Am I guilty of this? Luke 14:15-24

My devo I read today: When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!” But Jesus said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’ So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ Then the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’ So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled. For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!’” It is Jesus who extends the invitation, and anyone who rejects that invitation will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Those who reject the invitation are busy doing other things and making excuses, with their minds set on their own agendas and purposes. Their attention to the wrong things make it impossible for them to see the true identity of the one sending the invitation. The master’s response at this rejection is to fill his house with the sick, and whoever would accept the invitation. Matthew 9:12-13 says: On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” The sick fill the banquet table because it is they who have accepted the invitation sent by God - Jesus Christ.

Civil War the Musical

For all you gazillions of people who read my blog because I am so awesome at keeping up with it (blah), The Overlook Theatre Company is performing "Civil War the Musical" tonight and tomorrow at the Franklin High School Fine Arts Center. We performed last weekend in Marietta, GA and it went extremely well. It's hard to know what people are going to think once you perform in another town. Here in Franklin we have family and friends who are going to cheer us on no matter what, but step into a much bigger city where you know no one and the nerves fly sky high. Especially, in the Atlanta area. But, God was very good to us and allowed the response to be more than we could ever hope for. Anyway, this show is emotionally rousing to say the least. There are songs that some of the cast sing that I have heard a hundred times and still sob my eyes out. I know we will never know or understand this battle in history and all that took place, but for me, this show has given a little glimpse of the heartbreak and sadness that did take place. We hope you will come see it.

He makes...

He makes ALL things beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) I love and appreciate how this verse says, "all things," not "some things." Think this is definitely my verse of this year. So thankful.

Vision...

"Sometimes, there must be the death of a vision in order for fruit to begin to produce and grow." Such a sweet reminder from my dad's sermon this morning. In my opinion, the most piercing statements can be the kiss from God that one needs to feel.