
It is a spiritual paradise.
Here God's promises about Edenic conditions have seen a wonderful, spiritual fulfillment.
Consider some examples.

Security
In the prophecy recorded in Isaiah, we find a delightful picture of harmony and peace - between wild animals on the one hand and humans with their domestic animals on the other.
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, and with the young goat the leopard will lie down, and the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together; and a little boy will lead them. The cow and the bear will feed together, and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull. The nursing will play over the lair of a cobra, and a weaned will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake. They will not cause any harm or any ruin in all my holy mountain, because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.
Does this picture find a spiritual fulfillment today? Yes!
Does 'the Knowledge of Jehovah' change the behaviour of animals? No.
It is people who are transformed by coming to know the Most High God and learning to imitate His peaceful ways. That is why in our spiritual paradise today, we can observe a heartwarming fulfillment of that prophecy. Under Kingdom rule, Christ's followers are learning to put off their fierce, animalistic qualities and live in peace and harmony with their spiritual brothers and sisters. Jesus proclaimed that his followers would be known by the love they have amoung themselves
John 13:34+35 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves
Within the Congregation, Christ is patiently using his "faithful and discreet slave" to teach all true Christians to be peaceable, loving and gentle.
Matthew 24:45-47 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.

Abundance

The world suffers from spiritual famine. The Bible warned:
Amos 8:11 "Look! The days are coming,' declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, when I will send a famine into the land, not famine for bread or a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of Jehovah."
Do the citizens of God's Kingdom suffer famine too? Jehovah foretold the following contrast between His people and His enemies:
Isaiah 65:13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “Look! My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. Look! My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. Look! My servants will rejoice, but you will suffer shame.
Spiritual provisions flow to us like an ever-broadening and ever-deepening river.
Ezekiel 47:1-12 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and there I saw water flowing eastward from under the threshold of the temple, for the front of the temple was facing east. The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He then led me out by way of the north gate and took me outside and around to the outer gate that is facing east, and I saw water trickling from the right side. When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off 1,000 cubits and had me pass through the water; the water was ankle deep. Then he measured off another 1,000 and had me pass through the water, and it was up to the knees. he measured off another 1,000 and had me pass through, and the water was up to the hips. When he measured off another 1,000, it was a torrent that I was unable to walk across, for the water was so deep that one had to swim, a torrent of water that could not be crossed on foot. He asked me: “Have you seen this, of man?” Then he had me walk and return to the bank of the stream. When I returned, I saw that on the bank of the stream were very many trees on both sides. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region and continues down through the Ar′abah and enters the sea. When it enters the sea, the water there will be healed. Swarms of living creatures will be able to live wherever the waters flow. There will be an abundance of fish, because this water will flow there. The seawater will be healed, and everything will live wherever the stream goes. “Fishermen will stand beside it from Engedi clear to Eneglaim, where there will be a drying yard for dragnets. There will be an abundance of many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea. “It will have swampy places and marshy places, and these will not be healed. They will be abandoned to salt. “All sorts of trees for food will grow on both banks of the stream. Their leaves will not wither; nor will their fruitage fail. Each month they will bear new fruit, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruitage will serve as food and their leaves for healing.”
Joel 3:18 In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, and the streams of Judah will all flow with water. Out of the house of Jehovah a spring will flow, and it will irrigate the Valley of the Acacia Trees.
It is thrilling to see the fulfillment of Jehovah's promises of abundance in our daily life. It is wonderful to feed regularly at Jehovah God's table.

Spiritual Health
Spiritual blindness and deafness are pandemic today.
2Corinthians 4:4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.
Yet, Christ is curing infirmities and illnesses worldwide. When people come to accurate knowledge of the Truth of God's Word, letting go of religious lies that once made them blind and deaf to the Truth, the promise of God is being fulfilled.
Isaiah 29:18 18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the book, and out of the gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see
Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people every year are finding such spiritual cures. Each person who leaves Babylon the Great behind and joins us to worship in our spiritual paradise is living proof that Jehovah's promises are coming true!

Let Your Kingdom Come
Jehovah's purpose has long been to make the earth a global paradise. He placed Adam and Eve in a paradise garden and He gave them the command to fill the earth with their offspring and to take care of all its creatures.
Genesis 1:28 Further, God blessed them, and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.
Instead, Adam and Eve followed satan into rebellion and plunged all their offspring into imperfection, sin and death. Yet, God's purpose never changed. Once spoken, His words always find complete fulfillment.
Isaiah 55:10+11 For just as the rain and the snow pour down from heaven and do not return there until they saturate the earth, making it produce and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so my word that goes out of my mouth will be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly accomplish whatever is my delight, and it will have sure success in what I send it to do.
We may be sure, then, that the descendants of Adam and Eve will fill this earth and subdue it, taking loving care of Jehovah's creation in a global paradise. At this time, the prophecies originally given to the Jewish exiles about life in paradisaic conditions will reach their ultimate fulfillment! Consider the following examples.

Security
At long last, the heartwarming word picture painted in Isaiah will see a complete fulfillment even in a literal sense. Men, women and will be safe and secure wherever they go on earth. No creature, whether human or animal, will pose any threat. Imagine a time when you will see this entire planet as your home, where there will be divisions in the human family such as nations and tribes, where you can swim in rivers, lakes and seas: traverse the mountain ranges and roam the grasslands in complete safety and when night falls, you will not worry. The words of Ezekiel will come true, so that it will even be possible for God's peole to 'dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests".
Isaiah:11:6-11 The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, and with the young goat the leopard will lie down, and the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together; and a little boy will lead them. The cow and the bear will feed together, and their young will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the bull. The nursing will play over the lair of a cobra, and a weaned will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake. They will not cause any harm or any ruin in all my holy mountain, because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.
Ezekiel 34: 25 “‘“And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and I will rid the land of vicious wild beasts, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the forests

Abundance
Picture a time when there will be no such thing as poverty, malnutrition, famine or a welfare system. The spiritual plenty that God's people enjoy today is a guarantee that the Messianic King will feed his subjects in every respect. When Jesus was on the earth, he demonstrated on a small scale that he can fulfill such promises, he fed thousands of hungry people with just a few loaves and fish.
Matthew 14:17-21 They said to him: “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.” He said: “Bring them here to me.” And he instructed the crowds to recline on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said a blessing, and after breaking the loaves, he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. So they all ate and were satisfied, and they took up the leftover fragments, 12 baskets full. Now those eating were about 5,000 men, as well as women and young .
When God's Kingdom is ruling over the whole earth there will be a literal fulfillment of this example.
Isaiah 30:23 And he will give the rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground produces will be abundant and rich. In that day your livestock will graze in spacious pastures
Today many people can hardly imagine owning a comfortable home or having rewarding, satisfying work to do. Many feel that they work just ot make the rich men richer. Imagine what it will be like when this prophecy comes true worldwide.
Isaiah 65:21-23 They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bear for distress, because they are the offspring made up of those blessed by Jehovah, and their descendants with them.
What does it mean that our days will be "like the days of a tree"? When you stand at the base of a massive tree, do you feel a sense of awe sweeping over you as you contemplate how long that living thing has been there - perhaps since long before your great-grandparents were born? It might occur to you that if you were to remain in your present imperfect state, such a tree would likely outlive you, still stretching out its long, peaceful existence even after you had become a mere memory. How kind of Jehovah to assure us that in the Paradise to come, our own days will be long and peaceful.
Psalm 37:11 + 29 But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace....The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.
The day will come when even long-lived trees will seem to us as transient as the grass, coming and going while we continue to live!

Perfect Health
Today sickness and death cast their grim shadows over every aspect of this world. In a sense, we are all sick - infected with a terminal illness called sin. The only cure is Christ's ransom sacrifice.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord
During the Millennium Reign, Jesus and his co-rulers will fully apply the benefits of that sacrifice, gradually eradicating all traces of sin from faithful humans.
Isaiah 33:24 And no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error.
Imagine a time when no one will be blind, deaf or crippled!
Isaiah 33:5+6 At that time the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. At that time the lame will leap like the deer, and the tongue of the speechless will shout for joy.
No illness will prove to be beyond Jesus' ability to heal - whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Loyal Kingdom subjects will enjoy perfect health!
What though of the common outcome of sickness, the inevitable result of sin - death? That is our "last enemy", the one foe against which all imperfect humans sooner or later prove powerless.
1Corinthians 15:26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing.
Is death such a daunting adversary to Jehovah? Notice what Isaiah foretold:
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for Jehovah himself has spoken it.
Can you picture that time?
No more funerals, no more cemeteries, no more tears of grief!
Quite the contrary - there will be tears of joy as Jehovah fulfills His thrilling promise to bring back the dead!
Isaiah 26:19 “Your dead will live. My corpses will rise up. Awake and shout joyfully, you residents in the dust! For your dew is as the dew of the morning, and the earth will let those powerless in death come to life.
At last, countless wounds inflicted by death will be healed.

By the end of the Millennium, the Kingdom will have finished carrying out God's will on earth and Christ will hand the rulership over to his Father.
1Corinthians 15:25-28 For he must rule as king until God has put all enemies under his feet. And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. For God “subjected all things under his feet” but when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him but when all things will have been subjected to him, then the himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.
Humankind, perfected at last, will be ready to face a final test when satan is released from the abyss of inactivity. Thereafter, Christ will finally crush that vile serpent and all his supporters.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.
Revelation 20:3, 7-10 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them....Now as soon as the 1,000 years have ended, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will go out to mislead those nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. The number of these is as the sand of the sea, and they advanced over the whole earth and encircled the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city, but fire came down out of heaven and consumed them. The Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Happily, all who loyally love Jehovah will face a bright prospect. Perhaps no words could paint a better picture than the ones we find in an inspired phrase.
Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the of God.
Those promises are not based on mere hopes, wishes or dreams. Fulfillment of Jehovah's promises is a certainty! Why? Remember Jesus words.
Matthew 6:9=10 “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth.
God's Kingdom is not the product of someone's imagination. It is a reality! It rules in Heaven now! For a century it has fulfilled Jehovah's promises in ways that we can clearly see in the Christian Congregation. We can be sure, then, that all of Jehovah's promises will be fulfilled when God's Kingdom comes to exert its full power toward the earth!
We know that God's Kingdom will come. We know that Jehovah's every word of promise will come true. Why? Because GOD'S KINGDOM RULES! The question is, 'Does the Kingdom rule me'?
Let us do all we can to live as loyal subjects of that Kingdom now, so that we may benefit from its perfect, just rule, soon, and forever.
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Such thrilling events to see and look forward to are happening now and coming soon.

I hope you have benefited from this study.
Love Katidid.
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Imitate Jesus Christ - Why & How?
Posted:Sep 7, 2015 5:04 am
Last Updated:Sep 7, 2015 5:05 am
12157 Views

Luke 6:40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly instructed will be like his teacher

1. How can we imitate Jehovah God?
Well, it isn't easy in this world of satan and it isn't easy because we are 'fallen' from the perfection to which we were born through Adamic sin.
We can't even look at God so how can we know how to imitate Him?
1Timothy 1:17Now to the King of eternity, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
How can we know what He is like to copy Him?
Well, we can look to Jesus.
John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him.
Jesus example is a beautiful reflection of His Father.
How did Jesus reflect Jehovah?

By his tender compassion, commendation and loving empathy toward people. Jesus is such a wonderful example of how Jah feels about us. What a privilege it is to be able to reflect Jehovah by our own example. Jesus' attributes show us just how loving God is toward us.

2. Safeguard ourselves by imitating Jesus.
Jesus was very concerned for all his disciples, then and now, after the time that he was gone from the world as a human being.
John 17:11 “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one
We too can show this same loving concern for those around us. Not just our loved ones but to strangers and those we meet in every day situations. It doesn't cost us anything. In fact, we would gain much in God's eyes.
Luke 6:32-36 “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. And if you do good to those doing good to you, of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same. Also, if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, of what credit is it to you? Even sinners lend to sinners so that they may get back as much. On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful
We can also imitate Jesus in prayers to God. Not just once a day or when we think of it or when we have troubles, but right through each day. Prayer, supplication and petition. Not just on our own behalf but in behalf of others. Our loved ones, those we maybe don't like so much and even perfect strangers that we may have spoken to or even just noticed in our daily lives. Also, It is very hard to stay angry at someone after we have offered prayers in their behalf so don't forget to pray for those hating us or who are mad at us.
Hebrews 5: 7 During his life on earth, Christ offered up supplications and also petitions, with strong outcries and tears, to the One who was able to save him out of death, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.
So, we too can be favourably heard.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you so that by means of me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.”
We too can take courage and with Jah's help we can also 'conquer the world'. Certainly not to the extent that Jesus has but we can daily make decisions that put God first above the 'cares of the world'. Such simple things as: do we really need that extra pair of shoes, do I really need to buy junk food when it is not healthy for me, should I really be looking at this porn site, could I help that lady carry those heavy bags, can I contain my exasperation at this slow checkout girl etc......there are so many ways. Of course, importantly,....can I really not make time to study God's word and do some research, can I really not take the time to pray and supplicate God on behalf of others, I really can pass over my tiredness to get to Meeting on time.

3. Great joy and happiness.
Jesus didn't just speak to people to 'hear the sound of his own voice' as the saying goes. He wanted us to learn and to understand the lessons he was imparting.
If therefore, we imitate Jesus in his love for Jah then our days can, even in this harsh world, be joyful.
How happy our Leader, Christ Jesus, must be to observe from heaven how the preaching work that he started is being carried out in ever more regions of the earth! Yes, for all of God’s people, it is a heartfelt joy to offer themselves willingly to carry out Jesus’ command.
Matthew 28:19+20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
When have you seen what you would describe as joyful people? We see happy people, sure, but true joy is a God given gift and that joy comes from God Himself. By following Him and copy His 's example we really can have true joy in our lives, now and in the future.
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be made full
The Apostles, in the Book of Acts, show us just what it means to be hated by the nations and to be joyful for it. They gave us many examples of the joy God gives.
Luke 6:22+23 “Happy are you whenever men hate you, and when they exclude you and reproach you and denounce your name as wicked for the sake of the of man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for look! your reward is great in heaven, for those are the same things their forefathers used to do to the prophets.
How often have you tried to give advice to someone and had it spurned or even had it backfire on the person who tried the advice. Sometimes things all work out ok but more often than not, this world just confuses and bamboozles us.
How much more useful would it be to give Godly advice. Advice straight from God's Word instead of advice based on our own thinking or on our experiences in this world.
2Corinthians 1:12 For the thing we boast of is this, our conscience bears witness that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but with God’s undeserved kindness.

4. Attract others to the Truth of God's Word.
It is quite easy to be kind to others....sometimes more easy than other times, but we can all persevere and imitate Jesus in this. We want to understand Jesus' attributes and copy them as closely as possible on every occasion so that our light beams.
Matthew 5:16 Likewise, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens
What was Jesus personality like?
He was kind, joyous, non-judgemental and mild-mannered. He attracted people to himself simply because of his demeanour and not just his good looks or his teaching work.
Are we not also attracted to kind and loving persons? Yes, we are.
How much better it is to attract those yearning for God's Truths in their lives with the attractiveness demonstrated by imitating the qualities of Jesus.
Malachi 3:18 And you will again see the distinction between a righteous person and a wicked person, between one serving God and one not serving him.”
Many people in this world are said to be kind, nice or good but are they serving God? See for yourselves the difference between good and bad. Be the difference between good and bad.
Good is extremely unusual in this satan ruled world.

5. There is only one way to gain everlasting life.
Exercising faith is more than talk. It involves understanding the lesson Jesus gave us and understanding the principles involved and what God's standards are. It involves carry forward in our lives fulfilling those principles and standards.
John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.”
Before we can imitate Jesus we need to know his attributes very well. Therefore we will understand God's attributes, His principles and His standards. We cannot follow what we do not know and we cannot teach what we do not know. We do not want to be running in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16 Keep doing all things free from murmuring and arguments, so that you may come to be blameless and innocent, of God without a blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world, keeping a tight grip on the word of life. Then I may have reason for rejoicing in Christ’s day, knowing that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.

We want to, need to, follow Jesus correctly - intently - closely.
Distractions from this world of satan can easily distract us and cause us to loose sight of Jesus. Never may that happen.
Hebrew 12:1-6 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up. In your struggle against that sin, you have never yet resisted to the point of having your blood shed. And you have entirely forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My , do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah, nor give up when you are corrected by him; for those whom Jehovah loves he disciplines, in fact, he scourges everyone whom he receives as a .”
We need to cling to the Truth of Jesus and not in preconceived ideas or conveniences. He, as King of God's Kingdom, is the one that can teach us. He is the one we want to follow closely.
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I sure hope you have enjoyed this lesson.
I have taken it from the notes I took of the first lesson on the first day of our three day Convention which I was able to attend down in Brisbane recently. Such a joyful weekend and it was lovely to meet Brothers and Sisters from different Congregations.

Love,
Katidid.
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Walking With The True God Brings Blessings Now & Forever
Posted:Aug 26, 2015 5:25 am
Last Updated:Mar 1, 2022 9:51 am
15428 Views

Is our God Jehovah, as our loving Father, distant from us?
No!
Are we distant as parents?
No!
When our are learning to walk or read or ride a bike we tend to be right by their side helping them.
When we are learning of Jah and learning His Way He is right by our side helping us.
Acts 17:26-28 And he made out of one man every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of where men would dwell, so that they would seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us. For by him we have life and move and exist, even as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his .’
As parents we are reflecting Jehovah's own standard as a loving parent.
We need Jehovah to guide our steps as a young needs our guidance in learning. He is our creator and knows us better than we know ourselves.
Jeremiah 10:23 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.

Since we are living in 'critical times' do you think Jah would be standoffish?
Never!
We need Him now more than in any time in human history, to get us, in loyalty, through these last days.
2Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.

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Genesis 6:9 This is the history of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God
Noah had great responsibilities, caring for his family in dangerous days amid violent peoples, building the Ark and preaching to mankind of the impending Flood.

How does this relate to us?
We also need to keep building our relationship with God - like a spiritual Ark.
We also need to care for our families both physically, materially and spiritually.
Also, we need to be teaching and preaching the Good News of God's Kingdom to a mostly hostile populace.
Noah trusted in Jehovah and relied on His guidance and he obeyed Him. The result was that Noah and his family was saved the calamity that came upon humankind at that time.
Hebrews 11: 7 By faith Noah, after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith.

Enoch had to be brave to preach a warning of the calamity coming on mankind. This occurred 600 years later in the form of the Flood.
Undoubtedly, he knew about the events in Eden. Probably, he also heard about what life had been like in the garden in Eden—which was perhaps still in existence, although barred to humans and he knew of God’s purpose that Adam’s offspring would fill the earth and make the whole planet like that original Paradise. In addition, Enoch surely cherished Jehovah’s promise to produce a Seed that would crush Satan’s head and undo the ill effects of Satan’s deception.
Indeed, Enoch’s own inspired prophecy, preserved in the book of Jude, has to do with the destruction of Satan’s seed. Since Enoch had faith, we know that he worshipped Jehovah as the one who “becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” Hence, while Enoch did not possess all the knowledge that we do, he had enough to form the foundation of a firm faith. With such a faith, he kept his integrity during turbulent times.
Genesis 3:23+24
Genesis 1:28
Genesis 3:15
Hebrews 11:6

What did Enoch have to deal with?
The corruption introduced by Satan in the garden of Eden quickly led to the spread of wickedness among Adam’s descendants. In such a world, Enoch was a prophet of Jehovah whose powerful inspired words resonate even today.
Jude reports that Enoch prophesied:
Jude 14+15 “Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him.”
Those words will find their final fulfillment at Armageddon. Still, we can be sure that even in Enoch’s day, there were many “ungodly sinners” who heard Enoch’s prophecy with annoyance. How loving that Jehovah took the prophet out of their reach!
Revelation 16:14, 16
Enoch was the first person described in the Scriptures as walking with God. The Bible record says:
Genesis 5:22 “After his fathering Methuselah Enoch went on walking with the true God.”
Then, after reporting the length of Enoch’s life—which, while long compared with our life span, was short for those days—the record says:
Genesis 5:24 “Enoch kept walking with the true God. Then he was no more, for God took him.”
Evidently, Jehovah transferred Enoch from the land of the living to the sleep of death before opposers could lay hold of him.
Hebrews 11:5+13
Apart from those brief verses, there are few references to Enoch in the Bible. Nevertheless, from the information that we have and from other indications, we have good reason to say that Enoch’s times were turbulent.

How does Enoch relate to us?
As in Enoch's day, Jah has the right of judgement and we need to warn others of the coming calamity that will hit mankind.
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Micah 4:1-5 In the final part of the days,
The mountain of the house of Jehovah
Will become firmly established above the top of the mountains,
And it will be raised up above the hills,
And to it peoples will stream.
 And many nations will go and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah
And to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will instruct us about his ways,
And we will walk in his paths.”
For law will go out of Zion,
And the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem.
 He will render judgment among many peoples
And set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning shears.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
 They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree,
And no one will make them afraid,
For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken.
 For all the peoples will walk, each in the name of its god,
But we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God forever and ever.

Today, many are flocking to True Worship of God but to the world in general, it is not a popular course as most people would rather worship anything - idols, creeds, material things - anything except their creator. Happily though, many will be devoted to Jehovah the One and Only True and Living God.

God gives light to our understanding and He guides our steps, physically and spiritually. When we begin to learn of God our light brightens as we show humiltiy and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives until it becomes a floodlight bright and beaming.
It is a total way of life and not just a part-time, on and off again hobby.
Thinking and acting in God's principles and standards needs to be a constant. It is not just a 'hat' that we put on for the occasional event to suit ourselves and then take off and throw on the hat stand to be ignored until the next event when we want to trot it out to put it on show for the next event.
Psalm 119:105+106 Your word is a lamp to my foot, and a light for my path. I have sworn an oath, and I will carry it out, to observe your righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:97+98 How I do love your law! I ponder over it all day long. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, because it is with me forever.

If we let our work, play and worldly commitments rule all our hours daily we become spiritually starved, empty inside and bereft of all comfort and peace eventhough we may have any number of worldly accolades or material riches.
1Timothy 6:9+10But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains
Matthew 6:24 “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches
As imperfect humans we tend to sacrifice our responsibilities to both God and our families thinking we ourselves are more important. Thinking more of ourselves than we ought.
Philippians 2:3+4 Do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with humility consider others superior to you, as you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Proverbs 29:23The haughtiness of a man will humble him, but whoever is humble in spirit will obtain glory
Jesus' priority was the teaching and preaching about God's coming Kingdom and it needs also to be our priority if we are going to follow him closely.
1Peter 2:21 In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely.
From a physical standpoint Jehovah God knows we need to have a job to provide for our families but a worldly man will take a job regardless of the type of job it is, whereas, as spiritual man will consider how a particular job may effect his spirituality and his time to serve Jah and to care for his family.
Psalm 119:1+2 Happy are those who are blameless in their way, who walk in the law of Jehovah. Happy are those who observe his reminders, who search for him with all their heart
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There is a high price to pay for immorality - loss of personal dignity, loss of resources and loss of health.
Proverbs 5:3-12 For the lips of a wayward woman drip like a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet descend into death. Her steps lead straight to the Grave. She gives no thought to the path of life. Her course wanders, but she does not know where. Now, my sons, listen to me and do not turn away from what I am saying. Stay far away from her; Do not go near the entrance of her house, So that you may not give your dignity to others nor reap years of what is cruel; So that strangers may not drain your resources and what you labored for go to the house of a foreigner. Otherwise, you will groan at the end of your life when your flesh and body waste away and you say: “How I hated discipline! How my heart despised reproof!
Proverbs 5:1+2 My , pay attention to my wisdom*. Listen carefully to my discernment so that you may guard your thinking abilities and safeguard knowledge with your lips
*Wisdom = Truth and walking with Jehovah is a protection.
Psalm 91:14 God said: “Because he has affection for me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he knows my name
There is so much happening around us in these critical days but few can see it and most don't discern it.
Matthew 24

How Does Jah view us in our errors?

Many times we stumble. When the righteous one stumbles Jah helps him get up again in a spiritual sense but the worldly man stays down even in the appearance of endurance.
Proverbs 24:16 For the righteous one may fall seven times, and he will get up again, but the wicked will be made to stumble by calamity.
Meditate on God's word and apply it in your life, daily, because there are so many blessings that come from walking with the True God.
Jeremiah 3:14-17“Return, you renegade sons,” declares Jehovah. “For I have become your true master; and I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and they will feed you with knowledge and insight. You will become many and will bear fruit in the land in those days,” declares Jehovah. “No more will they say, ‘The ark of the covenant of Jehovah!’ It will not come up into the heart, nor will they remember it or miss it, and it will not be made again. At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all the nations will be brought together to the name of Jehovah at Jerusalem, and they will no longer stubbornly follow their own wicked heart.”

How long do we want to walk with Jehovah God?

Forever!
John 3:36 The one who exercises faith in the has everlasting life; the one who disobeys the will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Serve Him now and through the tribulation to come upon a wicked world and then across the 100 years and on into the future that awaits.
There will be much work to be done, still much teaching and preaching for those unrighteous ones who will also be resurrected, not to mention whatever may be needed by way of repairing the damage inflicted on the earth since the time of Adam, as well as whatever we may choose for ourselves by way of providing for our needs and our hobbies etc.....much to do in the 'satisfaction of our hands'.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as for Jehovah, and not for men,

Yours,
Katidid.
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Let The Truth Transform Your Life
Posted:Aug 25, 2015 5:33 am
Last Updated:Aug 25, 2015 5:33 am
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Transformation = Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis = change of form, e.g., a caterpillar into a butterfly.
Romans 12:2 And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul is a wonderful example of this transformation of the mind. From being an opposer of God he became one of the principle witnesses of The Good News.
Was it easy for him to make this change? No.
Initially the other Christians were very wary of this former opposer and they did not want to include him in their midst and he, during his spiritual growth, during his preaching work, suffered greatly.
Acts 9:26On arriving in Jerusalem, he made efforts to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a disciple.
2Cor 6:4-10 but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties, by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food; by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy, by truthful speech, by God’s power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report. We are regarded as deceivers and yet we are truthful, as unknown and yet we are recognized, as dying and yet look! we live, as punished and yet not handed over to death, as sorrowing but ever rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
2Cor 7:5 In fact, when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies got no relief, but we continued to be afflicted in every way—there were fights on the outside, fears within
2Cor 11:23-28 Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: I have done more work, been imprisoned more often, suffered countless beatings, and experienced many near-deaths. Five times I received 40 strokes less one from the Jews, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the open sea; in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, frequently without food, in cold and lacking clothing. Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day: the anxiety for all the congregations.

Since Paul was such a fine example of the transformation possible by the Truth of the Good News, we can be imitators of him, using the lessons taught and learned by him as our template, as one imperfect man to another.
1Cor 11:1 Become imitators of me, just as I am of Christ

Isaiah's prophecy of the New World conditions can also be likened to the transformation which can take place in us. Changing out beast-like corrupt natures to the dove-like natures of God's .
Many people have allowed God's spirit to work on them in this way, changing their demeanor and personality, in their manner and character.
A change from an aggressive, nasty, hypocritical and indolent personality to a loving, Godly character.
Such a huge transformation is only possible with God's help by His spirit.
Imagine the New World to come filled with people loving God and loving each other with no hatefulness to deal with. Especially so after the 1000 year period is concluded.
Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb,
And with the young goat the leopard will lie down,
And the calf and the lion and the fattened animal will all be together;
And a little boy will lead them.
The cow and the bear will feed together,
And their young will lie down together.
The lion will eat straw like the bull.
The nursing will play over the lair of a cobra,
And a weaned will put his hand over the den of a poisonous snake.
They will not cause any harm
Or any ruin in all my holy mountain,
Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah
As the waters cover the sea.


At present we all fall short of this ideal but we want to progress, to be able to reflect God's qualities just as Jesus did/does.
Of course, God knows our shortcomings, and He does not expect perfection from us, but He does expect us to try our best in every aspect of our daily lives, to live up to His holiness and this is where many of our hardships come from. Our own shortcomings.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Psalm 103:13+14 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust

We want our dominant mental attitude to be changed from the negative of corruption to the positive of Jehovah God. Transforming our mind, the center of our perception and understanding.
We want our mind's spirit to be actuated by God and not by satan.
The spirit of the mind is the force that makes a person display a certain attitude which dominates our action and our inclinations. All too often we struggle to change our dominant attitude because of sin and corruption.
Romans 12:2 And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This implies a present tense and a continuous action. It cannot be stated and then set aside.
It takes a continuous study of God's word with meditation on His scriptures and application of His standards and principles into our daily undertakings and our mental thinking processes.
We want to change past thinking in the chemical patterns in our brains neural pathways to leave a new indelible imprint so that continual use of these pathways gets stronger daily.
Eph 4:23 And you should continue to be made new in your dominant mental attitude

We cannot make these changes ourselves but we can ask for God's help by His Spirit.
By committing God's principles and standards to our minds we will be able to recall what we need to know, the best course to follow, when making decisions on all levels, each day of our lives.
1John 5:14+15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that no matter what we ask according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us concerning whatever we are asking, we know that we are to have the things we ask for, since we have asked them of him.

Let Jehovah God's Truth actuate the changes in your life, changes to your mind to have an automatic outlook towards God's view in your mental attitude.
Have we gotten so far and then stopped progressing?
Are we dole-like in our thinking, not progressing past the initial change made when we first started studying and meditating on God's word?
2Cor 13:5 Keep testing whether you are in the faith; keep proving what you yourselves are.Or do you not recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with you? Unless you are disapproved

Thinking of the pupae of a caterpillar before its transformation into a butterfly, it often becomes a beautiful iridescent chrysalis. Sometimes gold in colour.
Have we broken out of the chrysalis or are we still pupating and just hanging?
Better to reflect, like the broken open chrysalis, the shining gold of Jehovah's love.
Join our voices with those of His Kingdom in glorifying His name.
2Cor 3:18 And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, exactly as it is done by Jehovah the Spirit

Love,
Katidid.
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Does Jehovah God Really Have Control Of The World And Over Satan?
Posted:Aug 10, 2015 8:14 pm
Last Updated:Aug 10, 2015 8:15 pm
12188 Views

Genesis 6:11+12 But the earth had become ruined in the sight of the true God, and the earth was filled with violence. Yes, God looked upon the earth, and it was ruined; all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.
By the time of Noah, the earth had become 'filled with violence' just as it is today.

Does this mean that God no longer had/has control of earth's affairs?

What does the historical record reveal?

Consider the account of Noah. Jehovah gave him detailed architectural plans and instructions to build a massive ark that would save Noah and his immediate family. God also showed great love for his entire human family when he commissioned Noah to be 'a preacher of righteousness'.

Noah's message no doubt included a call for repentance and warnings of impending destruction, but it fell on deaf ears. For decades, Noah and his family lived amid a violent and grossly immoral world. Jehovah, as a caring Father, protected and blessed those eight loyal souls and by bringing a global Flood, Jehovah exercised dominion over the rebellious humans and wicked angels.
2Peter 2:4-10 Certainly God did not refrain from punishing the angels who sinned, but threw them into Tar′ta·rus, putting them in chains of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment and he did not refrain from punishing an ancient world, but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness, safe with seven others when he brought a flood upon a world of ungodly people and by reducing the cities of Sod′om and Gomorrah to ashes, he condemned them, setting a pattern for ungodly people of things to come and he rescued righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed by the brazen conduct of the lawless people—for day after day that righteous man was tormenting his righteous soul over the lawless deeds that he saw and heard while dwelling among them. So, then, Jehovah knows how to rescue people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people to be destroyed on the day of judgment, especially those who seek to defile the flesh of others and who despise authority daring and self-willed, they are not afraid to speak abusively of glorious ones,

Yes, Jehovah God was definitely in control and this gives us full confidence in His Word concerning the future. Confidence that during the tribulation He can and will protect His people, as a whole, and that we will walk into the New World free of satan's dominion and influence.
Hallelujah!
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Take heart, the future awaits all those willing to take a hold of it.

Love,
Katidid.
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