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Whether individual, corporate, or community, we all face vulnerabilities from time to time. But, because you wouldn't want anyone to prey on your vulnerabilities, you don't exploit or prey on the vulnerabilities of others: And certainly we must never seek to exploit the Holy Spirit. Even so, sometimes what is perceived as a vulnerability, God has allowed in a city's midst to test her response. Isaiah 66:5 (NLT) Hear this message from the lord, all you who tremble at his words: “Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the lord be honored!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!’ But they will be put to shame. Your turn will come. Isaiah 33:1 (NLT) What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed...

```markdown Who are these Jerusalem Prophets whom God accuses of defiling His Temple, abusing His messengers, and misleading His people? They're Temple Leaders (pastors, preachers, and teachers). I have chosen to use the Message Bible to impart this entry because it divides this text perfectly. "True wisdom comes from God." Jeremiah 23:10-24 (MSG) ¹⁰Now for what GOD says regarding the lying prophets: "Can you believe it? A country teeming with adulterers! faithless, promiscuous idolater-adulterers! They're a curse on the land. The land's a wasteland. Their unfaithfulness is turning the country into a cesspool, ¹¹Prophets and priests devoted to desecration. They have nothing to do with me as their God. My very own Temple, mind...

Can you imagine a whole city being so ungodly that they would gather themselves against one person, simply because of something that was said? Particularly when that something was truth? Well, that's exactly what happened to Jesus. All He did was quote a few scriptures, prophesy, and attempted to open His hometown's understanding when He said: ²⁵But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; ²⁶but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ²⁷And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed...

To God Be The Glory: ⁹“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” The Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, continues to connect the proverbial dots in my assignment. It is no secret that my favorite scripture is 1 Corinthians 2:9. As my spirituality continues to evolve, the fact that this my favorite scripture makes all the more sense within the full context of Chapter 2 of 1 Corinthians. It coincides perfectly with my gift and calling. ¹⁰But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s...

```markdown THE SUN vs THE SON Solomon, notably the wisest man in the Bible, said it best: What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. [Ecclessiastes 1:9] Therefore, the instructions of false prophets will always be consistent with what has been done before: But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. [Zechariah 7:11] Unfortunately, to turn their backs and stop up their ears was the first thing that many in this city, and even now, on the worldwide web, were encouraged to do. Certainly, we must be discerning regarding what we listen to, but the scriptures instructs us to "guard our hearts." That is, test...

So I was having an issue with my car. I had it towed and got a rental. I found out that it was in need of an oil change from the dealership versus elsewhere. But I was anxious, stressed and exhausted leading up to it. I got some rides, took taxis and made alternate arrangements. I tried to push instead of pull. I came up with worst case scenarios for a moment. But of course it all works out. Of course it's fixed and I can drop off the rental car right next to the dealership because I can change location. So maybe the initial attempt to rent a car was denied because of timing. Maybe I had to wait in the rain for a moment to be tested and let go. Maybe I met that driver from Cameroon because there were things on his heart that he needed...

A Life of Thanksgiving... How thankful are you when you talk to God? The world around us generally doesn’t encourage thankfulness. We’re taught to look after ourselves in order to get what we think we deserve. And yet—Christians ought to be the most thankful people on earth because we have been given everything by God. James 1:17 reminds us that every good gift comes from Him. This implies that God is always acting in kindness toward us. Not only has God given us life and breath, but He has also offered us the free gift of eternal life. God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus. That alone is more than enough for us to live a life of gratitude toward God. Because of what He's...

Ask and it will be given to you Seek and you will find Knock and the door will open

Strengthen your structure, Reinforce your foundation, You shall not be moved!

TRANSLATIONS The Bible has been translated many times. It even seems like, for as many transactions as there are, there are equally, and even more versions. And, that's fine, as long as the transaction is consistent and kept in context (remains true to its original text). I myself sometimes get so caught up in the Word that my 5th Ward auto-translator activates. In my last post, for instance, I mentioned something to the effect that, as a broken vessel, I am only broken to the city that did the harm; other cities can and will continue be rewarded through this "broken vessel." Well, that sentiment is in perfect sync with the original text. Paul, when he was being punished without cause, said: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer...