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GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE ….

“Pay Attention!”

When I awoke at 09:00 am this morning – dark – no sun shining – I immediately thought my clock was wrong – must have had a power outage during the night – but: “Wait a minute! I don’t have an electric clock!”  I then looked closely towards the windows and notice: red glow shining through the closed blinds.  “What’s that??”  I open the blinds to see (or not see) the distant trees and buildings that are normally in view when I look out my bedroom window.

Instead: I see a dark sky illuminated by a red haze, combined with smoke – smog – fog and ashes. The ashes were literally covering the streets, lawns, parked cars, and driveways (our gated community does not have sidewalks). To make matters worse, everything was quiet, no birds singing, no cars moving. Everything seemed surreal.

Apocalypse! Is it happening now? Is this it? Is God ready to destroy us? Sodom and Gomorrah came to mind (Genesis Chapter 19). God destroyed these cities because of their sin. The sins happening around us today are just as bad, if not worse, than the sins of the people of Sodom.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Yes, this is the first Scripture that came to mind. This is what we must be doing during these days of pandemic, civil unrest, riots in the streets (throughout the USA) trying to stop the peaceful marches of the Black Lives Matter Movement – out of control fires raging through several of our western states, including, California (this is me – living close to several out of control fires).

Are you paying attention? God is telling us something. Time to redirect your focus. Yes, redirect! Admit that though you are in Bible Study, are a part of the Facebook live church, you are still focused on your surroundings. Your focus is on social distancing, wearing masks (for the prevention of COVID-19 and relief from the smoke caused by the fires), and focused on the civil unrest occurring throughout these states of America.

Seek God! Focus on God! Pray! My prayers started at 6:00am along with STMI’s intercessory prayer team. Then, I went back to sleep, and awoke to this seemingly apocalyptic situation.

“Focus on God’s Word – you will get 20-20 vision.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

Read: Psalm 119:81-88. This was the focus of our Bible Study during last night’s class. “Holding on While Hurting.”  We saw how though, the psalmist was in dark despair, dealing with a lot of issues, he was determined to hold on to God and His Word.

“They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments.”                              – Psalm 119:87 (NLT)

“I refused to abandon your commandments!”  This is us. This is how we get through whatever situations – circumstances – life throws at us. Stand firm! Hold on to God – hold on to His Word. His Word will see you through!  Focus!  Pay attention!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International – Blogger – Othella Hill-Jordan