Prophetic words: A time to advance and flourish!

Words from the Lord: 

"This new spiritual year is a year of moving, advancing and possessing! This is the year of moving from the old and advancing to the new. This is the year to possess your inheritance in Me and move into a new assignment that I have prepared for you!"

Further words from the Lord: 

"Like Joshua when he left the wilderness and moved into the Promised Land, a new strength and a new momentum is building for My people. Wisdom and revelation will be added upon My people. You will know the right direction to go, and the right way to do things. Fresh revelations will flow."

We have entered a brand new Hebrew year, a brand new spiritual year! 

The key for this new spiritual year is moving, advancing and possessing!

As I was praying in the spirit, the Lord gave me a vision. In the vision, I saw rows and rows of new palm trees growing right before my eyes. The trees are growing very fast, like even before someone finished planting a new palm tree, the tree before that has already grown to be a matured tree, bearing fruit. And I saw tree after tree, each one grew so fast and began to bear fruit.

I asked the Lord for the interpretation of this vision. And this is what the Lord said: "Like the palm trees, many things are going to accelerate in ways you cannot imagine possible. There's going to be a lot of movement and advancing in the spiritual realm, and it will be reflected in the physical realm. Like Joshua after crossing Jordan, the conquests happened so fast - in just that few years - as he led the people to possess their inheritance."

Some of you may ask, "What is the significance or symbolic meaning of palm tree according to the Scripture?"

Psalm 92:12 (NKJV) says, 'The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.'

'Palm tree' here is 'tawmawr' in Hebrew, from the original root word meaning 'to grow, to flourish, to shoot up, to go upright'.

For the record, palm tree is a fruit bearing tree. In fact, a palm tree bears fruit that is super nutritious. The fruit, or the dates of the palm tree, is considered one of the super foods even today. This fruit can sustain people's life for a long time even without them eating any other food. 

You see, not only palm dates are super nutritious, but palm dates can also sustain people's life for a long time. Therefore, 'palm tree' speaks of 'flourishing'. Beloved of God, you too are like the palm tree! You too will flourish! And this is what you're going to see happening in your life, as you look to the Lord and flow with the Lord!

Even as you begin this new spiritual year, the Hebrew new year (and this includes a big portion of the Gregorian year 2023), receive this grace from the Lord to flourish, to advance, and to shoot up! Not just that. You are going to triumph! You are going to overcome! And like Joshua, you are going to possess the inheritance that the Lord has wanted to give to you this brand new spiritual year!

Prayer:

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your prophetic words today. We thank You that as we look to You and follow Your leading the way Joshua followed You, we shall advance and possess our inheritance that You have promised us. We want to be like the palm trees that flourish and bear much fruit, as we look forward and look ahead in our lives. We want to walk in the fullness of what You have prepared for us in this brand new spiritual year. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

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5 ways to overcome disappointment

We all have disappointment in life. This is part and parcel of life. We can get disappointed with life, we can get disappointed with people, we can get disappointed with our leaders, and if we are leaders, we can get disappointed with our followers or disciples. 

What is the definition of disappointment? 

We can define it as 'sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations'. 

It means something that you've hoped for, or something that you expect, whether in other people, or in any area of life, are not fulfilled. And that's how people get disappointed. Of course we can also cause disappointment to others. So, it can be two ways. We can get disappointed. But we also can disappoint others. 

We can cause disappointment to others in our decision on something. And who we are or what we do may disappoint some people who have certain expectation of who they want us to be or what they want us to do. If we are not who or what they have expected us to be or to do, they get disappointed with us. 

So you see, there are two ways - we can get disappointed, but we can also disappoint others. Our expectation of people, and people's expectation of us. 

However, we must remember that we do not live to please people or please people's expectation of us. We live to please God. We follow His instructions for us, even if some people are not happy with us or are disappointed with us. The most important thing is to stay true to who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do, and keep looking to God. We please God, and not man. 

But here's the good news. There are ways to deal with disappointment. There are ways to alleviate disappointment. There are ways to overcome disappointment. Here are 5 ways you can do so:

1. Learn to let go and forgive

1 Peter 5:6-7 says, 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' 

Cast all your care upon the Lord. And this includes casting all your disappointments upon the Lord. And let Him begin the process of healing in your life, whatever may have disappointed you, or whoever may have disappointed you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, 'Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.' 

Just as God in Christ has forgiven you, therefore you forgive others. Forgive those who have disappointed you. Forgive those who have not met your expectation regarding who they are and what they do. You know why? Because if you allow disappointment inside of you to fester, it will lead to bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and even evil speaking. And this is definitely not good for health. It's only going to hurt you more. So, learn to let go and learn to forgive. And that's how your life will be happier, healthier, and more peaceful! 

Psalm 30:5b says, 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.' 

Whatever disappointment that causes sorrow to you, let the bygone be bygone, let the past be past. Today is a brand new day. You know what? This is the day that the Lord has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Indeed, joy comes in the morning. It's a brand new day for you. So, look forward, look ahead, and look not behind you. 

2. Learn to release and bless

This is just as important as Point Number 1. Because without a release, your life will be held back. You cannot move forward the way that you should be. And without blessing, there will be no closure to the situation that you are disappointed with. So, learn to release and learn to bless. That's how you can move forward in your life, and that's how your life can be light and easy. 

Psalm 34:18 says, 'The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite heart.' 

Whatever sorrow or sadness due to your disappointment, whether at your life, at people, at the authority, at your leader, or even at your follower, release them and bless them. Bless, and not curse. The Lord is near to you. The Lord understands your situation. And the psalmist wrote the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. Indeed, He is here to set you free. He is here to help you to overcome. He is here to heal you and restore you. 

Romans 8:28 says, 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.' 

Sometimes, a certain disappointment in your life can be turned around into a great new appointment. God will know how to work things out for good for you. After leaving one phase of your life, the Lord will know how to move you on to the new phase of your life. And sometimes the Lord allows certain things to happen that causes you to be disappointed, so that you can be released to walk into the new, the brand new appointment that the Lord has for you. 

So, take heart, beloved of God. The Lord knows what He is doing in your life. You keep looking to Him. You keep loving Him. You keep allowing His unfailing love to fill you. And He will know how to lead you from here. 

3. Look to God, not to man

Man can bound to disappoint you, but God will not disappoint you. If you flow with Him, if you align with Him, if you humble yourself before Him, and if you live a yielded life to Him, He will not disappoint you. He will always show you a way. And He will always guide every step of your way. 

Colossians 3:23-24 says, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (with an abounding heart, from the heart), as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.'

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, 'Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.' 

Man may overlook the good that you have done, but the Lord will not. Therefore, look to God, and not to man. 

The Lord is a great Rewarder. The Lord knows exactly how to reward you for every thing that you do as unto the Lord, even those things that you think are trivial or minor.

Romans 5:5 says, 'Now hope does not disappoint. Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.'

Because the Lord your God loves you so much, He gives you hope. And this hope that He gives to you will not disappoint, when you look to Him and put all your trust in Him. 

4. Put your trust in God, not on the world

The world can bound to disappoint you. The people in this world can bound to disappoint you. Remember, you are living in a fallen world. You are living in an imperfect world with imperfect people around you. Whether these are your family members, your relatives, your neighbors, your boss, your leaders, your colleagues, or even your followers, your subordinates, or your staff, all these people may disappoint you. That's why it is so important to learn to put your trust in God who is your solid Rock, who cannot be shaken. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' 

Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding. Because the Lord sees further than us. Because the Lord knows better than us. Because the Lord knows what is ahead of us, when no one else in this world can. 

Psalm 27:14 says, 'Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!' 

The word 'wait' here can also be translated as 'hope'. So, as you put your hope on the Lord, He will know how to strengthen you. And you can therefore mount up again with wings as of eagle. You will run and not be weary. You will walk and not faint. 

5. Readjust your expectation on people

Readjust your expectation on certain so and so. It can be a family member, a friend, a leader, or a follower. 

Maybe we have too high hopes or too high expectation on somebody. And if that somebody does not meet what we expect of them, we get disappointed.

Psalm 73:23-26 says, 'Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' 

It is so reassuring what the psalmist wrote here. Indeed, sometimes our flesh and our heart may fail. But the Lord our God is the strength of our hearts. The Lord our God will forever be the strength of our lives, if we do not give up looking to Him and putting our trust in Him. That's why this psalmist wrote in verse 23, 'Nevertheless I am continually with You'. See the word 'continually' here? 

Beloved of God, this is your time to be set free! Be set free from whatever disappointment that you have, whether it's due to people's wrong, or due to your own expectation and hopes are too high on certain so and so, or on a certain circumstance or situation. 

I declare by faith that you will come forth victorious, come forth happier, and full of the shalom peace of the Lord, ready for what's ahead of you, and ready for what He has in store for you. The best is yet to come! Amen!

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Learning to let go

The Lord says for this time: "Cast all your cares to Me, and cast all your worries and anxieties about your future to Me. Learn to let go, and flow with Me and My timing in your life. For I know your future more than anyone else, and I have plans of peace and not of evil for you, to give you a future and a hope." 

The outlook in the whole world at the moment seems to be bleak, and everywhere in the world, many people have lost hope in human governance. They can't see any solution, and they can't see any future.

But I have a good news for you. The truth is no matter what happens around you in the world, or how bleak people may say regarding the future, you can look to God! You can look to the Lord God who knows the future more than anyone else - any learned man or learned woman, any academia, or any politician in this world. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) says, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says the Lord, "Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

You see? God's plans and God's thoughts for you are plans and thoughts of peace, to give you a future and a hope. I know this is a very familiar verse, but the Lord wants to remind His people at the moment, that no matter what happens in this world and no matter how bleak the future may be in the eyes of the world, His future for you is bright! You've got to believe this.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden (in other words, burdened), and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) says, 'Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' 

Now, the word 'care' here is 'merimnah' in Greek, and it can mean 'concern, distraction, or anxiety'. 

So, cast all your concerns, anxieties, or whatever that distracts you (from putting your focus on the Lord) upon the Lord! Cast all these to the Lord. Exchange all these with the Lord. And in return, you receive His love, His joy, and His peace. These are unshakeable. Whatever that is in the world can be shaken. But all that's from heaven, all that's from Him, these are unshakeable and unfailing. His unfailing love, His unshakeable peace, and of course His unspeakable joy. Amen!

Learn to let go. There are times in life we need to learn to let go. Forgive and forget all those past hurts, betrayals, bitterness, wounds, disappointments, or certain past incidences in your life that you wish to forget, so that you can move on in life. This is your time to release and to bless. I tell you what, you will be a much happier person, going forward. Not just that. A much healthier person - spirit, soul, body! 

So beloved of God, let go of your worries and anxieties. Let go of all those past that have held you back. And of course, let go of your care or concern regarding your future - be it in your life, your career, your vocation, or even your country. Let God take over. He knows exactly what is to come, and He knows exactly how to lead you according to His perfect will for your life! 

So, what's your part then? Your part is to align with Him and commune with Him. Flow with Him. And He will know how to set the path for you. Remember, the steps of a good man (or a good woman) are ordered by the Lord. So, let the Lord order your path, going forward. Amen! He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 (NKJV) says, 'A time to gain, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.' 

You see, there's a time and season to everything. I know it may not be easy to let go and let God. No one says it's easy. But if it has to be done, it has to be done. If the time comes, the time comes. Learn to let go of the past season, so that you can embrace the current season. Learn to let go of the old season, so that you can embrace the new season. This may apply in any area of your life.

For some of you, the Lord is saying it's even time for you to let go of the 'rat race' that you are in. And you know this 'rat race' isn't going to lead you anywhere. For some others, it's a time to let go of certain fame or publicity. Maybe you've been so stressed up. Maybe you are not happy anymore. Maybe for some of you, you don't even know who you are anymore. You do not know yourself anymore. Let go of whatever that the Lord wants you to let go, if that makes your life happier, healthier, and more peaceful. 

Now, different people different. For some, it's to let go of your 'rat race'. For some, it's to let go of your fame or your publicity. For some others, it's to let go of your past hurts, betrayals, disappointments, bitterness, or wounds. And of course for some others, it's to let go of your current care or concern, your anxiety, or your worry. 

I pray, beloved of God, that whatever you may be facing at the moment, whatever care or concern you may be facing at the moment, or whatever that causes you to be so burdened, God's grace will be so rich for you to let go and let Him take over. Indeed, He is here to embrace you.

You may say, "But pastor, you do not understand." Yes, I may not fully understand. But whatever your situation may be, I know that the Lord understands you. The Lord knows you more than anyone on earth knows you. So, you can put your trust in the Lord. He will know how to take it from here. He will know how to make a way for you, no matter how impossible it may seem to you at the moment. 

Now don't get me wrong. There is a place for perseverance or tenacity, of course. But there is also a place for letting go and letting God, when you know it's time to let go and let God, or when you know He already has something new for you and ahead of you. Now of course you need to discern and know the difference between when to persevere and when to let go. That's why communing with the Lord and aligning with the Lord is so important. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV) says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." 

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV) says, 'Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.' 

Here, apostle Paul wrote that he has learned to let go of those things which are behind him, and he has learned to reach forward to those things which are ahead of him. In other words, learning to let go of those past, in order to walk into something greater that God has in store for him. Now it is the same with us. In order for us to walk into something greater that God has in store for us, we've got to just let go of what's in our past. Do not allow what's in the past to hold you back or to stop you from embracing the new, embracing your new season, or embracing the new things that the Lord has for you. 

So, now, beloved, it is time to make that switch. Make that switch in order to be happier and healthier, be it your spirit, your soul, or your body. It's not too late yet. Make that switch! Choose God! Choose to walk in the joy of the Lord! Choose to walk in the divine health that the Lord wants to give to you! If there's any need for you to change, maybe it's a certain lifestyle change in your life, make that switch! The grace of God is super rich, super abundant for you to make that switch. And that's how you will come forth happier, healthier, and even more prosperous in your life! 

Let us pray. "O Lord God, we learn to cast all our cares to You, and cast all our worries and anxieties regarding our future to You, for You are a God who cares for us. We learn to let go, and flow with You and Your timing for our lives. You know our future more than anyone else, and indeed You have plans of peace and not of evil for us, to give us a future and a hope. In the name of Jesus. Amen."

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Secrets to walking in divine appointments and lasting fruits

The Lord says: 

"I am setting up divine appointments for My people. For those who have been stagnant and couldn't see any headway, this is a time to watch how I am going to set up divine appointments that lead to breakthrough and lasting fruit." 

Jesus says in John 15:16, "You didn't choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name." 

See the words "I appointed you" and "lasting fruit" here? Who appointed you to produce lasting fruit? The Lord Jesus Christ Himself! So, it's not by your own striving or struggling, but by His appointment and His hand that opens the door for you to produce lasting fruit! 

The word 'appointed' here is 'tithemi' in Greek (according to Strong's Concordance), and it can mean any of these: 'placed, laid down, set up, established, purposed, destined'. In other words, He has placed you to be at the right time at the right place to produce lasting fruit, He has laid it down for you, He has set it up for you, He has established it for you, He has purposed it for you, and of course, He has destined it for you! 

But how can you walk in His divine appointment and produce lasting fruits? 

There are many examples in the Scripture on walking in divine appointments and having lasting fruits. But for today, let's go to Acts 10:1-2, 'In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.' 

As you can see here, Cornelius was someone who feared God and loved God. 

Acts 10:3-6 says, 'One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said. Cornelius stared at him in terror. "What is it, sir?" Cornelius asked the angel. And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore." 

Acts 10:7-8 says, 'As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.' 

Here, Cornelius had a visitation from an angel, and he obeyed all that the angel had spoken to him. So he sent these men to Joppa to look for Simon Peter, the apostle. 

Acts 10:9-16 says, 'The next day as Cornelius' messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." "No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean." But the voice spoke again, "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." Now the same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.' 

Peter was of course perplexed. He wondered what could that vision mean? Just then, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house, and standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was still puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them."

You see? The angel spoke to Cornelius regarding Peter; and now, this voice from heaven spoke to Peter regarding someone he was about to meet, i.e. Cornelius! It matched! The divine appointment was about to take place! 

Acts 10:23-24 says, 'So Peter invited the men to stay for the night (even though they were strangers to him). The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was already waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.' 

And that was how Peter and Cornelius eventually met each other in person, and yes, by divine appointment! This appointment in turn led to lasting fruit and a major breakthrough for the Gentiles (the non-Jews), because it was also the beginning of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit and be water baptized. 

What can we learn here? 

If the door is from the Lord, or is opened by the Lord, there will be lasting fruit! We don't have to artificially try to prise open the door or force open the door by means of persuasion, by striving, or by struggling for an open door. The Lord will know how to make things happen, and in His perfect timing.

Some may say, "Pastor, but this is regarding ministry." No, it's not just regarding ministry. Divine appointments can happen in every aspect of your life. There can also be divine appointments in your career, in your business, or in any area of your life as well. Indeed, this is the time to look to God and watch how He can set up divine appointments for you! 

Back to Acts chapter 10. When Peter came in to the house where Cornelius, his relatives and his close friends were, Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean." Now, Peter had this revelation, because the Lord had spoken to him personally. In other words, he came to Cornelius' house by revelation. As for Cornelius, he invited Peter according to what the angel had instructed him to do. Both did their part. And "Bang!" Something wonderful happened!

What can we learn from both Peter and Cornelius here?

They were responsive to what the Lord has spoken to them. They didn't hesitate. They obeyed what the Lord said (through the Holy Spirit or through an angel). And that's how they met. As a result, a major breakthrough happened! 

You see? One divine appointment led to one major breakthrough that changed the course of history. That was the beginning of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit. As Peter was preaching to them, the Holy Spirit fell upon all of them who were listening. In fact, the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too! They even heard them praying in tongues! Peter then concluded that since these Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit, why shouldn't these Gentiles also be water baptized in the name of Jesus? And that's how Cornelius and those with him were also water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ on that day. The rest is history. It opened a new horizon for the Gentiles, and many more received Jesus Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit since then! 

This is just one example of divine appointment that leads to lasting fruit. And you too can walk in this same pattern, i.e. walk in God's divine appointments that lead to lasting fruits in your life. 

So, what are the secrets? Actually these are open secrets. You can see the traits here, i.e. what caused this divine appointment to happen between Peter and Cornelius. 

Number One: Prayer and communing with God. 

Do not stop praying and communing with the Lord. Set aside your time for the Lord. Spend time with the Lord. Spend time in praise and worship before the Lord, read the Word of God, and pray in the spirit. The Lord will know how to speak to you, even as you yield to Him and surrender to Him. 

Number Two: Abiding in God. 

As you can see in John chapter 15, Jesus is the vine, and you are the branch. Without Him, you cannot bear fruits that last.

Number Three: Obeying God's instruction. 

Peter obeyed God's instruction without hesitation. The same it was with Cornelius. When the angel appeared to him, he obeyed the instruction of the angel to summon Peter from Joppa to his house in Caesarea. We can play our part by having a listening ear and obeying His every instruction for us.

Whether it's in ministry, in business, in career, or in any area of life, it's the same. So, pray and ask for divine appointment beginning this month. And watch how the Lord is going to open the way and open the horizon for you. Don't be shy to ask of God. Remember, you are His beloved. Ask, and you shall receive. If God your Father did not spare His only begotten Son to die for you, is there anything that He cannot do for you? So, ask and you shall receive!

Indeed, this is the season to 'place your order' and ask for divine appointment for your life. And you are going to see in the coming months, things will begin to advance in your life, especially if you have been stagnant in recent months, or you have not been seeing much headway in your life in recent months.

New doors are going to be opened for you. New horizons are going to be opened for you. You will never have to look back anymore, because God has greater things in store for you, going forward! Believe for it, and you shall receive. In Jesus' name. Amen!

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