Stress is dangerous!

 Here in India, there are many reasons for people to feel stressed. The job market is super tight! There is a huge population with few jobs. Interestingly enough, this is the case in South Korea as well, even though its population is shrinking. A person I used to spend a lot of time with has a son who graduated from college. He could not get into medical school but he can work and earn for himself. He will not. He will, and he is at this moment studying for the civil servant exam in South Korea. This will take years. Even if he passes on the first try, it will still be months or even one or two years before he gets his placement.

So jobs create stress. This world does not have the answer to this. This issue is worldwide.

Political unrest is another source of great stress. This can affect everything from food prices to housing, travel, education, and healthcare; the list could go on and on. Here in India, just like in South Korea and the USA, people in power cannot come to an agreement. They are puffed up with pride, lovers of money. When you take a look at the leading powerful political figures, there is one thing they all have in common.

They are very rich! There was an article in the Korea Times that mentioned it recently. 

So even though they are rich and have power, they can not agree with each other, often fighting verbally and sometimes even physically. So while the people who voted for them run in circles, voting left and right, they often regret their choice. 

US presidents and South Korean prime ministers often end their rule with low popularity. 

The bible tells us of Jesus, who, when he came to earth, campaigned for the kingdom he would be placed as king over. During his preaching, he gave real hope, showing that he has been given the authority to take care of all of our needs. One, he healed the sick and raised the dead! He fed thousands with very little on two occasions. He controlled the weather and is able to read human hearts. He will always know what is best for us. When Jesus was on Earth in human form, he kept directing praise to his father Jehovah.

If we stress not following the advice Jesus gave in Matthew chapter six, we will end up doing the wrong thing. Running after money, blaming Jehovah for our ails (death of a loved one, natural disasters, and sickness), and when Jesus does come, we will be at a great disadvantage. 

What do I mean by this? The Israelites are a good example for us. They saw Jehovah's power and saving hand, and support. Yet a whole generation lost out on the promised land due to their lack of faith.

They were all saved from bondage in Egypt! But they later died free in the wilderness. 

When Jesus comes, if we are striving to live a life according to the guidance that he gave, and later the apostles gave to the congregations, we will be in a good position when Jesus comes. We will not take it for granted that Jesus died for our sins, and due to Jehovah's love and undeserved kindness, we are allowed to continue living and enjoying the peace that the new world will offer.  

If we are not doing these things but allowing the anxieties of life to overwhelm us, we will be at a great disadvantage. 

Jesus said it is better for those to believe without seeing. When People see the greatest witness of Jesus's second coming, many will fall on their knees and humble themselves. Many of these believe only what they can see. It is easy for them to start to complain once Satan is locked up and the Earth is being restored. 

The restoration of the Earth will not be easy. We will not suddenly become perfect at that time! Our issues with our old personality and that battle will continue. Better to start working on putting on the new personality NOW in THIS system of things. It is so much better to make the truth our own. Not mom's or dad's truth. Not my husband or wife's truth. Not my best friend's truth. What happens if that one should die? Many might blame God and abandon the good path they were on.

Stress is a powerful snare that Satan uses!

/tata

The Iran war

 You see the bible tells us that there will be reports of wars and that these things MUST take place. I thank Jesus for saying these words. I thank Jehovah for preserving them. 

Here in India, there is a lot of stress over the situation in Iran. For me? Not so much. I am planning to buy supplies (a bit earlier than usual), but I will not stress. I know these things will happen and that they need to happen. 

I will not allow these things to distract me from my spiritual routine. I want to draw closer to Jehovah and I am working hard in this regard. Fear of events that are getting worse and worse, and then focusing on them well, I will be panicking. I might be drawn into joining protests, not attending meetings, or going out in the ministry. 

These times are so different than before. These are truly the latter part of the last days. Today, students going to school and graduate sit at home idle. Why? Jobs are scarce, I mean the sought after jobs. The office jobs with high salaries with nice perks. They are still here but it is easier to see how they are reserved for a class of people in a special group.  There are some Korean dramas that shed light on these secret societies. 

So this war has laid bare one thing can cause a global tribulation a war that shuts down oil. If China decides to wage war oil supply will be even greater effected and this will cause more nations to declare a state of emergency. Currently only the Philippines have declared a state of emergency.

I feel that these actions are acts of God. Iran was in no way a real threat to the USA. Neither was Venezuela, or Greenland. Now, the US president has his eyes on Cuba! Another weak poor nation.

It seems that the USA is pushing other nations to follow it. The great tribulation is coming, and we can see how it might erupt. One super power causing a  ruckus that is really not needed. But it will cause HUGE stress to the world! I do not know exactly. But this recent moved stressed many nations. With China poised to strike Taiwan and Japan on an aggressive stance in fact they do not fear China means war breaking out in east Asia as will be very troubling indeed. I will listen to those who are taking the lead. The faith and discreet slave, governing body, our branch office, and our elders.

/tata

What is the real life?

 So many people feel that they have success when they have a good job, maintain good housing in a stable fashion, and are able to save very well month to month and invest those savings. 

I have seen many English teachers in South Korea reach this point. They, of course, seek to earn more money; they, of course, seek to better their lives. Yet, those who do reach what I have stated above often start conversations where they congratulate each other, while trying to seek other ways to find real fulfillment in life.  

They seek even higher education, travel more, try new hobbies, and while doing these things, still seem miserable and unhappy. It seems like there is something missing. 

You see, in the bible we are shown the entire picture. We learn that we are a part of a gigantic court case. A rebel is being allowed to prove his case. He is failing. This allowance really shows the perfect justice of Jehovah. This issue, once resolved, will never be brought back to the court. 

In human courts, the same issues get litigated on over and over again. Sometimes people die because it takes so long.

So what is the "real life"? 

Here it is: "People will build their own houses. enjoy meaningful jobs, people will no longer grow old and die, learn to love, fear, and worship Jehovah, and all of this under an abundance of peace.

Everyone gets a fair chance to learn about this and grow to perfection, the dead will be brought back to life under the conditions that are described in the bible.

I guess one feature about this real life that I like is "no resident will say "I am sick"". 

Imagine developing skills, building large families, houses, having land, taking care of animals, really enjoying hobbies forever! The image of that old house owner will seem vile and monstrous. 

All of this while giving glory and thanksgiving to the provider of it all, loving and fearing our grand creator, Jehovah God. 

What is Jehovah's plan for the galaxies he created? Only by remaining under his tent will we live to see amazing things forever!

/tata

Doesn't this world offer us greatness and success?

 Many people feel that what this world offers is what we should all be running after. That it get a good job making a large amount of money. Then with that money invest it watch it grow. All the while live a life of luxury. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS REAL LUXURY?

I always bought luxury cars. I enjoyed the extra features that came with them. Power seats, heated and cooled seats, navigation, very nice audio systems, a powerful engine, power folding mirrors a smart key...this list could go on and on with the features the cars I have driven had. WAS IT REAL LUXURY?

NO! These systems break over time and need to be repaired. My Enterprise has so many issues, yet I felt a dopamine-filled rush of pride when people would note the large size of the car and grandness of it. LOL

Where is it now? It has been broken down and recycled. Acura Legend gen2 I owned two of those....trash now. The Hyundai Equus is a very large grand car...oh, that is trash now too! Best car I ever drove (actually prayed before going to get it, but that is another story) is also in the junk yard now.

Smartphones, clothes, houses, cars, fancy food, a large bank account, these are very, very deceptive! This world is passing away, and so is its desire 

Most humans who have worked hard for years buy homes that they can not really enjoy as their bodies have aged and continue to do so. We saw a man in Korea near where we lived moving in his garden, which was attached to his house. He was an elderly man with few years left in his life. He was bent double and seemed to be in pain. So I ask this question: Where is the success in that? What happens when he finally dies? Does the house, car, bank account, music collection, or some other hobby that he enjoyed get packed up in a box, and he will go and enjoy it somewhere else? 

NO! The bible states that the condition of the dead is like a sleep; they know nothing, their troubles go away, and they go back to dust. Now, to read the holy scriptures, humans today have to do something very difficult at first. We must be humble, realizing that the truth is in this book. We can not cling to our "higher education". It will be like a large stone around our neck!

Only the bible and relying on Jehovah and really running to find him can the veil of this world be removed from our eyes. 

With my nephew, I spend a lot of time trying to use bible teachings and principles to help him to see what is really there. What is really there beyond the veil is a big fat lie. There is a reason that suicide rates (even though many national governments try to hide it) is high. These people see a bit through the veil but not completely. They feel like there is nothing worth living for.

There is a reason people turn to drugs, alcohol, addictions, and the like; they too can feel that there is really nothing this world can really offer except a remarkable waste of time and effort for nothing but growing old suffering the whole while then dying.