Monday, February 22, 2021

The Kingdom of Heaven #4 and Final

 

Who will be the greatest there?  Jesus was asked this question by his disciples, who seemed to argue over this.

📖 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:1-5

We need to come to Christ with an innocence,….or to try to remove things that adults seem to carry with them like pride, cynicism and distrust.  We need to come to Christ with the awe and wonder of a child.
In another account of the same conversation in chapter 9 of Mark; 
📖 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  Mark 9:33-35
If we need to argue over who will be the greatest....I feel we have missed the point of Christ's ministry here, His sacrifice, and the whole idea of heaven.

 📖 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:18-20

 WHEN: when should we make our plans to go to heaven?  

We might be saying we are young…well some of you are, 
I am in good health, well some of you are, 
we might sit through Sundays thinking that this is not a pressing matter.  “not ready to make a life change, need to “think” about  it.. all kinds of answers and excuses….but Jesus said
📖 ..... Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
The time is now….if the kingdom of heaven was near when Christ walked the earth how much more so now! 

Okay, so excuses aside how do I?

📖 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-13

📖 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

I am going to end with Jesus' words...
📖 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

 and finish with a song.  
I included Home by Chris Tomlin in my first installment of this series...and I would like to wrap it up with I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me


 If you haven't seen the movie I would recommend it!


 

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

In Jesus Own Words/The Kingdom of Heaven #3

Jesus tried to explain to his followers and I quote “The Kingdom of Heaven is like….”  He made this statement 10 times.  I looked at a few from the book of Matthew that I found specifically spoke to what the Kingdom was like.

Matthew 13

1.     The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 The parables were not just for the disciples but for all who were gathered within the sound of His voice.

2.     The Parable of the Weeds

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

3.     & 4. The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

31 He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

33 He told them still another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear" I believe doesn't just mean....if you are with in hearing range...I believe He is speaking about the heart, the soul......but that is for another blog!

5.     & 6. The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Pretty self explanatory right?  Heaven is so valuable or should be that it is worth giving up everything for.

7.     The Parable of the Net

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the ag. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things? Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

52 He said to them, Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Jesus was trying to help His disciples (and subsequently us) understand what He was saying. I think He knew the concept of Heaven was a difficult one.  But He wanted them to grasp it...to "get it" so He used stories and parables they could relate to then He broke them down and explained them for clarification.

Next week; Who is the greatest? and more!



Monday, February 8, 2021

The Kingdom of Heaven #2

Welcome back to the 2nd installment of 
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like....
As I included last week...the questions that we will try to answer with scripture. 
I will tackle the first 4 for now;

Where is it?

What does it look like?

Who resides in heaven?

Who does NOT reside in heaven?

 

WHERE: is heaven?  Seems to me from these few scriptures that it is up. 

📖 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

📖 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  Matthew 28:2

📖 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  Acts 7:55-57

WHAT:  What does heaven look like?

The author of Revelation reveals a vision of heaven he was given:
📖 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”   Revelation 4:1-11

Whether literal or figurative I believe that God will be enthroned there…with Christ at His right hand.  I know that there is great adoration and worship.  I have to believe that I will stand in awe.

I am reminded of the song I Can Only Imagine: by Mercy Me

🎶[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine🎶

WHO resides in heaven?

📖 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.  There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 
1 Corinthians 15:39-41

There seems to be specific “heavenly” bodies, that reside different from earthly ones

📖 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 1 Corinthians 5:1-3

📖 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.  Matthew 5:2-4

📖 Blessed are the peacemakers, 
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.    Matthew 5:9-11

Peacemakers, poor in spirit, children of God, those who are persecuted are some of those we will find there.

Who will Not be there: it is also written about who can not be in the kingdom of heaven

📖 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’  Matthew 7:20-22

📖 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:18

I know that I seem to be ending on a down note...as to who will not be there...but Jesus said;


📖 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” 
John 14:1-4

Jesus was speaking to His disciples....but I believe it is for us as well....if we believe in Him, we will live with Him for eternity....in Heaven. 
AMEN!!

Meet you back here ☕❤ next week for installment  #3 when we will tackle the next questions;
Heaven is like?
Who is greatest in heaven?
When should we make travel plans?
How do we get there?
❤🙏



Monday, February 1, 2021

The Kingdom of Heaven

This is going to be the start of a short series.
I wrote "The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like" as a message  quite a long time ago....I am going to break it up, not sure how many installments it will end up being.

I began with a series of questions....the Who, What, When Where, Why and Hows

Where is it?

What does it look like?

Who resides in heaven?

Who does NOT reside in heaven?

Heaven is LIKE?

Who is greatest in heaven?

When should we make travel plans?

How do we get there?


Before we get into the answers to those (which will take a couple of posts to do)
I want to share a bit of my heart;

I believe, for those who believe in Jesus Christ...
 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

Heaven will be like going home,

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

a home that has been prepared just for me.....for you, for all who believe!
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

I know, when the time comes,  I will be going home....and today I have a peace, my sister has gone home as well.



Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Humility

 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’  2 Chronicles 7:12-18

Verses 14 and 15
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place

This verse has come before me several times in the last several weeks.  And all my mind keeps coming to is the 11th word in verse 14. HUMBLE.
I have blogged about humility before (Humility is a Verb 9/19/2019, What Does the Lord Require Of You 8/24/20)
But I can't shake this and so figured it needs to be shared..
People have been quoting this verse especially in times of divisiveness and discord.  
the main points:
1. Humble themselves
2. Pray
3. Seek my face
4. Turn from their wicked ways

If we can truly humble our self....I am not using the plural because it isn't a plural action...each one of us has to individually humble ourselves before our God.
If we can have a humble heart the rest would follow automatically pray, seek His face and turn from our wickedness.  
Humility...true humility of the heart and soul must pave the way for Christ like behavior that has to be evident


Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
     even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 
and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,  for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:1-18
AMEN!
In these times we must HUMBLY serve our God each day, however that looks for each of us.  

Monday, January 18, 2021

MLK Day (Rerun)

Originally posted Monday Januray 15, 2018 (with a couple alterations)

MLK Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service, MLK Jr. Day of Service

It has many names  but ...
Martin Luther King Jr Day was signed into law in 1983 and first observed in 1986....1994 the King Holiday and Service Act  was signed into law challenging American citizens to volunteer or do other acts of service to honor Martin Luther King and his accomplishments in civil rights and  non violence.

So I hope that today...whether in your job or where ever ...you are able to volunteer or are able to perform some acts of service to help your community or others.

As Christians let's take that further!
Christ came to serve ...and we are called to do the same!

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:28
He gave many examples of how to serve those around us...but one of my favorites is;

 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:4-17
In humility, love and compassion we are called to serve those around us, our "fellow man"  whom ever that may be; the clean neat and tidy or the stinky, dirty beggar.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Can we all say we have the same "dream" as the Reverend Dr. King?
"I have a dream today ... I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. " (I Have A Dream copyright 1963 Martin Luther King)  which comes from Isaiah 40:4-6.

Do we not dream that one day ALL will see the Glory of the LORD!?!  

Until that day....we can show the glory of the Lord by serving all those around us humbly, in love and in Jesus' name!

Monday, January 11, 2021

Some Things Never Change

 In this time of upheaval and change, our lives..not just globally, nationally,  but right here at home in our work lives and our personal lives, things have changed and we dont know what "getting back to normal" is going to look like.

There is a song in the animated Disney movie Frozen 2 sung by one of my favorite singing snowmen Olaf. The tag line runs through my head frequently;
🎶 "Somethings never change" 

But if we look around us that seems a joke...everything has changed!
BUT there is one thing that is forever, constant;
Our heavenly Father 
📖 I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

If we feel He is distant it is us who have stepped away or stepped back.
📖  I the Lord do not change.  Malachi 3:6a

He is always there.
📖 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
 
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:8-12

Though everything around us (or at least it seems that way) is changing and much of it not for the better, we can have faith in our God who never changes!
📖 God said to Moses, “I am who I Am. Exodus 3:14a

Who is always there for us, cares about us, loves us!
📖 The Lord appeared to us in the past,  saying:                  “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

Has even secured our place for eternity;
📖 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish  but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18

📖 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his
 compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24
AMEN
So no matter how upside down and sideways things are...He is faithful, we just need to hold on!