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agape, being born again, ecstasy, eros, experience, eyes of the heart, feeling, flesh, God's love, intimacy, Jesus Christ, joy, knowing God, Oswald Chambers, peace, prayer, relationship with God, spiritual power, the Kingdom of God
Knowing God… and Being Known by Him
(Source http://pixgood.com/intimacy-with-god-quotes.html)
Instead of boring you to death with a new article written right from my blank mind, 😉 I decided to copy and paste two daily devotionals from Oswald Chambers that really hit home as for the consequences of being intimate with God. We will see and feel it in our own lives, and others will too, when all our thinking and doing eventually spring from being one with God as we abide in His love. If we are really as intimate with Jesus as Jesus was with His Father, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) cannot be ignored, neither by us nor by anyone else, for it is written,
“A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:18-20 ESV)
Here’s the first devotional. I highlighted those passages in bold letters to which the impact of loving and knowing God can be linked.
INTIMATE WITH JESUS
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?” —John 14:9
These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?
Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).
Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
http://utmost.org/intimate-with-jesus/
If we have not yet come that far as it has been described above, God offers us His help to draw ever closer to Him and also helps us understand His guidance which is often scarcely perceptible unless we have become used to listen to Him continually. Here’s the second text in which Chambers refers to the problems we might face if we do not trust and love God as He desires us to do.
FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD
Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing…? —Genesis 18:17
The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.
The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about— were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.
http://utmost.org/friendship-with-god/
I wholeheartedly agree with Oswald Chambers here. We need to seek God in prayer again and again, not only when we have the time and the desire to do so, but particularly when we have NO time and are in the midst of a trial, with no end in sight. Maybe, God will not change our circumstances (yet), however, He will redirect the eyes of our heart unto Himself. In doing so, we become more and more acquainted with living a peaceful and joyful life because our spirits may already dwell in heaven with God, right now, although we – in the flesh – still serve Him here on earth (cf. Gal 2:20).
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-1 ESV)
Oh, Susanne! This was very good and it will bear reading over and over and prayed for over and over until it becomes Truth in me. Thank you, my dear wonderful sister for sharing this with us, even from your own experience as well as from O.C.’s
We love you dearly,
Michael
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Oh, what a lovely response, Michael! ❤
You are most welcome, my brother. Indeed, as I read Becky’s blog today (https://beckyleannejohnson.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/identified/) and saw a devotional from OC, I checked whether there were devotionals about intimacy from Ossie as well. And lo and behold, I found two and they really hit home with me as they obviously did with you as, too. 🙂
Love you,
Your Susanne in Him
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Thank you, for this. This will make we work more diligently on the following:
Phillip asked Jesus to show him the FATHER. John 14 v 8 after hearing Jesus say: …He who has seen me has seen the Father. v 9. In my teaching about the Inner chamber I put the following : from being a friend of God to a son: John 1 v 12. With sonship we are “joint heirs with Christ.such is that we will reign with him Romans 8 v 17.Now, back to the FATHER: 1st John 2 vs 12-14. Fathers knew HIM from the beginning. Children knew the FATHER. So, I am in process of searching again John’s knowing HIM from the beginning. I’ve gotten as far as Ist John ch 1vs1-4. So, as I meditate on this: I hope will share the JOY THAT IS FULL. I HAVE YET TO DIGEST JOHN 17. A key for me is 1st John 1 v 3 :THAT WE CAN HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND JESUS THE SON.
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Yes, Bernie, John 17 is a show stopper… a lifetime of truth to grow into that goes way beyond mere mental comprehension. “That I might apprehend that for which I have been apprehended,” said Paul. I believe that apprehending is way beyond comprehending.
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You will share the joy that is full, Bernie, since He promised it to all of us. The joy of knowing Him (aka fellowshipping with the Father and Jesus) is ever increasing, from death to death, and from glory to glory, you know…
As soon as Jesus has revealed Himself to us, He will also show us His Father (cf. Mt 11:27 for example).
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Once over John 17: v 6 “Disciples have kept (FATHER’S) WORD.
V 10;”THEY HAVE RECEIVED (GOD’S) GLORY.
V 11 that “DISCIPLES WOULD BE ONE( LIKE JESUS WAS THE FATHER.)
V 14 WORLD WOULD HATE THEM.
V 15 prayed that they be …KEPT FROM (SATAN )
V 17. “SANCTIFY THEM” Phil 1 v 6.
V 20: We as believers will become: ONE (LIKE JESUS WITH THE FATHER.)
V 23 prayed that THE WORLD WOULD KNOW THAT THE (FATHER HAS SENT JESUS) that JESUS LOVED THEM.
V 24:THAT (DISCIPLES) WOULD GO TO BE WHERE HE (JESUS) WOULD GO
(HEAVEN.)
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Yes and amen, dear Bernie! ❤
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Even when Jesus said the world would hate them, He prayed that the world would know the love Jesus has for them.
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Yes, and we are to love our enemies. Something we could never do without having been empowered by God to do so.
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In thinking about the world: Jesus knew that those in the world have a choice;
EITHER CHOOSE TO HATE OR LEARN TO LOVE.
About intimacy: I still use a song that comes to mind that brings such joy, I often cry tears of joy. Now, meditating on the Word helps.
hymn: “JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME: MY LIFE, MY, JOY, MY ALL…WITHOUT HIM I WOULD FALL….NO ONE CAN CHEER ME SO! …JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME, AND TRUE TO HIM I’LL BE. OH, HOW COULD I THIS FRIEND DENY, WHEN HE ‘S SO TRUE TO ME? FOLLOWING HIM, I KNOW I’M RIGHT. HE WATCHES OVER ME BOTH DAY AND NIGHT.FOLLOWING HIM BY DAY AND NIGHT, HE’S MY FRIEND!
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Yes, Bernie, there is no compromise possible with Jesus, either people will love or hate Him and those who follow their Shepherd because they know His voice.
That is a beautiful hymn, indeed! Thanks for sharing it with us on here. 🙂
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Yes when Jesus is in control of us His divine life will flow and His divine fruit will show otherwise its just religious show and for the Father a no go so just to let you know your deceived mindset must bow.
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Oh, wow – Kenneth! What a sweet poem, I really love it!! ❤
🙂
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Hi Susanne and Bernie — I’m not sure I understand exactly what you’re saying: “As soon as Jesus has revealed Himself to us, He will also show us His Father.” Do you understand this to mean in OUR future (He will show us the Father)? Or was it future to the time it was spoken to the disciples (before Jesus went to the cross, was resurrected, and then sent the Spirit “who would reveal all things”)?
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Hi Lori,
Thanks so much for stopping by and asking. Indeed, rereading what I wrote to Bernie above, I saw it might seem a bit mysterious. 😉
I believe you answered your question about when Jesus would reveal His Father to His disciples – and later to us – yourself when you said, “before Jesus went to the cross, was resurrected, and then sent the Spirit “who would reveal all things”…. Yes, it was the future after Pentecost for all of us.
If you have time and are interested in how I came to know/see Jesus and our heavenly Daddy personally, I could offer two links on here.
Regarding Jesus, see my article https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/my-testimony/
And as for our Daddy, confer my comment https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/08/25/the-burden-of-false-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-348
Every blessing to you!
Love,
Susanne
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Hi Susanne – Thank you for clarification. I thought that’s what you meant –but I always like to be sure. Until you know a person, it’s easy to make assumptions about what they mean; words don’t always mean the same thing to every person. (Call me paranoid, but I always like to check!). I had read your testimony yesterday and this morning I read the ‘Falsehood’ post. Your life is a testimony to the grace our OUTPOURING God. I like to remind myself that that’s who He is to us. Like you, I need His outpouring. I cannot say that I have suffered as you have, but I am prone to panic attacks, anxiety and depression for a variety of reasons. I have days where I cannot get out of bed until I’ve prayed and read from my collection of “Happy verses and writings.” I keep a little prayer journal on my bed stand with papers and Scriptures that get me back in touch with who He is to His children. My favorite summary definition of “Jehovah” is “All that I AM I will be to my people” or “I will be all that is necessary as the occasion arises.” I purposefully study my Bible to know Him intimately and this approach has helped me so much. Your blog is an incredible testimony to the love and power that our Father pours out on those who will open their hand to receive it.
In fact, I did a year long study on the first 11 chapters of Genesis and saw something for the first time (it’s part of my discovery of Him as ‘outpouring’). He shows Himself to be the One who desires to give — and we were created to RECEIVE everything He’s longing to give us. I couldn’t believe it at first — seems too simple! But as I thought it over, I began to see that this is one of those threads that you can trace throughout the whole Bible!! What was He asking Adam and Eve to do in the garden? To maintain their relationship with Him so He could pour Himself out to them as His beloved children! Redemption? His way of making it possible to maintain His righteousness as He pours His grace out on those who will receive it!
Okay, sorry. I think I went off on a tangent. It was triggered by seeing His wonderful outpouring into your life. Sin abounds (nasty devil!) but grace super-abounds (The flood of grace surpasses the flood of sin ~A.T. Robertson). Don’t you love it?!
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Yes, I love it, dear Lori! ❤
I cannot say more than, “Wow, wow wow!!!” right now. 🙂
Thank you so very much for your precious comment, your encouragement, and for sharing those wonderful truths about what God has shown you personally. It is amazing what you have been able to comprehend about the book of Genesis! What a wonderful God and how wonderfully He has been leading you into the truth!
Nooo, you did not go off on a tangent at all, dear Lori! Indeed, it was so touching for me to read about your own experiences with God and I would love to hear more from you in the days ahead if you like.
Love,
Susanne xoxo
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Well, now you’ve encouraged me Susanne! The study I told you about is written into 6 chapters. If you are interested in it, email me and I will send you the first one to see if you want to read more. I don’t want to start a blog, I just email these things to a few interested friends.
Love to you!
Lori
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I am glad I could encourage you, Lori! Yes, I would be interested in what you have written, dear sister. 🙂
Much love to you ❤ ❤ ❤
Susanne
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This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will……. Dearest Susanne, these words struck a chord with me I don’t know why because when Jesus is the centre of your life then you are smack bang in the middle of His will and whatever he asks of you you know it is out of love and you will be given strength even if that is just waiting upon him. This intimacy is truly amazing and I love that scene with Abraham. Abraham had to learn just like we have to learn but what an absolute privilege to know God! What an absolute wonder God calls us His friends! He made the stars also ….. words cannot express what is to know Jesus and the Father…. truly you have to be born-again by the Spirit to enter into the Kingdom of God and when you do wow!! yes despite the heartaches and sufferings, this too is part of the will of God for Jesus tells us this is the path, the narrow path walking with him. When I prayed one time when I thought in my own little mind I was too much the Lord answered me ‘We’ve come this far together Jacqui we’ll make it’. When He said this I realized I wasn’t doing my journey on my own but that Jesus was actually really walking with me every step this changed the whole dynamic of being alone to not being alone at all. God Bless Susanne and thank you …. jacqui xx
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Mmmhhhh……
I’m glad it struck a chord with you, dearest Jacqui. ❤
Again, as it was with the poem you just commented on, I thought you might like that.
I love what you said here,
“…when Jesus is the centre of your life then you are smack bang in the middle of His will and whatever he asks of you you know it is out of love and you will be given strength even if that is just waiting upon him.”
“Smack bang” sounds so funny to my (German) ears. 🙂 But you are so right, my sister. If the Son is the centre round which our whole world/life revolves, we might suddenly hear Him asking us, “What do you want me to do for you, my love?”
And then, oh wonder….. He cherishes His brides and gives her what she wants. Such a love is truly supernatural when the Eternal God makes Himself a “servant” of a man or a woman. Can we believe that? Hardly, but I know it is true.
Much love to you,
Susanne xx
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Oh, Susanne! As Jacqui said, you hit it “smack bang” smash on once again!
“If the Son is the centre round which our whole world/life revolves, we might suddenly hear Him asking us, “What do you want me to do for you, my love?” And then, oh wonder….. He cherishes His bride and gives her what SHE wants. Such a love is truly supernatural when the Eternal God makes Himself a ‘servant’ of a man or a woman.”
The truth you have just written seems way beyond our natural thinking, at least beyond mine. That the God of the universe would so love me as to ask, “Michael, my son, what can do for you?” We have heard this teaching distorted as to read that “God wants you to become rich and give you all the lusts of your un-crucified heart; mansions, fancy cars, jewelry, Leer jets, fame, success, etc. You deserve it! You are a King’s kid!” But that is not what the scriptures say?
“Delight yourself also in the LORD; and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
(Psalms 37:4-5 KJ2000)
The Lord Jesus desires a bride that loves and desires Him above all else, especially above all things that THIS world has to offer. It is with this love that totally delights in Him as the foundation of her relationship with Him that He thus desires to please her any way He can. This is what two people totally in love with each other do, don’t you think?
The second part of this passage tells us to commit our way, our life’s path, to the Lord and to truly trust in Him and He will bring it to pass. One word comes to mind … Faith! Susanne, I have heard of you speak with this kind of faith after asking Him for His direction, committing your way unto Him, and seen Him answer that faith with action. Your relationship with Jesus and our Father has truly been an inspiration to me. “Dear Father, give me this depth and simplicity of faith and relationship that you have given your servant, Susanne. Amen.”
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I am glad you had similar thoughts like Jacqui, Michael. 🙂
Yes, it IS beyond our natural thinking and it is, of course, wrong to take our self-will which is located in the Old Adam and Old Eve and add God’s presumed will to our own because we think He might be pleased with a renewed old man. NEVER!!! God is pleased with those who are led by the Spirit and do as He wishes because of His Law that has been written on their hearts. And His Law is LOVE. No more, no less. So easy, basically….but impossible for us human beings to get there without His Spirit’s power.
And yes again, HE desires to be our all in all. He wants to be loved with a love that is unmeasurably great compared with any love we might have experienced before in our life with human beings. Spiritual love goes beyond anything that can be described with human words. Two people totally in love is a good starting point, but I believe there is more that God wants to give us……. WAAAAAAAY MORE 😉 Therefore Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 1,
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
[Emphasis in italics mine]
Paul knew that he, that is his whole being, wanted to be completely with God and Christ, however, since it was not Paul who lived but Christ in him, he gladly remained on earth so that he could draw others closer to God and then die to be with God without any limits that are related to our physical existence.
I am happy I could be an inspiration for you, my dear brother, and you know you have always been such a precious inspiration for me too. I say AMEN to your prayer and I have faith He hears our prayers when they are in line with His will.
Love you,
Susanne
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Eternal God makes Himself a “servant” of a man or a woman…… Susanne this is profound and so true! This makes absolute sense of the washing of the feet of his disciples…… this is a beautiful revelation much needed!! yes can we believe it? No but what you are saying is true my spirit witnesses to this and with such joy!! such joy!! jacqui xx
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I am so happy to hear that your spirit witnesses it is true! 🙂
Ha! And the foot washing example is a further confirmation. Wow!!! Thanks so much for sharing your precious thoughts now with me, Jacqui!!!
Love,
Susanne xx
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Hi Jacqui (and all),
By any chance were y’all taught that the account of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples was in our Bible to show us what we were supposed TO DO for others (you know, we are supposed to IMITATE Him)? It was always a mystery to me because that idea doesn’t really fit into the context of what was going on there (John 13-17). There is a loving, sweet, reassuring progression of revelation preparing the 12 for the fact that He was going away but not leaving them as orphans; praying to His Father on their behalf — and yes, mentioning the character of the service they were to carry on in His bodily absence. But the emphasis isn’t on imitating Him, it’s on receiving His service to them so that they would be equipped to serve each other. As He said to Peter (dear, dear Peter!): “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me”. Of course later on we learn that He serves us as the Great High Priest from Heaven — without His service to us, we cannot serve Him while we wait for Him, in this wilderness place. What a joy it was when I learned this! It is another picture given to us so we would realize that we are not doing His work — He is doing it in and through us!! Having a “part with Him” is our union and communion with Him. I’m so happy to free from legalistic, works oriented, ‘me’ oriented interpretations of Scripture!!
Enjoy Him!
Lori
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Yes, Lori, that was indeed the case that we all have been taught such nonsense, not only in this case. Everywhere where Jesus is described in the NT doing something, we should have imitated Him. Alas, without knowing Him and without having received any power to do what He had done. No wonder that legalism destroys so many willing souls. I rejoice with you that you are free, my dear sister! 🙂
Love,
Susanne xx
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Amen Lori it is Christ doing it through us! Such a profound spiritual truth and so freeing! jacqui x
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Lori, Susanne and Jacqui, Amen!!!! You have all nailed it! We don’t “imitate Christ.” God does not need any more cheap knock-off Christians running around in their flesh with their WWJD bracelets and key chains fobs. He only needs crucified followers of Christ who “live and move and have their being” totally IN Him and let the Spirit lead them by His love in their new hearts. Thank you all for your sharing on here! God bless and love you all.
Michael ❤
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Thank YOU, Michael. 🙂
Yes, we ought to live our life out of our BEING in Him are to be always Spirit-led which is truly a freeing experience compared with all that self-will stuff before.
Every blessing and love you too,
Susanne ❤
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I love the topic and i really loved that picture with the quote! I am totally delving in this supernatural arena!!! I want more!!
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What an enthusiastic comment, dear Soraya. ❤ Thank you so very much!
May God give you more of Himself than you can take. 😉
Love,
Susanne xx
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Amen, Suzanne! I receeeeeeeeeiiive!! Can you hear my shout?
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Hahahahaha …… 😀
Of course, I could hear you!!!!!
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