Text For Monday, 30 April 2007

[barry]

Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.—1 Cor. 15:33.

Completely avoiding contact with those in the world is neither possible nor required. (John 17:15) Sharing in the Christian ministry, attending school, going to work all involve contact with the world. A Christian married to an unbeliever may have to rub shoulders with the world more than others do. Having our perceptive powers trained, however, we appreciate that it is one thing to have necessary but limited contact with the world and quite another to cultivate close ties with it. (Jas. 4:4) Thus, we are able to make mature decisions as to whether we will participate in extracurricular activities at school, such as sports events and dances, and attend parties and dinners arranged for fellow employees. w 3/15/06 8, 10

[Kenneth]

Do you know the amount of brothers who have forgone some of the riches rewards of life in various fields and disciplines total into their tens of thousands. Few have ever read a book in their life. Yet some of the funniest and brightest people I have ever known have been Jehovah's Witnesses. Because of their being no part of the world is extended into every facet of life JWs are submerge totally into the world of the Watchtower, as if chained to it. This is not to say that one should engage in the ways of the world and its practices, but we should be left to develop as people whose perceptive powers are trained to decipher the difference between right and wrong.

[eyes&ears]

Morning everyone hope ya had a wonderful weekend.

To be honest, my issues were not with the world. I knew about bad associations with the world. My stumbling block was not understanding the association with some of Jehovah's people.

So I was not prepared and was totally very naive when certain behavior was practiced by some of us. I thought none of JW's people would do such things and that everyone was honest and was concerned with the spiritual welfare of their brothers and sisters.

FOR THE MOST PART THIS IS TRUE. But there are those wicked evil persons that slip in, (2Tim 3:5, Jude 19) just to cause divisions, upheaval, disorder and to make us lose our focus. I had to learn this the hard way. However, with Jehovah's help and direction, with the knowledge, wisdom and discernment that he has now blessed me with, because of my staying in his Word, I pray the pain I suffered because of the lack of knowledge on my part never catches me off guard again and that I continue to mature spirituially. In fact I pray we all stay focused especially during these times.

At ths stage of my spiritual walk, I am pretty much with Jehovah's help able to spot trouble makers right away in every day life as well as amongst my brothers and sisters. Most of the time when I ignore what I perceive to be unchristian behavior, if it is not serious the person(s) realizes hmmmm can't upset her cart of apples, best to move on.

In fact I do this with all kinds of obnoxious behavior unless as I say it demands to be addressed. Some behavior is just so obvious and you know what the person(s) are trying to do so the wise thing is to remove oneself from the nonsense if it is possible and to keep peace. Otherwise on a daily basis we would be in constant little battles and upset. I refuse to let some nut upset my day because they are unhappy.


The other thing is I pray we never make decisions about leaving Jehovah based on the lack of love not shown in our KH. I have come to understand that this is a DIVISIVE TOOL THAT SATAN HAS BEEN AND STILL IS USING TO CAUSE SOME OF US TO LEAVE JEHOVAH'S PEOPLE PREMATURELY. (This is my opinion and my belief)

If he can get us out from association he can keep us confused and beat us down if we do not stay close to Jehovah and allow Jehovah to direct/re-direct our steps. I have found that once we isolate ourselves and we do not have a outlet/spiritual association that is when we start trusting in our own strength. DANGER DANGER DANGEROUS. I did that but from fumbling around on the computer found this site, and was able to talk with you all who are experiencing the same things.

The studying on my own was good for awhile and the exchange on the net here is okey dokey, but I needed face to face contact. SO I DROPPED MY PRIDE AND ALLOWED JEHOVAH TO SHOW ME WHAT E & E NEEDED TO DO, AND THEN I DID IT. IT WAS NOT EASY GOING BACK TO THE MEETINGS AFTER YEARS BUT I AM SOOOOOO GLAD I DID.


We each have to do what is best for us. My walk is not your walk and your walk is not my walk. But we will each answer to Jehovah for our lifestyle and decisions. Hmmmmmm.

May we always be mindful of our association and remember Jehovah sees and hears everything. So what is the point in doing something deliberately dumb regarding association.


So before I ramble on and on and on. I will just repeat what the brother said in his talk yesterday. To keep our joy, DO NOT TIRE OUT, REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE PROMISES JEHOVAH HAS MADE. Yesterday's talk was very very good.

Your rambling sister in love :Love:

E & E

[Candace]

Many of us learned the hard way that some of the bad associations we need to look out for are right there in the congregation. I was caught off guard because I had been in a relatively problem-free congregation for my formative years, and then moved to another state and into a hornet's nest about 3 years after I was baptized. The sad part is that the problems had been going on for years and were affecting one generation after another. In that particular county very few of the teenagers remain in the truth. Probably about 90% or higher leave or are DF'd.


We each have to do what is best for us. My walk is not your walk and your walk is not my walk. But we will each answer to Jehovah for our lifestyle and decisions. Hmmmmmm.[/b]

Well said E&E. :)