I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my heritage, and give them into the hand of their enemies; they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day.”
The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward; for from Jerusalem a remnant shall go out, and from Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Ahaziah, son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned two years over Israel. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and mother[.] He served Baal and worshiped him; he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.
Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.
Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for him against the mighty.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials, in order that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them—so that you may know that I am the Lord.”
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life…. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.”
Originally posted on SH Images:
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Thanks for writing and sharing your heart. It read transparent, which made it all the more encouraging and empowering… God continually bless you and reward you with the desires of your heart because you have made Him your God!
“I just FINALLY finished reading My God and Me and let me tell you…I loved it. I could relate with so much of what you said that I would have thought it was me writing it. Very inspirational! Great job!“
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Proverbs 27:12 says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
If we can’t be transparent with one another then there is no way we can grow (sharpen) each other.
If we are afraid to be transparent because of shame hidden away in our life then transparency should be an encouragement for us to move beyond what brings shame and into a beneficial and strengthening relationship. See Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
On the other hand if we are afraid to be transparent because of self-doubt or shyness then we may be robbing those around us of blessings and encouragements. 1 Corinthians 14:26 “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.”
Your description of Christ is on the mark. He had little patience and was very blunt with those who should have, or professed, to know better. Yet, with the poor, sick, weary, and those truly seeking him he had compassion and kindness.
Your words are encouraging to me but also convicting. Nicely said, uhh Kindly said? Well put! 
