Jo’s Place

“Look at My Servant, whom I strengthen.  He is My Chosen One, who pleases Me.  I have put my Spirit upon Him.  He will bring justice to the nations.  He will not shout  or raise His voice in public.  He will not crush the weakest reed  or put out a flickering candle.  He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.  He will not falter or lose heart  until justice prevails throughout the earth.  Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for His instruction.”  God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.  He created the earth and everything in it.  He gives breath to everyone,  life to everyone who walks the earth… And it is He who says,  “I, the Lord, have called You to demonstrate My righteousness.  I will take You by the hand and guard You,  .,,and I will give You to My people, Israel,  …as a symbol of My covenant with them.  And You will be a Light to guide the nations.  You will open the eyes of the blind.  You will free the captives from prison,  …releasing thos

“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,  …and their tongues are parched from thirst,  …then I, the Lord, will answer them.  I, the God of Israel, will never abandon (My people).  I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.  I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.  I will fill the desert with pools of water.  Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.  I will plant trees in the barren desert… I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means — that it is the Lord who has done this,  …the Holy One of Israel who created it.  “Present the case for your idols,”  says the Lord.  “Let them show what they can do,”… “Let them try to tell Us what happened long ago,  …so that We may consider the evidence.  Or let them tell Us what the future holds,  …so We can know what’s going to happen.  Yes, tell Us what will occur in the days ahead.  Then, We will know you are gods.  In fact, do anything—good or bad!  Do somethi

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.  When I left…, I urged you to stay there… and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.  Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees.  These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.  The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.  But some people have missed this whole point.  They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.  They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.  We know that the law is good when used correctly.  For the law was not intended for people who do what is right.  It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who con

“Listen in silence before Me, you lands beyond the sea.  Bring your strongest arguments.  Come now and speak.  The court is ready for your case.  “Who has stirred up this king from the east,  …rightly calling him to God’s service?  Who gives this man victory over many nations  …and permits him to trample their kings underfoot?  With his sword, he reduces armies to dust.  With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.  He chases them away and goes on safely,  …though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.  Who has done such mighty deeds,  summoning each new generation from the beginning of time?  It is I, the Lord,  …the First and the Last.  I alone am He.”  The lands beyond the sea watch in fear  …remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.  The idol makers encourage one another,  …saying to each other,  “Be strong!”  The carver encourages the goldsmith,  …and the molder helps at the anvil.  “Good,” they say. “ It’s coming along fine.”  Carefully they join the parts together,

“Comfort, comfort My people,”  says your God.  “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.  Tell her that her sad days are gone  and her sins are pardoned.  Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”  Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,  “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord!   Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!   Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills.  Straighten the curves,  and smooth out the rough places.  Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  The Lord has spoken!”  A voice said, “Shout!”  I asked, “What should I shout?”  “Shout that people are like the grass.  Their beauty fades as quickly  as the flowers in a field.  The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord.  And so it is with people.  The grass withers and the flowers fade,  but the word of our God stands forever.”  O Zion, messenger of good news,  shout from the mountaintops!  Shout it loud