Jo’s Place

Then the Sovereign Lord showed me another vision.  In it I saw a basket filled with ripe fruit.  “What do you see, Amos?” The Lord asked me. I replied,  “A basket full of ripe fruit.”  Then the Lord said, “Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment!  I will not delay their punishment again.  In that day the singing in the temple will turn to wailing.  Dead bodies will be scattered everywhere.  They will be carried out of the city in silence.  I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”  Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample down the needy!  You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over  and the religious festivals to end,  …so you can get back to cheating the helpless.  You measure out grain with dishonest measures  and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales.  And you mix the grain you sell  with chaff swept from the floor.  Then you enslave poor people  for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals.  Now the Lord has sworn this oath  by his own name, the Pride of Israel:  “I wil

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”  Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.  Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.  And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”  Then He sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.  Jesus Predicts His Death From then on Jesus began to tell His disciples pl

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus,  …demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven  …to prove his authority.  He replied,  “You know the saying,  ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;  …red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’  You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky,  …but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!  Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign,  …but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”  …Jesus left them and went away.  Then, Jesus taught His disciples  …comparing Yeast to the Pharisees and Sadducees Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake,  the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread.  “Watch out!” Jesus warned them.  “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  At this they began to argue with each other  ...because they hadn’t brought any bread.  Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said,

Wisdom has built her house;  she has carved its seven columns.  She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table.  She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.  She calls out from the heights overlooking the city…  “Come in with me,” she urges the simple.  To those who lack good judgment, she says…  “Come, eat my food,  and drink the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live…  learn to use good judgment.”  Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.  Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.  So don’t bother correcting mockers…  they will only hate you.  But correct the wise,  and they will love you.  Instruct the wise,  and they will be even wiser.  Teach the righteous,  and they will learn even more.  Fear of the Lord  …is the foundation of wisdom.  Knowledge of the Holy One  …results in good judgment.  Wisdom will multiply your days  and add years to your life.  If you become wise, you will be the one to benef

Listen as Wisdom calls out!  Hear as understanding raises her voice!    …On the hilltop along the road,  …she takes her stand at the crossroads.  By the gates at the entrance to the town,  …on the road leading in, she cries aloud “I call to you, to all of you!  I raise my voice to all people.  You simple people, use good judgment…  You foolish people, show some understanding.  Listen to me!  For I have important things to tell you…  Everything I say is right…  for I speak the truth…  and detest every kind of deception.  My advice is wholesome.  There is nothing devious or crooked in it.  My words are plain to anyone with understanding  …clear to those with knowledge.  Choose my instruction rather than silver  …and knowledge rather than pure gold.  For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies…  Nothing you desire can compare with it.  “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.  I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.  All who fear the Lord will hate evil.  Therefore, I hat

My child,  (let’s talk about debt) …if you have put up security for a friend’s debt    or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger …if you have trapped yourself by your agreement  and are caught by what you said …follow my advice and save yourself …for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.  Now swallow your pride;  …go and beg to have your name erased.  Don’t put it off; …do it now!  Don’t rest until you do.  Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter …like a bird fleeing from a net.  (Now let’s talk about working hard, being frugal, and saving) Take a lesson from  the ants …you lazybones.  Learn from their ways  …and become wise!  Though they have no prince …or governor …or ruler  ...to make them work  …they labor hard all summer  …gathering food for the winter.  But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?  A little extra sleep  …a little more slumber  …a little folding of the hands to rest …then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit …